VOA Reading - Nuts and Bolts

geopolitics · 2010-01-21 10:04:34Z

VOA Reading - Nuts and Bolts簡介

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This is my first English recording. It came out as a total shock. In my imagination, I sound much better.

Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

Every machine is held together by its nuts and bolts. Without them, the machine would fall apart. That is also true of an organization. Its nuts and bolts are its basic, necessary elements. They are the parts that make the organization work.

In government, industry, diplomacy -- in most anything -- those who understand the nuts and bolts are the most important. Success depends more on them than on almost anyone else.
In government, the president or prime minister may plan and shape programs and policies. But, it takes much more work to get them approved and to make them successful.

There is a mass of detailed work to be done. The nuts and bolts. This is often put into the hands of specialists. The top leaders are always well-known, but not those who work with the nuts and bolts.

This is equally true in the day-to-day operation of Congress. The majority leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, together with the chairmen of committees, keep the business of Congress moving.
Behind every Senator and Congressman, however, are assistants. These people do all the detailed work to prepare congressmen to vote wisely on each issue.

In diplomacy, the chief ministers are unquestionably important in negotiations. But there are lesser officials who do the basic work and preparations on the different issues to be negotiated.
A recent book tells of a British prime minister who decided to send an ambassador to Washington to learn if details could be worked out for joint action on an issue. The talks in Washington, the minister said, would be "of nut and bolts." He meant, of course, the talks would concern all the necessary elements to make joint action successful.

In a military operation, strategy decisions are important. But much more time is spent on the nuts and bolts -- generally called logistics -- of how to transport and supply an army. It has been said that Napoleon was successful because he knew the field position of every one of his guns. He gave careful attention to the nuts and bolts of his operations.

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我這人有點完美主義，什麽事情做不到最好就不肯端出來。蹉跎半生，終於明白在人生的任何方麵我都不可能做到最好。（其實早就明白，不肯接受罷了。）

我的包子永遠是捏不出折子的，我的孩子是永遠不可能PG的,（在子女壇新學的，不知道的同學就不必知道了，知道了隻有更泄氣的。）我的英文是永遠不可能說得像某些人那樣好的...既然這樣那就不用藏著掖著了，幹脆獻聲得了。請大家多多砸磚。完美是不指望了，可進步的願望還是強烈的。

So here is my belated New Year resolutions.

Perfectly accept my imperfections ( posting this is the first step )

Try to be nicer to my hubby who can't fix a thing around the house ( not entirely true, he is marginally handy )

Cherish my child who is not a tag student ( he may still have a shot at this, we are awaiting the test result ) and treasure every day with him

Call my parents everyday ( already doing so )

Throw more parties for friends ( I am planning the menu )

Gain five ponds, ( this is hard, I am talking about muscles, not fat )

Be more active in wenxuecity ( this is totally doable )

Thanks for reading and listening my post. Have a great Thursday.