英文新聞棒球生活宅男人生

CNN報導:南韓對金正日過世表同情

2011-12-21T16:24:00.000+08:00

(原文連結)
S. Korea expresses sympathy to N. Korean people
(CNN) -- The South Korean government expressed its sympathy to the people of North Korea following the death of Kim Jong Il, South Korea's unification minister said Tuesday.

In a televised press conference, Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik also said Seoul will not send a government delegation to North Korea. However, the South will allow bereaved family members of the late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and the late Hyundai Group Chairman Chung Mong-hun to visit the North in return for a visit by North Korean delegates to the funerals of the two South Korean figures.

In addition, the South Korean government asked church groups to refrain from lighting Christmas trees near the demilitarized zone between the two countries due to the North's mourning period. The Christmas trees have been deemed a symbol of psychological warfare, and North Korea threatened in the past to retaliate if the South lights the trees.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un, the son and successor of the recently deceased North Korean leader, viewed his father's body in Pyongyang on Tuesday, state-run media said, as the world watched for clues on how the leadership transition will play out in the insular dictatorship.

KCNA, the North Korean state television channel, showed Kim Jong Un in front of a glass coffin containing what appeared to be his father's body.

The son, accompanied by senior government and military officials, participated in a "solemn ceremony" to express "deep condolences with the bitterest grief," KCNA said in a news report.

Control of the North Korean regime appeared to pass to a third generation of the Kim family Monday after the weekend death of Kim Jong Il, who ruled the reclusive Stalinist state since 1994.

The man known as the "dear leader" died of a heart attack Saturday at age 69, state news outlets announced Monday. The ruling Worker's Party declared the youngest of his three sons, Kim Jong Un, the "great successor" to his father's mantle.

Kim Jong Il had led North Korea since his father -- the nation's founder, Kim Il Sung -- died at age 82. During his 17 years in power, the country suffered a devastating famine even as it built up its million-strong army, expanded its arsenal of ballistic missiles and became the world's eighth declared nuclear power.

News of his death spurred South Korea, which remains technically at war with the North more than five decades after their 1950-53 conflict, to put its military on high alert. But across one of the world's most heavily fortified borders, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak told his citizens "to go about their lives" in the meantime.

"For the sake of the future of the Republic of Korea, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is more important than anything else. It should not be threatened by what has happened," he said.

And Kim Young-mok, the South Korean consul in New York, told CNN's "American Morning" that Seoul's top priority is to avoid "anything troublesome."

"I don't think that North Korea can afford some provocation at this point, but we must make sure that everything is OK," he said.

North Korea tested nuclear weapons in 2006 and 2009. Monday, it fired a short-range missile over the East Sea -- but Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told CNN that U.S. officials have seen no sign of any movement of North Korean forces across the Demilitarized Zone that separates the North and South.

North Korean officers had reported plans for its missile test to the commission that monitors the 1953 armistice, Dempsey said during a trip to Germany. He said no heightened alert has been issued for the nearly 30,000 American troops in South Korea, which has a mutual-defense pact with the United States.

In Washington, the White House said it was monitoring developments and hoped to see the North "take steps to assure the peace and prosperity of its people," as White House spokesman Jay Carney put it.

"Our focus is on coordinating closely with our allies and partners," he said. "We have reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to the stability of the Korean Peninsula and the security of our allies, South Korea and Japan."

And after a meeting with Japan's Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters that Washington has been in "close touch" with the other countries involved in the six-party North Korean nuclear talks, including Russia and China.

"We reiterate our hope for improved relations with the people of North Korea, and remain deeply concerned about their well being," she said.

U.S. officials had also been in talks with North Korea about the parameters under which food aid would be extended. But U.S. officials say there is not likely to be much engagement with the North Korean government on food aid or any resumption of the six-party talks until the ending of an official mourning period, which runs through next week.

Carney said President Barack Obama was notified of Kim's death by his chief of staff about 10:30 p.m. Sunday. "I believe it was established in news reports that the North Koreans made that announcement," Carney said.

On North Korea's state television network, a tearful anchor broke the news Monday morning. The news was followed by scenes of similarly emotional residents of the capital Pyongyang.

"My leader, what will we do? It's too much! It's too much!" one person sobbed. "Leader, please come back. ... You cannot leave us. We will always wait for you, leader."

The network said Kim died of "overwork" while "dedicating his life to the people." And the official news agency KCNA said Kim suffered "great mental and physical strain" while on a train.

Kim enjoyed a cult-like status in the nation, with millions schooled to accept him as a divine and benevolent father figure.

Laura Ling, one of two American journalists arrested after entering North Korea in March 2009 and sentenced to 12 years hard labor before being released in August 2009 following intervention by former President Bill Clinton, told CNN's "AC360" Monday that she was allowed to watch television while in custody.

Nearly every broadcast featured images of Kim as an "otherwordly figure," she said, recalling her guards were "moved to tears watching their 'Dear Leader,' and they talked about how much he was doing (for the people.)" The guards said Kim's health was failing because he worked so hard for North Koreans, she said.

Her sister, Lisa Ling, filmed a documentary in North Korea while posing as part of a medical team that performed eye surgeries. In a clip from the documentary, a young girl's bandages are removed and she could see for the first time. "It's all because of the Great General," her jubilant father exclaims. "We must bow to our Great General for this."

There was no independent confirmation of the circumstances reported by the government, which routinely touted the military, technological and artistic genius of the "dear leader" -- even claiming he shot 11 holes in one in his first golf outing. But he had appeared frail in his last public appearances, and speculation about his health had persisted for some time.

KCNA acknowledged that Kim had been treated for "cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases for a long period." He suffered a heart attack on Saturday and couldn't be saved despite the use of "every possible first-aid measure," according to the agency.

In Washington, the White House said Obama spoke with Lee on Monday morning. The two leaders agreed to stay in "close touch as the situation develops," it said.

Several of North Korea's neighbors, including Japan, the Philippines and leading ally China, offered condolences to the North Korean people on Kim's death. Chinese President Hu Jintao visited the North Korean embassy in Beijing Tuesday to offer condolences, according to the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua.

Monday night, Secretary of State Clinton issued a statement acknowledging the "period of national mourning" in North Korea.

"We are deeply concerned with the well being of the North Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with them during these difficult times," the statement said.

"It is our hope that the new leadership of the (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) will choose to guide their nation onto the path of peace by honoring North Korea's commitments, improving relations with its neighbors and respecting the rights of its people," Clinton said. "The United States stands ready to help the North Korean people and urges the new leadership to work with the international community to usher in a new era of peace, prosperity and lasting security on the Korean Peninsula."

Earlier, Christopher Hill, a former U.S. diplomat who led U.S. delegation in nuclear talks with North Korea, said any American statement would require a certain finesse.

"I'd be very careful about issuing condolences on the death of someone who's really been part and parcel of one of the most tyrannical regimes in the world," Hill told CNN. "On the other hand, I think something can be done that will show some sympathy to the North Koreans."

This Just In: Up-to-the minute news on the death of Kim Jong Il

The deceased leader's body will remain for a week at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang, where his father is also interred. Memorial services will follow on December 28 and 29.

Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who has visited North Korea eight times, said his initial reaction to Kim's death was "extreme concern." He said he is more worried about stability in the region now than before Kim's death.

"The peninsula is a tinderbox," said Richardson, who has brokered diplomatic deals in the North. "The issue is, will there be stability in the North Korean leadership? Will they continue their recent efforts of engaging South Korea and the United States over food aid, over nuclear talks?"

Richardson said South Korea was right to go on alert -- "but I think now's the time to just lie low, watch things as they develop."

iReport: Send us your reaction

During Kim's tenure, the North was largely closed off to outside influences and fearful of threats from its neighbors. At the same time, it also sought international aid after extensive famines contributed to the deaths of at least 250,000 people, according to the North Korean government. Outside analysts suggested the toll could have been 10 times higher.

Both North Korea and South Korea have shown signs of concession in recent years. But relations between the two rival nations soured yet again when the South accused the North of launching an attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, killing two South Korean marines and two civilians.

And South Korea says a North Korean torpedo attack was to blame for the 2010 sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan, which left 46 Southern sailors dead. The North has denied the accusation.

Now the question is what path his untested son, believed to be either 27 or 28, will take the country. He was educated in Switzerland as a boy, and named a four-star general in 2010.

"We really don't know substantively where he stands on anything," said Mike Chinoy, a senior fellow at the U.S.-China Institute.

Kim Young-mok said the North has built up its military and pursued a nuclear bomb "while children are starving."

"This causes a lot of human disasters," he said. "So what worries me is not this Kim Jong Un's personality, but the priority of the North Korean leadership."

After the Cheonan incident, then-U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he feared the younger Kim may have needed to "earn his stripes" with Pyongyang's military establishment by launching further provocations.

And Hill said while the "great successor" is "definitely not ready for prime time," he is unlikely to take major steps before consolidating his power.

"I think we're kind of shifting, at least for the time being, to a sort of military junta," he said, adding, "I would expect that they will try to show a maximum of stability as they go through what's obviously going to be a very difficult and dicey time for them."
今日單字卡
Study S. Korea expresses sympathy to N. Korean people - Free Study Guides | Word Dynamo

K教練超過Bob Knight創美國大學教練勝場紀錄

2011-11-16T12:42:00.001+08:00

今日分享文章
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski passes Bob Knight on wins list(來源:USA TODAY)

今年NBA勞資糾紛讓很多球迷很失望。不過NCAA美國大學籃球賽還是打得如火如荼。不過今天的主角不是球員，是有名的杜克大學的K教練(Mike Krzyzewski)。不過我必須承認我還真不知道他的名字怎麼念才是對的。

今日佳句及心得分享
首先這新聞的第一段只有一句，雖然很長，不過個人蠻喜歡這個相當有畫面的長句子。When the buzzer sounded and signaled a 74-69 Duke victory over the Michigan State men's basketball team Tuesday, Duke players from the past and present wanted to wrap their arms around coach Mike Krzyzewski.
這個星期二，當哨聲響起宣告杜克大學74比69擊敗了密西根州大時，過去與現役的球員想用他們的手臂環繞註他們的K教練。

有看NBA的對於Grant Hill和 Shane Battier當然不會陌生，這些杜克有名的校友也回來恭喜K教練創下37個球季奪球季903勝的紀錄。

The record-setter came in Madison Square Garden, where banners hang for the NBA's New York Knicks and NHL's New York Rangers and where some of the greatest athletes have thrilled the masses.

K教練來到插著紐約尼克隊跟Ranger冰球隊旗幟的麥迪遜花園廣場，這個許多偉大運動員曾經帶給群眾感動的地方。這裡用了record-setter來形容K教練。

But the first to embrace Krzyzewski was the man whose record he broke, Bob Knight.
不過第一個擁抱K教練的是紀錄被他打破的傳奇教頭，Bob Knight。

Junior guard Andre Dawkins from Chesapeake, Va., was instrumental on a night when Krzyzewski's big men struggled in the first half.

當K教練陣中的長人上半場都沒有發揮的時候，三年級的後衛Andre Dawkins挺身而出。

最後來了一句

The man still has game.

頗有老兵老而彌堅的味道。

今日單字卡
Study Duke's Mike Krzyzewski passes Bob Knight on wins list - Free Study Guides | Word Dynamo

USA TODAY 更多消費者準時繳信用卡費

2011-08-17T12:22:00.005+08:00

今日分享文章
More consumers paying credit card bills on time(來源:USA TODAY)

今日佳句及心得分享

In another sign of household belt-tightening, the rate of late credit card payments fell to a 17-year low in the second quarter.

另外一個美國人勒緊褲帶過日子的徵兆，第二季最新數據顯示，信用卡延遲繳款的比例落到17年來的低點。

中文跟英文在描述要縮衣節食時，都用了勒緊褲帶 (belt-tightening) 這樣的形容

Households are carrying less debt.

家庭單位背負的債務比較少。動詞用carry

Charge-offs have reduced the amount of delinquent credit.

打消呆帳的動作已經減少了信用擴張拖欠的量。

Borrowers are paying off their credit cards before they pay their mortgages.

借錢的人把付清他們的信用卡費放在付房貸之前。

Serious mortgage delinquencies increased at a much faster rate during the recession than credit card delinquency rates, according to an analysis by TransUnion.

根據TransUnion的分析，在經濟衰退期間房貸嚴重遲繳的成長速度遠大於信用卡遲繳的成長速度。

In the past, consumers were more likely to pay their mortgages before their credit card bills, but the sharp decline in home values has caused some to rethink their priorities

過去消費者傾向於先付房貸然後才付信用卡帳單，不過由於房價快速下滑，讓很多人重新考慮他們付款的順序。

今日單字卡
Pay Credit Card on time Flashcards | Dictionary.com

BBC 紙片人動畫學英文: The Flatmates 第3集 In the Pub

2011-05-02T12:15:00.002+08:00

BBC全文解說及補充資料Episode 3: At the pub
這篇發生在在英國的pub裡，
一群英國人pub喝酒的習慣，會輪流買單，英文的用法如下

to buy a round (v):
                 often when people are in a group, each person takes it in turn to buy drinks for
                 everyone in the group
就一人一輪大家輪流買單的意思。

這課簡單的把啤酒分成lager (fizzy and light) or bitter (non-fizzy and dark).
                                         lager=有泡泡比較淡,   bitter=沒泡泡比較厚
事實上英文裡啤酒名堂很多，本篇最後會附上相關字。
真的對喝酒很有興趣的可以參閱英文版 Esquire 君子調酒酒譜資料庫

形容酒可以透過顏色(red or white 紅酒或白酒...)或味道(sweet or dry 甜或苦澀)
偏苦澀的酒可以用bitter或dry來形容
dry wine/sherry etc
                wine etc that is not sweet :
                a glass of dry white wine 一杯口味偏澀的白酒
或是用bitter
                Enjoy the beer’s bitter taste as you slowly drink it.
                慢慢喝，品嚐這啤酒苦澀的口感。

最近很流行玩Google翻譯
a glass of bitter white wine=一杯苦澀的白葡萄酒 (嗯，還不錯。)
改用dry的時候，呃...

另外Tim稱呼Alice "love",這是不正式的稱呼，
有點像台語叫人家"勾錐ㄟ"，如果不是很熟，這樣不太禮貌。

本集的最後是Tim說Alice很可愛，然後問Michal的意見。
What does Michal say next?
1: She's beautiful.
2: She reminds me of my mother.
3: She's not my type really.

下面啤酒類相關單字來自 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English:
beer a general word for an alcoholic drink made from malt and hops :
          a bottle of beer | Let’s go and have a beer in the pub.

lager a light-coloured beer, which often has a lot of bubbles in it :
          A pint of lager, please.

ale a type of beer which is usually sold in a bottle or a can :
          Beers and fine ales were brewed here for over a hundred years. | Newcastle Brown Ale

draught beer British English , draft beer American English beer that is served from a large
            container rather than a bottle, especially good quality beer :
           The pub serves a range of draught beers.
real ale British English beer that has been made in the, traditional way, not in a large factory:
           The pub has real ale and live music most nights.

bitter British English a type of dark strong beer that is popular in Britain :
            I'll have a pint of bitter.

shandy a drink made of beer mixed with lemonade :
            I'd better have a shandy - I'm driving.

cider an alcoholic drink made from apples :
            His clothes were old and dirty, and he stank of cider.

相關資源
The Flatmates列表
如果看這一小段不過癮的話，就一口氣把這系列看下去吧!!!

英文版 Esquire 君子調酒酒譜資料庫

2011-04-27T14:46:00.005+08:00

原文連結
英文版 Esquire 君子調酒酒譜資料庫
男人有兩大常見弱點,好酒跟好色,不過男女平等,所以這種現象在女人身上也越來越普及.不論是從時間成本或是金錢成本上來看.好酒都比較經濟些.正所謂"無酒使人愁,無色使人秋".最後還是無錢比較難過.

這裏附上這個連結是連到Esquire君子雜誌英文版的調酒資料庫(Drinks Database),是個酷玩意所以推薦給大家,正想去買個調酒的酒譜的朋友,這筆錢可以省下來了,這個網站用了好幾種方式讓讀者找自己要的調酒的作法.可以直接打名稱搜尋,憑酒名開頭字母去查,或是從個人偏好的基酒去下手.

另外個人非常喜愛這個網頁介紹調酒分類所用的一些文字,跟大家分享一下

Winter Warmers
They're hot, boozy, and delicious.
And only in Esquire's new Drinks Database.

From Russia with Love
The perfect martini recipe.(And other vodka drinks.)

Whiskey!
We demystify this once mysterious brown spirit.

The Classics*
Like a perfect suit, some things never go out of style.

Dessert in a Glass*
These aren't "girl drinks."
(They're just really delicious)

不過要準備材料相當麻煩,所以對我來說這還是閱讀的娛樂成份居多.
藉這個機會也多學些英文習慣用法，出去玩的時候應該還蠻實用的。

BBC 紙片人動畫學英文: The Flatmates 第2集

2011-04-26T11:48:00.004+08:00

這集也是短短的一分多鐘而已,
先爆個雷,劇中Tim來自波蘭帶有歐洲口音的表弟Michal會犯一個錯誤
請注意聽。

這篇的重點是Compound Words(複合字),
顧名思義就是兩個或兩個以上的英文字組成一個字。

Alice有句話可以學起來
Let me take your mind off that. 讓我幫助你不去想那些事。

由於現在正值NBA季後賽,介紹幾個跟體育有關的Compound Words
push-up(s) 伏地挺身
sit-up(s) 仰臥起坐
six-footer 六呎高的人

A six-footer is a person who is six foot tall.

six-pack 六塊肌

If a man has a six-pack, his stomach muscles are very well developed.

The Flatmates episode 2, from BBC Learning English (解說及補充資料)
Archive Quiz 2 (小測驗)強力推薦作一下!!!
複合名詞與修飾語 Compound Nouns and Modifiers

(原文連結)
推薦閱讀BBC會話趣味動畫 The FlatmatesThe Flatmates from BBC Learning English

BBC 紙片人動畫學英文: The Flatmates

2011-04-22T16:23:00.003+08:00

老是念英文新聞，或是比較比較正式的教材讓你感到疲累嗎？
這次要推薦一個輕鬆的休閒小品。

BBC Learning English出了一個自稱是English language learning soap opera(學英文肥皂劇)

The Flatmates

台灣學生大多都知道apartment這個字是公寓，不過對flat當作公寓這個用法就比較不熟悉。
在英式英文裡講公寓主要是用flat而不是apartment。
這個片名其實是巧妙配合影片性質的雙關語(pun)，
flat除了是公寓外還有一個意思是扁平的。
所以Flatmate一方面指他們是樓友，一方面是指他們都是扁扁的紙片人物。

讓我們開始跟著這些紙片人來練習英文吧。

相關資源
The Flatmates列表
如果看這一小段不過癮的話，就一口氣把這系列看下去吧!!!

BBC 學英文教學節目:文法大挑戰

2011-04-21T17:45:00.001+08:00

在學英文的路上，文法是你的好朋友還是你的障礙呢?

今天介紹一個BBC的文法教學節目，BBC Grammar Challenge

這個節目並不是像傳統的文法書一樣按部就班的一個單元一個單元講，
採用了Q&A的方式，針對日常生活常用的文法問題給實例，
可以同時練習文法跟習慣一下英國腔練聽力，算是一舉兩得。
下面拿其中一課當範例。

聽力不是很強的朋友不用太擔心，
以下面這個網頁為例，這個日本姑娘去英國學英文，
他提出他的文法問題，然後英國老師很有耐心的慢慢回答他。
提供mp3可以聽，還有補充教材。跟相關連結。
除此之外想測驗一下自己了解的程度。
強力建議一定要選擇點進去那個 Take The Challenge。
學習英文，You can not practice too much.
練習永遠不嫌多,不是嗎?(點圖可以連到網頁)

台灣的英文教育有個很奇妙的地方，
對於文法(Grammar)的看法非常的兩極化，
有一端認為文法是聖經，學英文最主要就是要學習文法，
一法通萬法通，只要文法清楚就可橫行無阻。
另一端則認為文法不符合人類學語言的習慣，
常聽到的說法就是"我們學中文也沒有學文法，所以不需要學文法"。

基本上這兩派對我來說都太極端了，
對我來說，文法的確對學英文有很大的幫助，
但是如果你當作像數學的公式或是物理的定律來學，
然後期望"一法通萬法通"的話，如果你是少見的語文天才，那恭喜您。
不然的話其實期待把一本文法念熟就可以通行無阻是個奢望。
(不要再相信坊間那些說語言可以速成的書籍了)

學語言最重要的就是花時間，
沒錯，人有天資高下，不過勤能補拙在學習外語這個領域是可以作到的。

沒事多花時間碰英文，多花時間碰英文沒事。 XD

相關閱讀
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

Merriam Webster 圖解英文字典

2011-03-18T09:40:00.001+08:00

總覺得英文字典枯燥無味一點都不生動嗎?
有些簡單到不行的東西就是不知道用什麼字嗎?

對於不是以英語為母語的我們來說,
大家可能都有過字到用時方恨少的痛苦,
有些就是很日常的東西,可是你怎麼都找不到正確的字.

M/W VISUAL DICTIONARY ONLINE

這裡跟大家推薦這個既實用又漂亮的圖解字典。

這個字典把這些詞用下列15個主題來區分,有超過6000張精美的圖片.
* Astronomy
* Earth
* Plants & gardening
* Animal kingdom
* Human being
* Food & kitchen
* House
* Clothing & articles
* Arts & architecture
* Communications
* Transport & machinery
* Energy
* Science
* Society
* Sports & games

坦白說,我覺得上班無聊時來看看圖片學學單字,還蠻好打發時間的 XD

美國之音免費單字本 Special English Word Book

2011-01-23T16:58:00.001+08:00

VOA美國之音(Voice of America)的Special English,這個免費的學英文資源,小弟之前介紹過了英文學習網站分享及使用心得(VOA Special English篇) ,這個資源其實真的很適合當初學和要邁向進階的補充教材,除了這是美國官方出版單位內容絕對是正統美語外,更棒的是完全免費,只要能上網就能不斷接收到最近的更新。不過出乎我意外的是在台灣的中學界似乎沒什麼人在推廣,真的是相當可惜。

今天推薦的是Special English的Word Book。(點此連結可以下載pdf)摘錄網頁上對這個Word Book的介紹如下:

This book explains the meaning of the words used in our broadcasts and on our Web site.The first edition was published in 1962. The list of words has changed since then, as the language itself has changed. We thank all those people at VOA who started the process and who helped make this edition possible.

從1962年到現在,目前網站上供下載的是2009的版本.個人很快的瀏覽了一遍,這個單字集當作準備英檢初級到中級的補充教材非常合適,同時也可以當作開始練習使用英英字典的準備。當然如果能配合持續的聽及閱讀Special English不斷更新的文章效果就更好了。

雖然我覺得Special English的英文對於英檢中級以上的人是有點太簡單了,不過最近倒是有另外一種體驗,這些作者可以受限在一定的字彙範圍內,卻仍然可以寫出流暢的文字把主題表達的清楚,偶而閱讀一下會有 "喔,原來可以用這麼簡單簡潔的方式表達" 的驚嘆!

(原文連結)

相關閱讀
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(VOA Special English篇)

臉書上的拼字遊戲Word Challenge

2011-01-12T16:18:00.002+08:00

還記得風靡一時的開心農場嗎? 還有超多人玩的餐城(Restaurant City)跟FarmVille.
不過這些遊戲大多要玩很久,且很容易著迷,
今天要跟大家推薦一款臉書上的遊戲Word Challenge

進去後你可能看到稍有不同的畫面,因為PRO這三個字母可是我玩很久才得到的喔
不過這並不代表我有比較厲害. XD

點PLAY後遊戲畫面像這樣,遊戲內容很簡單
就是從這六個字母中儘可能的組合出英文單字來,
有個訣竅就是要用鍵盤才能夠快,
基本上就跟一般打字一樣(注意:記得切換到英文輸入)
空白鍵(space)可以幫你把現在的六個字洗牌重新排列
ENTER當然就是ENTER,
Backspace也跟原來作用一樣,
當拼出一定數量的組合,亮起來,就可以按CTRL鍵,換一組新的組合
(換的時機要考慮一下,如果這個組合你還有很多字拼得出來,那就別急著換)
拼出六個字母的單字的話另外還會出現bonus關卡
是讓你拼出你朋友的名字

遊戲拿分的秘訣,當然是拼字,尤其是拼4個字母以上的字可以加時間
玩久了會有些組合是你一看見就馬上反應出來的.
這遊戲還有個訣竅是,三單現跟過去式這些詞類變化都算數
所以善用s跟ed之類,如果對字根字首有研究的話也可以派上用場喔

有時候太久沒靈感遊戲裡的妹妹會無聊到睡著. XD

時間終了,除了你拼出來的單字外,也會把其他單字秀出來
通常看一看都會發現,有很多簡單的字你在當時就是沒想到.
此外,在單字上DOUBLE CLICK
就會自動幫你把這個字到Dictionary.com查出來喔
不過其實玩這個遊戲並不是要你背很多冷僻的單字.
因為你會發現還很多你已經會的單字你就是沒想到.

遊戲最後會跟據你玩的分數來鑑定你的字彙能力
從Baby到professor都有.
下面圖示8千多是RINGMASTER

相關閱讀英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

MLA格式參考書目產生器

2011-01-05T16:16:00.002+08:00

(本文為換位置重發)
作IT這行的有個共通的習慣，可以重複使用的就重複使用。
可以讓程式自動作的就不要手動作。
MLA是目前寫論文寫報告時一個寫參考書目的標準format.
學校也規定學生在寫報告時,
要以MLA標準格式列出引用與參考的出處.

既然是固定的 format，
用程式產生的好處有:
一,避免人為疏失,人會忘記留一個blank,會忘記comma,會忘記Italicize.
程式不會.
二,規則很多,再熟也難保沒有規則被遺漏的.
程式把介面作成類似Checklist一路填下去,填完就不會有遺漏

下面推薦這個是美國Calvin College作的公用程式
網址是http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/index.php

左側有 MLA, APA, Chicago 三種選擇
(另外一個好處,萬一你深造卻遇到選另外一個流派的老師的話,不需要再搞本手冊K)

然後從Resource Type選擇你的參考來源
看是書籍,百科全書,或是網站,網頁

點標題旁邊的Help會出現關於該種資料源的簡單介紹
主要是哪些欄位要填,該怎麼填.

以目前大家最常用的網頁資料(Website Document)來簡單示範

從Wikipedia上Paradise Lost網頁找找要填欄位的資料
如網站名,文章標題,網頁發布的日期,我去查詢的日期等

有兩個選項是關於URL的,基本上由於是程式產生，
所以我覺得其實不見得要省略URL
如果要把URL含進去,請把Is the URL too long to cite? 選NO
然後Include URL?選Yes
就會多出一行Full URL:的欄位可以把URL貼上

按下Submit
然後MLA Works Cited Entry 這行就出來了
要是你覺得好像有遺漏或是發現剛有填錯
就按Edit Current Citation把打錯的修改,或是補漏掉的欄位就好

不含URL的Citation

含URL的Citation

來個題外話,愛之味說它的土豆是電腦選的.
用程式作事有什麼好處?
最簡單的代勞下面這兩件事。
簡單而固定的邏輯，重複
電腦並不是作什麼人作不到的事，
而是減少作沒有創造性內容工作的時間與人為疏失的機會。

你可能很納悶這麼簡單的東西我幹嘛寫這麼長?
可不是嗎? MLA就這樣而已不是嗎?

MLA是必要的東西,
但是花很多時間在上頭不是個好投資

相關網站
KnightCite: Calvin College 提供的Citation產生器
http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/index.php
相關閱讀
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

文導筆記:To the Ladies

2009-03-19T11:58:00.006+08:00

To the Ladies
by Lady Mary Chudleigh

Wife and servant are the same,
But only differ in the name :
For when that fatal knot is tied,
Which nothing, nothing can divide :
When she the word obey has said,
And man by law supreme has made,
Then all that's kind is laid aside,
And nothing left but state and pride :
Fierce as an eastern prince he grows,
And all his innate rigour shows :
Then but to look, to laugh, or speak,
Will the nuptial contract break.
Like mutes, she signs alone must make,
And never any freedom take :
But still be govern'd by a nod,
And fear her husband as a God :
Him still must serve, him still obey,
And nothing act, and nothing say,
But what her haughty lord thinks fit,
Who with the power, has all the wit.
Then shun, oh ! shun that wretched state,
And all the fawning flatterers hate :
Value yourselves, and men despise :
You must be proud, if you'll be wise.

Notes:
The word obey
The traditional marriage service called for the wife to "love, honour, and obey" her husband; the husband promised to "love, honour, and cherish" his wife.

Questions

Who are the intended audience of this poem?
Unmarried women

According to this poem, when does a man start to treat a woman as a servant?
When she the word obey has said,
And man by law supreme has made,
Then all that's kind is laid aside,
And nothing left but state and pride

How is the tone of the poem "To the Ladies"?
Her tone is desperate, regretful, despair.
She uses words like fatal,nothing, and never throughout the poem.

List the terms used to describe men in the poem.
An eastern prince, God, a haughty lord

Vocabulary
Vocabulary in "To the Ladies"

The Poet
Lady Mary Chudleigh (1656-1710)

Lady Mary Chudleigh (1656-1710) was a devout Anglican who educated herself and, ahead of her time, challenged traditional gender roles. “To the Ladies” appeared in Poems on Several Occasions (1703); it echoes the feminist argument she set forth in The Female Advocate; or, A Plea for the Just Liberty of the Tender Sex and Particularly of Married Women.

Reference

To the Ladies By Mary, Lady Chudleigh
Edited by Jack Lynch
Selected Bibliography:
Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Project
Mary, Lady Chudleigh from Wikipedia
Lady Mary Chudleigh
What is the theme of Mary, Lady Chudleigh's poem "To the Ladies"?
Close Reading "To the Ladies" by Mary, Lady Chudleigh

VOA:Special English 中樂透

2009-03-06T12:26:00.007+08:00

MP3下載MP3 - Download Audio audio
因為special English速度非常友善,所以請先抓mp3下來聽
準備紙跟筆.不管多少,將你聽到的都寫下,
多聽幾次更好.

原文連結Money: He Hit the Jackpot
如前文VOA:Special English 的 Wordmaster介紹,

個人認為這些廣播稿是幫助使用英英字典的絕佳練習.

從文中找個簡潔的例子來demo.
My friend was not a deadbeat. He was not the kind of person who never paid the money he owed.
這表示
deadbeat= a person who never paid the money he owed
一個從不還錢的人
這系列的文章都是用paraphrase的方式寫成的
也就是不斷的"換句話說"
這是拿來訓練習慣英英字典解釋的良好練習.

最近的景氣讓人不得不正視金錢的重要性
讓我們來學些跟金錢有關的term吧.

Money: He Hit the Jackpot
是的,全台灣人沒有分歧的相同的願望:樂透中頭獎

hand over fist informal
if you gain or lose something hand over fist, you gain or lose it very quickly:
Five years ago, the company was losing money hand over fist.

born with a silver spoon in one's mouth= to have a rich family

be hard up for something= to lack something; own few and far from enough

deadbeat = the kind of person who never paid the money he owed.

pinch pennies = very careful with the money spent

burning a hole in one's pocket = to spend money very quickly

附檔為使用Collins Cobuild Dictionary對本文單字的補充
Vocabulary for Money: He Hit the Jackpot
Vocabulary file
(PS.經測試後,改用Google Doc,來顯示IPA 音標)

相關閱讀

英英字典的使用心得
如何使用第一本英英字典就上手

VOA Special English篇
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(VOA Special English篇)

英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

Just Vocabulary: 幫助培養深厚字彙能力的podcast網站

2009-02-04T14:06:00.001+08:00

學習英文到一段時間,幾乎大家都會有的一個瓶頸－字彙.
應該很多人都聽過那種前人背字典苦學的例子.

坦白說這個方法,小弟傻傻的試過很短暫的一段時間,
很慚愧,我的毅力連A都沒撐完.
而且a字部背一背就出現一個打擊我們的字

3.to stop doing something because there are too many problems and it is impossible to continue
雖然不是背到這個字就放棄,不過還是連A字部都沒完成.

最近發現一個網站Just Vocabulary

從圖面上就可以看出來
這個網站提供RSS,Podcast,Facebook,E-mail這幾種方式訂閱,

每次介紹兩個單字,大部分的字來自於 GRE word list,
所以單字其實是有一定的難度的.
對於準備GRE,SAT,TOEFL應該是合適的來源
目前(2009/2/4)總共出了500集總共1000字.

如果短期內就要參加這些英文檢定的話,
這個網站可能不是個讓你能快速長肌肉變猛男的類固醇型學習材料.
不過想拿高分的人,慢慢的把這些字吸收起來應該是個很好的底子.

相關閱讀
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

VOA:Special English 的 Wordmaster

2009-01-16T13:46:00.005+08:00

在推薦一樣對學習英文有興趣的朋友使用英英字典的過程中,
常常有人認為門檻太高了,三不五時就出現生字無窮迴圈情況.

大量閱讀時有時候會遇到那種慣用語是每個字都認得,
但是卻無法準確的抓到其中的意思.

以上這兩種問題,有沒有循序漸進的進步方式呢?
有,VOA Special English有個特別的單元
Wordmaster: A Weekly Analysis of American English

首先這個單元裡的文章整個就是不斷的paraphrase
(If you paraphrase someone or paraphrase something that they have said or written, you express what they have said or written in a different way.)

舉個例子來看,Money: He Hit the Jackpot
顧名思義,這裡面有很多term都是跟錢有關的,
這裡摘錄幾個句子來解釋什麼是paraphrase.
勘誤:這篇其實是屬於Words & Their Stories

He did not have a rich family.
He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
這個是大家耳熟能詳的含金湯匙出生,就是出生在好野人家裡.
為什麼中文變成金的不是銀的,這我就不知道了.
西方有錢人家會使用純銀餐具,大概是中文覺得金的比較貴吧.

He was not the kind of person who never paid the money he owed.
He simply pinched pennies.
He was always very careful with the money he spent.
跟上下兩句合起來一起看,就很清楚pinch pennies的意思是指什麼了.

個人的淺見是如果持續配合VOA這個單元使用英英字典.
去熟悉練習paraphrase的方式並同時累積字彙量的話.
相信應該慢慢的對於英英字典的使用就可以上手了.

延伸閱讀

英英字典的使用心得
如何使用第一本英英字典就上手

VOA Special English篇
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(VOA Special English篇)

英文學習網站分享及使用心得(CNN Student News)

2008-05-20T23:29:00.003+08:00

想用聽廣播練聽力的朋友們,相信大家都有過一種經驗,就是學習過程中,常常遇到某些似曾相識的片段,如果幸運的在腦海一陣翻騰後,找出"啊!我曾經在哪段聽過讀過",然後這個字彙或是用法就從此深植在記憶裡.試想,如果不只是聽過念過,還加上看過影片,看影片說故事當然比單純聽說書要生動活潑,不管是學習效果或是娛樂效果上都有更大的表現空間.

我們很幸運的活在這個有Podcast的時代,這項便利的功能,我想應該已經很多人已經在使用了,不熟悉如何使用Podcast朋友請參閱好友阿洛大人的

使用 ipod 來訂閱網路廣播(podcast)
用ipod學英文－訂閱VOA Learning English Podcasts
免費訂閱英語教學影片 EF podEnglish

podcast這把鏟子很犀利,但是也要找到好礦挖,今天就要為大家介紹一個新礦區 CNN的CNN Student News

主持人 Carl Azus

這個節目是CNN為了美國中學生所作的節目,星期一到星期五每天約10分鐘的重點新聞報導,由於是提供給學生的材料.除了報導的內容不帶評論,儘可能不帶有bias外,並配合了很多相關的幫助理解及推理邏輯訓練的材料.

除了下載報導影片外,網站上Quick Guide & Transcripts這個部分對大家的幫助也很大,由於我們大部分對自己的聽力,信心不是那麼充足.所以會想去先看新聞講稿,當然是沒有辦法禁止大家在看報導前去偷讀Transcript,不過在讀稿之前先看影片去磨練自己的聽力效果是比較好的,不確定自己的實力的,可以先單看裡面Story Highlights這部分.

Story Highlights用簡潔清楚的文字帶出今天報導的主題,如果擔心聽力跟不上,可以先看這個簡介,得到一些Hint去抓住重點,先知道報導是圍繞著什麼主題,對於聽報導的用字準確性及把握度就會提高,就算要猜也有明確的方向去猜,讓聽懂的成數變高,維持繼續向下聽的動力.(可以的話,請忍住先不要接著向下看新聞稿Transcripts,XD)

如果已經不需要Story Highlights就可以看完整段Student News的話,另外推薦一個額外練習的方法,準備好紙筆,在你聽的過程中,順手寫下你不熟悉的字彙或是片語(聽完後再跟Transcripts比對),另外試著對每段新聞用一到兩句來寫出新聞主題(Theme),然後再跟CNN所寫的Story Highlights作個比較.通常我們在學校回答申論題(Essay Question)來簡述一個問題˙,有時候寫得不好,常常不知從何下筆.其中最主要的主因就是Topic或是Theme的掌握不佳,試著去寫出簡潔又表達完整概念的Theme.就等於正面回答了問題,能作到這點其實已經掌握了整個問題的核心.去跟專家寫的比較則可以看出自己是不是有邏輯不週密的地方或是誤解,也看看高手掌握主題的方式.

Ten Questions & Newsquiz,會有些問題來作小小測試,畢竟這是給中學生用的.

Learning Activities,是CNN設計的一些相關主題教學活動.能幫助對新聞的理解,不僅知其然更知其所以然,最近(以2008/05/16為例)的標題有
* Understanding Earthquakes (配合四川震災的新聞,地球科學課使用)
* Polling (民調,讓學生自己去作看看)
* The Right to Vote (選舉權)
* Caucuses and Primaries (這是美國兩種不同的黨內初選產生方式,有些州用Caucuses有些則用Primaries)
* Earth Day and Environmental Law (地球日及環保法規)

One-Sheets這個部份就有點像重點復習或提示.

插入個題外話,雖然這個對於中學生教育的幫助很大,台灣大概只有公視勉強可以試試看模仿這樣的作法(大多數媒體一心只想為所支持的特定利益集團發聲及洗腦),比方說讓中學生了解討論什麼是公投,公投的意義及實施辦法並設計相關的教學活動讓他們體驗,不過我對台灣的媒體沒信心,唉,叫CNN出繁體中文版好了.

Podcast訂閱連結

相關閱讀
如何使用第一本英英字典就上手
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(VOA Special English篇)

如何使用第一本英英字典就上手

2008-05-16T23:55:00.005+08:00

請問這個線上英英字典(Dictionary.com)好嗎?
http://dictionary.reference.com/
一起學習英文的朋友用MSN傳這個網站詢問我的意見,
這個網站非常的實用,不但包含了多個版本的英英字典而且還有Thesaurus(中文翻:同義詞詞典:)
在這裡要感謝這位好友.
這讓我想到我可以跟大家分享一下我使用英英字典的心得

首先來討論一個最常見的問題
覺得看英英字典會產生遞廻效應?會不會為了查一個字陷入字海的無限迴圈，又要去查解釋裡面的單字?然後做出結論就是單字太少,所以要等到培養到一個基本的字彙量才可以開始使用英英字典嗎?

我個人的經驗是無痛升級當然是不可能,但是我們可以由選擇適合的英英字典及修改自己使用英英字典的方式來讓自己上手.
在進一步去闡述這個問題前,首先我要幫一本我的啟蒙英英字典打個廣告


舊版:和我同甘共苦很多年新版

博客來的商品網頁
Random House Webster's English Learner's Dictionary
http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=F011211186

讓我們看看他封面上的簡介
•ALL NEW! ESL review section
•Over 36,000 words and phrases
•Hundreds of common idioms
•Clear, helpful usage notes
•International (IPA) pronunciations
•Lists of irregular verbs
36000個字與片語,沒錯,是小兒科了點,不過如果你不是要念文學科系,這本隨身加上前面介紹的Dictionary.com,應該是相當夠用了.

回歸正題,這本字典的字不多為什麼我會推薦大家使用呢?首先,它採用了(IPA)的音標,就英英字典來說,我目前為止真的還沒發現過台灣教育系統慣用的K.K音標,IPA是最接近的,子音部份問題不大,重點的母音不分,IPA與K.K的差異也是很容易明瞭的(大概都是長音的時候IPA的標識會更明確強調),強調為ESL(English as Second Language)設計,所以解釋會非常的簡單易懂,這樣就減少了出現生字無窮迴圈的機會.
舉幾個例子來看看(我試著挑中等程度的字,來凸顯解釋的用字淺顯)
首先這個字在警匪片中常可以聽見,
hom·i·cide /ˈhɒməˌsaɪd, ˈhoʊmə-/
–noun
1.[noncount][count]the killing of one human being by another.
2.[count]a person who kills another; murderer.
解釋用的字是不是相當容易呢?來個形容詞好了
so·phis·ti·cat·ed /səˈfɪstɪˌkeɪtɪd/
–adjective
1.having or showing knowledge of the world: sophisticated travelers
2.complex: a sophisticated electronic control system.

以上是我的啟蒙英英字典,我買了7-8年了還是帶在身邊(簡直像史奴比裡面Linus的毛毯一樣XD),至於是不是適合你我想你可以去書局裡找相近的翻閱,如果音標是你的障礙,反正只要沒有標示是IPA pronunciation的就可以忽略不看,然後再依你想要的用途去選擇適合的大小輕重.(秤下重,大本也許看來華麗帥氣,不過你不會想帶著跑,真的查不到的字,抄下來到有網路的環境就可以用線上的大字典找).

萬一萬一,解釋中還是有生字呢?
這時候請先做個判斷,發揮你的解謎能力,如果先忽略解釋中你所不會的字,這個解釋與意義是否仍然合邏輯與完整.再加上你正在閱讀的上下文,這樣去作個推理及對字義作合理的猜測.如果可以獲得讓你滿意的答案,那不需要為了這個字破壞你原先的閱讀,將不懂的單字用筆抄下來,繼續原來的閱讀.

畢竟念完及了解你的閱讀資料才是主要目的.文章是作者為讀者設下的謎題,解開謎題除了需要你的字彙量外,也需要你的理解力跟腦力激盪,回頭想想,是閱讀的本身引人入勝,藉著閱讀去擴大字彙量其實是副產品.至於生字解釋中有生字的這個無窮迴圈是不是就解掉了,其實並沒有解掉,但是我們藉由這樣的字典使用方式去讓這些額外的努力分散,不讓我們閱讀的節奏中斷的太嚴重,在不斷的練習中,去培養出使用英英字典的習慣與能力.畢竟就算是英語系國家的人也有小時候,並不是一出生就先有個3000基本字彙的吧!

接下來我要來說說使用英英字典的好處了,有點不好意思,高手們還請多包涵我的野人獻曝.

首先英英字典對會話或口語能力也有很大的幫助,聽起來似乎有點扯太遠,但是我個人經驗覺得對我有很大幫助,首先是這個字paraphrase(感謝 Mr.Robinson讓我旁聽他的會話課),去念英英字典裡面的解釋,個人覺得對我們的表達非常的好,也許會讓你覺得這好像是國中要背國文注釋一樣.
讓我們看看paraphrase這個字的意思
-noun
1. a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording.
2. the act or process of restating or rewording.
–verb (used with object)
3. to render the meaning of in a paraphrase: to paraphrase a technical paper for lay readers.
–verb (used without object)
4. to make a paraphrase or paraphrases.

簡單的用中文來解釋就是"換句話說",用不同的話語重新敍述再說明.
去念字典中的英文解釋對於表達是一種很好的訓練,當我們閱讀那些英文解釋時,同時間也讀到了這本英英字典用不同的方式去描述一件事,因為是解釋所以字典會儘量用淺顯常用的字(非不得已誰會用難字解釋難字),這種白描的功夫練習多了(熟讀唐詩三百首，不會作詩也會吟。),當我們有天要敘述一件事卻沒有適合字彙時就會用比較簡單的字或其他替代方式,去直接或間接的來描述拼湊出要表達的意思.

能用多種表達方式去描述同一件事,絕對是有好處的.觸類旁通不但不是你的負擔,反而會幫助你記得更多,學會去用自己的字彙來表達,也會讓你對已經會的單字片語掌控的更加巧妙.

有時候我們聽些老外講話其實都沒什麼難字,可是你就覺得他的字都用得很到位.這個沒有速成的途徑,不過我們可以藉由不斷的作paraphrasing練習來讓我們自己更verbal.

最後另外再推薦兩本英英字典,這兩本的共通點是都有CD,這兩本字典的CD版都很好用
首先是Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
推薦的原因是解釋的寫法特別的淺顯易懂又好用.使用者介面非常簡潔
http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=F010005920

另外一本是Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
推薦的原因是CD版連例句都有語音,還可以選美國腔或英國腔,功能十分的強大
http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=F010006934

相關閱讀
歡迎回來,我的LDOCE
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(VOA Special English篇)
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(CNN Student News)

歡迎回來,我的LDOCE

2008-02-21T11:04:00.003+08:00

首先要推薦一下Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English(以下簡稱LDOCE)的光碟版,也許現在已經很多其他字典是例句也有發音了,不過在我買的時候只有這本,單字還可以選擇美式發音或是英式發音,至於例句目前為止我聽到的大多是British Accent,基本上這個版本的音標採用IPA(International Phonetic Alphabet),跟台灣通用的KK差距很小,所以不用擔心音標不會用的問題.

但是不久前慘劇發生了,為了新玩具Creative的mp4 player的轉換程式,我升級了Quicktime,於是LDOCE的真人發音就不見了,因為LDOCE是在Quicktime 5的時候開發的,於是我用了好一陣子的啞的LDOCE,今天心血來潮上網搜尋了一下發現出patch了,http://www.pearsoned.com.tw/newsletter/elt/ldoce_windows.htm
安裝完後,久違的阿凸仔語音又回來了,感動得熱淚盈眶,這學期也多指教了,LDOCE.

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英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

負擔得起的歐洲城市之旅-巴塞隆納

2007-11-26T22:56:00.000+08:00

Affordable Europe: Barcelona(原文連結)
By SARAH WILDMAN
Published: April 22, 2007

對於西班牙存在我腦海裡的刻板印象不外乎下列幾項:鬥牛,跟牛比賽跑的節日,佛朗明哥舞,巴塞隆納奧運,Paul Gasol(NBA 灰熊隊球員)艷陽高照,西班牙無敵艦隊(雖然台灣以前的歷史課本強調的是他被英國打敗哪段) 塞萬提斯與他的作品堂吉訶德Don Quixote,西班牙海鮮飯裡面要放番紅花(旅遊頻道美食節目看的) 還有我三年級第二外語想修西文,可是練不會打前舌怎麼辦!

期中考終於考完後看看自己下定決心要介紹完的系列才介紹一個點,最近實在太混了,雖然還欠學校作業數篇,也要先把巴塞隆納給弄上來,這是對自己的一個堅持吧,XD.

Barcelona is the ultimate walking city. So much can be seen from the street — from Gaudí's modernist treasures to the wild social scene along the open boulevards — flâneurs can momentarily forget that this is the most expensive city in Spain. Still, there are a number veritable steals to be had in this Mediterranean city.
巴塞隆納是個終極散步勝地.在街上有太多值得欣賞的—從Gaudí的現代主義經典建築到開放大街上的狂野社會百態,~~flâneurs(西文,應該是Tourist的意思吧)~~漫遊者可以暫時忘記這是西班牙消費最昂貴的城市.不過在這個地中海城市裡還是有些可行的省錢偷吃步的.

ver·i·ta·ble (vĕr'ĭ-tə-bəl)
adj.
Being truly so called; real or genuine: “Her tea … was set forth with as much grace as if she had been a veritable guest to her own self” (Mary Wilkins Freeman).

flâ·neur (flä-nûr')
n.
An aimless idler; a loafer.
[French, from flâner, to idle about, stroll, of Germanic origin.]

Where to Stay

Travelers have long believed there are only two options for sleeping in Barcelona: backpacker hostels or luxury high rises, and never the twain shall meet. Challenging that premise, the Chic and Basic company (www.chicandbasic.com,) gives travelers three low-cost options: hotel, hostel and rental apartments sprinkled across downtown from Born (carrer Princesa, 50;, 34-93-295-4652) to Plaza Catalunya (Calle Tallers, 82; 34-93-302-5183) to Gotico (Calle Estruch, 20;34-93-200-2588.). Hostel rates start at 75 euros for a double; 55 euros for a single (about $102 and $75 at $1.36 to the euro); the hotel goes up a notch to between 110 and 210 euros per night. All rooms are very bright, very white — with an eye to sound design (iPod docks and television music channels) and basic needs, which in the jargon of Euro-travelers means bottles of water, plasma televisions and Internet access. In the hotel and hostel, there are small shared kitchenettes. Just down the street from Chic and Basic Born, Ciutat Barcelona (Carrer Princesa, 35; 34-93-269-7475; www.ciutathotels.com), has minimalist rooms with tall French windows that begin at 95 euros with free high-speed Internet connections and plasma TVs. A roof deck has an itty-bitty pool. A few new apartment rental companies provide Ikea-basic apartments for two to four people in high-end locations. At the newcomer Decimononico (Calle Pescatería, 1; 34-93-319-1661; www.decimononico.com) apartment rentals in Born begin at 65 euros a person for a double.
去哪過夜
長久以來遊客們相信在巴塞隆納過夜只有兩種選擇:背包客青年旅館或是豪華頂級旅館,是永遠不相容的兩個極端.the Chic and Basic公司挑戰這個迷思,給遊客三種經濟的選擇:建了飯店,青年旅館及出租公寓散佈於
Born (carrer Princesa, 50;, 34-93-295-4652)到 Plaza Catalunya (Calle Tallers, 82; 34-93-302-5183)還有 Gotico (Calle Estruch, 20;34-93-200-2588.) 青年旅館從雙人房一晚75歐元起跳;單人房則是55歐元(1歐元兌1.36美金時,約102美金與75美金);飯店則更高一等級每晚從110-220歐元不等.所有房間都很明亮很潔白—設計中還包含了音響部份(iPod的船塢:外接音響,及音樂頻道)以及其他基本需求,以歐洲遊客的專業術語來說包含了瓶裝水,電漿電視還有網際網路.在飯店與青年旅館裡有共用的小型廚房.順著Chic and Basic Born所在這條街向下走,Ciutat Barcelona (Carrer Princesa, 35; 34-93-269-7475; www.ciutathotels.com),提供有著高法國式窗戶的簡約風格房間,包含免費高速上網及電漿電視,每晚95歐元起跳.頂樓有個很小的泳池.有些新的出租公寓公司則在高級地段提供適合2到4個人住的˙Ikea風公寓.新公司Decimononico (Calle Pescatería, 1; 34-93-319-1661; www.decimononico.com) 再Born一個給兩人住的公寓每晚每人65歐元起跳.

twain (twān)
n. & adj. & pron.
Two.
[Middle English tweien, twaine, from Old English twēgen.]

prem·ise (prĕm'ĭs)
n. also prem·iss (prĕm'ĭs)
1. A proposition upon which an argument is based or from which a conclusion is drawn.
2. Logic.
1. One of the propositions in a deductive argument.
2. Either the major or the minor proposition of a syllogism, from which the conclusion is drawn.

sprin·kle (sprĭng'kəl) pronunciation
v., -kled, -kling, -kles.
v.tr.
1. To scatter in drops or particles: sprinkled sugar on the cereal.
2. To scatter drops or particles on.
3. To intersperse with something as if by scattering: sprinkled his speech with quotations.
4. To distribute or intersperse at random.

eye to, with an
Idioms
With a view of, with a plan for. For example, With an eye to expansion, we'll have to be careful with expenses, or She always operates with an eye to the future. [Late 1300s]

min·i·mal·ist (mĭn'ə-mə-lĭst)
n.
1. One who advocates a moderate or conservative approach, action, or policy, as in a political or governmental organization.
2. A practitioner of minimalism.
adj.
1. Of, relating to, characteristic of, or in the style of minimalism.
2. Being or providing a bare minimum of what is necessary.

Where to Eat

Away from the crowds in the popular L'Eixample area you'll find cutting-edge and affordable Me, (Carrer de Paris, 162; 34-93 4194-933; www.catarsiscuisine.com) a seven-month-old hybrid of New Orleans, Vietnamese and Catalan cooking created by Thang Pham. A four-course lunch menu is 14 euros. At Mosquito (Carders, 46; 34-93-268-7569), tucked away on a Born side street, tapas for 2 to euros apiece are made with an Indian or Asian twist. The Museum of Contemporary Art (Macba) flipped the neighborhood around Carrer Doctor Dou and brought in some cool new restaurants. Carmelitas (Carrer Doctor Dou, 1; 34-93-412-4684) is a lofty space with basement prices for traditional Catalan tapas. On the Barceloneta waterfront, hole-in-the wall Bar Venta Manchego draws a daytime crowd seeking big plates of fried sardines (6.50 euros) and other seafood specialties.
去哪吃
離開熱門的L'Eixample區人群遠處,你可以找到又棒又經濟的Me(Carrer de Paris, 162; 34-93 4194-933; www.catarsiscuisine.com),一家剛開幕七個月由Thang Pham一手打造提供綜合紐澳良式,越式及加泰羅尼亞式料理的餐廳.一套四道菜的午餐要價14歐元.在Mosquito (Carders, 46; 34-93-268-7569),位於Born的側街這間餐廳大快朵頤,印度或亞洲風味的tapa每片從2歐元起跳.Museum of Contemporary Art (Macba)當代藝術博物館帶動了Carrer Doctor Dou附近的發展並帶來了些很酷的新飯店.Carmelitas (Carrer Doctor Dou, 1; 34-93-412-4684) 是個以低消費享受加泰羅尼亞式tapa卻很高檔的地方.在Barceloneta港區,不顯眼的Bar Venta Manchego白天吸引了許多喜愛大盤炸沙丁魚的及其他海鮮特殊料理的客群.

Cutting edge has 2 meanings:
Meaning #1: the position of greatest advancement; the leading position in any movement or field
Synonyms: vanguard, forefront
Meaning #2: the sharp cutting side of the blade of a knife
Synonym: knife edge

tuck away or into
1. Informal.
2. To consume (food) heartily.

loft·y (lôf'tē, lŏf'-)
adj., -i·er, -i·est.
1. Of imposing height.
2. Elevated in character; exalted.
3. Affecting grandness; pompous.
4. Arrogant; haughty.

hole in the wall
A small, modest, or obscure place, as in My new apartment is just a hole in the wall, or Believe it or not, that little hole in the wall is a great restaurant. This graphic term is often used disparagingly. [First half of 1800s]

Where to Shop

If you happen to hit the city during the July sales, you can find designer clothing at 80 percent off retail prices. Last July at high-end Como Agua de Mayo (Carrer Argentería, 43; 34-93-310-6441), which sells hot new Spanish, Basque and Catalan designers (like Miriam Ocariz), a red leather clutch was marked down 85 percent. For those looking for unusual women's wear, newcomer Garden (Carrer Escudellers, 56; www.akepica.com) sells one-of-kind designer jackets and A-line skirts, for a mere 30 euros apiece. Along Carrer Avinyo, small shops display everything from schlock to designer at wallet-friendly prices.
去哪血拼
如果你剛好在七月拍賣的時候來這個城市,你可以買到用零售價2折出售的設計師品牌服飾.去年七月在高級的 Como Agua de Mayo (Carrer Argentería, 43; 34-93-310-6441), 有著最新最流行的西班牙風,巴斯克風及加泰羅尼亞風設計師的產品,一只Miriam Ocariz的紅色皮革提包打到1.5折.對那些追求特殊品味女裝的顧客來說,新的賣場Garden (Carrer Escudellers, 56; www.akepica.com)賣風格獨特的設計師外套及A字裙只要不到30歐元一件.沿著Carrer Avinyo路,許多小店鋪陳列各式各樣從便宜貨到設計師品牌的產品.而且定價對你的錢包相當友善.

schlock also shlock (shlŏk) Slang.
n.
Something, such as merchandise or literature, that is inferior or shoddy.
adj.
Of inferior quality; cheap or shoddy.

Best Money-Saving Tip

Unlimited travel cards for two to five consecutive days (9.60 to 20.80 euros) can be purchased online (www.tmb.net) good for Barcelona's extensive bus, tram and subway network. But before you whip out the credit card, consider the T10 travel card, which buys 10 trips on buses or the metro for only 6.90 euros. Add to that the 20-euro Articket (www.telentrada.com and for sale in participating galleries), which buys entry into practically every major art museum and gallery in town.
最佳省錢秘訣
想對付巴塞隆納昂貴的巴士,街車及地鐵票價,可以上網購買2-5天的不限乘坐次數的旅行卡(www.tmb.net)但是在你刷卡前,再考慮下T10旅遊卡,可以搭任意10趟巴士或大眾交通工具只要6.9歐元.另外還有20歐元的Articket(www.telentrada.com線上購買或是在有加入的各美術館畫廊購買) 購買這張票非常實惠,可以參觀城裡每個主要的藝術博物館及畫廊.

tram
trolley car
n.
A streetcar.

這篇文章比我想像的要麻煩多了,首先我對於西班牙另外兩種官方語言完全沒有認知,另外這個記者比起前一個寫阿姆斯特丹的喜歡用比較特別的表示法.該說他verbal呢還是wordy.我想我還不夠格評論native speaker寫的文章.不過可以看出平平是阿凸仔,也是有人比較愛賣弄文筆,

還有13個城市,"不能半途而廢啊!"我這樣告訴自己

相關閱讀
負擔得起的歐洲城市之旅(Introduction)
http://scottlol.blogspot.com/2007/10/affordable-europe-city-guides-nyt.html
負擔得起的歐洲城市之旅-阿姆斯特丹
http://scottlol.blogspot.com/2007/10/amsterdam-travel-cheap.html
36小時城市巡禮系列之阿姆斯特丹,這個超推薦,目前不可能有時間翻請先去欣賞一下
36 Hours in Amsterdam
介紹使用NYT網站的舊文供大家參考
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

真的嗎?辣椒可以治頭痛

2007-11-09T17:51:00.001+08:00

Really?
The Claim: Cayenne Peppers Can Cure Headaches (原文連結)

現代人的生活忙碌似乎是沒有人能逃開的宿命,坦白說個人對於一些新商務書籍的理論私底下都有一定的反感,並不是我有比這些真知灼見更高明的意見,而是這些東西也許對事業或生涯有獨到見解,對於生活品質卻大多是負面的.整天到晚都在談"藍海""創新"的工作環境其實只是對庶民的折磨,大多數的人沒有因這些啟示而成為什麼創業楷模或是創新核心員工,反而是頭痛(headache)或偏頭痛(migraine)總是在暗處窺探,只等我們的壓力來到臨界點.

People who suffer from chronic headaches have been known to try all sorts of pills and home remedies. But cayenne peppers?
為經常性頭痛所苦的人會去嘗試各式各種的藥和家庭療法.但是紅辣椒?真的還假的?

chronic
adj.
1. Of long duration; continuing: chronic money problems.
2. Lasting for a long period of time or marked by frequent recurrence, as certain diseases: chronic colitis.
3. Subject to a habit or pattern of behavior for a long time: a chronic liar.

Behind the folk wisdom is capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne. It is said to bring relief by depleting Substance P, a neurotransmitter that helps transmit pain impulses. Sounds unlikely, but a number of studies have tested the claim, and most have found evidence to support it.
這個民間智慧的背後是辣椒素.辣椒中的有效成分.據說它會藉由消除P物質,一種傳送痛感的刺激神經傳導物質,來達到紓解疼痛的效果.聽起來不太可能,但是許多研究已經對這個傳言做測試,且大部分都找到證據來支持這個傳說.

de·plete (dĭ-plēt')
tr.v
To decrease the fullness of; use up or empty out.

One prominent study was published in 1998 in The Clinical Journal of Pain by researchers in the department of anesthesia and critical care at the University of Chicago. In it, the researchers analyzed data from 33 prior studies and found that capsaicin seemed to work better than placebos for headaches occurring in clusters.
有個廣為人知1998年由芝加哥大學神經學與重症部門所發表的研究,裡面針對之前33個研究資料分析,發現辣椒素針對連續性頭痛的效果比安慰劑要好.

prom·i·nent (prŏm'ə-nənt)
adj.
1. Projecting outward or upward from a line or surface; protuberant.
2. Immediately noticeable; conspicuous. See Synonyms at noticeable.
3. Widely known; eminent.

Placebo(plə-sē'bō)
1.
a. A substance containing no medication and prescribed or given to reinforce a patient's expectation to get well.
b. An inactive substance or preparation used as a control in an experiment or test to determine the effectiveness of a medicinal drug.
2. Something of no intrinsic remedial value that is used to appease or reassure another.

But simply eating hot sauce isn’t going to help. Most studies suggest that capsaicin works just when applied topically. A study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital recruited sufferers of chronic headaches and randomly split them. One group had small amounts of diluted capsaicin applied inside the nose for a week. The other received placebo. The study found “a significant decrease in headache severity in the capsaicin group,” but not the placebo group. Other studies, including one this year, published similar results.
不過就直接吃辣椒醬並沒有幫助.大部分研究表示辣椒素只有針對局部使用才有功效.一個Massachusetts General Hospital的研究募集了經常性頭痛的患者把他們隨機分組.在一週的時間裡針對其中一組在鼻子裡用稀釋的辣椒素.另外一組則使用安慰劑.這個研究發現"辣椒素實驗組有明顯的頭痛症狀舒緩",而使用安慰劑的對照組則沒有.其他研究,包含今年的一組都呈現相似的結果.

top·i·cal (tŏp'ĭ-kəl)
adj.
1. Of or belonging to a particular location or place; local.
2. Currently of interest; contemporary.
3. Medicine
    a. Of or applied to a localized area of the body or to the surface of a body part.
    b. Of or relating to a drug applied topically.
4. Of, arranged by, or relating to a particular topic or topics.

di·lute (dī-lūt', dĭ-)
tr.v., -lut·ed, -lut·ing, -lutes.
1. To make thinner or less concentrated by adding a liquid such as water.
2. To lessen the force, strength, purity, or brilliance of, especially by admixture.
3. To decrease the value of (shares of stock) by increasing the total number of shares.
adj.
    Weakened; diluted.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Studies have found that capsaicin may help relieve headaches.
結論
研究發現辣椒素對紓解頭痛症狀也許有功效.

我個人曾經是辣椒膏的愛用者,不過不是用在頭痛(德國辣椒膏完全不是稀釋的),貼在鼻腔裡應該頭痛會好,因為鼻子根本就燒起來了吧.有位中醫師推薦一種讓睡眠品質變好的方法,我用過還不賴,在這裡跟大家分享.文中提的痠痛貼布我用辣椒膏剪小丁用,效果不錯.
失眠按按合谷穴,也可用痠痛貼布貼在耳神門穴一整天，幫助入眠
網址已被移除
簡單摘錄如下:

利用痠痛貼布穴位敷貼也很有效。方法是先將痠痛貼布、金絲膏、痠痛活血膏等，撕成適當大小，大約1公分左右，貼在「耳神門穴」（位於耳上方三角窩處）。貼了一整天後再撕下，晚上一定一夜好眠，因為，耳神門穴連接到腦部睡眠中樞，白天刺激耳神門穴後，晚上可以助眠。

相關閱讀
其實我是想把音標對照表再貼一次
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)
頭痛跟失眠兩大討人厭症頭對照一下好了
真的嗎?喝杯熱牛奶對睡眠其實沒啥幫助!

負擔得起的歐洲城市之旅-阿姆斯特丹

2007-10-25T17:12:00.000+08:00

Affordable Europe: Amsterdam By GISELA WILLIAMS Published: April 22, 2007
(原文連結)

這系列的第一個城市選擇的是阿姆斯特丹,這系列是依字母順序來排列的,荷蘭人的語言優勢還蠻令人羨慕,因為同屬日耳曼語系,荷蘭處於中間,所以幾乎荷蘭人都會荷文加上英文與德文.以旅遊觀點來看,這樣已經可以玩超大一片通行無阻.雖然很多玩家都說就算語言不通也是可以自助,是真的很強,不過這樣總有點不夠入味的遺憾.不過我們不太可能什麼文都會,所以荷蘭人的確是幸運的.(想到一個網路笑話,要是鄭成功沒成功,我們現在是荷蘭人,是真的還蠻可惜的)

Amsterdam still harbors a strong bohemian and laid-back spirit, which means affordable options rarely found in other European capitals, from well-priced restaurants to free cultural events. And it's an easy city to navigate, thanks to its small size and the efficient Amsterdam Tourist Board (www.amsterdamtourist.nl), which, in contrast to some, is actually tourist-friendly.
阿姆斯特丹保有強烈的波希米亞風跟安逸舒適的精神,這也提供了其他歐洲首都少見的經濟選擇.從價位合理的飯店到毋需花費的文藝活動.感謝阿姆斯特丹的小巧及有效率的官方旅客版 (www.amsterdamtourist.nl),比起一些其他城市來說,是對旅客真正友善的環境.

Where to Stay for Under 125 Euros

The common complaint about Amsterdam's budget hotels is that they're either too remote, or too close to the noisy Central Station. One exception is the family-owned 36-room Hotel Aalborg (Sarphatipark 106; 31-20-676-0310; www.aalborg.nl). Newly renovated, the hotel is the middle of the Pijp neighborhood, a lively area filled with young students, artists and an international mix of affordable restaurants. It's also two blocks from the excellent Albert Cuyp market, where 300-plus stalls offer bargains on everything from furniture to Dutch delicacies. Double rooms start at 69 euros, about $94 at $1.36 to the euro, including breakfast.

去哪找125歐元以下的住宿
這段就很實際,125歐元以下能不能接受見仁見智不過以國民所得比較高的歐美國家應該是便宜吧,對阿姆斯特丹經濟的旅館常見的埋怨不是太遠,就是太接近吵雜的中央車站.有個例外是家庭經營的有36間房的Hotel Aalborg (Sarphatipark 106; 31-20-676-0310; www.aalborg.nl).剛重新裝潢過,這家旅館位於 Pijp鄰近地區的中心,充滿年輕學生,藝術家還有各國經濟風味飯店,的一個活力充沛地區.離擁有超過三百家店面什麼都可以講價(從傢俱到荷蘭精緻食物)的Albert Cuyp市場只有兩條街遠.雙人房附早餐由69歐元起跳,以一歐元對1.36美元大概是94美元.
注釋
renovate
    VERB V n
    If someone renovates an old building, they repair and improve it and get it back into good condition.
            The couple spent thousands renovating the house...

Where to Eat

Don't be put off by the word “squat”: Amsterdam's squat restaurants — volunteer-run kitchens in formerly abandoned buildings — offer a cheap way to break bread with the city's creative underclass. Many are exceptionally well run and clean, and draw a festive crowd. The food tends to be vegan and organic, and some places even offer beer, wine and live music. The best part, however, is the price: a two- to three-course meal runs about 6 euros. Two of the city's most popular squat restaurants are De Peper in the former Netherlands Film Academy (Overtoom 301; 31-20-412-2954; www.depeper.org), which serves organic vegan dishes like spring beans over brown rice with roasted miso onions; and Einde van de Wereld (31-20-419-0222; www.eindevandewereld.nl), housed in a floating barge docked on Java Island.

If you're still nervous about eating in a squat, or need some meat with your dinner, try the Belgica (Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 25; 31-20-535-3290; www.belgica.nu), a new brasserie where a good beef stew or bowl of mussels with excellent Belgian frites won't set you back more than 8 or 10 euros.
去哪吃
別因為"路邊攤"這個字眼而打退堂鼓:阿姆斯特丹的路邊餐館—位於些原先廢棄的建築物中非專業人士自己經營的廚房—提供一種體驗這城市裡有創意的下流社會飲食的經濟方式.有許多這種路邊餐館令人意外的經營良好而乾淨,並吸引不少饕客來光顧.這裡提供的食物傾向比較素食與有機,有些地方甚至提供啤酒,紅酒與現場演奏.不論如何,最棒的部分當然還是價錢 :兩到三道菜的一餐要架大約6歐元.市區最有名的兩家路邊餐館是位於原荷蘭電影學院的De Peper (Overtoom 301; 31-20-412-2954;www.depeper.org),提供如春豆糙米加味噌烤洋蔥這類有機素食餐點;另外一家則是Einde van de Wereld(31-20-419-0222;www.eindevandewereld.nl),餐館建在一個停泊在Java Island的大型遊艇上.

如果還是對於在路邊餐館用餐感到不自在,或是晚餐想來點肉食,試試Belgica (Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 25; 31-20-535-3290; www.belgica.nu),一家新開的小餐館一份很棒的燉牛肉或是淡菜加上很棒的比利時洋芋片只花你大約8到10歐元.
注釋
set back
        If something sets you back a certain amount of money, it costs you that much money. (INFORMAL)
        In 1981 dinner for two in New York would set you back £5.

Where to Shop

Remember when shopping for vintage clothing was fun and cheap? That's still true at shops like Laura Dols (Wolvenstraat 6 and 7; 31-20-624-9066; www.lauradols.nl), a favorite among the thrift-store cognoscenti. It has two locations on Wolvenstraat: No. 7 carries cocktail dresses from the '40s, '50s and '60s, many under 100 euros, as well as a handsome selection of vintage tuxedos and dinner jackets. No. 6, across the street, has bed linens, fur coats and dressy children's clothes. Also popular with fashion stylists is Lady Day (Hartenstraat 9; 31-20-623-5820; www.ladydayvintage.com). For vintage furniture and couture, head to Cornelis Johannes (Willemsparkweg 67; 31-20-616-0184; www.cornelisjohannes.nl). The inventory changes frequently, so you never know if might find a Mies van der Rohe chair, a Mobach ceramic lamp or a classic Chanel suit.

去哪裡開心血拼
還記得買晚宴服裝既便宜又開心的日子嗎?像Laura Dols (Wolvenstraat 6 and 7; 31-20-624-9066; www.lauradols.nl)這樣二手商店集中區中最熱門的店裡依然保有這樣的樂趣,它在Wolvenstraat(Wolven街)7號的店面展售40,50,60年代的雞尾酒服飾,比方說許多漂亮的酒會燕尾服跟晚宴西裝價格都低於100歐元.對街6號的店面則展售床組,毛皮外套及有品味的童裝,同樣受到時尚者歡迎的還有Lady Day (Hartenstraat 9; 31-20-623-5820; www.ladydayvintage.com).要找適合宴會的家具和高品味設計,就前往 Cornelis Johannes (Willemsparkweg 67; 31-20-616-0184; www.cornelisjohannes.nl)吧.不時都會有新貨上架,你永遠不知道這次會找到一張Mies van der Rohe 的椅子, 一盞 Mobach 陶瓷造型檯燈或是一套經典的香奈兒小洋裝.
注釋
vintage
        adj
        You can use vintage to describe something which is the best and most typical of its kind.
                This is vintage comedy at its best.

urban
        Urban means belonging to, or relating to, a town or city.
                Most of the population is an urban population...
                Most urban areas are close to a park.
         ≠ rural

Best Money-Saving Tip

Dozens of free concerts are being held in Amsterdam this year, from large-scale raves to classical music performances — all part of the city's annual arts festival. Events for this year's “Feel the Rhythm” theme can be found at www.amsterdammusicdance.com. If you're looking to just chill, bike over to Strand West, probably the city's hippest urban beach. It's free to suntan alongside the beautiful locals on the wide sandy beach, but it'll cost you to buy a drink at the chic indoor lounge.

最棒的省錢訣竅
今年阿姆斯特丹舉辦了非常多的免費音樂會,從大型的銳舞派對到古典音樂演奏—全屬於年度藝術節的一部份.今年的主題"Feel the Rhythm"感受旋律可以在 www.amsterdammusicdance.com找到活動詳細內容.如果你只想輕鬆一下,可以騎單車到Strand West,大概是本市最嘻哈的市郊海灘.在寬廣海灘上在漂亮的當地俊男美女邊一起曬太陽是免費的,不過如果要進去時尚的室內lounge還是得花杯飲料錢的入場費.
注釋
alongside
        If one thing is alongside another thing, the first thing is next to the second.
                He crossed the street and walked alongside Central Park...

chic
        ADJ (這裡ch發sh音,可能又是來自法語的外來字)
        Something or someone that is chic is fashionable and sophisticated.
                Her gown was very French and very chic.
        = stylish

相關閱讀

這系列的簡介,15個城市,我要加油了
負擔得起的歐洲城市之旅(Introduction)
http://scottlol.blogspot.com/2007/10/affordable-europe-city-guides-nyt.html
負擔得起的歐洲城市之旅-巴塞隆納
http://scottlol.blogspot.com/2007/11/barcelona-travel-cheap.html
36小時城市巡禮系列之阿姆斯特丹,這個超推薦,目前不可能有時間翻請先去欣賞一下
36 Hours in Amsterdam
介紹使用NYT網站的舊文供大家參考
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

真的嗎?喝杯熱牛奶對睡眠其實沒啥幫助!

2007-10-15T13:31:00.000+08:00

Really?: The Claim: A Glass of Warm Milk Will Help You Get to Sleep at Night(原文連結)

這個傳說應該大家都聽過,連這個都有問題嗎?看到這篇的標題時的震驚讓我決定先弄完這篇,再繼續我的沒錢online假裝歐洲之旅,身為曾經需要服藥的嚴重睡眠問題受害者,這個方法我當然試過.看來真是花了冤枉奶粉錢了(僅次於養別人小孩的奶粉錢吧).

Few foods have a reputation for curing insomnia quite like warm milk.
沒錯,溫牛奶在幫助睡眠食物排行榜就算不是榜首也是名列前茅吧!

reputation :
1.To have a reputation for something means to be known or remembered for it.
e.g.Alice Munro has a reputation for being a very depressing writer.

2.Something's or someone's reputation is the opinion that people have about how good they are. If they have a good reputation, people think they are good.
e.g.The stories ruined his reputation.

insomnia :Someone who suffers from insomnia finds it difficult to sleep.
(是的就是這個字,金歹睏,睏未去的英文)

According to age-old wisdom, milk is chock full of tryptophan, the sleep-inducing amino acid that is also well known for its presence in another food thought to have sedative effects, turkey.
根據古早流傳下來的生活智慧,牛奶充滿了色氨酸,這種幫助入睡的胺基酸,也廣為人知存在另外一種被認為有安眠效果的食物-火雞裡.

Something that is chock-full is completely full. (INFORMAL)
e.g.The 32-page catalog is chock-full of things that add fun to festive occasions.

But whether milk can induce sleep is debatable, and studies suggest that if it does, the effect has little to do with tryptophan.
不過牛奶是否幫助睡眠還值得商討,而研究指出如果牛奶真的有效,效果也跟色氨酸沒太大關係..

To have any soporific effect, tryptophan has to cross the blood-brain barrier. And in the presence of other amino acids, it ends up fighting — largely unsuccessfully — to move across.
要達到任何助眠效果,色氨酸必須要通過所謂血腦障壁,而且在其他胺基酸的存在下,要競爭才能進大腦,大部分都失敗無法進入.

soporific: adj
1. Inducing or tending to induce sleep.
2. Drowsy.
n.A drug or other substance that induces sleep; a hypnotic.
這篇文章就用了三四個跟睡有關的字,另外一個是
drowsy :adj., -i·er, -i·est.
1. Dull with sleepiness; sluggish.
2. Produced or characterized by sleepiness.
3. Inducing sleepiness; soporific.

One study by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology demonstrated this in 2003. The study, which was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed that eating protein-rich foods — like milk — decreased the ability of tryptophan to enter the brain.
2003年麻省理工學院的針對這個做了一個研究報告.這個報告在The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition上發表,顯示出吃高蛋白質的食物— 如牛奶 — 會降低色氨酸進入腦中的能力.

The trick, the study showed, is to eat foods high in carbohydrates, which stimulate the release of insulin. Insulin, in turn, makes it easier for tryptophan to enter the brain.

該報告指出,真正有效的把戲是吃高碳水化合物含量的食物,這會促使胰島素的釋放,胰島素相對來說讓色氨酸進入大腦容易些.

But surveys have found that many people swear by milk as a sleep aid, and that may have something to do with psychology.
不過調查卻發現許多人都深信牛奶有助眠效果,這可能是種心理作用.

Scientists say the routine of drinking a glass of milk before bed can be as soothing as a favorite old blanket.
科學家認為睡前固定喝牛奶的心理安慰作用就如同最愛的舊毯子(Snoopy裡的Linus的舊毯子).

THE BOTTOM LINE
A glass of warm milk may make you drowsy, but not because of tryptophan.
結論:一杯溫牛奶也許會讓你容易入睡,不過不是因為色氨酸.

以這個結論看來下次改喝溫米漿似乎是個好主意.

相關閱讀
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

負擔得起的歐洲城市之旅(Introduction)

2007-10-12T16:11:00.000+08:00

Affordable Europe: City Guides(原文連結)

歐洲的風情相信是許多人也許是大多數人旅遊的首選(不考慮旅遊天數跟花費的情況下,我的心聲),這篇NYT的文章標題給大家一線希望,真的有這麼好康的事嗎?以文案的觀點來看這個企劃已經贏了一大半了,Affordable Europe(負擔得起的歐洲)+15個主要都市(Amsterdam,Barcelona,Berlin,Brussels,Budapest,Copenhagen,Florence,Istanbul,London,Moscow,Paris,Prague,Rome,St. Petersburg,Vienna)光是就吸引搜尋引擎就是個Super Hit了吧!大多數的人都只有有限的假跟有限的錢,有空進去看看所謂的affordable是怎樣的affordable吧!請大家先點閱原文連結去欣賞原文,15個城市不是開玩笑的,應該已經是我本月的quota了吧.

Yes, the euro remains strong, but you don't have to max out your credit card to indulge in some of Europe's timeless luxuries. From stylish hotels that won't break the bank, to offbeat boutiques favored by local bargain hunters, the correspondents and contributors of The New York Times offer money-saving tips for visiting 15 major European cities. You can also read suggestions from other Times' readers and share your own tips on visiting Europe affordably.
歐元最近的強勢是有目共睹的(很多經濟學者看壞美金),作者說不過你不用為了體驗歐洲不朽的精緻而去刷爆你的信用卡.從價錢實在的時尚旅館到
當地討價還價高手喜歡的非主流精品店,NYT各地的通訊記者及專欄作家提供你省錢玩遍15個歐洲主要城市的方法.可以讀到其他讀者的建議並分享你自己歐洲經濟行的獨家祕訣.

說真的看到這個標題真是太吸引我了,當初想去德國玩耍還學了一陣子,現在只剩下"Guten Tag. Ist da noch frei?Du bist sehr schoen."(德文:日安,這裡有人坐嗎?你真漂亮,搭訕句總是要學下.)而且到目前為止沒踏上過歐洲的土地,把這裡面每個城市都唸一遍並介紹是我的心願,不過這些介紹完,這個月應該就過去了,而且好像變成旅遊頻道,很多其他我覺得有趣的文章只好繼續向後推了.

基於英語系學生的身分,我給自己以下兩個藉口:

1.主題不停的跳躍,從棒球->電影->趣聞->健康->旅遊(不定期會往回跳),是為了增加單字的廣度,讓單字出現的頻率上升.
2.同一類型的主題重複連續出現時,某些字彙會重複出現加深該重要字彙的印象.

其實只是為我的主題的不規律做個辯護罷了.

相關閱讀
負擔得起的歐洲城市之旅-阿姆斯特丹
http://scottlol.blogspot.com/2007/10/amsterdam-travel-cheap.html
負擔得起的歐洲城市之旅-巴塞隆納
http://scottlol.blogspot.com/2007/11/barcelona-travel-cheap.html
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

小心,幸運餅乾(fortune cookie)中也有下下籤

2007-10-11T11:09:00.000+08:00

Don’t Open This Cookie (Disastrous Day Inside)(原文連結)

幸運餅乾,這個大家應該都在外國電影(例如辣媽辣妹,那個造成靈魂互換的關鍵就是fortune cookie)中看過,似乎美國的中國餐館都有這玩意,奇怪的是在台灣我從沒遇過,這篇有趣的文章主要在討論fortune cookies 裡面籤文內容的變化及影響.

The messages in fortune cookies are typically vague, banal and optimistic. But some cookies are now serving up some surprisingly downbeat advice.
通常餅中的籤文語意模糊平常正面,不過最近有些餅乾裡有讓人吃驚的不樂觀建議.

“Today is a disastrous day. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,” reads one fortune showing up around the country.
最近美國有些地方出現這樣的籤文,"今天是多災多難的日子,如果不能克服就順其自然吧."

“It’s over your head now. Time to get some professional help,” advises another.
"災難已經臨頭.該尋求專業幫忙了,"另外一張這樣說.

As the messages, contained in cookies made by Wonton Food in Queens, have spread across the country, some diners have registered their reactions online. As a result, the company has a marketing challenge on its hands.
這家生產fortune cookie的公司Wonton食品它生意遍布全美國,有些顧客在線上發表他們對籤文的觀感,這家公司有個行銷上的挑戰要面對.

One blogger, who got the “professional help” fortune, wrote: “I shot the audacious baked item a dirty look and proceeded to eat it. And I hope it hurt.”
有個部落客拿到"專業諮詢"籤文,在他的部落格寫:"我給這個直言無諱的烘培物狠狠的一眼然後繼續吃它,我希望它會痛."

Bernard Chow, marketing coordinator at Wonton Food, says he had not set out to insult anybody when he asked his team of freelance writers to come up with some new messages.
這家公司的行銷企劃說他們沒有污辱任何人的企圖,當他要求他那群自由作家提供些新的訊息時.

“We wanted our fortune cookies to be a little bit more value-added,” Mr. Chow said. “We wanted to get some different perspective, to write something that is more contemporary.”
"我們希望我們的幸運餅乾能夠更多點附加價值",周先生說."我們想要些不同的觀點,寫些更現代的東西"

Wonton Food, the largest fortune cookie maker in the country, produces about 4.5 million cookies a day. The company made headlines in 2005 when 110 people won about $19 million in the Powerball lottery after playing a “lucky number” sequence from the back of a Wonton fortune.
Wonton食品,美國最大的幸運餅乾製造商,一天生產450萬個餅乾,這家公司曾經在2005年因為110個人玩籤文背面的幸運數字序列遊戲後贏了威力球樂透約1900萬美金而登上頭條.

Wonton has a catalog of 10,000 fortunes, and about a quarter of them are in rotation at any given time. It introduced 600 new ones several months ago, including about 150 in the popular “fortune-telling” category. Other message categories are humor, motivational sayings, riddles and translated Chinese idioms. “They can’t be offensive, got to be positive, and rated G,” said Derrick Wong, vice president for sales at Wonton.
這家公司有大約10000條籤文,大約4分之1是一直都在裡面輪替的.幾個月前,他們新加了600多條新籤文,其中有150條歸類在最受歡迎的"未來運勢"中.其他還有幽默短文,勵志佳句,謎語,還有翻譯的中國成語."這些文字不能作人身攻擊,要正向樂觀還有要是普通級,"這家公司的銷售副總這樣說.

But, he added, as customers requested more fortunes with actual predictions rather than cryptic sayings, the writers removed their rose-colored glasses.
但是他補充,顧客要求多些真實的未來運勢籤文而不要那些語意模糊的句子,要作者們寫更明確貼近現實的預測.

“It’s very hard to come up with more fortunes,” Mr. Wong said. “Some people may not like them.”
"多放些預測運勢的籤文有相當的困難,"王先生說."有些人可能不喜歡"

Some diners complained; others searched for meaningful explanations.
有些用餐者抱怨;有些尋找預測運勢更具體的解釋.

Was one writer having a bad day? (“Perhaps you’ve been focusing too much on yourself.”) Were the cookies giving voice to worries about the economy or terrorism? (“There may be a crisis looming, be ready for it.”)
有某位籤文作者要倒大楣了嗎?("你可能想太多了.")會有籤文內容擔心經濟或恐怖主義的嗎?("危機隨時會出現,要隨時做好準備.")

be looming: If a worrying or threatening situation or event is looming, it seems likely to happen soon. (JOURNALISM)
e.g. Another government spending crisis is looming in the United States...
e.g. The threat of renewed civil war looms ahead.
e.g. ...the looming threat of recession.
請注意,這個詞不會用在好的地方,基本上都在形容隱藏的危機浮現.

Mr. Chow characterized the new fortunes as “cautious” rather than negative, and said he had received complaints about only two messages so far. One was the “disastrous day” note. The other said: “Your luck is just not there. Attend to practical matters today.”
周先生把這些新的籤文定位為"提醒"而不是負面,他說目前為止只接到兩個籤文被抱怨.一個是"災難日"籤文,另外一張是"今天不是你的幸運日.務實的過今天."

Wonton plans to remove those two from circulation, Mr. Chow said, adding that he welcomes customer feedback about the others.
Wonton公司將自籤文組合中移除這兩張籤文,周先生說,另外他歡迎消費者對其他籤文的回饋.

“I got some people saying that you’re making people think, and that’s good,” he said. "But I have people writing to me saying that it’s not positive enough.”
"有些人告訴我,我們的籤文讓人們思考,那很好,"他說."不過也有人反應說內容不夠正面."

Most people who receive one of the downbeat fortunes don’t take them too seriously. Karyn Turnbull, 33, an education software designer in Austin, Tex., said her fiancé had been warned about a “disastrous day” when they celebrated their engagement at the Chinese restaurant where they had their first date.
大部分抽到比較觸霉頭的籤文的人不會太認真.Karyn Turnbull, 33歲,一個住在德州奧斯汀的教育軟體設計師說,當他們在他們第一次約會的中國餐廳慶祝訂婚時,他的未婚夫抽到"災難日"那張籤文.

“He laughed and said if he had gotten them before, he might not have proposed,” Ms. Turnbull said.
"他笑著說如果他之前就抽到,他也許就不會求婚了," Turnbull 小姐說.

所以下次吃fortune cookie前先深呼吸一下,避免被接下來面對的人生衝擊太大.

選這篇其實純粹是覺得文章有趣,不管台灣人或是阿凸仔都愛算命,我雖然屬於比較不在意的,但是應該也不想抽到那個不太好的籤,會有"觸衰"的感覺.另外聽朋友說過,其實籤不要亂求,我想其實也是有他的道理在,人有時候就各安天命,影響了心情總是不太划算.

"古來雖有死，好在不先知." 福禍相依,就抱著左眼跳喜右眼跳財的態度過人生吧!

上來玩BLOG玩了一陣子,我到底主題是什麼?我數量稀少的讀者大人們,應該已經發現,其實只是一個學外語的人唸NYT跟其他新聞媒體的心得隨筆罷了.今天看到什麼有趣我就介紹什麼,覺得有什麼文法或慣用法該介紹就插進來,有時後難免給人天外飛來一筆的感覺,非常歡迎大家的意見.不管是對格式或是內容.

附上我用COLLINS 查的單字
Vocabulary

相關閱讀
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

真的嗎?水菸(Hookahs)比香菸對健康無害?

2007-10-07T15:34:00.000+08:00

Really?
The Claim: Hookahs Are Safer Than Cigarettes (原文連結)

As cigarette bans have proliferated in recent years, hookah lounges have become a popular alternative, in part because the flavored smoke is believed to be less harmful than cigarette smoke. But research suggests otherwise.
近幾年來推廣禁止吸煙的範圍不斷變大,水煙Lounge變成一個受歡迎的另類選擇.有部份是因為這些加味的煙被相信比香煙來得要無害,不過研究卻告訴我們並非如此.

台北聽說也有可以抽水煙的Lounge,個人不抽菸,不過聽說水煙很香不像香煙,有朋友提議去過,加上充滿異國風情慵懶的音樂,我想那應該是個讓人飄飄欲仙放鬆的好地方.後來因故沒有成行,不無小小遺憾.不過就像某些時尚絢麗的夜店,我也知道我去呆不久,一開始的新鮮刺激過了後,我應該又重回到對這種場合覺得疲勞的宅男陣營.什麼?你說辣妹嗎?我沒有天真到認為我自己是個把妹高手,更何況那根本不是我地盤,鯊魚就算水中稱王,在森林裡也是無用武之地只能倒在地上喘氣吧!

我們常聽到禁煙禁酒,只要官方禁止的東西我們在新聞常見這個字ban,它可以當動詞也可以當名詞
動詞(V):To ban something means to state officially that it must not be done, shown, or used.
e.g. Canada will ban smoking in all offices later this year. 加拿大今年稍後將在所有辦公室禁止抽煙.
名詞(N):A ban is an official ruling that something must not be done, shown, or used.
e.g. The General also lifted a ban on political parties. 這位將軍也對政黨下了禁令.

proliferate 這個字如果要用成語來形容就是數量成長的速度有如雨後春筍一般.
(V)If things proliferate, they increase in number very quickly. (FORMAL)
e.g. Computerized data bases are proliferating fast... 電腦化資料庫的數量成長快速
e.g. fears that nuclear weapons might proliferate. 害怕核子武器的擴散

It is true that in hookahs, also known as water pipes, the smoke is often flavored and filtered through water. The problem is that people who use hookahs typically inhale far more smoke than cigarette smokers, exposing them to potentially higher levels of nicotine, carbon monoxide and other chemicals. Most studies show that small water pipes produce the highest levels of carbon monoxide, followed by cigarettes and then large water pipes.
沒錯水煙通常都調味過且經水過濾.問題是抽水煙的人吸入的煙量通常遠超過抽香菸的人,這也隱含了使他們暴露於更高劑量的尼古丁,一氧化碳還有其他化學物質中.大部分研究顯示小的水煙管產生最高的一氧化碳,接下來依序為香煙跟大的水煙管.
inhale: When you inhale, you breathe in. When you inhale something such as smoke, you take it into your lungs when you breathe in.
e.g. He took a long slow breath, inhaling deeply...
e.g. He was treated for the effects of inhaling smoke.
≠ exhale
Inhale deeply.(大大的吸口氣) Exhale deeply.(大大的吐口氣)

One extensive report on hookahs was published in 2005 by the World Health Organization. It found that in a single smoking session, cigarette smokers typically took 8 to 12 puffs and inhaled 0.5 to 0.6 liters of smoke over five to seven minutes. In contrast, hookah smokers may take 50 to 200 puffs of up to a liter of smoke each during a single session.
另外WHO(對,台灣進不去那個)在2005有發表一個關於水煙的延伸報告.據報告抽一節煙(這樣翻有點爆笑,不過我想大家懂的),抽香菸的通常抽個8-12口在5-7分鐘裡每口吸入約0.5-0.6公升的煙.比較起來,抽水煙的一節會抽50-200口,每口最多可高達1公升的煙.
puff:If someone puffs at a cigarette, cigar, or pipe, they smoke it.(吸口煙的動詞就這個字,不過依前後文不同有時會特指吐煙)
e.g. He lit a cigar and puffed at it twice...
e.g Richard lit another cigarette and puffed smoke towards the ceiling...
e.g The weather was dry and cold; wisps of steam puffed from their lips.

“The water pipe smoker may therefore inhale as much smoke during one session as a cigarette smoker would inhale consuming 100 or more cigarettes,” the report said.
報告中說,抽水煙的可能一節中吸入抽菸者抽100支香煙甚至更多的量.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Hookahs can be just as hazardous as cigarettes.
結論,水煙根香煙一樣有害.

照我的看法,人生追求舒服爽快在所難免,不過既無害又爽快的煙似乎還沒出現.

相關閱讀
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

熱水澡對男性生育能力有不良影響

2007-10-05T19:18:00.001+08:00

Really?
The Claim: Regular Use of Hot Tubs Can Hurt Fertility in Men(原文連結)

這個傳說無論中外都很有名,不可否認所有男生都在意這件事,到底經常泡熱水澡是否對男性雄風有影響呢?除了泡太多熱水不好外,也有泡冷水對那方面有益的說法,另外傳說中冷熱水交替的所謂金冷法(到底是哪國人發明的?),不過我並不想讓我的網頁走情色路線,所以還是看正題吧.

For years, doctors have warned men having trouble conceiving to stay away from hot baths and whirlpool tubs, saying there was reason to suspect that long exposure to hot water could worsen their problems.
多年來醫生警告有生育問題的男人要遠離泡熱水澡按摩浴缸,合理的懷疑長時間泡熱水會讓他們的問題惡化.首先男性雄風不等於生育能力,在這裡其實討論的是生育能力,想知道強壯秘方的同儕們,相信我和你同樣失望(被插圖欺騙).

連續看數篇相關題材的文章有個好處,就是強化對那些字重複的印象,conceive在這裡當使受孕,當然fertility又再次出現.

Much of that was based on speculation. But earlier this year, a team of urologists at the University of California, San Francisco, conducted a study to measure and document the extent, if any, of this effect. The researchers did confirm the link, and then they discovered something surprising.
這些大多是根據推測而來,但是今年(2007)稍早加州大學的一組泌尿科專家團隊,導入一套研究來測量記載這個說法的真實性,如果為真,影響有多大.這些研究者確認了這之間的關聯,並發現了一些驚人的事實.

The study looked at a group of men who were regularly exposed to high water temperatures, meaning for about 30 minutes a week, through hot tubs or hot baths.
這個研究觀察一組人經常暴露在高水溫下,每週最少30分鐘,泡熱水澡或是以高水溫淋浴.

All the men showed signs of infertility, with impaired sperm production and motility.
所有男人都有不孕的跡象,伴隨著精子的量與活力的降低.
impair:If something impairs something such as an ability or the way something works, it damages it or makes it worse. (FORMAL)
e.g. Consumption of alcohol impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery...

What was unexpected was how quickly this infertility could be reversed. The researchers found that after the men stopped their exposure to wet heat, half had “a mean increase in total motile sperm counts of 491 percent after three to six months.”
令人意外的是這種不孕跡象回復的速度,研究員發現當這些男人停止洗熱水,他們之中的一半在三到六個月後有活力精子的總數平均增加到491%.

Among the men who did not see such a reversal, the researchers speculated that tobacco use, a known “gonadotoxic” habit, was to blame. Most of those men were chronic smokers.
另外一半沒有觀察到這種轉換的男人,研究員懷疑是抽菸,一個已知的"損害產生精子能力"壞習慣,的影響.這些人大多都是吸菸者.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Regular exposure to hot tubs can hurt male fertility, though the effects can be reversed.
結論
經常性的熱水澡會影響男性生殖能力,雖然這個情形是可以恢復的.

呃,用洗熱水澡來替代家庭計畫嗎?我想這不是個好主意.畢竟世界上總是意外的事比較多.
古時候人連踩到巨大腳印都可以懷孕也(后稷的母親踩了天帝的巨大腳印,便神奇地懷孕了,後來生下了一個嬰兒-后稷,我想他的青春期不會太愉快.還有他父親應該也不太愉快)

古人顯然沒有.infertility 的困擾,生活困苦沒熱水洗吧.

相關閱讀
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

雙胞胎總是隔代出現?

2007-10-05T01:05:00.000+08:00

Really?
The Claim: Twins Always Skip a Generation (原文連結)

這篇文章來自NYT的Health中的一個系列,標題總是以"Really?The Claim:....."來帶出主題,有點像那種日本節目專門問生活中不易被發現的小常識或傳聞,然後以Facts帶出正解.我個人覺得相當有趣.
這篇從科學的角度來解釋傳說中雙胞胎會隔代出現的現象是否存在?

People with twins in their extended families may wonder whether a crib for two is in their future, too.
家族中有雙胞胎的人不知道他們以後會不會也要用到雙人用的娃娃床.

這邊插進一個在說話跟翻譯的時候,我個人覺得可以注意的就是wonder這個字,先看下定義
If you wonder about something, you think about it, either because it interests you and you want to know more about it, or because you are worried or suspicious about it.
有時候在句子中有"不知道"三個字的時候我們會直覺的用I don't know, we don't know ...這類的某些時候語意很接近,但是有時候其實要表達的意思用wonder這個字表達可能會更接近我們要表達的意思
比較下面兩個句子
I wondered what that noise was...
I didn't know what that noise was...
這兩句乍看好像都表達我不知道那是什麼噪音,但是前一個句子除了有不知道外還帶有猜測的語氣.可以試試在會話中練習使用這個字.在看電影或是美劇時也可以注意一下,通常說I wonder....除了表示自己不知道的狀態還會帶出質疑詢問對方的語氣.

According to conventional wisdom, twins not only run in families, but they also — for some strange reason — always skip at least one generation. It is a claim that is widely repeated, but only partly true.
說實話這傳說我第一次聽見,還蠻有趣倒是,傳統智慧應該是根據觀察跟經驗法則吧!雙胞胎總是跳過最少一代,不過只有部分正確.
"According to conventional wisdom"很類似中文中常說根據老祖宗流傳下來的智慧;這裡提供個最近我們文學課常用的用語,在文字還沒發明不發達或是非正式記載的場合,我們所謂的口耳相傳可以說"According to oral tradition".

Scientists have known for some time that there is a gene that can predispose women to hyperovulation, or releasing two or more eggs in a single menstrual cycle. When both eggs are fertilized, the resulting siblings are fraternal twins. Because this gene can be passed on, the tendency to have fraternal twins can in fact run in families.
這裡用了幾個比較技術的字,科學家已經知道有時候有個基因會讓女人容易在一次經期排出兩個或以上的卵子,當兩個卵子都受精會產生異卵雙胞胎,這個基因可能會傳下去,事實上的確有些家庭容易誕生異卵雙胞胎,看到hyperovulation應該大家都跟我一樣先嚇了一跳吧,不過報紙不是專業教科書,後面馬上就給了解釋,並不影響繼續向下讀.

Identical twins, on the other hand, result from one fertilized egg randomly splitting in two, creating two siblings with identical DNA. Because there is no known gene that influences this process, it is considered a mere coincidence when one extended family has multiple sets of identical twins.
同卵雙胞胎,來自於一個受精卵隨機的分裂成兩個,於是生出兩個DNA完全相同的小孩,因為沒有已知的基因對這個過程有影響,一個家族有多對同卵雙胞胎的情形被看作是個巧合.不具數據上的意義.
sibling:One of two or more individuals having one or both parents in common; a brother or sister.雖然有點正式的字,不過自我介紹或是介紹別人家族成員時除了說brothers and sisters外有另外的選擇,比方說
His siblings are mostly in their early twenties... 他的兄弟姐妹大多都20出頭
fertilized egg 受精卵,這個字我總會聯想到另一個字 fertile提供給大家參考,這個字的英文有一部分解釋念起來蠻有趣節錄在下面
1.Land or soil that is fertile is able to support the growth of a large number of strong healthy plants.
...fertile soil.
2.A person or animal that is fertile is able to reproduce and have babies or young.
The operation cannot be reversed to make her fertile again.
是土地呢,就是種得出東西來肥沃的,是人呢就是生得出來的,我個人覺得蠻有趣,不過把妹別用這個笑話,第一題材不太好,第二如果對方單字量跟對英語冷笑話感受度很低,那你馬上就會跟geek畫上等號.
Doctors will tell you that pregnancy is the only sure test for fertility.醫生會跟你說祇有懷孕才是百分之百準的測試你會不會生.
infertility, 不孕infertile不孕症

這裡我在雞婆的多補充一個字
mere:You use mere to emphasize how unimportant or inadequate something is, in comparison to the general situation you are describing.
這個字是不重要不足夠的意思,在我們這篇文章裡也點出那些特例不足以列入考慮,這個字特別在哪呢?它沒有比較級,而它的最高級merest其實只是更強調這個多不重要,也不會拿來當做比較.所以不要寫 The merest of....這種句子.文法上也許是對的,不過句子本身不太正確.

The notion that twins always skip a generation is also a myth. The illusion may have arisen because men who inherit the gene from their mothers are unaffected by it ( they do not ovulate), but can still pass it on to their daughters, who, in turn, will have an increased likelihood of conceiving twins.
雙胞胎總是跳一代還是個迷思.有個可能的解釋指向男人從母親繼承了這個基因並不影響(兄弟,我們不排卵,真的),但是還是可以把這個基因傳給他們的女兒,這樣跳了一代又很有機會懷雙胞胎了.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Twins can run in families, but do not necessarily bypass generations.

結論有可能有些家族容易懷雙胞胎,不過不需要隔代.

大家可以觀察看看認識的人中是否也有這種情形.看看就好不必太認真.
希望這種題材可以給大家帶來些娛樂,下次介紹熱水澡是否影響男性雄風的那篇.

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Good Luck Chuck : 潔西卡艾芭要解放了嗎?

2007-09-28T13:56:00.000+08:00

Topless Girls! (And Other Things Far Too Wildly Hilarious to Mention)(原文連結)

台灣片商根據劇情把這部片命名為"倒數第二個男朋友".,這部片是以限制級在台灣上映,看NYT這篇影評的標題,會讓人覺得這個很值得一看,為什麼?大家都知道,當然是為了Jessica Alba ,衝著標題上的"Topless Girls!",女神艾芭也,讓人充滿了憧憬不是嗎?

不過相信以前混過光華商場,曾經為了不輕易破壞與女性同胞純真情誼,將體力與金錢花在日本妹動作片的宅男們都了解,光碟封面與內容常常是有出入的.你問我說難道這部片裡面會沒有艾芭女神的鏡頭嗎?當然不可能這樣騙錢,不過Topless Girls!可不是Topless Jassica!如果只是打算去看潔西卡艾芭裸露鏡頭的話,可能會大失所望,至於Topless Girls(複數也),看過婚禮終結者 Wedding Crashers的可以回想一下,那個大概不到5分鐘的胸部花絮,基本上應該是差不多的手法,藉由前段的養眼畫面,來鋪陳對比這個喜劇後續的追求真愛,強調其實性不是所有,大部分的美式性喜劇不管前面多麼酒池肉林多麼沉溺於感官的享樂,都還是會導向一個道德上的正途而不至於離經叛道.畢竟,商業片還是要賺錢,引來輿論的撻伐或是衛道人士的抗議對票房並沒有好處.

從這個標題Topless Girls! (And Other Things Far Too Wildly Hilarious to Mention)看來,似乎這位影評覺得這片真是太好笑了,這個在形容喜劇片常用的字一定要介紹一下.

Hilarious:
If something is hilarious, it is extremely funny and makes you laugh a lot.
例句:We thought it was hilarious when we first heard about it...
不過,讓我們回想一下too...to的用法,其實跟前後文是有關的,我從國中參考書借了兩個例句讓大家對照
The weather is too hot to work. (天氣太熱了，所以無法工作。)
It's too dangerous to drive fast on the busy roads. （在交通忙碌的街道上開快車，實在是太危險了。）
所以這個標題很耐人尋味,是其他部分太好笑無法形容,或是其他部分不值一提呢?以內文看來似乎是不太好笑,影評大大的取笑了裡面的演員.

I’ve occasionally heard Dane Cook, one of the stars of “Good Luck Chuck,” described as a comedian. I find this confusing, since my understanding is that comedians are people who say and do things that are funny. Perhaps Mr. Cook is some new kind of conceptual satirist whose shtick is to behave in the manner of a person attempting to be funny without actually being, you know, funny. Or maybe he answered an ad in the back of a magazine and sent away for a mail-order license to practice comedy.

"我無意間聽說Dane Cook是個喜劇演員,我對此感到困惑,從我的認知喜劇演員是說話或是行為好笑的人."可真嚴厲,雖然後面有說也許他屬於那類試圖搞笑但是並不真正搞笑的,不過最後的比喻超級狠.回答了雜誌封底的問題並回函申請一張表演喜劇的執照.

Whether Jessica Alba, his co-star, acquired her acting credentials by similar means is an issue that will be addressed if she ever tries to act. To be fair (but why?) she does expend a little effort in “Good Luck Chuck,” pretending to be goofy and clumsy, doing stuff like running into a metal pole, catching her skirt in a car door and upending a tray of dentist’s instruments.

很顯然的,艾芭女神的美色沒有讓影評對他好點,他質疑Jassica是否有試著去用演技詮釋(if she ever tries to act.),
"acquired her acting credentials"意指爭取對他演技的認同,by similar means is an issue同樣(跟男主角類似的情況)令人爭議
我只能說作者真是壞,The author is really good at mocking.他對取笑人很有一套.他說好吧公平點(為什麼要?),Jassica有那麼一點點努力在片中表現 goofy和clumsy(這兩個字用來形容喜劇角色算是種稱讚),做些撞柱子,裙子被車門夾住,打翻東西的表演.所以女主角也被說的一文不值.

goofy:If you describe someone or something as goofy, you think they are rather silly or ridiculous. (INFORMAL)
clumsy:A clumsy person moves or handles things in a careless, awkward way, often so that things are knocked over or broken.

接下來這段是全文的重點
But the main audience for this dim little sex comedy has no particular interest in seeing Ms. Alba act. They want to see her in her underwear and also to confront one of the central cultural questions of our time: will she take her top off?
說出了大家的心聲,也許是宅男們的心聲,大家都不是對艾芭女神的演技特別有興趣.大家只想看她穿內衣的畫面,還有:她會把胸罩脫掉嗎?
作者非常有道德,他並沒告訴我們有沒有脫掉.(不然會被片商告嗎?)

然後作者大大的嘲諷了這部片,片中有很多沒有名氣的女星露胸部,讓這部片成為有訂閱Maxim卻沒有網路的年輕人必看的片(這傢伙嘴真是毒).觀眾中相當大部分應該都是幻想能跟艾芭女神上床的傢伙.不過這些付了費的消費者會像之前某部紀錄片"The Game"(抱歉這個我常識不夠請去原文連結看)的觀眾一樣 -- 以為也許有機會看到(who think they might really have a shot).

依這位影評的看法這部片顯示了即使是低俗搞笑劇(lowbrow comedy)也需要技巧與智慧.這部片卻只提供了乳房笑話,陽具笑話並充斥了無新意的點子.

Chuck (that would be Mr. Cook) suffers under a curse that causes every woman he goes to bed with to fall in love with the next guy who asks her out.
全片的劇情圍繞在這點,跟他上床的女人都會愛上下一個約她的傢伙.

最後一句,影評毒舌的傑作.But if the logic of “Good Luck Chuck” holds, the next movie I see should be a masterpiece.
看到這句我真的笑了,如果片中的邏輯成立(下一個男人是真命天子),那我看的下部片一定是經典傑作.

我想我會等DVD出來再去租吧!
抱歉了!艾芭女神!!!

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3:10 To Yuma:決戰3:10 羅素克洛經典西部電影重現

2007-09-25T22:48:00.000+08:00

Russell Crowe Revitalizes Remake of Cowboy Classic '3:10 To Yuma'(原文連結)

看電影跟看報紙都是許多老師推薦的學英文管道之一,不過最近學業跟工作占了生活很大部分的時間,不知道10月5號上映的這部9月11日美國週末票房冠軍片我有沒有辦法去戲院看,在這裡把他的影評節錄介紹一下.

在這裡先介紹美國之音VOA的Hollywood報導,VOA主要報導電影的影劇報導記者Alan Silverman,如果要找他的文章,可以在VOA網頁右上角搜尋打silverman或是打片名,不過根據我的經驗,用片名找有時候那個搜尋會不準確,好像全文檢索寫得不是很好,不妨用silverman 進去搜尋再配合上映日期去搜尋,反而效果比較好.

Silverman的報導不屬於special English,也就是說他是以正常的速度的英語來播報,不過依我個人的經驗,不看原稿先聽個兩到三遍應該可以抓到6-7成的意思,因為已經先知道主題也會對聽的理解力有幫助,這裡會建議可以先花個約20分鐘.然後再看網頁上的原文,某些直接聽無法確定的字,聽了幾次後會有"謎底揭開,原來是你這傢伙的感覺",除了加深對這個字或片語的印象外,有時候我們聽不懂的情況是這個字或片語跟前後相鄰字的連讀,形成我們不熟悉的連續音節,先聽再看也幫助我們去感受將對這種音節組合的反應內化.對以後再次聽見或是類似音節組合的反應都有幫助.

我們中文作文有各種破題的起頭方式,英文也有,Mr. Silverman再這裡用了一個他蠻愛用的手法,用主角的對比性突顯出劇情的衝突性,也吸引我們向下看他的簡介.

A decent but down-on-his-luck cowboy faces off against a charismatic and deadly outlaw in a new take on a classic Hollywood western co-starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. Alan Silverman has a look at 3:10 to Yuma.

A decent but down-on-his-luck cowboy,我們的課本中對等連接詞and的例子不少,but的卻不多,我自己在這幾年看了老外用這種寫法覺得很簡潔,不過自己寫作文倒是常會寫成 He was a decent cowboy, but lately he was down on his luck.大家不妨試試看遇到要用but去連結兩個子句時,是不是其實有贅字的嫌疑,有時候可以這樣寫.

"face off"大家一定想到變臉,其實變臉的片名是個雙關語,一方面"to take one's face off"點出了那個換臉皮的情節,另一方面我們來看看他的英文解釋:start a game by a face-off.而face-off這個複合名詞的解釋是"A face-to-face, usually hostile meeting: confrontation, encounter." "A method of starting play in ice hockey, lacrosse, and other games in which an official drops the puck or ball between two opposing players who contend for its control."面對面的衝突,像冰上曲棍球之類的運動開球的正面衝搶.

這個破題我個人覺得很精采,因為他用了四個形容詞還有這樣的動詞去鋪陳整個戲劇衝突,正直運氣不好的牛仔跟充滿魅力的亡命之徒正面衝突.我們在很多賣座片如變臉,無間道都看見了這種張力的運用.再加上Russell Crowe 和 Christian Bale兩大性格男星的名字.看來應該會讓電影迷心甘情願的掏出口袋裡的錢.

根據我聽Mr.Silverman的電影報導的經驗,有些心得提供給大家參考,因為他會把片中的對白跟報導訪問剪輯在一起,所以有時候比較天外飛來或是聽不清楚的其實是電影裡的片段,不用被這幾段挫折了信心,因為有時候沒有前後文,就算是老美自己有時候也會丈二金剛摸不著腦袋;次外就是一般來說除了他自己對劇情跟人物的簡介外,還會訪問幾個劇中的要角,這篇裡面他就訪問了Russell Crowe,Christian Bale還有導演James Mangold.通常導演講的比較複雜.聽這些明星說話去辨識他們的口音跟聲音我覺得也是聽這個系列的一種趣味.

"a new take on a classic Hollywood western",其實這部片是重拍50年前的經典西部片.Christian Bale說他會去看原著短篇故事也會去看其他版本的電影,有些人怕看了之前別人的表現會被限制影響,不過他不怕.導演James Mangold拍過Walk The Line (爲你鍾情)還有 Girl, Interrupted(女生向前走),這次嘗試西部片也是相當神奇的,接受訪問時他表示,雖然故事背景設定在1883,西部仍然充滿了許多今日世界的關聯映射.他提到了關於美國的焦慮,政治迫害,宗教迫害,人性的殘酷面,大企業對小個體的欺壓,藉由這樣的一種表現方式來突顯很多美國現今的一些政治議題,但是,他補充,這部片永遠不會被視為是部具爭議性的影片,因為它不存在現代的政治板塊且用一種象徵抽象的方式表現.

坦白說我看導演的這段整個傻眼了,我整個帶著要去電影院看落日沙漠男人硬派對決,因為環境正邪發現其實對方某些特質是與自己相同的心理掙扎,現在要當作我的文學導讀課進去找simile跟metaphor嗎?

不,我不會的,記得小學時候看布袋戲我最愛的角色是"刀鎖金太極",長大後發現原來是因為那首出場音樂,那首來自克林伊斯威特主演荒野三鏢客中大師Ennio Morricone的無敵配樂,我會帶著我一貫的熱血硬派態度期待一場男人的西部龍爭虎鬥.

呼,記得把槍放回腰上的槍套時,要先把槍口的硝煙吹散.

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英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

洋基連勝,直追紅襪,Mussina再現巨投風範

2007-09-20T15:58:00.000+08:00

Yankees 12, Orioles 0
Boston Series Behind Them, Yankees Have Sox in Sight (原文連結)


Mike Mussina after striking out Aubrey Huff to end the seventh. from NYT	Doug Mientkiewicz in the eighth inning. He hit a three-run homer in the fourth. from NYT

Mike Mussina has always believed that a good pitcher wins about half of his starts. Last night was the 500th start of Mussina’s career, and he won for the 249th time. Not quite half, but Mussina, clearly, is a good pitcher again.

穆西納一直相信一個好投手會贏得約一半得先發場次.昨晚是他生涯第500次先發,他也贏得生涯第249勝.還不到一半,不過很明顯的老穆又是從前的那個好投手了.

The resurgent Mussina twirled seven shutout innings against the free-falling Baltimore Orioles, leading the Yankees to a 12-0 romp that pulled them two and a half games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

這場球捲土重來的老穆投出了無失分的7局將金鶯玩弄於股掌之間,帶領洋基12-0大勝並在美聯東區追趕紅襪到只有1場半的勝差.金鶯最近戰績有多差?被用free-falling自由落體來形容.近20幾場似乎一勝難求.

對於老穆最近的狀況resurgent這個字很貼切.寫作文時要寫東山再起或捲土重來時可以偷學一下.
"1.Experiencing or tending to bring about renewal or revival.2.Sweeping or surging back again."
"You use resurgent to say that something is becoming stronger and more popular after a period when it has been weak and unimportant. (FORMAL)"

另外對於12-0這種大勝,讓我們來看看romp這個字
"To win a race or game easily."
"Journalists use romp in expressions like romp home, romp in, or romp to victory, to say that a person or horse has won a race or competition very easily."
eg, Mr. Foster romped home with 141 votes. Foster先生以141票大勝.

"We still have work," Manager Joe Torre said. "We won’t allow ourselves to get caught up in what people will assume is a foregone conclusion."

Joe Torre當然說他們要繼續努力,不讓一般人認為結果已定的假設侷限住他們.

foregone conclusion
n.

An end or a result regarded as inevitable: The victory was a foregone conclusion. See Usage Note at foregone.
A conclusion formed in advance of argument or consideration.

If you say that a particular result is a foregone conclusion, you mean you are certain that it will happen.
eg, Most voters believe the result is a foregone conclusion...
大部分的選民相信結果早已經註定.
(這讓我想起幾年前,有個很胖的籃球主播信心滿滿的預測活塞一定不敵湖人,活塞奪冠時我真是開心到不行)

開學了,好多東西要跟上,學校的閱讀進度要跟上,每天看NYT不能荒廢,還有上來寫些東西也想持續.基本上我本來就不打算當自己是寫體育的BLOG,不過有些文章確實寫的精采,當天看完對作者的用字跟結構叫好,但是等我能夠上來分享,總是已經次日甚至更久了,跟一些專門的體育BLOG當然是無法相提並論(我自己就屬於外行看熱鬧),不過還是希望藉由一些精采的句子,跟有緣來我這走走的朋友分享學習的心得.

我是目前正同時看英國文學導讀跟NYT的棒球報導的Scott.

相關閱讀
穆西納重返先發,助洋基7連勝
Mussina : 38歲生涯247勝英雄遲暮
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

穆西納重返先發,助洋基7連勝

2007-09-14T17:29:00.000+08:00

Back as a Starter, Mussina Helps Yanks Win Seventh Straight
(原文連結)Mike Mussina allowed no runs
in five and two-thirds innings.

"Standing comfortably before his locker, smiling and joking after winning the 248th game of his career, Mike Mussina savored the smaller victory he had achieved. Simply put, he said, it felt good to contribute again."

這位248勝的老將歷經了之前難堪的表現,ERA到破表的17.69,這場球對他生涯來說只能說是個小勝,對他的意義卻不太一樣.

這裡的participial phrase部分,"Standing comfortably before his locker, smiling and joking after winning the 248th game of his career,",似乎在我們的眼前描繪出畫面,讓我們想像穆西納站在他的衣櫃前輕描淡寫對我們說他這得來不易的第248勝.對248勝的老穆來說這場5又2/3局不失分,被打5支安打,送出一K及3次保送的勝投.對照過往的輝煌紀錄中當然是微不足道.這裡用了savor(英式savour),"If you savour an experience, you enjoy it as much as you can.","If you savour food or drink, you eat or drink it slowly in order to taste its full flavour and to enjoy it properly."來描述他對這場勝投的感覺.不只是回味還細細品嚐,真的有寒日飲冰水,點滴在心頭那種味道,"Simply put",老將還是保持他王牌的冷靜姿態,說很高興能對球隊有貢獻.

"We’ve got to keep winning ballgames," Mussina said. "We can’t afford to send somebody out there who’s going to give up six or seven runs in the first three innings."
"球隊必須要繼續贏球,"穆西納說."我們負擔不起一個3局丟6-7分的投手."

"I think I just reminded them that I’m still here and I think I can still pitch,” Mussina said. “Hopefully, the guys making those decisions will give me a chance to get back out there a couple more times."提醒教練團他還在而且他覺得自己還能投.希望那些做決定的給他個機會讓他還能再上場個幾次,聽老穆這樣說還真是有點淒涼.

"Reliever Joba Chamberlain threw 35 pitches, his high for the Yankees, and after a 1-2-3 seventh, he gave up the first run of his career after 16 scoreless innings. It came on a two-out error by third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who threw away a ground ball."Chamberlain中繼投出35球,在洋基出賽最多的一次,完成三上三下的第七局後,他16局無失分的紀錄中止了,雖然不是自責分.由A Rod 在兩人出局後發生的失誤造成.不過無失分的紀錄還是中斷了.

"Ninety-nine times out of 100, Al makes that play," Chamberlain said. "We won the game, and that’s all that matters."
小火箭人覺得人有失手馬有亂蹄,贏得比賽最重要.

閱讀小補充
這裡給大家介紹一下連勝的說法.在這篇文章裡出現了兩種.首先是標題

Back as a Starter, Mussina Helps Yanks Win Seventh Straight.
straight:Uninterrupted; consecutive
sick for five straight days; their fourth straight victory.
straight不中斷連續的這個用法,可以試著用用看

另外是streak這個字,背生字的用多看文章絕對是效果最好的,看個幾天棒球新聞這個字應該都不會忘了.

This time was different. Starting on Wednesday because of the elbow injury to Roger Clemens, Mussina shut out the Toronto Blue Jays over five and two-thirds innings, lifting the Yankees to a 4-1 victory that ran their winning streak to seven.

這次不同.星期三因為火箭人的肘傷,穆西納代班先發封鎖了藍鳥5又2/3局,幫助洋基4比1獲勝讓連勝數字增加到7.
不斷重複出現的這個片語,大家就笑納進自己的腦中吧
winning streak
A series of consecutive successes, a run of good luck, as in Our son-in-law has been on a winning streak with his investments. This expression comes from gambling. [Mid-1900s]

相關閱讀
洋基連勝,直追紅襪,Mussina再現巨投風範
Mussina : 38歲生涯247勝英雄遲暮
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

鳥中之Alex,最聰明的鸚鵡辭世

2007-09-13T11:34:00.000+08:00

Alex, a Parrot Who Had a Way With Words, Dies

Alex, a 31-year-old African gray parrot, knew more than 100 words and could count and
recognize colors and shapes.

"He knew his colors and shapes, he learned more than 100 English words, and with his own brand of one-liners he established himself in TV shows, scientific reports, and news articles as perhaps the world’s most famous talking bird."

能分辨顏色跟形狀,會超過100個英文字,媒體上的一線巨星,世界最有名會說話的鳥.Alex享年31歲.

"Scientists have long debated whether any other species can develop the ability to learn human language. Alex’s language facility was, in some ways, more surprising than the feats of primates that have been taught American Sign Language, like ....."

科學家一直以來對於其他物種是否有學習人類語文的能力爭辯不休.Alex突出的表現比那些靈長類的實驗對象要更令人吃驚.我忽略了原文中提到的金剛跟黑猩猩.facility這裡的用法讓我們看看英英字典的解釋,"The ability to perform without apparent effort: ease, easiness, effortlessness, facileness, readiness." 強調它的語言學習能力是多麼突出.比原先大家覺得跟人類更近的靈長類遠親更好.

But by using novel methods of teaching, Dr. Pepperberg prompted Alex to learn about 150 words, which he could put into categories, and to count small numbers, as well as colors and shapes. “The work revolutionized the way we think of bird brains,” said Diana Reiss, a psychologist at Hunter College who works with dolphins and elephants. “That used to be a pejorative, but now we look at those brains — at least Alex’s — with some awe.”

這是很有趣的一段,Dr.Pepperberg用創新的教導方式,讓Alex學會了150個單字,讓他可以分類,可以數數,可以分辨顏色與形狀.這裡的novel當形容詞用,"Strikingly new, unusual, or different. See synonyms at new."

另一位實驗動物是海豚跟大象的心理學家打趣的說的話很有趣,“The work revolutionized the way we think of bird brains,” said Diana Reiss, a psychologist at Hunter College who works with dolphins and elephants. “That used to be a pejorative, but now we look at those brains — at least Alex’s — with some awe.” 這改變了我們對鳥類大腦的想法,pejorative的意思是"A pejorative word or expression is one that expresses criticism of someone or something."原本在英文裡面鳥的腦是用來形容人笨的,腦小的跟鳥的腦一樣是用來虧人的.下面有兩個有趣的記載.

birdbrain n. Slang
A person regarded as silly or stupid.

You Bird Brain!
( . . . well?)

If someone calls you a bird brain, they're trying to say you ain't too smart. Real bird brains are not very big. The brain of a songbird, for example, weighs just about 1 gram. A human brain weighs 1300 grams (about 3 pounds). Proportionate to the size of it's body, however, a bird's brain is just about the right size.

所以國語我們罵人豬頭,英文罵人鳥腦,不過介紹罵人英文不是我的出發點,請大家斟酌使用.

對於Alex有多厲害請大家用原文連結去看看,在這裡把Alex在這世上最後的一句話跟大家分享
“You be good, see you tomorrow. I love you.”

千辛萬苦的俄羅斯第一家星巴克

2007-09-12T00:07:00.000+08:00

After Long Dispute, a Russian Starbucks

The first Starbucks in Russia opened Thursday in a mall near Moscow. The company was slow
to enter this market, initially because of the economy and later because of a trademark squatter.

這篇文章是2007年9月7日NYT的world business版的新聞,俄羅斯的第一家星巴克直到2007年9月6日才開幕說真的還蠻讓我意外,首先我印象最深刻的是照片裡那個俄文的Starbucks Coffee,這很有趣,台灣並沒有出現綠色的"星巴克咖啡"招牌,不知道有沒有熟日本的朋友可以告訴我們,日本有依外來語慣例用片假名寫在招牌上嗎?還是俄羅斯大鬍子仍然有些冷戰時對美國的心結不喜歡斗大的英文字招搖.

感謝朋友提供的韓文星巴克,不過據說只有這家是因為位於推行古文化的街,所以全韓國就這家
PS.感謝網友提供對岸的中文星巴克咖啡

第一段整個是一句,說實在有時候看到一些Native Speaker寫的句子會讚嘆說人家就寫得出這種句子,不是說很複雜或是很多難字就漂亮,像這個句子,
"With the hiss of an espresso machine and a note in Russian explaining the meanings of “tall,” “grande” and “venti,” Starbucks opened its first coffee shop in Russia on Thursday in a mall in this city near Moscow."

除了結構很緊密沒有贅字,意思很完整外,還給我們一個畫面的意境,好像聽見咖啡機的嘶嘶聲看見關於中杯大杯特大杯的俄文說明,俄羅斯的第一家星巴克開幕的第一天.除了說明開幕的事實外還讓我們在腦中幻想出一個鮮明的意象.我個人很喜歡他用了hiss這個字.好像真的能聽見能看見一樣.

星巴克會這麼晚才進入近幾年經濟蓬勃發展的俄羅斯(多蓬勃,從我有多後悔沒買霸菱東歐基金可以看出來),作者把這來龍去脈做了一個交代,原來1997年星巴克就已經去註冊商標,但是沒想到1998年俄羅斯發生金融危機,盧布重貶.所以星巴克都沒去展店,直到2002年俄羅斯經濟再次翻身,這時候本文中的一個重要角色Sergei A. Zuykov就出現了,他向俄羅斯當局申請撤銷星巴克連鎖的註冊,因為該商標在俄羅斯未做商業應用,然後他把Starbucks註冊在他莫斯科的公司名下,直到2005年俄羅斯加入WTO爲了與國際智財權標準接軌,他才輸掉官司.

這劇情大家並不陌生,數年前也有人故意先去註冊一些大公司的URL試圖從中獲利,這到底算不算是一種綁票見仁見智,不過我很確定這種行為跟之前國內的卡神行為都不是我推崇的,一個大家都想取巧得利的社會不是好事.跟發現別人的疏忽去佔他的便宜相比,以前民風純樸老闆不小心多給商品還會主動歸還的純樸行為,正展現了即使是小地方也可以看出風骨.

"The opening sealed a victory for the company in a fight with a trademark squatter who had kept Starbucks from coming to Russia for more than three years, just as a coffeehouse culture was emerging here. Starbucks refused to pay the squatter to yield the Starbucks name in Russia and eventually prevailed in court."

這裡也很佩服星巴克不願意向不合理屈服的精神(雖然它是全球化被詬病的大商家之一),他爲了這個商標訴訟進入俄羅斯市場晚了超過三年,600,000美金對星巴克其實不算什麼,如果和解它三年應該賺回不知幾倍吧.這裡作者用 trademark squatter 來稱呼這種去侵占註冊商標權的人,字典上的解釋"A squatter is someone who lives in an unused building without having a legal right to do so and without paying any rent or any property tax." 星巴克不願付錢而且最終討回公道.字典對prevail的解釋"If one side in a battle, contest, or dispute prevails, it wins." 雖然贏了官司,不過三年無法進入這個市場,星巴克的經營者應該心裡在淌血吧.

星巴克提供的咖啡全世界都相同,不過三明治與烘培食物會隨著當地口味入境隨俗,俄羅斯提供磨菇與起士口味三明治.我對俄羅斯料理完全沒有概念,不過台灣的我就沒看出本土口味.倒是我們的月餅掀起過咖啡口味的流行.

價錢方面這篇報導帶給我們相當驚人的資訊,"In Russia, the prices are a reflection of the oil-driven economic boom here. A tall filter coffee costs 75 rubles, or about $2.92. The most expensive item on the menu was a venti mocha, for 230 rubles, or about $8.96. A venti mocha at Starbucks in New York costs $4.71."

反應出俄羅斯受到油價帶動的經濟景氣大好,俄羅斯的星巴克售價幾乎是紐約的快要兩倍.

"Despite this setback, which allowed competitors a head start, Starbucks said it saw plenty of room for more coffee shops in Russia. Ms. Pucik, the Starbucks spokeswoman, cited data from Euromonitor International, a market research company, showing that Moscow has one coffeehouse for every 3,187 people. New York has one for every 365 people, and Paris one for every 126."

當然三年才去開第一家,競爭者都趕在前頭了,不過星巴克說俄羅斯市場還有很大的空間.發言人引用Euromonitor International這個市場研究公司的資料,紐約每365人一家咖啡店,巴黎每126人一家,莫斯科目前每3,187人才一家.這麼說來台北的星巴克還不算太稠密呢.

英文學習網站分享及使用心得(VOA Special English篇)

2007-09-11T10:47:00.002+08:00

最近廣為網路上及對岸學英文同好討論的所謂慢速英語,其實是VOA(Voice of America)美國之音裡面的一部分,Special English,在這裡簡單引用一下Wikipedia的敘述介紹美國之音如下

美國之音（Voice of America，VOA）成立於1942年，是美國政府的對外廣播電臺與電視台。每天以44種語言，每星期超過1,300小時向世界各地廣播。內容包括新聞時事、專題節目、英語教學節目、美國流行音樂，與反映美國政府立場的社論。它是最為大眾所熟知的國際廣播。美國之音強調自己的新聞報導力求準確、客觀、全面。

Special English根據網站上的記載,於西元1959年10月19日首播,目的是用清楚且簡單的英文對英語非母語的聽眾廣播,而這些節目很快的成為VOA最受歡迎的一些節目,幫助英文不流利的人們學習美式英文,了解美國生活並提供世界新聞及發展的資訊.

Special English有三大特點:
1.用核心單字約1500字,我個人認為這很適合當國中高年級或高中的讀物.
2.用短而簡單明確陳述一個觀念的句子,主動語氣,不使用片語.
3.廣播人用一個比較慢的速度來念,約是標準速度的2/3,這幫助大家聽清楚每個英文字,也幫助已經英文流利的人了解複雜的主題.
它的播放時間及內容簡介

現在可以下載mp3,所以可以說是你可以隨時去聽,再這裡推薦一個用VOA Special English來讓功力大增的方式,因為速度比較慢且閱讀者將每個字都咬得很清楚,很適合聽寫法或是對岸說的逆向學習法.這個也許很花時間但是成效是很大的.節錄對岸的逆向學習的作法在最後讓大家參考一下(不過那真的太操了,我個人沒做到那麼徹底).我個人簡化及修改的流程供大家參考:

1.先不管有沒有生字聽不懂的,專心聽三遍,把聽出來的大意寫下來,還有把猜測的單字也寫下來.就算像塗鴉也好,多留些空白.
2.再聽一次,假設自己是會議紀錄一樣,試著盡量不要遺漏.
3.根據VOA提供的Script修正剛剛自己寫的.然後跟著念個幾遍(幾遍,看你的時間,我個人覺得不用背誦,念熟也很夠了,背熟的時間不如再多聽寫一篇),查文章中的生字及文法句型,跟自己以前所學對照.
4.沒事的時候就聽一聽,方便的話跟著念一念.
PS.有一點我個人覺得要折衷的是,與其在同一篇花很多時間去背淂滾瓜爛熟,不如多念幾篇,怎麼取捨就要看自己的感覺跟調適.而我個人覺得語言與其說是一種拿來分析的學問不如說是一種習慣的養成.

以下節錄自"英語學習逆向法"
經過"聽、寫、說、背、想"五個步驟

1."聽"與"寫"

　　先把某一條錄音內容從頭到尾聽幾遍，聽不懂也要硬著頭皮聽。先聽懂其大意，分出段落和句子，然後再以一句話為單位反復地聽。搞清楚一個句子由幾個詞組成，每個詞在句子中起什麼作用，主、謂、賓語都是哪些詞等。每聽一遍就把聽懂的詞一個一個按照順序寫在紙上，排列成句子，聽不懂的詞就先空著。對于英語聽力比較低的人來說，剛起步時聽不懂的地方實在大多了，有時恐怕連自己也說不清到底有多少處聽不懂。在這種情形下，只有把聽懂了的詞寫出來，才能搞清楚到底有多少處聽不懂。

　　對于碰到的生詞，一定要聽到能模仿錄音正確地念出來，準確地抓住各個音節的發音為止。因為只有準確地把各個音節的發音抓住了，讀出來了，才有可能根據語法和語音知識試拼出一些詞，到詞典裏查找。由于正確答案往往需要反復多次才能找到，所以聽寫時要"寫一行，空兩行"，留下充分的反復修改的餘地。為了糾正不正確的拼寫，"寫"的時候稍有疑問就要查詞典，用色筆標出生詞和錯誤的拼寫。

　　對於聽寫不出來的詞，不要就"詞"論"詞"，一聽寫不出就立即把錄音機停下來，不再往下聽寫。應該繼續聽寫下去，把聽寫不出的詞放到文章的整體內容上去理解。常常有這樣的情形，孤立地去摳一個詞，百思不得其解，但若與整句話，整條消息聯繫起來去理解，思路就寬了，往往也就知道是什麼詞類和怎麼拼寫了。

　　有時同一個生詞在錄音中多處出現，一處聽不清或聽不懂，可以先放一放，看看能不能從別處得到啟發。因為可能別處的錄音很清楚，或者與別的詞搭配在一起被你聽懂了。聽寫過程中，對于沒有確切把握的詞，也要先"寫"出來，再在以後的不斷聽寫過程中去校驗和糾正。同一新聞在不同的時間由不同的播音員播出時，由于各人的語調有區別，有助于聽懂一些疑難詞的發音。

　　"聽"與"寫"兩個步驟不是截然分開的，對于英語水平不高的初學者來說，一段錄音的聽寫不是一次就能完成的，而是要經過多次的"聽"與"寫"互相促進，互相啟發，交替前進才能最後完成。

　　從學習英語的角度出發，初學者在起步階段必須一邊聽一邊寫。，如果光聽不寫，可能會有以下兩種情形。一是漏掉了一些聽不但的詞，失去了學習和提高的機會；二是有了聽不懂的詞時，如果只聽不寫，往往聽的遍數再多也可能還是聽不懂，但是如果把聽懂的部分寫在紙上，前後內容聯繫在一起，經過思考以後再去聽，可能又會聽懂一些別的內容，如此不斷反復，直到全部聽懂。

　　由于嚴重雜音干擾而無法從語音人手推斷的詞，可以根據語法進行補充，就假定自己是這條新聞的作者，在聽不清的地方應該用什麼詞。或許填上去的詞不正確，但總比空著好，而且隨著聽錄行時間的增長和英語水平的提高，自己也有可能發現並改正。

2."說"與"背"

　　整扁文章聽寫出來以後，就要學"說"。方法是：聽一句播講人的話，自己學說一句。學"說"時儘量使用能不斷重複一段錄音內容的電子錄音機，根據自己的水平確定學"說"的時間長度，儘量"說"完整的一句。

　　學"說"過程可以分兩步走：第一步是"比讀"，即把自己學"說"的語音錄下來，與錄音帶上標準的語音對比，看看什麼地方學得不像，如此不斷重複，直到能模仿說出大體上正確的語音為止；第二念與錄音帶上的聲音同步"說"。

　　學會"說"以後，就要"背"了。把一段錄音的聽寫記錄翻來覆去地高聲朗讀，達到基本會背誦的程度。"背"對于提高聽力有很大的作用：例如慢速英語新聞廣播有一定的格式和句型，：'背"上一段時間的消息以後，就會熟悉它的風格和常用的句型，就比較容易聽懂新的內容、有時甚至可以超過播講人的聲音，聽了一句話中前面的幾個詞後能提前說出後面的一些詞，或聽了上一句話後能提前說出下一句來。到了這個地步，聽寫時的緊張心情就減輕了，或者基本上消除了。心情一放鬆，水平就能發揮出來，應該聽懂的也就能聽懂了。

3."想"

　　如果前面"聽、寫、說、背"四個學習環節突出了"苦幹"精神的話，那麼"想"這個環節就主要是講怎樣在"苦幹"的基礎上"巧幹"了，就是要求在整個學習過程中做一個"有心人"，善于開動腦筋。"想"的內容有以下三個方面：

　　首先是想一想學習的進度是否合適，學到的知識是否扎實，本書提出的學習要求達到了沒有。前面已經提到，由于學習進度是自己掌握的，不知不黨的會加快學習進度。由于沒有客觀考核，即使學得不深不透也還自以為學得不錯。所以在整個學習過程中，尤其是在打基礎階段、要經常告誡自己"慢些，慢些，再懼些"，時時檢查學到的知識是否扎實。如果不扎實則堅持重新學。

　　其次是總結和歸納學習方法方面的經驗和教訓。和學任何別的知識一樣，只有經常總結和歸納的人才能學得快學得好。每個人所處的環境不同，學習過程中不同階段碰到的困難不同，因此取得的經驗和教訓也不同，應該及時地進行歸納和總結。自己總結和歸納出來的經驗和教訓，適合自己的情況，用來指導自己學習，效果特別好，可以收到事半功倍的效果。進一步說，自己總結和歸納出來的經驗和教訓可能對別的人也有參考價值。孤立地去看，每一個具體的經驗和教訓都是很小的，不系統的，沒有多大價值。但是積累多了，量變引起質變，可能會成為系統的、有價值的、有一定新意的一種方法。

　　最後是總結和歸納學到的英語知識，使之系統化，記憶深刻化。例如每學到一個單詞或一些文法知識，要好好地想一想，過上一段時間還要很好地歸納整理一下。歸納和總結的一項主要內容是分析自己在聽寫過程中所出現的各種各樣差錯。實踐證明，通過分析自己的差錯進行學習，效果特別好。例如有的內容聽寫不出來，有的聽寫錯了，有的聽懂了但寫得不對等，就要分析原因和找到避免的方法。就拿單詞來說吧，如果聽寫中自己不會的單詞，多次試拼出來的詞在詞典裏都沒有，或雖然詞典裏有，但不是所要的答案，最後通過別的途徑找到了真正的答案，就要很好地總結一下為什麼自己多次試拼出來的詞都不對，是不是沒有準確地抓住播講人的發音，還是自己的語音知識不高，或是碰到什麼特殊的發音。每學到一個新的單詞，都應該在拼寫、發音和釋義等三個方面與自己已經掌握的單詞進行對比，找出异同點，以形成"聯繫記憶。發音和拼寫上有特點的詞要倍加注意，看看能否找到記憶的竅門。對于語法也是一樣，如果理解不了或理解錯了，就要找語法書來看，搞清楚正確的理解應該是什麼，自己為什麼理解不了，或者自己的理解錯在哪里等等。

延伸閱讀
CNN Student News 使用心得
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(CNN Student News)

The New York Times 使用心得
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

同事阿洛的
使用ipod來訂閱網路廣播(podcast)

英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

2007-09-10T17:29:00.001+08:00

重回學校當英文系老學生已經一年了,雖然以某些角度來看比小朋友同學要用功,不過還是覺得有很多不足的地方.整理一下我最近常用的英文學習的網站.

首先要來介紹一下NYT,"The New York Times",這個歷史悠久的著名媒體已經有很多名家介紹過,什麼文辭優美言論精闢之類的,先借用博客來書店上賣紐約時報英文解析的介紹一下,《紐約時報》是全美、也是全球最具權威性的報紙。該報的特質是內容廣泛、立場超然，深具指標性與影響力。除此以外，《紐約時報》用字嚴謹、結構紮實有力、內容新穎實用，文章裡的新字新詞也跟現代生活環環相扣。

除了以上這些特點外,如果要培養閱讀能力我個人強力推薦大家上NYT網站.首先,成為會員是不用錢的,這個是電子出版物的一大創舉,依目前實體出版品尤其是報紙雜誌節節敗退的情勢, 轉型為電子媒體也許是不得不的趨勢,成為免費會員可以看除少數付費文章外幾乎全部的文章,將收入源由訂閱與實體廣告刊登大舉轉換到網路廣告,有看過一位很優秀的網友的文章提到,NYT要成為一個PORTAL先天上是很有優勢的,因為它本身就是一個很豐富的content provider.

接下來我個人的將小小的閱讀及使用心得野人獻曝一下,NYT網站有個讓目前在進修部拼老命跟小朋友K英文的我非常稱讚的功能.測試步驟非常簡單,首先進入NYT網站,根據分類或是直接看頭條都好,選出一篇你有興趣的文章,然後點進去欣賞一下高水準照片後,向下開始讀本文,如果你是看完一篇都沒有單字的高手,那....這功能你可能用不到.好,讓我們忘了那些雲端上的朋友,繼續我們的NYT之旅,當你看到一個難字(不舉實例,因為怕大家發現我的程度),在那個字上面Double Click(如果有出現阻擋彈出式視窗請先解開,NYT的廣告並不會是煩死人的炸彈不停彈出,而且總是會有可以Skip的按鍵).然後神奇的事情就會發生了,如下圖

在生字上Double Click就會出現英英字典解釋跟同義字

一般的字大多而言會出現Dictionary, Thesaurus, WordNet三個部份
我個人雖然在電腦上有裝了Collins跟Longman兩個版本的英英字典不過要停下來Ctrl+C ,Ctrl+V去看字典的定義例句還是在操作上跟閱讀上不順暢.這個功能對你的閱讀不會打斷太多,可以好好的讀完一個段落再切換視窗看剛剛查的字.平常會停下來翻字典會覺得整個念起來不痛快,現在可以好好的把文章順暢的念個幾遍,然後再慢條斯里的用瀏覽器回到上一頁跟下一頁來慢慢K剛剛不懂的單字,此外跟NYT合作的英英字典The American Heritage? Dictionary 也提供了線上發音.英英字典一開始用會有點痛苦,不過用習慣了會有很大幫助,不用太過擔心解釋中又有難字,基本上編字典的人的邏輯也不會用更難的字去解釋一個生字,字典的功能就是讓我們用另外較簡單較常見的字去做字的定義,不是嗎?

音標可以把這張圖印出來或是去原頁面參考,一開始可能很難習慣,因為台灣都用KK習慣了,不過對照個幾次後就會習慣了.

延伸閱讀
CNN Student News 使用心得
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(CNN Student News)

VOA Special English篇
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(VOA Special English篇)

阿嬤的話

2007-09-10T16:25:00.000+08:00

阿嬤的話

在細漢的時陣阮阿嬤對我尚好
甲尚好的物伴攏會留乎我
伊嘛定定帶我去幼稚園看人在七桃　
看人在辦公伙兒　看人在覓相找

伊定定跟阮說　叫阮著要好好仔讀冊　
嘸通大漢像恁老爸仔彼呢啊狼狽ㄛ

在彼個時陣　阮攏聽攏嘸　阿嬤　妳到底是在講什麼
大漢了後　才知影阿嬤的話　我會甲永遠永遠放塊心肝底

想到一步一步的過去　定定攏會乎人真難忘
時間一分一秒塊過去　在阮的心內定定攏會想到伊

阿嬤妳今嘛在叨位　阮在叫妳妳甘有聽到
阮的認真甲阮的成功妳甘有看到　阮在叫妳妳知影沒

阿嬤妳今嘛過的好麼　甘有人塊甲妳照顧
希望後世人阮擱會凍來乎妳疼　作妳永遠的孫仔　
擱叫妳一聲「阿嬤」

星期天在家看朋友傳的YouTube上星光參賽者唱這首歌
然後他還給了我可以聽原唱的網頁
蕭煌奇真的有很多好聽的歌呢
這首歌詞的風格我也很喜歡,
讓我想到以前我剪報中吳念真寫的一篇散文
那種白描樸實中見真情的感覺

洋基的大局更是A Rod的大局

2007-09-07T15:13:00.000+08:00

Yankees 10, Mariners 2
Big Inning for Yanks Is Bigger for Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez is going somewhere fast, and he has no time to admire the scenery. In a blistering seventh inning last night, Rodriguez matched and passed the Hall of Famer Mel Ott on the career home run list, tying Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews in the process.
A Rod快速的向更高的境界前進快到沒有時間停下來欣賞路邊的風景,這場比賽的第七局一眨眼他的生涯全壘打數超越了全壘打名人堂裡的Mel Ott,追平了Ernie Banks與Eddie Mathews.

這局的第一轟讓洋基跟水手2-2平手,第二轟帶領洋基以10-2獲勝,這也是Joba Chamberlain的生涯首勝.A Rod本季這場比賽為只敲了48轟,生涯512轟.當洋基拉大他們與水手在美聯外卡的勝場差時,A Rod爭奪MVP的希望也越來越濃厚.

The next Hall of Famers for Rodriguez to catch are Ted Williams and Willie McCovey, with 521 home runs. That would require Rodriguez to match his season high of 57, but almost nothing seems impossible for him this year.A Rod在生涯全壘打數的下個里程碑是512轟,不過這需要他這一季能追平他生涯最多的57轟,但是今年對ARod來說幾乎沒有什麼是不可能的.

Rodriguez’s two homers in the seventh made him the first Yankee to homer twice in an inning since Cliff Johnson did it on June 30, 1977. The others to do it are Joe DiMaggio in 1936 and Joe Pepitone in 1962.第七局的這兩轟使A Rod成為1977年以來第一位單局雙轟的洋基隊員,在這之前洋基隊也只有 Joe DiMaggio在1936跟 Joe Pepitone 在1962完成過這項創舉.

Hughes, who had struggled lately, allowed two runs and five hits over six innings, striking out six before Chamberlain’s scoreless seventh.
另外一件令洋基迷開心的應該是昨天Phil Hughes的表現,很明顯有符合之前大家對他的期許,雖然最後他沒取得勝投,不過失2分5安打6K的投球內容相當不錯了.

Manager Joe Torre and coaches reminded Hughes of that in recent days, encouraging him to be more aggressive and use all his pitches. Hughes did that effectively, showing an occasional slider and changeup to go with a lively fastball and a curve he threw at various speeds.

Torre跟投手教練最近指點Hughes鼓勵他更積極具侵略性用出他各種的投球,Hughes這場球的確有效的做到了,交替使用滑球跟變速球搭配他的快速球與不同速度的曲球.6次的三振都是揮棒落空K掉.“His fastball had more life because he threw it with more conviction,” Torre said. “He wasn’t trying to make the perfect pitch. He trusted it more tonight.” Torre的評論也許正說明了Hughes之前是因為太在意要投好才失常吧.

Still, with the former Angel Jarrod Washburn tormenting the Yankees as usual, Hughes left trailing, 2-1. Through six, Washburn had allowed hits to only one Yankee — catcher José Molina, his former teammate, who homered in the third and doubled in the sixth. The Yankees wasted that chance when Washburn struck out Melky Cabrera and got Jeter to ground out. But he could not sneak a 3-2 fastball past Rodriguez leading off the seventh. Rodriguez blasted it high over left-center field to tie the score, 2-2.

不過其實水手的先發投手前天使隊的Jarrod Washburn投的並不差應該說還投得很不錯,到第6局洋基從他手中打出的唯一安打是捕手Molina的陽春砲.不過第7局跟A Rod纏鬥到滿球數後被A Rod打出左外野偏中的的第一轟.基本上他前六局表現也是超優質先發,作者用了torment這個字依慣例來看看解釋,If something torments you, it causes you extreme mental suffering.另外還有If you torment a person or animal, you annoy them in a playful, rather cruel way for your own amusement. 所以昨天看比賽前六局都還很擔心洋基又要吞敗,畢竟大家都希望阿民挺進季後賽繼續發光發熱.

接下來連環火炮的描述我不多說,請大家看原文原汁原味的敘述,總之一堆安打,得分的敘述,這裡有個詞來分享一下Sean Green walked Jorge Posada to force in the go-ahead run.這位中繼投手保送了Posada擠回了超前分.超前分就是go-ahead run,嗯,怎麼覺得有點賴世雄老師附身.

With a hearty lead, Chamberlain took the rest of the game off. He has worked 12 1/3 scoreless innings to start his career, the most for a Yankee since Jim Bouton reeled off 15 in a row as a rookie in 1962.
喜歡Chamberlain的應該也相當滿意這場的結果,他已經連續12又1/3局無失分,1962年Jim Bouton新人15局無失分以來最長的紀錄.不過這次不同的是他還有個額外的獎勵就是賺到了場勝投.新人的第一次總是新鮮,他說當Rivera無失分投完第九局把比賽球拿給他時都還狀況外,壓根沒想到那是他大聯盟首勝的紀念球呢.

The difference this time was that Chamberlain was rewarded with a victory. But he said he did not realize it until Mariano Rivera gave him the game ball after Rivera pitched a scoreless ninth.

“I didn’t know what I was getting the ball for,” Chamberlain said. “The game was over and the ball was in my hand. That makes it a little extra special.”

洋基20發砲擊水手,王建民17勝

2007-09-06T11:12:00.000+08:00

Yankees 12, Mariners 3
Yanks Unleash 20-Hit Barrage on Mariners

Alex Rodriguez slid safely into third but winced in pain after Seattle’s Adrian Beltre fell on him.
阿民的第十七勝,不過因為友軍炮火太過猛烈,所以沒有那麼突顯他的優異.不過這段評論讓我們知道他目前的評價."Wang, who allowed five hits and a run in seven and a third innings, started the season on the disabled list and did not win until May 5. That is especially notable because his victory last night tied him with Boston’s Josh Beckett for the major league lead, with 17. " 主投7又1/3局,被打五隻安打失一分.季初被列在傷兵名單,在5/5前沒贏得任何一勝.更特別的是這場勝投讓他跟紅襪的Beckett以17勝並列大聯盟勝投王.

每次都用高潮迭起來形容大聯盟比賽似乎太刻板,不過今天洋基眾打者與阿民的強勢表現比較不適合用峰迴路轉,所以根據大家都罵的杜部長的意見,這裡我要給他支持一下,如果我整篇或是每篇都這兩個成語那可真的是種思想懶惰,不過成語的畫龍點睛之妙也不要偏廢,所以大家以平常心來看待成語吧.

"The most productive hitter in the majors was wincing in pain in the dirt near third base last night in the seventh inning, grabbing his right leg. If there was a way to bring tension to a blowout, an injury to Alex Rodriguez was it."

雖然這場洋基強力砲擊秀對洋基迷來說非常振奮人心,但是主砲A Rod在這場比賽中受傷的傷勢是大家注目的焦點,如果折損主砲那影響可不是開玩笑的,個人還很期待他本季的50轟畫面.希望他沒有大礙繼續把球擊出牆外.

Visited by Yankees Manager Joe Torre and a trainer, Rodriguez rose and stayed in, scoring the Yankees’ seventh run in a 12-3 rout of the Seattle Mariners. A crowd of 52,487 — plus another frisky squirrel perched atop the right-field foul pole — watched Bobby Abreu, Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada collect four hits apiece to lift Chien-Ming Wang to another victory.

Torre跟訓練員看過A Rod情況後,A Rod站起來繼續比賽,跑回本場第7分.52487個觀眾加上一隻過於活潑爬上右外野標竿的松鼠,見證了阿布(假裝跟Bobby Abreu很熟),Cano,Posada各自得分幫助阿民邁向另一場勝投.

"The left-handed Ramirez humbled the Yankees in May, allowing a run over six and a third innings, and the Yankees’ left-leaning lineup has struggled lately. The left-handed hitters Abreu, Cano, Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui had been 6 for 64 in the previous four games."

水手這場先發的左投Ramirez(這名字MLB實在超多的)上次五月與洋基的對戰讓洋基吃鱉,6又1/3局只失一分,最近洋基的左打部隊又打得不順手.Abreu, Cano, Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui 再這之前的四場居然是64支4.這裡作者用了humble這個字,我們常見它當形容詞用解釋為謙卑或卑微,讓我們看下Collins字典中對於humble當動詞用的闡述If you humble someone who is more important or powerful than you, you defeat them easily. 因為洋基是公認的強權所以作者用這個字非常微妙而恰到好處.有小蝦米吃大鯨魚的味道.貼個字典上的例句

Honda won fame in the 1980s as the little car company that humbled the industry giants...

不過昨天洋基的左打者甦醒了,加上主砲火力全開"But the Yankees chased Ramirez in the sixth, with Rodriguez launching a homer about 10 rows high in the third deck in left field. It was the 510th home run of Rodriguez’s career, and it gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead." A Rod生涯的第510轟打上了左外野看台上三樓的第10排.這給了洋基2-0領先,接下來Posada,松井,Cano,Betemit的安打讓分數來到4-0.

這對阿民來說已經太夠了,"That was enough of a cushion for Wang, who got grounders for his first six outs and induced double-play grounders to end the fifth, sixth and seventh innings."開賽的前六個出局數都是滾地球出局以及在5,6,7局都以雙殺來終結,整個宰制了比賽.

Johnny Damon made sure a
foul ball by Seattle’s Ben Broussard
in the ninth inning landed in
his glove instead of in the stands.
Johnny Damon沒收界外球的美技

Ian Kennedy的大聯盟初登板

2007-09-04T14:23:00.000+08:00

Yankees 9, Devil Rays 6
Kennedy’s Debut a Success for Yankees

寫這篇文其實隱含的投資報酬率是很高的,如果Ian Kennedy之後失敗了,那我記載了一個消逝的彗星;如果他成功了,那我目睹了巨星的誕生.

這篇的作者是Judy Battista, 是不知道是不是Tyler Kepner休假代班,我查了下Judy小姐的作品似乎以NFL居多,不同的作者也讓我們看看不同的風格.

Ian Kennedy, who made his first major league start yesterday, sat in the Yankees’ clubhouse a few hours before his first pitch at Yankee Stadium, focusing on one thing: Don’t be in awe. One by one, the players he had seen on television came by to shake his hand, and when Johnny Damon approached, Kennedy greeted him with wide-eyed wonder.

美夢成真的場景很多,不過上大聯盟當先發投手,無疑是超級稀有又珍貴的經驗.在Ian Kennedy登板前的幾個小時,想必他的心情一定非常複雜."Don’t be in awe."讓我們看看awe這個字的英文解釋"If you are awed by someone or something, they make you feel respectful and amazed, though often rather frightened." 讓你敬畏,這對Kennedy的心情真的是最佳寫照.

登板投球前另一個震撼教育來了.真可是令我羨慕到不行的震撼教育."One by one, the players he had seen on television came by to shake his hand, and when Johnny Damon approached, Kennedy greeted him with wide-eyed wonder." 一個接一個這些電視上看過的球員來和他握手,當他看見Johnny Damon走過來時訝異得張大了眼睛.這個不知道是因為他很喜歡Johnny Damon還是因為Johnny Damon打第一棒.要是我可以跟洋基第一棒到第九棒握手的話我應該會開心到睡不著吧.然後穿件白底色洋基條紋T-shirt讓他們全部幫我簽名.以上是我的白日夢,有夢最美,對吧.

22歲的Kennedy前面的路還很長,他目前適應的不錯,驚滔駭浪的初登場以洋基9比3打敗水手作收.這也保證他有第二次先發的機會."Working methodically, Kennedy held the Devil Rays to three runs, one earned, in seven innings." Kennedy的投球風格被用methodically 形容,非常有條不紊且穩定的投球內容,我想是他這場球受到大家欣賞的地方.

這裡插播一段文法提醒,這種前面放動名詞片語的句子,他的主詞必須要跟後面的主要子句相同,是誰Working methodically,是Kennedy所以這句是沒有問題的,這裡從書上抄個錯誤的例子給大家看.
Hearing a number of entertaining stories,our visit was thoroughly enjoyable.
這句話就有問題,是誰Hearing,以語意上來看是we而不是our visit.所以這個句子要正確可以改成
Hearing a number of entertaining stories, we had a thoroughly enjoyable visit.

He grew stronger and his control finer as the game and the Yankees’ lead lengthened, retiring the side in order in the seventh inning and striking out his final batter, Josh Paul, on three pitches. When Kennedy walked into the dugout after the seventhinning, his new teammates engulfed him in handshakes of congratulations. He said he got chills.

隨著比賽的進行還有洋基領先的擴大,Kennedy越投越進入狀況,當他第七局用三球K掉他面對的最後一個打者,回到休息區後,他的新隊友一湧而上跟他握手道賀,他說他有點受寵若驚.

Kennedy is not an overpowering pitcher like his fellow rookie Joba Chamberlain, although Kennedy’s first pitch was clocked at 96 miles an hour, a number he laughed at and attributed to adrenaline. “The first inning felt like an out-of-body experience,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy不是同梯新人Joba Chamberlain那種火球人,雖然測速槍測到他的第一球達到96 m.p.h.他自己笑稱那是腎上腺素的功勞,第一局整個像是靈魂出竅一樣.

球探報告裡強調Kennedy超乎常人的沉穩而他這場比賽也沒令人失望,大聯盟比賽瞬息萬變,A Rod幫他打了兩分領先,後來又失誤讓他遇到一陣亂流.不過失兩分後他仍能穩住陣腳.

這場比賽有個有趣的插曲,在Kennedy面對亂流的時候,Torre提出申請要檢查岩村明憲的棒子,在這個時候Kennedy回穩了,將岩村明憲K掉.

“It comes back to his poise,” Torre said of Kennedy. “He seemed very prepared to pitch this game. You had to be impressed.” "他回到他原有的沉穩," Torre 對Kennedy這樣評論. "他對投這場比賽看來胸有成竹,讓人印象深刻."

有趣的意氣之爭還沒結束,A Rod在第三局要上場打擊時,魔鬼魚的教練以牙還牙的要求檢查他的棒子,A Rod本身不置可否,不過接下來A Rod每次打擊都似乎在呼應說,"換了棒子結果呢?一樣每次打擊都打出去." A Rod這場比賽四支三有兩支是新棒子打的,其中包括一支2分打點的2壘安打.

阿民與CANO聯手幫助洋基橫掃紅襪

2007-09-03T13:07:00.000+08:00

Yankees 5, Red Sox 0: Yankees Sweep Red Sox Behind Wang and Cano

比賽都已經過了三,四天,我還是難掩興奮,這場球賽真是不枉我熬夜看球的辛苦,整個比賽高潮迭起絕無冷場.快樂的旅行回來後,記掛的第一件事就是如果這篇還不放上去,阿民的下一場又來了.我這無酬的爬格子工作雖然是主要是為了自得其樂,但是進度還是要趕一下才好.

在這裡我把NYT的照片引用上來,再幫NYT打個廣告,除了文章好外,攝影記者的功力更是一流沒話說,球迷除了看球賽,看棒球新聞外,總會有些漂亮鏡頭想留下來.那就跟著NYT吧,不時都會有意外的驚喜.本次比賽觀賽三大重點各放了一張,只能說就是很豪華,就像火鍋料有松阪牛肉,龍蝦,鮑魚那麼豐盛.阿民前七局無安打的英姿是一定要的,Cano連續雙響炮出來接受觀眾歡呼,還有Youkilis試圖偷吃步繞開A Rod的雙殺.最後,Chamberlain 兩記98m.p.h對著頭部直飛的爆頭球給了這場比賽一個驚嘆號的句點.

試想NYT的專業記者的專業配備跟他的技術加上好的觀賽位置,高檔設備加上看球的專屬席位,不支薪應該也有人志願,這應該是球迷跟攝影迷最羨慕的工作之一吧.

The sweep was more emphatic last August, when the Yankees rampaged into Fenway Park and won five games to bury the Boston Red Sox. The best the Yankees could do this time was to win three at Yankee Stadium and chisel a chunk from Boston’s sizable lead in the American League East.

去年八月洋基亂入芬威球場把紅襪橫掃五場讓紅襪出局.而這次洋基最多所能做到的是在家裡三連勝去拉近跟紅襪在美聯東區的勝差落差拉近.

這裡來看看幾個用法的趣味,首先作者用了rampage這個字,看看字典的說法
When people or animals rampage through a place, they rush about there in a wild or violent way, causing damage or destruction. 我用了個不太道地的中文"亂入"試圖表達這個字的感覺,這個字出現的時候大部分時間都在強調狂野的感覺,上次我頻繁的看到這個字的時候是報導維吉尼亞理工槍擊案(33 killed in Virginia Tech shooting rampage).用在形容股市上漲的話,那表示漲勢真的強勢到幾乎無法控制的感覺.而這次面對紅襪的大幅勝差這次還並不是像去年一樣翻盤,所以用了個chisel a chunk 鑿下一大塊的勝場差.

接下來先欣賞一下NYT的精采照片

Robinson Canó hit two home runs as the Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Red Sox with a 5-0 victory. The Yankees cut Boston’s division lead to five games.

連續兩個打席都轟出全壘打的Cano回應觀眾的Curtain Call

Kevin Youkilis, eluding Alex Rodriguez, was called out on appeal for stepping out of the baseline.

跑到內野草地上躲避A Rod 觸殺的Youkilis

這篇文章後面超過1/3的篇幅都是阿民的報導,由此可知阿民現在有多紅了.

Wang, who missed four starts in April with a hamstring strain and did not win until May 5, is tied for the major league lead in victories, with 16. He has 34 victories since May 7, 2006, the most in the majors in that stretch, and he has learned to tame a Red Sox team that used to hit him well.

四月大腿拉傷後直到5/5都沒勝投進帳的阿民,目前已經以16勝加入MLB的勝投領先群.從2006/5/7至今取得34勝是大聯盟這段期間勝投最多的,他也學會了馴服從前打他打的很好的紅襪.用"tame"這個字又跟打敗的語氣不太相同,美國人也是會咬文嚼字的喔.

“He was great today,” Torre said. “I told him at the end of the dugout, ‘Nice going.’ He said, ‘Too many walks.’ ”

Wang walked four, but his stuff was terrific. He has thrown harder since the pitching coach Ron Guidry urged him to speed up his delivery, and he complemented his trademark sinker with changeups and sliders.

He struck out David Ortiz twice, including a dazzling sequence in the sixth. Wang threw a changeup on the first pitch and mixed fastballs and sliders for the next six pitches, getting Ortiz to miss at a slider to end the inning. Ortiz had been 12 for 24 against Wang entering the game.

這幾段很有趣,讓我們去想像把阿民當愛將的Torre跟惜字如金的阿民講話的情景,Torre在休息區跟阿民說做的好,阿民說保送太多了.Torre那種長輩的態度跟阿民低調的態度給了我們很鮮明的畫面.

阿民這次保送了四次但是投球內容很棒,自從他的恩師Guidry叫他出手加快後投得更猛,而且他的武器除了招牌伸卡球還加上了變速球跟滑球的搭配.

這場老爹Ortiz被阿民三振兩次,包含第六局令人目眩神迷的一系列投球,第一球變速球後接下來的六球用快速球跟滑球的組合,讓老爹在一個滑球揮空結束了這個半局.在這之前老爹對阿民24個打數有12次安打.

Wang did not allow a hit until Mike Lowell rolled a single through the right side in the seventh. That was Wang’s 94th pitch, and he still had nine outs to go. Guidry sounded relieved, because a no-hit bid might have taxed Wang’s arm.

“You almost have to give him a shot,” Guidry said. “But you worry about him, and you worry about pitch count. He’s more important to this team than throwing a no-hitter. If he continues to pitch for another 10 years, he might get one later on.”

直到第七局阿民的第94球才被Mike Lowell打出第一隻安打,如果要完投他還需要9個出局數.他師父Guidry卻也鬆了一口氣,因為追求無安打比賽會加重阿民手臂的負擔.

"你會想讓他試看看,"Guidry 說"但是你擔心他,還有投球數,他對這球隊來說的重要性遠勝過一個無安打比賽.如果他再投十年,總是會有機會創紀錄的."

這場比賽直到最後一局都還不放過觀眾."Consider the ninth inning, when the Yankees’ rookie phenom Joba Chamberlain was ejected by the plate umpire, Ángel Hernández, for throwing two consecutive 98-mile-an-hour fastballs over the head of Boston’s Kevin Youkilis."
98m.p.h的球K到頭可不是開玩笑的.不過以我看實況轉播的想法,不太像Chamberlain故意投的,他應該是這個洋基紅襪世仇的受害者吧.這裡有個用法我第一次看到跟大家分享一下,rookie phenom 傑出新人,phenom:A phenomenon, especially a remarkable or outstanding person. 用這個字的感覺不只優秀而且還紅,phenom來自phenomenon這個字.也許他已經紅到可以用"Chamberlain 現象"來形容他了.

下集預告:Ian Kennedy的大聯盟初登板 "Kennedy's Debut a Success for Yankees "

See U next time.I'm Scott Hsiao.

火箭人Clemens智取勝投王Beckett

2007-08-31T02:54:00.000+08:00

Yankees 4, Red Sox 3
Clemens Relies on Guile to Outduel Beckett

今天一邊趁著看王建民對紅襪的同時,一邊寫這篇看完打算放上來的報導,目前看來一定會接著放阿民這場比賽,目前已經對老爹Ortiz 2K 1 Ground Out,加上他好朋友 Robinson Cano連兩個打數兩轟.Youkilis跑到草地上躲開A Rod的觸殺不過被判Out,突然間我自己都想跳過這篇了,不過這篇還是有很多有趣的敘述跟大家分享一下.

首先我要推下這個標題Clemens Relies on Guile to Outduel Beckett
這題目用了兩個有巧思的用字,有時候有些很優秀的作者用了一些字會讓你覺得活靈活現,如果用中文來翻成Clemens靠著詭計在與Beckett的對決中勝出,這樣也沒什麼不對,但是個人就覺得原標題的味道其實有點沒出來,希望有高手指點一二,我用Collins 字典查了guile這個字,Guile is the quality of being good at deceiving people in a clever way.Clemens投到這個年紀真的很了不起,能夠以這樣的高齡走跳大聯盟,除了讚嘆保養的好之外,不再適合常用剛球對決卻有另外一套的智慧投球法;這個標題以我簡單的大腦第一時間就會寫最簡單的defeat這個字,用outduel 這個字當然是從duel這個字衍生來,這個字是雙人意境很強烈的字眼,讓人腦海中浮現西部槍手對決或是日本武士持刀對峙鮮明的畫面.out開頭去表示勝過凌駕的字有其特別的動態感如outlive,outnumber,outperform,outplay,outsell......(看來這很適合我寫篇字彙比較啊)

這場比賽的一開始Beckett是相當佔上風的, "When Josh Beckett broke off a curveball to end the first inning last night, he looked so dominant that it could have been the 2003 World Series all over again. Alex Rodriguez took it for strike three, immediately flipping his bat toward the Yankees’ dugout in a sign of surrender." Beckett用曲球結束第一局時,他看起來握有了主控權,好像又回到了2003的世界大賽(Beckett, who silenced the Yankees four years ago to win a title for Florida, had his best stuff. 四年前他在馬林魚隊,壓制了洋基並在世界大賽勝出), A Rod被三振馬上玩著棒子回到休息區有點投降的意味.

不過球是圓的,"Yet when his workday was over at Yankee Stadium, he had allowed 13 hits, a career high, in six and two-thirds innings. Roger Clemens, who made his major league debut on Beckett’s fourth birthday, beat him with guile." Beckett這場6又2/3局吞下了生涯最高的13安,而在Beckett四歲生日大聯盟初登板的Clemens用巧思擊敗了他.

小時候見到偶像應該開心的不得了,時空變遷,被兒時偶像打敗可是另一回事.

“A guy like that, you don’t use power,” Mariano Rivera said of Clemens. “You use your experience. That’s what he did.” Rivera對Clemens的評論.

說真的這兩個加起來超過80的老傢伙也真是神奇了,美國職棒讓我感到驚訝的地方這些老將佔了很大一部分,得天獨厚我想不用說,頂尖的運動選手誰不是得天獨厚,但是得享天年而且到這種高齡還能笑傲球壇真的不容易,武俠片中常有老前輩內功深厚,但是真實人生大家都知道拳怕少壯才是普遍的真相.感謝這些老選手,給我們這些老大不小的人繼續運動很大的鼓舞.(雖然我已經在籃球場上看到機動性太好的年輕人會棄守.)

文中也提到了2003年美聯冠軍賽也是Clemens對上紅襪,當時的是靠著名將Aaron Boone在延長賽第11局的全壘打跟Mariano Rivera的終結贏的,Aaron Boone以經離開紅襪很久,不過繼任他守三壘的A Rod在第7局也給了Beckett一發全壘打;Rivera包辦了最後的四個出局數,三個滾地球出局在54,986個激動的觀眾面前(小插曲鏡頭還剛好照到Beatles的Paul McCartney,jammed on air guitar for the scoreboard camera ,哈哈 ,老麥也是洋基球迷嗎?他是英國人也)

Clemens thrived in the atmosphere of a rivalry he knows so well.
“I’ve enjoyed baseball in the East,” Clemens said. “It’s nice when things matter. You can see guys wear it on their sleeve a little bit.”
老克在這種他熟悉的敵對的氣氛下表現優異."我喜歡東區的球賽,"老克說."比賽看得很重,你可以看出當大家都很在意勝負." 紅襪洋基天敵這個我想是大家都知道的,東區兩大城市在各項運動上都有點互別苗頭的味道,又以棒球最為有名.

"Johnny Damon’s two-out two-run single in the second was a pivotal hit off Beckett, who stranded six runners in scoring position over his first six innings. He threw a 96-mile-an-hour fastball with a full count, and Damon poked it through the left side, energizing the Yankees a day after thumping a two-run homer."連續兩天Johnny Damon應該是紅襪迷恨得牙癢癢的頭號叛將,不只打得好還打老東家打得特別狠.前一天的制勝兩分全壘打後,這次來個兩人出局後兩分打點的一壘安打,這安打讓Beckett前六局把六個跑者牽制在得點圈的成績破功,把這個96英哩的快速球打個正著到球場左邊.
我個人觀戰的觀點是CCD( Cano,Cabrera,Damon)的組合其實相當恐怖,如果前兩個有成功上壘的,Damon只要安打打點的機會非常高,CC真是能跑,Cabrera常有硬把安打跑成三壘的感覺.Damon的一壘安打這兩個少年人從一二壘都跑回本壘.很可惜Damon自己沒有被打回來.

前面很沉寂的A Rod這場球也幫自己打了本季第44支全壘打(贏釀酒人小王子5發),124分打點居全聯盟第一(贏老虎Ordonez 5分).

Yet in the end, the winner was Clemens, who will never again throw as hard as Beckett or snap breaking pitches so sharply. His best asset is experience, and he knows how to use it.
最後這段我想很適合當本文的總結老克當然沒法子向Beckett那樣子猛投球了,不過他最棒的本錢就是經驗,而且他知道怎麼去用他的經驗.

天色已白,在阿民的勝投中我把這篇跟大家分享,此時發現阿民勝投的新聞已經登上NYT的體育頭版,不過我的體力有限,且等下還要出發去馬祖玩耍,所以只好回來再唸這篇阿民勝投文.寫這些東西一方面是跟大家分享看棒球的快樂外,另一方面也由於我本身對英文有興趣目前晚上在進修英文.希望這樣的雜文對大家去看原文的棒球報導也有點幫助.再次強力推薦NYT的棒球報導寫得真的很生動,看完漂亮的球賽同時欣賞一下漂亮的英文,我想娛樂的同時作者的一些用字遣詞會隨著球賽讓你有更生動的記憶喔.

Mussina : 38歲生涯247勝英雄遲暮

2007-08-28T20:14:00.001+08:00

Tigers 16, Yankees 0:Ugly Outing by Mussina Casts Cloud on Future(原文連結)

坦白說我是阿民出現後才成為洋基的球迷的,之前我買洋基的球衣外套有兩個理由,一是好看,二是那年我作弊,2000年的世界大賽前我同時買了勇士跟洋基的外套,誰贏世界大賽我都不會穿錯.而且我必須坦承我其實本來比較屬於籃球球迷陣營.

In a different time, when the Yankees were touched by magic, even their horror stories had happy endings. David Cone went from pillar to punching bag in 2000, but his season ended with a clutch relief appearance that helped win the World Series.

在不同的時空下,當洋基有魔法加持的時候,他們連恐怖故事都能有好結局.孔恩在2000年曾經從中流砥柱變成人人喊打的沙包,但是他的球季以強力幫助球隊贏得世界大賽畫下句點.
This tale seems grimmer. Mike Mussina’s rapid decline continued at Comerica Park on Monday in the Yankees’ worst loss of the season, a 16-0 wipeout by the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees staggered home for a series with the Boston Red Sox, a team they trail by eight games in the American League East standings after losing five of seven on the road.

本季的這個故事看來更不樂觀.Mussina星期一在老虎主場Comerica Park繼續快速的下滑,洋基本季輸的最慘的一次被底特律老虎16比0剃光頭.洋基帶著殘破的身心回到主場展開與波士頓紅襪的系列對戰,在洋基最近7場客場比賽輸了5場後,他們在美聯東區落後紅襪8場勝差.

在看上面這篇的時候裡面有提到不知道他是不是會被踢出先發陣容,但是以下面這篇看來暫時是這樣了.
Mussina to Lose His Spot in the Rotation, for Now

There are no games to waste in a race to the postseason, no time to let a proud veteran work through his problems with a playoff spot at stake. The Yankees delivered that point after last night’s game, announcing that the rookie Ian Kennedy would replace Mike Mussina in the rotation, at least for now.

為了擠進季後賽已經不能浪費任何一場比賽,用進季後賽的席次當賭注押老穆這個擁有光榮過往的老兵能重新站起來也不是時候.昨晚賽後洋基宣布用新人先替代了老穆的先發位置,最少這一次是這樣.

文中當然還介紹了要取代老穆進入先發的Ian Kennedy,以及最近洋基和以前不同的作風,自從阿民以來,洋基最近不像以前去挖大牌即戰力,反而是使用了自己農場的 Hughes,Chamberlain等優秀新人.

不過如我的標題我想提出的觀點是環繞在老穆的身上.

But none of those pitchers is Mussina, who has 247 career victories and had won four starts in a row before his slide. Mussina, 38, said he would defer to Torre’s wishes. But if given the option, he would rather stay in the rotation than take time off.
但是他們都不是老穆,生涯247勝,這次嚴重退步前四連勝.38歲的老穆說他會看Torre的意思,如果他能選擇的話,他想繼續呆在先發名單而不是排休.

“Probably the last nine innings are the worst nine innings that I’ve pitched in my whole career, in a row,” Mussina said. “I don’t even know how to describe it because I’ve never had to deal with it before.”
"也許最近這九局是我生涯投過最糟的連續九局,"老穆說."我不知該如何形容因為我從未面對這樣的情形過"

“Right now, I let go of it and I don’t feel like anything good is going to happen,” Mussina said. “It’s tough to pitch that way. You can’t play the game that way to feel like you have no control over anything, and that’s how I feel right now.

"目前我無計可施而且我也不覺得可能發生奇蹟,""這樣投球很艱難.你不能在你覺得完全失控的情況下比賽,這就是我目前的感覺"

“This was very difficult for me,” Torre said. “We’ve counted on this guy every year for as long as he’s been with us. It’s just something we’re going to try and see what it looks like.”
"這決定對我來說相當困難,"Torre說."他在陣中的日子裡我們都依靠他.但是我們目前只能這樣嚐試看看且觀察事情的變化"

說真的英雄遲暮就跟美人遲暮一樣的令人惋惜,但這變化的速度落差,從四連勝的天堂直接掉到0勝3敗自責分17.69的地獄.實在是很難接受.12月滿39歲的老穆目前的處境,讓我想到國內職棒的老兵們,"老兵不死,只是凋零."當我每次看到一些職棒老兵落魄的新聞總是不勝唏噓,說真的也許台灣的市場不足以像美日那樣養選手,但是選手的生命真的是有限的.

看到職棒選手因為區區30萬台幣打放水球的新聞時,我不禁想問這些球團的老闆們:在你們以成本做無限上綱的考量時,有考慮過選手的青春嗎?老穆何其幸運在MLB能沒有大傷的到這個年紀.不是每個人的運動生命都能那麼長,有很多受傷早逝的彗星他們的人生怎麼辦,在大家對球員打假球的道德撻伐聲中,我倒認為某些球團老闆或領隊其實是整個惡性循環的開始.

支持我們的職棒也支持選手的保障吧.不然以後台灣大概只是美日選外籍選手的殖民地了.

相關閱讀
洋基連勝,直追紅襪,Mussina再現巨投風範
穆西納重返先發,助洋基7連勝
英文學習網站分享及使用心得(NYT篇)

阿民給疲憊的洋基帶來及時雨

2007-08-28T11:11:00.000+08:00

Wang Gives Weary Yankees Exactly What They Need

大家都愛王建民,我也不例外,他大勝後的報導多如牛毛我為什麼還要來錦上添花呢?
故事一樣,在我看了連續大概兩三個月NYT的美國職棒新聞後,我發現其實說故事也是有功力高低之分,Tyler Kepner這位NYT專屬的體育記者正是個說故事的高手,我看MLB的報導說他高中就開始寫作,投稿給NYT,編輯部鼓勵他繼續寫.上面有把這篇的原連結留著給大家看,他把點點滴滴的逸聞跟整個故事作了非常生動的結合.

Before he shut off his cellphone on Saturday morning, Joe Torre took one last call as he wearily returned to the Yankees’ suburban hotel around 4:30 a.m. It was Brian Cashman, the general manager, asking Torre if he needed a fresh pitcher for Saturday.

Torre, the manager, told him no thanks. He already had one well-rested pitcher sleeping soundly at the hotel. It turned out that was almost all he would need.

Torre在回飯店前接到Cashman的電話,問他要不要一個新鮮的投手(因為那場11局大賽牛棚全用下去了)Torre 說不用多謝了.他已經有個投手在飯店好好睡.結果那正是他所需要的.

Torre在前一天的11局大賽打到第五局的時候叫阿民先回去飯店睡覺.結果星期六投出一場主投8局只被擊出5支安打自責分1分的好球.擺脫最近的小低潮取得15勝六負.

Jorge Posada對阿民的評語是:He was really poised, really comfortable attacking the strike zone.非常從容舒坦的攻擊好球帶.

在全台一片阿民熱潮中,我個人認為這還蠻適合當英語教學的補充讀物.除了內容有趣外,文筆也相當優美.

閃靈的MV

2007-08-26T23:22:00.000+08:00

雖然我對重金屬不是很喜愛
況且重金屬原來是屬於比較Racist的音樂種類(有點白種人沙文主義,有個有名的團直接叫W.A.S.P)

但是所有的藝人都向利益金錢看(商人無祖國,我看藝人也沒有)
沒有所謂的正義感時閃靈無疑是證明了他們的道德勇氣
MV拍的很用心
如果有版權問題請告知我,我只是希望能讓多點人看到閃靈這個正義的表現

Principles only mean something if you stick by them when they're inconvenient.

2007-08-26T15:37:00.000+08:00

這句話是從某個網友的網誌上借過來當我的標題的,據說是某部電影中的台詞,
第一次看到這句話受到很大的震撼,這句話真的從不同的場合不同的角度來看
都有它的價值.

用日常生活來舉例的話,從隨處可見的小紙屑跟菸蒂,就可以看出這句話的價值跟知易
行難的地方,遵守原則只有在你遵守它造成不便時,原則才真正展現出價值;當
垃圾筒就在隨手可及的地方會丟進去沒什麼,但是手邊沒有垃圾筒能忍著不亂丟
才是恪守原則的行為價值展現.

同樣的情形我們看看台灣的記者們,當報導合乎他們的政治導向跟情感依歸時,他們
振筆疾書侃侃而談,當報導與他們的政治導向跟情感依歸相悖時,目前我沒看過幾個
能忍痛做出平衡的報導的,反而是為求快意恩仇為了自己的政治取向情感取向
去信口雌黃甚至杜撰新聞的不少.最後還是把這句話跟大家分享

Principles only mean something if you stick by them when they're inconvenient.

Phrases from the adverb "None" I Mixed Up

2007-08-22T18:11:00.000+08:00

Today one of my friends discussed one sentence from the BBC news with me
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6924215.stm).

The sentence is "The plane touched down, none too gently, and immediately the pilot started braking because the runway - even for an aircraft that seats 19 people - is not that long. ".

I misunderstood the phrase "none too gently" used in this sentence. I mixed up this usage with double negative sentences. So I checked up this phrase's usages and put it down below for reference.

none

1 none the worse/better etc (for something) not any worse, better etc than before:

She seems none the worse for her experience.

2 none the wiser not having any more understanding or knowledge about something than you had before:

I was none the wiser after his explanation.

3 none too not at all:

I was none too pleased to have to take the exam again

Here is a artical which gives detailed explaination of double negative sentences.
http://www.cybertranslator.idv.tw/grammar/doublenegatives.htm

"The Bourne Ultimatum" VOA Report Translated by Scott

2007-08-21T10:51:00.000+08:00

Matt Damon Returns as Hero in 'The Bourne Ultimatum'
麥特戴蒙再度於神鬼認證:最後通牒以英雄身分登場
By Alan Silverman Hollywood04 August 2007
Silverman report - Download 2.2MB Listen to Silverman report

Matt Damon is back as undercover agent Jason Bourne in a new espionage action-adventure based on the best-selling books by Robert Ludlum. Alan Silverman spoke with the stars and filmmaker Paul Greengrass for this look at The Bourne Ultimatum.

麥特戴蒙再度演出改編自Robert Ludlum暢銷的間諜動作冒險小說裡的臥底探員Jason Bourne. Alan Silverman 訪問戲中明星及製片人Paul Greengrass 對本片"The Bourne Ultimatum"的看法.

Jason Bourne is good at what he does ...deadly good. The trouble is, he is not sure why and not sure who he is. As was explained in the earlier films - 2002's The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy two years later - he is a highly-trained CIA operative; but the secret program that turned him into an assassin erased his memory. As bits and pieces of it start to resurface, he is now more of a liability than an asset to the his former bosses in the agency.

Jason Bourne對他的專業非常的拿手...拿手的"要命". 問題是他不清楚他是誰和他為什麼是他.如同前兩部曲-2002年神鬼認證及兩年後的神鬼疑雲-所揭露出來的真相,他是個訓練精良的CIA探員;但是一個讓他成為刺客的秘密任務消去了他的記憶.當這些片段開始浮出水面,對他局裡的前老闆來說他已經是個燙手山芋而不是個助力了.

Of course, Bourne is a product of the best training they could give him; so stopping him is no easy task. As they are trying to kill him, he is trying to shed light on the secret and illegal operation that turned him into a killer.

當然,Bourne是他們最好訓練的產物;所以要阻止他可不是件容易的事.在他們試圖殺他滅口的同時,他試著去揭露這個把他變成殺手不合法秘密行動的真相.

Matt Damon says playing Bourne again was made easier by the way the story develops as the training-induced amnesia begins to wear off; and, the actor admits, the action can be fun.

麥特戴蒙說,隨著故事發展在劇中因訓練造成的失憶漸漸恢復,使得再度飾演Bourne要比之前容易些;他說出演這部電影是很有樂趣的.

"The whole thing is, in away, this middle-aged fantasy. Okay, I get bonked on the head and I wake up and I speak 12 languages and this really cool German girl falls in love with me so, to a certain extent, it's a little bit of wish fulfillment, but it's a fun role to play," he says.

這整件事從另外一個角度來看像是個中古世紀幻想故事.Okey,我腦袋被重重來了一下當我醒來我會說12種語言還有個很正的德國女孩愛上我,整體看來,這有點像許願成真,但是這是個演來很有樂趣的角色,"他說.

It also looks like it can be physically punishing as Bourne uses his fists as well as his wits. The dirty little Hollywood secret, according to Damon, is that the exciting fight scenes are some of the most tedious to shoot. "Well, it's very, very technical. It's seven moves or whatever and we just do it over and over again until someone at the monitor would say 'okay, good!' It's just incredibly technical and boring, actually. The fun is when you get a take and it looks really brutal and vicious and (afterward) you are laughing and saying 'oh, it looks great,' but in terms of being challenging mentally, it is not. It's like watching paint dry," says Damon.

當Bourne使用他拳頭如同他動腦一樣,看起來應該在體能上也會相當操.小小的好萊塢骯髒秘密,據戴蒙的說法,就是那些刺激的格鬥場景其實是拍攝起來最枯燥的. "好吧,那真的非常非常的機械化.大概7個動作或是其他一些,我們只是一遍又一遍的做直到監視器前的某個人說'OK,很好!'這整個過程真的是不可思議的單調和無聊.樂趣在於拍完一個場景後效果看起來真的很野蠻激烈,你會大笑說'噢,那看起來真棒,'但是就心理上並沒有挑戰感.有點像看著油漆等它乾," 戴蒙說.

Of course, sometimes that paint barely has time to dry in the hyper-thrilling, but also achingly realistic chases through New York, Paris, London and Tangier. Director Paul Greengrass, who also made the second film of the series, The Bourne Supremacy, is better-known for documentaries and films that deal with contemporary social issues, like last year's acclaimed United 93. The English-born film-maker says after that intense dramatization of events on 9/11, he saw The Bourne Ultimatum as a refreshing change.

當然,有時候節奏快到連油漆都還來不及乾在這橫跨越紐約巴黎倫敦和Tangier間的超級刺激卻又逼真到令人喘不過氣的追逐.導演Paul Greengrass,他也是這系列第二作神鬼疑雲的導演,以導紀錄片及處理當代社會議題的影片而著稱,例如去年受到爭議的"聯航93".這個英國出身的製片家說在處理過911事件緊張的戲劇化後,他把最後通牒看作是個重新出發的改變.

"I love doing them and there is a bit of every film maker where you want to 'strut your stuff.' You want to to get out and do the car chase and the fight and the chase," he says. "Also, it's thrilling to connect with a mass audience. I've only ever done it the one time with The Bourne Supremacy."

"我喜歡拍片而且你知道的每個拍片的都會有點想'秀秀自己的本事.' 你想要走出去拍飛車追逐,打鬥還有追逐," 他說. "另外,跟大批的觀眾結合在一起非常刺激.我只有在拍神鬼疑雲的時候做過一次."

As much as possible, Greengrass says he takes the film out of what he calls the isolation of the movie set as he puts the action in the middle of real-world locations like the streets of New York or London's Waterloo Station.

Greengrass說他盡可能的把電影帶離他所謂電影場景的孤立,為此他在真實世界裡拍攝動作場景比方像紐約或是倫敦的Waterloo地鐵站.

"You can't close down Waterloo Station," he explains. "It's the biggest station in London and about 300,000 people go through it an hour. You get problems with that, of course, but what you get to compensate for that is this tremendous rush of energy: the raw energy of life really unfolding around you and it's the same in Waterloo or Tangier or New York. It creates this energized, vibrant, authentic landscape that the real character can move through."

"你不可能關閉Waterloo地鐵站,"他解釋說."它是倫敦最大的地鐵站一小時有30萬人次進出.你當然會因此碰到些問題,但是你所得到的回報是巨大的動能湧現:原始的生活能量真正的開展在你面前就如同它在Waterloo或 Tangier或紐約的現場一樣.這種動能造就了這種充滿能量,熱烈,獨特的真實的角色可以穿梭其中的地標"

The Bourne Ultimatum also features David Strathairn as the CIA official who wants to eliminate the problem by eliminating Bourne. Joan Allen, reprises her role from the second film as the dedicated CIA officer who wants to keep Bourne alive; and Julia Stiles is also back as the analyst who becomes Bourne's ally.

一起演出神鬼認證:最後通牒的還有David Strathairn飾演想要藉由終結Bourne來終結問題的CIA官員.Joan Allen,接續她第二作演認真執著的CIA官員,她想要保留Bourne的活口;還有Julia Stiles 也繼續演上集出現的分析人員,這次她成為Bourne的盟友.

"What is interesting about these movies is that they don't deal with good guys and bad guys; it is the choices that those characters make that makes you label them good or bad," Stiles says.
Also in the cast: Albert Finney, Scott Glenn and Paddy Considine. The Bourne Ultimatum was filmed at locations ranging from North Africa to Europe and America.

這系列電影有趣的地方在於它們不去著墨於好人與壞人;是這些角色做的決定去讓你把他們貼上好或壞的標籤,"Stiles 說.演員卡司還包含Albert Finney, Scott Glenn 和 Paddy Considine.神鬼認證:最後通牒拍攝的地點包含了從北非到歐洲以及美國.

台灣報紙是鍛鍊學生獨立思考的最佳工具

2007-08-20T23:05:00.000+08:00

從很多地方上我們可以看出台灣記者對於平衡報導這個基本原則的根本不放在眼裡

這篇文章並不是我認為自由時報比較好,基本上它也是常忘記該平衡報導的一份報紙

記者有時候要忍痛報自己不想報的這是一種風骨(我誇大了,這其實是種本份)

自己寫的不平衡不'完整也就算了,我還看過好幾次外電翻一半的(翻他想翻的,是怎樣)

這樣看來其實課本一綱多本也許不見得好,不過讓學生針對一個新聞去看各份報紙

顯然是個很好的訓練(可以的話包含國外媒體,同時訓練英文及完整性,目前為止外國人比較有操守,可悲)

以下這篇文章我是摘錄自南方論壇的一篇文章,因為它的標題跟結論非常激情所以我不放進來

http://www.taiwanus.net/news/show.php?id=10091

他文中提到自由時報的新聞

http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2006/new/aug/4/today-p5.htm

非常有趣的是當我去找中時的相關報導時,出現的都是

很抱歉，您要的網頁目前暫時無法使用或已經被移除。
建議您使用上方的查詢功能尋找其他相關內容。

有位朋友很認真的收集了該篇的原文

http://blog.roodo.com/cpchuu/archives/1889307.html

日文原文

http://sakura4987.exblog.jp/3925290

二○○六年八月四日，《自由時報》創了台灣新聞史上的一個首例，在報面上直接點名批判另一家同業──《中國時報》，打破台灣新聞界「報報相護、台台相護」的惡習。

　《自由時報》這則新聞的標題是：「日媒︰日2閣員　否認《中時》挺馬報導」，新聞導言是這樣的：「針對中國時報報導馬英九訪日期間與官房長官安倍晉三、外相麻生太郎會談時，安倍與麻生曾強烈支持馬英九一事，日本產經新聞今以重要篇幅報導，安倍與麻生陣營『對此毫無事實的報導感到困擾』，並稱『沒有出現任何批判陳水扁政府的發言』。」

　嚴格講，這只是一則引述日本《產經新聞》報導的新聞，但是，《自由時報》卻打破了兩項行規，樹立了同行互相監督的範例：

　第一、對於這類讓同業難堪的新聞，一般均不予報導，如因涉及重大事件而非報導不可時，頂多只以小欄處理，也不直接寫出同業名稱，而以「某報」、「某台」取代。《自由時報》這次則直接引述《產經新聞》的新聞內容，毫不含糊地點名《中國時報》。

　第二、即使作了報導、點了名，通常也絕不會讓同業名稱上標題，避免讓同業太難堪，但是，《自由時報》不但在頭條大標題上以特殊字體點名《中時》，還在其他中標、小標使用嚴厲字眼，如：「不實報導　讓兩官員困擾」、「這樣的報導太失禮」、「捏造新聞　暗傷台日關係」等等。

　《自由時報》這則新聞處理得很完整，以半個版面刊出，除了翻譯引述《產經新聞》的報導之外，還訪問了日本方面的相關人士，以及馬英九、《中國時報》總編輯王健壯，《自由時報》駐日記者更寫了一篇分析特稿。圖片則有《產經新聞》當天報紙。堪稱圖文並茂的新聞範例。

　《產經新聞》其實也表現了新聞專業的精神，因為「馬英九與安倍晉三、麻生太郎會談」是重要新聞，站在同業立場，如果台灣的《中國時報》能夠採訪到這則新聞，而日本當地一流大報卻漏了，這是記者的嚴重失職；如果這則新聞是假，是《中國時報》編造的，站在專業立場，這也是重要新聞，在日本就曾有《朝日新聞》因假新聞而使總編輯、採訪主任請辭的例子。

　《產經新聞》追查這則新聞的真假，做法是正確的，專業精神是值得肯定的。

　《產經新聞》在報導中指出，台灣的《中國時報》在馬英九訪日時，曾報導馬與安倍晉三、麻生太郎會談，並獲強烈支持，這項報導在台日關係圈內造成很大困擾。

　《產經新聞》說，「事實上，馬與安倍只有十分鐘的電話會談」，那是在七月十二日上午透過翻譯所進行的電話會談，「內容僅止於歡迎來日本訪問之類的客套話」。

　《產經新聞》說，七月十一日馬與麻生也見了面，但發言內容未超越日本政府的基本立場，只是強調台日雙方非政府間友好交流的重要性，完全沒有超出日本「不支持台獨」基本立場的發言，「更沒有任何批判扁政府的發言」。

　但是，《中國時報》七月十四日的報導是，「馬英九見到了安倍晉三」，內容指出，「他（安倍）還一再強調，日本很多政界人士長期受到李登輝等人傳遞訊息的影響，經常誤以為台灣多數民眾是支持台獨立場」。

　《中國時報》的報導說，「馬英九聞言，為昭信於安倍晉三，還當場拿出台灣內部針對統獨所做的民調結果，看過民調數據的安倍，當場向馬表示，『我鬆了一口氣』…」，報導並指安倍對馬說「很期待將來能看到『馬英九效應』發揮影響力」。

　《中國時報》的報導還以「據轉述」的方式說，「麻生太郎還評論起與民進黨政治人物交往的心得，形容他們『比較極端，對問題的探討較不務實』；和國民黨相較，日本感覺與民進黨人士交往似乎並不太對盤」。

　《產經新聞》強調，安倍與麻生雙方「對這種『自以為事實的報導』感到困擾」。

　《產經新聞》指出，由於安倍與麻生為日本內閣閣員，不能公開承認與馬的非正式會談，因而一直保持沉默，但「在台灣內部已產生部分誤認安倍、麻生放棄陳水扁政權的誤解」。

　《產經新聞》說，日本駐台媒體記者曾就《中國時報》的報導採訪中國國民黨，「國民黨發言人說，『該報導的內容有一半以上是想像的』」。

　《自由時報》以《產經新聞》這則報導向《中國時報》總編輯王健壯詢問，請他發表看法，王健壯則很傲慢地表示「沒意見」，既不願就《產經新聞》的報導內容發表看法，更不願表明自己或《中國時報》將有什麼專業負責的處理。

　馬英九則告訴《自由時報》，「你現在問我見過誰，我也不會告訴你，我不能透露，媒體要怎樣報導，我沒辦法控制」。

　《中國時報》的新聞來源是誰？有沒有編造假新聞？還是馬英九故意放假消息，讓《中國時報》錯誤報導？這一方面牽涉政客誠信問題，另一方面更是新聞專業問題。

　如今作為台灣第一大報的《自由時報》，既然以專版作了特別報導，曾經也是重要報紙的《中國時報》，無論基於新聞專業或對讀者（消費者）負責，都應該做出明確的說明。

石燭尖與瓜寮坑溪

2007-08-07T14:01:00.000+08:00

從去年就計畫要去的溯溪玩耍,結果今年才成行,成員也是去年就找好的KK跟ALEX

搭火車

石燭尖

瓜寮坑溪

峰頭尖

KK的相簿

KK的_平溪苦行僧修行篇

ALEX的相簿

ALEX的_平溪石燭尖和峰頭尖

簡單．自然．幸福學北歐人過生活?

2007-03-03T08:49:00.000+08:00

我給這個標題的答案,除非自己是老闆吧!

我承認我愛諷刺,不過大家就當作從另外一個角度想事情
(好吧,另外我也在為自己打混合理化)
台灣的老闆基本上口是心非的多
螢光幕上大氣到不行
但是你還是常懷疑你身處在一個sweatshop

"高效率，是北歐人之所以能拚半天、休息半天的主要原因。所謂羊毛出在羊身上，高效率的工作來自於北歐人認真地「創造」熱情，為了提高工作效率，北歐人總是絞盡腦汁，思考著如何改良技術，大到需要添加什麼好機器，小到如何設置機器上按鈕的排放位置會更便捷等等，北歐人總是想著如何讓機器或工具多做一點，人少做一點。 "

上面這段話是引用自這篇網路著名的文章
時空轉移發生在台灣會是這樣嗎?

理想中應該要是這樣的
老闆:Good Job,大家以後多放半天假. (呃,如果你直覺反應這是真的,那請告訴我你是哪家公司)
於是大家以後每週少六小時工時,薪水不減反增

比較可能的是
老闆:Good Job,要再接再厲,創新才是動力,愛拼才會贏啦. (於是你還是每天加班)
於是你要每週多六小時工作以求再做出一個創新
某天你要準時下班時,可能還會聽到,公司讓大家很輕鬆啊,你看5點剛過就走的差不多了

不過那篇文章還是非常的好,他給了我們一句金玉良言

物質欲望低了，人就快樂多了

不要再妄想些什麼　只告訴自己 I BELIEVE
一定會更好過在多年以後只有那辛苦錢屬於我

Put Your Records On

2007-02-09T15:25:00.000+08:00

Artist: Corinne Bailey Rae
Album: Corinne Bailey Rae
Year: 2006
Title: Put Your Records On

Put Your Records On

Three little birds, sat on my window.
And they told me I don't need to worry.
Summer came like cinnamon
So sweet,
Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.

Maybe sometimes, we've got it wrong, but it's alright
The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same
Oh, don't you hesitate.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely,
Sipping tea in the bar by the roadside,
(just relax, just relax)
Don't you let those other boys fool you,
Got to love that afro hair do.

Maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it's alright
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change.
Don't you think it's strange?

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

'Twas more than I could take, pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realise, that you don't even have to try any longer?
Do what you want to.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Oh, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow

再見了!Floppy!

2007-02-02T17:15:00.000+08:00

雖然後來很少用感觸不是那麼深,不過我已經見證過兩樣東西(錄音帶跟軟式磁碟片)的興衰這件事
倒是令我不勝唏噓啊!!!

不賣了！PC WORLD宣布不再進貨軟式磁碟片走入歷史

鉅亨網王菁敏／綜合外電報導‧2月2日

自軟式磁碟片(FLOPPY DISK)上市後的 36年來，歷
經數百億美元的銷售後，如今終於走向被淘汰的命運，
英國最大的電腦零售連鎖店PC WORLD日前宣布，未來將
不再進貨軟式磁碟片，換句話說，等到所有的庫存賣完
後，3.5 英吋的軟式磁碟片銷售也將跟隨卡式錄音機、
膠捲式照相機的腳步走入歷史。

PC WORLD表示，目前英國以及歐洲地區 200多家連
鎖店的庫存總計還有 1萬片左右，約在數周之內就會賣
完，屆時將不再進貨。

20世紀末的1967年IBM公司推出世界上第1張軟式磁
碟片，後來軟式磁碟片一度被認為是個人以及公司儲存
資料最便捷的一種工具，光是1998年全球銷售就達到20
億張，幾乎每台電腦都配有「A槽」軟碟機。

與 USB隨身碟或其他記憶卡相比，軟式磁碟片容量
小、單位容量成本高、速度慢且可靠性差，儲存容量只
有1.44MB，勉強只夠裝進1首歌或是1張高解析度的照片
，與動輒1、2GB的隨身碟容量實在無法相比，當然也就
難逃被淘汰的命運。

早在1998年，當APPLE COMPUTER(APPL-US)(蘋果電
腦) 推出沒有軟碟機的「IMAC電腦」時，就已預言軟式
磁碟片的時代即將結束，2003年，戴爾電腦(DELL INC.)
(DELL-US)推出的新一代電腦也跟進APPLE的腳步，2006
年軟式磁碟片全球銷量萎縮至7億張，98%的電腦不再配
有軟碟機，這項過去曾經風光數十年的電腦資料儲存硬
體，如今已成為人類科技日新月異的最佳見證之一。

今日蛋包

2007-02-02T13:22:00.000+08:00

生活是由很多的細節所組成,有人說注重飲食起居的細節是生活品質的要素.也就是你的日常生活不是只求溫飽還能夠分心去留意好不好吃漂不漂亮.最近我發現我自己每天都有個有趣的觀察與期待.就像每天大家會看下星座運勢期待一下今天的發展,我總是在我真正吃到餛飩麵加蛋的蛋包前,去猜測它今天是全熟的半熟的還是比較生的.

人是愛占卜的動物,將自己的未來及命運寄託在對某些現象的解釋總讓大家樂此不疲.鳥卦是鳥幫你抽個簽;星座是黃道12宮左右了你今天是漲是跌是否受異性青睞;此外還有咖啡渣,茶葉梗....etc.
在我每天猜測我的蛋黃熟或不熟的同時也許我該做個統計研究,寫個專欄叫"今日蛋包"好了.根據蛋黃的熟,半生不熟,生的,加上蛋白形狀是圓的,橢的,扁的或是其他對外觀上的描述來猜猜我本日運勢如何.

等我發現初從蛋包看出6個數字的公式的時候會寫續集的. To be Continued.....

Abbreviations and Acronyms 002

2007-01-31T10:08:00.000+08:00

This morning I was trying to find some examples to enrich my little columns. Google is really something changes our world (at least mine). I found a wonderful online dictionary TheFreeDictionary, and it has a tab special made for acronym search.

There are some examples I found they are reduced too much to decipher, but otherwise Some of them are very interesting and they even make good exaggerating effect. But be careful. With too many acronyms, what you write may become a puzzle rather than a paragraph.Lol.

LOL Laughing Out Loud
TTYL Talk To You Later
B4 before
BRB be right back
IKWUM I know what you mean
OTFL on the floor laughing
BLOG Web Log
FYAD Forget You and Die (polite form)
BR Best Regards
BBQ Barbecue
BRB (I'll) Be Right Back (chat)

Abbreviations and Acronyms 001

2007-01-30T08:48:00.000+08:00

abbreviation
N-COUNT
An abbreviation is a short form of a word or phrase, made by leaving out some of the letters or by using only the first letter of each word.
The postal abbreviation for Kansas is KS.

acronym
N-COUNT
An acronym is a word composed of the first letters of the words in a phrase, especially when this is used as a name. An example of an acronym is NATO which is made up of the first letters of the `North Atlantic Treaty Organization'.

These two words are very interesting and fascinating to me. Once I was having a rehearsal to some senior IT instructors, if succeeded, I would be qualified to teach that course. I didn't make it, and one of the opinions was "Using too much acronym". It's bizzare to hear though there's some other reasons not exposed. I still don't know how to introduce a software skill using as less acronym as they expected.

I want to keep this simple memo as the first episode of a series. Maybe someday in the future I can publish a book called "Scott's Abbreviations and Acronyms". I'll make sure that all my friends will buy one for me first. Of course I will sign the book for them , and I had better practice my handwriting from now on.

英文 新聞 棒球 生活 宅男人生