Fired up Swedish feminists burn cash over pay gap 被惹毛的瑞典女性主義者為因薪資差距燒錢

 ◎ 羅彥傑
Sweden’s Feminist party roasted a pile of bank notes worth 100,000 Swedish crowns on Tuesday in a stunt designed to highlight wage disparities between men and women ahead of a national election.
瑞典「女性主義」政黨週二燒烤一堆價值10萬瑞典克朗的紙鈔，這項宣傳的目的是要在全國大選前，凸顯男女薪資不平等。
Feminist party leader Gudrun Schyman pulled handfuls of cash from a plastic bag and threw them onto a smoking barbeque as a small crowd leaned in to take pictures. It took about 25 minutes to burn the bag’s contents.
「女性主義」黨黨魁古德朗．舒曼從塑膠袋內取出數把鈔票，丟到冒煙的烤肉架上， 一小撮群眾彎身拍照。花了約25分鐘燒完塑膠袋內的東西。
"We are doing this for fair wages," she told a crowd of some 75 people on the island of Gotland, off the southeast coast of Sweden, where political parties are gathered for a week of campaigning.
「我們這麼做是為了薪資平等，」她告訴瑞典東南岸外海的哥特蘭島約75名群眾。這裡有政黨集會，舉行一週的造勢活動。
The stunt, using money donated by an advertising agency, was designed to illustrate how women in Sweden "lose" 100,000 crowns every minute because their wages are lower than men’s, she said.
這項宣傳活動使用的錢是由某家廣告代理商捐贈，目的是說明瑞典女性因為工資低於男性，如何在每分鐘「失去」10萬克朗，她說。

新聞辭典fire up：片語，使～發怒。例句：She often fires up at the least thing.（她常為了一點小事而發飆。）
bank note：名詞，鈔票、紙鈔。例句：The Central Bank is responsible for designing, planning, producing bank notes and coins, and destroying old notes which are no longer fit to use .（央行負責設計、規劃、製造紙鈔與硬幣，並銷毀不再適用的舊紙鈔。）
handful：名詞，一把、少量。例句：His hair was beginning to fall out in handfuls.（他的頭髮正開始一把一把地脫落。）

This Day in History August 10 歷史上的今天 8月10日

The location was the Yellow Sea. The players were the naval fleets of Russia and Japan. The game was war. On this date in 1904, Japanese battleships fought Russian ones in direct combat for nearly seven hours in the Battle of the Yellow Sea. They successfully stopped the Russian battleships from breaking out of Port Arthur to join forces with their counterparts in Vladivostok. This was a crucial event in the Russo-Japanese War. The Battle of the Yellow Sea was also the first major confrontation between modern steel battleship fleets in naval history.

事發地點在黃海，參 與選手有俄國和日本的海軍艦隊。這場名為戰爭的遊戲發生於1904年的今天，日本戰艦和俄國戰艦在「黃海海戰」中正面交鋒，戰事持續近7個小時。日方成功 阻止俄國戰艦離開旅順港前往海參崴與其他俄國戰艦共同作戰的計劃。這場海戰是日俄戰爭中關鍵的一役。黃海海戰同時也是海軍史上第一場現代化戰艦之間的較 量。

單字片語

★naval a. 海軍的
★navy n. 海軍
★fleet n. 艦隊
★combat n. 戰鬥 & vt. 對抗，打擊
例：So far, 200 soldiers have died in combat this week alone.（到目前為止，光是這星期就有200名士兵在戰鬥中捐軀。）
★join forces with... 和……聯手合作
例:The local charities joined forces with the government to help the homeless.（當地的慈善機構和政府聯手幫助無家可歸的人。）
★counterpart n. 相對應的人／事／物
例：The company’s Australian counterpart was responsible for marketing and sales.（該公司的澳洲合作對象負責行銷和銷售。）
★crucial a. 重要的
例：This vaccine is crucial for preventing the spread of that deadly disease.（這種疫苗在對抗那致命疾病的散播極為重要。）
★confrontation n. 對抗；質問
★confront vt. 對抗；質問

知識大補帖

日本和俄國為了爭奪朝鮮半島（Korean Peninsula）和中國東北的控制權，於1904年2月6日爆發日俄戰爭，雙方均出動海、陸兩軍。在這場戰役中，海軍打了4場主要的海戰（圖，翻攝網 路），其中包括黃海海戰。日本在日俄戰爭勝利後，開始在東北亞取得軍事優勢，以及在朝鮮半島和中國東北駐軍的能力，使俄國拓展此區的野心受到阻撓。當時日 俄戰爭的陸上戰場在清朝的滿州地區，積弱不振的清朝政府被迫宣布中立，並為這場戰爭劃出一塊交戰區。

Rags to riches for ’China’s sexiest tramp’ 「中國最性感流浪漢」從貧窮落魄到富有

 ◎管淑平
Chinese homeless man Cheng Guorong became an unlikely sex symbol after he was forced on to the streets when he was fired from his job and robbed of his savings.
中國流浪漢程國榮變成一名令人想不到的性感象徵，在他被解僱、又被搶走積蓄而被迫流浪街頭後。
The 34-year-old man was snapped by an amateur photographer as he wandered the streets of Ningbo, begging for food and rummaging in bins for cigarette butts last year. With his long unkempt hair, scraggly beard and prominent cheekbones, Mr Cheng was dubbed ‘China’s sexiest tramp’ and ‘Brother Sharp’ when the images of him were posted online in January.
這名34歲男子去年在寧波街頭遊蕩，乞討食物、翻垃圾桶找菸蒂時，被一名業餘攝影師拍下。當他的照片1月被張貼在網路上，一頭凌亂長髮、留著鬍子、瘦削又突出的顴骨，讓程國榮有了「中國最性感流浪漢」和「犀利哥」的綽號。
Cheng moved there in 1996 to find work to support his family – but was too ashamed to contact his family after he lost his job and his savings. His relatives thought he was dead until they saw the images on the internet.
程國榮1996年搬到寧波去找工作養家，但在丟了工作和積蓄後，沒臉與家人聯絡。他的親人以為他死了，直到他們在網路上看到這些照片。
Since his virtual fame, Mr Cheng, who has been left shy and withdrawn after his experiences, has received offers to appear in advertisements and he has also worked as a catwalk model. His caring fans have also donated 100,000 yuan to help him get his life on track.
自從在網路上成名後，因為個人遭遇而變得害羞又內向的程國榮，已經獲邀拍廣告，也當模特兒走秀。關心他的粉絲也捐了10萬元人民幣幫他重拾正常生活。
Now, his incredible rags-to-riches story is to be told on the big screen, with filming for a movie due to start in September.
現在，他令人不可思議的從赤貧到富有故事將搬上大銀幕，電影即將在9月開拍。
◎新聞辭典：
rags to riches：片語，從一貧如洗到富有。例句：
After winning the lottery jackpot, he went from rags to riches overnight. （贏了樂透頭彩後，他一夕之間從一貧如洗變成富翁。）
tramp：除了踐踏之意，還有名詞俚語「流浪漢」、「放蕩的女人」之意。例句：That drunk tramp is wandering the streets begging for whisky. （那個喝醉的流浪漢在街上遊蕩討酒喝。）
unkempt：形容詞，不修邊幅的、蓬頭垢面的。例句：Please don’t show up to the party with that unkempt appearance.（拜託別以那副不修邊幅的模樣出席派對。）

This Day in History August 9… 歷史上的今天8月9日

It is probably the best-known freestanding bell tower in all of Italy, if not the world. On this date in 1173, construction began on the Tower of Pisa. However, it started sinking when work on the third floor began in 1178. This was due to a weak foundation and resulted in the tower leaning to one side. Construction was put on hold for about 100 years because of war. Fortunately, this gave the foundation time to settle. Finally, two centuries after the first piece of marble was laid, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was completed. In 1987, this work of art was declared a World Heritage Site by the UN.

這座獨棟鐘塔就算不 是世上最著名的，也很可能是全義大利最名聞遐邇的。在1173年的今天，比薩斜塔開始動工了。然而在1178年，當工程進行到第3層樓時，塔身卻因地基不 穩開始下陷，導致塔身傾向一邊。由於戰爭的關係，工程被迫延宕了100年左右，所幸這樣的情形讓地基有時間來穩固。最終，在鋪上第一塊大理石的兩個世紀 後，比薩斜塔完工了。1987年，聯合國宣布此藝術之作為世界文化遺產。

知識大補帖

在不久的未來，比薩斜塔（圖，資料照片）將被阿拉伯聯合大公國阿布達比 （Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates）的未來新地標（landmark）—首都門（Capital Gate）給超越。首都門是一座尚未完工就獲得金氏世界紀錄（Guinness World Records）認證為全世界最斜的人造塔，因為整座塔向西傾斜18度，傾角足足是比薩斜塔的4倍。據悉，整座塔高160公尺，共35層，總面積約5萬2 千平方公尺，較低的樓層是辦公室，而頂樓則將是5星級飯店。

單字片語

◎freestanding
a.獨立式的
◎construction
n. 建造；建築物
例：This church has been under construction since the beginning of March.
（自從3月初以來，這座教堂就一直在興建中。）
◎sink
vi.陷落，下沉
例：The fishing boat struck a rock and began to sink.
（那艘漁船撞上岩石後便開始下沉。）
◎foundation
n.（建築物的）地基；基礎
◎marble
n.大理石
◎declare
vt.宣布，宣告
例：The judge declared us husband and wife.
（法官宣布我們成為一對夫妻。）
◎heritage
n.遺產

Cloistered French nuns are record label’s new sales hope 與世隔絕的法國修女成唱片公司最新銷售希望

 ◎俞智敏
A group of Benedictine nuns who live in complete seclusion in the South of France are set to become divas of pop after signing a deal with Universal Music, the leading record company behind Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse.
一群住在法國南部、完全與世隔絕的本篤會修女即將成為流行音樂女伶，因為她們已和環球音樂公司簽下合約，女神卡卡與艾美懷絲等歌星都是這家重要唱片公司的旗下藝人。
After a worldwide search for the finest exponents of the art of the Gregorian chant, the Nuns of the Abbaye de Notre-Dame de L’Annonciation have signed a deal with Universal’s Decca Records label. The enclosed order still communicates with outsiders through a grille to avoid intrusion into a life of religious devotion. As a result, the nuns in the abbey will have to photograph their own album cover, as well as provide the footage for their television advertisements.
在全球各地尋訪葛利果聖歌的最佳代言人後，「聖母領報修道院」的修女們終於和環球公司旗下的迪卡唱片簽約。這個隱居教團至今仍只能透過護柵與外人溝通，以免其虔誠的宗教生活受到侵擾。因此修道院的修女們必須自行拍攝唱片封面，還得自行提供電視廣告的影片。
The order, based near Avignon, dates back to the 6th century and follows a strict tradition of living behind closed doors once novice nuns have taken their vows. Sisters then remain inside the convent until death.
這所修道院位於亞維農附近，成立於西元六世紀，初學修女一旦發願後就必須遵守嚴格的遁世傳統。修女們將在院內終老一生。
"We never sought this, it came looking for us," said the Rev Mother Abbess. "At first we were worried it would affect our cloistered life, so we asked St Joseph in prayer. Our prayers were answered and we thought that this album would be a good thing if it touches people’s lives and helps them find peace."
「我們從未主動尋求，而是它找上了我們，」修道院長表示。「一開始我們擔心此事可能會影響我們遠離塵世的生活，所以我們向聖約瑟禱告。結果我們的禱告獲得了回應，我們認為假如這張專輯能夠打動人們的生命、幫助他們找到平靜，那就是件好事。」
新聞辭典
cloister： 動詞，指與世隔絕，或用迴廊環繞，如She is a scientist who cloisters herself in a laboratory.（她是個在實驗室裡與外界隔絕的科學家。）或cloistered gardens（有迴廊環繞的花園）。作名詞用時即指（修道院或大學的）迴廊、也可指修道院、或指修道院內的生活。
exponent：名詞，指（原理、學說等的）闡述者、說明者，或倡導者、代表者、典型，如Jacqueline du Pre’ was a leading exponent of cello-playing.（杜普蕾是大提琴演奏的主要代表人物。）
footage： 名詞，原指以英尺表示的長度，如estimated the square footage of new office space.（估計新辦公室空間的面積），亦可指（以英尺計算的）影片長度，再引申為指影片，尤指有關某特殊事件的影片，如news footage of the royal wedding（王室婚禮的新聞影片）。

This Day in History August 8

Orville and Wilbur Wright had their heads in the clouds, literally. They were the two Americans that are credited with making the world's first successful airplane. They had worked for years and tried out many different designs before they got it right. On this date in 1908, the Wright Brothers made their first public flight. The brothers had made successful flights before this, but they wanted to show their invention to the world after patenting it. The public flight took place on a racetrack near Le Mans, France. The flight lasted one minute and 45 seconds. Although it was short, everyone watching was amazed at how well Wilbur Wright controlled the plane.

歷史上的今天 8月8日…

奧維爾和維爾伯．萊特還真的非常有凌雲壯志。這兩位美國人 的功勞就是發明全球首架成功飛行的飛機。他們在成功之前已經努力多年，並測試了許多不同種的飛機設計。在1908年的今天，萊特兄弟進行首次的公開飛行 （圖，網路照片）。在此之前，兩兄弟已經數度順利升空，但他們在取得專利後想向世人展現他們的發明。這場公開飛行在法國利曼附近的一條賽道上進行，飛行的 時間持續了1分鐘又45秒之久。雖然時間不算長，但所有觀眾都對維爾伯．萊特能如此巧妙控制飛機感到相當讚嘆。

單字片語

◎have one’s head in the clouds
（某人）做白日夢；耽於空想
◎literally
adv.照字面意思地；實在地
◎try out...
試驗／試用……（非身上所穿之物）
◎invention
n.發明物（可數）；發明（不可數）
◎patent
vt.取得……的專利& n.專利權
例：Alexander Graham Bell was the first to patent the telephone.（貝爾是第一個取得電話專利的人。）
◎racetrack
n.（賽車、賽跑、賽馬等用的）賽道
◎be amazed at...
對……感到驚訝

Lady Gaga touts abstinence to protect creativity 女神卡卡宣揚禁慾以保護創意

 ◎陳成良
U.S. pop star Lady Gaga is known for her skimpy outfits and sexually-charged performances, but she says she fears having sex with a partner could deplete her artistic energy.
美國流行歌壇巨星女神卡卡以衣不蔽體及表演充滿性愛意味而著稱，但她表示，她擔心與伴侶作愛，可能會耗盡自己的藝術能量。
"I have this weird thing that if I sleep with someone they’re going to take my creativity through my vagina," the performer said in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine that was released on Monday.
「我有這種怪念頭，認為如果我和某人上床，他們會透過我的私處奪走我的創意，」這名演藝人員在週一出刊的《浮華世界》雜誌專訪中說。
Lady Gaga is not the only pop star to laud the value of abstinence, but she may be among the first to tout it as a boost to creativity. Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, and American Idol-winner Jordin Sparks have all worn "promise rings" to symbolize a pledge of chastity until marriage.
女神卡卡並非第一個讚美禁慾好處的流行文化偶像，但將其標榜為提升創造力，她可能是先鋒之一。麥莉希拉、喬納斯兄弟及「美國偶像」冠軍裘汀史芭克絲，都配戴「貞操戒指」，來象徵要到結婚才獻出初夜的承諾。
Even Bristol Palin, the daughter of former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, has become the face of an abstinence campaign after she became pregnant at the age of 16 and gave birth to a son.
就連美國前共和黨副總統參選人培琳的女兒布莉絲朵在16歲懷孕並生下一子後，都已成為禁慾運動的代言人。
Lady Gaga is on the cover of the September issue of Vanity Fair. In the interview, Gaga also speaks about drug use and family.
女神卡卡是9月號《浮華世界》封面人物。在訪談中，卡卡也談到了嗑藥以及家人。
新聞辭典
abstinence ：名詞，指（飲食及享樂方面的）節制；禁慾；戒酒後常接介系詞from。用法如：protracted abstinence from soap（長期不用肥皂）。
deplete：動詞，使枯竭、使耗竭。例句︰The world oil reserve is gradually depleted.（全球原油蘊藏正逐漸枯竭中。）
chastity：名詞，貞潔；獨身生活； 禁慾。例句：She will defend her chastity.（她將維護自己的貞操。）