新聞英語

Schwarzenegger: 'He's going to show me the ropes'

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger sat down Thursday with the man he'll be replacing, and said in a joint news conference that they were working well together and had started "a great relationship."

The Republican actor said there were no hard feelings between himself and Democratic Gov. Gray Davis lingering from the October 7 recall election.

Schwarzenegger was also scheduled to meet with each of the statewide office holders -- including recall election opponent Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. On Wednesday, he paid personal visits to top Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature, describing the talks as "relationship building" sessions.

Schwarzenegger said Thursday that Davis had given him some good pointers already.

"He's going to show me the ropes. He's going to give me some of the inside information here," Schwarzenegger said.

Davis said that once he leaves office, he will try in his private life to find ways to champion some of the same causes he championed in Sacramento, though he did not elaborate.

During his first official visit to the Capitol on Wednesday, Schwarzenegger pledged "action, action, action, action" in the Statehouse as he picked a chief of staff, Patricia Clarey. He also joked and chatted with lawmakers and announced his plan to call them back in a special session soon after he's sworn into office.

Spokesman Rob Stutzman emphasized Clarey's experience, saying: "She has a very good understanding of how the governor's office works."

"We're going to give him the benefit of the doubt, and on things that we disagree with him on, we're going to fight tenaciously," Wesson, D-Culver City, told the Los Angeles Times.

The special legislative session Schwarzenegger plans to call is expected to deal with workers' compensation reform and repealing SB60 -- legislation recently signed by Davis to grant drivers' licenses to undocumented immigrants. Other possible topics would be political reform and budget issues, Stutzman said.

(解說)

1. show sb the ropes' = explain to sb the procedures and rules for doing sth

2. government elect / president-elect

3. no hard feelings = no resentment or bitterness 沒有嫌隙/沒有惡感
We were enemies once, but there are no hard feelings between us now.
(我們曾經是仇人，但如今彼此已不存芥蒂)

4. recall election = 罷免選舉

5. legislature = 立法機關 (body of people with the power to make and change laws)

6. session = meeting or series of meetings for discussing sth 會議
= single continuous period spent in one activity 進行某項活動的ㄧ段時間

7. office holder = (美)公職人員; 官員

8. cause = aim, principle, or movement that is strongly supported or defended
極力維護的目標或原則
a good cause - 高尚的目標

9. elaborate = describe or explain sth in detail 詳述

10. chief of staff = 參謀主任 /總幹事

11. swear into office = 宣誓就職

12. spokesman = 發言人

13. give sb the benefit of the doubt = 因罪證不足而認定某人無罪 (本句在日常生活中有許多衍生的意義，必須依據上下文來推定)
By allowing her to go free the judge gave the accused the benefit of the doubt.

I think this goes along with not taking things so personally. While I can give people the benefit of the doubt (maybe they are having a bad day), I will also fiercely limit my contact with them. It never hurts to be nice.

14. tenacious = keeping a firm hold on property, principles, etc 緊握的；堅決的

15. repeal = withdraw (a law) officially; revoke 廢止法律；撤銷

16. undocumented immigrant = 非法移民
Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a burglar an uninvited house guest.

限定詞、冠詞和量詞

限定詞、冠詞和量詞
Determiners, Articles, and Quantifiers

冠詞是非英美人士最感頭痛的問題，因為冠詞的使用除了要判定可數與不可數之外，
還牽涉到習慣、邏輯與語意判斷，無法依靠機械性的文法規則去取捨。冠詞如果使用錯誤，很可能會寫出啼笑皆非的句子。許多非英語系國家的人士即便對英文駕輕就熟，仍然會對冠詞感到頭痛。

限定詞是在告訴讀者或聽者我們到底是在指特定事物還是一般事物 (a barn, the garage)，有時候我們也用限定詞來標示數目或數量 (lots of trees, several books, some confusion)。

定義
限定詞放在名詞前面，使名詞的含義明確。
A determiner is a word that comes before a noun to show how the noun is being used.


限定詞的分類
冠詞：the (定冠詞), a/an (不定冠詞)
指示詞：this, that, these, those…
所有格代名詞：my, your, his, her, their…
數詞或量詞：(可數) many, few, a few, some, a couple of, a lot of, lots of, …
(不可數) much, little, a little, any, a lot of, lots of, …
單位：a cup of, a glass of , a liter of, a piece of, …


名詞的可數與不可數
(應用原則)
單數的普通名詞加 a/an
複數名詞不加 a/an
不可數名詞不加 a/an，但可使用量詞或單位(counters)

(不可數名詞的種類)
1. 沒有固定形狀的物質名詞: water, oil, rice, sand, flour, air, oxygen
2. 抽象概念的名詞: anger, happiness, information, force, strength, power
3. 處理的方式或過程: integration, fabrication, pollution, purification
4. 學術領域的名稱:physics, chemistry, economics, mathematics, engineering

(科技領域中常見的不可數名詞)
Research – Much research has been published in this field.
Information – Not too much information is available on this phenomenon.
Equipment – The new equipment has already been installed.
Software – We are developing advanced software to complement our new line of servers.
Hardware – A company cannot rely only on advanced hardware.

(多數時不可數的常用名詞)
Literature (所有文獻) – In the literature, little attention has been devoted to this problem.
Work (整體工作) – Recent work has overcome these drawbacks.
Notation (整組不同符號) – The notation used in this paper is summarized below.
Terminology (整組不同術語) – In this paper, we employ standard terminology.

(a 與 an 的使用場合)
依照名詞第一個音節的發音而定
a machine / a blackboard / a universal joint / a unique solution / a one-step method

an algorithm/ an iteration / an SRAM chip / an X-ray machine / an RNA molecule

a simple algorithm / a new element / an unusual machine/ an interesting subject

(兩用名詞)
Language is what sets humans from animals.
(Language = system of sounds, words, patterns)
Professor Wu is fluent in four languages.
(Language = form of language used by a particular group or nation)

The door is made of metal. (物質名詞)
Gold, silver, and bronze are three different metals.(指三種不同的金屬)

Pressure varies proportionately with temperature. (不可數)
In the second experiment, the reaction was carried out at a greater pressure than in the first. (可數 a greater pressure = a greater amount of pressure)

(兩用名詞的例句)
According to this law, force is the product of mass and acceleration. An object with a mass of 10 kilograms and an acceleration of one meter per second, will have a force of 10 newtons.

A company must not overburden itself with debt. In the last 18 months before its collapse, Technocorp had taken on several unwise debts.

Voltage is the electrical pressure that exists between two points and produces a flow of current when a closed circuit is connected between the points. The unit of measurement of voltage is the volt. One volt is the difference in electric potential required to make a current of 1 ampere flow through a resistance of 1 ohm.


冠詞

三個冠詞 (the, a, an) 都是形容詞。the 叫定冠詞 (definite article)，因為它明確地指出名詞；a 和 an 叫不定冠詞 (indefinite articles)，因為它們未明確指出名詞。這些字也叫做名詞限定詞 (noun determiners)，因為它們的後面跟著名詞。

即使學會了冠詞的所有應用規則之後，你仍會發現有許多情況你不知道在何處使用正確的冠詞或是否使用冠詞。

• 不定冠詞接單數可數名詞：
  I just had a cup of coffee. = I just had one cup of coffee. (我剛喝過一杯咖啡)
  
  I have never seen a dolphin. (我沒看過海豚)
  
  It is so easy that even a child can do it. = It is so easy that any child can do it. (這件事很簡單，連三歲小孩都會)
  
  A man stopped me on the street this morning. = Someone/Somebody stopped me on the street this morning. (今天早上有個(男)人在街上叫住我)
  
  She is looking for a husband. (她正在尋覓另一半)(a = somebody)
  
  
• 定冠詞接單數普通名詞：
  
  The girl is my friend. (這個女孩是我的朋友) →特別限定
  
  In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare suggested a link between madness and artistic creativity: 'The lunatic, the lover, and the poet', he wrote, 'Are of imagination all compact'. (瘋子、戀人與詩人都是幻想做成的) →代表「觀念」
  
  Do not lean against the door. (請勿倚靠車門) →代表「共同認定的觀念」Do not lean against doors. / Do not lean against door.(標語的定冠詞使用情況比較特殊)

• 定冠詞接複數普通名詞：
  
  The girls over there are my friends. (那邊的女孩們是我的朋友) →特別限定
  
• 定冠詞 + 形容詞：When the rich make war, it is the poor that die. - Jean Paul Sarte(富人發動戰爭，賠上性命的卻是窮人)
  
• 無冠詞」用於複數普通名詞：(泛指) 說明該名詞的「ㄧ般情況」
  
  Good horses are hard to find nowadays. (這年頭好馬難求)
  
  
• 「無冠詞」用於不可數名詞 (包含抽象、物質名詞)：I hate instant coffee. (我不喜歡即溶咖啡)
  
  
• 不定冠詞接「經過轉換」的不可數名詞：This is a good coffee. (cup of this drink)(這杯咖啡好喝) We'll have a/one coffee and a/one black tea. / We'll have two coffees. (我們要一杯咖啡，一杯紅茶)The country produces a light oil of which quality is considered the best of its kind.(這個國家生產某種輕油，其品質被視為同類油品中最好的)
  
  
• 定冠詞接抽象名詞或物質名詞：→「限定範圍的轉用」
  
  Sugar is bad for you. (吃糖對你不好)The sugar is bad for you. (吃這種糖對你不好)
  
  Will you please pass me the sugar? (麻煩把那罐糖遞給我) 「限定範圍」
  
  Love is ephemeral. Art is eternal. (愛情轉眼成空，藝術永垂不朽)
  He gave up his claim to the throne, all for the love of a plain woman. (他放棄繼承王位，只因迷戀一位平凡女子)
  The Art of War is a Chinese military treatise. (孫子兵法是一部中國兵書)
  
  There was a lag of several seconds between the lighting and the thunder. (閃電與雷聲之間有數秒的落差)
  
  
• 不定冠詞接「有限定範圍或種類」的抽象名詞：There was an abundance of good food at the party. (宴會上有豐盛的食物)= There was good food in abundance at the party. He has a good command of English. Her deed displayed a rare courage that drew admiration from around the world.(她展現罕見的勇氣而受到舉世的讚揚)

撰寫完美且專業的英文電子郵件

撰寫完美且專業的英文電子郵件
How to Write a Perfect, Professional Email in English

電子郵件比商業書信較為不正式。然而，在商業界仍要避免使用非正式的用語。電子郵件或許比較快速與更有效率，但客戶或商業夥伴不會容許太草率的信件。不用擔心！以下的簡單秘訣將可讓你的英文電子郵件提升到的專業水平。
Although emails are often seen as less formal than printed business letters, in the business world you cannot afford to let your language appear to be informal. Email may be faster and more efficient, but your client or business partner will not easily forgive correspondence that is too casual. Not to fear! Read on to discover simple secrets that will add a high level of professionalism to your English emails.


開頭的問候語
電子郵件的開頭一定要先行問候，這是非常重要的，例如：「Dear Lillian,」。根據你與收信者的親疏遠近，你要稱呼他們的姓而非他們的名，例如：「Dear Mrs. Price,」。如果關係較為親近，你可以說：「Hi Kelly,」。如果你與某家公司而非個人聯繫，你可以寫「To Whom It May Concern:」
Begin with a greeting
It's important to always open your email with a greeting, such as "Dear Lillian,". Depending on the formality of your relationship, you may want to use their family name (surname) as opposed to their given name (first name = forename), i.e. "Dear Mrs. Price,". If the relationship is more casual, you can simply say, "Hi Kelly," If you’re contacting a company, not an individual, you may write "To Whom It May Concern:"


向受文者致謝
如果回覆客戶的詢問，你可先表達感謝。例如：如果某人詢問你的公司，你可以說：「Thank you for contacting ABC Company.」。如果某人已經回覆你先前的電子郵件，務必要說：「Thank you for your prompt reply.」或「Thanks for getting back to me.」。如果你還有其他感謝受文者的方式，那就去做吧。這樣受文者會感到自在，你也會表現得更有禮貌。
Thank the recipient
If you are replying to a client's inquiry, you should begin with a line of thanks. For example, if someone has a question about your company, you can say, "Thank you for contacting ABC Company." If someone has replied to one of your emails, be sure to say, "Thank you for your prompt reply." or "Thanks for getting back to me." If you can find any way to thank the reader, then do. It will put him or her at ease, and it will make you appear more courteous.


表明你的目的
不過，你可能無法用感謝詞來作為電子郵件的開頭。在這種情況下，你可以表明目的。例如：「I am writing to enquire about…」或「I am writing in reference to…」。儘早在電子郵件中清楚說明目的，然後進入郵件的主題內容。記得要注意文法、拼字及標點符號，避免冗長的句子，讓句子簡潔明瞭。
State your purpose
If, however, you are initiating the email communication, it may be impossible to include a line of thanks. Instead, begin by stating your purpose. For example, "I am writing to enquire about ? or "I am writing in reference to ? It's important to make your purpose clear early on in the email, and then move into the main text of your email. Remember to pay careful attention to grammar, spelling and punctuation, and to avoid run-on sentences by keeping your sentences short and clear.


結束語
結束電子郵件以前，可禮貌性地再次感謝受文者，或者再寫些客氣的結束語。你可以先說「Thank you for your patience and cooperation.」或「Thank you for your consideration.」，然後接著說「If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to let me know.」及「I look forward to hearing from you.」
Closing remarks
Before you end your email, it's polite to thank your reader one more time as well as add some courteous closing remarks. You might start with "Thank you for your patience and cooperation." or "Thank you for your consideration." and then follow up with, "If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to let me know." and "I look forward to hearing from you."


結尾辭
電子郵件的最後一步是使用適切的結尾辭與屬名。專業用語是「Best regards,」 「Sincerely,」及「Thank you,」，避免使用結尾辭「Best wishes,」或「Cheers,」，因為這些辭語是在非正式及私人電子郵件中使用。傳送電子郵件以前，請再次檢查電子郵件中的拼寫，確定你的電子郵件完美無暇！
End with a closing
The last step is to include an appropriate closing with your name. "Best regards," "Sincerely," and "Thank you," are all professional. It's a good idea to avoid closings such as "Best wishes," or "Cheers," as these are best used in casual, personal emails. Finally, before you hit the send button, review and spell check your email one more time to make sure it's truly perfect!

科技文章閱讀訓練

What Is A+ Certification?

The A+ certification program was developed by the Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) to provide an industry-wide means of certifying the competency of computer service technicians. The A+ certified “diploma,” which is granted to those who have attained the level of knowledge and trouble-shooting skills that are needed to provide capable support in the field of personal computers, is similar to other certifications in the computer industry. For example, Novell offers the Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) program to provide the same recognition for network professionals who deal with its NetWare products, and Microsoft has it Microsoft Certified Service Engineer (MCSE) program. The theory behind these certifications is that if you need to have service performed on any of their products, you would(假設) sooner call a technician who has been certified in one of the appropriate certification programs than you would just call the first “expert” in the phone book.

The A+ certification program was created to offer a wide-ranging certification, in the sense that it is intended to certify competency with personal computers from many different makers/vendors. There are two tests required to become A+ certified. You must pass the A+ Core Hardware Service Technician exam, which covers basic computer concepts, hardware troubleshooting, customer service, and hardware upgrading. You must also pass the A+ Operating System Technologies exam, which covers the DOS and Windows operating environments. You don’t have to take the Core Hardware and the Operating System Technologies exams at the same time; you have 90 days from the time you pass one test to pass the second test. The A+ certified “diploma” is not awarded until you’ve passed both tests.


Why Become A+ Certified?
There are several good reasons to get your A+ certification. The CompTIA Candidate’s Information packet lists five major benefits.

1. It demonstrates (= provides/represents) proof of professional achievement.
A+ certification is quickly becoming a status symbol in the computer service industry.

2. It increases your marketability.
A+ certification makes individuals more marketable to potential employers. Also, A+ certified employees may receive a higher base salary, because employers won’t have to spend as much money on vendor-specific training.

3. It provides greater opportunity for advancement in your field.
Most raises and advancements are based on performance. A+ certified employees work faster and more efficiently, thus making them more productive.

4. It is increasingly found as a requirement for some types of advanced training.
A+ certification is recognized by most major hardware vendors, including (but not limited to) IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Apple, and Compaq. Some of these vendors will apply A+ certification toward prerequisites in their own respective certification programs.

5. It raises customer confidence in you and your company’s services.
As the A+ certified technician moniker becomes more well known among computer owners, more of them will realize that the A+ technician is more qualified to work on their computer equipment than a non-certified technician is.

Resource: A+ Complete Study Guide (Deluxe Edition) -- published by SYBEX

(解說)

1. Sooner do sth (than do sth) (fml) rather do sth 寧願做某事
She would sooner resign than take part in such dishonest business deals.

2. wide-ranging = covering a wide area 廣泛的

3. in the sense that = way in which a word, sentence, etc is to be understood. 就字面意義來看/從…的角度來看

4. not … until = 直到 ...才

5. base salary = 底薪

6. specific = relating to one particular thing 特定的

7. respective = belonging to each as an individual 個別的
They each excel in their respective fields.
The salesclerks and the teachers got pay rises of 6% and 9% respectively.
店員和教師的工資分別增加百分之六和百分之九。(Yahoo!字典例句)

How to Ask a Guy Out

You can talk a good game about being a modern chick, but it’s time for you put your money where your mouth is...with our help, of course.

By Bethany Heitman

Passively waiting for a hottie to make a move is simply not acceptable behavior for a fearless Cosmo chick like yourself. Sure, it can be a little intimidating to approach a dude, but it puts you in control of your dating destiny, and besides—guys really like it. “Men find it refreshing when a female asks them out,” Says Rhonda Findling, psychotherapist and author of The Dating Cure. “Beyond that, it’s empowering for the woman.” Some tips for taking this bold step.

1. Buy Him a Drink

If a guy catches your eye while you’re out with friends, send over a beer. Since it forces him to make the next move and say thank you, it’s a stealth way of letting him know you’re interested.

2. Suggest a Super Guy-Friendly Outing

Try to gauge what the guy you’ve set your sights on is into. Here’s how: As you’re chatting him up, ask him what he did over the weekend. Then, casually suggest something similar— whether it be going out for wings or to the batting cages— for the following Friday.

3. Invite Him on a Group Date

If you can’t quite bring yourself to suggest solo time together, try inviting him out with a bunch of your friends which will make you feel more at ease. One caveat: Avoid having your Giselle look-a-like pal tag along— you want to make sure his eyes stay glued to you.

4. If You Lose Your Nerve...

Really can’t bring yourself to invite a dude out? Then give him the green light to ask you. After flirting for a bit say something like, “Have you heard about this new movie? I’ve been dying to see it.” It will give him the perfect opportunity to suggest you see it together—and because you’ve hinted at what you want to do, it takes some of the planning pressure off him. Perfect!

Resource: Cosmopolitan.com

(中文翻譯)

如何邀約男人

你可以高談闊論如何當個現代豪放女，但你早該有所行動了!當然，我們會從旁協助。

你是無所不能的柯夢波丹豪放女，絕不能只等著帥哥邀約。我知道約男人可能會讓你望之卻步，不過你卻可以掌控自己的桃花運，而且男人都很喜歡女人主動 (這樣做)。身兼心理治療師與《約會秘訣》作者的 Rhonda Findling 說過：「女人如果主動出擊，男人會很感到很新奇。而且，女人可以從中學到積極的態度。」
以下是放膽追求男人的小秘訣。

1. 請他喝杯酒

與朋友聚會時如果相中某個男人，不妨請他喝杯酒。如此一來，他非得向你致謝不可，你就可偷偷讓他知道你對他有好感。

2. 提議去做男人超愛的活動

試著問出你看中的男人喜歡什麼，方法如下：跟他親切交談時，問他週末都在幹什麼，然後隨口邀他下禮拜去做類似的活動，不管是吃烤雞翅，還是到棒球練習場打球。

3. 邀他參加團體聯誼

如果真的無法開口邀男人單獨出遊，就請他參加朋友聚會，這樣你會比較輕鬆自在。給個良心的建議：別讓那些魔鬼身材、天使臉孔的朋友跟著，你得讓男人的眼中只有你。

4. 鼓不起勇氣開口，該怎麼辦？

無法開口邀男人？那就製造機會讓他邀你。你在調情一陣子之後可以說：「嗯，你聽過那部新電影嗎？我老早就想去看了。」這樣，他就可順道邀你看電影。你已經暗示他你想做什麼，某些邀約的壓力便可落在男人身上。真是有夠讚!

(解說)

1. Talk a good game:

To talk a good game means that someone sounds sincere and/or knowledgeable about an issue, but is, in fact, not to be trusted.

2. Put your money where your mouth is = (idom) to do something rather than to just talk about it. (告訴別人不要說大話，要以實際行動來證明)

I finally realized that I should stop complaining about the people who run our town, put my money where my mouth is, and run for office.

3.

Chat sb up = talk to sb in a friendly way or flirtatious manner in order to gain his or her confidence 和某人親切或輕挑地交談
Who was that pretty girl you were chatting up last night?

go out for wings = 外出吃烤雞翅 (eg Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar)
You don't have to go out for wings when you have this recipe

The batting cages = 打擊練習場

4. Caveat = (fml 文) warning 警告

5. Giselle = 膾炙人口的芭蕾舞劇吉賽兒(Giselle)

Look-alike = person who has a very similar appearance to sb else 與某人極相似

A Marilyn Monroe look-alike contest (模仿瑪莉蓮夢露形象的比賽)

6. Pal = (infml口) friend 朋友

We’ve been pals for years. (我們是多年朋友)

7. Tag = 標籤

Put a name-tag on it.

Tag question = 附加疑問句

Let’s go, shall we?

It’s beautiful, isn’t it?

Tag along (with/behind/ after sb)= follow closely 緊隨

Children tagging along behind their mother.

If you’re going to (see) a movie, do you mind if I tag along (with you)?

8. Lose one’s nerve = to panic/ to fear doing sth (害怕做某件事)

Bill lost his nerve and wouldn't try to ski down the hill.

As、when 與 while 的用法

1. As 的用法

指有過程的動作

--I watched her as she put on her make-up.

--They marched in protest of the arrest, chanting ‘God is love’ as they went along.

用於敘述發展或演變

--As recession continues to deepen, it becomes even harder for them to find suitable

jobs.

--As the election day came nearer, mud-slinging and violence got even worse.

--As he became older his eyesight became deteriorated.

--As years went on, he lost interest in everything except the spiritual.

2. When 的用法

At or during the time that (當--- 時)

--It was raining when we arrived.

--When he saw her run into the field, he secretly followed

--When visiting Taipei I like to travel by bus. (我遊覽台北時喜歡搭公車)

3. While 的用法

During the time that 在---期間

--He fell asleep while (he was) doing his homework. (他做著做著功課就睡著了)

--While I was in Madrid there was a carnival. (我在馬德里的時候遇上了狂歡節)

--While (locked up) in prison, he wrote his first novel. (他在獄中寫了第一部小說)

--Tom took some photos to document the blooms and animal life while I was away.

(我不在時，湯姆拍了些照片來記錄花草生長與動物活動)

Fatherhood and Diapers

Fatherhood and Diapers

I’m about to take you on a journey of epic proportions. “What sort of journey is that?” you may ask. The journey of fatherhood. Now let us begin with the baby’s arrival, which came after several hours of anxious waiting, coaching, breathing and a friendly visit from my mother-in-law. She asked us what we wanted for dinner, and I calmly responded, “Sorry Mom, but we’re a little bit busy right now.” This must be a cultural thing, right?

Anyway, the time arrived, and out popped a happy, bouncing baby boy. Once I saw him, I though, “This kid is going to be the biggest thing in my life.” I didn’t realize how true this statement would be. I remember the first time in the hospital that I changed a dirty diaper. That special smell and the dozen or so baby wipes that I used. It was kind of like a scene out of a Jim Carrey film. Of course, I must mention the first time I bathed him, or should I say him, me and everything else in the bathroom. I lifted him up out of the bath. He smiled contentedly and then whizzed on me.

Since then it has been a series of sleepless nights, diapers, milk, and burping. Music is another fun part of my life that has undergone some radical changes. What was once the loud sounds of the latest rock sensation has now become the sounds of “farmyard animals” and “gaa-gaa goo-goos.” And these are not the names of rock bands but rather what is actually on my kid’s CDs.

Finally, I can now say that I have experienced the infamous Chinese one-month maternity rest, and all the sesame chicken and kidneys that go with it. Wow, at the end, not only my wife was happy it was over.

So for those prospective fathers out there: take the leap and have a baby! Don’t let anything I’ve told you frighten or dismay you. Get involved and get your hands dirty. It makes everything worth it when your child looks at you and smiles or does something that he could not do before.

Resource: Sunday English (周日雙語報) - Sunday, June 4, 2000

(解說)

1. Fatherhood = The state of being a father; the character or authority of a father; paternity. 父親的身分；父權

(Title)　Edwards admits to affair, denies fatherhood

Former U.S. Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards admitted on Friday that he had an extramarital affair in 2006 with a woman who produced videos for his campaign, but said he was not the father of her infant daughter. "I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness,” Edwards said in a statement.

Father-figure = 受尊敬的長者 (older man who is respected because he guides and protects others)

Father Christmas = 聖誕老公公

2. epic = heroic; grand 英勇的；史詩般的

3. proportions = dimensions or measurements 體積；程度；大小

4. arrival = person or thing that arrives 到達的人

We’re expecting a new arrival (ie a new baby).

5. pop out = come out suddenly 突然出來

Release the ejector clips by gently pulling out them out of the sides of the module. Gently pulling both clips at the same time will release the memory. The module should pop up into more or less the position shown in fig 1.2.

6. or so = 表不確定的量 (suggesting vagueness or uncertainty about quantity)

7. Jim Carrey 金凱瑞

A Canadian-American film actor and comedian, who is known for his manic, slapstick performances in comedy films such as When Nature Calls; Dumb and Dumber; and Bruce Almighty.

8. Whiz = make sound like that of an object moving very fast through the air

嗖的一聲

9. burp = bring up wind from the stomach 打嗝

10. sensation

= feeling in one’s body 感覺

= state of great surprise, excitement, or interest among many people 轟動；群情激動

Sensation-seeking newspapers tried to cash in on her misery.

專登聳動新聞的報紙竭力渲染她的苦境來賣錢

11. infamous = notorious; well-known as being wicked or immoral

惡名昭彰的；臭名遠揚

noted/famous/well-known/

12. prospective = future, possible 未來的；可能的

Showing the house to a prospective buyer.

13. A leap of faith = the act of believing in something without evidence. It is an act commonly associated with religious belief as many religions consider faith to be an essential element.

14. dismay = feeling of shock and discouragement 氣餒

15. involve

- be/get involved in a car accident = had a car accident發生車禍

- This will require a huge amount of focus and execution from everyone involved.

- a situation in which national security is involved 涉及國家安全的情勢

- be/become/get involved in politics, criminal activities, etc

參與/涉及政治、犯罪活動

- He sees her often but doesn’t want to get too involved.

16. worth 的用法

He felt that his life was no longer worth living. 生命沒有再活下去的意義

It’s an idea that’s worth considering. 那個意見值得考慮

His works are worth troubling about. 值得研究

(以上解說內容主要參照牛津高階英漢雙解詞典)

Literally Wuman

Who ever said that all toilets are the same? Well, I’m here to say that this is definitely not true! I’m usually a pretty easygoing guy and am not particularly picky, but I have a bone to pick with someone when it comes to toilets.

Some of my friends and I have a similar opinion regarding the way some toilets are designed here. Imagine having dinner at a restaurant, and all of a sudden your stomach tells you that what you had for lunch is 90 percent digested. What do you do? Well, of course, you simply get up and look for a place to ease the tension. You go asking where the toilet is, and when you get there, what do you see? A squat toilet!

What a place to experience shock when you thought you’ve found the place to put the smile back on your face. Instead of relief, a challenge awaits you where you have to get into a leg numbing, knee cracking and back breaking position. To be fair, I know that in Asia, many people actually find the squat toilet is more natural, but those of us who’ve grown up in North America, this can be a horrible experience. Call me spoiled if you will, but I think most of us are used to raised, flushing toilets now.

But even those toilets come in different designs. Have you ever used a toilet with a circular bowl? They really can’t compare with the oblong ones with the extra 3 inches of space at the front. Don’t you laugh now, those three inches are very important.

Well, I guess I shouldn’t complain too much about squat toilets. It could be worse – like the standing on two pieces of wood over a big hole, which thankfully I haven’t had to use yet.

馬桶各有差別 吳大維 週記

誰說馬桶都長得一模一樣？我說那絕對不是真的! 我一向是個相當好相處的人，不會特別挑剔；但講到馬桶，我卻有滿腹的牢騷想對人抱怨。

我和一干好友對於此地馬桶的設計有相似的意見。想像你在餐廳用餐，突然之間，你的胃通知你百分之九十的中餐已經消化掉了，你會怎麼做? 當然，你會不加思考的起身，然後找地方「紓解壓力」。你前去詢問廁所在哪裡，當你到了哪兒，你看到了什麼? 一個蹲式的馬桶!

看到這樣的地方，真是令人震驚不已，特別是當你自認為已經找到一個可以重展笑顏的地方。結果，非但沒有得到紓解，反倒有個挑戰等著你--- 一個使你腿麻，膝蓋疲憊和背部酸痛的姿勢。平心而論，我知道在亞洲，很多人覺得蹲式馬桶比較自然，但對於生於北美的我們而言，這真是可怕的經驗。你可以說我們被寵壞了，我想我們大多已經習慣立式抽水馬桶。

盡管馬桶有不同的設計，你曾用過圓形凹槽的馬桶嗎?它們真的無法和擁有長形凹槽前端多出三吋空間的馬桶相比。不要笑，那三吋可是相當重要的。

我想，我不該不停抱怨蹲式馬桶，或許還有更糟的呢!像是站在一個洞上方的兩塊木板上方便；謝天謝地我還不需要用到這種馬桶。

Resource: Taiwan Student News (雙語學生報) - Sunday, July25, 1999

(解說)

1. easygoing = (of people) relaxed in manner, placid and tolerant 隨和的
My mom doesn’t mind who comes to stay. She’s very easygoing.

2. picky = (infml and derog, esp US) fussy, choosy 挑剔的

3. have a bone to pick with someone = have sth to argue or quarrel about with sb

就某事與某人爭論或爭吵

Anita is looking for you. She says she has a bone to pick with you.

I’ve got a bone to pick with you. Where’s the money I lent you last week?

4. Have a word (with sb)(about sth)

=speak to sb, esp privately or confidentially

Could we have a word before you go to the meeting? 能私下說句話嗎?

"Could you please excuse us for a moment?" I request. The stylist nods.

"I'm just going to pick up some things and I'll be right back. ...

"Do you have a minute? I'd like to have a talk with you, in private."

"Sure, not a problem. I'll be in your office in a minute."

5. regarding = about

6. opinion (of/about) 意見

What’s your opinion of the new President?

= What do you think of the new President?

Opinion is shifting in favor of the new scheme.

(輿論正轉向支持新計畫)

The project seems excellent, but local opinion is against it.

You’d better get a second opinion before you let that man take out all your teeth.

7. all of a sudden = suddenly

8. simply = in a plain or unfussy way

9. squat toilet = 蹲式馬桶

10. instead of

We sometimes eat rice instead of potatoes.

11. spoil 溺愛 嬌慣

That little girl is terribly spoiled (spoilt) – Her parents give her everything she asks for.

Spoil = pamper

12. flush

A flush of enthusiasm, anger, joy, etc.

He often flushes.

Give the toilet a flush.

Flush the toilet after use.

(以上解說內容主要參照牛津高階英漢雙解詞典)