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    6/10/2009

    感嘆一擊。

    莫名中登陸了kaixin。看到很久未見,有的甚至都記不清名字的臉。
    灰常的感嘆... ... ...很想慰問一下所有以前認識的孩子,現在好嗎?
    繙出了不知道多久沒有動過的同學錄,懷念一下。
    時間是很特別的東西,沉澱下來的竟然都是美好。
    記得曾幾何時我還是很掙扎的,現在雖然還沒有學會云淡風輕的境界,但是已經變得平靜。
    那時候的孩子都很可愛,現在看來。自己也是。
    哪個外國人說過要往前看的。所以,擱筆。
    有時候還是會想起一些東西,一些人,一些事。好玩。
    現在,去做正事了。
    6/1/2009

    小朋友送的禮物。

    餐廳今天針對小朋友都有特別的活動。送了洋泡泡和芒果布丁。
    還有小丑現場陪小朋友玩。
    有意思的是最後芒果布丁和這個洋泡泡都歸我了=p
    5/26/2009

    Re-keen on Reading

    因爲論文,特地去上圖辦了卡,付了錢,借了書。
    也是因爲如此,才發覺有些書那裏也都是有。
    比起我買回家看完就無處堆積的書,這裡是個不錯的選擇。
    記得小學和初中的時候很喜歡看書,後來不知爲何就這樣停止了。
    如今再度去借書,看書,又有了一種久違的快樂。
    突然想起那句“書非借不能讀也”,雖然不能完全認同,但的確覺得是有道理的。
    一點點小鬱悶,因爲晚到一步,一本一直想看的書被人提前借走,暢銷書都比較緊俏...
    另外每次去都會遇到一點借閲問題,還真是...長見識。
    5/24/2009

    A much-improved showing from Ferrari.

    It's quite glad to see the remarkable red car galloping ahead of others.
    Does it mean my F Tshirt brings good luck to Ferrai?
    Anyway, I will wear it in the each following racing.
    I believe they will not let their fans down.
    Good job every team member!
    5/21/2009

    Revival

    從昨天開始,又活了。
    還有很多事等著我去做,但是很開心。
    今天又做了“第一次”,蠻好玩。
    差一點點就能中大獎了...
    反正,還是很有意思的。
     
    5/17/2009

    Take a load off!

    All of these will over...
    Some people do not have the consciousness that one's behaviour will make a negative influence on others.
    Until they meet the similar situation themselves will they realize the problem.
    I hope I'm not the one, and will not meet those ones again.
    Mxxx.
    Then...focusing on...
    5/4/2009

    TVB《學警》系列

    PTU、PTU,人人都講PTU,究竟PTU點解?
    PTU全名是Police Tactical Unit,中文正名是「警察機動部隊」,俗稱「藍帽子」,是一隊以半軍事訓練及組織的應變及防暴部隊,由輪流抽調的警員組成。隊員均接受過防暴訓練,訓練營位於粉嶺,平時負責邊境巡邏、各區支援、人群控制等工作,遇有騷亂時則負責防暴工作。

    PTU分為新界北、新界南、東九龍、西九龍及港島五個大隊,再加上正接受訓練的隊伍,總共六個大隊。PTU是屬於總區大隊的後備單位,隨時出動協助內部保安、突發性事件及反罪惡工作。PTU亦會因應各區的人手要求,調派隊員前往不同警區協助打擊罪案活動。曾接受人群管理及控制暴亂訓練的PTU,在所有大型活動中,亦擔當了重要的人群管理角色。

    每個PTU大隊,分為4個platoon﹝排﹞,每個platoon有41位隊員,而41位隊員又會被區分為4個橫排sections,所有隊員的企位都是以體型來劃分。

    當執行反暴動任務時,第1橫將會是「拘捕排」,隊員手執圓盾或長盾,可抵擋襲擊,以及在前進時負責清理障礙;第2橫排是「催淚彈橫排」;第3橫排是「橡膠子彈排」;而第4排就是「槍械排」,隊員會手執AR-15半自動來福槍或雷鳴燈散彈槍。

    任何警員在所屬警區服務滿一年多後,都有機會被派入PTU接受半軍事化地獄式訓練,以獲取PTU隊員資格。為期12週的訓練課程包括以下六項:

      ─ 內部保安
      ─ 人群管理

        在人群管理的時候,為了避免與群眾發生不必要的接觸,會以鐵碼建立緩衝區,當緩衝區已建立妥當,亦代表位於鐵碼內的緩衝區是不准進入的。擺放鐵碼的時候,不同形式的擺法會有不同的效果,須因應現場環境而作出決定。但有兩點必須注意,鐵碼與鐵碼之間,必須要以鐵鍊緊扣,並同時準確估計所需的鐵碼數量。

      ─ 反罪惡戰術

        單元學習內容包括:
        ─ 高空掃盪
        ─ 鬧市中隱閉偵察部署
        ─ 處理可疑車輛
        ─ 破門入屋技巧
        ─ 如何處理疑犯﹝包括於恐怖襲擊中如何接待人質﹞

      ─ 反非法入境戰術
      ─ 體能訓練
      ─ 槍械訓練


    而基本防暴戰術訓練可歸納為四個部份:

      ─ 提取物資裝備

        PTU出動時講求小隊配合大隊,分秒必爭,所以提取物資過程是
        相當重要的,正確步驟是:

          1. 注意點齊個人及該排的物資及裝備
          2. 經由正確途徑上落車
          3. 所有隊員均應坐在正確座位上
          4. 進佔小隊全面防禦的正確位置

      ─ 小隊攻擊
      ─ 封路

        封路的定義,是以人或物件,將一個地方圍住,目標可以是一楝大廈、一個山頭或一架飛機。封鎖的目的是將有問題的地方或人物,與外界隔絕,使之容易受到控制。

      ─ 防暴巡邏


    PTU訓練的學習重點是如何對付持械或懷疑持械的匪徒,每個隊員都有機會做箭頭,負責向前推進,確保該層安全,並為隊員提供掩護。PTU講求合作,故隊員與隊員間必須互相補位,確保所有隊員的安全。
     
    PTU裝備
    每一位沙展,都必須熟悉小隊所有崗位所用的武器及裝備。包括:法德魯吋半口徑催淚彈發射槍、雷鳴燈散彈槍shot gun、AR-15來福槍。

    法德魯
    有效射程50至75米,發射時有5粒催淚煙的彈頭。

    手擲式催淚彈
    可施放距離是4至4.5米,內含有23粒細彈頭。

    橡膠子彈
    內含3粒彈頭,以法德魯防暴槍發射,有效射程是50至75米。由於橡膠子彈比木彈安全,所以PTU已逐漸以橡膠子彈代替木彈。

    AR-15來福槍
    美國製造,一次過最多可發射20發5.56毫米子彈,最遠射程可達2,650米。除非遇到極端的武力,否則是不會使用。

    Section的其他隊員會用雷鳴燈870P shot gun,配合布袋彈使用,射程可達5至20米。

    散彈槍優點:
    在近距離作戰,於圓珠肆的威力下,可打成呈圓椎狀的殺傷空間。以00號的綠彈為例,12粒圓珠在近距離可完全貫穿人體,甚至將肢體撕開,如同於同一時間被12粒9mm手槍子彈打中一樣。

    防暴裝
    花名「韓國仔」。防暴裝一定會跟防毒面具,即是豬咀,其正確型號是SF10,SF10百分之一百有效隔絕催淚煙。

    佩戴SF10防毒面具有一套正確的方法,先將姆指拉開橡筋繩,用其餘四隻手指向上拉開頭盔,並同時將防毒面具快速戴上。
    4/19/2009

    A New Champion in Shanghai

    Sebastian Vettel (born July 3, 1987 in Heppenheim) is a German race car driver.
    Now Sebastian Vettel has done it in the wet for Red Bull in Shanghai.
    The young German has scored the team's maiden win after a rain-drenched Chinese Grand Prix, with team mate Mark Webber following him home in second.

     
    4/15/2009

    中国版十二星座大揭秘!

    看腻了西洋的十二星座,不如看点新鲜的——中国本土的国产十二星座。

    12月7日-1月5日.......星纪

    1月6日-2月3日.........玄枵

    2月4日-3月5日.........娵訾

    3月6日-4月4日.........降娄

    4月5日-5月5日.........大梁

    5月6日-6月5日.........实沉

    6月6日-7月6日.........鹑首

    7月7日-8月7日.........鹑火

    8月8日-9月7日.........鹑尾

    9月8日-10月7日.......寿星

    10月8日-11月8日.....大火

    11月9日-12月6日.....析木

    《星纪》

    性格特点:作为十二星座的出发点,有根基的含义。你是一个信念坚强而勤奋的人,会向着自己的目标努力不懈。而且给人十分踏实可信的印象,深得他人信赖。但一向温柔的你一旦发起脾气来,也是势不可挡的

    恋爱倾向:慎重派的你不会轻易堕入爱河,要经过长期仔细的观察,才会与可信赖的人产生感情,你们的感情虽不是炽烈如火,但也异常深厚、持久。

    恋爱武器:你的温厚和大方有礼是博得异性好感的有力“武器”。

    《玄拐》

    性格特点:“玄拐”有种子的含义,所以有发展性和神秘感。你好奇心旺盛,兴趣广泛,而且性格开朗、乐观,走到哪里都是受欢迎的人物。但你同时有缺乏耐性、善变的缺点,而且对一件事物的热情不会太持久。

    恋爱倾向:好奇心强的你渴望尝试各种类型的恋爱,很有可能与多个异性同时交往。喜欢充满新奇感和刺激的约会

    恋爱武器:善於表达感情,是你的有力“武器”。

    《娵訾》

    性格特点:“娵訾”代表着植物的核,即事物的中心。所以你是一个个性很强、强调自我的人,外表冷漠,内心却十分热情。而且具持久力,一旦决定了某件事,便会以坚强的意志坚持到底,故此经常成为团体的领导人物。不过你的坚强可能会使你有些自闭倾向,因此应多与周围的人交流。

    恋爱倾向:“娵訾”座的人会全身心地投人恋爱,同时独占慾也很强,一旦发现对方对自己不忠,便永远也不会原谅对方。所以你一定要选择一个非常忠盏娜俗鲬偃恕?

    恋爱武器:穿着一些 ? 巧吽性感的服装。

    《降娄》

    性格特点:“降娄”代表植物的茎,你像茎向植物无私地输送养分一般,你是一个为他人无私奉献的人。你性格直率,不论与同性朋友或异性朋友都能够融洽地相处。当朋友遇到困难时,你都能鼎力相助,但自己遇到麻烦时却显得束手无策。而且过於听命於上司也是不正确的态度。

    恋爱倾向:对於爱情你也是全心奉献。虽然你人际关系很好,但却出人意料地是个很怕受伤、自卫心很强的人,所以不会主动去追求异性,只会在长期相处下培养爱情。你的恋人多会是身边的同学或朋友。

    恋爱武器:在对方处於困难关头时,用你细腻的心去关心、安慰他(她)。

    《大梁》

    性格特点:“大梁”象徵植物过冬前积蓄能量,有结实的意思。所以“大梁”座的人多会早熟,人生经验也会比较丰富,头脑灵活,对於知识或技能都能很快掌握。而且有先见之明,对自己的未来有长远的计划,但也会比较现实及精於算计。

    恋爱倾向:你邂逅心上人的机会比其他人多一倍。你给人的第一印象深刻,擅於言辞,所以对异性吸引力很大。但要注意虽然有很多异性倾慕你,但不要让自己陷入危险的三角关系之中。

    恋爱武器:真心的称赞是你的专长。

    《实沉》

    性格特点:“实沉”代表伸缩自如的柔软性,象徵植物的枝条。所以你是一个很有韧力、善於随机应变的人。能够利用机会开拓自己的发展。但你缺乏踏实的努力,天赋是要靠真正的磨练才可以成为你的才能。

    恋爱倾向:你会经常受到感情困扰,每换一个新环境就会出现一个新恋人。所以失恋或分手之类的事情,不会让你太过伤心。比较适合你的对象是在家中排行第二的次子。

    恋爱武器:对异性无微不至的体贴关心,特别能打动对方。

    《鹑首》

    性格特点:“鹑首”象徵宁静,所以“鹑首”座的你沉稳温和,总给人很有内涵而且略有神秘感的印象。外表冷漠的你,会为了理想充满热情和踏实地努力。而且你具有一种超出实际年龄的包容力和涵养。但应注意在金钱方面不要过於吝啬,特别是与老朋友一起的时候。

    恋爱倾向:能够长久地爱恋一个人,与只求开心的爱相比,更注重互相尊重爱护。适合寻找一个学业成绩优秀的人相恋。

    恋爱武器:时刻都给恋人支持和鼓励就是你最有力的武器。

    《鹑火》

    性格特点:“ 鹑火”代表不死鸟的心脏,具有燃烧的生命力。所以你精力充沛、行动极快,从不会“三思而後行”。你也是个喜欢另辟新径的人,在异性面前毫不做作的性格,使你深得同性朋友的爱戴。

    恋爱倾向:你是典型忽冷忽热的人。容易对异性一见锺情,但你的感情还是颇专一的,并不会一脚踏两船。你适合寻找一个与你对爱情具有同样热情的异性。

    恋爱武器:健康的肤色及灿烂的笑容使你特别具有魅力。

    《鹑尾》

    性格特点:“鹑尾”代表着坚实地生长在大地中的根,所以你的性格也会如土地中的根一样,坚强而深不可测。冷漠的外表下有一颗温柔的心,而且富有同情心。有丰富的想像力,感觉敏锐,但有时有些不切实际。

    恋爱倾向:你对恋爱的期望很高,很憧憬浪漫的爱情故事。这种不切实际的想法有可能阻碍你建立真正的恋爱,不要期望过高,还有你极有可能与初恋情人结为伴侣。

    恋爱武器:当他遇到烦恼时,要细心地倾听。

    《寿星》

    性格特点:如字面所示,“寿星”座的人拥有福寿。表面上看来你是个懒惰之人,但一旦有了目标,你便会充满热情地开始实,所谓“不鸣则已,一鸣惊人”。但你的热情难以持久。此外,你也不喜欢团体活动。

    恋爱倾向:真正的恋爱之前,你会遇到不同类型的异性,感情经历颇丰富。但最终你还是会得到十分幸福的恋情。适合你的异性是能坦白指出你缺点和错误的人。

    恋爱武器:如果你是个女孩,你的魅力则是温柔如水及披肩的长发;如果你是个男孩,英俊及男子气概则是你的魅力。

    《大火》

    性格特点:“大火”代表早晨温暖的阳光,所以你给别人的感觉也十分温暖,因为你的安宁恬静所以深得大家喜爱。而且你是个重视家庭及爱护家人的人,不过温顺的性格却又使你具有优柔寡断的缺点。

    恋爱倾向:在恋爱方面,你却是个任性的人,并热烈渴望对方的重视,而且有可能陷入不伦恋情。家人及朋友介绍给你的异性值得考虑。

    恋爱武器:温柔的个性及对家庭的重视,就是你的魅力所在。

    《析木》

    性格特点:“析木”代表拦截天河的木栅。现实生活中的你最大的特点便是意志坚强,不论遇到任何逆境都能充满勇气地跨过。一旦有了奋斗目标,便会向着这个目标努力不懈。你勤奋上进的性格,使你常拥有不菲的成绩。适合在学校或学会中担任职务。

    恋爱倾向:你喜欢优秀、出色的异性。但你不喜欢束缚。

    转---12星座最适合居住的城市 看官速速对号入座

    白羊座——深圳

    对于白羊来说,没有比在一个日新月异的城市更让他们感到安心的事情了。而变化最快的城市之一--深圳,是白羊享受到了与时间赛跑的游戏。

    金牛座——昆明

    稳重的牛牛们不希望有任何的变动,甚至包括天气,一年四季如春的昆明对他们来说再合适不过了,风景秀丽,还有几道名菜。牛牛们还能奢望什么呢?

    摩羯座——广州

    工作,工作,还是工作。脑子里只有工作的摩羯最满意工作多的地方。广州——这个全国经济开放城市,被摩羯们投以最高的分数。

    巨蟹座——苏州

    带着吴苏乡音的采莲女荡舟河畔,山明水暖的江南气息。一想起明媚的苏州,任何人都可能醉了,更何况柔情巨蟹呢!

    双子座——香港

    爱好信息传递的双子,在香港的生活一定是十分惬意的。国际性的大都市提供了数不清资讯,最大程度的满足了双子的好奇心。

    水瓶座——上海

    要是问哪一个星座最喜欢城市,当然是瓶子无疑,喧闹的城市生活,给瓶子一种十分熟悉的感觉。那么,最大的城市——上海,当然最受瓶子的青睐了。

    处女座:青岛

    唉,哪里都是污染,脏东西,就没有一个净土给我生存么?哦,你说青岛?不错啊。很干净的城市,还有蓝天碧海。的确是我们的首选城市呢。

    射手座——桂林

    当然了,没有比一个旅游胜地更好的住处了,全国著名的风景城市——桂林无疑是最佳选择。只是,看得惯了,射手们静极思动,又想到其他的地方旅游去了。

    天蝎座——拉萨

    青藏高原的中心——拉萨,给人的感觉就像琢磨不透的蝎子,世界海拔最高的地方,神秘的宗教气息,那里的一切,都给了蝎子适合生长的养分。

    天秤座——西安

    嗯,秤秤应该不偏不倚,中间的位置最好。那么地处中原的西安到是可以看看。原来它还是古时候的政治文化中心那,就是那里了!

    狮子座——北京

    哼,我是领导,领导应该在什么地方。对了,就是首都,北京那个地方虽然气候不好。但是凭首都的名气,我也就马马虎虎住在那里好了

    双鱼座——海口

    对于一个依赖海洋的星座,当然也会选择与海有关的星座。海南省海口市,多好的地方啊,在海边,还有好几个海字,太适合鱼鱼们的心意了!

    4/14/2009

    白宫第一狗选定葡萄牙水犬 取名Bo ---posted @小新

    Obamas choose Portuguese water dog called 'Bo'
    白宫第一狗选定葡萄牙水犬 取名Bo

     

    President Obama and his daughter Sasha welcome Bo to the White House.

    点击查看视频

    Ending months of intense speculation and secrecy over the type of family dog that the Obamas would get for the White House, they have settled on a six-month-old Portuguese water dog provided by Senator Ted Kennedy.

    The dog – which the Obama's two young daughters have named Bo – charmed the family at a secret meeting at the White House a few weeks ago, according to the Washington Post.

    The shaggy breed was always a strong contender as Malia Obama, 10, suffers from allergies.

    Portuguese water dogs, which do not shed so much hair, are said to be less aggravating to people with allergies.

    Mr Kennedy is a big fan of Portuguese water dogs and owns three himself. His wife, Victoria, chatted about their virtues in frequent phone calls with Michelle Obama, said White House sources.

    According to some reports, Bo was originally named Charlie and comes from the same stock as the Kennedy dogs.

    The puppy had been living with another family but it didn't work out and the Kennedys got him for the Obamas.

    Throughout the day on Saturday, celebrity websites and bloggers were abuzz with rumors of the first family's selection of a Portuguese water dog; one site even claimed it had pictures of the future first pet.

    The president had embraced the frenzy: "Oh, man, now, that's top secret," Obama joked on Friday to reporters.

    President Obama said he promised a puppy to his two children during the election campaign.

    Officials would not say when the dog would actually take up residence at the White House.

    The children chose the name because their cousins have a cat called Bo and because their mother's father was nicknamed Diddley.

     

    Vocabulary: 

    shaggy: covered with or having long, rough hair(有绒毛的,毛发蓬松的)

    aggravating: making worse or more heinous(使病情等恶化,加剧的)

    历经数月的猜测和保密,备受关注的白宫第一犬终于揭晓,参议员泰德•肯尼迪赠送的一只六个月大的葡萄牙水犬被幸运选中。

    据《华盛顿邮报》报道,这只小狗被奥巴马的两个女儿取名为Bo,它于数周前在白宫的一次秘密会面上引起了第一家庭的兴趣。

    由于奥巴马的大女儿、10岁的玛丽亚是过敏体质,所以这种卷毛的葡萄牙水犬一直是个有力的竞争者。

    葡萄牙水犬不怎么掉毛,对于过敏体质的人来说相对安全一些。

    肯尼迪议员很喜欢葡萄牙水犬,自己共养了三只。据白宫消息人士介绍,肯尼迪的夫人维多利亚曾在多次的电话交谈中向第一夫人米歇尔•奥巴马谈及这种狗的优良特性。

    据一些报道称,Bo原被取名为Charlie,它与肯尼迪家的狗来自同一犬舍。

    此前,Bo被另一个家庭所领养,但因相处不够“融洽”,所以肯尼迪将他送给了奥巴马一家。

    上周六一整天,名人网站和博客上疯传第一家庭选定葡萄牙水犬为白宫第一犬的消息,其中一家网站甚至称其有白宫未来第一犬的照片。

    而奥巴马于上周五在接受记者采访时回应称:“哦,天!现在这可是个最高机密。”

    奥巴马曾在总统竞选期间许诺两个女儿给她们养一只小狗。

    但有关官员未透露第一犬具体将于何时入住白宫。

    奥巴马的两个女儿之所以给小狗取名为Bo,是因为她们的堂姐妹有一只猫叫Bo,而且她们外祖父的昵称叫Diddley(译者注:与摇滚乐先驱、格莱美终身成就奖获得者波•迪德雷同姓)。

    4/11/2009

    谈论 杰克张上海绘本《沐恩堂祈福记》

     

    沐恩堂祈福记s01

    西藏中路和九江路口,即西藏中路316号,有一座沐恩堂(Muk En Methodist Church),这是一座建有高大钟楼的哥特式基督教堂。

     沐恩堂祈福记s02

    1887年(清光绪十三年),美国教会监理公会设的监理会堂建立,即沐恩堂前身。/ 1900年,为纪念信徒慕尔的襄助,监理会堂改名为“慕尔堂”(又名“慕乐堂”)。/ 1927年,蒋介石和宋美龄的婚礼在这里举行的。/ 1930年,建成红砖结构的哥特式教堂,内有可容 1000余人的礼堂及音乐室等。/ 1958年,上海基督教各派在这里举行联合礼拜,并正式把它的名字定为“沐恩堂”。“沐恩堂”,意为沐浴于主恩之中。/ 1989年9月25日,沐恩堂由市人民政府公布为上海市文物保护单位优秀近代建筑。

     沐恩堂祈福记s03

    上海市沐恩堂基督复临安息日信徒崇拜程序单,每周聚会时间,安息日等。

    注:资料参考——广西师范大学出版社《上海玩全攻略》;上海市沐恩堂基督复临安息日信徒事工组;百度百科等。

    3/27/2009

    The Australian Grand Prix Preview - The Wait is Finally Over

    from F1 Official Website-26 Mar.

    At last, after what seems to have been the least conclusive off-season in a long while, the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship kicks off in Melbourne’s Albert Park on Friday. And, after months in which several teams appear to have achieved good things in testing, we may finally start to get some answers to that crucial question: who will set the pace?

    With the new restrictions on testing, Friday’s practice sessions will assume a far greater importance, and nobody is likely to be going anything other than flat out at this meeting in particular as they hone their cars and further develop things such as KERS. Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and BMW Sauber are the teams who have confirmed they are ready to run KERS. Williams, Brawn and Force India have said they won’t.

    Brawn, of course, dominated testing once they started running in March, and Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello come to Australia full of hope. Red Bull, however, have indicated that they intend to protest the Brackley car’s diffuser design if it is accepted by the Albert Park stewards.

    "From our short but crucial testing programme over the past two weeks, we have reinforced our view that the BGP 001 is a good car and an excellent platform from which to develop performance over the course of the season,” said team principal Ross Brawn. “Our focus during the seven days of pre-season testing was on reliability and developing our understanding of the car in race conditions.

    “We are very satisfied with the work achieved and the initial pace seen from the car however we are fully aware that our work has only just begun. The practice running in Melbourne will be crucial and we have to get as much mileage as possible under our belts to allow Jenson and Rubens to refine the set-up of the car to their liking."

    Ferrari seem very happy with the development work they have done on the F60, and the only fly in their ointment all winter, reliability issues apart, was Brawn. Felipe Massa says he will adopt the same approach as he did in 2008, when he so narrowly lost out in the title fight with McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton.

    “We will work even harder to try to finish most of the races in the points because we saw that maybe one point is enough to lose the championship at the end of the year,” the Brazilian said, “so I think the approach now has to be the same in terms of driving, in terms of working with the team but trying to be a little bit more consistent.

    “I think we can have maybe McLaren again fighting for the championship, BMW because they did a good job in the last years and maybe Renault and maybe some surprise, so I think it’s quite difficult to say now who our main rivals will be.”

    Kimi Raikkonen has said that he likes the new Ferrari very much. “It looks very nice. I mean, it’s always when you get something new it takes a little while to get used to it, especially now we have, everybody has the same kind of front and rear wings so after the first couple of tests nobody any more notice and talks about it. It doesn’t really matter how it looks. If it’s fast, it’s enough.”

    McLaren encountered a significant aerodynamic problem during the Spanish tests in March, but modifications which appeared late in the month in Jerez went some way towards improving the car and world champion Hamilton is feeling optimistic.

    “There is no better place to begin the championship than in Australia,” he said. “The weather is fantastic, the facilities are excellent and the people of Melbourne make us all feel extremely welcome. Most importantly, everyone arrives with an air of enthusiasm and expectation. Despite weeks of winter testing, it’s still difficult to know exactly who has the best package, and finding out over the weekend in Albert Park is always fascinating. Perhaps we don’t come to Melbourne with the same prospects to challenge at the front that we experienced in both 2007 and ’08, but the whole team will be working tirelessly to help us move back to the front.”

    New team principal Martin Whitmarsh added: “We go into the start of the 2009 season fully aware that we do not yet have the technical package that will allow our drivers to fight at the front. In Formula 1, there is nowhere to hide: that’s what makes our sport so demanding and yet so endlessly fascinating. And as a team that goes grand prix racing with the expectation of winning races and challenging for world championships, we therefore go to Melbourne with realistic expectations. Nonetheless, we begin our season with huge determination to re-assert ourselves at the front and we will not rest for a moment until we have done that. Most importantly, we haven’t forgotten how to win.”

     BMW Sauber, Renault and Toyota all believe they have the firepower for victory this season. The Swiss-German team plans to do just that as the next step in its challenge for the world championship, while the two others want success to help justify their continued participation.

    “We are heading in the right direction with the BMW Sauber F1.09,” said BMW Sauber team principal Mario Theissen. “Both the drivers and the engineers came back with positive feedback during testing. Plus, Nick (Heidfeld) and Robert (Kubica) carried out full race simulations without suffering any technical problems.

    "As far as KERS is concerned, our system will be race-ready. We sent the cars out regularly with KERS during testing and the results were very good. Now it's just a matter of weighing up the pros and cons.”

    Renault’s Fernando Alonso comes here aiming for victory, and said: “The first test in Portimao was tough as we had some bad luck with the weather, but when we introduced updates at the later tests we quickly improved the car. We’ve learnt how to optimise the set-up and we now have a car that is easy to drive and consistent. What is important now is that we keep improving and developing it throughout the year.

    “With the KERS and moveable wings the drivers now have more work to do inside the cockpit. During testing I have been working hard to adapt to these new systems so that I can get the most from them in Melbourne. I’m really pleased with the KERS system that we have developed and hopefully this will give us an advantage at the start of the season. I’m not sure if it will make overtaking easier, but it will certainly improve lap times.

    “Albert Park has been a good track for Renault and so I hope we can have a strong weekend. I think the order of the teams will probably be different from the last few years as we have got used to Ferrari and McLaren dominating, but with the new rules I think there will be lots of cars fighting for the win.”

    Besides Toyota, who will be in there pitching, Red Bull and Toro Rosso have very high hopes for their new Adrian Newey-designed cars, while Williams believe their FW31 will be very competitive. Frank Williams’ team - along with Brawn and Toyota - are another to have found a potential loophole in the rear diffuser regulations. Their design could draw protests from rivals, but could also bring invaluable performance gains. Meanwhile, Force India - now with Mercedes rather than Ferrari power - know they have work to do on their aerodynamic package, but are keen to score points early in the season.

    Albert Park is a technically demanding, high-speed ‘street’ circuit. Cars reach maximum speeds of 300 km/h (185 mph) and average 225 km/h (140 mph) around the 5.3 kilometre (3.3 mile) 16-turn lap. The track surface is bumpy, particularly in the braking areas, hard on the brakes and slippery at the start of the race weekend before the road rubbers in.

    Teams will run relatively high levels of downforce, and everyone will be looking for good front-end grip which is the secret of quick laps here.

    In the first race for their new slick tyres, Bridgestone are using the opportunity to launch a new system to show their continued support for the FIA’s Make Cars Green campaign, by marking the softer of the two dry compounds with green sidewalls. For this race they will offer the medium and super soft tyres from their range of hard, medium, soft and super soft rubber.

    Australian Grand Prix - team and driver preview quotes

     from F1 Official Website

    After months of preparation and testing, it’s almost time for the 10 teams and 20 drivers that make up the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship to finally put their cards on the table and show just what they can do. For the teams it will be their first real chance to see if they can really challenge for the title, while for the drivers the joy of racing again will be just as potent. The Formula One fraternity look ahead to this weekend’s season opener in Melbourne…

    Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
    2008 Qualifying - 15th, 2008 Race - 8th

    “Ferrari was very competitive during the tests; but we'll do the F60's countercheck at Melbourne, when we'll all meet in the race with the same fuel at the same time. Only then we'll see how strong we are and maybe we've got to wait for a couple of races to have a clearer situation. Albert Park is a very particular circuit, just like the city itself is very special: maybe we've got to wait until Malaysia to see which teams will be ahead. Two years ago I won in Australia, while we had several problems last year. Our goal is to immediately gain some good points.”

    Felipe Massa, Ferrari
    2008 Qualifying - 4th, 2008 Race - DNF

    “It was a long wait, longer than usual, as the Australian Grand Prix's date had been moved, but now we're ready to race and I can't wait. I'm going to Australia with great confidence and optimism, but also with some caution: the test results are not always repeated during the race weekends. We've seen during the tests that there are also some other very strong teams, especially in the last sessions the Brawns. It seems that they've got the fastest car at the moment and I think that their pace is real; maybe they found something that makes the difference. We'll see in Melbourne; but I think they've got a good car and they did their tests with the right weight.

    “I'm 100 percent ready, perfectly in shape and I think that this also applies to the team. We made some mistakes last year and we've been working hard all winter long to improve where we weren't perfect. My teammate is still my strongest competitor and I think that Kimi will be very strong - as usual. My goal is very simple: I want a season like in 2008 and to reach that goal I have to stay concentrated and work very hard. The first race is always a bit like a leap in the dark, but I can't wait. As the race starts at 17:00 let's hope that it won't also end in the dark!”

    Fernando Alonso, Renault
    2008 Qualifying - 11th, 2008 Race - 4th

    “In the past Albert Park has been a good track for Renault and so I hope we can have a strong weekend. I think the order of the teams will probably be different from the last few years as we have got used to Ferrari and McLaren dominating, but with the new rules I think there will be lots of cars fighting for the win. Hopefully we will be in that fight.

    “We finished in a strong position last year and this year our goal is to fight for the championship. But we have lots of new regulations this year and nobody really knows what will happen when we get to Melbourne. From what we have seen in testing it seems all the teams are very close and so we will certainly have a fight on our hands.”

    Nelson Piquet, Renault
    2008 Qualifying - 20th, 2008 Race - DNF

    “I'm feeling much more confident this year and looking forward to returning to Melbourne. I learned so much with the team in 2008 and I now have a year of experience under my belt which will make things easier. It's also a new era for Formula One with lots of changes, but we've made good progress with the car during testing and we are heading to Melbourne with high hopes.

    “It's a challenging track and quite a difficult place to set the car up as it's a mixture between a permanent venue and a temporary street course with lots of tricky slow speed corners, as well as some quicker sections. As a city, I love Melbourne: the fans are great and the atmosphere of the race is always pretty special. It's still difficult to know how we compare to the other teams and so setting a target isn't easy. We know we have a good race car that is consistent and so I think we will be competitive in Melbourne. I will do my best to try and reach Q3 in qualifying and hopefully finish in the points.”

    Pat Symonds, Renault engineering director
    “I enjoy the Australian Grand Prix and I think the whole team does as it's when we get back to racing, which is ultimately what we're all here for. Melbourne is a great city and everybody looks forward to going there, although I suspect we will end up seeing a lot more of the garages in Albert Park than the city itself!

    “At our first test in Portugal we only had one dry day and initially the car was quite difficult to drive, especially as we were getting used to the new aerodynamic characteristics. But as we've introduced the updates in preparation for Melbourne, we've moved towards a pretty driveable car that both Fernando and Nelson are comfortable with and it's now behaving much more as we want it to.”

    Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
    2008 Qualifying - 1st, 2008 Race - 1st

    “There is no better place to begin the FIA Formula One World Championship than in Australia. The weather is fantastic, the facilities are excellent and the people of Melbourne make us all feel extremely welcome. Most importantly, everyone arrives with an air of enthusiasm and expectation. Despite weeks of winter testing, it’s still difficult to know exactly who has the best package, and finding out over the weekend in Albert Park is always fascinating. Perhaps McLaren Mercedes doesn’t come to Melbourne with the same prospects to challenge at the front that we experienced in both 2007 and ’08, but the whole team will be working tirelessly to help us move back to the front.”

    Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren
    2008 Qualifying - 3rd, 2008 Race - 5th

    “I had a great race in Melbourne last year on my debut for McLaren Mercedes. It’s a track I love - a circuit that you really have to attack with a lot of enthusiasm if you are to get the best from the car. The fast esses at the back of the circuit are probably the most demanding corners - getting it just right is a hugely satisfying feeling. Elsewhere, I enjoy the ‘back to school’ feeling of the new season - you meet up with everybody, share your stories from the winter and look forward to another good season. Everybody in our team is really motivated and, while we probably won’t start the season as favourites, we will work around the clock to get back there.”

    Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal
    “We go into the start of the 2009 season fully aware that we do not yet have the technical package that will allow our drivers to fight at the front. In Formula One, there is nowhere to hide: that’s what makes our sport so demanding and yet so endlessly fascinating. And as a team that goes grand prix racing with the expectation of winning races and challenging for world championships, we therefore go to Melbourne with realistic expectations. Nonetheless, we begin our season with huge determination to re-assert ourselves at the front and we will not rest for a moment until we have done that. Most importantly, we haven’t forgotten how to win.”

    Norbert Haug, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport vice-president
    “Melbourne is the city where - 12 years ago - McLaren-Mercedes achieved their first of 58 grand prix wins since then. After a total of four victories at Albert Park, this time it may not be possible to repeat Lewis’s success of last year. Considering our test results we will not be as competitive at the season opener as we intend to be, and so I do not expect a qualifying result at the front of the grid. However, we will all work hard to return to the front as soon as possible and in Melbourne everybody in the team is fully motivated to do everything to achieve the best possible result."

    Nico Rosberg, Williams
    2008 Qualifying - 7th, 2008 Race - 3rd

    “I'm really looking forward to getting out onto the Albert Park track. I had a great race in Melbourne in 2008 and I am determined that we will have a similarly strong start to this season. In character, it’s a very challenging semi-street circuit which usually suits our car well. I think Australia is great. The country is so varied and the people are cool, very relaxed and welcoming. I would come more often if it wasn’t so far away!

    “Winter testing has been good, but I think we are not where we want to be just yet. However, the potential for development is huge because of the new rules, so we will be looking to making strong progress throughout the year to get closer to the podium. I think the regs (regulations) are all good. It is very likely that they will improve overtaking and ramp up the excitement in the sport for everybody’s benefit.”

    Kazuki Nakajima, Williams
    2008 Qualifying - 13th, 2008 Race - 6th

    “What can I tell you, I love Australia. I am doing what I did last year, dropping in on Sydney for a few days and I expect to do some good training there - it’s a great sports nation. It’s the right place to start the year - it just feels like the natural beginning to the season. We have a good car, one that will allow us to compete, that’s certain, but where it will take us this year - well, that is part of the excitement to see how it all turns out. The competition is closer, that’s for sure. Whether we will get the better overtaking we are all hoping for, really it will be an improvement, but by how much we will only know after 58 laps of Albert Park next Sunday.”

    Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India
    2008 Qualifying - 16th, 2008 Race - DNF

    “Australia is a good place for me personally. I won the race in 2005 and started in second place in 2006 and with a car that was not as competitive as we would have liked, I finished in fifth in 2007. For these reasons, it’s a fantastic track for me, but it’s also a great track to drive. With a combination of short straights, second and third gear chicanes, this 16 turn track requires medium to high downforce and good traction is essential, particularly early on in the weekend when the track is ‘green’.

    "It is very slippery on the Friday as it doesn’t get used very much over the year, and then conditions just get better and better for the race. There are a few chicanes in third gear so you need to have a good car under braking, but don’t brake too much so you can still get into the chicane with a good speed. Turns 11 and 12 are quite quick and it’s quite hard for the brakes, and the last corner is quite interesting. It’s important to be quick but there is always a lot of understeer and the car slides on four wheels. This year the race will start a bit later at 1700, so it may be a bit darker at the end of the race, but I don’t think this will change a lot for the drivers. In Singapore we raced under the lights and it didn’t seem to make a lot of difference from our perspective.”

    Adrian Sutil, Force India
    2008 Qualifying - 22nd, 2008 Race - DNF

    “Australia is a really nice circuit, a bit like a street circuit with lots of corners. It’s long at 5.3km, but there are not so many straights so there is always something going on and you can’t rest. We always seem to get a good race there - last year there were a lot of accidents and with the new safety car regs this year it could be interesting again. At least the pit lane is open all the time now if there is a problem, which is better. It was very confusing last year and nobody actually knew what to do - I’m sure there will be some discussions after the first use, but that’s always how it is! Hopefully to have a good race straight away, with no problems. I want to finish for sure, but we will see where we are in qualifying and then I can say where I want to be in the race.”

    Dominic Harlow, Force India chief technical officer
    “The culmination of winter development and car build effort makes Melbourne an exciting and technically challenging race. The Albert Park circuit is hard on brakes and, being a temporary construction, has a constantly changing grip level. The weather offers plenty of variety some for the teams to deal with, from 40 degree heat as in 2008, to rain disturbances from the southern oceanic region. For the first time ever the race this year will be an evening event, potentially leading to cooler track conditions, however Bridgestone’s softer tyre will almost certainly struggle to resist graining and degradation. One very important fact to remember at this circuit however is the seemingly annual first corner accident where nearly five months of anticipation can be over in a few seconds. We have often seen safety cars in Melbourne, and it could figure again in this year’s race, and the change to the regulations could particularly mix things up.”

    Jarno Trulli, Toyota
    2008 Qualifying - 6th, 2008 Race - DNF

    "Melbourne is a great place to visit and the Australian Grand Prix is always good fun. As a Formula One driver you really want to race so I am pleased the season is starting and we can get on with the competition. I am totally fired up for this season and I am feeling very positive about our chances. The TF109 is the best Toyota I have driven in pre-season testing; it feels stable and gives the driver confidence but more importantly it seems to be pretty quick, even though it's hard to make too many judgements based on testing. We made a big step last year, proving we can fight for podiums and finish regularly in the top six so I am hoping for another step forward this year. We have more experience now and the team has worked really hard for a long time on the TF109 - we are ready for the season and I am raring to go."

    Timo Glock, Toyota
    2008 Qualifying - 18th, 2008 Race - DNF

    "It's very exciting to be going to the first race this year because the big changes to the technical regulations for 2009 give Toyota a good opportunity to fight at the front. It's really hard to predict because you don't know what other teams are working on in testing but I know our programme and the results we have seen are very encouraging. Testing has gone really well and I have a good feeling for the new car. It's a different emotion to be starting my second year with Toyota compared to 2008 because now I am much more familiar with the team and I feel I can really start the season strongly. Last year it took a few races to find the right direction for me in terms of set-up but I don't expect that to be a problem this season. Australia is anyway one of my favourite places to visit so I can't wait to get to Melbourne and get the season started."

    John Howett, Toyota president
    "This is a big season for our team and we have set ourselves high targets. We exist to win so that is clearly the aim this season and we have every reason to be optimistic after our extremely positive testing results. This is our eighth season in Formula One and we have learnt a lot in that time; we are leaner, more experienced and better equipped to succeed. Our drivers are a great asset to us this season; Jarno has huge experience and everyone knows he is tremendously fast while Timo is an explosive young driver who showed his great potential last year. So 2009 is a big opportunity for our team and we are determined to make the most of it. We have been on the podium in the past in Australia and I would like to see us there again this weekend."

    Jenson Button, Brawn GP
    2008 Qualifying - 12th, 2008 Race - DNF

    "The first race of the season is always an exciting weekend as none of the teams really know where their car is in performance terms until we hit the race track for the first time in competitive conditions. I am a big fan of Melbourne as a city and as the venue for the first race; it's truly a great place to start the season. The race has a beautiful setting in Albert Park and it is a quick and fun circuit to drive with some very technical corners. I have always enjoyed driving there, particularly in qualifying where you can really get on it and nail a flying lap.

    "I will be arriving in Melbourne on Saturday to ensure that I have a few days to acclimatise to the time zone. I'll be doing some fitness work with my physio in preparation for the race weekend, hopefully in the sunshine along the coast. We will also be linking up with some local triathletes to train with them and catching up with my former physio who is now based in Australia and some of the V8 Supercar drivers that he is working with for another intense training session. I'm really looking forward to getting to Australia and the challenge of getting the best out of our new car over what looks to be a very exciting race weekend."

    Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP
    2008 Qualifying - 10th, 2008 Race - DSQ

    "The Australian Grand Prix is one of my favourite races on the calendar and the atmosphere at Albert Park over the race weekend is always fantastic. It will be really exciting to go back this year with our new team and a competitive car behind us for the start of what will be my 17th season competing in Formula One. After the tough winter that we went through, I am so motivated to get racing again and I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead.

    "The Albert Park circuit is quite technical and the relatively high top speeds for a street circuit mean that you need to run quite a high level of downforce which in turn compromises your grip through the slower second-gear corners. The lap has some very quick changes of direction and you can gain a lot of time through the quick chicane at Turns 11 and 12 if you get it hooked up well. You need a car with a good front-end to make the most of these corners.

    "As the circuit uses public roads, there are a lot of bumps under braking and if your car is prone to rear-locking, you have to be careful that these don't unsettle the car enough to throw you off the circuit. It's reasonably difficult to overtake around the circuit with Turns Three and 13 offering the best opportunities."

    Ross Brawn, Brawn GP technical director
    "Our ambition has always been to be on the grid for the first race of the season in Melbourne and our planning was specifically tailored towards the achievement of this goal. I am extremely proud that we have achieved our ambition and the Australian Grand Prix will mark the start of an exciting new journey for our team. The BGP 001 car is the result of 15 months of intensive development work and the team have been nothing less than fantastic in their commitment to producing two cars in time for the first race.

    "From our short but crucial testing programme over the past two weeks, we have reinforced our view that the BGP 001 is a good car and an excellent platform from which to develop performance over the course of the season. Our focus during the seven days of pre-season testing was on reliability and developing our understanding of the car in race conditions. We are very satisfied with the work achieved and the initial pace seen from the car however we are fully aware that our work has only just begun. The practice running in Melbourne will be crucial and we have to get as much mileage as possible under our belts to allow Jenson and Rubens to refine the set-up of the car to their liking."

    Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber
    2008 Qualifying - 2nd, 2008 Race - DNF

    "I'm really looking forward to the Australian Grand Prix. I'm happy that the race season will finally get started and all the speculation of the pre-season testing will stop. It will be very interesting to see how competitive the teams really are. I like street circuits in general, so Albert Park is one of my favourite race tracks.

    “You have to be very precise. That applies to the whole circuit; you need to stay on the clean line. But this year precision will be especially important for the first corner after the start, when we will have our very first fight for position with the bigger 2009 front wings. I'm pretty sure it will be an interesting race. In addition, Melbourne is a very nice city and the people create a truly special atmosphere for all of us in Formula One."

    Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber
    2008 Qualifying - 5th, 2008 Race - 2nd

    "I'm looking forward immensely to the start of the season in Australia. This time around I'm particularly keen to see how the teams and drivers stack up against each other. It's time for the speculation to stop; from now on it's only facts that matter. A whole number of things have changed since last year and that means there are a lot of unanswered questions: What effect will the KERS and adjustable front wings have in the races? What will happen at the start when we are side-by-side with the larger front wings for the first time? Will overtaking really be easier, as our experiences in testing have led us to believe?

    "Last year winter testing did not go as well as it might have done for us, and we surprised everybody with our strong performance in Australia. This winter all of our testing went pretty well, and I hope this impression is confirmed in Melbourne. We had to contend with some difficult weather conditions in testing, and I'm also curious to see what happens in Albert Park in this respect, as it can get very autumnal in my favourite travel destination in March."

    Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport director
    "The start of a Formula One season with perhaps the most sweeping rule changes we've ever seen is now in sight. We are pleased that Australia is again the first GP of the year in 2009. There is always a very special atmosphere in Melbourne. The Australians certainly love their sport and they've been well and truly bitten by the Formula One bug.

    "Last year Nick took second for us in the first race of the season, and we're hoping that we get off to a good start in Albert Park once again this year. We are heading in the right direction with the BMW Sauber F1.09; both the drivers and the engineers came back with positive feedback during testing. Plus, Nick and Robert carried out full race simulations without suffering any technical problems.

    "As far as KERS is concerned, our system will be race-ready in Melbourne. We sent the cars out regularly with KERS during testing and the results were very good. Now it's just a matter of weighing up the pros and cons. On the positive side, the drivers would have an extra 82 hp at their disposal for 6.6 seconds per lap. However, the system adds weight to the car and this has an impact on the car's weight distribution and tyre wear. We will make a decision on a driver-by-driver, circuit-by-circuit basis."

    Willy Rampf, BMW Sauber head of engineering
    "There's always a lot of anticipation ahead of the first race of the season, but this time it's even more exciting than usual. Winter testing gave us some initial indications of where we stand in relation to our rivals, but there are still a lot of question marks. The reason for the uncertainty is the radical changes made to the technical regulations. Totally new aerodynamics with significantly lower downforce compared to last year, the introduction of KERS, the return of slicks and the double mileage requirement for the engines mean we're starting from a totally different basis. Using the potential of the tyres to optimum effect will be particularly important.

    "Melbourne is a stop-start kind of circuit, which places heavy loads on the brakes and, at the same time, demands good traction. Grip levels are very low, especially at the start of the weekend, but you cannot let that deflect you from getting the car set-up right."

    Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone director of motorsport tyre development
    "The move to slick tyres is significant, although Bridgestone have a lot of experience with these tyres from many different race series so we are confident that we can produce good racing slicks. We are making these tyres to the same sizes as we had with grooved tyres, but this means there is a new front/rear grip balance. The teams will therefore have to work hard to get a good set-up, particularly with the varying surface of Albert Park, and we will be working closely with everyone to achieve this."

    Driver number changes for Ferrari, Toro Rosso and Brawn

    from F1 Official Website

    The FIA have issued a revised entry list for the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, with driver number changes at three teams.

    At Ferrari, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen swap numbers, with Massa now taking number 3 in line with his higher position in the 2008 drivers’ championship.

    Similarly at Toro Rosso, Sebastien Bourdais’s senior status means he will now take number 11, with rookie team mate Sebastien Buemi numbered 12. Both Ferrari and Toro Rosso requested the changes.

    The FIA have also recognised the Brawn GP Formula One Team’s status as a new constructor, dropping them to the base of the entry list with Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello now numbered 20 and 21 respectively.

    The full entry list of constructors and drivers is as follows:

    McLaren Mercedes
    1 Lewis Hamilton (GB)
    2 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN)

    Ferrari
    3 Felipe Massa (BR)
    4 Kimi Raikkonen (FIN)

    BMW Sauber
    5 Robert Kubica (PL)
    6 Nick Heidfeld (D)

    Renault
    7 Fernando Alonso (E)
    8 Nelson Piquet (BR)

    Toyota
    9 Jarno Trulli (I)
    10 Timo Glock (D)

    STR Ferrari
    11 Sebastien Bourdais (F)
    12 Sebastien Buemi (CH)

    Red Bull Renault
    14 Mark Webber (AUS)
    15 Sebastian Vettel (D)

    Williams Toyota
    16 Nico Rosberg (D)
    17 Kazuki Nakajima (J)

    Force India Mercedes
    18 Adrian Sutil (D)
    19 Giancarlo Fisichella (I)

    Brawn Mercedes
    20 Jenson Button (GB)
    21 Rubens Barrichello (BR)

    3/26/2009

    'Brains or beauty? Women still conflicted'

     

      

    Contestants at Miss Universe "Beatuy Contest" in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 13, 2008.Women still have a complex and contradictory relationship with their own image according to a poll released on Tuesday that found 25 percent of those questioned would rather win the "America's Next Top Model" TV show than the Nobel Peace Prize.



    Smart or thin? Rich or ugly?

    Women still have a complex and contradictory relationship with their own image according to a poll released on Tuesday that found 25 percent of those questioned would rather win the "America's Next Top Model" TV show than the Nobel Peace Prize.

    And although 75 percent of women surveyed said they'd be willing to shave their heads to save the life of a stranger, more than a quarter of those taking part admitted they would make their best friend fat for life, if it meant they could be thin.

    As for that age-old dilemma of whether to marry for wealth or looks, half of the 18- to 24-year-olds questioned said they would marry an ugly man if he were a multimillionaire.

    The poll for U.S. television network Oxygen, which is targeted at young women, also found that 88 percent of 18- to 34-year-old women would happily give up their cell phone, jewelry and makeup to keep a friendship.

    "This survey proves an interesting dissection of today's woman and how she relates her personal image with what she values in her life," said Dr. Jenn Berman, psychotherapist and judge of the upcoming new Oxygen series "Pretty Wicked."

    "As shown in several results, women today are a complex combination of altruistic and materialistic, vain and insecure, loyal and self-serving. This survey highlights the dichotomy in all of us," Berman said.

    More than 2,000 women aged 18-34 were interviewed for the poll.

    是要智慧还是身材?是选择财富还是外表?

    一项于本周二公布的民调显示,女性对自身形象问题仍然持一种复杂而矛盾的心态。25%的受访者称,与获得诺贝尔和平奖相比,她们更希望在“全美超模大赛”中获胜。

    尽管75%的受访女性称,如果能够挽救一个陌生人的生命,她们愿意剃光头,而超过四分之一的人坦称如果能让她们自己变苗条,她们会让最好的朋友变胖。

    在找对象是看重财富还是外表这一由来已久的问题上,18岁至24岁的受访女性中有一半的人称她们愿意嫁给一个相貌丑陋的男子,如果他是百万富翁。

    这项针对年轻女性的调查由美国Oxygen电视台委托开展。调查还发现,在18岁至34岁的女性中,有88%的人表示愿为保持一段友情而放弃手机、珠宝和化妆品。

    精神治疗师、Oxygen电视台将推新剧《Pretty Wicked》的评委简•伯曼博士说:“该调查对现代女性进行了一种有趣的剖析,揭示了她们如何将自己的个人形象与她们觉得人生中重要的东西联系在一起。”

    “几项结果显示,如今的女性是利他主义和物质主义、虚荣与不安全、忠诚与自私的复杂结合。这项调查揭示了我们所有人身上所存在的‘二元’现象。”

    共有两千多名18岁至34岁的女性参与了该民调。