用法学习: 1. backhaul [ˈbækˌhɔːl] 回程. 回路. 回货 noun. I. a return load of cargo; cargo which is carried by a vehicle on its return journey. II. the return trip of a vehicle, as a truck, transporting cargo or freight, esp. when carrying goods back over all or part of the same route. a return journey of a vehicle after it has transported and delivered goods. the return movement of a transportation vehicle from the direction of its principal haul especially transporting a shipment back over part or all of the route. the return trip made by a cargo vehicle after delivering its cargo. II. the physical part of a communications network between the central backbone and the individual local networks. In a hierarchical telecommunications network, the backhaul portion of the network comprises the intermediate links between the core network, or backbone network 骨干网, and the small subnetworks at the edge of the network (like for example private networks, LANs, etc … the data flows along the power lines for about a kilometer before it's siphoned off the line and into an optical fiber or cellular-based backhaul system. Thirdly, the issue arises of connecting the community wireless network to the main internet, known as backhaul. In some exchanges in remote areas, a substantial investment is needed to provide the backhaul into the main network. In particular, there is the problem of the so-called backhaul infrastructure—the cost of connecting a local exchange or a new wireless base station to the core network. verb. I. to pick up (something) at one of the stops along a delivery route and transport it over part or all of the return route. The grocer has its own recycling facilities where materials to be recycled are backhauled to its distribution centres. As shipping rates increase, backhauling empty containers makes less economic sense. II. to transmit (data) over the backhaul part of a network. The exponential growth in wireless traffic … [is] forcing mobile carriers to deal with backhauling data from the cell sites to the core network. 2. turgid [ˈtɜː.dʒɪd] (书写) 晦涩难懂的 (of speech, writing, style, etc.) boring and too serious about its subject matter. If you describe something such as a piece of writing or a film as turgid, you think it is boring and difficult to understand. He used to make extremely dull, turgid and frankly boring speeches. The rest of the arts scene looks increasingly turgid by comparison. a couple of pages of turgid prose. tumescence [tʃuːˈmes.əns] 肿胀 the quality of being swollen, or a swollen part of the body, especially caused by sexual excitement: Erectile dysfunction can mean less tumescence as well as the complete absence of an erection. In time the tumescence would disappear. tumescent [tʃuːˈmes.ənt] 肿胀的, 肿大的, 充血肿胀的 wollen or becoming swollen, especially because of sexual excitement: a tumescent penis. Nocturnal penile tumescence [tʃuːˈmes.əns] (NPT) 晨勃, commonly known as "morning wood," is a natural, involuntary erection that occurs during sleep or upon waking, typically 3 to 5 times per night. It is a sign of healthy blood flow and nerve function, primarily occurring during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM is when dreaming, nightmares, and penile/clitoral tumescence occur. 3. "one's max" 上限, 某人的极限, 我的极限, 最多的 refers to the absolute upper limit of a person's capacity, energy, or resources. It is short for "maximum". Depending on the context, it can describe physical endurance, financial limits, or overall capabilities. I brought you a refill. One is my max, night before a game. "He pushed his body to his max during the workout." This means he trained at peak intensity or lifted the heaviest weight he possibly could. max out To reach the highest level or capacity of endurance, benefit, or benefit allowance. "I maxed out my credit card." This means you spent the absolute highest amount allowed, leaving zero available balance. I'll give him eight out of 10, max. He twisted the throttle control to max power. "It will take 2 hours, max 最多了." Here, it is used as an adverb meaning "at most". To the max: to the highest degree or level. Doing something to the greatest degree possible. as much as possible: These athletes push their bodies to the max. Many of their employees are stressed to the max. She works her credentials to the max. The winters are so hard here that our house is insulated to the max. She revved her engine to the max. "living life to the max". 4. peg (one) as (something) = peg someone for something To believe or consider that one definitely is a certain type of person or thing. "peg someone for something" generally uses "peg" in the informal sense of identifying, labeling, or judging someone with a specific trait or role. It means to categorize or suspect them based on their character or behavior. I pegged her as a total bore when she first started working here, but since getting to know her, she's actually pretty interesting. I'm disappointed, Jake—I never pegged you as a quitter. 5. head something up 带头, 领导 to lead or control a group, part of a company, etc.. To lead some group or delegation. Who will head up the committee for this initiative? Once I retire at the end of the year, Lucy will head up the task force. Who heads up your department? Because I would like to lodge a complaint with them! He headed up a Miami-based legal team. I can put you in touch with the detective heading up the investigation. contravene [ˌkɒn.trəˈviːn] 违反 to do something that a law or rule does not allow, or to break a law or rule. To contravene a law or rule means to do something that is forbidden by the law or rule. The Board has banned the film on the grounds that it contravenes criminal libel laws. He said the article did not contravene the industry's code of conduct. The government has lent millions of pounds to banks in contravention of the laws. The company knew its actions contravened international law. Elon Musk's X Corp admits it contravened ( = admit non-compliance with) Australian child protection request in Federal Court hearing. convene [kənˈviːn] 开会, 召集会议 If someone convenes a meeting or conference, they arrange for it to take place. to bring together a group of people for a meeting, or to meet for a meeting: The prime minister convened (a meeting of) his cabinet to discuss the matter. The council will be convening on the morning of the 25th. You can also say that people convene or that a meeting convenes. Last August he convened a meeting of his closest advisers at Camp David. Senior officials convened in October in London. ...the convening of an international peace conference. Conceptualized in the Age of Enlightenment, social contract is a core concept of constitutionalism, while not necessarily convened and written down in a constituent assembly and constitution. 6. (somewhere or something) or bust An expression used to indicate that someone will not stop trying until they arrive at a certain place or achieve a certain goal. Ever since he was a little boy, it's been the Marine Corps or bust for Tom. We've saved up everything we had to make this move, so it's San Francisco or bust! I spent the whole off-season training my hardest and refining my swing, so it's major leagues or bust next season! used to say that you will try very hard to get somewhere or achieve something: For him it's the Olympics or bust. We weren't looking at anyone else (at Pick 5), it was probably Scott or bust. Obviously we had an order, but we had a really high level of confidence Scott was going to be there. The market was telling us that, although he was rated, he wasn't rated in that bracket. forward of 在...前边 in a position that is ahead of (something). in front of (something). If one thing is forward of another, especially on a ship or aircraft, the first thing is in front of the second thing or further ahead. Forward of the main cabin are the guest cabins. Small parachute symbols were painted on the left side just forward of the wing. The valves are located just forward of the fuel tanks. AFL选秀: With Pendlebury taken 选中, 中选, 选走 much earlier than projected, there was instant backlash. Pendlebury himself recently shared on Triple M radio that Hine "reckons he almost lost his job that night because I was that unknown." Pendlebury had also thought he was headed to West Coast with Pick 13 — which the Eagles ultimately used on Shannon Hurn — after they called him the night before the draft. Pendlebury hasn't let Hine forget it, joking: "I often remind 'Dekka' that I also kept him in a job for 20 years!" Hine was fully aware that he and his recruiting team were higher on Pendlebury than any other club — a shocking yet career-defining pick that would change Collingwood forever. "I think West Coast had a strong interest in him, but I couldn't tell you his exact draft range. I think the bracket was around first round to a pick in the 30s," Hine said. "I don't think anyone had him quite as high as we did, but that's quite common in a lot of drafts." Hine added with a laugh: "Scott does say that he held my career together — which is probably right, to be honest. It's something we reflect on 回想 quite a lot and have a chuckle about." Hine still remembers driving home from Marvel Stadium — named Telstra Dome at the time — that night and hearing one particular barb. "I think there was a lot of commentary, particularly in media circles, that it was well forward 早于, 提前 of where the projection was," he said. "I forget who the journalist was when I was driving home, but they said industry sources are of the agreement that we'd stuffed the draft up, or something like that. You wouldn't mind stuffing all drafts up like that one, would you?" In case you didn't know, Pendlebury has a basketball background. "I think the boat had sailed for Scott for whatever reason. Basketball was front of mind for a really long period of Scott's junior years," Hine said. "He was really forward 有前瞻的, 有远见的 in getting information and working with the likes of Paul Licuria and Nathan Buckley and these sorts of guys who were really high end in terms of their preparation.".
boost VS bolster: In many sentences they're interchangeable, but bolster carries a subtle undertone of vulnerability being shored up, while boost feels more like pure upward momentum. Boost 助力, 提升, 使更高 implies a sudden, external push upward — a quick, measurable lift. Bolster 撑腰, 给以支撑 implies reinforcing something that needs support — shoring up a weakness or preventing decline.
Confidence: "The win boosted his confidence". "He bolstered his confidence before the speech".
Economy: "Tax cuts boosted growth". "The government bolstered the struggling economy"
Argument: "New data boosted his case". "He bolstered his argument with more evidence".
Military: "Reinforcements boosted morale". "Troops were sent to bolster the defenses".
Use boost when something is already okay and you're taking it higher — accelerating progress. Use bolster when something is under pressure or at risk — reinforcing against weakness. "The strong earnings report boosted the stock price" — it jumped up suddenly. "The central bank intervened to bolster the currency" — it was falling and needed support.
bolster [ˈboʊl·stər] verb. I. If you bolster something such as someone's confidence or courage, you increase it. More money is needed to bolster the industry. She tried to bolster my confidence/morale (= encourage me and make me feel stronger) by telling me that I had a special talent. They need to do something to bolster their image. Hopes of an early cut in interest rates bolstered confidence. ...a number of measures intended to bolster morale. II. If someone tries to bolster their position in a situation, they try to strengthen it. The UN is sending more troops to bolster the peacekeepers. Britain is free to adopt policies to bolster its economy. ...an aid programme to bolster up their troubled economy. noun. 护腰垫. 护腰枕. A bolster is a firm pillow shaped like a long tube which is sometimes put across a bed under the ordinary pillows. a long pillow (= cloth bag filled with material), usually shaped like a tube.
SpaceX files for long-awaited public stock offering that could make Elon Musk a trillionaire: SpaceX revealed its long-awaited plans to go public on Wednesday, shedding light on the finances and leadership of one of the largest, best-known and yet most secretive private companies in history. Elon Musk's rocket and satellite company revealed previously undisclosed details, including its board members, sales, profit, expenses and how it does business. It will trade under the ticker symbol ( A ticker symbol is a unique abbreviation—typically 1 to 5 letters—used to identify a publicly traded company, fund, or security on a stock exchange. It serves as a universal shorthand for investors to search, track, and execute trades on financial platforms. wiki: Ticker symbol or stock symbol is an abbreviation used to uniquely identify publicly traded shares of a particular publicly listed company or security on a particular stock exchange. Ticker symbols are arrangements of symbols or characters (generally Latin letters or digits) which provide a shorthand for investors to refer to, purchase, and research securities. Some exchanges include ticker extensions, which encode additional information such as share class, bankruptcy status, or voting rights into the ticker) SPCX. One thing it didn't disclose: how much the company expects to raise and what the company could be worth in what is widely predicted to be the biggest-ever initial public offering — perhaps by a factor of three. In its prospectus, SpaceX outlined 规划 a bold mission: "to build the systems and technologies necessary to make life multiplanetary, to understand the true nature of the universe, and to extend the light of consciousness to the stars." Despite being a fast-growing company, its ambitions outstrip its current sales. It brought in $18.7 billion in revenue last year, up 33% from the previous year. But the company doesn't make money.
How Hollywood's production crisis became a key issue in the L.A. mayor's race: Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who serves the 4th District, makes her way across an empty, unnamed backlot(an area outside a film or television studio used for outdoor filming.), presenting her case to be the city's next mayor."Studio lots 片场 like this one used to be filled with people, costumers, electricians, set medics, caterers, thousands of Angelenos making a living," she says in the video posted on social media. "Now these lots are quiet. Since 2018, shooting days in the city have fallen by half." After telling voters this issue is "personal" (her husband is a TV writer and producer), criticizing Mayor Karen Bass' leadership on the matter and outlining her own plans, Raman proclaims, "I'm running for mayor to make sure Los Angeles stays the film and TV capital of the world." Placing the concerns of the entertainment industry at the center of the city's mayoral race would have been unthinkable even in the last election cycle. But the production crisis, which has rocked Hollywood and pummeled its workforce, has reached a critical juncture. The state of L.A.'s signature industry is now a political flashpoint alongside affordability, crime and homelessness in the upcoming election. In campaign ads, interviews and the recent televised debate, the top three contenders: incumbent Mayor Bass, former reality TV villain Spencer Pratt and Raman, have made the ongoing production slump 衰败, 衰落 a pivotal topic, highlighting their plans to revitalize the industry while deploying the issue to undercut one another. For decades, elected officials have not had to focus on the film and TV business, let alone turn it into a campaign issue. It was simply a given that local production would continue to play a dominant role in the city's economy as it has for more than a century. But the cumulative effects of consolidation, runaway 落跑的, 跑路的 production to tax-friendly states and countries and the end of the streaming boom has caused Los Angeles to lose billions in economic activity, shed some 57,000 jobs over the last four years and led to the closing of more than 80 film and television production service businesses across the city since 2022. "For us, 'save Hollywood' is more than a slogan and more than headline. It is what needs to be done," said Pamala Buzick Kim, one of the co-founders of Stay in LA, a grassroots campaign aimed at increasing film and television production in Los Angeles. To be sure, the biggest driver of where studios and producers film are state and federal tax credits, over which the city has no control. But Buzick Kim and others argue that "there is lots the mayor can do, hand-in-hand with the City Council." For starters, say filmmakers and advocates, much can be done to tackle the city's sclerotic ( sclerotic [sklɪəˈrɒtɪk] I. affected by sclerosis (= a medical condition in which body tissue or organs become harder): sclerotic arteries. II. 僵化的. 僵硬的 not happening, developing, or changing quickly enough: The tax cuts are designed to bring growth to a sclerotic economy. III. relating to the sclera (= the white layer that covers the outside of the eye, except the coloured part): The size of the sclerotic aperture is a good estimation of the size of the cornea. The diameter of the sclerotic ring was proportionately larger in juveniles relative to adults. noun. the white layer that covers the outside of the eye, except the coloured part: The iris forms in the interior of the eye, at the anterior opening of the sclerotic. sclerosis [skləˈrəʊ.sɪs] 硬化 a medical condition that causes body tissue or organs to become harder, especially the arteries (= thick tubes carrying blood from the heart). ) bureaucracy, onerous ( onerous [ˈəʊ.nər.əs] difficult to do or needing a lot of effort. causing great difficulty or trouble. If you describe a task as onerous, you dislike having to do it because you find it difficult or unpleasant. ...parents who have had the onerous task of bringing up a very difficult child. The tax bill was aimed at lifting the onerous tax burden from the backs of the middle class. onerous task 艰巨的, 难办的, 困难的 the onerous task of finding a peaceful solution. She found the duties of motherhood onerous. ) regulations and a slow and costly permitting process that has pushed filmmakers to flee to friendlier and cheaper locales. While steps have been put in place recently, including a pilot program offering reduced-cost filming permits for shoots that demonstrate a "low impact" to the surrounding community, many complain such steps have come too little and too late. "The industry is in collapse and people have been talking about fixing things for years, but all we get are incremental little changes," said Ed Lippman, a location manager of 34 years who lives in Sherman Oaks and has worked on such shows as "ER" and "The X-Files" and movies including "Galaxy Quest." "And if the city is not being business-friendly, the business will go elsewhere." Compounding the problem, the Los Angeles area has more than 100 jurisdictions, many of which have their own set of rules and regulations regarding filming. "There needs to be universal standards," said Travis Beck, a location manager for commercials, small films and music videos. "Burbank is different from Glendale, which is different from Pasadena." The recent kerfuffle over filming "Baywatch," the lifeguard reboot at Venice Beach, underscored both the efforts to bring production back to L.A. — enticed by a $21-million tax credit — and the complex, baffling red tape required to film here. When shooting began in March, the production encountered a number of hiccups 小问题, including that it needed nearly double the parking space it had received a permit for, which was not part of the original approvals. An anonymous crew member claimed on Facebook that government restrictions had forced production to relocate from Venice Beach. Production staff denied they had relocated. However, the incident prompted a backlash, becoming a rallying cry 集体声讨 over L.A.'s burdensome filming bureaucracy. On his Substack and various podcast interviews, Pratt has promised to slash location fees in half, speed up permit approvals, reduce on-set city staff for the majority of productions and waive all fees for shoots with budgets under $2 million. All three candidates have attacked one another over their approach to Hollywood. Pratt and Raman have said Bass moved too slowly to address spiraling production and retain film jobs, saying she enacted measures only recently as the mayoral race was heating up. Bass and Pratt have taken Raman to task, calling her out for what they say is her lack of advocacy during her time on the City Council. "She feels very strongly about it. But never offered one motion on the industry, and when motions came up on the industry she either recused 避嫌 herself, or got up and walked out," said Bass during a debate this month. Citing a potential conflict of interest over her husband's work in television, Raman refrained from voting on several motions related to Hollywood. Many working in the industry would like to see full-throttled support coming from the mayor's office that will get results. They note how New York City has successfully promoted itself as a leading film destination over the years. "For all the talk about, 'We need to support and bring back filming,' if they just did basics like lowering the fees and simplifying the process ... that would actually help people and get things produced," said Chris Fuentes, 66, who worked for 30 years as a location manager until he retired last year. "We've heard a lot of great things, but not all things are possible in the mayor's remit," said Buzick Kim, noting that tax incentives are a state and federal issue. Still, she said, "the mayor must understand that Hollywood needs to be made a priority and to find and create inspired thinking to make things easier and cheaper." Kang agrees, but says there are limits to what the mayor can achieve. "We definitely can do a lot to really open up the entertainment industry, but at the same time, we recognize the larger impact needs to come from Sacramento and Washington, D.C., because L.A. just does not have the resources to compete with other jurisdictions in providing millions of dollars in tax incentives," he said. For most working in the industry, they just want city leadership that will execute on more than just talking points. "This is the birthplace of cinema," Beck said. "It shouldn't be so hard to film here."
US military surveillance blimp on loan to CBP is lost at the southern border, wreckage 残骸 found in Mexico: A US military-owned surveillance blimp operated by Customs and Border Protection contractors near Laredo, Texas, broke free from its tether 脱缰 on Monday evening and later crashed in Mexico. The blimp did not carry a crew when in the air, and no ground personnel were injured in the incident. The 66-foot surveillance blimp's tether cable 缰绳, 系绳, which secures 固定 the balloon to the ground, became tangled with other cables amid storms on Monday. That evening, a nearby airport experienced heavy thunderstorms that brought wind gusts as high as 44 miles per hour, according to National Weather Service data. The aircraft's operators tried to untangle 解开 the cables, the spokesperson said, but the helium-filled blimp "became untethered" and floated away 飘走了. The military declined to say which specific model of balloon was lost, only describing the aircraft as a "medium aerostat (aerostat [ˈeə.rə.stæt] a lighter-than-air craft, such as a balloon. an aircraft such as a hot-air balloon or an airship, that rises off the ground using a gas that is lighter than air. wiki: An aerostat or lighter-than-air aircraft is an aircraft that relies on buoyancy 浮力 to maintain flight. Aerostats include unpowered balloons (free-flying or tethered) and powered airships. )." CBP operates surveillance blimps across the region. Some are equipped with high-powered cameras, and others carry radar systems that detect drones and other aircraft operated by smugglers. The runaway 落跑的, 逃跑的, 飞走的 balloon's location was unknown until Mexico's military discovered it "in a remote location southwest of Laredo," according to the spokesperson. Mexican and US troops are coordinating to recover the aerostat. Border Patrol began using small "tactical" blimps for surveillance in 2012, but the program has periodically run out of funding. CBP lost an even larger surveillance blimp in March 2025, when a 200-foot aerostat operating on South Padre Island, Texas, broke free from its tether and floated nearly 600 miles before careening into power lines(careen I. 冲向. to move forwards quickly and suddenly, going from side to side in an uncontrolled way. To careen somewhere means to rush forward in an uncontrollable way. He stood to one side as they careened past him. The truck sways wildly, careening down narrow mountain roads. careen down/along/off 滑出: The bus careened off the road and plunged into a river. II. to be in a situation that changes quickly in an uncontrolled way. careen from/towards: The country has careened from one crisis to another. an economic system careening towards collapse. ) near Dallas. CBP, which oversees Border Patrol, plays a crucial role in President Donald Trump's efforts to secure the US-Mexico border and restrict illegal immigration. Trump's emphasis on hardening the border 边境 has brought CBP a litany of military manpower and equipment, sometimes with unintended consequences. In February, CBP's use of a high-energy anti-drone laser system furnished by the Pentagon to shoot down balloons led the Federal Aviation Administration to suddenly shut down civilian airspace over El Paso, Texas.
