英语交流 今日: 0|主题: 2699|排名: 51 

最后发表： chubbycat
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　㈦《GARFIELD加菲猫》

　　1. Money is not everything. There's MasterCard.

　　钞票不是万能的, 有时还需要信用卡。

　　2. One should love animals. They are so tasty.

　　每个人都应该热爱动物, 因为它们很好吃。

　　3. Save water. Shower with your girlfriend.

　　要节约用水, 尽量和女友一起洗澡。

　　4. Love the neighbor. But don't get caught.

　　要用心去爱你的邻居, 不过不要让她的老公知道。

　　5. Behind every successful man, there is a man. And behind every unsuccessful man, there are two.

　　每个成功男人的背后, 都有一个女人. 每个不成功男人的背后, 都有两个。

　　6. Every man should marry. After all, happiness is not the only thing in life.

　　再快乐的单身汉迟早也会结婚, 幸福不是永久的嘛。

　　7. The wise never marry, and when they marry they become otherwise.

　　聪明人都是未婚? 结婚的人很难再聪明起来。

　　8. Success is a relative term. It brings so many relatives.

　　成功是一个相关名词, 他会给你带来很多不相关的亲戚 (联系)

　　9. Love is photogenic. It needs darkness to develop.

　　爱情就象照片, 需要大量的暗房时间来培养。

　　10. Children in backseats cause accidents. Accidents in backseats cause children.

　　后排座位上的小孩会生出意外, 后排座位上的意外会生出小孩。

　　11. Your future depends on your dreams. So go to sleep.

　　现在的梦想决定着你的将来, 所以还是再睡一会吧

　　12. There should be a better way to start a day than waking up every morning.

　　应该有更好的方式开始新一天, 而不是千篇一律的在每个上午都醒来。

　　13. Hard work never killed anybody. But why take the risk?

　　努力工作不会导致死亡! 不过我不会用自己去证明。

　　14. Work fascinates me. I can look at it for hours!

　　工作好有意思耶! 尤其是看着别人工作。

　　15. God made relatives; Thank God we can choose our friends.

　　神决定了谁是你的亲戚, 幸运的是在选择朋友方面他给了你留了余地。

最后发表： chubbycat
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英语学习一定要养成的20个好习惯
本文由倍可亲网友[ 蓝蓝的天 ] 于 2008-10-22 21:44 上贴
原文网址： http://club.backchina.com/main/viewthread.php?tid=717593
　　1. 学习英语是随时随地的：我有一个习惯，就是每次买了一件新东西我都会对上面的包装或说明书仔细研究一番，当然我不是在研究商品本身，我是为了看上面的英语注释，想多几个地道的英语表达而已。前几天我买了一瓶止咳露，又从上面学到不少东西呢。比如说，有效期可以说成validity,规格可以说成 specification，贮藏可以说成storage，放在儿童接触的地方可以这样说keep out of the reach of children，等等等等。这些东西都非常实用，虽然有时你看了一遍不一定记得，但当你下次再遇到它们的时候你的印象就会更加深刻，久而久之便会记得。说了这么多就是要让大家知道学英语不光是课堂上的事，生活中随时随地都可以学习英文，商场啊，超市啊，餐馆啊，很多地方都有英语标识就连我们玩的电脑游戏中都有很多英语出现，学习英语是随时随地的，同学们多注意观察，收获一定不少。这样学英语不是更轻松更有趣吗?

　　2.做好记录：英语学习者一般都会遇到这样的情况，那就是在和别人说英语的时候会突然有一句话不知道怎样表达，或者知道一点点，东拼西凑半天挤不出来那句话，也不知道自己说的正不正确。遇到这种情况该怎么办呢?我建议大家把自己平时想表达而又不会表达的句子记在一个本子上面。然后有机会就去请教老外。方法多多，每天我们或多或少都会遇到一些不会表达的句子或单词，如果我们找一个专门的小本子把它们都记录下来，然后再有目的的解决这些问题，我们的英文一定会一天一个进步的。

　　3. 养成明白语意读英文的习惯，威尼英文指出练习英文是练习思维与表达同步，所以要养成“嘴”与“脑”同步的习惯。

　　4. 每天坚持练习口语一两个小时，锻炼你说英文的肌肉习惯

　　5. 养成大声读英文的习惯，再尝试着用腹式一口气练习，这样使你说出的英文更有底气，更流畅

　　6. 每天早晨起床后，张大嘴，啊五分钟，这样有利于练好你的腹式一口气。

　　7. 养成每天去运用的习惯，学过了很多东西，要经常拿出来晒太阳，要学会卖弄英文，你可以找Partner ，也可以对着天空，大树，小鸟对话，只要把这些语言运用自如了，变成你自己的了，什么都好!

　　8. 学会正确使用复读机，先精听，然后去读，去听自己的发音，找出与磁带录音的不同，直到自己的发音与磁带的发音一样了，再接着听下一个。

　　9. 多用精听模仿练习法模仿发音，不要边听边读，我们要求听的时候不读，读的时候不听，这样效果会更好。

　　10. 学习外语是快乐无穷的，虽然需要花费很多努力，这就要求我们要有一个好的心态，学会调解自己的心情，有耐心点，每天都充满激情的读英文，每天都坦然地面对周围地一切。

　　11. 要有专一的精神，不要两天学美式的，两天学英式的，我们说这两种发音都挺好的，所以，你喜欢哪种就模仿哪种，而且要保证你所模仿的材料从始到终几乎是那一种发音

　　12. 要养成说正确的，地道的英文的习惯，刚开始按照练习手册上最基本的框架进行，不能乱发挥，因为没有深刻的语感，你随时就可能改错，语言的掌握就八个字：“ 先死后活，死去活来”，等你把书上的句子运用好了，你渐渐就会自我表达了，并且是正确的，地道的英文，所以不要先急着自由表达。

　　13. 要敢说英文，不要怕犯错。记住：在你用正确的方法练习之后，你犯的错越多，凭着语感纠正的错误也越多，进步也就越大!学习外语的好习惯

　　14. 老师，我每天都模仿了一个小时，可以已经十天了，还是读不好。

　　做得很好，习惯是养成的，只要你用正确的方法去模仿，每天坚持去模仿就是一种好习惯，当然，并不是说我模仿一个小时，发音就能跟磁带一模一样，而是每模仿一次就会进步一点点，这只是时间的问题，也许第十一天，第十二天，就读好了呢?最重要的是你坚持每天去模仿，养成一天不模仿就浑身难受的好习惯 !

　　15. 每天坚持做对比的好习惯，做对比能够让我们熟悉自己的声音，而且能够很好的听出我的发音与正确发音到底哪里不一样

　　16. 每天大声读英文的好习惯，大专能让自己听清自己的发音，而且让别人听清的你的发音，大声让自己精神集中，脑子里除了英文什么都没有了。

　　17. 每天找人去运用，学一句用一句的好习惯，语言的学习是边模仿边练习，边运用。不能说等我学好了会说了才去说，而是能说几句就说几句，几天说一句比十年说不出几句要强得多

　　18. 每天坚持阅读一篇文章的好习惯

　　19. 每天坚持复习的好习惯，学过的东西不能丢了，要每天都复习，把练习过的句子拿出来做口译

　　20. 每天坚持做纸条，要对自己严格要求，口译时错了一点点都不能放过，将错的句子整理出来写在一张纸片上，然后用一天中的零散时间去消化掉，下次一定不会犯同样的错误。

最后发表： chubbycat
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美文精选：空中的天使 A Sky Angel
本文由倍可亲网友[ 蓝蓝的天 ] 于 2008-10-19 20:45 上贴
原文网址： http://club.backchina.com/main/viewthread.php?tid=716708
　　In 1978, I became a flight attendant for a major airline. Earning my wings was the culmination of a childhood dream that I had set for myself after my first plane ride at the age of five. Like so many others before me, I fell in love with the romance of airplanes, adventure and helping others.

　　I have flown hundreds of flights since graduation, but one stands out among the many.

　　We were flying from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C, when I answered a lavatory call light in the coach cabin. There I found a young mother struggling with her infant. Everything was a mess, to say the least, and the mother, who was near hysterics, told me she had no more diapers or other clothing onboard the aircraft.

　　Through her tears, she informed me that they had missed their flight the previous night in Los Angeles and because she had very little money, she and her son had spent the night on the airport floor. Since she hadn't expected to miss the flight, she was forced to use up most of her supplies and whatever money she had to feed them.

　　With the saddest eyes I have ever seen she continued. She told me she was on her way to New Hampshire to deliver her son to the family that was adopting him. She could no longer support the two of them.

　　As she stood in front of me, crying, holding her beautiful son, I could see the despair and hopelessness on her face. And, as a mother of three beautiful daughters, I could feel her pain.

　　I immediately rang the flight attendant call button and asked for assistance from the other flight attendants. They brought cloth towels from first class to assist in cleaning up both mom and the infant. I ran and got my suitcase; because this woman and I were about the same size, I gave her a sweater and a pair of pants I had brought for my layover. Then I asked several families if they could spare extra diapers, formula and clothes for the child. After the young mother and her son had changed their clothes and the baby had gone to sleep, I sat with her, holding her hand, trying to provide some support and comfort for the remainder of the flight.

　　Once we landed, I walked them to their next flight, which would take them to their final destination; separation. I briefed the gate agent and the new flight attendant crew on the situation and asked them to give her special attention.

　　With tears in my eyes I gave her a hug and told her, "You have shown me the true meaning of courage and a mother's love. I will never forget you."

　　As she thanked me for all I had done she said softly, "You're not the flight attendant, you're a sky angel." Touching my flight attendant wings, she continued, "And those are your angel wings."

　　With those words she turned and walked down the jetway, her child in her arms, and boarded the plane for New Hampshire.

　　Though I am no longer a flight attendant, my "angel wings" are still on prominent display in my office. And each time I see them, I am reminded of that young woman, her infant son and the gift that she gave me on that special day - that we truly are all spiritual beings traveling in human form.

最后发表： chubbycat
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美文欣赏：抓住你生命中的那颗星
本文由倍可亲网友[ 蓝蓝的天 ] 于 2008-10-16 22:24 上贴
原文网址： http://club.backchina.com/main/viewthread.php?tid=715929
　　Catch the star that holds your destiny, the one that forever twinkles within your heart. Take advantage of precious opportunities while they still sparkle before you. Always believe that your ultimate goal is attainable as long as you commit yourself to it.

　　Though barriers may sometimes stand in the way of your dreams, remember that your destiny is hiding behind them. Accept the fact that not everyone is going to approve of the choices you've made. Have faith in your judgment. Catch the star that twinkles in your heart and it will lead you to your destiny's path. Follow that pathway and uncover the sweet sunrises that await you.

　　Take pride in your accomplishments, as they are stepping stones to your dreams. Understand that you may make mistakes, but don't let them discourage you. Value your capabilities and talents for they are what make you truly unique. The greatest gifts in life are not purchased, but acquired through hard work and determination. Find the star that twinkles in your heart?for you alone are capable of making your brightest dreams come true. Give your hopes everything you've got and you will catch the star that holds your destiny.

　　当生命中的那颗星在你内心闪耀的时候，要学会把握它，永远相信只要自己持之以恒，就一定能够实现自己心中的梦想。

　　尽管通往梦想的道路上总有坎坷，你需要记住的是，你的命运就隐藏在那困难背后。学会接受这样的事实：不是每一个人都赞同你的选择。你要坚定自己的判断走下去。捕捉住那颗在你内心闪耀的星吧，它将引领你抵达自己的命运之路。沿那条路走下去，你就会发现那属于自己的美丽日出。

　　为自己的成绩自豪，因为它们是你通往梦想的阶梯。要知道你自己也会犯错误，但是可别因此而气馁。正确评价自己的能力，是它们令你与众不同。生活里最丰厚的礼物不是买来的，而是通过艰苦的努力和决心获得的。找到在你内心闪耀的那颗星吧??虽然你独自一人，但也有能力实现你最辉煌的梦想。对即得的怀抱希望并抓住那颗掌控你命运的星吧。

最后发表： mite
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Both countries once tried to export revolution. But now China prefers simply to export goods.


As a result, many now believe that China is now one of the least socialist countries in the world. Tens of millions of migrant workers in China have no health care (a fact that worries the government which has promised to bring back free or affordable services.)

最后发表： keepdancing
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Top up the tank.

最后发表： xblues
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by Sean Fallon
  Eversince daylight saving time ended last weekend, I've been a littledepressed. By the time work is through, there is nothing but bleak,cold darkness outside. It perpetually feels later than it really is,and the horrible reality is that it will only get worse. By December21st many of us will be experiencing full-on seasonal depression. Thegood news is that there are plenty of gadgets out there designed toreverse these effects and help us cope with our suffocating, sunlessexistence.
Lamps:
   PopoutPhilipsLivingColors Lamp: Those suffering from the depressing lack of sunlightcan conjure up 16 million unique colors at the push of a button ontheir remote. Unfortunately, the LivingColors Lamp has still not madeits way to stores in the states. [Philips via Link]
   PopoutExideal:This device uses 280 LED lights and 10 modes that vary in both patternsand intensity in an attempt to promote a healthy mind as well as"permeate the vitamins and collagen in your skin and make you beautifulfrom the inside." I wouldn't stare directly into it though—there isnothing healthy about writhing around on the floor choking on your owntongue. [Exideal via Link]
PhilipsWake-Up Light: This alarm clock stimulates your senses in the morningby simulating a natural sunrise. Over the course of 30 minutes, theintensity of the light increases "sending your brain a message toreduce the production of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone, and toincrease the production of cortisol, the energy hormone." [Sadbox via Link]
Simulations:
SunsetNow: Adam Parker Smith's "Sunset Now" art installation allows the userto control the rising and setting of a simulated sun using a simpledimmer switch. [Adam Parker Smith via Link]
Rainbowin My Room: Discovery's "Rainbow in My Room" uses LEDs to recreate thelights of a real rainbow and projects it onto a wall or ceiling. Italso doubles as leprechaun bait. [Discovery via Link]
SkyVSkylights: SkyV takes Sky Factory's faux skylight concept to the nextlevel by adding natural movement using high definition LCD screens. So,even in the darkest depths of winter you can always stare up at asun-filled sky. [Sky Factory via Link]
Portable Gadgets:
VeriluxBook and Travel Light: This tiny travel light uses a full-spectrumcold-cathode bulb to simulate natural sunlight. You can use it to reada book or even shine it on your face to help eliminate dark circlesunder your eyes. [Verilux]
VeriluxReadylight Solar Flashlight: Verilux also makes a handy full-spectrumflashlight (although you will need some real sunlight to charge it).Again, full-spectrum bulbs simulate actual sunlight so using thisflashlight to tell ghost stories in the dark can actually lead towellness. [Verilux]
WickedLasers Torch Flashlight: The LEDs in this torch are not full-spectrum,but it cuts through the darkness like dynamite thanks to 4100 lumens ofpower. Unlike the Verilux flashlight, I do not recommend this for ghoststories—although your face catching on fire would certainly scare thehell out of everyone in the room. [Wicked Lasers via Link]
Pets:
LightTherapy Pet Bed: Even your pets can get the winter blues, which is whysomeone developed a sunlight simulating bed for cats an dogs. If everypet owner used one, I would suspect that the rate of cat and dogsuicides during the winter months would plummet. [Link]

最后发表： oqnwin
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手机学英语-移动英语通 http://www.englishto.com/?dk=70055225    一个学英语的网站!想自学英语的进来顶哦!
可以用手机下载软件,再挑自己想学的课程!我自己用的是PSP下的,挺方便的!边走边学!

最后发表： xblues
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He had that joke when giving a speech facing international media, I dont think that was a smart move.
Everyone who has an opinion about it is right, the only one that had showed his stupidity was him.
It's a lousy joke and was told in the wrong situation. Now, everyone will think that he's an idiot.

最后发表： waltlin
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高手。

最后发表： xblues
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Eight-armed animal preceded dinosaursfrom Neowin Back Page News


Scientistshave discovered what they believe is an eight-armed creature, whichcolonised a large section of the world's oceans over 300 million yearsbefore the first dinosaurs emerged.

The findings represent thefirst comparable animal fossils from the Ediacaran Period, 635 to 541million years ago, which appear in two drastically differentpreservation environments - black shale of South China and quartz rockof South Australia.

"According to palaeogeographicreconstructions, South China and South Australia were close to eachother at the time, belonging to a supercontinent called Gondwana," sayslead author Dr Maoyan Zhu.

Zhu, a scientist at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontologyat the Chinese Academy of Sciences, first helped to make theChina-Australia connection two years ago during a Beijing conference.He showed a photo of the unusual eight-armed creature, called Eoandromeda octobrachiata, to co-author Dr James Gehling of the South Australia Museum.

"Hewas so surprised and immediately opened his laptop and showed me imagesof new fossils uncovered from a new locality at the Flinders Ranges ofSouth Australia," says Zhu. "We wondered if these were the samefossils."

Zhu, Gehling and their colleagues collected eight compressions of the animals from the Doushantuo Formation at Wenghui, China.

Theythen traveled to Flinders Ranges, Australia, and collected sevenspecimens, leaving 31 others on two excavated and reassembled beds.

The findings are published in the November issue of Geology.

There is no question the creature, believed to represent one type of animal, had a lot of arms.

Simple and symmetrical

Theeight arms are clearly preserved in our specimens," says Zhu, addingthat the arms were tubular and in close contact with each other, butnot joined.

He and his colleagues believe the animal was asoft-bodied, dome-shaped organism that lived on seabeds and fed byabsorbing dissolved nutrients from the ambient environment.

Beforethe latest fossils were found, some researchers identified thecreatures as lichens or fungus-like organisms, but Zhu and his teamsuspect that at least some Ediacara fossils represent now-extinctdiploblastic animals, or creatures that possess only two cellularlayers separated by a jelly-type substance.

"Diploblasticanimals are common creatures on present day earth," he said, mentioningthat jellyfish, corals and sea anemones belong to the group.

"These animals (display) radial symmetry but lack complex organs, as shown by E. octobrachiata," he adds.

Themulti-armed creature, and several other early life forms, went extinctaround 542 million years ago, which Zhu says, "left empty niches forthe subsequent Cambrian explosion of complex animals."

Representativesof nearly all existent animals emerged at this time, when a rapidincrease in oxygen made respiration and metabolism possible.

Bridging the gap

Ina separate paper, Professor Shuhai Xiao, a researcher in the Departmentof Geosciences at the [/url=http://www.vt.edu/]Virginia PolytechnicInstitute and State University[/url], and colleague Dr Marc Laflammeprovide an overview of Ediacara fossils.

In the paper, which has been accepted for publication in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution,Xiao and Laflamme agree that, "Ediacara biota bridges the crypticevolution of multicellular life in the early Ediacaran and theextraordinary radiation of animals in the Cambrian period."

Inaddition to the eight-armed creature, they describe other early livingthings that looked like leaves, shells, stars and something almost akinto a peace symbol.

Xiao and Laflamme hope that as the Ediacarafossil database grows ever larger, more mysteries about these veryearly organisms will be solved.

最后发表： xblues
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Shang-Highed: On Top of the World's Tallest Observatoryfrom Gizmodo: Top by Elaine Chow

  It'san unfortunately foggy morning in Shanghai, but from where I am, thecrappy weather only adds to the feeling of standing in the middle ofclouds. I'm towering almost half a kilometer over the rest of the city,on the highest man-made observation deck in the world, the 100th floorof the Shanghai World Financial Center, which opened just two monthsago. With cumulus on my right, stratus on my left and a mirroredceiling reflecting their formations back at me—I feel myself gettingdizzy. Have I developed a fear of heights, or is vertigo inevitablewhen you're this far up?
The Shanghai World Financial Center,also known as The Mori Building, officially opened on August 28th thisyear after over a decade of planning. When it was first envisioned—by aJapanese construction company, The Mori Group—it was to reach 97 floorstall, surpassing the spires of the Petronas Towers in Malaysia. Butconstruction only got as far as the foundations during the late 1990s,sliding to a halt when the Asian financial crisis hit and the MoriGroup found itself juggling a massive fund shortage.
By the timeit began building again in 2003, Taiwan had already started on Taipei101 which—at 508 meters counting its ridiculously tall spire—would soonwrestle away the title of World's Tallest Building. The Mori Groupscrambled to change their plans, but since the foundations put in fiveyears ago were only made to support 460 meters, the most they could addwas four more floors, settling for second place, but with an asterisk:The building has the highest observation point in the world.

Theobservatory for the SWFC has its own entrance, located on the groundlevel and to the side of the actual skyscraper. For 150 yuan ($22), youget a ticket to see the 94th floor Sky Arena, the 97th floor Sky Walk,and Floor 100, that record-breaking vantage point. For those with asense of frugality, or perhaps lacking a sense of adventure, eschewingthe top two levels cuts 50 yuan from the entrance fee.

Afterpaying for the ticket, I was ushered into a room labeled "re-Show."The several of us there that morning proceeded to stand around a towerto watch a “light show.” I raised my eyebrow as various Pokemon-likecharacters—flying teardrops and spinning cherries, all with HelloKitty-esque expressionless faces—flitted across a spinning, glowingreplica of the building to a soundtrack of ambient electronica in thestyle of Brian Eno.
My brochure told me it was designed byartist Toshio Iwai, perhaps better known in the West for his work onElectroplankton, a Nintendo DS that featured similarly plink-plonkyelectronic music. The revelation that Iwai had been behind the showwasn't surprising; it had reminded me of the types of multimediaexhibits I'd seen in Tokyo featuring him.
How culturallyJapanese the entrance had been was especially attention-catchingconsidering the slightly tumultuous history of the Mori Building, aJapanese building in China. The empty trapezoidal area up top, whichmakes the building look like a giant bottle opener, was originallysupposed to be in the shape of a circle, symbolizing—at least to thearchitect—the Oriental myth of the square earth and circular sky.
Butseveral prominent members of the Chinese politico including Shanghai'smayor protested that the design looked too much like the Rising Sun ofthe Japanese flag. In a country still sensitive over Japaneseoccupation during World War II (and Japan's at times unapologeticattitude towards the war), it was too much of an affront for thetallest building in China's richest city to represent anything remotelyNipponese. The building's architects dutifully redid the top, claimingthat the new design saved money.
After the pre-show, we wereherded towards the observatory's first elevator. A panel on one sidedepicted the floor we were on and the height we were at. As the doorsclosed, another light show played out on four screens and the ceiling,complete with yet another atmospheric ambient tune. The elevatorcontinued upwards, and the music sped up to match our trajectory. Myears popped. It took a good minute before the lift finally slid to ahalt and the doors opened to reveal the walkway to the Sky Arena.
Sky Arena? More like Sky Lounge to me
Thefirst of the building's three observatories, the Sky Arena is less likea viewing platform and more like one of those mod mid-century airportlounges. There were high ceilings and spectacular views, but the whitecouches and standing-height tables were constant reminders that thiswas, at its heart, for tourists. A bar at one end served refreshmentswhile a long booth area in the middle sold various Mori Buildingmemorabilia. Ever wanted your nougats to come in a can-opener-shapedskyscraper package? You know where to get 'em now!
Dude, just put it down... it's not worth it.
I quickly bypassed the area and got on the escalator to the 97th floor,the second viewing point. This area was more plain than the first one,a long walkway painted in white. Perhaps thanks to our closer proximityto the sun, it was unbearably bright. Glancing up through glass, Icould see my final destination—Skywalk 100, at 474 meters high, theworld-record-holding observation deck.
It took one last elevatorto bring me up those three final levels. This time, as I stepped out ofthe elevator and into the walkway, it was hard not to gasp.
Unlikethe matted white of the lower level, the designers had decked Floor 100out in a mirror-like finish, so that everywhere you looked, some partof the skyline was reflected back at you. From here you could see thetwo other Shanghai giants, the 468-meter Oriental Pearl Tower and the421-meter Jin Mao Tower, looking like absolute dwarfs, little childrenreaching upwards in a futile attempt to compete with the grand daddy ofvertical climbing.
The 100th floor viewing deck
Onthe ground were one-square-meter transparent glass panels, someoffering an unobstructed view of the drop below. Standing over one andlooking down, I could see the tourists down on 97, dashing from windowto window. Sometimes their faces would point upwards, as they squintedinto the sun and tried to make out the outlines of my feet.
It was about then that I felt my legs wobble and my knees shake.Vertigo was kind of a new experience for me. Having grown up in Asia'smegacities, I'd spent virtually all my life peering out of skyscrapers.I've never had a problem standing on edges and staring downthousand-foot falls—but this was a whole new monster. Despite myrabidly anti-Luddite stance (hell, I work for a technology blog!), apart of me wondered if man was ever meant to stand this far up in thesky.
I also wondered if part of my sudden bout oflightheadedness could be attributed to the subtle vibrations of thewind whistling around the walkway. The Mori Building was allegedlydesigned with Japanese earthquake protections in mind, making itoverspecced for an area like Shanghai that hasn't felt tremors for overa century. Wind—honking gusts of typhoon-powered wind—can still be aproblem, especially at these heights.
To try and counteractswaying, the building has two mass dampers installed on the 90th floor.Each damper consists of a computer controlled, 150-ton counterweightsuspended by wire rope. By rotating with and against the wind, thedampers can reduce wind effects by 40 percent and avoid oscillatingeven during typhoon conditions.

AnLCD screen near the elevator assured me that the transparent glass Istood on was safe. Each panel could withstand the weight of three 176pound people jumping on it at the same time, no problem. It wasn't thatreassuring; I know quite a few people who weigh a little more thanthat. But they weren't there, and I was definitely within limits... sotimidly, I tried a little hop. The person next to me screamed. It wasgood to know I wasn't the only one feeling nervous.
Onmy way back down in the elevator (complete, once again, with the lightshow and Eno-esque music), it was strange reflecting on how I'd justbeen standing at the tallest man-made point ever. It's currentlyimpossible to get even close to that high elsewhere. Though the currenttallest building, Taipei 101, may be officially 16 meters taller thanthe SWFC, almost 60 meters of its height is dedicated solely to thespire. Floor 101 is only 439 meters up, a good 34 meters shy of where Ihad just been.
Even though the SWFC tower is barely two monthsold, its observatory's days as the highest observation deck in theworld are ticking speedily to an end. In less than a year, the BurjDubai will open for business. Though nobody right now knows exactlywhere the tallest floor will be, the building is estimated to reach awhopping 818 meters once it's completed.
And even in Shanghai'sown Pudong Area, the Chinese have already started the foundation onsomething bigger. The Shanghai Center, expected to be complete in 2013,will eclipse the Mori Building by another 140 meters. Nicknamed the"Dragon Building," its funding has been relatively untouched by thecurrent economic downswing—some say because the last thing the Chinesegovernment is willing to do is let a Japanese building stand as thetallest in their land.

最后发表： nizi
回复内容：
1 英语词汇准备

如果你很少光顾洋人餐饮店的话，你最好事先熟悉一下下面列出的常用词汇。如果时间
允许的话，最好再到超市去看看个别你不知道的东西究竟长什么样子。不过你也不要被
我的单词表吓倒。因为我是尽量涵盖到可能出现的生词，但事实上不是所有店里都会有
这些东西。

4.1.1 咖啡类

4.1.1.1 咖啡的种类 ：

espresso----小杯的超浓咖啡，没有牛奶
short black----就是espresso，不同叫法
long black----大杯的兑了热水的咖啡，没有牛奶
cappuccino----卡布其诺：1/3咖啡，1/3热牛奶，外加1/3奶沫(floth)。巧克力粉撒在
最上面。
cafe latte (或直接叫“latte”)----拿铁/奶特比cappuccino牛奶更多点，近1/2。没
有巧克力粉。
flatwhite---比latte奶沫少一点
mugaccino----就是cappuccino放在mug杯里
macchiato----就是shortblack加上一层奶沫
mocha---- 摩卡，就是带可可粉的cappuccino
(以上是“热饮”hotbeverage)
iced coffee----冰咖啡(用牛奶，冰镇浓咖啡及冰激淋制成)
iced mocha----冰摩卡
frappuccino---- 刨冰其诺(用冰块 ，牛奶，冰镇浓咖啡浓缩液制成)
添加物：
soymilk豆奶，有的人为了减肥，用豆奶代替牛奶
skimmilk脱脂牛奶
equal代糖。通常是装在蓝色的小纸包里。
milk和sugar就不用说了。

4.1.2 三明治类

4.1.2.1 spreads and cheeses

butter----黄油
tasty cheese----特香奶酪
cheddar cheese----切达奶酪
swiss cheese---- 瑞士奶酪
low fat cheese / lite cheese---- 减肥奶酪(fat 比较少)
smoked cheese---- 烟熏奶酪
cottage cheese---- 乡村奶酪
philadelphia spread---- 一种白色的面包涂料 ，有点象奶酪
camembert----卡蒙波特奶酪 ，因其发源地卡蒙波特而命名。外壳稍硬，内部质地柔软
有弹性。外部呈白色，内部奶黄色。

--------------------------

4 澳洲洋人餐馆打工指南 {绝版}!!!!!!
brie---- 一种法式软奶酪( 白色)
mozzarella---- 一种意大利奶酪。质地较软，但味道较浓。
parmesan----一种意大利奶酪。质地较硬，牛奶浓度很高，奶味浓烈 。
vegimite---- 一种用蔬菜作的涂面包的酱，褐色

4.1.2.2 面包/面饼类

white bread---- 白面包
whole meal---- 全麦面包
whole grain----全粮面包
brown bread----黑面包，whole meal和whole grain都是黑面包
Lebanese bread----黎巴嫩面包
tortilla----薄饼(有点象特大号的春卷皮)
raisin---- 葡萄干面包

4.1.2.3 馅料类
ham----火腿
turkey----火鸡
bacon----熏肉
egg----鸡蛋
chicken schnitzel----油炸鸡胸肉
salami----意大利腊肠
pepperoni----辣味意大利腊肠
roast beef----烤牛肉
tuna----金枪鱼
salmon----三文鱼
pineapple----菠萝
silverside----牛臀肉
kransky----一种欧式香肠，有点象红肠，但是短一些
lettuce----生菜
tomato----番茄
sun-dried tomato----干番茄
eggplant----茄子
capsicum----灯椒
mushroom----蘑菇
sprout----豆芽
cucumber----黄瓜
spinach----洋菠菜
Spanish onion----西班牙洋葱(紫红色洋葱)
French onion----法式洋葱(棕色外皮的那种)
Olive----橄榄
pickle/gherkin----腌黄瓜
carrot----胡萝卜
beetroot----甜菜根

4.1.2.2 酱料调料类

mayonnaise/mayo----蛋黄酱
BBQ sauce----烧烤酱
tomato sauce----番茄酱
chilli sauce----辣椒酱
garlic sauce----蒜蓉酱
American mustard----美式芥末
French mustard----法式芥末
Dijon mustard----第戎芥末(第戎是法国一城市)
Caesar sauce/Caesar dressing----凯撒酱
tartar sauce----一种白色的海鲜酱
thousand island----千岛酱
pesto----一种绿色的意大利酱
cranberry sauce----蔓越橘酱，一般用来搭配火鸡(记得friends里面有一集关于感恩
节的，钱得勒就在那集里做cranberry sauce，莫尼卡烤了火鸡)
apple paste/sauce----苹果酱，一般用来搭配火腿
white vinegar----白醋
balsamic vinegar----芳香醋
black pepper----黑胡椒

4.1.3 烤品类

pie----派
sausage roll----香肠卷
spinach roll----菠菜卷
quiche----an open pastry case, filled with a mixture of eggs, cream and
other savoury foods, which is baked and eaten hot or cold
cheesestick----奶酪棒

4.1.4 蛋糕甜饼类

muffin----松饼蛋糕
cheesecake----奶酪蛋糕
chocolate eclair----巧克力包皮法式小甜点，当中夹有奶油，上海人管它叫“巧克力
哈斗”
chocolate mud cake----巧克力泥蛋糕
tiramisu----提拉米苏(用巧克力，咖啡和ladyfinger饼干制成)
custardtart----蛋塔
Portuguese tart----葡式蛋塔
pudding----布丁蛋糕
apple turnover----一种外面是脆皮，里面是cream和苹果丁的点心
Scotch short bread----苏格兰小甜饼
ANZAC biscuit/cookie----澳纽联军饼干
Pavalova----派瓦罗瓦蛋糕。
Chocolate mousse----巧克力慕丝
croissant----羊角面包
florentine----一种含多种果仁的甜饼
teacake----茶蛋糕
fruit tart----水果塔

4.1.5 主食类

如果是简单的咖啡三明治店，请跳过此部分。

主食倒没有太多单词要学。只要你了解各种鱼肉海鲜类名称就可以了。如：chicken,
beef, lamb, veal, pork, salmon, tuna, crab, prawn

还有就是要掌握一些面食/通心粉的叫法。关于通心粉的详细种类，请见http://www.daiwen.com/forum/disp ... ;ID=3109&skin=1
当然，比较常见的还是penny, spaghetti, lasagna, shell, vermicelli, fettuccine

如果你的记忆力很好的话，还可以记一下pasta的酱，如：bolognese, marinara,
arrabiata , alfredo 等。到超市货架上就可以看到很多常用的。
----------------------------

5 澳洲洋人餐馆打工指南 {绝版}!!!!!!

还有就是一些有table service的餐馆会卖pizza，所以最好也事先背一下pizza的菜单
。在这里不作赘述了。请从pizzahut和domino的网站上找详细的。


5. 上工

5 .1 注意事项

5.1.1 小费

前面提到过了。如果是有table service或者餐后付帐的话，一般会有小费。也有些煮
咖啡的店员会在咖啡机旁放个小杯子，上面用标签写TIPSPLEASE。

5.1.2 hygiene

很多店要求店员不要用手直接接触食物，而是用食品夹(tong)，或者是带一次性手套。
如果已经带好了手套，记得不要用带了手套的手触摸脏东西，头发，衣物，脸部，否则
的话在接触食物前要更换手套。

女生如果头发比较长，最好绑起来，否则头发容易掉进食物里。店东一般对于深色头发
的店员要求特别严格，因为金色头发掉在食物上很难被发觉，而黑色头发就非常显而易
见了。

5.2 实际工作

5.2.1 怎样take order?

5.2.1.1 没有小费的餐馆

我想大家都知道问 "Hi, how can I help you?" 或者"Hi, what would you like?"如
果有顾客在那里站了好长时间没有反应，或者你不确定对方是否已经叫过食物了，你可
以说"Are you all right?" 或者 “Have you been served?"

范例A -- 堂吃咖啡 ：

A: Hey, are you all right?
B: Yes. Hmm... can I please have ... a soy latte?
A: Have it here or take away? (如果是takeaway的话，店里会有不同size的杯子，
如果是eat-in, 则只有一种size)
B: I'll have it here.
A: Can you show me the table you're gonna sit?
B: The one close to the window.
A: Yep. Anything else?
B: No, thank you.
A: Two dollars eighty please!
(B hands over 5 dollars)
A: That's five dollars
(A then entry the transaction, put the money in the cash machine and get the
change.)
A: Two twenty change. Thank you!
B: Thank you!

范例B---- 外卖咖啡:

C: G'day! Ahh... can I please have a skim cappuccino?
D: Yep! Have it here or take away?
C: Take away.
D: Small size or large?
C: Large, please.
D: With any sugar?
C: Hmm... can I have 2 equal?
D: Sure! So it's large skim cappuccino with 2 equal?
C: Yes, thank you.
D: Anything else?
C: Hmm, I'll have a cheesecake as well.
D: Yep. Comes to five o five.
(C hands over $5.05)
C: Thank you.

范例C----- 现做三明治

E: Hi, you guys are all right?
F: Oh, yes! Hmm... can we please have ... a Hawaiian sandwich and a ...
chicken schnitzel roll?
(Hawaiian sandwich--- 夏威夷三明治，火腿菠萝加奶酪)
E: Yep. White or brown bread for the Hawaiian?
F: Brown, please!
E: Both with cheese?
F: Yes, please.
E: Any salads for the chicken schnitzel roll?
F: Just lettuce, tomato and onion, please.
E: Any sauce? Salt or pepper on it?
F: Just pepper, please. And can we have both of them toasted?
E: Sure! Any drink with them?
F: No, thank you.
E: Comes to nine dollars fifty.
(后文有关收钱内容同上)

5.2.1.2 有小费的店

在这种店，主要是要问顾客4方面问题：前餐，主食，甜品，饮料。

范例 ：

A: Hi, are you ready to order?
B: Yes. Can I please have a Bolognese Spaghetti and a Mediterranean salad?
A: Yes. Any entries at all?
B: No, thank you.
A: Would you like any desserts as well?
B: Hmm...okay! I think I'll have a tiramisu.
A: Yep! Any drink?
B: Can I have a Schwepper?
A: Yep, what flavour?
B: Ciata, please!
A: Is that all you want?
B: Yes.

事实上在taking order的过程中你会被要求作记录。很多店都会有自己特殊的代号。比
如sk表示skim milk 。如果不确定自己的记录是否准确，一定要及时想顾客核对。还有
就是顾客会要求你解释某道菜里面用了什么原料，味道大概怎样。所以你最好事先多多
了解一些背景知识。

5.2.2 serving the table

这一步是关键。因为它影响了你的小费的多少( 当然你让客人点菜时的服务也对小费有
影响)。点完餐就可以开始发刀叉和纸巾。等到上菜时，如果是多个人同桌进餐，一定
要确定把每个人的菜上到自己的那边。所以在靠近菜桌时最好报一下你上的是什么菜。
然后看一下顾客的反应。有些有经验的waitress/waiter甚至能够用脑子记住谁点了什
么菜，蛮厉害的！上完菜不要忘记说一些让顾客开胃的套话。比如：Enjoy your meal!

5.2.3 小费 收取技巧

有时候你的整个服务都不错。但是你的一两个致命的错误会令你无法得到小费：
*迫不及待催促客人付帐
*找钱时不给零钱(比如说找5块钱的话，最好给两个2块两个50分的，这样客户如果身边
没有零钱的话，就可以用你找的钱来付小费。如果你给了整张5块，而顾客身边没零钱
，那么你的服务再好也没用)
*点菜时出错或者上错了菜。(反正任何让顾客不愉悦的错误都有可能使客户拒绝支付小
费)
*等菜时间过长。(有些菜因为烹饪时间比较长，所以客户会等很长时间。在这种情况下
，最好在点菜时就像客户说明，让他作好心理准备)
*对菜谱不熟悉。(比如人家问你某个菜里有什么原料，而你一无所知。)
*上菜次序和时间错误。(比如正餐才刚吃到一半你就上了甜点。如果甜点恰巧是冰激淋
类的话，你就别指望小费了。遇到这种情况，最好把甜点放进冰箱，看到顾客基本己结
束正餐的时候，到桌子旁问一下是否可以上甜点了。)
*找错对象。(最容易付小费的是中年情侣。所以这种人一进店门，你就要卯上。如果是
一帮青少年，一般不会给你小费。毕竟他们的财力也非常有限)

最后发表： syoleen
回复内容：
我看到有些美国的网上在卖车后面的sticker,上面写着
Keep your change! I'll keep my dollars.
这是什么意思?

最后发表： 悠悠
回复内容：

最后发表： ritz
回复内容：
http://freeoz.org/forum/forumdis ... =type&typeid=63
看签证申请-IELTS

最后发表： zll79
回复内容：
我只查到city有个移民中心可以读这个，但是太远了。想问一下SUNNYBANK HILLS最近的可以读510小时英语的地方在哪里？最好是TAFE。

另，想问一下，是否所有读AMES的地方都可以给我办理CONCESSION CARD（如果我读全天的）？好像有帖子说只有在TAFE读才可以办打折卡？

谢谢！

最后发表： beyondcn
回复内容：
count me in

最后发表： ljbit
回复内容：
为什么没有 机器猫 ？？？

最后发表： woody81
回复内容：
http://v.blog.sohu.com/fo/v4/1766080

最后发表： xinghai_su
回复内容：
刚报完名，的确需要提供A类的IELTS成绩，除非你之前那个学位是在澳洲或者认可的国家取得。很痛苦，最后限期是19th Dec，不知道能不能考到。而且以前大学的成绩需要公证，或者在这里复印之后找有资格的人签名才行！下学期的入学报名差不多了，楼主要抓紧了！

最后发表： xblues
回复内容：
Exclusive: The Lego Minifig Timelinefrom Gizmodo: Top by Jesus Diaz

  We have worked with Lego to painstakingly collect and catalog almost every minifig ever producedinto a photographic timeline. You will be able to see the evolution ofthe iconic figure, from the very first sets in the 70s that you saw in our exclusive tour of the secret historic Lego vault to the latest and greatest ones in 2008. Sensory overload ahead.
1978
Introduction of the first minifigs as part of the Town, Space andCastle sets. They are all plain. The first female minifig is introducedtwo months after the first male minifigs.

         1989
First changes in faces introduced with the Lego Pirates. They maintainthe basic expression but add extra features, like eye patches andbeards.

1990
The first specialized minifig appears in Lego Castle: a ghost.

   1993
Lego Island Adventure theme is introduced. That means minifigs wearing bikinis and thongs. Lego truckers also appear in Lego Town. Obviously, there's a connection between truckers and thongs.

  1995
The Lego skeleton comes out of the closet, the second specialized minifig. Aquanauts line introduced.

1996
Lego Western appears, at last opening the possibility of forming theVillage People with Lego minifigs: The sets include cowboys and, forthe first time ever, a different Lego race: Native americans. By theway, this contradicts the answers about race that Lego gave us in our Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Lego Guide.

  1998
Adventurer Johnny Thunder, an Indiana Jones wannabe, appears. Thiscomes before Lego ever got into the whole licensing of moviesintellectual property.

1999
The now famous Lego Star Wars appears, introducing the first ever licensed minifig: Luke Skywalker.

  2000
Lego Soccer scores a few goals with spring-loaded tabletop game action.This is a very bad year for the history of the minifig, however:Jar-Jar Binks minifig appears, the first figure with a molded headever. It should have never happened. The minifig. And the movie.

  2001
Lego Studios appears, so people can film movies with minifigs as characters. You know what that means (see bottom of post).

2002
Shorter legs appear for the same time. Now you can have shortcharacters like Yoda. Double-sided heads are added too, so you canchange the expresion of the minifig on the go.

  2003
Real races are introduced at last, as part of the licensing program.Lego Mars Mission is announced, marking the return of astronauts.

     2005
First Lego minifig with an electrical part appears: A lightsaber.

   2006
Manga comes into Lego minifigs with Exo-Force, introducing new wacky hairdos made of rubber.

      2008
Today, there are 4 billion minifigs in the world, making it the largest population on planet Earth.

   
You know what this grand finale means: Remember that the Go Miniman Go video contest deadline is tomorrow.If you want to participate and win one of the priceless classic vintagesets we are giving away, you need to send your 520 pixel-wide video(encoded as H.264 in high quality, if possible) using yousendit.com tojesus@gizmodo.com. [Go Miniman Go video contest]

最后发表： TWT
回复内容：
Thanks to keepdancing, as well as keepdiscussing!

最后发表： xblues
回复内容：
  That's why this is so funny!!!

最后发表： 小波
回复内容：
http://www.eslpodcards.com/

Archive里面有澳洲英语，还有crossword都很好玩。

最后发表： kennyxue
回复内容：
开眼了啊。

最后发表： 123ak
回复内容：
5个字符的限制，是保持沉默的最低要求。

[ 本帖最后由 123ak 于 1-3-2009 12:26 编辑 ]

最后发表： 123ak
回复内容：
四画

计数池(验血用) counting chamber
心电扫描器   electrocardiograph   心电扫描术electrocadiography
火罐  dry cup   拔火罐 cupping
天平 banlance
开颅器 craniotome
开睑器  eye speculum  窥器，张开器 speculum
无齿镊  smooth forceps 钳子，镊子  forceps
无影灯(手术用) shadowless lamp
支气管镜  bronchoscope      支气管镜  bronchoscopy
切片机  microtome
切肢刀  amputation knife
比色计  colorimeter
牙钳        dental forceps
引流管 drain   drainage
止血带，压脉器 tourniquet
气垫 air cushion
气管插管 tracheal canula
气褥  air bed
手术刀 scalpel
手术衣 operation coat
手提X光机 portable x-ray machine

pls don't reply the post

最后发表： flyday
回复内容：
"Squawks" are problems noted by pilots and left for maintenance crews to fix before the next flight.
(P) is the problem found by the pilot,
(S) is the solution to the problem by the maintenance engineer:
###############################################################

(P) Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
(S) Almost replaced left inside main tire.

(P) Test flight OK, except auto land very rough.
(S) Auto land not installed on this aircraft.

(P) # 2 propeller seeping prop fluid.
(S) # 2 propeller seepage normal -- # 1, # 3, and # 4 propellers lack normal seepage.

(P) Something loose in cockpit.
(S) Something tightened in cockpit.

(P) Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
(S) Evidence removed.

(P) DME volume unbelievably loud.
(S) Volume set to more believable level.

(P) Dead bugs on windshield.
(S) Live bugs on order.

(P) Autopilot in altitude hold mode produces a 200 fpm descent.
(S) Cannot reproduce problems on ground.

(P) IFE inoperative.
(S) IFE always inoperative in OFF mode.

(P) Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
(S) That's what they're there for.

(P) Number three engine missing.
(S) Engine found on right wing after brief search.

(P) Aircraft handles funny.
(S) Aircraft warned to straighten up, "fly right," and be serious.

(P) Target Radar hums.
(S) Reprogrammed Target Radar with the words.

最后发表： flyday
回复内容：
No China & Australia

最后发表： andyliubob
回复内容：
有录音，不过很少，效果很不好，题很老，没什么用了，看剑桥题就可以了

最后发表： 127
回复内容：


Us? or the US?

最后发表： naughtybaby
回复内容：
记忆里,cliche就是法语词后来被吸纳来着,挺韵味的一个词.

最后发表： maaboo
回复内容：
Are these just for FUN???

最后发表： xblues
回复内容：
http://www.askmen.com/specials/top_49_men/

最后发表： someonehappy
回复内容：
A store like B&Q or OBI in China.

最后发表： migao21
回复内容：
3.        A 16-year-old girl from Pyrmont and a 16-year-old girl from Marrickville have been refused bail and arte due to face Parramatta Children's Court today.
你划错了， due to是个短语， 意思是由于; 起因于; 归功于
5.        "She is worse than I am when it comes to TV. I like taking her clothes - dresses most of the time, shoes, cardigans and always scarves."
就是买的意思。 我要买她的衣服。。。

8.        "She is literally on it from the minute she gets home from school to the minute she goes to bed, and we try to squeeze some homework in," she said.
she is on it 就是她在做某事的意思。 加个literally, 就是强调后面的minute， 时间都是以分钟来算的意思。

10.        Music commentator Glenn A. Baker said that while music aimed at teenage girls had always been manipulated, it had become perfected "almost to a science" over the past 20 years, thanks to the rise of girl bands and television talent quests such as the Idol franchise.
（music aimed at teenage girls）这个是主语  针对年轻女孩子的音乐总是被利用操纵。。。

感觉lz的语法还不是很好，倒也不单单是习惯用语。

最后发表： xblues
回复内容：
真假佩林'SNL'上面对面

我之前说过：Sarah Palin本周末将在"SNL"上"打假"，果真如此， 呵呵。。。错过收看的读者看这里，另外，佩林是在Alec Baldwin的引见下登台的，Baldwin以前曾在一部描写阿拉斯加的电影The Edge中充当主角，该片讲述“某情害命”的故事，值得一看。另外，好戏在下面:这才是佩林的真面目，呵呵。。。

点击链接看视频。

最后发表： 新生活主张
回复内容：
我的意见是：在国内只能学习应试英语，也就是对付考试行。

但无法大幅度提高英语应用水平，本人在以下贴子里面表明此观点：http://au.freeoz.org/forum/viewt ... page%3D1#pid1604354，要想真正提高，一定要到英语环境！时间是耗不起的，我们不能够用大量的时间去换取低效率的英语提高！

最后发表： coredump
回复内容：
FROM: http://blog.csdn.net/g9yuayon/archive/2008/10/18/3093688.aspx

强大的告别信。这里登的：http://www.portfolio.com/views/b ... r-goodbye-and-f-you。

写信的人叫Andrew，是加州对冲基金Lahde Capital的基金经理。去年做空次贷，使得他的基金年回报高达866%。今年他决定牛放桃林，马勒戈壁，关掉基金回家追寻逝水流年，就写了这封言辞激烈的信。嘿嘿，慢慢欣赏吧。



Dear Investor:
Today I write not to gloat. Given the pain that nearly everyone is experiencing, that would be entirely inappropriate. Nor am I writing to make further predictions, as most of my forecasts in previous letters have unfolded or are in the process of unfolding. Instead, I am writing to say goodbye.
Recently, on the front page of Section C of the Wall Street Journal, a hedge fund manager who was also closing up shop (a $300 million fund), was quoted as saying, “What I have learned about the hedge fund business is that I hate it.” I could not agree more with that statement. I was in this game for the money. The low hanging fruit, i.e. idiots whose parents paid for prep school, Yale, and then the Harvard MBA, was there for the taking. These people who were (often) truly not worthy of the education they received (or supposedly received) rose to the top of companies such as AIG, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers and all levels of our government. All of this behavior supporting the Aristocracy, only ended up making it easier for me to find people stupid enough to take the other side of my trades. God bless America.
There are far too many people for me to sincerely thank for my success. However, I do not want to sound like a Hollywood actor accepting an award. The money was reward enough. Furthermore, the endless list those deserving thanks know who they are.
I will no longer manage money for other people or institutions. I have enough of my own wealth to manage. Some people, who think they have arrived at a reasonable estimate of my net worth, might be surprised that I would call it quits with such a small war chest. That is fine; I am content with my rewards. Moreover, I will let others try to amass nine, ten or eleven figure net worths. Meanwhile, their lives suck. Appointments back to back, booked solid for the next three months, they look forward to their two week vacation in January during which they will likely be glued to their Blackberries or other such devices. What is the point? They will all be forgotten in fifty years anyway. Steve Balmer, Steven Cohen, and Larry Ellison will all be forgotten. I do not understand the legacy thing. Nearly everyone will be forgotten. Give up on leaving your mark. Throw the Blackberry away and enjoy life.
So this is it. With all due respect, I am dropping out. Please do not expect any type of reply to emails or voicemails within normal time frames or at all. Andy Springer and his company will be handling the dissolution of the fund. And don’t worry about my employees, they were always employed by Mr. Springer’s company and only one (who has been well-rewarded) will lose his job.
I have no interest in any deals in which anyone would like me to participate. I truly do not have a strong opinion about any market right now, other than to say that things will continue to get worse for some time, probably years. I am content sitting on the sidelines and waiting. After all, sitting and waiting is how we made money from the subprime debacle. I now have time to repair my health, which was destroyed by the stress I layered onto myself over the past two years, as well as my entire life — where I had to compete for spaces in universities and graduate schools, jobs and assets under management — with those who had all the advantages (rich parents) that I did not. May meritocracy be part of a new form of government, which needs to be established.
On the issue of the U.S. Government, I would like to make a modest proposal. First, I point out the obvious flaws, whereby legislation was repeatedly brought forth to Congress over the past eight years, which would have reigned in the predatory lending practices of now mostly defunct institutions. These institutions regularly filled the coffers of both parties in return for voting down all of this legislation designed to protect the common citizen. This is an outrage, yet no one seems to know or care about it. Since Thomas Jefferson and Adam Smith passed, I would argue that there has been a dearth of worthy philosophers in this country, at least ones focused on improving government. Capitalism worked for two hundred years, but times change, and systems become corrupt. George Soros, a man of staggering wealth, has stated that he would like to be remembered as a philosopher. My suggestion is that this great man start and sponsor a forum for great minds to come together to create a new system of government that truly represents the common man’s interest, while at the same time creating rewards great enough to attract the best and brightest minds to serve in government roles without having to rely on corruption to further their interests or lifestyles. This forum could be similar to the one used to create the operating system, Linux, which competes with Microsoft’s near monopoly. I believe there is an answer, but for now the system is clearly broken.
Lastly, while I still have an audience, I would like to bring attention to an alternative food and energy source. You won’t see it included in BP’s, “Feel good. We are working on sustainable solutions,” television commercials, nor is it mentioned in ADM’s similar commercials. But hemp has been used for at least 5,000 years for cloth and food, as well as just about everything that is produced from petroleum products. Hemp is not marijuana and vice versa. Hemp is the male plant and it grows like a weed, hence the slang term. The original American flag was made of hemp fiber and our Constitution was printed on paper made of hemp. It was used as recently as World War II by the U.S. Government, and then promptly made illegal after the war was won. At a time when rhetoric is flying about becoming more self-sufficient in terms of energy, why is it illegal to grow this plant in this country? Ah, the female. The evil female plant — marijuana. It gets you high, it makes you laugh, it does not produce a hangover. Unlike alcohol, it does not result in bar fights or wife beating. So, why is this innocuous plant illegal? Is it a gateway drug? No, that would be alcohol, which is so heavily advertised in this country. My only conclusion as to why it is illegal, is that Corporate America, which owns Congress, would rather sell you Paxil, Zoloft, Xanax and other additive drugs, than allow you to grow a plant in your home without some of the profits going into their coffers. This policy is ludicrous. It has surely contributed to our dependency on foreign energy sources. Our policies have other countries literally laughing at our stupidity, most notably Canada, as well as several European nations (both Eastern and Western). You would not know this by paying attention to U.S. media sources though, as they tend not to elaborate on who is laughing at the United States this week. Please people, let’s stop the rhetoric and start thinking about how we can truly become self-sufficient.

With that I say good-bye and good luck.

All the best,
Andrew Lahde”