全通翻譯/翻譯社

Monte Carlo or Bust

Few cities can rival Monte Carlo when it comes to glitz and glamour. With its casinos, grand hotels and luxury yachts, Monte Carlo is the epitome of opulence and, some might say, excess. Monaco's main district has long been considered a playground for the rich and famous. Monte Carlo is home to more millionaires and billionaires per capita than anywhere else. It also has the world's priciest real estate, with four-room apartments overlooking Port Hercules going for over 60 million euros.

Monte Carlo was named after Prince Charles (Carlo) III of Monaco, a scion of the Grimaldi family whose preeminence in the area dates from the late 12th century. The Grimaldis were wealthy Genoese who spoke a dialect similar to Monegasque, which is still used by about 15 percent of Monaco's citizens. 

A Brief History of Taiwanese Clothing

Unsurprisingly for a nation that has been influenced by a variety of cultures, Taiwan has seen a range of clothing styles during different periods of its history.

To the untrained eye, the traditional costumes of the island's aborigines may seem of a piece and, in a way, they are. The weaving process was almost identical throughout the tribes. A squared-cloth system of weaving, involving a horizontal loom with a strap, was used to produce individual pieces, which were then sewn together to create beautiful patchworks. However, colors, patterns and decorations (including shells and beads) varied considerably from tribe to tribe. The Atayal, for example, whose women are expert weavers, favored red as it was said to be in tune with nature and ward off evil. The Paiwan, whose clothing is perhaps the most eye-catching, preferred dark blues and black with intricate patterns and ostentatious adornments.

Kuala Lumpur — Malaysia's Diverse and Ambitious Capital

By any stretch of the imagination, Kuala Lumpur is a major world city. The Malaysian capital is one of the most visited destinations, with 9.2 million people bringing in an estimated US$7.8 billion in 2013.

Kuala Lumpur is far from the country's oldest city, having been a relatively insignificant tin-mining town just 150 years ago. It wasn't until 1972 that city status was conferred on KL, as it is known to locals. Two years later, the city was devolved from Selangor Province and declared a Federal Territory. This was partly in response to the call for increased economic opportunity following the race riots of 1969, which targeted ethnic Chinese.

資料來源：biz互動英語報

Taiwan's Big Trade-off?

Despite the signing of the ECFA pact in 2010, disquiet over the implications of cross-strait trade liberalization has continued to simmer. Tensions only grew with the inking of the cross-strait agreement on trade in services, which extends the scope of investment areas on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The issue is close to boiling point with the bill stalled in the Legislature and political infighting threatening to scupper the deal.

Most recently, the flap over the attempted removal of Wang Jin-pyng of the ruling Kuomintang from his post as legislative speaker is said to have caused unease in Bejing. There have even been reports of PRC officials contacting Wang in private to gauge the state of play. However, the real cause is the opposition Democratic Progressive Party's refusal to accept the deal without a clauseby- clause review. As ever in the arena of Taiwanese politics, the motives for this stance are questionable, with some analysts insisting that the Greens are just engaging in political grandstanding. DPP chairman Su Tseng-chang's withdrawal from a televised debate in mid-September elicited further sneers of cynicism from KMT lawmakers, who said it showed the opposition didn't have a leg to stand on.

Critiquing the Lean Machine

If you've not heard about Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and her effortsto revolutionize the way women tackle gender inequality, then you need to start “leaning in” as her book advises.

Having outlined her ideas on how women unwittingly hold themselves back in an earlier TED talk, Sandberg presented a fully fledged manifesto with “Lean In.” Women, she contends, are habitually bad at asserting themselves, and this is manifested in their voices, body language and fear of speaking out. However, critics have argued that Sandberg is making women the scapegoat for what should be viewed as an institutional problem. 

Taiwan — Hot Spring Heaven

With over 100 hot springs island-wide, Taiwan has not only one of the highest concentrations of natural springs but also a staggering variety, including hot, cold, mud and seabed springs.

Most tourists who are short on time naturally gravitate to the springs at Xinbeitou or Wulai, which are easily accessed from downtown Taipei. However, as seasoned veterans can tell you, there are some springs that combine soothing waters with stunning situations. Here are a few bathing holes that are perfect for a winter wallow. 

Helsinki: Where East Meets West

The most northerly capital of the EU countries, Helsinki is a gateway to both the east and west of Europe. Finland's main city was founded by a Swedish king in 1550 but came under Russian rule at the beginning of the 19th century, finally gaining independence in 1917 as a result of the Russian Revolution.

Finns are often mistakenly labeled as Scandinavian. In fact, Finnish language and culture are very distinct. If you're thinking of learning some Finnish, bear in mind that it is considered one of the toughest languages to master. Don't worry too much, though. With increased immigration in recent times, an estimated 11.5 percent of Helsinki's population speaks another language as their mother tongue. This has meant that English has become a lingua franca for New Finns, as they are known. Many Finns also speak Swedish, and around　6 percent of Helsinki's population are native Swedish speakers.

Tying the Knot: Taiwan's World Class Wedding Industry

Despite an overall decline in marriage figures, there's no doubt that the wedding industry is still big business. In the United States, the average wedding cost around US$26,000 in 2011, and estimates for Taiwan for the same period are almost identical. In fact, when it comes to tying the knot, Taipei has a claim to being the world's wedding capital in terms of both value and comprehensiveness.

The Dress

Symbols and Celebrations: Lunar New Year in Taiwan

Ask a Taiwanese friend or colleague what they do during Lunar New Year, and there is a good chance they will respond with a shrug and say "nothing much." Generally, the holiday is a time when the younger generations flock back to the nest for family get-togethers. Physical exertion is usually not high on the list of activities. Instead, reclining on the sofa in front of the TV, eating until bursting point and enjoying a few hands of mahjong are preferred.

To prepare for the festivities, families will purchase spring couplets, a pair of metrical　lines of verse usually printed on red paper and placed on the doors of homes. The characters on these slips of paper express happiness and hope for the upcoming year. The most important items on the shopping list are the food items –– usually enough to feed a small army. Boiled dumplings are popular as they resemble gold ingots and, thus, represent prosperity. Similarly, niangao –– a glutinous New Year cake –– is associated with progress. Food also influences the important rituals that take place during New Year. Dishes are presented to ancestors or deities who must "accept" the offering before the family is allowed to indulge. 

Larry King Bows Out

With his trademark glasses and suspenders, Larry King is a familiar face to millions of viewers across the globe. Larry King Live, which ends this month after 25 years on air, has been a flagship for CNN.

Refined Tea — A Century of Brewing

As Lunar New Year approaches, Dihua Street becomes the go-to place for New Year shopping. A look at its teeming hordes is enough to convince visitors of its fame. What you may not know is the reason this street in the historic area of Dadaocheng became so prosperous: tea.

Japan's Warhol

Passing off commercial, everyday images as high-art is nothing new. Andy Warhol was doing it with cans of soup in the 1960s, and Roy Lichtenstein with comic book panels even earlier. Warhol would doubtless recognize a follower of his pop art movement in Takashi Murakami, albeit with a distinctly Japanese slant.

Zappos: The Perfect Fit 

When Nick Swinmurn approached investors with a plan to sell shoes online in 1998, they wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole. More than a decade on, Swinmurn's brainchild Zappos.com grosses over US$1 billion annually. The naysayers must be kicking themselves.

Eighteen Minutes to Change the World

You apply to attend a conference but are flatly rejected, even though the tickets are US$6,000 a pop. If this sounds absurd, remember: Only the creme de la creme is accepted at TED, a set of international gatherings formed to change the world by promoting “ideas worth spreading. ” So popular are TED events that applicants for the all-inclusive passes are turned away in droves.

Taiwan's ‘Cockroach' a Marvel of Persistence 

In a career of painful ups and downs, 2010 has turned out to be a highlight for baseball player Kuo Hong-chih. In July, Kuo became the first-ever Taiwanese-born player to appear in Major League Baseball's All-Star game. Kuo played for the National League team, which beat the American League 3-1.