前幾天想到也許可以去一下布拉格.雖然不是沒自助過,但是going solo倒是第一次.雖然不是心裏有點小嘀咕...但是去是去定了.
在網路上一找才知道原來布拉格是這麼熱門的背包客景點!但是要在幾天之內消化完這些資料也有點小辛苦.
沒腦袋的問問題有時候也是有點 offensive,所以還是悶悶的自己找資料.還好最讓我害怕的聖誕節活動已經過去了,雖然不盡理想,但是我己經盡力.布拉格就當成是這一學期努力的代價吧!
其實最讓我擔心的還是氣候.1-2月在捷克是年平均溫度最低的季節.還好從網路上得知冬遊布拉格不是只有我一個.讓我放心了不少.
在youtube上看到2007與2008的2月的布拉格景緻影片,真希望到時布拉格的天空也是有太陽的!其實我只期望不要一路下雪難走.
我是在Presentation Zen看到這一段影片Mankind is no island,全長3.5分鐘皆以手機錄製.錄製地點分別於紐約與雪梨.
很喜歡裏頭的一句話:The gentle art of hearing.想了很久怎麼翻成中文才能表達出影片裏的意境,
是傾聽的溫柔?溫柔的傾聽?似乎怎麼都沒法表現出原文的意境.:-{
忘了在那裏看到某人寫的blog,就客氣的寫信給myjoyjam問問可否試吃.
幾天之後接到myjoyjam熱情的正面回應。但隨著日益忙碌的時間表,我也早已忘了看著網頁流口水的這件事.
前幾天回到家發現這個myjoyjam的小包,這個可愛的小驚喜雖然被有些外漏的抹醬給小小的影響了一下,但還是迫不及待的打開沾著爸爸剛做好的小餐包吃,味道沒有我想像的濃,但是很清淡爽口呢!我們先吃的是有機胡椒脆粒抹醬,打開時真的有整粒的胡椒呢!選這個做試吃品太對我的胃了!只可惜我們全都只顧著吃,等到想拍照時早就一掃而空啦!
有機熊蔥抹醬的口味比胡椒還重一些,很適合早餐抹餐包吃,真的有辛福的感覺呢!
心裏os:這2包試吃樣品太小啦!(哎呀真是忝不知恥咩!)
倒是茶包沒什麼特別的感覺..我對herb tea一向不是很感興趣.
但是抹醬啊抹醬...等等去買辣椒根醬!!
翻譯外電這件事,不是人人都能翻得精準.但是把人家有講的說沒講,把當時不是重點的放大處理,這個大概就是為官方服務的媒體了吧? 中廣會不會變成台灣的新華社呢? 以下比較12月10中廣記者劉芳與華盛頓郵報原始的報導(12月9日)
這是中廣的標題:
華郵專訪馬英九:我當總統家人失業 好總統領導清廉政府
該報導的結尾來了這麼一段:
令人注意的是，這篇專訪刊登在「華盛頓郵報」國際版上的著重於經濟議題，完全沒有國內的政治或司法議題，而這反映了美國社會關注的是台灣的經濟與兩岸關係的發展。
以下列出華盛頓郵報專訪馬英九總統提問的所有問題,再檢驗看看中廣記者的選擇性翻譯離譜到什麼境界!!
Q: Given the global downturn and the current financial crisis, how quickly will Taiwan see some of the benefits of closer economic ties with China, and given rising unemployment, do you feel any political pressure to move more slowly? 針對全球性的經濟衰退與各種經濟危機,與中國日益密切的台灣何時才能開始獲益?而對目前日益高昇的失業率,你是否面臨任何政治壓力促使您放慢開放的腳步?
Q: So no political pressure to move more slowly? 所以沒有任何政治壓力促使您把腳步放慢嗎?
Q: If you still see Taiwan as a democratic model for China, how can Taiwan influence political developments on the mainland, given the various issues during this Olympic year? And is unification impossible if the Tiananmen massacre issue isn’t resolved?如果您視台灣為中國的一個自由的典範,但是眼見奧運期間發生的多項人權議題,台灣如何在政治體制發展上影響中國?而天安門事件若懸而未決的話,統一有可能嗎?
Q: Other examples? And what about the Tiananmen issue?(馬英九提及中國人民欽羨台灣的民主等等)您還能舉出其他的例子嗎? 還有天安門事件呢?
Q: On Tiananmen, you’re not going to say [whether unification is possible without resolution]? (馬英九類比中國政府處理天安門事件與川震事件的不同態度,並肯定中國已經比較開放,因此記者追問)那天安門事件呢?您不打算對懸而未決的天安門事是否會影響統一的願景提出說明嗎?
Q: How about your long-term vision about whether Taiwan will eventually be a sovereign member of an organization, Greater China but an organization like the E.U.? Or whether it will be more like Austria vis-à-vis Germany: same culture, separate sovereignty. Or, what can you say in the long term [about] what a cross-strait framework would look like? 那麼您對台灣的長期目標為何?台灣將來會是大中國華經濟組織的會員,或是會像奧地利亞與德國一樣同文化,不同的主權國家?
Q: You’ve suggested a diplomatic truce, no more checkbook diplomacy, if China gives Taiwan more breathing space. How has China responded, and what concrete examples do you have that this truce is working? Some people say China is not providing enough in return.您建議的外交休兵,強調廢除金錢外交以換取中國給予台灣更多的國際空間,對此中國截止目前為止如何回應?有任何實際的例子佐證這樣的休兵策略是有效的嗎? 有些人反應中國並沒有任何實質的回應?
Q: When do you expect Taiwan to be in the World Health Organization?您對台灣加入世衛組織有任何時間表嗎?
Q: For government to government talks next year, what are the obstacles? What kind of breakthroughs might we see in the near future? 針對明年兩岸官方會談有任何困難嗎? 在近期內我們會看到任何新的突破與進展嗎?
Q: What about Taiwan’s proposed status in the WHO? 那關於台灣提出的世衛組織會員資格呢?
Q: Will closer China ties for Taiwan lead in the long term to fewer arms purchases from Washington?與中國日益密切的關係在長期而言會降低台灣對華盛頓的軍武購買嗎?
Q: Were Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie’s remarks [reported Monday, calling for an end to such sales] then just boilerplate? 中國外長日前對此軍購案呼籲結束軍購的回應是否只是作戲呢?
Q: The recent protests turned so violent, people on the mainland and elsewhere looked at that and said it was crazy –最近的抗議事件最後衍生暴力,許多中國人與世界各地的觀眾都覺得那是相當瘋狂的事件
Q: To outsiders or to critics, how can a democratic legal system hold someone for up to four months without charge?對局外人或評論者想問的是,一個自稱是民主自由的法制國家怎麼能在沒有罪名之下羇押一個人長達4個月?
Q: Is there anything I’ve failed to ask you, especially as it relates to the current economy?是否還有其他事情您想要陳述而我還未問及?,尤其是有關近期的經濟狀況?
而在中廣新聞稿裏提及的總統一人當選,家裏3人失業在原文專訪裏是這麼說的:
When I was inaugurated my wife actually got early retirement because she didn’t want to do anything that might have a conflict of interest. She also asked her brother to quit his job because his company has some business dealings with state-run corporations here. I also asked my elder sister to quit her job, so I always joke that in my family, while I am employed, three people lost their jobs. I just want to get rid of these potential conflict of interests.
馬英九主動要求姐姐辭職?好像不太像吧?馬式風格還真的徹頭徹尾的睜眼說瞎話啊!而寫這篇的中廣大記者能把原本只佔59段中的1小段的內文擴大成中文稿的主體,再來個結論說此報導"完全沒有國內的政治或司法議題，而這反映了美國社會關注的是台灣的經濟與兩岸關係的發展",這種行徑只有4個字能形容-謊話連篇.16個問題中就有7題直接與國內政治有關1題與司法議題有關,怎麼會是"完全沒有"?
中廣會變成台灣的新華社嗎?
畢業後參加的第一場婚禮,
就是和當時的他穿著這一件坐火車到基隆
婚禮後似乎只有再穿一次,
幾年後這一件當時所費不貲的Jessica一片裙,
仍完好的吊在衣櫉裏.
不同的是不同的他與不同的腰圍:-P
我想和Jessica說再見.
喜歡Jessica的人歡迎提問.
原價約3000多,我想賣:400
參加宴會上班皆適合
"每天張開眼睛門外就是記者，我忘了那時我懷孕
幾個月，我決定要出國住，直到要生，我跟醫生
一直吵，住愈久愈好，機票買好了、房子租好
了，但是後來這件事被檢察官認定是要潛逃，我
找了我的主治醫師幫我證明，第一時間他一口答
應，但是隔天他改口說上層有壓力，如果他幫趙
建銘，他的教職缺和主治醫師都必須辭掉，當時
我心想，總不能為了自己的事害了別人，我找了
另一個也知道我要出國的醫生，他答應了，只是
要求不要提及第一個醫師，後來我才知道這個醫
生癌末了，也許因為他沒升遷的包袱，他敢說實
話，他的告別式我不敢參加，我怕我哭。後來這
個高層當官了，當時我恍然大悟，也了解當時他
說要全力協助趙建銘回台大，要我們把申請復職
書給他，我們還問，如果有困難，不要勉強，我
們辭職，結果申請書給他後，投出五十六比一的
票數，他對外成了不畏扁家，阻擋趙建銘回台大
的英雄，所以理所當然他升官了。"
Excerpt from Newsweek "Fallout from Chen Shui-Bian's Dramatic Arrest" by Melinda Liu
Such warnings have not just come from traditional DPP supporters. Last week, before Mr Chen’s arrest, twenty prominent international Asia specialists, including Professors Arthur Waldron of the University of Pennsylvania, Bruce Jacobs of Monash University and June Teufel Dreyer of the University of Miami, along with former Far Eastern Economic Review Taipei correspondent Julian Baum, issued an unprecedented open letter expressing “deep concern” at the behaviour of Taiwanese prosecutors. “It is obvious that there have been cases of corruption in Taiwan,” they wrote, “but these have occurred in both political camps.” The recent detentions, they said, had created an impression that the KMT authorities “are using the judicial system to get even with members of the former DPP government.” They accused prosecutors of “a basic violation of due process, justice and the rule of law,” by holding several detainees incommunicado without being charged, and of “trial by press” by leaking detrimental information to the media. They suggested that such actions were jeopardizing the achievements of Taiwan’s transition from one party rule (by the KMT) to democracy in the late 1980s and early 90s.
Some interesting posts regarding to this guessing game...
F. VARGA predicts there wouldn't be any meeting at all between the two any way....I guess that's probably the easiest way out for Mr. Ma?
Other more serious discussion:
Michael Turton shares a piece from Wall Street Journal by Ted Galen Carpenter, which has several interesting point of view.
I like Michael's insight over Mr. Ma's softer approach,
Supporters for this approach seems to argue that if Ma obtains concessions from China, the electorate will respect him and have warm fuzzies about Beijing -- but the evidence shows that the electorate recognizes that such overtures imply a sellout of Taiwan.
Hmmmmm....I guess everybody knows that except the president's office?
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This is my pick of presentation of the week. A 3-minute story of mixed emoticons by Rives.
Isn't it amazing that you can tell a story with icons only? Besides, he's kind of hot, from a woman's point of view. hehehe...
What do you do when your country is not applicable on the list? I'm so fed up with the repeating MISTAKE in numerous websites that I decide to switch my country of birth as Australia. Well, not that I hold an OZ passport but simply for the fact that I don't bloody want to be part of "Taiwan, province of China"! What the hell is that?
出發前一晚,W在電話那一頭問我會不會有危險,我很輕鬆的告訴他放心,這會是一場熱鬧但平和的遊行.今天實際參與後,我要再加一句,這是一場熱鬧平和但是堅定表達自我意識的盛事.
以下雖有些kuso照片,但難免一些較粗的語言哦!特此警告...heheh
看到蔣公的淚了嗎?再看多一點
兒童不宜的粗話,不過,這可不是民進黨想出來的創意哦!
時尚與抗爭
希望有一天夢想可以成真
下午3時人們開始陸續抵達,涼風徐徐,真是散步的好天氣
能凝聚了60萬人上街頭(怎麼這次沒被縮水成6萬?),區長辦公室發言人想到的只有要和小英談"貪腐”??他是耳背嗎? 嗯...恐怕不只一個人耳背...大概是耍賴
節目的節奏很快,那首恆春調讓人有些感傷
天啊,真是寸步難行,但是大家都好有秩序
弟弟,你去那裏拿的貼紙?我也好想要!!
非常kuso的群眾A自備道具
還好及早開始徹退,整條凱道都是這樣摩肩擦腫!
遠從台東來的隊伍!爸爸的故鄉!
汪汪!反對一中市場!!汪!
使用hotmail和live spaces已經多年,但是今天接到的這封客服信實在讓我有點難以忍受.
大意大概是微軟將不再提供hotmail的服務,請客戶們開始轉移或備份客戶資料.但全文以簡體字寫.老實說,一或兩個簡體字我還有"猜猜看"的興趣,一整篇客服信件要客戶來玩猜猜看實在是很白目的"客服"行為.
台灣微軟是怎麼了,搞不清楚台灣是使用正體中文的國家嗎?客服信件不用當地的官方語言書寫是什麼意思啊?!!!!
真是有夠白目!
TOUGH這個字對職場女性通常都不太陌生.TOUGH對我的意義是堅忍,有毅力與決斷力.這樣的特質是"負面"的嗎?那端看你是從那個角度來看.但若說TOUGH是"暴徒惡棍的意思,這倒是相當冷門的解釋.你可以看看下方連結Evil Capitalism Heros為大家整理的字義.
朋友傳來台灣英語補教界名師高國華解釋TOUGH這個字的語義.為何東森記者會沒事去問高老師英文呢?因為最近陳幸妤用這個字形容自己會好好的活下去.唉,這年頭記者是怎麼回事,連文章裏唯一出現的一個英文字也可以變成新聞主軸.跑新聞"好辛苦"啊!!!!!
換句話說，陳幸妤說的「tough」指的不只是堅
強，她還會像刺蝟似的當護衛扁家洗錢案的最牛
釘子戶，事實上英文單字「strong」也是堅強的
意思，而且還有勇敢的正面意義，陳幸妤不用
「strong」，卻用「tough」，她的鬥雞性格也
在用字遣詞當中一目瞭然。(新聞來源：東森新聞記者陳智菡、莊勝利)
猛然看到記者之一的名字,希望她不是我大學時的同學,東森新聞的品質一直挺讓人驚嚇,我想舊時教"新聞倫理學"的皇甫河旺老先生應該會看的挺吐血的吧?!
Evil Capitalism Heros寫的好,我們現在到底在學那一國英文呢?記者可以從一個單字推測到使用者的性格,也許該改行去做測字!!!
台灣的媒體品質真是他.馬.的.爛!!!
文化霸權不是一個須要跨越邊境才看得到的東西,文化霸權也會無聲無息的出現在粧點的美崙美奐的書店裏,書架上,所謂的黃金屋,經過某某人導讀後,只剩下如甘蔗渣般的殘屍,你...到底要不要讀?
也是因為如此,看了太多傷我眼的導讀,太多自以為是"在地化"解讀的編輯手記,我越來越傾向看原文書,要不,直接跳過導讀引言.
我...不想吃別人吃剩的甘蔗渣!!
朋友轉寄給我木馬文化最近的新書,讓朋友印象深刻的倒不是書的內容,而是這位編輯寫的引言.
有關父親的謊言 陳希林
建銘！幸妤！至中！睿靚！覺得愁煩嗎？覺得整個社會都背棄你們了嗎？哀哭「我們家怎麼會變成這樣！」嗎？
你們一定要讀《父親的謊言》。這本書，是木馬文化最新出版的，是蘇格蘭詩人約翰‧伯恩賽的自傳式小說。你們有去過蘇格蘭嗎？有在那裡開過戶頭嗎？沒關係，這本書好好看，好適合你們。
我先唸一段內容給你們聽。聽了之後，你們馬上就會流著熱淚，伸出顫抖的手來說：「是的，請給我這本書，我想要讀這本書。」（喔，我看到手腕上還在掛名錶喔…）
仍在查辦的案子結論已經出來了,這樣的氣氛不只是在新聞媒體,已經成了書刊銷售的行銷術語.成了文案主角的關係人,和寫這個文案的陳希林先生或小姐,與眾多潛在讀者群,我才覺得該感到被背棄的是台灣讀者吧?
陳希林先生或小姐,您怎麼會讓自己的政治判斷凌駕一本書的價值呢?你又怎麼會這麼輕率的推測會買這本書的讀者都和你有一樣的政治品味呢?
至於手腕上掛的名錶,但願你對每一個政治家族都有同等宏偉的洞察力啊!!
同時收到這2篇外電,呈現出2種相當不同的氛圍.馬總統對兩岸的柔性策略之所以被許多人以為是wishful thinking實在其來有自.
以下2篇外電皆為部份節錄,全文請點選原文連節
第一篇是來自International Herald Tribute,Taiwan celebrates national day with call for peace.
文中提及受過哈佛教育的馬總統這麼說:
Ma said his efforts to alleviate tensions across the 100-mile- (160 kilometer-) wide Taiwan Strait "have won the international community's affirmation."
馬先生說他對舒緩兩岸緊張情勢的作為已獲得全世界的認同
| ex. Please help alleviate the problem. |
"We have pushed forward with direct cross-strait charter flights (and) visits by tour groups from mainland China," he said. "The aim of these initiatives is to create a more open, stable environment for cross-strait interaction."
"我們已經成功促進兩岸包機與大陸人士來台的方案,這些主動的善意就是為了促進一個更開放與穩定的兩岸互動環境"
Despite relief that Chen is out of office and a relatively sympathetic, anti-independence figure has replaced him, Chinese leaders still hew to their traditional position that Taiwan is part of the mainland.
Nor have they renounced their repeated threats to attack if Taiwan ever moves to make its 59-year break with the mainland permanent.
| hew to hew to the tenets of one's political party 遵泰自己政黨的信條 |
儘管象徵台灣獨立的精神指標,前任總統陳水扁已經缷任,中國方面領導人仍堅持他們一貫的立場:台灣是中國的一部份
他們也並未放棄聲明強調台灣一旦打破已維持59年的現狀而宣佈獨立的話,中國將採取攻擊.
| renounce verb: give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations |
第二篇外電則來自於加拿大的Vancouver Sun,Steer clear of Taiwan, Beijing warns U.S. candidates
"Appropriately handling the Taiwan issue is the crucial political foundation of Sino-U.S. ties," China's foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang warned on Thursday.
He was responding to questions about the support voiced by John McCain and Barack Obama for a recently announced arms sale to Taiwan worth $6.5 billion.
"謹慎處理台灣問題是決定中美關係基調的重要關鍵"中國外長Qin Gang於週四提出警告.此番談話是在回應美國兩位總統候選人近日支持價值6.5億美元的對台軍售案.
Beijing has embarked on a massive modernization and weapons acquisition program for the People's Liberation Army since the first Gulf War in 1990 when China realized how outclassed its armed forces were by American battlefield technology.
自1990年波灣戰爭後,北京政府看清與美國的戰地科技相較之下落伍的中國軍備現實,於是開始進行龐大的軍事與武器設備現代化的工程.
A major success of China's modernization program has been to build and buy a submarine fleet, now including nearly 80 boats, that effectively deters U.S. warships from rushing to the aid of Taiwan, a vibrant democracy with one of the world's most developed economies.
此軍事現代化工程的指標性成果之一為建立一包括80艘的潛艦部隊,能有效阻止美國戰艦支援已在經濟上成熟發展的民主國家-台灣.
Despite Taiwan's democratic credentials, successive American presidents going back to Richard Nixon have tried to diminish relations with the island in favour of courting Beijing. But they have always been curbed by Taiwan's significant support in Congress.
| courting verb: seek someone's favor 好玩之下看了一下這個字的字源,很有趣呢! courting開始有"追求"的意思始於1580年 Courtship "paying court to a woman with intention of marriage" is from 1596. |
儘管台灣在民主發展的成就不容忽視,歷任的美國總統包括尼克森都藉由降低對台關係來討好北京政權.但友好台灣的國會則一直是這項外交策略的反對勢力.
China, the leaked draft says, aims "to subject the United States to coercive nuclear threats to limit potential U.S. intervention in a regional conflict" over Taiwan and Washington should react with increased nuclear, conventional and space-based weapons in the Pacific theatre.
根據最近自國務卿辦公室流出的機密文件透露出美國政壇對中國勢力的高度懷疑."中國利用自身的核武實力限制美國介入區域衝突時的能力"意指台美雙方應正視並積極面對核武與太空科技日益精進的中國.
| coercive adj. persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats |
對了,推好字典,是精進英語寫作能力不可或缺的哦!
原本令人陌生的化學名詞,這下子成了家喻戶曉的關鍵字.前陣子在自由時報上看到這則由中國網友寫的打油詩,還真是有點苦中做樂的情趣啊!
從大米裡，我們認識了石蠟
從火腿裡，我們認識了敵敵胃（毒農藥）
從鹹鴨蛋、辣椒醬裡，我們認識了蘇丹紅（毒工業染料）
從火鍋裡，我們認識了福馬林
從銀耳、蜜棗裡，我們認識了硫磺
從木耳中，認識了硫酸銅
今天三鹿又讓同胞知道了三聚氰胺的化學作用
外國人喝牛奶結實了
中國人喝牛奶結石了
日本人口號：一天一杯牛奶，振興一個民族
中國人口號：一天一杯牛奶，震驚一個民族
我很少轉寄email,通常就是接收的份,但是前陣子看到朋友轉寄給我的由條碼判斷生產國的消息,也忍不住轉寄出去了,結果收到好久不見的朋友們回信,有的在海外,有的在別縣市,看來不管在那裏,中國的黑心勢力都讓人神經緊張.
BBC也報導了葉金川在住院的消息,除了說明MELAMINE的背景新聞之外,還附上了一張MELAMINE MAP.
MELAMINE到底是什麼?義美英語版倒是有一篇較簡明的解釋:
Melamine is a white, odorless, crystalline N-heterocyclic organic base which is commonly used in paint, building materials, paper-making and textile industries. Melamine boards/paper and dinnerware are made from thermoplastic melamine. In some countries in Asia, it is also used to make pesticides and plant fertilizers.
看到了嗎?文中指出在一些亞洲國家,MELAMINE還是製造殺蟲劑與園藝肥料的成份.看來現在用途又多了一樣"嬰兒奶粉"...所以之前政府說要放寬檢測值實在是令人搖頭的豬頭政策.
MELAMINE對人體的影響是什麼?
According to FDA (US), the chemical bonding of melamine (1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6-triamine；C3H6N6, the chemical structure is shown in figure 1) and Cyanuric acid (1,3,5-triazinane-2,4,6-trione, the chemical structure is shown in figure 2) yields crystalline substances which may cause acute renal failures in animals.
根據Encarta的解釋
renal
adj.
relating to kidneys: relating to or affecting the kidneys
MELAMINE會從一個professional jargon變成hot keyword,最後成了馬政府正在努力甩掉的執政包袱.MELAMINE也許對台灣來說反而是件好事...?看看中國政府處理這件事的態度,你還能對這樣的政權有什麼樣的期待?
很早就下載了smilebox來玩,無柰筆電老是在重灌的循環,smilebox這個好玩的scrapbook軟體就有點被遺忘了.
今晚得知明天放颱風假後就好整以暇開始整理照片,安裝好smilebox後,選定圖片,下載smilebox的theme template後,再一一加入圖片,打上caption,就完成一本digital scrapbook了! 我先做了一個給W,又做了一個和928有點關係的,Learning how to teach 只是前言,明天我要做主題.
smilebox對我現在的這台老電腦是有點負擔,所以剛剛一直很擔心中途當機.還好成功的做完2本剪貼簿,很有成就感呢!
目前smilebox的免費帳號提供email/post你的作品,但若要印出就得付錢.值得一提的是,它也提供內建的配樂供使用,但若要上載自己的音樂,就是要買premium account啦!
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| Make a Smilebox slideshow |
這是一篇來自Bangkok Post有關殘障奧運的報導.
Taiwan's Paralympics javelin gold medalist Chiang Chih-chung has been barred from defending his title at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing this month, it was reported Wednesday.
javelin是什麼? 根據AskOxford:
noun a long, light spear thrown in a competitive sport or as a weapon.
就是鏢鎗項目吧?
台灣參與殘障奧運的選手又被中國擋在門外,悲哀的是,This is nothing new for the Taiwanese...
"For the IPC to make such a decision, China must be interfering behind the scenes," said Lai Fu-huan of CTPC's standing committee.
interfering behind the scenes不言自喻,和中文的"在幕後指使操控"幾乎有異曲同功之妙呢!
選手們的負面心理可想而知,倒是政府層級的體委會回答挺有趣:
Taiwan's Sports Minister Tai Shia-ling did not accuse China of political interference, but said there should be a standard procedure to decide the participation of athletes in sports events.
"If China has blocked Chiang from the games for no reason, then it might have political implications, but the matter needs to be probed," the Taipei Times quoted her as saying.
"The matter needs to be probed?" Isn't that obvious enough already? Beijin doesn't give a shit of whether you are pan-blue or pan-green! They simply don't care!
週五才從豐原回家結束5天的研習課程,雖然被住宿環境嚇到了一下,長了大塊壁癌的寢室和成群的螞蟻和第一天不敢令人領教的午餐(雖然事後證明也許是我和J太挑食,其他學員都去豐原sogo買鞋,只有我和J是去豐原sogo買吃的,但老實說,你想想冷掉的鳯梨炒木耳會下飯到那裏去?),但是仍然從部份課程中獲得不少的啟發,而且我是第一次去豐原呢!藉著研習認識台灣也是不錯的!
J很厲害第一天中午就打聽好豐原的hotspot,叫做"廟東",那個廟是奉媽祖的.果然大廟旁的小巷弄(讓我想到士林夜市)擠滿大大小小的攤位,有很多賣蚵仔煎的.據計程車司機表示,那裏的蚵仔煎多來自彰化鹿港一帶.我們選了其中一間有較大店面的坐下來,牆面上貼著過去明星們來造訪的新聞剪報,似乎小有名氣.J點了蚵仔煎和臭豆腐(居然沒臭味哩!),我點紅油炒手和什麼麵之類的,挺好吃,J點的蚵仔煎料很特別,裏面還包了些蔬菜,有點像潤餅的做法,挺好吃的!
來自eTaiwan的一篇報導
The Department of Health said yesterday that one Taiwanese company had been found selling tainted Japanese rice products.
Japan's agriculture minister resigned yesterday over reports that Japanese food processing companies used Chinese and Vietnamese rice contaminated by pesticides or mould to produce sweets and biscuits.
tainted
According to OneLook Dictionary
tainted 的意思如下
adjective: touched by rot or decay ("Tainted bacon")
adjective: especially of reputation
因此tainted除了可以形容被污染的食物外,也可以用來形容聲譽/名譽上的損失
The questions about Japanese rice products followed the recent panic over milk powder and other dairy products from China found to be tainted by the chemical melamine.
政務委員曾志朗昨天主持「行政院國際生活環境推動小組」第一次會議，教育部在會中提案，主張基於與國際接軌及提升國際競爭力等角度，提議將中文譯音改採漢語拼音。
從通用拼音改到漢語拼音,除了涉及台灣主體意識之爭外,若撇開政治問題,到底漢語拼音比通用拼音好在那裏?什麼叫"易於與國際接軌"? 是那部份與通用拼音相較之下漢語拼音較易為外籍人士接受? 媒體在這方面除了不斷重覆原本就很主觀的主體意識之爭外,似乎對這個問題的核心也"忘"了陳述...
再來看聯合報對2種拼音方式的報導,還刻意說明連高雄市都主張採用漢語拼音
教育部昨天提出「中文譯音推動情形」分析報告，調查指出，遵守民進黨政府政策採用通用拼音的機關，有百分之十九的機關在推動時遇到困難，窒礙難行的項目主要在地政、觀光等。就連綠色執政的高雄市政府都提出拼音系統須與國際接軌，建議改採漢語拼音。
然而,事實真是如此嗎?同一件事情,在新浪網是這麼報導的...
高雄市教育局長蔡清華嚴正澄清表示:高雄市教育局是配合教育部的要求，行文各校調查意見匯整呈報，調查結果顯示，全高雄市145所學校中只有4所學校提及「通用拼音」有使用上的問題，其餘各校都沒有意見。高雄市教育局聲明:只是據實呈報4所學校的意見，絕沒有隻字片語提及「建議改採漢語拼音」。
...並且批評教育部當初的意見調查中，有一項要求各校條列使用「通用拼音」遇到的問題，高市教育局認為「有刻意誤導之嫌」。
這個聯合報記者"何明國"不知是新聞只跑一半,忘了平衡報導這個基本採訪原則還是乾脆把教育部的新聞稿就照本宣科抄下來?
至於曾志朗"主張基於與國際接軌及提升國際競爭力等角度，提議將中文譯音改採漢語拼音"的說法,我也實在不明白漢語拼音與國際接軌的關聯性在那裏?有誰有這方面的資料?我很想看看呢!
參考資料:
1. 中央大學教授整理的漢 語 拼 音 與 注 音 符 號 對 照 表,
2. 小兔先生
3. 中文字轉拼音引擎
自從遷居回鄉下後,從逄週末上台北到現在非得必要才懶洋洋的上台北,我已經是十足的鄉下人了.
所以也因此常在網路上購物,難免有些讓人不愉快/或是低於預期的經驗,但大致上我認為網路購物還真是向我這樣cocoon群的福音啊!
買衣服...
這個品牌是在艾瑪那兒看到的,後來自己約買了4-5次,也幫爸爸媽媽和W買,品質很好價錢也好,而且...是台灣製造的哦! 他們的包裝也很工整,我很喜歡.
也有在y牌拍賣買過,品質實在...很不怎樣,而且又都是中國貨,後來就下定決心圖片再怎樣美也不要被誘惑了!
買書
和博客來買書已經很久了,但是最近才開始向他們買外文書籍,比價後才發現台灣真是買書的天堂!!!我在Launceston機場看到The pillars of the earth要價24澳幣(696台幣),在博客來買依稀記得是280元左右...價差實在太驚人啦!所以既使要等個1-2個星期也絶對值得.只是有些書籍雖然有在網站上露出,但卻不能訂購,有些望之興歎...
買禮物和食品
我也曾在赴澳前透過Yilan美食生活玩家買食品送給W和親友吃,我買的是澎湖蔴酥酥脆餅和水果乾禮盒,結果第一項連我自己都不愛吃,第2項被W嫌"吃水果就好幹嘛吃果乾?".不過我還是挺欣賞她的"作品"還行銷自己的能耐.
目前為止最受W及家人好評的是台中日出的土鳯梨酥...真的很讚!
在Launceston的第二天,我們住的是一家精品旅館The Sebel.雖說是精品,也看起來像精品,但是一踏進房間的味道就不好聞...總有股食物放過久的味道...我們check-in之後2個小時回房間仍然餘味繞粱,第一印象就不是挺好.
放在床頭的礦泉水W隨性拿起來就喝,然後才發現原本以為是complimentary結果要價5元...
浴室裏沒有附牙刷/膏,我雖有習慣自備,但就是忘了牙膏,結果向櫃台索取時還被告知"可能會在check-out時被charge此項費用"...
而且沒想到check-out時館方居然向我們索取6塊澳幣的停車費!我們是停在旅館附屬的停車場吔?!連W都覺得有些訝異...我向check-out的人反映不知有此項費用時她也只回問了我一句: Didn't they inform you this? who did the check-in for you?
奇怪,她難道無法在她們自己的系統上查到嗎?既使她問了這個問題,顯然也沒有意圖有下個動作...
嗯....這是間設備精品但是服務一般的精品旅館...
開學第二週,忙的昏頭轉向.從暑假時的無所事事到現在的office hour無限延伸,This is the kind of job that eats up your life.
再加上對新聞媒體的反感透頂,這幾週來幾乎過著不知天下事的生活.曾經看到有人提倡取消訂閱有線電視台,轉而利用youtube等線上視音頻道的作法,我想,是可行的.
我一向很喜愛的TED.COM 最近放了一段精彩的presentation,講者是國家地理雜誌的photo director David Griffin.許多另人過目不忘的影片在此段講演中再次出現,影像中觸及的過度漁獵(over fishing),窮困,戰爭傷亡等問題, 與演講結尾一段攝影師與Leopard seal的有趣互動,讓整段presentation成功的表現攝影的美與力.
雖然Tom Jones是媽媽那個年代的歌星,但是他的sex bomb 一直是我的最愛.偶然發現這位老兄為sex bomb為編舞溜冰,除了不是很合我味口的健美先生身材外,他的舞藝與幽默感真是一絶呢!
這是一篇來自AFP的報導,有關台灣軍購與外交預算大幅刪減的新聞。
Taiwan plans to scale back its military spending in 2009 amid warming ties with rival China, it was reported Saturday.
找了半天似乎都沒有字典有載明scale back這個phrase,但是當scale為動詞時,其解釋是這樣的:
size or measure according to a scale
這似乎是最符合原文的解釋了.所以scale back大概和中文的"向下調整"有異曲同功之妙吧!
It will account for 17.2 percent of next year's government budget, the report said, but the move has drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers.
根據Encarta的解釋account for有以下3個解釋
1. explain something: to provide an explanation for something
And how do you account for his behavior?
2. be responsible for something: to be responsible for something or be an important factor in something
Export sales account for at least half of our total business.
3. kill or destroy somebody or something: to be responsible for killing, destroying, or neutralizing somebody or something
當然在這裏第2個解釋才符合原文嘍!
自己造句:光是批改作業就用掉了至少30%的上班時間.
Grading papers account for at least 30% of office hours.
文中還有幾個與現今外交策略有關的用語
1. cement ties with existing diplomatic allies鞏固友邦 ...我看再強的水泥也無法鞏固這些只向錢看的"友"邦吧?
2. in line with Ma's call for ...呼應馬先生的外交休兵政策
The foreign ministry said the budget cut was in line with Ma's call for an end to the decades-old competition for diplomatic recognition between Taipei and Beijing.
Right, and Beijin government's is repeating deny to Taiwan's bid for any international body is in line with Mr. Ma's friendly approach? Sounds promising, Mr. Ma...
補阿里山遊記
從溪頭往阿里山的路上,我們臨時起意想彎進達娜伊娃谷.這一臨時起意就是一路一斷的蜿延山路.在路上就看到了這個在山路邊邊的小店,挺醒目.但是未停留,後來證明有點失策.
到了達娜伊娃谷,有些...怎麼說...失望.達娜伊娃谷是個園區,前陣子登上新聞的原因是當地鄒族人努力護魚最後成功的故事.也許是非假日的關係,園區內人影稀少,更突顯出建築物的破敗與了無生氣.這是一個讓人看得玩興大減的地方.我連相機都很懶得拿出來拍.
我們後來就只走到第二護漁區,看到一群群的魚種在清徹的溪裏悠游,的確是一個明顯的護漁果實.但是週遭的環境不十分的kid-friendly,我們又帶著幼鹷孩童.所以放棄繼續往上走第一護漁區,後來和游芭絲的老闆小聊一下才知道第一護漁區才是最美的地方...唉,好吧,只能說走進園區內的前半段破敗的景象把我的冒險心都磨掉一半了...而且聽老闆說在他們這裏買入園券有打折哦!早知道就先在這裏用餐啊!
旅途結束後才上網找找有關鄒族人護漁的資料,發現這個有田野研究性質的山美日記有些挺有趣的觀點和不太會在媒體上看到的觀察記錄.
喜歡游芭絲的店面設計,座落在半山腰上,正好給駕駛在彎曲山路上的旅人一個清爽小憩的地方
軒軒很高
興終於可以下車喘口氣,她一路喊著脖子痛,真怕她真的在車上吐出來.
太喜歡這種狗啦!
喜歡他們擺放水果的方式
從游芭絲往外看的景色
烤山豬肉就在這樣的大圓盤上烤!
超出預期的好吃的檳桹花(抄的),山豬肉和竹筒飯,好吃!
"Taiwan president promotes peace with China in speech"
An article from m&c reports about a speech Mr. Ma made while attending the 50 anniversary of the kingman battle.
"In his speech entitled, From Killing Field to Peace Square, Ma said cross-strait reconciliation which began when he took office on May 20 has paved the way for peace, and both sides must gradually build up mutual trust."
n. the action of reconciling, which is to restore to friendship or harmony
synonymous: settle, resolve
Ma has certainly very keen on practicing his softer approach toward the Beijin government. Let's hope he doesn't forgett that it's the Taiwanese who got him to the presidency, not the Chinese.
這一篇是英國Guardian報導有關中國觀眾在北京奧運為台灣女子舉重選手加油的報導.
Some of the Chinese crowd applauding the crop-haired Taiwanese contender said it was "natural" to do so.
在問到為何為台灣選手加油時,這名任工廠經理說"因為台灣是中國的一部份,所以如果她得金牌那也算是中國的!"
"I don't think she's as strong as the Kazakh woman. But Taiwan is a part of China, so if she wins gold that also counts as ours," said Li Rufeng, a retired factory manager from northeast China, speaking before the results were decided.
記者在比賽結束後問到盧映錡來自中國觀眾的加油是否讓她士氣大振?她很低調的回應"這太敏感了,我不知道"
Taiwan's athletes must tread carefully between the mainland embrace and their home island's proud distinctiveness.
根據Cambridge dictionaries online的解釋
tread v.
1. walk/tread a tightrope
If you walk/tread a tightrope, you have to deal with a difficult situation, especially one involving making a decision between two opposing plans of action:
2. tread carefully/gently/lightly
to speak or behave carefully to avoid upsetting or causing offence to anyone:
ex. The government know they have to tread carefully on this issue.
2種解釋有些微的不同,但是都是小心翼翼,左顧右盼的意思.尤其是第2個解釋.
運動和政治真能分得開嗎?我看是一廂情願吧?!
Heritage classroom in Beaconsfield Mine Museum, Tasmania, Australia
A peak of the old school classroom. Look at those cute writing board for each kids!
Schools, some hate it, some love it for the achievement or the attention, some work for it, some work against it. I'm currently work for it but I can see why there are people work against it. I wouldn't deny the value of schools and I do value the skills I learnt at school but I can't ignore the fact that school education in general have a pretty big gap from the real world.
I came across this article 8 essential skills they didn't teach you in school from Lifehack, one of my favorite blog. It mentions networking, personal financing, negotiating, self-learning....etc. to be the less cultivated field in school system. I feel so true when reading the part about the people skill.
The shy folks lurking in the corners at cocktails parties will never reach their full potential as human beings because our school system didn’t place enough value on “being social”. President Bush didn’t get the best grades at Princeton, but boy did he know how to network, and look where that got him.
Some would claim that people skill is something inherited. That's only partially true. I believe people skill needs to be practiced, discussed like any other subjects.
What about learning to be money smart? I hate math doesn't necessarily mean that I hate organizing my finance. I would probably find math more interesting if I can apply it in my future money management.
This is an interesting post for both educators and parents. It's also an interesting reflect for those adults who already done with school!
今晨看到英國Telegraph的其中一則關於台灣的消息.我想要是台灣的媒體大概不會用succumb這個字眼在中國送熊猫的新聞...
按照Cambridge dictionary 的解釋succumb的字義是:
verb
to lose the determination to oppose something; to accept defeat.
怎麼看都是相當負面的意思.在我看來,台灣最近向中國投降的恐怕也不只是一對熊猫吧?
文中提到三年前陳總統以台灣為亞熱帶氣不宜熊猫居住為由間接的否定北京的"好意",但其實真正的原因是-
A more significant but unspoken reason was the fact that China's last "panda gift" was to Hong Kong to mark its return by Britain in 1997.
在97回歸之前,中國也致贈香港熊猫過,等於是相當明示的宣示主權.
熊猫終將落腳台灣.台灣是否也將漸漸走向香港的歸途呢?
家裏書籍太多了,我們整理了一些給圖書館,一些準備回收,而這一些古董雜誌該怎麼辦呢?丟也不是,不丟又相當佔空間. 如果你喜歡,就給你嘍!有興趣的人email給我吧!
走進信義鄉農會時看到的這個角落著實讓我...想吐.
這2個人放在一起是多麼的諷刺啊!果真沒有一世的朋友,也沒有一世的敵人.不過,看看開放兩岸直航後中國人的旅遊人數統計,恐怕也不值得台灣人這麼熱情相待吧?!
本來看到梅子就受不了的我,和爸媽逛完一圈後兩手空空的出來.爸爸說農會裏面很多產品的產地地名標示已經改成 台灣地區了...
還有比自降國格更悲哀的事嗎?
我是是搭維珍航空到Launceston的,很喜歡維珍的性感女標織.但是這種budget flight的座椅可就不怎麼性感了.雖然短短3小時的航程我卻坐的腰酸背痛,再加上每回落地時的耳鳴,難怪W總是說我下機時的神氣活像打完仗的士兵狼狽不堪.
不過,美食總是能解決一切.我們第一晚住的Lesiure Inn Penny Royal的對面就是當地相當有名的Stillwater restaurent.
餐廳的建築物可是挺有歷史的,是原建於1830年的磨坊工廠整修而成的.Launceston和Hobart 一樣很有些歐洲的味道,從我們坐的位置往窗外看,冬日的Tamar River很有些蒼涼清冷的感覺.
我和W各點了Asian styled pork belly和Asian Styled salmon.哇,這真是我吃過最好吃的東坡肉了!真希望愛吃東坡肉的弟弟也可以來此品嚐啊!順便學到東坡肉的英文-Pork belly
Stillwater雖不算便宜,但還在可以接受的範圍內,和Fee and me比起來算便宜的啦! 記得我和W共花了快60澳幣吧!
Tasmania,stillwater,eat
