Sat, 29 May 2010 The Sun, Malaysia

5/28はマレーシアの祝日の一つ、Wesak Dayでした。仏教寺院を訪れたナジブ首相夫妻。10年後の先進国入りを目指し、宗教に寛容であるとともに、宗教を超えて民族間の調和を図ることがマレーシアを発展させると述べました。

Najib: Honour rights to practice religions in dignity, without harassment

KUALA LUMPUR (May 28, 2010)

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak urged Malaysians to take a moderate approach in their outlook towards the country's multi-religious setting and make Malaysia a world model for religious tolerance and racial harmony.

*outlook 【名】 1.見解｛けんかい｝、物の見方｛みかた｝、あるものに対する態度｛たいど｝ 2. 〔ある状況｛じょうきょう｝から生まれる〕将来｛しょうらい｝の展望｛てんぼう｝、前途｛ぜんと｝ 3.〔ある場所｛ばしょ｝からの〕景色｛けしき｝、見晴｛みは｝らし

Speaking at the Wesak Day celebration and open house at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields, here today, he said: “Malaysians must use their wisdom to reach out and understand the rights of all citizens to practice their religions in dignity and without harassment.”

＊the Wesak Day : お釈迦様の誕生日。旧暦の4月8日

＊practice their religions ：宗教上の教えを実践する、宗教を信じている。

He said Malaysians should used wisdoms and compassion to help one another regardless of ethnicities and backgrounds.

"We have to accept that in order for all of us to be happy, sometimes we have to sacrifice something for the common good,” he added

Najib said Malaysians should avoid engaging in any kind of extremism which could hurt the country and hamper its vision to become a high-income nation.

*extremism 【名】 〔特に政治・宗教の〕過激主義｛かげき しゅぎ｝、過激思想｛かげき しそう｝
・There is a bit of extremism and fanaticism in the U.S. on tobacco issues. : 米国では喫煙について行き過ぎや、あるいは狂信的傾向が少々見られる。

Najib said: "If our nation pursues the virtue of contentment, there is no reason why we cannot achieve greater success as a nation.”
"We are faced with many challenges today including the eradication of poverty as well as transforming Malaysia into a high-income and developed nation within 10 years,” he said.

*contentment 【名】 満足｛まんぞく｝（感）、充実感｛じゅうじつかん｝

*eradication 【名】 根絶｛こんぜつ｝、撲滅

"And for us to face these challenges, we must recognise the basic principles of democracy, which is, rights must be balanced with responsibility," he added.

“I urged Malaysians to join hands with me to make Malaysia a model of religious tolerance and racial harmony for the rest of the world to see," he said. Najib is the third prime minister to have visited the 115-year-old temple after Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Also Present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, representatives from other religions, foreign dignitaries, guests as well as thousands of Buddhist devotees.

＊dignitary 【名】 １．高位｛こうい｝の人 　２．〔政府｛せいふ｝などの〕高官｛こうかん｝、要人｛ようじん｝

＊devotee 【名】 １．心酔者｛しんすいしゃ｝、愛好者｛あいこうしゃ｝、ファン、熱愛者｛ねつあい しゃ｝ ２．献身｛けんしん｝する人、敬けんな信者｛しんじゃ｝

5/28 Let's Listen and Answer!

(1) A: Let's go out for a walk this afternoon. 今日の午後、散歩しに行こうよ。

B: But it's drizzling. I don't want to get wet.　でも、小雨が降っているわ。濡れたくないもの。

A: It's supposed to clear up in the afternoon.　午後は晴れるんだって。

B: All light. If the sun comes out, I'll go out with you.　いいわよ。日がさしたら、一緒に行くわ。

雨に関する表現（ジーニアスより）

酸性雨 acid rain　豪雨 cataract,downpour　こぬか雨 dribble ,drizzle　土砂降りの雨 driving rain

霧雨 drizzle,misty rain　雷雨 electric storm,thundershower　暴風雨 the fury of the elements,rainstorm

春雨 spring rain　強い雨 gusty rain　局地的な雨 regional rain　にわか雨 scud ,　(疾風を伴った)scurry,shower小雨 spit　天気雨(きつねの嫁入り) 《主に米》sun shower　激しい雷雨 thunderstorm

(突然の)豪雨[どしゃぶり] waterspout

(2) There's a mysterious statue in the park. It's a bronze image of a man in a top hat and coattails. But there's no plaque, no explanation, no nothing.　公園に不思議な像があるんだ。山高帽にえんび服を着たブロンズ像なんだけど。でも、銘板や説明が何もないのよね。 *plaque: a～飾り板、銘板、(U)プラーク、歯垢

(3) Cactus is an amazing plant. It survives in the desert by absorbing and conseving water. The largest cacti can contain many gallons of water. They also provide homes and food for animals. Some birds make their homes inside cactus.　サボテンは驚くべき植物である。水を吸収し、それを蓄えて、砂漠の中で生き残る。最も大きなサボテンの中には大量の水が蓄えられる。動物の住み家や餌も提供する。サボテンの中に住む鳥もいる。　*Cactusの複数形はCactuses, Cacti

ABCニュースシャワー2010年5月28日 （金）より

Amy Chandra is looking for love using the full reach of global positioning satellites. It's called mobile dating. Using GPS technology, it gives users the ability to pinpoint roving Romeos anywhere anytime. Or in Brian Gettleman's case, his Juliet. He was having coffee, she was on her lunch break. A gorgeous smile on his profile pic. Turns out they were two floors away from each other in the same mall. After some IMing, they met offline, and OMG, they've been together eight months. Amy's trying out the newest mobile dating app. Her first time logging in, about a dozen men came up on her radar screen all within a 10-block radius.

この女性はGPSを駆使して 新しい恋人を探している モバイルデートと呼ばれ 近くにいる恋人候補を— いつでも探すことができる ＊rove：徘徊する。さまよう。さまよい歩く。 この男性も恋人を見つけた 2人ともお昼の休憩中だった 写真の笑顔がステキでした 実は2人は同じ建物の 違う階にいたのだ やり取りをして直接会って— あら びっくり 交際8か月だ *IMing=Instand Messaging インスタントメッセージを送る。 *OMG=Oh, my god[gosh]! この女性は最新版を起動 10ブロック以内に 10人以上の恋人候補が表示された

5/27 Let's Role-Play!

(1) A: What's that music you're listening to?

B: It's a song that I recorded with friends.

A: I don't know you were in a band.

B: It was a long, long time ago.

(2) A: You ran a marathon last week, didn't you?

B: No, just a half-marathon.

A: Still, that's nothing to sneeze at. それでも、たいしたものよね。

B: Thanks. I was pretty satisfied with my time.

・sneeze at

【句動】 ～をばかにする、～を軽視する、ないがしろにする
A 20GB hard disk is not to be sneezed at. : 20GBのハード・ディスクでもばかにはできない。(英辞郎on the webより）

(3) A: Hurry up! Get on the train.

B: I'm trying, but it's too crowded.

A: The doors are closing.

B: I'll see you at the next station!

5/26 Let's Read Out Loud!

(1) Don't slide the table over the floor.

Let's lift it up together and move it.

That way we won't scracth the floor.

Then I'll get some felt pads.

I'll stick them under the legs to protect the floor.

＊　When you see that sticker on a car, it means there's a senior driver behind the wheel. (車にあのステッカーがついているのが見えたら、それは高齢者が運転しているということなんです。）

(2) I had a strange dream last night.

I was sitting in a classroom.

And a test was begining.

But I didn't know what it was about.

I hadn't prepared at all.

5/25 Let's Read Out Loud!

(1) This was a pretty good movie.

But it was way way too long. でもあまりに長過ぎたね。

A movie should be over in two hours.

(2) I really hate cleaning the house.　家の掃除をするのが本当に嫌いなの。

But I guess I should'nt complain.

It was a lot harder in the old days.

(3) If the doorbell rings, look here.

This screen shows who's outside.

And this intercom lets you talk to them.　そして、インターホンでその人たちと話せるわ。

5/23 Let's listen and write!

言えそうで言えない表現

(1) Why don't you cut to the chase?

本題に入ってくれないか？

(2) Do I have to spell it out for you?

　あなたにそれを詳しく説明しなくちゃいけないの？

(3) Let me sleep on the offer.

その申し出を一晩考えさせてください。

(4) This this is good for nothing.

こんなもの何の役にも立たない。

(5) Nothing can beat a cold beer after work.

　仕事の後の冷えたビールに勝るものはない。

FSA orders suspension at Aiful

The Japan Times: Saturday, April 15, 2

The Financial Services Agency said Friday it has ordered consumer finance firm Aiful Corp. to suspend most operations at its 1,700 outlets for three to 25 days over the use of strong-arm collection tactics.

It is the first time the FSA has ordered a complete shutdown on a major consumer finance firm.

The FSA believes the major consumer credit firm, based in Kyoto Prefecture, exacted debts from its borrowers in a coercive manner. This included repeatedly calling borrowers at work without permission, or despite being able to contact them at home or elsewhere, a violation of the Money Lending Business Law.

Lawyers and borrowers have criticized Aiful for using aggressive collection tactics, failing to give full explanations about lending rates, and refusing to provide transaction records borrowers need to consolidate their debts.

At the Goryokaku branch in Hokkaido, an Aiful official attempted to collect on a debt from a senile person, even though the guardian had submitted documents to annul the contract. Contracts are automatically annulled when a guardian submits papers to annul a contract on behalf of the borrower.

strong-arm : 【形】 〈米話〉腕ずくの
exact : （力ずくで）～を取り立てる、（強制的｛きょうせい てき｝に）～を取り出す
coercive: 【形】 強制的｛きょうせいてき｝な、高圧的｛こうあつてき｝な、威圧的｛いあつてき｝な

cf. coercive field strength 保磁力｛ほじりょく｝

consolidate : ～を合併｛がっぺい｝する、合併整理｛がっぺい せいり｝する、整備｛せいび｝する、統一｛とういつ｝する、集約｛しゅうやく｝する、確立｛かくりつ｝する、一元管理｛いちげん かんり｝する
cf. consolidate a debt 借金を一本化する

senile : 老人｛ろうじん｝の、老年｛ろうねん｝の

guardian : 保護者｛ほごしゃ｝、後見人｛こうけんにん｝、守護者｛しゅご しゃ｝、監視者｛かんししゃ｝

annul : ～を無効｛むこう｝にする、取り消す、破棄｛はき｝する、廃棄｛はいき｝する、抹殺｛まっさつ｝する

DPJ elects Ozawa as new president

The Japan Times: Saturday, April 8, 2006

The Democratic Party of Japan elected veteran lawmaker Ichiro Ozawa, 63, as its new president Friday, ending his head-to-head race with rival and two-time President Naoto Kan.

Despite concern over his reputation for backroom dealing and dictatorial leadership, Ozawa received 119 of the 192 votes. Kan, 59, garnered 72 votes. One lawmaker was absent from the voting.

"I would like to stake my life on overcoming this difficulty and recovering public trust in the DPJ," Ozawa said. "If the light for a two-party system and a change of power burns out, it means Japan is abandoned."

head-to-head race : 直接対決のレース

backroom dealing :裏部屋の取引、密室交渉、裏折衝｛うら せっしょう｝

dictatorial leadership: 独裁的｛どくさい てき｝リーダーシップ

garner:努力して）～を獲得する

stake my life:　～を命懸けでやる、～に命を懸ける

Desperate housewives "GOODBYE FOR NOW"

病院で、レックスが医者から見離された自分に対して自暴自棄になっている場面で、

Bree: "All I’m saying is that we’re both gonna die eventually, and in the time that we have left, whether it’s two days or two decades, I think that we should be nice to each other."
Rex: "You’re right."

「言iいたいことは、二人とも最後には死ぬのだし、残された時間が二日だとしても二十年だとしても、お互い思いやりをもって過ごすべきってことよ。」

「そうだな。」

（感想）ブリーの突飛な行動や発言には驚くことも多いけれど、この言葉は重みがあってブリーの強さを表す言葉だと思う…。私も反省。