20090829 -- How Golf Greens Work (2)

How Golf Greens Work

Location, location
Where you put the green is also important. It needs plenty of sunlight and good airflow over the green On many golf courses, you will find electric fans blowing over the green to make sure the airflow is perfect.

Then you choose perfect grass. There are different varieties for nearly every climae and situation.

Keeping it up
Sand, perfect drainage and a good location eliminate a huge number of variables and problems. But now the grass is totally dependent on its keepers There are no nutrients in the sand itself, so all the nutrients come from the people taking care of the green.

Once the green is established, you start in on maintenance. This includes daily mowing with a precision greens mower, watering, fertilizing, applying chemicals, aerating and general coddling.

As you can see, it takes a lot of work to create grass this perfect! But, if you follow these steps, you too could create a living carpet. In fact, you can have a real golf green in you yard. These are companies that will help you do this.


eliminate v. 消除
eg: This product is guaranteed to eliminate cockroaches in our house.

maintenance n. 保養/維修
eg: Ben does all his own home maintenance, like painting and fixing the water pipes.

mow v. (用鐮刀等)刈(草等)
eg: Beth is responsible for mowing the grass once a week.

variety n. 種類/多樣化
eg: Helen grows two different varieties of tomatoes in her garden.

20090831 -- The Netbook Revolution (1)

The Netbook Revolution

How the Eee PC has redefined mobile computing
Way back in 2007, Taipei-based ASUSTeK Computer introduced the Eee PC, a cheap, basic laptop computer about the size of a hardcover book. Originally designed to be both affordable and portable, the Eee PC handled simple tasks such as writing, web surfing and e-mail.

At the time, most laptops were scaled-down versions of desktop computers, and critics complained about Eee's lack of power and features. In spite of the naysayers, Asus sold more than 300,000 Eee PCs in the first few months. Other companies rushed to follow, and now nearly every major PC manufacturer has jumped into the still growing netbook market.

Through it all, the Eee PC has continued to evolve and improve. Newer versions include an Eee PC tablet that allow users to navigate by means of a touch screen. Also out is the Eee PC keyboard, a computer in a keyboard that connects to any LCD monitor or big-screen TV. In many ways, the Eee PC caught the PC industry off guard. The product does many of the things people use computers for, at a much cheaper price. Though there will always be a market for "full" computers, the Eee PC taught the PC industry a valuable lesson: Sometimes the basics are all we need.


portable adj. 便於攜帶的/手提式的
eg: I always take my portable radio to the beach with me.

jump into 熱切地投入
=> move into the market very quickly
eg: Harry jumped into a business deal without checking it out carefully and ended up losing a lot of money.

navi-船
navigate v. 駕駛/航行
eg: I had trouble learning to navigate between the personal and business settings on my cell phone.
eg: The modern equipment can navigate the ship automatically.
eg: This new software can help you navigate the Internet faster.

catch someone/someting off guard 使某人措手不及/使人吃驚
eg: The fashion was caught off guard by the new, young designer.
eg: The district attorney's(檢察官) question really caught the defendant(被告) off guard.

nay=no
naysayer n. 反對者/唱反調的人
=> someone always have negative response to an idea
eg: Regardless what the naysayer said, Tim decided to go for the new project.
eg: Chuck ignore the naysayers and finally succeeded.

//== Chat room ==//

hardcover book
hardcover 精裝本
=> hardback or hardbound

paperback 平裝本(通常在精裝本一年後發行)

jacket 書封面的護套
blurb 書的簡介(吹捧性廣告(或簡介、短文))


//== Grammer on the go ==//

Through it all, the Eee PC has continued to evolve and improve.

through it all 經歷了一切
=> from the beginning until now
=> until the end
=> through everything

eg: Even though Sam's job at the grocery store was a tough one, through it all, he learned a lot about teamwork.
eg: Even though the research was hard, through it all, the scientist has never thought of giving up.

20090828 -- How Golf Greens Work (1)

How Golf Greens Work
There's more to a golf green than what appears on the surface

Let's imagine that you are standing on a beautiful golf green. The sun is shining, the sky is a bright blue, the birds are chirping in the nearby trees. It is a perfect day.

Now you look down at your feet. The grass is absolutely perfect too. Have you ever wondered how they get the grass on a golf green to be this perfect?

It starts with a backhoe
A backhoe digs a nice big hole the size of the green. The hole might be 12 or 16 inches deep. In the most advanced systems, this hole gets completely lined with plastic to create a gigantic, waterproof tub. The bottom of this tub is covered with drainage pipes and several inches of gravel. A layer of special fabric covers the gravel. Then a foot or so of fine sand goes on top of the fabric and fills up the hole.

You can see what is happening. The grass is not growing in "dirt" at all. The green is very much like a huge flowerpot. The green's grass grows in sand with perfect drainage.


green n. 草坪/果嶺
eg: A new golf green will be built in the hills outside the city.
eg: The green of the golf course aren't in good shape. Some of them
are pretty hard and dry.

green n. 綠色的蔬菜
eg: Mom always makes sure that we eat our greens every day.

chirp v. 鳥發啁啾聲
eg: Every morning, Lisa wakes up to the sound of her pet birds chirping.

gigantic adj. 巨大的/龐大的
eg: Can you jump over that gigantic puddle of water?
eg: The gigantic office building blocked all the sunshine in the mornings.
eg: I don't like my feet. They're gigantic.

fabric n. 織物/織品
eg: This dress is made out of a shiny, blue fabric.

waterproof adj. 防水的
eg: a waterproof paint 防水油漆

soundproof adj. 隔音的
eg: The studio's soundproof material is imported from Germany.

//== Chat room ==//

A backhoe digs a nice big hole the size of the green.

backhoe n. 鋤耕機/怪手(挖土機)
bulldozer n. 推土機

a nice big hole
=> nice在此處用來加強原本的含意，非常的意思
=> a very big hole

That's a nice mess. 真是一團糟

a nice cut 很深的傷口

20090827 -- Five-Diamond Hotels (2)

Five-Diamond Hotels

SC: If you are booking a room in a different part of the world, how do you know you are really getting a quality hotel?
DC: Ultimately it comes down to a rating system's guidelines as well as the overall preferences of the guest. If a traveler has found a particular rating system useful in the past, they should look for a hotel that makes the standards of that system.

Ask you travel agent, or contact the hotel directly. They should be able to provide you with a description of the rooms available and amenities provided by the hotel.

SC: What's the best way to get a deal when you are booking?
DC: Most hotels in the United States have websites where you learn about seasonal deals being offered. Some specials may offer discounts, while others may include exclusive amenities that make the room a better value for its price.

Packages are also a great way to save money. They tend to unite a great room rate with either food and beverages or a cultural experience that is
unique to that destination. These deals can give a guest an all-encompassing view of the city they are visiting.


ultimately adv. 最終
=> at last, in the end
eg: Ultimately, Megan can't decide until she has seen the report.

amenity n. 休閒設施/便利舒適的設備
eg: The resort offers lots of amenities to make visitors feel at home.
eg: The amenities of the resort include a jacuzzi, pool, and gym, and miniature golf course.
eg: The town's amenities need a lot of improvement.

exclusive adj. 專用的/獨有的
=> only available to certain people
eg: The bank is offering an exclusive discount to its long-term customers.
eg: This room is for the exclusive use of our VIPs.
eg: This parking space is for the exclusive use of the president.

exclusive adj. 高級的/豪華的
eg: The tuition of this exclusive boarding school is twice my father's annual salary.

encompass v. 包含
=> include
eg: Stan's all-encompassing list of the company's problems was presented at the staff meeting.
eg: His book collection encompasses works of many authors, even foreign ones.
eg: The entrance exam will encompass all subjects.


all-encompassing
=> entire/whole


//== Chat room ==//

a travler
they

If a traveler has found a particular rating system useful in the past, they should look for a hotel that makes the standards of that system. (口語上的故意錯誤，這是允許的)(they取代he or she)
=> If a traveler has found a particular rating system useful in the past, he/she should look for a hotel that makes the standards of that system. (書面寫法應該將they改成he/she)

20090826 -- Five-Diamond Hotels (1)

Five-Diamond Hotels

What makes a great hotel?
SC: The Stars and Diamonds ranking systems – what are they and how do they work?
DC: "Diamonds" are the ranking system used by the American Automobile Association(AAA). Rankings range from one to five diamonds and are awarded annually based on the service performance of a hotel. The more diamonds a hotel has, the more luxury it provides for its guests. The Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle is one of only three hotels in North America that has maintained a five-diamond designation for 25 consecutive years. A number of different ranking organizations use "stars." Rankings usually range from one to five stars – again measuring the level of service and quality of the hotel.

SC: What makes a five-diamond hotel a five-diamond hotel?
DC: Adherence to service standards in what sets a five-diamond hotel apart from the rest. When evaluated by AAA, a hotel must achieve a score of 300 or higher, out of a possible 352 points, to be designated withe the prestigious five-diamond award.

Points are given for meeting a serious of detailed service-related criteria ranging from friendliness and attentiveness of staff to clearlinesee and service available.
Once a year, AAA arrives unannounced and evaluates hotels from a guest's perspective.

designate v. 選出/給予某種稱謂
designation n. 選派
eg: Phil has received the "Most Valuable Player" designation three times.
eg: The resort has the designation of "the best resort in the country for honeymooners".
eg: His designation as ambassador to France was confirmed today.

adherence n. 堅持/固守
adherence to
eg: Close adherence to a study plan usually helps Cheryl get great marks.
eg: Adherence to top quality ingredients makes the restaurant outstanding even after all these years.
eg: Our principal's adherence to rules in well-known among students.

criteria pl n. criterion的複數
criterion n. (判斷、批評的)標準/準則/尺度
eg: Students need to meet three criteria before they are allowed to go on the class trip.

attevtive adj. 體貼的/留意的
attentiveness n. 留意
=> give special care to something
eg: The attentiveness of the flight attendants made Jordan's trip very comfortable.
eg: The attentiveness of the flight attendants impressed everyone of us.
eg: It was Paul's attentiveness that actually won Vivian's heart.


//== Chat room ==//

Are you all set?
= Are you ready?

set apart 挪出來/擱置一旁

set apart 與眾不同
=> distinquish someone from someone else
eg: His talent sets him apart from his classmates.

set in one's ways 頑固保守
=> not flexible

set in gold 鑲嵌
=> setting

//== Grammer on the go ==//

The more diamonds a hotel has, the more luxury it provides for its guests.

The more + object + subject + verb
=> how an increaing something will lead to an increasing something else

eg: The more phone calls I answers, the more headaches I get.
eg: The more cans the students collect and recycle, the more money they can raise for the class trip.