Monday, November 10, 2008

Fool.com: 60-Second Guide to Index Investing






http://www.fool.com/60second/indexfund.htm

Wanna own shares of some of the best-known companies in America and beat the pants off of most mutual funds? It's shockingly easy with index investing. In the next 60 seconds, we'll show you how to do it.
0:60 What is an index?

The Dow, the S&P 500, the Nasdaq 100, the Wilshire 5000, the finger next to your thumb -- they're all indexes. Each is a group of stocks chosen to represent portions of the stock market (except for your index finger, of course). Most index investments are based on the Standard &Poor's 500 (the stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries) and the Wilshire 5000 (all the publicly traded companies in America). Heard of General Electric, Tupperware, and Microsoft? If you invest in the S&P 500 or the Wilshire 5000, you are a part owner of these companies.
0:50 Why invest in an index?

A broad-market index matches as closely as possible the return of the overall stock market. What's so great about that? Most mutual funds find it hard to do. In fact, less than 20% of actively managed diversified large-cap mutual funds (in plain English: big funds managed by guys and gals in fancy suits) have outperformed the S&P 500 over the last 10 years. Pretty dismal.
0:40 Save money!

One of the reasons index investing kicks butt is because it's so cost-efficient. Index funds just invest in whatever companies are in the index. No MBA-toting analysts needed! This significantly reduces the operating fees the fund must charge shareholders, leaving more of your money to grow, grow, grow.
0:30 Buy the fund or the stock

There are two main ways to invest in indexes: through mutual funds and through "exchange-traded funds" (ETFs), which trade like regular stocks on the American Stock Exchange. ETFs that track the S&P 500 include Spiders (AMEX: SPY) and iShares (AMEX: IVV). The Wilshire 5000 can be tracked by investing in Vipers (AMEX: VTI).

Which are better, mutual funds or ETFs? Performance-wise, it doesn't really matter; the returns are almost identical. But there are a few things about each type of investment that may sway you one way or the other:
Index funds: There are a whole bunch of them. Funds can have high minimum investments, but those are often waved if you enroll in an automatic investment program (which regularly transfers money from your checking account to your fund each month). You can invest in a mutual fund directly through the mutual fund family or through your brokerage account.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): Since they are bought and sold just like stocks, you must have a brokerage account. (If you don't -- or you want to see how yours stacks up -- visit our Broker Center). This means you'll pay a commission each time you buy or sell.
0:10 Keep those fees in check!

Index funds and ETFs charge investors annually for the costs of running the fund. This is known as the expense ratio, and it's calculated as a percentage of the amount you have invested. There's no need to invest in an index fund or ETF with an expense ratio greater than 0.40 (four-tenths of a percent).

Note: Make sure that you invest in a no-load fund, i.e., a fund that does not charge a commission.
Got another minute?
Visit our Index Center to learn about indexes that track small-cap stocks, foreign stocks, and others.
Yearn to know more about mutual funds? Visit our mutual funds center.
Want to boost your ETF IQ? Read "The Age of the Exchange Traded Fund."
Interested in buying some ETFs but don't have a brokerage account? Check out the 60-Second Guide to Choosing a Broker.

Legal Information. © 1995-2008 The Motley Fool. All rights reserved.

亲历华尔街——告诉你一个真实的美国财富传奇(图) JOE ADES














*** GOOGLE / YOUTUBE "Joe Ades"

在华尔街阴云密布的之时,永远不要忘记人类最伟大的动力——那就是梦想和坚持的力量。正如照片上的这个老头,千万不要以为他仅仅是一个街头普通的卖杂物的可怜的无家可归的老头,他可能是世界上最成功的推销员之一,下面由我来告诉你他的传奇故事。

  当太阳光照射着曼哈顿岛高楼大厦,一位白发苍苍的老人,身穿1000美元的高档服装,在纽约某条街的一角正忙活他的生意,他卖的是pototo peeler,把土豆削成薯条的小擦子,只见他拿着土豆和胡萝卜,一边擦一边说的,好像在自言自语。很快一名要去菜市场的妇女停下脚步开始看他,然后又有一个人,他并不理他们,直到他周围已经围满了观看的人群。

  接着他停了下了,拿着土豆对着一名妇女说,“你来试试,这个削土豆器会非常好用”。接着卖货郎继续说,我不会问你要钱,你只要试试就好。那名妇女开始试用他的削土豆器,果然是削铁如泥,非常好用。而卖货郎接着说,这个削土豆器是最好的产品,瑞士制造,只要5美元,现在在这个物价高涨的时代,你不可能花5美元买到什么好东西。

  那名妇女试用后感觉好用,价格也公道,打开钱包准备购买。老人并不急着接钱,他意味深长的说“能够用一生的东西你为什么不买4个呢”,但是那名妇女坚持说她买一个就够用了,卖货郎接着说“你还有4个朋友,这就是你为什么要买四个削土豆器。”那么妇女感到老人说的很中肯,欣然接受他的建议,买了四个。接着不断有人纷纷解囊购买,卖货郎忙的不亦乐乎。

  他叫Joe Ades,今年74岁,纽约街头的一个卖货郎,然而却被人称为“能够把一头正扑向肉的饿狗拉回来买他的东西”。

  你能否相信,他白天在街头卖小零碎结束后,晚上回到曼哈顿park大道的高档公寓(注:很少纽约人拥有自己的住房,特别是曼哈顿岛上的住房,一套像样的公寓高达百万甚至上千万美元,每年的仅税收一项就需缴纳上万美元),穿着考究的前往曼哈顿岛的各个高档餐厅用餐,然后去某个高档酒店听钢琴家的表演,同时买上一杯昂贵的香槟。

  在他公寓内,原来他仆人居住的房间内整整齐齐的摆着一箱箱削土豆器,这就是他现在的仓库。每天早上7点他会准时拉着他的小车出去卖货,一周6天,风雨无阻。

  最近他接受了美国国家电视台的采访,在美国社会引起广泛关注。通过采访了解到他已经从事销售60年,如今的一切都是他60年来成功生涯的最大写照。他说,“不要以为5美元只是很少的钱,积少成多,你最终会成为有钱人。”当被问到他曾遇到过最大的挑战,他回答说是在2月份卖圣诞树,猜猜他如何卖出去的?

  答案是:卖给中国过春节用,你能想到么?

  他把他的成功之道教给他的女儿,如今他的女儿已经成为一个成功的销售员,她在哥伦比亚大学销售教材,日进斗金。

他有3个孙女,他让她们努力学习,因为他很高兴供她们上美国最好的大学,现在这是他最大的希望。

  当他女儿被问到她爸爸最主要的成功秘诀时,她回答说——坚持和耐心。

  当被问到他是否会为自己放假时,他回答说--life is a vacation!(生活就是假期!) ,他的传奇给了如今的美国民众很大的启示---脚踏实地的努力才能拥有真实的幸福生活!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Index funds best for small investor


Index funds best for small investor
As portfolio grows, buy one Berkshire B share
Richard Morrison,  Financial Post  Published: Friday, July 18, 2008

A young colleague asked what stock investments he should own in his self-directed RRSP.
Unless you have some expertise -- perhaps you've passed the Canadian Securities Course, for example -- an independent advisor is your best bet for specific investment advice.
In general, however, an investor with $20,000 or so allocated to equities would not go too far wrong by gradually investing in four index funds or exchange-traded funds: 30% representing stock markets in Canada, 30% in the United States, 30% in the rest of the world and 10% in gold.
Heather Pelant, head of exchange-traded products for Barclays Global Investors in Canada, said she made a similar asset mix recommendation for her younger sister.
"It's a simple and elegant solution," Pelant said. "You're not going to overperform or underperform, you're just going to perform. It's the all-weather vehicle, the little black dress of investing."
We used the Yahoo Finance ETF Center (finance. yahoo.com/etf ) to screen for exchange-traded funds that represent a broad base of stocks and have reasonable management expense ratios (MERs). Small investors must also be able to buy into the funds in odd lots (less than 100 units).
With their low management expense ratios, funds that simply track indexes and don't try to beat them achieve better returns than all but a few managed mutual funds.
Standard & Poor's Indices Versus Active Funds (SPIVA) Scorecard for the first quarter of this year, for example, shows only 8.2% of Canadian equity active managers were able to outperform the S&P/TSX Composite in the first quarter of this year. Over the past three years, only 8.4% of actively managed Canadian equity funds beat the index; the number drops to 4.1% over five years, the S&P study shows.
"The report shows how difficult it is for a fund manager to outperform the index," Pelant said.
For index funds, the Financial Post's online mutual fund listings provide detailed tables of management expense ratios, simple and compound returns, standard deviation and net asset value for more than 400 funds. Go to financialpost.com/markets/market_ data/ index. html and tap in "index" in the "search by fund name/ company" box, which lists 48 index funds in the Canadian equity category alone.
For our young colleague, we suggested the $500-million iShares Canadian Composite Index Fund (XIC/ TSX), which carries a 0.25% MER and holds such Canadian household names as Potash Corp., EnCana Corp., Royal Bank, Suncor Energy Inc., Research In Motion Ltd., Manulife Financial Corp., together with all major banks and energy companies.
In the United States, most index funds are not available to non-residents, but exchange-traded funds are.
The US$10-billion Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI/AMEX) includes the giants of Wall Street: Exxon Mobil, General Electric, Microsoft and so on. Its main attraction is its minuscule MER of 0.07%. Unfortunately, it is off 15.6% this year and 20% over the past year.
The fund comes via the recommendation of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. chairman Warren Buffett, who, speaking after Berkshire's 2006 annual meeting, offered advice for those unprepared to do the research to identify market-beating investments.
"I would just have it all in a very low-cost index fund from a reputable firm, maybe Vanguard," Buffett said in response to a shareholder's question. "Unless I bought during a strong bull market, I would feel confident that I would outperform ... and I could just go back and get on with my work."
The June 6 edition of Fortune magazine describes Buffett's wager with Ted Seides, principal at hedge fund manager Protege Partners LLC. Buffett has bet that even five carefully chosen hedge funds won't return more than the market -- specifically, the Vanguard S&P 500 index fund (which isn't available to Canadians).
Each side put up roughly US$320,000. The total funds were used to buy a zero-coupon Treasury bond that will be worth US$1-million at the bet's conclusion in 10 years, payable to the winner's chosen charity.
Buffett, 77, wrote Seides "my estate attorney is going to think I'm out of my mind for complicating things."
For outside North America, the US$47.56-billion iShares MSCI EAFE Index fund (EFA/NYSE), launched in August, 2001, is a solid bet. It holds some of the largest companies in the world and carries a modest management expense ratio of 0.34%. It's also available in a Canadian-dollar hedged version (XIN/TSX), with a 0.5% MER.
Holding gold bullion has traditionally helped reduce volatility, although it has poor long-term returns. We recommended our young colleague hold 10% of his assets in the giant US$18.26-billion SPDR Gold Trust (GLD/NYSE), now a qualified investment for RRSPs.
Our colleague seemed satisfied with the advice, then asked what he might add once the portfolio grows a bit larger. We recommended a single B share of Berkshire Hathaway (BRKb/ NYSE). The "Baby Berkshires" as they are known, trade at about US$3,800, following a near 20% decline this year. Unlike most mutual funds, Berkshire's manager does consistently beat the indexes.
As Mr. Seides at Protege Partners said in the Fortune piece: "Fortunately for us, we're betting against the S&P's performance, not Buffett's."
--- - Richard Morrison is a senior editor at the Financial Post and a long-time active trader.
Copyright © 2007 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

奥巴马胜选演说中英文对照 + [文言版]

奥巴马胜选演说中英文对照










Hello, Chicago.

哈罗,芝加哥!

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a placewhere all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of ourfounders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of ourdemocracy, tonight is your answer.

如果外头还有人怀疑,美国是否真的是任何事都可能发生的地方,怀疑我们开国先贤的梦想今天是否依然存在,怀疑我们民主的力量;今夜,就是你们要的答案。

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools andchurches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waitedthree hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives,because they believed that this time must be different, that theirvoices could be that difference.

这是个用这个国家仅见,环绕学校、教堂的无数人龙,所说的答案。这些人,苦等三、四个小时,许多还是生平头一次,因为他们相信,这次一定要不一样,他们的声音就是明证。

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat andRepublican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay,straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message tothe world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or acollection of red states and blue states.

这是个由不分老少、贫富、民主党、共和党;黑人、白人、拉丁裔、亚裔、美洲原住民;同性恋、异性恋人;肢障与四体健全者,大家共同诉说的答案。美国民众向全世界发出信息,我们绝非一盘散沙,也不是由红州、蓝州拼凑而成的集合体。

We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

我们现在是,未来也永远是,美利坚合众国。

It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so manyto be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to puttheir hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hopeof a better day.

这个是引领国人把手放在历史拱弧,再度让它指向明天会更美好希望的答案。长久以来,这些国人一直被许多人灌输,要嘲讽、害怕和怀疑我们自身的能力。

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did onthis date in this election at this defining moment change has come toAmerica.

这个答案迟迟未出现,但是今晚,由于我们在这个投票日关键时刻的所作所为,改变终于降临美国。

A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Senator McCain.

今晚稍早,我接到马侃参议员打来,态度非常恳切的电话。

Senator McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's foughteven longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has enduredsacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We arebetter off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.

马侃参议员已打完一场漫长艰苦的选战。他为这个他所热爱的国家所打的仗更久,更艰苦。他为美国的奉献牺牲,是我们多数同胞难以想像的。因为有他这位勇敢无私的领袖的奉献,我们才能过比较好的日子。

I congratulate him; I congratulate Governor Palin for all that they'veachieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew thisnation's promise in the months ahead.

我向他道贺;也向裴林州长道贺,为他们所成就的一切。我迫不及待想和他们携手协作,在未来数月更新这个国家的许诺。

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned fromhis heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on thestreets of Scranton ... and rode with on the train home to Delaware,the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

我要感谢我的选举搭伴,这位先生全心全意竞选,为与他在史克兰顿街头一起长大的男男女女代言。在前往德拉瓦州的路上,和我一起以火车为家,他就是副总统当选人,拜登先生。

And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding supportof my best friend for the last 16 years ... the rock of our family, thelove of my life, the nation's next first lady ... Michelle Obama.

如果没有过去十六年来坚定支持的挚友,我今晚不可能站在这里。她是我家庭的磐石,我一生的最爱,国家未来的第一夫人蜜雪儿·欧巴马。

Sasha and Malia ... I love you both more than you can imagine. And youhave earned the new puppy that's coming with us ...to the new WhiteHouse.

莎夏和玛利亚。我对你俩的爱远超过你们想像。你们已赢得即将和我们一起到新白宫作伴的新小狗。

And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching,along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. Iknow that my debt to them is beyond measure.

还有,虽然她已不在我们身边,但是我知道我外婆,也和造就今日之我的家族一起在看。今晚,我想念他们。我知道,我欠他们的,无法衡量。

To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters,thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I amgrateful to them.

我妹妹玛亚、艾玛、我的其他兄弟姊妹们,烧高香你们给我的所有支持。我很感谢他们。

And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe ... the unsung hero of thiscampaign, who built the best _ the best political campaign, I think, inthe history of the United States of America.

还有,我的竞选经理普罗费,这次竞选的无名英雄,我认为他营造了美国史上最佳的政治运动。

To my chief strategist David Axelrod ... who's been a partner with me every step of the way.

感谢我的首席竞选策略顾问艾索洛,一路走来,他一直是我的得力伙伴。

To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics ...you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you'vesacrificed to get it done.

感谢这个政治史上无出其右的最佳竞选团队,你们造就了这项成果,我对你们的牺牲奉献,永存感激。


But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.

总之,我绝不会忘记这个胜利真正属于谁。它属于你们大家。它是你们的。

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't startwith much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched inthe halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines andthe living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It wasbuilt by working men and women who dug into what little savings theyhad to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.

我从来就不是这个职位最被看好的候选人。刚开端,我没什么钱,也没什么后援。我们参选的念头,并非始于华府大厅,而是来自第蒙市后院,康科市客厅和查尔斯敦的门廊,再经由众多男女,用他们从有限储蓄中拿出,依法所能捐献的五块、十块和廿块美元,共同打造出来的。

It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of theirgeneration's apathy ... who left their homes and their families forjobs that offered little pay and less sleep.

经过那些拒绝承认他们是冷漠世代的迷思的年轻朋友加持,它成长茁壮,他们退出家,告别亲人,投入待遇菲薄,永远睡眠不足的任务。

It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bittercold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, andfrom the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and provedthat more than two centuries later a government of the people, by thepeople, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.

经过那些年纪不算轻的朋友加持,它成长茁壮,他们冒着寒风酷暑,挨家挨户向完全陌生的民众敲门;经过数百万民众自发性的组织,证明这个民有、民治、民享的政府,在两百多年之后,没有从地球上消失,仍在成长茁壮。

This is your victory.

这是你们的胜利。

And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.

我知道,你们这么做,不只是为了胜选。我也知道,你们这么做,不是为了我。

You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that liesahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges thattomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime _ two wars, aplanet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

你们这么做,是因为你们了解,横在眼前的是千万斤的重担。因为即使我们今晚庆功,我们也明白,明天所要面临的是此生最大的挑战:两场战争,一个处于存亡之秋的地球,及百年仅见的金融危机。

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans wakingup in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risktheir lives for us.

即使我们今晚站在此地,我们也知道,为了我们,美国的勇士们正在伊拉克沙漠巡逻,在阿富汗山区出生入死。

There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the childrenfall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay theirdoctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.

许多父母,在子女进入梦乡后,仍辗转难眠,担心房贷、医疗帐单该怎么付,或该怎么存,才够支应子女的大学教育费用。

There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.

新的能源要研发,新的任务机会要创造,新学校要建,不少威胁要对付,既有盟邦关系要修补。

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not getthere in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never beenmore hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

未来的路仍遥,路上的坡仍陡峭,我们可能没辙儿在一年,或一任内抵达。但是,美国,我从来没有像今晚的我,对我们的使命必达,更充满希望。

I promise you, we as a people will get there.

我向各位许诺,我们会团结一心,一齐抵达目的地。

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agreewith every decision or policy I make as president. And we know thegovernment can't solve every problem.

一开端,挫折和失误在所难免。有许多人不会同意我以总统身分所做的每一个决定或每一项政策。我们也知道政府无法解决所有问题。


But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. Iwill listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I willask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it'sbeen done in America for 221 years _ block by block, brick by brick,calloused hand by calloused hand.

但我永远会把我们面对的挑战坦白告诉各位。,尤其是在我们看法不同的时候。最重要的是,我会邀请各位添加重塑这个国家的任务,以美国两百廿一年来采用的唯一方法:一砖一瓦,胼手胝足。

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.

廿一个月前发轫于隆冬的,不会就在这个秋夜退出。

This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance forus to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the waythings were.

我们追求的改变,不仅仅是这个胜利。这个胜利只是给我们机会实现我们追求的改变。我们若走回头路,改变便不会发生。

It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

少了你,少了新的服务精神,少了新的牺牲精神,改变就不会发生。

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, whereeach of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not onlyourselves but each other.

所以,且让我们唤起新的爱国心、新的责任感,人人挽起衣袖,更加努力,照顾自己之外,更要彼此照顾。

Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it'sthat we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.

我们不要忘记,如果这次金融危机给了我们任何教训,那就是在寻常百姓生活困顿下,华尔街也不可能独自繁荣昌盛。

In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let'sresist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship andpettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

在这个国度,不论兴衰,都是全国与共,全民一体。我们一定要抗拒诱惑,不再靠已毒害我国政治许久的党派之私、褊狭和幼稚。

Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried thebanner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded onthe values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

我们不可忘记,第一个把共和党旗帜带进白宫的男士,正是来自本州。共和党的建党根基则是自立、个人自由及全国统一团结等价值观。

Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party haswon a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility anddetermination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

这些也是我们共享的价值观。虽然民主党今晚大胜,我们却始终谦冲自持,并决心弥合阻挠我们进步的裂缝。

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are notenemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must notbreak our bonds of affection.

正如林肯向一个远比今天更分歧的美国所说的,我们不是敌人,是朋友。激情或曾使选情紧绷,却不容它破坏我们之间感情的链接。

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not havewon your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And Iwill be your president, too.

我要向那些我仍须努力争取支持的美国同胞说,或许今晚我没能赢得各位的选票,但是我听到诸位的声音,我需要你们协助,我也会是你们的总统。

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, fromparliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in theforgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but ourdestiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

对那些今晚在海外、从各地国会和宫殿观看美国选情的人士,在为世人遗忘的角落围绕着收音机的人们,我要说我们的故事各不相同,命运却是一体,美国新的领导就要出现了。

To those _ to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you.To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all thosewho have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight weproved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not fromthe might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduringpower of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyieldinghope.

对那些想撕裂这个世界的人,我要说:我们会打垮你。对那些追求和平安全的人,我要说:我们支持你。而对那些 怀疑美国这灯塔是否依然明亮的人,今晚我们再度证实,美国真正的国力不是来自船坚炮利、富甲天下,而是来自发乎我们理想、历久不衰的力量,这些理想是民 主、自由、机会和坚持到底的希望。

That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our unioncan be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what wecan and must achieve tomorrow.

这正是真正的美国精神:也就是美国能够改变。这个国家的结合可以更完善。我们已经成就的,让我们勇于企盼我们明天能够做到、也必须做到的。

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told forgenerations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who casther ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others whostood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for onething: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

这次大选有许多创举和故事足供世世代代传颂。而今晚浮现在我脑海的,是在亚特兰大投票的一位妇人。她和这次大选无数排队投票以表达心声的选民没什么差别,不同的只有一点,安.尼克松.库柏已高龄一百零六。


She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were nocars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn'tvote for two reasons _ because she was a woman and because of the colorof her skin.

她出生于奴隶时代退出后那个世代;当时路上没有汽车,天上不见飞机;而她这样的人没有资格投票,原因有二:其一,她是女人,其二,她的肤色不对。

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her centuryin America _ the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress;the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed onwith that American creed: Yes we can.

但就在今晚,我想到她在美国这百年人生的阅历:心伤和希望;挣扎和进步;那些人告诉我们我们不能的时候,和那些高举着美国人「是的,我们做得到」的信念奋勇向前的人。

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed,she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot.Yes we can.

身处女性声音受压制、希望被漠视的时代,她这一生亲眼看到女性站起来,表达心声,并争取到投票权。是的,我们做得到。

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land,she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a newsense of common purpose. Yes we can.

就在尘盆地带(指美国大草原的一部分,大致包含科劳拉多州东南部、堪萨斯州西南部、德州与奥克拉荷马州锅柄形冒尖地带)陷入绝望,大萧条席卷美国全境之际,她目睹一个国家以新政、新的任务机会、新的和衷共济精神克服了恐惧本身。是的,我们做得到。

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, shewas there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy wassaved. Yes we can.

当炸弹落在我们的港口,暴政威胁世界之际,她亲眼看见一个世代巍然挺身而起,拯救了一个民主体制。是的,我们做得到。

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, abridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that WeShall Overcome. Yes we can.

在蒙哥马里市(黑人)搭巴士抗争,伯明罕市的水龙(警察以强力水龙对付抗议者),赛尔玛城外的桥上(遭警察血腥镇压),来自亚特兰大的一位牧师告诉一个民族「我们终必得胜」时,她都在场。是的,我们做得到。

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

一个人登上了月球,柏林一道墙倒了,一个世界被我们自己的科学和想像链接了起来。

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen,and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the bestof times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.

Yes we can.

而今年,在这次选举中,她用手指触碰屏幕,投下她的一票,因为在美国生活了一百零六年,尝遍酸甜苦辣之后,她知道美国能够有什么样的改变。是的,我们做得到。

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is somuch more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves _ if our childrenshould live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so luckyto live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? Whatprogress will we have made?

美国,我们已经走了这么远。阅历了这么多。眼前却还有这么多事要做。所以,今晚让我们扪心自问,如果我们的子女能够活到下个世纪;如果我女儿有幸如安.尼克松.库柏般长寿,他们能看到什么改变?我们又促成了什么样的进步?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.

此际正是我们回应那个召唤的机会,这是我们的时刻。

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors ofopportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the causeof peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamentaltruth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope.And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell usthat we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums upthe spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

就在此刻,我们大家要重新开端任务,为我们的孩 子打开希望之门;迎回繁荣并推展和平大业;重新拥抱美国梦并再次确立那基本的真理,也就是我们同舟一命,只要活着就怀抱希望。当旁人嘲讽、怀疑我们,告诉 我们我们办不到时,我们会回以那历久不衰、总结一个民族精神的信念:是的,我们做得到。

Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

谢谢大家。愿上帝祝福你,求上帝祝福美国。



-------------------------------------------------------
奥巴马胜选演说·文言版
-------------------------------------------------------

芝城父老,别来无恙,
  
  余尝闻世人有疑,不知当今美利坚凡事皆可成就耶?开国先贤之志方岿然于世耶?民主之伟力不减于昔年耶?凡存诸疑者,今夕当可释然。
  
  今夕之释然,皆蒙美利坚民众之协力——学塾祠庙之外,市井乡野之间,万千父老心焦似焚,苦待竟日,愿献一票之力。其中,平生未尝涉国事者,数亦不少,而今有此义举,皆因一念不衰——今夫天下,非同既往,愿发吁天之声,必成动地之势。
  
  今夕之释然,皆仰吾国同胞之齐心——何谈贫富老幼之差、党社宗族之异,惶论发肤肌体之别、志趣爱恶之分。吾国既以“合众”为名,吾辈则更无疏离之意,红蓝二党并肩而立,数十邦州挽手相合,无分你我,共称一家,昂然于世,齐声一呼,天下乃有此释然。
  
  今夕之释然,皆因愤懑者之镇静,忧惧者之勇气,犹疑者之笃定——平素世间种种,消磨其志向,溃灭其梦想,而值此风云之际,除旧更新,当仁不让,倾力而动乾坤者,更何人哉!
  
  俟之诚久,其志弥坚。幸天地明察,乃有今日,乃有此刻,乃有此一选举,乃有我亿万美利坚大好国民——吾邦之大变革,方得自兹而始也!
  
  倾接参议员麦君凯恩电,虽未得晤,幸有一谈,其言谆谆,其意诚诚,鄙人感佩之至。选战期内,麦君劳碌几重,奔波几许,皆为国家计。诸般求索,时日良多,皆非余所能及。于国于民之惊人牺牲,亦非庸庸如吾辈者所可想见。以麦君之胆魄襟怀,能为吾邦所用,实国家之幸,万民之幸也。前途漫漫,其事未竟,余所盼瞩由衷者,唯共麦凯恩君、佩林君,及诸贤士比肩,会吾等之绵力,成吾邦之大业。
  
  乔君拜登,亦吾所感铭至深者也。竞选之业,艰险不足与外人道,幸有乔君之辅佐,其诚天可鉴之。乔君其人,素言恳辞切,意笃情真,盖尝经斯兰克顿街乡邻之提命,饱聆特拉华州父老之晤教也。他日余既登总统之位,乔君必当副之。
  
  拙荆米氏,追随鄙人凡一十六年,既为爱侣,更为挚友,既为吾阖家之基石,又乃余终生之至爱。鄙人尝自忖度,倘无贤妻若此,今朝阔论高谈于此处者,不知何人矣!
  
  小女萨沙、玛丽,余素深喜之。昔日为父尝与汝等言,此番选战若得一胜,愿购小犬一头相赠,待阖家乔迁总统府邸之日,偕汝等同进吾宅。今当胜负已出,既有一诺在前,必自践行不欺也。
  
  祖母大人虽已仙逝,料必有灵在天,俯察人寰,想应颔首开颜矣。吾奥巴马氏列祖列宗,亦当如是。今日今时,此情此景,鄙人追思之心,乌鸟之情,曷其有极!唯生死陌路,仙凡有别,虽怀反哺之心,而无答报之门也!
  
  至若玛雅、艾玛二姐妹,以及吾家诸同胞,所惠我者,亦属良多,久沐恩德,此当拜谢。
  
  大卫?普劳夫君,大卫?阿克塞罗德君,一为鄙人竞选事务之经理,一为鄙人国事韬略之智囊。余尝自喟叹,左右谋士,余所仰赖者,皆亘古未见之贤才。普阿二君,则更此中之翘楚。区区不才,有何德能,可得膀臂若此?当此功成之际,感荷之心,亦自拳拳。
  
  至于鄙人铭之肺腑,须臾不敢忘怀者,则诸位也。盖今日鄙人之胜绩,实诸位之胜绩,鄙人之荣光,实诸位之荣光!
  
  余素朴陋,虽有参选之心,并无必胜之志。谋事之初,银资乏匮,从者寥寥;起事之地,皆蔽寓荒斋,不在高阁;成事之基,无非寻常百姓,涓滴之献。
  
  今日之胜,有赖一众热血青年,抛其家,别其室,不辞其苦,不计其酬,矻矻于此——“国中青年爱国之心已泯”之谬论,今可休矣!今日之胜,有赖壮志未已之诸前辈,无惧寒暑,行走奔波,劝说民众。今日之胜,乃数百万美利坚民众之胜,察其意,皆属踊跃为国,观其行,处处谨严有序,足堪告慰二百年前开国之先贤——民有、民治、民享之政体,未尝动摇也!
  
  嗟夫!此实诸位之功也!
  
  余知诸君之意非在此一选举,亦非在鄙人一身。盖瞻前路之艰辛,益知此任非同小可也。虽今夕欢贺于此,而明朝酒醒,大患仍自当前,不容有怠——两地烽烟熊熊而起,四海之内纷纷而乱,金融业界惶惶而不得宁。

Monday, November 3, 2008

Canadian businesses score big in China More than $110 million in deals signed

Canadian businesses score big in China
More than $110 million in deals signed
Aileen McCabe, Asia Correspondent
Canwest News Service

BEIJING - In a bid to energize Canada's flagging relations with China, four premiers leading a trade mission of 100-plus business people signed more than a score of deals and agreements with Chinese companies Monday, worth over $110 million.

The premiers decided last summer not to wait any longer for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to take the initiative to boost trade with the Asian giant.

They came here under the auspices of the Council of the Federation and they now hope Harper will follow up on their lucrative work.

"We are really pleased to come here on our own as premiers, but at the end of the day, we would love to see our prime minister come here as well," Ontario's Dalton McGuinty said after the first day of meetings.

Harper has never visited China, but promised during the election campaign that he would come - but didn't say when.

McGuinty, who has been to China three times in the past four years, said he would welcome Harper's visit "sooner rather than later."

Moncton Flight College scored the biggest deal of the day, signing a $65-million contract with China's Beihang Flight College that will see 600 to 700 Chinese student pilots trained in Moncton and Fredericton by 2014.

New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham was clearly pleased with the day's coup and looking forward to more.

"It leads to economic prosperity in our province," he said.

McGuinty, Graham, Manitoba's Gary Doer, P.E.I.'s Robert Ghiz and Pierre Marc Johnson, who is leading the Quebec delegation in lieu of Premier Jean Charest, who went on election footing last week and pulled out, met with the vice-governors of the Chinese provinces of Hebei, Henan, Hunan and Shandong.

Together, the governors represent 350 million Chinese, almost 50 million more consumers than in the U.S., Canada's largest trading partner.

The premiers were understandably awed by the prospect of doing business with them.

Graham said that as the U.S. economy slows, "it is imperative New Brunswick and Canada continue to look abroad for opportunity."

The business people in the delegation were drawn from the several sectors, including education, environment, agri-food and transportation. The Canada-China Business Council, which is hosting the mission, matched them with appropriate Chinese businesses and throughout the day they held a series of workshops, information sessions and private meetings.

The Canadian businessmen on the mission are a mixed bag, representing big and small companies, with some new to China and some already doing business here. The common denominator is that they are all looking for opportunities and happy for the leg-up a political trade mission can give them.

Corey Diamond, president of Summerhill Group, an environmental company in Toronto with 45 full-time employees, is new to the China scene and hoping to make contacts and establish a relationship that might allow him to expand his company overseas.

By contrast, Hugh MacDiarmid, president at Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., is already doing business here but still happy with the doors a political mission like this can open for him.

For AECL, "it creates a venue, it creates an opportunity," he said.

"There is no question that geo-politics enters into nuclear reactors, so it is very important for senior political leaders to be part of the whole process."

AECL has two CANDU reactors currently in operation in Shanghai, but is looking "to be part of the growth" as China expands from its existing nine reactors to, perhaps, 50 or more by 2030.

The premiers and businessmen move on to the mega-city of Chongqing Tuesday to meet with more Chinese politicians and companies and end their mission in Shanghai on Thursday.

© Canwest News Service 2008

MY WEB CLIP NOV/3/2008

:)

山寨熊猫
http://news.wenxuecity.com/messages/200810/news-gb2312-724183.html

创业英雄
http://news.alibaba.com/specials/ibdm/leisure.html?src=ibdm_d03p0044e02r11

VANCOUVER
中國食肆大獎
http://chineserestaurantawards.com/index.php

自己姓名竟然是一个武器 都进来看看~

看看你的名字代表什么武器!!!

  例如:"王二小"="WEX"="九天丧门锤"    
    
  附:从姓氏开始找,再往下找名。若是只有两个字的,便从"姓氏"与"结字"中各找一个。

  若是三个字的,便先从"姓氏"找起,再往下找两个名;姓名后两个字是重复的就在"结字"中取一。

  复姓者在姓氏中取2字。    
    
  姓氏:

  A:奇门 B:玄天 C:日月 D:毒龙 E:夜叉 F:葵花 G:纯阳 H:玉女
  J:六合 K:天罡 L:天羽 M:八卦 N:太乙 O:落英 P:鹰蛇 Q:太极
  R:回风 S:混沌 T:乾坤 W:九天 X:神门 Y:百变 Z:逍遥     
    
  中字:

  A:拂穴 B:降魔 C:霹雳 D:阴阳 E:丧门 F:真气 G:修罗 H:碎石
  J:九九 K:绵 L:无痕 M:两仪 N:五神 O:穿云 P:破玉 Q:奇
  R:迅雷 S:伏魔 T:游身 W:连环 X:无形 Y:神 Z:无双     
    
  结字:

  A:钉 B:棒 C:掌 D:刀 E:拳 F:掌 G:爪 H:指
  J:斧 K:钩 L:棍 M:杖 N:鞭 O:剑 P:镖 Q:索
  R:刀 S:拳 T:手 W:功 X:锤 Y:枪 Z:剑


起个贱名好养活,快来查一下:你叫啥?
中国自古有个习俗,就是给孩子起一个贱一点的小名,好养,根据你的出生月份和日期(阴历)看看你叫什么~~~     

月份:1长.2旺.3大.4来.5狗.6司马.7傻.8福.9呆.10二.11胖.12欧阳    

日期:1儿.2丫.3腿.4妹.5球.6坑.7日.8叉.9剩子.10姑.11娃.12儿.13肥子.14乖.15怪.16狗.17花.18毛.19定.20蛋.21牛.22奶.23.美丽24才.25财.26仔.27猪.28拿.29头.30妞

[世界日报] 温哥华市议会31日通过“巷道屋”实验计划

世界日报

  编译吴四明温哥华报导

  温哥华市议会31日通过“巷道屋”实验计划,创北美地区的先例。让温哥华市的居民在整修房屋时,又多了一种选择。

  建商与屋主可以申请将所拥有的房地产做地目变更;将车库改建为适合二人左右居住的住宅。理想的室内面积在400至700平方尺之间。

  目前温哥华市共有7万户独立屋符合申请巷道屋的资格,但最后会有多少人会提出申请并改建,目前尚言之过早。

  巷道屋适合用来维持有点粘又不会太粘的家庭关系。可以自己住;或是给想独立生活但经济能力还不够的年轻子女;也可以盖成工作室。可出租,但不可出售。

  北温市是另一个有计划推动巷道屋构想的城市。事实上,北温市市长穆沙托本人就是巷道屋的实际使用者。他原来住在一栋双拚屋中,后来他所住的那一边让给他父母住;自己就搬到院子里改建的巷道屋里。

  虽然温哥华市已率先通过巷道屋的议案,但穆沙托认为,未来北温市还是可能领先温哥华市,先完成地目变更及制定完成相关法规。

Laneway Housing

http://www.vancouver-ecodensity.ca/content.php?id=42

DOCS IN CHINESE,

http://www.vancouver-ecodensity.ca/content.php?id=10

【明報專訊】短期的延遲繳交地稅計劃 Premier announces tax deferrals for homeowners

Premier announces tax deferrals for homeowners
Assessments to be kept at 2007 levels, Campbell says
Les Leyne
Times Colonist

WHISTLER - Premier Gordon Campbell announced four more measures today at the B.C. Liberal Party convention to protect people from the impact of the economic crisis.

The moves are designed for homeowners and seniors facing mandatory conversions of their RRSPs into annuities.

The government is going to fix the assessed value of property in B.C. at 2007 levels, rather than the figures calculated for 2008. The decision will have the effect of lowering the officially assessed values from what they might have been at July 1, 2008.

Assessments are done every July 1, but the housing market slumped sharply after the 2008 assessment was completed. Relying on the this year's assessment would have meant homeowners would be getting assessment statements early next year that were far higher than the real market value of their homes.

The move is expected to avoid a deluge of appeals from owners who think the assessed value is too high.

As well, property owners who can't afford their taxes will be able to defer the bill for up to two years, an option formerly available only to people over 55.

"We're saying that if you're in a tough financial time right now and you just can't make the ends meet on your property tax, you can have a deferral for a year or two years ... as long as you have a 15 per cent equity in your home," Campbell told 1,050 party members at the convention, held at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

The effective loan will be at the prime rate, he added.

Campbell said he will also advocate in Ottawa next week for a federal-provincial conference devoted to the idea of eliminating the mandatory conversion of retirement savings to income funds at age 71.

People reaching 71 now are being forced to convert their RRSPs after historic drops in value over the past few months.

As well, B.C. will be protecting RRSP deposits in banks from creditors, as such funds deposited with insurance companies already are.

Campbell said there are more moves to come in the weeks ahead as the economic crisis becomes the dominant item on the provincial agenda.

New Democrats support the RRSP measure, but said Campbell was scrambling to do damage control.

"This is take two," NDP house leader Mike Farnworth said, referring to Campbell's Oct. 22 announcements of tax breaks and temporary ferry-fare cuts. He said the premier's earlier speech clearly "didn't resonate with the voters" and forced Campbell to "scramble to repair his image" after the Liberals lost two byelections to the NDP Wednesday.

The Opposition will remain focused on homelessness, education and student debt load, he said.

NDP finance critic Bruce Ralston said the four "policy wonk points" need much more elaboration.

Much of Campbell's high-octane, partisan speech was an enthusiastic denunciation of the NDP, with ominous warnings about the decision to be made at the election next May.

"It took seven years to fill up the debt hole the NDP dug and we're not going to start digging again," he said, in the course of multiple standing ovations.

Campbell also confronted skepticism in his own party about the carbon tax, insisting it is the right thing to do for future generations.

Organizers cued live video of Campbell's newborn grandson to show on the seven big screens in the hall as he urged delegates to think of future generations.

- With a file from Canwest News Service

lleyne@tc.canwest.com

【明報專訊】繼早前推出保護本省經濟的10點策略後,省長金寶爾(Gordon Campbell)昨日再提出一系列新措施,協助本省的業主及耆英渡過經濟難關。

首先,省府宣布將物業估值凍結在2007年的水平,適用包括個人、商業、市府所擁有的物業。各市府每年都根據省府的物業估價,向居民來收取住宅及商業地稅。

金寶爾說,省府知道,卑詩的物業價格自從對上一次的估價、即2007年7月後,出現了很大的波動,為避免出現估價高過物業市值的情況,以及穩定人心、減少混亂,且讓各市府易於策劃地稅,省府決定將物業估價凍結在2007年的水平,讓物業市場有時間穩定下來。

此外,省府還推出一項短期的延遲繳交地稅計劃,容許擁有其資產值15%、又能提出證明自己正因為目 前的金融海嘯而出現嚴重財務困難的業主們,延遲繳交地稅兩年,這些欠稅會以最優惠利率(prime rate)計算。如果業主不將物業出售,則在這期間內 毋須立刻繳交所欠稅款,另業主也可選擇提前繳稅。

金寶爾說,這項措施可以避免「手頭緊」的業主,將物業按給銀行來支付地稅,又可以確保各市政府可以收到稅款。此外,又因為延遲繳交地稅計劃屬於低風險的「安全貸款」(secured loan),因此也不會影響到省的財政預算。

除了保護業主外,省府也宣布,保障省民透過銀行購買的註冊退休計劃(RRSP)的投資,即是說,債主追債,也不能追到省民的RRSP投資中,保護省民的退休金。

金寶爾說,其實類似的保障計劃,一直適用於透過保險公司購買的RRSP投資,因此省府此次只是將同類的保障,擴大至透過銀行購買的RRSP投資而已,同時也填補了RRSP投資保障的空白。

金寶爾也說,在即將舉行的全國首長會議中,將會向總理哈珀提出召開全國特別會議,提議毋須國民必須在71歲時,將所有RRSP及註冊退休收入基金(RRIF)取出。換言之,即使超過71歲,國民仍然可以在RRSP中繼續儲蓄,並可享受RRSP的稅務優惠。