20090914 -- Happy Birthday, Barbie(1)

Happy Birthday, Barbie!

The world's most famous doll turns 50 this year

This year Barbie lovers everywhere celebrate the doll's 50th birthday. Happenings in Paris, Shanghai, Sydney, Mexico City, Tokyo and other international locations will mark the event.

Barbie's beginnings
The fashion doll debuted at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. Her creator, Ruth Handler, designed her to be the very first teenage fashion model doll. At that time, Barbie cost just $3, and 300,000 sold the first year.

Changing with the tims
Russia sent the first woman into space in 1963. Not long afterward, Astronaut Barbie landed on toy store shelves. Toy maker Mattle hoped to show little girls they could have any career they desired. Over the past 50 years, Barbie has had over 100 careers. She had been a dentist, a basketball player and a pilot, to name a few.

Creating controversy
Barbie still ranks as the worlds' most popular doll, with three sold every second. But for all her popularity, Barbie concerns some parents and women's groups. They fear her unrealistic figure causes little girls to have poor self-images.

A new look
Earlier this year, Mattel revealed its newest Barbie in Malibu, CA. The doll's new face has more natural look. Everyone agree she still looks great especially for 50!




location n. 位置
=> a specific or particular place
eg: Coffee shops can be found in many different locations around the city.

fashion n. 時尚
=> popular
eg: The fashion magazine has pictures of the lastest styles for fall and winter.

rank v. 位於某種等級
eg: Tiger Woods ranks as one of the best golfers of all time.
eg: He ranked first among the interns and got hired by the firm.

rank n. 排名
=> have a certain position in the list of people or things that have been put in order of quality/importance
eg: She received the first rank for international female tennis player.

concern v. 使擔心/使憂愁
eg: It concerns me that you haven't started your paper yet and it's due tomorrow.
eg: The boy's latest odd behevior concerns his parents.

convern n. 與某人或某是有關
eg: Global warming concerns us all.


unrealistic adj. 不真實的
=> not reasonable
eg: Tonya's unrealistic plans for the project might have to be changed.

debut v. 初次登台表演
eg: This now world-renowned singer debuted at a jazz club when she was only 18.

debut n. 初次登台表演
=> appear in public for the very first time
eg: This yong star made his debut in a Disney movie.


fashion model 時尚模特兒



//== Chat room ==//

jack-of-all-trades
=> 能做多種不同工作的人/了解很多事情且能融會貫通的人
trade 這裡指的是各種不同種類的工作/行業

handyman 擅長多種手藝的人

multitasking 同時做多件事情/一心多用

//== Grammer on the go ==//

She had been a dentist, a basketball player and a pilot, to name a few.

to name a few 等等

eg: You need all kinds of things to make this soup: mushrooms, onions, chicken, and spices, to name a few.
eg: The scientist has been invited to speak at many famous universities around the world: Oxford, Yale, and Stanford, to name a few.

//== Did you know ==//

Barbie's creator originally named the doll Barbie Millicent Rogers. At one time, more than half of the world's Barbie dolls were made in Taiwan. Since her debut, more than 1 billion Barbie dolls have been sold in over 150 countries. Barbie has had more 40 pets including cats, dogs, horses, a panda, a lion cub and a zebra.