Working―class noodles go upscale
【 明 报 专 讯 】 TOKYO - Customers with Prada handbags and Gucci sunglasses sometimes stand in line for hours and gaze ( 凝 视 ) hungrily at a TV outside the restaurant door, feasting their eyes on 1 the delicacy ( 佳 肴 ) that awaits: a bowl of noodles.
The humble ( 粗 陋 的 ) noodle - known in Japan as "ramen" - has long been better known as a staple ( 主 食 ) of construction workers and penny-pinching ( 节 俭 的 ) students than as a favourite of the chic ( 新 潮 的 人 ).
But in a push to win over a new clientele ( 顾 客 ), Japanese noodles are going upscale ( 高 ?n 的 ) with special pork and organic vegetables served in eateries ( 餐 厅 ) with fetching ( 吸 引 人 的 ) dark-wood interiors and soft lighting.
One company even came up with a shocker ( 使 人 震 惊 的 事 物 ) for anyone who's slurped ( 出 声 地 吃 ) down a calorie-packed bowl of noodles: diet ramen made from seaweed ( 海 藻 ) extracts ( 精 华 ). It weighs in at a meagre 8 calories.
"The `stylish ramen' stores have really boomed," said Masahiko Ichiyanagi, who writes a "ramen column ( 专 栏 )" for a popular weekly magazine, Tokyo Week. "The result is that it's now recognised as a legitimate ( 正 当 的 ) leisure activity."
The trend reaches extremes at Shiodome Ramen, a spanking ( 突 出 的 ) new cluster of steel-and-glass towers next to the decidedly ( 无 疑 地 ) lowbrow ( 庸 俗 的 ) Shimbashi district.
The shop aims to create a splash ( 轰 动 ). Nippon Television Network Corp began a highly publicised nationwide contest in 2002 to seek out the country's best ramen cook, and put the winner - Konosuke Takewaka - in charge of the restaurant.
The exposure brought in the crowds. Customers sometimes waited in line a foot-aching four hours when the restaurant opened on 1 August.
Those with endurance ( 耐 性 ) are rewarded. Takewaka strains ( 滤 去 … 水 ) the noodles by whipping ( 挥 ) a sieve ( 筛 子 ) through the air in a dramatic figure-eight2, splashing scalding ( 滚 烫 的 ) water against a window between the kitchen and the restaurant and drawing gasps ( 屏 息 ) from startled ( 惊 讶 的 ) diners.
The broth ( 清 汤 ) gets its flavour from pork, beef and chicken stock ( 鸡 汤 ), squid legs and dried fish, he said. The restaurant, which serves 800 bowls a day starting at US$7.30, closes when it runs out of its pungent ( 辣 的 ) noodle soup.
According to popular lore ( 传 说 ), ramen was introduced by Chinese immigrants early last century. Taking root in major port cities like Yokohama, it soon spread across the country and assumed ( 采 ) regional variations.
In Japan, ramen shops have long been dingy ( 邋 遢 的 ) joints ( 场 所 ), their counters crowded with chopsticks, seasonings ( 调 味 料 ) and self-service water jugs.
The fare ( 食 品 ) until now has been straightforward ( 简 单 的 ): noodles in a salty broth, topped with a few slices of pork, chopped green onions and strips of seaweed. Standard flavors ( 味 道 ) are salt, soy sauce and miso bean paste.
There are some 200,000 ramen shops in Japan, where customers slurp down an estimated US$6.36 billion worth of noodles annually.
Even the financial world is interested. Japanese online brokerage ( 经 纪 行 ) Traders Securities launched a fund last December seeking US$1.8 million to invest in a noodle complex in Tokyo.
But for all the bells and whistles3, ramen lovers say the key ingredients remain the same: a signature ( 具 鲜 明 特 征 的 ) soup and good noodles.
Jun Yoshizawa, an engineering student, recently sat at a noodle stand set up in view of Tokyo's Sumida River, where red lanterns cast their reflection ( 倒 影 ) across the water and steam from the hot cauldrons ( 大 锅 ) wafted ( 随 风 飘 送 ) into the evening air.
"Ramen is so tasty because it's so simple - it's like eating something homemade, except the ambiance ( 气 氛 、 环 境 ) is better," he said.
AP
(1)To feast one's eyes on... 指 「 看 … 饱 眼 福 」 。
(2)Figure-eight 指 「 呈 8 字 形 的 」 。
(3)Bells and whitles 指 「 华 而 不 实 的 点 缀 」 。
Monday, May 03, 2004
A brother's first date
【 明 报 专 讯 】 1. Drama Focus:
Amy: What's that stink?
Jack: After shave lotion.
Amy: But Chris, you don't shave!
Jack: It's Dad's.
Amy: Let me see the bottle.
Jack: Forget it Amy.
Amy: Is it this one?
Jack: Leave it... it's Dad's.
Amy: (Reading from bottle) Suave, masculine fragrance.
Jack: Give it back!
2. Language Focus
a) Vocabulary: "After shave lotion"
A lotion is a liquid that is good for your skin. After shaving, men can use "after shave lotion" to make their skin feel good. "After shave lotions" are perfumed and, as well as being good for the skin, they can also make a man smell nice.
b) Language Function: Telling someone not to do something
When Jack tells his sister to "forget it," he means that he does not want her to look at the bottle of after shave lotion. He guesses that she will tease him and he does not want this. "Forget it" is a way of saying "Go away" or "No."
c) Vocabulary: "Suave"
The manufacturer of the after shave lotion describes its perfume as "suave" to make the lotion sound smooth and sophisticated.
【 明 报 专 讯 】 1. Drama Focus:
Amy: What's that stink?
Jack: After shave lotion.
Amy: But Chris, you don't shave!
Jack: It's Dad's.
Amy: Let me see the bottle.
Jack: Forget it Amy.
Amy: Is it this one?
Jack: Leave it... it's Dad's.
Amy: (Reading from bottle) Suave, masculine fragrance.
Jack: Give it back!
2. Language Focus
a) Vocabulary: "After shave lotion"
A lotion is a liquid that is good for your skin. After shaving, men can use "after shave lotion" to make their skin feel good. "After shave lotions" are perfumed and, as well as being good for the skin, they can also make a man smell nice.
b) Language Function: Telling someone not to do something
When Jack tells his sister to "forget it," he means that he does not want her to look at the bottle of after shave lotion. He guesses that she will tease him and he does not want this. "Forget it" is a way of saying "Go away" or "No."
c) Vocabulary: "Suave"
The manufacturer of the after shave lotion describes its perfume as "suave" to make the lotion sound smooth and sophisticated.
Order about/around
【 明 报 专 讯 】 "I suppose you wonder what I do when I'm not on the battlefield ordering my soldiers about," the general said. "Well, to tell the truth I usually do a little work around the house to please the wife. You know, like dusting the furniture and cleaning the silver. I do things like that for relaxation, not because she orders me around." "That's incorrect!" the wife exclaimed. "I order you about whenever I wish - and use more care dusting my fine china!" Order about/around is to demand that somebody do something.
【 明 报 专 讯 】 "I suppose you wonder what I do when I'm not on the battlefield ordering my soldiers about," the general said. "Well, to tell the truth I usually do a little work around the house to please the wife. You know, like dusting the furniture and cleaning the silver. I do things like that for relaxation, not because she orders me around." "That's incorrect!" the wife exclaimed. "I order you about whenever I wish - and use more care dusting my fine china!" Order about/around is to demand that somebody do something.
现代刘伶
【 明 报 专 讯 】 一 位 署 名 Jim 的 读 者 来 电 邮 问 ， booze hound 是 什 么 意 思 ?t
Booze 即 alcoholic drink ， 意 为 酒 ?r hound 即 hunting dog ， 意 为 猎 犬 。 在 booze hound 中 ， hound 转 义 ， 表 示 enthusiast ， 意 为 「 发 烧 友 」 。 因 此 ， booze hound 可 解 作 person who really likes to drink ， 意 为 嗜 酒 者 ， 或 酒 鬼 ， 例 如 ?s
Jack goes barhopping almost every night. He is really a booze hound.
杰 克 几 乎 每 晚 一 间 间 酒 吧 换 着 去 蒲 ， 真 是 现 代 刘 伶 。
动 词 barhop 属 美 国 英 文 ， 指 一 个 晚 上 去 好 几 间 酒 吧 。
顺 便 说 一 下 hound 的 其 他 类 似 用 法 。
Rock hound 即 geologist ， 意 为 地 质 学 家 ， 有 时 亦 可 解 作 地 质 系 学 生 ， 例 如 ?s
The rock hounds are going on a field trip tomorrow.
地 质 系 学 生 （ 地 质 学 家 ） 明 天 去 作 实 地 考 察 。
Chow hound 即 glutton ， 意 为 贪 食 者 ， 例 如 ?s
You chow hounds, let's chow down.
馋 鬼 ， 我 们 一 起 食 吧 。
Autograph hound 即 autograph collector ， 意 为 专 请 名 人 签 名 的 人 ， 例 如 ?s
After the concert she was surrounded by a group of autograph hounds.
音 乐 会 结 束 后 ， 一 群 要 求 签 名 的 歌 迷 将 她 围 住 。
News hound 即 aggressive news reporter ， 意 为 厉 害 的 新 闻 记 者 ， 有 时 可 连 写 成 newshound ， 例 如 ?s
Jack is a TV newshound. If there is any kind of a story there, he will find it.
杰 克 是 电 视 台 记 者 ， 只 要 哪 里 有 新 闻 故 事 ， 他 便 会 采 访 到 。
另 外 ， news hound 等 于 news hawk （ 男 ） ， 或 news hen （ 女 ） 。
【 明 报 专 讯 】 一 位 署 名 Jim 的 读 者 来 电 邮 问 ， booze hound 是 什 么 意 思 ?t
Booze 即 alcoholic drink ， 意 为 酒 ?r hound 即 hunting dog ， 意 为 猎 犬 。 在 booze hound 中 ， hound 转 义 ， 表 示 enthusiast ， 意 为 「 发 烧 友 」 。 因 此 ， booze hound 可 解 作 person who really likes to drink ， 意 为 嗜 酒 者 ， 或 酒 鬼 ， 例 如 ?s
Jack goes barhopping almost every night. He is really a booze hound.
杰 克 几 乎 每 晚 一 间 间 酒 吧 换 着 去 蒲 ， 真 是 现 代 刘 伶 。
动 词 barhop 属 美 国 英 文 ， 指 一 个 晚 上 去 好 几 间 酒 吧 。
顺 便 说 一 下 hound 的 其 他 类 似 用 法 。
Rock hound 即 geologist ， 意 为 地 质 学 家 ， 有 时 亦 可 解 作 地 质 系 学 生 ， 例 如 ?s
The rock hounds are going on a field trip tomorrow.
地 质 系 学 生 （ 地 质 学 家 ） 明 天 去 作 实 地 考 察 。
Chow hound 即 glutton ， 意 为 贪 食 者 ， 例 如 ?s
You chow hounds, let's chow down.
馋 鬼 ， 我 们 一 起 食 吧 。
Autograph hound 即 autograph collector ， 意 为 专 请 名 人 签 名 的 人 ， 例 如 ?s
After the concert she was surrounded by a group of autograph hounds.
音 乐 会 结 束 后 ， 一 群 要 求 签 名 的 歌 迷 将 她 围 住 。
News hound 即 aggressive news reporter ， 意 为 厉 害 的 新 闻 记 者 ， 有 时 可 连 写 成 newshound ， 例 如 ?s
Jack is a TV newshound. If there is any kind of a story there, he will find it.
杰 克 是 电 视 台 记 者 ， 只 要 哪 里 有 新 闻 故 事 ， 他 便 会 采 访 到 。
另 外 ， news hound 等 于 news hawk （ 男 ） ， 或 news hen （ 女 ） 。
Sunday, May 02, 2004
UN to end confusion about Chernobyl
【 明 报 专 讯 】 VIENNA - Although the world may never know the full impact ( 影 响 ) of the world's worst nuclear disaster, the United Nations nuclear agency wants to put an end to the confusion for millions of victims of the Chernobyl accident.
The disaster occurred 18 years ago, at 1:24 am on 26 April 1986, when an explosion at Reactor ( 反 应 堆 ) 4 of the Ukrainian power plant spewed ( 喷 出 ) a cloud of radioactivity ( 辐 射 ) across Europe and the Soviet Union.
Around 30 people died from radiation exposure after the accident, nearly 2,000 children later developed thyroid ( 甲 状 腺 ) cancer, and thousands of other fatal illnesses have been blamed on it. More than 100,000 people were resettled ( 徙 置 ), causing physical, economic and psychological hardship.
Among the millions of people whose lives were affected by the disaster, thousands may have developed cancer and died as a result. But poor records and corruption have prevented the accurate registration of the workers who helped put out ( 扑 灭 ) the fire and entomb ( 掩 埋 ) the smouldering ( （ 无 火 苗 的 ） 闷 燃 ) nuclear plant in 1986.
"We have an epistemological ( 认 识 论 的 ) problem," said Abel Gonzalez, head of radiation and waste safety at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "In Chernobyl, you can say that the only concrete sick persons that you can [identify] are the [1,800] children who got thyroid cancer and the workers who were over-exposed. All the rest, we don't know."
Not only is there a limit to the ability of the nuclear experts to understand the full impact of Chernobyl, but contradictory studies and statements about the disaster have confused the millions of people whose lives were affected by it.
"People living in the affected villages are very distressed ( 苦 恼 的 ) because the information they receive - from one expert after another turning up ( 出 现 ) there - is inconsistent ( 不 一 致 的 ). People living there are afraid for their children," Gonzalez explained.
Over the years, wildly varying reports have put the Chernobyl death toll ( 死 亡 人 数 ) as high as 15,000.
For this reason, the IAEA has established the Chernobyl forum, whose task will be to give "authoritative, transparent statements that show the factual situation in the aftermath of ( 在 … 后 ) Chernobyl", said Gonzalez, who represents the IAEA on the forum.
The forum will bring together Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, the IAEA and all other UN organisations involved in Chernobyl. It will review all the studies and statements on Chernobyl, filter out the good, throw out the bad and present a clear summary to next year's UN General Assembly.
A native ( 土 生 土 长 的 人 ) of Argentina, Gonzalez is no stranger to the Chernobyl story. From 1989 to 1991, he headed a huge IAEA study of the health, environmental and radiological impact of the disaster on villages and towns in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine that suffered the worst contamination ( 污 染 ).
He was always convinced that many cases of leukaemia ( 白 血 病 ) would appear among the 600,000 so-called "liquidators( 消 除 者 )" who worked frantically ( 拼 命 地 ) in the spring of 1986 to put out the fire in the molten ( 熔 融 的 ) reactor and entomb the plant in a concrete sarcophagus ( （ 石 ） 棺 ).
"I was personally convinced that leukaemia in the workers - the liquidators - would be detected. But until now it has not appeared," he said.
Gonzalez said that this may be because some of the people who were granted the status of "liquidator", which gave them free public transport and other perks ( 福 利 ), never actually worked at Chernobyl but got liquidator cards through contacts ( 相 识 的 人 ). As a result the liquidator register is almost useless.
Because of this, the question of how many people have died as a result of the accident may never be properly answered.
"It is an issue that is impossible to settle ( 解 决 ) because there are two different types of deaths - the deaths that you can check that they happened and the ones you can only imagine."
【 明 报 专 讯 】 VIENNA - Although the world may never know the full impact ( 影 响 ) of the world's worst nuclear disaster, the United Nations nuclear agency wants to put an end to the confusion for millions of victims of the Chernobyl accident.
The disaster occurred 18 years ago, at 1:24 am on 26 April 1986, when an explosion at Reactor ( 反 应 堆 ) 4 of the Ukrainian power plant spewed ( 喷 出 ) a cloud of radioactivity ( 辐 射 ) across Europe and the Soviet Union.
Around 30 people died from radiation exposure after the accident, nearly 2,000 children later developed thyroid ( 甲 状 腺 ) cancer, and thousands of other fatal illnesses have been blamed on it. More than 100,000 people were resettled ( 徙 置 ), causing physical, economic and psychological hardship.
Among the millions of people whose lives were affected by the disaster, thousands may have developed cancer and died as a result. But poor records and corruption have prevented the accurate registration of the workers who helped put out ( 扑 灭 ) the fire and entomb ( 掩 埋 ) the smouldering ( （ 无 火 苗 的 ） 闷 燃 ) nuclear plant in 1986.
"We have an epistemological ( 认 识 论 的 ) problem," said Abel Gonzalez, head of radiation and waste safety at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "In Chernobyl, you can say that the only concrete sick persons that you can [identify] are the [1,800] children who got thyroid cancer and the workers who were over-exposed. All the rest, we don't know."
Not only is there a limit to the ability of the nuclear experts to understand the full impact of Chernobyl, but contradictory studies and statements about the disaster have confused the millions of people whose lives were affected by it.
"People living in the affected villages are very distressed ( 苦 恼 的 ) because the information they receive - from one expert after another turning up ( 出 现 ) there - is inconsistent ( 不 一 致 的 ). People living there are afraid for their children," Gonzalez explained.
Over the years, wildly varying reports have put the Chernobyl death toll ( 死 亡 人 数 ) as high as 15,000.
For this reason, the IAEA has established the Chernobyl forum, whose task will be to give "authoritative, transparent statements that show the factual situation in the aftermath of ( 在 … 后 ) Chernobyl", said Gonzalez, who represents the IAEA on the forum.
The forum will bring together Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, the IAEA and all other UN organisations involved in Chernobyl. It will review all the studies and statements on Chernobyl, filter out the good, throw out the bad and present a clear summary to next year's UN General Assembly.
A native ( 土 生 土 长 的 人 ) of Argentina, Gonzalez is no stranger to the Chernobyl story. From 1989 to 1991, he headed a huge IAEA study of the health, environmental and radiological impact of the disaster on villages and towns in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine that suffered the worst contamination ( 污 染 ).
He was always convinced that many cases of leukaemia ( 白 血 病 ) would appear among the 600,000 so-called "liquidators( 消 除 者 )" who worked frantically ( 拼 命 地 ) in the spring of 1986 to put out the fire in the molten ( 熔 融 的 ) reactor and entomb the plant in a concrete sarcophagus ( （ 石 ） 棺 ).
"I was personally convinced that leukaemia in the workers - the liquidators - would be detected. But until now it has not appeared," he said.
Gonzalez said that this may be because some of the people who were granted the status of "liquidator", which gave them free public transport and other perks ( 福 利 ), never actually worked at Chernobyl but got liquidator cards through contacts ( 相 识 的 人 ). As a result the liquidator register is almost useless.
Because of this, the question of how many people have died as a result of the accident may never be properly answered.
"It is an issue that is impossible to settle ( 解 决 ) because there are two different types of deaths - the deaths that you can check that they happened and the ones you can only imagine."
Swarovski shakes up chandeliers
【 明 报 专 讯 】 MILAN - You're swirling around the ballroom, colourful skirts shimmering ( 闪 烁 ) under the chandeliers ( 枝 形 吊 灯 ) when all of a sudden one of the crystal cascades ( 瀑 布 状 物 ) above your head asks you for the next dance.
A surrealist dream? No, a design from the house of Swarovski crystals as it blazes a new trail1 in the often stuffy ( 刻 板 的 ) world of chandeliers.
The Austrian crystal group teamed up with ( 和 … 合 作 ) 10 designers to reinvent luxurious lighting at Milan Design Week, mixing 21st century technology with the clean cuts ( 切 割 ) D Swarovski & Co has been perfecting ( 改 良 ) for the last 109 years.
Glimmering ( 发 光 ) in a black warehouse, an Art Deco ( 装 饰 派 艺 术 ) falling spiral chandelier had crowds of party-goers mesmerised ( 迷 住 ) as they sent text messages to the light and watched their SMSs(short message services) trickle through the crystal strands ( 串 ) like a luxurious ticker tape ( 纸 带 ).
"It's time to shake up ( 整 顿 ) the industry. There are too many chandeliers around with no life and soul - just expensive cookie-cutter 2 designs," said Nadja Swarovski, grand-daughter of the company's founder and vice president of communications.
"We're challenging designers to rework the chandelier any way they want. The results are so modern in terms of both beauty and interactivity," she said, as the `Lolita' light behind her sparkled with the news that `Davide loves Carina'.
The technology behind `Lolita' is more likely to be found in a physics lab ( 物 理 实 验 室 ) than a design studio. Electronic processors strip data out of a mobile phone and send it to strings of LED lights hanging inside crystal cylinders ( 圆 柱 体 ).
Electrical impulses ( 电 脉 冲 ) then switch the tiny white lights on and off in sequence ( 顺 序 ) so the words of the SMS seem to slide ( 滑 行 ) along the sparkling strings.
The glistening ( 闪 烁 的 ) chandeliers are not for the faint hearted ( 怯 懦 的 人 ) with "Nest" - a giant swirl of 7,800 coin-sized crystals draped ( 悬 垂 ) around a luminous ( 发 光 的 ) white oval ( 椭 圆 形 ) - worth more than 15,000 euros in crystal alone.
But Swarovski believes the `Crystal Palace' chandelier project is worth every penny.
As well as breathing new life into luxury lighting, Swarovski loves the fact that designers, manufacturers and crystal cutters are fostering ( 培 养 ) new ideas and urging each other to push beyond knownboundaries.
"It's just like my grandfather who worked with designers like Christian Dior and Coco Chanel. They would ask for a coating ( 涂 料 ) that would make material shine like the Northern Lights ( 北 极 光 ) and back he went to Austria and created it," beamed ( 微 笑 ) Swarovski.
The bubbly ( 活 泼 的 ) 33-year-old has been the force behind Swarovski's return to fashion, branding the crystals with their own label and publicising their quality to set them and their price apart from3 run-of-the-mill ( 普 通 的 ) diamante ( 闪 光 饰 品 ) or rhinestones ( 莱 茵 石 、 假 钻 石 ).
In 1998, Swarovski teamed up with Alexander McQueen, the bad boy of British fashion who studded ( 镶 ) his catwalk collection with crystals and set an immediate trend.
"It's a matter of working on a two-way ( 双 程 的 ) street and learning from each other," said Swarovski, whose business makes about 1.7 billion euros of turnover ( 营 业 额 ) a year - including sales of teardrop ( 泪 珠 状 的 ) crystals to more traditional chandelier makers.
Designer Yves Behar and engineer Michael Hammers, who created the 3.7 metre high `Nest' chandelier, agreed.
"I had no idea how crystal hung so there I was planning away on my computer and it wasn't until Michael educated me on what would look most beautiful that we got this effect of a necklace draped around a woman's neck," said Behar.
Swarovski plans to take the chandeliers on a world tour including Dubai and Shanghai and expects some of the crystal creations to end up in museums or designer households.
Reuters
(1)To blaze a (new) trail 指 「 创 先 河 」 。
(2)Cookie cutter 指 「 饼 干 或 成 型 切 割 刀 」 。 形 容 词 cookie-cutter ， 指 「 千 篇 一 律 的 」 。
(3)To set A apart from B 指 「 使 A 显 得 比 B 优 胜 」 。
【 明 报 专 讯 】 MILAN - You're swirling around the ballroom, colourful skirts shimmering ( 闪 烁 ) under the chandeliers ( 枝 形 吊 灯 ) when all of a sudden one of the crystal cascades ( 瀑 布 状 物 ) above your head asks you for the next dance.
A surrealist dream? No, a design from the house of Swarovski crystals as it blazes a new trail1 in the often stuffy ( 刻 板 的 ) world of chandeliers.
The Austrian crystal group teamed up with ( 和 … 合 作 ) 10 designers to reinvent luxurious lighting at Milan Design Week, mixing 21st century technology with the clean cuts ( 切 割 ) D Swarovski & Co has been perfecting ( 改 良 ) for the last 109 years.
Glimmering ( 发 光 ) in a black warehouse, an Art Deco ( 装 饰 派 艺 术 ) falling spiral chandelier had crowds of party-goers mesmerised ( 迷 住 ) as they sent text messages to the light and watched their SMSs(short message services) trickle through the crystal strands ( 串 ) like a luxurious ticker tape ( 纸 带 ).
"It's time to shake up ( 整 顿 ) the industry. There are too many chandeliers around with no life and soul - just expensive cookie-cutter 2 designs," said Nadja Swarovski, grand-daughter of the company's founder and vice president of communications.
"We're challenging designers to rework the chandelier any way they want. The results are so modern in terms of both beauty and interactivity," she said, as the `Lolita' light behind her sparkled with the news that `Davide loves Carina'.
The technology behind `Lolita' is more likely to be found in a physics lab ( 物 理 实 验 室 ) than a design studio. Electronic processors strip data out of a mobile phone and send it to strings of LED lights hanging inside crystal cylinders ( 圆 柱 体 ).
Electrical impulses ( 电 脉 冲 ) then switch the tiny white lights on and off in sequence ( 顺 序 ) so the words of the SMS seem to slide ( 滑 行 ) along the sparkling strings.
The glistening ( 闪 烁 的 ) chandeliers are not for the faint hearted ( 怯 懦 的 人 ) with "Nest" - a giant swirl of 7,800 coin-sized crystals draped ( 悬 垂 ) around a luminous ( 发 光 的 ) white oval ( 椭 圆 形 ) - worth more than 15,000 euros in crystal alone.
But Swarovski believes the `Crystal Palace' chandelier project is worth every penny.
As well as breathing new life into luxury lighting, Swarovski loves the fact that designers, manufacturers and crystal cutters are fostering ( 培 养 ) new ideas and urging each other to push beyond knownboundaries.
"It's just like my grandfather who worked with designers like Christian Dior and Coco Chanel. They would ask for a coating ( 涂 料 ) that would make material shine like the Northern Lights ( 北 极 光 ) and back he went to Austria and created it," beamed ( 微 笑 ) Swarovski.
The bubbly ( 活 泼 的 ) 33-year-old has been the force behind Swarovski's return to fashion, branding the crystals with their own label and publicising their quality to set them and their price apart from3 run-of-the-mill ( 普 通 的 ) diamante ( 闪 光 饰 品 ) or rhinestones ( 莱 茵 石 、 假 钻 石 ).
In 1998, Swarovski teamed up with Alexander McQueen, the bad boy of British fashion who studded ( 镶 ) his catwalk collection with crystals and set an immediate trend.
"It's a matter of working on a two-way ( 双 程 的 ) street and learning from each other," said Swarovski, whose business makes about 1.7 billion euros of turnover ( 营 业 额 ) a year - including sales of teardrop ( 泪 珠 状 的 ) crystals to more traditional chandelier makers.
Designer Yves Behar and engineer Michael Hammers, who created the 3.7 metre high `Nest' chandelier, agreed.
"I had no idea how crystal hung so there I was planning away on my computer and it wasn't until Michael educated me on what would look most beautiful that we got this effect of a necklace draped around a woman's neck," said Behar.
Swarovski plans to take the chandeliers on a world tour including Dubai and Shanghai and expects some of the crystal creations to end up in museums or designer households.
Reuters
(1)To blaze a (new) trail 指 「 创 先 河 」 。
(2)Cookie cutter 指 「 饼 干 或 成 型 切 割 刀 」 。 形 容 词 cookie-cutter ， 指 「 千 篇 一 律 的 」 。
(3)To set A apart from B 指 「 使 A 显 得 比 B 优 胜 」 。
Gem phones lure Asia's elite
【 明 报 专 讯 】 SINGAPORE - For Asia's hip ( 赶 时 髦 的 人 ) and swanky ( 爱 出 风 头 的 人 ), carrying a mobile phone with a cracked screen and a tatty ( 邋 遢 的 ) plastic cover is tantamount to1 a crime against fashion.
Instead, a Prada ensemble ( 全 套 服 装 ) with Gucci loafers ( 便 鞋 ) or Manolo Blahnik stilettos ( 高 跟 鞋 ) demands nothing less than a diamond-encrusted ( 镶 钻 石 的 ) handset ( 手 机 ) from China's TCL Mobile Communication Co Ltd or an 18-carat white gold mobile with a sapphire ( 蓝 宝 石 色 的 ) crystal face by Nokia unit Vertu.
Indonesian haute couture ( 高 级 时 装 ) designer Harry Darsono, 54, carries a US$26,550, 215-gram platinum ( 白 金 ) Vertu cellphone to match his Lanvin shirts and Hugo Boss shoes when he entertains ( 接 待 ) customers.
"I am very fussy ( 挑 剔 的 ). My handphone, handbag and attire ( 服 装 ) must be part of the overall art of presentation to the clients - you need to use their language so you can be close to them," said Darsono, who was educated in France and collects vintage ( 古 董 的 ) pianos and luxury cars.
While mobile makers are tight-lipped ( 缄 默 的 ) on revenues ( 收 入 ) from their luxury segments ( 部 分 ), analysts say high-end ( 高 �n 的 ) sales could provide a lift as penetration rates ( 市 场 渗 透 率 ) level off2 and the take-up ( 接 受 ) of high-speed data services remains lacklustre ( 无 生 气 的 ).
London-based Vertu and Finnish parent Nokia, the world's top handset maker, began developing the luxury models as early as 1997, Vertu President Nigel Litchfield said.
"As the industry became increasingly saturated ( 饱 和 的 ) in the last few years, manufacturers were compelled ( 被 迫 ) to discover new markets and identify upcoming trends in mobile phone consumption."
At the end of 2003, Asia accounted for a third of Vertu's total business, Litchfield said, adding that Hong Kong was its largest single market.
Shiv Putcha, senior analyst with The Yankee Group, believes fashion phones could invigorate ( 激 活 ) sales for handset makers, as slow data download speeds, poor content and handset glitches ( 小 故 障 ) leave users disappointed with 2.5G and third-generation (3G) networks.
"Most of the models in the market do not address the consumer's need for increased personalisation ( 个 人 化 ), and I believe this to be a significant driver ( 驱 动 力 ) of growth," he said.
Given ( 鉴 于 ) Asia's high cellphone replacement rate - every nine to 18 months compared with about two years for Europe and the United States - the region is the logical market to launch iconic handsets, Putcha said.
Motorola Inc, the world's second-largest cellphone maker, said its line of fashion phones enjoyed triple-digit ( 三 位 数 字 的 ) growth rates in the first quarter ( 季 ) of 2004 over the final three months of 2003 in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
"In Asia, phones are much more of an aspirational statement about who you are and who you want to be," Scott Durchslag, a Motorola corporate vice president, told Reuters.
Motorola recently launched a clamshell ( 蛤 蜊 式 机 壳 的 ) V600 model that offers interchangeable ( 可 替 换 的 ) covers studded ( 镶 ) with clear Swarovski crystals, and Nokia's new 7200 model offers fabric covers that have analysts calling it the Louis Vuitton phone.
Gem-encrusted handsets also became the rage ( 流 行 ) in China, the world's largest wireless market, after TCL Mobile made waves in 2000 with the launch of its diamond-studded mobile phones. Its limited edition range with genuine gemstones ( 宝 石 ) costs up to 20,000 yuan.
TCL Mobile, which is seeking a separate listing ( 上 市 地 位 ) in Hong Kong and is 40.8%-owned by TCL International Ltd, controls about one-tenth of China's cellphone market.
"To many Chinese, precious stones symbolise esteem ( 敬 重 ), good fortune, peace and love. So jewelled mobile phones are not just communication tools, they also act as lucky charms ( 幸 运 符 )," TCL Mobile's managing director, Wan Mingjian,said.
Reuters
(1)A is tantamount to B 指 「 A 相 当 于 B 」 。
(2)To level off 指 「 变 得 平 稳 」 。
【 明 报 专 讯 】 SINGAPORE - For Asia's hip ( 赶 时 髦 的 人 ) and swanky ( 爱 出 风 头 的 人 ), carrying a mobile phone with a cracked screen and a tatty ( 邋 遢 的 ) plastic cover is tantamount to1 a crime against fashion.
Instead, a Prada ensemble ( 全 套 服 装 ) with Gucci loafers ( 便 鞋 ) or Manolo Blahnik stilettos ( 高 跟 鞋 ) demands nothing less than a diamond-encrusted ( 镶 钻 石 的 ) handset ( 手 机 ) from China's TCL Mobile Communication Co Ltd or an 18-carat white gold mobile with a sapphire ( 蓝 宝 石 色 的 ) crystal face by Nokia unit Vertu.
Indonesian haute couture ( 高 级 时 装 ) designer Harry Darsono, 54, carries a US$26,550, 215-gram platinum ( 白 金 ) Vertu cellphone to match his Lanvin shirts and Hugo Boss shoes when he entertains ( 接 待 ) customers.
"I am very fussy ( 挑 剔 的 ). My handphone, handbag and attire ( 服 装 ) must be part of the overall art of presentation to the clients - you need to use their language so you can be close to them," said Darsono, who was educated in France and collects vintage ( 古 董 的 ) pianos and luxury cars.
While mobile makers are tight-lipped ( 缄 默 的 ) on revenues ( 收 入 ) from their luxury segments ( 部 分 ), analysts say high-end ( 高 �n 的 ) sales could provide a lift as penetration rates ( 市 场 渗 透 率 ) level off2 and the take-up ( 接 受 ) of high-speed data services remains lacklustre ( 无 生 气 的 ).
London-based Vertu and Finnish parent Nokia, the world's top handset maker, began developing the luxury models as early as 1997, Vertu President Nigel Litchfield said.
"As the industry became increasingly saturated ( 饱 和 的 ) in the last few years, manufacturers were compelled ( 被 迫 ) to discover new markets and identify upcoming trends in mobile phone consumption."
At the end of 2003, Asia accounted for a third of Vertu's total business, Litchfield said, adding that Hong Kong was its largest single market.
Shiv Putcha, senior analyst with The Yankee Group, believes fashion phones could invigorate ( 激 活 ) sales for handset makers, as slow data download speeds, poor content and handset glitches ( 小 故 障 ) leave users disappointed with 2.5G and third-generation (3G) networks.
"Most of the models in the market do not address the consumer's need for increased personalisation ( 个 人 化 ), and I believe this to be a significant driver ( 驱 动 力 ) of growth," he said.
Given ( 鉴 于 ) Asia's high cellphone replacement rate - every nine to 18 months compared with about two years for Europe and the United States - the region is the logical market to launch iconic handsets, Putcha said.
Motorola Inc, the world's second-largest cellphone maker, said its line of fashion phones enjoyed triple-digit ( 三 位 数 字 的 ) growth rates in the first quarter ( 季 ) of 2004 over the final three months of 2003 in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
"In Asia, phones are much more of an aspirational statement about who you are and who you want to be," Scott Durchslag, a Motorola corporate vice president, told Reuters.
Motorola recently launched a clamshell ( 蛤 蜊 式 机 壳 的 ) V600 model that offers interchangeable ( 可 替 换 的 ) covers studded ( 镶 ) with clear Swarovski crystals, and Nokia's new 7200 model offers fabric covers that have analysts calling it the Louis Vuitton phone.
Gem-encrusted handsets also became the rage ( 流 行 ) in China, the world's largest wireless market, after TCL Mobile made waves in 2000 with the launch of its diamond-studded mobile phones. Its limited edition range with genuine gemstones ( 宝 石 ) costs up to 20,000 yuan.
TCL Mobile, which is seeking a separate listing ( 上 市 地 位 ) in Hong Kong and is 40.8%-owned by TCL International Ltd, controls about one-tenth of China's cellphone market.
"To many Chinese, precious stones symbolise esteem ( 敬 重 ), good fortune, peace and love. So jewelled mobile phones are not just communication tools, they also act as lucky charms ( 幸 运 符 )," TCL Mobile's managing director, Wan Mingjian,said.
Reuters
(1)A is tantamount to B 指 「 A 相 当 于 B 」 。
(2)To level off 指 「 变 得 平 稳 」 。
Coax in/into
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z "Look," Noah said, standing at the door trying to coax in a couple of large beasts who refused to enter. "The weatherman has predicted that this rain is going to go on and on for days. It was so easy coaxing everyone else into my ark. Why are you two being so difficult?" "Maybe it's a matter of pride," one of the beasts answered. "Pride goes before the fall," Noah answered. To coax in/into means to use gentle words to encourage someone into a place or into doing something.
Unaccounted for
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z "Whoopie!" the captain cried. "We finally got here! Here we are on Earth!" But while calling the roll, the captain discovered that Esper was unaccounted for. "This is pretty serious business," the captain said gravely. "He's the only one who knows the way back!" To make a long story short, Esper remains unaccounted for and the space people are still on Earth. When someone or something is unaccounted for, he, she or it cannot be found. He, she or it is missing.
Wrestle with (2)
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z As we know, wrestling is a contest of strength between two individuals, yet hare's Wiggles, a tiny fellow with no muscles to speak of, wrestling with himself over eating or not eating a book! "Sometimes," he said, "it's easier not to think much about what one eats. That way you don't have to wrestle with your conscience over it!" In this instance, wrestle with refers to conducting an internal battle. "It's a fight inside yourself as you try to make up your mind," Wiggles said.
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z "Look," Noah said, standing at the door trying to coax in a couple of large beasts who refused to enter. "The weatherman has predicted that this rain is going to go on and on for days. It was so easy coaxing everyone else into my ark. Why are you two being so difficult?" "Maybe it's a matter of pride," one of the beasts answered. "Pride goes before the fall," Noah answered. To coax in/into means to use gentle words to encourage someone into a place or into doing something.
Unaccounted for
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z "Whoopie!" the captain cried. "We finally got here! Here we are on Earth!" But while calling the roll, the captain discovered that Esper was unaccounted for. "This is pretty serious business," the captain said gravely. "He's the only one who knows the way back!" To make a long story short, Esper remains unaccounted for and the space people are still on Earth. When someone or something is unaccounted for, he, she or it cannot be found. He, she or it is missing.
Wrestle with (2)
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z As we know, wrestling is a contest of strength between two individuals, yet hare's Wiggles, a tiny fellow with no muscles to speak of, wrestling with himself over eating or not eating a book! "Sometimes," he said, "it's easier not to think much about what one eats. That way you don't have to wrestle with your conscience over it!" In this instance, wrestle with refers to conducting an internal battle. "It's a fight inside yourself as you try to make up your mind," Wiggles said.
The calm after the storm
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z In this week's story Mel and Ben make friends again after an argument.
1. Drama Focus:
Ben: Mel... you're back... when you ran off I was frantic! I didn't know where to look or who to ask for help.
Mel: I was so mad at you Ben... I just had to run away or else I would have exploded!
2. Language Focus
a) Idioms: "The calm after the storm"
The title of this week's "Talk English" is an idiom meaning the peaceful time that can follow an argument. Ben is visiting Hong Kong to see his girlfriend Mel. But they had an argument and Mel ran away. When she returned both Mel and Ben no longer felt angry, they were happy to see each other again - "the storm" was the argument and "the calm" is the quiet happy that followed it.
b) Idioms: "Mad at someone"
In colloquial English conversation "to be mad at someone" means to be angry with someone - Mel was angry with Ben, she was "mad at him."
c) Vocabulary: "To explode"
Bombs explode but sometimes people do too! When Mel said that she ran away because she "would have exploded" she means that she ran away before she lost her temper, before she lost all control and expressed her anger in a loud and very angry way.
The calm after the storm
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z 1. Drama Focus:
Mel: I'm so glad we're not arguing any more.
Ben: Me too.
Mel: You know I've really been hogging you... keeping you all to myself.... I think it's time for you to meet some of my friends.
Ben: Great.
Mel: I'll phone some of them up and we can all go and have dim sum together.
Ben: What's dim sum?
Mel: It's little tasty things... like prawns in rice pastry.... or pork buns... or chickens' feet.
Ben: Chickens' feet!
Mel: Don't worry Ben... you don't have to eat any if you don't want to.
Ben: That's a relief.
2. Language Focus
a) Idiom: "Hogging someone"
When Mel says to Ben that she's been hogging him she means she has had Ben all to herself. If you "hog" someone you are the only one who speaks to that person, you don't let anyone else come anywhere near them.
b) Language Function: "Expressing relief"
The easiest way to express relief is by saying, "That's a relief." Like many westerners Ben is nervous about eating chickens' feet and when Mel tells him that he does not have to eat chickens' feet he no longer feels nervous, he feels relieved - "What a relief."
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z 1. Drama Focus:
Mel: Goodnight Ben. I'm really glad we've made up.
Ben: Me too...Mel? Can I have a goodnight kiss?
Mel: Do you think you deserve one?
Ben: Come on Mel... stop pulling my leg... just a small one on the cheek?
Mel: Okay then.... come here.
Ben: Thanks Mel.
Mel: Goodnight Ben... sweet dreams.
Ben: You know Mel.... To err is human... to forgive divine.
2. Language Focus
a) Idiom: "To make up"
"To make up" after an argument means to become friends again. Mel and Ben had an argument but now they have "made up" - they are friends again.
b) Idioms: "To pull someone's leg"
This means to tease someone. When Ben asks for a kiss and Mel replies, "Do you deserve one?" she is being playful - Ben rightly thinks that Mel is gently teasing him and that is why he says, "Stop pulling my leg."
c) Idioms: "To err is human, to forgive divine"
Even though this idiom is still used today it contains archaic English - "To err" is old English for "to do wrong." The idiom means it is normal for people to do wrong and make mistakes, but forgiving is something special - to do wrong is human, but to forgive you have to be like an angel.
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z In this week's story Mel and Ben make friends again after an argument.
1. Drama Focus:
Ben: Mel... you're back... when you ran off I was frantic! I didn't know where to look or who to ask for help.
Mel: I was so mad at you Ben... I just had to run away or else I would have exploded!
2. Language Focus
a) Idioms: "The calm after the storm"
The title of this week's "Talk English" is an idiom meaning the peaceful time that can follow an argument. Ben is visiting Hong Kong to see his girlfriend Mel. But they had an argument and Mel ran away. When she returned both Mel and Ben no longer felt angry, they were happy to see each other again - "the storm" was the argument and "the calm" is the quiet happy that followed it.
b) Idioms: "Mad at someone"
In colloquial English conversation "to be mad at someone" means to be angry with someone - Mel was angry with Ben, she was "mad at him."
c) Vocabulary: "To explode"
Bombs explode but sometimes people do too! When Mel said that she ran away because she "would have exploded" she means that she ran away before she lost her temper, before she lost all control and expressed her anger in a loud and very angry way.
The calm after the storm
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z 1. Drama Focus:
Mel: I'm so glad we're not arguing any more.
Ben: Me too.
Mel: You know I've really been hogging you... keeping you all to myself.... I think it's time for you to meet some of my friends.
Ben: Great.
Mel: I'll phone some of them up and we can all go and have dim sum together.
Ben: What's dim sum?
Mel: It's little tasty things... like prawns in rice pastry.... or pork buns... or chickens' feet.
Ben: Chickens' feet!
Mel: Don't worry Ben... you don't have to eat any if you don't want to.
Ben: That's a relief.
2. Language Focus
a) Idiom: "Hogging someone"
When Mel says to Ben that she's been hogging him she means she has had Ben all to herself. If you "hog" someone you are the only one who speaks to that person, you don't let anyone else come anywhere near them.
b) Language Function: "Expressing relief"
The easiest way to express relief is by saying, "That's a relief." Like many westerners Ben is nervous about eating chickens' feet and when Mel tells him that he does not have to eat chickens' feet he no longer feels nervous, he feels relieved - "What a relief."
?y �� �� �� ?u ?z 1. Drama Focus:
Mel: Goodnight Ben. I'm really glad we've made up.
Ben: Me too...Mel? Can I have a goodnight kiss?
Mel: Do you think you deserve one?
Ben: Come on Mel... stop pulling my leg... just a small one on the cheek?
Mel: Okay then.... come here.
Ben: Thanks Mel.
Mel: Goodnight Ben... sweet dreams.
Ben: You know Mel.... To err is human... to forgive divine.
2. Language Focus
a) Idiom: "To make up"
"To make up" after an argument means to become friends again. Mel and Ben had an argument but now they have "made up" - they are friends again.
b) Idioms: "To pull someone's leg"
This means to tease someone. When Ben asks for a kiss and Mel replies, "Do you deserve one?" she is being playful - Ben rightly thinks that Mel is gently teasing him and that is why he says, "Stop pulling my leg."
c) Idioms: "To err is human, to forgive divine"
Even though this idiom is still used today it contains archaic English - "To err" is old English for "to do wrong." The idiom means it is normal for people to do wrong and make mistakes, but forgiving is something special - to do wrong is human, but to forgive you have to be like an angel.
入乡随俗
【 明 报 专 讯 】 一 位 署 名 Diana 的 读 者 来 电 邮 说 她 读 到 He went native and donned a black sweatshirt and sneakers 这 样 一 句 句 子 ， 不 甚 明 白 go native 及 don 的 意 思 。
Go native 即 follow the customs of the natives ， 意 为 入 乡 随 俗 ， 例 如 �s
Jack has really gone native since he settled in Hawaii. He wears short pants and aloha shirt.
自 从 住 到 夏 威 夷 之 后 ， 杰 克 已 完 全 入 乡 随 俗 ， 穿 短 裤 和 夏 威 夷 恤 衫 。
Going native is meaningless in Japan for Westerners because many Japanese sleep in beds or eat with knives and forks.
对 西 方 人 而 言 ， 要 在 日 本 模 仿 当 地 风 俗 习 惯 只 是 白 搭 ， 因 为 许 多 居 民 睡 的 是 床 ， 进 餐 用 刀 叉 。
Don 就 是 wear ， 表 示 着 衫 或 穿 鞋 。 但 此 字 已 老 旧 ， 十 分 罕 见 。
因 此 ， 你 抄 录 的 句 子 可 译 成 �s
他 入 乡 随 俗 ， 着 黑 色 圆 领 长 袖 运 动 衫 及 运 动 鞋 。
另 有 一 位 署 名 「 心 理 学 系 学 生 」 的 读 者 来 电 邮 指 出 ， 笔 者 将 psychiatrist 说 成 「 心 理 医 生 」 并 不 妥 当 ， 应 为 「 精 神 科 医 生 」 。
事 缘 早 前 有 一 位 读 者 来 电 邮 问 ， 西 片 中 男 角 所 说 的 shrink 是 什 么 意 思 ， 于 是 笔 者 回 答 说 ， 美 国 人 常 说 的 shrink 即 psychiatrist ， 意 为 心 理 医 生 。
须 知 shrink 不 是 正 式 学 术 名 词 ， 若 把 shrink 及 psychiatrist 同 样 说 成 「 精 神 科 医 生 」 ， 就 译 不 出 俚 俗 词 语 的 神 韵 。
事 实 上 ， 北 美 华 人 多 半 把 shrink 说 成 「 心 理 医 生 」 ， 因 此 笔 者 特 意 使 用 这 种 不 太 正 规 的 称 呼 ， 以 区 别 于 正 式 名 称 。
【 明 报 专 讯 】 一 位 署 名 Diana 的 读 者 来 电 邮 说 她 读 到 He went native and donned a black sweatshirt and sneakers 这 样 一 句 句 子 ， 不 甚 明 白 go native 及 don 的 意 思 。
Go native 即 follow the customs of the natives ， 意 为 入 乡 随 俗 ， 例 如 �s
Jack has really gone native since he settled in Hawaii. He wears short pants and aloha shirt.
自 从 住 到 夏 威 夷 之 后 ， 杰 克 已 完 全 入 乡 随 俗 ， 穿 短 裤 和 夏 威 夷 恤 衫 。
Going native is meaningless in Japan for Westerners because many Japanese sleep in beds or eat with knives and forks.
对 西 方 人 而 言 ， 要 在 日 本 模 仿 当 地 风 俗 习 惯 只 是 白 搭 ， 因 为 许 多 居 民 睡 的 是 床 ， 进 餐 用 刀 叉 。
Don 就 是 wear ， 表 示 着 衫 或 穿 鞋 。 但 此 字 已 老 旧 ， 十 分 罕 见 。
因 此 ， 你 抄 录 的 句 子 可 译 成 �s
他 入 乡 随 俗 ， 着 黑 色 圆 领 长 袖 运 动 衫 及 运 动 鞋 。
另 有 一 位 署 名 「 心 理 学 系 学 生 」 的 读 者 来 电 邮 指 出 ， 笔 者 将 psychiatrist 说 成 「 心 理 医 生 」 并 不 妥 当 ， 应 为 「 精 神 科 医 生 」 。
事 缘 早 前 有 一 位 读 者 来 电 邮 问 ， 西 片 中 男 角 所 说 的 shrink 是 什 么 意 思 ， 于 是 笔 者 回 答 说 ， 美 国 人 常 说 的 shrink 即 psychiatrist ， 意 为 心 理 医 生 。
须 知 shrink 不 是 正 式 学 术 名 词 ， 若 把 shrink 及 psychiatrist 同 样 说 成 「 精 神 科 医 生 」 ， 就 译 不 出 俚 俗 词 语 的 神 韵 。
事 实 上 ， 北 美 华 人 多 半 把 shrink 说 成 「 心 理 医 生 」 ， 因 此 笔 者 特 意 使 用 这 种 不 太 正 规 的 称 呼 ， 以 区 别 于 正 式 名 称 。
进退维谷
【 明 报 专 讯 】 一 位 署 名 Sarah 的 读 者 来 电 邮 问 ， He had her up a tree 中 的 up a tree 作 何 解 �t
Up a tree 即 in a very awkward position ， 意 为 陷 入 困 境 ， 例 如 �s
Jack is really up a tree. It is a take-it-or-leave-it proposition, but he can't make up his mind.
杰 克 真 是 进 退 维 谷 ， 此 乃 一 个 二 者 择 一 的 提 议 ， 他 无 法 拿 定 主 意 。
The bank's refusal to offer a loan of $500,000 has left us up a tree.
银 行 拒 绝 借 贷 五 十 万 元 ， 令 到 我 们 极 为 窘 困 。
因 此 ， 你 抄 录 的 句 子 可 译 为 �s
他 给 她 带 来 好 大 麻 烦 。
另 有 一 位 署 名 Maggie 的 读 者 来 电 邮 说 ， 她 想 知 道 ， I lost my father who was lost in Beijing 这 样 一 句 句 子 是 否 有 错 �t
你 抄 录 的 句 子 在 文 法 上 无 错 ， 不 过 逻 辑 上 有 些 问 题 。
你 句 中 第 一 个 lose （ 用 了 过 去 式 lost ） 即 no longer have as a result of death ， 意 为 丧 失 （ 亲 友 等 ） ， 例 如 �s
He lost his mother in a car accident.
他 在 一 次 车 祸 中 失 去 了 母 亲 。
你 句 中 第 二 个 lose （ 用 了 被 动 式 was lost ） 即 fail to find one's way ， 意 为 迷 路 ， 例 如 �s
I was totally lost in the forest.
我 在 森 林 中 完 全 迷 了 路 。
可 是 ， 在 你 的 句 子 中 ， 父 亲 在 北 京 迷 了 路 ， 却 未 进 一 步 述 说 事 情 的 发 展 或 结 果 ， 就 说 他 死 了 （ 我 失 去 了 他 ） ， 意 念 跳 跃 ， 逻 辑 上 稍 有 不 妥 。
【 明 报 专 讯 】 一 位 署 名 Sarah 的 读 者 来 电 邮 问 ， He had her up a tree 中 的 up a tree 作 何 解 �t
Up a tree 即 in a very awkward position ， 意 为 陷 入 困 境 ， 例 如 �s
Jack is really up a tree. It is a take-it-or-leave-it proposition, but he can't make up his mind.
杰 克 真 是 进 退 维 谷 ， 此 乃 一 个 二 者 择 一 的 提 议 ， 他 无 法 拿 定 主 意 。
The bank's refusal to offer a loan of $500,000 has left us up a tree.
银 行 拒 绝 借 贷 五 十 万 元 ， 令 到 我 们 极 为 窘 困 。
因 此 ， 你 抄 录 的 句 子 可 译 为 �s
他 给 她 带 来 好 大 麻 烦 。
另 有 一 位 署 名 Maggie 的 读 者 来 电 邮 说 ， 她 想 知 道 ， I lost my father who was lost in Beijing 这 样 一 句 句 子 是 否 有 错 �t
你 抄 录 的 句 子 在 文 法 上 无 错 ， 不 过 逻 辑 上 有 些 问 题 。
你 句 中 第 一 个 lose （ 用 了 过 去 式 lost ） 即 no longer have as a result of death ， 意 为 丧 失 （ 亲 友 等 ） ， 例 如 �s
He lost his mother in a car accident.
他 在 一 次 车 祸 中 失 去 了 母 亲 。
你 句 中 第 二 个 lose （ 用 了 被 动 式 was lost ） 即 fail to find one's way ， 意 为 迷 路 ， 例 如 �s
I was totally lost in the forest.
我 在 森 林 中 完 全 迷 了 路 。
可 是 ， 在 你 的 句 子 中 ， 父 亲 在 北 京 迷 了 路 ， 却 未 进 一 步 述 说 事 情 的 发 展 或 结 果 ， 就 说 他 死 了 （ 我 失 去 了 他 ） ， 意 念 跳 跃 ， 逻 辑 上 稍 有 不 妥 。
毁于一炬
【 明 报 专 讯 】 一 位 署 名 Jenny 的 读 者 来 电 邮 说 她 不 甚 明 白 damage 、 destroy 、 demolish 、 hurt 的 差 别 ， 常 有 混 淆 。
Damage 即 cause harm or loss to ， 意 为 损 坏 ， 主 要 指 物 质 损 失 ， 有 时 亦 可 用 作 借 喻 ， 例 如 �s
An earthquake may damage buildings.
地 震 或 会 损 坏 楼 宇 。
Set a good example to the others, otherwise your prestige will be damaged.
要 作 出 表 率 ， 否 则 有 损 威 信 。
Destroy 即 completely ruin ， 意 为 破 坏 殆 尽 ， 常 指 物 质 损 毁 ， 有 时 亦 可 用 作 借 喻 ， 例 如 �s
The building was completely destroyed by fire.
该 建 筑 物 毁 于 一 炬 。
This new evidence will destroy his argument.
此 项 新 证 据 将 推 翻 他 的 论 证 。
Demolish 即 destroy 或 pull or tear down ， 意 为 摧 毁 ， 或 拆 毁 ， 常 以 猛 烈 而 短 暂 的 动 作 来 达 成 ， 例 如 �s
The car was demolished in collision.
汽 车 撞 坏 了 。
Hurt 即 harm ， 或 injure ， 或 cause physical or mental pain to ， 意 为 损 害 ， 或 （ 身 体 或 精 神 上 ） 伤 害 ， 例 如 �s
He was badly hurt in the accident.
他 在 该 意 外 中 受 重 伤 。
【 明 报 专 讯 】 一 位 署 名 Jenny 的 读 者 来 电 邮 说 她 不 甚 明 白 damage 、 destroy 、 demolish 、 hurt 的 差 别 ， 常 有 混 淆 。
Damage 即 cause harm or loss to ， 意 为 损 坏 ， 主 要 指 物 质 损 失 ， 有 时 亦 可 用 作 借 喻 ， 例 如 �s
An earthquake may damage buildings.
地 震 或 会 损 坏 楼 宇 。
Set a good example to the others, otherwise your prestige will be damaged.
要 作 出 表 率 ， 否 则 有 损 威 信 。
Destroy 即 completely ruin ， 意 为 破 坏 殆 尽 ， 常 指 物 质 损 毁 ， 有 时 亦 可 用 作 借 喻 ， 例 如 �s
The building was completely destroyed by fire.
该 建 筑 物 毁 于 一 炬 。
This new evidence will destroy his argument.
此 项 新 证 据 将 推 翻 他 的 论 证 。
Demolish 即 destroy 或 pull or tear down ， 意 为 摧 毁 ， 或 拆 毁 ， 常 以 猛 烈 而 短 暂 的 动 作 来 达 成 ， 例 如 �s
The car was demolished in collision.
汽 车 撞 坏 了 。
Hurt 即 harm ， 或 injure ， 或 cause physical or mental pain to ， 意 为 损 害 ， 或 （ 身 体 或 精 神 上 ） 伤 害 ， 例 如 �s
He was badly hurt in the accident.
他 在 该 意 外 中 受 重 伤 。
Monday, July 07, 2003
Lin Yutang: �The Little Critic�
----Book Review of With Love & Irony
Lin Yutang, a famous but forgotten name in Chinese society, has been a well-known writer among English readers from the Western world ever since his publications of My Country and My Men and The Importance of Living. His fame topped when he was nominated for the Nobel Prize for his work A Moment in Peking, which vividly describes the living of a middle class home in Peking throughout the unstable times from the collapse of the Qing Dynasty to the Anti-Japanese War. Lin Yutang, as he self-describes, is a �mix of contradictions�. So is reflected in his works. In A Moment in Peking he is a Confucius, who cares for the miseries of his countrymen, while in My Country and My Men and The Importance of Living he is a Taoist, who prefers to step back into the stage curtains and take a sarcastic but all-encompassing view of life. He once wrote essays for a column called �The Little Critic� in Nanjing during the rule of the Nationalists to criticize those in power but with witty styles so as not to cause anger in certain persons and to disclose life in ordinary people with a persuasive but calm heart so as not to disturb people�s lives. The book With Love & Irony is such a collection of critical but humorous essays written during that period.
He has a good opinion of what Englishmen and Chinese are like. He writes that the English and the Chinese are both nations which would not loose common sense to pure logical reasoning. He compares the two nations with the German and the Japanese, which were then at war with other nations. Englishmen would always maintain their own way of living even in a most remote place as the African desert or the Amazon jungles. They are so confident in themselves that they believe what they do should not and could not be otherwise wrong. For example, they have such firm confidence in their English banks that it won�t go bankrupt just because they believe so. That is the reason why the Bank of England was left with its name untouched even after it was acquired by HSBC in the last century. While the English stubbornness represents a masculine style the Chinese vagueness deals with life in a feminine way. Chinese are good at holding back their opinions and thus bad at drawing comparisons. A is good but B seems just not bad, maybe from a different viewpoint, better. �Action without thinking may be foolish, but action without common sense is always disastrous�.
Besides his humor, his sarcasm is expressed explicitly when he talks about nudism. He first confesses he sees no harm nudism could bring to people. Then he adds that he is a �reasonable� nudist �at certain hours and in certain circumstances�. He would like the fresh air to touch his naked body in his bathroom well protected from neighbor�s peeping eyes but hates the idea of walking down the street disclosing the skin that is mother-given. So is he discussing being a vegetarian. He stresses being reasonable rather than being principle considering only eating vegetables. No point in refusing blood-sticking beefsteak paying every mercy to the cattle slaughtered while turning a blind eye on the thousands being killed or starved to death every day around the world.
This book With Love & Irony is thus a making of his wisdom, fearlessness and unaffected commentary delivered with sparkling humor. Featured by ranging aspects of daily life to the fascinating insight of the social and political scene at that time, some essays of this book are untimely that we may get amazed that much of his observations recorded in the 1930�s are still valid and relevant today. Lin Yutang, the little critic, is such a genius but who took to ordinary life so much that he is a true life philosopher who merely lived, observed life and went away, leaving behind piles of books in which stored his great but plain spirits for us to experience and through them explore our true inner selves.
----Book Review of With Love & Irony
Lin Yutang, a famous but forgotten name in Chinese society, has been a well-known writer among English readers from the Western world ever since his publications of My Country and My Men and The Importance of Living. His fame topped when he was nominated for the Nobel Prize for his work A Moment in Peking, which vividly describes the living of a middle class home in Peking throughout the unstable times from the collapse of the Qing Dynasty to the Anti-Japanese War. Lin Yutang, as he self-describes, is a �mix of contradictions�. So is reflected in his works. In A Moment in Peking he is a Confucius, who cares for the miseries of his countrymen, while in My Country and My Men and The Importance of Living he is a Taoist, who prefers to step back into the stage curtains and take a sarcastic but all-encompassing view of life. He once wrote essays for a column called �The Little Critic� in Nanjing during the rule of the Nationalists to criticize those in power but with witty styles so as not to cause anger in certain persons and to disclose life in ordinary people with a persuasive but calm heart so as not to disturb people�s lives. The book With Love & Irony is such a collection of critical but humorous essays written during that period.
He has a good opinion of what Englishmen and Chinese are like. He writes that the English and the Chinese are both nations which would not loose common sense to pure logical reasoning. He compares the two nations with the German and the Japanese, which were then at war with other nations. Englishmen would always maintain their own way of living even in a most remote place as the African desert or the Amazon jungles. They are so confident in themselves that they believe what they do should not and could not be otherwise wrong. For example, they have such firm confidence in their English banks that it won�t go bankrupt just because they believe so. That is the reason why the Bank of England was left with its name untouched even after it was acquired by HSBC in the last century. While the English stubbornness represents a masculine style the Chinese vagueness deals with life in a feminine way. Chinese are good at holding back their opinions and thus bad at drawing comparisons. A is good but B seems just not bad, maybe from a different viewpoint, better. �Action without thinking may be foolish, but action without common sense is always disastrous�.
Besides his humor, his sarcasm is expressed explicitly when he talks about nudism. He first confesses he sees no harm nudism could bring to people. Then he adds that he is a �reasonable� nudist �at certain hours and in certain circumstances�. He would like the fresh air to touch his naked body in his bathroom well protected from neighbor�s peeping eyes but hates the idea of walking down the street disclosing the skin that is mother-given. So is he discussing being a vegetarian. He stresses being reasonable rather than being principle considering only eating vegetables. No point in refusing blood-sticking beefsteak paying every mercy to the cattle slaughtered while turning a blind eye on the thousands being killed or starved to death every day around the world.
This book With Love & Irony is thus a making of his wisdom, fearlessness and unaffected commentary delivered with sparkling humor. Featured by ranging aspects of daily life to the fascinating insight of the social and political scene at that time, some essays of this book are untimely that we may get amazed that much of his observations recorded in the 1930�s are still valid and relevant today. Lin Yutang, the little critic, is such a genius but who took to ordinary life so much that he is a true life philosopher who merely lived, observed life and went away, leaving behind piles of books in which stored his great but plain spirits for us to experience and through them explore our true inner selves.
"Globalisation' is not simply to shape ourselves into the forms recognized by others or simply import the forms overseas and put them on ourselves. By doing so we would easily loose our self-confidence through constantly criticising on our own customs and our own habits for their not originating from foreign cultures when we are so deeply admiring the ways of life by the American, the English and the French and etc. Globalisation, unlike what most of us hold in their beliefs, is the possibility to maintain and, more importantly, express our cultures to the rest of the world in a way that is GLOBALLY accepted. Anything concerning transforming or abandoning our culture or anything anti 'globalisation' is no real globalisation but a lack of self-confidence and knowledge in itself.
Monday, June 16, 2003
闻问切
受疫症之苦
【 明 报 专 讯 】 一 位 Chan 姓 读 者 来 电 邮 说 ， 他 想 知 道 afflict 和 inflict 之 间 的 不 同 。
Afflict 有 令 人 受 苦 的 意 思 ， 在 句 子 中 常 以 被 动 态 形 式 出 现 ， 例 如 �s
She is afflicted with SARS.
她 受 沙 士 （ 非 典 型 肺 炎 ） 疫 症 之 苦 。
Inflict 与 afflict 意 思 近 似 ， 表 示 将 痛 苦 、 惩 罚 或 麻 烦 等 施 加 于 人 ， 例 如 �s
The father inflicted a punishment on the boy for not doing his homework.
父 亲 因 男 孩 不 做 功 课 而 处 罚 他 。
此 二 字 的 区 别 在 于 ， afflict 所 施 的 动 作 是 无 法 控 制 的 ， 而 inflict 的 动 作 可 控 制 。 在 本 例 中 ， 父 亲 可 以 处 罪 儿 子 ， 也 可 不 处 罚 ， 即 是 可 控 制 的 。
受疫症之苦
【 明 报 专 讯 】 一 位 Chan 姓 读 者 来 电 邮 说 ， 他 想 知 道 afflict 和 inflict 之 间 的 不 同 。
Afflict 有 令 人 受 苦 的 意 思 ， 在 句 子 中 常 以 被 动 态 形 式 出 现 ， 例 如 �s
She is afflicted with SARS.
她 受 沙 士 （ 非 典 型 肺 炎 ） 疫 症 之 苦 。
Inflict 与 afflict 意 思 近 似 ， 表 示 将 痛 苦 、 惩 罚 或 麻 烦 等 施 加 于 人 ， 例 如 �s
The father inflicted a punishment on the boy for not doing his homework.
父 亲 因 男 孩 不 做 功 课 而 处 罚 他 。
此 二 字 的 区 别 在 于 ， afflict 所 施 的 动 作 是 无 法 控 制 的 ， 而 inflict 的 动 作 可 控 制 。 在 本 例 中 ， 父 亲 可 以 处 罪 儿 子 ， 也 可 不 处 罚 ， 即 是 可 控 制 的 。
Saturday, June 14, 2003
cluster a group of
defunct cease to function
itinerary a planned traveling route
steely determined
spawn cause to happen
wrath anger
mantra a Buddist chant for calming
swamp flood
chronic severe for a long duration
dyke thick flood prevention wall/substitute for 'lesbian'
fare well perform well
ramification unseen consequences
muster gather
wield in possession of power
garner collect
vicious circle bad things that trigger each other
ensue happen immediately after
promulgate constitute something important
suffice be enough
token gesture deed that is done just for showing sincerity
absurd ridiculous and nonsense
subvention assistance and support
knock-on effect effect that follows immediately afterwards
wail painful cry
Band-Aid superficially curing method
defunct cease to function
itinerary a planned traveling route
steely determined
spawn cause to happen
wrath anger
mantra a Buddist chant for calming
swamp flood
chronic severe for a long duration
dyke thick flood prevention wall/substitute for 'lesbian'
fare well perform well
ramification unseen consequences
muster gather
wield in possession of power
garner collect
vicious circle bad things that trigger each other
ensue happen immediately after
promulgate constitute something important
suffice be enough
token gesture deed that is done just for showing sincerity
absurd ridiculous and nonsense
subvention assistance and support
knock-on effect effect that follows immediately afterwards
wail painful cry
Band-Aid superficially curing method
Friday, June 13, 2003
Brazil
In Rio, government is family affair
【 明 �� �� �� 】 RIO DE JANEIRO - For Anthony Garotinho, 43, and Rosinha Matheus, 40, governing Rio is a family affair.
When Garotinho quit as Rio de Janeiro state governor to run for president last year, he surprised everyone by choosing his wife as the candidate for his seat. Matheus, in her first election, won in a landslide ( 一 面 倒 的 �� 利 ).
And when Governor Matheus needed a new secretary of public security to deal with a crime wave, the answer was right at home.
"I am naming ( 任 命 ) as secretary the most important thing in my life - my husband," she said on announcing the appointment in April.
Today, the two wield ( �\ 用 ) influence as a couple unparalleled ( �� 一 �o 二 的 ) in Brazilian politics. And how they govern Brazil's second-richest state will probably be a key to the 2006 presidential succession ( �^ 承 ).
Brazilians half-jokingly ( 半 �_ 玩 笑 地 ) compare the two to Juan and Evita Peron, the Argentine leader and charismatic ( 富 魅 力 的 ) first lady in the 1940s and 50s.
Like the Perons, Rio's first couple are unabashed ( 不 加 掩 �� 的 ) populists ( 平 民 主 �x 者 ), revered ( 崇 敬 ) by some voters, reviled ( 痛 斥 ) by others.
As governor, Garotinho built swimming pools in slum districts, opened 35-cent-a-meal "People's Restaurants" and handed out ( �l ) a monthly "Citizen's Check" to low-income families and the elderly. Campaigning for president, he promised to raise the minimum wage and cut taxes.
Critics scoffed at ( �I 笑 ) his chances, but Garotinho struck a chord with1 poor voters. He finished a surprisingly strong third, while Matheus cruised ( 航 �[ ) to a first-ballot win in the governor's race.
Political commentator and movie director Arnaldo Jabor said that the country's intellectuals, academics ( �W 者 ), artists and opinion shapers should have been able to defeat the man and wife politicians, calling them a "grave ( �� 重 的 ) sociological abnormality ( 不 正 常 的 事 物 )".
Matheus, who once sold cosmetics door-to-door ( 挨 家 逐 �� 地 ), has struggled since taking office ( 上 任 ) in January. Civil servants protested loudly when the state couldn't pay mandatory ( �� 制 的 ) Christmas bonuses - in part a legacy of Garotinho's administration.
Many also questioned her fitness for the job when drug gangs burned city buses and machine-gunned ( 用 �C �� 射 �� ) police posts and a tourist hotel, placing her authority in check2. The violence got so bad ( �� 重 ) that the federal government sent tanks and soldiers into the streets to keep the peace during the city's famous Carnival.
Born in 1960, Anthony William Matheus de Oliveira was a soccer commentator ( �u 述 �T ) who changed his name to Garotinho - Portuguese for "little boy" - after the success of his radio programme, the Garotinho Show.
At 19, he met 16-year-old Rosangela Barros Assed at a play rehearsal ( �� �� 排 演 ) in his home town of Campos, a sugar cane-growing centre 275 kilometres east of Rio. Two years later they were married.
With his silky voice and media savvy ( 熟 �R �� 媒 �\ 作 ), Garotinho was a natural ( 天 生 的 料 子 ) for politics. He was elected state legislator and mayor of Campos, while Matheus took his place behind the microphone with the Rosinha Show.
Following a near-fatal ( �U 死 的 ) car crash in 1994, Garotinho converted to evangelical Protestantism, and his speeches took on the fervour ( �� 情 ) of the pulpit ( �� 道 �� ). With support from the politically influential evangelical community, Garotinho was elected governor in 1998 - with 58% of the vote.
Matheus at first was known mostly as the governor's wife and mother of their nine children, five of them adopted ( �I �B ), but slowly she moved out of the shadows. Garotinho named her to head the government's Social Action and Citizenship secretariat, implementing the Popular Restaurants and the Citizen's Check programme.
AP
(1)To strike a chord with someone 指 「 引 起 某 人 的 共 �Q 」 。
(2)To place something in check 指 「 抑 制 某 事 物 」 。
Peter Muello
In Rio, government is family affair
【 明 �� �� �� 】 RIO DE JANEIRO - For Anthony Garotinho, 43, and Rosinha Matheus, 40, governing Rio is a family affair.
When Garotinho quit as Rio de Janeiro state governor to run for president last year, he surprised everyone by choosing his wife as the candidate for his seat. Matheus, in her first election, won in a landslide ( 一 面 倒 的 �� 利 ).
And when Governor Matheus needed a new secretary of public security to deal with a crime wave, the answer was right at home.
"I am naming ( 任 命 ) as secretary the most important thing in my life - my husband," she said on announcing the appointment in April.
Today, the two wield ( �\ 用 ) influence as a couple unparalleled ( �� 一 �o 二 的 ) in Brazilian politics. And how they govern Brazil's second-richest state will probably be a key to the 2006 presidential succession ( �^ 承 ).
Brazilians half-jokingly ( 半 �_ 玩 笑 地 ) compare the two to Juan and Evita Peron, the Argentine leader and charismatic ( 富 魅 力 的 ) first lady in the 1940s and 50s.
Like the Perons, Rio's first couple are unabashed ( 不 加 掩 �� 的 ) populists ( 平 民 主 �x 者 ), revered ( 崇 敬 ) by some voters, reviled ( 痛 斥 ) by others.
As governor, Garotinho built swimming pools in slum districts, opened 35-cent-a-meal "People's Restaurants" and handed out ( �l ) a monthly "Citizen's Check" to low-income families and the elderly. Campaigning for president, he promised to raise the minimum wage and cut taxes.
Critics scoffed at ( �I 笑 ) his chances, but Garotinho struck a chord with1 poor voters. He finished a surprisingly strong third, while Matheus cruised ( 航 �[ ) to a first-ballot win in the governor's race.
Political commentator and movie director Arnaldo Jabor said that the country's intellectuals, academics ( �W 者 ), artists and opinion shapers should have been able to defeat the man and wife politicians, calling them a "grave ( �� 重 的 ) sociological abnormality ( 不 正 常 的 事 物 )".
Matheus, who once sold cosmetics door-to-door ( 挨 家 逐 �� 地 ), has struggled since taking office ( 上 任 ) in January. Civil servants protested loudly when the state couldn't pay mandatory ( �� 制 的 ) Christmas bonuses - in part a legacy of Garotinho's administration.
Many also questioned her fitness for the job when drug gangs burned city buses and machine-gunned ( 用 �C �� 射 �� ) police posts and a tourist hotel, placing her authority in check2. The violence got so bad ( �� 重 ) that the federal government sent tanks and soldiers into the streets to keep the peace during the city's famous Carnival.
Born in 1960, Anthony William Matheus de Oliveira was a soccer commentator ( �u 述 �T ) who changed his name to Garotinho - Portuguese for "little boy" - after the success of his radio programme, the Garotinho Show.
At 19, he met 16-year-old Rosangela Barros Assed at a play rehearsal ( �� �� 排 演 ) in his home town of Campos, a sugar cane-growing centre 275 kilometres east of Rio. Two years later they were married.
With his silky voice and media savvy ( 熟 �R �� 媒 �\ 作 ), Garotinho was a natural ( 天 生 的 料 子 ) for politics. He was elected state legislator and mayor of Campos, while Matheus took his place behind the microphone with the Rosinha Show.
Following a near-fatal ( �U 死 的 ) car crash in 1994, Garotinho converted to evangelical Protestantism, and his speeches took on the fervour ( �� 情 ) of the pulpit ( �� 道 �� ). With support from the politically influential evangelical community, Garotinho was elected governor in 1998 - with 58% of the vote.
Matheus at first was known mostly as the governor's wife and mother of their nine children, five of them adopted ( �I �B ), but slowly she moved out of the shadows. Garotinho named her to head the government's Social Action and Citizenship secretariat, implementing the Popular Restaurants and the Citizen's Check programme.
AP
(1)To strike a chord with someone 指 「 引 起 某 人 的 共 �Q 」 。
(2)To place something in check 指 「 抑 制 某 事 物 」 。
Peter Muello
Talk English
The vegetarian viewpoint
【 明 �� �� �� 】 1. Drama Focus:
Alan This steak is delicious...
Rita: That steak was once part of a living animal.
Alan: Really tender and juicy.
Rita: Do you know how they kill the animals that end up as steak on your table?
Alan: Can we change the subject Rita?
Rita: The cattle are given electric shocks and then battered to death in the abattoir.
2. Language Focus
a) Vocabulary: Similes
Similes are adjectives that have a similar meaning such as `tender' and `juicy.' Their meanings are not exactly the same but overlap sufficiently for the two words to be similes. Tender meat is soft meat that is easy to chew. For meat to be juicy is should also be tender and soft. These similes are also related to the adjective `delicious' which mean that that the steak tastes good as well as being soft and moist.
b) Grammar: Passive voice
The passive voice omits the `doer'. When Rita says that, `The cattle are given electric shocks and then battered to death...' she does not say who gives them the shocks or who batters them to death.
Dino Mahoney
The vegetarian viewpoint
【 明 �� �� �� 】 1. Drama Focus:
Alan This steak is delicious...
Rita: That steak was once part of a living animal.
Alan: Really tender and juicy.
Rita: Do you know how they kill the animals that end up as steak on your table?
Alan: Can we change the subject Rita?
Rita: The cattle are given electric shocks and then battered to death in the abattoir.
2. Language Focus
a) Vocabulary: Similes
Similes are adjectives that have a similar meaning such as `tender' and `juicy.' Their meanings are not exactly the same but overlap sufficiently for the two words to be similes. Tender meat is soft meat that is easy to chew. For meat to be juicy is should also be tender and soft. These similes are also related to the adjective `delicious' which mean that that the steak tastes good as well as being soft and moist.
b) Grammar: Passive voice
The passive voice omits the `doer'. When Rita says that, `The cattle are given electric shocks and then battered to death...' she does not say who gives them the shocks or who batters them to death.
Dino Mahoney
Friday, May 23, 2003
我学英文的方法
张 五 常
.......
这里提出的是学写英文的方法，不是学讲英文的方法。自己的耳朵有问题，「讲」不足以教也。这里要谈的也不是考英文的方法。后者同学们要拜国内的新东方为师。我认识新东方的老板，欣赏他对学子的贡献。然而，写、讲、考是三回不同的事，各有各的学习佳法。这里要说的是中国人学写英文的方法，千万不要搞错。学写，中文与英文有三处重要不同：字汇（vocabulary）、动词（verb）、造句（sentence structure）。让我在这三项上说说吧。记住，我的建议是从中、英的不同之处入手。
读书学字汇
我学英文字汇的方法很简单，但要先假设你有香港英文中五毕业的水平，或TOEFL试可以考得五百八十分左右。方法如下：
（一）准备一本英文字典，一本英中字典。要平装，小的，轻的，但字要大，要有清楚的拼音注释。如果是精装的，翻阅太重，要把硬封面剪掉。这是因为你要翻查很多很多，翻得不够快或不舒畅你就不愿意多翻。
（二）找几本你有兴趣读的项目的书，要英文写得很好的。这选书十分重要，你要多问朋友或英文老师来协助你的选择。以每页大约五百字算（也要选字大的版本），要选两三本，加起来大约六百页。
（三）坐下来读书，一页一页地读下去，每个稍有不明的字要立刻查字典。千万不要以为一个字你惯见，以为是懂就不查。凡是稍有疑问的都要查，一丝不苟，直至你完全明白每一个字在一句之内的解法。不要骗自己。
（四）先查英语字典，清楚明白就不用查英中字典了。英中字典是英语字典不能尽释所疑才用的。
（五）千万不要在书页旁下注释。一个字查一次通常不会记得，再见该字时，稍有不明，要再查。稍有不明，同样的字出现一次查一次。一般来说，查三至五次可以记清楚而又学懂一个字。
（六）清楚明白了一句，你要朗声读出来。不查自明之句不朗读，只朗读查过字典的。这是为什么有好的拼音注释字典重要。
两个简化学动词
中文的动词，字的本身没有时间性。我们要以附加字――曾、将、了等――来表达过去或将来。英文动词，字的本身有时间性――如加-ed或go、went、gone等。但英文又加上「完成式」――perfect tense――变化多了，使一些书本说英文的动词时态（tense）有九个或十二个。太复杂了。
作为中国人，我学英文动词想出两个简化。其一是英文动词有过去，有现在，但没有将来。例如will与would、shall与should、may与might、can与could等，都是现在或过去，没有「将来」的。英语用动词是：现在说将来是现在，过去说将来是过去。
用英文动词，首先要决定的是说现在（present）、过去（past），还是「无所谓，二者皆可」。现在就用现在式，过去就用过去式，二者皆可就任择其一，但凡是二者皆可的，选现在式是选了不变，选过去式也是选了不变，不可转来转去。这是说，二者皆可的，选其一之后，要stay in one tense。这是作文章引言或结论时的最佳处理，通常选简单现在式较简单过去式优胜。
除了现在或过去，英文动词有三类时态：简单（simple）、继续（continuous）与完成（perfect）。愚见以为，中国人写英文不要花拳绣腿，卖弄技巧，动词以简单为妙。可用简单现在（simple present，如I go）或简单过去（simple past，如I went），用之可也。事实上，简单动态的文字最有力，虽然有时「继续」与「完成」等动态是非用不可的。
继续时态是指加-ing，浅而明，不需要说了。但完成时态（perfect tense）不容易。我处理完成时态（have、had、has等）是用第二个简化，那就是完成时态有时度（time dimension），而这是中文动词没有的。英文的简单时态是一�x那（one instant of time），过去是过去，现在是现在，没有一段时期的时度；继续时态也是一�x那――过去或现在继续的一�x那，也没有时度。I forget是现在忘记，I forgot是以前忘记，I am forgetting是正在忘记，I have forgotten是从以前到现在之间的时度中忘记了――不知何时忘记而现在还忘记。
「时度」是比较难解释的，而「完成时态」这称呼有点莫名其妙。不明白的读者要从one instant of time与overtime这分别去想――后者有时度，或者记凡有since这个字或有其意的句子都有时度。
教用英文动词的读物甚多，大都教得对。但当年我觉得动词很难学，书本帮不到多少忙。后来我想出的方法就是上述的两点：其一是决定是「过去」还是「现在」；其二是决定要不要表达时度――要不要给时间走一程。
句子从简短造起
中国的文字传统是没有标点的。那是近于没有句子了。我们今天读古文是后人把一个圈一个圈加上去，把文字切断来读。这发展促成今天的中、英二文有不同的句子风格。用标点、分句、分段，中文没有英文那样讲究。很多中国人写英文，见到鬼佬那样「讲究」，就学人家转来转去，总是有点不象样。作本科生时我写的英文也是转来转去的，后来决定不求有功，但求无过，英文才开始象样。
重要的出发点是英文的长句是以短句串连起来的。英文学造句，首先要短句造得好。学造短句，每句的字越少越好，动词用简单时态，几个字，毫无花巧地直写，清楚明白，就来一个句号。这样考英文试作文一定不及格，但我的英文是这样学来的。今天，无论我的英文句子怎样长，其结构是以短句为基础，串连起来再加变化。有短句清楚直写的根底，串连起来也是清楚直写。没有花拳绣腿，有些人认为不到家，但我没有意图做文豪，不敢在钢线上跳舞，但求清楚明白，逻辑井然，读来通顺，只此而已。
以短句串连成长句很多书有教，教得好。标点重要，书本教得好。动词的位置书本也教得好。书本少教的是重要的字要放在句首或句末，尽可能不放在中间。分段的方法书本也教得好，少教的是一段的首句与尾句不应该太长，以短句起笔或收笔读来有力量感。不是明显的短，是要有短的力度感受。
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
我说过了，不管是中文还是英文，文章要讲文气，而文气最容易是从背诵前贤的大作学得。作学生时我喜欢背诵圣经的《创世记》。兹录创世第一天的绝妙好文如下：
读清楚了吗？文气如虹，都是短句，是直写，全用简单时态，and stay in one tense！这是最可取的英文基础了。
-------2003年2月6日《南窗集》
详见“制度主义时代”http://www.stevenxue.com/ 上的“电子文献”
The Elements of Style 请见http://www.bartleby.com/141/
张 五 常
.......
这里提出的是学写英文的方法，不是学讲英文的方法。自己的耳朵有问题，「讲」不足以教也。这里要谈的也不是考英文的方法。后者同学们要拜国内的新东方为师。我认识新东方的老板，欣赏他对学子的贡献。然而，写、讲、考是三回不同的事，各有各的学习佳法。这里要说的是中国人学写英文的方法，千万不要搞错。学写，中文与英文有三处重要不同：字汇（vocabulary）、动词（verb）、造句（sentence structure）。让我在这三项上说说吧。记住，我的建议是从中、英的不同之处入手。
读书学字汇
我学英文字汇的方法很简单，但要先假设你有香港英文中五毕业的水平，或TOEFL试可以考得五百八十分左右。方法如下：
（一）准备一本英文字典，一本英中字典。要平装，小的，轻的，但字要大，要有清楚的拼音注释。如果是精装的，翻阅太重，要把硬封面剪掉。这是因为你要翻查很多很多，翻得不够快或不舒畅你就不愿意多翻。
（二）找几本你有兴趣读的项目的书，要英文写得很好的。这选书十分重要，你要多问朋友或英文老师来协助你的选择。以每页大约五百字算（也要选字大的版本），要选两三本，加起来大约六百页。
（三）坐下来读书，一页一页地读下去，每个稍有不明的字要立刻查字典。千万不要以为一个字你惯见，以为是懂就不查。凡是稍有疑问的都要查，一丝不苟，直至你完全明白每一个字在一句之内的解法。不要骗自己。
（四）先查英语字典，清楚明白就不用查英中字典了。英中字典是英语字典不能尽释所疑才用的。
（五）千万不要在书页旁下注释。一个字查一次通常不会记得，再见该字时，稍有不明，要再查。稍有不明，同样的字出现一次查一次。一般来说，查三至五次可以记清楚而又学懂一个字。
（六）清楚明白了一句，你要朗声读出来。不查自明之句不朗读，只朗读查过字典的。这是为什么有好的拼音注释字典重要。
两个简化学动词
中文的动词，字的本身没有时间性。我们要以附加字――曾、将、了等――来表达过去或将来。英文动词，字的本身有时间性――如加-ed或go、went、gone等。但英文又加上「完成式」――perfect tense――变化多了，使一些书本说英文的动词时态（tense）有九个或十二个。太复杂了。
作为中国人，我学英文动词想出两个简化。其一是英文动词有过去，有现在，但没有将来。例如will与would、shall与should、may与might、can与could等，都是现在或过去，没有「将来」的。英语用动词是：现在说将来是现在，过去说将来是过去。
用英文动词，首先要决定的是说现在（present）、过去（past），还是「无所谓，二者皆可」。现在就用现在式，过去就用过去式，二者皆可就任择其一，但凡是二者皆可的，选现在式是选了不变，选过去式也是选了不变，不可转来转去。这是说，二者皆可的，选其一之后，要stay in one tense。这是作文章引言或结论时的最佳处理，通常选简单现在式较简单过去式优胜。
除了现在或过去，英文动词有三类时态：简单（simple）、继续（continuous）与完成（perfect）。愚见以为，中国人写英文不要花拳绣腿，卖弄技巧，动词以简单为妙。可用简单现在（simple present，如I go）或简单过去（simple past，如I went），用之可也。事实上，简单动态的文字最有力，虽然有时「继续」与「完成」等动态是非用不可的。
继续时态是指加-ing，浅而明，不需要说了。但完成时态（perfect tense）不容易。我处理完成时态（have、had、has等）是用第二个简化，那就是完成时态有时度（time dimension），而这是中文动词没有的。英文的简单时态是一�x那（one instant of time），过去是过去，现在是现在，没有一段时期的时度；继续时态也是一�x那――过去或现在继续的一�x那，也没有时度。I forget是现在忘记，I forgot是以前忘记，I am forgetting是正在忘记，I have forgotten是从以前到现在之间的时度中忘记了――不知何时忘记而现在还忘记。
「时度」是比较难解释的，而「完成时态」这称呼有点莫名其妙。不明白的读者要从one instant of time与overtime这分别去想――后者有时度，或者记凡有since这个字或有其意的句子都有时度。
教用英文动词的读物甚多，大都教得对。但当年我觉得动词很难学，书本帮不到多少忙。后来我想出的方法就是上述的两点：其一是决定是「过去」还是「现在」；其二是决定要不要表达时度――要不要给时间走一程。
句子从简短造起
中国的文字传统是没有标点的。那是近于没有句子了。我们今天读古文是后人把一个圈一个圈加上去，把文字切断来读。这发展促成今天的中、英二文有不同的句子风格。用标点、分句、分段，中文没有英文那样讲究。很多中国人写英文，见到鬼佬那样「讲究」，就学人家转来转去，总是有点不象样。作本科生时我写的英文也是转来转去的，后来决定不求有功，但求无过，英文才开始象样。
重要的出发点是英文的长句是以短句串连起来的。英文学造句，首先要短句造得好。学造短句，每句的字越少越好，动词用简单时态，几个字，毫无花巧地直写，清楚明白，就来一个句号。这样考英文试作文一定不及格，但我的英文是这样学来的。今天，无论我的英文句子怎样长，其结构是以短句为基础，串连起来再加变化。有短句清楚直写的根底，串连起来也是清楚直写。没有花拳绣腿，有些人认为不到家，但我没有意图做文豪，不敢在钢线上跳舞，但求清楚明白，逻辑井然，读来通顺，只此而已。
以短句串连成长句很多书有教，教得好。标点重要，书本教得好。动词的位置书本也教得好。书本少教的是重要的字要放在句首或句末，尽可能不放在中间。分段的方法书本也教得好，少教的是一段的首句与尾句不应该太长，以短句起笔或收笔读来有力量感。不是明显的短，是要有短的力度感受。
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
我说过了，不管是中文还是英文，文章要讲文气，而文气最容易是从背诵前贤的大作学得。作学生时我喜欢背诵圣经的《创世记》。兹录创世第一天的绝妙好文如下：
读清楚了吗？文气如虹，都是短句，是直写，全用简单时态，and stay in one tense！这是最可取的英文基础了。
-------2003年2月6日《南窗集》
详见“制度主义时代”http://www.stevenxue.com/ 上的“电子文献”
The Elements of Style 请见http://www.bartleby.com/141/
Truth, Good and Beauty
by Bertrand Russell
Throughout the nineteenth century the True, the Good, and the Beautiful preserved their precarious existence in the minds of earnest atheists. But their very earnestness was their undoing, since it made it impossible for them to stop at a halfway house. Pragmatists explained that Truth is what it pays to believe. Historians of morals reduced the Good to a matter of tribal custom. Beauty was abolished by the artists in a revolt against the sugary insipidities of a philistine epoch and in a mood of fury in which satisfaction is to be derived only from what hurts. And so the world was swept clear not only of God as a person but of God's essence as an ideal to which man owed an ideal allegiance; while the individual, as a result of a crude and uncitical interpretation of sound doctrines, was left without any inner defense against social pressure.
by Bertrand Russell
Throughout the nineteenth century the True, the Good, and the Beautiful preserved their precarious existence in the minds of earnest atheists. But their very earnestness was their undoing, since it made it impossible for them to stop at a halfway house. Pragmatists explained that Truth is what it pays to believe. Historians of morals reduced the Good to a matter of tribal custom. Beauty was abolished by the artists in a revolt against the sugary insipidities of a philistine epoch and in a mood of fury in which satisfaction is to be derived only from what hurts. And so the world was swept clear not only of God as a person but of God's essence as an ideal to which man owed an ideal allegiance; while the individual, as a result of a crude and uncitical interpretation of sound doctrines, was left without any inner defense against social pressure.
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