Gleaves Posted February 3, 2011 at 04:09 PM Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 at 04:09 PM Mona Lisa was a man, man? 意大利研究人员发现蒙娜丽莎原型是男性 (BBC) 专门解密名画的意大利研究人员说，他们发现文艺复兴时期的艺术大师达芬奇的名作《蒙娜丽莎》的原型模特是一名男子。意大利国家文化遗产委员会主席文塞蒂星期三（2月2日）说，这位激发达芬奇灵感的男子名叫萨莱，他是达芬奇的徒弟，并可能还是达芬奇的情人。 萨莱的真正名字是吉安·卡普罗提，这个柔弱的年轻画家和达芬奇一起工作了25年，被认为是达芬奇好几幅名画的灵感与模特。 文塞蒂在新闻发布会上说，萨莱和达芬奇有一种“说不清”的关系，两人很可能是恋人。 意大利研究人员用高清晰数码技术对达芬奇数幅名作中的人物面部特征进行分析，比如《施洗者圣约翰》和《印加魅地天使》，发现画中人物的鼻子和嘴与萨莱有惊人的相似之处。 文塞蒂还说，最重要的是，研究人员还发现，达芬奇在蒙娜丽莎的眼睛里写上细小的字母L和S，认为这是他留给后人的关于萨莱身份的线索。 卢浮宫的反驳 但文塞蒂的说法立即遭到收藏和展览《蒙娜丽莎》原作的法国卢浮宫专家的反驳。 卢浮宫博物馆说，他们在2004年和2009年对《蒙娜丽莎》进行过“所有可能的实验室测试”，但没有发现任何题词、字母或数字。 卢浮宫专家还认为，《蒙娜丽莎》是画在木版上的，经过如此漫长的岁月，画板老化后产生的大量裂缝，可能看起来像数字或字母的形状。 所以卢浮宫认为意大利研究人员的这一发现是“过度解释”，并质疑说，意大利方面怎么可能在没有原作的情况下得出如此重要的结论呢？ 但意大利专家回击说，神秘的《蒙娜丽莎》是世界上研究最多的名画，而收藏《蒙娜丽莎》多年的卢浮宫却没有留意这么重要的线索，一定让他们非常尴尬。 1. Who is 吉安·卡普罗提? 2. What is the signifciance of L and S? 3. Have you been to 卢浮宫? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted February 7, 2011 at 07:48 AM Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 at 07:48 AM This report was on the Ming Pao Daily of 2 February -> 「環保觸覺」要求做義工換訪問 樹仁大學新聞與傳播學系學生去年底以「學生實習電台」記者身分邀約環保團體「環保觸覺」訪問時，被要求「做義工換訪問」，學系以有違基本新聞採訪原則拒絕，結果環保觸覺將樹仁新傳系列入「黑名單」，永不接受其學生訪問。同樣設有學生實習刊物的中文大學和浸會大學均表示，學生外出採訪從未有過類似遭遇，認為環保觸覺做法不當。環保觸覺主席譚凱邦回應稱，2009年起有大量學生邀約訪問，令團體難以應付，故訂下政策要求所有學生訪問後做服務，雖然日後不再接受該系學生專訪，但歡迎學生出席記者會採訪。 樹仁新傳系3年級生翁同學去年底以學生實習電台「新傳電台」記者身分，聯絡環保觸覺邀約譚凱邦就屯門區興建焚化爐一事接受訪問。她表示，負責職員要求她為環保觸覺做義工最少3小時，並需先發電郵給機構，表明有意做義工，獲機構回覆同意後才提交採訪大綱。 翁同學認為不應以勞力換取採訪，故即日向系主任梁天偉求助，又指她身為學生記者，與全職記者一樣，為公眾報道新聞，環保觸覺視她為學生的做法不公平。 Q1 What is “環保觸覺” in the context of this report? Q2 What must a student do to set up an interview with the organisation concerned? Q3 Why is there such a policy? Q4 Why is the policy being criticised? And by who? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted February 13, 2011 at 03:57 AM Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 at 03:57 AM Shortage of formula milk -> 澳門奶粉因內地游客搶購緊缺 當地家長呼籲征稅 繼香港部分品牌奶粉賣斷市後，“奶粉荒”近日蔓延至澳門，澳門的大小藥房也成為內地游客掃貨的熱點(澳門的奶粉大多數都在藥房搭售)，加上不少“水客”轉售到內地圖利，部分品牌已告斷市。... 內地游客爭相搶購引致奶粉緊缺 受內地“毒奶”事件影響，越來越多的內地父母開始選用進口嬰兒奶粉，但是這些奶粉在內地的售價通常偏高。不少內地游客到澳門旅游時，都會大量購買這些進口奶粉。 位于澳門新口岸一間藥房的負責人表示，目前澳門奶粉的價格普遍上升了一成，但奶粉仍供不應求，通常是上午剛到的奶粉新貨上架，下午就被顧客搶購一空，速度驚人。 ... 旅行社調行程方便游客買奶粉 應游客的強烈要求，旅行社也適時地對澳門游的行程作出了相應的調整，一是增加游客自由活動的時間，以方便市民購買奶粉；二是直接帶游客到有質量保証的購物點購買奶粉。 ... 澳門家長建議開征“奶粉稅” “特區政府應該盡快立法，開征奶粉離境稅，規定每個游客每次只能帶一罐已開、使用過的奶粉離境，否則每罐奶粉就要征收一定的稅收。”一位姓李的家長在澳門網站提出了這個建議，得到了廣大網民的熱烈響應，甚至有個別立法會議員也表示支持。不過有學者就潑冷水，征收“奶粉離境稅”將會違反世界貿易組織有關自由貿易的規定。 Q1 The article contains plenty of typos (typos in traditional script). What should the highlighted characters be written in traditional script? Q2 What do these terms mean - 水客, 掃貨, 新貨上架, 潑冷水? Q3 Why do mainlanders like to buy formula milk in Macau? Q4 Will taxation be viable to help stop the problem? (BTW this is already a big problem in Hong Kong.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meng Lelan Posted February 13, 2011 at 04:15 AM Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 at 04:15 AM 1. Who is 吉安·卡普罗提? A young artist and possibly lover who worked 25 years with Davinci. 2. What is the signifciance of L and S? The letters were placed into the painting (Mona Lisa's eyes) to give later generations a clue to their relationship. 3. Have you been to 卢浮宫? The Louvre? Ah, non. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Wong Posted February 17, 2011 at 01:45 AM Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 at 01:45 AM A recent development in a story that has captured the attention of the Chinese community here in the NY/NJ area. Rather long but an interesting article. Some background information: 会/标会/协助会 refers to a type of co-operative fund that is common in the Chinese community here. The purpose of the fund is to allow participants or members to borrow from the fund collateral-free when the need arises. Each participant in the fund normally contributes a set amount of money on a regular basis to the fund, which is administered by a trusted individual. Each month, a bidding process called 标会 determines who gets to borrow, and at what effective interest rate. 奥迪兹 is New York State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz. 州众议员 State Assemblyman. 闽籍 A native of Fujian Province. 陈德清 Name of the fund administrator. 8大道青年会 I believe this refers to the Brooklyn Chinese-American Youth Association, which is on 8th Ave, Brooklyn. 大西洋赌城 Atlantic City 百利 Bally's Casino 印度宫 Trump Taj Mahal (Casino) 闽籍男子陈德清倒会案牵连的受害者持续增加，在15日州众议员奥迪兹办公室为被倒会人所召开记者会上，协助调查的8大道青年会执行总监李江华估计最少有300人受害，总共损失金额在600至1000万之间，目前受害人已正式向检方控诉陈德清、其妻冯玉英、女儿陈雅和女婿张文辉四人涉嫌诈欺。 李江华指出，陈德清当会头组织两个标会，女儿陈雅名下则是有四个会，每个会都约有五名以上会员。尤其是最早从2006年12月开始的会，参加者截至目前统计已经多达75人，若是以会员每月死会会员须缴700元，最高投标金额为150元计算，单此一会近四年下来就有超过150万元流转。他强调，陈德清「利用外州会员名义来标会，以及标中后把钱收入自己口袋里不交给得标者，每个月都有几十万流经他手，六个会加起来总金额很可能近千万」。 根据李江华最新搜集到的资料，陈德清与女婿张文辉两人都是赌徒，在大西洋赌城积欠下上百万的赌债，而张文辉一晚就能输30万，在去年7月倒会案发生前，已经被百利和印度宫等赌场追债。他相信陈德清一家是受债务所逼，决定把2006年12月会在2010年7月于福州人所谓「落山」，即是会期结束要退还会费时，和妻子及女儿与女婿四人卷款潜逃。 15日来到奥迪兹办公室出面指控陈德清诈欺的人数有27人，不少民众年龄在七旬以上，表示自己把退休金拿来标会是想多赚点利息，根本不急著用钱，所以一直是保持活会的状态，没想到最后却是落得血本无归的下场。 受害者姜先生说，自己标的是700元的会，每个月都付出有550元，三年多下来赔了1万元，现在还因生病而无法做工，生活顿时陷入困境。他表示，若陈德清在美国的地产和店铺仅值百余万，若拿去抵押仍不足弥补被害人总损失金额的六分之一，甚至有受害人家属在福州找陈清德要钱都遭打伤，他现在到奥迪兹办公室参与调查，就是希望对方至少「得到应受的制裁」。 目前此案已经交由检察官处理，由纽约州府商业罪案调查科负责，并且因嫌犯已返回中国，将需由联邦调查局做进一步侦办。李江华指出，大多数被害人都是以现金支付标金，所幸在近两年的会中有人是以汇款和支票缴交会费，因此有汇款收据证明遭受诈欺，16日将会连同三名受害者把全部有关本案资料交给检方。另外，为感谢8大道青年会挺身相助，遭倒会的民众募集捐赠出800元给青年会，李江华表示，他们未来一定会更努力为社区服务。 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted February 17, 2011 at 02:04 AM Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 at 02:04 AM Is a State Assembly a body that functions like a congress at the state level? If the Congress is 衆議院, then is a State Assembly 州衆議院, or is it 州議會？ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Wong Posted February 17, 2011 at 03:09 AM Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 at 03:09 AM Is a State Assembly a body that functions like a congress at the state level? If the Congress is 衆議院, then is a State Assembly 州衆議院, or is it 州議會？ Yes, that is correct. The State Assembly is the state equivalent to the U.S. House of Representatives (Congress), and the State Senate to the U.S. (Federal) Senate. It makes sense to me that it would be 州众议院, but I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Wong Posted March 8, 2011 at 11:57 AM Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 at 11:57 AM I'm a sucker for these kinds of articles. Interesting enough that I was happy and eager to plow through all the new vocab with dictionary in hand (on phone). As much a glimpse into Chinese manners and customs as it is reading practice. Meet the Fockers meets Jane Austen, Chinese-style. Longish, but written in a casual conversational style that reads a lot easier than an op-ed. Enjoy! 富家女友居然看不起我的父母 http://news.xinmin.cn/rollnews/2011/03/04/9611172.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted March 10, 2011 at 03:48 AM Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 at 03:48 AM Very interesting news (with vivid descriptions) , which is related to the article posted at #103. 爭奶粉 5男女互毆奶粉難求引發街頭混戰。一對持雙程證來港的父子，昨早在灣仔一間連鎖藥房(圖)門外排隊輪購奶粉時，懷疑因為有人「插隊」問題，與另一名內地男子和其兩名姊姊大打出手。警員接報趕至，制止雙方打鬥，5人 同被警員拘捕，並獲送院治理。 ...... 事發於昨日上午8時許，姓黃父子到灣仔駱克道與菲林明道交界的一間連鎖藥房門外，排隊輪購奶粉，其間姓連男子偕其兩名姊姊加入輪購行列。不久有人指摘對方插隊挑起爭端，互不相讓大打出手，有人隨手掠取擺賣奶粉掟向對方，拳來腳往。5名男女喊殺連天，扭作一團。 Q1. What was the cause of the dispute? Q2. What did people line up for? Q3. List the terms used to describe the fight. Q4. List the surnames of those who took part in the fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meng Lelan Posted March 11, 2011 at 02:57 AM Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 at 02:57 AM Maybe the world would be more peaceful if there were more breastfeeding and less 奶粉. Q1. What was the cause of the dispute? Someone jumped into the line. Q2. What did people line up for? Milk powder/formula. Q3. List the terms used to describe the fight. 街頭混戰 = street scuffle 大打出手 = blows/fistfight Q4. List the surnames of those who took part in the fight. 黃 連 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted March 11, 2011 at 03:02 AM Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 at 03:02 AM Re Q3, there are more. 互毆, 拳來腳往, 喊殺連天, 扭作一團 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gleaves Posted March 16, 2011 at 10:22 PM Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 at 10:22 PM I just wanted to note that this thread inspired me to read a news article a day, so thanks for the impetus. Before I do anything else online each day, I read the first article on BBC Chinese. I currently have a streak of 60+ days going. Their articles are not that tough and are pretty brief, so whatever the first article is, I just power through it. Previously, I had only been reading an article or two a week and it felt like a chore, but now I find I am reading a few articles throughout the day to actually get the news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renzhe Posted March 16, 2011 at 10:53 PM Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 at 10:53 PM Gleaves, if you find a good or interesting article, please post a link. Today's article is based on current events: 国务院：全面检查核电站 不符安全标准立即停建 援引中国政府网，国务院总理温家宝3月16日主持召开国务院常务会议，会议决定：（一）立即组织对我国核设施进行全面安全检查。通过全面细致的安全评估，切实排查安全隐患，采取相关措施，确保绝对安全。 （二）切实加强正在运行核设施的安全管理。核设施所在单位要健全制度，严格操作规程，加强运行管理。监管部门要加强监督检查，指导企业及时发现和消除隐患。 （三）全面审查在建核电站。要用最先进的标准对所有在建核电站进行安全评估，存 在隐患的要坚决整改，不符合安全标准的要立即停止建设。 （四）严格审批新上核电项目。抓紧编制核安全规划，调整完善核电发展中长期规划，核安全规划批准 前，暂停审批核电项目包括开展前期工作的项目。 .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ma3zi1 Posted March 17, 2011 at 03:16 AM Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 at 03:16 AM It's been a while, but this article is very much worth it. Here's a copy of the infamous YouTube video that sparked it all... 洛加大反亞裔視頻 狠批劣跡 洛杉磯加大（UCLA）學生14日在網上貼反亞裔視頻，令學校和學生震驚。這條視頻由白人女生Alexandra Wallace錄製並放到YouTube上，她列舉了亞裔的「種種劣跡」。她說：「每年有成群（hordes）亞洲人被UCLA錄取，這沒什麼，但如果你來UCLA，就得按美國人的方式行事。 有件曾讓我很不舒服，但現在已見怪不怪，所有居住在我公寓周圍的亞洲人，他們的爸媽、兄弟、姊妹、爺爺奶奶、堂兄弟，所有跟著他們從亞洲來的人，周末都會來到公寓（給他們）洗衣服、買日用品、做一周的飯， 絕無例外。你總會在公寓樓附近看見年邁的亞洲人走來走去，這就是亞洲人做的事。他們不教育他們的孩子自立，還有一樣東西他們從來不教，那就是行為舉止。 嗨！我們美國人不在圖書館打手機！當我正思考我的政治學理論，認真地閱讀或打字時，每15分鐘就會有一個亞洲人講電話的聲音傳來。作為媽媽從小培養的有禮貌美國好女孩，我只能給他一個小小的手勢來制止他。但五分鐘後，一切依舊。雖然我知道有些人是因為亞洲的海嘯而打電話問家人平安，但當你打電話時，還是請你到外面去。」 這段充滿火藥味的視頻立刻引起UCLA校方注意。校長Gene D. Block說，這段視頻讓他震驚（appal ），他強調，當很多人用言論自由當擋箭牌來貶低個人或群體時，他也會退縮。但他確定，這次事絕不代表UCLA觀點。UCLA致力於相互尊重和禮貌，也致力於創造尊重並關心每一社區成員的環境。 YouTube的這段視頻已被點閱十幾萬次，有4000多條評論。但僅有少數人表示喜歡，大多數人不喜歡。 有網友說，你們的車是日本的，批薩餅是義大利的，啤酒是德國的，白酒是西班牙的，民主是希臘的，咖啡是哥倫比亞的，茶是中國的，手錶是瑞士的，襯衫是印度的，收音機是韓國的，伏特加酒是俄國的，土地是印地安人的，總統是非裔，但這時候你卻抱怨你的鄰居是個移民？哼！ 但也有人表示，亞洲人在行為舉止確實有不足，而且這是Wallace的言論自由。更有網友表示，拿亞洲災難說事，不管言論內容是否正確，都不可取。 校長Block還表示，這種視頻在UCLA絕無立足之處，通過在網上放視頻，用令人羞恥的態度和意見對待別人，是學校的大不幸。相信任何基於種族、性別、宗教或文化而表達的偏見在UCLA絕無市場。讓這事件永遠提醒大家，面對仇恨和無知言論時的責任。讓它來保持UCLA 的尊重和誠實的核心價值觀。 Questions: 1) What is Alexandra's major? 2) What is she peeved about? 3) What is the most offensive thing she says in her rant? (I know it's hard, but try to pick just one) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted March 17, 2011 at 01:22 PM Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 at 01:22 PM 有網友說，你們的車是日本的，批薩餅是義大利的，啤酒是德國的，白酒是西班牙的，民主是希臘的，咖啡是哥倫比亞的，茶是中國的，手錶是瑞士的，襯衫是印度的，收音機是韓國的，伏特加酒是俄國的，土地是印地安人的，總統是非裔，但這時候你卻抱怨你的鄰居是個移民？哼! Just want to say that American Wines are not bad at all so they don' t really need spanish wines (and I think it is unlikely that the grapes came from Spain). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meng Lelan Posted March 17, 2011 at 02:25 PM Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 at 02:25 PM 1) What is Alexandra's major? Political science 2) What is she peeved about? The behavior of Asian students on her campus - how their relatives do stuff for them and how they use cell phones in the library 3) What is the most offensive thing she says in her rant? According to a netizen's post reported in this article, it's the way she attacks a particular group whose origins are different from hers in terms of race/ethnicity/country even though things we use and believe in originate from many different countries. Loving your posts ma3zi1!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ma3zi1 Posted March 17, 2011 at 03:59 PM Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 at 03:59 PM 孟樂嵐，都答對了！ Personally, I think the most offensive thing was probably what she said about Japanese people calling their families after the earthquake/tsunami tragedy in 仙台. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renzhe Posted March 17, 2011 at 09:42 PM Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 at 09:42 PM China will not be approving new nuclear power plants for the time being. 中国暂停审批核电项目: http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001037547 世界上核反应堆建设规模最大的中国暂停审批新的核电项目，此举使全球核电业的复兴遭受重大挫折。中国占世界拟建核反应堆的近40%，中国的核电发展雄心，迄今是全球铀市场的一大驱动因素，被视为关键的未来需求来源。 中国作出上述决定之前一天，针对日本的核危机，德国宣布暂停延长核电站运营期限。这些举动可能重塑全球能源政策。 “核安全规划批准前，暂停审批核电项目，包括开展前期工作的项目，”中国国务院在召开有关日本核泄漏情况的会议后表示。 .... Some useful words: 迄今 so far 反应堆 reactor 驱动因素 driving factor 核泄漏 nuclear (radiation) leak 温室气 greenhouse gas 化石燃料 fossil fuel 依赖 depend on 铀矿 uranium ore 核辐射 nuclear radiation 碘 iodine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meng Lelan Posted March 17, 2011 at 10:19 PM Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 at 10:19 PM What, no quiz questions for my entertainment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renzhe Posted March 17, 2011 at 10:27 PM Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 at 10:27 PM I'm not good at these, but I'll throw a few together: - what's turkey's stance on building nuclear power plants? - how many of the planned reactors in China are second and how many third generation? - what are the most sought after terms on the unnamed Chinese site? Bonus question: Which site is it? - what are the Beijing pharmacies reporting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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