2015年4月1日 星期三

week4- American Sniper Chris Kyle

American Sniper Chris Kyle
Christopher Scott Kyle was born and raised in Texas and was a United States Navy SEAL from 1999 to 2009. He is currently known as the most successful sniper in American military history. According to his book American Sniper, he had 160 confirmed kills (which was from 255 claimed kills).

A claimed kill refers to a shot where the round hits the target, but cannot confirm the kill.

Chris Kyle served as a Navy SEAL in 4 tours in the latest Iraq war. For his bravery and military skills, he was awarded some of the highest medals in the US military multiple times including the Bronze and Silver Star.

Whilst in Iraq, the insurgents called him the "Devil of Ramadi" and offered a bounty for his head. In a funny twist, they displayed pictures of him around the local area with the bounty but it was a picture of another sniper! He was shot twice, and was involved in six IED attacks

Chris needed to make a decision on family life or the military. He had a small child that he did not know very well as he was overseas constantly. This also put pressure on his marriage, so he decided to leave the SEALS and was honourably discharged in 2009. After some time struggling with civilian life, he started a security company called CRAFT and wrote the New York Times bestselling book, American Sniper.

Unfortunately Chris Kyle was murdered at a shooting range by a US military veteran he was trying to help on February 2, 2013 in Texas.

A film has been made starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller and is called American Sniper. It was launched at cinemas around the world in January 2015. Clint Eastwood is the director.


Structure of the Lead
   WHO- Christopher Scott Kyle
   WHEN- currently
   WHAT- He is currently known as the most successful sniper in American military history.
   WHY- According to his book American Sniper, he had 160 confirmed kills (which was from 255 claimed kills).
   WHERE- United States
   HOW-not given

Keywords
   1. confirm:證實
   2. military:軍事的
   3. insurgent:叛亂者
   4. bounty:懸賞
   5. make a decision:做決定
   6. discharged:允許離開
   7. veteran:老手

   8. starring:主演

2015年3月11日 星期三

week 3-Taoyuan fire

Fire in Taoyuan kills six firefighters
Taipei, Jan. 20 (CNA) Six firefighters perished early Tuesday when the structure of a burning bowling center in Taoyuan collapsed on them, Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) said.

The incident occurred when nearly 100 firefighters went to put out the fire in the coastal Xinwu District in the northern city, Cheng said in a Facebook post.

The six firefighters, all in their 20s, were found trapped on the second of the three-story building, officials said. Two people were rescued from the fire and sent to a hospital with injuries.

Cheng promised the best possible compensation for the bereaved families and an investigation into the cause of the fire and the question of whether the bowling center has any illegally built structure.

In Taipei, the Cabinet issued a statement expressing deep condolences over the death of the firefighters.

The Cabinet also said it will instruct the Ministry of the Interior, which oversees the National Fire Agency, to review firefighting measures, including personal equipment and training to help prevent similar incidents.


Structure of the Lead
   WHO-Food manufacturer Ting Hsin International Group
   WHEN- Jan. 20
   WHAT- Six firefighters perished early Tuesday when the structure of a burning bowling center in Taoyuan collapsed on them
   WHY- burning bowling center in Taoyuan collapsed on them
   WHERE- Taipei
   HOW-not given

Keywords
   1. perish:死亡
   2. bowling:保齡球
   3. firefighters:消防員
   4. put out the fire:滅火
   5. trapped:困住
   6.compensation 賠償
   7.bereaved:死了的

8.condolence:慰問

2015年3月4日 星期三

week2- National Taichung Theater

National Taichung Theater starts trial operations
President Ma Ying-jeou said Nov. 23 that National Taichung Theater will help attract more performing art groups to Taiwan and boost the country’s cultural profile.

The theater is set to become a new landmark on the local cultural and creative landscape,” Ma said during a ceremony marking the commencement of trial operations at the facility in central Taiwan.

Along with National Theater and Concert Hall in Taipei City and Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts under construction in Kaohsiung City, the facility will help usher in a new era for the performing arts in Taiwan.”

Taking five years to complete, the NT$4.36 billion (US$141.56 million) project features a beamless design and irregular curved walls. It is the brainchild of Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Toyo Ito from Japan, whose work on the Kaohsiung Main Stadium attracted worldwide praise.

Covering 57,024 square meters in downtown Taichung, the facility includes a 2,000-seat grand performing hall, an 800-seat theatre and a 200-seat experimental theater. It will officially open to the public in early 2015 under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture.

As part of the celebrations, Taichung City Government is staging dance and theater performances, as well as concerts and light shows, at the site.

The inaugural show was a production of “Cat Man” by traditional opera troupe Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group. It is to be followed by performances of “Don Quixote” by the Paper Windmill Theatre Nov. 27 and 28. (SFC-JSM)

Structure of the Lead
   WHO- President Ma Ying-jeou
   WHEN- Nov. 23
   WHAT- National Taichung Theater will help attract more performing art groups to Taiwan and boost the country’s cultural profile.
   WHY-not given
   WHERE-not given
   HOW-not given

Keywords
   1. boost:提升
   2. profile:形象
   3. landmark:地標
   4. commencement:開端
   5. beamless:無橫樑的
   6. irregular:不規則的
   7. Pritzker Architecture Prize:普立茲克獎
   8. inaugural:閉幕典禮
 


2015年2月25日 星期三

week-1 Ting Hsin tainted oil scandal

Ting Hsin leaving Taiwan oil market
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Ting Hsin International Group announced yesterday afternoon that it will leave Taiwan's oil market and donate NT$3 billion toward food safety under the supervision of a third party Ruentex Financial Group Chairman Samuel Yin.
Ruentex Financial Group held a press conference yesterday, with Ting Hsin Chairman Wei Ying-jiao and former Wei Chuan Foods Corporation  Chairman Wei Ying-chung in attendance.
The Wei brothers first bowed and apologized for causing concern among the public and stated that they are willing to face the people on behalf of Ting Hsin.
I am aware that no matter what actions we take and how hard we try, it is hard for the company to regain its reputation under these circumstances,” said Wei Ying-jiao.
He continued by saying that since no one wants to trust them anymore, he would like to invite Yin, who loves Taiwan and has a good reputation, to be the supervisor keeping an eye on Ting Hsin's payments as well as the interim convener in the establishment of a new independent local food safety innovation committee.
Wei also stated that the NT$3 billion donation will go to the government or social welfare organizations working on food safety issues, hoping to recover Taiwan's reputation as a food producer.
In addition, Wei Ying-jiao promised that Ting Hsin will take all necessary responsibility, starting with repaying consumers full refunds based on the requests of local governments and relevant authorities.
Yesterday evening, Wei Ying-chung was summoned by the Changhua District Prosecutors Office for questioning. Prosecutors have already inspected the Wei Chuan headquarters as well as Wei Ying-chung's residence to collect documents and evidence for further inspection. Prosecutors ended the search at 2 p.m. and decided to summon Wei to be questioned in the evening.
Come up with Potential Solution in a Month: Yin
I am an amateur in the food industry, but I am willing to make some efforts for the food safety issue,” said Yin.
Yin stated that since he is an amateur in the food industry, he will invite experts from various fields to deliberate the issues. He also promised that he will come up with some potential solutions to improve current situation in a month.
As for the question of whether he will take over the operation of Wei Chuan, he said that he had never considered it.

Structure of the Lead
WHO- Ting Hsin International Group
WHEN- yesterday afternoon
WHAT- it will leave Taiwan's oil market and donate NT$3 billion toward food safety under the supervision of a third party — Ruentex Financial Group Chairman Samuel Yin.
WHY- not given
WHERE- Taiwan  
HOW-not given

Keywords
   1. donate:捐贈
   2. supervision:監管
   3. press conference:記者會
   4. apologize:道歉
   5. reputation:名譽
   6. keeping an eye on:仔細看守好
   7. interim:過度期
   8. refund:退還

   9. amateur:外行