? We live in a dystopian?world, my friends, filled with crime, corruption, and poverty —ruled by mighty, power-hungry corporations and heartless, brutal governments.

? 我們生活在一個(gè)反烏托邦的世界，朋友們，充斥著犯罪，腐敗，以及貧窮——被龐大的，渴望權(quán)力的公司們和冷血?dú)埲痰恼y(tǒng)治著。

——賽博朋克2077設(shè)定集·介紹

? Each year we're facing another global crisis, and each day we're forced to face the consequences of the previous ones. The corporate-backed mass media — like N54 or WNS — are feeding society with bland, easy-to-digest pap of processed news, brainwashing programs, and commercials — enforcing the ever-popular trend to "buy more and think less." They do this because it's easier to control and manipulate the ignorant, uneducated sheeple than those that are educated, well-informed and aware of the world around them.

bland: lacking a strong or particular flavor; not interesting

pap:?the word "pap" refers to something that is insubstantial, simplistic, or lacking in substance. It suggests that the content or material being referred to is shallow, unchallenging, and of low quality. It is often used to describe something that is overly simplified or dumbed down for mass consumption, lacking intellectual or artistic merit

? And yet you're here because you don't want to be another mindless sheep, aren't you?

? In our reality, there is a huge need for free media.There are dozens of indie news stations and information sites — and the first step to independent thought is to seek them out.

indie: short for "independent".?In this case, "indie" refers to a news station that operates independently, typically outside of major corporate media networks. An indie news station is not affiliated with large media conglomerates and often prides itself on providing alternative perspectives, grassroots reporting, and a focus on local or niche topics. Indie news stations are often associated with a more independent and less commercially driven approach to journalism, aiming to provide a different voice and diverse coverage compared to mainstream media outlets.

? We, the Night City Inquirer, are one such site. You won't see our advertisements on the displays downtown — but we're here, maintaining our ever-moving website on the Net.

? We're not some clueless rebels, straining for influence against major corporations. We just present you news, essays, and stories from the real world, showing things as they are without the corporate bias and icing on the top. We're collaborating with courageous independent writers, correspondents, investigative journalists, and experts in various fields to provide you with real information, giving you an opportunity to think for yourself and to motivate you to search for further genuine info. Because in today's world, knowledge and the ability to distinguish truth from fake news are the real superpowers.

strain for:?exert a significant amount of effort or struggle in order to achieve or attain something. It suggests that the task or goal being pursued requires considerable exertion, concentration, or force. "Strain for" can also imply stretching oneself beyond normal limits or pushing through difficulties in pursuit of a desired outcome. It conveys the idea of reaching or striving for something that may be challenging or demanding, requiring determination, perseverance, and a willingness to put in extra effort.

? Do the big companies try to shut us down? Occasionally. But in most cases, they don't pay much attention to us. We don't affect their ratings, and they have bigger fish to fry — mostly fighting each other. Most of our info isn't restricted anyway — it's just that this kind of info is omitted, hushed, or unpopular because it isn't in line with corporations' interests. Have you heard that Petrochem recently lost two trials at the Supreme Court in Spain? That NetWatch was nearly kicked out of Australia, and Militech-backed mercenaries were forced to withdraw from Iceland after the joint military intervention by the Scandinavian countries? These are the facts, but you won't hear it in the news... At least not from the corporate-controlled media in Night City.

rating: 收視率

omit: to fail to include or do something

hush: used to tell someone to be quiet 類似于“噓”

? The fact that we're not at war with the corporations doesn't mean that we're not writing stories big enough to make their CEOs shudder. That's why we're careful and protective of our associates and collaborators. Some of them are top-notch?news reporters who write for us under fake names, hiding their identities so as not to lose their jobs — or lives. We value the privacy of our contacts too. You can provide us with some anthentic, interesting material without fear that your identity will be divulged to the public.

shudder: to shake suddenly with very small movements because of a very unpleasant thought or feeling 戰(zhàn)栗，顫抖

top-notch:?of the highest quality or excellence, surpassing expectations and representing the best within its category or field.

? So why this form? Why text?

? Have you ever wondered why Nomads speak in such a strange, often overly sophisticated way? That's because their mobile homeschooling system forces them to actually read, not simply watch the news. We strongly believe that the excess of modern technologies harms our interpersonal communication, affecting our relationships and communications. Plugging yourself in to the feeder makes you vulnerable to intrusive commercials and pushy propaganda. Reading longform text is a dying ability in our modern world, so to prevent the extinction of the written word we've elected to support the form at our website (ok. we know that not everyone has time to read nowadays, so we also have voice-over?versions of our arcticles available to download).

homeschooling:?refers to the practice of educating children at home instead of sending them to a traditional school or educational institution. It involves parents or guardians taking on the role of the primary educators, designing and implementing a curriculum tailored to their child's needs.

intrusive: affecting someone in a way that annoys them and makes them feel uncomfortable

voice-over: 配音。（原神里的角色音聲也是這個(gè)詞）

? Thanks for reading this far. Feel free to visit our archives and browse the latest materials and essays that will give you a glimpse of the world as it is.