2009/10/31

Nanotube process that could shrink, speed chips 可縮小、加速晶片的奈米管製程

◎陳成良

Researchers at MIT have found a way to grow the carbon nanotubes that manufacturers need to build smaller, faster computer chips.

麻省理工學院( MIT)的研究人員已找出一個生成奈米碳管的方法,廠商需要用它製造更小、更快的電腦晶片。

As chipmakers like Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices inc. work endlessly to find ways to build smaller and smaller chips, they often run into a multitude of problems.

在英特爾及超微等晶片製造商不斷努力尋找方法以製造越來越小的晶片之際,它們經常遇到許多問題。

A key issue that must be resolved: dealing with the tiny copper wires that connect transistors in a processor. As the chips shrink in size, so do the wires, making it increasingly difficult for them to maintain the level of current needed to meet performance requirements.

必須解決的一個關鍵問題是:處理在處理器中連接電晶體的細小銅線。隨著晶片體積縮小,銅線也要跟著縮小,使得它們越來越難以維持符合效能需求的電流水準。

The MIT scientists used a combination of techniques to create a new process for using nanotubes. The techniques included vaporizing the metals tantalum and iron, which settle in layers on a silicon wafer. Then they placed the coated wafer at one end of a quartz tube, which was inserted into a furnace.

麻省理工學院的科學家結合多項科技,打造出一個使用奈米管的新製程,這些科技包括了將矽晶圓片膜層上的鉭與鐵金屬加以蒸發,然後把鍍膜的晶圓放置在石英管一端,石英管則放入火爐中。

The researchers also pump ethylene gas into the tube. The gas decomposes at high temperatures and the iron on the wafer catalyzed the formation of carbon nanotubes.

研究人員還將乙烯氣灌入管內。這種氣體在高溫中裂解,而晶圓上的鐵則催化了奈米碳管的形成。

新聞辭典

run into:片語,(使)陷入(困境、債務等)。例句: Never run into debt. (千萬不要陷入負債中。)

multitude:名詞,許多。例句:There are a multitude of reasons against it.(有許多反對理由。)

decompose:動詞,腐爛,(使)分解。例句:The meat begin to decompose after some time in the sun.(肉在太陽下放了一些時候開始腐敗。)

2009/10/30

Study shows U.S. bank CEO pay dwarfs rest of world 研究顯示美銀行執行長的薪資睥睨全球

◎張沛元

You wouldn’t know it by his pay stubs, but Jiang Jianqing heads the world’s largest bank.

倘若光看他的薪資明細表,你不會知道全球最大銀行是由姜建清所領導。

Jiang, chairman of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, made just $234,700 in 2008. That’s less than 2 percent of the $19.6 million awarded to Jamie Dimon, chief executive of the world’s fourth-largest bank, JP Morgan Chase & Co.

中國工商銀行董事長姜建清2008年的薪資只有23萬4700美元, 還不到全球第4大銀行摩根大通執行長傑米.迪蒙的1960萬美元的2%。

The contrast illustrates the massive differences in pay among the CEOs of the world’s top banks. The compensation of the CEOs of the largest U.S. banks towers above what’s paid to banking chiefs in other parts of the world, according to a Reuters analysis of pay at the 18 biggest banks by market value.

此一懸殊差距說明了全球頂尖銀行執行長在薪資上的龐大差異。據路透對18家最大市值銀行進行的分析,美國最大銀行的執行長的薪資報酬,領先全球其他地區的金融業主管。

The United States is home to four of the nine largest banks in the world - JP Morgan, Bank of America Corp, Wells Fargo & Co and Citigroup Inc. It is also home to four of the six most handsomely rewarded bank CEOs.

全球9大銀行中,有4家位於美國──摩根大通、美國銀行集團、富國銀行集團以及花旗集團。在以薪酬獎勵執行長最大方的6家銀行當中,有4家位在美國。

China boasts three of the world’s four biggest banks, yet the leaders of those banks -- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank Corp and Bank of China -- are among the lowest paid of those surveyed by Reuters.

全球4大銀行中,中國號稱有3家,但這些銀行──中國工商銀行、中國建設銀行與中國銀行──的領導人,其薪資在路透的調查中卻敬陪末座。

新聞辭典

dwarf:動詞,使矮小,睥睨,生長受阻。例句:The oaks were dwarfed from lack of moisture.(那些橡樹因缺乏水分以致生長受阻。)

head:動詞,以…為首,負責領導。例句:The minister headed the committee.(那位部長負責主持會議。)

tower over ( someone or something ):片語,站得比某人或某事高;高聳,屹立。

2009/10/29

Weather ’shapes human body clock’ 天氣形塑人類的生理時鐘

◎鄭寺音

Our internal body clocks are shaped by the weather as well as by the seasons, scientists have discovered. Researchers used computers to model the workings of internal biological clocks. They found the mechanism had to be so complicated because it was able to deal with varying amounts of light from hour to hour, as well as changing seasons.

科學家發現,我們的生理時鐘是受到天氣還有季節影響,研究人員使用電腦,製作生理時鐘運作的模型。他們發現,這種機制之所以必須這麼複雜,是因為它可以處理每個小時以及季節變換時不同的光線量。

It is hoped the research, led by a team from Edinburgh University, could help tackle sleep problems caused by jet lag and shift working. The researchers said the findings gave them a greater understanding of what drives the internal rhythms of people, animals and plants.

這份由愛丁堡大學團隊領導的研究,期望能有助處理時差與輪班工作造成的睡眠問題。研究人員說,這項發現讓他們更了解驅動人類、動物與植物內部節奏的原因。

Environmental signals, such as hours of daylight, affect the daily rhythms which many plants use to control flowering and ripening. The findings may also help scientists develop crops that can cope with climate change.

環境訊號,例如日照時間,影響許多植物用以控制開花與成熟的日常節奏。這項發現或許也有助科學家研發可因應氣候變遷的作物。

Dr Carl Troein, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences, said: "By better understanding why biological clocks are so complex, we stand a better chance of controlling them."

愛丁堡大學生物學院特羅茵博士說:「藉著更加了解生理時鐘為什麼這麼複雜,我們能有更好的機會控制生理時鐘。」

"Our study goes some way to explaining how and why these in-built rhythms have developed. We hope it will be useful in informing treatments for sleep disorders as well as helping scientists develop crops that can survive in the long term."

「我們的研究或多或少解釋這些內建的節奏,如何、為何發展,希望有助提供睡眠失調療法的資訊,並可協助科學家研發可長期生存的作物。」

新聞辭典

jet lag:名詞,時差。

shift:名詞,輪班。如night shift(夜班)。例句:People who work on the night shift are paid more.(上夜班的人薪水較高。)

ripen:動詞,成熟。例句:My plans are ripening-now all I need is official approval.(我的計畫漸漸成熟,現在我只需要官方認可。)

2009/10/28

"Mermaid girl" Shiloh Pepin dies at age 10 「美人魚女孩」希蘿.佩平辭世,得年10歲

◎魏國金

Shiloh Pepin, the little girl born with fused legs, has died at the age of 10.

出生時兩腿融合為一的小女孩希蘿.佩平已與世長辭,得年10歲。

Doctors thought Shiloh would only live for days after her birth, but her mother called her a "tough little thing."

希蘿出生後,醫師認為她僅能活幾天,但她的母親稱她是「堅強的小傢伙」。

Shiloh was born with "mermaid syndrome," also known as sirenomelia, and she only had one partially working kidney, no lower colon or genital organs and her legs were fused from the waist down.

希蘿出生時患有「美人魚症候群」,也就是併肢畸形症,而她只有一枚功能不完全的腎、沒有結腸或生殖器官,她的腿從腰際以下合併一起。

Some children with sirenomelia are able to have surgery to separate their legs, but Shiloh was unable to due to the blood vessels crossing from side to side in her circulatory system that would have been severed. She had received two kidney transplants, the last one was in 2007.

一些併肢畸形症兒童能夠以手術分開雙腿,但希蘿因循環系統的血管從左到右交雜,恐遭切斷之虞而無法手術。她曾接受兩枚腎臟移植,最後一次是在2007年。

Her story was recently shown on "The Oprah Winfrey Show". Her mother said she came down with a cold earlier this month that quickly turned to pneumonia. Shiloh Pepin died at Maine Medical Center.

她的故事最近在「歐普拉秀」播出。她的母親說,本月初她感冒,迅速轉為肺炎。希蘿.佩平病逝於緬因醫學中心。

新聞辭典

fuse︰動詞,融合,熔接。例句︰In her richest work she fuses comedy and tragedy.(在她最精彩的作品中,她融喜、悲劇為一體。)fuse 作名詞為引信,保險絲。have a short fuse指動輒發怒。

from side to side︰從左到右。例句︰The ship was rolling from side to side in the stormy sea.(船在暴風雨的海面上顛簸搖晃。)

come down with︰片語,染上(病)。例句︰Several students came down with the H1N1 flu.(一些學生感染H1N1流感。)

2009/10/27

South Wales cat killer strikes again 南威爾斯殺貓犯再次犯案

◎羅彥傑

A serial cat killer in South Wales appears to have struck again just a few miles from where eight pets mysteriously died in the summer.

南威爾斯一名連續殺貓犯,似乎再次犯案,且地點距離今夏8隻貓神秘死亡處僅數英里遠。

This time four cats are suspected to have been killed after drinking poisonous anti-freeze left out for them in Caldy Close, Barry, according to The Sun.

這次有4隻貓疑似在巴里市加爾地街喝了留給牠們的有毒防凍劑後遇害,根據太陽報報導。

It follows the first eight cats dying of the same cause in Underwood Place, Bridgend, some 10 miles away, in July and August.

在此之前,今年7月與8月,8隻貓在約10英里遠的布立真德市林下廣場,死於同一個原因。

The latest cats, in neighbouring households, died between September 29 and October 6.

最近遇害的這批貓是在鄰近的住宅區,死亡時間介於9月29日至10月6日間。

Stephen Griffiths, 25, and his girlfriend Sarah Jones, 32, lost their pets Sugar and Pudding. Mr Griffiths told The Sun: "It is horrible to think how they died.

25歲的史蒂芬.葛里菲斯與32歲女友莎拉.瓊斯,痛失他們的寵物「蜜糖」與「布丁」。葛里菲斯告訴太陽報:「想到牠們是如何死的就痛徹心扉。」

"Even now I go out into the garden and expect them to come over the fence. But then nothing."

「即便現在我到花園,都還期待牠們越過圍籬。但後來什麼也沒有。」

A vet said all four animals died of kidney failure, brought on by ingesting anti-freeze.

一名獸醫表示,所有4隻動物都是死於腎衰竭,是因為攝取防凍劑造成的。

新聞辭典

die of:片語,死於~。例句:His father died of a heart attack over the summer.(他的父親在這個夏天死於心臟病發。)

come over:片語,過來;改變立場;佔據。例句:He asked Tom to come over for a drink.(他邀請湯姆過來喝一杯。)

bring on:片語,使發生、使出現。例句:His illness was brought on by poor feeding.(他的病是飲食不佳造成的。)

2009/10/26

French ministers fight fat for Sarkozy 法國部長為了薩科茲向肥胖宣戰

◎管淑平

Out with the red wine and foie gras:half the French cabinet are fighting the fat to please their clean-living boss President Nicolas Sarkozy and his supermodel wife.

和紅酒、鵝肝醬說拜拜了:法國內閣半數首長正努力對抗肥胖,以迎合他們注重養生的老闆、總統薩科茲和他的超級名模妻子。

Sarkozy is said to have lost seven kilos in the two years since taking office. Coached by the sylph-like first lady Carla Bruni, the slimline president appears to have kicked off a health craze in the cabinet.

據說薩科茲自從上任以來的這兩年,已經瘦了7公斤。在身材窈窕的第一夫人布妮調教下,這位精瘦的總統看來已帶動內閣一股健康風潮。

Several ministers and a host of other politicians are among VIP clients at his diet clinic, according to star nutritionist Jean-Michel Cohen.

好幾位部長和政界人士都是他減肥診所的貴賓級客戶,根據知名營養學家柯恩指出。

Sarkozy has long worked to project a fighting-fit image -- jogging up the steps of the Elysee Palace the day he took office -- but his health binge began in earnest after his divorce from his second wife Cecilia.

薩科茲向來努力要營造強健形象,就職日當天慢跑登上艾麗榭宮的階梯。但他更認真地注重健康這股狂熱,是從他與第二任妻子賽西莉亞離婚後開始的。

"He’s just your average Joe, he gets dumped and needs to make himself feel attractive again." Cohen said.

「他就像一般人,被拋棄了,需要讓自己再顯魅力。」柯恩說。

Sarkozy’s government is preparing to launch a major anti-obesity campaign by the end of the year. "Anyone who’s still fat when the plan is launched will look like a loser," Cohen said.

薩科茲政府正準備在今年底展開一項對抗肥胖的大計畫,「任何人在這項計畫啟動時還是個胖子,可就糗了。」柯恩說。

新聞辭典:

clean- living:形容詞或名詞,健康生活、健康生活的。例句:Clean-living may help slow our body aging, according to a scientific study.(健康生活或許有助於減緩我們的身體老化,根據一份科學研究指出。)

in earnest:副詞,鄭重其事、認真地。You must study in earnest to pass the examination.(你必須認真地讀書以通過考試。)

average Joe:俚語,一般人。He’s just an average Joe at most.(他充其量也只是一般人。)

2009/10/25

Montblanc’s $25,000 Gandhi pen stirs controversy 萬寶龍2萬5000美元的甘地紀念筆引發爭議

◎俞智敏

An incongruous billboard has appeared high above Mumbai’s slums:A thin Mohandas Gandhi, the ascetic father of India’s independence, sits wrapped in simple white cloth above the image of a fat Montblanc pen.

孟買貧民窟上方出現了一幅極不搭調的海報:形容瘦削的甘地,也就是奉行苦行的印度獨立之父,裹著簡樸的白布坐在一支粗厚的萬寶龍鋼筆照片上。

German luxury penmaker Montblanc launched a limited-edition commemorative fountain pen in honor of Gandhi, just in time for the 140th anniversary of his birth. The price? 17,000 euros.

德國精品鋼筆公司萬寶龍最近推出了一款限量版紀念鋼筆,以慶祝甘地誕生140年。價錢呢?1萬7000歐元。

The decision to turn a man who shunned foreign-made products and pushed simple living to new extremes into a "brand ambassador" for a global luxury goods maker has left some Indians puzzled and others angry.

該公司決定把一位畢生避用外國製品,並把簡樸生活推至新極限的人,變成一家全球精品製造商的「品牌大使」,讓不少印度人感到不解,還有人感到憤怒。

One group filed a lawsuit to try and halt distribution of the pen. "Mahatma Gandhi advocated a simple lifestyle," said Dijo Kappen, who filed the suit and is managing trustee of the Center for Consumer Education in the southern state of Kerala.

有一個組織甚至提出訴訟,希望阻止這隻鋼筆的銷售。「甘地提倡簡單的生活方式,」訴訟提起人卡鵬表示,他是印度南部喀拉拉邦的消費者教育中心執行理事。

Just 241 commemorative fountain pens will be sold-a nod to the number of miles Gandhi walked in his famous 1930 "salt march," a mass protest against salt taxes levied by the British that dealt an early blow to their control over the subcontinent.

只有241隻紀念鋼筆會售出,這是為了向甘地在1930年代著名的「食鹽長征」致意,甘地當時走了241英里的路,發起大規模示威,以抗議英國政府徵收食鹽稅,甘地此舉對英國在印度次大陸的控制帶來初步打擊。

新聞辭典

ascetic:形容詞,指禁慾主義的、苦行的,如Monks lead ascetic lives.(僧侶過著禁慾生活)。ascetic當名詞時,指修道者、苦行者、禁慾者。

nod:名詞,指點頭,文中引申為表示贊成或同意,如The contestant got the nod from the judges.(這名參賽者得到評審的認同。)

deal a blow to sb/sth:對某人/某事造成打擊,如The latest trade figures have dealt a severe blow to hopes of an early economic recovery.(最新的貿易數據對經濟迅速復甦的希望帶來嚴重打擊。)

2009/10/24

Business travel can help bottom line-US study says 美國研究:商旅有助企業獲利

◎陳成良

Business travel -- often the target for cutbacks by companies seeking to reduce expenses -- actually boosts profits and could help the U.S. economy come back from the recession, a report found on Tuesday.

商務旅行往往是尋求撙節開支企業開鍘的目標,但它實際上可以提高企業獲利,從而協助美國經濟從衰退中復甦,一份報告週二指出。

Research released by the global research firm Oxford Economics estimated that for every dollar invested in business travel, companies can expect an average $12.50 in increased revenue and $3.80 in new profits.

全球研究機構「牛津經濟」發布的研究報告估計,企業投資在商務旅行的每一美元能提高年營收12.5美元,帶來新增利潤3.8美元。

"Cutting back on business travel can in the short run have some benefits but, even over a 12 month period, (have) significant negative effects on corporate performance," said Adam Sacks, managing director of Oxford Economics.

「削減商務旅行支出短期內能收到若干效益,但如果超過12個月,會對公司績效產生明顯的負面影響」,牛津經濟的常務董事薩克斯說。

The analysis said executives and business travelers estimated 28 percent of current business would be lost without in-person meetings. They said about 40 percent of prospective customers are converted to new customers with an in-person meeting compared to 16 percent without one.

該分析報告稱,企業主管和商務旅客估計,不親自會面將丟掉28%的生意。他們表示,若親自會面,40%的潛在客戶能變成新客戶,而若不親自會面,這一比例為16%。

新聞詞典

bottom line:名詞,損益表底線;(帳本上的)收益、虧損。另外 bottom line 也有「最後的底線」、「不能再退讓的原則」的意思。例句:Bottom line: We have to ship this order by Friday. (最後的底線是, 我們必須在週五前運交這批貨。 )

in the short run:片語,短期看來;短期內。例句:In the short run this could be a very useful policy. (短期看來這將是個非常有用的政策。)

in person:片語, 親自;親自出現地。例句:You should come here in person tomorrow. (明天你必須親自來。)

2009/10/23

New York considers calls for smoking ban in parks, beaches 紐約考慮要求公園與海灘禁菸

◎張沛元

New Yorkers may be reduced to hiding in the bushes to smoke if new rules go through on lighting up outdoors.

倘若有關戶外抽菸的新規定過關,紐約客恐怕得躲到灌木叢裡抽菸。

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s health commissioner, Thomas Farley, declared Monday he wants to take the war on smokers to the city’s beaches and parks.

紐約市長麥可.彭博的衛生局長,湯瑪斯.法利週一宣布他要對該市的海灘與公園的菸槍開戰。

Smoking has been illegal in offices, train stations and other indoor public places since 2003, forcing the Big Apple’s approximately one million smokers to head outdoors.

辦公室、車站與其它室內公共區域已自2003年起禁菸,迫使大蘋果的約100萬名癮君子遁往室外。

But Farley’s proposal to "expand smoke-free spaces to include city parks and public beaches" would mean there were even fewer places to light up.

但法利的「擴大禁菸空間以納入市立公園與公共海灘」的提議,意味能點菸的地方更少了。

It was not immediately clear whether the measure would need city council approval before going through. Although Bloomberg’s 2003 ban proved popular, he is criticized by many for attempting to erect a nanny state.

目前並不清楚這項措施是否需要市議會同意才能實施。儘管彭博的2003年禁菸令已被證明廣受歡迎,但他也被許多人批評意圖建立一個保母國家。

新聞辭典

call for(someone or something):片語,需要或要求(某事或某人的服務)。例句:The job calls for someone with at least 2 years of experience in a relevant field.(這份工作需要至少有兩年相關領域的經驗。)

go through:片語,正式接受或批准。例句:We’re hoping that the proposal for the new bridge won’t go through.(我們希望那個新橋樑提案不會過關。)

nanny state:保 母國家,意指政府對於控制人民的福祉很感興趣,特別是實施廣泛的公共衛生與安全規定。例句:Outside of Singapore, few nations are willing to openly embrace Nanny State status.(在新加坡之外,很少有國家願意公開主張保母國家。)

2009/10/22

Tongue stud ’brain fatality risk’ 舌環有大腦致命風險

◎鄭寺音

Deadly brain abscesses should be added to the list of risks of having a tongue piercing, say doctors. Archives of Neurology reports how a 22-year-old man who died in hospital following multiple brain abscesses weeks after getting his tongue pierced.

醫師表示,致命的腦部膿瘡應該增列到穿舌環的風險清單中。神經學誌報導,一名22歲男子穿了舌環數星期後,在醫院因為多發性腦膿瘍喪生。

The man’s Israeli doctors warn infection can spread in the bloodstream from the piercing up to the brain. Piercing can more commonly lead to chipped teeth and oral infections, and sometimes heart problems, say experts.

這名男子的以色列醫師警告,穿舌環造成的感染,可能在血液中擴散到腦部,專家表示,穿舌環更常導致牙齒碎裂、口腔感染,有時候會造成心臟問題。

Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, said:"Dentists are all too aware of the health problems that can be caused by oral piercings."

英國牙醫協會的科學顧問瓦姆思里教授表示:「牙醫都很了解口部穿洞會造成的健康問題。」

"There are many potential complications, ranging from pain and swelling to chipped or cracked teeth. Patients who have oral piercings can also suffer with recession of the gums and prolonged bleeding. Piercing of oral sites also carries with it a risk of infection. The clear message is that oral piercing is ill advised and should be avoided."

「有許多潛在的併發症,從疼痛與腫脹,到牙齒剝落或碎裂,口部穿洞的病患也可能有牙齦萎縮、流血不止等問題。口部穿洞也可能有感染風險,清楚的訊息是,口部穿洞幾乎不建議,也應該避免。」

新聞辭典

abscess:名詞,膿瘡,潰瘍。例句:She had an abscess on her gum.(她的牙齦有膿瘡。)

swell:動詞,腫脹。例句:It was obvious she had broken her toe, because it immediately started to swell (up).(她的腳趾顯然是斷了,因為馬上腫了起來。)

chip:動詞,碎裂,剝落。例句:I wish my nail polish wouldn’t keep chipping.(希望我的指甲油不會一直脫落。)

2009/10/21

’World’s shortest man’ comes of age 世界最矮男子轉大人

◎魏國金

Khagendra Thapa Magar from Nepal, thought to be the world’s smallest living man at just 56 centimetres, has turned 18 and now hopes to be officially recognised for his record size.

以56公分身高而被認為是當今世界最矮男子的尼泊爾人卡詹德拉.塔巴.馬加爾已18歲了,現在他希望這項紀錄能獲正式承認。

Thapa had his application for a Guinness World Record for the smallest man rejected because at just 14 he was too young to qualify. But on Wednesday he started adulthood and is now set to submit another application.

塔巴曾申請列為金氏世界紀錄的全球最矮男子,但因他僅14歲太年輕,不獲認證資格而遭回絕。不過週三他開始步入成年,現在即將提出另一份申請。

"Now he has turned 18, we will forward the necessary documents to Guinness officials," Thapa’s father said.

「現在他已經18歲了,我們會向金氏世界紀錄的人員遞交必要的文件,」塔巴的父親說。

"When he was born he was so small he could fit in the palm of your hand. But I am proud to be his father. He has brought fame not just for himself but for his country." he said.

「當他出生時,他小到可能可以放在你的手掌上,但我以身為他的父親為榮。他不僅為他個人,也為他的國家帶來名氣。」他說。

According to a website set up by his supporters, Thapa weighed only 600 grams at birth and his hobbies include "playing with pebbles" and "worshipping Buddha."

根據支持者設立的網站指出,塔巴出生時僅重600公克,而他的興趣包括「玩小石頭」與「拜佛」。

The Guinness Book of Records website lists the late Gul Mohammed of New Delhi as the shortest adult human being ever, at 55.9 centimetres. The current record for world’s shortest living man is held by He Pingping of China, who is 73 centimetres tall.

金氏世界紀錄大全網站將已故的新德里人蓋默哈梅列為史上最矮的成人,他高55.9公分。當今世界最矮男子是由中國的何平平所保持,他73公分高。

新聞辭典

come of age︰片語,成年、滿法定年齡,也有成熟、發達之意。例句︰Blacks have come of age.(黑人的力量已壯大成熟了。)

be set to︰即將發生(後接動詞),例句︰Electricity prices are set to go up again.(電價即將再漲。)

forward︰動詞,遞送、轉交。例句︰The letter was forwarded from a previous address.(這封信是從之前的住址轉來的。)

2009/10/20

Maldives cabinet holds underwater meeting 馬爾地夫內閣舉行水底會議

◎羅彥傑

Cabinet ministers in the Maldives held an underwater meeting Saturday to draw attention to the threat global warming poses to the lowest-lying nation on earth.

馬爾地夫的內閣閣員週六舉行了一場水底會議,以吸引各界關注全球暖化對這個地球上海拔最低國家構成的威脅。

President Mohamed Nasheed and his cabinet signed a document during the dive, calling for global cuts in carbon emissions.

納希德總統及其內閣在潛水期間簽署了一份文件,呼籲全球削減碳排放。

The meeting, chaired by President Nasheed, took place around a table about 6 meters underwater, according to the president’s Web site. Bubbles ascended from the face masks the president and the Cabinet wore, and fish swam around them.

這場由納希德總統主持的會議,是在約6公尺深的海底下環繞一張桌子舉行,根據馬國總統府的網站指出。氣泡從總統與內閣閣員穿戴的面罩中升起,還有魚兒四處游動。

All cabinet members bar one - who has a medical condition that rules out diving - had been in training at a military base on one of the country’s many islands.

除了一人因健康狀況不可能潛水之外,所有閣員曾在該國眾多島嶼當中的一處島上軍事基地受訓。

An adviser to the president told the BBC the dive was "a bit of fun" but was intended as a serious message about rising sea levels.

一名總統顧問告訴BBC,潛水「是有一點好玩」,但其宗旨是要對海平面上升發出嚴肅訊息。

Maldives is grappling with the very likely possibility that it will go under water . The Maldives is an archipelago of almost 1,200 coral islands south-southwest of India. Most of it lies just 1.5 meters above sea level.

極可能被海水淹沒的馬爾地夫,正在為此奮鬥。馬爾地夫是一個群島國,位在印度南南西方,由將近1200個珊瑚礁島組成。其國土大部分僅在海平面上1.5公尺。

新聞辭典

lowest-lying :形容詞,最低的。low-lying則指低地的、地勢較低的。例句:People living in low-lying areas were evacuated because of the floods.(住在低窪地區的民眾因為洪水而疏散。)

bar:前置詞,除~外。例句:All was over bar the the formal recording of the votes.(一切都已結束,只剩下把表決結果正式記錄在案。)

rule out:片語,排除、使成為不可能。例句:The police have ruled out murder in the case of the girl’s death.(警方在這名女子命案中排除有他殺的可能性。)

2009/10/19

Waiter fired after complaining on Twitter 服務生上Twitter抱怨後被炒魷魚

◎管淑平

A waiter claims he was fired after complaining on Twitter that actress Jane Adams failed to leave him a tip.

一名服務生宣稱他遭到開除,在他上Twitter抱怨女演員珍.亞當斯沒有給他小費之後。

It is the latest warning of the dangers of indiscreet tweeting. The 31-year-old waiter Jon-Barrett Ingels says that the dispute began when Adams left the restaurant after a lunch one day during this summer without paying her bill. He claims that she failed to return after saying that she needed to fetch her chequebook from the car.

這是輕率發表推文的最新警訊。這名31歲服務生英格斯說,爭議始於今夏某日亞當斯在餐廳吃了午餐後,沒付錢就離開。他宣稱她當時說她需要去車上拿支票簿,但卻一去不回。

The actress’s agent arrived to pick up the tab the next day, but did not pay the 15-20 per cent service charge , prompting Ingels to Tweet: "Jane Adams, star of HBO series ’Hung’ skipped out on a $13.44 check. Her agent called and payed the following day. NO TIP!!!"

隔天這名演員的經紀人來付錢,但沒給15%到20%的服務費,促使英格斯在Twitter上寫出「珍.亞當斯,HBO『大器晚成』影集明星,沒付13.44美元帳單就跑了。他的經紀人隔天付了錢,沒給小費!!!」

Ingels says Adams read his light-hearted tweet and returned to the restaurant herself several weeks later to hand him the $3 he believed he was owed.

英格斯說,亞當斯看到他隨口說說的推文,數週後親自回到餐廳,給他他自認被欠下的3美元。

But the waiter was sacked shortly afterwards. His bosses told him they had received a number of complaints about his behaviour, including one from Adams.

但是這名服務生不久後就被解雇,他的老闆告訴他,他們收到一些人抱怨他的行為,其中一人是亞當斯。

新聞辭典

light-hearted:形容詞,輕鬆的,無憂慮的,隨便的。例句:He seems to be always so light-hearted.(他似乎總是那麼無憂無慮。)

indiscreet :形容詞,輕率的,魯莽的。例句:You tend to make indiscreet remarks.(你容易說出輕率之言。)

skip out on:動詞片語,突然或悄悄地離開,棄某人不顧。例句:Her husband skipped out on her without saying a word.(她丈夫什麼都沒說就拋棄她。)

2009/10/18

Marge Simpson gracing Playboy mag cover瑪芝辛普森登上花花公子雜誌封面

◎ 俞智敏

Simpsons matriarch Marge Simpson is gracing the cover of Playboy magazine, becoming the first cartoon character in the publication’s history.

辛普森家庭的女家長瑪芝辛普森登上了花花公子雜誌的封面,成為該雜誌歷史上首位卡通人物封面女郎。

The November issue sees Marge posing on a chair with the distinctive Playboy Bunny logo.

在11月份的雜誌封面上,瑪芝坐在一張以花花公子招牌兔女郎為設計的椅子上。

It marks the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons, viewed as America’s most dysfunctional family.

這期雜誌是紀念辛普森家庭問世20週年,辛普森家庭被視為美國最不正常的家庭。

The move to put Marge on the cover is an attempt to draw in a younger audience for the soft porn magazine. "We knew that this would really appeal to the 20-something crowd," said Playboy spokeswoman Theresa Hennessey.

這本軟調情色雜誌請來瑪芝當封面女郎,目的是企圖吸引較年輕的讀者。該雜誌發言人亨尼西表示,「我們知道這對20多歲的群眾很有吸引力。」

It is not yet know how much of Marge will be on show inside the issue, but "it’s very, very racy," said editorial director James Jellinek.

目前還不清楚瑪芝到底在這期雜誌裡裸露的尺度,但「內容非常非常辛辣,」總編輯傑利內克表示。

Playboy owner Hugh Hefner is said to be a huge Simpsons fan and appeared in an episode in the early 1990s.

花花公子老闆海夫納據稱是辛普森家庭的大粉絲,而且還曾於1990年代初期在其中一集卡通裡現身。

新聞辭典

grace: 動詞,使增光、使更具吸引力,如Her face has graced the covers of magazines across the world.(她的臉出現在全球各地的雜誌封面上。)grace sb with one’s presence則指藉參與某事讓其他人感到榮耀,如We are delighted that the mayor will be gracing us with his presence at our annual dinner.(我們非常榮幸市長將出席我們的年度晚宴。)

matriarch:名詞,指女家長、女統治者、女負責人。形容詞為matriarchal,如a matriarchal society(母系社會),男家長則為patriarch。

racy: 形容詞,指(言詞或文字)刺激的、活潑的、尤指關於性的、近乎淫猥的,或指(某人或某事)外表刺激、有趣或具吸引力、性感的。如a racy story(一篇辛辣的故事),或She is trying to create a racier image for herself.(她正試圖為自己打造更性感的形象。)

2009/10/17

Global child trafficking on the increase 全球人口販運 兒童受害比例升高

◎陳成良

The proportion of children in human trafficking cases around the world has risen to more than one in five of all victims, a report aimed at raising awareness of the problem said on Monday.

全世界人口販運案例中,兒童所佔比例已經增加到平均每5名受害人就有超過1人是兒童,根據一份週一公布、旨在喚起對該問題覺醒的報告指出。

"More than 1.2 million minors are still being sexually exploited in the world every year... and between 2003 and 2007 the proportion of minors in human trafficking cases has risen from 15 to 22 percent," the report said.

「全球每年仍有超過120萬未成年人遭到性剝削……2003到2007年間,人口販運案例中未成年人比例,從15%上升到22%」,該報告指出。

Worth around 32 billion dollars a year, human trafficking is the third most lucrative illegal trade after weapons and drugs, UN experts say.

人口販運金額每年約高達320億美元,是排名第三的獲利最可觀非法交易,僅次於走私武器和毒品,聯合國專家說。

The report by ECPAT(End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes)said that half the money made from the global sex trade is made in industrialised nations.

「國際反兒童商業性剝削組織」(ECPAT)發表的報告說,全世界性交易的半數金額來自工業化國家。

"Along with pimps and clients, passport counterfeiters, corrupt officials, transport workers, paedophiles and other sex tourists are also involved," said ECPAT’s Astrid Winckler.

「除了皮條客和嫖客外,偽造護照者、貪污官員、運送工人、戀童癖者及其他買春觀光客也脫不了關係」, 任職ECPAT的溫克勒表示。

新聞辭典

trafficking:名詞,非法交易(尤指毒品、人口販運)。 動詞為traffic,指買賣、交易。例句:Trafficking in persons continued to be a serious problem.(販賣人口仍是一個嚴重問題。)

minor:名詞,未成年人。例句:You can’t serve drinks to minors.

(你不能把酒賣給未成年人。)

counterfeiter:名詞, 偽造者;盜版者;造假者。

2009/10/16

Want to live next door to the Obamas?/想住在歐巴瑪一家人的隔壁嗎?

◎張沛元

Want to live next door to US President Barack Obama? The colonial mansion next to his Chicago home is now available - for the right price.

想住在美國總統巴拉克.歐巴瑪的隔壁嗎?這棟坐落於歐巴瑪芝加哥家隔壁的殖民地式華廈,目前待價而沽──只要你的價格出得對。

So far, the real estate broker handling the sale won’t even guess at what that price might be. "We don’t know what premium the Obama factor will have," said Matt Garrison of Coldwell Banker.

截至目前為止,負責處理這筆售屋生意的房屋仲介,甚至不願猜最後的成交價會是多少。「我們不知道歐巴瑪因素能(為這棟房子)加多少價,」房仲公司「寇德威爾銀行家」的麥特.蓋瑞森說。

Garrison’s phones have been ringing off the hook since the house was put on the market on Friday.

打從這棟房子週五推出以來,蓋瑞森的電話就響個沒完。

They’ve had at least a handful of serious inquiries - one from as far away as London - and expect more to pour in as word gets out.

其中至少有少數人是認真詢問──其中一人甚至遠從倫敦打來──預料隨著消息傳開會有更多詢問電話湧入。

But those hoping for an invite from Obama or the chance to swap recipes with the First Lady might be setting themselves up for disappointment.

但那些希望能被歐巴瑪邀請,或有機會跟第一夫人交換食譜的人,怕是注定要失望了。

Despite vowing to come home to Chicago as often as possible, the Obamas spend most of their time in Washington and have chosen Camp David and Martha’s Vineyard for recent vacations.

儘管誓言會盡量多回芝加哥的家,歐巴瑪一家人大多數時間還是待在華府,而且近來選擇前往大衛營與馬莎葡萄園度假。

新聞辭典

available:形容詞,準備好可用的;可以被取得的;有資格與願意服務或協助的。例句:The president was not available for comment.(無法找到總統對此發表評論。)

ring off the hook:片語,指電話響個不停。hook,名詞,電話的聽筒架。

pour in (to something) :片語,(字面)倒入,灌入;(引申描述人或物)傾洩。例句:Letters are still pouring in.(信件依然如雪片般飛來。)

2009/10/15

Med-style diet ’can battle blues’ 地中海飲食可對抗憂鬱

◎鄭寺音

The Mediterranean diet, already thought to protect against heart disease and cancer, may also help to prevent depression, Spanish researchers say. They found depression was more than 30% less likely to develop in people who followed a diet high in vegetables, fruit and cereals, and low in red meat.

西班牙研究人員說,已被認為可預防心臟病與癌症的地中海飲食,或許也有助於預防憂鬱。他們發現,遵循多蔬果與榖類、少紅肉飲食的人,憂鬱機率低30%以上。

Researchers at the Universities of Las Palmas and Navarra recruited university graduates to take part. They completed questionnaires and the researchers calculated their adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) for an average of four-and-a-half years.

西班牙納瓦拉的拉斯帕爾馬斯大學研究人員,招募大學畢業生參與研究,他們填寫問卷,研究人員計算他們在平均4年半期間,對地中海飲食模式的遵循程度。

Participants who had a strong adherence to the MDP tended to be male, ex-smokers, married and older individuals. They were more active physically and showed a higher total energy intake.

嚴守地中海飲食模式的參與者,多是已戒菸、男性、已婚、年紀較大者,體能上比較活躍,總能量攝取也較高。

The researchers identified 480 new cases of depression during the follow-up period-156 in men and 324 in women. They found that those with the highest adherence to the MDP were more than 30% less likely to develop depression.

研究人員在追蹤階段發現480起新的憂鬱案例,156人是男性,324名是女性。他們發現,最高度遵循地中海飲食模式者,罹患憂鬱的可能性低30%以上。

They took into account marital status, the number of children and factors associated with a healthy lifestyle and found the relationship did not change.

他們把婚姻狀況、生幾個小孩、以及與健康生活型態相關的因素都考慮在內,發現地中海飲食與憂鬱的關係並未改變。

新聞辭典

blue:名詞/形容詞,憂鬱/憂鬱的。例句:He’s been a bit blue since he failed his exams.(他考試失利後就有點憂鬱。)

adherence:名詞,堅持,嚴守。例句:He was noted for his strict adherence to the rules.(他以嚴守規則出名。)

take into account:片語,把…考慮進去。例句:I hope my teacher will take into account the fact that I was ill just before the exams when she marks my paper.(希望老師改考卷的時候,能把我考試前才剛剛生病的事考慮進去。)

2009/10/14

Human lung stolen from traveling show 人體肺臟在巡迴展中被竊

◎魏國金

Organizers of a traveling exhibition about the human body breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday after an anonymous telephone tip-off led to the recovery of a stolen lung.

一個人體巡迴展的主辦單位,在一通匿名電話透露消息,而使失竊的肺臟失而復得後,寬慰地鬆了口氣。

The caller, who did not claim the posted 2,000 dollar reward, directed staff at "Bodies Revealed" to a car park, where the organ was found in a plastic bag.

這名沒有領取2000美元懸賞金的來電者,指示「人體揭秘」的工作人員到一處停車場,這枚器官就在停車場的一個塑膠袋內被找到。

"They only told us that it was in a black plastic bag in the parking area of the same shopping center where the display was exhibited," said Susan Hoefken one of the curators.

「他們只是告訴我們,它在舉行展覽的同一個購物中心停車場的一只黑色塑膠袋內,」管理人之一的蘇珊.霍夫肯說。

The lung was stolen on Monday, but organizers said there was little concern it may rot or otherwise spoil, thanks to chemical treatment. "The organ is preserved under an innovative process of polymerization that maintains the organs in a good state after coming under chemical treatment," said Hoefken.

這塊肺臟於週一失竊,但主辦單位說,拜化學處理之賜,不太擔心它腐敗或其他情況的損壞。「該器官在化學處理後,依據能維持其良好狀態的創新塑化程序下被保存著,」霍夫肯指出。

The exhibition includes real life specimens and has traveled the world. Since June it has received 90,000 visitors in Peru alone.

這個展覽包括真實的標本,並巡迴全球展出。光是在秘魯,自6月以來,參觀者就達9萬人次。

新聞辭典

breathe a sigh of relief︰寬慰的(或如釋重負的)鬆口氣。例句︰We all breathed a sigh of relief when she left.(當她離開時,我們全都如釋重負地鬆了口氣。)

tip-off︰密報、透露消息。例句︰Police, acting on a tip-off, foiled attempts to blow up the building.(警方根據密報採取行動,挫敗了炸毀這棟建築物的陰謀。)

or otherwise︰或其他情況、或相反。例句︰Fine or otherwise, we shall have to go.(不管天氣好不好,我們非去不可。)

2009/10/13

Immigrant asks to be deported, citing poverty移民以貧窮為由要求遣返

◎羅彥傑

Police in Framingham, Mass., say an illegal immigrant from Guatemala entered a police station, told officers he had stolen another man’s identity and asked to be deported because he could no longer make ends meet in America.

美國麻薩諸塞州佛拉明罕的警方表示,一名來自瓜地馬拉的非法移民進入警局,告訴警官,他盜用另一名男子的身分,並要求被遣返,因為他再也無法負擔得起在美國的開銷。

Police tell the MetroWest Daily News they arrested 29-year-old Carlos Boc after he confessed Saturday night.

警方告訴「大都會西方每日新聞」報,他們逮捕了29歲的卡洛斯.波克,在他週六晚間坦承犯案後。

Lt. Paul Shastany says Boc told police he wanted to return to Guatemala but can’t afford a ticket. He told police he has no job or money and is worried about surviving the winter. He told police he came to the U.S. 13 years ago.

副隊長保羅.薩斯塔尼表示,波克告訴警方,他想返回瓜地馬拉,但買不起機票。他告訴警方,他既沒工作、也沒錢,而且擔心能不能撐過這個冬天。他告訴警方,自己在13年前來到美國。

A not guilty plea was entered on Boc’s behalf Monday at his arraignment in Framingham District Court on charges including identity fraud.

週一有人在佛拉明罕地方法院代表波克,在提訊時就包括身分詐欺等罪名,答辯無罪。

A home number for Boc could not immediately be found.

目前無法立刻查到波克家裡的電話號碼。

新聞辭典

to make ends meet:片語,使收支相抵、勉強維持生計。例句:Many people get a pension or Social Security benefits, but it’s not enough to make ends meet.(許多人領取年金或社會安全津貼,但這不足以讓收支平衡。)

on someone’s behalf:片語,代表~,為了~的利益。例句:He made an impassioned speech on behalf of his country.(他代表他的國家發表熱血澎湃的演說。)

arraignment:名詞,傳訊,提訊,責難。動詞為arraign。

2009/10/12

Carla Bruni website publishes Barack Obama and Sarah Brown drawings 布妮網站發表歐巴瑪和莎拉布朗畫像

◎管淑平

Carla Bruni website publishes Barack Obama and Sarah Brown drawings

布妮網站發表歐巴瑪和莎拉布朗畫像

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy’s new website has caused consternation after it published unflattering drawings of Gordon Brown’s wife Sarah, and Michelle and Barack Obama.

卡拉布妮─薩科茲的新網站已造成錯愕,在它發表令人不敢恭維的布朗妻子莎拉和蜜雪兒、歐巴瑪的畫像後。

The drawing of Sarah Brown looks nothing like her. She comes across as far more narrow-faced than in the flesh and in need of urgent dental and hair treatment in the caricature.

莎拉布朗的畫像一點都不像她。這張人物漫畫中的她,看起來臉比本人還要窄,而且牙齒和頭髮都亟需好好整理。

Mrs Brown implied she was less than ecstatic with the portrait by saying on Twitter that she was "a bit bemused". But she told fellow tweeters that she was taking it in her stride.

布朗夫人在Twitter上說她「有點困惑」,暗示對這幅肖像並不太滿意。但是她告訴推友她對此泰然以對。

Other well-known figures received rougher treatment.The US first couple, Obama and Michelle, look almost extra-terrestrial in their drawing, as do the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

其他知名人物的待遇更糟。美國總統夫婦,歐巴瑪和蜜雪兒,在畫中看起來簡直如外星人,威爾斯王儲和康瓦爾公爵夫人的也是。

Bruni’s husband, President Nicolas Sarkozy, however, gets the royal treatment. His drawing has reduced his ear and nose size considerably and given him an action-man square jaw that in reality he lacks.

然而,布妮的丈夫、總統薩科茲卻獲得王室般待遇。他的畫像把他的耳朵和鼻子縮小不少,還給他實際上缺少的動作明星般的方正下巴。

◎新聞辭典:

come across:動詞片語,偶然遇見、被理解、給人……的印象(+ as)。例句:He came across quite well in that interview.(他在那次面試表現相當好。)

in the flesh:名詞片語,親自、本人。例句:Have you ever seen any movie star in the flesh?(你見過哪個電影明星本人嗎?)

take something in stride:動詞片語,從容、冷靜面對某事。例句:He took these critics in his stride.(他對這些批評處之泰然。)

2009/10/11

UK gov’t apologizes to gay codebreaker Alan Turing 英國政府向同志密碼破解者杜林道歉

◎俞智敏

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered a posthumous apology recently for the "inhumane" treatment of Alan Turing, the World War II codebreaker who committed suicide in 1954 after being prosecuted for homosexuality and forcibly treated with female hormones.

英國首相布朗最近為已故的二次世界大戰密碼破解者杜林所遭到的「不人道」待遇道歉,杜林被依同性戀罪名起訴,並被迫接受女性荷爾蒙治療,於1954年自殺身亡。

The mathematician helped crack Nazi Germany’s Enigma encryption machine — a turning point in the war — and is considered a father of modern computing.

這位數學家協助解開了納粹德國代號「謎」的密碼機,這是戰爭的轉捩點,他也被視為是現代電腦之父。

In 1952, however, Turing was convicted of gross indecency for having sex with a man and offered a choice between prison and "chemical castration" — the injection of female hormones to suppress his libido. His security clearance was revoked and he was no longer allowed to work for the government.

但1952年杜林卻因與男子發生性行為,被依行為不檢罪名起訴,他必須選擇入獄服刑或接受「化學閹割」,也就是注射女性荷爾蒙來壓制性慾。他的安全許可也被撤銷,無法再替政府工作。

Two years later, he killed himself at age 41 by eating an apple laced with cyanide.

兩年後,他吃下攙了氰化物的蘋果自殺,得年41歲。

"It is no exaggeration to say that, without his outstanding contribution, the history of World War II could well have been very different," Brown said. "He truly was one of those individuals we can point to whose unique contribution helped to turn the tide of war."

布朗表示,「假如沒有他(杜林)的傑出貢獻,二戰歷史恐怕會完全不同,此話一點也不誇張。」「他的確是我們可以指出,憑其獨特貢獻協助扭轉了戰爭局勢的少數人之一。」

新聞辭典

crack:動詞,指破解(密碼)、解開(難題等),如They cracked the code and read the secret message.(他們破解了密碼,讀取秘密訊息。)

clearance: 名詞,指取得官方同意從事某種行為,或符合官方對某事設定的條件,如The plane will be taking off as soon as it gets clearance.(飛機在得到許可後就會立刻起飛。)security clearance尤指安全調查、忠貞調查或參與機密的資格。

turn the tide:片語,指造成局勢逆轉,如The government had planned cuts in the armed forces, but when war broke out, the military saw a chance to turn the tide.(政府原打算裁軍,但隨後戰爭爆發,軍方發現了逆轉情勢的機會。)

2009/10/10

Flexible LED Display Technology No Longer A Stretch 可彎式LED顯示技術不再是吹牛

◎ 陳成良

U.S. researchers said on Thursday they have found a way to make large-scale flexible display screens that can be stretched to fit the contours of a bus yet are transparent enough so riders can see out windows.

美國研究人員週四說,他們發現了一種製作大尺寸、可彎曲顯示螢幕的方法,讓螢幕可延展到符合一輛巴士的輪廓,且透明度足以讓乘客看透窗玻璃。

The thin, light screens might be used to make brake light indicators that follow the contours of a car, or health monitors or imaging devices that wrap around a patient like a blanket, said John Rogers of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, whose study appears in the journal Science.

這種輕薄的螢幕可以依據車子的輪廓來製造煞車指示燈,或製作可像毯子一樣將病人裹起來的健康監控器或造影儀器,伊利諾大學香檳分校的約翰.羅傑斯說。他的研究成果公布在「科學」期刊上。

He said the large display screens combine the scale and durability of light-emitting diodes, or LED technology, used to make flat, lighted billboards, with the flexibility of screens made using organic -- carbon-containing -- materials.

他說,這種大型螢幕結合了用來製作平面薄型告示板的發光二極管(LED)技術的尺寸與耐用性,以及有機含碳材料所製螢幕的彈性特點。

Rogers said current technology using inorganic materials produces chunky individual LED lights that need to be arranged piecemeal with a robotic arm. Screens made using organic materials can be sprayed or painted onto a film surface, but they are not as bright or durable, he said.

羅傑斯說,目前利用無機材料的技術可製造大量單獨LED光束,這些光束需要通過機器手臂逐一排列。而有機材料做成的屏幕可噴灑或塗於膠片表面,但卻不夠明亮與耐久,他說。

新聞辭典

stretch:名詞,(口語)誇大;誇張;吹牛。另一個常見解釋是「伸長」,標題中的stretch是雙關語。

contour:名詞,輪廓、外形、結構,如contours of a building(建築的輪廓)。

piecemeal :副詞,一件件地,逐個地;逐漸地;零碎地。例句:The reforms were implemented piecemeal. (改革在零零星星地進行。)

2009/10/09

Chestnut dethroned as rib eating king in Nevada 卻斯納在內華達州痛失肋排大胃王頭銜

◎ 張沛元

Top-ranked competitive eater and three-time defending champion Joey Chestnut has been dethroned as the winner of the Best in the West Nugget World Rib Eating Championship in Sparks.

排名第一的競食大胃王兼第三度尋求衛冕的喬依.卻斯納,在(內華達州)史巴克斯的「西金塊世界最佳肋排大胃王錦標賽」中,痛失冠軍寶座。

Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti of Chicago beat Chestnut on Wednesday by one-tenth of a pound. Bertoletti downed 5.8 pounds in 12 minutes.

來自芝加哥的派特.「深盤」.貝托列提週三以1/10磅的差距擊敗卻斯納。貝托列提在12分鐘內狂吞5.8磅(的肋排)。

Wednesday’s contest was the fourth annual and featured 12 competitors.

週三的比賽是第四次的年度比賽,共12名選手參賽。

Chestnut, of San Jose, Calif., is ranked No. 1 in the International Federation of Competitive Eating. Bertoletti is rated second.

來自加州聖荷西的卻斯納在「國際競食聯盟」名列第一,貝托列提排名第二。

Bertoletti says he prepared for the contest by not eating since a large meal on Tuesday. He won $2,500 and his name will adorn a trophy featuring three golden pigs.

貝托列提說,為了準備這場比賽,他打從在週二吃了一頓大餐後就沒吃過東西。他贏得2500美元,而他的名字會刻在一座有3隻金豬裝飾的獎盃上。

新聞辭典

rib:名詞,肋骨,排骨。相關片語,stick to one’s ribs,能夠撐得夠久又能強化身心的食物。例句:I don’t want just a salad! I want something that will stick to my ribs.(我不要只吃沙拉!我要吃能凍卡久的東西。)

dethrone:動詞,罷黜,罷免。de-,字頭,去掉;throne,名詞,王位。相關片語,power behind the throne,垂簾聽政、控制表面上的主導者的藏鏡人。例句:President Chandler appeared to run the country, but his wife was the power behind the throne.(錢德勒總統看似是一國之君,但總統夫人其實才是真正發號施令的人。)

adorn:動詞,使生色,裝飾。adorn someone/something with something,以某物來裝飾美化某人/某物。例句:They adorned the ballroom with lots of flowers and balloons.(他們以許多花與氣球來裝飾舞廳。)

2009/10/08

’Booze therapy’ for brain injury 腦部創傷的酒精治療

◎鄭寺音

A dose of alcohol may be a good treatment for people with head injuries, emergency doctors suggest. Their basis for this is the discovery that people appear less likely to die following brain trauma if they have alcohol in their bloodstream.

急診醫師認為,一劑量的酒精,對有腦傷的人來說或許是好的治療。他們是根據如果人在腦部創傷之後血液中有酒精,似乎比較不會死亡的發現,來得出上述結果。

It could be that alcohol dampens the body’s inflammatory response to injury, the US team told Archives of Surgery. But they stressed that alcohol can cause medical complications and is contributory to many accidents.

這個美國團隊告訴外科文獻,這有可能是酒精抑制身體對受傷的發炎反應,但他們強調,酒精可能造成醫療併發症及許多意外。

Experts cautioned people should not interpret the findings as an excuse to drink more alcohol. The amount of alcohol consumed appears to be important - too little and there is no effect, too much and the beneficial effects are lost, studies on animals suggest.

專家警告,人們應該不要將這份發現,解讀為喝更多酒的藉口。動物研究顯示,喝酒的量顯得很重要,太少的話沒有效果,太多的話,好處就會流失。

Experts believe the right dose of alcohol, however, stops the cascade of swelling, inflammation and further destruction of brain cells, known as secondary brain injury.

但專家認為,喝酒的量對了,可阻止接連發生腫脹、發炎以及腦細胞進一步毀滅,也就是俗稱的腦部二次傷害。

The latest work, based on more than 38,000 moderate-to-severe head trauma patients, is the largest yet to look at the effects of alcohol on brain injury survival.

這份最新研究是根據3萬8千多名中度到重度頭部創傷病患的研究而來,是目前針對酒精對腦部創傷生還影響的最新研究。

新聞辭典

dampen:動詞,抑制,使沮喪。例句:The bad news dampened our spirits. (這個噩耗讓我們沮喪。)

complication :名詞,併發症。例句:A hospital’s ability to rescue patients from postoperative complications may be a key factor in surgical mortality rates, researchers said. (研究人員說,一家醫院挽救病人手術後併發症的能力,可能是手術致死率的一個關鍵因素。)

contributory:形容詞,促成的。例句:Too little exercise is a contributory factor in heart disease.(太少運動是促成心臟病的因素。)

2009/10/07

Pilots fight crew in mid-air brawl on Indian flight:report 報導︰機師與空服員在印度班機上空中互毆

◎魏國金

Air India said on Sunday it was investigating allegations of a mid-air brawl in which pilots and cabin crew were reported to have exchanged blows in front of startled passengers.

印度航空週日指出,已對一起據報機師與座艙人員在受到驚嚇的乘客前相互揮拳的事件展開調查。

The Times of India reported that crew members threw punches and hurled abuse at each other on the flight from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Delhi after a female attendant accused the pilots of sexually harassing her.

印度時報報導,在一名女空服員指控機師對她性騷擾後,這架從阿拉伯聯合大公國沙加飛往德里的班機上的機組人員,便出拳打架、破口互罵。

The fight spilled out into the galley of the plane as about 100 passengers looked on, the paper said under the headline "Pilots, crew slug it out at 30,000 feet".

在約100名乘客眾目睽睽下,這場架一路打進飛機的備餐區,報紙在標題為「機師、空服員在3萬英尺高空一決高下」的報導上說。

The cockpit of the Airbus A-320 was left unmanned at one point, and one of the pilots threatened to divert the plane to Pakistan, the Times alleged.

印度時報指稱,這架A-320型空中巴士的駕駛艙一度無人駕駛,其中一名機師揚言將飛機轉往巴基斯坦。

The 24-year-old female crew member and a co-pilot both suffered bruises in the incident and police have registered a case against the pilots for "outraging the modesty of a woman," it said.

報導說,24歲的女空服員與一名副駕駛在該事件中掛彩,警方以機師觸犯「對婦女施暴」罪嫌受理本案。

新聞辭典

brawl︰名詞,爭吵、打架。例句︰The platform discussion would turn into a brawl.(施政綱領的討論將變成一場爭吵。)

hurl abuse( at sb)︰片語,破口大罵。例句︰They were hurling abuse at each other.(他們互相叫罵。)

look on︰片語,觀看、旁觀。例句︰He just stood looking on while an old woman was robbed.(當一名老婦遇搶時,他只是站在一旁觀望。)

slug it out︰片語,決一雌雄、比出高下。例句︰Unable to negotiate, they began to slug it out in the media.(談判不成,他們開始透過媒體一決勝負。)

2009/10/06

Rape complaints face review to raise convictions 性侵案報案面臨檢討以提高定罪率

◎羅彥傑

The UK government has ordered a review into how accusations of rape are handled, in a bid to encourage victims to come forward and raise conviction rates.

英國政府已下令對如何處理性侵指控進行檢討,以鼓勵受害者出面及提高定罪率。

Harriet Harman, minister for women and equality, and Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the review will look at how rape complaints are treated from the moment they are reported.

婦女暨平等部大臣哈曼與內政大臣詹森表示,這項檢討將檢視性侵案件從報案的那一刻起如何被處理。

Its findings and recommendations will be published in 2010.

其調查結果與建議將在2010年公布。

"Convictions for rape have increased 50 percent since 1997, but with less than seven percent of reported rapes leading to a successful prosecution, we clearly must do more," Harman said.

「性侵案定罪率自1997年起已增加50%,但在已報案的性侵案中,只有不到7%能成功起訴的情況下,我們顯然必須多多努力,」哈曼表示。

Many more women were reporting rapes, but two high-profile criminal cases showed an urgent need to improve how complaints were examined by police and care agencies.

雖有更多婦女報案遭到性侵,但兩件高知名度的刑事案件顯示,改善警方與照護機構處理報案方式有迫切的必要性。

One was that of London taxi driver John Worboys, who was arrested in 2007 on suspicion of rape, only to be released without charge. This year he was jailed for attacking 12 women and 85 more have come forward to say they may also have been victims.

其中一件是倫敦計程車司機約翰.沃博伊斯,2007年因涉嫌性侵被捕,結果竟未被控任何罪名即獲釋。今年他因攻擊12名女子而入獄,而且有另外85人出面表示她們可能也是受害者。

新聞辭典

complaint:名詞,(法律用語)控訴、控告。make a complaint against…控告。

come forward:片語,站出來、出面。例句:The police encouraged accident witnesses to come forward.(警方鼓勵這起事故的目擊者出面作證。)

on suspicion of:片語,涉嫌~、有~嫌疑。例句:He was arrested on suspicion of fraud.(他因涉嫌詐欺而被捕。)

2009/10/05

"Facebook bullies" drove girl, 15, to suicide「Facebook霸凌」逼得15歲女孩自殺

◎管淑平

Holly Grogan, 15, jumped 30ft to her death from a road bridge. She had endured a torrent of abuse posted on her Facebook page, it was disclosed. Friends said that she had been a victim of cyber-bullying.

15歲的荷莉.葛洛根從一座路橋上跳下,墜落30英尺身亡。據透露,她生前遭受一連串張貼在她Facebook網頁上的貼文辱罵。朋友說,她是網路霸凌的受害者。

One of her friends, Chloe Davis, 16, said that some girls would "gang up" on Holly, and that others posted abusive messages on her Facebook page.

她的朋友,16歲的克洛依.戴維斯說,有些女孩會「聯合起來對付」荷莉,其他人則是在她的Facebook頁面上貼辱罵訊息。

Chloe said that Holly was nice but “the other girls used to pick on her." Holly was forced to move schools after the bullying became unbearable. "Girls used to gang up on her and call her names and she didn’t have anything to say back. She just froze up."

克洛依還說,荷莉人很好,但「其他女孩一直找她麻煩。」當這些霸凌變得令人無法忍受後,迫使荷莉換學校。「女孩們聯手對付她、罵她,而她無法回嘴,她就是嚇呆了。」

Holly’s parents described Holly as a wonderful daughter but, they said, “Holly struggled to cope with the huge pressures placed upon her by the modern complexities of ‘friendship groups’ and social networking.

荷莉的父母形容荷莉是很棒的女兒,但是,他們說,「荷莉苦於『友誼團體』和社交網路的現代複雜性所帶給她的龐大壓力。」

They warned other families to be aware of the dangers of bullying on websites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace.

他們警告其他家庭注意Facebook、Bebo和MySpace等網站霸凌的危險。

新聞辭典

bully、bullying:名詞,仗勢欺人(人或行為)。例句:Bullying in campus may ruin a kid’s life.(校園霸凌或許會毀了一個孩子的一生。)

bully當動詞時,意指恐嚇;傷害;脅迫

gang up on somebody:動詞片語,聯合起來對付(某人)。例句:Microsoft and Yahoo gang up on Google.(微軟和雅虎聯手對付Google。)

freeze up:動詞片語,因為害怕或震驚而楞住、無法反應。例句:I just froze up when I heard the news.(我聽到這消息時都楞住了。)

2009/10/04

Madonna booed in Bucharest for defending Gypsies瑪丹娜在布加勒斯特為吉普賽人辯護被喝倒采

◎俞智敏

At first, fans politely applauded the Roma performers sharing a stage with Madonna. Then the pop star condemned widespread discrimination against Roma, or Gypsies _ and the cheers gave way to jeers.

一開始,歌迷們有禮貌地替與瑪丹娜同台演出的羅姆藝人鼓掌。但當這位流行樂歌手譴責羅姆人,或吉普賽人所遭到的廣泛歧視時,台下的歡呼就被噓聲所取代。

"It has been brought to my attention ... that there is a lot of discrimination against Romanies and Gypsies in general in Eastern Europe," she said. "It made me feel very sad." Thousands booed and jeered her.

「我被告知……東歐地區的羅姆人與吉普賽人受到很多歧視,」她說。「這讓我覺得很難過。」數千人向她喝倒采或發出嘲弄聲。

"I jeered her because it seemed false what she was telling us. What business does she have telling us these things?" said Ionut Dinu, 23.

「我噓她是因為她說的話感覺很假。她有什麼資格來告訴我們這些?」23歲的狄努說。

The sharp mood change that swept the crowd of 60,000 underscores how prejudice against Gypsies remains deeply entrenched across Eastern Europe.

台下6萬名歌迷情緒的劇烈轉變,也凸顯出東歐地區對吉普賽人的偏見仍舊根深柢固。

Despite long-standing efforts to stamp out rampant bias, human rights advocates say Roma probably suffer more humiliation and endure more discrimination than any other people group on the continent.

雖然經過長時間的努力以杜絕猖獗的偏見,人權倡議人士仍說,羅姆人所遭到的羞辱及歧視,恐怕要比歐陸任何其他民族都要多。

新聞辭典

boo:動詞,指發出噓聲,喝倒采,如Her singing was so bad that she was booed off the stage.(她的歌唱得實在太糟,最後被人噓下台。)

give way to sth:指被其他(更好、更便宜、更容易等的)東西取代,如My excitement gave way to fear when I drove a car for the first time.(當我第一次開車時,原本的興奮很快就被恐懼所取代。)

entrenched :形容詞,指根深柢固的、無法被改變的看法或態度(帶有負面、不贊同的含意),如It’s very difficult to change attitudes that have become so deeply entrenched over the years.(要改變多年來早已根深柢固的態度非常困難。)動詞為entrech,原指用壕溝圍住,引申用來指確立某種想法或問題,使其無法被改變。如 The government’s main task was to prevent inflation from entrenching itself.(政府的主要任務就是要防止通貨膨脹正式確立。)

2009/10/03

Mobile phone towers a threat to honey bees 手機基地台威脅到蜜蜂

◎陳成良

The electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phone towers and cellphones can pose a threat to honey bees, a study published in India has concluded.

行動電話基地台及行動電話發射的電磁波,足以對蜜蜂構成威脅,印度一項研究的結論指出。

An experiment conducted in the southern state of Kerala found that a sudden fall in the bee population was caused by towers installed across the state by cellphone companies to increase their network.

在印度南部喀拉拉省進行的實驗發現,當地蜜蜂數量突然減少,是行動電話公司為擴大網路在該省各地設立基地台造成的。

The electromagnetic waves emitted by the towers crippled the "navigational skills" of the worker bees that go out to collect nectar from flowers to sustain bee colonies, said Dr. Sainuddin Pattazhy, who conducted the study.

進行這項研究的巴塔奇博士說,基地台的電磁波破壞工蜂的「導航能力」。工蜂負責外出採花蜜來維繫蜂群生存。

He found that when a cell phone was kept near a beehive, the worker bees were unable to return, leaving the hives with only the queens and eggs and resulting in the collapse of the colony within ten days.

他發現,手機置於蜂巢附近,工蜂就無法返回,蜂窩內只剩下女王蜂和卵,並導致蜂群10天內瓦解。

Over 100,000 people in Kerala are engaged in apiculture and the dwindling worker bee population poses a threat to their livelihood. The bees also play a vital role in pollinating flowers to sustain vegetation.

喀拉拉省養蜂人口超過10萬,工蜂數量減少已威脅他們生計。蜜蜂也扮演傳播花粉以維持植物生長的關鍵角色。

If towers and mobile phones further increase, honey bees might be wiped out in 10 years, Pattazhy said.

如果基地台和手機繼續增加,蜜蜂可能在10年內絕跡,巴塔奇說。

新聞辭典

dwindling:形容詞,正在減少的;動詞原形為dwindle,減少。Taiwan’s population is expected to dwindle after 2050. (台灣的總人口預計在2050年後開始減少。)

pollinate: 動詞,給…授粉 。例句: The bees pollinate the crops and help them to grow. (蜜蜂為作物授粉,助其生長。)

wipe out:片語,徹底摧毀、消滅。例句:Pesticides can also wipe out insects that amphibians rely on for food.(殺蟲劑也可能會消滅兩棲動物賴以維生的昆蟲。)

2009/10/02

Beijing karaoke crooners get anti-drug song 北京K歌族有了反毒歌

◎張沛元

Karaoke singers in Beijing are being forced to listen to an anti-drugs song before belting out tunes as part of a crackdown on narcotics use ahead of China’s National Day, state media said Friday.

官方媒體週五報導,北京的K歌族被迫在盡情歡唱前,聆聽一首反毒歌,這是中國國慶日前夕的毒品掃蕩行動之一。

Police have told more than 1,200 karaoke venues in the capital to install the three-minute "educational video" as authorities clamp down on drug users and dealers ahead of the October 1 festivities, the Global Times reported.

環球時報報導,隨著當局在十一節慶前取締吸毒者與毒販,警方已告知首都地區1200多家KTV播放這段3分鐘長的「教育影片」。

"It pops up after you start the system. You can’t cut it short but have to wait till the song finishes," said Li Tong, manager of a Party World karaoke venue.

「家樂迪」KTV一家分店的店經理李同(譯音)說:「一打開(K歌)系統它(反毒宣導影片與歌曲)就會跳出來。你不能切歌,得等到這首歌唱完。」

"Some sing to it. The tunes are quite catchy."

「有些人會跟著唱。旋律還挺朗朗上口的。」

China is planning a military parade, mass song and dance performances, and fireworks on October 1 to mark the day when revolutionary leader Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of Communist China in 1949 at Tiananmen Square.

中國正準備在十月一日以閱兵、大合唱與舞蹈表演,以及放煙火,來紀念這個由革命領導人毛澤東於1949年在天安門廣場上宣佈創建的共產中國的日子。

新聞辭典

belt:動詞,俚語,指大聲用力地唱歌。例句:He’s always belting out songs while driving.(他總是一邊開車一邊嘶吼歡唱。)

crackdown: 名詞,鎮壓。例句:People around the world were both saddened and outraged by the Chinese government’s crackdown on peaceful protests in Tibet.(全世界各地民眾對中國政府鎮壓西藏的和平抗議感到既難過又憤怒。)

catchy:形容詞,吸引人;容易記得住的;微妙的,易上當的。例句:There were a lot of catchy questions on the exam.(那場測驗中有很多很微妙的問題。)

2009/10/01

Money problems ’signal dementia’ 財務技能問題預示失智

◎鄭寺音

Declining financial skills are detectable in patients in the year before they develop Alzheimer’s, according to US researchers.

根據美國研究人員指出,阿茲海默症病患發病前幾年,會發現財務技能下滑。

Previous studies have shown that problems with daily activities often precede the onset of Alzheimer’s. The research from the University of Alabama in Birmingham is published in the journal, Neurology. The researchers studied 87 people with mild cognitive impairment(MCI), 25 of whom developed Alzheimer-type dementia during the study period, and 62 who did not.

過去的研究顯示,阿茲海默症發病前,常會出現日常活動問題。這份來自伯明翰的阿拉巴馬大學的研究刊登在神經學期刊,研究人員以87名輕度認知能力受損(MCI)的人為對象,其中25人在研究期間罹患阿茲海默症類型的失智症,62名未出現失智症狀。

They compared them with 76 healthy people with no memory problems. They used a tool called the Financial Capacity Instrument(FCI)to measure their skills over a period of a year.

他們將這些患者與76名沒有記憶問題的健康人相比,他們使用一種稱為財務能力方法的工具(FCI),在一年期間內評量他們的技巧。

Tested at the start of the study and then a year later, the overall FCI scores for the 25 patients who progressed to Alzheimer’s disease, showed a 6% decline. Their skills in managing a cheque book dropped by 9%. The control group and the 62 people with MCI who did not progress to Alzheimer’s maintained the level of their FCI scores throughout the year.

在研究之初與一年之後測試,25名後來罹患阿茲海默症的病患,FCI整體分數下滑6%,處理支票簿的能力降低9%。對照組與62名未發展成阿茲海默症的輕度認知能力受損病患,FCI分數一整年內都維持水準。

新聞辭典

detectable:形容詞,可發覺的。例句:There has been no detectable change in the patient’s condition.(病患的狀況看不出有任何改變。)

precede:動詞,前導,在……之前。例句:It would be helpful if you were to precede the report with an introduction.(如果你的報告開頭能有個引言,會很有幫助。)

onset:名詞,開始。例句:The new treatment can delay the onset of the disease by several years.(這種新療法可將疾病的發病延緩數年。)