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精選詞彙單元 Vocab EP008: Japan's porn magazine on shelves
Welcome to 英語咖啡館! In this special New Year’s Day episode, Klim and I take you on a journey around the world to uncover fascinating food traditions tied to the start of the year.
We begin with the Southern U.S. dish Hopping John, a symbol of good luck, then move to Spain, where the midnight tradition of eating 12 grapes promises prosperity. Our exploration continues in Japan, where Toshikoshi Soba and zoni celebrate longevity and renewal with their rich cultural meanings.
Whether you’re enjoying your family’s favorite dishes or curious to try something new, join us in celebrating how food brings people together across the globe. Happy 2025!
I came across an article that identified all the big no-nos for an in-flight passenger and I realized we, one time or the other must have violated these unwritten rules. In a way, these are in-flight etiquettes that we were never taught.
In this episode, I check these no-nos with Angel, the newly minted Purser! Congratulations on her promotion and she gives us some inside stories about what it's like in the air as a Purser. If you have violated some of the big no-nos shared in this episode, sound off using the comment link and we will give you a shout out for sharing!
Hope you will enjoy this episode with us as much as we enjoyed producing it!
國際時事跟讀 Ep.K831: YouTube 最大明星 MrBeast 因過往言論陷入爭議 MrBeast: YouTube's Biggest Star Faces Controversy Over Past Remarks
Highlights 主題摘要：
MrBeast, YouTube's biggest star, is facing controversy over past racist and sexist comments from 2017 podcasts, which have recently resurfaced on social media.
MrBeast's team acknowledged his past inappropriate language, stating he has since apologized and learned about the responsibility that comes with his increasing influence.
The controversy extends beyond MrBeast's past remarks, as his collaborator Ava Kris Tyson faces accusations of sending inappropriate messages to a minor, leading to Tyson's removal from MrBeast's company.
MrBeast, the YouTube sensation known for his extravagant videos and philanthropic efforts, has recently found himself at the center of controversy. The content creator, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has acknowledged using "inappropriate language" in his early online days. This admission comes as clips from 2017 podcasts, containing racist and sexist comments, have resurfaced on social media.
YouTube 知名網紅 MrBeast ，以其誇張的影片和慈善行為聞名，近來卻捲入了爭議風波。這位本名為 Jimmy Donaldson （吉米唐納森）的內容創作者承認在早期網路生涯中使用過「不當語言」。這個告解源於 2017 年播客節目片段的重新流傳，其中包含種族主義和性別歧視言論。
With a staggering 307 million YouTube subscribers, MrBeast has become a household name among young audiences. His videos, featuring whimsical challenges and generous giveaways, regularly attract over 100 million views. However, the emergence of these controversial clips has cast a shadow over his reputation. In one instance, Donaldson was heard responding to a viewer's comment about "selling Black people for money," stating that "the most I would pay is probably 300." He also used homophobic slurs and made inappropriate comments about underage celebrities.
A spokesperson for MrBeast addressed the situation, explaining that when Donaldson was a teenager, he "acted like many kids and used inappropriate language while trying to be funny." The statement emphasized that over the years, Donaldson has repeatedly apologized and learned about the responsibility that comes with his increasing influence. As an adult, he has reportedly focused on engaging with his community to make a positive impact around the world. This response highlights the complex issue of holding public figures accountable for past behavior while acknowledging personal growth and change.
The controversy surrounding MrBeast doesn't end with his past remarks. His longtime collaborator, Ava Kris Tyson, has been accused of sending inappropriate messages to a minor. Donaldson has distanced himself from Tyson, stating that he is "disgusted and opposed to such unacceptable acts." He has taken immediate action to remove Tyson from his company and channel. As MrBeast navigates these challenging times, it remains to be seen how these controversies will affect his career and the empire he has built. With a reported net worth of around $500 million in 2022 and a recent $100 million TV deal with Amazon, Donaldson's influence extends far beyond YouTube. His ability to weather this storm may depend on how he continues to address these issues and demonstrate genuine change. The situation also raises broader questions about cancel culture, redemption, and the responsibility of influencers with massive followings.
Philanthropic (Phil-an-throp-ic): MrBeast, the YouTube sensation known for his extravagant videos and philanthropic efforts, has recently found himself at the center of controversy.
Resurfaced (Re-sur-faced): This admission comes as clips from 2017 podcasts, containing racist and sexist comments, have resurfaced on social media.
Whimsical (Whim-si-cal): His videos, featuring whimsical challenges and generous giveaways, regularly attract over 100 million views.
Inappropriate (In-ap-pro-pri-ate): He also used homophobic slurs and made inappropriate comments about underage celebrities.
Repeatedly (Re-peat-ed-ly): The statement emphasized that over the years, Donaldson has repeatedly apologized and learned about the responsibility that comes with his increasing influence.
Topic: 對現狀不滿拉美從傾右變傾左 Leftists Replacing Right-Wing Leaders Across Latin America
In the final weeks of 2021, Chile and Honduras voted decisively for leftist presidents to replace leaders on the right, extending a significant, multiyear shift across Latin America. 在2021年的最後幾周，智利和宏都拉斯果斷地投票支援 左翼總統取代右翼領導人，延續 了整個拉丁美洲長達數年的重大轉變。
This year, leftist politicians are the favorites to win presidential elections in Colombia and Brazil, taking over from right-wing incumbents, which would put the left and center-left in power in the six largest economies in the region, stretching from Tijuana to Tierra del Fuego. 今年，左翼政客是贏得哥倫比亞和巴西總統選舉的最愛，他們接替了右翼現任者，這將使左翼和中左翼在該地區從蒂華納到火地島的六大經濟體中掌權。
Economic suffering, widening inequality, fervent anti-incumbent sentiment and mismanagement of COVID-19 have all fueled a pendulum swing away from the center-right and right-wing leaders who were dominant a few years ago. 經濟困境、不斷擴大的不平等、狂熱的反現任情緒以及對COVID-19的管理不善，都助長了幾年前佔主導地位的中右翼和右翼領導人的鐘擺擺動。
The left has promised more equitable distribution of wealth, better public services and vastly expanded social safety nets. But the region’s new leaders face serious economic constraints and legislative opposition that could restrict their ambitions — and restive voters who have been willing to punish whoever fails to deliver. 左翼承諾更公平地分配財富，提供更好的公共服務，並大大擴展社會安全網。但該地區的新領導人面臨著嚴重的經濟限制和立法反對，這可能會限制他們的野心-以及願意懲罰任何未能兌現承諾的人的不安分選民。
The left’s gains could buoy China and undermine the United States as they compete for regional influence, analysts say, with a new crop of Latin American leaders who are desperate for economic development and more open to Beijing’s global strategy of offering loans and infrastructure investment. The change could also make it harder for the United States to continue isolating authoritarian leftist regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. 分析人士說，左翼的收益可能會提振中國，削弱美國，因為他們在爭奪地區影響力時，新一批拉丁美洲領導人迫切希望經濟發展，並對北京的全球戰略持更開放的態度， 提供貸款和 基礎設施投資。這一變化還可能使美國更難繼續孤立委內瑞拉、尼加拉瓜和古巴的獨裁左翼政權。
With rising inflation and stagnant economies, Latin America’s new leaders will find it hard to deliver real change on profound problems, said Pedro Mendes Loureiro, a professor of Latin American studies at the University of Cambridge. To some extent, he said, voters are “electing the left simply because it is the opposition at the moment.” 隨著通貨膨脹率上升和經濟停滯，拉丁美洲的新領導人將發現很難在深刻的問題上實現真正的變革，劍橋大學拉丁美洲研究教授佩德羅·門德斯·洛雷羅（Pedro Mendes Loureiro）說。他說，在某種程度上，選民正在"選舉左翼，僅僅是因為它目前是反對派。"
Unlike the early 2000s, when leftists won critical presidencies in Latin America, the new officeholders are saddled by debt, lean budgets, scant access to credit and, in many cases, vociferous opposition. 與2000年代初不同，當時左翼分子在拉丁美洲贏得了關鍵的總統職位 ，而新的官員則背負著債務，預算緊張， 信貸匱乏以及在許多情況下大聲反對的負擔。
Eric Hershberg, director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at American University, said the left’s winning streak is born out of widespread indignation. 美國大學拉丁美洲和拉丁裔研究中心主任埃裡克·赫什伯格（Eric Hershberg ）表示，左翼的連勝源於 廣泛的憤怒。
“This is really about lower-middle-class and working-class sectors saying, ‘Thirty years into democracy, and we still have to ride a decrepit bus for two hours to get to a bad health clinic,’”Hershberg said. "這實際上是關於中下層階層和工人階層部門說，'民主三十年後，我們仍然必須乘坐破舊的公共汽車兩個小時才能到達一個糟糕的健康診所，'"赫什伯格說。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6092284
Next Article
Topic : Venezuela, Once an Oil Giant, Reaches the End of an Era
For the first time in a century, there are no rigs searching for oil in Venezuela. 百年來，委內瑞拉首次沒有鑽油平台在鑽探石油。
Wells that once tapped the world’s largest crude reserves are abandoned or left to flare toxic gases that cast an orange glow over depressed oil towns. 曾自全球最大原油礦藏採油的油井，不是廢棄，就是任由洩漏的毒性氣體逕自燃燒，使附近蕭條的石油城鎮蒙上一層橘光。
Refineries that once processed oil for export are rusting hulks, leaking crude that blackens shorelines and coats the water in an oily sheen. 先前把石油加工出口的煉油廠成了生鏽的殘骸，洩漏的原油染黑了海岸線，並在海面形成一層油光。
Fuel shortages have brought the country to a standstill. At gas stations, lines go on for miles. 燃料短缺使這個國家陷入癱瘓。在加油站，排隊加油的車輛綿延數哩。
Venezuela’s colossal oil sector, which shaped the country and the international energy market for a century, has come to a near halt, with production reduced to a trickle by years of gross mismanagement and U.S. sanctions. The collapse is leaving behind a destroyed economy and a devastated environment and, many analysts say, bringing to an end the era of Venezuela as an energy powerhouse. 委內瑞拉龐大的石油業曾形塑這個國家和國際能源市場長達百年，如今卻幾近停頓，由於多年來管理不善和遭受美國制裁，產量只剩一丁點。石油業崩潰導致經濟慘淡，環境重創，且如許多分析家所言，為委國作為能源大國的時代畫下句點。
The country that a decade ago was the largest producer in Latin America, earning about $90 billion a year from oil exports, is expected to net about $2.3 billion by this year’s end — less than the aggregate amount that Venezuelan migrants who fled the country’s economic devastation will send back home to support their families, according to Pilar Navarro, a Caracas, Venezuela-based economist. 長駐委國首都卡拉卡斯的經濟學家納瓦洛說，當地10年前是拉丁美洲最大產油國，每年出口石油賺進900億美元，但到今年年底，預計可進帳23億美元，還不及為逃避經濟崩潰而出國的國民匯回養家的金錢總額。
Production is the lowest in nearly a century after sanctions forced most oil companies to stop drilling for or buying Venezuelan oil — and even that trickle could dry up soon, analysts warn. 分析家警告，制裁迫使許多石油公司停止鑽探或購買委國石油，以致其產量降到近百年來最低，甚至最後這點生產也可能即將停止。
The decline has diminished beyond recognition a country that just a decade ago rivaled the United States for regional influence. It is also unraveling a national culture defined by oil, a source of cash that once seemed endless; it financed monumental public works and pervasive graft, generous scholarships and flashy shopping trips to Miami. 石油業衰落，使十年前與美國享有同等區域影響力的委內瑞拉面目全非，還破壞了以石油為基礎的的國家文化，石油曾經是看似取之不盡的現金來源：支應大型公共工程，助長普遍存在的貪腐，用以發放豐厚的獎學金，也讓人們享受到美國佛州邁阿密的豪華購物之旅。
Crippling gasoline shortages have led to an outbreak of dozens of daily protests across most Venezuelan states in recent weeks. 汽油嚴重短缺，導致最近幾周委內瑞拉多數州每天總共爆發數十場抗議。
More than 5 million Venezuelans, or 1 in 6 residents, have fled the country since 2015, creating one of the world’s greatest refugee crises, according to the United Nations. The country now has the highest poverty rate in Latin America, overtaking Haiti this year, according to a recent study by Venezuela’s three leading universities. 聯合國資料顯示，2015年起已有逾500萬，也就是六分之一委國人逃離，是全球最大難民潮之一。委國三所頂尖大學最近的調查顯示，委國今年取代海地，成為拉美貧困率最高的國家。 Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/358363/web/
幕後教師室Teacher's Lounge Ep.46: 升遷當Purser到底是什麼樣的感覺？幫人提皮包的嗎？Angel and her new life as a purser
Autodesk’s Elbo Chair is the result of an uncommon partnership. Designers in the company’s generative design lab harnessed the power of algorithms to make the organic wooden seat.
To start, the designers fed a 3-D model of a chair inspired by Hans Wegner’s iconic Round Chair and Berkeley Mills’ Lambda Chair into Dreamcatcher, Autodesk’s generative design software.
Then they let the algorithm do its thing. Every so often, the humans would pick one of the algorithm’s designs, and the software would propagate a new lineage based on their selection.
The result was the chair you see here—a skeletal creation that points toward a future in which designers collaborate with algorithms on new ideas.
Microsoft Surface Studio The $3,000 desktop computer is aimed squarely at the creative set.
With its massive 28-inch monitor and a hinge system that allows the display to become a tabletop touch-screen, it’s easy to see why:
The Surface Studio is more interactive drafting table than it is computer, and proof that Microsoft is thinking seriously about what the future of desktop computing should look like. https://www.wired.com/2016/12/2016-innovative-objects/
15Mins英語咖啡館 Ep.229: 夏季甜食吃什麼？綠豆加薏仁配豆花如何 Klim and her summer dessert - soy on soy
Every crazy hot summer is the best time to savor and taste some of the iconic desserts in Taiwan. We've tasted many of them, but how many of them can you introduce to your international friends? This episode is for you~ Klim and I will discuss our favorite Taiwanese desserts and for VIP members, we will list out all the toppings as well for your reference.
Let us know your favorite dessert and toppings using the comment link and we will give you a shout out for sharing!
Hope you will enjoy this episode with us as much as we enjoyed producing it!
國際時事跟讀 Ep.K827: Global IT Meltdown: CrowdStrike Update Causes Widespread Computer Crashes
Highlights 主題摘要：
A single software update from CrowdStrike caused a global IT meltdown, affecting millions of Windows computers and highlighting the fragility of our interconnected digital systems.
The incident impacted various industries worldwide, from airports to broadcasting, demonstrating how dependent modern society has become on technology and its vulnerability to disruptions.
While CrowdStrike responded quickly, the scale of the problem made it challenging to implement fixes, prompting organizations to reassess their reliance on single-point software solutions.
On July 19, 2024, a routine software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike led to a worldwide IT breakdown, affecting millions of Windows computers. The incident, which caused chaos across various industries, stemmed from a single coding error in the company's Falcon sensor program. This article explores what happened and its impact.
The trouble began when CrowdStrike released a sensor configuration update for its Falcon program, a cloud-based cybersecurity tool used by many businesses and organizations. The update, intended to enhance protection against cyber attacks, contained a "logic error" that resulted in Windows systems crashing. Users across the globe reported seeing the infamous "Blue Screen of Death" and experiencing reboot loops, rendering their devices unusable. The problem affected Windows version 7.11 and above, while Mac and Linux systems remained unaffected. This type of update was routine for CrowdStrike, with multiple releases occurring daily since the program's launch.
問題始於 CrowdStrike 為其 Falcon 程式發布的一次感應器設置更新。 Falcon 是一款雲端網路安全工具，廣泛應用於各類企業和組織。這次更新本意是加強對網路攻擊的防護，卻因一個「邏輯錯誤」導致微軟 Windows 系統崩潰。全球用戶紛紛報告遇到了眾所厭惡的「藍色畫面」，並陷入重啟循環，導致設備無法使用。這個問題影響了 Windows 7.11 及以上版本，而蘋果的 Mac 和 Linux 的系統則不受影響。對 CrowdStrike 來說，這類更新是例行操作，自程式推出以來每天都會發布多次。
The impact of this IT outage was felt far and wide. Airports faced operational challenges, supermarket check-outs malfunctioned, and journalists struggled to report on the very issue causing havoc. Major organizations, including Sky News, were unable to broadcast, highlighting the severity of the situation. Planes were grounded in the U.S., trains in the U.K. were impacted, and boarding scanners at Edinburgh airport in Scotland faced issues. The incident serves as a stark reminder of how dependent modern society has become on technology and how vulnerable we are to widespread disruptions.
CrowdStrike responded swiftly to the crisis, acknowledging the issue within an hour of the first reports. By 5:27 AM UTC, the company had pushed out an update to replace the flawed configuration files. However, many users continued to experience problems for hours after the initial crash. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz confirmed that the issue was not a cyberattack but rather a defect in a content update. The company provided a manual fix for affected systems, which involved deleting a specific file in the Windows directory. However, applying this fix at scale proved challenging for large organizations with thousands of affected devices.
CrowdStrike 迅速回應了這場危機，在首次收到報告後一小時內就承認了問題的存在。到世界標準時間上午 5:27，公司已經推出了更新來替換有缺陷的設置文件。然而，許多用戶在系統初次崩潰後的數小時內仍然遇到問題。 CrowdStrike 執行長 George Kurtz 確認，這個問題並非網路攻擊，而是內容更新中的一個缺陷。公司提供了一個手動修復方法，需要刪除 Windows 目錄下的特定檔案。然而，對於擁有數千台受影響設備的大型組織來說，廣泛的使用這個方法修復具有挑戰性。
Experts in the field, such as Ajay Unni from StickmanCyber and Mark Jones from Tesserent, commented on the situation. They explained that while the rollback of the configuration update seemed to be working, deploying it through entire systems like servers and multiple desktops would take hours. The incident highlighted the complexities of managing large-scale IT infrastructures and the potential for small errors to cause significant disruptions. As businesses and organizations recovered from this unexpected IT meltdown, many were left reassessing their dependency on single-point software solutions and the need for more robust contingency plans in an increasingly digital world.
業內專家，如 StickmanCyber 的 Ajay Unni 和 Tesserent 的 Mark Jones 對此事發表了評論。他們解釋說，雖然設置更新的回溯似乎正在發揮作用，但在整個系統（如伺服器和多台桌上型電腦）中部署可能需要數小時。此次事件凸顯了管理大規模資訊基礎設施的複雜性，以及小錯誤可能造成重大中斷的潛在風險。在從這次意外的資訊崩潰中恢復之際，許多企業和組織開始重新評估他們對單一軟體解決方案的依賴，並在這個日益數位化的世界中，認識到建立更強大的應急計劃的必要性。
Keyword Drills 關鍵字：
Infamous (In-fa-mous): Users across the globe reported seeing the infamous "Blue Screen of Death" and experiencing reboot loops, rendering their devices unusable.
Operational (Op-er-a-tion-al): Airports faced operational challenges, supermarket check-outs malfunctioned, and journalists struggled to report on the very issue causing havoc.
Malfunctioned (Mal-func-tioned): Airports faced operational challenges, supermarket check-outs malfunctioned, and journalists struggled to report on the very issue causing havoc.
Havoc (Ha-voc): Airports faced operational challenges, supermarket check-outs malfunctioned, and journalists struggled to report on the very issue causing havoc.
Cyberattack (Cy-ber-at-tack): CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz confirmed that the issue was not a cyberattack but rather a defect in a content update.
Even if you don’t play or follow golf — which I don’t — you’re probably aware of the controversy now engulfing the game. A number of the world’s top-ranked pro players, notably Phil Mickelson, made extremely lucrative deals to play in a new tour, the LIV Golf International Series, sponsored by Saudi Arabia. The PGA Tour, which has traditionally dominated the sport, responded by suspending 17 of these players.
The Saudis are obviously engaged in reputation-laundering — greenswashing? — in an attempt to make people forget about the atrocities their regime has perpetrated. It’s less clear what motivated the PGA. Did it consider the LIV series flawed, not a proper golf tour? Was it attempting to squash competition? Or was the problem with the LIV series’ sponsors?
PGA attendees surveyed by ProGolf weekly were in no doubt: An overwhelming majority attributed Mickelson’s exclusion to “media/cancel culture.” And I hope they’re right. I mean, if getting paid big bucks to provide favorable PR to a regime that deals with critical journalists by killing them and dismembering them with a bone saw doesn’t warrant cancellation, what does? And yet Mickelson and others were willing to provide that PR.
So if you ask me, the real story here isn’t that the PGA may (or may not) have found a line it won’t cross. It is that so many members of the American elite evidently have no such lines.
What explains the rise of sellout culture? Tax cuts may have played a role: Selling your soul becomes more attractive when you get to keep more of the proceeds. Soaring income inequality may inspire envy, a desire to keep up with the super-elite. And there is surely a process of normalization: Everyone else is selling out, so why shouldn’t I join the party?
Kids used to look up to public figures, sports stars in particular, as role models. Do they still? Can they, given what public figures will do if the checks are big enough?
Topic: Why Are There More Successful Older Golfers Today?
From the 18th fairway in the final group of the British Open in 2009, Tom Watson, the five-time Open champion, hit a shot that flew right at the pin. For a moment, it looked like Watson, then age 59, would win the tournament for a record sixth time and become the oldest player to win a major championship.
A firm bounce sent the ball off the back of the green, and Watson needed three more shots to get the ball into the hole. That dropped him into a tie for first. In the four-hole playoff, he ran out of gas and lost by six shots.
A decade ago, the idea of an older golfer contending in, let alone winning, a major championship was something few considered. That was still the time when most golfers petered out in their mid-40s and kicked around the golf world before having a brief resurgence on the Champions Tour when they turned 50.
Leading these middle-age mavericks is Phil Mickelson, 51, won the PGA Championship in May. He beat Brooks Koepka, a four-time major winner, and Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, who are both in their 30s.
“All these guys have taken a new approach,” said Dave Phillips, co-founder of the Titleist Performance Institute, which focuses on golf and fitness. “There’s a lot of money out there. They realize they can still compete with the younger guys, but they need to spend more time on their body and what they fuel their body with.”
Phillips said what Mickelson and the others were doing provided lessons for older golfers. “It’s not strength, but the recovery and the downtime that matter,” he said. “It’s letting your body recover. Everyone wants to get fitter, stronger, faster. They’re upset when they don’t see the results. But what they’re doing is fatiguing to the body more so than a round of golf.”
Crucial for older players? Maintain leg strength, Phillips said, and that means walk, don’t ride, when you play golf.
對年長球員重要的是什麼？菲利普斯說，保持腿部力量，這意味你打高球時，要走路，不要搭球車。
It is experience, for sure, but that is a double-edged sword: With age, players are more knowledgeable about the nuances of the game and have, in theory, a better psychological understanding of what to do. But they have also failed to do that in similar moments in the past.
Shadows splay in every direction on glowing green grass. 陰影在閃閃發光的綠色草地上向四面八方伸展。
It’s close to midnight, the moon hangs high in the dark night sky, and South Koreans are still outside, golfing. 現時已接近午夜，月亮高懸在漆黑夜空中，南韓民眾仍在戶外打高爾夫球。
This is “white night” golf, a nocturnal sports phenomenon in South Korea that reflects the still surging popularity of the sport there, the persistent challenges many encounter in nabbing a tee time in the country’s dense cities and the lengths to which some will nevertheless go to get one. 這就是「白夜」高球，南韓一種夜間運動現象，反映高球在南韓人氣持續攀升，許多人在人口密集城市內要預約打球遇到挑戰，不過有些人還是想辦法要打到球。
South Korea is the third-largest market for golf in the world, behind only the United States and Japan. 南韓是世界第三大高球市場，僅次於美國和日本。
For golf fans worldwide, the game’s grip on the country is most easily observed in its surplus of elite professional players, particularly in the women’s game. As of last week, 32 of the top 100 players in the women’s world rankings, including four of the top 10, were from South Korea. 對世界各地球迷來說，高球對南韓的吸引力，從菁英職業球員充斥南韓人最容易看出，尤其女子高球界。截至上周，世界排名前100的女子高球選手有32人來自南韓，前10名就有4位。
But on the ground, golf is very much a participatory pastime, even if the popularity of the sport and the undersupply of courses in metropolitan areas make opportunities to actually play scarce and expensive. Seoul, a city of nearly 10 million people, has only one course, and it is open only to military personnel. 但在當地，高球主要是一種大家親自下場的消遣，即便這種運動太受歡迎加上都會區球場供應不足，使得打球機會很少又昂貴。擁有近1000萬人口的首爾只有一個球場，且只對軍人開放。
Some make do with screen golf, a virtual simulation game played indoors, which has become its own booming pastime in South Korea, with some facilities offering 24-hour service. 有些人只好改玩螢幕高爾夫，這是一種在室內玩的虛擬模擬遊戲，在南韓已成為蓬勃發展的娛樂，一些場所提供24小時服務。
But golfers understandably desire the real thing. So what do you do when the demand for tee times outstrips the sunlight in a given day? 但可以理解的是，打高球的人渴望真實的東西，因此當某天打球時間的需求量超過日照時間，你該怎麼辦？
According to Seo Chun-beom, president of the Korea Leisure Industry Institute, South Korea now boasts a whopping 117 golf courses of 18 holes or more that offer nighttime play for willing golfers, with tee times as late as 8 p.m. Seo said there are countless other 9-hole courses that also feature floodlights and do not close until midnight or later. 韓國休閒產業研究所所長徐千範說，南韓目前有117座18洞或以上的高球場，可讓想打球的人在夜間打球，打球時間到晚上8點。 徐俊範說，還有其他無數個9洞球場也設有探照燈，開到午夜或是更晚。
Many people from Seoul, for instance, make the trek to Sky 72 Golf & Resort in Incheon, close to the area’s main international airport, where 2,700 lights have been installed to illuminate 36 of the facility’s 72 holes. 例如，很多來自首爾的人，會長途跋涉到靠近當地主要國際機場的仁川Sky 72高球渡假村，該處設有2700盞探照燈，能照亮72個洞當中的36個。
The concept of golfing under lights exists outside South Korea, of course. 當然，在燈光下打高球的想法在南韓以外也存在。
A writer for the website GolfPass last year counted 65 courses in the United States that featured at least some amount of nighttime lighting — although all but one of them were short courses. And courses in the United States that offer late tee times still close far earlier than those in South Korea, which often remain open as late as 1 a.m. 去年，一位幫GolfPass寫文的作家統計，在美國，擁有一定數量夜間照明設備的球場至少65座，儘管除了一座以外都是球洞較少的球場。而且美國晚間打球的高球場，打烊時間仍比南韓球場早得多，後者通常營業到凌晨1點。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5574918
15Mins 名人正念語錄 Inspirations Ep.4: 名人如何看待耐心 Inspirations quotes about patience
1. Michelle Obama (Former First Lady of the United States)
Quote:"Patience is a virtue that can be hard to come by in our fast-paced world. But it's a crucial skill to develop if we want to make real and lasting change."
Background:Michelle Obama, born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois, is a lawyer, author, and former First Lady of the United States. She has been a strong advocate for education, healthy living, and women's rights. Her memoir "Becoming" became one of the best-selling books of all time, inspiring millions with her life story and insights on personal growth.
Background:"Patience is a virtue, and I'm learning patience. It's a tough lesson."
Trivia: TomHanks, born on July 9, 1956, in Concord, California, is one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Actor and is known for his versatile performances in films like "Forrest Gump," "Saving Private Ryan," and "Cast Away." Hanks is also a filmmaker and has been involved in producing numerous TV series and documentaries.
Quote:"We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in."
Background:Arianna Huffington, born on July 15, 1950, in Athens, Greece, is the co-founder of The Huffington Post and founder of Thrive Global. She has been a vocal advocate for work-life balance and the importance of sleep and well-being in achieving success. Huffington has authored numerous books on topics ranging from politics to personal growth.
France employees are getting the legal right to avoid work emails outside working hours. working hours - 工作時間/時數
The new law, which has been dubbed the "right to disconnect", comes into force on 1 January. right to disconnect - 斷線的權利
France has a working week of 35 hours, in place since 2000. working week of 35 hours - 每週35工作小時
Supporters of the new law say that employees who are expected to check and reply to their work emails out of hours are not being paid fairly for their overtime, and that the practice carries a risk of stress, burnout, sleep problems and relationship difficulties. are not being paid fairly for their overtime - 並沒有給付公平的加班費
Some private companies have previously tried to put limits on their employees' use of work email outside working hours. For instance, in 2014, the German vehicle-maker Daimler set up an optional service for workers going on holiday; instead of sending an out-of-office reply, they could opt to have all new emails automatically deleted while they were away.
Daimler - 德國賓士 all new emails automatically deleted - 所有新的郵件自動刪除
Summary: In this article scientists warn about the dangers of farming with insects. Care needs to be taken and studies done to ensure the minimisation of potential risks when it comes to farming with insects.
\Vocabulary and sample sentences:
Wreak havoc : to do great damage
Do typhoons wreak havoc on landfall?
Did the 2008 financial crisis wreak havoc on the global economy?
Cultivation: the use of land to grow crops, the deliberate development of relationships qualities or skills :
Is fruit cultivation in Taiwan important?
Is the cultivation of good manners important?
Poultry: chickens, ducks, geese all their meat
Is poultry farming profitable?
Do you enjoy eating poultry?
Invasive species : foreign species that invade and spread quickly in a new environment
Are fire ants an invasive species?
Can invasive species destroy the environment?
15Mins英語咖啡館 Ep.228: 爵士學英語-「國王」的夏天洗腦金曲 Nat King Cole's summer jam - Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer
It's the middle of summer, and Shimin brought us a classic "summer jam" from the "King" himself. Nat King Cole has sang some of the world's most renowned Jazz songs and left us a classic legacy for the ages.
Those lazy hazy crazy days of summer is a joyful song that I learnt in my singing class in elementary school. It is super catchy and easy to learn. Do you know any other classic Nat King Cole songs? Drop us a comment and we will give you a shout out for sharing!
國際時事跟讀 Ep.K823: The Ambanis: India's Business Royalty and Their Spectacular Wedding
Highlights 主題摘要：
The Ambani family's grand wedding showcases their immense wealth and global influence, attracting international celebrities and business leaders, and capturing worldwide attention for months.
Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani, has transformed from an oil company into a diverse conglomerate, becoming integral to many aspects of Indian consumers' daily lives.
The extravagant wedding serves as both a celebration and a strategic marketing opportunity, reinforcing the Ambani brand and cementing their status as India's business royalty.
The Ambani family, led by Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani, has been the talk of India and the world for months. The reason? The grand wedding of Mukesh's youngest son, Anant Ambani, to Radhika Merchant. This event has showcased the family's immense wealth and influence, attracting global attention. The celebrations have been ongoing for six months, culminating in a lavish ceremony in Mumbai. The scale of these festivities has surpassed even the most extravagant Indian weddings, featuring performances by international stars like Rihanna and Justin Bieber, and attended by a who's who of global business and politics.
The Ambanis are more than just a wealthy family; they are a symbol of India's economic growth and ambition. Their company, Reliance Industries, began as an oil and petrochemicals business but has expanded into various sectors including telecommunications, retail, and entertainment. Mukesh Ambani has skillfully transformed the company his father started, making it a central part of many Indians' daily lives. From smartphones to fashion, and from grocery shopping to streaming services, Reliance's reach is vast and growing.
What sets the Ambanis apart is not just their wealth, but their strategic importance in the global business landscape. The wedding guest list, which included figures like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and numerous world leaders, demonstrates the family's international connections. These relationships are crucial as Reliance continues to expand and form partnerships with major global companies. The Ambanis have become key players in bringing international brands to India and in shaping the country's digital future through partnerships with tech giants like Google and Meta.
讓安巴尼家族與眾不同的不僅是他們的財富，還有他們在全球商業版圖中的戰略重要性。婚禮賓客名單中包括馬克‧祖克柏、比爾‧蓋茲和眾多世界領導人，這展現了該家族的國際人脈。隨著信實繼續擴張並與主要全球公司建立合作關係，這些關係變得至關重要。安巴尼家族已成為將國際品牌引入印度，並透過與谷歌和 Meta 等科技巨頭合作塑造該國數位未來的關鍵角色。
The extravagant wedding serves multiple purposes for the Ambani family. It's a celebration, of course, but it's also a display of their power and influence. For the Indian public, who may never attend such an event, the extensive media coverage makes them feel part of this spectacle. This connection is important as Reliance touches so many aspects of Indian consumers' lives. The wedding is not just a personal milestone for the family; it's a marketing opportunity, reinforcing the Ambani brand in the minds of millions. As India's economy continues to grow, the Ambanis are positioning themselves at the forefront, using events like this wedding to cement their status as India's business royalty.
Culminating (Cul-mi-na-ting): The celebrations have been ongoing for six months, culminating in a lavish ceremony in Mumbai.
Petrochemicals (Pet-ro-chem-i-cals): Their company, Reliance Industries, began as an oil and petrochemicals business but has expanded into various sectors including telecommunications, retail, and entertainment.
Skillfully (Skill-ful-ly): Mukesh Ambani has skillfully transformed the company his father started, making it a central part of many Indians' daily lives.
Extravagant (Ex-trav-a-gant): The scale of these festivities has surpassed even the most extravagant Indian weddings, featuring performances by international stars like Rihanna and Justin Bieber, and attended by a who's who of global business and politics.
Positioning (Po-si-tion-ing): As India's economy continues to grow, the Ambanis are positioning themselves at the forefront, using events like this wedding to cement their status as India's business royalty.
Topic: Water-Stressed India Seeks a Tap for Every Home
The pipes are laid, the taps installed and the village tank is under construction — all promising signs that, come spring, Girja Ahriwar will get water at her doorstep and finally shed a lifelong burden.
“I go out and put the jerrycans in the queue at around 5 a.m. and wait there with the children,” Ahriwar, a mother of three who lives in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, said about her routine of fetching from the village hand pump. “Sometimes it could take five or six hours. I have to stay there because if I leave, someone else moves ahead.”
India, one of the world’s most water-stressed countries, is halfway through an ambitious drive to provide clean tap water by 2024 to all of the roughly 192 million households across its 600,000 villages. About 18,000 government engineers are overseeing the $50 billion undertaking, which includes hundreds of thousands of contractors and laborers who are laying more than 2.5 million miles of pipe.
The project has a powerful champion in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has slashed through India’s notorious red tape and pushed aside thorny political divisions to see it through. His success thus far helps explain his dominance over the country’s political landscape.
Modi has remained popular despite a weak economy and a bungled initial response to the coronavirus that left hundreds of thousands dead. He has increasingly relied on communal politics, continuing to consolidate a Hindu nationalist base he has worked for decades to rally.
But the mission to deliver water to every household combines two of Modi’s political strengths: his grasp of the day-to-day problems of hundreds of millions of India’s poor and his penchant for ambitious solutions. Modi, who grew up in a poor village, has spoken emotionally about his own mother’s hardship in fetching water.
About one-sixth of India’s households had a clean water tap when the program, called Jal Jeevan Mission, began in 2019. Now, almost half have one.
當這個「水生活任務」2019年開始時，印度家戶有潔淨自來水者約六分之一。現在，幾乎一半。
“You rarely have this drive from the government, the head of state, and it is well funded. Behind the concept, there is budget,” said Nicolas Osbert, who leads the UNICEF water and sanitation unit in India. “All social sectors were impacted by COVID. Not this one. This one was preserved.”
The country’s water problem speaks to the mismatch between its global economic ambitions and the dire conditions of much of its 1.4 billion population, two-thirds of whom still live in rural areas.
Topic: Typhoonless year brings water shortage in fall/winter
Most years, Taiwan is hit by typhoons during the summer and fall, but we have yet to see a typhoon this year. This unusual situation has put pressure on water supply levels in reservoirs around Taiwan.
Due to global warming, the typhoons generated in the Pacific Ocean this year have all moved northward, bypassing Taiwan. Although successive fronts and afternoon showers have brought rainfall, it was only fragmented, covering limited areas and did little to replenish reservoirs. As a result, the reservoir storage this year is lower than in previous years.
According to the Water Resource Agency, as of 2pm yesterday, the Shihmen Reservoir’s water storage was 44 percent of capacity, the Feicuei Reservoir’s was 62.3 percent and the Zengwen Reservoir’s was 31.3 percent. Two of the three major water reservoirs have less than 50 percent of their water storage capacity.
In order to prepare for demand for water next year, the government has decided to implement three measures to control water usage. Firstly, starting from last Wednesday, night water pressure in the Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli areas was to be lowered from 11pm through to 5am the following day. Secondly, the irrigation of some areas of Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli was to be suspended, and farmers affected by the measures will receive government compensation. Thirdly, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is setting up a central drought response center to better respond to the crisis and to distribute water resources according to needs. Taiwanese are advised to take water-saving measures.
Topic: Gel-like ice is the lightest form of waterer ever discovered 迄今發現最輕盈的水形態，凝膠般的冰
The frosty cubes we pull from our freezers are just one of 17 possible types of ice, and an 18th type isn’t far from being made real.
我們從冰箱裡拿出來的冰塊，只是17種可能出現的冰類型之一，而第18種冰類型的出現，距離也不遠了。
Hexagonal ice, and the occasional cubic ice in our upper atmosphere, are the only two forms that occur naturally on Earth. Other ices might be found on exoplanets or in the atmospheres of the outer planets.
Under atmospheric pressure or higher, water molecules get squeezed and freeze into a solid denser than normal ice. But when the pressure drops below this, water molecules become a less-dense, lightweight crystal that’s more air than molecule – like an icy candy floss. So far, we only know of two kinds of low-density ice: space fullerenes and zeolitic ices. But lighter ice structures hadn’t been spotted until now.
Masakazu Matsumoto at Okayama University in Japan and his team played molecular Jenga to find this new type of ice, removing and reconfiguring existing zeolitic ice structures to make them lighter. They found more than 300 different nanoscale structures through computer simulations.
This week we are going to talk about a very localized French sports retailer in Taiwan! Patrick and I will talk about our impressions of the mega-sports retailer- Decathlon and their own-brands.
Their apparel, equipment, and accessories are so ubiquitous in Taiwan, people don't even know how to pronounce the brands. So, we will also discuss the pronunciations of their tope in-house brands.
If you have fond memories and experiences of Decathlon, share your story with us using the comment link! We will give you a shout out for sharing!
Hope you will enjoy this episode with us as much as we enjoyed producing it!
國際時事跟讀VIP Ep.K819: Japan Unveils High-Tech Banknotes with Advanced Security Features
Highlights 主題摘要：
Japan has introduced new banknotes with world-first 3D holographic portraits, larger fonts, and tactile elements, balancing advanced security features with improved accessibility for all users.
The new banknotes feature historical figures who contributed to Japan's economic, social, and scientific progress, alongside iconic Japanese imagery, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage.
While promoting cashless transactions, Japan's massive currency update required extensive preparation across various sectors, demonstrating the country's commitment to modernizing its financial system while honoring tradition.
Japan has introduced its first new banknotes in two decades, marking a significant step in the country's efforts to modernize its currency and combat counterfeiting. The new bills, which began circulating on July 3, 2024, feature innovative security measures and fresh designs that reflect Japan's rich history and progressive values.
The most striking feature of the new banknotes is the use of three-dimensional holographic portraits, a world-first technology in paper money. These holograms change appearance depending on the viewing angle, making the bills extremely difficult to replicate. The 10,000-yen note showcases Eiichi Shibusawa, known as the "father of Japanese capitalism," while the 5,000-yen bill honors Umeko Tsuda, a pioneer in women's education. The 1,000-yen note depicts Shibasaburo Kitasato, a renowned medical scientist. These choices reflect Japan's commitment to recognizing figures who have contributed to the nation's economic, social, and scientific progress.
In addition to the advanced security features, the new banknotes have been designed with improved accessibility in mind. The denominations are printed in larger font sizes, and the notes incorporate tactile elements to assist visually impaired users. The reverse sides of the bills feature iconic Japanese imagery, including Tokyo Station, wisteria flowers, and Hokusai's famous "Great Wave" woodblock print, celebrating the country's cultural heritage.
While the introduction of new banknotes has prompted businesses to upgrade their payment systems, it also highlights the ongoing shift towards digital transactions in Japan. Although cash remains popular, the government is encouraging a move towards cashless payments to enhance economic efficiency. As of 2023, cashless transactions accounted for 39% of consumer spending in Japan, a significant increase over the past decade but still lagging behind many other developed nations.
The Bank of Japan plans to print approximately 7.5 billion new bills by the end of the current fiscal year, gradually replacing the 18.5 billion banknotes currently in circulation. This massive undertaking has required extensive preparation, with over 90% of bank ATMs and most retail cash registers already updated to handle the new currency. However, some sectors, such as vending machines and ticket machines in restaurants and parking lots, are still in the process of adapting to the changes.
As Japan balances tradition with innovation, these new banknotes represent a blend of cutting-edge technology and cultural significance, setting a new standard for currency design and security in the modern era. While the transition may pose temporary challenges for some businesses, it underscores Japan's commitment to maintaining the integrity of its currency while embracing technological advancements. The successful implementation of these high-tech banknotes demonstrates Japan's ability to honor its past while looking towards a more secure and efficient financial future.
Banknotes (Bank-notes): Japan has introduced its first new banknotes in two decades, marking a significant step in the country's efforts to modernize its currency and combat counterfeiting.
Dimensional (Di-men-sion-al): The most striking feature of the new banknotes is the use of three-dimensional holographic portraits, a world-first technology in paper money.
Denominations (De-no-mi-na-tions): The denominations are printed in larger font sizes, and the notes incorporate tactile elements to assist visually impaired users.
Circulation (Cir-cu-la-tion): The Bank of Japan plans to print approximately 7.5 billion new bills by the end of the current fiscal year, gradually replacing the 18.5 billion banknotes currently in circulation.
Transition (Tran-si-tion): While the transition may pose temporary challenges for some businesses, it underscores Japan's commitment to maintaining the integrity of its currency while embracing technological advancements.
About Japan - Asia Welcomes Travelers, but Japan Says, Not Yet In a normal year, this would be peak season for tourism to Japan. But as the cherry blossoms burst into bloom along Kyoto’s ancient, temple-lined alleys and boat tours ply the waters of Tokyo’s flower-lined rivers, Japanese tourists largely have the spectacular display to themselves. 在正常情況的年份，此時正是日本旅遊旺季。但隨著櫻花盛開於古剎林立的京都巷弄，以及遊覽船往返花卉夾道的東京河川的水域，這些盛況大抵上僅限日本的遊客獨享。
The country sealed its borders to most foreign travelers early in the pandemic and has only recently begun to allow a slow drip of students and business people to return. 該國在武漢肺炎疫情大流行之初就對大多數外國旅客封鎖邊境，直到最近才允許留學生與商務客慢慢回流。
Those hoping to visit Japan for fun, shouldn’t hold their breath. Despite the national tourism organization’s wishful thinking, Koichi Wada, the head of Japan’s tourism agency, told parliament last month that“it’s exceedingly difficult to forecast the long-term trends for inbound tourism.” 那些希望能赴日觀光旅遊的人可有得等了。儘管日本國家旅遊局想得很美，日本觀光廳長官和田浩一上個月告訴國會，「很難預測入境觀光的長期趨勢。」
Next Article
Topic: Vietnam plans border reopening, includes Taiwanese among list of potential travelers
越南因應疫情暫停國際觀光客到訪已逾一年半，慶和省近日研擬重新恢復國際旅遊，並將台灣旅客視為潛在目標族群。越南知名渡假景點芽莊市就位於慶和省。 Taiwan is on the list of potential countries allowed to send travelers to Vietnam as the nation’s Khanh Hoa Province (慶和省) recently released plans to reopen borders for international travelers.
網路媒體越南快訊（VnExpress）引述越南政府網報導，慶和省（Khanh Hoa）政府昨天向越南文化體育旅遊部遞交兩階段的疫苗護照計畫草案，歡迎外國旅客搭乘包機前來旅遊。 According to VnExpress, Khanh Hoa’s local government submitted a draft of a two-stage vaccine passport program to the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (越南文化體育旅遊部) on Oct. 5 hoping to welcome foreign travelers into the region.
第一階段從11月起至年底，外國旅客須搭乘包機抵達，並待在金蘭市（Cam Ranh）的渡假村裡。第二階段則是明年初至明年3月，屆時旅客將能造訪更多景點與芽莊市的渡假村。 The first stage is scheduled to begin near the end of November, and travelers need to take charter flights to the country and stay at the resort at Cam Ranh (金蘭市), the proposal stated. The second stage is planned to start from January to March 2022, during which visitors will be able to visit more attractions and resorts in Nha Trang (芽莊市).
慶和省將鎖定來自COVID-19（2019冠狀病毒疾病）疫情防範得宜且疫苗施打率高的國家與地區的旅客，例如中國、日本、韓國、台灣、俄羅斯、澳洲、法國、德國以及部分北美國家。 Khanh Hoa Province currently welcomes travelers from countries whose COVID-19 situation has been successfully controlled and have a high vaccination rate for its population. As of Tuesday, countries that fit both categories according to the local government include China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Russia, Australia, France, Germany, and some areas in North America.
旅客必須要持有完整的疫苗接種證書，且所施打的疫苗廠牌必須獲越南核可。 Travelers need to show vaccination proof and the vaccine manufacturers need to be recognized by the Vietnamese government.
目前越南共計核准8款疫苗緊急使用，包括阿斯特捷利康（AstraZeneca，AZ）、嬌生（Johnson & Johnson）、莫德納（Moderna）、輝瑞BNT（Pfizer-BioNTech）、俄羅斯衛星-V（Sputnik V）、中國國藥（Sinopharm）、Hayat-Vax、阿布達拉（Abdala）。 As of press time, Vietnam has authorized 8 types of vaccines, including AstraZeneca (AZ), Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Hayat-Vax and Abdala. Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20211008-2813742
The blow caused to the airline industry by the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially felt by budget airlines, which mostly operate narrow-bodied passenger jets and have therefore been unable to develop a sideline in air freight during the pandemic. According to one academic’s analysis, when the outbreak stabilizes, businesses are targeting a trend in so-called “revenge travel.” However, she also hopes that, rather than the pre-pandemic price wars between budget airlines, the consolidation that has taken place during the pandemic will restore healthy competition in the industry. 疫情衝擊航空界，其中廉航受限於機隊多為窄體客機，無法發展貨運，受疫情衝擊更大。學者分析，業者瞄準疫情穩定後的「報復性出遊」，但也希望疫情前廉航削價競爭的情況，能因疫情重整，回歸良性競爭。
According to associate professor Melody Dai of National Cheng Kung University’s Department of Transportation and Communication Management Science, costs per flight have not changed during the pandemic, but if carriers are required to implement social-distancing seating plans, leaving empty seats between passengers, this would eat into airlines’ profit margins, causing a fresh headache for the industry. Dai says she hopes that budget airlines will manage to survive, since they help stimulate Taiwan’s domestic tourism sector as well as the wider economy. 成大交通管理學系副教授戴佐敏說，每航班成本不變、但座位未來若須採間隔座導致收入減少，確實是疫後的難題，希望廉航仍有生存空間，對促進觀光與經濟有正面幫助。
Dai says that choosing to operate flights during the pandemic is a test of airlines’ ability to sustain losses, but the crisis may also prove to be a turnaround for the industry. Dai says there are many variables to the pandemic. She says that once the outbreak stabilizes, if the demand for “revenge travel” exceeds supply, this could resolve the pre-pandemic situation of supply exceeding demand, which led to price wars among budget airlines. The consolidation that the pandemic has triggered within the airline industry could bring about a return to healthy competition, says Dai. 戴佐敏認為，選擇在疫情期間開航，考驗航空公司「虧本」的能力，不過危機也有可能是轉機，疫情仍有變數，疫情穩定後的「報復性出遊」若需求大於供給，疫情前廉航供過於求、削價競爭的情況，這次可能因疫情重整，回歸良性競爭。
One industry insider stated that, despite the lockdowns and reduced number of travelers and flights during the pandemic, the industry is bullish about post-pandemic prospects for both freight and passenger travel in the flourishing Asian region. The insider added that a trend in “revenge travel” could cause short-haul routes to become particularly busy. 業者指出，雖然國境仍然封鎖，疫情期間每週班次不多，旅客也非常少，但看好疫情後亞洲旺盛的物流、人流，預估疫情趨緩後將出現「報復性出遊」，亞洲短程航線將會更繁忙。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/09/12/2003764205
幕後教師室Teacher's Lounge Ep.44: 克寧老師Live test 英美大不同測驗 Klim takes a live test
------------------------------- 以下是此單集逐字稿 (播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網) ------------------------------- This week we have Lydia from ECom Study Group to come and give us an status update of the hot YouTube shorts that's filling up our screens these days. Many people have jumped on the bandwagon and tested their creativity, but are they seeing any benefits?
If you are a brand owner who placed ads on YouTube, come and share your insight with us. We will give you a shout out for sharing! Hope you will enjoy this episode with us as much as we enjoyed producing it!
國際時事跟讀 Ep.K815: From Gamer to Saint: The Inspiring Journey of Carlo Acutis
Highlights 主題摘要：
Carlo Acutis, a tech-savvy teenager, is set to become the first millennial saint, demonstrating that holiness is achievable in the modern digital age.
Despite his love for video games, Carlo used his computer skills to spread faith, created a website about miracles, and helped the homeless.
Carlo's journey to sainthood was accelerated by two attributed miracles, inspiring young Catholics and showing that modern interests can coexist with deep spirituality.
Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager born in 1991, is set to become the Catholic Church's first millennial saint. Known as "God's influencer," Carlo used his computer skills to spread awareness of the Catholic faith before his untimely death from leukemia at age 15 in 2006. His story has captured the hearts of many, especially young Catholics, as it demonstrates that holiness is achievable in the modern digital age.
Despite his love for video games like Halo and Pokémon, Carlo limited his gaming to one hour per week, recognizing the potential dangers of internet addiction. He channeled his technological talents into creating a website that documented miracles worldwide. Beyond his digital pursuits, Carlo was known for his compassion, often helping the homeless in Milan and giving away his pocket money. His mother, Antonia Salzano, describes him as a "sign of hope" who shows that sanctity is possible in today's world. Carlo's commitment to helping others extended to his school life, where he stood up against bullying and befriended those who were marginalized.
The path to sainthood typically requires two miracles attributed to the candidate. In Carlo's case, the first miracle involved healing a Brazilian boy with a pancreatic defect. The second, recently recognized by Pope Francis, concerns a Costa Rican girl who recovered from a severe head injury after her mother prayed at Carlo's tomb in Assisi. These events have accelerated Carlo's journey to sainthood, with his beatification already completed in 2020. The speed of his canonization process is unusual and reflects the strong impact his life has had on the Catholic community worldwide.
As the Catholic Church prepares for Carlo's canonization, likely to take place during the jubilee year of 2025, his legacy continues to inspire. Often depicted in jeans and trainers, Carlo represents a relatable figure for young Catholics navigating faith in the digital era. His life demonstrates that modern interests like technology and gaming can coexist with deep spirituality and service to others. Carlo's devotion to Saint Francis, known for his humility and care for creation, further illustrates his holistic approach to faith.
Carlo Acutis's impending sainthood serves as a powerful reminder that holiness is not confined to the past but is achievable for anyone in today's world. His story resonates with many who struggle to balance their faith with the demands and distractions of modern life. Carlo's example shows that it's possible to embrace technology and contemporary culture while maintaining a strong spiritual life and commitment to helping others. As the Catholic Church continues to seek ways to connect with younger generations, Carlo's canonization offers a bridge between traditional faith and the digital age, inspiring a new generation of believers to find their own path to holiness in the 21st century.
Untimely (Un-time-ly): Carlo used his computer skills to spread awareness of the Catholic faith before his untimely death from leukemia at age 15 in 2006.
Miracles (Mir-a-cles): He channeled his technological talents into creating a website that documented miracles worldwide.
Accelerated (Ac-cel-er-at-ed): These events have accelerated Carlo's journey to sainthood, with his beatification already completed in 2020.
Canonization (Can-on-i-za-tion): As the Catholic Church prepares for Carlo's canonization, likely to take place during the jubilee year of 2025, his legacy continues to inspire.
Holiness (Ho-li-ness): Carlo Acutis's impending sainthood serves as a powerful reminder that holiness is not confined to the past but is achievable for anyone in today's world.
Welcome to 15Mins英語咖啡館! In today’s episode, Lydia and Cariya from the Ecom Book Club join us to dive into the fast-paced world of e-commerce during the all-important fourth quarter. From the frenzy of Double Eleven to the deals of Double Twelve, we are going to check out what happened to Ralph Lauren this Double 11 - paradox of skyrocketing sales and soaring return rates.
歡迎來到英語咖啡館！在今天的節目中，我們邀請到電商讀書會的 Lydia 和 Cariya，一起深入探討年度最關鍵的第四季度電商快節奏世界。從雙十一的購物狂潮到雙十二的超值優惠，我們將聚焦 Ralph Lauren 在今年雙十一的奇特遭遇——銷量飆升卻退貨率也同步攀高的矛盾現象。
Topic: About space - NASA and Tide team up to do laundry in space
Tide is going to outer space. The Procter & Gamble brand is partnering with NASA to keep astronauts’ spacesuits fresh, even on Mars. 汰漬正在前往外太空。這個寶鹼公司的品牌正與美國航太總署合作，維持太空人太空服的乾淨，即便是在火星。
Company and NASA scientists have created a fully degradable detergent that will clean clothes without wasting water. 該公司與NASA科學家已經創造一款完全可自然分解的洗滌劑，不用浪費水就能潔淨衣物。
Over the next decade, they’ll be testing fabric care products, including Tide pens and wipes, at the International Space Station and on missions to the moon and Mars. 在未來10年中，他們將在國際太空站與登月、登火星的任務中，測試織物照護產品，包括汰漬的筆與濕紙巾。
The months or even years that astronauts spend away from Earth means that their spacesuits and clothes can become smelly and stained. Clothes have to be reworn several times before they are ejected with other waste into the atmosphere or sent back to Earth as trash. A crew member will receive 160 pounds of clothes per year through resupply shipments. 太空人離開地球數月，甚至數年的時間，意味著他們的太空服與衣物會變臭且染色。這些衣物與其他廢物被拋入大氣層或當成垃圾送回地球前，必須重複穿著許多次。1名組員每年將透過補給，拿到160磅重的衣物。
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Topic: Russia wants to return to Venus, build reusable rocket 俄羅斯希望重返金星，打造可重複使用的火箭
The head of Russia’s space agency said Friday that Roscosmos wants to return to Venus and bring back soil samples and build spacecraft that will surpass Elon Musk’s rockets. 俄羅斯太空機構負責人週五說，俄羅斯航太太空活動國有公司（Roscosmos）想重返金星 ，帶回土壤樣本，並打造超越（太空探索科技公司）創辦人穆斯克的火箭的太空船。
"We are making a methane rocket to replace the Soyuz-2," Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said in an interview with state news agency RIA Novosti. 「我們正在打造一種甲烷火箭取代聯合2號火箭（Soyuz-2）」，俄羅斯航太總裁羅戈辛在接受國營「俄羅斯新聞社」訪問時說。
He said it will be a reusable space complex, noting that it will be possible to use its first stage at least 100 times. 他說，新火箭將是可以重複使用的太空綜合體，並強調第一節將有望重複使用至少100次。
"Of course we are looking at what our American colleagues are doing," said Rogozin. "But our engineers are trying to take a shortcut － not to repeat what our SpaceX colleagues are doing but surpass them." 「我們當然有在關注美國同業的進展」，羅戈辛說。「但我們的工程師正試圖抄近路—不是重複SpaceX在做的事，而是超越他們。」Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1457274; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1395146
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Topic: Why Tom Hanks turned down Jeff Bezos’ offer to go to space
Jeff Bezos offered Tom Hanks a ride to space on his Blue Origin rocket, but it came at a price. （亞馬遜創辦人）傑夫‧貝佐斯曾邀請（好萊塢男星）湯姆‧漢克搭乘他的「藍源」火箭上太空，但要付出代價。
The actor confirmed that Bezos had asked him during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Tuesday, saying if he accepted the offer he was expected to pay. 這名男星週二現身（電視節目）「吉米金默現場秀」時證實，貝佐斯曾邀約他（上太空），並說若他接受（邀約），應該要付錢。
"Well yeah, provided I pay," Hanks said. "It costs like $28 million or something like that. And I’m doing good, Jimmy — I’m doing good — but I ain’t paying $28 million. You know what, we could simulate the experience of going to space right now." 「是啊，若我付錢（就能上太空），」漢克說。「大概要2800萬美元左右。我算是事業有成，吉米—我混得還不錯—但我才不要付2800萬。你知道嗎，我們現在就可以模擬上太空的經驗。」
Hanks, who appeared to promote his new movie "Finch," mimicked shaking in a rocket while in his chair, saying, "I don’t need to spend 28 million bucks to do that." 上節目宣傳新片「芬奇的旅程」的漢克（語畢）便在椅子上模仿搭火箭（上太空時）身體抖動的模樣，並說「我才不要花2800萬來做這種事。」
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William Shatner says Prince William is ’missing the point’ of space tourism 威廉沙特納說 威廉王子沒搞懂太空旅行的真諦
William Shatner is firing a rhetorical rocket back at Prince William after the future king criticized space tourism. 在（英國）威廉王子出言批評太空觀光後，（男星）威廉‧沙特納反唇相譏，還擊這位未來國王。
Shatner, who blasted into space on one of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ rockets, said the British royal has "got the wrong idea" by saying that solving problems on Earth should be prioritized over tourist trips to space. 搭乘亞馬遜創辦人傑夫‧貝佐斯的一艘火箭上太空的沙特納說，宣稱解決地球上的問題應優先於太空旅行的這位英國王室成員，「搞錯了」。
The 90-year-old "Star Trek" actor said that a power generating base could be constructed 250 miles above the Earth and used to supply homes and businesses below. "The prince is missing the point," he added. 這位90歲「星際爭霸戰」男演員說，距離地表250英里的上空可以蓋一座發電基地，用來供應地面住家與建築（所需）。「王子沒搞懂（太空旅行的真諦），」他補充道。
Without mentioning names, William criticized billionaires focused on space tourism in an interview Thursday with the BBC, saying they should invest more time and money in saving Earth. 威廉週四接受英國廣播公司訪問時，在未指名道姓的情況下批評億萬富豪聚焦太空觀光的現象，指稱富豪們應將更多時間與金錢投資於拯救地球。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1498987 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1499857
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Topic: Ex-official: Space station ‘largely isolated’ from tensions
Tensions in eastern Ukraine and heightened Western fears of a Russian invasion should not have a significant impact on the International Space Station or US-Russia cooperation in space, the former head of the National Space Council told The Associated Press. 烏克蘭東部的緊張局勢以及西方對俄羅斯入侵的擔憂加劇，不應該對國際空間站或美俄太空合作產生重大影響，國家太空委員會前負責人告訴美聯社。
That was before Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine on Thursday last week, however. 然而，那是在俄羅斯上週四入侵烏克蘭之前。
Four NASA astronauts, two Russian cosmonauts and one European astronaut are currently on the space station. 四名NASA宇航員，兩名俄羅斯宇航員和一名歐洲宇航員目前正在空間站上。
Scott Pace, who served as executive secretary of the space council under US President Donald Trump and is now the director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, said the space station “has been largely isolated” from political events. 斯科特·佩斯（Scott Pace）曾擔任美國總統唐納德·特朗普太空委員會執行秘書，現在是喬治華盛頓大學空間政策研究所所長，他說，空間站"在很大程度上與政治事件隔離"。
“It’s possible to imagine a break with Russia that would endanger the space station, but that would be at the level of a dropping diplomatic relations,” said Pace. “That would be something that would be an utterly last resort so I don’t really see that happening unless there is a wider military confrontation.” The space station, an international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries, including Canada, several countries in Europe, Japan, Russia and the United States, launched in 1998 and morphed into a complex that’s almost as long as a football field, with 13km of electrical wiring, an acre of solar panels and three high-tech labs. "可以想象與俄羅斯的決裂會危及空間站，但那將是外交關係下降的水準，"佩斯說。"這將是完全最後的手段，所以除非有更廣泛的軍事對抗，否則我真的不會看到這種情況發生。該空間站由來自15個國家的五個航太機構組成，包括加拿大，歐洲的幾個國家，日本，俄羅斯和美國，於1998年發射，並演變成一個幾乎與足球場一樣長的綜合體，擁有13公里的電線，一英畝的太陽能電池板和三個高科技實驗室。
It marked two decades of people continuously living and working in orbit in 2020. 它標誌著2020年人們在軌道上持續生活和工作的二十年。
The first crew — American Bill Shepherd and Russians Sergei Krikalev and Yuri Gidzenko — blasted off from Kazakhstan on Oct. 31, 2000. 第一批船員——美國人比爾·謝潑德（Bill Shepherd）和俄羅斯人謝爾蓋·克里卡列夫（Sergei Krikalev）和尤里·吉岑科（Yuri Gidzenko）——於2000年10月31日從哈薩克起飛。
The three astronauts got along fine but tension sometimes bubbled up with the two mission controls, in Houston and outside Moscow. 三名宇航員相處得很好，但有時在休士頓和莫斯科郊外的兩個任務控制中心會引發緊張局勢。
Russia kept station crews coming and going after NASA’s Columbia disaster in 2003 and after the space shuttles retired in 2011. 俄羅斯在2003年美國宇航局的哥倫比亞號災難和2011年航太飛機退役后，讓空間站的工作人員來來去去。
There have been concerns raised in US Congress about the impact that conflict over Ukraine could have on the International Space Station. 美國國會一直擔心烏克蘭衝突可能對國際空間站產生的影響。
Lawmakers have specifically exempted space cooperation from previous sanctions and can be expected to make similar arguments against targeting it as the administration considers its next steps over Ukraine. 立法者已經明確將太空合作從以前的制裁中豁免，並且可以預期，隨著政府考慮其對烏克蘭的下一步行動，將提出類似的論點反對針對太空合作。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2022/03/01/2003773937
幕後教師室Teacher's Lounge Ep.43: 世代的即時通軟體隔閡 Communication gap between the generations
Thanks to Jensen Huang's frequent visits to Taiwan these two years, our restaurants from local night market to private kitchens have been highlighted as must-try foodie destinations. This week, Klim and I go over the food map and discuss all the foods and restaurant that Jensen frquented.
The food map was collected and shared online by the Taipei City government's tourism bureau and instantly went viral on the internet in the month of June. If you are one of the lucky few to have tried all the stores on the food map, let us know using the comment link and share your experience with us!
國際時事跟讀 Ep.K811:India Grapples with Deadly Heat Wave: Over 100 Lives Lost and Thousands Affected
Highlights 主題摘要：
Extreme heat in India has caused over 100 deaths and 40,000 suspected heat stroke cases in just three and a half months, highlighting the severe impact on public health.
Climate change is intensifying heat waves in South Asia, with this year's event being one of the longest continuous heat spells India has ever experienced.
India, as a populous country and major greenhouse gas emitter, faces significant challenges in adapting to climate change impacts, including more frequent extreme weather events.
The scorching summer heat in India has taken a devastating toll on its population, claiming more than 100 lives and affecting tens of thousands of people over the past three and a half months. According to data from India's Health Ministry, 110 people have died from heat strokes between March 1 and June 18, with the northern state of Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest number of casualties at 36. The extreme weather has also led to over 40,000 suspected cases of heat stroke during this period, highlighting the severe impact of the prolonged heat wave on public health.
The capital city of New Delhi has been particularly hard-hit by the extreme temperatures, with some areas reporting temperatures as high as 51°C (123.8°F). This unprecedented heat has not only caused discomfort but has also led to a surge in electricity demand, resulting in frequent power cuts across the city. The situation is further complicated by a severe water crisis, putting additional strain on the city's resources. In response to the crisis, Health Minister J P Nadda has directed authorities to set up special heat wave units in government hospitals to assist those affected by the extreme weather.
While India is no stranger to hot summers, climate experts warn that the intensity and frequency of heat waves in South Asia are increasing due to climate change. A study by the World Weather Attribution agency found that climate change has made extreme heat events in parts of Asia at least 45 times more likely. This year's heat wave, which has persisted for over three weeks, is considered one of the longest continuous heat spells the country has ever experienced. The Indian government estimates that nearly 11,000 people have died in heat waves this century, though experts believe this figure may be significantly underestimated due to inadequate systems for documenting heat-related illnesses and deaths.
As the world's most populous country and one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, India faces significant challenges in adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change. A report by the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi found that India experienced extreme weather on nearly 90% of the days last year, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive climate action. As temperatures continue to rise globally, it is clear that addressing the impacts of extreme heat will be crucial for protecting public health and ensuring the well-being of India's 1.4 billion citizens.
Devastating (Dev-as-tat-ing): The scorching summer heat in India has taken a devastating toll on its population, claiming more than 100 lives and affecting tens of thousands of people over the past three and a half months.
Casualties (Cas-u-al-ties): According to data from India's Health Ministry, 110 people have died from heat strokes between March 1 and June 18, with the northern state of Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest number of casualties at 36.
Unprecedented (Un-prec-e-dent-ed): This unprecedented heat has not only caused discomfort but has also led to a surge in electricity demand, resulting in frequent power cuts across the city.
Underestimated (Un-der-es-ti-ma-ted): The Indian government estimates that nearly 11,000 people have died in heat waves this century, though experts believe this figure may be significantly underestimated due to inadequate systems for documenting heat-related illnesses and deaths.
Mitigating (Mit-i-gat-ing): As the world's most populous country and one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, India faces significant challenges in adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.
French fries and hamburgers are popular with teenagers. Everyone knows that these high-calorie foods can lead to chronic illnesses such as heart disease and high blood pressure, but, according to a report published by Medical Xpress, a study led by the University of Queensland in Australia has found that eating too much junk food can also have an impact on teenagers’ sleep quality.
According to the research results, teenagers who drink more than three soft drinks per day were 55 percent more likely to report sleep disturbance than those who only drink one cup per day. Males who ate fast foods on more than four days per week were 55 percent more likely to report sleep disturbance than those who ate them only once a week, while females were 49 percent more likely to do so.
This global study examined unhealthy diets and stress-related sleep disturbance in high school students from 64 countries. The study found that 7.5 percent of adolescents reported having stress-related sleep disturbance, which was more common among females than males and increased with more frequent consumption of carbonated soft drinks, as did the occurrence of sleep problems. Because carbonated drinks often contain caffeine and large amounts of sugar, while fast foods are high in energy but poor in nutrients, long-term consumption can cause nutritional imbalances.
These data were collected from global health surveys conducted by the WHO between 2009 and 2016, which included about 170,000 students aged 12 to 15 years from 64 low, middle and high-income countries in Southeast Asia, Africa, South America and the eastern Mediterranean.
The research team said that frequent intake of soft drinks and eating of fast foods is closely associated with sleep problems in teenagers, and that this phenomenon is particularly clear in high-income countries. The research team said that these findings are worrying because poor-quality sleep has an adverse impact on adolescent health and cognitive development. They suggested that policies should be formulated that target these unhealthy behaviors.
In recent years, bubble tea has become synonymous with Taiwan among members and friends of the foreign community, and many locals can often be seen drinking hand-shaken beverages wherever they go. With the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent requirements of wearing face masks in crowded areas, however, drinking soft drinks has become a bit of a hassle. To solve this problem, a beverage store in the Philippines recently released a new line of face masks that you won’t need to take off to enjoy a sip from your favorite drink.
The “Sippy Mask” released by Gallontea looks like an ordinary cloth face mask, but if you look closely, you’ll find that there is a small opening near the mouth, with a small-cap for bubble-tea lovers to enjoy a safe drink.
On their official Instagram page, Gallontea announced that customers can receive a free face mask with a minimum purchase of 1,000 pesos (US$20.59). Although the pre-order time was only till Aug. 18 and the masks are currently only being sold in the Philippines, with the way it’s selling out, many people have expressed hope that customers will see this ingenious invention on Taiwan racks very soon. However, users of the face masks should be mindful of closing the opening once they’ve taken a sip from the drinks or else the act of wearing face masks would be rendered useless. Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20200819-1696789
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Topic: South Korea bans coffee in schools to curb overconsumption
South Korea will introduce a new law tomorrow banning the sale of coffee in primary and secondary schools to prevent students from consuming too much caffeine. This means that nobody, including teachers, will be able to buy caffeinated drinks on campus. The South Korean government hopes the ban will help promote healthy dietary habits among children.
According to CNN, students under academic pressure consuming excessive caffeine during exam periods is a common problem in South Korea. Other beverages high in calories or caffeine, such as energy drinks and coffee milk, have already been banned in schools. However, critics say students can easily walk a few minutes from their schools to buy such drinks.
South Korea’s domestic coffee market surpassed 10 trillion won for the first time ever last year, standing at 11.7 trillion won, or almost US$11 billion. Over 26.5 billion cups of coffee were served to South Koreans last year, with an average of 512 cups consumed per person. The figure is much higher than the average of over 100 cups yearly for each Taiwanese.
This week, Shimin and I listen to the latest Gen Z, Grammy award-winning jazz (traditional pop vocalist) Laufey's winning song. Bewitched is not a jazz cover, but a song written by Laufey. The album is a lovely album and easy to listen to. At the time of recording, I didn't know about Laufey having a concert in Taipei in November this year. If you are one of the lucky few to see her live, please let us know using the comment link and share your experience with us!
國際時事跟讀 Ep.K807: Japan Launches Government-Run Dating App to Boost Falling Birth Rate
Highlights 主題摘要：
Japan is facing a severe demographic crisis with record low fertility rates, prompting the government to take decisive action to prevent further population decline.
Tokyo is launching a government-run dating app to promote marriage and boost birth rates, requiring users to undergo a rigorous registration process.
Japan's Prime Minister has declared the falling birth rate as the country's gravest crisis, necessitating a multi-faceted approach to secure Japan's future.
Japan is facing a severe demographic crisis as its fertility rate reached a record low of 1.20 in 2022. The nation recorded only 727,277 births last year, while deaths surpassed 1.57 million. To combat this alarming trend, the Japanese government is implementing various initiatives, such as expanding child care facilities, offering housing subsidies to parents, and incentivizing couples to have children in some towns. The government recognizes the urgency of the situation and is determined to take decisive action to prevent further population decline, as experts warn of far-reaching consequences for the country's workforce, economy, welfare system, and social fabric.
Tokyo's local officials are launching a government-run dating app, currently in its early testing phases and expected to be fully operational later this year. The app, designed to promote marriage and boost the birth rate, requires users to go through a rigorous registration process, submitting documentation to prove they are legally single and willing to get married, as well as providing personal information. The app's thorough vetting process aims to ensure the authenticity of its users and create a safe and reliable environment for those seeking a serious relationship. The app even caught the attention of billionaire Elon Musk, who expressed his support for the Japanese government's recognition of the importance of this matter on social media.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has allocated a substantial budget for the app and other projects aimed at promoting marriages. Officials believe that the app's association with the government will instill trust and security among users, encouraging even the most hesitant individuals to take the first step in their search for a partner. The launch of the app comes at a time when Japan's top government spokesperson is emphasizing the critical nature of the declining birthrate and the need for unprecedented measures to reverse the trend.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has declared the drop in birth rates as the "gravest crisis our country faces" and has introduced measures to support child-bearing households. With Japan's population projected to decline significantly by 2070, and a large proportion of the population expected to be aged 65 or older, the government understands the urgency of addressing this issue. The success of Tokyo's government-run dating app remains uncertain, but it is a courageous attempt to confront Japan's demographic challenges head-on. As the nation works to reverse the falling birth rate, a multi-faceted approach, involving both technological solutions and policy changes, will be necessary to secure Japan's future.
Determined (De-ter-mined): The government recognizes the urgency of the situation and is determined to take decisive action to prevent further population decline, as experts warn of far-reaching consequences for the country's workforce, economy, welfare system, and social fabric.
Operational (Op-er-a-tion-al): Tokyo's local officials are launching a government-run dating app, currently in its early testing phases and expected to be fully operational later this year.
Authenticity (Au-then-tic-i-ty): The app's thorough vetting process aims to ensure the authenticity of its users and create a safe and reliable environment for those seeking a serious relationship.
Metropolitan (Met-ro-pol-i-tan): The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has allocated a substantial budget for the app and other projects aimed at promoting marriages.
Courageous (Cou-ra-geous): The success of Tokyo's government-run dating app remains uncertain, but it is a courageous attempt to confront Japan's demographic challenges head-on.
Topic: The Magazine Business, From the Coolest Place to the Coldest One
I miss magazines. It’s a strange ache, because they are still sort of with us: staring out from the racks at supermarket checkout lines; fanned wanly around the table in hotel lobbies; showing up in your mailbox long after the subscription was canceled, like an ex who refuses to accept the breakup.
But they’re also disappearing. This accelerating erosion has not been big news during a time of pandemic, war and actual erosion, and yet the absence of magazines authoritatively documenting such events, or distracting from them, as they used to do with measured regularity, is keenly felt.
Time marches on, or limps, but Life is gone. There’s no more Money. The print editions of their former sister publications Entertainment Weekly and InStyle, which once frothed with profit, stopped publishing in February. It’s been au revoir to Saveur and Marie Claire; shrouds for Playboy, Paper and O. (As I type this, people are tweeting about The Believer being bought by a sex-toy site.)
Two recent books — “Dilettante,” by Dana Brown, a longtime editor at Vanity Fair, and a new biography of Anna Wintour, by Amy Odell, formerly of cosmopolitan.com — are graveyards of dead or zombie titles that were once glowing hives of human whim.
“There were so many magazines in 1994,” Brown writes. “So many new magazines, and so many great magazines. All the young talent of the moment was eschewing other industries and flocking to the business. It was the coolest place to be.”
Then suddenly the coldest. On the big fancy cruise ship that Brown had just boarded — Vanity Fair, where he’d been beckoned by Graydon Carter while a barback at the restaurant 44 — he and so many others then could only see the tip of an enormous iceberg they were about to hit: the internet. Smartphones, little self-edited monster magazines that will not rest until their owners die, were on the horizon. These may have looked like life rafts, but they were torpedo boats.
Every year, the American Society of Magazine Editors issues a handsome award, a brutalist-looking elephant called the Ellie, modeled after an Alexander Calder elephant sculpture. Any writer would be proud to have it on the mantelpiece.
One evening in mid-September, a gaggle of writers and bon vivant editors gathered by the outdoor fireplace and ivy-covered trellis of a West Village tavern. Steak was served, and the toasts lasted late into the night, the revelry trickling out to the nearby sidewalk.
It could have been a scene from the Jazz Age heyday of the Manhattan magazine set — or even the 1990s, when glossy monthlies still soaked up millions of dollars in advertising revenue, and editors in chauffeured town cars told the nation what to wear, what to watch and who to read.
This night, however, had an elegiac tinge. The staff of Vanity Fair was saluting the magazine’s longtime editor, Graydon Carter, who had announced that he was departing after a 25-year run. In the back garden of Carter’s restaurant, the Waverly Inn, star writers like James Wolcott and Marie Brenner spoke of their gratitude and grief.
Carter has always had a knack for trends. Within two weeks, three other prominent editors — from Time, Elle and Glamour — announced that they, too, would be stepping down. Another titan of the industry, Jann S. Wenner, said he planned to sell his controlling stake in Rolling Stone after a half-century.
Suddenly, it seemed, long-standing predictions about the collapse of magazines had come to pass.
突然之間，長久來有關雜誌業終將崩潰的預言，似乎成真了。
Magazines have sputtered for years, their monopoly on readers and advertising erased by Facebook, Google and more nimble online competitors. But editors and executives said the abrupt churn in the senior leadership ranks signaled that the romance of the business was now yielding to financial realities.
As publishers grasp for new revenue streams, a “try-anything” approach has taken hold. Time Inc. has a new streaming TV show, “Paws & Claws,” that features viral videos of animals. Hearst started a magazine with the online rental service Airbnb. Increasingly, the longtime core of the business — the print product — is an afterthought, overshadowed by investments in live events, podcasts, video, and partnerships with outside brands.
The changes represent one of the most fundamental shifts in decades for a business that long relied on a simple formula: glossy volumes thick with high-priced ads.
“Sentimentality is probably the biggest enemy for the magazine business,” David Carey, president of Hearst Magazines, said in an interview. “You have to embrace the future."
Topic: Edward Enninful Is Named Editor-in-Chief at British Vogue
Edward Enninful, the creative and fashion director of the U.S. magazine W, is set to replace Alexandra Shulman as editor-in-chief of British Vogue, its parent company, Conde Nast, confirmed Monday. The first man and the first black editor to take the helm of Britain’s most powerful fashion publication in its 100-year history, Enninful will begin his new role Aug. 1. A top stylist and acclaimed fashion director who migrated to Britain from Ghana as a child, the 45-year-old Enninful is known for his cheerful demeanor, his legendary fashion covers and for having an army of loyal fans in and out of the fashion business. He received an Order of the British Empire in June for his services to diversity in the fashion industry.
Conde Nast’s international chairman and chief executive, Jonathan Newhouse, called Enninful “an influential figure in the communities of fashion, Hollywood and music which shape the cultural zeitgeist,” and added that “by virtue of his talent and experience, Edward is supremely prepared to assume the responsibility of British Vogue.” The appointment comes three months after Newhouse named another man, Emanuele Farneti, to the helm of Italian Vogue, following the death of Franca Sozzani.
Enninful was an unexpected choice. Born in Ghana, Enninful was raised by his seamstress mother in the Ladbroke Grove area of London, alongside five siblings. At 16, he became a model for the British magazine i-D after being scouted while traveling on the Tube, London’s subway system. He has called modeling his “baptism into fashion.” By 17, he was assisting on photography shoots for the publication with the stylists Simon Foxton and Beth Summers. In 1991, at 18, he took over from Summers as i-D fashion editor, making him one of the youngest-ever leaders of a major fashion publication. He also obtained a degree from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Although there are a handful of notable exceptions, the fashion industry has a dearth of black power players, and that had been a source of immense frustration for Enninful, who has made a considerable effort to improve things. He has made headlines with accusations of racism, including after he was assigned to sit in the second row at a couture show in Paris in 2013 when white “counterparts” were in the first.
國際時事跟讀 Ep.K899: The Night Riders: China's Viral Dumpling Adventure
Highlights 主題摘要：
A simple social media post about four students' night bike ride for dumplings transformed into a massive youth movement, demonstrating how small actions can catalyze significant social phenomena.
The unprecedented scale of participation (100,000 students) led to infrastructure challenges and regulatory responses, highlighting the tension between spontaneous youth culture and urban management.
Despite authorities' restrictions and criticism, students' determination to continue the journey by walking reflects the resilient spirit of youth and their desire for authentic shared experiences.
In an unprecedented display of youth culture, what began as a simple quest for famous soup dumplings has evolved into a remarkable social phenomenon in central China. The movement started in June when four university students from Zhengzhou documented their late-night bicycle journey to Kaifeng, a historic city renowned for its oversized soup dumplings called "guan tang bao." Their social media posts sparked a trend that would soon capture the imagination of thousands of young Chinese, united under the inspiring motto "youth is priceless, night ride to Kaifeng has it." The adventure quickly gained traction among students seeking both culinary delights and memorable experiences.
The trend reached its peak on a Friday night when an estimated 100,000 students, mostly using shared bikes, embarked on the 50-kilometer journey between the two cities. The massive convoy of cyclists filled the six-lane Zhengkai avenue, creating an extraordinary scene of solidarity and youth spirit. Students sang together, encouraged one another during uphill stretches, and shared in the collective adventure. Liu Lulu, a student at Henan University, described the experience as more than just a bike ride, emphasizing the passionate energy that permeated throughout the group. The night-time journey became a symbol of youth empowerment and collective determination.
However, the unprecedented scale of participation brought significant challenges to both cities involved. The ancient city of Kaifeng quickly reached its capacity, with accommodations, restaurants, and public spaces overwhelmed by the sudden influx of visitors. Local authorities were forced to implement immediate measures, including temporary restrictions on roads and cycle paths. Bike-sharing applications announced they would remotely lock any bicycles taken outside designated zones in Zhengzhou, while some universities introduced stricter regulations, such as requiring students to obtain passes before leaving campus. Police officers used loudspeakers to manage the crowd and offered free bus services for those needing to return.
The phenomenon has sparked intense debate across Chinese social media platforms and traditional media outlets. While many celebrate this expression of youth culture and adventure, others critique the lack of proper infrastructure and planning to support such large-scale spontaneous events. What started as a celebrated tourism boost for Kaifeng, initially endorsed by state media, has transformed into a complex situation requiring careful management. Despite the restrictions, some determined students have adapted by choosing to walk the distance, embodying the resilient spirit of youth. As one student posted on social media, "It's so good to be young, this is youth!" The night-riding trend has since spread to other major Chinese cities, though none have yet witnessed crowds matching the scale of the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng phenomenon, which stands as a testament to the unexpected ways youth culture can reshape urban experiences.
Historic (His-tor-ic) [adjective. important in history or from the past]: Kaifeng, a historic city renowned for its oversized soup dumplings called "guan tang bao."
Empowerment (Em-pow-er-ment) [noun. giving someone the power to do something]: The night-time journey became a symbol of youth empowerment and collective determination.
Designated (Des-ig-nat-ed) [adjective. chosen for a specific purpose]: Bike-sharing applications announced they would remotely lock any bicycles taken outside designated zones.
Infrastructure (In-fra-struc-ture) [noun. basic systems like roads and bridges that a city needs]: Others critique the lack of proper infrastructure and planning to support such large-scale events.
Testament (Tes-ta-ment) [noun. something that proves something else is true]: The Zhengzhou-Kaifeng phenomenon stands as a testament to how youth culture can reshape urban experiences.
This week, Angel and I continue our chat about the tips of taking your elderly parents out on vacation. Me, being the "useless" son will match up with Angel, the "most useful" daughter.
What are your tips for going on holiday with your parents? Send your comment using the comment below and I'll share the good tips with the rest of the 15Mins fam!
國際時事跟讀 Ep.K803: Record Number of Students Sit China's Gaokao Exam Amid AI Monitoring
Highlights 主題摘要：
The gaokao, China's national college entrance exam, is a highly competitive and grueling test that determines admission to the country's top universities, with a record 13.4 million students sitting the exam this year.
The immense pressure to perform well in the gaokao is amplified by China's slowing economic growth and rising youth unemployment, making the exam a test of both academic knowledge and mental resilience.
To combat cheating and ensure fairness, several Chinese provinces have introduced artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor the gaokao, detecting abnormal behaviors through image and video data, although human officials remain the final decision-makers.
A record-breaking 13.4 million Chinese high school students are sitting the highly competitive and grueling national college entrance exam, known as the "gaokao." Dubbed the "world's toughest" college entrance exam by Chinese state media, the two-day test is the culmination of 12 years of learning and the sole determinant for admission into the country's top universities. With China's slowing economic growth and rising youth unemployment, the pressure to perform well in the exam has never been higher. The gaokao is not only a test of academic knowledge but also a test of endurance and mental resilience.
The gaokao covers subjects such as Chinese literature, math, English, physics, chemistry, politics, and history, with each test lasting less than two hours. Unlike the SAT in the United States, the majority of Chinese students only have one chance to take the exam. On the first day of the gaokao, anxious parents, dressed in red for good luck, waited outside school gates after sending their children into the exam halls. Authorities have implemented various measures to maintain order and stability around the examination sites, including deploying traffic police and accepting taxi bookings for students a week in advance. Chinese social media platforms were flooded with good-luck messages and encouragement for the exam takers.
高考涵蓋的科目有中國文學、數學、英語、物理、化學、政治和歷史，每場考試的時間都不到兩個小時。與美國的 SAT 考試不同，絕大多數中國學生只有一次機會參加考試。在高考的第一天，焦慮的家長身穿紅色衣服以求好運，在將孩子送入考場後在校門外等候。當局已經採取各種措施來維持考點周圍的秩序和穩定，包括部署交通警察，以及提前一週接受學生的出租車預訂。中國社交媒體平台上充斥著祝考生好運和鼓勵的信息。
To combat cheating and ensure fairness, several Chinese provinces have introduced artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor the gaokao. Provinces such as Guangdong, Hainan, and Shandong have adopted an "artificial intelligent patrol system" to supervise the exams by detecting cheating, plagiarism, and other abnormal behaviors through image and video data. If irregularities are detected, the AI system triggers an alarm, alerting the supervisor to take action. However, human exam officials remain the final decision-makers in the event of disputes. The use of AI in exam monitoring is part of a broader effort by the Chinese government to strengthen the hi-tech system that prevents cheating.
為了打擊作弊並確保公平，中國多個省份引入了人工智慧（AI）來監控高考。廣東、海南、山東等省份採用了「人工智慧巡查系統」來監督考試，通過圖像和視頻數據檢測作弊、抄襲和其他異常行為。如果檢測到異常情況，AI 系統會觸發警報，提醒監考人員採取行動。然而，在發生爭議時，人工考官仍然是最終決策者。在考試監控中使用 AI 是中國政府加強防止作弊的高科技系統更廣泛努力的一部分。
Despite the implementation of security checks and online supervision since 2013, cases of cheating have still occurred. The use of AI in exam monitoring has proven to be more accurate than human supervision, as it can process massive amounts of surveillance video and shorten review times. However, the AI system still faces challenges, such as the strict controls on wireless communication in standardized exam rooms, which may require manual reporting in some cases. As the gaokao continues to evolve and adapt to new technologies, the pressure on students to perform well remains a constant in China's highly competitive education system.
儘管自 2013 年以來實施了安全檢查和在線監督，但仍然發生了作弊案件。在考試監控中使用 AI 已被證明比人工監督更準確，因為它可以處理大量的監控視頻並縮短審查時間。然而，AI 系統仍面臨挑戰，例如在標準化考場中對無線通信的嚴格控制，這可能需要在某些情況下進行人工報告。隨著高考不斷發展和適應新技術，在中國高度競爭的教育體系中，學生面臨取得好成績的壓力始終存在。
Keyword Drills 關鍵字：
Endurance (En-dur-ance): The gaokao is not only a test of academic knowledge but also a test of endurance and mental resilience.
Culmination (Cul-mi-na-tion): Dubbed the "world's toughest" college entrance exam by Chinese state media, the two-day test is the culmination of 12 years of learning and the sole determinant for admission into the country's top universities.
Cheating (Cheat-ing): To combat cheating and ensure fairness, several Chinese provinces have introduced artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor the gaokao.
Irregularities (Ir-re-gu-la-ri-ties): If irregularities are detected, the AI system triggers an alarm, alerting the supervisor to take action.
Standardized (Stand-ard-ized): However, the AI system still faces challenges, such as the strict controls on wireless communication in standardized exam rooms, which may require manual reporting in some cases.
It seemed like a no-brainer: Lower Germany’s embarrassingly high carbon emissions at no cost, and save some lives in the process. 這聽起來是個不費腦筋的好主意：不須付出成本，便減低德國高得使人羞愧的碳排放量，還可以順道拯救人命。
But when a government-appointed commission in January dared to float the idea of a speed limit on the autobahn, the country’s storied highway network, it almost caused rioting. Irate drivers took to the airwaves. Union leaders menacingly put on their yellow vests, hinting at street protests. And the far-right opposition used the opportunity to rage against the “stranglehold” of the state. 然而，當政府指派的委員會元月大膽提出在德國名聞全球的高速公路上設速限的構想時，卻幾乎引發暴動。 暴怒的開車族在廣播裡抱怨，工會領袖意帶威脅地穿上黃背心，暗示將上街抗議。極右派反對黨趁機對國家的「箝制」大事撻伐。
A highway speed limit was “contrary to every common sense,” the transport minister, Andreas Scheuer, swiftly declared, contradicting his own experts.And that was that. 德國運輸部長安德烈・舒爾很快就宣布，給高速公路設速限「完全違反常情」，立場和自己的專家團隊相牴觸。此事就此打消。
As far as quasi-religious national obsessions go for large portions of a country’s population, the German aversion to speed limits on the autobahn is up there with gun control in America, whaling in Japan and sovereignty in Britain. 就一國高比例人口近乎宗教信仰式的執念而言，德國人對高速公路限速的反感之深，一如美國人對於槍枝管制，日本人對於捕鯨，和英國人對於主權。
With few exceptions, like Afghanistan and the Isle of Man, there are highway speed limits essentially everywhere else in the world. 世界上除了阿富汗和英國曼島等極少數例外，其他地方的公路基本上都有速限。
But this is Germany, the self-declared “auto nation,” where Carl Benz built the first automobile and where cars are not only the proudest export item but also a symbol of national identity. 但這可是自詡為「汽車王國」的德國，卡爾·賓士在這裡造出第一輛汽車，汽車不僅是令人驕傲的出口品，還是國家身分的象徵。
It’s also the country where, in darker times, Hitler laid the groundwork for a network of multilane highways that in the postwar years came to epitomize economic success — and freedom. 同樣的這個國家，在它較黯淡的時代，希特勒打下多車道高速公路系統的基礎，而這系統在戰後年月裡成為經濟成就和自由的典範。
Call it Germany’s Wild West: The autobahn is the one place in a highly regulated society where no rule is the rule — and that place is sacred. 把它想成德國的「大西部」吧：在一個受到高度規制的社會裡，高速公路是唯一沒有規矩就是它的規矩的地方，而此處神聖不可侵犯。
“It’s a very emotional topic,” confided Stefan Gerwens, head of transport and mobility at ADAC, an automobile club with 20 million members, which is opposed to any speed limit. So emotional, apparently, that facts and figures count for little. 「這是個高度情緒化的議題。」全德汽車俱樂部的運輸流動主任史帝芬・葛文如此坦承。全德汽車俱樂部是有兩千萬會員的汽車社團，他們徹底反對給高速公路設下速限。這個議題顯然太具情緒性，以致事實和數據都變得無關痛癢。
Germany is woefully behind on meeting its 2020 climate goals, so the government appointed a group of experts to find ways to lower emissions in the transport sector. Cars account for 11 percent of total emissions, and their share is rising. 德國距離達成2020年的氣候目標已大幅落後，因此政府指派了專家團隊以找出減低運輸方面碳排放的方法。車輛的碳排放量佔去總排放量的一成一，而且比例還在增高。
A highway speed limit of 120 kph, or 75 mph, could cover a fifth of the gap to reach the 2020 goals for the transport sector, environmental experts say. 環境專家說，給高速公路設置時速120公里（或75英里）的速限，可以在交通方面填補五分之一的缺口，協助達成2020年的氣候目標。
“Of all the individual measures, it is the one that would be the most impactful — and it costs nothing,” said Dorothee Saar, of Deutsche Umwelthilfe, a nonprofit environmental organization that has lobbied for a speed limit. 「在所有個人可以達成的事項裡，這是最具影響力，也不須花費成本的方法。」非營利環保組織「德國環境救援」的朵樂絲・薩爾說，此組織長年力促給高速公度限速。
“But when it comes to cars,” Saar sighed, “the debate tends to become irrational.” 「可是一談到車，」薩爾嘆息道：「辯論往往就變得不理性了。」 Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/337656/web/
About cars - Man in Germany drives to driving test
A man in Germany has discovered the hard way that it’s best to get a driving license first before trying to use it. 德國一名男子從教訓中學到：在試圖使用駕駛執照之前，最好先拿到它。
Police in Bergheim, near Cologne, said Tuesday that the 37-year-old drove himself to his driving test, parking an Opel Zafira outside the test center in front of an astonished examiner. 科隆附近的貝格海姆警方週二說，這名37歲民眾自己開車赴駕駛執照考試，在一名驚訝的監考官面前，把一台歐寶Zafira車款停在考試中心外。
They said he told police officers who were called to the scene on Monday that he had only driven because he wanted to make sure to get to the driving test on time. 他們說，他告訴週一被叫到現場的警官們說，他開車只是因為想要確保及時抵達那場駕駛執照考試。
His test was immediately called off. The man now faces an investigation for driving without a license. Police also opened an investigation of the car’s owner. 他的考試立刻被取消。這名男子現在因無照駕駛面臨調查。警方也對車主展開調查。
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Danish police confiscate luxury sports car caught speeding 丹麥警方沒收超速的豪華跑車
Danish police have confiscated a high-performance luxury car after its new owner was caught speeding as he drove it home from Germany to Norway. 丹麥警方沒收了一輛高性能的豪華汽車，在它的新車主超速被逮以後，當時他開著它從德國回挪威家。
The man, an Iraqi citizen resident in Norway who was not identified, was registered Thursday as driving at 236 kph in his Lamborghini Huracán on a stretch of highway where the top speed is 130 kph. 這名男子是個居住於挪威的伊拉克公民，身分未明，週四在一段最高時速130公里的高速公路上，被紀錄到以每小時236公里速度駕著他的藍寶堅尼「颶風」。
Under a new Danish law, police can seize the vehicles of reckless drivers and auction them off, with the money going into Danish coffers. 根據丹麥一項新的法律，警察可沒收魯莽駕駛人的車輛並拍賣它們，錢則進丹麥國庫。
The Nordjyske newspaper said the man had bought the car hours earlier in Germany for 2 million kroner. 《北日德蘭報》說，這名男子幾個小時前在德國以200萬克朗購入這輛車。
The car owner will also be fined for speeding in due course. 車主當理也將因超速被罰。 Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1486857 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1478842
Truck Makers Face Choice: Go Battery or Hydrogen？
Even before war in Ukraine sent fuel prices through the roof, the trucking industry was under intense pressure to kick its addiction to diesel, a major contributor to climate change and urban air pollution. But it still has to figure out which technology will best do the job. 在烏克蘭戰爭導致燃料價格飆漲之前，卡車運輸業就面臨擺脫柴油成癮的巨大壓力，但它仍須弄清楚哪種技術最能勝任此事。柴油是氣候變遷與城市空汙的主要原因。
Truck makers are divided into two camps. One faction, which includes Traton, Volkswagen’s truck unit, is betting on batteries because they are widely regarded as the most efficient option. The other camp, which includes Daimler Truck and Volvo, the two largest truck manufacturers, argues that fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electricity — emitting only water vapor — make more sense because they would allow long-haul trucks to be refueled quickly. 卡車製造商分為兩個陣營，包括福斯卡車部門Traton在內的一派看好電池，因電池被廣泛認為是最有效率的選項。另一個陣營則包括戴姆勒卡車和富豪這兩家最大的卡車製造公司，他們認為將氫轉化為電能僅排放水蒸氣的燃料電池更有意義，因為它們可讓長途卡車快速充電。
The choice companies make could be hugely consequential, helping to determine who dominates trucking in the electric vehicle age and who ends up wasting billions of dollars on the Betamax equivalent of electric truck technology, committing a potentially fatal error. It takes years to design and produce new trucks, so companies will be locked into the decisions they make now for a decade or more. 這些公司做出的選擇可能會帶來重大影響，並且有助於確認在電動車時代，誰將主宰卡車運輸業以及誰最終會在電動卡車版的Betamax技術浪費數十億美元，犯下潛在致命錯誤。設計和生產新的卡車需耗時數年，因此企業在未來10年或更長時間裡，將受制於現在做出的決定。
“It’s obviously one of the most important technology decisions we have to make,” said Andreas Gorbach, a member of the management board of Daimler Truck, which owns Freightliner in the United States and is the largest truck maker in the world. 全球卡車製造龍頭戴姆勒卡車的管理層成員哥爾巴赫說：「這顯然是我們必須做出的最重要技術決策之一。」該公司在美國擁有福萊納卡車品牌。
The stakes for the environment and for public health are also high. If many truck makers wager incorrectly, it could take much longer to clean up trucking than scientists say we have to limit the worst effects of climate change. In the United States, medium- and heavy-duty trucks account for 7% of greenhouse gas emissions. 環境和公眾健康面臨的風險也很高。若許多卡車製造商押錯寶，清理卡車運輸業所需的時間，恐比科學家所說人類必須限制氣候變遷最壞影響的時限還要長。在美國，中型與重型卡車占溫室氣體排放量的7%。
Although sales of electric cars are exploding, large truck makers have only begun to mass-produce emission-free vehicles. Daimler Truck, for example, began producing an electric version of its heavy-duty Actros truck, with a maximum range of 240 miles, late last year. Tesla unveiled a design for a battery-powered semitruck in 2017 but has not set a firm production date. 儘管電動車銷量爆炸性成長，但大型卡車製造商才剛開始大規模生產零碳排車輛，例如戴姆勒卡車公司去年底開始生產重型卡車Actros的電動版本，最大行駛里程達240英里。特斯拉在2017年發布一款電池動力的卡車Semi，但具體生產日期未定。
Cost will be a decisive factor. Unlike car buyers, who might splurge on a vehicle because they like the way it looks or the status it conveys, truck buyers carefully calculate how much a rig is going to cost them to buy, maintain and refuel. 價格將會是一項決定性因素。卡車買家會仔細計算整套配備的價格、維護及補充燃料費用，不像汽車買家，可能會因為喜歡車的外觀或者能夠顯示他們的地位而揮霍。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6260402
幕後教師室Teacher's Lounge Ep.40: VIP會員線上聚與心路歷程 Thank you for joining our first VIP live event
This week, Angel is chatting with us from Hong Kong and the conversation started because she just brought her dad to Nagoya on a trip. In this episode, I'll share my childhood travels and how my travel attitude upsetted my parents on the long road trips we took.
This discussion will be continued in the next episode, and we will cover the tips for taking your elderly parents on trips. What is your recent travel experience with your elderly parents? Share with me using the comment below and I'll share the good tips with the rest of the 15Mins fam!
Hope you will enjoy this episode with us as much as we enjoyed producing it!
國際時事跟讀VIP Ep.K799: Bird Flu Outbreak Raises Concerns in the United States
Highlights 主題摘要：
The recent bird flu outbreak in the U.S. has affected poultry, dairy herds, and raised concerns about the safety of meat and milk products.
Despite the outbreak, health officials emphasize that the risk to public health remains low, with rare human cases and no person-to-person transmission.
The economic impact of the outbreak is uncertain, but it could potentially affect egg and beef markets, leading to higher consumer prices.
The recent outbreak of bird flu (Type A H5N1) in the United States has raised concerns among health officials and the public. The virus has been detected in wild birds, commercial poultry operations, and backyard flocks across the country, leading to the death of tens of millions of chickens. Additionally, the virus has been found in dairy herds in five states, including Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, and Texas, as of Tuesday. The U.S. government is collecting samples of ground beef at retail stores in affected states for testing to verify the safety of milk and meat products.
最近美國爆發的禽流感（Type A H5N1）疫情已經引起衛生官員和公眾的關注。該病毒已在全國的野生鳥類、商業家禽業和後院家禽群中被檢測到，導致數千萬隻雞的死亡。此外，截至週二，該病毒已在五個州的乳牛群中被發現，包括愛達荷州、堪薩斯州、密西根州、新墨西哥州和德克薩斯州。美國政府正在受影響州的零售商店收集牛絞肉樣本進行檢測，以驗證牛奶和肉類產品的安全性。
Despite the rising concern, health officials emphasize that the risk to the public remains low. Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated that the agency is taking bird flu seriously but stressed that the virus has been well studied and prepared for over the past two decades. The current strain is not new, and scientists have been monitoring its evolution and spread among various animal species since 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also stated that the overall public health risk is low, although it is higher for those with exposure to infected animals.
Human cases of bird flu are rare, with only two reported cases in the United States, neither of which were fatal. In 2022, a prison inmate in Colorado caught the virus while killing infected birds at a poultry farm, and recently, a person in Texas who had been in contact with cows was diagnosed with bird flu. Both individuals experienced mild symptoms and recovered. Health officials stress that there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of the virus in the current outbreak. Globally, nearly 900 people have been diagnosed with bird flu in the past two decades, with more than 460 deaths reported.
The economic impact of the bird flu outbreak is yet to be fully determined. However, experts warn that the transmission of the virus from one species to another is concerning and could potentially affect various markets, including the egg and beef industries. If the outbreak is not quickly contained, consumers may face higher prices, and some industries could experience reputational strain, possibly affecting the export market. The egg industry is already experiencing some tightening of supply due to the recent detections of bird flu and the busy Easter season. Marc Dresner, a spokesperson for the American Egg Board, stated that even with the outbreak in Texas and the nearly 2 million birds that were killed there, there are an estimated 310 million egg-laying hens in the U.S., and wholesale egg prices are down about 25% from a February peak.
Prevention (Pre-ven-tion): Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated that the agency is taking bird flu seriously but stressed that the virus has been well studied and prepared for over the past two decades.
Monitoring (Mo-ni-tor-ing): The current strain is not new, and scientists have been monitoring its evolution and spread among various animal species since 2020.
Poultry (Poul-try): The virus has been detected in wild birds, commercial poultry operations, and backyard flocks across the country, leading to the death of tens of millions of chickens.
Transmission (Trans-mis-sion): Health officials stress that there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of the virus in the current outbreak.
Reputational (Rep-u-ta-tion-al): If the outbreak is not quickly contained, consumers may face higher prices, and some industries could experience reputational strain, possibly affecting the export market.
Topic: The ‘Right to Repair’ Movement Gains Ground
If you buy a product — a car, a smartphone, or even a tractor — and it breaks, should it be easier for you to fix it yourself? 如果你買了一個產品，例如一輛汽車、一部智慧型手機，甚至是一台拖拉機，結果它壞了，是不是應該讓你自己修理起來更容易些呢？
Manufacturers of a wide range of products have made it increasingly difficult over the years to repair things, for instance by limiting availability of parts or by putting prohibitions on who gets to tinker with them. It affects not only game consoles or farm equipment, but cellphones, military gear, refrigerators, automobiles and even hospital ventilators, the lifesaving devices that have proved crucial this year in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. 多年來，許多種產品的製造商都讓維修變得愈來愈困難，比如限制零件的取得，或對何人有權動手維修施加限制。受影響的產品不止於遊戲主機或農用機具，還有手機、軍用設備、冰箱、汽車，甚至包括今年對抗新冠病毒疫情發揮關鍵作用的救生設備—醫院裡的呼吸器。
Now, a movement known as “right to repair” is starting to make progress in pushing for laws that prohibit restrictions like these. 現在，一項名為「維修權」的運動在推動禁止此類限制的立法上，正取得進展。
In August, Democrats introduced a bill in Congress to block manufacturers’ limits on medical devices, spurred by the pandemic. In Europe, the European Commission announced plans in March for new right-to-repair rules that would cover phones, tablets and laptops by 2021. 今年8月，美國民主黨因防疫需要而在國會提出一項法案，旨在阻止製造商對醫療裝置設下限制。在歐洲，歐盟執行委員會3月宣布了新的維修權規定計畫，在2021年以前實施，涵蓋手機、平板電腦和筆記型電腦。
And in more than 20 statehouses nationwide, right-to-repair legislation has been introduced in recent years by both Republicans and Democrats. 近年來，在全美國20多個州的議會裡，共和黨和民主黨都提出了維修權法案。
Over the summer, the House advanced a funding bill that includes a requirement that the Federal Trade Commission complete a report on anti-competitive practices in the repair market and present its findings to Congress and the public. 今年夏天，眾議院推動了一項資助法案，其中責成聯邦貿易委員會做成一份關於維修市場反競爭行為的報告，並向國會和民眾提交調查結果。
The goal of right-to-repair rules, advocates say, is to require companies to make their parts, tools and information available to consumers and repair shops in order to keep devices from ending up in the scrap heap. They argue that the rules restrict people’s use of devices that they own and encourage a throwaway culture by making repairs too difficult. 倡議人士表示，維修權規定的目的是要求企業向消費者和維修商家提供零組件、工具及資訊，以免這些裝置最終被扔進垃圾堆。他們主張，目前的慣例對人們使用自己的裝置設下限制，並透過讓維修變得太過困難的方式，助長了一種用完即丟的文化。
They also argue that it’s part of a culture of planned obsolescence — the idea that products are designed to be short-lived in order to encourage people to buy more stuff. That contributes to wasted natural resources and energy use at a time when climate change requires movement in the opposite direction to rein in planet-warming emissions. 他們還認為，這是一種計畫性淘汰文化的一部分，即為了鼓勵人們購買更多東西，產品被設計成短命的。在氣候變遷需要採取反向行動來控制溫室氣體排放的此際，這助長了自然資源的浪費以及能源的使用。
Manufacturing a new device or appliance is still largely reliant on polluting sources of energy — electricity generated from burning fossil fuels, for instance — and constitutes the largest environmental impact for most products. 製造一種新設備或裝置在很大程度上，仍仰賴會造成汙染的能源，例如燃燒化石燃料產生的電力，對大多數產品而言，這正是構成最大環境影響的因素。 Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5015841
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Topic: UK gamers and politicians take aim at console ’scalpers’
Furious British gamers and lawmakers are training their sights on "scalpers" who are buying up coveted PS5 and Xbox consoles and selling them online at vastly inflated prices. 氣沖沖的英國玩家和議員將焦點指向「黃牛」，這些黃牛買光搶手的PS5、Xbox電玩主機，然後在網路上以大幅灌水的價格出售。
The popular consoles have also been hard to come by in other parts of the world, but in Britain anger has boiled over to the point where some lawmakers want to ban the practice of reselling them online at higher prices. 這些熱門電玩主機在世界其他地方也一機難求，但是在英國掀起的怒火已沸騰，一些議員為此打算禁止網路高價轉售的作法。
While a PS5 normally costs between £360 and £450 depending on the model, its median resale price on sites like eBay is £650-£750, according to US researcher Michael Driscoll. 根據美國研究員麥可．德里斯考的說法，通常一部PS5依版本差異，售價在360英鎊到450英鎊之間，但在諸如「電子海灣」的網站上轉售價中位數為650到750英鎊不等。
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Topic: Singaporean student plays Pokemon on ingenious ‘Melonboy’ 想像你搭捷運時突然有個年輕男子拿著一顆鑲有小螢幕的西瓜淡定的坐到你旁邊，開始認真的玩。
Imagine that you are on the MRT and a young man sitting next to you is playing video games on a watermelon-like console. 近期，就有新加坡民眾在捷運上目睹這奇葩的一幕。一位星國少年自製了一台「西瓜Game Boy」，上面不僅有螢幕和實體的按鈕，裡面還裝載了近期最流行的寶可夢遊戲軟體。
That’s the unusual sight some people recently experienced in Singapore when a teenager was seen playing “Pokemon Go” on a self-built console made of a watermelon, a screen and some buttons. 就讀新加坡管理大學的Cedrick Tan，近日在YouTube上分享了自製的水果寶可夢GameBoy，揭露製作過程和最後實驗結果。
Cedrick Tan, a student from the Singapore Management University, has been tinkering with the project on YouTube which has led to him building his own version of Pokemon Emerald inside a fruit. 一向天馬行空的他其實已經有無數的作品，包括將一個地圖放進虛擬實境和利用微軟Excel發送訊息至通訊軟體Telegram。如今他又再次突破自己，將遊戲機成功的裝進蔬果內。
An avid creator, Tan’s long list of projects include turning a map into a blank canvas for augmented reality, finding a way to send messages to Telegram using Microsoft Excel, and building a playable Game Boy Advance inside a melon. 當被問起做這個作品的過程時，Cedrick表示其實非常簡單，因為西瓜內部空間非常足夠，電路的連接也非常方便。
When asked about his project, Tan said: “When it came down to actually making the Melonboy, it happened to be really convenient seeing as the melon was very spacious on the inside allowing me to wire everything up with ease.” 遊戲機目前可以成功的開啟，使用的軟體也和原版相符，而挖空的西瓜塞進了一個電池、數個實體按鍵、一個1.8寸的螢幕和小喇叭音響。
The Game Boy emulator can then be loaded and run with the same software as the original game. Inside the scooped-out melon, a power bank, buttons, a 1.8-inch screen, loudspeakers are assembled. Cedrick表示，因為買到瑕疵零件，導致製作過程延宕，西瓜GamBoy花了他將近一個月才完成。若沒有遇到這些問題的話，大概一週以內就能完成，他自信滿滿地說。
According to Tan, the construction took about a month; though he blamed the time-length on a faulty device integral to the game boy. Without the problem, the watermelon-based console could have been finished in less than a week, he said. 「身為一個資管系的學生，我對於電機其實一知半解，所以一切從零開始學，花了一點時間。」Cedrick 說。然而，他對於自己的成果表示滿意，成功的製作出一個有著完整介面的「攜帶式」遊戲機。
“As an information systems student, I have no background in electrical engineering, so learning that from scratch took some time,” Tan recalled. The result is a working game console, complete with a Game Boy Advance emulator and a game controller. 吸睛的西瓜GameBoy影片獲得廣大民眾迴響，這大概也是Cedrick最大的收穫。
But the best thing about Tan’s video is the public’s reaction to the watermelon game boy. Cedrick也實驗過將西瓜帶去賣場玩，捕捉到許多人好奇的眼光。
On a visit to the market, he played the game console surrounded by real watermelons, which provoked weird looks from passers-by. Cedrick憶起他曾帶著西瓜進火車站，當時還被站務員攔截，詢問他手上的大西瓜是怎麼回事。
Tan also recalled being quizzed about the device when he brought it into a train station. 一位緊張的員工甚至跑到他身邊詢問奇形怪狀的西瓜用途，聽完他的解釋後，員工還非常興奮地將他拉回辦公室要他將作品展現給其他同事看。
A distressed SMRT staff asked him about the strange device, and after hearing his explanation, requested him to show it to her colleagues. 此外，Cedrick坦言他曾經被誤認為西瓜炸彈客，而他從沒想過帶著西瓜會碰上這樣的麻煩。
In addition, Tan said he also experienced another unforeseen problem where someone complained that he was carrying a watermelon bomb. Cedrick也將自己的作品分享到美版PTT Reddit上面，不僅獲得外國網友的讚賞，還有許多人鼓勵他之後利用酪梨和椰子製作遊戲機。
Tan also posted on Reddit about his clumsy contraption, where he received plenty of praise, inspiring him to build different versions in the future, including avocados and coconuts. 不幸地，Cedrick透露，影片上傳YouTube後過了幾天，西瓜就爛掉了。
Unfortunately, Tan revealed that the watermelon had rotted just a few days after his YouTube video was uploaded. 然而，Cedrick表示將會繼續創作，未來也規劃以榴槤製作遊戲，將其命名為「臭Boy痛苦遊戲」。 However, Tan vowed to continue making his creations and could take on the challenge of turning the durian into a game that could be called StinkyBoy’s Pain Game. Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20200827-1697494
15Mins 名人正念語錄 Inspirations Ep.3: 動作巨星的名人佳句 Motivational quotes from action stars
Bruce Lee was born on November 27, 1940, inSan Francisco, USA. The following year, he returned to Hong Kong with his parents and grew up there. His father, Lee Hoi-chuen, was one of the four great Cantonese opera clowns in Hong Kong, while Bruce Lee is considered one of the most influential martial arts stars of all time. Lee started his career as a child star and became famous for his films such as "Way of the Dragon" and "Fist of Fury," showcasing his martial arts talent and life philosophy. In addition to making movies, he created his own martial arts style—Jeet Kune Do. "Be water, my friend" was Lee's life philosophy, emphasizing that people should not be constrained by frameworks but be confident in being themselves and adapt to environmental changes.
2. 基努·李維 (Keanu Reeves) 名言： "The simpleact of paying attention can take you a long way." （簡單的專注行為可以帶你走很遠。）
Keanu Reeves, a Canadian action star, wasborn on September 2, 1964, in Beirut, Lebanon. His notable films include "The Matrix," "John Wick," and "Constantine." Although Reeves is a well-known superstar, his lifestyle is quite low-key. He is often spotted by the public in parks and on the subway. Recently, it was reported that he married his artist girlfriend of five years. The above quote conveys Reeves' attitude towards doing things. He believes that to achieve something, the most basic thing is to stay focused, just as he treats his work and life.
3. 阿諾·施瓦辛格 (ArnoldSchwarzenegger) 名言： "Strengthdoes not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength." （力量不是來自勝利。你的奮鬥發展了你的力量。當你經歷困難並決定不屈服，這就是力量。）
Arnold Schwarzenegger was born on July 30,1947, in Thal, Austria. He started as a bodybuilder and won the title of "Mr. Olympia," the highest honor in men's bodybuilding, seven times. Later, Schwarzenegger transitioned into an actor and became one of the great action stars of the 80s and 90s. His most iconic role was the Terminator. In addition to being an action star, Schwarzenegger entered politics and served as the Governor of California from 2003 to 2011. Schwarzenegger's famous quote conveys the attitude of facing adversity. Victory cannot make people grow; only by challenging adversity with an indomitable spirit can one gain true strength.
It's been more than half a year since we last talked about Coupang. In their first quarter earnings call, the stats about their growth in Taiwan gives us some insight about when would be the best itme to start shopping on Coupang.
Lydia joins me this week to share some interesting stats from Coupang's earning call and cover the terms they often use in the business. If you are also a digital marketer, comment down below and share with us your thoughts of Coupang in Taiwan, and we will give you a shout out in the next episode!
國際時事跟讀 Ep.K795: Taiwan's Youth Rally Against Controversial Bill Amidst Political Turmoil
Highlights 主題摘要：
Taiwanese youth are actively protesting against a controversial bill backed by opposition parties, which they believe threatens Taiwan's democratic principles and national security.
The proposed legislation aims to expand the parliament's investigative powers and scrutinize the executive branch, leading to concerns about potential abuse of power by legislators.
The protests highlight the complex political landscape in Taiwan, with the ruling DPP championing Taiwan's sovereignty amid increasing pressure from Beijing.
Taiwan is grappling with political unrest as thousands of predominantly young protesters gather outside the legislature to oppose a controversial bill backed by opposition parties. The proposed legislation, which aims to expand the parliament's investigative powers and tighten scrutiny over the executive branch, has drawn widespread criticism for its potential to undermine Taiwan's democratic principles and compromise national security. The protests coincide with the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who secured a historic third consecutive term for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), further highlighting the deep political divisions within the island nation.
Critics of the bill argue that its vague wording and lack of adequate checks and balances could pave the way for power abuses by legislators. They express concern that government officials could be compelled to disclose sensitive information, such as diplomatic and defense secrets, or face criminal penalties under the proposed "contempt of parliament" offense. The DPP accuses the opposition of rushing the bill through without sufficient deliberation or transparency, while the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) maintain that the reforms are essential to enhance government accountability and combat corruption.
The protests, which have drawn comparisons to the 2014 Sunflower Movement, underscore the challenges faced by Lai's administration in the absence of a parliamentary majority. The KMT and TPP, both of which advocate for closer ties to China, now hold sway in the legislature. Demonstrators, many of whom joined the protests after school and work, braved heavy downpours to voice their concerns, holding signs denouncing the legislative process as a "black box" and demanding the bill's immediate withdrawal. The heated political divide has even spilled over into physical altercations on the parliamentary floor, further illustrating the intensity of the ongoing struggle.
As discussions on the bill are set to resume, the protests serve as a poignant reminder of Taiwan's robust protest tradition and the younger generation's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the island's democratic institutions. The controversy also underscores the complex political landscape in Taiwan, where the ruling DPP champions Taiwan's sovereignty in the face of increasing pressure and threats from Beijing. With the new government just beginning its term and cross-strait relations remaining fraught with tension, the outcome of this political battle will have far-reaching implications for Taiwan's future stability and democratic resilience. As the international community watches closely, the island nation's ability to navigate these challenges will be a testament to the strength and vibrancy of its democratic system.
Predominantly (Pre-dom-i-nant-ly): Taiwan is grappling with political unrest as thousands of predominantly young protesters gather outside the legislature to oppose a controversial bill backed by opposition parties.
Testament (Tes-ta-ment): As the international community watches closely, the island nation's ability to navigate these challenges will be a testament to the strength and vibrancy of its democratic system.
Diplomatic (Dip-lo-ma-tic): They express concern that government officials could be compelled to disclose sensitive information, such as diplomatic and defense secrets, or face criminal penalties under the proposed "contempt of parliament" offense.
Withdrawal (With-draw-al): Demonstrators, many of whom joined the protests after school and work, braved heavy downpours to voice their concerns, holding signs denouncing the legislative process as a "black box" and demanding the bill's immediate withdrawal.
Implication (Im-pli-ca-tion): With the new government just beginning its term and cross-strait relations remaining fraught with tension, the outcome of this political battle will have far-reaching implications for Taiwan's future stability and democratic resilience.
Topic: About animals - Treating wounds with insects: the strange habits of Gabon chimps
How to treat a wound? For humans, the first instinct would be to disinfect it and then cover it with a bandage. But chimpanzees have invented a more creative method: catching insects and applying them directly to the open wound. 應該如何處理傷口呢？對於人類來說，第一個反應是對其進行消毒，然後用繃帶包紮。但黑猩猩發明了一種更有創意的方法：用昆蟲並將牠們直接塗抹在開放性傷口上。
Scientists observed this behavior in chimpanzees in the West African nation of Gabon, noticing that the apes not only use insects to treat their own wounds, but also those of their peers. 科學家們在西非國家加彭的黑猩猩身上觀察到這種行為，並注意到這些猿類不僅使用昆蟲來治療自己的傷口，還用來治療同伴。
The project began in 2019, when an adult female chimpanzee named Suzee was observed inspecting a wound on the foot of her adolescent son. Suzee then suddenly caught an insect out of the air, put it in her mouth, apparently squeezed it, and then applied it to her son’s wound. 這項研究計畫始於2019年，科學家當時觀察到一隻名叫蘇西（Suzee）的成年雌黑猩猩，正在檢查牠青少年兒子腳上的傷口。接著，蘇西突然從空中抓了一隻蟲子，放進嘴裡抿碎，然後敷在牠兒子的傷口上。
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Topic: Deer runs into hospital, up escalator; later is euthanized 一隻鹿闖進醫院搭上電梯隨後被安樂死
News outlets reported that surveillance video showed a deer bounding into Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge in Louisiana through an open door and stumbling on the slippery floor as stunned workers and visitors watched from a few feet away. 監視影片顯示，有一隻鹿從路易斯安那州巴頓魯治聖母湖醫院開放的大門跳進院內後，在易滑的地板上跌倒，震驚的工作人員和訪客在幾呎外目睹一切。
The deer regained its footing enough to climb up the escalator and reach the second floor, where it was finally corralled and held down by several people. 這隻鹿站穩腳步後爬進電梯搭到二樓，才終於被許多人一同壓制及捕捉。
The deer was loaded on a hospital bed that was rolled outside to a truck from the The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department. 這隻鹿被放置在醫院病床上，推往路易斯安那野生動物和漁業部的卡車。
The animal had to be euthanized because of injuries, the agency said, adding there were indications it may have been struck by a vehicle before entering the building. 該機構說，由於這隻動物傷重，必須被安樂死。他們也補充道，牠看起來應該是進入醫院前遭汽車撞擊。
"Patient care has not been interrupted and the area is being thoroughly sanitized," said a statement by the hospital. 醫院聲明指出：「病患照護未受干擾，事發區域也已徹底消毒。」Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1501725 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1502232
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Topic: Kangaroos can learn to communicate with humans, researchers say
Kangaroos can learn to communicate with humans similar to how domesticated dogs do, by using their gaze to "point" and ask for help, researchers said in a study published on Wednesday. 研究人員在週三發表的一份研究中說，和被馴化的狗類似，袋鼠可以學習和人類溝通，利用凝視來「指向」並尋求協助。
The study involved 11 kangaroos that lived in captivity but had not been domesticated. Ten of the 11 marsupials intently gazed at researchers when they were unable to open a box with food, according to the report. Nine alternately looked at the human and at the container, as a way of pointing or gesturing toward the object. 這份研究涉及11隻圈養但未經馴化的袋鼠。根據這份報告，這11隻有袋動物的其中10隻，在打不開一個裝有食物的盒子時，專注凝視研究人員。9隻交替看著人和容器，做為指向或是朝該物體示意的一種方法。
"We interpreted this as a deliberate form of communication, a request for help," Alan McElligott, the Irish researcher who led the study, told Reuters in a call. 主導這起研究的愛爾蘭研究人員亞倫‧麥克利戈特在電話中告訴路透，「我們將之解釋為一種刻意的溝通形式，是一種求助。」
The findings challenge the notion that only domesticated animals such as dogs, horses or goats communicate with humans. 這項發現挑戰了只有諸如狗、馬或山羊這類被馴化的動物會和人類溝通的觀念。
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Topic: 2 pythons weighing 100 pounds collapse ceiling in Australia （澳洲2條合計100磅的蟒蛇壓垮天花板）
An Australian David Tait entered his home in Laceys Creek in Queensland state and was surprised to find a large chunk of the ceiling lying on his kitchen table. "I knew we hadn’t had rain, so I looked around to find what had caused it," Tait said. 一名澳洲民眾大衛．泰特回到位於昆士蘭州萊西溪市的家時，驚訝地發現一大片天花板躺在廚房餐桌上。泰特說：「我知道沒下雨，所以我四處張望尋找事發原因。」
He soon found two culprits, non-venomous carpet pythons 2.8 meters and 2.5 meters long, that had slithered into a bedroom and living room. The snakes have an estimated combined weight of 45 kilograms. 他很快發現2隻罪魁禍首，各為2.8公尺及2.5公尺的無毒地毯蟒爬進了臥室和客廳。這2隻蟒蛇合計重達45公斤。
Snake catcher Steven Brown was called to remove the two snakes. "I would assume that it was two males fighting over a female that was nearby in the roof," he said. He suspected the female could still be in the ceiling or nearby. 捕蛇專家史蒂芬．布朗被叫來抓2隻蟒蛇。他說：「我想是2隻公蟒為了待在天花板附近的1隻母蟒在打架。」他懷疑，那隻母蟒或許還待在天花板或附近一帶。
The males were returned to the wild, but the suspected third snake hasn’t been found. 2隻公蟒被野放，疑似還在屋內的第3隻蟒蛇下落不明。 Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1422528 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1420019
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Topic: Fly south or roost? Canadian ’snowbirds’ weigh Florida mid-pandemic
Birds of a feather normally flock together, but the pandemic has divided Canada’s "snowbird" warm weather migrants into two camps：those staying home this winter and those heading to Florida no matter the cost. 通常來說，物以類聚，但是這場疫情已經使加拿大每年遷徙到氣候溫暖區的「雪鳥族」分成兩陣營：待在家鄉過冬，以及不計代價前往佛州者。
Nearly a million Canadians make the annual pilgrimage, fleeing to the southern United States to pass what would otherwise be gray and snowy months with their toes tucked in the sand and ocean breeze in their hair. 每年有將近100萬名加拿大人飛奔到美國南方，享受漫步沙灘、和煦海風吹過髮梢，度過在家鄉會是滿是灰白雪世界的幾個月。
The coronavirus has led a majority to forgo the trip this year － but for those flouting Canada’s repeated calls to stay put, the price tag on winter at the beach has skyrocketed. 新型冠狀病毒導致今年大多數人放棄這趟旅程，但是對那些不顧加拿大一再呼籲不要旅行的人來說，到南方沙灘過冬的代價飛漲。
Each plane ticket costs Can$500 and hauling the vehicle 55 miles across the border sets customers back $1,000. 每張機票要500加幣，把車子運送55英里越過邊境，則要花上1000加幣。
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Topic: Canadian officials warn drivers not to let moose lick their cars 加拿大官員警告駕駛 不要讓駝鹿舔他們的車
Officials in Jasper, an alpine town in Canada’s Alberta province, have put up signs asking motorists to avoid allowing moose to lick the salt off their cars. 加拿大亞伯達省高山小鎮賈斯柏的官員們，已經張貼標語要求駕駛人不得允許駝鹿舔他們車外的鹽。
"They’re obsessed with salt, it’s one of the things they need for the minerals in their body," Jasper National Park spokesman Steve Young told CNN. "They usually get it from salt lakes in the park, but now they realized they can also get road salt that splashes onto cars." 「他們癡迷於鹽，鹽是其中一種牠們身體必需的礦物質」，賈斯柏國家公園發言人史蒂夫．楊告訴美國有線電視新聞網，「他們通常會從公園的湖鹽獲取它（礦物質），但現在他們知道，他們也能從濺在車上的路鹽得到」。
At the Jasper National Park, where people often park on the side of the road in hopes of catching a glimpse of the moose, letting the animals near your car is actually a serious danger. 賈斯柏國家公園內時常有人停車在路邊，希望能得到駝鹿的注意，但讓動物接近你的車，其實是非常危險的。
By allowing moose to lick the salt off your car, they will become habituated with being around cars. That poses a risk to both the animals and the drivers who can accidentally crash into them. 允許駝鹿舔你的車外的鹽，將會讓牠們習慣徘徊於車子旁邊。對動物及可能意外與牠們相撞的駕駛人都構成風險。 Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1422097
Topic: Russia's Villages, and Their Culture, Are 'Melting Away'
With its winding dirt lanes framed by lilacs, quaint wooden houses and graceful onion-domed church, the tiny farming hamlet of Baruta was once a postcard of Russian bucolic bliss.
No longer. More people lie in the tightly packed church cemetery than inhabit the village. Agriculture is slowly withering, too.
此景不再。在擁擠不堪的教堂墓地安息的人，比住在村裡的多。農業也逐步衰退。
With Russia's natural population growth entering an extended period of decline, villages like Baruta are disappearing from across the country’s continental expanse.
由於俄國人口的自然增長進入長期衰退期，像巴魯塔這樣的村落正從廣袤的俄國大陸各地消失。
"We have not had a wedding or a baptism for quite some time — we mostly have funerals," said a resident, Alexander Fyodorov, 59, one of just 17 men left in what was a thriving collective of some 500 farmers.
President Vladimir Putin frequently cites hardy population growth as a pillar of restoring Russia's place atop the global order. There is a pronounced gap, however, between the positive terms in which Putin and his advisers habitually discuss demographic trends and the reality of the numbers.
Russians are dying faster than they are being born, demographers said. Given the general hostility toward immigration, the question is to what degree the population of 146 million, including annexed Crimea, might shrink.
The number of deaths exceeded the number of births in 2016 by a few thousand, and the prognosis for the years ahead is poor. From 2013-2015, extremely modest natural growth peaked in 2015 with just 32,038 more births than deaths.
"The statistics and the propaganda are very different things," said Natalya V. Zubarevich, an expert in social and political geography at Moscow State University.
莫斯科國立大學社會與政治地理學專家祖巴列維奇說：「統計數字和宣傳大不相同。」
In terms of population loss, Pskov, which borders Latvia and parts of Estonia, is among the worst hit regions in Russia. The population peaked at around 1.8 million in the 1920s, said Andrei Manakov, a demographer at Pskov State University. It is down to 642,000, and projected to drop to about 513,000 by 2033.
Researchers estimate that out of 8,300 area villages in 1910, 2,000 no longer have permanent residents.
研究人員估計，1910年這裡的8300個地區村落中，2000個不再有常住居民。
Under the most optimistic projections by demographers, Russia’s population by 2050 will stay the same, about 146 million, if immigration from Central Asia — which has also been dropping — balances out low birthrates. Less optimistic figures put the population around 130 million by 2050, and the most pessimistic say fewer than 100 million.
Topic: Russia reaches out to OPEC as Riyadh opens oil taps
The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in China and its rapid spread has taken its toll on the global economy, driving down demand for oil in the first weeks of 2020.
In response, in the scheduled meeting on March 5-6 in Vienna, Saudi Arabia and other OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) states called for OPEC+ to a make drastic cut of 1.5 million barrels per day to reduce supply by a total of 3.6 million barells per day — insisting on a non-OPEC agreement. However, Russia rejected the plan. When the OPEC+ talks collapsed, the OPEC oil cartel scrapped all output limits. A dispute then broke out.
Russian oil companies had opposed such cuts, fearing loss of market share and of competitiveness against US shale production. They had previously in December agreed on a milder production cut of 500,000 barrels in 2020, and Russia wanted this to continue.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest crude exporter, responded on March 8 by announcing unilateral price cuts with its biggest price cut in 20 years in a bid to win market share. This prompted the oil price to plummet and fueled huge drops on stock markets the following day.
By March 9, oil had fallen to as low as US$31 from about US$66 at the end of 2019 as Riyadh said it would lift production to record highs, their biggest one-day move since the 1991 Gulf War. On March 10, Saudi oil giant Aramco announced a plan to massively increase oil output despite falling demand during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
“At first glance, this looks like a battle between Russia and Saudi Arabia over oil policy,” said Chris Weafer of Macro Advisory consultancy. “But the context of the relentless rise in US oil production over the past 10 years is also an important factor.”
Both Russia and major OPEC producers have been “openly annoyed” with US producers’ refusal to participate in past production cuts, he added.
他補充說，美國生產商一直都拒絕參與減產，俄羅斯和OPEC主要產油國都對此感到「公開地惱 火」。
On Monday and Thursday last week, the crash in oil prices and fears over the global economic impact of the virus outbreak prompted a meltdown on stock markets.
Topic: About Russia: ’They just want to take a selfie’： how TV show changed Chernobyl tourism
The hit TV series "Chernobyl" has attracted a new generation of tourists to the nuclear disaster zone but guides say that many are more interested in taking selfies than learning about the accident.
Tourists now are often on the lookout for locations featured in the acclaimed HBO drama and can be surprised to discover that certain sites were fictional.
The abandoned site had already become a "dark tourism" destination, even before the eponymous TV show started broadcasting.
早在這個以車諾比為名的影集開播前，這個被遺棄的地方就已成為「黑暗旅遊」的目的地。
Some Ukrainian travel agencies have further adapted their tours to take in locations from the "Chernobyl" series and offer special trips, such as kayaking in rivers around the exclusion zone.
In July, new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree that aims to develop the site further as a tourist attraction. In 2018, 72,000 people visited Chernobyl and it is expected to jump to 100,000 in 2019.
Topic: Russia joins race to make quantum dreams a reality 俄羅斯加入量子戰局
Russia has launched an effort to build a working quantum computer, in a bid to catch up to other countries in the race for practical quantum technologies.
俄羅斯開始致力建造可投入應用的量子電腦，以期在實作量子技術的競爭中，趕上其他國家。
The government will inject around 50 billion roubles （US$790 million）over the next 5 years into basic and applied quantum research carried out at leading Russian laboratories, the country’s deputy prime minister, Maxim Akimov, announced on 6 December at a technology forum in Sochi.
Quantum technology already receives massive governmental support in a number of countries. The European Union’s €1-billion （US$1.1-billion） Quantum Flagship programme, first announced in 2016. Germany announced a €650-million national quantum initiative in August 2019. The Chinese and US governments are also spending billions on quantum science and technology programmes.
任何的興趣都會有他帶來的滿足感，也會有學習過程的挫敗感以及需要改變看法與生活帶來的不便。任何的學習，Output/do/執行後的反饋與學習是最重要的。如果喝一杯完美呈現的咖啡是學習與執行下的反饋，那我們語言應用/使用後的反饋也是無比重要的。單純的Input輸入不容易讓學習過程延伸，久了也無法得到樂趣。反而是督促自己的output輸出，透過一次次的反饋與反思，來達到更強烈的滿足感才能持續鼓勵自己享受這個興趣/學習的過程。你有什麼好的鼓勵自己學習的方法呢？Share your techniques with us!
Next Monday is another major festival for Taiwan - Dragon Boat Festival! This is the time to celebrate your long weekend with a hot sticky rice dumpling and some egg standing activity. For many, this is a memorable part of their childhood. So, what does your family do on Dragon Boat Festival?
Patrick and I will cover some trivia on Dragon Boat Festival, and also boat related idioms that you can use in everyday life. Share with us on how your family usually celebrate Dragon Boat Festival, and we will give you a shout out in the next episode!
Hope you will enjoy this episode with us as much as we enjoyed producing it!