2010年10月31日 星期日

jet pack, go off aboard

Yemen released its only suspect in the failed plot to send explosive-laden packages from Yemen to the U.S., as it emerged that the devices could have gone off aboard passenger planes.

jet pack




A Visual History of the Jet Pack


TAKE A LOOK »


go off
(of a gun, bomb, or similar device) explode or fire.

embark, serving time for insider trading, serve (someone) right

idiom:

serve (someone) right

  1. To be deserved under the circumstances: Punish him; it will serve him right for what he has done to you.
ImClone Ex-Chief Embarks on New Biotech Venture

Not yet two years after serving time for insider trading, Samuel Waksal is again making deals.

verbatim and in toto, copyrighted in my name

My  replies  represent  unpublished  material,  should  be
printed verbatim and in toto, and copyrighted in my name.

lepidopterist, lepidopterist's ditty

Lep・i・dop・ter・a


  • 〔lèpdptr | -dp-〕

[名]《昆虫》鱗翅(りんし)目.
lèp・i・dóp・ter・an
[形][名]鱗翅目の(昆虫).
lèp・i・dóp・ter・ous
[形]
lèp・i・dóp・ter・ist
[名]鱗翅学者.

What are your working methods?

Quite banal. Thirty years ago I used to write in bed,
dipping my pen into a bedside inkwell, or else I would compose
mentally at any time of the day or night. I would fall asleep
when the sparrows woke up. Nowadays I write my stuff on index
cards, in pencil, at a lectern, in the forenoon; but I still
tend to do a lot of work in my head during long walks in the
country on dull days when butterflies do not interfere. Here is
a disappointed lepidopterist's ditty:


It's a long climb
Up the rock face
At the wrong time
To the right place.




ditty
n., pl., -ties.
A simple song.

[Middle English dite, a literary composition, from Old French dite, from Latin dictātum, thing dictated, from neuter past participle of dictāre, to dictate.]

2010年10月30日 星期六

Georgia's English language revolution

Inside Europe | 30.10.2010 | 07:05

Can a small ex-Soviet state become a 'nation of English speakers'? That’s what the President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, wants to achieve with a new programme to ensure that all schoolchildren will speak English as their second language by 2014.

The programme aims to recruit thousands of native English-speakers as teaching assistants for Georgian schools. Young Georgians have already been abandoning the Russian language amid their country's continuing political dispute with Moscow, which erupted into war two years ago. Matthew Collin in Tbilisi has the details.

an oracle, Óracle Córporation

The death of an oracle: Paul the octopus is no more

Paul is dead. Now where have we heard this claim before?

The DW-WORLD.DE Article
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=ew6fklI44va89pI4#6166451


oracle

[名]
1 神託, 託宣;神託所.
2 神のお告げ, 啓示;(Jerusalem神殿内の)至聖所;((〜s))聖書;祭司, 神主.
3 賢人, 大聖.
4 ((おどけて))助言を与える人[本].
5 ((O-))((英))オラクル:ITV(独立テレビ)がテレビ画面と電話線を介して情報を提供するサービス.
work the oracle
(陰の策略で)成功する;((俗))(裏工作として)金を調達する.
[古フランス語←ラテン語orāculum (orāre述べる+-culum(縮小語尾)=小さな命令, 要求). △ORAL



Óracle Córporation《コンピュータ》オラクル社:米国のソフトウェア会社.

台灣這家公司叫甲骨文 哈哈


2010年10月29日 星期五

Falls Off a Cliff

Nomura Profit Falls Off a Cliff as Bank Expands
New York Times (blog)
Nomura Holdings, the brokerage and investment bank based out of Japan, said Friday that its quarterly profit had dropped 96 percent from the previous year ...

misogamy, ratty, gnaw at past infidelities

misogamy (mi-SOG-uh-mee)
[名][U]結婚嫌い.
mi・sog・a・mist

noun: Hatred of marriage.

Etymology
From Greek miso- (hate) + -gamy (marriage). Earliest recorded use: 1560.

Usage
"Misogamy drives the plot. Marriage itself is seen as a series of ratty exchanges in which partners gnaw at past infidelities." — Michael Billington; Blithe Spirit; The Guardian (London, UK); Aug 26, 2004.

ratty
adj., -ti·er, -ti·est.
  1. Of or characteristic of rats.
  2. Infested with rats.
  3. Dilapidated; shabby.

[形](-ti・er, -ti・est)
1 ((米略式))きたならしい, みすぼらしい, ぼろい.
2 ((英俗))怒りっぽい, いらだった.
3 ネズミの多い;ネズミ(特有)の.

affright af·fright (ə-frīt') pronunciation af·fright (ə-frīt') pronunciation

affright Pronunciation (verb) Cause fear in.
Synonyms:frighten, scare
Usage:Ghosts could never affright her.


affright
af·fright (ə-frīt') pronunciation

tr.v., -fright·ed, -fright·ing, -frights.
To arouse fear in; terrify: "Many of nature's greatest oddities, that would affright dwellers up here, are accepted down there" (David Mazel).

n.
  1. Great fear; terror.
  2. A cause of terror.

[Middle English afrighten, from Old English āfyrhtan : ā-, intensive pref. + fyrhtan, to frighten (from fyrhto, fright).]

2010年10月28日 星期四

Write-In Candidate

Write-In Candidate Murkowski Surges Ahead in Alaska
Her name is not on the ballot, but independent candidate Lisa Murkowski has pushed her way to the front of the pack in the Alaska Senate race.

Write-In Candidate
A candidate for public office whose name does not appear on the ballot (usually because he or she has not secured the nomination of a political party) but whose name must be written on the ballot by voters.

2010年10月27日 星期三

onomancy, onomasticon, onomatopoeia

on・o・mat・o・poe・ia


n.
The formation or use of words such as buzz or murmur that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.

[Late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiiā, from onomatopoios, coiner of names : onoma, onomat-, name + poiein, to make.]



[名][U]
1 擬声, 擬音(語形成);[C]擬声[音]語.


2 《修辞学》声喩法.

on・o・mas・ti・con


  • nmǽstikn | nmǽstikn〕

[名]固有名詞集.


onomancy
(ON-uh-man-see)

noun: Divination by the letters of a name.

Etymology
From Greek onoma- (name) + -mancy (divination). Earliest recorded use: 1603.

Notes
Some parents name their children after careful consideration of onomancy to assure the best possible future for them. Some people alter the spelling of their names or adopt a new name in an effort to bring good fortune. Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov wrote a short story, "Spell My Name with an S", with this theme. The story was inspired by his frustration in having to ask people to spell his name (pronounced AZ-uh-mof) correctly.

Usage
"Kaplan and Bernays taught me all sorts of unexpected things about my name. They inspired me to try my hand at alphanumeric onomancy, in which the letters of a name are assigned numerical value, then added up to reveal occult facts about its owner." — Adam Goodheart; Naming Names: An Appellation Spring; The Washington Post; Feb 3, 1997.

walking the walk, not just talking the talk


Perhaps the most significant aspect of Ford’s renaissance has been its professed focus on quality and the bottom line. Detroit rivals previously unfamiliar with the phrase “less is more” may attribute Ford’s success to their own turmoil, but Ford is walking the walk, not just talking the talk: restrained rebates, inventory levels and fleet sales confirm it. Ford is putting out a better product and convincing customers to pay accordingly.

福特复兴最重要的一面,或许是其宣称的对质量和利润的关注。以前不熟悉“少就是多” (less is more)这个短语的底特律竞争对手们,也许会将福特的成功归因于他们自身的混乱,但福特说到做到,而不只是光说不练:低折扣、库存水平和大宗销售证实了 这一点。福特正在生产出更好的产品,并说服客户支付相应的价格。

2010年10月25日 星期一

Taiwan raps China over its name

Taiwan raps China over its name at film festival
Monsters and Critics.com
Taipei - Taiwan criticized China Monday over a demand by a leader of a Chinese delegation that the island change its name to take part in the Tokyo ...

rap
v., rapped, rap·ping, raps. v.tr.
  1. To hit sharply and swiftly; strike: rapped the table with his fist.
  2. To utter sharply: rap out a complaint.
  3. To criticize or blame.
v.intr.
To strike a quick light blow: rapped on the door.

n.
  1. A quick light blow or knock.
  2. A knocking or tapping sound.
  3. Slang.
    1. A reprimand.
    2. A sentence to serve time in prison.
  4. Slang. A negative quality or characteristic associated with a person or an object.
idioms:

beat the rap Slang.

  1. To escape punishment or be acquitted of a charge.
take the rap Slang.
  1. To accept punishment or take the blame for an offense or error.

[Middle English rappen, possibly of imitative origin.]

2010年10月21日 星期四

Sikh, turban, poke fun at himself

That willingness to poke fun at himself extends to his appearance. As a Sikh, Mr Banga, 50, wears a turban and has a full beard, making for a striking contrast with Robert Selander, his predecessor and current vice-chairman. “Bob and I joke about it all the time,” Mr Banga says. “I know I look different from a lot of people around the world, but I don’t view that as something that defines me.”


他的勇于自嘲还表现在装束上。现年50岁的彭安杰是一位锡克教徒,戴着头巾,满脸络腮胡子,这与他的前任、目前担任公司副董事长的罗伯特•塞兰德 (Robert Selander)形成了鲜明对比。“我与鲍勃(罗伯特的昵称)总是拿这个开玩笑,”彭安杰表示,“我明白自己的装束和世界上的很多人不一样,但我认为这 并不能真正诠释我本人。”


A Sikh man wearing a Dastar/Pagri
In India, turbans are referred to as a Pagri. The word specifically refers to the headdress that is worn by men and needs to be manually tied. There are several styles which are specific to regions, religion, etc. A Pagri is a symbol of honour and respect across all regions where it is a practice to wear one. It is also why almost of all of these will honour important guests by offering them one to wear.
In British period, The Muslim elites of South Asia especially of western Punjab used to wear long pagri which was also a symbol of nobility, honour and respect. In Punjab and Sindh members of the landed aristrocray always wore this pagri. This pagri was a part of full formal dress and was used to wear with Sherwani.
The Sikh turban, known as the Dastar, is mandatory for all Amritdhari (baptized) Sikhs to wear. The Pheta is worn in Maharashtra and also has regional variants like Puneri and Kolhapuri pheta. In Mysore and Kodagu the turban is known as the Mysore Peta. The Rajastani turban is commonly called the Pagari. It will vary by caste, class, religion and region. It also serves practical functions like protecting from the elements, used as a pillow, blanket or towel. When unravelled, it is used like a rope where it is tied to a bucket to draw water from the well.
The Pagri will also vary in shape, size and colour. The colour will vary related to occasion it will be worn. For example, Saffron (associated with Valour) is worn

gal, idealism

"I don't think I've ever met that gal, Maureen Dowd-- O'Dowd--whatever the heck her name is."


gal
n. Informal
A girl.

[Alteration of GIRL.]



idealism
[名][U]
1 理想主義;理想化されたもの, 理想の姿.
2 《芸術》理想主義.
3 《哲学》観念論;唯心論(⇒MATERIALISM);理想主義.

2010年10月18日 星期一

loo , fripperies,,detergent, daily necessities, recession-proof, fresheners

But there is something else happening. Basic consumer goods were long assumed to be more or less recession-proof. Shoppers may not be able to afford Dior dresses or Cartier watches, went the argument, but they still need loo paper and detergent. Yet people are finding ways to save money even on daily necessities.

They are shopping less and with more purpose. Some people deliberately pick up a basket rather than collect a trolley in supermarkets, to prevent themselves from buying too much. Some buy smaller packets, which are cheaper, or huge ones, which are better value. Many make do without air fresheners, hair conditioner and other fripperies once deemed essential.

frip·per·y (frĭp'ə-rē) pronunciation

n., pl., -ies.
  1. Pretentious, showy finery.
  2. Pretentious elegance; ostentation.
  3. Something trivial or nonessential.

[French friperie, from Old French freperie, old clothes, from felpe, frepe, from Medieval Latin faluppa, worthless material.]

2010年10月15日 星期五

Deus(L.), deity

De·us ('əs) pronunciation
n.
God.

[Middle English, from Latin.]


Deus(L.):天主;神;上帝(基)。英文稱作 God。

Deity:(1) 神明;神性;神祇:對造物主較抽象的稱呼。(2) 天主:對造物主較具體的稱呼。
n., pl., -ties.
  1. A god or goddess.
    1. The essential nature or condition of being a god; divinity.
    2. Deity God. Used with the.

[Middle English deite, from Old French, from Late Latin deitās, divine nature, from Latin deus, god.]

de(L.)to De Profundis(L.)

de(L.):論;論及:是前置詞。

de Civitate Dei(L.):論天主之城:聖思定名著。

De ea(L.):常態禮儀:教會禮儀日曆 ordo 是以救恩史為中心,按照將臨期、四旬期、復活期、常年期等四大時段安排彌撒及日課的禮儀,不妨稱之為「常態禮儀」;在此前題下,教會禮儀日曆用 De ea 代表主日及週一至週五,用 De eo 代表週六。與「常態禮儀」相對照的是「慶節禮儀」,就是若遇到天主或聖人的慶節如節日、慶日、紀念日時,教會禮儀日曆則根據實際情況,標示應該(可以或禁 止)將彌撒及日課的禮儀臨時換成該慶節的禮儀。譬如八月十五日教會禮儀日曆標示「應該」舉行聖母升天節的禮儀,則該日的「常態禮儀」應擱置一旁,而以聖母 升天節的「慶節禮儀」取而代之。

de facto(L.):事實上;根據事實。

de fide(L.):關乎信仰的。

de fide definita(L):確定當信的道理;信條:指經教宗或大公會議正式宣佈某一端(信理或道德之)奧理是由天主啟示的真理。英文稱作of defined faith。

de jure(L.):法理上;根據法理。

de jure divino(L.):來自神的規律(定)。

de jure humano(L.):來自人的規律(定)。

De Profundis(L.):自深處:指聖詠第129首的首句「我自深處向祢呼籲」;為懺悔時的祈禱文,亦用於為亡者祈禱。

2010年10月6日 星期三