VOA标准英语2011--High School Dropout Hits It Big on the Internet

High School Dropout¹ Hits It Big on the Internet

In 1931, famed author James Truslow Adams popularized the term "American Dream". He said "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." Although the actual definition² of the term is unclear to this day, one young man's life seems to exemplify³ it.

Mazyar Kazerooni started his first Internet company while he was still in high school. Once the money started to pour in, he convinced⁵ his parents he should drop out and give his internet business a real chance.

"I made this website when I was 15," said Kazerooni. "When I'm going through high school and I'm seeing that I'm bringing in more money than any of my teachers possibly could, it kind of messes with your head."

Two years later, after moving on from his first venture⁶, Kazerooni and his good friend Matt Schlicht, also a high school dropout, went to work for the live video start-up "Ustream." Live video was something new at the time, and Kazerooni's job was to convince⁴ rap⁷ performers that it was the next big thing. He was good at it and the rappers' praises were proof⁸. He was so good, that rapper Li'l Wayne asked Kazerooni to become his personal digital strategist.

"We helped him reclaim⁹ his Facebook page," noted¹⁰ Kazerooni. "He had a million fans, and nobody... they didn't have access to it and they weren't posting anything to these million fans they had out there. It's gone from one million to 31 million fans now. We got 'em a Guinness world record for the most-liked status update on Facebook. All those guys are like family to us now. Young Money, Li'l Wayne, Little Twist - all these guys - they're like family to us now. We have worked with them for years."

A few months ago, Kazerooni and Schlicht left Ustream to start their own company, "Tracks.By," which allows artists to showcase their music, videos and tour dates on Facebook. Venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar thought their idea was so good that he invested¹¹ $500,000.

"We are trying to turn all our knowledge that we have gotten from running Li'l Wayne digital, Little Twist digital into products and features that every artist can take advantage of," added Kazerooni.

Tracks.By has already grown to the point that the pair has hired several computer and social-media-savvy friends. But they are keeping it simple for now; they operate the business out of their home.

"If you really think about it, it's not that big of a risk, especially if you're young. It's so easy to jump into this and try because the worst thing that's going to happen is that you go broke and you go and try to get another job. I think it's completely worth it, because if you can make it happen, it's going to be so much more rewarding than any other job," Kazerooni said.

Some 50 artists with a combined total of 150 million fans have already signed up. Kazerooni may just be living that American Dream that James Truslow Adams or Tracks.By artist Drake is talking about.

1 dropout   

n.退学的学生；退学；退出者

参考例句：

• There is a high dropout rate from some college courses.有些大学课程的退出率很高。
• In the long haul,she'll regret having been a school dropout.她终归会后悔不该中途辍学。

2 definition   

n.定义；限定，确定；清晰度

参考例句：

• The book attempts a definition of his role in world politics.该书要阐明的是他在世界政局中的作用。
• I made a definition for this word.我给这个字下了定义。

3 exemplify   

vt.是（作为）典型（或榜样），举例证明

参考例句：

• He exemplify the new liberalism.他反映了新自由主义的观点。
• I'm going to exemplify one or two of these points.我打算就论点中的一、两个方面举例说明。

4 convince   

vt.使确认，使信服；使认识错误

参考例句：

• It requires a lot of talking to convince him.要说服他很费口舌。
• I have given over trying to convince him.我已经不再试图说服他了。

5 convinced   

adj.确信的；深信的；有坚定信仰的v.使确信(convince的过去分词)；说服

参考例句：

• I am convinced of her innocence. 我坚信她是清白无辜的。
• I'm convinced there's a jinx on this car. 我看这辆汽车是灾星。

6 venture   

v.敢于，大胆表示；冒险，拼，闯；n.冒险

参考例句：

• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。
• Don't venture into the jungle without a guide.没有向导，不要冒险到丛林里去。

7 rap   

n.轻敲，拍击，责骂，厉声说出，说唱音乐，谈话，最少量；vi.轻敲，敲门，表演说唱音乐，畅谈；vt.抓，抢，拍击

参考例句：

• I heard a rap on the door.我听到有轻轻的敲门声。
• Today we are going to rap about relationships.今天我们要聊聊关系的问题。

8 proof   

adj.防...的，耐...的，能防护；n.校样，证据，证明；vt.检验，给...做防护措施

参考例句：

• He is living proof of the wonders of modern medicine.他是当代医学奇迹的活证明。
• The proof was fished up from some old papers.校样在旧文件中被找到了。

9 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 invested   

v.投资，花费( invest的过去式和过去分词 )；授予；（把资金）投入；投入（时间、精力等）

参考例句：

• The money will be invested in managed funds. 这笔钱将投资于管理基金。
• He invested his lawyer with complete power to act for him. 他让律师全权代办。 来自《简明英汉词典》