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(from: China Daily)

The little blue cartoon Smurfs are planning to celebrate their 50th birthday this year with a new TV series, books and a film, their human promoters said Monday.

卡通人物“蓝精灵”今年50岁啦！据主办方本周一介绍，为了给这群蓝色的小精灵“祝寿”，以“蓝精灵”为主题的系列新版动画片、图书和电影将与观众见面。

Throughout 2008, 20 European cities will be flooded by the minute characters only "three apples high" as in the cartoons.

据介绍，庆祝活动将持续今年一年，欧洲20个城市将遭到“蓝精灵”的“突袭”，这些小精灵和漫画中一样，只有“三个苹果”高。

The Belgium cartoonist Pierre Culliford, best known by his pen name, "Peyo," first introduced the tiny blue figures in a comic strip in October 1958. He called them Schtroumpf and they became known worldwide as the Smurfs.

1958年10月，比利时漫画家皮埃尔•库利福德（笔名：皮尤）创造的“蓝精灵”卡通形象首次出现在连环漫画中，他给这群小精灵起名为“Schtroumpf”，也就是后来享誉全球的Smurfs（“蓝精灵”）。

"The invasion will begin on January 20 and end in October," said Hendrick Coysman, head of the Belgian-based IMPS group which holds the rights to the cartoon characters and is controlled by Peyo's widow Nine and children Veronique and Thierry Culliford.

The sale of tens of thousands of small figurines will benefit the United Nations Children's Fund, Coysman said.

考伊斯曼说，数万只“蓝精灵”的销售收入将捐给联合国儿童基金会。

A much larger Smurf statue, decorated by an unnamed celebrity, will be auctioned off on October 23, the 50th birthday date, with the proceeds also going to the UN's children's fund.

由一位神秘人物精心装扮的一个“蓝精灵”巨人将于10月23日——“蓝精灵”50岁生日当天公开拍卖，拍卖所得将捐给联合国儿童基金会。

The Smurfs are also to head back to the big screen with a co-production with the US Paramount film group, Coysman said.

据考伊斯曼介绍，“蓝精灵”还将被“派拉蒙”影视公司搬上大荧幕。

In an apparent nod to gender parity, new female characters will also be introduced to the Smurf village to help out Schtroumpfette, the only female.

为了体现性别平等，“蓝精灵”村还将迎来一批女性新成员，家族中唯一的女性成员“蓝妹妹”再不会孤单了。

The cartoonist Peyo died in 1992 at age 64. Since then, his family and collaborators have continued his work "in the same spirit of humour and creativity," IMPS said in a statement.

“蓝精灵”的创造者皮尤于1992年去世，享年64岁。IMPS集团在一份声明中说，皮尤去世后，他的家人和合作方秉承了他“幽默与勇于创造”的精神，继续他的事业。

Since their humble origins in the Belgian children's comic-strip magazine Spirou, the Smurfs have sold 25 million cartoon albums worldwide in 25 languages.

当年“蓝精灵”首次登上比利时《斯皮鲁》儿童漫画杂志时还是群不起眼的“小家伙”，但自它们面世以来，《蓝精灵》动画片在全球的销量达到2500万张，并以25种语言发行。

A testament of their enduring popularity: One million Smurf DVDs were sold last year alone, Coysman said.

考伊斯曼说，《蓝精灵》DVD仅去年一年的销量就达到了100万，这足以证明“蓝精灵”的长久生命力。

His death was a great shock to some person! It is no wonder if you follow international megastar closely

Ledger was nominated for an Oscar for his performance as a gay cowboy in "Broke back Mountain,"

I heard it on the news last night.

“Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at a downtown Manhattan apartment, naked in bed with sleeping pills nearby. The Australian-born actor was 28. The reason was not clear yet.

……”

"Broke back Mountain"- Millions of fans follow the movie devotedly. So do I ……

For a long time I had wanted to write something in English.

But I always find excuses for my laziness.

Occasionally I also would like to find the time to read the “China Daily” so that I can improve my English.

Isn’t it laughable? In fact, it is not as easy as I think.

Certainly, I knew if I kept at it I should succeed (Even school children know this.)

Yes! Why not?

From now on, I will do what I say!

Ha-ha! Slogan! Just for myself!