These practices have no basis in science

好文共賞 V28	Sharp Daily - Hong Kong Version	馮強 2012-11-08
"These practices have no basis in science or medicine, and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery."
1."These practices ① have no basis ② in science or medicine, and they will now be relegated ③ to the dustbin of quackery ④ ." （Jerry Brown） 背景：美國加州州長Jerry Brown簽新法案禁止行為治療學家（Therapists）宣稱可以把同性戀男孩變為異性戀。 2."There was a massive intelligence failure on behalf of ⑤ our American friends. However, I do believe that the Americans learn very fast ⑥ from their mistakes." （Rami El-Obeidi） 背景：前利比亞情報局長Rami El-Obeidi在利比亞班加西市的美國大使館受攻擊後如是說。 3."Couldn't you just go to the future ⑦ and then come back ⑧ and kill that Arnold ⑨ ? " （Jon Stewart） 背景：電視節目主持人Jon Stewart在節目上訪問前加州州長阿諾舒華辛力加（Arnold Schwarzenegge，電影《未來戰士》The Terminator演員）時提出這個問題。 馮強短評 好辭彙共賞： ①　practices =醫生、律師和治療師等的業務。A plausible idea, but will it work in practice？=主意雖好，然而能實行嗎？A common practice =風氣；常例。 ②　no basis =毫無根據。 ③　On a production basis =在大規模生產的基礎上。On what basis？= 憑甚麼條件、基礎等？ 　　relegated =貶黜；丟棄，束之高閣。Relegate的同義詞有demote, downgrade和consign等。 ④　quackery =自我吹噓，大話；騙子行為。江湖醫生的治療，庸醫的醫術。 ⑤ 　on behalf of =代表（Speaking or acting for）。例句：On behalf of all those present, may I thank you, Professor Huang, for a well executed revamp of our department. ⑥　learn very fast =學得很快。 ⑦　go to the future =去到未來。 　　Future delivery =期貨交割。 　　Have a future =有前途，將來有希望。 　　Have no future =沒前途，前途無望。 ⑧　come back = 回到目前。 ⑨　kill that Arnold =把對Maria Shriver不忠的阿諾舒華辛力加殺掉（像電影情節）。 短評共賞： 同性戀是不是可以用行為治療法（Therapies）去改變呢？美國加州的經驗是不可以。政府認為聲稱用行為治療法可以改變性傾向是騙人的。 馮強 浸會大學傳理學院財經新聞統籌主任 逢周四刊登