在线英语听力室

Apply a Noise Gate to Your Life

时间：2012-10-24 06:20:27

（单词翻译:单击）

 Chances are you’ve heard — or rather, not heard — the effects of a noise gate, but unless you’re into audio engineering, you probably didn’t realize it. Ever been at a concert or listen to a radio broadcast where it sounds great when there’s music playing or a voice speaking, but no hiss1 in the pauses between? Unless the signal happens to be really clean, odds2 are that was a noise gate at work, removing the hiss while letting the loud parts shine through.

While a picture is worth 1,000 words, I’m sure this audio example counts for something too (turn the volume up so you hear the hiss):
 Noise gate demo (MP3)
In our lives, in addition to obvious, upfront distractions3, there’s often a lot of “background hiss” that doesn’t appear threatening on its own, but just like breaking down a big project into small tasks helps it seem not so intimidating4, the counterproductive opposite is also true — many small interruptions can quickly overwhelm and suck your time, leaving you frustrated5 and unaccomplished. Quiet breaks between the madness is essential to your well-being6, so it’s important to…
Identify the noise
Removing the “noise floor” so there’s blissful silence between the “louder” parts of the day is understandably difficult, because what’s noise to one person is, well, music to another. Here are some common examples of noise:
Requests that say “It’ll only take a minute or two.”
Ever get asked for small favors like this, only to find that 5, 10, or even 15 minutes have already elapsed after you start helping7?
People who can’t be bothered to read
It’s a safe generalization8 that most of us don’t peruse9 a website’s Terms of Service, let alone a software app’s whole manual — we access info as-needed. But being badgered by questions that someone can effectively help themselves with is bad for all involved.
Emotional vampires10
If during quiet moments, your mind wanders and gets increasingly bothered thinking about people who’ve been unkind, you can relate.
Intrusions that incrementally11 eat time
Whether it’s unwanted advertising12 in the form of annoying Flash animations13 or an unwelcome telemarketer, many of us share this problem.
Enjoy the silence
Applying a noise gate may not be easy at first, but it becomes easier the more you do it — habituating yourself high volumes of excellence14 is far better than drowning in the hiss. Here are some of the ways I do it:
Batch15 process
This has been highly touted16 by Darren Rowse of Problogger and many others, and I’ve found it to be incredibly true. Don’t do wasteful17 things like answer a single email, only to check your inbox moments later and repeat the cycle — devote larger chunks18 of time, such as half-an-hour and above, to grouped/similar tasks. Really dive in and both the quality and quantity of your output will increase… then you’ll feel peaceful afterwards.
I’m active on a number of social networks (like Flickr and Twitter) I set aside weekend time to browse19 and converse20 on. This is a fine interval21 that allows me to be communally22 active, yet it’s not overly consuming. Plus, it’s a refreshing23 feeling to “let comments build up” and dive in. (I allow exceptions for spontaneous responses on a case-by-case basis.)
Afraid some things can’t wait? The good news is, more often than you think, they can… or can be avoided altogether. Most “emergencies” are illusions because people are temporally sensitive to what’s happening now. Try an experiment in cultivating selective ignorance, then you’ll know firsthand whether this works for you.
Document what you do
You may not be a technical writer, but you can certainly scribe a simple Frequently Asked Questions list (FAQ) in a few minutes. If you feel bloated answering the same questions over and over, whether it’s work-related (like mine) or about your personal activities, you lose nothing from sharing your secrets. In fact, it may help you remember better.
The most common objection to this is that it’s “dehumanizing”, that it gives you an excuse to not be personal. That’s wrong! Rather, documenting and automation frees you to be more personal for times when an already-provided answer won’t do. Simple as that.
Remove non-contributors from your life
Oh, harsh! But vibrantly24 true. If you surround yourself with positive people who take on adversity as opposed to whiners who mope and don’t change their realities, you’ll be empowered to both lift yourself up and have a supply of energy to boost others too.
An unfortunate lot of people passively burn and suffer because they stew25 about meanies who leech26 their time and deplete27 their spirits: whether it’s an Internet troll or a drama-laden “friend”, we’ve all known people like this. Just imagine how much happier you’d be if you put all that anger towards something awesome28!
I understand removing useless people — useless as in, “they contribute nothing of value to your happiness” — is harder if they live with you or are related, as opposed to anonymous29 jerks on the Internet. But you likely still have control over how you spend your time and who you spend it with, and minimizing their involvement by being brief and moving on is the best. Conversely…
HealthTop TipsNutritionLifestyle
Celebrate people who bring usefun (useful + fun) your way
We often call them our close friends, but they can also be prized customers who are eager to beta-test, give feedback, and help advance your work and play so both of you benefit.
Spend the best — and many — moments of your life with people you treasure and who adore you in-kind. Instead of blippy highlights in a sea of hiss, strive for strongly-punctuated life experiences with a beautiful serenity30 in-between.
Time and energy are finite, and you’ll only have the resources to lavish31 wonderful individuals if you don’t treat people the same. You can’t. People are different, and some are more noisy than others — it’s their choice to learn to improve, and your choice to focus now on what’s worthwhile. Hey, lead the way!
Regularly find tools to help you
The knowledge is at your fingertips: whether it’s Adblock Plus for smoother surfing or developing the willpower to simply say “No thank-you” to a telemarketer then hanging up, find the tools that let you have more control over how your days go by.
Whenever I have a problem and specifically feel a repeated process is more troublesome to do than it should be, I write it down. I review a list weekly, then go wild searching. For example, I was frustrated with juggling32 multiple browser33 tabs in Firefox, and eventually switched to vertical34 tabs. The sooner you solve attritive problems, the more time you’ll cumulatively35 save in the long run.
I’m a fan of cheap, lightweight experiments that build on themselves, and I’m not just referring to technological36 tools, but psychological constructs that condition and bias37 you towards a life well-lived.
Rock on!
The biggest obstacle I’ve known to the above is letting the noise continue to permeate38 and invade your life, thinking you may tolerate it and “It’s not that unhealthy…” Those are poor excuses and are self-hurtful, because the noise will only grow. If you harbor such thoughts as I once did, taking the first steps today will serve as a foundation for a noise-minimized future.
It’s unrealistic to expect to have a completely noiseless life, but like the adage39 goes,
    “Everyone has problems. Not everyone deals with them.”
Each interruption, no matter how deceptively faint, is an opportunity to practice and work your way up, building a better noise gate for your life.

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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 hiss 2yJy9     
v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满
参考例句：
  • We can hear the hiss of air escaping from a tire.我们能听到一只轮胎的嘶嘶漏气声。
  • Don't hiss at the speaker.不要嘘演讲人。
2 odds n5czT     
n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别
参考例句：
  • The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
  • Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？
3 distractions ff1d4018fe7ed703bc7b2e2e97ba2216     
n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱
参考例句：
  • I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. 我发觉在家里工作很难，因为使人分心的事太多。
  • There are too many distractions here to work properly. 这里叫人分心的事太多，使人无法好好工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 intimidating WqUzKy     
vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)
参考例句：
  • They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
  • This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。
5 frustrated ksWz5t     
adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧
参考例句：
  • It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
  • The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 well-being Fe3zbn     
n.安康，安乐，幸福
参考例句：
  • He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
  • My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。
7 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的
参考例句：
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
8 generalization 6g4xv     
n.普遍性，一般性，概括
参考例句：
  • This sweeping generalization is the law of conservation of energy.这一透彻的概括就是能量守恒定律。
  • The evaluation of conduct involves some amount of generalization.对操行的评价会含有一些泛泛之论。
9 peruse HMXxT     
v.细读，精读
参考例句：
  • We perused the company's financial statements for the past five years.我们翻阅了公司过去5年来的财务报表。
  • Please peruse this report at your leisure.请在空暇时细读这篇报道。
10 vampires 156828660ac146a537e281c7af443361     
n.吸血鬼( vampire的名词复数 )；吸血蝠；高利贷者；（舞台上的）活板门
参考例句：
  • The most effective weapon against the vampires is avampire itself. 对付吸血鬼最有效的武器就是吸血鬼自己。 来自电影对白
  • If vampires existed, don`t you think we would`ve found them by now? 如果真有吸血鬼，那我们怎么还没有找到他们呢？ 来自电影对白
11 incrementally a1d656c3e43d169f1e51a838de0c6d0b     
adv.逐渐地
参考例句：
  • Incrementally update the shared dimensions used in this cube. 增量更新此多维数据集中使用的共享维度。 来自互联网
  • Grand goals are inspiring, but be sure to approach them incrementally. 辉煌的目标令人鼓舞，但一定要逐步实现。 来自互联网
12 advertising 1zjzi3     
n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的
参考例句：
  • Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
  • The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。
13 animations f2613ee5e6671fc93ff41adcf6fefc2b     
n.生气( animation的名词复数 )；兴奋；动画片；（指电影、录像、电脑游戏的）动画制作
参考例句：
  • You'll see your team cheerleaders and mascot performing new animations as well. 你会看到啦啦队队长跟吉祥物也都会有全新的动作。 来自互联网
  • Ability to create simple movie and animations using graphic & multimedia software. 能够用平面和多媒体软件制作简单的电影及动画。 来自互联网
14 excellence ZnhxM     
n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德
参考例句：
  • His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
  • My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。
15 batch HQgyz     
n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量
参考例句：
  • The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
  • I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。
16 touted 00151f908b31d984fd20d8b48dba34f3     
v.兜售( tout的过去式和过去分词 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报
参考例句：
  • She's being touted as the next leader of the party. 她被吹捧为该党的下一任领导人。
  • People said that he touted for his mother and sister. 据说，他给母亲和姐姐拉生意。 来自辞典例句
17 wasteful ogdwu     
adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的
参考例句：
  • It is a shame to be so wasteful.这样浪费太可惜了。
  • Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work.为避免重复劳动浪费资源，任务已经重新分派。
18 chunks a0e6aa3f5109dc15b489f628b2f01028     
厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 )； （某物）相当大的数量或部分
参考例句：
  • a tin of pineapple chunks 一罐菠萝块
  • Those chunks of meat are rather large—could you chop them up a bIt'smaller? 这些肉块相当大，还能再切小一点吗？
19 browse GSWye     
vi.随意翻阅，浏览；(牛、羊等)吃草
参考例句：
  • I had a browse through the books on her shelf.我浏览了一下她书架上的书。
  • It is a good idea to browse through it first.最好先通篇浏览一遍。
20 converse 7ZwyI     
vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反
参考例句：
  • He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。
  • I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。
21 interval 85kxY     
n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息
参考例句：
  • The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
  • There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。
22 communally ww6zYa     
adv.共同地
参考例句：
  • Only when the means of production were communally owned would classes disappear. 只有当生产工具公有时，阶级才会消失。
  • The mills were owned communally. 工厂是公有的。
23 refreshing HkozPQ     
adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的
参考例句：
  • I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
  • The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。
24 vibrantly cacf98680940dada37713938fadb8a3c     
参考例句：
  • Notice that each center is vibrantly multi-colored with no shade predominating. 注意每个中心是多颜色振动毫无遮蔽控制。
  • There are so many reptiles to discover in this vibrantly colored nature book of hide-and-seek. 这本书主要介绍了爬虫类动物如何利用保护色来保护自己。
25 stew 0GTz5     
n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑
参考例句：
  • The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
  • There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。
26 leech Z9UzB     
n.水蛭，吸血鬼，榨取他人利益的人；vt.以水蛭吸血；vi.依附于别人
参考例句：
  • A leech is a small blood-sucking worm and usually lives in water.水蛭是一种小型吸血虫，通常生活在水中。
  • One-side love like a greedy leech absorbed my time and my mirth.单相思如同一只贪婪的水蛭，吸走了我的时间和欢笑。
27 deplete Bm2z3     
v.弄空，排除，减轻，减少...体液，放去...的血
参考例句：
  • Most native mammal species have been severely depleted.大多数本地哺乳动物的数量都已经大大减少了。
  • Elastic collisions deplete very little of the electron's energy.弹性碰撞中电子减少的能量非常少。
28 awesome CyCzdV     
adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的
参考例句：
  • The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
  • That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.
29 anonymous lM2yp     
adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的
参考例句：
  • Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
  • The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。
30 serenity fEzzz     
n.宁静，沉着，晴朗
参考例句：
  • Her face,though sad,still evoked a feeling of serenity.她的脸色虽然悲伤，但仍使人感觉安详。
  • She escaped to the comparative serenity of the kitchen.她逃到相对安静的厨房里。
31 lavish h1Uxz     
adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍
参考例句：
  • He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
  • The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。
32 juggling juggling     
n. 欺骗, 杂耍(=jugglery) adj. 欺骗的, 欺诈的 动词juggle的现在分词
参考例句：
  • He was charged with some dishonest juggling with the accounts. 他被指控用欺骗手段窜改账目。
  • The accountant went to prison for juggling his firm's accounts. 会计因涂改公司的帐目而入狱。
33 browser gx7z2M     
n.浏览者
参考例句：
  • View edits in a web browser.在浏览器中看编辑的效果。
  • I think my browser has a list of shareware links.我想在浏览器中会有一系列的共享软件链接。
34 vertical ZiywU     
adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置
参考例句：
  • The northern side of the mountain is almost vertical.这座山的北坡几乎是垂直的。
  • Vertical air motions are not measured by this system.垂直气流的运动不用这种系统来测量。
35 cumulatively 85f7e89a7903a6e7704325e0ca991ac8     
adv.累积地，渐增地
参考例句：
  • Mind has become self-reproducing through man's capacity to transmit experience and its products cumulatively. 通过传递生活经验和积累创造的产品，人类的智慧在不断地进行着自我丰富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • At first, the drug does no harm, but cumulatively its effects are bad. 这药开始对人没有害处，但连续服用后果就坏了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
36 technological gqiwY     
adj.技术的；工艺的
参考例句：
  • A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
  • Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。
37 bias 0QByQ     
n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见
参考例句：
  • They are accusing the teacher of political bias in his marking.他们在指控那名教师打分数有政治偏见。
  • He had a bias toward the plan.他对这项计划有偏见。
38 permeate 0uWyg     
v.弥漫，遍布，散布；渗入，渗透
参考例句：
  • Water will easily permeate a cotton dress.水很容易渗透棉布衣服。
  • After a while it begins to permeate through your skin.过了一会，它会开始渗入你的皮肤。
39 adage koSyd     
n.格言，古训
参考例句：
  • But the old adage that men grow into office has not proved true in my experience.但是，根据我的经验，人们所谓的工作岗位造就人材这句古话并不正确。
  • Her experience lends credence to the adage " We live and learn!"她的经验印证了一句格言: 活到老，学到老！