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US asks Twitter to hand over personal information about key Wikileaks supporters, including Assange and Jonsdottir. From BBC.

维基解密:力拒美国向推特下传票: http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2011/01/110108_us_twitter_wiki_update.shtml

“维基解密”网站宣称,已经要求律师反对美国向社交网站“推特”(Twitter)下发传票,要求公布“维基解密”网站相关人员的个人资料。

美国弗吉尼亚州地区法院表示,需要的个人资料包括用户姓名、地址、上线记录、电话号码和付费细节。

这些人中包括“维基解密”网站创始人阿桑奇和冰岛女议员约恩斯多蒂尔。

....

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Guangdong's first gay marriage, I stumbled upon this one: http://nf.nfdaily.cn/nfdsb/content/2011-01/10/content_19140580.htm

Surprisingly many new words for me.

南都讯 记者邓少军今年元旦,中山市阳光酒店迎来了一场不同寻常的婚礼:32岁的“PACO”和28岁的“水晶”喜结连理,这两位新人都是女人。据悉,这是广东首对公开举行婚礼的同性恋人。

  当天晚上,身着一袭白色婚纱的“水晶”挽着一身笔挺灰色西装的“PACO”的手臂,缓缓走进宴会厅,两旁的来宾则把玫瑰花瓣、彩带纷纷撒向两位新人,为新人祝福。婚礼的主持人当众读出她们的宣言:“我们是拉拉,我们也许不为社会所接纳,可我们将日夜相伴,我们将不离不弃……”

讯 [xùn] dispatch, 南都讯 = according to a 南方都市报 dispatch

不同寻常 [bùtóngxúncháng ] different

中山市 Zhongshan city in Guangdong: http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh/中山市

喜结连理 to get married

同性恋人 same-sex partner

据悉 [jùxī] it is reported...

手臂 [shǒubì] arm

彩带 [cǎidài] coloured ribbon

(玫瑰)花瓣 [huābàn] (rose) petal

当众 [dāngzhòng] publicly

接纳 [jiēnà] accept

不离不弃 [bùlíbúqì] never leave or forsake

嘉宾 [jiābīn] honoured guest

圈内朋友 close friends

伴娘 [bànniáng] bridesmaid

上司 [shàngsi] superior (at work)

异性 [yìxìng] the opposite sex

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Time for me to make a contribution, now with a bit of a challenging article if you dare give it a try :) The article is by economist 叶檀 who's become a bit of a property tax specialist lately. The article is a few weeks old but very current as Shanghai and Chongqing are trialling the property tax over the months ahead before it's introduced on a nationwide basis sometime after March. A lot of people think this will be the death blow to the Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan etc property markets as these are reaching historical highs and are to a large extent investment driven rather than satisfying a housing need.

http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001036131?page=1

楼市调控未见成效,车市调控越调越热,这就是中国经济调控下的真实情形。如此悖反的情况是货币泡沫与通胀压力的必然恶果,更是公众预期税负不公平后的理性反应。

房产税征税传闻四起,按理在物业持有环节征税,物业的溢价应该缩减。不料在中国恰好相反,房产税出台之前公众抢搭购房末班车,11月到12月,商品房成交量大幅上升,地王频现。

截止12月19号的一周,67%的城市成交量环比上涨,总体成交量小幅上涨 4.7%,终结了连续两周的下降行情。同一周,深圳一手房成交大幅上升,共成交993套,环比上升31.0%,创下近10以来的成交量新高。

悖反 bei4fan3 = to go against

四起 si4qi3 = everywhere

行情 hang2qing2 = market quotations

同期 = corresponding period

一手房 yi1shou3fang2 = new home as opposed to second hand

此起彼伏 ci3qi3bi3fu2 = to rise and fall in succession

折合 zhe2he2 = convert into

刷心 shua1xin1 = break new (high/record)

逆势 ni4shi4 = opposite momentum

既得 ji4de2 = vested (interest)

节点 jie2dian3 = node

亵渎 xie4du2 = blasphemy

死胡同 si3hu2tong2 = blind alley

莫过于 mo4guo4yu2 = nothing is more than

红利 hong2li4 = dividend, bonus

治堵 zhi4du3 = alleviate traffic congestion

绥靖 sui2jing4 = appeasement

倒卖 dao3mai4 = speculate

瘫痪 tan1huan4 = paralysis

安抚 an1fu3 = appease

昭示 zhao1shi4 = to declare publicly

匪夷所思 fei3 yi2 suo3 si1 = fantastic

一视同仁 yi1shi4tong2ren2 = to treat everyone equally

绑架 bang3jia4 = kidnap

兴风作浪 xing1feng1zuo4lang4 = stir up trouble

阴谋论 yin1mou2lun4 = conspiracy theory

瓮中捉鳖 weng4zhong1zhuo1bie1 = set oneself an easy target

Questions:

1. Why have the property volumes started to increase again after the taxes have been announced?

A. The government is buying up property

B. Prices have decreased enough to incite interest again

C. Developers have on purpose decreased the supply in anticipation of the tax and the market is now in short supply

D. Only owners of new apartments will have to pay residential property tax

2. How does 叶檀 think the car market bubble is similar to the one in the residential property market?

A. It distorts the market by not applying the regulation consistently

B. Regulations in both markets are both based on a set monthly purchase quota

C. Citizens without 户口 will not be able to purchase cars or property as they please and hence hoard supply while they can

D. It has reached unprecedented proportions

3. Why does 叶檀 think the government is designing the regulations this way?

A. They want to maximise tax revenue

B. Government has vested interests and hence tries to drive up short-term transaction volumes by introducing regulations

C. To crack down on speculators acquiring cars and properties just for investment rather than use

D. To gain goodwill for the new party officials taking over the leadership of the party in 2012

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刷心 shua1xin1 = break new (high/record)

should be 刷新.

匪夷所思 fei3 yi2 suo3 si1 = fantastic

I think it is more like hard to believe.

截止12月19号的一周

I think it should be 截至.

创下近10以来的成交量新高

Not sure 10 what? Years? Months? Weeks?

环比

This is a new term to me. We don't seem to use it here.

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This is from today’s HK 文匯報 -> 港大飯堂「少飯平1元」 廚餘減近3成

本港每日產生3,280公噸廚餘,佔都市垃圾的36%。環保團體綠領行動在多間大專院校逢周三推出「少飯平1元」運動,其中香港大學在飯堂推行半個月已減少廚餘量達28%,但仍有學生以「味道不好」為由吃剩飯菜,甚至「吃餸不吃飯」,造成不必要的浪費。

綠領行動去年11月與7間大專院校合作,在13間飯堂逢周三推行「有衣食日」,師生購買指定飯餐時提出少飯,飯餐價錢便可減1元。香港大學膳食經理潘偉康稱,在實施首半個月,在午膳2小時內有6%師生提出「少飯」,收到吃剩飯菜的廚餘量從初時的25公斤減至18公斤,減幅28%。

港大2年級學生陳裕榮表示,校園內已廣泛宣傳「少飯平1元」運動,但仍有學生以「味道不好」為由吃剩飯菜,甚至「吃餸不吃飯」,以午膳情況尤為嚴重。綠領行動項目主任郭盈盈表示,現有意培訓每間院校15人成為「有衣食」大使,在校園內宣揚減少浪費的訊息,並減少堆填區的壓力。

Some systems may be unable to display the word “” properly. And “平" means 便宜.

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Easy but fun article out of Urumqi:

新疆70岁农户种植50株大麻 称不知是违法

近日,新疆克拉玛依白碱滩区三平镇派出所铲除了50株大麻。

该派出所警察说,他们巡逻时,在石西零公里附近一农场发现了种植的大麻。大麻是一名70岁的农户种植的,他说,种大麻只是想做麻绳用,并不知道个人种植大麻属于违法行为。

警察向种植大麻的老人解释了关于种植大麻的政策法规和后果,并进行了批评教育,又找来农场负责人,要求加强农田种植管理,对非法种植的农户及时上报。

据了解,我国相关法律规定,对于种植其它原植物毒品者可处以10日以上15日以下拘留,可以并处3000元以下罚款,对较轻者处以5日以下拘留或500元以下罚款。

Questions:

1. What was the farmer's defense?

2. What did he claim to have been using the material for?

3. What will the penalty be?

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Questions:

1. What was the farmer's defense?

From the title: "称不知是违法", he claimed he didn't know it was illegal.... hah! <_<

2. What did he claim to have been using the material for?

The article says that he said "种大麻只是想做麻绳用", so he claimed he was using the marijuana to make hemp textiles and rope (sure buddy, we believe you ;) ).

3. What will the penalty be?

According to the article "种植其它原植物毒品者可处以10日以上15日以下拘留,可以并处3000元以下罚款", which means that those who plant drug-related crops could be imprisoned for 10-15 days and fined up to 3000 RMB. :o

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This one is a bit scandalous:

換到「綠腎」-妻跟捐贈人亂搞

新加坡一名酒類批發商換腎後,驚覺妻子與捐腎人有一腿,就連四歲女兒也是情夫的種。捐腎人受訪時痛批商人換腎重獲新生後,翻臉不認人,而且常喝酒,完全不照顧自己捐出來的腎臟。

今日新聞網引述星洲日報報導,一起法庭案件日前揭露了外遇事件,酒類批發商人換腎後,發現捐腎救他的恩人竟是妻子的情夫,他的四歲女兒也是妻子和情夫所生。

報導說,捐腎人從善心人士變成姦夫,他接受訪問時表示,如果商人不要他的腎,他可以拿回來,捐給更值得的人,「我甚至可以支付手術費,並將腎匿名捐出。我的腎可捐給任何人,但我不希望捐給這個男人,因為我沒想到他會對我進行這樣的人身攻擊。我是好心捐腎,但他卻完全不感恩。」

商人難過地表示,如果時光倒流,他寧願賣掉房產、結束生意去洗腎。當初換腎是為了和妻女好好過日子,但現在什麼都沒了,還要痛苦承受這一切,因為妻子外遇對象的腎還在他身體內。報導指出,捐腎人則低調表示,他才是三角戀情的受害者。

1)What is the closest English meaning for 綠腎?

a)a green kidney

b)a moldy kidney

c)a Democratic kidney

d)a fresh new kidney

2)Who did the kidney belong to?

a)妻子的哥

b)妻子外遇的對象

c)妻子的姐

d)商人的妻子

3)What else technically belonged to the kidney donor?

a)商人和妻子的女兒

b)商人的酒類批發生意

c)商人的貓

d)商人的房子

4)若商人早知道情況原來如此, 那他寧可做什麼?

a)自殺

b)自己付錢洗腎

c)殺妻子

d)殺妻子外遇的對象

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Oh, and this article is just too good not to share:

中美媽咪戰 中國更優越?

MSNBC網站報導,西方媒體大談中國在政治、外交、經濟領域崛起,美國則日趨式微。這種中美之爭現在更擴及文化層面。

耶魯大學法學教授蔡美兒(Amy Chua)8日為「全球媽咪戰爭」開了第一砲,在「華爾街日報」發表「中國母親何以更優越」一文,表示「中國父母可以命令孩子功課全部拿A,西方父母只能要求孩子盡力」。

這篇文章摘自蔡美兒11日出版的新書「虎媽的戰歌」(Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother)。她在文中試圖說明中國家庭何以能夠教養出這麼多數學、小提琴或鋼琴奇才,順利進入長春藤或其他頂尖名校。

這篇文章很快就成為「華爾街日報」網站的大熱門,到10日已吸引超過1770篇評論,還有8萬5000人把它與臉書連結。

文中指出中國父母得以「成功」的三大特質:不理會孩子的自尊心;認定孩子必須孝順父母;堅信小孩子不懂事,需要父母指引。

文中說,中國父母可能做出西方人無法想像的事情。例如,蔡美兒就不准兩個女兒外宿、和朋友出去玩、看電視或玩電動遊戲、自己選擇課外活動、有任何功課拿不到A、學習鋼琴或小提琴以外的樂器等等。

這篇文章讓西方讀者覺得不可思議,甚至以為這是諷刺文章。但是,許多人對文中的許多觀點感受深刻,尤其是美國華人。

有個來自大陸的華人說:「我看過很多對子女非常嚴厲的父母。像我自己,如果有功課沒拿到A,會被母親罰跪或賞以『爆栗子』(用指關節敲腦袋)。」

蔡美兒寫道:「中國父母要求孩子拿滿分,因為他們相信孩子有能力做到。」所謂的平庸或失敗並不存在,除非孩子是故意的。

另一個華人說:「我只記得青少年時期整天提心吊膽,怕母親發現我迷上一個男孩,怕考試考不好,怕她發現我撒謊。」

蔡美兒描述的中國父母的三大特質,或許造就出一些成功人物,可是也有許多人表示不以為然。

原在美國一家大公司服務的Ping Mong,曾協助從台灣招募人才。這些人大多來自最好的大學,很會讀書做研究,可是要他們從事團隊計畫卻有問題。他說:「他們只會讀書,缺少當眾做報告、談判和人際關係技巧。」

他表示教育當然很重要,可是也不能忽略完整的人性發展。許多人認為這正是中國式教養的缺點。

在中國社會,尤其是老一輩,父母很少表露感情。但是,在一見面就互相擁抱的美國社會成長,很快就會注意到父母從不抱你或親吻你。在注重積極鼓勵的社會成長,也可能令人懷疑父母為什麼只注意你的缺點和功課不夠好。

一個在美國出生的華人說,猶太母親與中國母親一樣,對孩子期望很高,也一樣注重功課,不過猶太社會至少接受心理治療。

接受心理治療就像失敗一樣,被許多華人視為見不得人的弱點,經常導致不幸後果。衛生福利部說,在各族群中,美國15歲到24歲的亞裔婦女自殺率最高,而其中一個原因就是要求功課好的壓力太大。

事實上,蔡美兒未必表示她教養子女的方式比較好。文中說,本文理應是談論中國父母的教養方式優於西方父母,其實這是關於苦澀的文化衝突。

許多人認為中西教養方式不必對立,父母大可集兩者之優點。

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This article is on today's fruit daily -> 港大女教授 拆解斷腸草抗癌

This story is on several newspapers today. But I like this report because of its opening.

「神農嚐百草,死於斷腸草」。說到毒物,斷腸草三個字可說無人不識,不過草能殺人,亦能救人,除了小說內中了情花毒的神鵰大俠楊過外,斷腸草原來還有抗癌作用。香港大學化學系講座教授楊丹,花近 17年時間研究其中一種斷腸草的分子排列結構,再利用化學物質合成類似的活性物質,近日成功排列出接近沒有毒性又能抗癌的超級成份,十年後料可製成抗癌藥物。回望 17年資源短缺的科研苦路,楊丹坦言,能發現對人類有益的成果,「是石子路上挖到一塊金子」。
楊丹及其研究團隊最初從雷公藤根部提煉出有藥效的活性分子雷公藤甲素,但該分子仍含毒性,且產量稀少,集合全球所有雷公藤也只能煉出 5公斤左右的份量,團隊於是改以新的化學合成手法,利用其他化學物排列出與雷公藤甲素相似的多環結構,再對其進行修飾和改造,終研究出具有單一活性,能避免產生副作用的物質,新手法更可應用於其他藥物合成作用上。

Belated questions -

1) What is 情花毒?

2) What is a 講座教授?

3) If you think you want to read news reports only, do you still think that you can afford not to read Jin Yong? :D

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This one has just popped up on my screen, and I think it is interesting enough.

塔吉克斯坦退还中方约1000平方公里的领土

据我国驻塔吉克斯坦大使馆经济商务参赞处消息,塔议会下院于1月12日以多数票批准了之前中塔两国政府签署的勘界协定。至此,两国间存在了130多年的领土争端问题得以解决。

据悉,中塔两国领土争端问题起于19世纪下半叶的沙皇俄国,延续至苏联及独立后的塔吉克斯坦,争议领土面积约2.85万平方公里。根据已签署的协定,塔方退还中方约1000平方公里的领土。

据中评社援引美联社报道,塔吉克斯坦政府12日宣布,同意放弃与中国在帕米尔高原拥有主权争议的一块土地,将这块土地所有权交给中国。

塔吉克国会12日经过投票表决,同意放弃这块在帕米尔高原、一千多平方公里的土地。但是,目前还不清楚,究竟有多少人将由这块土地撤离。

Q1 - What is 塔议会下院?

Q2 - Do you think 据悉 in paragraph 2 is properly used?

Q3 - Where is the disputed land?

Q4 - List the words used (in the paragraphs above) that mean China.

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Q1 - What is 塔议会下院?

"塔" refers to "塔吉克斯坦" which is Tajikistan (in English), and "议会" is a legislative body, so "塔议会下院" refers to the "Lower House of Tajikistan's Legislative Body"

Q2 - Do you think 据悉 in paragraph 2 is properly used?

It might have been more accurate to say "根据中塔两国的历史", but it seems okay to use "据悉" here as well, as long as it is understood that the news isn't recent

Q3 - Where is the disputed land?

According to the article is says "中塔两国领土争端" and "同意放弃与中国在帕米尔高原拥有主权争议的一块土地", so the land is on the border of China and Tajikistan, and the land conceded to China is on the Pamir Plateau (which is near 新疆 province). I didn't even know China and Tajikistan shared a border... :wacko:

Q4 - List the words used (in the paragraphs above) that mean China.

Let's see, there's 我国 and 中国. Oddly enough, I have never seen 我国 referring to anything except China, even if the writer is not from China! :P

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This is from today’s HK 文匯報 -> 內地生來港考AP勁升兩倍

香港考評局2年前從美國大學理事會引進Advanced Placement(AP)考試,吸引大量內地生來港報考,以取得該國際試成績,以作為赴海外升讀大學的「捷徑」。考評局資料顯示,去年經該局報考AP人數達750人,較09年激增2倍,其中近9成為內地生,但由於國家教育部考試中心去年亦將AP考試引入內地,該局預料,今年來港考AP的內地生將下跌。不過,本地的科技大學及理工大學開始率先承認AP考試成績作學分換算之用,可望吸引更多香港學生報考。

Q1 What is a 捷徑?

Q2 Why did mainland students (i) take the exam (ii) in Hong Kong?

Q3 Why is it expected that there will be fewer mainland students to do so in future?

Q4 What should the AP exam be called in Chinese by 國家教育部考試中心? :P

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Here's a fun one:

开车超速?有请Google Earth作证

澳洲一名被指超速而遭罚款的大学生,利用Google Earth向法庭提出上诉,最后获允许再审。根据资料计算,他开的汽车当时正在山顶,但罚单却指当时汽车正在下山,因此怀疑警方拍到的车,根本不是他所驾驶的那部。

24岁的沙卡吉被指在开车下山时超速驾驶,然而他利用Google Earth计算事发时汽车的位置,证明当时车子正在山顶,警员不可能看到他的车,警方的相机不可能拍到他超速。

法官采信他的说法,认同由警方提供的证据有疑点,怀疑警员认错车辆或仪器操作有误,决定接受上诉。

2002年与家人从伊拉克移民到澳洲的沙卡吉说:「我在伊拉克不能维护自己的权利,现在我拥有这权力,何不好好运用、据理力争?」

Questions:

1) How did this tech-savvy university student use Google Earth to prove his case?

2) What country did the student's family originally come from?

3) How does the student feel about his rights in his new country?

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