小隐在野

6-1 报纸雨伞

我们的邻居是一个足智多谋的发明家，最近他的头脑风暴发明的一个简便易行的雨伞替代物，已经成为许多杂志的特写。用眼睛简单地这么一瞄，它就是一个坚硬的塑料条，尺子般这么大，能够很舒适地放进女士的手提袋或男士的西装夹克。如果一个人突遭暴雨，他就旋转打开塑料开关成十字架。附在每个架臂上的是一个回形针夹。接下来，他将随身携带的报纸塞进这四个夹。现在好了，在坚硬的头顶覆盖物装备下，他可以勇猛直闯直面自然界的任何风险。令雨伞制造商惊慌失措的是，这样的雨伞替代品销路很好，特别是针对上班族通勤者。如果持续销售良好的话，它就会对雨伞制造业产生不良影响。 

6-1 The newspaper umbrella

Our neighbour is an affluent inventor whose latest brainstorm, a feasible umbrella substitute, has been featured in many magazines. As simply as the eye can discern, it is a hard plastic strip, about the size of a ruler, which fits comfortably into a woman’s handbag or a man’s suit jacket. If a person is caught in a sudden rainstorm, he swings the plastic open in the shape of a cross. Attached to each arm is a clip-like device. Next, he takes the newspaper he is carrying and slides it under each of the four clips. Now, equipped with a rigid head covering he can sally forth to face the elements. To the consternation of the umbrella manufacturers, it has been enjoying a brisk sale, especially among commuters. If it continues to do well, it could have a pernicious effect upon the umbrella industry.