英国男子捕获罕见巨蟹 蟹钳大如成人手掌

 　　Monster crab with claws the size of a man's hand  captured off the British coast

　　据英国每日邮报网站报道，英国一男子近日在英国近岸捕获了一只身形庞大的螃蟹。这只螃蟹重达17磅，蟹壳宽度有12英寸，特别是它那只巨大的蟹钳足有一个成年男子的手掌那么大。

　　图一：保罗正在认真展示着这对异常庞大的蟹钳

Claws for concern: Paul Worsley gets to grips with the giant crab he caught in Lyme Regis harbour

　　图二：这只巨形蟹钳可以轻易剪断人的手指

Moby click: The giant crab can break a man's fingers with its claws

　　图三：跟成年人手掌差不多大的蟹钳

Cracking: The crab's claws are the size of a man's hands

It lurked in the wreck of an old battleship 160ft below the surface – a true monster of the deep.

　　Diver Paul Worsley could hardly believe the size of the giant crab he found in Lyme Bay, off the Dorset coast.

　　Careful to avoid its fearsome claws, he managed to get it into a bag and raise it to the surface.

For his efforts, he can congratulate himself on capturing what experts believe is the biggest edible crab ever landed.

It weighed 17lb and had a shell width of 12in while each of its massive claws was as big as a man's hand.

The previous largest edible crab on record is in the collection of the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. Its carapace was 11in wide.

Mr Worsley, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, said: 'I couldn't believe it when I saw it.'

Andy Horton founder of the British Marine Life Study Society, said: 'If anyone has found a bigger one could they let us know?'

Unfortunately, Mr Worsley's crab will not be displayed in any museum. A friend has eaten it.

Essay: Travel 　

Author：Francis Bacon

Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education, in the elder, a part of experience.

He that travelleth into a country, before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school, and not to travel. That young men travel under some tutor, or grave servant, I allow well; so that he be such a one that hath the language, and hath been in the country before; whereby he may be able to tell them what things are worthy to be seen, in the country where they go; what acquaintances they are to seek; what exercises, or discipline, the place yieldeth.

For else, young men shall go hooded, and look abroad little. It is a strange thing, that in sea voyages, where there is nothing to be seen, but sky and sea, men should make diaries; but in land-travel, wherein so much is to be observed, for the most part they omit it; as if chance were fitter to be registered, than observation. Let diaries, therefore, be brought in use.

The things to be seen and observed are: the courts of princes, especially when they give audience to ambassadors; the courts of justice, while they sit and hear causes; and so of consistories ecclesiastic; the churches and monasteries, with the monuments which are therein extant; the walls and fortifications of cities, and towns, and so the heavens and harbors; antiquities and ruins; libraries; colleges, disputations, and lectures, where any are; shipping and navies; houses and gardens of state and pleasure, near great cities; armories; arsenals; magazines; exchanges; burses; warehouses; exercises of horsemanship, fencing, training of soldiers, and the like; comedies, such whereunto the better sort of persons do resort; treasuries of jewels and robes; cabinets and rarities; and, to conclude, whatsoever is memorable, in the places where they go. After all which, the tutors, or servants, ought to make diligent inquiry. As for triumphs, masks, feasts, weddings, funerals, capital executions, and such shows, men need not to be put in mind of them; yet are they not to be neglected. If you will have a young man to put his travel into a little room, and in short time to gather much, this you must do. First, as was said, he must have some entrance into the language before he goeth. Then he must have such a servant, or tutor, as knoweth the country, as was likewise said. Let him carry with him also, some card or book, describing the country where he travelleth; which will be a good key to his inquiry. Let him keep also a diary. Let him not stay long, in one city or town; more or less as the place deserveth, but not long; nay, when he stayeth in one city or town, let him change his lodging from one end and part of the town, to another; which is a great adamant of acquaintance. Let him sequester himself, from the company of his countrymen, and diet in such places, where there is good company of the nation where he travelleth. Let him, upon his removes from one place to another, procure recommendation to some person of quality, residing in the place whither he removeth; that he may use his favor, in those things he desireth to see or know. Thus he may abridge his travel, with much profit.

When a traveller returneth home, let him not leave the countries, where he hath travelled, altogether behind him; but maintain a correspondence by letters, with those of his acquaintance. which are of most worth. And let his travel appear rather in his discourse, than his apparel or gesture; and in his discourse, let him be rather advised in his answers, than forward to tell stories; and let it appear that he doth not change his country manners, for those of foreign parts; but only prick in some flowers, of that he hath learned abroad, into the customs of his own country.

　　论旅行

　　作者：培根 翻译：何新

　　对于年轻人，旅游是一种学习的方式；而对于成年人，旅游则构成一种经验。

　　当你想到某国去旅行时，首先应学习一点该国的语言。假如一个年轻人在旅行中，身边带上一个了解别国语言和风情的向导，那对他将是大有助益的。否则，他就可能像只蒙着头的鹰，到处乱撞，却很难说看到什么了。

　　在海上旅行时，尽管除了天就是海，航海家却总要写航行日志。而在陆地上，尽管有许多层出不穷的新奇事物，人们却常常忽略写日记。这是很奇怪的，难道一览无余的东西倒比应该认真观察的东西更值得记录吗？照理说来，在旅行中，日记是应该坚持写的。

　　在旅行一地时，要注意观察下列事物：政治与外交，法律与实施情况，宗教、教堂与寺庙，城堡、港口与交通，文物与古迹，文化设施如图书馆，学校、会议、演说（如果碰上的话），船舶与舰队，雄伟的建筑与优美的公园，军事设施与兵工厂，经济设施，体育，甚至骑术、剑术、体操，等等，以及剧院，艺术品和工艺品之类。总之，留心观察一切值得长久记忆的事物，并且访问一切能在这些方面给你以新知识的老师或人们。相对而言，有些典礼、闹剧①、宴会、红白喜事等热闹一时的场面，倒不必过于认真，当然也不应忽略不顾。如果一个年轻人想通过一次短促的旅行迅速得到一些知识的话，以上所谈的方法是可以借鉴的。为了达到这一目的，他必须通晓所去国的语言，还要找一个熟悉国情的向导，带上介绍该国情况的书籍、地图，坚持写日记。在每一地逗留时间的长短，要根据提供知识的价值来决定，但最好不要耽留过久。在一地住下时，如果可能，最好能经常换住所，以便更广泛地接触社会。

　　在旅行结束回到故乡后，不要立刻就把已去过的异国丢到脑后，而应当继续与那些新结交的友人们保持通信。还应当注意，归国后不要改头换面打扮出一身异国装束。在人们问及旅行情况时，最好只作为一个答问者而不要做一个夸耀者。不要使自己在别人眼中成为一个出了一次国就忘记祖先风俗的人，而应当做一个善于把别国的优良事物移栽到本国土壤上的改良者。

人人都可能当总统——布什在耶鲁大学的演讲

我很荣幸能在这个场合发表演讲。


我知道，耶鲁向来不邀请毕业典礼演讲人，但近几年来却有例外。虽然破了例，但条件却更加严格――演讲人必须同时具备两种身份：耶鲁校友、美国总统。我很骄傲在３３年前领取到第一个耶鲁大学的学位。此次，我又荣获耶鲁荣誉学位感到光荣。

今天是诸位学友毕业的日子，在这里我首先要恭喜家长们：恭喜你们的子女修完学业顺利毕业，这是你们辛勤栽培后享受收获的日子，也是你们钱包解放的大好日子！最重要的是，我要恭喜耶鲁毕业生们：对于那些表现杰出的同学，我要说，你真棒！对于那些丙等生，我要说，你们将来也可以当美国总统！

耶鲁学位价值不菲。我时常这么提醒切尼(现任美国副总统),他在早年也短暂就读于此.所以,我想提醒正就读于耶鲁的莘莘学子，如果你们从耶鲁顺利毕业，你们也许可以当上总统；如果你们中途辍学，那么你们只能当副总统了。

这是我毕业以来第二次回到这里。不过，一些人，一些事至今让我念念不忘。举例来说，我记得我的老同学狄克.布洛德翰，如今他是伟大学校的杰出校长，他读书时的聪明与刻苦至今让我记忆犹新。那时，我们经常泡在校图书馆那个有着大皮沙发的阅读室里。我们有个默契：他不大声朗读课文，我睡觉不打呼噜。

后来，随着学术探索的领域不同，我们选修的课程也各不相同，狄克主修英语，我主修历史。有趣的是，我选修过15世纪的日本俳句——每首诗只有17个音节，我想其意义只有禅学大师才能明了。我记得一位学科顾问对我选修如此专精的课程表示担忧，他说我应该选修英语。现在，我仍然时常听到这类建议。我在其他场合演讲时，在语言表达上曾被人误解过，我的批评者不明白：我不是说错了字，我是在复诵古代俳句的完美格式与声韵呢。

我很感激耶鲁大学给我们提供了这么好的读书环境。读书期间，我坚持“用功读书，努力玩乐”的思想，虽然不是很出色地完成了学业，但结交了许多让我终生受益的朋友。也许有的同学会认为，大学只是人生受教育的重要部分，殊不知，“大学生活”这四个字的内涵十分深厚，它既包含丰富的学科知识和学术氛围，也蕴涵着许多支撑人生成败的观念，还有那丰富多彩的生活以及读多值得结交的朋友┄┄

大家常说，“耶鲁人”，我从不确定那是什么意思。但是我想，这一定是含着无限肯定与景仰的褒义词。是的，因为耶鲁，因为有了在耶鲁深造的经历，你、我、他变成了一个个更加优秀的人！你们离开耶鲁后，我希望你们牢记“我的知识源自耶鲁”，并以你们自己的方式、自己的时间、自己的奋斗来体现对母校的热爱，听从时代的召唤，用信心与行动予以积极响应。

你们每个人都有独特的天赋，你们拥有的这些天赋就是你们参与　竞争、实现人生价值的资本，好好利用它们，与人分享它们，将它们转化为推进时代前进的动力吧！人生是要让我们去生活、而不是用来浪费的，只要肯争上游，人人都可当总统！

这次我不仅回到母校，也是回到我的出生地，我就是在几条街之外出生的。在那时，耶鲁与无知的我仿佛要隔了一个世界之遥，而现在，她是我过去的一部分。对我而言，耶鲁是我知识的源泉，力量的源泉，令我极度骄傲的源泉。我希望，将来你们以另外一种身份回到耶鲁时，能有与我一样的感受并说出相同的话。我希望你们不要等太久，我也坚信耶鲁邀请你回校演讲的日子也不会等太久。

Remarks by the President in Commencement Address Yale University New Haven, Connecticut

THE PRESIDENT: President Levin, thank you very much. Dean Brodhead, fellows of the Yale Corporation, fellow Yale parents, families, and graduates: It's a special privilege to receive this honorary degree. I was proud 33 years ago to receive my first Yale degree. I'm even prouder that in your eyes I've earned this one.

I congratulate my fellow honorees. I'm pleased to share this honor with such a distinguished group. I'm particularly pleased to be here with my friend, the former of Mexico. Senor Presidente, usted es un verdadero lider, y un gran amigo. (Applause.)

I congratulate all the parents who are here. It's a glorious day when your child graduates from college. It's a great day for you; it's a great day for your wallet. (Laughter.)

Most important, congratulations to the class of 2001. (Applause.) To those of you who received honors, awards, and distinctions, I say, well done. And to the C students -- (applause) -- I say, you, too, can be President of the United States. (Laughter and applause.) A Yale degree is worth a lot, as I often remind Dick Cheney -- (laughter) -- who studied here, but left a little early. So now we know -- if you graduate from Yale, you become President. If you drop out, you get to be Vice President. (Laughter.)

I appreciate so very much the chance to say a few words on this occasion. I know Yale has a tradition of having no commencement speaker. I also know that you've carved out a single exception. Most people think that to speak at Yale's commencement, you have to be President. But over the years, the specifications have become far more demanding. Now you have to be a Yale graduate, you have to be President, and you have had to have lost the Yale vote to Ralph Nader. (Applause.)

This is my first time back here in quite a while. I'm sure that each of you will make your own journey back at least a few times in your life. If you're like me, you won't remember everything you did here. (Laughter.) That can be a good thing. (Laughter.) But there will be some people, and some moments, you will never forget.

Take, for example, my old classmate, Dick Brodhead, the accomplished dean of this great university. (Applause.) I remember him as a young scholar, a bright lad -- (laughter) -- a hard worker. We both put a lot of time in at the Sterling Library, in the reading room, where they have those big leather couches. (Laughter.) We had a mutual understanding -- Dick wouldn't read aloud, and I wouldn't snore. (Laughter.)

Our course selections were different, as we followed our own path to academic discovery. Dick was an English major, and loved the classics. I loved history, and pursued a diversified course of study. I like to think of it as the academic road less traveled. (Laughter.)

For example, I took a class that studied Japanese Haiku. Haiku, for the uninitiated, is a 15th century form of poetry, each poem having 17 syllables. Haiku is fully understood only by the Zen masters. As I recall, one of my academic advisers was worried about my selection of such a specialized course. He said I should focus on English. (Laughter.) I still hear that quite often. (Laughter.) But my critics don't realize I don't make verbal gaffes. I'm speaking in the perfect forms and rhythms of ancient Haiku. (Applause.)

I did take English here, and I took a class called "The History and Practice of American Oratory," taught by Rollin G. Osterweis. (Applause.) And, President Levin, I want to give credit where credit is due. I want the entire world to know this -- everything I know about the spoken word, I learned right here at Yale. (Laughter.)

As a student, I tried to keep a low profile. It worked. Last year the New York Times interviewed John Morton Blum because the record showed I had taken one of his courses. Casting his mind's eye over the parade of young faces down through the years, Professor Blum said, and I quote, "I don't have the foggiest recollection of him." (Laughter.)

But I remember Professor Blum. And I still recall his dedication and high standards of learning. In my time there were many great professors at Yale. And there still are. They're the ones who keep Yale going after the commencements, after we have all gone our separate ways. I'm not sure I remembered to thank them the last time I was here, but now that I have a second chance, I thank the professors of Yale University. (Applause.)

That's how I've come to feel about the Yale experience -- grateful. I studied hard, I played hard, and I made a lot of lifelong friends. What stays with you from college is the part of your education you hardly ever notice at the time. It's the expectations and examples around you, the ideals you believe in, and the friends you make.

In my time, they spoke of the "Yale man." I was really never sure what that was. But I do think that I'm a better man because of Yale. All universities, at their best, teach that degrees and honors are far from the full measure of life. Nor is that measure taken in wealth or in titles. What matters most are the standards you live by, the consideration you show others, and the way you use the gifts you are given.

Now you leave Yale behind, carrying the written proof of your success here, at a college older than America. When I left here, I didn't have much in the way of a life plan. I knew some people who thought they did. But it turned out that we were all in for ups and downs, most of them unexpected. Life takes its own turns, makes its own demands, writes its own story. And along the way, we start to realize we are not the author.

We begin to understand that life is ours to live, but not to waste, and that the greatest rewards are found in the commitments we make with our whole hearts -- to the people we love and to the causes that earn our sacrifice. I hope that each of you will know these rewards. I hope you will find them in your own way and your own time.

For some, that might mean some time in public service. And if you hear that calling, I hope you answer. Each of you has unique gifts and you were given them for a reason. Use them and share them. Public service is one way -- an honorable way -- to mark your life with meaning.

Today I visit not only my alma mater, but the city of my birth. My life began just a few blocks from here, but I was raised in West Texas. From there, Yale always seemed a world away, maybe a part of my future. Now it's part of my past, and Yale for me is a source of great pride.

I hope that there will come a time for you to return to Yale to say that, and feel as I do today. And I hope you won't wait as long. Congratulations and God bless. (Applause.)

简历用哪种文件格式: Word, PDF, HTML 还是纯文本？

（节选自 《我在硅谷当猎头》 第三篇 致求职者）

在互联网普及的招聘时代，简历都存放在电脑文件中。常见的格式有Word、PDF、 HTML和纯文本，究竟用哪种格式？ 我的建议是纯文本 (TXT) 格式最好。

MS Word 是最常见的文字处理软件，所以很多人的简历采用Word 格式。Word 具有丰富的排版指令、表格处理和字体选择功能。一些女孩子还在简历里加入了彩色照片，企图给招聘人员留下深刻印象。还有人使用黑体、斜体字突出重点内容。

电脑使用水平较高的朋友还会使用PDF格式。PDF是Portable Document Format的缩写，中文译为可移植文件格式。 使用Adobe 公司的 Adobe Reader软件可以阅读后缀为.PDF格式的文档。PDF格式的优点在于文件格式与操作系统无关，也就是说，PDF文件不管是在微软的Windows，Unix还是在苹果电脑公司的Mac OS操作系统中都是通用的。PDF 格式的简历不容易被修改。

很多人有自己的个人主页，可以把简历放在互联网上，采用的文件格式是HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)，即超文本标记语言，这是一种网页格式。

为什么说纯文本格式最好？答案是因为招聘管理软件 ATS (Applicant Tracking System)。如今的大公司都使用ATS 软件管理应聘者的简历数据库。

您通过电子邮件递交的简历经过ATS的格式转换，一律变成了纯文本文件。 由于Word, PDF, HTML 版本各异差异，格式转换后的行间距、字间距、左右对齐等等都有很大的变化，有时甚至会出现乱码。这样您花了很多时间精心排版的Word 格式简历，最后在招聘人员电脑屏幕上显示的结果可能是一堆参差不齐、东倒西歪的文字。

所以，最安全、最干净的简历格式是纯文本格式。另外，由于电脑病毒十分猖獗，很多人不愿打开电子邮件附件。纯文本文件可以很方便地贴在电子邮件的正文中。

　　美国，从某种意义上说，是欧洲的延伸，因为美国人的语言、她的人口构成，以及她的立国精神都源于欧洲。

　　美国又与欧洲不同，因为欧洲移民在北美大陆上驱赶走印第安人后，在一片荒芜旷野之地创造了令人讚歎不已的灿烂文明。所以，在谈论美国习俗与社交礼义时，既要顾及欧美的相同性，又要注意两者的相异性。

　　习俗是个范围广泛、内容复杂的题目，涉及人在社会生活和交往中的方方面面。笔者拟定以杂谈的形式，就美国人的习俗作一粗浅概述。

　　宽容性

　　美国是个移民之国，它的祖先来自于全球各地。人们移居美国时，不仅仅在地理位置上挪动一下，而且还把他们所在国的评议和风俗习惯带到了新的居住地。因为杂，人们各自的差异十分突出；因为差异十分普遍，人们就不特别注重统一性。久而久之，美国人的习俗中形成了较高程度的宽容性（tolerance），对异质和不同评议持容忍、可接受的态度。在这一点上，美国社会里可行的习俗要比世界上其他国家来得宽泛。

　　从政治上讲，这种宽容性表现在对自由的追求和对自由权利的维护。从宗教上说，它体现在不同信仰的和谐共存。从生活范围上看，它显现在不同和族、不同族裔社区的平安相处。一言以蔽之，在美国，每个人基本上可以任意选择不同的观念、信仰、生活方式和传统习惯；人们也可以在相当程度上保持自己的习俗和仪。譬如，犹太人可以庆祝他们的宗教节日，而基督教徒则能够他们的耶诞节和复活节。再譬如，美国华人可以在唐人街用华语生活和工作；同样的道理，越南移民能够在他们的“小西贡”按越南的方式经营业务，从事各种活动。

　　美国人的容忍性，除了上面的美国是个移民国这个因素以外，还与美国人的频繁迁徙有关。众所周知，美国发展中的一个重要部分是她的西部开发史。那时，美国拓荒者或徒步跋涉，或骑马坐车，从东到西，从南到北，哪里有机遇，就往那里移居。频繁的迁移和不断地更换居处使人们始终处于“流动”状态，对暂面临的种种不同现象更易于宽容和接受。此外，经常迁移还能够帮助人们扩大眼界，知多识广，对不同的习俗持同情、理解的，并逐渐形成多样性胜于单一性的开放性观念。

　　由于美国人的宽容性较强，所以美国人很少把自己的意志强加在其他人身上，它与中国孔夫子“己所不欲，勿施于人”的古训十分酷似。譬如说，丈夫可能是个共和党人，但他决不能逼迫他那拥护民主党的妻子改变政治立场。同理，母亲也许是个天主教徒，但她决不能强迫她那已皈依成穆斯林教徒的儿子改变宗教信仰。在日常生活习惯和平时事务处理中，这种宽容精神更是屡见不鲜，司空见惯。

　　不拘礼节

　　美国人以不拘礼节著称于世。在写字楼里，人们常常发现“白领工人”不穿外套、不系领带地坐在自己的室里工作。有交谈时，他们会朝椅背一靠，把双足往桌子上搁，悠哉悠哉地在里“侃”上个半天。在大学校园里，美国教授身穿牛仔裤、足蹬耐克鞋进教育上课的例子数不胜数。更有甚者，美国教授讲到来劲之处，会一屁股往讲台上一坐，神采飞扬地滔滔不绝一番，不分年龄，不分性别。更常见的情形，是美国父子之间、母女之间的随和、轻松关系。无论是在里，还是在实际生活中，我们以常看见美国长辈与幼辈互拍肩膀、无拘无束的镜头。所有这一切都源于美国人不拘礼节（informality）的习性。

　　美国人不拘礼节的习性与他们的民主平等观念相关。我们知道，美国发展进程中，投有封建社会这一阶段。贵族、贱民、等级、王室等欧洲大陆盛行的一套东西，在美国没有或者有实际意义。人们对家庭、地位、身份不十分看重：更主要的是当事人本身的实际成就。这种产生于美国早期开发阶段的观念很大程度上已成了美国传统中的“沉淀物”。因为大家珍视平等的权利，人们互相交往中就没有必要过份讲究各种各样的繁缛礼节了。上级与下级之间，家长与子女之间，老板与工人之间，教授与学生之间，都是如此。

　　关于这一点，人们只要注意一下美国人与人见面时的打招方式即可一清二楚了。不管是下属见到上司，还是学生见到师长，美国人一般只需笑一笑，说声“嗨”（Hi）或者“哈罗”（Hello）即可，而不必加上各种头街。还有，美国人在社交场合散席或者业务散会时，较少与人一个个地道别，而是向大家挥手说一声“好啦，我们再见吧”（Well,so long everybody）。这样做并不表示人们相互间缺少敬意，而是人们长年累月的习惯使然。

　　不拘礼节是为了使人们在交往中更轻松、自在一些，从而更快地缩短人们之间的距离。这也许是美国人性格开朗的一个原因。(转载)

来源：天津视窗

Bill Clinton says Barack Obama must 'kiss my ass' for his support

Bill Clinton is so bitter about Barack Obama's victory over his wife Hillary that he has told friends the Democratic nominee will have to beg for his wholehearted support.

Bill Clinton is still very bitter that Barack Obama beat his wife Hillary

Mr Obama is expected to speak to Mr Clinton for the first time since he won the nomination in the next few days, but campaign insiders say that the former president's future campaign role is a "sticking point" in peace talks with Mrs Clinton's aides.

The Telegraph has learned that the former president's rage is still so great that even loyal allies are shocked by his patronising attitude to Mr Obama, and believe that he risks damaging his own reputation by his intransigence.

A senior Democrat who worked for Mr Clinton has revealed that he recently told friends Mr Obama could "kiss my ass" in return for his support.

A second source said that the former president has kept his distance because he still does not believe Mr Obama can win the election.

Mr Clinton last week issued a tepid statement, through a spokesman, in which he said he "is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States ".

Mr Obama was more effusive at his unity event with Mrs Clinton on Friday, speaking fondly of the absent former president, who attended Nelson Mandela's birthday celebrations in London instead. The candidate told the crowd: "I know how much we need both Bill and Hillary Clinton as a party. They have done so much great work. We need them badly."

But his aides said he has so far concentrated on cementing relations with Mrs Clinton first. They say they are content to let relations with Mr Clinton thaw gradually.

It has long been known that Mr Clinton is angry at the way his own reputation was tarnished during the primary battle when several of his comments were interpreted as racist.

But his lingering fury has shocked his friends. The Democrat told the Telegraph: "He's been angry for a while. But everyone thought he would get over it. He hasn't. I've spoken to a couple of people who he's been in contact with and he is mad as hell.

"He's saying he's not going to reach out, that Obama has to come to him. One person told me that Bill said Obama would have to quote kiss my ass close quote, if he wants his support.

"You can't talk like that about Obama - he's the nominee of your party, not some house boy you can order around.

"Hillary's just getting on with it and so should Bill."

Another Democrat said that despite polls showing Mr Obama with a healthy lead over Republican John McCain, Mr Clinton doesn't think he can win.

The party strategist, who was allied to one of the early rivals to Mr Obama and the former First Lady, said Mr Clinton was "very unhopeful" about the nominee's prospects in November.

"Bill Clinton knows the party will unite behind Obama, but he is telling people he doesn't believe Obama can win round voting groups, especially working-class whites, in the swing states," the strategist said.

"He just doesn't think Obama will be able to connect with the voters he needs."

Joe Klein, the author of Primary Colours, a fictionalised account of Mr Clinton's 1992 election, who has known the former president for 20 years, said he also heard that he was "very, very bitter", from people who have spoken with him.

"It's time for him to get over it or go off and do his charitable work. He knows the rules of the road. What's going on now is kind of strange. I think his behaviour is really, really shocking." (By Tim Shipman  and Philip Sherwell)

英《世界新闻报》独家发布哈里王子的战地图片日记

Prince Harry: It's the Taliban, lets get them!

Exclusive: Hero prince's unseen photo war diary

By Lewis Panther & Matthew Acton

HAPPY AS HARRY: Fun in sun

TOP GUN: In camos

HAPPY AS HARRY: Fun in sun

SMOKE BOMB: Prince has a fag while on the radio

CAP-TAIN'S TEAM TALK: Harry (in cap) chats to men

LOCKED and loaded, hero Harry races to the danger zone in pursuit of the enemy—deadly Taliban fighters who are hunting the young prince and his comrades.

But the intense desert warfare and sweltering heat doesn't distract the Household Cavalry 2nd Lieutenant.

He remains focused—his trained eye tracking the insurgents who are tailing his patrol on motorbikes.

Boldly

The third in line to the throne is fully aware he and his brave men are being targeted for an attack,so he orders: "It's the Taliban! Let's turn around and get them."

But as he boldly prepares to fight for Queen and country, the plug is pulled on his battle plans at the last moment. Orders come in from senior officers that his men must only lay down warning shots.

One of those soldiers, who kept a photo diary while serving with Harry, revealed the Prince's frustration: "Harry was p****d off. He was like a dog on a lead, having to be held back.

"Wanting to go after the Taliban like that was just typical of his attitude."

The incident took place in February during 23-year-old Harry's ten-week tour of duty in Afghanistan.

And now, we publish the unseen photos of him in action and reveal how he was:

• ANNOYED at being held back from the Taliban
• SHOCKED at seeing Afghan victims blown up by landmines,
• SHELLED as he and his men tried to treat injured locals, and
• helped DEFUSE deadly IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices).

The soldier who was at Harry's side in Musa Qala, added: "We could do with him back in Afghanistan—Harry would make a great officer.

"But he would be better off with a front-line regiment like the Marines."

And it was clear from the start that action-man Harry was eager to be in the thick things. The soldier explained: "Harry was frustrated he couldn't go on the offensive more and had to be stopped several times. On this occasion, we were returning to camp and being followed by motorbikes that were clearly Taliban.

"They were keeping tabs on us so they could launch an attack. That's what happens. They'd attack us at the end of the day or before first light, then vanish into the desert."

But Prince Harry had other plans for the enemy and set about trying to thwart their sneak tactics.

The soldier said: "Harry got a vehicle to hang back and take them on, if necessary. They were trying to find our lie-up point where we would camp in a wadi (desert ditch). If we had let them follow us, they could have got a suicide bomber to attack us.

"But then Harry was ordered only to fire a warning shot with the GPMG machine gun. "It's crazy but that's the type of thing we're up against daily with the rules of engagement which say when we can and can't fire.

"Harry was frustrated about this. Don't get me wrong—it wasn't like he was bloodthirsty. He was just being a professional soldier.

"He had no qualms about calling in air or picking up the 50 cal. But he was definitely stopped on more than one occasion. And I know it p****d him off big time."

But it was Harry's determination that made him a big hit with his fellow fighters.

"The fact he wanted to go after the Taliban was why he was liked by his men," said the soldier. "They had a lot of time for him. He mucked in with everything."

Our pictures show what life was like for soldier Harry. As well as relaxing with the lads, he can be seen smoking while on a satellite phone—in the heart of world's deadliest battleground.

We revealed earlier this month how he was almost KILLED by a Taliban rocket and you can now see dramatic footage of his patrol coming under fire here. The soldier remembers how Harry didn't panic and put others before himself.

"We had incoming from the 107mm while treating Afghans and had to leg it sharpish," he recalls. "But Harry was very cool and kept his head down. He was more worried about the poor Afghans than the shelling.

"Harry was in danger all the time —we were under constant attack, including heavy firefight that lasted all day and all night. He was in the thick of it doing a calm, professional job."

This same coolness was displayed by Harry when confronted with deadly IEDs scattered around the area, hidden away beneath the sand.

Record

The soldier said: "They are the most destructive things out there and Harry had day-to-day dealings with them. His unit found a record number of IEDs—somethings like 18.

"It was clear Harry wanted to learn. He'd pick up the battery pack of an IED to see how it was put together."

But Harry struggled to hide his hatred for landmines, something he's clearly inherited from his mother.

The soldier added: "You could see it in his face when he saw an Afghan landmine victim we were helping. He said landmines were ‘monstrous' things but he knows you've just got to get on with it and deal with them."

Harry was eventually withdrawn from his secret mission to Helmand when a media blackout was broken by foreign websites in February.

The soldier adds: "Harry was furious he had to go home. We could tell he wanted to stay as one of the lads.

"Nothings fazed him, which showed us what a good leader he was."

Computer - Male or Female

A Spanish teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.

"House" for instance, is feminine: "la casa."

"Pencil," however, is masculine: "el lapiz."

A student asked, "What gender is 'computer'?" Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.

The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computer"), because: 1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic; 2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else; 3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

(No chuckling... this gets better!)

The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ("el computer"), because: 1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on; 2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves; 3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and 4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

The women won.(ZT)

Corrupt Chinese officials 'revealing crimes to mistresses'

BY Tania Branigan

Tang Wei and Tony Leung star in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, about a young Chinese woman who lures a high-ranking Chinese official into a trap

Loose-tongued Chinese officials are inadvertently ending their careers by admitting corruption during pillow talk with their mistresses, according to investigators.

Private conversations between lovers revealing details of illicit dealings and exposing high-level fraud are being retold by women to the anti-corruption bureau in Dongguan, a major industrial city in the south.

"At least 80% of corrupt officials exposed in Dongguan had mistresses who gave us important information that we did not possess," the bureau's deputy director, Zhou Yuefeng, told the China Daily newspaper.

Beijing has repeatedly pledged to fight corruption, one of the major causes of public resentment and potential unrest. Earlier this week, it said the situation was "grim" and the task "arduous" as it announced a five-year plan to tackle the problem.

Proposals include more public hearings and professional consultation to improve transparency, as well as stricter internal investigation by the Communist party.

"Resolutely punishing and effectively preventing corruption relates to whether the people support you or not and to the party's life-and-death survival," said the document.

"The central government leaders of course put a lot of emphasis on this... They have anti-corruption as a high priority," said Ren Jiaming, the professor of public policy at Tsinghua University and a specialist on corruption issues.

"From our research we can see some anti-corruption as being effective - the tax problem has much been reduced, and also corruption at the customs, which is very serious but is being dealt with."

He said wider changes, such as political reform, were needed to tackle the underlying causes.

Others argue punishing bribe-givers as well as bribe-takers was necessary to curb the practice.

China's public servants regulation, which took effect a year ago, says officials must be dismissed if they are found to have mistresses.

Zhou said receiving bribes in the form of share dividends was also common among corrupt officials in Dongguan. He cited the case of the former head of a fire brigade who was jailed for five years after receiving a "share dividend" of 1.61m yuan (£120,000) from a fire prevention equipment company despite not being a shareholder. The fire chief had been rewarded for promoting the company's business.

In another case, 48 customs officers received monthly "salaries" from a local smuggling gang.

Zhou said: "A growing number of corrupt officials are trying to circumvent the law. We welcome tip-offs and we will protect and reward informers."

By its very nature, corruption is hard to measure, but it is believed to cost China billions of yuan per year. In April, Chen Liangyu, Shanghai's former party boss, was jailed for 18 years on corruption charges. He was the highest-ranking official to be punished for more than a decade.

Farewell, Mr. Gates

Bill Gates: Life in pictures

Where it all began: The 11 people who started the Microsoft Corporation in 1978. In case you haven't spotted him, that's Bill at bottom left(Photograph: AP )

MS-DUO: Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1983, just after signing the contract to write MS-DOS for IBM(Photograph: Doug Wilson/Corbis)

Cover man: Gates, seen here fronting the April 16 1984 edition of Time magazine, has appeared on its cover no fewer than eight times(Photograph: Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Cool Bill: Gates relaxes on his desk soon after the release of Windows 1.0 in 1985(Photograph: Deborah Feingold/Corbis)

Mug's game: This police mugshot of Gates - taken in December 1977 after he was allegedly caught speeding in New Mexico - surfaced online at The Smoking Gun in the late 90s(Photograph: Public domain)

Now you see it: Bill Gates introduces the company's Windows software in New York, in May 1990(Photograph: Marty Lederhandler/AP)

Start him up: Bill Gates sits on stage during a video portion of the Windows 95 Launch Event on the company's campus in Redmond, Washington, in August 1995.(Photograph: AP )

Pie-eyed: Not everyone loves Bill or his company's business practices, as evidenced by this pie-in-the-face attack at a meeting in Brussels in 1998(Photograph: AP)

Mr Grumpy: In June of 1999, a US judge found that Microsoft had violated antitrust laws. Gates was not impressed(Photograph: Mark Wilson/Reuters)

Bye-bye Bill: In January 2000 Gates announced that he would be stepping down as Microsoft chief executive, to be replaced by an obviously ecstatic Steve Ballmer(Photograph: Anthony Bolante/Reuters)

Saint Bill: The Gates Foundation has spent millions of dollars on children's health around the world, such as this polio vaccination programme in New Delhi(Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features)

The geek speaks: Gates is well known for his keynote addresses at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. In 2001, he unveiled Microsoft's foray into the videogame business, the Xbox(Photograph: John Gurzinski/AFP)

Bill and Bob: Never one to avoid the spotlight or miss a photo op, Gates joined Sir Bob Geldof on stage during the Live8 concert in Hyde Park, London, July 2005(Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian)

World stage: In one of his final official acts as Microsoft chairman, Gates attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2008(Photograph: Peter Dejong/AP)

 Guitar man: Bill Gates at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January.(Photograph: Andrew Gombert/EPA)

Farewell: Bill Gates walks off stage after his last-ever keynote address at the CES this year.(Photograph: Paul Sakuma /AP)

Bill Gates: a profile

A visual profile of Bill Gates and his time with Microsoft. 

Paul Allan (L) and Bill Gates are surrounded by personal computers, shortly after signing a major contract with IBM to write software for their upcoming line of PCs, October 19, 1981.  (REUTERS/Microsoft/Handout) 

A photo of the "Albuquerque Group", the original 11 members of Microsoft that worked at the company in Albuquerque, New Mexico before Microsoft relocated to Washington state. Pictured are, back row, from left: Steve Wood, Bob Wallace, Jim Lane; second row, from left: Bob O' Rear, Bob Greenberg, Marc McDonald, Gordon Letwin; front row, from left: Bill Gates, Andrea Lewis, Marla Wood, Paul Allen, Dec. 7, 1978.  

(REUTERS/Microsoft/Handout)

Bill Gates poses in a 1987 file photo.  

(REUTERS/Microsoft/Handout)

Bill Gates sits at his desk in this early 1990s file photo.  

(REUTERS/Microsoft/Handout) 

Nelson Mandela shares a joke with Microsoft chairman Bill Gates after their meeting at Mandela's residence, March 11, 1997.  

(REUTERS/Mike Hutchings)

Microsoft President Bill Gates meets Professor Stephen Hawking on a visit to Cambridge University, October 7, 1997.  

(REUTERS/Pool Old)

British Prime Minister Tony Blair (L) gestures as he chats with Microsoft's Bill Gates at No.10 Downing Street in London, October 7, 1997.  

(REUTERS/Ian Waldie)

Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft Corp., promotes Internet Explorer 4.0 in San Francisco with Bugs Bunny (L) and the Tazmanian Devil (C), September 30, 1997.  

(REUTERS/Clay Mclachlan)

Australian Prime Minister John Howard (R) gestures during a discussion with Microsoft Corp's chairman Bill Gates (L) as they arrive for a dinner and economic forum at a Melbourne hotel March 16, 1998.  

(REUTERS/Will Burgess)

Microsoft CEO Bill Gates watches a demonstration of the newly-released Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 at the software company's headquarters in Redmond, Wasington, March 18, 1999.  

(REUTERS/Anthony Bolante)

Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, (R) shakes hands with Bill Gates, chairman and CEO of Microsoft, at a global health discussion in Seattle, December 9, 1999.  

(REUTERS/Jeff Christensen)

Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Sodaka Ogata look at a computerized refugee registration field kit in Davos Switzerland, January 30, 2000.  

(REUTERS/Jeff Christensen)

Actress Jane Krakowski, star of the television comedy series " Ally McBeal", does a song and dance performance called "I Want My Bill Gates" as a series of enlarged photographs of Microsoft Corporation co-founder Bill Gates were flashed on screen during a taping of the American Comedy Awards in Los Angeles, July 2, 2000.  

(REUTERS/Fred Prouser)

Microsoft CEO Bill Gates listens to a reporter's question during a press conference held by the Business Software Alliance, June 16, 1999.  

(REUTERS/Mark Wilson)

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates (L) receives an honorary dectorate in humanities from Rikkyo University President Eigo Ohashi at the Rikkyo University in Tokyo, June 16, 2000.  

(REUTERS/Susumu Toshiyuki)

Bill Gates, Chairman and Chief Software Architect of Microsoft, talks to a reporter during Forum 2000 at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, June 22, 2000.  

(REUTERS/Jeff Christensen)

Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates (R) is joined by Intel Corp. Chairman Andy Grove as they look at an historic IBM 5150 PC (R), at a party to mark the 20th anniversary of the IBM PC at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California, August 8, 2001.  

(REUTERS/Lou Dematteis)

Microsoft founder Bill Gates (L) gets a high-five from Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos before the start of their celebrity pro-am tennis match at the Schick Xtreme III Tennis Challenge in Seattle, October 7, 2001.  

(REUTERS/Robert Sorbo)

Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates delivers his keynote address at the opening of Comdex at the MGM hotel in Las Vegas, November 11, 2001.  

(REUTERS/Mike Blake)

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates' shadow is cast against the MSN logo as he addresses a Microsoft conference in London, December 6 2001.  

(REUTERS/Kieran Doherty)

Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman and chief software architect, is seen in a video dressed as the character Harry Potter during Gates' keynote address to kick off the 2002 International Consumer Electronics Show at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino in Las Vegas, January 7, 2002.  

(REUTERS/Ethan Miller/las Vegas)

Bono (L), lead singer of the rock group U2, and Microsoft chairman Bill Gates sit together before a news conference at the World Economic Forum in New York, February 2, 2002.  

(REUTERS/Jeff Christensen/pool)

Reverend Jesse Jackson (R) and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates talk privately before The Digital Connections Conference in San Jose's Silicon Valley, April 25, 2002.  

(REUTERS/Susan Ragan)

Bill Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, receives a traditional Indian greeting from Jyoti Chaudhry, who works at the Naz care home for people with HIV/AIDS, as he arrives at the centre in New Dehli, November 11, 2002.  

(REUTERS/Jeff Christensen)

Bill Gates holds baby girl Cecil Massango during his visit to the Manhica Health Research Centre in Mozambique, September 21, 2003.  

(REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya)

Bill Gates and his wife Melinda cuddle two babies Samuel Baltazar (R) and Ires Mahnica during his visit to the Manhica Health Research Centre in Mozambique. September 21, 2003.  

(REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya)

Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates (L) and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer appear in a video during Gates' keynote address for the Comdex computer convention at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, November 16, 2003. The video was a spoof of the film "The Matrix."  

(REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/steve)

Bill Gates, (R) Chairman and Chief Software Architect at Microsoft, talks with "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno before a keynote address by Gates at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), in Las Vegas, January 7, 2004.  

(REUTERS/Jeff Christensen)

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) meets Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman, in Cairo, January 25, 2004.  

(REUTERS/Aladin Abdel Nagy)

Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates (R) talks to Warren Buffett, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., after his keynote address at Microsoft's CEO Summit in Redmond, Washington, May 20, 2004.  

(REUTERS/Jeff Christensen)

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates listens to questions during a news conference in Beijing, July 1, 2004.  

(REUTERS/Andrew Wong)

Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates (L) listens as actress and singer Queen Latifah talks to the audience during a demonstration of the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 at the Digital Entertainment Anywhere launch event held in Los Angeles, October 12, 2004.  

(REUTERS/Fred Prouser)

Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates smiles during a news conference in Madrid, November 19, 2004.  

(REUTERS/Andrea Comas)

Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft Corp. is interviewed by talk show host Conan O'Brien as part of his keynote address at the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas January 5, 2005.  

(REUTERS/Mike Blake)

Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates shakes hands with Japan's PM Koizumi before their meeting at Koizumi's official residence in Tokyo, June 29, 2005.  

(REUTERS/Pool)

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (L) shakes hands with Microsoft founder and Chairman Bill Gates prior to their meeting in Tel Aviv, October 26, 2005.  

(REUTERS/Gpo/handout)

Jordan's King Abdullah (L) welcomes Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates at King Hussein Convention Center in the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea, October 26, 2005.  

(REUTERS/Ali Jarekji)

Microsoft founder and Chairman Bill Gates speaks during a conference in Tel Aviv, October 26, 2005.  

(REUTERS/Ariel Schalit/pool)

Dan Friedman, 26, of Bellevue, Washington holds up the first Xbox 360 video game console as Microsoft chairman Bill Gates (R) applauds at a Best Buy store in Bellevue, November 22, 2005. Gates showed up at the store before midnight to play games and hand out the first Xbox 360 console sold.  

(REUTERS/Chris Goodenow)

Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates stands in front of the logo for the new Microsoft operating system Vista during his keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 4, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates plays "Fight Night Round Three" on an Xbox 360, with the game seen playing on a giant screen in the background, during his keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 4, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman and chief software architect shades his eyes during the 'Not Gone, but Almost Forgotten' session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 27, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Pascal Lauener)

A composite photo of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates (L) and comedian Ellen Degeneres is shown on a screen during the Yahoo keynote at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas January 6, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

Microsoft Chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates (2nd L) talks with Portugal's Science and Technology Minister Mariano Gago as he sits on a giant kitchen table at Conocimientos Pavilion in Lisbon February 1, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Microsoft/handout)

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) toasts with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates (L) at a dinner hosted by Washington Governor Chris Gregoire at the home of Gates in the Seattle suburb of Medina, Washington, April 18, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Pool)

The home of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates in the Seattle suburb of Medina, Washington, is seen on April 18, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Pool)

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates (C) watches as Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer during Hu's visit to Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, April 18, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Andy Clark)

Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates speaks at a news conference in Tokyo, April 21, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Toru Hanai)

Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates (L), president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter (C) and Microsoft corporate vice president and chief media revenue officer Joanne Bradford are pictured backstage at the seventh annual MSN Strategic Account Summit in Redmond, Washington, May 3, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Robert Sorbo/microsoft/handout)

Microsoft CEO Bill Gates plays bridge at the World Bridge Championships in Verona, northern Italy, June 12, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri)

Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Warren Buffett (R) listens while Bill and Melinda Gates look on during a news conference in New York, June 26, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton)

Microsoft founder Bill Gates addresses the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum in Cape Town, South Africa, July 11, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Mike Hutchings)

Microsoft founder Bill Gates gestures during the discussion "Skills for Employability" at the Audi Forum in Ingolstadt, November 6, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Michaela Rehle)

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates attends a meeting with European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso at the EC headquarters in Brussels, November 9, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Thierry Roge)

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates addresses the crowd at a launch party for the Zune media player in downtown Seattle, November 13, 2006.  

(REUTERS/Robert Sorbo)

Melinda French Gates and her husband Bill Gates, chairman and founder of Microsoft Corporation, address a news conference of the GAVI alliance - formerly known as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation - at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, January 26, 2007.  

(REUTERS/Sebastian Derungs)

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper (R) listens to Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates speak during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, February 20, 2007.  

(REUTERS/Chris Wattie)

U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (L) leads Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates (R) to his seat to testify about American competitiveness before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2007.  

(REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates testifies about American competitiveness before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2007.  

(REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates (R) and his wife Melinda arrive at the Government Office for the meeting with Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi, April 3, 2007.  

(REUTERS/Kham)

Chairman of Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates stands to accept an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the 356th Commencement Exercises at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 7, 2007.  

(REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates speaks at a keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada January 6, 2008.  

(REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

Slash (L), guitarist for the band Velvet Revolver, plays next to Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates onstage during Gates' keynote address for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada January 6, 2008.  

(REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates attend a forum organised by Microsoft Germany in Berlin, January 23, 2008.  

(REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch)

Bill Gates smiles after receiving a honorary doctorate in medicine at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, January 23, 2008.  

(REUTERS/Scanpix/anders Wiklund)

Irish rock singer Bono (R) gestures next to Microsoft founder Bill Gates as they pose behind a banner at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, January 25, 2008. The banner reads, "Call to Action on the Millenium Development Goals".  

(REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)

Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates, testifies on competitiveness in the global marketplace as it relates to technology to the House Science and Technology Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 12, 2008.  

(REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)

Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates speaks during a news conference in Tokyo May 7, 2008.  

(REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao)

Farewell, Mr. Gates...

Pens down, no cheating: you may now start your own 11-plus exam

Have a go at a past exam paper and see how you do at the 11-plus

General English

1. Black is the opposite of white; long is the opposite of short. Now write down the opposites of these words: (a) Wide (b) Bright (c) Unkind (d) Eatable (e) Visible (f) Evil (g) Quickly (h) Smooth (i) Cheap (j) Sour

2. Write these words in the correct order to make sentences: (a) had waited the until door I closed he (b) many with helped I his him homework have times (c) first year of always exciting I the the is day think (d) listened on programme the switched to wireless he and the (e) to asked a letter me she write

3. Give the feminine of each of the following: (a) brother (b) nephew (c) monk (d) wizard (e) gander (f) merman (g) waiter (h) hero (i) fox (j) cousin

4. Re-write the following sentences, using the plurals of the underlined words: (a) The angry goose snapped at my bare foot. (b) This young deer lived in yonder valley. (c) The police-constable chased the thief across the roof. (d) He will come for you but not for me.

5. Write down one word in place of each phrase in italics: (a) The boy made up his mind to sell his bicycle. (b) The girl tried again and again until she succeeded. (c) The vehicle was standing still. (d) The soldier was forced to give himself up to the enemy. (e) My brother always comes to school at the right time. (f) The soil is not yielding any produce. (g) The firm’s books were examined every year. (h) Some animals are not able to be seen at night.

Arithmetic

1. Write in figures: twelve thousand and twelve.

2. (a) 6 3/4 of 4 2/3 - 10 5/6 ÷ 1 1/12
(b) 1.06 × 2.04 ÷ 0.12 3.

3 A race started at 23 minutes past and finished at 23 minutes to 4. How long did it take?

4. A train due at 5.43 a.m. arrived at 6.27 a.m. How many minutes was it late?

5. The road from a town ‘A’ to another town ‘B’ is uphill for the first 2 miles, level for the next 3 miles, and downhill for the last 2 miles. If I can walk at the rate of 4 miles an hour on the level, 5 miles an hour downhill and 3 miles an hour uphill, how long shall I take to go from A to B?

6. A train due to arrive at 9.50 a.m. was 45 minutes late. At what time did it arrive?

7. There are 98 boys and 102 girls in a school. There is 1 teacher for every 40 children. How many teachers are there?

8. Three cases contain 789 tins of sardines. In one there are 267 tins and in another 63 more than in the first. How many tins does the third case contain?

9. Find the sum of all the numbers between 1 and 13 that are divisible exactly by 3.

10. A clock is 12 minutes slow, but is gaining 5 seconds per hour. A watch is 20 minutes fast, but is losing 7½ seconds per hour. How many minutes fast will the watch be when the clock shows the right time?

General intelligence

1. Copy down the word at the beginning of each line. Then choose one word from the line that has the opposite meaning to the word in capital letters.

NEAR: close, remote, distance, open.

LIKENESS: enemy, similar, enjoy, difference.

ENLARGE: decrease, wider, picture, big.

LOOSE: find, tight, escape, prisoner.

ARRANGE: fix, grate, disturb, target.

BEGIN: finish, start, conclusion, commence.

AFTER: following, morning, behind, before.

YOUNG: adult, father, aged, grow.

LATE: time, punctual, hour, sooner.

FOOT: hand, yard, summit, kick.

2. My best friend is tall and dark. I am nine and he is ten. He is one of these four boys below. Read the following sentences and write down my best friend’s name: Harry is younger than me. He is short and dark. Dick is ten. He is a tall boy with fair hair. Tom has dark hair. He is older than me and is a tall boy. Frank is a tall boy with dark hair. He is nine.

3. One number in each line does not fit in properly with the others. Find this number.

(a) 2, 5, 8, 11, 15, 17

(b) 29, 26, 21, 17, 13, 9

(c) 1, 9, 16, 23, 27, 31, 34

(d) 2, 6, 18, 52, 162

(e) 144, 120. 96, 75, 48, 24

(f) 21, 19, 16, 13, 10

(g) 1, 4, 16, 60

(h) 4, 9, 14, 18, 24, 29

4. Each of the sentences given here can be made into better sense by interchanging two words. Draw lines under those words. Example: Eggs lay hens. Now do the sentences below for yourself. Remember, underline just two words in each sentence.

(a) The path ran down the boy.

(b) Jane bird like a flew.

(c) The swam fish in the sea.

(d) The dog down the cat chased the street.

(e) The writing was teacher on the blackboard.

(f) Jimmie sleeping the stroked cat.

(g) Mother scrub Mary to told the floor.

(h) There were many streets on the people.

(i) Willie had ten or eleven birthday on his letters.

(j) They lay on the birds while the grass flew above them.

(k) The children were long after their hungry walk.

(l) John ran in the cake while James ate race in the refreshment room.

(m) Leaves were trees from the falling.

(n) The child while slept the wind blew.

(o) John wrote his book on his new name.

(p) My cousin is fortnight to stay with me in a coming.

(q) As their mother had a noise they were told not to make a headache.

(r) He read on his glasses and put a book.

(s) John was last of his class top year.

(t) As it was quietly heavily they had to play raining indoors.

(u) The frightened child man away from the angry ran.

(v) The squirrel top up to the climbed of the tree.

(w) Mabel singing round the garden ran at the top of her voice.

(x) Play school the children went to after.

(y) He gets eight when the clock strikes up.

(z) The sock was knitting a mother for her son.

5. (a) Write down words which describe a collection of: cows, fish, bees, sheep, crows. (b) What do the following letters stand for? U.S.A., B.B.C., H.M.S., P.T.O., U.N.O., H.R.H., M.P.

6. The leader of a Guide Patrol is named Mary Jenkins; so her Surname is Jenkins, her Christian name is Mary, and her initials are M.J. There are 6 other girls in her Patrol; each has 2 initials.

Surnames: Brown, Smith, Evans, Clark, Jones.

Christian names: Molly, Celia, Gwen, Ruth, Sally.

Two girls have Surname and Christian names beginning with the same letter; two others are named Ruth. One of the Twins has the same initials as the leader, and the other has the same Christian name as Evans.

Write down each girl’s full name

7. Look at this example: cow, pig, horse, grass. Three of the words are names of animals. The other word is the name of a plant. It has been underlined because it is different from the others. Now go through the following examples, underlining the word in each row that you think is different from the other three.

(a) pencil, chalk, ruler, pen

(b) velvet, muslin, calico, thread

(c) yellow, green, red, colour

(d) river, lake, sea, mountain

(e) writing, book, story, novel

(f) milk, drink, water, tea

(g) book, volume, magazine, print

(h) carpet, rug, mat, mattress

(i) skate, stand, slide, slip

(j) cold, warm, heat, freezing

(k) policeman, soldier, sailor, airman

(l) round, shape, square, oblong

(m) shout, think, speak, whisper

(n) oak, ash, elm, palm

(o) sweet, rich, chocolate, sugary

(p) pen, pencil, paper, crayon

(q) hammer, plank, chisel, hatchet

(r) hat, cap, bonnet, scarf

8. Cross out clearly what is not wanted in this silly sentence, so that is shall read properly. Do not cross out too much, and do not add anything: Until you are often told to let him go your end of the missing rope, hold it firmly in the left with hand.

9. Complete each of these sentences by underlining the right word in the bracket: (a) BACK is to FRONT as HEEL is to (SIDE, TOE, PLACE).

(b) INK is to PEN as (HAIR, HANDLE, PAINT) is to BRUSH

(c) MAN is to CROWD as DROP is to (FALL, FLOCK, WATER).

(d) NOTE is to MUSIC as (SENSE, LENGTH, WORD) is to SENTENCE.

(e) HOUSE is to MAN as (SHELTER, HOME, HOLE) is to FOX.

10. One word in each group of four means the same or nearly the same as the word in capitals. Write this word down. Example: SMALL: baby, size, little, mouse Answer: little

(a) CUT: knife, sever, canal, wound.

(b) TWIN: engine, triplet, brother, duplicate.

(c) OFTEN: sometimes, frequently, always, again.

(d) POWER: might, strong, cable, electricity.

(e) CLOTHES: washing, shut, frock, apparel.

Essays and compositions

1. Write a short account (about four or five lines) on any four of the following:

(a) Everest

(b) Westminster Abbey

(c) The Gothic

(d) Williams Shakespeare

(e) Queen Salote

(f) The Maoris

2. Imagine you are a scarecrow and tell a story about yourself

3. Some children are playing at the seaside in an old boat – the tide rises – the boat floats out to sea – a thick fog comes down… Tell this story as vividly as you can, adding the excitement and fear of the parents, and finish the story in any way you like.

4. Write a composition on one of the following subjects:

(a) Imagine yourself on a long journey in an aeroplane. Your engine fails and you have to land on a desert island. Describe the island and tell what happens to you there.

(b) Write an account of an unfortunate picnic.

(c) Describe a market day in a country town.

The Answers

General English

1a. narrow; b. dim/dull; c. kind; d. inedible/uneatable; e. invisible; f. good; g. slowly; h.rough; i. expensive; j. sweet

2a. I waited until he had closed the door; b. I have helped him with his homework many times; c. I think the first day of the year is always exciting; d. He switched on the wireless and listened to the programme; e. She asked me to write a letter

3a. sister; b. niece; c. nun; d. witch; e. goose; f. mermaid; g. waitress; h. heroine; i. vixen; j. cousin

4a. The angry geese snapped at my bare feet; b. These young deer lived in yonder valleys; c. The police-constables chased the thieves across the roofs; d. He will come for you but not for us

5a. decided; b. repeatedly; c. immobile/stationary; d. surrender; e. punctually; f. fertile; g. annually; h. invisible

Arithmetic

1. 12,012

2a. 21 ½; b. 18.02

3. 14 minutes

4. 44 minutes late

5. 1 hour 49 minutes

6. 10.35 a.m.

7. 5 teachers

8. 192 tins

9. 30

10. 2 minutes fast

General Intelligence

1a. remote; b. difference; c. descrease; d. tight; e. disturb; f. finish; g. before; h. aged; i. punctual; j. hand

2. Tom is the best friend

3a. 15; b. 26; c. 23; d. 52; e. 75; f. 21; g. 60; h. 18

4a. The *path* ran down the *boy*; b. Jane *bird* like *flew*; c. The *swam* *fish* in the sea; d. The dog *down* the cat *chased* the street; e. The *writing* was *teacher* on the blackboard; f. Jimmie *sleeping* the *stroked* cat; g. Mother *scrub* Mary to *told* the floor; h. There were many *streets* on the *people*; i. Willie had ten or eleven *birthday* on his *letters*; j. They lay on the *birds* while the *grass* flew above them; k. The children were *long* after their *hungry* walk; l. John ran in the *cake* while James ate *race* in the refreshment room; m. Leaves were *trees* from the *falling*; n. The child *while* *slept* the wind blew; o. John wrote his *book* on this new *name*; p. My cousin is *fortnight* to stay with me in a *coming*; q. As their mother had a *noise* they were told not to make a *headache*; r. He *read* on his glasses and *put* a book; s. John was *last* of his class *top* year; t. As it was *quietly* heavily they had to play *raining* indoors; u. The frightened child *man* away from the angry *ran*; v. The squirrel *top* up to the *climbed* of the tree; w. Mabel *singing* round the garden *ran* at the top of her voice; x. *Play* school the children went to *after*; y. He gets *eight* when the clock strikes *up*; z. The *sock* was knitting a *mother* for her son.

5a. herd, shoal, swarm, flock, murder; b. United States of America, British Broadcast Corporation, Her/His Majesty’s Ship, please turn over, United Nations Organization, Her/His Royal Highness, Member of Parliament

6. Celia Clark, Sally Smith, Molly Jones, Ruth Jones, Ruth Evans, Gwen Brown

7a. ruler; b. thread; c. colour; d. mountain; e. writing; f. drink; g. print; h. mattress; i. stand; j. heat; k. sailor; l. shape; m. think; n. palm; o. chocolate; p. paper; q. plank; r. scarf

8. Until you are [strikethrough]often[strikethrough] told to let [strikethrough]him[strikethrough] go your end of the [strikethrough]missing[strikethrough] rope, hold it firmly in the left [strikethrough]with[strikethrough] hand

9a. TOE; b. PAINT; c. WATER; d. WORD; e. HOLE

10a. sever; b. duplicate; c. frequently; d. might; e. apparel

Farewell, Mr. Gates

Bill Gates steps down as Microsoft head to concentrate on philanthropy

By Claudine Beaumont

Today marks the end of an era. Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world and one of the foremost figures in technology, is stepping down as head of Microsoft to concentrate on the philanthropic projects supported by his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Here, we look back at the life, times and legacy of Bill Gates.

Bill Gates, co-founder of software giant Microsoft, is stepping down from his role as chairman to concentrate on philanthropic efforts

With Microsoft software being used by over 90 pc of computer users, he leaves behind a remarkable legacy

Despite ceding control of his empire to a new team, Gates is certain to maintain more than a passing interest in the fortunes of the company he created over 30 years ago

Founded in 1975, Microsoft has gone from a small operation based in Albuquerque into the multinational behemoth it is today

The big break in Microsoft’s history came in 1980, when IBM approached the software company, paving the way for the creating of MS-DOS

To a generation of technologists, Bill Gates is an inspiration, proof positive that a good idea combined with good business acumen can pave the way for success

However, his company’s dominance of the desktop computer space has prompted some detractors

Gates always felt burdened by the title of “world’s richest man”, and charity work has given him an outlet for this incredible wealth

In 1994, he and wife Melinda French established a charitable foundation that drew on the philanthropic ideals of the Rockefeller family

If you had to put together a photofit picture of a stereotypical geek, then the image produced would surely look like a young Bill Gates – or William Gates III, to give him his full name.

The son of professional parents, and a middle child with two sisters, the wiry, bespectacled Gates was a bright pupil. It was at school in Seattle, Washington, that he met Paul Allen, with whom he would later establish Microsoft, and developed his interest in coding and programming.

After graduating from high school, Gates enrolled at Harvard, where he met Steve Ballmer. But within two years of starting university, Gates had abandoned his studies to focus on building a personal computer using a new and highly affordable Intel chip.

In 1975, Microsoft was born, and Gates found himself both overseeing the business, as well as personally reviewing and approving every line of code the company shipped.

Gates married Melinda French in 1994. Together, they established a charitable foundation that drew on the philanthropic ideals of the Rockefeller family.

The Gates' chose to focus on the global issues that go largely ignored or unnoticed by government and the existing charity network, and have worked tirelessly to establish scholarships that encourage ethnic minorities to pursue further education, as well as investment in AIDS projects and efforts to find a cure for malaria and other diseases prevalent in developing nations.

Gates always felt burdened by the title of “world’s richest man”, and charity work has given him an outlet for this incredible wealth.

“I think it’s better for society and better for my children if the vast bulk of the wealth that I’m lucky enough to be shepherding at this point, if that goes back to causes that are important, things like access to technology, education, medical research, social services and a variety of things,” he said in a recent interview.

A prodigious reader and keen bridge player, Gates – with his cable-knit sweaters, unstyled hair, and air of bewilderment at the high regard in which he is held – cuts an unlikely hero figure.

But to a generation of technologists, he is an inspiration, proof positive that a good idea combined with good business acumen can pave the way for success.

Warm, self-effacing and quietly spoken, Gates has weathered many storms while at the helm of Microsoft.

His company’s dominance of the desktop computer space lead to accusations that Microsoft was effectively operating as a monopoly, and the launch of the latest Windows operating system, Vista, was less than well received by both commentators and the public.

He leaves the company as it reaches one of the most crucial periods in its 30-year history, locked in a battle with Google for control of the desktop and the internet, and courting Yahoo! in an effort to shore-up this side of its business.

Despite ceding control of his empire to a new three-man management team, Gates is certain to maintain more than a passing interest in its fortunes. He’ll remain chairman of the technology giant, and retain a nominal, part-time, one-day-a-week role with the company he helped build from scratch.

Once a geek, always a geek, after all.

America at Home: Small Houses and Quirky Homes

Grand Marais, Minnesota: Julie Keane lives in a tiny shack on the property of her ex-husband near the Canadian border. It’s her workshop (for basket weaving) and residence while she constructs an octagon-shaped log cabin nearby. With her ex’s help, Keane hopes to finish in time for her and their two daughters, Meadow and Cedar Adams, 13 and 11, to move in for Christmas. (Judy Griesedieck/AMERICA AT HOME)

Olympia, Washington: Dee Williams wanted a simpler, greener life -- so she built her dream house, an 84-square-foot cottage on wheels, which is currently parked in a friend's backyard. Not only did she save money using salvaged materials (the front door came from a dumpster, for instance), but the entire house is small enough to fit into a standard parking spot. Says Williams, 'Right now, there's nowhere else I want to be.' (Betty Udesen)

Williams’ trailer cottage is surprisingly roomy inside, largely thanks to its clever use of height. For example, Williams’ bed is in a loft above her kitchen. Williams is proud to have fulfilled her goal of minimizing her ecological footprint. Her monthly heating bill is $6 and, thanks to solar panels, her electricity is free. Her approach goes against the national trend: Americans consume 40 percent of the world’s oil and 23 percent of its coal. (Betty Udesen/AMERICA AT HOME)

Hailey, Idaho: Chilean herder Pedro Abarzua’s wife and two children still live in Chile, but for nine often lonely months of the year, Abarzua lives in a tiny hut on wheels in the mountains of Idaho, tending sheep for Faulkner Ranches. His only other human contact comes from fellow herder Aliro Osorio and occasional visits from the ranch foreman. (Stormi Greener/AMERICA AT HOME)

Hailey, Idaho: Abarzua washes his face in a pail of water carried up from a nearby stream. His standing-room-only wagon home contains only the basics: a flashlight, a gas stove for cooking, a kerosene lantern, and a small cupboard for food and dishes. (Stormi Greener/AMERICA AT HOME)

Hailey, Idaho: Abarzua takes a short rest with a book before relieving the second herder, Aliro Osorio, who is watching the flock of 1,500 sheep bedded in a grassy meadow at the base of the mountains. Abarzua and Osorio will take turns all night long with the dogs, tending the sheep and protecting them from wolves, which poach more than a third of the herd each year. (Stormi Greener/AMERICA AT HOME)

Rio Grande City, Texas: As his family enjoys the evening air, Modesto Sanchez, 13, does his homework on the “porch” of his home in the Las Lomas colonia of Rio Grande City: The Sanchezes and their six children live in a makeshift house and trailer, borrowing water from their neighbor -- a typical arrangement in this impoverished neighborhood. Colonias are suburbs that pop up in unincorporated areas around cities and towns and are defined by an absence of paved streets, numbered street addresses, sidewalks, storm drainage, sewers, electricity, potable water, or telephone services. (Michael Stravato/AMERICA AT HOME)

McMurray, Pennsylvania: Elise and Aidan Dowdall spend every summer moment in their backyard playhouse. The $10,000, 90-square-foot miniature manor has sponge-painted walls, simulated hardwood floors, electricity, and a sleeping loft. But when it gets dark, the siblings still prefer their own beds at home. (Annie)

Winona, Minnesota: Artist Chris Parnell has lived for 23 years in a series of floating houses in the middle of the Mississippi River. Parnell owns three houseboats -- one for living, one for storage, and one for the studio in which he paints and weaves. He keeps a few chickens and grows food in pots on the docks that connect the houses. But while he may have no electricity or running water, he does own a cell phone. (Judy Griesedieck/AMERICA AT HOME)

Olympia, Washington: Novelist Caleb Rogers rents a Baba 30 cutter moored in Olympia's West Bay Marina and finds the solitude perfect for his disciplined work schedule: 'I write from 8:30 in the morning until 10 at night, with a break for tea and errands,' he says. (Betty Udesen/AMERICA AT HOME)

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Ten years ago, waiter Randy Gilson bought a century-old house on his credit card for $11,300. He then bought five gallons of paint for $10 -- and hasn’t stopped painting since. He now owns two adjoining houses in the Mexican War Streets neighborhood. He calls the wildly decorated homes 'Randyland' and says his neighbors regard his artwor