Week 3 模仿遊戲

Benedict Cumberbatch kicks off London Film Festival

The Sherlock star plays computer pioneer Alan Turing in wartime drama The Imitation Game.

Speaking at the film's European premiere in a wet and windy Leicester Square, Cumberbatch described Turing as "an extraordinary man".

His performance is already being tipped as an Oscar contender.

"To be asked to play such a phenomenal human being - a true English hero - is a great honour and comes with a great responsibility," Cumberbatch said.

He added that he had known "embarrassingly little" about Turing before he made the film.

"That's the tragedy of this man's extraordinary life - his achievements and his heroism and his criminal prosecution are not well known. He should be on the front cover of text books."

Co-star Keira Knightley and other members of the cast - including Charles Dance and Mark Strong - also braved the rain on the opening night of the festival. Knightley plays Turing's close friend and fellow-code breaker, Joan Clarke.

London Film Festival director Clare Stewart described The Imitation Game as "a remarkable British film with great British talent in front of the camera".

She told the BBC: "There have been people waiting for the red carpet since 4am - I'm thrilled that Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley decided not to take a rain check."

The Imitation Game is largely set at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, where Turing and his team attempted to decipher German messages to help end World War Two.

Turing killed himself in 1954, two years after being prosecuted for gross indecency after he fell foul of anti-gay laws at the time.

Turing received a posthumous royal pardon in December 2013, with Justice Minister Chris Grayling saying he undoubtedly shortened the conflict and saved thousands of lives.

Earlier on Wednesday, Cumberbatch said he understood why some people drew comparisons between Turing and his TV role as problem-solving genius, Sherlock Holmes.

"I didn't read the script and go 'this is Sherlock in tweed'," he said. "I liked how uncompromising he was and I suppose that's a strong trait in strong characters."

The film's Norwegian director, Morten Tyldum, described Turing as "an unsung hero who achieved so much... he was ahead of his time and outside of his time and was carrying all these secrets".

Some 248 feature films will be presented over the 12-day film festival, which runs from 8-19 October.

Among the stars expected on the red carpet are Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Timothy Spall, Andrea Riseborough, Sophie Okonedo, Noomi Rapace, Viggo Mortensen, Steve Carell, Sienna Miller, Reese Witherspoon, Dominic West and Emily Watson.

Another World War Two drama, Fury - starring Brad Pitt - will close the festival on 19 October.

Pitt will attend the premiere with director David Ayer, who said it was "a true pleasure to be returning to England, where we shot the film". Many of the action scenes were filmed in Oxfordshire.

Set in 1945, Fury tells of an army sergeant in command of a tank crew for a mission behind enemy lines.

Commenting on the WW2-themed films that open and close the festival, Stewart said: "Our filmmakers are returning to themes about war - including our centrepiece gala Testament of Youth. Our times make us return to these stories of conflict to try and understand the human condition a little better."

Other gala screenings at the festival include wrestling drama Foxcatcher, starring Steve Carell; and Wild, with Reese Witherspoon as a young woman on a gruelling 1,100 mile hike. The film's screenplay is written by Nick Hornby.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29519783

Structure of the Lead：

     WHO-Alan Turing

     WHEN-World War Two

     WHAT- decipher German messages to help end World War Two.

     WHY-help end World War Two.

     WHERE-UK

     HOW-not given

Keywords：

   1. Imitation Game:模仿遊戲

   2. World War Two:第二次世界大戰

   3. fellow-code :代碼

   4. decipher:解碼

   5. anti-gay:反同性戀

Week 2 哈德遜河奇蹟

How Sullenberger Really Saved US Airways Flight 1549

When airplanes crash, it’s usually because a bunch of unexpected things go wrong all at once, or one after the other. Obviously something dramatic went wrong with US Airways Flight 1549, which lost power in both engines and crash-landed on the Hudson River on January 15. But a lot went right, too.

Capt. Chesley Sullenberger has earned plaudits for “heroism,” but that oversimplifies what it took to land the crippled Airbus A320 and get all 150 passengers off safely, before the plane sank. Here are some of the other factors that helped everybody aboard Flight 1549 survive:

Thorough training. Sullenberger may be a model aviator, but it wasn’t heroism that brought Flight 1549 down safely. It was rigorous training that’s inbred in the U.S. aviation system. Pilots have to fly for years before they can command an airliner, and even experienced pilots must routinely train in simulators and pass “check rides” at least once a year under the supervision of Federal Aviation Administration inspectors. Pilots sometimes gripe about overzealous FAA inspectors, but the oversight contributes to a culture of accountability and fastidious attention to detail in the cockpit.

For airline pilots, training focuses on dire scenarios, such as the US Airways crew encountered. “Pilots don’t spend their training time flying straight and level,” says airline pilot Lynn Spencer, author of Touching History: The Untold Story of the Drama That Unfolded in the Skies over America on 9/11. “In simulator training, we’re doing nothing but flying in all sorts of emergencies. Even emergencies become just another set of procedures when repeatedly trained.” As more information emerges on the actions of “Sully” and his first officer, Jeffrey Skiles, it seems clear that it was cool, rational decision-making that saved the day. That’s reason enough to lionize the pilots.

A clear division of labor in the cockpit. From the time the engines stopped producing thrust – presumably because they ingested birds – Sullenberger and Skiles had about three minutes before the powerless plane glided back to earth. And the cockpit would suddenly have become an intense environment to work in. Other airplane systems would have been failing, since they’re powered by the engines. Alerts would have been dinging. Two video screens would have been flashing vital aircraft information and checklists of emergency procedures to go through. Once the pilots chose their course, they would have started to prepare for a water landing. All in three minutes.
As captain, it was Sullenberger’s job to figure out where to land the plane. No doubt he considered returning to New York’s LaGuardia airport, where the plane had taken off from, or to another airport, before realizing that the Hudson was his best bet. Meanwhile, it would have been First Officer Skiles’s job to hurry through a set of checklists with procedures for restarting the engines. Pilots train for losing and restarting both engines on a two-engine jet – but usually using high-altitude scenarios, when there’s a lot more drift-down time than three minutes. Had both pilots fixated on restarting the engines, they could easily have waited too long to pick a place to land, and ended up careening through a populated area. Instead, Sullenberger abided by the basic rule of airplane emergencies: First, fly the airplane.

A textbook landing. It appears that Sullenberger landed Flight 1549 on the Hudson much as he would have landed on a runway – but without engine power, and with far less margin for error. “It’s very important in a water landing to fly the aircraft onto the water as slow as possible,” says Don Shepperd, a Vietnam-era fighter pilot and co-author (with the writer of this article), of Bury Us Upside Down: The Misty Pilots and the Secret Battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail. “The faster you hit, the more likely the plane will cartwheel or the fuselage will disintegrate.” Too slow, however, and the plane could lose lift and “stall,” causing the nose to pitch down into the water uncontrolled. “Once the decision was made to ditch,” Shepperd says, “it was a magnificent piece of aviation professionalism.”


The water landing was obviously shocking to those on board - yet mild compared to what could have happened. “I believed the impact would be violent but survivable,” wrote one passenger, who happened to be a pilot for another airline. “It was much milder than I had anticipated. If the jolt had been turbulence, I would have described it as moderate.”

Buoyancy. Once in the water, Flight 1549 sank slowly. Until there’s full testimony from the pilots, it’s not clear whether one of them pushed the aircraft’s “ditching” button, which seals some of the plane’s valves and intakes and other openings that could let water into the cabin. But they probably did – the plane obviously floated long enough for everybody to get out. Had the landing ripped a hole in the fuselage, or something else compromised the cabin, the plane could have sunk in seconds, with passengers and crew still trapped inside. Or jet fuel could have ignited, creating a watery inferno.

A competent cabin crew. The pilot tends to get all the glory, but the “Miracle on the Hudson” also required flight attendants who directed passengers to the right exits and kept panicky people calm as they scuttled out the doors. If disciplined training and adherence to procedures is the measure of a hero, then they were as “heroic” as Sullenberger. The only obvious oversight in the whole episode is that many passengers left the plane without grabbing their life vests or flotation devices (seat cushions). The FAA may revise safety procedures so that during a no-notice water landing, there’s some kind of last-minute reminder to do this.

Luck. The whole drama still could have turned tragic, had a bunch of things beyond the pilots’ control not gone their way. But the intangibles worked in their favor. The closest body of water was a smooth river, for instance, rather than a choppy ocean with waves and swells that could have flipped the airplane. Landing on the Hudson in winter meant the jet didn’t have to dodge hundreds of private boats sailing up and down the river. And the plane was quickly surrounded by ferries and other vessels able to pluck freezing passengers off the wings and out of the water. “The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators,” wrote historian Edward Gibbon in the 18th century. He didn’t know Sully or Skiles. But then again, he did.

資料來源:http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/flowchart/2009/02/03/how-sullenberger-really-saved-us-airways-flight-1549

 Structure of the Lead：

     WHO-Sully

     WHEN-1549

     WHAT-US Airways Flight 1549

     WHY-airplanes crash

     WHERE-Hudson Rive

     HOW-Saved US Airways Flight 1549

Keywords：

   1. airplanes:飛機

   2. lost power:失去動力

   3.pilots:飛行員

   4.emergencies:緊急情況

   5.Sully:薩利機長

Week 1-美同性婚姻合法

Trump: Same-sex marriage is 'settled,' but Roe v Wade can be changed

Washington (CNN)For the first time since winning the election, Donald Trump has weighed in on two of the most controversial social issues the Supreme Court has taken on ever: gay marriage, and abortion.

His answers could leave conservatives worried.

Trump indicated he's "fine" with the high court's opinion legalizing same-sex marriage and called it "settled," but committed to appointing justices who want to change the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling affirming abortion rights.

Who will Trump pick for the Supreme Court?

The inconsistency in the question -- what is settled law? -- is sure to concern judicial conservatives who fear he may not live up to his promise to fill the empty Supreme Court seat with someone in the mold of their hero, Justice Antonin Scalia.

Above all else, judicial conservatives hope that Trump's eventual nominees to the Court will apply the Constitution as they believe it is written and enforce the limits on government power. They see both the 2015 same-sex marriage ruling -- Obergefell v. Hodges -- and Roe v. Wade as total failures in that regard. The fact that Trump interprets the cases differently might be some cause of concern.

"Conservative legal scholars have long criticized Roe v. Wade for many of the same reasons that they've criticized the gay marriage decision. It's not at all clear what interpretation of the Constitution leads to the marriage decision, but not a woman's right to choose," said Steve Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas School of Law and a CNN contributor.

Supreme Court justices build off of precedent, and are often wary of overturning prior decisions in order to seek stability and continuity in the law. It's a legal principle called "stare decisis," which roughly translates into "to stand by things decided." But those reversals do occur. Of all the justices on the court, Justice Clarence Thomas gives the least deference to stare decisis.

On the one hand, Trump told Leslie Stahl during an interview aired Sunday on "60 Minutes," the issue of marriage equality, "was already settled."

"You have these cases that have already gone to the Supreme Court. They've been settled, and I'm fine with that," Trump said.

But on abortion, he thought differently.

When Stahl pushed him on the topic, rather than saying the 43-year-old Roe v Wade ruling is "settled," Trump said that the justice or justices he appoints to the bench will be "pro life," leaving open the possibility it could be overturned. He said that if the decision is overturned, the issue will be returned to the states.

"Then some women won't be able to get an abortion," Stahl pressed.

"Yeah. Well perhaps they have to go to another state," Trump responded.

Trump -- with the help of conservative groups such as the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society -- has put forward a list of 21 potential Supreme Court nominees. Many of the judges on that list might not see a difference between the Roe decision and Obergefell.

On abortion, it's not so much about being "pro life" as it is about interpreting the Constitution with an originalist's approach. Judicial conservatives, like Thomas and Scalia, reject the core holding in Roe that there is a right to privacy in the Constitution that would protect a woman's right to abortion.

And on the issue of gay marriage, they reject the notion that the Constitution limits the ability of states to restrict same-sex marriage.

Scalia himself wrote a scathing dissent in Obergefell case. "Today's decree says that my Ruler and the Rule of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court," he wrote.

"This practice of constitutional revision by an unelected committee of nine, always accompanied (as it is today) by extravagant praise of liberty, robs the People of the most important liberty they asserted in the Declaration of Independence and won in the Revolution of 1776: the freedom to govern themselves," Scalia added.

Josh Blackman an associate professor of Law at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, said that Trump's remarks are not entirely clear but could be understood to suggest that even though Roe v. Wade was decided years ago, it is still quite contested.

"By contrast, Obergefell -- as it relates to same-sex marriage -- has largely been accepted as settled," he said, noting the exception of Kim Davis and other clerks who have refused to issue marriage certificates.

That means that while same-sex marriage itself might not be coming back to the Supreme Court any time soon, restrictions to abortion, meant to narrow Roe, could very well return to the court sooner rather than later.

資料來源:http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/14/politics/trump-gay-marriage-abortion-supreme-court/index.html

 Structure of the Lead：

     WHO-Trump

     WHEN-2016

     WHAT-gay marriage, and abortion.

     WHY-they reject the notion that the Constitution limits the ability of states to restrict same-sex marriage

     WHERE-US

     HOW-fine" with the high court's opinion legalizing same-sex marriage and called it "settled

Keywords：

1. same sex marriage:同性婚姻

   2. legalizing:合法化

   3.  judicial conservatives:司法保守派

   4. ruling:裁決

   5.Supreme Court. :最高法院

第9周 里約奧運

Rio Olympics 2016: Spectacular closing ceremony as Olympic flag goes to Tokyo

he Rio Olympics ended with a spectacular carnival-inspired closing ceremony, and the official handover to 2020 hosts Tokyo.

The colourful ceremony, lasting almost three hours, celebrated Brazil's arts and was held in a wet Maracana.

Among the highlights were Tokyo's impressive showcase and a vibrant carnival parade.

"These were a marvellous Olympics, in a marvellous city," said International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach.

"Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy for life."

Bach officially closed the Games of the 31st Olympiad after 16 days of competition, featuring 11,303 athletes from 206 nations and a refugee team.

One of the biggest cheers of the night came when Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared dressed as computer game character Super Mario, rising out of a huge green pipe in the stadium.

The ceremony, watched by billions around the world, featured the parade of athletes and a dramatic extinguishing of the Olympic flame.

Women's hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh carried the flag for Great Britain, who finished the Games with 67 medals - their highest tally at an overseas Olympics.

Super-heavyweight boxer Joe Joyce had earlier won Britain's final medal of Rio 2016 - a silver - as they finished second in the medal table to the United States, ahead of China.

• Relive the closing ceremony
• How did Team GB make history?
• A review of Team GB's record haul
• Rio 2016's best moments in pictures

What happened?

• The Maracana was turned into a street carnival as the ceremony celebrated Brazil's art, music and dance.
• Highlights included human formations of iconic Rio landmarks Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain.
• The Olympic flame was extinguished by a rain shower, which then gave life to a large tree sculpture to symbolise rebirth.
• The Rio carnival anthem 'Cidade Maravilhosa' played as the party reached a crescendo.
• Brazilian model Izabel Goulart led a parade of 50 women and 200 dancers, who were joined by a sound truck containing 12 carnival queens.
• The ceremony concluded with a confetti and firework show.

Tokyo's time comes

The ceremony featured the symbolic handover of the Olympic flag. Rio mayor Eduardo Paes returned it to IOC president Bach, before it was passed to Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike.

That was followed by an impressive 12-minute showcase of Tokyo, which included Prime Minister Abe's star turn.

Who said what?

IOC president Thomas Bach: "Brazil we love you, thank you for your warm hospitality. Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy of life. You gave many reasons to be proud. These Games demonstrated that diversity is an enrichment for everyone. These Games were a celebration of diversity.

"These were a marvellous Olympic Games in a marvellous city. They are leaving a unique legacy for many generations to come. History will talk about a Rio before and a much better Rio after these Games."

Rio 2016 organising committee president Carlos Arthur Nuzman: "The Games in Rio is a great challenge, but a challenge with success. I am proud of my country, my city and my people. Rio has delivered history."

Historic Games for Team GB

From swimmer Adam Peaty's gold on day three to Mo Farah's long-distance 'double double' on the final Saturday, this was Britain's most successful Games in 108 years.

In the velodrome, Team GB won more than double the amount of medals of their nearest challengers.

Jason Kenny and Laura Trott will marry in September as the owners of 10 gold medals, while Sir Bradley Wiggins became the most decorated British Olympian with his eighth medal.

Then there was Farah, who won his fourth Olympic gold and became only the second man to retain the 5,000m and 10,000m titles.

Dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin won her third gold medal, while Justin Rose won his first as golf returned to the Olympics.

There were also historic golds in gymnastics, women's hockey and diving, while 58-year-old show jumper Nick Skelton became the country's oldest medallist for a century.

Gymnast Max Whitlock won two golds, while boxer Nicola Adams, taekwondo's Jade Jones, triathlete Alistair Brownlee and tennis player Andy Murray were among those who became multiple gold medallists.

The end of an era

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt said goodbye to the Olympics by winning an unprecedented 'triple triple'.

The 30-year-old Jamaican won his seventh, eighth and ninth gold medals by claiming the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles for the third Games in succession.

US swimmer Michael Phelps, meanwhile, took his medal tally to 28 from five Olympics by winning six in Rio - five of which were golds.

The 31-year-old's efforts helped the US top the medal table with 121, their most successful 'away' Games.

資料來源:http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/37150572

Structure of the Lead：

WHO-Rio

     WHEN-2016

     WHAT-Olympics

     WHY-Athletes events

     WHERE-Rio

     HOW-NO

Keywords：

1.Rio Olympics:里奧奧運會

2.carnival-inspired:狂歡節啟發

3.Brazil:巴西

4.competition:比賽

5.athletes:運動員

第8周 pokemon go

Pokemon Go update seeks to revive interest

Pokemon Go has released its first major update, but faces a battle to reinvigorate the gaming phenomenon.

The augmented-reality game's popularity has waned since its launch in July when it smashed download records and sparked a global craze.

But it soon fell from the top of app charts as downloads plunged and many players stopped buying in-game coins.

Analysts, though, point out it has an enormous player base and is still one of the highest grossing mobile games.

The main updates released on Monday by US firm Niantic, which developed the game under licence from Nintendo, include:

• the addition of new Pokemon characters, including Togepi and Pichu, that were originally featured in Pokemon's second-generation Gold and Silver titles
• the release of limited edition festive Pikachu wearing Father Christmas hats, which can be captured until 29 December

Niantic said more Pokemon would be added over the next few months. It had already added the blob-like Ditto last month.

However, there was no mention of the ability to trade characters, which Niantic'schief executive had previously hinted at. Nor was there the introduction of multi-player battles, which many gamers desire.

The update will compete for attention with Nintendo's own Super Mario game, which will be released on iPhone on Thursday.

Off peak

Pokemon Go generated about $600m (£470m) in global revenue in its first three months and is still bringing in $120,000 a day in the UK, according to analysts at App Annie.

However, downloads have dropped sharply, falling from 79 million in July to less than 10 million in November, mobile trackers Apptopia told the BBC.

Estimates from Slice Intelligence suggest the number of paying players has also plunged from its peak, down 80% by September, although others dispute those figures.

At its launch, Pokemon Go tapped into demand for the hugely popular franchise and brought augmented reality gaming into the mainstream.

"It is always a challenge to bring users back to a mobile game," said Jack Kent, a mobile analyst at IHS Markit.

But "done correctly" Niantic could satisfy many existing players and encourage lapsed users to return.

"Despite its initial success, some players have found the core game play lacking," he added.

Special promotions around Halloween and tie-ups with retail giants including Starbucks in the US have already been used by Niantic to keep players engaged.

"Pokemon Go had the biggest launch the mobile games industry has ever seen," said Craig Chapple, editor of mobile games trade publication PocketGamer.Biz.

"Millions of players have stopped playing, but millions are still playing it and paying for items in the game."

Analysis: Dave Lee, North America technology reporter

The summer of Pokemon Go already feels a distant memory. When the craze began earlier this year I spent some time around popular spots in San Francisco including Ocean Beach. As far as the eye could see: kids out on their phones playing Pokemon Go. And a few adults.

When I asked them if it was just a passing fad, they all said: "Of course". The game play was limited, and the fact you couldn't battle against your friends hurt any potential for longevity.

These updates won't change that. It will get the hardcore enthusiasts excited - Pikachu in a hat! - but will it be enough to tempt those who uninstalled the app to try again? I doubt it.

Pokemon Go's update will have attention only for a day, maybe two at best. Then it's time for the real star of the show: Super Mario is coming to iOS later this week.

Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC and on Facebook.

資料來源:http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-382919934

Structure of the Lead：

WHO- Niantic

     WHEN-12 December 2016

     WHAT-technology

     WHY-no

     WHERE-US

     HOW-phone

Keywords：

1.phenomenon:現象

2.app:程式

3.updates:更新

4.players:玩家

5.Pikachu:皮卡丘