2009/08/31

Annie Leibovitz, photographer of stars, faces ruin 明星攝影師安妮萊波維茨面臨破產

◎管淑平

Annie Leibovitz is as famous as the people she photographs. The stylized, hyper-realistic portraits she produced, had a long line of celebrities beating a path to Leibovitz’s door. But now the genius behind the lens is close to financial ruin -- a victim, some say, of her own relentless artistic ambition.

安妮萊波維茨的名氣和她拍攝對象一樣大,她拍出的別具風格、超現實肖像,吸引一大堆名人爭相上門。但是現在這位鏡頭後操刀的天才正面臨財務破產,有些人說,她是被她自己無盡的藝術野心所害。

Among the qualities making Leibovitz, 59, the most sought after portrait photographer in the world are legendary perfectionism and the pouring of resources into lavish sets. Yet behind a facade of unlimited financial means, Leibovitz was spending her way into nightmare.

造就現年59歲的萊波維茨成為當今全球最炙手可熱肖像攝影師地位的特質,是她出了名的完美主義和斥資投入豪華場景。然而這種毫無限制的花錢法,其實已經為她帶來惡夢。

Despite moving in such glamorous circles, Leibovitz has never been known for having a knack for finance. In what now appears as a disastrous decision to raise funds, Leibovitz took a 24-million-dollar loan from Art Capital Group (ACG) in December 2008 using her own photographs as collateral.

儘管遊走如此光鮮亮麗的圈子,萊波維茨向來就不善理財。在一項現在看來顯然是災難性的募資決定中,萊波維茨2008年12月以她的照片當抵押品,向「藝術資本集團」貸款2400萬美元。

That debt is due September 8 and if she can’t pay up, the over-leveraged photographer could lose her life’s work.

這筆債務將在9月8日到期,如果屆時她無法償還,這名過度借貸的攝影師可能失去她的畢生心血。

新聞辭典

beat a path to someone’s door:片語,蜂擁前往造訪。例句:Filmmakers will beat a path to your door after you made a name.(你闖出名號後,製片家就會爭相上門。)

over- leveraged:形容詞,過度借貸的、財務槓桿操作過頭的。例句:Some over-leveraged enterprisers went broke during this economic crisis.(有些財務槓桿操作過頭的企業家在這波經濟危機中破產。)

have a knack for:片語,擅長某項技能,特別是指能輕而易舉完成某種難以學習的事情。例句:Since when did you have a knack for picking up girls?(你什麼時候開始懂得把妹了?)

2009/08/30

Knut the polar bear to get Italian girlfriend 北極熊克努特將找到義大利女友

◎俞智敏

Knut the polar bear to get Italian girlfriend

北極熊克努特將找到義大利女友

Knut the polar bear, who became a worldwide media sensation as a cub in 2007, will soon be joined in Berlin zoo by Gianna, a female companion originally from Italy, German reports said.

根據德國媒體報導,兩年前曾轟動全球媒體的北極熊克努特,即將在柏林動物園與吉安娜相遇,這隻準備跟他作伴的母熊原本來自義大利。

The two-year-old Gianna will be moved from Hellabrunn zoo in Munich and introduced to the strapping snow-white Knut in mid-September, daily Tagesspiegel said, citing a zoo official.

每日鏡報引述動物園官員的話說,兩歲大的吉安娜將於九月中從慕尼黑動物園搬來,再被介紹給身材高大、全身雪白的克努特。

Knut drew an outpouring of sympathy around the globe after his mother cast him out as a cuddly cub. He is now also two and will only reach sexual maturity in another two years. Because he has not encountered other polar bears since his early childhood, special measures will be put in place to ensure the meeting runs smoothly.

克努特還是可愛的幼熊時遭母親遺棄,引發全球同情。現在他也已兩歲,但還要再過兩年才會進入性成熟期。由於他從小就沒見過其他北極熊,園方將採取特別措施,確保克努特與女友的會面進行順利。

The paper quotes Heiner Kloes, bearkeeper at Berlin zoo, as saying he is confident the good-natured Knut will instinctively get on well with Gianna.

該報引述柏林動物園北極熊保育員克羅斯的話說,他有信心,天性和善的克努特會出於本能地與吉安娜和睦相處。

However, Gianna herself is carrying some baggage. She had to be separated from another bear, 10-year-old Yoghi, as the two did not see eye-to-eye.

不過,吉安娜本人卻背負著不少情感包袱。她曾和另一隻北極熊、10歲大的尤基看不對眼,所以兩熊只好分居。

新聞辭典

sensation: 名詞,指引發轟動、激動的人或事物,如 The scandal about the president caused a sensation.(總統的醜聞造成大轟動。)或The show was an overnight sensation.(這場表演立即引起轟動,意指迅速成功。)形容詞則為sensational,形容(正面的)非常好、令人激動或特殊,如She looks sensational in her new dress.(她穿著那件新禮服顯得非常動人。)

strapping:形容詞,指魁梧的、高大健壯的,如A big strapping lad like you shouldn’t have much difficulty lifting that!(像你這樣高壯的年輕人,拿起那東西應該是輕而易舉!)

baggage:名詞,原指行李、裝備等,文中則為非正式用語,形容影響到未來的原有知識或經驗,如We all carry a lot of emotional baggage around with us.(我們每個人身上都背負著許多情感包袱。)

2009/08/29

Flu drugs little use for children 流感藥物對兒童效用不大

◎陳成良

British doctors say Tamiflu should not be given to children suffering from flu because it does little good and increases vomiting and other side effects.

英國醫師表示,不該讓罹患流感的兒童服用克流感,因為它帶來的好處不多,還會增加嘔吐及其他副作用。

They called for a rethink of current widespread use of antivirals among under-12s in the light of an analysis of clinical data from past seasonal flu outbreaks showing scant benefits and potentially harmful side effects.

有鑑於一項針對過去季節性流感疫情爆發的臨床資料分析顯示(流感藥物對兒童)好處不多且可能產生有害副作用,他們籲請重新思考當前普遍讓12歲以下兒童服用抗病毒藥的作法。

Governments around the world have built up large stockpiles of Roche’s Tamiflu and GlaxoSmithKline’s Relenza to deal with the current H1N1 flu pandemic.

世界各國政府已儲備大量羅氏藥廠的克流感以及葛蘭素史克藥廠的瑞樂沙,以因應當前H1N1流感大流行。

In Britain, hundreds of thousands of doses of Tamiflu have been handed out to people with the disease, of whom around half are children.

在英國,數十萬劑克流感已發放給新流感患者,其中約半數是兒童。

But Dr. Matthew Thompson from the University of Oxford said that while antivirals shortened the duration of flu in children by around a day, they didn’t reduce asthma flare-ups or the likelihood of children needing antibiotics.

不過牛津大學的湯普森博士表示,雖然抗病毒藥可縮短兒童的病程約一天,但無法減少氣喘突然發作,也無法降低兒童需服用抗生素的可能性。

新聞辭典

in the light of :片語,考慮到;根據;鑑於;從……的觀點。例句:He rewrote the book in the light of further research. (他根據進一步的研究重寫了那部書。)

scant:形容詞,微小的;不足的;欠缺的。例句:I paid scant attention to what she was saying. (我沒太注意她在說什麼。)

flare-up:名詞,(疾病等的)突然發作;(怒氣、激烈情緒等)爆發。例句:Talking too much in class will cause the teacher to flare up.

(在課堂上說太多話會讓老師勃然大怒。)

2009/08/28

Ohio man routinely mistaken for famous astronaut 俄亥俄州男子經常被誤認為知名的太空人

◎ 張沛元

Sharing a name with someone who lives in your area isn’t usually a big deal - unless your name is Neil Armstrong.

與某個住在你附近的人同名通常沒什麼大不了——除非你的名字是尼爾.阿姆斯壯。

Thirty-eight-year-old Neil Allen Armstrong, a financial services professional from Symmes Township in suburban Cincinnati, says he constantly gets calls and packages from autograph seekers, school kids and reporters. He tries to explain he’s not the Neil Armstrong who was the first man to walk on the moon. But people don’t always believe him.

38歲的尼爾.艾倫.阿姆斯壯是一名金融服務專業人士,來自辛辛那提郊區的辛姆斯鎮,他說他經常接到想要簽名的人、學童以及記者打來的電話與寄來包裹。他試圖解釋他不是那個第一個踏上月球的尼爾.阿姆斯壯,但人們不是都相信。

Neil Alden Armstrong, the 78-year-old former astronaut, lives in nearby Indian Hills. He rarely appears in public but was back in the news recently with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.

78歲的尼爾.艾爾登.阿姆斯壯是前美國太空人,現居附近的印地安崗。他鮮少公開露面,但近日隨著阿波羅11號任務屆滿40週年而重新成為新聞人物。

Armstrong, the non-astronaut, says he has never met his namesake but would welcome the opportunity. For now, he’ll continue telling people he’s not that Neil - just an average Joe.

不是太空人的阿姆斯壯說,他從沒見過跟他同名的那位太空人,但若有機會很樂意見上一面。目前,他將繼續告訴人們他不是那個尼爾——只是一介凡人。

新聞辭典

mistake A for B:片語,把A誤當作B(A與B可以是人或物)。例句:The building of a funeral home is always mistaken for a grand hotel.(那棟殯儀館大樓總被誤認為是一間大飯店。)

not a big deal:俚語,(某事)不困難或麻煩;沒什麼大不了。

joe:俚語,傢伙;咖啡(美式用法)。例句:Would you like to have a cup of joe before you go?(你走之前要不要來杯咖啡?)

2009/08/27

Facial expressions not global臉部表情並非全球一致

◎鄭寺音

A new study suggests that people from different cultures read facial expressions differently. East Asian participants in the study focused mostly on the eyes, but those from the West scanned the whole face.

新研究顯示,來自不同文化的人,對臉部表情會有不同解讀,研究中來自東亞的參與者大部分注意眼睛,西方人則會掃視全臉。

In the research carried out by a team from Glasgow University, East Asian observers found it more difficult to distinguish some facial expressions. The work published in Current Biology journal challenges the idea facial expressions are universally understood.

在這份格拉斯哥大學進行的研究中,東亞觀察者對分辨部分臉部表情較感困難。這份刊登於當代生物學期刊的研究報告,挑戰臉部表情各地解讀都一樣的觀念。

In the study, East Asians were more likely than Westerners to read the expression for "fear" as "surprise", and "disgust" as "anger".

研究中,東亞人比西方人更容易把害怕解讀成驚訝,討厭解讀成憤怒。

The researchers say the confusion arises because people from different cultural groups observe different parts of the face when interpreting expression. East Asians participants tended to focus on the eyes of the other person, while Western subjects took in the whole face, including the eyes and the mouth.

研究人員說,之所以產生這種混淆,是因為來自不同文化族群的人,解讀表情時,觀察臉部的不同部位。東亞參與者較專注於眼睛,西方人則觀察全臉,包括眼睛與嘴巴。

新聞辭典

distinguish:動詞,分辨。例句:I sometimes have difficulty distinguishing Spanish from Portuguese.(我有時候不太能分辨西班牙文與葡萄牙文。)

arise:動詞,產生。例句:Should the opportunity arise, I’d love to go to China.(如果有機會,我很願意去中國。)

take sth in:片語,觀看(電影與表演等)。例句:I thought we might get something to eat and then take in a movie.(我原本以為我們可能會吃點東西然後看電影。)

2009/08/26

Drunk-driving lottery winner tries to bribe cop 酒駕樂透得主試圖行賄警察

◎ 魏國金

A French EuroMillions lottery winner has been found guilty of trying to bribe traffic police after they caught him drunk at the wheel of a souped-up Ferrari, his lawyer said.

法國籍的歐洲百萬樂透彩得主,在被交通警察逮到醉醺醺地駕駛一輛加大馬力的法拉利後,因試圖行賄而被判有罪,他的律師指出。

Pascal Brun, a 39-year-old former butcher who began collecting Italian sportscars after scooping a 26-million-euro jackpot in 2004, was nabbed on France’s Atlantic coast near Bordeaux, local media reported.

2004年抱走2600萬歐元彩金後,開始蒐集義大利跑車的39歲前肉販巴斯卡.布魯恩,在接近波爾多的法國大西洋海岸線上被捕,當地媒體報導。

Police noticed the millionaire seemed heavily drunk after asking him to move his yellow Ferrari, which was badly parked near the seafront. A breathalyser test showed him to be four times over the limit.

警察在要求他移動他亂停在海濱附近的黃色法拉利後,注意到這名百萬富豪似乎爛醉如泥。呼吸酒測顯示,他的酒精濃度超過限制範圍四倍。

Brun invited the two traffic wardens to his house for an aperitif -- and offered each of them 1,000 euros to turn a blind eye, the paper said.

布魯恩邀請兩名交通警察到家裡品嘗餐前酒,並給每人1000歐元,以讓他們睜隻眼閉隻眼,報紙報導。

Convicted of drunk-driving and of trying to corrupt a public official, the millionaire was handed a six-month jail sentence. His driving licence was revoked again and the court impounded his car, a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.

由於被判定酒駕與試圖行賄公務員罪,這位百萬富豪被處以6個月徒刑。他的駕照再度被吊銷,法院並沒收他的法拉利Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano。

In Brun’s defence, lawyer Pierre Blazy said he been increasingly lonely since his lottery win, and that cars were his "only passion".

在布魯恩的辯護上,律師布萊齊說,自他贏得樂透後,日漸寂寞,而車子是他「唯一的熱情」。

新聞辭典

souped-up︰馬力(效率、力量)增強的。soup有增強、變得更生動之意。例如,soup up an old story(給老故事添枝加葉,使之更生動。)

turn a blind eye︰視而不見、視若無睹。例句︰The president turned a blind eye to corruption within his administration.(總統對政府中的貪腐現象視若無睹。)

hand︰在此指宣判。例句︰The jury handed down a verdict of guilty.(陪審團宣判被告有罪。)

2009/08/25

Sudanese woman in trouser case banned from travel蘇丹女子因穿褲而被禁止旅遊

◎羅彥傑

Sudan has barred Lubna Hussein, a woman who faces 40 lashes for wearing trousers in violation of decency laws, from travelling abroad.

蘇丹已禁止魯布娜.胡笙出國,而這名女子因為穿褲裝違反善良風俗法,而面臨40次鞭笞。

Hussein said she tried to leave for Lebanon on Tuesday after a television channel asked her to appear in a programme there.

胡笙說,她試圖在週二離境前往黎巴嫩,因為那裡的一家電視頻道要求她在節目中亮相。

"It emerged when I tried to get an exit visa that my name was on a blacklist," she told Reuters. "There is no way to get out of Sudan."

「當我試圖取得出境簽證時,才曉得我的名字在黑名單中,」她告訴路透。「沒有辦法離開蘇丹。」

Hussein was arrested at a party in July and, with 12 other women, charged with being indecently dressed. A former reporter, Hussein has publicised her case, posing in loose trousers for photos and calling journalists to support her.

胡笙在7月間的一場派對中被捕,而且和其他12名女子,一併被控服裝儀容不檢。曾是記者的胡笙,已把自己所涉案件公諸於世,穿著寬鬆褲裝拍照,並呼籲記者支持她。

Her defence lawyer Nabil Abdalla told Reuters that Hussein, who is on bail, should be free to travel. To bar her from travel, he said a court would have to issue a specific order and Hussein would have the right to challenge it.

她的辯護律師納比爾.阿達拉告訴路透,已交保的胡笙應享有旅行自由。他說,為禁止她旅行,法院將必須發佈一道特定命令,而胡笙將有權利提出異議。

新聞辭典

lash:名詞,指鞭子、鞭打,亦可當動詞用。例句:He gave the prisoner ten lashes.(他抽了囚犯10鞭。)

blacklist: 名詞,黑名單。例句:A number of governments around the world have taken steps to avoid being placed on the blacklist.(世界各地許多政府已採取步驟,避免被列入黑名單。)

on bail:片語,交保。例句:There was no reason to suggest Allen would intimidate any witnesses if released on bail.(沒有理由指稱艾倫如果交保獲釋就會恫嚇任何目擊證人。)jump/skip bail指棄保潛逃。

2009/08/24

Happy ending for love letter pair情書傳情情侶的快樂結局

◎管淑平

A man has married an old-flame after a love letter he wrote 10 years ago was discovered behind a fireplace by workmen.

一名男子娶了昔日舊愛,在他10年前寫的一封情書被工人在壁爐後發現之後。

Steve Smith met Spaniard Carmen Ruiz-Perez 17 years ago when she was an exchange student in Devon. The pair had been engaged but their relationship fizzled out after Ruiz-Perez went to live in Paris.

史提夫.史密斯17年前與西班牙人卡門.瑞茲—裴瑞茲相識,當時她是德文郡交換學生。這對情侶原已訂婚,但是瑞茲—裴瑞茲後來移居巴黎,兩人關係也不了了之。

Smith sent her a letter via her mother’s home in Spain. The letter was put on the mantlepiece and forgotten about before it slipped down the back of the fireplace. It was only ten years later when workmen carrying out renovations removed the fireplace that they discovered the letter.

史密斯曾透過她在西班牙的媽媽家寄給她一封信,這封信放在壁爐台上就被忘了,後來滑到壁爐後面,直到10年後裝修工人搬開壁爐才發現。

Ms Ruiz-Perez rang her former boy friend and then they met up in Paris. Like a storyline straight from Hollywood, the pair, now both aged 42, fell in love all over again and tied the knot on July 17th.

於是,瑞茲—裴瑞茲打電話給前男友,然後兩人在巴黎碰面。就像好萊塢電影般,這對現今都已42歲的情人再度相戀,並在7月17日結婚。

Mr Smith said: ’’We met up and fell in love all over again. Within 30 seconds of setting eyes on each other we were kissing."

史密斯先生說:「我們再度相遇、相戀。見面不到30秒就開始熱吻了。」

"I never got married and now I’ve married the man I have always loved," Ms Ruiz-Perez, who has now become Mrs Smith, said.

「我一直沒結婚,現在嫁給了我一直愛著的男人。」現在已經成為史密斯太太的瑞茲—裴瑞茲說。

新聞辭典

old flame:俚語,舊情人。例句:She bumped into her old flame on that party.(她在那場派對上與舊情人不期而遇。)

fizzle out:片語,失敗、以令人失望的情況結束。例句:Our romance fizzled out, just like that.(我們的戀情就突然成為幻影。)

set eyes on:片語,第一眼看見。例句:I know when I set eyes on him that he is the one I’m looking for.(我第一眼看到他,就知道他就是我在找的人。)

2009/08/23

Fire risk ’super’ ants discovered 造成火災風險的「超級」螞蟻被發現

◎俞智敏

Ants believed to have a "kamikaze attraction" to electricity have been discovered in one of England’s finest National Trust gardens.

據信對電流有種「自殺式吸引力」的螞蟻已在英國國民信託組織所有的一座花園中被發現。

Colonies of lasius neglectus, the so-called Asian super ant, have being found at Hidcote Manor, near Chipping Campden, in Gloucestershire.

這種被稱為亞洲超級螞蟻、學名為lasius neglectus的大群蟻巢已在格洛斯特郡契平坎頓附近的希迪寇特莊園內被發現。

It is thought to be the first recorded sighting in the UK, although they have been spotted in mainland Europe. They are naturally drawn to electrical currents so can pose a fire risk.

這是英國首次紀錄到這種螞蟻現身,不過牠們在歐洲大陸也曾零星出現。這種螞蟻天生就會受電流所吸引,因此可能造成火災風險。

The species was first identified in Budapest 20 years ago. The ants look like a common black garden variety.

這種螞蟻20年前首度在布達佩斯被發現,牠們外形就跟一般的黑色花園螞蟻很類似。

English Heritage and the National Trust carried out investigations into infestations within the Hidcote estate to identify them as lasius neglectus.

英格蘭遺產協會與國民信託組織針對莊園內的蟻害進行調查後,確認這種螞蟻即為lasius neglectus。

Their compulsion to follow electricity is stronger than their need for food or drink. Swarms of ants around electrical cables can cause blackouts. The National Trust said 35,000 ant carcasses were found in one electrical junction box at Hidcote.

牠們跟隨電流的衝動甚至大過對食物或飲水的需要,在電線周遭的大批蟻群可能會導致停電。國民信託組織表示,光是在希迪寇特莊園的一處接線箱旁就發現了多達3萬5千具蟻屍。

新聞辭典

kamikaze:名詞,指(二次世界大戰時日本軍國主義的)神風特攻隊飛行員或其戰機,形容詞則指神風特攻隊式的、自殺式的(通常置於名詞前),如a kamikaze attack/mission(一次自殺式攻擊/任務)。

infestation:名詞,指(動植物的)寄生蟲侵擾,如a flea infestation(跳蚤肆虐),動詞為infest。

garden- variety:名詞,指常見品種,用於形容詞則必須置於名詞前,指常見品種的,或指普通的、平凡的,如It’s just a garden-variety shopping mall, large but not special in any way. (這只不過是間普通的購物中心,面積雖大卻毫無特殊之處。)

2009/08/22

Toshiba to Launch Fuel-cell Charger Soon 東芝近期將推出燃料電池充電器

◎陳成良

Toshiba plans to launch an external battery charger based on a DMFC (direct methanol fuel cell) in the next two months, its new president said on Wednesday.

東芝公司計劃在未來兩個月內推出一款以「直接甲醇型燃料電池」(DMFC)為基礎的外接式電池充電器,該公司新任社長週三說。

The charger will be a portable device that can be used to charge the batteries in portable gadgets such as cell phones, music players and portable game devices instead of plugging them into an electrical outlet.

這種充電器將會是一個可攜式裝置,能用來為攜帶型裝置,諸如手機、音樂播放器及手持式遊戲機的電池充電,而不用將它們插入電源插座。

DMFCs produce electricity from a reaction between methanol, water and air. The only by-products are a small amount of water vapor and carbon dioxide, so DMFCs are often seen as a greener source of energy than traditional batteries. Another advantage is that they can be replenished with a new cartridge of methanol in seconds.

DMFC透過甲醇、水及空氣的交互作用發電,副產品只有少量水蒸氣及二氧化碳,因此DMFC經常被視為比傳統電池更環保的能源來源。另一個優點是它們能夠在數秒鐘內以新的甲醇匣補充電力。

The new charger will be on sale before the end of the first half of Toshiba’s current financial year, which is the period from April to September.

這種新充電器將在東芝本會計年度上半年(4至9月)結束前上市。

Following the launch of the portable charger Toshiba will look at commercializing DMFCs for cell phones and laptop computers, it said.

推出這種可攜式充電器之後,東芝將著眼於將手機及膝上型電腦的DMFC商業化,他說。

新聞辭典

gadget:名詞,(夠酷、很炫的)小器具;小裝置;小玩意。例句:She likes those clever little gadgets. (她喜愛那些做得很巧妙的小玩意兒。)

replenish:動詞,補充;重新裝滿;給……再添燃料。例句:We need to replenish manpower. (我們需要補充人力。)

look at:片語,考慮;著眼於。例句:What he looks at is its economy.(他是從經濟角度看問題的。)

2009/08/21

NY baseball team celebrates expectant moms at game 紐約棒球隊在比賽中為準媽媽慶祝

◎ 張沛元

A New York City minor league baseball team has pulled off an unusual pre-game warmup.

紐約市的一支小聯盟棒球隊舉行了一場不尋常的賽前熱身。

The Brooklyn Cyclones offered a Lamaze class in center field before Sunday night’s game. It was one of the activities as part of the "Bellies and Baseball: A Salute to Pregnancy" event.

「布魯克林旋風」隊在週日晚間的比賽之前,在球場中外野上拉梅茲課程。這是「肚皮與棒球:向懷孕致敬」活動的多項節目之一。

Other activities at the theme night for the affiliate of the New York Mets included expectant moms running - or walking - the bases without shoes before the game, women in their third trimesters throwing out ceremonial first pitches and pregnant women singing on the field during the seventh-inning stretch.

這場主題夜的其他活動,包括準媽媽在賽前光腳跑壘——或走路,懷孕後期的孕婦開球,以及孕婦在第七局中場在球場上唱歌。這支球隊是紐約大都會隊旗下的小聯盟隊伍。

There was a craving station consisting of pickles, ice cream and pizza.

現場還有一個包括醃黃瓜、冰淇淋與披薩的食物現切台。

The team says any expectant mom who agrees to name her child Brooklyn or Cy gets free season tickets for life.

該棒球隊表示,任何同意將她的孩子命名為「布魯克林」或「 Cy 」的準媽媽,都能獲得終生免費季票。

新聞辭典

pull off something:片語,努力實現某事,成功做到某件困難或未料想到的事。例句:Nobody thought that he would be able to do it, but he pulled it off in the end.(沒有人認為他能做到,但他最後還是辦到了。)

belly:名詞,肚皮。諺語,A growing youth has a wolf in his belly,成長中的年輕人肚裡有匹狼,形容發育中的年輕人食量大。

for life:片語,終生。例句:The accident caused him to become handicapped for life.(那件意外導致他終生殘障。)

2009/08/20

Face shape clue to mental decline 臉型是心智衰退的線索

◎鄭寺音

Men with symmetrical faces are less likely to lose their memory and intelligence in later life, according to researchers. Psychologists at the University of Edinburgh found a link between facial symmetry and mental performance between the ages of 79 and 83.

根據研究人員,臉型對稱的人比較不會在晚年喪失記憶與智力。愛丁堡大學的心理學家發現,79到83歲之間,臉部對稱與心智表現有關聯。

The researchers analysed results of the 1932 Scottish Mental Survey and mapped the faces of subjects from photographs. They said it could show a link between physical condition and mental decline.

研究人員分析1932份蘇格蘭心智調查結果,從照片描繪樣本的臉部。他們說,這樣可以顯示身體狀況與心智衰退的關聯。

Facial symmetry, the researchers argued, may indicate a man has experienced fewer genetic and environmental disturbances such as diseases, toxins, malnutrition or genetic mutations during his development.

研究人員認為,臉部對稱可能指出一個人在發育時,經歷過較少的基因與環境干擾,比方說疾病、毒素、營養不足或是基因變異。

Dr Lars Penke, who led the study, said: "Previous research has suggested that cognitive decline is an aspect of body-wide ageing. This link could show that facial symmetry can be used as a marker which could predict this decline."

領導這份研究的潘奇博士說:「過去的研究顯示,認知衰退是身體老化的其中一面。這種關聯可能顯示,臉部對稱可被用為預測這項衰退的指標。」

The team was unable to find comparable results in women. One explanation suggested by the researchers was that DNA has a different effect on ageing among women. Another theory was that mental decline is delayed in women because, on average, they live longer.

團隊並未發現女性有類似的結果,研究人員提出的其中一個解釋是,DNA對女性的老化有不同影響,另一個理論是,女性因為平均壽命較長,延緩心智衰退。

新聞辭典

decline:名詞/動詞,衰退。例句:Home cooking seems to be on /in the decline.(在家開伙的人似乎漸漸減少。)

symmetrical:形容詞,對稱的。名詞為symmetry。

malnutrition:名詞,營養不良。例句:Many of the refugees are suffering from severe malnutrition.(許多難民有嚴重的營養不良。)

2009/08/19

Many Britons too lazy to change TV channel: poll 民調︰許多英國人懶到電視不轉台

◎ 魏國金

Britons are so lazy that one in six cannot be bothered to change television channel if the remote control is not working, according to a study.

根據一份研究,英國人非常懶惰,當遙控器不管用時,6人中有1人懶得轉換電視頻道。

More than half said they would take the lift rather than climb two flights of stairs to their workplace, while three quarters had too little energy for sex at the end of a long day.

超過半數受訪者說,他們寧願搭電梯,也不願爬兩段樓梯到工作地方,同時,4分之3的人在忙了一天之後,已沒有力氣做愛。

An entire generation risks being blighted by idleness, warned Nuffield Health, a non-profit organisation which commissioned the poll. "The nation has fallen into a vicious circle of laziness that we must put a stop to," said Doctor Sarah Dauncey, its medical director.

委託進行該民調的非營利組織「紐菲爾德健康」組織警告,(英國)一整個世代面臨因懶散而凋敝的危機。「國家已墜入懶散的惡性循環,我們必須加以遏阻」,該機構醫療指導莎拉.當希醫師說。

In the poll of more than 2,000 adults, 15 percent said that, if the television remote was broken, they would rather continue watching the same channel than getting up and switching to another programme.

在這份針對逾2000名成人進行的民調中,15%表示,如果電視遙控器壞了,他們寧願繼續看相同的頻道,而不是起身轉台到其他節目。

Thirty-six percent said they would not run to catch a bus, and 52 percent of dog owners said they could not be bothered to walk their pet.

36%說,他們不會跑著去趕公車,52%的狗飼主說,他們懶得遛狗。

新聞辭典

cannot be bothered︰不願找麻煩、不想出力、懶得。例句︰He behaved as though he could not be bothered.(他表現出不願出力的樣子。)

vicious circle ︰惡性循環。vicious 意指邪惡的、不良的。例句︰The city has been chained to a vicious circle of violence.(這個城市深陷在變本加厲的暴力事件中。)

put a stop to︰使停止、制止。例句︰Let’s put a stop to all this nonsense.(讓我們別再這樣胡鬧了。)

2009/08/18

Thief thanks cops for rescuing him小偷感謝警方出手相救

◎ 羅彥傑

An Italian thief thanked police officers for arresting him and putting an end to a beating from Korean tourists whom he had robbed in Rome, police say.

在羅馬搶劫韓國遊客以致遭到修理的一名義大利小偷,感謝警官逮捕他, 讓他不再被打,警方說。

"I must thank you; they were massacring me,’’ the 48-year-old criminal told police after he was arrested near the Theatre of Marcellus, one of the monuments in Rome’s historic centre.

「我必須謝謝你們;他們在屠殺我」,這名48歲罪犯在馬切羅劇場附近被捕時告訴警方。馬切羅劇場是羅馬歷史中心的遺跡之一。

The thief, from the northern region of Liguria, stole a handbag from a Korean family when they were not paying attention. He threatened the family with a knife when he was spotted and then tried to flee.

這名來自北部利久立地區的小偷,趁一個韓國家庭不注意之際,偷走他們的一個手提袋。當他被人發現、然後試圖逃跑時,他還用刀子威脅這一家人。

Two men from the family, in their 20s, chased him for several hundred metres before they got him down with tae-kwondo moves. They disarmed the thief and continued to beat him.

這家人中的兩名20多歲男子,追著他跑了數百公尺,然後用跆拳道招數制伏他。他們從小偷手中奪下刀子,並繼續毆打他。

A patrolling police officer intervened, separated the three and arrested the thief. "Normally tourists will just call us and report the incidents,’’ the officer said.

一名巡警插手,把3人分開,逮捕小偷。「通常遊客只會打電話報案而已」,這名警官說。

新聞辭典

put an end to:片語,使終止、毀掉。例句:The discussion was put an end to by his sudden arrival.(他的突然到來使得討論終止了。)

get down:片語,撂倒、拿下。例句:When he left the car, three men came out of the car and got him down with a blow on the face.(當他離開車子時,3名男子走出車外,當面給他一擊,把他撂倒。)

intervene:動詞,干預、介入。例句:The central bank will continue to intervene in the foreign exchange market.(央行將繼續干預外匯市場。)

2009/08/17

Man scandalises Saudi Arabia with TV sex confession 男子上電視談性史引起沙國憤慨

◎管淑平

Man scandalises Saudi Arabia with TV sex confession

男子上電視談性史引起沙國憤慨

A Saudi divorcee with four children has shocked Saudi Arabia, one of the most conservative countries in the world, with details of his sexual exploits on an Arabic television show.

一名有4個孩子的沙烏地阿拉伯離婚男子,在一個阿拉伯電視節目上大談性史,震撼名列全世界最保守國家之一的沙國。

Mazen Abdul-Jawad, 32, was detained July 31 for questioning after appearing on Lebanese channel LBC where he spoke to camera from his bedroom in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah about how couples can spice up their sex lives.

32歲的阿布都—賈瓦德在他位於沙國紅海城市吉達的自家臥室,對著鏡頭大談夫妻情侶如何增進性生活情趣,這段畫面在黎巴嫩的黎巴嫩廣播公司頻道播出後,他已經在7月31日遭拘捕訊問。

"Everything happens in this room," he said on the salacious show, before launching into descriptions of foreplay techniques and tricks for cruising women on the streets of Jeddah.

「一切都在這個房間裡發生」,他在這個煽情節目上說,然後就開始描繪前戲技巧、如何在吉達街頭獵艷。

Clips of the racy confessions from the TV show, which can be seen via satellite in Saudi Arabia, have had nearly half a million hits on YouTube.

這些在沙烏地阿拉伯透過衛星接收的電視上播出的羶腥告白,在YouTube上已有將近50萬次點閱。

More than 200 people have filed legal complaints against Mazen Abdul-Jawad, dubbed a "sex braggart" by the media, and many Saudis say he should be severely punished and authorities in Saudi Arabia have shut down all local operations of a Lebanese TV station.

有200多人已控告被媒體封為「性吹牛狂」的阿布都—賈瓦德,許多沙烏地阿拉伯人說,他應該受到嚴懲。沙烏地阿拉伯當局也已經關閉這家黎巴嫩電視台在當地的辦公室。

◎新聞辭典:

scandalise:動詞,使震驚、使憤慨。例句:His racist remarks scandalised his friends.(他的種族主義言論令他的朋友憤慨。)

spice up:動詞片語,增加某事趣味、刺激感,增加食品風味。例句:They invited some girls to spice up the party.(他們邀了些女孩,讓派對更好玩。)

cruise:動詞,獵艷。例句:He bragged about his crusing in night clubs.(他吹噓自己在夜店獵艷史。)

2009/08/16

French police warn drivers against speeding 法國警方警告駕駛人不要超速

◎俞智敏

French police warn drivers against speeding

法國警方警告駕駛人不要超速

Drivers beware! As millions of French people get ready to hit the roads on the busiest weekend for summer vacation departures, police are warning them to go easy on the gas after a very deadly month of June.

駕駛人小心了!正當數百萬法國人準備在暑假最忙碌的週末開車上路度假之際,警方警告駕駛人最好輕踩油門,因為六月死於車禍的人數非常驚人。

French police also will have their eyes out for foreign drivers, especially heavy footed Germans, Dutch and Spaniards, who may be caught speeding through the historical lands of Gaul.

法國警察也會特別留意外國駕駛,尤其是愛開快車的德國人、荷蘭人和西班牙人,他們在行經高盧人的歷史家鄉時,很可能因超速被逮個正著。

France is the No. 1 tourist destination in the world, and its fine network of highways also is crisscrossed each summer by millions on their way to sunnier destinations to the south in Spain, Portugal, Italy and even the increasingly popular Adriatic destinations.

法國是全球排名第一的觀光勝地,每年夏天還有數百萬人經過法國綿密的高速公路網絡前往南方的西班牙、葡萄牙、義大利,以及愈來愈受歡迎的亞得里亞海景點,享受陽光假期。

新聞辭典

hit the road:片語,出發、上路,如It’s getting late - I’d better hit the road.(時間不早了,我最好出發。)

go easy on sb:非正式用語,指避免過度使用某物,如Go easy on/with the cream - I haven’t had any yet.(奶油少吃一點,我都還沒吃哩。)亦可指寬容、溫和地對待某人,如They’ll probably go easy on him since he hasn’t been in trouble before.(因為他從不曾惹過麻煩,他們大概會對他高抬貴手。)

have a heavy foot:非正式的美式英語,指開車速度太快,如She has a heavy foot - does the trip in half the time it takes me! (她愛開快車,她開這段路只花了我一半的時間。)形容詞為heavy-footed。

2009/08/15

Nanotech targets and kills cancerous tumors 奈米科技鎖定並殺死癌腫瘤

◎陳成良

Scientists have long known that heat is an effective weapon against cancerous tumors. The problem, though, has been how to heat the tumors to the point that it kills them without damaging surrounding tissue.

科學家早已知道熱度是對抗癌腫瘤的利器,然而,問題向來在於如何把腫瘤加熱到足以殺死它們、卻不會傷害周遭組織的程度。

Now researchers at MIT think they have the answer: nanotechnology.

如今麻省理工學院的研究人員認為他們找到了答案:奈米科技。

The school announced this week that the researchers have developed gold nanoparticles that can target tumors and heat them with minimal side effects to nearby healthy cells.

該校本週宣布,研究人員已開發出黃金奈米粒子,能夠鎖定腫瘤並加熱,而且對附近健康細胞只造成最輕微的副作用。

While the gold nanorods were used in the study to find and home in on tumors, they also might be able to diagnose cancer, according to the researchers.

雖然研究中利用黃金奈米棒來尋找並鎖定腫瘤,它們或許也能診斷癌症,據研究人員指出。

The researchers said that tumors in mice that received the nanorod treatment disappeared within 15 days. The cancer did not reoccur for the duration of the three-month study.

研究人員表示,接受這種奈米棒治療的老鼠體內腫瘤在15天內消失,癌症在整個3個月的研究期間未見復發。

Cancer researchers have long been trying to figure out a way to better attack cancer cells without harming healthy cells as well. That has been one of the major drawbacks of chemotheraphy and radiation therapy, which often have debilitating side effects because of the difficulty in targeting just the cancerous tissue.

癌症研究人員長期以來一直試圖找出能更有效攻擊癌細胞、同時不傷害健康細胞的方法。這一直是化療與放射線治療的主要缺點之一,這兩種療法因難以只鎖定癌組織,常常帶來令人衰弱的副作用。

新聞辭典

home in on:片語,鎖定、朝向;把…集中於。例句:The missile homed in on its target. (飛彈鎖定目標 。)

for the duration:片語,直到…結束;在整個…期間 。例句: The bus drivers refused to work for the duration of the summer. (公車司機拒絕在夏天工作。)

debilitating:形容詞,使人衰弱的;削弱力量的。

2009/08/14

Single spelling mistake can derail job application 單個拼字錯誤搞砸求職

◎張沛元

Typing mistakes in a job application can kill a would-be employee’s chance of landing a job as employers bet that a sloppy resume means the applicant will do a sloppy job.

應徵工作的打字錯誤會扼殺求職者得到工作的機會,因為雇主認定一份草率隨便的履歷,意味這名求職者的工作表現也同樣草率隨便。

A telephone survey of 100 senior Canadian executives showed that more than a fifth of executives said a single typo on a resume or cover letter could cost a potential employee a job, while 28 percent said two mistakes would kill their chances.

一份針對100名資深加拿大企業主管的電話調查顯示,逾5分之1的主管說,履歷或自我推薦信上的單個拼字錯誤,可能會讓一名潛在員工付出得不到工作的代價,另有28%表示,兩個錯誤才會扼殺他們(求職者)的(得到工作)機會。

Common mistakes include: "Dear Sir or Madman", "I’m attacking my resume for you to review", "Following is a grief overview of my skills" and "Have a keen eye for derail.

常見錯誤包括:「親愛的先生與瘋人」,「我攻擊我的履歷供您過目」,「以下是針對我的能力的一段哀傷的概述」,以及「對出軌具有敏銳眼光」。

新聞辭典

derail:動詞,出軌;突然停止。例句:What is the cause of the train derailment?(火車出軌原因是什麼?)

bet:動詞,(如打賭般)有自信地宣稱。例句:I bet they’ll be back.(我敢說他們一定會回來。)

sloppy:形容詞,草率隨便。

文中所述之履歷拼字正誤表

例一 誤:Dear Sir or Madman(親愛的先生與瘋人) 正:Dear Sir or Madam(親愛的先生或女士)

例二 誤:I’m attacking my resume for you to review(我攻擊我的履歷供您過目)

正:I’m attaching my resume for you to review(我隨信附上我的履歷供您過目)

例三 誤:Following is a grief overview of my skills(以下是針對我的能力的一段哀傷的概述)

正:Following is a brief overview of my skills(以下是針對我的能力的一段簡短的概述)

例四 誤:Have a keen eye for derail(對出軌具有敏銳眼光)

正:Have a keen eye for detail(對細節具有敏銳眼光)

2009/08/13

Iced coffees "a meal in a drink" 冰咖啡一杯等於一餐

◎鄭寺音

Some iced coffees being sold on the high street contain as many calories as a hot dinner, a cancer charity warns. The chief offender had 561 calories, others contained more than 450, and the majority had in excess of 200.

癌症慈善機構警告,市面販售的一些冰咖啡熱量最高等同一頓熱騰騰的餐點,熱量最高的有561卡路里,其他高於450卡路里,大部分都超過200卡路里。

It is the combination of sugar, full-fat milk and cream which appear to push some of the cool coffees into the upper echelons of the calorie scale. The World Cancer Research Fund, which identified the drinks’ calories, noted healthier versions were available.

包含糖、全脂牛奶與奶油,似乎是讓部分冰咖啡卡路里飆高的原因。點出冰咖啡的卡路里的全球癌症研究基金指出,還是有比較健康的冰咖啡可以選擇。

The "venti" or largest version of Starbucks’ Dark Berry Mocha Frappuchino - a limited offer for the summer - contains 561 calories - more than a quarter, WCRF notes, of a woman’s daily calorie intake. Take away the whipped cream and it has 457 calories. The smallest version, without whipped cream, provided 288. But even some options with skimmed milk are high in calories.

全球癌症研究基金指出,星巴克夏季限定的大杯黑莓摩卡星冰樂561卡,超出女性每日卡路里攝取量4分之1以上。去掉奶泡剩457卡,最小杯沒有奶泡的288卡,不過有些咖啡即使用的是低脂牛奶,卡路里也很高。

WCRF said it was highlighting calorie content, because after not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight "is the most important thing you can do to help prevent cancer".

全球癌症研究基金表示,之所以凸顯卡路里含量,是因為不抽菸之外,維持健康體重「是預防癌症最好的方法」。

Earlier this year it estimated that 19,000 cancers a year in the UK could be prevented if people lost their excess weight.

今年稍早全球癌症研究基金估計,如果英國民眾減去過重體重,每年可避免1萬9千人罹癌。

新聞辭典

echelon:名詞,階層。例句:These salary increases will affect only the highest echelons of local government.(這些加薪只會影響到地方政府最高層級。)

intake: 名詞,攝取量。例句:It says on the packet that four slices of this bread contains one half of your recommended daily intake of fibre.(包裝上寫著,這種麵包4片包含每日纖維攝取量的一半。)

hightlight:動詞,強調、凸顯。例句:The report highlights the need for improved safety.(這份報告強調增強安全的必要。)

2009/08/12

Best Pals: The Blind Dog And The Guide Dog 最佳夥伴︰盲犬與導盲犬

◎魏國金

It’s not unusual for visually-impaired humans to rely on a guide dog - but now a shelter in Norfolk has found a blind border collie with his own inseparable canine companion.

視力受損的人仰賴導盲犬並非罕見,但現在在英國諾福克的一家動物收容所內,發現一隻失明的邊境牧羊犬依賴與他形影不離的狗同伴。

Best friends Bonnie and Clyde were brought to the animal shelter in Norfolk after they were found wandering the streets in a rain storm.

最好朋友邦妮與克萊德被發現在暴雨中於街道流浪時,雙雙被帶進諾福克的動物收容所。

When the pair are together Clyde, five, seems as capable as a fully sighted dog - but he won’t move unless Bonnie, two, is close.

當這對狗在一起時,5歲的克萊德行動自如彷彿是視力完好的狗,但除非2歲的邦妮在身邊,否則他不會有所行動。

Bonnie guides him on walks or towards food and lets him rest on her when he becomes disorientated.

邦妮引導他走路,或走向食物,當他分不清方向時,讓他依靠她。

Cherie Cootes, who runs the Meadow Green Dog Rescue Centre, said: "He totally relies on her the whole time. When she walks she tends to stop and make sure he’s there - she does look out for him."

經營綠草地狗狗救援中心的庫提斯說︰「他全天候依賴她。她走路時,不時停頓,確定他在那兒—她真的留意他。」

Vicky Bell, a spokeswoman for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said she had never heard of a dog voluntarily acting as a guide for another dog. "This is a very unusual case - it’s such a lovely story," she said."Some dogs take to guiding better than others because they naturally have the right temperament."

盲人導盲犬協會女發言人貝爾指出,她未曾聽過有狗自願擔任另一隻狗的導盲犬。「這是非常罕見的例子—如此美好的故事」,她說,「有些狗比其他狗更勝任引導,因為他們天生擁有恰當的性格。」

新聞辭典

rest on︰片語:仰賴、依靠。例句︰I rest on your promise.(我相信你的承諾。)

disorientated︰形容詞,迷失方向的、不知所措的。disorient為動詞,指使迷惘、使迷失方向。例句︰The strange streets disoriented me.(陌生的街道使我迷失方向。)

temperament︰名詞,氣質、性格、稟賦。例句︰He is highly nervous and volatile in temperament.(他生性十分神經質、喜怒無常。)

2009/08/11

Girl left in cab; driver faces punishment 女童留在計程車內,運將被罰

◎羅彥傑

Supporters of a Boston taxi driver say he should not be the one punished after a family left a 7-year-old girl behind in his cab.

波士頓一名計程車司機的支持者表示,司機不應該因為有一家人把7歲女童留在他的計程車內,就遭到處罰。

Joseph Cohen picked up six adults and the child at Logan International Airport Sunday and gave them a ride in his minivan to their home in the city’s Mattapan neighborhood.

約瑟夫.柯恩週日在羅根國際機場載了6名成人與這名兒童,開著他的迷你廂型車送他們回到位於這座城市馬塔攀社區的家。

About 20 minutes after the drop off, the driver received a call alerting him that the little girl had inadvertently been left sleeping in the back of the van. He immediately turned the cab around and returned the child to her relieved family.

大約就在下車的20分鐘後,這名司機接到一通電話,提醒他這名小女孩不小心被放在廂型車後座睡著了。他立刻把計程車調頭,把小孩還給如釋重負的家人。

The Boston Police division that regulates taxis says Cohen faces suspension for violating rules requiring drivers to inspect their cabs for forgotten items after dropping off a fare.

管理計程車的波士頓警察分局說,柯恩因為違反規定而面臨停業;依規定,計程車司機要在送乘客下車後,檢查車內是否有遺忘的物品。

Cohen can continue to drive while he appeals.

柯恩在上訴期間仍可以繼續開車載客。

新聞辭典

give ~ a ride:片語,讓~搭車、送~一程。例句:Can you give me a ride to the station?(你能讓我搭車去車站嗎?)

drop off:片語,讓~下車、把~放下,此為口語的用法。例句:Drop me off at the gate.(讓我在大門口下車。)

fare:名詞,票價,計程車乘客。

turn around:片語,轉身、倒轉。例句:She turned all the furniture around.(她把全部家具調了位置。)

2009/08/10

Scary Music Scarier with Eyes Closed 閉眼聽恐怖音樂會更恐怖

◎ 管淑平

New research suggests the brain regards creepy music as even more frightening when eyes are closed rather than open.

新研究認為,閉眼會比張著眼讓大腦覺得恐怖音樂更嚇人。

A lot of times people like to close their eyes while listening to music to feel more immersed in it, said neuroscientist and psychiatrist Talma Hendler. Intriguingly, she noted that past studies revealed that closing one’s eyes could alter one’s brain waves.

人們常閉眼聽音樂以更融入其中,神經學和心理學家韓德勒說。有意思的是,她指出,過去研究已經顯示,閉上眼會改變一個人的腦波。

Scientists had 15 volunteers listen with their eyes open or closed to music clips with scary "Hitchcock-like, frightening themes," Hendler said, as well as comparatively emotionally neutral melody-less musical tones.

韓德勒說,科學家找了15名志願者閉眼或張眼聽「希區考克式、駭人調性的」恐怖音樂片段,以及聆聽比較平淡、無旋律的樂聲。

As expected, the researchers found that closing one’s eyes enhanced the responses the volunteers felt toward the more emotionally charged scary music. Brain scans revealed that activity ramped up in the amygdala, a primary center for emotion in the brain. In turn, the amygdala fired up brain regions linked with vigilance to the environment and regulation of emotion.

一如預期,研究人員發現,閉上眼睛會強化志願者對充滿情緒性的恐怖樂聲的反應。腦部掃描揭露,大腦主司情緒的杏仁核活動增加,結果激發了與環境警覺性和情緒控制有關的腦部區域。

These findings were not seen when volunteers were placed in complete darkness with their eyes open. This suggests these effects are not related to vision alone.

這種情況並未在志願者張眼處於全黑環境時出現,表示這些作用不是單獨與視覺有關。

新聞辭典

creepy:形容詞,恐怖的、陰森的。例句:That creepy house is deemed being haunted.(那棟陰森的房子被認為鬧鬼。)

ramp up:動詞片語,提升、增加。例句:We have to ramp up our production capability to meet the competition.(我們得提升產能以因應競爭。)

immerse:動詞,使沉浸於。例句:Peter immerses himself in his research the whole life.(彼得這輩子都埋首他的研究。)

2009/08/09

Nazi-salute gnome ’not illegal’ 行納粹舉手禮的地精「並未違法」

◎俞智敏

German prosecutors have decided to take no action against an artist who created a garden gnome raising its right arm in a Nazi salute.

德國檢方決定不對一名藝術家採取行動,這名藝術家先前創造了一具舉起右臂行納粹致敬禮的花園地精雕像。

They say the gold-painted gnome was mocking the Nazis rather than promoting their return.

檢方認為,這具塗了金漆的地精雕像其實是在嘲諷納粹,而非替納粹復興做宣傳。

Artist Ottmar Hoerl, 59, became embroiled in the row when one of his "Nazi" gnomes was put on display at a Nuremburg art gallery recently.

現年59歲的藝術家賀爾是因為紐倫堡一家藝廊最近展出他所製造的一具「納粹」地精雕像,才捲入這場爭議。

But after a preliminary inquiry, city prosecutors have ruled that the statue was poking fun at Nazism, rather than promoting it and therefore was not illegal.

經過初步調查後,紐倫堡市檢方判定,這具雕像是在取笑納粹主義而非替納粹宣傳,因此並未違法。

The prosecutors quoted Mr Hoerl as saying: "It is pretty clear that garden gnomes are silly and that they do silly things. In 1942 I would have been shot by the Nazis for this."

檢方引述賀爾的話說,「大家都知道,花園地精很愚蠢,他們常做些傻事。如果這是在1942年,我會因此被納粹射殺。」

Although Nazi salutes and symbols are illegal in Germany since the end of World War II, prosecutors said they could be allowed if they were clearly used to counter the fascist ideology.

儘管自二次世界大戰後,德國就立法禁止使用納粹舉手禮和象徵,檢方表示假如這些手勢或象徵明顯是用來反對這種法西斯意識形態,就可獲准使用。

新聞辭典

salute:名詞,行禮、致敬,如The soldier gave a salute and the officer returned it.(士兵舉手敬禮,軍官也向他回禮。)亦可作動詞,指向某人、某事致敬或迎接某人、某事,如A stench saluted our nostrils.(一陣臭味撲鼻而來。)

embroil:動詞,指使混亂、捲入糾紛,如The United Nations was reluctant to get its forces embroiled in civil war.(聯合國不願讓其部隊捲入內戰。)或Please do not embroil me in your squabbles. (請別把我扯進你們的糾紛裡。)

poke fun at sb:片語,指嘲笑、譏諷某人,如The students poked fun at the inexperienced teacher.(學生嘲弄這位沒經驗的老師。)

2009/08/08

Red wine may help fight inflammation 紅酒可能有助抗發炎

◎陳成良

Drinking red wine may help fight inflammation in the body, according to research published by scientists at the University of Glasgow.

喝紅酒或有助於對抗體內發炎,根據格拉斯哥大學科學家發表的研究報告指出。

Researchers found that resveratrol, an anti-oxidant found in red wine, protected mice when they were exposed to a strong inflammatory agent.

研究人員發現,紅酒中的抗氧化劑「白藜蘆醇」,能夠保護那些暴露在強烈發炎因子之下的老鼠。

Mice that were not pre-treated with resveratrol developed a serious reaction similar to the inflammatory disorder sepsis. The study found that it blocks two major proteins in the body that trigger inflammation.

沒有先施以白藜蘆醇的老鼠,出現一種類似發炎引起的敗血症的嚴重反應。該研究發現,白藜蘆醇能阻絕人體內引起發炎的兩種主要蛋白質。

Previous studies have found that resveratrol can help prevent blood clots and combat cancer. The anti-oxidant is found in the skin of grapes but it occurs in greater quantities in red rather than white wine.

先前的研究已發現白藜蘆醇有助於預防血凝塊並對抗癌症。這種抗氧化物存在於葡萄皮中,但含量較多的是紅酒,而非白酒。

The study was outlined in the FASEB Journal -- published by the Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology. "The therapeutic potential of red wine has been bottled up for thousands of years," said Gerald Weissmann, editor-in-chief of the FASEB Journal.

這項研究的概要發表在由美國實驗生物學聯合會(FASEB)出版的期刊。「紅酒的療效潛力已潛藏數千年」,FASEB期刊總編輯魏斯曼說。

"Now that scientists have uncorked its secrets, they find that studies of how resveratrol works can lead to new treatments for life-threatening inflammation."

「既然科學家已經揭露其祕密,他們認為,有關白藜蘆醇如何發揮作用的研究,能夠為威脅生命的發炎找出新療方。」

新聞辭典

therapeutic:形容詞,治療性的;有療效的。

be exposed to:片語,暴露於;面臨;接觸;接受。例句:When Judy goes to college, she will be exposed to a lot of new ideas. (當茱蒂上大學後,她將接觸到很多新觀念。)

uncork:動詞,拔去(瓶子)塞子。cork是酒瓶的軟木塞,把酒瓶的塞子打開稱uncork,例如「to uncork a bottle of wine」(開一瓶紅酒)。uncork常見的意思還有「開口;洩漏;透露」等。

2009/08/07

At 84, US man gets high school diploma 84歲美國男子獲得高中文憑

◎張沛元

There’s at least one guy with a new high school diploma who’s not worrying about getting into college or finding a job.

至少有一個領到嶄新高中文憑的傢伙,不擔心能不能上大學或者找不找得到工作。

After all, Takeshi Murata is 84.

畢竟,村田武(譯音)84歲了。

Murata was 18 and a student at University High School in Greeley, Colorado, in 1944 when he was drafted to fight in World War II, according to the Greeley Daily Tribune newspaper.

根據格里利每日論壇報的報導,1944年,當18歲的村田還是科羅拉多州格里利的大學高中的學生時,他被徵召參與第二次世界大戰。

Though he was the son of Japanese immigrants, he grew up speaking English. In the Army, he was trained in an intelligence unit and given some studies in Japanese. After the war, he was sent to serve in U.S. military headquarters in Tokyo.

儘管身為日本移民之子,他從小到長大都是說英文。他在軍中的一個情報單位受訓,並且學了一些日文。戰後,他被派到位於東京的美軍總部服役。

"I really didn’t know Japanese that well," Murata told the Tribune. "But I’d learned a little in the intelligence schools, so they sent me." He met his wife, Chikako, there, he said. They married in Japan and in 1947 returned to northeast Colorado.

「我的日文真的不太好」,村田告訴論壇報。「但我在情報學校學了一些,所以他們派我去(東京)。」他說,他在那裡認識他的妻子千賀子(譯音)。兩人在日本結婚,1947年回到科羅拉多州東北部。

The high school finally granted Murata’s diploma after a teacher heard his story and found his old report cards.

在一名教師聽說了他的故事以及找到他以前的成績單後,該高中最後終於頒發村田文憑。

新聞辭典

draft:動詞/名詞,徵兵,徵募(美式)。draftee指被徵召服兵役者,draft dodger則指逃避兵役者。

immigrant:名詞,(外來)移民。immigrate,動詞,遷徙,移入。emigrant,動詞,移居國外,移出。

report card:學生的成績報告單。例句:I failed my final exams; I’ll be dead when my parents see my report card.(我期末考搞砸了;我爸媽看到我的成績單時會宰了我。)

2009/08/06

Jobless graduate sues her college 失業畢業生控告母校

◎鄭寺音

A New York woman who says she cannot find a job is suing the college where she obtained a bachelor’s degree, the New York Post reports.

紐約郵報報導,紐約一名說自己找不到工作的女子,正在控告她取得學士學位的母校。

Trina Thompson, 27, filed a lawsuit last week against Monroe College in Bronx Supreme Court. She is seeking to recover $70,000 she spent on tuition to get her information technology degree.

27歲的湯普森上週在布朗克斯最高法院向門羅學院提出告訴,求償她為取得資訊科技學位所花費的7萬美元學費。

Monroe College spokesman Gary Axelbank said Ms Thompson’s lawsuit was "completely without merit".

門羅學院發言人艾克塞班克表示,湯普森的訴訟「完全沒有法律依據」。

The ex-student, who received her degree in April, says the college’s Office of Career Advancement did not provide her with the leads and career advice it had promised. "They have not tried hard enough to help me," she wrote about the college in her lawsuit.

4月取得學位的湯普森說,門羅學院的職業進展辦公室並未如保證般的提供指導與職業建議,她在訴訟中提及門羅學院說:「他們不夠努力幫我。」

Her mother, Carol, said her daughter was "very angry at her situation" having "put all her faith" in her college. With her student loans coming due, the family would be saddled with more debt, the graduate’s mother added.

湯普森的母親卡洛表示,她的女兒「很氣自己把所有命運」交給門羅學院之後「身處的狀況」。這名畢業生的母親還說,女兒的學生貸款即將到期,他們家人將會債務纏身。

Monroe insists it helps its graduates find jobs. "The college prides itself on the excellent career-development support that we provide to each of our students, and this case does not deserve further consideration," its spokesman said.

門羅學院堅稱該校協助畢業生找工作。學院發言人表示:「學校對於提供每名學生傑出職涯發展協助深感自豪,本案根本不需要再探究。」

新聞辭典

sue:動詞,控告。例句:He was so furious about the accusations in the letter that he threatened to sue.(信裡的指控讓他氣憤到揚言提告。)

merit:名詞,優點,這裡指「法律依據」。without merit指一無是處,沒有價值。

saddle:動詞,負擔。例句:The company is saddled with debt.(這家公司債務纏身。)

2009/08/05

Church of England offers ’2-in-1’ wedding and baptism英國聖公會提供婚禮、洗禮「二合一」儀式

◎ 魏國金

Hoping to align religious tradition with modern life, the Church of England has introduced a new "two-in-one" marriage and baptism ceremony that allows couples who already have children to tie the knot.

期望結合宗教傳統與現代生活,英國聖公會引進一種將婚禮與洗禮「二合一」的新儀式,讓已有孩子的情侶可以喜結連理。

"Family-friendly weddings" will make it easier for those with children to marry in church, the Church of England said as it launched an appeal to cohabiting couples. If successful, it would also mean more young people being baptised into the Church.

「適用於家庭的婚禮」將讓那些有小孩的人更易於在教會結婚,針對同居情侶發出訴求的英國聖公會說。如果成功,這也將意味會有更多的年輕人受洗歸入聖公會。

The decision follows research showing that one in five couples in Britain who get married in church already have children. But critics say such a move condones sex before marriage and will reinforce the trend towards cohabitation.

這項決定源於研究顯示,在英國,每5對在教會結婚的情侶中就有1對已有子女。但批評人士指出,如此舉動寬容婚前性行為,並將助長同居潮流。

"We are not changing our teachings. It is not something that should particularly contradict views of traditionalists," said a spokesman for the Church.

「我們沒有改變教義。這不是特別與傳統派觀點牴觸的事,」聖公會一名發言人表示。

The two-in-one ceremony costs about 300 pounds -- little different to the cost of holding the ceremonies separately. "It is more convenient, more environmentally friendly with people just making the journey once," said a Church spokesman.

二合一典禮價格約300英鎊—與各自舉辦儀式的費用沒有多大差別。「(然而,)它更方便、更環保,因為人們只需往來一趟,」聖公會發言人說。

新聞辭典

align︰動詞,使成一直線、使結盟。例句︰Something was needed to align them on his side.(要將他們與其陣營結合,需要一些條件。)

condone︰動詞,寬恕、容忍、抵銷。例句︰She has many good virtues that condone her shortcomings.(她有許多足以彌補其缺點的好品德。)

cohabitation︰ 名詞:同居。例句︰Cohabitation is replacing marriage as the first living together experience for young men and women.(同居已逐漸取代婚姻,成為年輕男女第一個共同生活的經驗。)

2009/08/04

Undercover cops arrest undercover cop 臥底警察逮捕臥底警察

◎ 羅彥傑

In a triumph of covert police work, undercover officers in North Carolina arrested another undercover officer from a different force after buying drugs off him.

在警方一次成功的秘密行動中,北卡羅萊納州臥底警探們逮捕另一名來自不同警隊的臥底警探,原因是從他身上購買到毒品。

The entirely drug dealer-free drug deal occurred when undercover officers from the Statesville Police Department met a man interested in selling them some marijuana. The man was an undercover deputy from Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

這整起沒有毒販的毒品交易,發生在斯塔斯維警局的臥底警探們遇見了有意賣給他們一些大麻的一名男子時。這名男子是愛戴爾郡警局的臥底警員。

The Statesville officers apparently became suspicious that the drug-dealer was, in fact, an undercover deputy - so they rang the narcotics unit of the sheriff’s office to check. They were told that the dealer was definitely not an undercover deputy.

斯塔斯維警探們顯然起了疑心,懷疑這名毒販事實上是臥底,所以他們打電話到警局毒品科查核。他們被告知,這名毒販肯定不是臥底。

They promptly arrested the man, before officers from the sheriff’s office arrived and confirmed that the man was, in fact, and undercover deputy. He was then released.

他們迅速逮捕這名男子,但在(愛戴爾郡)警局的警探趕來並證實此人確是臥底之後,他就被釋放。

Sheriff Phil Redmond said: ’We had several large-scale operations going on at once, and the wires got crossed on this one.’

雷德蒙警長說:「我們同時執行好幾個大規模行動,所以這次發生了誤會。」

新聞辭典

undercover:可當形容詞或名詞,前者指從事秘密工作的,後者指臥底的警察、特務。例句:Are you interested in doing any undercover work?(你有興趣從事任何臥底的工作嗎?)

at once:片語,同時、一起。例句:Everything happened at once.(所有的事都一起發生了。)

cross wires:片語,電話線接錯,引申為發生誤會。例句:I think they got their wires crossed and confused the transfer fee with the signing fee.(我認為他們搞錯了,而且混淆了手續費與簽名費。)

2009/08/03

Scientists Worry Machines May Outsmart Man科學家擔心機器比人聰明

◎管淑平

Impressed and alarmed by advances in artificial intelligence, a group of computer scientists is debating whether there should be limits on research that might lead to loss of human control over computer-based systems.

對人工智慧進展感到了不起、也有所警覺,一群電腦科學專家正在辯論,是否該為或許將導致人類失去對電腦系統控制權的研究設限。

A group of leading computer scientists, artificial intelligence researchers and roboticists who met in a conference organized by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence believed that computer scientists must respond to the notions of the development of superintelligent machines and artificial intelligence systems run amok.

人工智慧發展協會主辦的會議上,一群居領導地位的電腦科學家、人工智慧研究人員和機器人學專家相信,電腦科學家必須對超級智慧機器和人工智慧系統發展失控的想法做出回應。

Their concern is that further advances could create profound social disruptions and even have dangerous consequences.

他們擔心的是,日後的進展可能讓社會秩序大亂,甚至有危險後果。

They focused particular attention on the specter that criminals could exploit artificial intelligence systems as soon as they were developed. What could a criminal do with a speech synthesis system that could masquerade as a human being? What happens if artificial intelligence technology is used to mine personal information from smart phones?

他們特別關注一旦人工智慧系統被發展出來,會被犯罪份子利用。犯罪人士可能會把一套能模仿真人的語音合成系統拿來做什麼?若人工智慧科技被用來從智慧手機中發掘個人資訊的話又該怎麼辦?

新聞辭典

outsmart:動詞,比某人聰明,用機智勝過某人。例句:He outsmarted the kidnappers and escaped safely.(他智取綁匪,平安脫逃。)

run amok:動詞片語,失控、胡作非為。例句:Our budget deficit totally runs amok.(我們的預算赤字徹底失控。)

masquerade:動詞,假裝;名詞,假裝、化妝舞會。例句:That man masqueraded as a custom and robbed jewels worth up to $1M.(那名男子假裝成客人,搶走價值高達一百萬美元的珠寶。)

2009/08/02

Indian yoga guru challenges gay sex ruling/印度瑜伽大師挑戰同性戀合法判決

◎ 俞智敏

India’s top television yoga expert has challenged a landmark court ruling legalising gay sex, claiming it is a "disease" that can be cured by yoga.

印度知名電視瑜伽專家最近對法院裁定同性戀行為合法的歷史性判決提出挑戰,他聲稱同性戀是一種可用瑜伽來治癒的「疾病」。

Swami Baba Ramdev filed the petition on the grounds that the Delhi High Court "erred" in decriminalising "unnatural sex acts" recently and that homosexuality was an illness which could be treated.

瑜伽大師蘭德夫向法院提出訴願,理由是德里高等法院最近做出「非自然的性行為」不算犯罪的裁定「有誤」,同性戀行為是一種可被治療的疾病。

"It can be treated like any other congenital defect. Such tendencies can be treated by yoga, pranayama (breathing exercises)and other meditation techniques," he said in the challenge filed in the Supreme Court.

「它可像任何其他先天性缺陷一樣被治療。這種傾向可經由瑜伽、呼吸練習及其他冥想技巧來治療,」他在向最高法院提出的訴願書中表示。

The High Court’s recent judgment reversing a colonial-era ban on homosexuality has met with widespread opposition among many religious groups and conservatives who say same-sex relationships threaten the fabric of traditional Indian society.

高等法院日前的判決推翻了一項殖民時代禁止同性戀行為的法令,卻引起許多宗教團體及保守派人士的反對,他們聲稱同性戀關係威脅到傳統印度社會的結構。

The influential guru has a wide following among millions of middle-class Hindus who regularly tune into his healthy living programmes on television.

這位影響力深遠的大師在印度擁有大批追隨者,數百萬中產階級印度人固定收看他在電視上主持的健康生活節目。

新聞辭典

guru: 名詞,指印度教或錫克教的宗教領袖或導師,或泛指在特定領域知識淵博、可對他人提出建言而廣受尊敬的人。如For the last decade she has acted as the president’s economics guru.(過去十年來,她一直擔任總統的經濟導師。)

congenital:形容詞,指天生的、先天性的疾病,如a congenital heart defect(先天性心臟缺陷)。

fabric:名詞,指構造、組織、結構,尤指社會或建築物的基本架構,如We need to protect the fabric of civilized society.(我們必須保護文明社會的架構。)

2009/08/01

Malware Expected to Set Records This Year 惡意程式今年料將創下新高

◎陳成良

Security firm McAfee has identified more than 1.2 million different types of malware in the first half of 2009.

資安業者McAfee在2009年上半年已辨識出超過120萬種不同類型的惡意程式。

McAfee said that this is over double the 500,000 unqiue pieces of malware it identified in the same period in 2008. In total, the security firm identified 1.5 milliion types of malware in 2008, and it expects the 2009 figure to top this.

McAfee表示,這個數字比該公司在2008年同期間辨識出的50萬種獨特惡意程式,超出一倍有餘。2008年這家資安業者總共辨識出150萬種惡意程式,它預料2009年的數目將超越此數。

"In the first half of 2009, we have seen about three times the unique malware discovered in the same period in 2008," said Dave Marcus, director of security research and communications at McAfee."This tremendous growth is a signal of daunting times for users, as malware infiltrates more and more of the platforms we trust."

「2009年上半年發現的獨特惡意程式,數量約是2008年同時期3倍」,McAfee的安全研究與通訊主任大衛.馬庫斯說。 「隨著惡意程式侵入越來越多我們信任的平台,這種驚人成長顯示用戶將時時刻刻膽戰心驚。」

McAfee also revealed that around 40 percent of all password-stealing Trojans can be found on websites connected to gaming and virtual worlds, while 80 percent of all banking e-mail recieved by Web users are phishing scams.

McAfee同時披露,在竊取密碼的木馬程式當中,約有40%可以在連結到賭博及虛擬世界的網站中被發現,而網路用戶接收的金融電郵中,有80%是「網路釣魚」騙局。

新聞辭典

malware:指的是「malicious software」,又稱為惡意程式、流氓軟體或黑心軟體。

daunting:形容詞,使人畏縮的、使人感到有些害怕或擔心。例句: The prospect of meeting the President is quite daunting. (一想到要會見總統就足以令人心悸。)

phishing:網路釣魚,是指利用偽造知名網站的電子郵件或網頁,進行大量發送,引誘不知情的網友上當,藉此騙取網友的帳號、密碼,甚至是個人機密資 料。此字最早出現於1996年,起因於駭客始祖們利用電話線犯案,因而結合Fishing與Phone創造Phishing一詞。