《那些古怪又讓人憂心的問題》第103期:樂高大橋(3)
Cost
Lego bricks are made of ABS plastic, which costs about a dollar per kilogram at the time of this writing. Even our simplest bridge design, the one with the kilometer-long steel tethers,13 would cost over $5 trillion.
樂高積木由ABS塑料製成，在寫這篇文章時這種材料的成本約爲每千克1美元。即使我們使用最簡單的設計方案，就是那個用幾千米長的鐵索的那個方案，13也要花費至少5萬億美元。But consider: The totAl value of the London real estate market is $2.1 trillion, and transatlantic shipping rates are about $30 per ton.
考慮一下：倫敦整個地產市場的價值也就2.1萬億美元，跨大西洋海運的價格約爲每噸30美元。
This means that for less than the cost of our bridge, we could buy all the property in London and ship it, piece by piece, to New York. Then we could re-assemble it on a new island in New York Harbor, and connect the two cities with a much simpler Lego bridge.
這意味着把大橋的總造價裏拿出一部分就夠買下倫敦所有的地產，並且還剩下足夠多的錢把這些地產一塊一塊全部海運到紐約。然後我們可以在紐約港一座新的小島上再把這些房子一塊一塊地原樣拼回去，之後再在兩個“城市”間用一個簡單無比的樂高大橋連接起來。We might even have enough left over to buy that sweet Millennium Falcon kit.
剩下的錢沒準還夠買一個很讚的樂高千年隼號戰艦套裝。1 Although enthusiasts will point out it should be written “LEGO.”
1． 儘管樂高積木的狂熱愛好者會指出商標應該寫作“LEGO”。2 Actually, the LEGO Group® demands that it be styled “LEGO®.”
2． 其實樂高集團官方要求寫成“LEGO®”。3 On the other hand, writers have no legal obligation to include the trademark symbol. The Wikipedia style guide mandates that it be written “Lego.”
3． 不過作者就沒有法律義務把商標符號也寫上去。維基百科樣式指南授意寫成“Lego”。4 The Wikipedia style is not without its critics. The talk page argument over this issue featured many pages of heated arguments, including several misguided legal threats. They also debate the italics.
4． 維基百科上的寫法也是爭議重重。人們激烈討論了好幾頁，其中還包括了許多沒有法律依據的違法警告。人們還就是否要用斜體而爭論不休。5 OK, nobody styles it this way.
5． 好吧，沒人會這麼寫。6 Fine.
6． 這樣還行。7 Citation: I made a Lego boat once and put it in the water and it sank :(
7． 引用：我曾經用樂高積木搭了一艘船，我把它放在水裏，然後它就沉了。:(8 I'm going to get some angry mail about this.
8． 我覺得我要因此收到許多憤怒的投訴郵件了。9 Maybe it was a slow news day.
9． 也許那天沒什麼好新聞。10 And sealant.
10． 還有密封材料。11 If we wanted to try to use Lego pieces, we could get kits that include little nylon ropes.
11． 如果我們只能用樂高組件的話，可以用那些包括小尼龍繩的套裝。12 They went on to say, “Wait, what did you say you were trying to build?” and “How did you get in here, anyway?”
12． 他們會繼續問道：“等等，你剛說你打算造什麼來着？”以及“你是怎麼進來的？”13 My favorite Friends episode.
13． 我最喜歡的《老友記》劇集。
