Fifty meters up and two apart - Belgium’s dinner-in-the-sky relaunches

 

Fifty meters up and two apart - Belgium’s dinner-in-the-sky relaunches

在50公尺上空相距2米：比利時高空晚餐重新開張

【摘要2020.9.26.自由】◎周虹汶

Belgians looking for a different culinary experience will once again be able to eat 50 metres above the ground as the dining-in-the-sky experience returns from COVID-19 lockdown with a new, socially distanced feel.

尋求不同餐飲經驗的比利時人，將再次能夠於地面50公尺上方吃東西，因為高空用餐經驗從2019冠狀病毒疾病行動限制令後，正以著一種新的社交距離感重返。

Belgium-based Dinner in the Sky, which has been set up in some 60 countries since its 2006 launch, involves diners strapped into seats at a table suspended from a crane while well-known chefs cook and serve from the centre.

2006年開張以來在將近60國設立的比利時「空中餐廳」，把用餐者和一架起重機吊著的餐桌座位繫在一起，而知名主廚們在中間烹調服務。

Their original platform sat 22 people together along the perimeter, but in the COVID-19 era, up to 32 diners will now reserve four-person private tables spaced apart from. The chefs and servers also have a little more space to roam.

他們原本的平台是22人圍著坐，但在2019冠狀病毒疾病時代，多達32名用餐者現在將預約彼此間隔的4人桌。主廚和侍者也有多些空間遊走。

Dinner in the Sky offers three sittings - for lunch and two for dinner over the coming two weeks. The price is 295 euros per head or 150 euros for weekend afternoon cocktails.（Reuters）

「空中餐廳」提供3個入席時段—未來2週有午餐以及晚餐2個時段。價位是平均每人295歐元，或週末下午雞尾酒150歐元。（路透）

新聞辭典

strap：名詞，指帶子、皮條、鞭打；動詞，指捆綁、束住、抽打、拚命工作。例句：He is a bit strapped for cash.（他的現金不太夠。）

suspend：動詞，指中止、暫令停職或停學、懸掛。例句：He was suspended from school for fighting.（他因打架而被勒令停學。）

roam：名詞、動詞，指漫步、流浪。例句：She roamed around the world for a year.（她花了1年遊歷世界。）

 

In New York, making a life out of bottles and cans

In New York, making a life out of bottles and cans

在紐約市靠瓶瓶罐罐討生活

【摘要2020.9.24.自由】◎孫宇青

When the Brooklyn clothing factory where she worked closed its doors, Josefa Marin started picking up cans and bottles from trash cans to make ends meet.

當荷塞法．瑪林工作的布魯克林成衣廠關門後，她開始從垃圾桶撿拾瓶罐轉賣，好達到收支平衡。

A decade later, the 50-year-old Mexican immigrant is handed hundreds of recyclables by bars and clubs and by concierges of private buildings. They even give her the keys to their trash rooms so she can take what she needs.

10年後，酒吧、俱樂部或私人大樓的管理員，都會把上百件回收品交給這位50歲的墨西哥移民。他們甚至把回收室的鑰匙交給她，讓她自由拿取。

They are called "bottle professionals" by some redemption centers’ employees, and are described as people who know by heart each recycling and trash pick-up route and who take the job seriously thanks to a 1982 law in New York that allows consumers to return empty containers for five cents.（AP）

某些資源回收中心的員工稱他們為「瓶罐專家」，形容他們是把每一條資源回收路線銘記在心，以及認真對待這項工作的人。拜紐約市1982年一項法律所賜，消費者只要回收空瓶罐，就能退回5美分（約1.5台幣）。（美聯社）

新聞辭典

make ends meet：慣用片語，使收支平衡。例句：It is an achievement to make ends meet with a big family.（在大家庭中達成收支平衡，堪稱一項成就。）

concierge：名詞，門房；櫃檯人員。例句：Police officers disguise themselves as hotel concierges.（員警喬裝成飯店禮賓人員。）

redemption：名詞，贖回；買回。例句：I paid a lot of money for the redemption of the jewelry.（我花了一大筆錢贖回珠寶。）

 

Lego is spending £310m to transform its bricks

 

Lego is spending £310m to transform its bricks

樂高耗資3.1億歐元 改變它的積木

【摘要2020.9.22.自由】◎黃靖媗

The Danish toymaker is investing £310m in efforts to create its colourful bricks using sustainable materials, but its quest to find an alternative to oil-based plastic has been quite difficult so far.

這家丹麥玩具製造商正投資3.1億歐元，努力創造使用永續材質的多彩積木，但它尋找能取代油基塑膠的替代方案之路，到目前為止還很艱難。

For five years, a team of more than 150 engineers and scientists have been testing many different plant-based and recycled materials - but making sure the bricks can stick together while coming apart easily has been a challenge.

5年來，一支超過150名工程師與科學家參與的團隊，已經測試過許多不同基於植物與可回收的材質，但要確保積木既能夠黏在一起，又能輕鬆分開，仍然是個挑戰。

Lego executive Tim Brooks said the company has been testing how to use bio-polyethylene, a type of plastic made from ethanol that’s produced using sugarcane, for its hard bricks.

樂高執行長提姆．布魯克斯說，該公司已經著手測試如何使用生物聚乙烯，這是一種由甘蔗生產的乙醇製成的塑膠，製造它的堅固積木。

Lego has also announced that it’s going to ditch plastic bags in its boxed sets, which are currently used to hold loose bricks.

樂高也宣布，它將拋棄盒裝組合內，目前用於盛裝散裝積木的塑膠袋。

新聞辭典

sustainable：形容詞，永續、長期維持。例句：Solar energy is a kind of sustainable energy.（太陽能是一種永續能源。）

stick：動詞，黏住、固定住。例句：You can stick the poster on the board with some glue.（你可以用膠水將這張海報黏在板子上。）

ditch：動詞，拋棄、甩掉（伴侶）。例句：Anna ditched her boyfriend last month.（安娜上個月把她的男友甩了。）

美國固然放棄與中國交往政策，卻未決定與中國一戰，若誤認為此時能藉美國對陸政策逆轉，採取對抗行動、奮力一搏達成脫中願望，豈非冒失，要全民付出戰爭衝突代價，更是自私。

More than half of young Americans live with parents

More than half of young Americans live with parents

逾半數美國年輕人與父母同住

【摘要2020.9.23.自由】◎管淑平

Just over half of young adult Americans live with their parents, an unprecedented proportion that is doubtless linked to the coronavirus but also reflects a deeper trend, researchers said Friday.

研究人員週五表示，逾5成的美國年輕人與他們的父母住在一起，這高得空前的比例，無疑地與新型冠狀病毒疫情有關聯，但是也反映更深層趨勢。

Between February and May, the share of 18-29 year-olds living with at least one parent rose from 47 percent to 52 percent and stayed at that level through July.

在2月到5月間，18到29歲族群中與父母其中至少1人同住的比例從47％增加到52％，到7月都一直維持這樣的比例。

The rise was most marked among 18-24 year-olds, with 71 percent of them living with their parents in July, up from 63 percent in February.

18到24歲族群與父母同住的比例增加得最明顯，從2月的63％增加到7月的71％。

Among ethnic groups, the breakdown showed that the trend was strongest inside the Hispanic community.

各族裔分類顯示，這種趨勢在西裔族群最明顯。

Even though the increase was pushed by the pandemic as young adults struggled to get by, it is part of a longer-term pattern, Pew says. （AFP）

皮優說，儘管年輕人受疫情影響日子難過，推升與父母同住的比例，但是這也是長期模式的一環。（法新社）

新聞辭典

marked：形容詞，明顯的。例句：He returned to work after a marked improvement in health.（他健康情況顯著好轉後恢復了工作。）

breakdown：名詞，細目，分類。例句：They asked for a breakdown of our sales figures.（他們要求我們的銷售數據細目。）

get by：片語，勉強維持生活或應付某種情況。例句：She has managed to get by so far.（她到目前為止還撐得下去。）

 

Samsung, SK have fingers crossed over US gov’t Huawei approval

Samsung, SK have fingers crossed over US gov’t Huawei approval

三星、SK祈求美政府批准供貨華為

【摘要2020.9.27.自由】◎茅毅

U.S. tech giants Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) received the green light from the U.S. government to supply Huawei with certain products, raising hopes for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to be given the same opportunity.

美國科技巨擘英特爾和超微半導體已接獲美國政府許可，可以供應某些產品給華為，提高三星電子與SK海力士被給予同樣商機的希望。

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have submitted their requests and are waiting for the U.S. government’s approval. If the U.S. government rejects their requests, it will lead to severe losses for the two Korean tech giants.

三星電子與SK海力士已提出請求，正等待美國政府放行。若美國政府拒絕所請，將造成這兩家韓國科技大廠嚴重損失。

"The story for Samsung and SK could be different from Intel and AMD as they are U.S. companies and develop processors and CPUs for PCs, which are seen as less of a security risk," an industry official familiar with the matter said. "However, Samsung and SK supply Huawei with mobile components, a sector which the U.S. sees as a major security risk from the Chinese firm."

一名知情的業界高層說，「三星及SK和英特爾與超微半導體的情況不同，因為它們是美國公司，而且是研發處理器及個人電腦的中央處理器，被認為（對美國國安的）風險較小」。「然而，三星和SK是供應手機零組件給華為，美方視該領域存在這家中國公司帶來的重大國安風險」。

新聞辭典

cross one’s fingers：片語，祈求（禱）、禱告某事發生（成功）。例句：We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the weather stays nice.（我們繼續祈禱天氣保持良好。）

green light：片語，交通號誌中的綠燈、准許、許可、放行。例句：If we can’t do this movie for $1 million dollars, the studio is not going to give the green light to it.（若我們無法將這部電影的成本控制在100萬美元，電影公司不會同意開拍。）

a different story：片語，情況就不一樣了、另一番景象（境遇）。例句：His life will be a different story if he failed to graduate in the university.（若他當時大學沒畢業，他的生活將是另一番境遇。）

 

Woman Finds Out Succulent She Watered For 2 Years is Fake

Woman Finds Out Succulent She Watered For 2 Years is Fake

女子發現她澆水養了2年的多肉植物是假的

【摘要2020.9.25.自由】◎張沛元

Experts say having a plant inside your home can go a long way toward brightening your space and lifting your mood, productivity and concentration.

專家說，家裡放盆植物有助於讓空間鮮活明亮與心情變好，提高生產力與專注力。

In a Facebook post that’s gone viral, Caelie Wilkes, 24, a stay-at-home mom, shared a photo of a succulent she’d kept in her home over the last two years, and how she was only now, realizing it was a fake.

24歲的居家媽媽凱莉．威爾克斯在一篇已被瘋傳的「臉書」貼文中，分享一張她在家裡養了2年的多肉植物的照片，以及她如何直到如今才發現它是假的。

"I’ve had this beautiful succulent for about 2 years now. I was so proud of this plant. It was full, beautiful coloring, just an over all perfect plant," Wilkes wrote, adding that she discovered the plant was an impostor after she decided to transplant it into a new container.

「我養這個美麗的多肉植物大概2年了，我很以它為傲，它飽滿、色澤美麗，就是一個非常完美的植物，」威爾克斯寫道，並補充說，她是在決定幫該植物換個新盆子時，發現它是假的。

"I put so much love into this plant! I washed its leaves. Tried my hardest to keep it looking it’s best, and it’s completely plastic!" Wilkes wrote.

「我對這個植物投注了很多愛！我幫它洗葉子。盡全力讓它漂漂亮亮的，而它居然徹頭徹尾是個塑膠貨！」威爾克斯寫道。

新聞辭典

go a long way toward（s） doing something：慣用語，對…很有幫助。例句：In almost all kinds of relationships, the words "I’m sorry" can go a long way toward mending whatever is wrong.（在幾乎所有類型的關係中，「對不起」有助於修補任何錯誤。）

stay-at-home：形容詞，留在家中的；名詞，深居簡出者，老是留在家裡的人，不愛出門的人。

try one’s best/hardest：慣用語，竭盡全力，全力以赴。例句：Scrubbing your hands raw and trying your hardest to keep from touching your face is something way harder than it seems.（狠狠刷洗雙手與盡量避免摸臉，其實還滿難做到。）

Belgian city finds its former mayor’s heart in a fountain

Belgian city finds its former mayor’s heart in a fountain

比利時城市在一個噴泉裡發現前市長的心臟

【摘要2020.9.19.自由】◎周虹汶

For years it was just an urban myth. Then the diggers moved in and found it was true - that the heart of a former mayor of the eastern Belgian city of Verviers really was buried under a fountain.

多年以來，這不過是個都市神話。然後，挖土機進駐，發現是真的—比利時東部韋爾維耶市前市長的心臟，真的埋在一座噴泉下。

A small metal box, containing Pierre David’s heart in an ethanol-filled jar, was uncovered during renovation work on the city’s ornate stone fountain last month.

上月在該市裝飾華麗的石頭噴泉翻修工程中，發現了一個小金屬盒，內含一只充滿乙醇、放有皮埃爾．大衛心臟的廣口瓶。

The relic is mentioned in civic documents, but until it was found "no one really believed it," Verviers city councillor Maxime Degey told Reuters.

韋爾維耶市議員馬克西姆．德杰告訴路透，民間文件曾提及此遺物，但直到它被發現前，「沒人真的相信」。

David, the city’s first mayor after Belgium became an independent country, was still in office when he died in 1839 after falling from a building.

大衛是比利時成為獨立國家後的該市首任市長，1839年在位時墜樓身亡。

Authorities built a fountain in his honour and, with his family’s permission, placed his heart under a stone in the monument in 1883.

為了向他致意，當局建了個噴泉，並在其家屬允許下，1883年把他的心臟放在這座紀念建物一塊石頭下。

The box is on display at the Verviers Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics. It will be returned to the Fontaine David in the city’s Place Verte once the renovation is complete.（Reuters）

這個盒子正在「韋爾維耶繪畫與陶瓷博物館」展出。一旦位於該市「綠色廣場」的「大衛噴泉」整修完畢，它將回歸原處。（路透）

新聞辭典

relic：名詞，指遺物、遺跡、遺風、遺俗、聖骨、聖物。例句：The system is a relic of the 1960s.（這項制度是1960年代遺留的產物。）

in one’s honour：片語，指為紀念、為慶祝、表示敬意。例句：The event was named in his honor.（這起事件以他命名。）

display：動詞，指佈置、陳列、表露、顯示；名詞，指陳列品、展覽、表演、流露。例句：There’s never much display of affection between us.（我們之間從未多表愛慕之情。）