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2012年11月29日 星期四

Music 




 
Art is a commonwealth in which all the component estates組成部份① hold an equal position同等地位②. I may add, speaking for my own art, that  (Sharp Daily P.26  29 Nov 2012)Art is a commonwealth in which all the component estates 組成部份(1) hold an equal position同等地位(2). I may akk, speaking for my own art, that there is a singular appropriateness that this compliment to music should be paid by the artist whose brain has conceived and whose hand depicted a most enchanting "Music Lesson". You, sir, have touched with eloquence雄辯;口才、辯才③ and feeling upon some of the tenderer attributes屬性、特質 of music; I would with your permission, call attention請大家注意 to anothernamely, its power and influence on popular sentiment; for of all the arts I think music has the most mighty最強大的、有力的;偉大的、剛毅的, universal, and immediate effect. I know there are many educated and intelligent people who, absorbed in commerce, politics, and other pursuits, think that music is a mere family pastimean ear-gratifying enjoyment有耳福的享受.

Great popularity has its drawbacks
不利、失誤;欠缺、缺點;弊端、瑕疵 as well as its advantages, and there is no doubt that the widespread, instantaneous appreciation and popularity of melody has detracted somewhat from the proper recognition of the higher and graver attributes of music. But that music is a power and has influenced humanity with dynamic force in politics, religion, peace, and war, no one can gainsay沒有人可以否定、否認.
Amongst our own people, no one who has visited the Greater Britain beyond the seas but must be alive to the depth of feeling stirred by the first bar of "God Save the Queen". It is not too much to say that this air has done more than any other single agency to consolidate the national sentiment which forms the basis of our worldwide Empire.

馮強短評

好辭彙共賞:
① the component estates = 組成部份。
② an equal position = 同等地位。
③ eloquence = 雄辯;口才、辯才。Facts speak louder than eloquence = 事實勝於雄辯。
④ attributes = 屬性、特質。A scepter is the attribute of power = 權杖是權力的標誌。
⑤ call attention = 請大家注意。Call a meeting = 召集會議。Have nothing to call one's own = 甚麼也沒有、一無所長。
⑥ the most mighty = 最強大的、有力的;偉大的、剛毅的。Mighty的同義詞有powerful, potent, impressivegrand等。
⑦ ear-gratifying enjoyment = 有耳福的享受。Gratifying = 令人滿足的。Gratifying results = 可喜的成績。
⑧ drawbacks = 不利、失誤;欠缺、缺點;弊端、瑕疵。Drawback的同義詞有downside, shortcomingstumbling block等。
⑨ no one can gainsay = 沒有人可以否定、否認。

短評共賞:
在不同的藝術中,音樂的確對人類影響極大。西楚霸王項羽被漢軍困於垓下,兵微糧盡,夜飲帳中,他知道敗局已定,乃慷慨悲歌:「力拔山兮氣蓋世,時不利兮騅不逝!騅不逝兮可奈何,虞兮虞兮奈若何?」這首詩歌到今天仍為人樂頌。

馮強
浸會大學傳理學院財經新聞統籌主任
逢周四刊登


MTR deserves to be punched over and over again.






(Headline Daily P.18   29 Nov 2012 ) I hope you don't mind if I write again about my favourite punching bag(出氣袋)--the MTR. It deserves to be punched over and over again for the dreadful (糟透) (terrible, awful, lousy) service it provides. On a recent Saturday, at around 1:30 pm, I again lost my cool 怒不可遏 (got very angry) while travelling to Central from the Kowloon Tong MTR station. The platform was so full of people that I couldn’t even move. Most of them were passengers who had arrived from Lowu on the East Rail. What made the situation worse was that the Central-bound往中環 (going to Central) trains arriving at Kowloon Tong were already full.

This made it impossible for us to board
上車 (get on). I had to wait for three trains before I could force my way into the overcrowded train. There were so many passengers I couldn't even move while aboard車廂內 (inside the train). It was also stifling 透不過氣來(hard to breathe) aboard the overcrowded train. Another passenger also lost his cool
(勃然大怒)
. He looked at me, shook his head, and said: “And the MTR still wants to raise fares!” He then took a picture of the overcrowded train with his mobile phone.

I hope he sends that picture to the overpaid boss of the MTR, Jay Walder. And I hope he makes both Jay Walder and the MTR his punching bags. A punching bag is a big stuffed bag that boxers punch when they train. The verb “train” used this way means to practise for something, such as boxing or swimming. A punching bag also means someone or something that you release your anger on or criticize all the time. For example, Development Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po became a punching bag for the media when it was revealed that he and his wife owned subdivided flats. Jay Walder earns over $10 million a year, including bonuses. But the MTR service is going downhill
日走下坡
(getting worse). We should take away his car and driver. He should be forced to use the MTR, especially during rush hour, so he can suffer like the rest of us.

* * *

我希望大家別介懷我又提及港鐵了──它可是我最愛的出氣袋(punching bag)呢。它那糟透(dreadful)的服務,實在值得一次又一次地被抨擊。最近某個星期六,大約下午一時半,當我在九龍塘港鐵站準備乘車去中環時,又再一次怒不可遏(lost my cool)。整個月台人滿為患,教我動彈不得。大部份人都是乘東鐵線從羅湖過來的。更差勁的是,那些往中環(Central-bound)的列車抵達九龍塘時,早已擠得水洩不通。


這令我們根本無法上車(board)。我等了三班車,方能勉強擠進那擁擠的車廂。即使在車上(aboard),我仍然被擠得無法動彈,在這個擠逼的車廂內(aboard)更是透不過氣來(stifling)。另一個乘客也勃然大怒(lost his cool),他看我,搖搖頭說道:「港鐵還要求加價!」然後他用手機拍下了這個過度擁擠的情景。

我倒希望他能夠將那張相片,傳給港鐵那支薪過高的老闆韋達誠。我也希望他能拿韋達誠和港鐵做他的出氣袋(punching bag),Punching bag就是那些拳手用來訓練(train)的沙包。Train在這裏當動詞用,就是為拳擊或游泳這類活動作練習。Punching bag同樣解作發洩怒氣或常常批評的人或事。例如,發展局局長陳茂波自從被揭發與太太合營房後,就被傳媒拿來當沙包(punching bag)。韋達誠的年薪包括花紅在內,高達一千萬,但港鐵的服務卻日走下坡(downhill)。我們該拿走他的座駕和司機,迫他乘港鐵,特別在繁忙時間,好讓他能跟我們一樣苦不堪言。

Michael Chugani
褚簡寧

 


Chief Secretary Lam denies interfering with home probe





林鄭否認干預屋宇署執法
(Metro P.45  29Nov 2012) The focus of the controversy over illegal work at the Chief Executive’s Peak home has momentarily shifted to the Chief Secretary, Carrie Lam.

This follows suggestions that she interfered (
干預) with the investigation of CY Leung’s property by the Buildings Department.

The latest development came as calls mounted for Leung to face questioning by legislators.

It’s been revealed that CY Leung repeatedly ignored (不理會)Buildings Department inquiries (查詢) about the illegal structures without apparently facing any action -
raising questions over the role played byMrs Lam, who headed the Development Bureau at the  time.
 
Media reports have suggested that the department’s senior management stopped a frontline (前線) officer following up on a suspected unauthorised (未經許可的)
wall at the house.
But Mrs Lam stressed that the department’s work was fair and independent and dismissed suggestions that she had interfered with the investigation(調查).
Metro and agenciesetr.


2012年11月28日 星期三

Legco pressure mounts on Chief Executive over home



 港立法會就僭建問題向梁振英施壓
 

(Metro P.37   28 Nov 2012) Pressure is mounting on the Chief Executive, C Y Leung, over the illegal structures at his Peak home.
A second legislator has announced plans to table a motion of no confidence(不信任動議) in Leung.


The Democratic Party’s Wu Chi-wai will also put forward his own motion on December 12. Wu said Leung’s handling of the whole affair had raised questions about his credibility(誠信).

Liberal Party lawmaker James Tien said his members would seriously consider supporting Wu’s motion unless the Chief Executive addresses then Legislative Council about the illegal structures at his home before December 12.

Earlier, the former Chief Secretary, Anson Chan, said Leung needed to come clean about the illegal structures at his Peak home as soon as possible, so that he and his team can get back to running Hong Kong.

Chan said the 14-page statement Leung issued last Friday on the unauthorised(未獲批准的) works had only served to make things more unclear.
 
Metro and agencies.

2012年11月27日 星期二

I was startled to see many parallel goods traders

 
(Headline Daily P.24  27 Nov 2012) Two weeks ago I took an East Rail train on Friday from Hung Hom to Lowu.

I was startled (驚嚇地)astonished, shocked, alarmed to see nearly ten parallel goods traders at the front end of the platform. When the train doors opened they rushed into the front carriage to get seats. Once inside they cut open their cardboard boxes with box-cutters (開箱刀)sharp tools to cut cardboard boxes and removed all the goods. They then put the goods into large bags, which they placed on trolleys (手推車)metal frames with wheels to move heavy goods.

  I quickly realized why they were doing this. New MTR rules to deter(以收阻嚇) discourage, prevent
parallel goods traders make clear that boxes can only be of a certain size and weight. To follow these rules the traders put their parallel goods in many small cardboard boxes. But once on the train they put all the goods into large empty bags so it's easier to handle. The traders have found a way to beat the system. If you have found a way to beat the system(擊敗制度) it means you have found a way to avoid the rules or regulations.

  More parallel goods traders boarded the train as it headed towards Lowu. They too transferred their goods from boxes to large bags. The government had tried to control the traders at Sheung Shui. But the traders are beating the system (打敗了制度)by boarding at Hung Hom and other 
stations. The reason traders prefer the front carriage of the train is because it is nearest to the immigration checkpoint. Once we arrived at Lowu they all ran out to be first to cross the border. I saw many more traders at the checkpoint area. When I crossed the border into Shenzhen I saw even more traders delivering their parallel goods. The government says it has solved the problem of parallel goods traders. But that is a myth(信以為真). The word myth has several meanings but used this way it means something that is believed by people but not true. The problem of parallel goods traders is not as bad as before but it has not been solved.

*       *       *


上兩個星期五,我乘東鐵線由紅磡前往羅湖。我驚嚇地(startled)發現在月台盡處近車頭位置,大約有十個水貨客。列車車門一開,他們立即衝進第一卡車霸座位。他們一進去,便用開箱刀(box-cutters開他們的紙皮箱,取出內裏所有的貨物,再將貨物放進大袋中,置放在手推車(trolleys)上。

  我迅即明白為何他們要這樣做。新港鐵條例定明了紙箱的體積和重量,以收阻嚇(deter)水貨客之效。水貨客為了能符合條例,便把水貨放在細小的紙箱中。但一上車,他們又將所有貨物放進大袋中,方便處理。水貨客找到可以擊敗制度(beat the system)的方法了。你找到門路beat the system,即是說你已經找到鑽到規則空子的方法。

  列車愈近羅湖,便愈多水貨客上車。他們同樣把貨物轉移至大袋中。政府嘗試在上水限制水貨客,他們卻在紅磡或其他車站上車,輕易地打敗了制度(beating the system)。他們選擇上列車的第一卡車,因為那邊比較接近入境的關口。當我們一抵達羅湖,他們便爭先恐後的衝往過關。我在邊境管制站見到許多水貨客,在往深圳的邊境,我見到更多的水貨客在傳送貨物。政府說他們已經解決了水貨客的問題。但那只是一個迷思(myth)。Myth這個字有好些意思,用在這裏是指不少人信以為真,卻沒有事實根據的事。水貨客的問題沒有比以往差,卻也未得到圓滿解決。

中譯:七刻

Another top Beijing loyalist urges CE to explain works




 (Metro P.36   26 Nov 2012) 范徐麗泰促梁振英解釋僭建問題
Another senior Beijing loyalist has urged the Chief Executive, C Y Leung, to explain in person the discrepancies(前後矛盾) in his accounts of illegal structures at his home on the Peak.

Rita Fan, a member of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, said Leung should face the media if he wants to regain(重獲) the people’s trust.



Fan Friday the Chief Executive issued a statement blaming a lapse of memory(記錯) for falsely claiming during his election campaign that his home had not been illegally altered(改動).
Fan said she hoped he would consider answering questions directly, to improve public confidence in his integrity(誠信) and sincerity.
“However, the decision is with him,” she added.

A prominent C Y Leung supporter, former Chief Secretary Sir David Akers-Jones, said he expected that the Chief Executive would answer any outstanding questions about his illegal structures in due course.
Sir David said he had not had time to read Leung’s explanation fully, but that giving it in written form in the way he had done was a “very good thing”.
Metro and agencies.





 

2012年11月26日 星期一

Scores die in clothes factory inferno





( The Standard) Monday, November 26, 2012

A fire swept through a Bangladesh garment factory, killing 109 people in the nation's worst industrial blaze, which forced many to jump from high windows to escape the smoke and flames.

Firefighters battled for several hours to control the fire, which broke out on the ground floor of the nine-story Tazreen Fashion plant in Ashulia, 30 kilometers north of the capital Dhaka on Saturday.

Survivors told how panicked staff, mostly women, desperately tried to escape the factory, which the owner said made clothes for international brands including Dutch chain C&A and the Hong Kong-based Li & Fung.

 "I smelt smoke and ran downstairs and found that the place was already full with black fumes," Rabiul Islam said as he surveyed the gutted ruins of the building where many of his colleagues died.

 


"With another worker, I broke open an exhaust fan in the second floor and jumped to the roof of a shed next to the factory. I broke my hand but survived somehow."

Dhaka district commissioner Yusuf Harun said that the death toll was 109, including several workers who died while jumping from the upper floors. About 100 people were also injured.

 "We laid the bodies out in the grounds of a nearby school and have now started handing them over to relatives," Harun said.

The director of the fire brigade, Major Mahbub, who uses one name, said most victims died of suffocation as the blaze started on the ground-floor warehouse, trapping staff working on the night shift.

"The factory had three exits but since the fire was on the ground floor, workers could not come downstairs," he said.

The owner of the Tazreen factory, Delwar Hossain, said the cause is not yet known but he denied his premises were unsafe.

"It is a huge loss for my staff and my factory. This is the first time we have ever had a fire at one of my seven factories," he said, confirming that the premises made clothes for C&A and Li & Fung.

Tuba Group, the parent company of Tazreen Fashion, said on its website that the factory was opened in 2009 and employed 1,630 workers making polo shirts, T-shirts and jackets.

It added that the plant had 60 smoke detectors, more than 200 fire extinguishers and 18 hose reels as part of its safety equipment.

According to the Clean Clothes Campaign, an Amsterdam-based textile rights group, since 2006 at least 500 Bangladeshi garment workers have died in factory fires.  AGENCE

FRANCE-PRESSE