2013年8月2日

zone out

每日一詞---zone out




今天要看的是zone out,zone本身有「區域」、「地帶」的意思,比如 time zone (時區)、battle zone (戰區);當動詞就是「區分開來」等等。所以,這個片語就是指「出神」、「專注/沉浸在某思緒裡而忽略身邊的動靜」。來看些句子吧!

When I'm dancing I zone out and feel like I'm the only one in the room. 我跳舞時很投入,總覺得教室只有我一個人。

I just flew in from Europe this morning, so don't get upset if I just zone out in the middle of the meeting. 我早上才從歐洲趕回來;如果開會不小心恍神,請別生氣啊。




碎碎:接下來又要獨自流浪兩週,順便去當地的舞蹈教室上課。

2013年7月18日

Then I Realized


Then I realized, with a word, a line, my faith is shaking. I am fairly inside of an illusion, and I'm fairly aware of it. Memories seem to lengthen themselves out as I look back. None of us know the color of the sky.


2013年7月16日

Gordon Brown: Malala's U.N. speech is just the beginning

每日一看---Gordon Brown: Malala's U.N. speech is just the beginning(上)

今早在聽英文新聞時注意到這則新聞,瑪拉拉真的是個不簡單的女孩,年紀輕輕說話就非常有魄力,推動教育改革也不遺餘力,甚至被槍擊後依然如此,沒有放棄。今天來看一部分的新聞翻譯吧,可配著影片(雖然她不是標準的美式英語)。

Gordon Brown: Malala's U.N. speech is just the beginning

前英國首相布朗表示,瑪拉拉在聯合國的演說只是改革序曲

By Laura Smith-Spark, CNN
July 13, 2013 -- Updated 1523 GMT (2323 HKT)

(CNN) -- Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai's inspiring speech at the United Nations on every child's right to go to school is just the beginning of a major push on education, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Saturday.
CNN---上週六,英國前首相戈登‧布朗表示,巴基斯坦少女瑪拉拉在聯合國發表的演說振奮人心,強調每個孩子有權受教;而這,只是教育改革的前奏。
Yousafzai -- who on Friday gave her first public remarks since she was shot by the Taliban last year for advocating that all girls should go to school -- will return to the United Nations in September to press her point, according to a statement from Brown's A World at School campaign.
布朗成立的世界教育推動計畫指出:去年,瑪拉拉因提倡所有女孩都該受教育而遭塔利班槍擊,但上週五,她發表了自槍傷後的第一場演說。今年九月,她將重返聯合國,重申她的理念。
Accompanied by Brown, she will address an education summit of world leaders during the week of the full General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, it said.
瑪拉拉會紐約的聯合國總部發表教育推動演說,屆時是聯合國全員大會週,布朗也會隨行在側。
There, the 16-year-old will demand action on behalf of 57 million children around the world who have no access to any schooling.
到時,瑪拉拉將代表全球無法接受教育的五千七百萬孩童,發言要求更多的機會與保障。
Between them, Pakistan and Nigeria have 16 million children out of school, the statement said, most of them girls.Meanwhile, Brown, who's the U.N. special envoy for global education, will travel to Pakistan in July to discuss education issues with the country's new government. He also intends to visit Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, in the fall.
資料顯示,那些沒法上學的孩童中,巴基斯坦和奈及利亞就佔了一千六百萬人,且大多是女孩子。
Brown and Yousafzai met with the United Nations' Pakistan high commissioner on Friday to discuss the plight of more than 5 million children who are out of school in the country, the statement said.
上週五,布朗與瑪拉拉與聯合國中巴基斯坦的理事委員會面,討論該國超過五百萬孩童失學的問題。
"Malala's speech was just the start of a momentous push for change in the run up to 2015, to deal with the education emergency," Brown said.
布朗說,瑪拉拉的演講只是教育改革的開端,這項政策會持續到2015年,強調受教育的迫切性。

2013年7月12日

tech-savvy

每日一詞---tech-savvy



呃,好久沒更新了(怎麼覺得這句話在這幾個月一直無限repeat囧)。好,今天要看的是tech-savvy----首先,tech是科技的意思,包括手機平板電腦之類的產品;而savvy就是指理解力或悟性。所以,這兩個合起來就變成對科技產品很在行的意思喔!來看幾句吧!

My mom isn't very tech-savvy. She has a hard time using email! 我媽對科技不怎麼在行,連用email都有問題啊!

I've always been interested in computers, and as a result I'm fairly tech-savvy. 我對電腦一直很有興趣,所以對這類東西還滿熟的。



2013年7月1日

flea market

每日一詞---flea market



好,相信很多人一看就知道這是什麼意思了吧!沒錯,就是我們常說的「跳蚤市場」。雖然沒什麼必要重提,但英文的解釋是這樣的:A market, usually held outdoors, where antiques, used household goods, and curios are sold. (跳蚤市場通常在戶外舉辦,古董、家中用過的物品及稀奇的東西都可買賣)。來看些例句吧!

I’m really excited to go to the local flea market this weekend because a friend of mine has a booth there. She does all these hand-crafted goods. 我好期待這個禮拜的跳蚤市場喔!我有一個朋友在那擺攤,她很會做手工。

I found an adorable couch at a flea market last weekend. 上週末,我在跳蚤市場找到一個很棒的長沙發。



2013年6月29日

On the Inside: Venezuela’s Most Dangerous Prison

On the Inside: Venezuela’s Most Dangerous Prison

透視:委內瑞拉至惡監牢

Family visitors during a celebration in the prison. In September 2008, family overnights were instituted as part of the Prison Humanization Plan, which sought to reduce conflict in the prisons and restore inmates' rights

His name is Wilmer Brizuela, Wilmito to his friends, but to the inmates of Vista Hermosa, he is simply the Pran, the unquestioned leader of one of Venezuela’s notorious prisons. Outside its walls, the Venezuelan national guard patrols; inside, the inmates live and die in a world of their own making. Brizuela has occasionally allowed reporters to visit for a few hours, but earlier this year, he gave photojournalist Sebastián Liste and me exclusive, full access to the prison for more than a week, revealing an improvised society that mirrors the one outside.

他的名字是Wilmer Brizuela,朋友都叫他Wilmito;但對於Vista Hermosa的囚犯來說,他就是統領委內瑞拉一座惡名昭彰的監獄,無人質疑。監獄牆外,國家警察例行巡邏;監獄牆內,囚犯們過活或死去,處在一個隔絕的世界。Brizuela偶爾會讓記者進監獄參觀數小時,但在今年初,唯獨攝影記者Sebastián Liste 和我能夠整整待了一週以上,讓我們看見最真實的面貌,一如牆外世界的倒影。

Brizuela, who is serving sentences of 10 years for kidnapping and 16 years for murder, believes that his rule over the 1,400 inmates of Vista Hermosa (Beautiful View) in the southern state of Bolívar is more humane than that of the Venezuelan prison authorities, who have been widely criticized by human-rights groups for the overcrowding, poor living conditions and corruption in the country’s prisons. Gang violence is rampant; last year 591 inmates were killed, according to the Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons, a watchdog group. Under strongman Hugo Chávez, advocates and journalists who reported on abuses in Venezuela’s prisons faced intimidation and threats of violence; conditions have not improved since Chávez’s death.
Brizuela因綁架被判10年徒刑,也因謀殺多了16年刑期。但他深信,他所掌控的Vista Hermosa(美麗景色),也就是位在玻利瓦爾州、關著1400囚犯的監獄,遠比委內瑞拉政府所管的要有人性。那些政府管轄的監獄,經常受到國際人權團體的批評,不是過擠、就是生活環境差,還有貪污腐敗的問題;幫派互毆十分猖獗。根據委內瑞拉監獄的瞭望人員,去年有591名死於鬥毆。在前總統查維茲強人的統治下,專門報導與撻伐委內瑞拉對犯人差勁待遇的人士,常被暴力恐嚇、威脅。而這些狀況,在查維茲死後,仍未改善。
Vista Hermosa is emblematic of these problems. Built in the 1950s to house 650 inmates, it now houses more than twice that number. As the population grew, clashes between prisoners and guards became common. Rather than improve conditions, prison authorities have allowed them to descend into near chaos. Since Brizuela, a champion boxer, and his gang took control of Vista Hermosa by force in 2005, drug use and violence are still widespread but tightly controlled. “So far we have achieved peace and a minimum of decent human living standards,” Brizuela says.
Vista Hermosa監獄建於1950年代,當時用來關650名犯人。但今日囚犯人數早已超過初始的兩倍,且隨著人數增長,囚犯與獄守的衝突日益頻繁,整個監獄有著過擠、生活環境差、幫派鬥毆等問題。這些狀況並未獲得改善,獄方反而無動於衷,讓秩序幾近混亂。雖然吸毒和鬥毆事件廣佈,但自從2005年,由曾是拳擊冠軍的囚犯Brizuela及他的手下暴力控管這座監獄後,已能掌控上述情況。他說,「目前為止我們擁有和平和人的基本生活條件。」
Entering Vista Hermosa during visiting hours feels a bit like stepping into the streets of a bustling slum. There are open-air vendors selling DVDs, medicine and snacks amid the unbearable heat and thumping techno music. There are plazas for dancing and a more formal ballroom for parties. In these areas, visiting women and children walk freely, the iron bars have been removed and the walls are freshly painted. The prison, like any society, has distinct subcultures. There are Christian evangelists, called varones, who live, pray and sing together and work hard to keep their spaces clean. Gay inmates have their own quarters, where they can live without fear of harassment.
進入Vista Hermosa監獄參觀數小時,感覺像踏進了喧鬧的貧民窟。這裡有露天的攤販,在難以忍受的酷熱和高分貝的電音舞曲中,兜售DVD、醫藥、小吃。這邊也有幾個能跳舞的廣場和辦party的正式大廳,來訪的女人和小孩在這自由走動,先前的鐵欄杆已被拆除、牆面也才粉刷不久。如同所有社會,這座監獄有獨特的次文化,包括人稱varon的基督福音士,他們群居生活、一起禱告、唱聖歌,辛勤打掃自己的環境;而同性戀也有屬於他們的區域,可以避開其他囚犯騷擾。
Vista Hermosa feels like an extreme version of Venezuela itself, in microcosm. Along with the families and celebrations, there is violence and despair. Dozens of addicts, their bodies withered by crack and other drugs, smoke and sleep in rows of hammocks or on piles of trash. Men serving time for sex crimes live in an area far removed from the other inmates. And this society of prisoners has a prison of its own the zone known as La Guerrilla, where gandules, the renegade inmates who have violated Vista Hermosa’s unwritten code, are kept under armed guard. Their inmate-jailers make surveillance rounds night and day armed with pistols, high-caliber revolvers and automatic rifles.
微觀而言,Vista Hermosa監獄正是委內瑞拉的縮影;暴力和絕望,伴隨著囚犯的家人團聚與歡慶。幾十個毒蟲,睡在成排的吊床或垃圾堆上,身體因為毒品和毒癮影響而萎縮;性侵犯則被隔離在遠離提他犯人的區域;而在這個囚犯組成的社會,還是有「囚犯」這個標籤的。那些違背監獄遊戲規則的犯人,會被關在La Guerrilla區,由其他武裝囚犯看守;看守人早晚巡邏時都帶著手槍、大口徑的左輪,和來福槍。
Prisons like Vista Hermosa, which Brizuela says generates about $3 million a year in profit from illegal activities and weekly taxes paid to the Pran by the inmates, could not function without the complicity of corrupt officials who allow drugs and weapons inside. Even the Pran fears them. As Brizuela puts it, “The arms are for protecting us from the national guard.”
Brizuela說,像Vista Hermosa這樣的監獄,透過非法交易和每週得到的保護費,一年賺進了三百萬美元。而這樣的好處,都託委內瑞拉政府腐敗的福;因為他們爭隻眼閉隻眼,讓監獄裡出現毒品和槍枝交易。即便是目前掌控這座監獄的頭頭,還是會怕政府官員。因此Brizuela說,「這些我們擁有的武器是用來保護我們,免於國家看守的侵害」。

2013年6月27日

On the Inside: Venezuela’s Most Dangerous Prison

每日一看---On the Inside: Venezuela’s Most Dangerous Prison (2)

今天來看之前沒看完的部份吧!

On the Inside: Venezuela’s Most Dangerous Prison


Prisoners preparing pipes used to smoke crack cocaine

His name is Wilmer Brizuela, Wilmito to his friends, but to the inmates of Vista Hermosa, he is simply the Pran, the unquestioned leader of one of Venezuela’s notorious prisons. Outside its walls, the Venezuelan national guard patrols; inside, the inmates live and die in a world of their own making. Brizuela has occasionally allowed reporters to visit for a few hours, but earlier this year, he gave photojournalist Sebastián Liste and me exclusive, full access to the prison for more than a week, revealing an improvised society that mirrors the one outside.

他的名字是Wilmer Brizuela,朋友都叫他Wilmito;但對於Vista Hermosa的囚犯來說,他就是統領委內瑞拉一座惡名昭彰的監獄,無人質疑。監獄牆外,國家警察例行巡邏;監獄牆內,囚犯們過活或死去,處在一個隔絕的世界。Brizuela偶爾會讓記者進監獄參觀數小時,但在今年初,唯獨攝影記者Sebastián Liste 和我能夠整整待了一週以上,讓我們看見最真實的面貌,一如牆外世界的倒影。

Brizuela, who is serving sentences of 10 years for kidnapping and 16 years for murder, believes that his rule over the 1,400 inmates of Vista Hermosa (Beautiful View) in the southern state of Bolívar is more humane than that of the Venezuelan prison authorities, who have been widely criticized by human-rights groups for the overcrowding, poor living conditions and corruption in the country’s prisons. Gang violence is rampant; last year 591 inmates were killed, according to the Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons, a watchdog group. Under strongman Hugo Chávez, advocates and journalists who reported on abuses in Venezuela’s prisons faced intimidation and threats of violence; conditions have not improved since Chávez’s death.
Brizuela因綁架被判10年徒刑,也因謀殺多了16年刑期。但他深信,他所掌控的Vista Hermosa(美麗景色),也就是位在玻利瓦爾州、關著1400囚犯的監獄,遠比委內瑞拉政府所管的要有人性。那些政府管轄的監獄,經常受到國際人權團體的批評,不是過擠、就是生活環境差,還有貪污腐敗的問題;幫派互毆十分猖獗。根據委內瑞拉監獄的瞭望人員,去年有591名死於鬥毆。在前總統查維茲強人的統治下,專門報導與撻伐委內瑞拉對犯人差勁待遇的人士,常被暴力恐嚇、威脅。而這些狀況,在查維茲死後,仍未改善。
Vista Hermosa is emblematic of these problems. Built in the 1950s to house 650 inmates, it now houses more than twice that number. As the population grew, clashes between prisoners and guards became common. Rather than improve conditions, prison authorities have allowed them to descend into near chaos. Since Brizuela, a champion boxer, and his gang took control of Vista Hermosa by force in 2005, drug use and violence are still widespread but tightly controlled. “So far we have achieved peace and a minimum of decent human living standards,” Brizuela says.
Vista Hermosa監獄建於1950年代,當時用來關650名犯人。但今日囚犯人數早已超過初始的兩倍,且隨著人數增長,囚犯與獄守的衝突日益頻繁,整個監獄有著過擠、生活環境差、幫派鬥毆等問題。這些狀況並未獲得改善,獄方反而無動於衷,讓秩序幾近混亂。雖然吸毒和鬥毆事件廣佈,但自從2005年,由曾是拳擊冠軍的囚犯Brizuela及他的手下暴力控管這座監獄後,已能掌控上述情況。他說,「目前為止我們擁有和平和人的基本生活條件。」
Entering Vista Hermosa during visiting hours feels a bit like stepping into the streets of a bustling slum. There are open-air vendors selling DVDs, medicine and snacks amid the unbearable heat and thumping techno music. There are plazas for dancing and a more formal ballroom for parties. In these areas, visiting women and children walk freely, the iron bars have been removed and the walls are freshly painted. The prison, like any society, has distinct subcultures. There are Christian evangelists, called varones, who live, pray and sing together and work hard to keep their spaces clean. Gay inmates have their own quarters, where they can live without fear of harassment.
進入Vista Hermosa監獄參觀數小時,感覺像踏進了喧鬧的貧民窟。這裡有露天的攤販,在難以忍受的酷熱和高分貝的電音舞曲中,兜售DVD、醫藥、小吃。這邊也有幾個能跳舞的廣場和辦party的正式大廳,來訪的女人和小孩在這自由走動,先前的鐵欄杆已被拆除、牆面也才粉刷不久。如同所有社會,這座監獄有獨特的次文化,包括人稱varon的基督福音士,他們群居生活、一起禱告、唱聖歌,辛勤打掃自己的環境;而同性戀也有屬於他們的區域,可以避開其他囚犯騷擾。

2013年6月25日

On the Inside: Venezuela’s Most Dangerous Prison

On the Inside: Venezuela’s Most Dangerous Prison
透視:委內瑞拉至惡監牢

Drug users and those who violate the unwritten rules imposed by the inmates who control Vista Hermosa are confined to one area known as La Guerrilla.

吸毒犯和違反監獄遊戲規則的囚犯,皆由掌控Vista Hermosa監獄的頭號犯人看管,監禁在La Guerrilla區。

His name is Wilmer Brizuela, Wilmito to his friends, but to the inmates of Vista Hermosa, he is simply the Pran, the unquestioned leader of one of Venezuela’s notorious prisons. Outside its walls, the Venezuelan national guard patrols; inside, the inmates live and die in a world of their own making. Brizuela has occasionally allowed reporters to visit for a few hours, but earlier this year, he gave photojournalist Sebastián Liste and me exclusive, full access to the prison for more than a week, revealing an improvised society that mirrors the one outside.

他的名字是Wilmer Brizuela,朋友都叫他Wilmito;但對於Vista Hermosa的囚犯來說,他就是統領委內瑞拉一座惡名昭彰的監獄,無人質疑。監獄牆外,國家警察例行巡邏;監獄牆內,囚犯們過活或死去,處在一個隔絕的世界。Brizuela偶爾會讓記者進監獄參觀數小時,但在今年初,唯獨攝影記者Sebastián Liste 和我能夠整整待了一週以上,讓我們看見最真實的面貌,一如牆外世界的倒影。

Brizuela, who is serving sentences of 10 years for kidnapping and 16 years for murder, believes that his rule over the 1,400 inmates of Vista Hermosa (Beautiful View) in the southern state of Bolívar is more humane than that of the Venezuelan prison authorities, who have been widely criticized by human-rights groups for the overcrowding, poor living conditions and corruption in the country’s prisons. Gang violence is rampant; last year 591 inmates were killed, according to the Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons, a watchdog group. Under strongman Hugo Chávez, advocates and journalists who reported on abuses in Venezuela’s prisons faced intimidation and threats of violence; conditions have not improved since Chávez’s death.

Brizuela因綁架被判10年徒刑,也因謀殺多了16年刑期。但他深信,他所掌控的Vista Hermosa(美麗景色),也就是位在玻利瓦爾州、關著1400囚犯的監獄,遠比委內瑞拉政府所管的要有人性。那些政府管轄的監獄,經常受到國際人權團體的批評,不是過擠、就是生活環境差,還有貪污腐敗的問題;幫派互毆十分猖獗。根據委內瑞拉監獄的瞭望人員,去年有591名死於鬥毆。在前總統查維茲強人的統治下,專門報導與撻伐委內瑞拉對犯人差勁待遇的人士,常被暴力恐嚇、威脅。而這些狀況,在查維茲死後,仍未改善。

2013年6月23日

heartbreaker

每日一詞---heartbreaker



其實前些日子就想介紹這個詞了,但就怕自己了解得不夠全面,所以還是花點時間查了它的用法。heartbreaker通常指讓人心碎的人,意思有好有壞:好的是說某人很有魅力,卻又難以觸及;壞的就是指某人花心放蕩,專傷害別人的心。好,來看些句子吧!

That guy has a lot of girlfriends; he is a heartbreaker. 那傢伙有一堆女朋友,一定傷了很多人的心。

Look how gorgeous that woman is, she is such a heartbreaker; I know I have no chance with her. 你看,那女人這麼美,一定勾走了許多人的心;我自己肯定搭不上她。



2013年6月22日

stand the test of time

每日一語---stand the test of time



今天要看的是stand the test of time. 相信從字面不難猜出它的意思,就是指「經得起時間考驗」。好,來看一下Englishbaby英文學習網的介紹+本人的譯文吧!

Have you ever seen a big structure like a house or a tree that has just collapsed? There was no disaster or anything. There wasn’t a storm that knocked the tree down, or a fire that destroyed the house. You know what caused the damage? It was simply time.
你看過房子或大樹這種貌似穩重的物體崩壞嗎?而且還是在沒有天然災害發生的狀況下發生---樹不是因為颱風而倒,房子也不是被大火所吞噬。你知道是什麼造成這種崩壞的嗎?其實就是「時間」。

Time can damage other things, too. Time can damage a friendship, when two friends grow apart and no longer have anything to talk about with each other. Time can damage a relationship, when small fights turn into bigger ones. Whether object or relationship, something must be very strong to stand the test of time.
時間也能摧毀其他東西。時間能損害友情---當兩個好朋友成長、分道揚鑣後,彼此間就難有共通話題。時間也能損害一段關係---特別是當小爭執演變為大爭吵。不管有形還是無形,有些事物總能經得起時間考驗。


接著,來看兩個句子吧!

“It looks solid, but we’ll have to see if it can stand the test of time. “
雖然它看來穩固,但我們還是要確定是否耐得住時間的考驗。
“They just celebrated their 50 year wedding anniversary. Their relationship has really stood the test of time.”
那對夫妻才剛慶祝完五十周年結婚紀念;他們的情誼真的經得起時間考驗。

2013年6月19日

pitch in

每日一語---pitch in



好,今天看的是pitch in;大家應該都曉得help out吧,pitch in在這裡也是同個意思,就是「一起幫忙、協助完成某事」等等。來看幾個句子吧!

Let's all pitch in and get Mom something really nice for Christmas. 讓我們一起搞定這件事,然後給媽媽一個聖誕禮物。

If we all pitch in, we'll get the cleaning done faster. 如果我們同心協力,整潔工作很快就能完成了。

Jake pitched in and helped take care of his little sister when his mom was sick. 傑克媽媽生病時,他便幫忙做家事、照顧妹妹。


2013年6月16日

hunch

每日一詞---hunch



hunch這個字當動詞是說彎腰駝背、聳或拱起的意思,不過呢,今天要看的是名詞用法---也就是「直覺」、「預感」;直接看例句吧!

I have a hunch he'll run for reelection. 我有預感他會參加再選。

He always had a hunch that Harry would come back but didn't advertise it in case of he was wrong. 他總感覺Harry會回來,但又怕自己搞錯,所以沒敢開口。



2013年6月14日

the world is (one's) oyster

每日一語---the world is (one's) oyster



好的,先來看一下oyster這個詞,它是指牡蠣或產珍珠的蚌,有時引申為美食、囊中之物。所以,這個片語就表示「世界盡是某人的」、「前途無限好」等等的意思。來看看幾個例句吧!

I feel like the world is my oyster. 我覺得自己行雲流水,做什麼都得心應手。

The world is your oyster when you're young and healthy and feel free to go anywhere. 年輕、健康、沒束縛,這個世界都屬於你的。

Now that you have a graduate degree, the world is your oyster. 既然都有碩士學位了,機會多得等你挑。




2013年6月11日

slave driver

每日一詞---slave driver



好的,今天來看一個有點嚇人的詞,那就是slave driver!它原本是指「監督奴隸工作的人」;相信大家都知道,早期的奴隸都很可憐,總是被工頭鞭打、欺壓。但現在幾乎沒有奴隸制了,可是這個詞還是活了下來---用來引申為「壞上司」、「沒人性的老闆」。來看看例句吧!

The director is a real slave driver, but actors still clamor for the opportunity to work with him. 雖然那位導演很嚴苛,所有的演員還是搶著要和他合作。

He is such a slave driver! I can't believe he wants us to come on Sunday. 他真的很沒人性!竟然要我們星期天去他那裡。



2013年6月10日

lost in thought

每日一語---lost in thought

相信常看美劇的朋友們,對這片語應該不陌生。那它究竟是什麼意思呢?lost當形容詞是指「失落的」、「遺失的」或「茫然的」,而在這裡,比較接近「茫然的」。所以囉,整個的意思就是若有所思、正在想其他事情,而沒注意到週遭的一切;來看些例子吧!


I didn't answer right away because I was lost in thought. 因為在想其他事情,我沒馬上回答問題。

He often lost in thought, looking out the window. 他常若有所思,總是看著窗外。




2013年6月9日

drop a line

每日一語---drop a line



今天來看的是drop a line,猜猜看這是什麼意思吧!drop當動詞就是「落下」、「掉下」的意思,而line當名詞則是指「行、列、線」,也可說指文字的「行」。所以囉,這個片語就是「寫信給某人(drop someone a line)」;來看看例句吧!

I dropped Aunt Jane a line last Thanksgiving. 上次感恩節時,我給珍姑姑寫了封信。

She usually drops me a few lines around the first of the year. 她總在一年初始寫信給我。

Drop me a line when you get promoted. 升遷後記得寫幾句告訴我呀!



2013年6月6日

wing it

每日一語---wing it



好,今天來看的是wing it. wing本身是指「翅膀」、「羽翼」;但在這邊,wing it則是說「毫無準備、隨機應變」的意思,有時也可引申為「船到橋頭自然直」。來看些例句吧!

I didn't have time to write a speech, so I just had to wing it in front of a large audience. 因為我沒時間寫講稿,所以只好在一大群觀眾前即席演出。

Sharon lost her lecture notes, so she had to wing it. 雪倫弄丟了課堂筆記,所以考試時只好隨機應變。

Don't worry. Just go out there and wing it. 別擔心,直接去那邊,然後靈機應變吧!



2013年6月4日

not know beans about sth

每日一語---not know beans about sth



今天要介紹的片語是 not know beans about sth. bean本身是指豆子,在這邊引申為「少量」、「一點」的意思。所以呢,這個片語就是說「對某事不了解」、「一竅不通」。來看例句吧!


He doesn't know beans about the insurance business at all. 他對壽險業一點都不了解。

Bill doesn't know beans about flying an airplane. Bill對駕駛飛機一竅不通。



2013年6月3日

bummer

每日一詞---bummer



好,今天來看的是bummer。bummer當名詞是指「失敗」、「不愉快、煩人的事件或經歷」。直接來看例句吧!

Getting stranded at the airport was a real bummer. 卡在機場等待實在很煩人。

My wallet was stolen at the bar last night. It's total a bummer. 我的皮夾昨晚在酒吧被偷了,真是有夠倒楣。


2013年5月21日

overhyped

每日一詞---over-hyped



好,今天來看的是over-hyped。hype這個字本身就是「炒作」、「宣傳」的意思,所以加上over,就是「大肆宣傳」、「誇張炒作」。來看些例句吧!

I think the movie is over-hyped. I don't see the appeal. 我覺得這部電影被亂捧,不曉得哪裡吸引人了。

The technology is not necessarily over-hyped; it is what it is. 科技不是誇大,一如往昔。



2013年5月19日

Scenes from Pakistan’s Historic Election

每日看圖---Scenes from Pakistan’s Historic Election 巴基斯坦歷史性大選

今天決定把網誌的蜘蛛網撢掉,讓灰塵隨雨洗去。最近國際發生許多大事,有些台灣媒體積極聚焦,有些則默默忽視了。今天來看幾張關於巴基斯坦選舉的照片,稍微了解這物質生活不優的國度,如何進行選務作業。


Scenes from Pakistan’s Historic Election

2013年5月7日

miss out

每日一詞---miss out



今天來看miss out吧!miss本身有想念、錯失的意思,而 這個片語正是指「遺漏」、「錯過(機會)」。來看幾個例句吧!


He just missed out on the promotion. 他錯失了升遷的機會。

Julia missed out on all the fun because of her broken leg. 茱莉亞因為腳傷,沒能享樂。

I'm sorry I missed out on the ice cream. 真難過我沒吃到那個冰淇淋。



2013年5月5日

Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies.

每日佳句---



今天來看兩個對我來說頗有感觸的句子吧。這禮拜說放鬆其實也累壞了,明天重新開始;謝謝一直陪在我身邊的朋友與親人。

Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies. 無須懷疑,真理是美麗的;謊言亦是。
這句名言出自美國名作家兼詩人,艾默生 (Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet and essayist, 1803-1882)。

In love one has need of being believed in, in friendship of being understood. 愛情需要的是信任,友情需要的是理解。


然後呢,亂入一首老歌....








2013年5月3日

每日一句

每日一句---



今天來看一句簡單的英文吧!這也是我想對自己說的;雖然未來危機四伏,卻值得勇往直前。即便知道會受到傷害,但踏出第一步總比留在原地好,是吧。

The future is scary, but you can' t just run to the past because it is familiar.
雖然未來讓人心生畏懼,但不能因為習慣過去而逃避。



2013年4月26日

McDonald's hamburger looks the same after 14 years

每日一看---McDonald's hamburger looks the same after 14 years


今天來看一個surprising的新聞吧!這是在講一個美國人14年前在麥當勞買了一個漢堡,一直擺著;到14年後的現在,依然完好如初啊!是否該改名叫長壽堡呢哈哈xD可見麥噹噹花了不少心思在「保鮮」上啊~


McDonald's hamburger looks the same after 14 years

麥當勞漢堡擺了十四年,一點變化都沒有

A US man has shown off a 14-year-old McDonald's hamburger that looks the same as the day he bought it. 一個美國人14年前在麥當勞買了個漢堡,14年後的今天依然完好如初

A US man has shown off a 14-year-old McDonald's hamburger that looks the same as the day he bought it.
David Whipple, a California man, has saved a fast-food hamburger he bought in 1999 for 14 years Photo: The Doctors
David Whipple, from Utah, had originally planned to keep the burger for two months in order to show friends how its preservatives would maintain its appearance.
美國猶他州的大衛‧惠普,原本打算把從麥當勞買來的漢堡放兩個月,讓朋友看看他們的防腐劑有多強。
But, after accidentally leaving the product in his pocket for two years, Mr Whipple decided to keep the burger for even longer to see how long it could continue looking normal.
但後來,大衛無意把漢堡放了兩年,於是決定再多擺些時間、看它是否會變。
"It wasn't on purpose," Mr Whipple told US television show The Doctors.
大衛告訴美國電視節目《醫生》,「我一開始沒打算放這麼久。」
"I was showing some people how enzymes work and I thought a hamburger would be a good idea. And I used it for a month and then forgot about it.
「我想讓人知道酶如何延緩腐化,然後想到漢堡是個好實驗品。我一開始觀察了一個月,但之後就忘了這件事。」
"It ended up in a paper sack in the original sack with the receipt in my coat tossed in the back of my truck and it sat there for, I don't know, two or three months."
「那個漢堡用原本的紙袋包著,和發票一起塞在我的外套裡,丟在卡車後。不知道耶,大概放了兩、三個月吧。」
However, Mr Whipple's experiment was then forgotten after the coat was tossed in a closet.
但是,大衛的實驗並未因此而停止。
"My wife didn't discover it until at least a year or two after that. And we pulled it out and said 'oh my gosh, I can't believe it looks the same way."
「我太太一兩年後才發現漢堡還留在那,然後我們把它拿出來...『噢我的天,真不敢相信,它還是一樣』。」
Doctors on the CBS show noted that aside from the pickle disintegrating, the burger showed no signs of mould, fungus or even a strange odour.
CBS電視節目請來的醫生表示,除了漢堡的酸黃瓜有在分解,其他部分都沒有長黴,連怪味都沒有。
Mr Whipple admitted that at one point he had considered selling the burger via online auction site eBay.
大衛坦承有一陣子確實考慮在eBay拍賣這個漢堡。
But, despite bids reaching close to $2,000 (£1,300), he and his family decided to keep the product for educational use.
但是,儘管有人出價將近2000美元(約新台幣五萬九),大衛和家人都決定保留這個漢堡,當作活教材。
He now admits he uses the burger to convince his grandchildren not to eat junk food from restaurants such as McDonalds.
大衛說他常拿這個漢堡告訴孫子,吃麥當勞之類的速食是不健康的。
"It's great for the grandkids to see. To see what happens with fast food," he said.
大衛表示,「讓下一代看看速食如何變化,也是不錯的。」







2013年4月25日

每日一句

每日一句---

好久沒更新了,今天來看看簡單卻很有power的名言吧!


I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards.
我走得慢,但我從不後退。

                                       ------Abraham Lincoln
                 美國第16任總統,亞伯拉罕‧林肯




2013年4月21日

fussbudget

每日一詞---fussbudget



好,今天來看的詞就是fussbudget;是分別由fuss和budget兩個單字組成的。fuss就是指「大驚小怪」、「小題大作」的意思,而budget有「一堆...」、「存積」的意思(這就是為什麼它也能指預算、家計);所以囉,這兩個字合在一起就是說愛大驚小怪、抱怨之類的人。來看一些例子吧!

Their three-year-old daughter can be quite a fussbudget, but she is cute. 他們三歲的女兒有時會大吵大鬧,但還是很可愛的。

Alexandra is such a fussbudget. All she ever does is whine. 雅麗珊卓真是個愛小題大作的人;她整天只會說些無關緊要的話。



2013年4月19日

Haunting Fantasy of a Woman Running with Wolves in a Forest

每日一看---Haunting Fantasy of a Woman Running with Wolves in a Forest

終於考完期中考了唷呼(轉圈圈)!今天來看一下一位澳洲女攝影師的作品吧。以下文章擷選自My Modern Met,順便附上我的翻譯=]

Haunting Fantasy of a Woman Running with Wolves in a Forest


Deep within a forest, Melbourne, Australia-based photographer Lilli Waters allows her wild imagination play out in her hauntingly beautiful series titled Black Sunday. Amidst the shaded expanse of trees and earth, there is a young woman in a long-sleeved gown. She is an anomaly that possesses angelic locks and appears to be dressed for a funeral. All at once, she appears misplaced and right where she belongs.
位於墨爾本的森林深處,澳籍攝影師Lilli Waters把她狂野的想像一一展現在《Black Sunday》作品集裡,美麗又耐人尋味。在這片遼闊、林蔭深蔽的叢林中,一位年輕女人身著長袖禮服;她與眾不同,擁有天使般的氣度,卻又讓人想到喪葬。此刻,仿佛被某種力量控制;她被錯置在這片森林裡。



























2013年4月16日

Breathtaking Photos of China's "River of Poems and Paintings"

每日一看---Breathtaking Photos of China's "River of Poems and Paintings"


今天介紹的是中國漓江的壯麗....呃...因為明天後天都沒考試,所以翻譯就晚點補上吧(溜)!準備補眠去了,各位拼命的同胞加油=] 祝大家好夢甜甜,好運連連~


Breathtaking Photos of China's "River of Poems and Paintings"

中國秀麗的詩情畫意之泉--漓江
Though there's many places in the world that can be described as a "photographer's dream," none will make you feel like you've stepped into an actual painting quite like the Li River. Located in the Guangxi province of China, it has been called "the river of poems and paintings," because it's surrounded by incredible landscapes like gorgeous green hills, conical limestone peaks and terraced rice paddies. There's a 51-mile stretch between the cities of Guilin and Yangshuo that's particularly famous for its scenic views.
雖然世界上有許多地方被稱為「攝影師的夢境」,卻沒有一處能和中國的漓江相比,給人種置身於畫中的真實感。漓江位於中國江西省,一直有「詩情畫意之河」的頭銜;此起彼落的綠丘、圓錐形的石灰岩峰、以及無盡的梯田阡陌等壯麗地景,圍繞四周。介於桂林與陽朔51英里的平原,美中之美。
Cormorant fishing is also associated with the Li River, an age-old fishing method in which fishermen use specially trained birds, called cormorants, to help them fish. These birds dive into the water to search for fish and then return the fish to the boat. The fisherman removes the fish from the bird's throat and places it in a basket. The secret? To keep the bird from swallowing the fish, the fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck.
說到漓江,就會想到鷓鴣捕魚。這是一種古老的捕魚方法;漁夫透過受過訓練的鷓鴣來捕魚。這些大鳥潛入水中捉魚,然後再回到船上。此時,漁夫會把鷓鴣喉嚨中的魚弄出來,放進籃子裡。不讓鳥兒吞魚的秘訣是什麼呢?答案就是,在牠們脖子上繫一條小繩。
Today, we've put together some of the most beautiful and breathtaking photos of the river and its surrounding areas. Notice that the most stunning photos often feature cormorant fishing. Like a modern-day painter, many of these photographers have enhanced their photos with a dreamy array of colors.
今天,我們在這個網站放上漓江最美最壯麗的照片。記住喔,最驚人的相片通常與鷓鴣捕魚有關。攝影師,就像活在現代的畫家,利用漓江夢幻多變的色彩,吸引觀眾。