TED演讲:取消订阅邮件的苦恼(5)

 And so why...I have a little email auto-replier program. 于是我做了一个邮件自动回复程序。

And what I did is I set it up so every time it receives an email from SafeMart, it just pings one back. Right? 我设置好了程序，每一次从安全超市收到邮件，它就这样发送一封回去。

So I set it up, and it says, "Thanks for your email - your Case Number is ..." 我设置好的内容是，“谢谢您的邮件，您的处理编号为……” 

Then it has a little formula that I wrote to up the case number every time. 我用了一个小公式，每一次都会在上一个数字上加1。

And I put it on the server and set it running. 然后把它放入服务器，让它运转。

I'll be honest, guys -- then I forgot about it. 坦白讲--我最后把这事给忘了。

I checked back on it the other day, and it appears there have been a number of emails going back and forth¹. We're on 21,439. 过了几天我回头查看邮件，它显示出，来回的回复邮件，达到21439篇。

It gives me an immense sense of satisfaction to know that these computer programs are just going to be pinging one another for eternity². 这件事带给我了很大的满足感，我意识到这些电脑程序可以一直相互回复，无穷无尽。

And as legacies³ go, I don't think that's bad. 作为一种馈赠，我觉得还是不错的。

So guys, just remember: if ever you feel weighed down by the bureaucracy and often mundanity⁴ of modern life, don't fight the frustration⁵. 所以朋友们，请记住：如果你们感觉自己被官僚主义深深压迫或者被平淡无奇的生活压迫，不要和沮丧做无谓的抗争。

Let it be the catalyst⁶ for whimsy⁷. Thank you. 让它成为我们的动力，搞点小怪。谢谢。

1 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

2 eternity   

n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷

参考例句：

• The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
• Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。

3 legacies   

n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 )；遗留之物；遗留问题；后遗症

参考例句：

• Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind. 书是伟大的天才留给人类的精神财富。 来自辞典例句
• General legacies are subject to the same principles as demonstrative legacies. 一般的遗赠要与指定数目的遗赠遵循同样的原则。 来自辞典例句

4 mundanity   

世俗的

参考例句：

• Politicians are often accused of mendacity. 政客们常被斥为扯谎成性。

5 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

6 catalyst   

n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事

参考例句：

• A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。
• The workers'demand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。

7 whimsy   

n.古怪，异想天开

参考例句：

• They are like oracular messages,but witty-jaunty at times-and sometimes trembling on the edge of whimsy.它们都像神谕，但很机智，有时极其轻快，有时又濒于怪诞。
• He had a whimsy about flying to the moon.他有个想飞上月球的怪念头。