The Legend of an Era

 

He was starting programing at the age of 13, and predicted that he would be a millionaire when he was 25.

 

He was a commercial genius, keeping Microsoft full of life.

 

He was a legend, becoming the richest man in the world at the age of 39.

 

He is just the creator of Microsoft, Bill Gates, who formally retired from Microsoft and donated 58 billion dollars to the charities June 27.

 

He is the greatest man, and his name will be permanently written into history. He has been the focus of media, and this time, is different.

 

I regard him highly, for he is not only a successful merchant, but also a good man, a legend of an era.

China Worried About Illegal Drugs During Olympics

奥运期间中国担忧非法毒品

 

China says it will step up drug enforcement efforts during the Olympic Games in Beijing in August. Meanwhile, Chinese officials are expressing alarm about the opium traffic from neighboring Afghanistan, the country that has become the world's leading producer of the drug.

 

中国方面表明, 在8月北京奥运期间, 中国将加强非法药品执行力度. 同时, 中国官员表明正在对来自阿富汗的鸦片交易提高警惕. 阿富汗已经成为了全球毒品主要生产国.

One of China's top drug-fighting officials, Yang Fengrui, says he is concerned more foreigners in China during the Olympics could mean more illegal narcotics.

 

中国负责打击毒品犯罪的主高官之一杨凤瑞说, 他担心奥运期间会有更多的外国人在中国, 这可能意味着更多的非法毒品.

"In order to ensure the security of the Olympic games, and to host a green Olympic games and a drug-free Olympic games, the central government has instructed the law enforcement departments to do a lot about drug control during the Olympic games, in order to curb the inflow of drugs from overseas," said Yang.

 

他说, “ 为了确保奥运会的安全, 主办一届绿色奥运, 无毒奥运, 中央政府已经指令执法部门就奥运期间的毒品管制进行大量的工作.

控制毒品从海外流入中国.

Yang wears two hats. He is the director general of the Ministry of Public Security's Narcotics Control Bureau. He is also the permanent deputy secretary general of the newly-created China National Narcotics Control Commission, an agency created by a law that went into effect June 1.

 

杨凤瑞身兼双职, 他是公安部禁毒局局长, 也是新近成立的中国禁毒委员会常务副秘书长, 禁毒委员会是依据六月一号生效的一项法律而成立的.

The Chinese official says another issue of concern is the effort to smuggle heroin through China. He says the heroin supply out of southeast Asia's Golden Triangle region -- made up of Burma, Laos and Thailand -- has decreased significantly. At the same time, he points to a relatively new area of opium production, the so-called Golden Crescent, an area that straddles Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.

 

这位中国官员说另一个担忧的问题是走私团伙会试图通过中国走私海洛因. 他说值得注意的是来自东南亚金三角(由缅甸, 老挝和泰国组成)的海洛因数量已经减少. 同时,他又指出一个新兴的鸦片产地, 就是所谓的 “金新月”, 一个跨立于阿富汗, 巴基斯坦和伊朗的地区.

Chinese authorities recently foiled one case involving 50 kilograms of heroin and 30 carpets imported from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Officials say smugglers had injected the heroin into flexible plastic tubes, one to two millimeters in diameter, and then wrapped the tubes into colorful fibers that were woven into the carpets.

 

中国当局最近破获了一个案件, 案件涉及50公斤海洛因和30条从阿富汗和巴基斯坦进口的地毯. 中国官员说, 走私者把海洛因注入到直径1到2毫米的塑料软管里, 然后用彩色纤维把软管裹起来织入地毯.

 

Yang says the Chinese government has taken special measures to deal with the threat of drugs from Afghanistan, which produces more than 90 percent of the world's supply of opium.

 

杨凤瑞说中国政府已经采取措施处理来自了阿富汗毒品威胁. 全世界鸦片量的百分之90来自阿富汗.

"First, at the border areas and related high-risk areas, we have strengthened efforts to block the drug sources," Yang said. "And, we have also established checkpoints and inspection stations on the road routes, land routes, sea routes and air routes, and also mail routes, to maximize our ability to inspect and block drug sources."

 

他说, “ 首先是在边界地区和有关的高危险区域,我们已经加强措施阻止毒源, 并且在路线, 陆路, 海路, 空路和邮路上我们已经建立了关卡和检查站, 以尽最大的努力检查并阻止毒源.”

Yang acknowledges there has been what he describes as a "very little amount" of opium poppy cultivation in China, in eastern Fujian Province, in western Gansu Province and in northeastern Heilongjiang Province. He says Chinese authorities use satellite pictures to detect the illegal crop and have been able to take immediate action to eradicate the problem.

 

杨风瑞了承认, 在中国东部的福建, 西部的甘肃和东北的黑龙江省有他所描述的少量鸦片罂粟种植. 他说中国当局用卫星图片侦察非法种植物, 并且已有能力迅速采取行动根绝问题.

Yang also says a small number of Chinese families in what he describes as "the border areas of cities," also grow opium poppies, but he says it is only because they enjoy the beautiful flowers.

 

他还说, 在他描述的城市边疆地区, 在少量的家庭里, 也有种植鸦片罂粟的, 但那只是因为他们欣赏那些美丽的罂粟花.

 

P.S. If I made some mistakes in my translating transcrīpts of VOA news, let me know and give me some tips. Thanks a million.

Loneliness and Pain

 

In most cases, we often walk a road alone to our dream. Yes, you see me and I see you but we don’t know each other. Maybe one day you come up to me for help, and I say, “ Man! That is just your dream, and I have my own one, am working on it all the way, or rather, I’m not able to set aside time to you.

 

You know we have different goals at the start and results at the end, which are in the different directions. Everybody is buzy with his affairs such as work, life, feelings. Wow! It is, indeed, a million things are waiting ahead you to address. It’s pretty hard to believe that life become harder and harder with high technology, which should make our life easy and simple.

 

Now, people often ignore the existence of others, or they have so many hats to wear, so many balls to juggle. However, we need to understand each othere. After all, life is not that easy. We can’t start out at the same time, the same spot, the same siutation. So we’ve got to go alone on our way to dream. Certainly, the road will never be flat, if it were flat, does it make sense?

 

The road is full of obstacles, that you can hurdle even though you are a slow coach compared to Liu Xiang, temptations, you might not want to move your body a little bit but seep deeply in a woman’s warm arms, and, well, dead bodies of failures.

 

I feel lonely too much on my way there. I’m not afraid of difficulties, but think of loneliness as the strongest boxer, people say you must have great faith in your future, the hope is out there so long as we hang not hour head in disappointment in spite of loneliness or helplessness; pain is a kind of special joy, when you get regret for some matters, just enjoy pain.

Aviation Industry Resisting India's New Passenger Data System

航空业抵制印度新的乘客数据系统

 

International airlines are resisting India's new passenger information system, set to be implemented at the end of this month. Carriers say the system, as proposed, is incompatible with existing databases.

 

国际航空公司正在抵制印度新的乘客信息系统, 这个系统准备在本月末着手进行. 航空公司说, 正像人们所说的, 这个系统无法与现有数据库相容.

 

A new passenger data system India wants to implement June 30 is causing concern for the airline industry. International carriers say it is incompatible with industry norms, certified by the United Nations, and asks for too much information.

 

印度想在六月30号实施新的乘客数据系统令航空业担忧. 国际航空公司说这与联合国认证过的行业准则相背, 这套系要求过多信息.

 

The industry is not disputing India's requirement for some data on all incoming passengers. Such automated screening of passengers has become routine in many countries since the 2001 al-Qaida attacks in the United States. A number of other countries have made transmission of passenger data before takeoff mandatory, including the United States, Canada, South Africa and Australia.

 

印度对所有入境旅客索取一些数据, 对此航空业并没有提出质疑. 自从2001年基地组织在美国发动袭击以来, 这种对旅客的自动审查在很多国家中已经变成了惯例. 很多国家包括美国, 加拿大, 南非和澳大利亚, 在起飞前就已经传达了旅客信息, 这是强制性的.

 

However, India's non-standard system has prompted the International Air Transport Association to express its concerns directly to India's civil aviation minister. IATA spokesman Anthony Concil says India needs to be in harmony with the global standard the airlines are already meeting.

 

然而, 不标准的印度航空信息系统已经激起了国际航空运输协会对印度国民航空部长的担忧. 国际航空运输协会发言人安东尼科恩索说印度需要与航空公司已经遭遇到的全球性标准保持一致.

 

"In the case of India, we're being asked for all kinds of information which is inconsistent with what other countries are requiring," he said. "So our message to governments, India included, is, if we're going to be serious about building an effective advanced passenger information system, then it's time for governments to start talking to each other to harmonize their requirements."

 

安东尼说, “ 在印度这种情况下, 我们被问及各种各样与他国要求不一致的信息,  所以我们对政府要说的是, 包括印度, 要是我们对建立有效先进的旅客信息系统认真,  那么政府是时候开启协调要求的谈判了.

 

The global passenger information standard uses an encrypted format known as UN/Edifact. The data is easily decoded by immigration authorities for arriving flights. But India also wants its requested information in a different data format, which would mean carriers would need to obtain new equipment.

 

全球旅客信息标准采用人们通常所说的UN或Edifact密码化的格式. 对于抵达航班,移民局可以容易地将旅客数据进行破译. 可是印度还要求对它索取的信息存入不同的数据格式, 这就意味着航空公司需要获取新的设备.

 

Japan Airlines is denying an Indian media report that it is considering suspending service between Tokyo and New Delhi because of the stricter and more intrusive Indian rules. But an airline spokesman says the Japanese carrier has "strongly requested" India bring its system into line with those used elsewhere.

 

印度一家媒体报道说由于印度更为严格更为强硬的规则, 日本正在考虑中止东京和新德里之间的航空服务, 对此日本航空公司给予否认. 而一位航空发言人说日本航空公司强烈要求印度的航空信息系统要与其它地方的保持一致.

 

India's state-run national airline, Air India, says it is ready for the new government regulations for passengers it is flying into the country. India had wanted to implement the new passenger reporting system on April 1, but extended the deadline by 90 days to give airlines more time to prepare.

 

印度国有航空公司, 印度航空说公司已经为政府制定的新规则做好准备, 公司正在这个国家拓展. 印度过去就想在四月一号实施新的旅客报导系统, 但是延长90天的的死期给航空公司更多的准备时间.

 

VOA Standard English / By Steve Herman / New Delhi / 12 June 2008

 

P.S. If made some mistakes in my translating transcrīpts of VOA news, let me know and give me some tips. Thanks a million.

 

US, China agree on Energy Cooperation

中美达成能源合作协议

Cabinet-level officials from Washington and Beijing Wednesday concluded two days of talks in Annapolis, Maryland with a commitment to cooperate on energy and environmental issues and begin work on a bi-lateral investment treaty. VOA's Barry Wood reports there was also discussion about financial markets and currency values.

来自北京和华盛顿的内阁级别官员星期三在马里兰州安纳波利斯结束了两天的会谈. 双方承诺在能源和环境问题上展开合作并启动双方投资协议工作. VOA记者巴里伍德报道说还有关于金融市场和货币价值的讨论.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson hailed the achievements of the talks, the fourth round in a strategic economic dialogue launched two years ago. He said the 10-year energy and environmental agreement is particularly significant as the US and China are the world's biggest oil consumers and biggest emitters of green house gases. The investment treaty-which will take some time to negotiate-would enhance each nation's access to the other's market. The two countries already have a huge and growing trade relationship. The Chinese delegation was headed by Vice Premier Wang Qishan.

 

美国财政部长保尔森对谈判成果称赞有加, 这是两年前启动的中美战略经济对话的第四轮. 他说四年的能源与经济协议非常有意义, 因为中美是世界上最大的石油消费国也是最大的温室气体排放国. 需要花些时间谈判的投资协议会让两国更好地进入对方市场. 两国已经形成了庞大并逐渐增长的贸易关系. 中国代表团由副总理王歧山带领.

 

Treasury Secretary Paulson praised the Chinese for allowing their currency to appreciate 20 percent against the dollar over the past three years. That appreciation, he said, should continue as it will bring benefits to Chinese policy makers. “ They're going to be able to manage their economy much more effectively if they have a market-driven currency," said Henry Paulson. "It's going to be better in fighting inflation, you know, monetary policy will be more effective."

 

美国财政部长保尔森赞扬在过去的三年中中国允许人民币对美元升值20个百分点. 他说人民币升值应该继续, 因为它会给中国的决策者带来好处. “如果他们拥有有市场主导的货币, 他们将有能力更有效地掌控本国经济. 这能更好地遏制通货膨胀, 你知道货币政策将会更有效.”

 

Paulson sad the Chinese remain committed to having a market-based exchange rate and that bi-lateral differences concern only the pace of appreciation.

 

保尔森说中国继续致力于由市场主导兑换利率, 双边的分歧担忧的只是升值的速度.

 

For their part, the Chinese called attention to the weakness of the dollar and called for action to bolster the dollar against other leading currencies. Paulson said the ongoing credit crisis that erupted last August with bad loans in the US housing sector tarnished the US reputation as a leader in financial services.

 

在中国方面, 中国要求关注美元贬值问题并呼吁采取行动巩固美元对应其它主要货币. 保尔森说去年八月因美国住房领域的不良贷款而爆发的持续的信贷危机败坏了金融业里美国作为领头人的名誉.

 

The Chinese, said Paulson, had regarded the US as a teacher in global financial matters. Now they see that the teachers aren't perfect," he said. "So, we had a lot of discussion. They want to learn from our mistakes." US and European financial institutions made risky housing-related loans that have gone bad, causing hundreds of billions of dollars of losses.

 

保尔森说中国过去一直把美国看作全球金融业务的导师. 现在他们发现导师并不完美, 因此我们有很多的讨论. 他们想从我们的错误中猎取教训. 美国和欧洲的金融机构造成的冒险性不良住房贷款, 导致了千美元的损失.

 

Private sector economists are supportive of the U.S.- China economic dialogue, which they believe will deepen the bi-lateral relationship and possibly prevent misunderstandings and conflict. The dialogue was launched, in large part, to deter the US Congress from enacting restrictive trade measures against the Chinese, who are perceived as having an unfair advantage in competing against higher-cost US companies.

 

私人部门经济学家支持中美经济对话,  他们相信这会加深双边关系,并尽可能地避免误解和冲突. 这次对话的启动, 很大程度上是为了防止美国国会对中国制定限制性的贸易措施. 中国与高成本的美国公司竞争中, 被察觉获得了不平等的优势.

 

VOA Standard English / By Barry Wood / Washington / 18 June 2008

P.S. If I made some mistakes in my translating transcrīpts of VOA news, let me know and give me some tips. Thanks a million.

Angel and Passerby

 

I walk past a shop everyday.

There’s a girl often sitting there.

 

She usually wear a red shirt, a pair of blue jeans

and a pair of gray shoes.

 

I’ve got to say,

she is not that pretty, but she has a pure innocent face.

That is a face of an angel.

 

I often steal a sideways glance at her when I pass.

It is good that she does not find me, maybe she dose.

But what of it?

I’m just a passerby.

President Bush urges Iran to Reconsider Nuclear Offer

布什总统敦促伊朗重新考虑核提议.

 

U.S. President George Bush is calling on Iran's leaders to drop their objections to a modified package of incentives put forward by the five UN permanent Security Council members plus Germany. From Paris, VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson reports the dispute over Iran's nuclear program and other Mideast issues dominated the agenda when Mr. Bush met with French President Nicholas Sarkozy.

 

美国总统乔治布什正在呼吁伊朗领导人不要反对由包括德国在内的五个常任理事国提出并更改过的一揽子鼓励政策. VOA白宫通讯员宝拉沃夫森在巴黎报道了布什总统与法国总统尼古拉斯萨科奇会面时就议程中最重要的伊朗核计划和中东问题的讨论.

 

The president is touring Europe in an effort to win even more support for U.S. policies on the Middle East. He is urging unity on Iran, where a government spokesman has rejected the set of incentives delivered to Tehran by the European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana. The spokesman says Iran will not suspend uranium enrichment.

 

布什正在游说欧洲以努力赢得美国的中东政策的支持. 他正在敦促联合对付伊朗, 伊朗政府发言人已经否定了由欧盟外交政策负责人哈威埃索拉纳递送到德黑兰的这一套鼓励政策. 发言人说伊朗不会中止铀浓缩

 

President Bush says he is disappointed. "It's an indication to the Iranian people that their leadership is willing to isolate them further," said Mr. Bush, "and our view is we want the Iranian people to flourish."  Iran was one of many international issues that dominated Mr. Bush's talks with French President Nicholas Sarkozy.

 

布什总统说他很失望, “ 对伊朗人民来说,这说明他们的领导层想孤立他们的未来, 而我们的想法是,我们要让伊朗人繁荣富强起来.” 伊朗是布什总统与法国总统尼古拉斯萨科奇交淡的最重要的国际问题之一.

 

At a joint press conference in Paris, both leaders expressed their strong support for Lebanese sovereignty. Mr. Bush also called on Syria to not only stop its interference in Lebanon's affairs, but to rethink ties between Damascus and Tehran. "My message would be stop fooling around with the Iranians and stop harboring terrorists," he said.

 

在巴黎的联合记者招待会会上, 两位领导人表明他们很支持黎巴嫩主权. 布什还呼吁叙利亚不仅要停止对黎巴嫩事务的干预, 而且还应重新想想大马士革与德黑兰的联系. 他说: “ 我要说的是, 别在和伊朗人瞎混了, 别在庇护恐怖分子了.”

 

Mr. Bush was also asked about the prospect for a U.S. security agreement with Iraq, which would provide a legal basis for American troops to remain after the current U.N. mandate expires. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says negotiations are deadlocked. 

 

布什还被问及有关美国与伊拉克安全协议的前景, 联合国授权期届满后, 这份协议为美国军队留守提供了合法依据. 伊拉克总理诺瑞阿尔马利基说谈判已经陷入僵局.

 

The president said he remains hopeful. "If I was a betting man, [I would say] we will reach an agreement with the Iraqis," he added.

 

布什说他仍报有希望, “ 如果让我打赌, (我要说)我们将会与伊拉克人民达成协议.”

The Iraq war created tensions between the United States and France which have eased since Nicholas Sarkozy became French president last year. He says both the American and French governments are known for their strong opinions, but they have realized they can listen and learn from each other.

 

自从去年尼古拉斯萨科奇上台以来, 伊拉克战争给美法两国造成的紧张得以缓和. 布什说, 大家都知道两国政府有着各自强烈观点, 但他们已经意识到他们能相互倾听, 相互学习.

 

"We can talk very frankly when we have points of disagreement," said Mr. Sarkozy, "but we have to do so as allies and as friends."  Later in the day, President Bush paid tribute to American and French troops killed in the line of battle.
His schedule included a trip to a U.S. military cemetery, and a French monument to the resistance fighters of World War II.

 

萨科奇说, “我们能坦率交谈当我们有不同观点时, 并且做为同盟国, 做为朋友我们应该这么做.”  当天晚些时候, 布什总统称赞了战争前线上死亡的美法将士. 他的日程包括拜谒美军公墓和二战法国抵抗将士纪念碑.

 

VOA Standard English / By Paula Wolfson / Paris / 14 June 2008

P.S. If I made some mistakes in my translating transcrīpts of VOA news, let me know and give me some tips, thanks a million.

South Africa Prepares for 2010 World Cup 南非为2010年的世界杯做准备

 

Qualifying matches have begun around the world for the football World Cup, which begins in two years. In 2010 the World Cup is to be held for the first time in Africa and attention is focusing on host nation South Africa. In anticipation, sports and tourism officials have assured industry observers and sports fans that the country will be ready. They appeared at a major trade fair in the port city of Durban. Correspondent Scott Bobb was there and has this report.

 

世界杯预选赛已经在全球开始, 此届世界杯在两年内进行. 2010年的世界杯首次在南非举办, 东道主南非成为了世界瞩目的焦点.期待中的体育旅游官员已经向行业观察员和球迷保证南非会做好准备. 他们出席了港口城市德班的大型商品交易会. 通讯员斯科特巴布在那里并对此进行报道.

 

Football fever was the major theme at South Africa's tourism trade fair in Durban this year. And one of the attractions was an exhibition game of the world's most popular sport.

 

今年, 足球热是南非旅游交易会的大主题, 此交易会在德班举行. 其中的一个亮点是全球最受欢迎的运动比赛展示.

 

Organizers of the 2010 Soccer World Cup also launched a major offensive to dispel any doubts about South Africa's readiness when competition begins in two years.

 

2010年的足球世界杯的组织者也发起了一场浩瀚的攻势以消除人们对南非准备工作的疑虑, 比赛在两年内进行.

 

The head of the local organizing committee, Danny Jordaan, told several hundred journalists that construction was ahead of schedule on the 10 stadiums to be used for the matches.

 

当地组委会主任丹尼乔丹告诉几百名记者,用于比赛的10个体育馆会提前完成建设.

 

"Progress on the stadiums is very advanced in many cases," he said. "And in some cases we have difficulties. But that is something which every other organizing committee experiences. However, we are convinced that the stadiums will be complete long before kickoff on 11th of July [2010]."

 

他说, “体育馆的建设进展在很多情况下富有成效. 虽然有时候我们遇到了困难, 但这是每一个组委会都会经历的事情. 可我们深信体育馆会在2010年七月11号开球前建设完成.

 

Durban's stadium, one of several all-new facilities, is rising steadily. With its 100-meter-high roof-supporting arch the stadium will alter the skyline of South Africa's second largest city. At a cost of several hundred million dollars, it will be the center of a sports city with its own railway station and beachside entertainment park.

 

德班体育馆, 全新设施之一, 正稳固拔地而起. 用它那100高的支顶拱门, 这个体育馆将改变南非第二大城市的天空轮廓线. 以几亿美元的成本, 它将成为一个拥有机场和海滨娱乐公园的运动型城市中心.

 

Cape Town is also building a brand new stadium at Greenpoint between its famous beaches and Table Mountain. Eight other cities are building or refurbishing stadiums including Johannesburg, which will host the final match.

 

开普墩正在位于著名的海滨与平顶山之间的Greenpoint建设崭新的体育馆. 其它的八个城市正在建设或刷新体育馆, 包括约翰内斯堡, 那里将主办决赛.

 

Jordaan says a major concern is keeping costs down. "We have been prudent enough to ensure that we remain within budget. And that is a huge challenge," he said. "It requires consistent monitoring, financial discipline." But he says escalating costs for fuel and construction material cannot be controlled and this requires strict vigilance.

 

乔丹说最关心的是要降低成本. “ 我们很谨慎足以确保保持在预算内, 这是一个巨大的挑战. 它需要一致的监视和财政纪律.” 但是他说逐步上升的燃料成本和建筑原料成本难以控制并且这需要严厉的警惕性.

 

The government is also spending several billion dollars to upgrade airports, highways and other networks to transport the estimated 400,000 visitors who are to attend the event.

 

政府也在花了几十亿美元升级机场, 干道和其他网络,该网络运载着40万左右的来参与世界杯的游客.

 

Suth Africa's multi-billion dollar tourism industry is also gearing up. The head of South Africa Tourism, Moeketsi Mosola, says nine million tourists came to South Africa last year and 10 million are expected this year. With such statistics he is certain that the industry will be able to accommodate World Cup fans. Moreover, he promises them a uniquely African experience.

 

南非几十亿美元的旅游业也正在蓬蓬勃勃地准备着. 南非旅游业主任莫科茨莫萨拉说, 去年有九百万来南非的游客, 今年有望达到一千万. 拥有这些统计数字, 他有把握旅游业能承载世界杯球迷, 此外, 他承诺球迷们会经历一次独特的南非之旅.

 

"You wake up in the morning in the middle of a game reserve," Mosola said. "You go for a [game] drive at four a.m. in the morning. We pick you up. We take you, we fly you into Johannesburg to watch a game at three o'clock. You are back in the middle of the bush by seven o'clock, eight, in the evening and you have a dinner in the boma [restaurant]. That is an African experience and that is what is going to make this World Cup absolutely different."

 

莫萨拉说, “临晨, 你在禁猎区的中央苏醒, 临晨四点你去坐车, 我们去接你, 带上你我们让你飞进约翰内斯堡观看下午三点的比赛. 七点你回到灌木丛中, 晚上八点你在巴玛饭店进餐. 这就是这一次南非体验, 这就是让南非世界杯绝对独特的秘诀.

 

Some of the teams will be training in neighboring countries, such as Namibia and Mozambique, and these are also mobilizing to attract some of the tourism dollars.

 

一些球队将会在邻国受训, 比如纳米比亚, 莫桑比克. 这些地方也正在动员以吸引一些旅游美元.

 

Zimbabwe is making a major pitch to attract fans to the famous Victoria Falls. The head of its government tourism agency, Shingi Munyeza, acknowledges that his country is experiencing economic and political problems but says these will not affect visitors.

 

津巴布韦下大决心以吸引球迷前往维多利亚大瀑布. 国家旅游中介机构负责人圣基穆尼萨承认, 他的国家正在经历经济和政治问题, 但他说这问题不会影响游客.

 

"A guest is always worried about their safety. On the safety issues we can actually be very comfortable and tell them that you will not be affected by what is going on," Munyeza said. "However, if there is some moral objection of what often happens, that as business people we are not able to address."

 

穆尼萨说, “一个游客总是担忧他们的安全, 在安全的问题上, 实际上我们可以很自信地告诉他们你不会受事情的影响, 但若对经常发生的事情有道德上的异议, 作为商人,这事我们无法处理.

 

As kick-off approaches, Africa's always exuberant soccer fans are getting increasingly excited. Organizers acknowledge that a lot of work remains to be done but everyone here at least is confident that Africa will be ready.

 

随着开球的临近, 总是热情洋溢的非洲球迷越来越兴奋. 组织者承认有很多工作有待完成, 但至少这里的每一个人自信南非会做好准备.

VOA Standard English/By Scott Bobb/Durban/10 June 2008

P.S. If I made some mistakes in my translating transcrīpts of VOA news, let me know and give me some tips. Thanks a million.

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
09 June 2008

VOA Standard English

India's stock markets have plunged sharply, largely on worries increasing oil prices will hurt the country's fast-growing economy. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, the Indian stock markets have been falling since worries rose about a slowdown in the U.S. economy earlier this year.

 

由于太担心油价上涨会给挫伤国家迅速发展的经济, 印度股市大幅下跌. Anjana Pasricha 在新德里报道说, 自从今年早些时候不断担忧美国队经济放缓, 印度股市已经下滑.

 

The Mumbai stock index, the Sensex, tumbled by 4.5 percent soon after trading opened. It recovered somewhat later, but had lost more than three percent by the end of the day, closing at 15,066 points.

 

开盘后孟买证券指数, 森塞克斯下跌4.5个百分点. 尽管后来有所回落, 但傍晚收盘于15,000点, 下跌超过3点.

 

The Indian stock market was the hardest hit compared to other Asian markets such as Japan, and Singapore, which also recorded losses.

 

与同样遭受损失的日本和新加坡股票市场相比，印度市场受打击最大深.

 

Analysts say the latest surge in prices of crude oil, which topped $138 a barrel last week, has raised worries that India's economy could be hit harder than estimated. India imports three quarters of its oil, and its state-owned oil companies have been losing billions of dollars since oil prices began climbing.

 

分析人士说, 最近原油价格上涨, 上星期每桶超过138美元, 使人们更加担心印度经济所受到的影响会比预先的更深. 印度四分之三的石油有赖进口, 而且自从油价攀升以来, 印度国有石油公司已经损失了几十亿美元.

 

But high oil prices are not the only factor affecting the Sensex, which has lost about 23 percent of its value since the start of the year.

 

但是高油价不是影响森塞克斯的唯一原因, 从今年年初以来, 森塞克斯已经损失了23个百分点.

 

Rajesh Jain, at Pranav Securities in Mumbai, says the steep stock-market decline has been driven by heavy selling by foreign institutional investors or FII's.

 

孟买普拉纳弗证券公司的拉杰什贾恩说, 外国机构投资者FII’s的大笔抛售,已经造成了股市的急剧下跌.

 

"Holdings are concentrated in the hands of large FII's who sell any quantity on a single day," said Jain. "To absorb that kind of quantity you may not have ready buyers at all times, and both long-term buyers and speculators are absent from the market."

 

贾恩说: “持有股份集中在了大型的外国机构投资者手里, 他们单在一天就能做出任何抛售.” 要消化掉这种抛售额你不可能一直拥有现成买家, 长期买家和投机商同样缺席市场.

 

The foreign investors have pulled approximately $5 billion from the Indian stock markets this year. They began pulling out earlier this year amid concerns that a slowdown in the U.S. economy will adversely impact emerging economies such as India.

 

今年外国投资者已经从印度股市几乎撤出了50亿美元. 由于担忧美国经济放缓会不利地影响印度新兴经济体, 今年早些时候他们就开始撤离.

 

Those worries have been intensified by the relentless rise in crude oil prices and high domestic inflation.

 

原油价格持续强劲上涨和国内的高通货膨胀加剧了人们的担忧.

 

P.S.

 

If I made some mistakes in translating transcrīpts of VOA news, let me know and give me tips. Thanks a million.

Banks, housing companies and Customers

 

Chinese stocks have dropped nearly 8 persent after the People’s Bank of China, on the first Sunday of this month, announced it would raise the required reserve ratio to a record high. China has been striven to rein in excess cash to control inflation, to discourage excessive lending and investment. At the same time, it appears that hot money has been pouring into the country, and food prices are not destabilizing enough. Facing the current economic situation, China has been taking the measure of tight monetary policy already.

 

Owing to the required reserve ratio rising, the banks are not able to use more money in the banking markets, as much as to say, many people or companies can not borrow as much money as before from banks. By all accounts, it seems that the real estate markets are affected badly by the tight monetary policy. In order to rasie funds for the next step, many housing companies deside to reduce the prices of apartments or houses after suffered refusals by banks. They offer some ways like giving a discount, presenting gifts, purchasing house in installments, even buying one get one free. People say the era of sudden huge profits is ovre.

 

Although lots of housing companise play a few tricks of sale but to little avail.  First, it’s not that easy for customers to borrow money from banks these days, China’s Central Bank has raised the interest rates six times to encourage savings and make lending more expensive; secondly, many people watch, few buy, most wait for the best time, they are afraid of today’s price would fall next day; thirdly, stuff prices are going up all the way; the pressure is growing on people to live a nice life, they’ve got to spend too much meeting their lives. When they are basically satisfied with current housing conditions, most deside not to buy another house.

 

China’s each policy affects her people and their vital benefits. Maybe we are not ready to adapt to new situations, but we should keep a cool head and a long head on whatever coming to us. You never know what things may jump suddenly before you in the jungle of life. But anytime, anywhere, pay close attention to the policies of our country, that is a star overhead in the dark.

Love, Hate and Tolerance

 

The world is not so nice for we not only have LOVE, but also have HATE, between love and hate is TOLERANCE.

 

No doubts that lots of people think the most beaufiful flower in the world is rose, while I think it is lily, of which I do appreciate the simplicity and the purity. The fascinating fragrance of rose, the kinds of colors, the meanings of representation, and so forth, make it take the first place in the plant kingdom. I’m convinced, however, that there’s still something excelling rose, and that is LOVE. Love is a special unseen strong power, which can touch the hearts of toughs, transfer the ashes after an earthquake into a nicer homestead, or make the heavens and the ocean bluer, and the forests, greener. Life is pretty nice, indeed, for we have love, which were taken away, the world were nothing but a desert without days.

 

It is generally accepted that the most poisonous snake is cobra. But do you not think there is something that is more poisonous than cobra?

Yes, I do, and that is HATE. Hate can make the Untied States blockade Cuba; hate can ignite the tinder of African rebel armies; hate can make the streets in Iraq stained with blood, and hate can end your life. If the world were full enough of love, we could set aside excessive power politics or economic interests, pass our love to the utmost to others instead, then, in Africa, hunger were not that much, in Iraq, we heard not too sound of explosion, and in the earth, we saw not so many tears and looks in despair. Hate is devil, love creates everything, while hate destroys everything.

 

I believe all the way that there must be a connection between love and hate, and that is TOLERANCE. Tolerance is just like the neck of a bottle, the more wide, the more water flows, and more oases in deserts. Each person has his own bottleneck of tolerance; how wide yours is desides how much hate you can drain out of your mind, how much love you can share, and how many oases you can see. I’m convinced most people prefer oases to ruins; I believe that the rising level of the sea will fall one day, that the hunger, in Africa, besetting my brothers and sisters, will disappear for ever, that the bombs in Iraq will become stuff of a historical museum.

 

P.S.

The moment I see the TV pictures of hunger in Africa, I’m sorry for that. I hope, one day, I could be given a chace to work in Africa. You know something? This idea is always abiding with me, I just hope I could do something for them to improve their life. And I think the world needs more love of all of us.

 

 

Wings of an Angel

 

I am at ease in the arms of a dream,

Which is a million miles, from the place I was born.

 

Although now, most of my days I spend alone,

When she wakes, she spreads the wings and takes me there.

 

Now most of my days, I spend like a child,

Who is afraid of ghosts in my mind.

I know, there ain’t nothing there,

I’m still afraid to turn on the lights.

 

But when she wakes, she spreads the wings and takes me there.

Ya, when she wakes, she spreads the wings, and takes me there.

 

Reading Notes

The best excerpts from The Greatest Saleman in the World by OG MANDINO

 

Hafid was silent and the old man continued, “ First, you must prove to me, and more important to yourself, that you can endure the life of a saleman for it is not an easy lot you have chosen. Truly, many times have you heard me say that the rewards are great if one succeeds but the rewards are great only because so few succeed. Many succumb to despire and fail without realizing that they already possess all the tools needed to acquire great wealth.

 

P.S.

 

Just One More Step

 

Many have instituted great plans, yet many have quitted the grand ideals.

Many have started out with passion, yet many have ended in tears.

How many dreams and corpses cover the road to success?

And how much spirit and sweat float down in the wind?

And, finally, who reach the destination at the rear of a mountain?

 

One step, two steps, three steps… and one more step. Anytime, anywhere, victory is just behind the next step.

 

Producer: SobomA

Date:    June 5, 2008

 

Reading Notes

The best excerpts from The Greatest Saleman in the World by OG MANDINO

 

Without Wealth, You Might Be a "Slave"

 

Hafid said, “ My ambition is to become even greater then you, the greatest merchant, the wealthiest salseman in all the world!”

 

Pathros shook his head. “ Wealth, my son, should never be your goal in life. Your words are eloquent but they are mere words. True wealth is of the heart, not of the purse. My son, do not aspire for wealth and labor not only to be rich. Strive instead for happiness, to be loved and to love, and most important, to acquire peace of mind and serenity. ”

 

Hafid continued to persist, “ But these things are impossible without gold. Who can live in poverty with peace of mind? How can one be happy with an empty stomach? How can one demonstrate love for one’s family if he is unable to feed and clothe and house them? You, yourself, have said that wealth is good when it brings joy to others. Why then is my ambition to be wealthy not a good one? Poverty may be a previlege and even a way of life for the monk in the desert, for he has only himself to sustain and none but his god to please. But I consider poverty to be the mark of a lack of ability or a lack of ambition. I’m not deficient in either of these qualities.”

 

P.S.

 

Did you ever play a part of Hafid who was full of passion of dreams but was told by one of seniors that do not aspire for wealth, but the peace of mind, that true wealth is of the heart, not of the purse? Here I want to use one of words by Pathros to tell himself that his words are also eloquent but they are mere words, too.

 

Who, except animals, can have the peace of mind without funds? If people were just going after peace of mind, would society develop? In truth, society’s development needs funds. That is to say, no wealth, no development. So, in order to abtain peace of mind, be bold to chase after wealth so long as we walk in the right legal direction. That’s not the only way, but so important.

 

You are not a slave of wealth, but, without wealth, you might be a "slave". You know we live not in the dream, but in the real word, the dog eat dog word.

 

Producer: SobomA

Date:    June 4, 2008

Children’s Day, not only for Children

 

Today is Children’s Day, which has been forgotten by me for many years, maybe because I’ve grown up, no longer a boy, or rather, Children’s Day, here, just is Children’s Day. It seems to have nothing to do with people here. Most people never hear of Children’s Day in remote areas, some people only know Children’s Day, but few people understand Children’s Day.

 

When I was a child and June was coming up, I was so expecting that day’s arrival, which did not mean to get surprises or learn of status of children’s living. My hope was to gain more freedom and space in that holiday to do my own things, such as catching fish in a narrow muddy river, flying a kite on a ridge between the fields of rape in full bloom, or riding a big bike in a dusty road under the hot sun.

 

For me, Children’s day, at the time, just was a holiday. I could be more free to be my self, and enjoyed my own amusements, of which some were forbidden, such as stealing strawberry, swimming in deep pond or walking by a railway.

 

My teachers never told me the real meaning of Children’s Day. Why did children have Children’s Day? How did it come about? What functions did it have? Especially, why teachers not have lessons, instend, they had a day off in Children’s day that was not their festival? Exactly, I don’t know how Children’s Day is going elsewhere. And here, Children’s Day, in the most cases, solely means to have a day off or receive some gifts, then it’s nothing.

 

In my opinion, not only is Children’s Day children’s festival, and what’s more, it’s also a big thing for parents, educators, policymakers, and so on. And the latter, which’s just what I want to say, is the point. How to deal with children left at home and elementary school dropouts? How to assure children of good health and good environment of study? How to protect them from mischief? Most people are too busy working for money to set aside more time and energy for their kids in daily life. I once saw some kids lacking for affection of parents or care of society. They were monkeying around, and easy to go astray under temptation. For our society, indeed, it gives children many promises, yet which are hard to keep for lacking for money and workable actions, especially in West China.

 

We can’t just hand out some stationery or something or nothing and take a day off, which is not the way we take up our duties. What we are doing is not nearly enough; we need time, funds, energy and actions to take care of children, especially their spirit. Everybody has his own answers in the heart. I don’t need to speak more now. But, remember, Children’s Day is not just set up for children.

Reading Notes

The best excerpts from The Greatest Saleman in the World by OG MANDINO

                              

Who Do You Live for?

 

Hafid nodded. “ I have always counted your friendship as my greatest asset. What I now bestow on you is of little mesure compared to your unending loyalty. You have mastered the art of living not for youself alone, but for others, and this concern has stamped you above all, as a man among men. Now I urge you to hasten with comsummation of my plans. Time is the most precious commodity I possess and the hour glass of my life is nearly filled.”

 

Erasmus turned to hide his tears, His voice broke as he asked, “ And what of your promise, yet to keep?

 

P.S.

 

Who do you live for? For you, it may have been a question since you were born. You may live just for yourself, your parents, your family, but do you ever think of living for others?

 

If you do, why?

 

It seems to me that I’m not sure if I could gain both fame and wealth as I live for others, at least, I purify my soul when I give a hand to others.

 

Producer: SobomA

Date:       June 3, 2008

 

After Disaster

 

Now, it’s about 3 o’clock in the morning. My mom, my older sister and her husband have gone down stairs to the shops on the first floor to check on all things. And I just crawled out of the covers.

 

Just a moment ago, mom took a call from my younger sister in another district, who told that the storm had caused flood flowing into her house and grocery store and asked mom if it was ok here. Mom ran to open the window, much to her surprise, she shouted, “Oh,my God, the street has become as a river.”

 

I know it’s raining cats and dogs outside, but when I was in the bed and heard mom’s shouts, I took no notice of it. She, I thought, was just kidding around.

 

I’m left in charge of home, or rather, I just want to sit in front of my desk and write something for rain always makes me think more and deeper.

 

“Soboma, So…bo……ma! Are you up? Come down here, come on.” Sorry, my mom is calling me now. I’ve got to get down, perhaps I can give a hand or something.

 

To be continued…

 

It’s 5:43 a.m now. Man, I’m back, with weariness and foulness of the flood. The storm may be one of the worst disasters in our city’s history. It’s unbelievable that the accumulated water in our shops has reached more than one meter in depth. Lots of medicine boxes, paper and something are flowing on the water. Quickly, we transferred the medicine and equipment in danger of being washed away to a safe and high place. The same with our neighbors, who were busy draining water out of their apartments during the time from two to five in the morning. Our street has become as a long river, and the yard has become a deep and dirty pond.

 

We have roughly estimated our loss caused by the flood at 500 dollars. But that’s not what I want to say. I mean my family and I unite together, help each other so that we ride out many difficulties confronting us. We have a population of 1.3 billion, if we unite together when one of us gets into trouble; then one’s difficulty divided by 1.3 billion no longer equals difficulty. Failure will never overtake us if we are closely united enough. I believe, anytime, anywhere, we could be better, and we will win.

The Wenchuan Earthquake of May 12

 

I’ve learned about some earthquakes from books and TV-shows, such as the Tangshan Earthquake of 1974 caused more than 240000 people to lose their life, the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 and Japan Earthquake of 1923. All led a great loss of their own. So it is with the current quake of Wenchuan, on May 12, 2008. It was so strong that almost all of the country shook to some extent. Many people in different places, more or less, felt this shake.

 

That day, about 14:30, I was surfing on the net looking for informatin about the Philippines. All of sudden, a word was given to me that a violent earthquake just came about in Wenchuan. Oh, man! Would I believe it then? I didn’t regard it as a matter of any importance. After all, I never had a dream of any earthquake.

 

Until later the day, I’d not believed it. In my opinion, earthquake and volcano were just events in history and, far away from us so that we did not need to spend time to consider when and where them would happen. It was so incredible, but, in Wenchuan, it was true.

 

My eyes were moist when seeing the painful pictures on television. I was shocked and troubled for lots of buildings collapsed and pinned hundreds of thousands of people. More than five provinces and twenty cities got involved in this quake. some parts of these citis almost became ashes. The water system, power system and traffic system were entirely crippled. In some way, it seemed like the end of the world. You caught the sight of damaged shoes and clothes on the ruins, but no owers; you heard the cries for help from the victims, but it took time; life and death twirled round and round in your heart, but you couldnot get it straight. Maybe nothing left but black and white in mind.

 

Death and destruction caused by this powerful earthquake was like a dark hole devouring the souls of people. And sometimes we had to hopelessly watch them vanishing one by one from our side while nothing we could do. I’ve got to say, we lost so much, nor regarding whether it was life or porperties.

 

By all accounts, so far, the confirmed death toll of Wenchuan Earthquake has now reached 62664, 23775 people are missing and 358816 are hurt. And the numbers of loss will be still growing. In most cases, only do I shed tears for I’m touched deeply by man’s life but I do nothing. At the moment, in the melancholy music, I hope with all my heart that the loss caused by the quake could reduced to a minimum, that homestead rebuilding could be operated as soon as possible, that all of survivors could come back to the regular life and all of victims could sleep in peace. God bless you, my dear fellow-men. I will still pray for you, tear for you.

The Games between the Police and Others

 

I go across several blocks on my way to City Stadium everyday. I often meet some police patrolling there. In some cases, I would study them when they come into sight. One of dreams from my childhood was to be a soldier, maybe their presence wakes up my old dream on that account.

 

After a time of my observing, in general, I discover that there are two figures in police. One is too fat, the other is thin.

 

Generally speaking, more stripes and stars on the military uniform, higher ranks he wears, then richer and fatter he gets; nevertheless, compare to that, the ranks are thinner and poorer. Of course, most of them are better off than common people. It’s a wonder that, as police, in stature, they nearly have nothing but body fat and bones.

 

I’m wondering if they each would beat up a ruffian or thug single-handed; after all, some of criminals are big and muscular. Not all cats can catch mice; even some of cats dread to face mice without aid or fellows. Yet it’s a natural for a cat to catch mice. But in man’s world, in some cases, between the police and offenders or some people, there is a game, a show, a play or a deal. Certainly, it’s not a problem of just one nation, it’s a universal one. And the game is on every day.

Giving Me Some Personal Space

 

I was running at the City Stadium this morning. A man, about twenty four, was running with me shoulder to shoulder.

 

All of sudden he said: “Hi, man!

“Well, hi!” said I offhand.

 

You may think only of that as an average start for some conversation. The truth is, that was the start of my misfortune.

 

Have you ever been tired of someone who kept badgering you all day long to meet his requests? Have you ever been surrounded by a flock of wasps buzzing around and not able to get out of the way? Did you say: “Get out of here, buddy!”? If it just happened to you, how would you feel?

 

I stopped to stretch body and exercise, so did him, whom I was not bothered with so far. It seemed to me that it was normal for two strangers talking a little with each other. I mean I talked a little bit. Nothing was showing that we had some things in common. He was not the man, one of the soul mates I found.

 

I would not mind if I could have one more friend. To my disappointment, just like the shadow of mine, he followed me and sat close by my side when I was resting on the steps. How he was so dying to express himself that I seldom interrupted him out of politeness. But he  spoke too much, and too much is too much. It was really difficult to stand the loudspeaker broadcasting nonsense around your ears all the way.

 

As he was excitedly chattering on the world and his life without considering my feeling, I just continued on in silence. If I could speak some words came with disgust. I said, “Oh, yeah, come on, wow, gee, boy, goddddddd!”

 

I guess no people in their right mind could bear listening to his endless preaching. To make things worse, when he spoke to me, he reached his neck so close to me and, endlessly, squawking. Above all things, he was wearing some kind of perfume. I hated it. The mixed smell of perfume and sweat was so stifling that my respiration became difficult, which brought me to the edge of passing out.

 

Close your eyes and imagine you are in the situation, and you know how bad it is! Oops, it’s toooooooooo bad, indeed. So I’d got to get rid of it by cooking up a story. Yet, at the moment, I knew not what to say! I mean I never intended to put him on the spot by some sharp remarks.

 

With a faint smile, I rose to my feet before he finished his talk and said, “Oh, man, don’t you wanna walk around, I wanna do it for a while.” Without his permission, I went away!

 

He said, in stunned silence, “Oh, yeah! Well, see you next time!”

“You are about to leave! Ok, see you!” said I. And I dared not to say: “NEXT TIME.”

 

The golden and warm light of dawn seeped down from the leaves of trees above. I breathed a sigh of relief when he was out of my sight! Perhaps out of sight, out of mind. Now I was able to free my heart and enjoy the nature given by God.