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2007年5月9日星期三

Two blind elders among the torrent--人流中的老者

By Frozen Magma
9th May, 2007

At the traffic corner of Yi Er Yi Road, two blind elders were struggling their life among the torrent of mortal. Isn't the vision too common to provok any sense of mercy at the bottom your heart? Frankly, I was, in the first place. The elder gentalment was holding an accordion and playing some pieces of old-fasioned music. He was not intending to attract any walkers' attention but to say, I guess, that "I'm still able to do something" or "I'm still able to hold her hands with my effort".

The elder blind gentalman who's wearing a faded-gray sun yat sen's uniform standing there to play the music, as if using ten fingers at his full tilt to push the keys. Crow's-feet were being squeezed togather at his canthus when he was trying to sing something out. Maybe he's starving at that time, who knows. The woman who was sitting on a taboret beside singing some blur lyrics out. Two beats were crossing each other and became into a sad feeling. It's so wired that my heart did feel it but no water emerging...

When I was walking by them, she was suddenly turning her gray eyes towards me. The feeling was strange enough! Why she's doing that? Could she see me? But what I did was speeding up my feet and never gave her another glance. Why...?


The traffic corner is oftenly full of students from Yunnan Normal University and Yunnan University, waiting the red light turns to green. As my observation, those who give coins are young ladies. Of course, I gave them some. For 20 minutes, there were no boys or young men donating coins to the blinds. The two elders were expecting it as I did feel the same. But there's no further donation was dropped into their white enamel mug.

Indifference, lacking of sympathy, selfish, genuine blindness...


What else?

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2007年5月6日星期日

Return of The Mummy? The African Dust Storm--非洲沙尘暴


Return of The Mummy?


Last updated at 12:01pm on 3rd May 2007


The dust cloud over Khartoum sudan


These bizarre images show a gigantic cloud of dust billowing over an African city - just like a scene from the movie The Mummy.


The dust storm - known as a "Haboob" - gathered over Khartoum, the capital of Sudan in north east Africa yesterday. It lasted for about two hours, carrying dust and sand from the Sahara across the city. Haboobs - which are a type of seasonal storm - are formed in summer months.





A cloud of sand and dust rolls across the desert in a scene from The Mummy


They are caused by downdrafts created when a thunderstorm reaches its final phase. These downdrafts cause descending air to hit the ground and pick up large amounts of dust.


The gathering dust clouds then travel forward at a speed of 30 mph, creating the frightening spectacle. The dust storms can reach a height of 3,000 feet and contain a wall of sand up to 60 miles wide.


The word Haboob comes from the Arabic for "phenomena".


The Haboob also occurs in America, especially in hot dry states such as Arizona and Texas.




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2007年5月5日星期六

30岁前男人需要懂得的事


1.事业永远第一
   虽然金钱不是万能的,但没有钱是万万不能的。虽然这句话很俗,但绝对有道理。30岁之前,请把你大部分精力放在你的事业上。
  
2.别把钱看得太重
   不要抱怨自己现在工资低,银行存款4位数以下,看不到前途,现在要做的就是努力学习,即使你文凭再高,怎么把理论运用到实践还是需要一个很长的锻炼过程,社会永远是一所最博大的大学,它让你学到的知识远比你在学校学到的重要得多,所以同样,你也别太介意学历低。30岁之前靠自己能力买车买房的人还是极少。

  3.学会体谅父母
  别嫌他们唠叨,等你为人父了你就知道可怜天下父母心,在他们眼里你还是个孩子,但他们真的老了,现在得你哄他们开心了,也许只要你的一个电话,一点小礼物,就可以让他们安心,很容易做到。

  4.交上好朋友
  朋友对你一生都影响重大,不要去结识太多酒肉朋友,至少得有一个能在关键时刻帮助你的朋友,如果遇到这么一个人,就好好把握,日后必定有用,不管他现在是富还是穷。

  5.别太相信爱情
  心中要有爱,但请别说也别相信那些琼瑶阿姨小说里面的山盟海誓,世上本无永恒,重要的是责任,但女人心海底针,心变了,一切都成枉然,你要做的就是该出手时就出手,该放手时别犹豫。30岁之前的爱情不是假的,但只是大多数人都没有能真正把握好的能力,所以学会量力而行。

  6.别担心至今还保留初吻
  爱情不在多而在精,别以为自己20多岁还没碰过女孩子就害怕自己永远找不到老婆。以后你会有很多机会认识女孩子,要知道这个社会虽然男人多于女人,但现实是女人其实比男人更担心这个问题。男人40一枝花,你在升值而不是贬值,成熟的爱情往往更美丽更长久,所以不要像疯狗一样看到女孩就想追,学会品味寂寞。

  7.不要沉迷于任何东西
  所谓玩物而丧志,网络游戏是你在出校门之前玩的,你现在没有多余的时间和精力花费到这上面,否则你透支的东西以后都得偿还。一个人要有兴趣、爱好,但请分清楚轻重。

  8.年轻没有失败
  不要遇到挫折就灰心,年轻人要时刻保持积极向上的态度。失败了,重来过;失去了,再争取别的。错过了,要分析,下次来,要把握;幼稚了,下次,成熟点。不要紧,会好的,哪怕到了极点,也不要放弃,相信一定可以挺过去。不要消极,会好的。曾经的错,过去了,总不能回味在过去。现在的,很好,累完了,很舒服。不要伤,总会有人在支撑你。

  9.不要轻易崇拜或者鄙视一个人
  人都有偶像,但请拥有你自己的个性。不要刻意去模仿一个人,因为你就是你,是唯一的,独一无二的,要有自信。也不要全盘否定一个人,每个人是有价值的,如果你不能理解他,也请学会接受。

  10.要有责任心
  不管你曾经怎样,但请从现在开始做一个正直的人。男人要有责任心,无论是工作还是生活上,一个有责任心的人才能让别人有安全感,才能让别人觉得你是一个值得信赖的人。我们不要懦弱,但请不要伤害爱你的人和你爱的人,尤其是善良的女孩,因为这个世界善良的女孩不多了,即使不想拥有,但也请让她保持她美丽的心。

  
11.男人的外貌并不重要
  不要为自己的长相身高而过分担心,一个心地善良、为人正直的男人远比那些空有英俊相貌、挺拔身材但内心龌龊的男人要帅得多。如果有人以貌取人,请不要太在意,因为你不用去为一个低级趣味的人而难过。

  
12.学会保护身体
  不要以为现在抽烟喝酒,熬夜通宵也没什么事。那是因为你的身体正处于你一生的黄金时段。30岁以后你就能明白力不从心这个词的意义了,身体是革命的本钱,没有好的身体什么也做不了,所以要尽量让自己过有规律的健康生活。

  13.别觉得一事无成
  你现在还没有资格谈成功,当然如果你有千万资产的除外。一开始太固定的职业并不一定是好事,或许在不断的改行当中,你会学到更丰富的知识,而且可以挖掘出自己的潜能,找到最适合你的工作。

 
 14.请认真工作
  即使你现在的工作再怎么无聊再怎么低级,也请你认真去对待,要知道任何成功人士都是从最小的事做起,或许你现在学不到多么了不起的知识,但起码你要学会良好的工作态度和工作方法,这对以后很重要。

  
15.请认真对待感情
  不要羡慕那些换女人像换鞋一样的花花公子,逢场作戏的爱情只是让你浪费时间浪费精力,一个人最痛苦的不是找不到爱人,而是心中没有了爱,当你把我爱你3个字变成你最容易说的一句话时,那么你在爱情的世界里已经很难找到真正的幸福了。爱情没有公平,总有一个人比对方付出得多,即使没有结果,也别觉得不值,因为你的付出不光是为了她,也是为了你自己的爱,为爱付出是很可贵的,赞自己一下。

  16.请留一点童心

  在内心深处,哪怕只是一个很小的角落里,请保持一份童心,不是幼稚,但有的时候单纯一点会让你很快乐。所以不要太计较得失,生活本无完美。

  最后一点,学会尊重别人,这样别人才会尊重你。



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Lessons From WOW---从魔兽世界中学会的道理

From 平凡生活


任何东西都有我们值得学习的地方。在虚拟世界仍有道理。


37岁的约翰·奥古斯特被认为是好莱坞年轻一代的天才编剧。不过,最近他在自己的博客上"忏悔",自己4个月来沉湎于网络游戏的世界。戒掉魔兽之后,他终于可以完成自己的导演处女作《完美假象》(TheNines),一部小成本,已经在圣丹斯电影节上放映了。



  他坦承,"看过我的影片《完美假象》(The Nines)的人,可以推断出来,在过去的日子里,我确实深受《魔兽世界》的困扰。大约持续了4个月的时间,那段日子里,只要我醒着,不是在玩'魔兽',就是在想着如何玩'魔兽'。做编剧,最奢侈也是最危险的一点,就是有大量的自由时间可以支配,'魔兽'几乎占去我全部的时间。"



  约翰·奥古斯特戒掉"魔兽"的方式很决绝。"适度原则在《魔兽世界》面前无法奏效。我必须彻底戒掉,删掉账号,清除硬盘。现在,我获得了新生,有了孩子,写了几个本子,也自己拍了一部电影。"
  


不过,约翰·奥古斯特在回首沉迷于《魔兽世界》的日子时,并非只有对虚度光阴的懊恼和忏悔,他觉得在游戏的虚拟世界里同样能够建立对现实世界的感悟。



  "对放弃魔兽我没有任何的遗憾,然而,回首过去,我确实从我的艾泽拉斯大陆时代获得了一些有价值的东西,解开了一些曾经百思不得其解的难题,所以,我想和大家分享一切。"



  从约翰·奥古斯特的反思中可以印证当下网络游戏带给社会的两难命题,一方面它创造了一个超越现实的光怪世界,让人们有机会实现额外的生命体验,一方面却让人们难以回到现实中来。



  为了和广大的魔兽玩家们分享这位好莱坞金牌编剧的游戏心得,特意摘编如下,希望能够给大家提供一种在游戏中体味现实人生的励志视角。



  1. 先干掉受伤的怪物



  在面对数倍于你的敌人时,人通常会去追赶打得你最狠的那家伙。这其实是个错误。正确的做法应该是干掉背包负伤,然后逃跑的那个。因为他会在15秒之后回来,很有可能带着一帮坏蛋。只有他死了,你才可以集中精力去对付打你的那家伙。


  现实世界可能没有德鲁伊教团员和查理大帝,可是充满了怪物。在现实生活中,他们可能化身"学期报告"、"日常琐事"、"神秘的汽车难题",对你虎视眈眈。在任何时间段里,总会有那么一个怪物变得越来越强大,大过其他的任何事情。很明显,你需要去击破它。但是,在做之前,环顾一下其他"负伤的怪物"--做了一半的工作可能只需要再多花几分钟就能完成。如果你现在不对付他们,他们可能会在以后不断地打扰你,以至于最后卷土重来。



  这个"负伤的怪物"理论让我努力去回复当天接到的每一个电话,回复24小时之内收到的每一封e-mail。如果汽车的警示灯亮起,一定要马上去修理。我发现,不管什么时候,只要我在想,"我需要记住……"我知道接下来我就会忘记。其实我需要的不是记住,我需要的是去做,去完成......



  2."Grinding"是游戏的一部分…



  套用《魔兽世界》的一个术语,"Grinding"(非常长时间呆在同一地点与同一类怪物战斗)是一种可以轻而易举杀死一大帮怪物的方法,一个接一个地杀,以此获取战利品和经验值。这个过程没有冒险,没有真正的挑战。不需要动脑子,有些乏味,但通常是升级的最快方法。



  日常生活,同样充满了许多不用动脑子的琐事,但是,两者有一个重要的区别,那就是:"Grinding"有一个终极目的。任务也许乏味,但有一个清晰的目标,就好像你做X的目的是为了获得Y一样。你在打印室里复印稿件,是为了得到一个助理的工作。你把稿子校对7遍,是为了把它交给为制片人工作的朋友。你不得不去做那些琐事,为了可以朝目标迈进。



  3. …可是"Grinding"不是游戏的全部



  人们通常会迷惑:我在做这件事情,可是我为什么要做呢?然而,需要记住的是:你不是每个月花15美元,用相同的方式去不断杀掉那些面对袭击不会反击的小鹿小兔。"Grinding"是达成目标的一个方法,然而,游戏的目的远不止这些,说到底它是为了娱乐。所以,一旦升级(或者有足够的鹿皮来制作盔甲),停止"Grinding",开始新的征程。



  我曾在一家叫做Tri-Star的公司干了一年的活儿,一周里读上10个剧本,给每个剧本写提要,收入不错,每篇提要付给我65美元。可是这样的工作让人很厌烦。要知道大部分的剧本都很糟糕,当然它们也为我提供了借鉴,避免以后写成那样。除钱之外,我找不到任何读它们的理由。但是我还是说服自己,"我在一个公司里打工。"所以我一直在读,一本接一本,忠实地写着大纲和评论。虽然总裁夸赞我作了"充满智慧"的笔记,可是很多人建议我试一下别的机会,所以,我放弃了。



  不再看书了,我在环球唱片得到了一个实习生的工作:整理档案,复印文件。这些都不费脑子,所以下班之后依然精力旺盛。我完成了两个剧本。



  以上两个工作都是纯粹的"干活"。理论上来说,写提要应该是个好工作,因为它离编剧很近。老实说,前一两个月我确实学到了一些有价值的东西。不过第二份工作更合适我,因为他没有让我迷失自己真正的理想。



  4. 把不用的东西留给新手



  除了手中的武器和身上的盔甲,开始这场游戏时,你几乎一无所有。渐渐的,积攒到的每一个戒指都让人兴奋不已,盔甲看起来也日渐奢华,但是随着步步升级,一些装备对你来说越来越没用。把他们储存起来然后卖掉,得不偿失。所以,回到新手的领地,找到刚入门的那位,把你不想要的东西都给他。可能会花掉2分钟的时间,但是,会给新手一个极大的先机。(也许还会为你建立一些缘分呢)。



  对我而言,johnaugust.com这个网站,就是回到新手的领地。虽然不能得到经济上的奖励,我还是甘愿送出所能给的一切。当然,我也可以把我的建议写成书,每本卖上15.95美元。可是,我不想那样做。其实,每天我也像新手一样搜索着我感兴趣的话题(Flash编程、DC神话,教孩子游泳)。感谢把这些有用的信息写下来和大家分享的人。作为交换,我把了解的关于编剧的事情也写了下来。如果每个人都能把自己的专长做成网页共享,那这个世界会变得多么美妙。



  5. 明白你的目标



  《魔兽世界》让人耳目一新的地方,就是它拥有一个开放式的结局--如果你喜欢,可以花大量的时间去玩德鲁伊变熊的游戏。为了提供一种修炼的感觉,这个游戏派发多种任务,这些任务通常需要很多步骤来完成,包括收集物品、杀死怪兽或者运送物品。虽然游戏的内在系统会回馈你的努力,但大部分的时间,你的努力(找到更好的防护物)得来的只是一种无形的挫败感。而窍门便是识别这些非游戏设定的任务,并把它们分成以下几个特定步骤:



  *浏览拍卖物以比较价格;
  *选择最想要的护盾;
  *卖掉不需要的亚麻来获取需要的现金;
  *出价。



  在以上任何一种情况中,你都可能遇到10个虚假的任务。除非你完全掌控并识别他们,否则你可能会落到诅咒没用的护盾,不停地到处乱跑的地步。



  倡导"时间管理"的人们也许会把魔兽世界的任务称做"项目",设定的每一个目标都是瞄准"下一个行动"。这虽然很滑稽,可是要知道,生活中大部分的工作都是由为大目标服务的小行动组成。你不是在写剧本,仅仅是在写一幕幕的戏。无论"项目"是什么,如果你不开始就永远无法完成,如果不安排步骤就永远无法开始。



  6. 存储成本很贵



  也许设计者认为那些邋遢的十几岁小男孩才是《魔兽世界》的主要玩家,所以游戏中不允许把任何东西丢在地上。如果不捡起掉下的战锤,它就会永远消失,所以玩家很清楚储藏的重要性:腰带、背包、包裹、胸甲,全都要随身携带。然而不幸的是,基本上永远不会有足够的空间来装这些东西。储存的越多,花费越大。(很明显,就是这么设计的。开发者想要存储的越少越好。)所以一定要牢记携带的成本。如果你不再用那把弓,就把它舍弃,换成硬币--因为硬币是不占包裹空间的。



  与《魔兽世界》或者上个世纪90年代的硬盘不同,现在数字存储设备相当便宜了。我记得以前经常要小心地清理硬盘,为了安装最新版本的桌面排版程序QuarkXPress,尽量把不需要的都删掉。现在,我的c区里还有80G的可用空间,这是我一年来第一次检查。



  去年,我清理了车库。没有像以往那样把不用的都打包卖掉,而是用了更有效的方法,把没用的东西拍成照片,做成一个网页,把链接发给朋友。不管谁想要哪个,都可以用电子邮件和我们联系,他们得到了免费的桌子,而我们得到了宽敞的车库。



  7. 过度思考会失去乐趣



  记住,这个游戏是为了获得乐趣。没错,你可以花费数小时在论坛中,找到你要的那棵"天赋树",或者你可以发挥聪明才智,开辟新的领地,杀死更大的妖怪。然而,过多的计划只会让游戏更像一份工作,从而失去乐趣。



  我经常会问自己,剧本的大概框架是怎么样的,是否有必要坐下来写。其实,大可不必这样。就好像一个地图可以带你到要去的地方,但是如果你完全按照它的话,可能会错过沿途中许多的神奇景观。



  在一个更大的层面上,如果你回顾自己生命中的任何一个阶段,你不会记得你当时的计划是什么。只会记得你做了什么,会记得那些冒险,那些困难,那些不期而遇的曲折小径,正是这些让生活变得迷人起来。所以,不要计划,让那些激动人心的生活就这样到来吧。



8. 魔兽世界是一个非常强调整体团队配合的游戏,他有一个经典的语录,"不怕神一样的对手,只怕猪一样的队友"。所以,不要轻易组队哦。





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2007年5月4日星期五

No Pride and Prejudice!!!

Pride and prejudice. The two different words of the two ends involve human beings' nature. The meaning of them was profunded by watching the classic BBC drama TV series. Frankly, there are too many people in this world have had read the book Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, who's born in December of 1775, Steventon, Hampshire.

As I'd never finished reading the book both in English and Chinese, some regrets would be arisen from the bottom of my heart time after time. But today, in a way of watching the series, I finally fulfilled my blur but passionate longing.

In the first place, the uncertainty mixtured with curiosity was in my vein; Secondly, the overwhelming by the delicacy and accuracy of words using lightnning-spreaded my skin; and the thirdly, emerging into careful tasting suburb life and relationships which were among people of a tiny and quite village in the early of 19th century.

In the eyes of Elizabeth (Lizzy), love and hate, goodness and evil, selfishness and tolarence, gossipmongers and quietness......, are all vividly come to mine. Jane Austen, she writes down the details which are oftenly being forgotten to be felt around you and me, reminding me such things happening around everyone everyday.

Before my abortive marital engagement, I myself was a man of thoughtless, rude, pride, ideal, perfection-oriented and arrogant lad. It's just by these developed nature, we both make something terrible happened. Those evil feelings and thoughts, such as disrespect, suspicion, dishonesty and even the worst one---curse, were provoked; but those good feelings and thoughts, such as respect, trust, honesty and even the best one---love, were died away......

I have been thinking and I am still thinking: why the human beings couldn't treat their own species more better in another way? Why couldn't we be nicer to the ones who we care about? Why couldn't we be simpler to each other?

I'm trying, struggling, going to do and doing the another way to the ones I deeply love, already, from now on...... Happiness shall I have! Indeed... Yeah... it's true!

Ford 2007 Spec Focus RS Tests for WRC--福特测试07款WRC赛车


WRC(World Rally Championship-世界拉力锦标赛)福特车队近日完成了07款福克斯(2007-spec Focus RS)赛车在意大利Sardinia的首度测试,主力车手格恩霍姆与哈文宁分别进行了前三日与后两日的试驾。预计这款新战车将在8月的WRC芬兰站上启用,福特车队希望借助芬兰飞人格伦霍姆的本土之役,为07福克斯赛车赢得处女秀的胜利。

“1000KM的成功测试足已说明赛车的实力,这一长度相当于3场赛事。2007 Focus RS拥有多方面的性能提升,操控也更为精准,尽管测试中遇到个别小问题,但不会影响最终的成绩。”哈文宁愉快地表示。主力车手格伦霍姆相信:凭借新车的实力完全有能力打败任何对手,我的目标就是从勒布手中夺回排行榜第一的位置。现在我对比赛充满信心。

2007年5月2日星期三

Headless body in Thames identified

Headless body in Thames identified
by Widiane Moussa and Hannah Summers.
Tuesday, 1 May 2007

A headless corpse fished out of the Thames last month was named this morning as Chinese student Xing Xing Xie.The 23-year-old’s body, dressed in just a skirt and bra, was found stuffed in a laundry bag off South Dock Marina in Rotherhithe on 19 April.

Her head and hands had been sawn off in what detectives believe was an attempt by her killer to disguise her identity.But DNA tests confirmed it was the body of missing student Xie, who lived near Waterloo station. She was last seen by her flatmate four days before her body was found in the river, Southwark Coroner’s Court heard as an inquest was opened and adjourned today.

Coroner John Sampson said: “She went out on the 15th and was reported missing by her flatmate a little bit later when she became concerned after she didn’t return.”Det Insp Andrew Mattrass quashed rumours the student had been pregnant.

He said: “It’s not true – I don’t know where that rumour came from. We believe she was born in China and was studying in London. She had been here since about 2002 and had several visa extensions.” He added: “I would guess that whoever cut off her head and hands did so to make identification more difficult. It didn’t work.” One man has been arrested and bailed, but Mattrass said police were “still actively seeking” those involved in the killing.The coroner adjourned the inquest for two months to allow the “ongoing” murder investigation to continue.

2007年4月29日星期日

Researchers Say Vitamin D Might Protect Against Multiple Sclerosis

岩浆美国之音特别英语翻译03


Researchers Say Vitamin D Might Protect Against Multiple Sclerosis

研究表明:维他命D或许能够预防多发性硬化症(MS)

02 January 2007
Translated by 冰冷的岩浆

本节目文本

本节目音频

A study by the Harvard School of Public Health links high levels of vitamin D with lowered risk of MS.

哈佛大学公共卫生学院的一项研究揭示:人体维他命D高保有量与多发性硬化症低发病率之间的联系。


This is the VOA Special English Health Report.

您正在收听的是美国之音特别英语之健康报道。

In recent years, research has suggested more health value from vitamin D than had once been thought.

近年来的研究表明,维他命D的健康价值要比从前所知的要高。

Vitamin D is produced naturally in the blood. Sunlight is a major source. It is also found in some foods. These include eggs, liver and some fish. Vitamin D is also found in pills. Vitamin D helps to increase levels of calcium in the blood. It helps build strong bones and teeth. It also helps in muscle development.

血液能够自主产生维他命D,人体所接受的阳光照射亦是其主要产生方式。人们在许多食物中也发现含有维D,其中包括:鸡蛋、动物的肝脏和某些鱼类。另外,药物中也含有维D。它不但有助于提高血液中的钙含量、生成壮实的骨骼和牙齿,还有助于肌肉的生长。

It also appears to do more than just protect against rickets. That serious bone disease was the reason vitamin D was added to milk. Rickets is now rare in the western world. But it is still a common childhood disease in developing countries. Rickets can cause bone pain and weakness, teeth problems and muscle loss.

维他命D的作用之一就是预防佝偻病的发生。这种严重的骨骼疾病就是我们将维D加入食用牛奶之中的原因所在。目前,佝偻病在西方国家已近绝迹,但在发展中国家,它仍是一种儿童常见病。它能导致骨骼疼痛、骨质疏松、牙疾病和肌肉萎缩。

Now researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston say vitamin D might protect against multiple sclerosis, also called MS.

目前,位于美国波士顿的哈佛大学公共卫生学院的研究人员表示:维他命D或许还能够预防多发性硬化症,简称MS。


MS is a progressive disease of the central nervous system that affects about two million people around the world. There is no cure. MS causes problems with speech and movement. The level of severity can differ from person to person. But is usually seriously disabling.

MS是一种中枢神经渐进性疾病 (即在一段时间内症状会愈加严重的疾病),全世界有近两百万人深受其苦,而且还没有根治的方法。患有MS会导致语言与行动方面的障碍,其严重程度因人而异,通常会给患者带来严重的身体机能缺损。


The study in Boston involved blood samples from more than seven million members of the American military. It found that people with higher levels of vitamin D had lower rates of MS. It found that the chance of developing MS was sixty-two percent lower among those with the highest level of vitamin D than those with the lowest level.

在波士顿的这项研究分析了采自美国军方超过七百万人的血样。研究发现,体内维他命D含量高的人群具有较低的多发性硬化症的发病率。对比研究中发现,MS在维D含量高的人群中的发病几率要比含量低的人群低62%。

Alberto Ascherio led the study. He says vitamin D may become a future treatment for MS. But, he says first scientists must carry out a large, controlled study in which some people get vitamin D and others do not.

阿尔伯特 阿斯盖瑞欧是该研究项目的负责人。他表示,维他命D可能会在今后治疗多发性硬化症中起到关键作用。但首先,科学家们必须对摄入和不摄入维生素D的人群进行大量、可靠的研究。

This is not the first study to show a possible relationship between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis. But it has provided the clearest evidence of a direct link.

该项研究并不是第一个表明维D与多发性硬化症之间存在关联的研究。但它已经为人们提供了两者之间有必然联系的佐证。


The National Institutes of Health says some studies also suggest vitamin D may protect against some kinds of cancer, especially colon cancer. But it says more human studies are needed to learn if a lack of vitamin D increases the risk of cancer… or if treatment with large amounts of vitamin D could protect against the disease.

美国国家卫生研究院表示,一些研究也表明维他命D可能对某些癌症(特别是结肠癌)有预防作用。但他们还表示,需要对人类机体进行更多的研究来证实---如果机体缺少维D则会增加患癌的可能性。


And that's the Special English Health Report, written by Caty Weaver. You can get transcripts of our health reports, and download audio, at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.

这里是特别英语之健康报道。凯蒂 维福尔撰文。您可以登录www.voaspecilaenglish.com 下载健康报道的文本和音频。史蒂夫 安伯尔为您播送。

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Word Bank--关键词:

1. multiple sclerosis--多发性硬化症。中枢神经系统一种慢性退化性疾病,发病时髓脂质慢性形成斑状损坏,遍及大脑和脊髓或两处同时出现,干扰神经通路并导致肌肉无力、协调性丧失以及语言和视力障碍。这种疾病主要出现在年轻的成年人中,并被认为是源于遗传或病毒所引起的免疫系统缺陷所导致的;

2. muscle development--肌肉生长、肌肉组织发展;

3. rickets--佝偻病、软骨病、 驼背。:由缺乏维生素D或钙及日晒不足导致的缺陷疾病,症状为有缺陷的骨质发育,主要发生于儿童中也作 rachitis;

4. bone pain--骨骼疼痛;

5. bone weakness--骨质疏松。一种疾病,症状为骨头充满孔隙、易骨折且愈合慢,多发作于绝经后的妇女且常导致椎骨萎陷直至脊椎弯曲,学名osteoporosis;

6. muscle loss--肌肉萎缩或肌肉缺失;

7. Harvard School of Public Health--哈佛大学公共卫生学院;

8. progressive disease--渐进性疾病,即在一段时间内症状会愈加严重的疾病。例如 Parkinson disease 帕金森氏综合症;

9. colon cancer-- 结肠癌,是常见的恶性肿瘤之一,以40岁~50岁年龄组发病率最高;

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Knowledge Base--知识点:

结肠癌是常见的恶性肿瘤之一,以40岁~50岁年龄组发病率最高。 我国的发病率与死亡率低于胃癌,食管癌、肺癌等常见恶性肿瘤。近年各地资料显示随着人 民生活水平的提高,饮食结构的改变,其发病率呈逐年上各趋势。从流行病学的观点看,结肠癌的发病和 环境、生活习惯、尤其是饮食方式有关。


一般认为高脂肪食谱和纤维素不足是主要发病原因。研究显示,饱和脂肪酸的饮食可增加结 肠中胆汁酸与中性固醇的浓度,并改变大肠菌群的组成。胆汁酸经细菌作用可生成3-甲基胆蒽等致癌物质,固醇环 也可经细菌作用被芳香化而形成致癌物质。食物纤维包括纤维素、果胶、半纤维素、木质素等,吸收水分,增加粪便量,稀 释肠内残留物浓度,能够缩短粪便通过大肠的时间而减少致癌物质与肠粘膜接触的时间,若膳食纤维不足时,已是结肠癌 的发病因素之一。


慢性大肠炎症,如溃疡性结肠炎的肠癌发生率高于一般人群,炎症的增生性病变的发展过程 中,常可形成息肉,进一步发展为肠癌;克隆氏(Crohn)病时,有结肠、直肠受累者可引起癌变。血吸虫流行区和非流行区的结肠癌发病率与死亡率有明显区别,过去认为慢性血吸虫病患者 ,因肠壁血吸虫卵沉积与毒素刺激,导致大肠粘膜慢性溃疡,炎性息肉等,进而引起癌变。 这个观点一直在争论, 据浙江省嘉善县血吸虫病日渐控制,新发病例明显减少,晚期病人趋于消失,而结肠癌的发病率仍很高。据一般资料统计,有结肠息肉的患者,结肠癌发病率是无结肠息肉患者的5倍。家族性多发 性肠息肉瘤,癌变的发生率更高。


近几年来,有报告结肠癌阳性家族者,其发病率是一般人群的四倍,说明遗传因素可能参与 结肠癌的发病。

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本Blog所翻译之译文,未经作者(冰冷的岩浆)许可,不得转载!

2007年4月27日星期五

Jewelry Making Through the Ages: Ancient Artistry Meets a Modern Eye

岩浆美国之音特别英语翻译02

Jewelry Making Through the Ages : Ancient Artistry Meets a Modern Eye

穿越时光的珠宝饰品制作工艺:古代艺术与现代审美的交汇
02 January 2007
Translated by 冰冷的岩浆


''My original plan was to be a furniture designer, but I like things I can hold in my hand,'' says Susan Sanders, a Virginia jewelry designer who has shown her work in several countries. "


“成为一名家具设计师是我的初衷,但我更喜欢能够握于掌心的东西”。苏珊 桑德斯---弗吉尼亚州珠宝饰品设计师,在世界许多国家展出其作品。”

I’m Barbara Klein.
我是芭芭拉 克莱恩

And I’m Steve Ember with EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English.


我是史蒂夫 安伯尔为您播送美国之音特别英语之“探索发现”节目。

At the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia, you can see the work of jewelry designer Susan Sanders. Her many gold and silver designs have a clean and modern look. One of her silver rings has a bold geometric design with small smooth stones inlayed into the metal.


在弗吉尼亚州亚历山大市的“震旦艺术工作中心”(Torpedo Factory Art Center),您可以观赏到苏珊 桑德斯制作的珠宝饰品。她的许多金银饰品的设计都具有一种简洁而现代的气息。她所设计的饰品中,有一枚戒指就运用了大胆的几何设计风格,此外她还把一些细小光滑的石子镶嵌其上。


How did she make this ring? Today we answer this question as we explore the history and methods of jewelry design.


她是如何制作出这样的指环呢?在今天的节目中,伴随我们探寻珠宝首饰设计的历史和方法的同时,将为您揭晓答案。


People from almost all cultures throughout history have been making and wearing jewelry. Jewelry is valued for its visual quality, the richness of its materials and the expert way it is made. Since ancient times people have worn jewelry like rings, bracelets and necklaces to decorate their fingers, wrists and necks.


纵观古今,几乎所有来自不同文化背景的人们都制作并佩戴珠宝饰物。它的价值就在于其上好的外观,华美的用料和专业的做工。自古以来,人们就用指环,手镯和项链来装点他们的十指,双腕和颈项。

Ancient peoples who lived near the ocean used the shells of sea creatures to make jewelry. Other ancient peoples used materials like small colored rocks and animal bones and teeth. Jewelry often was made from whatever material was considered rare and costly. It expressed the wealth and social importance of its wearer.


居住于大海之滨的古代族群使用海洋生物的外壳来制作饰品。而另一些人则使用色彩斑斓的小石子,兽骨和牙齿。通常,珠宝饰品的用料是那些被认为是稀有和贵重的材料。饰品能表明佩戴者的富有程度和其重要的社会地位。

Later cultures learned how to find and work with gold. One of gold’s important qualities is that it is a very soft metal. It can be easily formed or even flattened into extremely thin sheets of metal.



稍晚一些的文明学会了如何寻找和冶炼金。而金的重要特性之一便是其质软易铸。它能被轻易地铸就成形,甚至还能被打成纤薄如纸的金箔。


Some of the oldest and finest known jewelry comes from the burial site of the Sumerian ruler Queen Pu-abi. This Mesopotamian culture existed more than four thousand five hundred years ago. In this area that is now Iraq, archeologists discovered fine examples of gold jewelry. Many of the jewelry designs combined the brightness of gold with the intense blue stone called lapus lazuli. This jewelry shows some of the earliest examples of metalworking methods such as filigree and granulation.


我们已知的一些最古老,也是最精致的珠宝饰品是来自于苏美尔王朝统治者---普 阿比皇后的墓葬遗址。这段美索不达米亚的文明存在于4500多年之前。在这片地区(现今伊拉克),考古学家发掘出了一些金饰品的代表作。它们当中的许多设计都将金的夺目耀眼与有着深邃蓝色的天青石合二为一。这件饰品让我们看到了一些早期金属加工方式的代表工艺,如花丝法和制粒法。


Granulation is a technique in which tiny gold balls are placed in a decorative pattern and joined onto a gold surface. Filigree is made by arranging fine gold or silver wires into patterns or images. Filigree work can either be joined onto a metal surface, or left as openwork. Many cultures have left extraordinary examples of this technique. Examples include the jewelry of ancient Greeks and the eighteenth century Qing period in China.


制粒工艺是将金的球状颗粒排列为一种装饰性图案,然后再将该图案接合到金胎表面。花丝法则是将金或银的细丝编织成图案或图形。花丝工艺品既能能接合到金属表面,亦可单独作为镂空饰物。许多文明都留下了极为独特的花丝工艺代表作,其中包括古希腊时期和18世纪中国清代的饰品。


Several other metal working methods were developed in ancient times and still define jewelry design today. They include cloisonné work and casting. Cloisonné involves forming metal borders to make different contained areas on the surface of the piece of jewelry. These spaces are then filled with different pieces of finely carved precious stones or with small bits of glass that are melted together.


其他的一些古代金属工艺依旧影响着当今的饰品设计。如景泰蓝和金属铸造工艺。景泰蓝工艺是把首饰的表面通过将金属掐丝做出形状不同且镂空的区域。尔后,这些区域就会被嵌以形态各俱且经过精心雕凿的宝石,亦或是被嵌以许多玻璃小颗粒熔结而成的玻璃块。



The ancient Egyptians were experts of the cloisonné method. For example, at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City you can see a beautiful cloisonné necklace made more than four thousand years ago. More than three hundred small stones make up a detailed image of Egyptian symbols such as birds and snake creatures. The symbols tell about the sun god giving long life to the Egyptian ruler of that time, King Senwosret the Second.


古埃及人是景泰蓝工艺的个中好手。比如说,在纽约的大都会博物馆,您能看见到一条打造于4000多年前的华美的景泰蓝项链。 300多颗小宝石汇聚成了埃及人的鸟形和蛇形图腾。它讲述了一个关于太阳神把永生赐予当时的埃及法老王森乌塞特二世的故事。


For thousands of years, Egyptian jewelry represented a great tradition of artistic skill. Many of the pieces were not only beautiful, but also believed to be magical. Amulet jewelry was believed to protect people or give them special powers. For example, scarabs in the form of the beetle insect were believed to be the symbol of new life. Jewelers in ancient Egypt made many examples of finely carved scarab rings and necklaces that still exist today.



几千年来,埃及珠宝饰品代表着一种伟大的传统艺术技艺。许多饰品不仅精美绝伦,而且还被世人奉为魔幻珍品。护身符饰品被认为能给人以护佑或者给予他们特殊的力量。例如,甲壳虫外形的圣甲虫被认为是新生的象征。古埃及的首饰匠人们打造了许多保存至今的精美的圣甲虫指环和项链。


One very old technique of metal casting is called the lost-wax method. With this method, an artist carves the shape of jewelry he or she wants to make out of wax material. This shape is placed into a piece of clay, which is heated at high temperatures.


有一种非常古老的金属铸造技法叫熔蜡模铸法。通过这种方法,艺术家能够用蜡做出他/她想要制作的饰品形状,然后将其置入一块陶土中,并用高温加热之。

The clay takes the form of the ring, but the wax inside melts away because of the heat. This is why the method is called lost-wax. The original carved wax model is lost, but its form remains in the clay. Hot liquid metal such as gold is placed inside this clay form. As the metal cools and hardens, it takes the form left by the wax.


陶土中间形成了中空的形状,而蜡则受热熔走。这就是为何此法被称作熔蜡模铸法的原因。原本雕好的蜡模消失了,但它的形状却保留在了陶土中。高温的金属熔液(例如金)就被倒入这个陶土模具中。当金属熔液的温度冷却下来并变硬时,它就具有了蜡质模具的形状。


The rulers of Asante in modern day Ghana wore gold jewelry made with the lost-wax method. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Asante jewelers made beautiful, fine, detailed gold objects. The ruling family and other leaders wore objects as symbols of their importance, wealth and power.


在今天加纳的阿散蒂族统治者就佩戴着由熔蜡模铸法做出的金首饰。在18到19世纪,阿散蒂首饰匠人们制作出精美绝伦和精细入微的黄金器物。皇室成员和其他领导人所佩戴的饰物显现出了他们的重要性,财力和权威。


Granulation, filigree, cloisonné and casting are only a few of the metalworking methods used by jewelers both in the past and today.

纵观古今,制粒、花丝、景泰蓝和金属铸造工艺也只是首饰工匠们所使用的金属加工技艺的沧海一粟。

VOICE ONE:
Of course, not all jewelry is made by metalworking. Many cultures throughout history used other valuable materials as well. For example, in China, carved jade stone was part of an ancient jewelry tradition. This green stone was beautiful and also thought to have magical powers. In southern Nigeria during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, only the ruling family of Benin had the right to wear jewelry carved of white ivory material.

显然,并不是所有的珠宝首饰都是通过金属工艺加工而来。在漫漫历史长河之中,许多文明也运用了其他材料打造之。举例来说,玉石雕刻在中国是古老的传统饰品加工工艺。这种绿色的石头不仅外形瑰丽,而且还被认为具有魔力。16到17世纪,在尼日利亚南方地区,只有居住在贝宁城的皇室成员才有权佩戴由洁白的象牙材料雕刻出来的饰品。


These are only a few examples of the creativity humans have demonstrated with the art of making jewelry. What kinds of jewelry traditions exist where you live?

首饰制作工艺体现了人类的创造力,而上述实例也仅只是冰山一角。在您所生活的地方有些什么样的首饰加工传统呢?

The methods we have described are still being used by artists today. Modern technology and newer methods have only added to the countless ways that stones, metals and other materials can be formed. Today, jewelry designers combine old and new methods with styles from around the world. Many also use unexpected materials, such as plastics, cotton and wood. The creative possibilities of modern jewelry making are limitless.


如今,艺术工作者们仍在使用上述的首饰加工技艺。现代科技和新兴工艺也只是被融入到了那些灿若星辰的石头、金属和其他材料的加工方式之中。首饰设计匠人们揉融传统和新兴的首饰加工方式,将来自世界各地的不同艺术风格运用其中。他们当中的许多人甚至启用一些出人意料的材料如塑胶材料、棉料和木料来加工首饰。我们可以看到,当代首饰加工的创新可能是无疆无界的。


The Torpedo Factory Art Center is in the old area of Alexandria, Virginia, near Washington, D.C. Here, on the second floor is a workroom and store called Susan Sanders Design. Let us go back to the modern geometric jewelry we told about earlier.


“震旦艺术中心”位于弗吉尼亚州亚历山大市的老城区,毗邻首都华盛顿。在该中心的二楼,有着一处集工作和商铺功能于一体的地方,那就是‘苏珊 桑德斯创作工作室’。现在就让我们回到刚才提到的现代几何首饰加工的话题当中吧。


“I'm Susan Sanders. I'm a jewelry designer at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia. I started making jewelry when I was in college but my desire to make things started much earlier than that. My father was a graphics designer and brought me home professional supplies. My original plan was to be a furniture designer, but I like things I can hold in my hand.”


“我叫苏珊 桑德斯。是弗吉尼亚州亚历山大市的‘震旦艺术中心’饰品设计师。我在大学里就开始从事首饰创作,但我有加工制作物品的想法还要相对更早一些。我的父亲是一位平面设计师,是他给我找来了很多专业工具。起初,我想成为一名家具设计师,但我更喜欢能够握于掌心的东西。”


Susan Sanders says this ring is not the easiest of her rings to wear. It is more like a finger sculpture. She carved the main sterling silver form of the ring from a piece of hard wax material. With the lost-wax method we told about earlier, she carved the wax model to make the silver form.


苏珊表示要戴上这枚戒指却不是那么容易的事儿,加工过程更像是在做指环雕刻。她用一块硬蜡雕刻出纯银模本所需的形状。她使用了我们前面提到的熔蜡模铸法,先雕凿出硬蜡模本,再将其铸成银饰模本。


Then, she used a milling machine to create a perfect circle opening for a finger. She also used this milling tool to carve out the areas where she placed small pieces of onyx and jasper stone. Once the stones were in place, she ground the surface to a smooth finish.


之后,再用铣床制作出一个最佳适合于手指大小的圆环。苏珊也会用这台机器凿出一些留空区域,用来镶嵌缟玛瑙和玉髓碧玉颗粒。等到这些宝石被镶嵌之后,再进行表面打磨,继而完工。

Like most of her work, this ring is very modern and geometric. Susan Sanders says she is not exactly sure where her ideas come from. Some ideas come from subjects she loves such as modern architecture. But the hardest part is choosing an idea for a piece of jewelry since she does not have the time or resources to make every design she imagines.


就像她其他的作品一样,这枚指环具有非常现代的几何艺术气息。苏珊 桑德斯说,她自己都说不清这些灵感从何而来。其中的一部分灵感来源于她的爱好,如现代建筑。但最困难的部分在于:如何为一件饰物选择对应的设计思路。因为她没有那么多时间和材料来创作她脑海中的饰品。

Susan Sanders sells most of her work in her store in Alexandria. If you visit the store, you can see her hard at work on new jewelry. Galleries in California also carry her designs. She has even shown her work in countries such as Italy and South Korea.


在亚历山大,苏珊通过她的工作室出售她的很多作品。如果您去她的小店逛逛,就会发现她忙碌于制作新的饰品。加利福尼亚州的许多艺术展览馆也展出她的作品。她的作品甚至还在其他国家展出,例如在意大利和韩国。


Listen as Susan Sanders tells about an exciting show she helped put together in Russia:

下面我们来听听苏珊在俄罗斯的经历。她曾在那儿协同举办了一场有趣的展览会。

“I have had quite a number of shows in different countries. The most exciting of which was a show that we had in Moscow in Russia that was called Two Capitals which was jewelry designers from the Washington, D.C., area and artists also from the Moscow area. We put together a show and went over there with it. We had a fabulous time.


“我在许多国家都有很多展览要参加。让我印象最深刻的一场是在俄罗斯首都莫斯科所举办的。这次展出也被称作‘双城记’,因为来自美国华盛顿特区的首饰设计师和来自莫斯科的艺术家都参加了这次展览。”我们联合举办并亲自出席了该展览。大家都非常高兴。



"We were entertained by three of the country's best opera singers and one of their top pianists, which was absolutely incredible. We had an opportunity to meet some of the other Russian jewelers and visit their studios, so we feel like we have friends over there even though we had to speak through an interpreter.”

该国最优秀的三位歌剧演唱家和一位钢琴家为我们演出了节目,那次演出真是精彩至极。我们还有幸见到了该国的一些珠宝商并且还拜访了他们的工作室。虽然我们之间需要通过一位翻译来沟通,但却觉得他们都是我们的老朋友一般。”


Susan Sanders says to be a good jewelry maker you have to enjoy working long and hard on very small details. She says it is not work that goes quickly. Sanders feels lucky to have grown up with the choices she had. Because her father was an artist, he supported her creative goals early on. Many women did not have the same choices. Susan Sanders says she is thankful to be an artist doing work that she loves.


苏珊说,“欲速则不达”,要成为一名优秀的饰品设计师,你就必须要长时间地、努力地去研赏艺术作品的细微之处。 她很庆幸能够按照自己的选择一路走来。因为她父亲曾是一位艺术家,他支持着苏珊早期所表现出来的那种创作天赋。


This program was written and produced by Dana Demange. I’m Barbara Klein.
戴安娜 蒂萌志制作并为本次节目撰稿。我是芭芭拉 克莱恩。

And I’m Steve Ember. You can read and listen to this program on our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com. You can also see pictures of Susan Sanders' jewelry. Join us again next week for Explorations in VOA Special English.


我是史蒂夫 安伯尔。您可以到我们的网站阅读并收听本次节目。网址是http://www.voaspecialenglish.com/. 此外,您也可以浏览到苏珊 桑德斯的饰品图片。让我们在下周的美国之音特别英语之探索发现节目中再次相会。


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Word Bank--关键词

1. jewelry--珠宝饰品、首饰、珠宝工艺品;

2. Sumerian--苏美尔人、苏美尔人的、闪族、闪族人的;

3. lapus lazuli--又作lapis lazuli,天青石,一般为深蓝色;

4. metalworking method--金属加工方法、金属加工工艺;

5. filigree--花丝法,将金、银细丝编织为艺术图案的方法;

6. granulation--制粒法,是把粉末、块状物、溶液、熔融液等状态的物料进行处理、制成具有一定形态和大小的颗粒( 粒子) 的操作。另外亦是金属加工工艺之一;

7. cloisonné--景泰蓝工艺,自古以来首饰加工中的重要工艺;

8. casting--金属铸造工艺;

9. scarab--圣甲虫,古埃及人对其十分着迷,认为其代表了新生。因此在有阴间摆渡者阿努比斯的壁画中一般都有圣甲虫的身影;

10. Amulet jewelry--护身符类的首饰,喜欢玩游戏的同学都一定对护符这个单词不陌生吧;

11. lost-wax method--熔蜡模铸法,还有的人将其叫做脱蜡铸造或失蜡铸造,个人认为这两种翻译方式有欠佳的地方。如果是约定俗成的方式,那我就没有话说了;

12. Asante--阿散蒂族、阿散蒂人、阿散蒂语,主要聚居在加纳;阿散蒂(Ashanti 或Asante) 人是加纳最有影响的族群阿肯族(Akan) 的支系,也是阿肯族中最为知名和突出的共同体。17 世纪中叶,生活在西非热带雨林地区的阿散蒂各部落建立了阿散蒂王国。到18 世纪末,阿散蒂国已统一了周围许多部落,成为占有今加纳中部和南部地区的强大国家,其疆域西起科莫埃河,东达多哥山脉,大体相当于现在的阿散蒂地区。 阿散蒂的传统社会结构是母系社会。阿散蒂人认为,两代人之间是由母亲的血液连在一起的,因此,每一个阿散蒂人都可以通过母亲来追溯自己的血统世系;

13. onyx--缟玛瑙,矿产词;一种带有条纹和多种颜色的玉髓,它被用来作饰物的宝石,常用于浮雕和凹雕;

14. jasper--碧玉、水苍玉、玉髓碧玉:一种颜色可为红色、黄色或褐色的不透明的隐晶体石英;

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