通勤學英語 15Mins Today

更多通勤學英語Podcast單元:

每日英語跟讀Podcast，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

精選詞彙 VOCAB Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/vocab

語音直播 15mins Live Podcast, 就在https://www.15mins.today/15mins-live-podcast

文法練習 In-TENSE Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/in-tense

歡迎到官網用email訂閱我們節目更新通知。

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K237: Here’s why Taiwanese eat pomelos during Mid-Autumn Festival

剛來台灣不久的外籍人士即將於今年九月迎接第一個台式中秋節，然而雖然大部分的人可能有聽說過中秋節的由來和為什麼該吃月餅，當聽到在中秋節期間要吃柚子和讓孩子將柚子皮戴在頭上應該會讓許多人感到匪夷所思。

If you’ve just settled in Taiwan, you’re going to be celebrating your first “Taiwanese Mid-Autumn Festival” in September. Although most of you probably know the origin story behind this festival and the reason why we eat moon cakes, some might be surprised upon hearing of another tradition of eating pomelos, and seeing children don their peels on their heads may bring about some questions.

所以中秋節到底跟柚子有什麼關係呢？統整網上資訊可見，大部分的解釋都和諧音有關。中文字裡，「柚」和保佑的「佑」字有相同的音，而柚子的盛產期又恰巧在中秋節前後，因此台灣人將這水果納入慶祝此節慶的應節食物之一，希望在這個家庭團聚的節日中，可以保佑全家人。

So, what does Mid-Autumn Festival have to do with pomelos? According to various sources, the most common explanations lie in the pronunciation of the fruit in Mandarin.

In the Chinese language, the first character for pomelos sounds like the second character in the Chinese characters for “bless.” Given that pomelos are also in season during the festival, there is little wonder that many have taken to adding the fruit as a “must-eat” this time of year, in the hopes that as family members gather together, they can be “blessed together.”

除此之外，也有人表示「柚子」因為和「遊子」的音雷同，中秋節也正是一個全家團圓節慶，在國外的遊子當然也會回家，因此也成了一個吉祥的代表。

Besides this, many also say that pomelos also sound like the Chinese character for those living or traveling overseas, far away from home. As the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for families to get together, relatives will usually take the time to journey home and celebrate; thus, pomelos serve as a lucky symbolism for their safe return home.

更有人認為柚子和「有子」的音相近，吃柚子就算是討一個好彩頭，隱含著早生貴子的寓意。

Some also believe that pomelos sound like “having children” in Chinese, which means that when you eat them, it will be seen as good luck and a wish for expecting family members to have a child soon.

至於為什麼要將柚子皮頂在頭上呢？有人認為因為柚子與「佑子」聽起來雷同，將剝完的柚子皮戴在孩子的頭上可以保佑孩童，期許未來都能平平安安，快樂成長。

As for why children wear the pomelo skin (or peels) on their heads? The most common answer lies in the sound of the Chinese characters again. Pomelos are also pronounced similarly to “bless children” in Chinese, which is why adults place the pomelo skins on children’s heads to protect them from evil and wish for their safety and happiness.

然而，專家也提醒，即便看起來可愛，過節期間不應讓家中的毛小孩配戴柚子皮，而若要讓孩子戴柚子帽，也應控制好時間，不應過久。其主要原因為柚子皮中含有柑桔精油和補骨脂素，光只是接觸到，就可能造成毛小孩不適，而柚子皮若接觸到孩子的皮膚恐生成咖啡色班點，釀皮膚發炎。

One thing to note of that tradition is though it looks adorable, experts call on the public every year to ask them not to place pomelo skins on pets while adding that if children are to wear them, it shouldn’t be for too long. The main reason is pomelo skins contain citrus oil and Psoralen. Direct contact with human skin could prove harmful to pets and make them dangerously sick. If pomelo skins are placed for too long on children’s heads, brown spots may appear after extended contact, resulting in skin inflammation. Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210919-2770625

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K193: More Power Lines or Rooftop Solar Panels: The Fight Over Energy’s Future

The nation is facing once-in-a-generation choices about how energy ought to be delivered to homes, businesses and electric cars — decisions that could shape the course of climate change and determine how the United States copes with wildfires, heat waves and other extreme weather linked to global warming.

關於能源如何輸送到住家、企業和電動車，美國正面臨一個世代一次的抉擇，這個決定可能形塑氣候變遷進程，並決定美國如何應付與全球暖化有關的野火、熱浪和其他極端天氣。

On one side, large electric utilities and President Joe Biden want to build thousands of miles of power lines to move electricity created by distant wind turbines and solar farms to cities and suburbs. On the other, some environmental organizations and community groups are pushing for greater investment in rooftop solar panels, batteries and local wind turbines.

一方面，大型電力公司和總統拜登想要鋪設數千哩的電線，將遠方風力渦輪機和太陽能電場製造的電力運送到城市和郊區。另一方面，一些環境組織和社區團體正推動更多投資於屋頂太陽能板、電池以及在地風力渦輪機。

Biden has secured $73 billion for thousands of miles of new power lines in an infrastructure proposal he and senators from both parties agreed to in June. That deal includes the creation of a Grid Development Authority to speed up approvals for transmission lines.

拜登和兩黨參議員今年6月同意的基礎建設方案中，他已取得用來鋪設數千哩新電線所需的730億美元。這項方案包括成立「電網開發局」，以加速批准傳輸線鋪設。

Most energy experts agree that the United States must improve its aging electric grids, especially after millions of Texans spent days freezing this winter when the state’s electricity system faltered.

大多數能源專家同意，美國必須改善老化的電網，特別在上個冬天德州電力系統不穩，導致數百萬德州人受凍數天之後。

The option supported by Biden and some large energy companies would replace coal and natural gas power plants with large wind and solar farms hundreds of miles from cities, requiring lots of new power lines. Such integration would strengthen the control that the utility industry and Wall Street have over the grid.

這個獲拜登和一些大型能源公司支持的方案，將用距離都市數百哩的大型風電和太陽能電場，取代燃煤和天然氣發電廠，需要大量新電線。這類整合將強化公用事業和華爾街對電網的控制。

“You’ve got to have a big national plan to make sure the power gets from where it is generated to where the need is,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said.

「你得有一個全國性的大計畫，確保電力能從它產生的地方運送到需要的地方。」能源部長格蘭霍姆說。

But many of Biden’s liberal allies argue that solar panels, batteries and other local energy sources should be emphasized because they would be more resilient and could be built more quickly.

但許多拜登的自由派盟友主張，應該著重太陽能板、電池及其他在地能源來源，因為它們更耐用，建置速度更快。

“We need to build the electricity transmission and distribution system for the grid of the future and not that of the past,” said Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, a nonprofit based in Chicago. “Solar energy plus storage is as transformative to the electric sector as wireless services were to the telecommunications sector.”

「我們需要為未來的電網打造電力傳輸和配送系統，而非過去的電網。」以芝加哥為據點的非營利組織「環境法律與政策中心」執行主任霍華．藍納說，「太陽能加上儲存裝置對電力事業的轉型性，一如無線網路之於電信事業」。

In all probability, there will be a mix of solutions that include more transmission lines and rooftop solar panels. What combination emerges will depend on deals made in Congress but also skirmishes playing out across the country.

最終很可能會有個綜合性方案，包含更多傳輸線和屋頂太陽能板。至於何種組合會出線，取決於國會達成的方案以及全國各地的爭論。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5672857

更多通勤學英語Podcast單元:

每日英語跟讀Podcast，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

精選詞彙 VOCAB Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/vocab

語音直播 15mins Live Podcast, 就在https://www.15mins.today/15mins-live-podcast

文法練習 In-TENSE Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/in-tense

歡迎到官網用email訂閱我們節目更新通知。

老師互動信箱: [email protected]

商業合作洽詢: [email protected]

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K174: About Nature - Southern Ocean officially recognized by National Geographic

Anyone who thought the world had four oceans will now have to think again, after the National Geographic Society announced it would recognize a new Southern Ocean in Antarctica, bringing the global total to five.

認為世界上有四大洋的如今要再想想了。（美國）國家地理學會宣布，它將承認在南極洲的新「南大洋」，這樣一來，全球共有五大洋了。

The National Geographic, a non-profit scientific and educational organization whose mapping standards are referenced by many atlases and cartographers, said the Southern Ocean consists of the waters surrounding Antarctica, out to 60-degrees south latitude.

國家地理學會稱，南大洋由南極洲周圍的水域組成，向外延伸至南緯60度。國家地理學會是一個非營利科學與教育組織，許多地圖集和製圖師都參考該組織的製圖標準。

National Geographic Society geographer Alex Tait said scientists have long known that the waters surrounding Antarctica form a"distinct ecological region defined, by ocean currents and temperatures".

國家地理學會的地理學家亞歷克斯．泰特稱，科學家很早以前就知道南極洲周邊水域形成一個「由洋流和溫度界定的獨特生態區域」。

Tait told the Washington Post that the span of water is yet to be officially recognized as an ocean by the relevant international body: "But we thought it was important at this point to officially recognize it."

泰特告訴《華盛頓郵報》，相關國際機構尚未正式承認這片水域為海洋，「但我們認為此時正式承認它很重要。」

Next Article

Australia’s largest dinosaur identified as new species 澳洲最大的恐龍被認定為新品種

A gigantic dinosaur discovered in Australia’s outback has been identified as a new species and recognised as one of the largest to ever roam the Earth, according to palaeontologists.

據古生物學家表示，在澳洲內陸發現的一種巨型恐龍已被認定為新物種，是曾在地球上出沒的體型最大恐龍之一。

The Australotitan cooperensis, part of the titanosaur family that lived about 100 million years ago, has finally been named and described 15 years after its bones were first uncovered.

「Australotitan Cooperensis」屬於泰坦巨龍家族，生活在距今約1億年前，距其骨骼首度被發現15年之後，終於得到正名及描述。

It is estimated to have stood at 5-6.5 metres high and measured 25-30 metres in length － which would make it Australia’s biggest dinosaur.

據推估，牠站立時身高可達5至6.5公尺，身長則為25至30公尺，是澳洲體型最大的恐龍。

"Based on the preserved limb size comparisons, this new titanosaur is estimated to be in the top five largest in the world," said Robyn Mackenzie, a director of the Eromanga Natural History Museum.

「根據存留下來的肢骨大小來推估，這種新的泰坦巨龍據估計是地球上體型最大的5種恐龍之一」，伊羅曼加自然歷史博物館主任瑪肯西說。

The fossilised bones were found on Mackenzie’s family farm in 2006 about 1,000 kilometres west of Brisbane in the Eromanga Basin.

2006年，在布里斯班以西約1000公里伊羅曼加盆地的瑪肯西家族農場中，發現這些骨骼化石。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1456079; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1457443

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K107: ‘My Turn to Get Robbed’: Delivery Workers Are Targets in the Pandemic

The delivery of restaurant orders and other goods has become a bigger part of daily life across the nation since the pandemic forced millions of people indoors. And in New York City the delivery workers have become a lifeline for people working from home and for vulnerable residents who have been warned against going outside.

自從新冠肺炎疫情迫使數以百萬計的人待在室內後，餐點等商品的外送服務在全美人民的日常生活中，分量變得更重了。而在紐約，對於在家工作者和被警告別外出的高風險居民而言，快遞員更成了他們的救生索。

On any given day thousands of men, and a growing number of women, can be seen crisscrossing city arteries, transporting takeout, groceries and medicine in plastic bags on top of their well-worn bikes.

每一天，數以千計男性和愈來愈多的女性騎著已經不新的電動自行車在紐約幹道上穿梭，把裝在塑膠袋裡的外送餐點、食品雜貨和藥品送到收貨人手中。

But their visibility has also made them targets for opportunistic criminals looking for a quick profit through robbery, as the unemployment rate has spiked into the double digits and economic desperation has grown in the city’s less affluent neighborhoods, which were already hit hard by the pandemic.

不過，隨著紐約較不富裕的地區受到疫情重創，失業率飆升到兩位數，人們需錢孔急，處處可見的快遞員便成了想靠搶劫快速得到錢的投機罪犯鎖定的目標。

Stolen electric bikes can be easily sold on the streets for cash or dismantled for their parts. The bikes can cost thousands of dollars and are vital tools for the workers, who often make less than $60 a day. Many have come to rely on the bikes, because they can go about 20 mph, enabling workers to travel farther and make more trips to increase their slim bottom lines.

偷來的電動自行車很容易在街上轉賣或拆零件變賣。新的電動自行車售價可能高達幾千美元，而且對一天經常賺不到60美元的快遞員來說不可或缺。許多快遞員依賴電動自行車，因為這種車時速能達到32公里，讓快遞員能送貨到更遠處，並接更多單以增加微薄的收入。

The theft of electric bikes doubled during the first year of the pandemic, rising to 328 in 2020.

在疫情流行的第一年，也就是2020年，電動自行車竊案翻倍至328起。

Investigators said robbers often use fraudulent credit cards to call in bogus orders and lure delivery workers to secluded locations. The delivery workers then are faced with two dire options: let go of the pricey bikes they need to remain employed or risk injury and even death.

辦案人員說，搶劫者常常用偽造或偷來的信用卡下個假訂單，把快遞員引到偏僻處下手，快遞員接著會面臨兩個極端選擇，不是放棄賴以工作的昂貴電動自行車，就是冒著受傷甚至死亡的風險把自行車追回來。

“We believe more often than not it is a setup,” said Rodney Harrison, the New York Police Department’s chief of department.

紐約市警察局總警監哈里森說：「我們認為這通常是設下的圈套。」

The northern section of Manhattan, Southern Brooklyn and the Bronx have seen the biggest spikes in robberies, investigators said. Most of the victims were threatened with sharp objects, guns and other weapons.

辦案人員指出，曼哈頓北部、布魯克林南部和布朗克斯的搶劫案增加最多。嫌犯多半拿銳器、槍枝等武器威脅受害者。

There were about 50,000 commercial cyclists in New York in 2012, the most recent year for which data is available, city transportation officials said. That figure has since soared, by some activists’ estimates, to about 80,000.

紐約市運輸官員說，根據既有最晚近的資料，2012年紐約有5萬人騎自行車送貨。一些社運人士估計，此後這個數字暴增到8萬左右。

In October, more than 1,000 protesters joined a demonstration outside City Hall organized by a collective known as Los Deliveristas Unidos to call attention to the robberies and other poor working conditions, including low pay, a shortage of protective gear, and a lack of places to rest or use a restroom.

去年10月，1000多人在紐約市政廳外參加「快遞員聯合會」的抗議，要求大眾關注快遞員易遭搶劫等惡劣的工作條件，包括低薪、防護裝備不足、缺乏休息處和洗手間等。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5332541

每日英語跟讀Podcast，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

每週Vocab精選詞彙Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/vocab

每週In-TENSE文法練習Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/in-tense

用email訂閱就可以收到通勤學英語節目更新通知。

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K095: Tokyo Olympics to kick off torch relay again tomorrow

The torch relay of the Tokyo Olympics is set to begin tomorrow from Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture, which was devastated by the nuclear disaster in 2011. The Olympic flame will travel across Japan for months. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, fans along the roadsides watching the relay need to social distance, wear masks and cheer quietly.

東京奧運的聖火傳遞預計明日從福島縣起跑，該縣在二○一一年飽受日本核災衝擊，聖火將會巡迴全國數個月之久。受武漢肺炎（新冠病毒，COVID-19）影響，道路兩旁觀賞聖火傳遞的群眾須保持社交距離、戴上口罩、並輕聲地加油。

Earlier last month, some athletes and celebrities withdrew from the torch relay due to then Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee president Yoshiro Mori’s discriminatory remarks against women. The organizer announced recently that Japanese centenarian Kane Tanaka will join the relay in May to cheer the nation. Born in 1903, the 118-year-old granny is the world’s oldest verified living person today.

稍早在上個月，一些選手和名人紛紛退出了傳遞聖火的行列，以抗議當時的東奧執委會主席森喜朗歧視女性的言論。主辦單位近日則宣布，日本人瑞田中加子將於五月加入聖火的隊伍，希望能因此激勵日本。一九○三年出生的田中奶奶已一百一十八歲，是目前經認證全球最年長人瑞。

The Tokyo Olympics featuring 11,000 athletes is scheduled to open on July 23. The committee announced last weekend that international fans would not be allowed to attend the games this time. Due to fear of large crowds spreading the coronavirus, 77 percent of the Japanese are opposed to the opening to foreign spectators.

東奧預計將在今年七月二十三日開幕，屆時將有一萬一千名選手參賽。執委會上週末宣布本次盛會不容許海外粉絲前來觀賽。由於害怕大型群聚容易散播新冠病毒，高達百分之七十七的日本民眾反對開放境外觀眾觀賽。

Next Article

毛小孩遇地震怎麼辦？日發明「狗狗專用避難包」 | Japanese pet shop creates emergency kit for dogs

大部分人家裡都會準備一份緊急避難包，以備不時之需，那麼家裡有毛小孩的人，若遭逢天災該怎麼辦呢？日本一間寵物用品店推出「狗狗專用避難包」，主人可以將避難包綁在狗狗身上，若不幸遭逢意外，裡面的求生用具不但可以救狗狗、也能救主人一命。

Most people have an emergency kit at home in case of emergencies, so what should people with pets do when a natural disaster occurs? In Japan, a pet shop launched a survival bag for dogs that can be tied to the dog’s body if any emergency happens. The survival gear inside can not only save the dog but also save the owner’s life.

根據SoraNews24報導，在過去，毛小孩遭逢意外、遇到天災，沒辦法成功脫困、甚至失蹤的案例層出不窮，有鑑於此，日本寵物用品店Pet Memorial Shops設計一款防水、防火以聚氨酯、聚酯纖維所製成的狗狗專用避難包。

According to SoraNews24, many cases of dogs fail to escape from the tragedy in an accident or natural disaster. With this observation in mind, the Japanese pet store Pet Memorial Shops designed evacuation life bags made of waterproof, fireproof polyurethane and polyester.

Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/03/24/2003754357 ;https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210319-2226006

每日英語跟讀Podcast，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

每週Vocab精選詞彙Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/vocab

每週In-TENSE文法練習Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/in-tense

用email訂閱就可以收到通勤學英語節目更新通知。

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K029: How Did Marriage Become a Mark of Privilege?

Marriage, which used to be the default way to form a family in the United States, regardless of income or education, has become yet another part of American life reserved for those who are most privileged.

Fewer Americans are marrying overall, and whether they do so is more tied to socioeconomic status than ever before. In recent years, marriage has sharply declined among people without college degrees, while staying steady among college graduates with higher incomes.

結婚曾經是美國人組織家庭想當然的方法，與個人收入多寡或教育程度無關，如今卻已成為美國人生活中保留給享有最大優勢者的另一個部分。

整體而言，結婚的美國人變少了，而且是否結婚也比以往任何時候，更與社會經濟地位息息相關。近幾年，沒有大學學位者結婚率銳減，收入較高的大學畢業生結婚率則維持穩定。

Currently, 26 percent of poor adults, 39 percent of working-class adults and 56 percent of middle- and upper-class adults are married, according to a research brief published from two think tanks, the American Enterprise Institute and Opportunity America.

In 1990, more than half of adults were married, with much less difference based on class and education: 51 percent of poor adults, 57 percent of working-class adults and 65 percent of middle- and upper-class adults were married.

根據兩家智庫「美國企業研究所」和「機會美國」公布的研究報告摘要，現今，26％的貧窮成人，39％的工人階級成人，以及56％的中產與上層階級成人屬於已婚族。

1990年，成人中已婚者超過半數，而且階級和教育造成的差異也小得多：51％的窮人，57％的工人階級和65％的中產和上層階級成人已婚。

A big reason for the decline: Unemployed men are less likely to be seen as marriage material.

“Women don’t want to take a risk on somebody who’s not going to be able to provide anything,” said Sharon Sassler, a sociologist at Cornell who published “Cohabitation Nation: Gender, Class, and the Remaking of Relationships” with Amanda Jayne Miller last month.

結婚率下降的一大原因：失業男性較不可能被看待成結婚的對象。

康乃爾大學社會學家雪倫．沙斯勒說：「女性不想在無法提供任何東西的男人身上冒險。」上個月，沙斯勒和亞曼達．珍．米勒共同出版了《同居國度：性別、階級，與關係重塑》一書。

As marriage has declined, though, childbearing has not, which means that more children are living in families without two parents and the resources they bring.

“The sharpest distinction in American family life is between people with a bachelor’s or not,” said Andrew Cherlin, a sociologist at Johns Hopkins and author of “Labor’s Love Lost: The Rise and Fall of the Working-Class Family in America.”

儘管如此，在結婚率降低之際，生育率卻未見下降，意謂有更多的兒童是在非雙親，也沒有他們所帶來的資源的家庭中生活。

約翰霍普金斯大學社會學家安德魯．契林說：「造成美國家庭生活最大差距的，是人們是否擁有大學學歷。」契林著有《勞工失去的愛：美國工人階級家庭的興衰》一書。

Just over half of adolescents in poor and working-class homes live with both their biological parents, compared with 77 percent in middle- and upper-class homes, according to the research brief, by W. Bradford Wilcox and Wendy Wang of the Institute for Family Studies. Thirty-six percent of children born to a working-class mother are born out of wedlock, versus 13 percent of those born to middle- and upper-class mothers.

The research brief defined “working class” as adults with an adjusted family income between the 20th and 50th percentiles, with high school diplomas but not bachelor’s degrees. Poor is defined as those below the 20th percentile or without high school diplomas, and the middle and upper class as those above the 50th percentile or with college degrees.

據「家庭研究中心」Ｗ．布萊德福．威爾科克斯與溫蒂．王所做的研究摘要，與生身父母共同生活的青少年，在貧窮工人階級中略超過50%，中產與上層階級有77%。工人階級母親所生的孩子，有36%非婚生，中產、上層階級則為13%。

研究摘要的「工人階級」定義為調整後家庭收入介於第20到第50百分位之間，有高中文憑但無大學學歷的成人，中產和上層階級的定義則是高於第50百分位，或有大學學歷的成人。

Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/319374/web/

親愛的通勤家族，

是的！我們1/25號，下午一點鐘在台北年貨大街-迪化街的街頭播音室，直播錄製的農曆年特別節目與活動圓滿成功！

當天天氣超完美，我們直播完後還有通勤家族來用前一週口播的通關密語，現場拿新年禮盒與小禮品。當天也是我的生日，所以選了這天來做直播，來讓這天 extra memorable！

告訴大家，通勤學英語Podcast，過年還是會持續播出新的跟讀文章，15Mins Live 則會在2/7號回歸喔。

謝謝通勤家族過去一年的支持，在未來的一年，讓我們再邁開腳步，打造我們的雙語人生。

John老師、Peddy、與Angel 祝你新年快樂，虎年福虎生風～

----------------------------------

農曆年特別節目- 採買年貨對話稿

Angel: 老闆，我想要買這個開心果。 How much is this ? (pointing at pistachio)

John: 這個一台斤是100元。 This is 100 dollars per catty.

Angel: 這包分量是多少? And how much is a pack?

John: 這個一包是一台斤。 Each pack is a catty, so it’s NT100 per pack

Angel: 請問有折扣嗎? Is there any discount for Chinese New Year?

John: 當然，你想要多少?如果你買三包，我可以送你一包。 Sure! How many packs do you want? If you buy three packs, I will give you one for free.

Angel: 那如果我只要一包呢？What if I only want one pack?

John: 一包的話，我可以打八折。I can give you 20% discount for one pack.

Angel: 好的，那給我3包。 Then, I will buy three packs, thank you!

John: 這是你的商品總共300元，謝謝惠顧，新年快樂。 That will be NT300 please. Thank you for your business. Wish you a Happy Chinese New Year!

小測驗Questions:

• How many packs did Angel get? (buy 3 GET 1)

Topic: Australia battles Big Tech over news revenue-sharing law

Facebook Inc has blocked Australian users from sharing and viewing news content on its popular social media platform, escalating a dispute with the government over paying media publishers for content.

備受歡迎的社群媒體臉書，將其澳洲平台上的新聞內容封鎖，不讓澳洲用戶查看及分享新聞內容。政府要求社群平台刊登新聞內容須付費給新聞發行業者，臉書此舉加劇了與政府間之爭端。

While Big Tech and media outlets have battled over the right to news content in other jurisdictions, Australia’s looming law represents the most expansive reform and is being closely watched around the world.

科技巨頭和媒體業者已在其他司法管轄區互相爭奪使用新聞內容的權利，但澳洲這項山雨欲來的法律代表著層面最廣的改革，全世界都在密切關注。

The so-called Media Bargaining Code has been designed by the government and competition regulator to address a power imbalance between the social media giants and publishers when negotiating payment for news content used on the tech firms’ sites. The proposed legislation has reached a crunch point, with widespread support in parliament, where it is expected to be voted into law within days.

澳洲政府及競爭監管機構規畫了所謂的「媒體議價法令」，以解決社群媒體巨頭與新聞發行業者談判時權力不平衡的問題，促使科技公司為其網站所使用之新聞內容付費。該立法提案已到了關鍵時刻，得到國會的廣泛支持，預計將在未來幾天內表決通過成為法律。

In recent years, traditional media companies operating in Australia have suffered huge hits to income streams, due to dwindling subscriptions and advertising. For every A$100 spent on online advertising in Australia, excluding classifieds, nearly one-third goes to Google and Facebook, the competition regulator has said.

近年來，由於訂戶及廣告量的萎縮，澳洲的傳統媒體公司收入大減。競爭監管機構表示，在澳洲，每一百澳幣的網路廣告費中（不包括分類廣告），有近三分之一是落入谷歌及臉書的口袋。

Facebook said that the law “fundamentally misunderstands” the relationship between itself and publishers and it faced a stark choice of attempting to comply with it or ban news content. It said its platform generates billions of free referrals to Australian publishers worth significant sums to the media companies.

臉書表示，該法律「從根本上誤解了」它與新聞發行業者間之關係，讓臉書面臨困難的選擇——不知該力圖遵循該法律，抑或封鎖新聞內容。臉書表示，其平台為澳洲新聞發行業者免費帶來數十億個推薦連結，這對媒體公司而言是一筆很大的收益。

Alphabet Inc-owned Google, however, has backed down from a threat to withdraw its main search engine from Australia if the laws go ahead, and has instead struck deals with some of the country’s major commercial publishers. They include a global deal with News Corp for an unnamed sum in one of the most extensive deals of its kind with Big Tech.

然而，Alphabet旗下的谷歌已不再威脅說，若該法案通過，便要撤出它在澳洲的主要搜尋引擎，而是與澳洲一些主要商業出版商談好了條件。其中包括與跨國新聞集團News Corp達成的一項全球性的交易，金額不詳，這是此類與科技巨頭所達成規模最大的交易之一。

Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/02/22/2003752624

Next Article

Topic: A Wearable Technology That Fits Just Like Skin

It is almost certain that the next era of computing will be wearables. But it is commensurately uncertain what these wearables will be and where on your body they will be worn.

我們幾可確定，電算的下一個年代會屬於穿戴型產品。至於這些產品會是什麼，又會穿戴在人體何處，卻同樣無法確定。

Apple and Samsung, for example, are betting on the wrist; Google, the face. Some tech companies believe clothing will simply become electronic. Yet there’s a whole new segment of start-ups that believes we humans will become the actual computers, or at least the place where the technology will reside.

例如，蘋果和三星押注手腕，谷歌則是臉部。有些科技公司認為衣服會電子化。但有全新一批新創公司認為，人類會變成實體電腦，至少會成為穿戴科技的居所。

These start-ups are working on a class of wearable computers that adhere to the skin like temporary tattoos, or attach to the body like an adhesive bandage.

這些新創公司正研發可像假刺青般附著於皮膚，或像黏性貼布般附著於身體的一系列穿戴型電腦。

Many of these technologies are stretchable, bendable and incredibly thin. They can also be given unique designs, to stand out like a bold tattoo, or to blend in to the color of your skin.

這些科技產品許多可延展、可彎曲，或薄到不可思議。他們也可能有獨特設計，如大膽刺青般醒目，或和膚色融合為一。

Attachable computers will be less expensive to make and provide greater accuracy because sensors will be closer to a person’s body (or even inside us) .

附著式電腦較不昂貴，也比較準確，因為感應器更貼身（甚至就在體內）。

MC10, a company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is testing attachable computers about the size of a piece of gum that can include wireless antennas, temperature and heartrate sensors and a tiny battery.

麻州劍橋的MC10公司正在實驗一種附著式電腦。約口香糖大小，內有無線天線、體溫和心律感應器，以及一個極小的電池。

Scott Pomerantz, head of MC10, said: “Ours are always on you. We have the smallest, most flexible, stretchable, wearable computer, and you can collect all sorts of biometric data tied to your motion.”

MC10負責人波梅蘭茲說：「我們的產品永遠是穿戴在你身上。我們擁有最小、最具可撓性與延展性的穿戴式電腦。你可蒐集與你的動作有關的各種生理數據。」

MC10 recently teamed up with John A. Rogers, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who has been working for nearly a decade to perfect flexible devices that can be worn on the skin or implanted .

MC10最近與厄巴納－香檳伊利諾大學教授羅傑斯合作。羅傑斯已投入近10年時間，讓穿戴於皮膚或植入體內的彈性裝置更為完美。

How would these gadgets work? Maybe you want to figure out which deodorant would be best for you. A sticker that tracks your sweat level would email you a few recommendations. Or if you want to monitor your baby’s breathing, a little sensor on the baby’s chest would alert you to any problems.

這些小裝置將如何運作？或許你想知道哪種止汗劑最適合你使用。可追蹤汗量的一張貼紙，會以電子郵件提供你一些建議。或許你想監測寶寶的呼吸，貼在寶寶胸前的一個小感應器會在出狀況時發出警示。

“We’ll eventually see a more intimate integration of electronics and biological systems,” Mr. Rogers said . “Without that kind of intimate physical contact, it’s going to be difficult, or maybe even impossible, to extract meaningful data.”

羅傑斯說：「我們最終會看到電子產品和生理系統更親密的結合。不靠這種與身體的親密接觸，蒐集到有用的數據會變得很困難，甚至不可能。」

The health applications are enormous. Over the past year, Mr. Rogers and his team of scientists have been working with patients with Parkinson’s disease to monitor their motions, with dermatologists to treat skin diseases, and with beauty companies like L’Oreal to develop digital stickers that track skin hydration.

在健康方面的應用可以無所不包。過去一年，羅傑斯和他的科學家團隊一直在與巴金森氏病人共事，監測他們的運動，也與皮膚科醫生合作，治療皮膚疾病，也和美妝公司如歐萊雅公司共同開發數位貼紙，追蹤肌膚水分。

Anke Loh of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago has been experimenting with making the attachable computers look like body art. “You see these patches and you really want to put them on your skin, even without knowing what the function is,” Ms. Loh said . “There’s a lot of potential to combine fashion and technology.”

芝加哥藝術學院的羅安克正從事一項實驗，讓附著式電腦看來宛如人體藝術。羅女士說：「看著這些貼布時，你會真的很想把它往身上貼，即使不知道它有什麼功能。時尚與科技結合，潛力無窮。」

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have been working on an “e-skin,” which is an electronic skin that sits on top of real skin. It looks like a stretchable sheet of plastic wrap, yet contains lots of health-related sensors.

東京大學的科學家一直在研究「電子皮膚」，它是放在真皮膚上的一種電子皮膚。外表類似一片具伸縮性的保鮮膜，但內含許多與健康相關的感應器。

In another iteration of e-skin, scientists are working to add a layer of LEDs, turning it into a screen that sits on the body.

在另一個電子皮膚的反覆研究中，科學家正設法為電子皮膚添加一層LED燈，讓它變成人體上的一個螢幕。

Digital skins offer numerous applications, not only in monitoring a user’s health, but also as a visual user interface. They may even replace smartphones one day.

數位皮膚應用範圍十分廣泛，不僅可監測使用者的健康狀況，還可作為使用者的視覺介面。有朝一日，甚至可取代智慧手機。

But don’t throw aside your smartwatch or Google Glass just yet. It will be a while before our wearable future becomes known.

不過，暫時還別把你的智慧手表或是谷歌眼鏡扔到一邊。我們的穿戴未來還要一段時間才會明朗。

Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/268839/web/

Next Article

Topic: Facebook is making its own AI deepfakes to head off a disinformation disaster 防制假訊息災難，臉書積極產製人工智慧「深度偽造」影片

Facebook fears that AI-generated “deepfake” videos could be the next big source of viral misinformation—spreading among its users with potentially catastrophic consequences for the next US presidential election.

臉書擔心用戶散播由人工智慧生成、未來有望成為假訊息主要來源的「深度偽造」影片，對下屆美國總統選舉帶來具有災難性潛力的後果。

Its solution? Making lots of deepfakes of its own, to help researchers build and refine detection tools.

提出因應「深度偽造」的解決方案？臉書自己產製大量深偽影片，助力研究者創建及改善辨識工具。

The rise of deepfakes has been driven by recent advances in machine learning. Algorithms capable of capturing and re-creating a person’s likeness have already been used to make point-and-click tools for pasting a person’s face onto someone else.

機器學習的技術進展助長了深偽的崛起。能夠捕捉及重現人物肖像的演算法，已被應用在點擊式工具的製作，它能把人臉貼在另一個人身上。

Facebook will dedicate $10 million. Together with Microsoft and academics from institutions including MIT, UC Berkeley, and Oxford University, the company is launching the Deepfake Detection Challenge, which will offer unspecified cash rewards for the best detection methods.

臉書將貢獻1000萬美元。與微軟及學術機構麻省理工學院、加州大學柏克萊分校、牛津大學等，一起推出「辨識深偽挑戰賽」，該挑戰賽將頒發未指定金額的獎金給最優秀的檢測方法。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1327942 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1329588

主題: HBR職場系列 – 辦公室閒話家常Small talk at the office

Reference article: https://hbr.org/2021/07/have-we-forgotten-how-to-small-talk

How to “Small Talk”

The virtual meetings we have grown accustomed to get right down to business. There have been few, if any, interstitial spaces on our work agendas to catch up. Our increased reliance on emails and private messages to communicate have only exacerbated the problem.

Cooking and baking: Many of us have discovered our inner chef this last year, whether that meant exquisite dinners that took two-plus hours to prepare, sumptuous and decadent desserts, or endless loaves of sourdough bread.

Try asking:

• What are your new favorite meals?

Interests and hobbies: Without a daily commute, some used the extra time to return to or start a hobby like gardening, puzzles, or painting. Others used the time to read lots of books or binge TV shows.

Try asking:

• Did you find a creative way to spend the time you used to commute?

Travel Plans: While the past year has felt like one giant Monday, summer is still coming in the Northern hemisphere and people have gotten creative about how they get outside and have (socially distanced) fun.

Try asking:

• Is there anything you’re especially looking forward to this summer?

Kids: Not just the grown-ups, but kids, too, have had to adapt to many new things this past year. Maybe your coworkers’ kids (or yours) in some parts of the world have transitioned back to in-person school.

Try asking:

• How are things going for your kid(s)?

Pandemic Lessons: Our lives were disrupted, and new routines have been in place for more than a year. It wasn’t all bad and some shifts opened up previously unthinkable possibilities — ask about these. Or, on the chance that you do feel comfortable going deeper with your coworkers, invite them to share how they are doing with this shift back into the “before times” routines.

Try asking:

• With all the changes in your life last year, which ones do you think will stick even as the world re-opens?

分享時間：Share 5 small talk topics you often talk about

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K300: About New Zealand - New Zealand announces measures to keep out omicron variant

New Zealand will shorten the gap between second COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters and push back the phased reopening of its borders in measures announced Tuesday to keep the omicron variant at bay.

紐西蘭週二宣布遏制Omicron變種病毒株的措施，將縮短接種新冠病毒疫苗第二劑以及加強劑的間隔時間，並延後逐步重新開放邊境的時間。

COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkin told reporters the government has agreed to a "suite of precautionary measures’’ in light of the threat posed by the omicron strain of the coronavirus.

新冠病毒疫情因應事務部長希普金向記者說，鑑於新冠病毒Omicron病毒株構成的威脅，政府已經同意「一套預防措施」。

The gap between a second vaccine dose and a booster will be shortened from six to four months, meaning 82 percent of vaccinated New Zealanders will be due for a booster by February.

第二劑和加強劑疫苗的施打間隔，將從6個月縮短為4個月，這表示82％已接種疫苗的紐西蘭人，將在2月前接種一劑加強針。

Next Article

Middle Earth beckons in Air New Zealand safety video 中土在紐航飛安影片中召喚影迷

Fight a hobbit for an aisle seat? Get life jacket instructions from a beautiful female elf? Only on a plane to Middle Earth - or in an Air New Zealand safety video.

跟哈比人爭奪走道旁座位？由美麗的女精靈解說救生衣使用方式？這種事只會發生在飛往中土的飛機上，或者在紐西蘭航空的飛安宣導影片裡。

The company’s latest in a series of variations on the usual dull pre-flight safety instructions has lifted a page from J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic "The Hobbit" in the run-up to the world premiere of the film later this month, a bid to attract visitors to the nation where much of the film was shot.

紐航曾數度讓這種通常枯燥乏味的起飛前安全說明影片面目一新，而最新的一段影片則取自作家托爾金名著「哈比人歷險記」中的段落，並且趕在本月底由這部小說所改編的電影全球首映前推出，企圖吸引遊客前往電影拍攝地點紐西蘭觀光。

"An Unexpected Briefing," a play on the movie’s title of "The Hobbit： An Unexpected Journey," features crew members explaining flight safety to passengers embarking on a pilgrimage to Middle Earth, Tolkien’s land of treasure, dragons and magic rings.

這段影片名為「意外的簡報」，不但片名仿效電影「哈比人：意外旅程」，片中的機組人員更向準備前往中土，也就是托爾金作品裡充滿寶藏、惡龍和魔戒之地朝聖的乘客解釋飛安說明。

Director Sir Peter Jackson, who received Academy Awards for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, makes a cameo appearance in the four-minute video, playing a passenger among the Orcs, pointy-eared elves and furry-footed hobbits that otherwise pack the seats.

曾因「魔戒」三部曲獲奧斯卡獎的導演傑克森也在這段四分鐘的影片中客串一角，坐在擠滿了半獸人、尖耳朵精靈和毛毛腳哈比人的機艙裡。

Die-hard Tolkien fans have flocked to the town of Matamata in the country’s North Island, which earlier this year began tours to the set of Hobbiton, the town from which the story’s hero, Bilbo Baggins, starts his journey.

托爾金的死忠書迷早已湧向紐國北島的馬塔馬塔市，當地於今年初開始推出哈比城場景的旅遊行程，哈比城則是故事主角巴金斯展開探險旅程的出發地。

Wellington, where Jackson and his Weta Workshop and studios are based, also has been cranking up the publicity machine before it rolls out the red carpet later this month.

傑克森及其威塔工作室所在地威靈頓同樣也在本月底電影正式上片前，全力發起宣傳活動。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1495418; https://monyear.pixnet.net/blog/post/66206828