【精英翻譯】的部落格

◎管淑平

Saudi Arabia’s feared religious police entered a public park in the Gulf Kingdom and told women to stop using swings, an act that drew applause and criticism by viewers of a picture showing the men warning some women at the swings.

◎陳伃軒

A bomb exploded in a bustling food market in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Wednesday, killing one person and wounding 13 others, officials said.

◎張沛元

A couple who root for Ohio State say they’ve made sure their baby daughter embraces their football allegiance by giving her a name that implies automatic fandom： Scarlet Gray.

◎陳成良

A disgruntled viewer is suing Japan’s national broadcaster for mental distress caused by an excessive use of words borrowed from English.

Danger – Unexploded Fruit!

It’s hot now in Taiwan and the summer weather means melons are everywhere: sliced melon, chilled melon, and, of course, ice-cold melon drinks. All these are absolutely delicious, and all completely normal. However, in eastern China’s Jiangsu Province, melons have been behaving in a totally abnormal way: they have been exploding! Some farmers have been using a growth hormone called forchlorfenuron. Since forchlorfenuron is a plant hormone, it’s not usually dangerous to humans and is used safely in a number of countries, including Australia. The exploding problem, however, seems to have multiple causes. The fruit growers applied the chemical to mature melons, not young ones. Then, there were heavy rains which plumped up the fruit. Finally, the type of melon the farmers had planted had much thinner skins than normal. The result was not a booming rural economy, but booming melons!

How about a holiday in space?

In the 1968 movie, 2001 a Space Odyssey, travelling to the moon is normal. We see a passenger (who may be a scientist) sleeping in a large American spaceship. Soon, this fantasy could become reality; however it will certainly be different. For one thing, it will be in a much smaller spacecraft. One company promising to provide flights is Virgin Galactic, owned by British business man Richard Branson. For another, the flights will be shorter, at around an hour and a half. What’s more, passengers will only travel to the edge of space. There, they will experience three to four minutes of weightlessness before returning to earth. But in another way, the flights may be similar. Scientists are excited that tickets cost just NT$5,756,361. This means they will be able to do cheaper and more frequent experiments in near space than they can now. The day when we can all afford holidays in space may not be far away.

Electric Bikes Clean Up

In Taipei, scooters are both popular and ubiquitous. They offer quick, cheap transportation and easy parking. However, they are also responsible for air and noise pollution. Is there any alternative to these two problems? The answer may be the electric bicycle. On Xiamen Island in China, the government has banned scooters but allows people to purchase electric bicycles. These machines carry people around silently and do not emit any exhaust. According to China’s environmental protection standards, Xiamen’s air is classed as first rate. Is every one happy? No, they are not. Both the Xiamen traffic department and local residents agree that the growing number of electric bicycles is causing more accidents. Banning them seems unlikely. Instead, better driver education and stricter enforcement of existing laws are necessary. This should help this quiet and clean alternative to the scooter continue to transport people around Xiamen.

French Riot Police Fume at Booze Ban

French workers are well-known for enjoying very generous labour laws. One of their rights is to have a glass of wine with their lunch. This extends to the country’s infamous riot police (the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité, or CRS). Until now they have been able to enjoy a glass of wine or beer with their lunch, even when they are on duty.

Kate and Wills Break Tradition

Viewers of today’s royal wedding between Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton may have a feeling of déjà vu. As in previous weddings, the couple will travel to Westminster Abbey in London with a parade and horse-drawn carriages. The ceremony will be attended by heads of state and international royalty.

Uneasy Peace on the Ivory Coast

Along with the civil war in Libya, the small African country of the Ivory Coast has also been gripped by turmoil. Back in November, an election monitored by the UN took power from the then president, Laurent Gbagbo. The winner of the election, Alessandro Ouattara, was supposed to take power in December. However, Gbagbo refused to go, and Alessandro Ouattara’s supporters took to the streets.