Female hairiness health warning 女性毛髮過多可能為健康警訊

◎鄭寺音

Excessive hairiness in women is not just a cosmetic problem but is likely to be a sign of an underlying medical condition, say UK doctors in a report.

英國醫生在報告中說，女性過多毛髮並不只會是外表問題，也可能是潛在疾病的跡象。

Five to 15% of women have excess hair, and a hormone disorder is the most likely cause in many cases, they said.

他們說，5%到15%的女性毛髮過多，許多案例中，荷爾蒙失調是最可能的原因。

Women with the problem should not be afraid to seek medical advice, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists report urged.

皇家婦產科醫學院的這份報告敦促，有毛髮過多問題的女性應該勇於尋求醫療建議。

Polycystic ovary syndrome（PCOS）is the cause in 70% to 80% of cases.

這些案例中，70%到80%是多囊性卵巢症候群引發。

Report author, Dr Rebecca Swingler said the condition, known as hirsutism, is distressing and can be particularly upsetting for young women.

報告作者史溫格勒說，這種狀況稱為多毛症，很令人煩惱，對年輕女性來說特別令人心煩。

In addition to PCOS, rarer causes of excessive hairiness include certain tumours and thyroid dysfunction, as well as the use of certain drugs.

除了多囊性卵巢症候群之外，毛髮過多比較少見的原因，包括某些腫瘤、甲狀腺功能異常以及使用某些藥物等。

新聞辭典

excessive：形容詞，指過量的。例句：Excessive exercise can sometimes cause health problems.（有時候過度運動可能造成健康問題。）

underlying：形容詞，潛在的。例句：A woman who had chronic underlying health conditions died earlier this week.（一名有潛在慢性疾病的女性本週稍早過世。）

upsetting：形容詞，讓人難過的。例句：Seeing her again would be an upsetting experience after so many years.（這麼多年後再看到她會讓人難過。）

Berlusconi says he world’s most popular leader 貝魯斯孔尼自稱是全世界最受歡迎的領袖

◎ 魏國金

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has compared himself to Jesus Christ and Napoleon, boasted that he was the world’s most popular leader.

曾自比為耶穌基督與拿破崙的義大利總理貝魯斯孔尼，誇耀自己是世界最受歡迎的領袖。

The conservative premier said opinion poll findings in his possession showed his popularity at just over 75 percent, making him far more popular than U.S. President Barack Obama -- or any other head of government.

這位保守派總理說，民調顯示他的聲望恰恰超過75%，讓他遠比美國總統歐巴瑪，或其他任何政府元首更受歡迎。

"The opinion polls I know say that he （Obama） is at 59 percent. Only （Brazilian President Luiz Inacio） Lula tops 60 percent -- he is at 64 percent. So mine is a record high," he said.

「我所知道的民調說，他（歐巴瑪）是59%，只有（巴西總統）魯拉超過60%—他是64%，所以我的是創紀錄高點」，他說。

On his way out of the concert hall, the 72-year-old Berlusconi -- who has proclaimed himself the Jesus Christ of Italian politics and once said he was second only to Napoleon-- was heckled by protesters who shouted "Go Away!."

在步出音樂廳途中，72歲、自稱是義國政壇的耶穌基督，並一度說僅拿破崙能出其右的貝魯斯孔尼遭抗議者刁難，他們咆哮「滾開」！

A poll published in March by left-leaning La Repubblica daily said support for Berlusconi stood at 56 percent and had risen in April for the first time since October thanks to his hands-on response to a deadly earthquake.

左傾的共和報3月公布的民調顯示，貝魯斯孔尼的支持率維持在56%，而在4月，歸功於他對死傷慘重的震災親力親為，支持率從去年10月以來首度攀升。

新聞辭典

second only to︰僅次於。例句︰Radon is second only to cigarette smoking in causing lung cancer.（氡氣引發肺癌的機率僅次於抽菸。）

heckle︰刁難、強烈質問、使難堪。比如︰heckle the performers with shouts（對表演者吼叫起鬨。）

hands-on︰親自參與、親身實踐。比如︰a hands-on mayor（事必躬親的市長）；反義辭為hands-off（不插手、不干預），比如 a hands-off governor（不管事的首長。）

Parking fine tossed due to sign goof 因標示不清而免繳違停罰款

◎羅彥傑

A British city could be forced to repay drivers for parking fines after a ticketed man pointed out that a bus lane sign lacked the word "only".

由於一名遭開罰單的男子明確指出，某個巴士專用巷道標誌少了「限」這個字，英國一座城市可能被迫把違規停車罰款退回給駕駛人。

Derek Brocklehurst successfully argued to have the Manchester City Council toss a $43 ticket for parking in the bus lane after he pointed out that the sign allowing buses, bicycles and black cabs to use the lane did not include the word "only," the Daily Mail reported Monday.

德瑞克．布洛克赫斯特成功地使曼徹斯特市議會作廢一張因停車在巴士專用道的43美元罰單，因為他具體指出此標誌允許巴士、腳踏車與黑色計程車使用該巷道，卻沒有包括「限」這個字，每日郵報週一報導說。

Brocklehurst said he has helped 20 people escape similar fines for parking in the same area before the sign was corrected in March, and he is urging anyone else fined during the erroneous sign’s tenure to come forward and demand their money back.

布洛克赫斯特說，他已協助20人擺脫在3月該標誌修正前，因停車同一區域而收到的同類罰款，而且他將敦促所有在這個錯誤標誌豎立期間被罰錢的人主動出面，討回自己的錢。

"I have helped a number of other drivers do the same thing, and have printed off a standard letter available to anyone else who got a notice of fine before the sign was changed, to challenge it," he said.

「我已幫助許多其他的駕駛人做同一件事，而且已複印一封標準信，給其他在標誌變更前收到罰單的任何人使用以提出申訴，」他說。

新聞辭典

point out：片語，指出、指明。例句：The tour guide pointed out the best-known paintings in the gallery.（導遊指出畫廊裡幾幅最著名的畫。）

come forward：片語，站出來、主動爭取。例句：Only one witness of the car accident has come forward. （這起車禍只有一人出面作證。）

print off：片語，複印（書或文章）。例句：How many copies do you want printed off?（你想要複印多少份？）

Kenya women to sex-starve men into political breakthrough 肯亞女人發動性罷工以突破政治僵局

◎管淑平

Women’s activist groups in Kenya have called for a seven-day sex ban on the country’s men in an attempt to shock the political class into overcoming bitter feuds and working together.

肯亞女性運動團體對該國男人發起了7天的性禁令，希望刺激政治人物化解惡鬥，攜手合作。

"This is a national boycott to show that the women of this country have resolved to push for reforms," Rukia Subow of the Kenyan women’s organisation Maendeleo ya Wanawake（The Women’s Development Organization） said.

「這是全國性抵制，以展現這個國家的女性決心推動改革」，肯亞婦運團體「婦女發展組織」成員蘇波說。

The activists argued that the country’s egocentric male leaders should have no time for matters of the flesh when the east African nation is ensnared in economic and political trouble.

婦運人士認為，在這個東非洲國家正陷入經濟和政治困難之際，該國自大的男性領導人們應該沒空享受肉體歡愉。

The organisation even said it would pay prostitutes to join the strike.

這個團體甚至說願意付錢請妓女加入罷工。

Subow urged the wives of quarreling coalition partners President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to support the movement. The premier’s wife, Ida Odinga, said she supported the strike body and soul.

蘇波敦促失和的聯盟夥伴，總統吉巴吉和總理歐丁嘉的夫人支持這項行動。總理夫人艾達．歐丁嘉說，她肉體和精神上都支持這場罷工。

Patricia Nyaudi, executive director of the Federation of Women Lawyers, argued the initiative was more than just a media stunt and was aimed at promoting a stronger sense of sacrifice.

女律師聯盟執行主任奈奧迪說，這項提議不只是作秀博版面，而是要提倡更多的奉獻精神。

新聞辭典：

egocentric：形容詞，自我為中心的，自私、自大的。例句：He’s so egocentric that he never once considered other people’s feelings.（他自私到從沒考慮過別人的感覺。）

ensnare：動詞，使陷入某種負面或非法處境。例句：The young mayor is ensnared in sex scandal.（這名年輕市長陷入性醜聞。）

media stunt：名詞，刻意安排的動作以吸引媒體注意。例句：Some Hollywood celebraties are skilled in various type of media stunt.（有些好萊塢名人很擅長用各種方式博版面。）

Hallelujah or Highway to Hell? Songs to die for 哈里路亞還是通往地獄的公路？到死都想聽的歌

◎俞智敏

Frank Sinatra’s "My Way" is the most popular song played at funeral services, but other more arresting death-bed choices were revealed in a poll published in Britain.

法蘭克．辛那屈的名曲「My Way」是喪禮上最常放的流行歌曲，但根據英國最近公布的一項民調顯示，還有其他更驚人的臨終選擇。

Australian rockers AC/DC’s "Highway to Hell" has stormed into the funereal charts along with Queen’s "Another One Bites The Dust," while Leonard Cohen’s "Hallelujah" has a new lease of life after its recent success on a talent show.

澳洲搖滾樂團AC/DC的「通往地獄的公路」，以及皇后合唱團的「又一個人陣亡了」連袂衝進喪禮音樂排行榜，李歐納．柯恩的「哈里路亞」則因最近在選秀節目中獲勝而重拾新生。

For classical music fans, Schubert’s "Ave Maria," Puccini’s "Nessun Dorma" and Bach’s "Air On A G String" are among the most chosen pieces to comfort their loved ones as they pay final farewells.

對古典音樂迷而言，舒伯特的「聖母頌」、普契尼的「公主徹夜未眠」及巴哈的「G弦之歌」則是安慰摯愛家人、向他們最後告別時最常見的選擇。

While hymns and classics may have been traditional favourites, pop songs now account for more than half of the music chosen as people’s final soundtrack, according to the poll of over 30,000 funerals.

根據一項針對逾三萬場喪禮所進行的調查顯示，雖然讚美詩與古典音樂可能是傳統上最受歡迎的喪禮音樂，但在人們最後旅程的音樂選擇中，流行歌曲現已佔了超過半數。

新聞辭典

arresting：形容詞，指引人注意的，醒目的，如an arresting looking woman（一名外型引人注意的女子）。

bite the dust：俚語，指死亡，尤指陣亡，或指失敗、結束，如The soldier was too young to bite the dust.（這名士兵年紀輕輕、根本不該死去。）或His career bit the dust when he lost his job.（當他失去工作時，他的事業也跟著完蛋了。）

a new lease of life（英式）／a new lease on life（美式）：指（讓某人）在疾病或悲傷後重新感到快樂或健康、重獲新生，如His grandchildren have given him a new lease of life.（他的孫子們讓他感到重獲新生。）或指改造老舊的東西，使其煥然一新，如I’ve had that blue sofa re-covered and it’s really given it a new lease of life.（我把那張藍沙發拿去重新換面，現在它看起來就像新的一樣。）

Australia union warns of nanotech health risks 澳洲工會警告奈米科技可能帶來健康風險

Advanced nano technologies could bring with them a human health catastrophe to rival past use of cancer-linked asbestos, Australia’s top union group said on Tuesday.

先進奈米科技可能對人類健康造成嚴重傷害，堪比過去所使用、會致癌的石棉，澳洲首要工會組織週二表示。

The Australian Council of Trade Unions （ACTU） said there was little protection for workers exposed to so-called nanotech.

澳洲總工會（ACTU）表示，暴露在所謂奈米科技下的工人幾乎沒有保護措施。

"Remember when asbestos was introduced, it was considered to be a miracle product, and it wasn’t until many years later that we found the devastating effect it had," ACTU Assistant Secretary Geoff Fary told state radio.

「回想石棉被引進的時候吧，它曾被認為是一種神奇產品，直到多年後我們才發現它會帶來災難性影響」，ACTU的助理秘書喬夫．法利告訴國營電台說。

Asbestos fibres, resistant to heat, fire and chemicals, were widely used in construction and insulation before being linked to asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and other cancers.

石棉纖維耐熱、防火、不與化學品發生反應，曾被廣泛用於建築業和絕緣材料。人們後來發現石棉會引發石棉沈滯病、肺癌、間皮癌和其他癌症。

Nano-scale technologies, 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair, are now used in hundreds of ordinary items from car fuel lines, bed sheets and cosmetics.

奈米級的技術，比人類頭髮寬度還小10萬倍，目前已用於數以百計的普通產品中，如汽車燃油管、床單以及化妝品。

The unions called for Australia’s centre-left government to begin a register of companies using nanotechnology, while introducing new safety tests and product labelling for consumers and workers using nanotech products.

該工會呼籲澳洲的中間偏左派政府開始對使用奈米科技的公司進行登記，並為使用奈米科技產品的消費者和工人引進新的安全測試和產品標示。

新聞辭典

catastrophe：名詞，大災難；大禍。例句：The catastrophe of a tragedy usually brings death or ruin to the leading character.（悲劇的結局常常是主角死亡或毀滅。）

rival：動詞，與……匹敵；比得上。例句：He soon rivaled the others in skill. （他在技術上不久便與其他人並駕齊驅。）

asbestosis：醫學名詞，石棉沈滯病，又稱「石棉肺」，是長期吸入大量石棉粉塵引起的胸膜和肺部疾病，其主要病變是肺部廣泛的間質纖維化及胸膜增厚，肺功能受到明顯影響。

Pizza-making machine has chefs in a spin 披薩製造機讓大廚憂慮

◎張沛元

A vending machine that bakes fresh pizza in minutes for a few euros has got Italian chefs in a whirl before it hits the streets in the coming weeks.

一台在未來數週就會現身街頭、只花幾歐元就能在數分鐘內烤好新鮮披薩的販賣機，已經在義大利廚師間引起騷動。

The bright-red "Let’s Pizza" machine uses infra-red rays and technology developed at the University of Bologna to knead flour and water into dough, spread it with tomato sauce and a choice of topping, and cook it -- all in less than three minutes.

這台亮紅色的「讓我們披薩吧」的機器，使用紅外線以及波隆那大學研發的科技來將麵粉與水揉成麵糰、在麵糰上塗上番茄醬汁，以及各式披薩餡料，接著烤披薩──整個過程不到3分鐘就完成。

Its developer, Claudio Torghele, says the machine has proved popular in trials in two Italian regions, but gourmets say it is an affront to traditional methods of cooking the classic dish.

該販賣機研發人，克勞迪歐．托格勒說，在義大利兩個區域試驗的結果證明，這台機器很受歡迎，但美食家說，該機器簡直是侮辱製作披薩這道經典美食的傳統方法。

"This is not just a vending machine, it’s a mini-pizzeria," said Torghele, 56. "It has windows where you can watch the pizza-making process. Kids, including my own, love it： when the machine is working, there’s always a crowd."

「這不只是一台販賣機，這是一家迷你披薩舖」，56歲的托格勒說。「機器上有窗戶可以讓你看到製作披薩的過程。小孩子，包括我自己的孩子，都很喜歡它：當機器開始運作時，總會吸引群眾圍觀。」

新聞辭典

in a spin：片語，非常焦慮與困惑。例句：He’s in a spin over the arrangements for the meeting.（他對會議的安排感到焦慮困惑。）

in a whirl：片語，陷入混亂。例句：The naughty girl got her mother in a whirl.（那個淘氣的女孩把她媽媽搞得暈頭轉向。）

topping：名詞，鋪覆在食物上的醬汁、糖霜或佐料。pizza topping，鋪在披薩上的餡料。