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No Nursing Home For Me


星期三 一月 06, 2010 9:17 am


Author Unknown
3-7-6


About 2 years ago my wife and I were on a cruise through the western Mediterranean aboard a Princess liner. At dinner we noticed an elderly lady sitting alone along the rail of the grand stairway in the main dining room. I also noticed that all the staff, ships officers, waiters, busboys, etc., all seemed very familiar with this lady. I asked our waiter who the lady was, expecting to be told that she owned the line, but he said he only knew that she had been on board for the last four cruises, back-to-back.

As we left the dining room one evening I caught her eye and stopped to say hello. We chatted and I said, "I understand you've been on this ship for the last four cruises". She replied, "Yes, that's true." I stated, "I don't understand" and she replied, without a pause, "It's cheaper than a nursing home".

So, there will be no nursing home in my future. When I get old and feeble, I am going to get on a Princess Cruise Ship. The average cost for a nursing home is $200 per day. I have checked on reservations on a Princess and I can get a long term discount and senior discount price of $135 per day. That leaves $65 a day for:

1. Gratuities which will only be $10 per day.

2. I will have as many as 10 meals a day if I can waddle to the restaurant, or I can have room service (which means I can have breakfast-in-bed every day of the week).

3. Princess has as many as three swimming pools, a workout room, free washers and dryers, and shows every night.

4. They have free toothpaste and razors, and free soap and shampoo.

5. They will even treat you like a customer, not a patient. An extra $5 worth of tips will have the entire staff scrambling to help you.

6. I will get to meet new people every 7 or 14 days.

7. T.V. broken? Light bulb need changing? Need to have the mattress replaced? No Problem! They will fix everything and apologize for your inconvenience.

8. Clean sheets and towels every day, and you don't even have to ask for them.

9. If you fall in the nursing home and break a hip you are on Medicare; if you fall and break a hip on the Princess ship they will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.

Now hold on for the best! Do you want to see South America, the Panama Canal, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, or name where you want to go?

Princess will have a ship ready to go. So don't look for me in a nursing home, just call shore to ship.

PS: And don't forget, when you die, they just dump you over the side -- at no charge




原址:www.rense.com

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用100个句子记完7000个单词


星期三 一月 06, 2010 9:15 am


俞敏洪:用100个句子记完7000个单词

21世纪英语论坛

俞敏洪老师从100套真题中提炼而出的100个经典句子。

1. Typical of the grassland dwellers of the continent is the American antelope, or pronghorn。

美洲羚羊,或称叉角羚,是该大陆典型的草原动物。

2. Of the millions who saw Haley’s comet in 1986, how many people will live long enough to see itreturn in the twenty-first century。

1986年看见哈雷慧星的千百万人当中,有多少人能够长寿到足以目睹它在二十一世纪的回归呢?

3. Anthropologists have discovered that fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise are universally reflected in facial expressions。

人类学家们已经发现,恐惧,快乐,悲伤和惊奇都会行之于色,这在全人类是共通的。

4. Because of its irritating effect on humans, the use of phenol as a general antiseptic has been largely discontinued。

由于苯酚对人体带有刺激性作用,它基本上已不再被当作常用的防腐剂了。

5. In group to remain in existence, a profit-making organization must, in the long run, produce something consumers consider useful or desirable。

任何盈利组织若要生存,最终都必须生产出消费者可用或需要的产品。

6. The greater thepopulation there is in a locality, the greater the need there is for water, transportation, and disposal of refuse。

一个地方的人口越多,其对水,交通和垃圾处理的需求就会越大。

7. It is more difficult to write simply, directly, and effectively than to employ flowery but vague expressions that only obscure one’s meaning。

简明,直接,有力的写作难于花哨,含混而意义模糊的表达。

8. With modern offices becoming more mechanized, designers are attempting to personalize the mwith warmer, less severe interiors。

随着现代办公室的日益自动化,设计师们正试图利用较为温暖而不太严肃的内部装饰来使其具有亲切感。

9. The difference between libel and slander is that libel is printed while slander is spoken。

诽谤和流言的区别在于前者是书面的,而后者是口头的。

10. The knee is the joints where the thigh bone meets the large bone of the lower leg。

膝盖是大腿骨和小腿胫的连接处。

11. Acids are chemical compounds that, in water solution, have a sharp taste, a corrosive action on metals, and the ability to turn certain blue vegetable dyes red。

酸是一种化合物,它在溶于水时具有强烈的气味和对金属的腐蚀性,并且能够使某些蓝色植物染料变红。

12. Billie Holiday’s reputation as a great jazz-blues singer rests on her ability to give emotional depth to her songs。

Billie Holiday’s作为一个爵士布鲁斯乐杰出歌手的名声建立在能够赋予歌曲感情深度的能力。

13. Essentially, a theory is an abstract, symbolic representation of what is conceived to be reality。

理论在本质上是对认识了的现实的一种抽象和符号化的表达。

14. Long before children are able to speak or understand a language, they communicate through facial expressions and by making noises。

儿童在能说或能听懂语言之前,很久就会通过面部表情和靠发出噪声来与人交流了。

15. Thanks to modern irrigation, crops now grow abundantly in areas where once nothing but cacti and sagebrush could live。

受当代灌溉(技术设施)之赐,农作物在原来只有仙人掌和荞属科植物才能生存的地方旺盛的生长。

16. The development of mechanical timepieces spurred the search for more accurate sundials with which to regulate them。

机械计时器的发展促使人们寻求更精确的日晷,以便校准机械计时器。

17. Anthropology is a science in that anthropologists use a rigorous set of methods and techniques to document observations that can be checked by others。

人类学是一门科学,因为人类学家采用一整套强有力的方法和技术来记录观测结果,而这样记录下来的观测结果是供他人核查的。

18. Fungi are important in the process of decay, which returns ingredients to the soil, enhances soil fertility, and decomposes animal debris。

真菌在腐化过程中十分重要,而腐化过程将化学物质回馈于土壤,提高其肥力,并分解动物粪便。

19. When it is struck, a tuning fork produces an almost pure tone, retaining its pitch over a long period of time。

音叉被敲击时,产生几乎纯质的音调,其音量经久不衰。

20. Although pecans are most plentiful in the southeastern part of the United States, they are found as far north as Ohio and Illinois。

虽然美洲山河桃树最集中于美国的东南部但是在北至俄亥俄州及伊利诺州也能看见它们。

21. Eliminating problems by transferring the blame to others is often called scape-goating。

用怪罪别人的办法来解决问题通常被称为寻找替罪羊。

22. The chief foods eaten in any country depend largely on what grows best in its climate and soil。

一个国家的主要食物是什么,大体取决于什么作物在其天气和土壤条件下生长得最好。

23. Over a very large number of trials, the probability of an event’s occurring is equal to the probability that it will not occur。

在大量的实验中,某一事件发生的几率等于它不发生的几率。

24. Most substance contract when they freeze so that the density of a substance’s solid is higher than the density of its liquid。

大多数物质遇冷收缩,所以他们的密度在固态时高于液态。

25. The mechanism by which brain cells store memories is not clearly understood。

大脑细胞储存记忆的机理并不为人明白。

26. By the middle of the twentieth century, painters and sculptors in the United States had begun to exert a great worldwide influence over art。

到了二十一世纪中叶,美国画家和雕塑家开始在世界范围内对艺术产生重大影响。

27. In the eastern part of New Jersey lies the city of Elizabeth, a major shipping and manufacturing center。

伊丽莎白市,一个重要的航运和制造业中心,坐落于新泽西州的东部。

28. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman medical doctor in the United States, founded the New York Infirmary, an institution that has always had a completely female medical staff。

Elizabeth Blackwell,美国第一个女医生,创建了员工一直为女性纽约诊所。

29. Alexander Graham Bell once told his family that he would rather be remembered as a teacher of the deaf than as the inventor of the telephone。

Alexander Graham Bell曾告诉家人,他更愿意让后人记住他是聋子的老师,而非电话的发明者。

30. Because its leaves remain green long after being picked, rosemary became associated with the idea of remembrance。

采摘下的迷迭香树叶常绿不衰,因此人们把迷迭香树与怀念联系在一起。

31. Although apparently rigid, bones exhibit a degree of elasticity that enables the skeleton to withstand considerable impact。

骨头看起来是脆硬的,但它也有一定的弹性,使得骨骼能够承受相当的打击。

32. That xenon could not FORM chemical compounds was once believed by scientists。

科学家曾相信:氙气是不能形成化合物的。

33. Research into the dynamics of storms is directed toward improving the ability to predict these events and thus to minimize damage and avoid loss of life.

对风暴动力学的研究是为了提高风暴预测从而减少损失,避免人员伤亡。

34. The elimination of inflation would ensure that the amount of money used in repaying a loanwould have the same value as the amount of money borrowed.

消除通货膨胀应确保还贷的钱应与所贷款的价值相同。

35. Futurism, an early twentieth-century movement in art, rejected all traditions and attempted to glorify contemporary life by emphasizing the machine and motion。

未来主义,二十世纪早期的一个艺术思潮。拒绝一切传统,试图通过强调机械和动态来美化生活。

36. One of the wildest and most inaccessible parts of the United States is the Everglades where wildlife is abundant and largely protected。

Everglades 是美国境内最为荒凉和人迹罕至的地区之一,此处有大量的野生动植物而且大多受(法律)保护。

37. Lucretia Mott’s influence was so significant that she has been credited by some authorities as the originator of feminism in the United States。

Lucretia Mott’s的影响巨大,所以一些权威部门认定她为美国女权运动的创始人。

38. The activities of the international marketing researcher are frequently much broader than those of the domestic marketer。

国际市场研究者的活动范围常常较国内市场研究者广阔。

39. The continental divide refers to an imaginary line in the North American Rockies that divides the waters flowing into the Atlantic Ocean from those flowing into the Pacific。

大陆分水岭是指北美洛矶山脉上的一道想象线,该线把大西洋流域和太平洋流域区分开来。

40. Studies of the gravity field of the Earth indicate that its crust and mantle yield when unusual weight is placed on them。

对地球引力的研究表明,在不寻常的负荷之下地壳和地幔会发生位移。

41. The annual worth of Utah’s manufacturing is greater than that of its mining and farming combined。

尤它州制造业的年产值大于其工业和农业的总和。

42. The wallflower is so called because its weak stems often grow on walls and along stony cliffs for support。

墙花之所以叫墙花,是因为其脆弱的枝干经常要靠墙壁或顺石崖生长,以便有所依附。

43. It is the interaction between people, rather than the events that occur in their lives, that is the main focus of social psychology。

社会心理学的主要焦点是人与人之间的交往,而不是他们各自生活中的事件。

44. No social crusade aroused Elizabeth Williams’ enthusiasm more than the expansion of educational facilities for immigrants to the United States。

给美国的新移民增加教育设施比任何社会运动都更多的激发了Elizabeth Williams的热情。

45. Quails typically have short rounded wings that enable them to spring into full flight instantly when disturbed in their hiding places。

典型的鹌鹑都长有短而圆的翅膀,凭此他们可以在受惊时一跃而起,飞离它们的躲藏地。

46. According to anthropologists, the earliest ancestors of humans that stood upright resembled chimpanzees facially, with sloping foreheads and protruding brows。

根据人类学家的说法,直立行走的人的鼻祖面部轮廓与黑猩猩相似,额头后倾,眉毛突出。

47. Not until 1866 was the fully successful transatlantic cable finally laid。

直到1866年第一条横跨大西洋的电缆才完全成功的架通。

48. In his writing, John Crowe Ransom describes what he considers the spiritual barrenness of society brought about by science and technology。

John Crowe Ransom在他的著作中描述了他认为是由科学技术给社会带来的精神贫困。

49. Children with parents whose guidance is firm, consistent, and rational are inclined to possess high levels of self-confidence。

父母的教导如果坚定,始终如一和理性,孩子就有可能充满自信。

50. The ancient Hopewell people of North America probably cultivated corn and other crops, but hunting and gathering were still of critical importance in their economy。

北美远古的Hopewell人很可能种植了玉米和其他农作物,但打猎和采集对他们的经济贸易仍是至关重要的。

51. Using many symbols makes it possible to put a large amount of in FOR Mation on a single map。

使用多种多样的符号可以在一张地图里放进大量的信息

52. Anarchism is a term describing a cluster of doctrines and attitudes whose principal uniting feature is the belief that government is both harmful and unnecessary。

无政府主义这个词描述的是一堆理论和态度,它们的主要共同点在于相信政府是有害的,没有必要的。

53. Probably no man had more effect on the daily lives of most people in the Untied States than did Henry Ford a pioneer in automobile production。

恐怕没有谁对大多数美国人的日常生活影响能超过汽车生产的先驱亨利。福特。

54. The use of well-chosen nonsense words makes possible the testing of many basic hypotheses in the field of language learning。

使用精心挑选的无意义词汇,可以检验语言学科里许多基本的假定。

55. The history of painting is a fascinating chain of events that probably began with the very first pictures ever made。

优化历史是由一连串的迷人事件组成,其源头大概可以上溯到最早的图画。

56. Perfectly matched pearls, strung into a necklace, bring a far higher price than the same pearls told individually。

相互般配的珍珠,串成一条项链,就能卖到比单独售出好得多的价钱。

57. During the eighteenth century, Little Turtle was chief of the Miami tribe whose territory became what is now Indiana and Ohio。

十八世纪时,“小乌龟”是迈阿密部落的酋长,该部落的地盘就是今天的印第安那州和俄亥俄州。

58. Among almost seven hundred species of bamboo, some are fully grown at less than a foot high, while others can grow three feet in twenty-four hours。

在竹子的近七百个品种中,有的全长成还不到一英尺,有的却能在二十四小时内长出三英尺。

59. Before staring on a sea voyage, prudent navigators learn the sea charts, study the sailing directions, and memorize lighthouse locations to prepare themselves for any conditions they might encounter。

谨慎的航海员在出航前,会研究航向,记录的灯塔的位置,以便对各种可能出现的情况做到有备无患。

60. Of all the economically important plants, palms have been the least studied。

在所有的经济作物中,棕榈树得到的研究最少。

61. Buyers and sellers should be aware of new developments in technology can and does affect marketing activities。

购买者和销售者都应该留意技术的新发展,原因很简单,因为技术能够并且已经影响着营销活动。

62. The application of electronic controls made possible by the microprocessor and computer storage have multiplied the uses of the modern typewriter。

电脑储存和由于电子微处理机得以实现的电控运用成倍的增加了现代打字机的功能。

63. The human skeleton consists of more than two hundred bones bound together by tough and relatively inelastic connective tissues called ligaments。

人类骨骼有二百多块骨头组成,住些骨头石油坚韧而相对缺乏弹性的,被称为韧带的结蒂组连在一起。

64. The pigmentation of a pearl is influenced by the type of oyster in which it develops and bythe depth, temperature, and the salt content of the water in which the oyster lives。

珍珠的色泽受到作为其母体牡蛎种类及牡蛎生活水域的深度,温度和含盐度的制约。

65. Although mockingbirds superbly mimic the songs and calls of many birds, they can non ethelessbe quickly identified as mockingbirds by certain aural clues。

尽管模仿鸟学很多种鸟的鸣叫声惟妙惟肖,但人类还是能够依其声音上的线索很快识别它们。

66. Not only can walking fish live out of water, but they can also travel short distances over land。

鲇鱼不仅可以离开水存活,还可以在岸上短距离移动。

67. Scientists do not know why dinosaurs became extinct, but some theories postulate that changers in geography, climate, and sea levels were responsible。

科学家不知道恐龙为何绝种了,但是一些理论推断是地理,气候和海平面的变化造成的。

68. The science of horticulture, in which the primary concerns are maximum yield and superior quality, utilizes in FOR Mation derived from other sciences。

主要目的在于丰富和优质的农艺学利用了其他科学的知识。

69. Snow aids farmers by keeping heart in the lower ground levels, thereby saving the seeds from freezing。

雪对农民是一种帮助,因为它保持地层土壤的温度,使种子不致冻死。

70. Even though the precise qualities of hero in literary words may vary over time, the basic exemplary function of the hero seems to remain constant。

历代文学作品中的英雄本色虽各有千秋,但其昭世功力却是恒古不变的。

71. People in prehistoric times created paints by grinding materials such as plants and clay into power and then adding water。

史前的人们制造颜料是将植物和泥土等原料磨成粉末,然后加水。

72. Often very annoying weeds, golden rods crowd out less hardy plants and act as hosts to many insect pests。

***花通常令人生厌,它挤走不那么顽强的植物,并找来很多害虫。

73. Starting around 7000B.C., and for the next four thousand years, much of the Northern Hemisphere experienced temperatures warmer than at present。

大约从公元前七千年开始,在四千年当中,北半球的温度比现在高。

74. When Henry Ford first sought financial backing for making cars, the very notion of farmer sand clerks owning automobiles was considered ridiculous。

当亨利。福特最初制造汽车为寻求资金支持时,农民和一般职员也能拥有汽车的想法被认为是可笑的。

75. Though once quite large,the population of the bald eagle across North America has drastically declined in the past forty years。

北美秃头鹰的数量一度很多,但在近四十年中全北美的秃头鹰数量急剧下降。

76. The beaver chews down trees to get food and material with which to build its home。

水獭啃倒树木,以便取食物并获得造窝的材料。

77. Poodles were once used as retrievers in duck hunting, but the American Kennel Club does not consider them sporting dogs because they are now primarily kept as pets。

长卷毛狗曾被用作猎鸭时叼回猎物的猎犬,但是美国Kennel Club却不承认它们为猎犬,因为它们现在大多数作为宠物饲养。

78. As a result of what is now know in physics and chemistry, scientists have been able to make important discoveries in biology and medicine。

物理学和化学的一个成果是使得科学家们能在生物学和医学上获得重大发现。

79. The practice of making excellent films based on rather obscure novels has been going on so long in the United States as to constitute a tradition。

根据默默无闻的小说制作优秀影片在美国由来已久,已经成为传统。

80. Since the consumer considers the best fruit to be that which is the most attractive, the grower must provide products that satisfy the discerning eye。

因为顾客认为最好的水果应该看起来也是最漂亮的,所以种植者必须提供能满足挑剔眼光的产品。

81. Television the most pervasive and persuasive of modern technologies, marked by rapid change and growth, is moving into a new era, an era of extraordinary sophistication and versatility, which promises to reshape our lives and our world。

电视,这项从迅速变化和成长为标志的最普及和最有影响力的现代技术,正在步入一个新时代,一个极为成熟和多样化的时代,这将重塑我们的生活和世界。

82. Television is more than just an electronics; it is a means of expression, as well as a vehicle for communication, and as such becomes a powerful tool for reaching other human beings。

电视不仅仅是一件电器;它是表达的手段和交流的载体并因此成为联系他人的有力工具。

83.Even more shocking is the fact that the number and rate of imprisonment have more than doubled over the past twenty years, and recidivism------that is the rate for re-arrest------is more than 60percent。

更让人吃惊的事实是监禁的数目和比例在过去的二十年中翻了一番还有余,以及累犯率——即再次拘押的比例——为百分之六十强。

84.William Rainey Harperlured him to the new university of Chicago, where he remained officially for exactly a generation and where his students in advanced composition found him terrifyingly frigid in the classroom but sympathetic and understanding in their personal conferences。

他的教书生涯始于麻省理工学院,但是William Rainey Harper把他吸引到了新成立的芝加哥大学。他在那里正式任职长达整整一代人的时间。他的高级作文课上的学生觉得他在课上古板得可怕,但私下交流却富有同情和理解。

85. The sloth pays such little attention to its personal hygiene that green algae grow on its coarse hair and communities of a parasitic moth live in the depths of its coat producing caterpillars which graze on its mouldy hair. Its muscles are such that it is quits incapable of moving at a speed of over a kilometer an hour even over the shortest distances and the swiftest movement it can make is a sweep of its hooked arm。

树獭即不讲究卫生,以至于它粗糙的毛发上生出绿苔,成群的寄生蛾生长在它的皮毛深处,变成毛毛虫,并以它的脏毛为食。她的肌肉不能让他哪怕在很短的距离以内以每小时一公里的速度移动。它能做的最敏捷的动作就是挥一挥它弯曲的胳膊。

86. Artificial flowers areused for scientific as well as for decorative purposes. They are made from a variety of materials, such as way and glass, so skillfully that they can scarcely be distinguished from natural flowers。

人造花卉即可用于科学目的,也可用于装饰目的,它们可以用各种各样的材料制成,臂如蜡和玻璃;其制作如此精巧,几乎可以以假乱真。

87. Three years of researchat an abandoned coal mine in Argonne, Illinois, have resulted infindings that scientists believe can help reclaim thousands of minedisposal sites that scar the coal-rich regions of the United States。

在伊利诺州Angonne市的一个废弃煤矿的三年研究取得了成果,科学家们相信这些成果可以帮助改造把美国产煤区弄得伤痕累累的数千个旧煤场。

88. When the persuading andthe planning for the western railroads had finally been completed, thereally challenging task remained: the dangerous, sweaty, backbreaking,brawling business of actually building the lines。

当有关西部铁路的说服和规划工作终于完成后,真正艰难的任务还没有开始;即危险,吃力,需要伤筋动骨和吵吵嚷嚷的建造这些铁路的实际工作。

89. Because of the spacecrunch, the Art Museum has become increasingly cautious in consideringacquisitions and donations of art, in some cases passing upopportunities to strengthen is collections。

由于空间不足,艺术博物馆在考虑购买和接受捐赠的艺术品是越来越慎重,有些情况下放弃其进一步改善收藏的机会。

90. The United StatesConstitution requires that President be a natural-born citizen,thirty-five years of age or older, who has lived in the United Statesfor a minimum of fourteen years。

美国宪法要求总统是生于美国本土的公民,三十五岁以上,并且在美国居住了至少十四年。

91. Arid regions in thesouthwestern United States have become increasingly invitingplaygrounds for the growing number of recreation seekers who ownvehicles such as motorcycles or powered trail bikes and indulge inhill-climbing contests or in caving new trails in the desert。

91.美国西部的不毛之地正成为玩耍的地方,对越来越多拥有摩托车或越野单车类车辆的,喜欢放纵于爬坡比赛或开辟新的沙漠通道的寻欢作乐者具有不断增长的吸引力。

92. Stone does decay, and sotools of long ago have remained when even the bones of the man who madethem have disappeared without trace。

石头不会腐烂,所以以前的(石器)工具能保存下来,虽然它们的制造者已经消失的无影无踪。

93. Insects would make itimpossible for us to live in the world; they would devour all our cropsand kill our flocks and herds, if it were not for the protection we getfrom insect-eating animals。

昆虫就将会使我们无法在这个世界上居住;如果我们没有受到以昆虫为食的动物的保护,昆虫就会吞嚼掉我们所有的庄稼并杀死我们饲养的禽兽。

94. It is true that duringtheir explorations they often faced difficulties and dangers of themost perilous nature, equipped in a manner which would make a modernclimber shudder at the thought, but they did not go out of their way tocourt such excitement。

确实,他们在探险中遇到了极具威胁性的困难和危险,而他们的装备会让一个现代登山者想一想都会浑身颤栗。不过他们并不是刻意去追求刺激的。

95. There is only onedifference between an old man and a young one: the young man has aglorious future before him and old one has a splendid future behindhim: and maybe that is where the rub is。

老人和年轻人之间只有一个区别:年轻人的前面有辉煌的未来,老年人灿烂的未来却已在它们身后。这也许就是困难之所在。

96. I find young peopleexciting. They have an air of freedom, and they have not a drearycommitment to mean ambitions or love comfort. They are not anxioussocial climbers, and they have no devotion to material things。

我们位年强人振奋。它们带有自由的气息,他们不会为狭隘的野心和贪婪享受而孜孜以求。他们不是焦虑的向上爬的人,他们不会对物质性的东西难舍难分。

97. I am always amazed whenI hear people saying that sport creates goodwill between the nations,and that if only the common peoples of the world could meet one anotherat football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on thebattlefield。

每次我听说体育运动能够在国家间建立起友好感情,说世界各地的普通人只要能在足球场或板球场上相遇就会没有兴趣在战场上相遇的话,我都倍感诧异。

98. It is impossible to saysimply for the fun and exercise: as soon as the question of prestigearises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will bedisgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are around。

没有可能仅仅为了娱乐或锻炼而运动:一旦有了问题,一旦你觉得你输了你和你所属团体会有失体面时,你最野蛮的好斗本能就会被激发出来。

99. It has been found thatcertain bats emit squeaks and by receiving the echoes, they can locateand steer clear of obstacles------or locate flying insects on whichthey feed. This echo-location in bats is often compared with radar, theprinciple of which is similar。

人们已经发现,某些蝙蝠发出尖叫声并靠接受回响来锁定和避免障碍物——或者找到它们赖以为生的昆虫。蝙蝠这种回响定位法常拿来和原理与之很相近似的雷达相比。

100. As the time and cost ofmaking a clip drop to a few days and a few hundred dollars, engineersmay soon be free to let their imaginations soar without being penalizedby expensive failure。

随着芯片制造时间和费用降低到了几天和几百美元,工程师们可能很快可以任他们的想象驰骋而不会被昂贵的失败所惩罚。

转自伊甸文苑

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看杨磊初演《锁麟囊》


星期二 一月 05, 2010 5:24 pm


看杨磊初演《锁麟囊》

金兆

  杨磊,程派教育家李文敏2000年收的弟子,几十个学生中的唯一男性。他有志于程派的经历,有点近似他的太老师赵荣琛:赵是18岁时,为了唱程派,毅然弃学从艺,考入山东省立剧院学戏,历经曲折艰辛,终成正果,成为一代程派大家;杨是22岁拜师,辞职入梨园,屡经挫折,继张火丁、李海燕之后,终于成为中国京剧院第三位程派演员,他们全是先后出自李文敏门下,而且杨磊还是男旦,这也是中国京剧院的破例之举,难能可贵。

  7月15日在中国京剧院小剧场,杨磊出演《锁麟囊》,助演的有71岁的名丑寇春华的胡婆,被迟小秋借到福建配演梅香的徐孟珂,又傍着这个刚出道的程派新手打炮,一台戏很整齐,杨磊演得中规中矩,唱段该出彩的地方全有彩,剧场很热烈,掌声不绝。当然头次演这么大的戏,又是票友出身,没撒汤漏水就不容易。徐孟珂临场插科打诨抓词,很捧了一下小杨,更活跃了剧场气氛。

  虽然我早就认识了小杨,但这却是我第一次听他的戏。有朋友在上海看过他参加“纪程百年”演出的《武家坡》,说嗓子、扮相好,唱得不错,难得的是他身上有几分他的太老师赵荣琛先生的意思,对他寄予厚望。可是这场《锁麟囊》,他的嗓子似乎不甚好,有疲劳感,可能初次打炮就主演程派经典名剧,天热排戏太累,压力也大,嗓子受点影响,难免。相信随着舞台经验的积累和再一步用功不懈,会逐步好起来的。

  他是票友拜师后下海,身上缺基本功,尤其是腰腿,要下大力气补课。他知道他的太老师赵先生18岁才练功学戏,他更要晚,就要有更多的付出。这几年,他什么也不考虑,集中全力补课、学戏,力争多演出、多实践,闯出来。他心中的偶像是他的太老师,在他的文敏老师指导下,奋力一步步前进。那天演出,李文敏老师早早来到后台,张罗一切,为弟子把场。演出结束,他的“粉丝”献上的鲜花,头一束他接过来立即就恭敬地献给老师,以酬师恩;接着把鲜花转赠乐队和配演的老师,感谢大家的扶助。寇春华说:“这孩子争气用功,咱们得扶一把,排戏时,我对他说,你放心演你的,我跟着你走,保着你。”“舍粥”一场,一老一小,配合很严谨,不温不火恰到好处。小杨台下说,那场戏演的真舒服,要没寇老师的火候和厚爱,我达不到这样。
他还是缺舞台经验。私下他的正反“卧鱼”一下腰可贴台毯,可一扮上,行头服装就择不开,“朱楼”的表演动作也就难以完全到位。没别的,练!

  29岁的程派男旦才刚走上舞台。晚了;但是对有志人说,并不晚。白石老人50岁才改工国画,可为典范。

来源咚咚锵

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是是非非说男旦


星期二 一月 05, 2010 4:44 pm


是是非非说男旦

  直到上世纪50年代末,可以说,以艺术大师梅兰芳为代表的男旦艺术家依然是众星捧月一般受人推崇,然而,恰恰就在这个时候,政府高层忽然有领导表示,希望男旦到“四小名旦”为止,不要再培养了。

王悦阳

  从年初电影《梅兰芳》的华丽上映,挑起了人们对男旦这个如今有些神秘的行当的无穷热情,到年底连番举办的纪念梅兰芳诞辰115周年、纪念梅兰芳赴日90 周年的庆祝活动,山城重庆也为当地硕果仅存的男旦艺术大家沈福存先生隆重举办了从艺60周年纪念活动——2009,是京剧男旦频频亮相的一年。

  一时间,街头巷尾,男旦掀起不可抗拒的风情。日本歌舞伎大师坂东玉三郎带来的一曲日本男旦版昆曲《牡丹亭》为冬日平添一份精致的热闹;电影《风声》中苏有朋精彩演绎的昆曲男旦也为这股潮流推波助澜;还有在“星光大道”一举成名的李玉刚,游走在“女形”与“男旦”之间,因为柔媚的扮相而颠倒众生……中国男旦,作为一个特殊、神秘而有趣的社会话题,一而再,再而三地被反复提及,甚至成为文化热点。

  有谁想到,这一切,仅在数十年前还属于完全无法公开的“秘密”。纵观历史,中国京剧前百年的辉煌几乎完全由男性创造,这其中自然包括男旦,而后百年的历史中,却又以梅兰芳作为分水岭,逐渐从最高点走向低谷,甚至一度行将灭绝。事实上,直至今日,中国男旦的前景依然并不乐观,尽管男旦并没有绝迹于中国舞台,却仍逐渐被无情地边缘化。

  细数如今活跃在舞台上的男旦,总共不过十余人。而其中较为著名的青年演员有中国京剧院的刘铮、杨磊,以及刚毕业不久的尹俊、牟元迪、董飞。中年一代的佼佼者则是“梅派第三代传人”胡文阁以及旅居东瀛的吴汝俊。而作为退休已久的老艺术家,在北京京剧团有梅葆玖、温如华两位,以及有着“小张君秋”之称的吴吟秋先生,在南京则有“活红娘”美誉的宋长荣先生,在重庆有着“四川梅兰芳”美誉的沈福存先生。这其中,除了梅葆玖仍不时登台外,沈、宋、吴、温四位已逐渐淡出舞台……就是这老少三代人,沉重地肩负起了中国男旦未来的旗帜。

  就在不久前,某项国家级青年京剧大赛如火如荼地展开着,毫无意外,所有参赛的男旦在第一轮都齐刷刷遭到淘汰。在评委点评时,某位德高望重的老艺术家甚至当场宣称:“男旦早已是衰落已久的艺术形式,不应当出现在今天的舞台上。”谁知话音刚落,当即遭到另一位评委无情的驳斥:“那请问你的老师是不是男旦?你老师的老师又是不是男旦?”一时间,气氛尴尬而紧张。有趣的是,倒是一位来自上海的女老生最终杀入了决赛,并获得了奖项。乾旦、坤生,同是反串,评委观点、参赛结果却迥然不同。这一切,又有着怎样的社会、历史、文化背景呢?

  “狎邪游”的副产品

  男旦是怎样兴起的,众说纷纭。从历史上来看,男旦第一次走红,应是在乾隆年间,由魏长生掀起了这次高潮,造成了以秦腔为代表的俗文化取代了如日中天的以昆腔为代表的雅文化。魏长生演出的,几乎都是带有一定色情意味的“粉戏”,通过男旦的肢体动作,表现一些下流猥琐的故事。由于清朝政府明令“士大夫不许嫖娼”,于是这种带有强烈意淫色彩的表演,加之全部是由男性演出,故而得到社会高度关注与青睐。

  同时,由于伶人地位的低下,使众多面容姣好的男旦为势所迫不得不成为仕宦商贾所狎的对象,这一现象在《红楼梦》、《品花宝鉴》等同时代小说中有着颇多描述。人们在欣赏其艺术创造的同时又侮辱他们、作践他们,艺术的尊荣与艺术创造者的低贱在他们身上形成了强烈的反差。而且,长久唱旦角的男人,日常的一举一动总不免带一些舞台化的柔媚女性时常出现的小动作,甚至有时他们自己都到了戏我两忘的地步,分不清自己的真实身份。这一点,在陈凯歌导演的《霸王别姬》中与师哥段小楼唱了一辈子“别姬”的程蝶衣身上淋漓尽致地体现了出来。正因为此,京剧学者徐城北曾将男旦归结为“狎邪游”的一种副产品。

  民国以后,伴随着思想解放,整个戏剧界也发生了急遽变化,通过梅兰芳、程砚秋等一批杰出的男旦艺人不懈的努力,逐渐废除了旧戏班许多淫邪、恶劣的旧规矩,男旦艺人得到了应有的尊敬。同时,由于梅兰芳等男旦在艺术上的不断钻研,使得男旦与老生一起,并列为京剧舞台最重要的行当(在此之前,旦角是老生的配角)。加之女性观众的不断扩大,更使得男旦进入历史上最鼎盛的时代。而这个时代,也就是梅兰芳最美好的青年时代。1927年《顺天时报》举办中国旦角名伶竞选,经投票选出了梅兰芳、尚小云、程砚秋、荀慧生并称“四大名旦”。当时四大名旦的师傅,被称为“通天教主”的一代名角王瑶卿对他们的点评是:“梅兰芳的相、程砚秋的唱、尚小云的棒、荀慧生的浪。”

  在封建王朝“女子不得参与演出”禁令解除后的中国,男旦居然能够在女旦兴起之时依旧屹立剧坛主流不倒,甚至为大量女性观众所倾倒,可见男旦作为一种艺术形式,是颇为高明的。可以说,梅兰芳,程砚秋等四大名旦的艺术成就并不是来自他们对女人的外形模仿,男旦的嗓音条件明显优于女旦,男性由于生理原因,其假声结实,音色脆亮,中气足,有厚度,因而耐听。而女性的假嗓,往往尖细纤弱,缺乏厚重之感。同时,男旦在讲究唱念做打的艺术表演中追求的并不是生活的再现,而是塑造更为完美的角色。

  有“梅”无“梅”不一样

  直到上世纪50年代末,可以说,以艺术大师梅兰芳为代表的男旦艺术家依然是众星捧月一般受人推崇,然而,恰恰就在这个时候,政府高层忽然有领导表示,希望男旦到“四小名旦”为止,不要再培养了。

  “这与意识形态有关,那时很多人都觉得男旦是一个怪胎,是封建残余。”作为过来人的温如华,因此失去了在青年时期成为男旦的机遇。诚然,周总理曾经说过:“一百年才出一个梅兰芳”,但同时,这位时代的伟人也曾用商量的口吻对北京的梨园说:“今后,咱们就不再培养男旦了吧?京剧女性演女性,越剧呢,让他们男性演男性。这个工作由我去做……”于是,从此之后的戏曲学校再招生时,就再也没有男孩子学旦角了。一直到现在,不培养男孩学旦还是各戏曲学校不成文的默契。

  作为“戏改”的一部分,取消男旦培养在当时并没有引起轩然大波。毕竟,当时从梅兰芳、尚小云算起,尚有一大批男旦艺术家仍然在舞台上演出。这其中,梅兰芳已俨然成为一种符号式的人物,甚至是整个梨园行的领袖与核心,因而各方面待遇最高。年富力强的张君秋正在蒸蒸日上,王吟秋、赵荣琛两位程派男旦也由于程砚秋的突然去世而备受程派戏迷青睐。与此同时,言慧珠、李玉茹、童芷苓、杜近芳等一大批女性旦角演员也在台上大显光彩。有趣的是,在这一时期,男旦与女旦似乎从没有发生过什么激烈冲突。相反倒是很有默契,一般来说,传统老戏多由男旦演唱,新编剧目则是女旦的强项。

  事情的转折变化恰恰在上世纪60年代初期,也正是一代宗师梅兰芳辞世前后。从表面现象来看,仿佛有“梅”无“梅”大不一样,随着梅兰芳的逝世,男旦不再是京剧艺术的核心,梅兰芳专属的梅剧团也划归国有。而事实上,真正促成男旦艺术举步维艰的,正是当时加紧阶级斗争的特殊政治气氛。古老的京剧艺术逐渐开始战战兢兢地在政治斗争的夹缝中“讨生活”,男旦作为“封建余孽”的代表,日子自然不会好过。随着 “文化大革命”的最终爆发,男旦艺术遭遇灭顶之灾——“四大名旦”中的尚小云、荀慧生被迫害致死,张君秋被“控制使用”,至于名望更低一些的男旦,其命运自然要悲惨得多。

  然而观众对男旦的热情并没有就此熄灭, 1979年,来自苏北的荀派男旦宋长荣一出《红娘》竟一下子火了起来,带着对男旦艺术复苏的渴望,《红娘》连续演了一千多场,场场爆满,还拍了电影。而更大的奇迹则出现在梅家。梅葆玖,这位梅兰芳最小的儿子,在沉寂了很长一段时间之后,竟然重返舞台,扛起了振兴梅派艺术乃至男旦艺术的大旗!由于彼时人到中年的梅葆玖无论从扮相、身材还是嗓音上,都酷似其父梅兰芳,因而他的出现,一下子引起巨大轰动。

  果真是有 “梅”无“梅”不一样!男旦逐渐回到了舞台上。可尽管如此,梅葆玖却仍多次强调自己是“最后的男旦”,连中央电视台拍摄一部关于男旦文化的专题片,片名也叫“绝唱”。在上世纪90年代初的梨园界,为男旦唱挽歌的人不少,赞同男旦伴随时代变迁而绝迹的人则似乎更多。

  就在这个时候,年轻的琴师吴汝俊闯入了人们的视野。当年,他从戏曲学院一毕业,就分配到中国京剧院给李维康拉京胡。不但京胡拉得趁手,令人惊奇的是,他还有一条高低没挡、有磁性的好“小嗓”,演唱中不时显露出金属般的感觉。他没让这天赋淹没,不久就在北京举行了个人“独奏独唱音乐会”,一鸣惊人。不久他娶了一位日本妻子,移居日本的福冈。在日本,他迅速地以自己的男旦艺术成名了,甚至在日本几乎每个重要城市都有“吴(汝俊)迷”。在吴汝俊投身男旦的同时,一位曾以“女声男唱”而闻名的流行歌手胡文阁也迅速地被京剧男旦艺术所折服,凭借着自身的优秀条件与刻苦钻研,“半路出家”的他投身梅葆玖门下,成为梅派男旦艺术的第三代传人。

  生机在民间

  进入21世纪,男旦的道路并没有因为年轻人的加入而变得宽阔。问题依然不少,矛盾还是很大。

  诚然,如今虽然再没有人直言反对男旦,但京剧本身因多种文化形式冲击,已有些不景气。加之大量艺术水平较高的女性旦角演员出现,男旦的生存空间已越来越小,甚至逐渐走向边缘,仿佛造成“自然死”现象。相较之于女旦,男旦百年来的优势依然存在,然而,在不少梨园内行看来,且不说因时代变迁,使男女同台演出成为趋势,单从人们的观念上来看,男旦就该被否定、取消。

  在剧团里,男旦受到冷遇确属正常。男人扮女人本身的脂粉气会令一些人侧目,同时,由于男旦曾经的历史背景,往往会让人将之与人格变态、同性恋联系起来。现在戏曲专业院校多不愿招收男性旦角演员,家长也不想让自己的孩子去演女人,怕变成“娘娘腔”。中国戏曲学院表演系招生时,就曾有负责人表示,学校还没有招过男旦学员,并不是有意排斥,而是没有合适的人选。而诸如北京戏曲职业学院、上海戏曲学校招生办工作人员也表示,虽然这些年来学校一直在招男旦,但报名的很少,符合条件的更少。从2002年至今,戏校招收过的男旦不过数人而已。

  相对于中国男旦的危机,日本歌舞伎男旦却相当红火。坂田藤十郎是日本的歌舞伎界的“人间国宝”,他在访问中国时对中国男旦的没落感到可惜,更公开表示男旦是女旦无法取代的。无独有偶,作为梅葆玖的好朋友,终身仰慕梅兰芳大师的日本歌舞伎名家坂东玉三郎,不仅身体力行学习中国的京昆男旦艺术,同时通过自身的影响力与号召力,不断在为中国的男旦艺术宣传、呐喊。在他看来,男旦刻画女性角色有两点是女旦无法企及的,第一是“刻度深”,即在艺术性上更强;第二是“延年”,即男旦的艺术寿命远远长于女旦。为此,他不仅表示愿意以个人的力量资助具有良好条件的年轻人学习男旦艺术,同时也身体力行,带着如今活跃于舞台上的年轻男旦刘铮、董飞等一起演出昆曲《牡丹亭》。

  现在,除了专业演员之外,全国各地不乏优秀的男旦票友。据初步统计,这群人约有近百之多。每年还定期举办交流、展演以及比赛,对于艺术的认真执著与由衷热爱丝毫不输专业演员。在当今多元文化的社会中,随着文化观、艺术眼界与思想认识的不断提高,不少年轻人坚持:男旦、女旦完全可以并存,以满足人们多元化的审美需求。因为,无论男旦还是女旦,只要经得起舞台和观众的检验,就是好角,就有其生存和发展的道理。

(摘自 《新民周刊》)

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京昆艺术中心王佩瑜专场讲座亲历记(连载四)


星期二 一月 05, 2010 4:41 pm


正式开始了!

跟第一眼印象完全合拍——直爽得脱口而出,三十而立!而立之年果然立起来了!

通常女士是忌讳问年龄说年龄的,这在我目前生活的北美更是如此。女演员更是如此,好像不闻不问就青春永驻。这跟好莱坞有不同,人家是公开年龄的,不像我们只是披露出生月份日期连得男演员也羞羞答答不肯示之以众。

而王佩瑜就居然说出来她三十岁了(去年十二月所言)!这不能不让人佩服——一个字,就是直!

好多人不看京剧不知道王佩瑜的应该是从电影梅兰芳中晓得了这个坤生,知道了小冬皇。王佩瑜在应约去为章子怡配唱时候又是脱口而出——你们给章子怡多少钱?

问得好啊!

通常的想来,总大体上是受宠若惊——给那么一个国际级(呵呵,现在是国际级别了!)大明星配唱,还有名导也是国际级的哦。怎么说也是难得的机会哦。一般就是小媳妇般的低眉顺眼,哪敢去问给什么价码?竟然还敢问道章子怡拿多少片酬!

可以说,你章子怡演得再好,你也唱不了孟小冬的游龙戏凤!或者说,王佩瑜可以没有章子怡照样唱游龙戏凤,而章子怡没有人给她配唱,这个角色就是白搭!

不去关心到底王佩瑜从陈凯歌那儿拿到多少报酬。这不干我们观众戏迷的事!关心的事情是小冬皇也有当年的冬皇那股子劲——不买账啊!

另外一件事就是她独立出来成立工作室。一般人总是宣传一下如何创业如何丰收如何如何。可王佩瑜她偏偏就直白地告诉大家她是失败的——相对于其他也一样脱离剧团干过别的最后照样回归的演员,王佩瑜就敢于说出自己的不足之处。失败并不可怕,要的是吸取教训。王佩瑜是回归了,她还哭鼻子呢。

其实,我的感觉是她这样的性格不适合去运作去长袖,她就是她,她就是眼下的孟小冬!冬皇的傲气(没有贬义)才气集之于一身展现出她的英气!

孟小冬在舞台以外的某些地方是失败的,但是失败不仅仅在于自身的弱点而且在于别人的固有弱点太可怕。

王佩瑜终于认识到与体制去相背而行,是不行的。一个人的能力实在有限,不可能包打天下。

时代毕竟不同了。孟小冬在天之灵,说不定也看着小冬皇王佩瑜如何在众人的扶持下一步步走向红毡毯的中心迈向艺术的顶峰。应该说她还指望佩瑜超越自己呢。

章子怡演过孟小冬之后,据说非常想演孟小冬而且是让她占据银幕第一主人公的地位,绝对不是那部电影里的配角。不知道她的愿望猴年马月能够实现?有些事情很难说。当然,我个人是衷心祝愿她心想事成!

但是,王佩瑜她实现当代孟小冬的愿望指日可待。总有一天,她会把那个小字拿掉,堂堂正正地成为一个坤生之皇!

未完待续敬请关注。

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海派京剧的联弹


星期二 一月 05, 2010 4:01 pm


“海派”有所谓的“联弹”,实际上就是一个大的唱段由两个以上的演员大家分分演唱,每人一句或者几句,甚至半句。摇曳生姿,悦耳动听。比如京派《龙凤呈祥》庙堂一折,主要由刘备唱、乔玄念来表演的。而海派的《龙凤呈祥》则是由刘备、乔玄、孙权、吴国太、赵云、贾华六个人合唱一段五十多句的二黄联弹来完成的。再如别宫一场,京派是吴国太和孙尚香二人对唱的,海派则是孙尚香、刘备、乔玄、吴国太、孙权五个人合唱西皮联弹来表演的。毫无疑问从表演形式和舞台效果上要火爆漂亮得多。』

  『联弹广泛的存在于海派京剧剧目中,比如《龙凤呈祥》、《渡涧河》、《狸猫换太子》、《驱车战将》、《天雨花》、《七侠五义》等等。它是以京剧原有的唱腔结构为基础,略加修饰串联而成的。有二黄联弹、西皮联弹、反二黄联弹、高拨子联弹、四平调、吹腔联弹等等很多种,更有西皮二黄连缀在一起的联弹,别有一番风味。』

——引自鹧鸪天于20010年1月02日22:12:01在〖中国京剧论坛〗发表的“试把海派颠倒看!”

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