通勤學英語 15Mins Today

Hello 通勤家族，1/25下午1點到3點，歡迎來年貨大街，迪化街永樂市場前的街頭播音室來跟我們互動見面！禮盒有限，先搶先贏喔 XDD 

禮品通關密語: Happy birthday!

年貨大街街頭播音室官網: https://2022lunarnewyear.taipei

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K291: As Catastrophes Loom, A Whiff of Innovation.

Carbon emissions — the villainous byproduct of so many industries — are the greenhouse gas most responsible for climate change. The emissions play a key role in our extreme weather patterns and in many of the general environmental catastrophes that are becoming more and more frequent.

碳排放—這麼多產業的邪惡副產品—是最該為氣候變遷負責的溫室氣體。在我們的極端天氣模式和許多日益頻繁發生的重大環境災難中，碳排放扮演關鍵角色。

While capping carbon dioxide from being freely dumped into the atmosphere is turning into a very long deliberation among our world leaders, capturing and repurposing it is another option. And that alternative has proved promising by Air Co., a 4-year-old startup that uses carbon dioxide in all of the products it creates. Its latest creation is a perfume — Air Eau de Parfum — and the first fragrance made largely from air.

限制二氧化碳無限量排放到大氣中，正讓世界領袖陷入長考，捕捉並重新利用碳是另一選項。成立四年、把二氧化碳用在自家公司所有製品上的新創事業「空氣公司」證明，這種選項有前景。空氣公司的最新產品是香水「空氣香水」，這是第一款主要用空氣製成的香水。

Perfume involves an alcohol base, which when combined with a bit of water and a measured ratio of fragrance oil becomes the juice that you spray onto your pulse points so that you radiate whatever aroma you desire. Ethyl alcohol (or ethanol) is most widely used because it’s inexpensive, smells neutral and evaporates quickly, so it serves as an efficient delivery vehicle for the fragrance oil.

香水包含酒精基底，酒精與少許水和仔細調配比例的香精混合，就會成為你噴灑在能輕易感受脈搏處、讓你散發想要的香氣的液體。最廣為運用的酒精是乙醇，因為價錢不貴，氣味不引人注意，揮發又快，成了香精的有效載具。

What Air Co. is able to do is transform carbon dioxide into a very pure form of ethanol. And with the addition of water and fragrance oil, you get perfume made primarily from air.

空氣公司能辦到的是，將二氧化碳轉變為非常純粹形式的乙醇。再加上水和香精之後，就成了主要用空氣製成的香水。

“We believe that products are one of the best ways to educate people about a much bigger story‚ and that story is climate change,” Gregory Constantine, a founder and the chief executive of the company, wrote via email. “When you’re able to create tangible products, it’s easier for people to understand the power of technology and what we can do with our carbon conversion technology.”

空氣公司創辦人兼執行長康斯坦丁透過電郵寫道：「我們相信，產品是告訴人們大得多的故事最好方式之一，這個故事就是氣候變遷。當你能創造具體產品時，人們比較容易了解科技的力量和我們能用碳轉化科技來做什麼。」

That technology was developed by Stafford Sheehan, a founder and the chief technology officer of Air Co. After meeting in 2017, Sheehan and Constantine teamed up to repurpose the most abundant greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide) into products that are not harmful to the planet.

這種技術由空氣公司另一創辦人兼技術長希恩研發。希恩與康斯坦丁2017年會面後攜手合作，為數量最多的溫室氣體（二氧化碳）找到新用途，轉變成不傷害地球的產品。

Air Eau de Parfum is the company’s third consumer product. It began with spirits — a vodka in 2019 — and then a sanitizer spray in 2020, the year of sanitizing hands.

空氣香水是這家公司第三個消費者商品。先是從烈酒開始—2019年推出伏特加—繼而在手部消毒盛行的2020年推出抗菌噴霧。

\The scent itself was formulated and blended by Joya Studio, a design studio in New York that specializes in custom perfumes.

香氛本身由何亞工作室調配混合，這是紐約一間設計工作室，專營客製化香水。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6001925

Topic: Dark hair was common among Vikings, genetic study confirms

They may have had a reputation for trade, braids and fearsome raids, but the Vikings were far from a single group of flaxen-haired, sea-faring Scandinavians. A genetic study of Viking-age human remains has not only confirmed that Vikings from different parts of Scandinavia set sail for different parts of the world, but has revealed that dark hair was more common among Vikings than Danes today.

維京人或許以貿易、髮辮，以及讓人聞風喪膽的燒殺擄掠聞名，但是他們並非全部來自單一群體，不只是一群亞麻色頭髮、經年航海的斯堪地那維亞人。近日一項維京時代人類遺骸的基因研究，證實維京人從斯堪地那維亞半島的不同地區揚帆航向世界各地，更透露維京人頭髮多為深色，跟今日的丹麥人相比更為普遍。

What’s more, while some were born Vikings, others adopted the culture — or perhaps had it thrust upon them. “Vikings were not restricted to blond Scandinavians,” said Eske Willerslev, a co-author of the research from the University of Cambridge and the University of Copenhagen.

更重要的是，儘管有些北歐人天生就是維京人，其他族群也會吸收維京文化──或是可能被迫接受。該研究由英國劍橋大學和丹麥哥本哈根大學合作，共同作者之一艾斯克‧威勒斯列夫指出：「維京人並非僅限於金髮碧眼的斯堪地那維亞人。」

Writing in the journal Nature, Willerslev and colleagues report how they sequenced the genomes of 442 humans who lived across Europe between about 2,400BC and 1,600AD, with the majority from the Viking age — a period that stretched from around 750AD to 1050AD. The study also drew on existing data from more than 1,000 ancient individuals from non-Viking times, and 3,855 people living today.

在這篇刊登於《自然》期刊的研究中，威勒斯列夫和他的同事闡述他們如何定序四百四十二人的基因體。這些研究對象來自歐洲各地，大約生活在西元前兩千四百年到西元一千六百年間，其中大多數人屬於維京時代──也就是橫跨西元七百五十年到一千零五十年之間的時期。該研究也運用現有的基因資料，其中包括超過一千名並非生活在維京時代的古老人類，以及三千八百五十五名現代人。

Among their results the team found that from the iron age, southern European genes entered Denmark and then spread north, while — to a lesser extent — genes from Asia entered Sweden. “Vikings are, genetically, not purely Scandinavian,” said Willerslev. However, the team found Viking age Scandinavians were not a uniform population, but clustered into three main groups — a finding that suggests Vikings from different parts of Scandinavia did not mix very much.

在他們的研究結果中，團隊發現南歐的基因在鐵器時代進入丹麥，而後往北傳播，也有少部分來自亞洲的基因進入瑞典。威勒斯列夫指出：「維京人，從基因上來說，並非純然是斯堪地那維亞人。」另外，團隊發現維京時代的斯堪地那維亞人並非種族齊一的人口，而是由三個主要族群組成──這項發現顯示：來自斯堪地那維亞不同地區的維京人並未充分融合。

The team found these groups roughly map on to present-day Scandinavian countries, although Vikings from south-west Sweden were genetically similar to their peers in Denmark. Genetic diversity was greatest in coastal regions. Further analysis confirmed the long-standing view that most Vikings in England came from Denmark, as reflected in place names and historical records, while the Baltic region was dominated by Swedish Vikings, and Vikings from Norway ventured to Ireland, Iceland, Greenland and the Isle of Man.

團隊表示，這些族群的分布範圍大約和今日的北歐三國疆界疊合，不過瑞典西南部的維京人在基因上和丹麥維京人較為相近。基因多樣性則在沿岸地區最為顯著。進一步的分析更證實一項存在已久的學界看法：英國大多數的維京人來自丹麥，正如同地名和歷史紀錄反映出的情況，而巴爾幹地區是由瑞典維京人統治，至於挪威的維京人則冒險前往愛爾蘭、冰島、格陵蘭以及今日的英屬曼島。

However, the team says remains from Russia revealed some Vikings from Denmark also travelled east. The study also revealed raids were likely a local affair: the team found four brothers and another relative died in Salme, Estonia, in about 750AD, in what is thought could have been a raid, with others in the party likely to have been from the same part of Sweden.

不過，團隊指出，來自俄國的遺骸顯示，丹麥的維京人也曾往東方旅行。研究也透露維京人的劫掠可能只是「地方事件」：團隊發現，有四名兄弟和一名親戚，大約在西元七百五十年死於愛沙尼亞的薩爾梅，看起來是一場劫掠的結果，其他參與者可能也來自瑞典的同一個地區。

In addition, the team found two individuals from Orkney, who were buried with Viking swords, had no Scandinavian genetic ancestry. “[Being a Viking] is not a pure ethnic phenomenon, it is a lifestyle that you can adopt whether you are non-Scandinavian or Scandinavian,” said Willerslev, adding that genetic influences from abroad both before and during the Viking age might help explain why genetic variants for dark hair were relatively common among Vikings.

此外，團隊還發現兩名奧克尼群島的個體，遺骸旁有維京劍陪葬，但是這兩人沒有斯堪地那維亞的基因世系。「（身為維京人）並不是單純的人種學現象，無論你是不是斯堪地那維亞人，都可以採取這種生活方式，」威勒斯列夫補充表示，來自國外、在維京時代之前，以及該時代期間的基因影響，也許可以解釋為什麼深色頭髮的基因變異在維京人當中相對普遍。

Steve Ashby, an expert in Viking-age archaeology from the University of York, said the study confirmed what had been suspected about movement and trade in the Viking age, but also brought fresh detail. “The evidence for gene flow with southern Europe and Asia is striking, and sits well with recent research that argues for large-scale connectivity in this period,” he said. “[The study] also provides new information about levels of contact and isolation within Scandinavia itself, and offers an interesting insight into the composition of raiding parties.”

英國約克大學的維京時代考古學專家史蒂夫‧阿什比指出，這項研究證實了先前科學家對於維京時代遷徙和貿易活動的猜測，並且帶來新的細節。「（維京人與）南歐以及亞洲基因流動的證據相當驚人，也吻合近年研究主張這段時期大規模的人類交流情況。」阿什比表示：「（這項研究）傳達新的資訊，透露斯堪地那維亞半島內部交流和隔離的程度，並且提供有趣的見解，讓我們一窺強盜集團的組成。」

Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/09/27/2003744127

Next Article

Topic: Finland Has Faith In the Euro

Finland is, in many ways, the anti-Greece.

芬蘭，在許多方面，是希臘的反面。

Like Greece, it is geographically far from the core Western European powers of Britain, France and Germany. And like Greece, it uses the euro currency. But unlike Greece, it is a model of sound governance and responsible use of debt.

像希臘的是，芬蘭的地理位置遠離英國、法國、德國等西歐核心強權。不同於希臘的是，芬蘭是穩健治理與負責舉債的模範。

Yet Finland’s economy is also not doing so great, with an 11.8 percent unemployment rate and with contracting gross domestic product in the last three years.

但是芬蘭的經濟不算挺好，失業率11.8%，而且過去三年國民生產毛額萎縮。

A number of American commentators have looked at Finland’s current economic troubles as a clear sign that what ails the eurozone is far deeper than profligate spending by the Greeks. Paul Krugman has made that case at The New York Times, Tim Worstall at Forbes and Matt O’Brien at The Washington Post.

某些美國評論者檢視芬蘭當前的經濟困境，認為這顯示出歐元區的毛病遠比希臘的揮霍更嚴重。保羅．克魯曼，提姆．伍思道和麥特．歐布萊恩分別在《紐約時報》、《華盛頓郵報》和《富比世》雜誌上發表了此一主張。

Alexander Stubb, the Finnish finance minister, thinks they’re wrong. I brought this up with him recently in Espoo, the Helsinki suburb where he lives. His vigorously defense what the euro has done for Finland, and his comments help explain why elite opinion about the euro is so different on the two sides of the Atlantic.

芬蘭財政部長亞歷山大．斯圖布認為他們都錯了。筆者日前在斯圖布位於赫爾辛基郊區埃斯波的住所提出這個話題。他為歐元給芬蘭帶來的好處強力辯護，而他的評論有助於理解何以大西洋兩岸菁英對於歐元的看法如此南轅北轍。

There are three main causes of Finland’s economic weakness. Nokia has gone from the world’s largest mobile phone maker to an afterthought, costing thousands of Finnish jobs and many more when its supply network is counted. Demand for paper, another major export, has fallen. And the economy of neighboring Russia, with which Finland has deep trade ties, has collapsed because of plummeting oil prices and Western sanctions.

芬蘭的經濟疲弱有三個原因。諾基亞從全球最大手機製造商淪為配角，數以千計的芬蘭人因此失業；倘若把供應網一併算進來，失業人數會更多。芬蘭的另一項主要出口項目是紙，需求也下滑。芬蘭與毗鄰的俄羅斯有很密切的貿易往來，而俄國經濟也因為油價重挫和西方的制裁而大壞。

Because Finland has used the euro since its inception, the value of its currency cannot adjust in ways that would cushion the overall Finnish economy from those shocks. If Finland still had its old currency, the markka, it would have fallen in value on international markets. Suddenly other Finnish industries would have had a huge cost advantage over, say, German competitors, and they would have grown and created the jobs to help make up for those lost because of Nokia and the paper industry and Russian trade.

因為芬蘭從歐元一登場就開始使用，所以無法藉由自行調整匯率的方式來降低芬蘭經濟所遭受的衝擊。假如芬蘭現在用的是原本的貨幣芬蘭馬克，在國際市場將會貶值。其他芬蘭產業將突然享有重大的成本優勢，像是對上德國的競爭對手，產業將持續成長，創造職缺，協助彌補因為諾基亞、紙業和俄國經濟走軟而損失的工作機會。

“Rubbish,” Mr. Stubb said. To evaluate the euro, you can’t just look at what he calls a current “rough patch” for the Finnish economy. You have to look at a longer time horizon. In his telling, the integration with Western Europe – of which the euro currency is a crucial element – deepened trade and diplomatic relations, making Finland both more powerful on the world stage and its industries better connected to the rest of the global economy. That made its people richer.

「一派胡言，」斯圖布說。他說，要評價歐元不能光看他所謂芬蘭經濟當前的「黑暗期」。你得從較長的時間範圍著眼。照他的說法，芬蘭與西歐整合歐元是關鍵要素，而這整合深化了貿易與外交關係，讓芬蘭在世界舞台上更有力量，芬蘭的產業與全球經濟也有更好的連結；這使得人民更富裕。

“In the early 1990s in the middle of a Finnish banking crisis and economic depression, we were a top 30 country in the world in per capita G.D.P.,” he said. “Then we opened up; we became members of the E.U. Now we’re always up there in G.D.P. per capita or whatever other measure you look at with Sweden, Denmark, Australia and Canada.”

「在1990年代初期，芬蘭銀行危機和經濟蕭條之際，我們的人均GDP（國內生產毛額）排在全球前30名，」他說。「然後我們開放了，變成歐盟的會員國。現在無論你是用人均GDP或其他衡量標準，芬蘭都和瑞典、丹麥、澳洲與加拿大位在同一個等級。」

As to whether the ability to devalue its currency would help deal with the current economic downturn, Mr. Stubb is similarly skeptical.

至於具備讓貨幣貶值的能力是否有助於處理當前的經濟衰退，他同樣存疑。

“Devaluation is a little like doping in sports,” he said. “It gives you perhaps a short-term boost, but in the long run, it’s not beneficial. Just like anyone else, we need structural reform, structural adjustment; we need to increase our competitiveness, and a little bit of luck.”

「貶值有點像是運動賽事服用禁藥，」他說。「或許能在短期內增進你的表現，但長期而言並沒有好處。跟任何其他人一樣，我們需要結構性的改革，結構性的調整；我們需要增強競爭力，再加上一點點好運道。」

Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/283515/web/

Next Article

Topic: In Sweden, Happiness in a Shorter Workday Can't Overcome the Cost

A controversial experiment with a six-hour workday in one of Sweden’s largest cities wrapped up this week with a cheerful conclusion: Shorter working hours make for happier, healthier and more productive employees.

There’s just one catch. The practice is too expensive and unwieldy to become widespread in Sweden anytime soon.

把工時減為6小時的一項爭議性實驗，上個月在瑞典最大城市之一結束，得到了愉悅的結論：較短的工時使員工更快樂、更健康，也更有生產力。

只有一個但書。這種作法太昂貴也太不方便，短時間內難以拓展到瑞典全國。

The two-year trial, which took place in the southern city of Gothenburg, centered on a municipal retirement home where workers were switched to a six-hour day, from eight hours, with no pay cut. Seventeen new nursing positions were created to make up for the loss of time, at a cost of around 700,000 euros, or $738,000, a year.

Although it was small, the experiment stoked a widespread discussion about the future of work, namely whether investing in a better work-life balance for employees, and treating workers well rather than squeezing them, benefits the bottom line for companies and economies.

這項為期兩年的試驗在瑞典南部哥特堡市一處市立養老院進行，員工從每天上班8小時變成6小時，薪水不變。養老院增加了17個養護職缺以填補工時減少導致的人力缺口，每年支出約增加70萬歐元，合73.8萬美元（台幣2304萬元）。

這項實驗雖然規模不大，卻引發對未來工作的廣泛討論，亦即是否投資於改善員工工作與生活的平衡，善待員工而非壓榨他們，會給企業和經濟帶來根本的好處。

“The trial showed that there are many benefits of a shorter working day,” said Daniel Bernmar, the leader of the Left party on Gothenburg’s City Council, which had pushed for the experiment. “They include healthier staff, a better work environment and lower unemployment.”

But the high price tag, and political skepticism about the practicality of a shorter workday, was likely to discourage widespread support for taking the concept nationwide.

“The government is avoiding talking about the issue,” Mr. Bernmar said. “They’re not interested in looking at the bigger picture.”

大力推動這項實驗的哥特堡市市議會左派黨領袖貝恩馬說：「這項試驗顯示較短工時有許多好處，包括更健康的員工、更好的工作環境、更低的失業率。」

然而由於成本太高，政界又對短工時的實用性抱持懷疑態度，很可能使這項實驗推廣到全境遭受阻力。

貝恩馬說：「政府避談這個議題。他們也無意放大眼界來看這件事。」

While a growing number of countries and companies are studying the concept of employee happiness, the idea of improving it through shorter work hours has by no means gained broad traction. In Gothenburg, the City Council’s conservative opposition parties derided the experiment as a utopian folly and sought to kill it, citing high costs for taxpayers and arguments that the government should not intrude in the workplace. The current government is also not backing a shorter workweek.

Even the handful of progressive political groups aligned with Mr. Bernmar’s Left party have not made a six-hour workday in Sweden a priority in their platforms. Nor have large Swedish companies, including multinationals active around the world, embraced the idea. Other Swedish towns that previously conducted limited experiments with a shorter public-sector workweek eventually abandoned the concept, citing high costs and flawed implementation.

儘管研究員工幸福這個概念的國家和企業愈來愈多，透過縮減工時來加以改善的點子卻尚未獲得廣泛迴響。在哥特堡市，市議會保守派反對黨嘲笑這項實驗是烏托邦式的愚行並試圖扼殺它，理由是納稅人負擔太重，以及政府不應干預職場。瑞典政府也不支持縮短每周工作時數。

就連與貝恩馬的左派黨結盟的數個進步政治團體，也未將6小時工時列為最重要黨綱。瑞典各大企業，包括活躍於全球的跨國公司，也不熱中於這個點子。另有一些瑞典城鎮曾在公部門實施縮短每周工時的實驗，但最後都放棄這種做法，因為成本太高且執行上也有問題。

Source:https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/310747/web/

歡迎通勤家族 週一晚上9pm，在Clubhouse上跟我與Peddy一同閒聊、練習英語！快加入 15Mins 通勤學英語直播室吧~

主題: 常混淆的日常動詞 Say vs Tell / Talk vs Speak

Say vs. Tell

Say can be used to mean the following:

• To give a report of someone else words (Someone said something)

To tell can be used to mean:

To narrate (To tell a story)

To instruct (To tell John to buy something)

Examples:

• Did he say something about the classes?

Speak to and talk to

Speak and talk suggest that a person is using his voice, or that two or more people are having a conversation.

We can say:

speak to someone

talk to someone

speak to someone about something

talk to someone about something.

Speak is more formal

One of the main differences is formality. Speak is a little more formal than talk, and is often used in polite requests:

• Hello, could I speak to David Thompson, please? [formal, on the telephone]

小測驗時間：

請造句：

• 你對你朋友生氣 ：「我會告訴你媽媽！」

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中國的傳統藝術流傳千年聞名天下，其中的「剪紙」也是一門學問。這門傳統藝術主要在華人地區流行，在中國農村地區更是普遍。

China is known for its long history of traditional art forms, including the art of paper-cutting. The traditional art can be found mainly in Mandarin-speaking regions around the world, especially in the rural areas of China.

在2009年，剪紙藝術被列為聯合國教科文組織（UNESCO）的年度人類非物質文化遺產（Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity）。

Paper-cutting was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

然而， 剪紙終究還是難逃被淘汰的命運，因為有越來越多中國年輕人選擇從事其他行業，或進行剪紙以外的娛樂活動。

However, it is a dying craft as most young Chinese are choosing other forms of profession and entertainment over paper-cutting.

為阻止這場悲劇的發生，剪紙大師塗永紅將一生投入於剪紙創作工作，還於2003年創立了「西安鼎藝剪紙社」鼓勵民眾加入其中。

To prevent that from happening, paper-cutting master Tu Yonghong (塗永紅) has devoted her life to the creation of paper-cuttings and even founded the Xi An Ding Yi Paper-cutting Society (西安鼎藝剪紙社) in 2003 to encourage the public to take up the art.

塗永紅表示：「不是說我們的孩子們不喜歡剪紙，是因為他們沒有剪紙的機會。」

“I think we cannot blame children now for not showing interest in paper cutting,” Tu said, adding that children “don’t really get many opportunities to learn more.”

為了不讓剪紙藝術永遠走入歷史，「西安鼎藝剪紙社」也在積極地收集作品，並整理研究傳統紋樣以建立檔案。

The group is also actively collecting paper cuttings and researching traditional paper-cutting designs with the aim of building a database for future reference so that the art does not get lost in history.

談到「剪紙」就一定會聯想到精緻的圖騰設計和靈巧的雙手，畢竟從前的剪紙手藝都是由母親傳授給女兒，縱觀歷史。

Renowned for its intricate designs and techniques, paper-cutting is traditionally associated with femininity, with many Chinese girls learning the craft from their mothers in the past.

塗永紅坦言，如果圖騰剪得精緻，就說明這戶人家的女主人和姑娘都心靈手巧，因為剪紙需要同時動腦又動手。

The ability to produce good paper-cuttings used to be an indication of the brilliance of the matriarch or the females in the household, as paper-cutting requires deft hands and a sharp mind, Tu shared.

「在別的工作中，她們也會有些啟發。」塗永紅解釋道。

“It showed their capabilities to do other things well too,” she quipped.

但是隨著時光流逝，剪紙不再只用於裝飾或只出現在窗戶上了。

However, gone are the days when paper cuttings were found only on windows or used solely for decorative purposes.

現在的剪紙還能當服裝飾品戴在身上，塗永紅表示，自己身上配戴的耳環就是剪紙做出來的。

Nowadays, they can also be used as accessories, like the earrings Tu created with her paper-cutting.

如今剪紙的用途日益多元化，說不定還會吸引更多年輕人學習，對剪紙這一行來說是大好消息。

The increasing uses of paper-cuttings in modern times may attract more to take up the craft, which certainly spells hope for the dying trade.

現在疫情尚未結束，人們還需待在家裡，不妨趁現在拿起剪刀，自己動手剪剪看。

With the pandemic still raging, now might be a good time to stay home, pick up a pair of scissors, and try your hand at paper-cutting. Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210720-2658637

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After losing eyesight 40 years ago, a blind man has had his vision partially restored using optogenetic therapy and engineered goggles, according to CNN. The French man suffers from retinitis pigmentosa — an eye disease that changes how the retina responds to light. People with the disease lose their vision gradually over time.

據CNN報導，在失明長達四十年後，一名視障男子藉由「光遺傳學」技術及特製墨鏡，成功修復了部分視力。這名法國男子為「色素性視網膜炎」患者——這種眼疾會改變視網膜對光線的反應，該疾病患者將隨著時間逐漸喪失視力。

Technically, this gene therapy is based on algae proteins that respond to light sources, with researchers reprogramming cells in the retina by injecting genes to make it light sensitive. Several months later, they equipped the patient with engineered goggles that detected changes in light intensity, and he was able to see objects to a degree when wearing the googles.

從技術上來說，這項「基因療法」是以一種取自感光藻類的蛋白質為基礎。研究人員將蛋白質基因注射至視網膜，藉以改編細胞基因使細胞具有感光性。而幾個月之後，他們讓患者戴上可偵測光線強度的輔助墨鏡，藉由這副墨鏡，患者在某種程度上竟可隱約看到物體。

“This is a significant milestone and undoubtedly further refinements will make optogenetic therapy a viable option for many patients in future,” said Robert MacLaren, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Oxford. The breakthrough study, titled “Partial recovery of visual function in a blind patient after optogenetic therapy,” was published in Nature Medicine journal earlier this year.

「這是一項重大里程碑！」牛津大學的眼科教授羅柏麥克拉倫說，「若再經過進一步改良，無疑將使光遺傳學療法成為更多患者未來可行的選項。」這篇突破性研究名為《視障患者藉由光遺傳學療法恢復部分視覺功能》，今年稍早發表於《自然醫學》期刊。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/12/22/2003769967

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K288: About US - Oklahoma sixth-grader praised for heroism twice in one day

An Oklahoma sixth-grader was honored by law enforcement and school officials for his heroic actions not just once, but twice in the same day.

因為一天之內不僅一次，而是兩次的英勇行為，奧克拉荷馬州一名六年級學生受到執法單位與學校官員的表揚。

Earlier this month, Davyon Johnson used the Heimlich maneuver on a classmate who was choking on a bottle cap at his school in Muskogee. Later that same day, he helped a woman escape from a burning house, the Muskogee Phoenix reported.

馬斯科吉鳳凰報報導，本月稍早，戴維恩．強森在位於馬斯科吉的學校內使用哈姆立克法幫助一名被瓶蓋噎到的同學。當天稍後，他幫助一名婦女逃出起火的屋子。

Last week, Davyon was named an honorary member of the police and sheriff’s departments at the Muskogee Board of Education meeting, the newspaper reported.

上週，戴維恩在馬斯科吉教育委員會會議上，被任命為警察與治安官部門的榮譽成員，據該報報導。

Principal Latricia Dawkins called Davyon a “dual hero” and said the recognition couldn’t have happened to a better person.

校長拉翠夏．道金斯稱讚戴維恩是「雙重英雄」，並說此一褒揚不可能發生在更好的人身上。

Davyon’s mother, LaToya Johnson, said she’s not surprised he behaved the way he did. She said her brother, Wendell Johnson, is an emergency medical technician.

戴維恩的母親拉托雅．強森說，她對兒子的行為不感意外。她說，他的哥哥溫戴爾．強森，就是一位緊急醫療技術員。

Next Article

Why the Empire State Building, and New York, May Never Be the Same 為何帝國大廈與紐約市可能不再跟以前一樣

It once symbolized an urban way of working, and the city’s resilience. In the pandemic’s second year, the future of the world’s most famous skyscraper is in doubt.

它一度象徵一種都會的工作方式與這座城市的韌性。值此疫情大流行第2年，這座全球最知名的摩天大樓的未來仍在未定之天。

The Empire State Building, like the city it inhabits, relies on a steady stream of tourists, thriving retail businesses and companies willing to lease its vast amount of office space.

（美國紐約市）帝國大廈一如其所棲息的城市，仰賴穩定的觀光客流、興旺的零售業，以及願意租賃其大量辦公室空間的公司行號。

The coronavirus pandemic emptied out the attractions, shops and offices, in both the building and the city, for months.

但新冠病毒大流行清空這幢大樓與紐約市的觀光景點、商店與辦公室（的人潮）達數月之久。

Like other tourist attractions around New York City, the famous observatories on the Empire State Building’s 86th and 102nd floors sat nearly empty for months.

一如紐約市各地其他的觀光景點，位於帝國大廈86樓與102樓的知名觀景台，已有數月幾乎空無一人。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1491796

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K287: In Alps, Natural Remedies, and Covid, Thrive.

For the family of organic farmers nestled on the side of a snow-blanketed mountain in Italy’s northern province of Bolzano, the coronavirus was no match for the immunizing effects of the crisp alpine air, the invigoration of a good hike and the healing powers of the forest’s mosses, herbs and vegetables.

對於住在義大利北部波扎諾省白雪覆蓋山坡上的有機農民家庭來說，新冠病毒無法跟高山清新空氣的免疫效果、良好健行帶來的活力，以及森林中的的苔蘚、藥草與蔬菜的治癒能力相提並論。

“If someone coughs, we do onion compresses, a body cream of thyme and myrtle, and drink a lot of tea,” said Sabine Durnwalder, 37, an unvaccinated resident of the farm in the scenic valleys near the border with highly infected Austria. “I know how to protect myself.”

37歲的莎賓．登瓦爾德說：「如果有人咳嗽，我們會做洋蔥敷布，用百里香和桃金孃做身體乳霜，還會喝很多茶。我知道如何保護自己。」這名未接種新冠疫苗者住在與疫情嚴重的奧地利接壤、風景優美山谷中的一處農場。

Bolzano has traditionally had the healthiest, fittest and most active population in Italy. Now, it is also the area with the highest rate of coronavirus infection. A traditional preference for natural remedies has extended to a widespread rejection of vaccines, making it Italy’s least vaccinated region.

波扎諾人傳統上是義大利最健康、身材最好且最有活力的。現在，它也是新冠病毒感染率最高的地區。對自然療法的傳統偏好已擴大至對疫苗的廣為排斥，使其成為義大利疫苗接種率最低地區。

Though officials have raised concerns regarding conspiracy theories and disinformation about vaccines spread by right-wing populists, experts here say the nature-loving and science-doubting health enthusiasts are at the heart of a vaccine skepticism.

儘管官員們憂心右翼民粹主義者傳播的陰謀論及關於疫苗的假訊息，但這裡的專家說，熱愛自然和懷疑科學的健康愛好者是疫苗懷疑論的核心。

“The main reason is their trust in nature,” said Patrick Franzoni, a doctor who spearheads the province’s vaccination campaign. “They don’t understand that it is no help against COVID.”

該省疫苗接種運動先鋒派翠克．弗蘭佐尼醫師表示：「主要原因是他們對自然的信任，但他們不知道這對於抗擊新冠肺炎疾病毫無幫助。」

With about 70% of the province fully vaccinated, Bolzano has the highest number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in Italy, and the highest share of intensive care unit beds occupied by coronavirus patients. All of the patients in intensive care were unvaccinated, Franzoni said.

弗蘭佐尼表示，完整接種率約70%的波扎諾是義大利每10萬人中新冠病例最多的地方，新冠患者占據加護病房病床比例最高。加護病房內所有病患均未接種疫苗。

He said many patients arrive at the hospital with advanced cases of the virus, increasing the likelihood that they will succumb.

他說，許多患者帶著晚期病毒病例來到醫院，增加了死亡的風險。

Doctors in the area have long complained that they are often late at diagnosing serious illnesses because the local population — which consumes the least amount of pharmaceutical medications in the country and has the lowest rate of tetanus, flu and hepatitis B vaccinations — often wait weeks before calling an ambulance.

該地區的醫師長期抱怨說，他們診斷出嚴重疾病時往往已經太遲了，因為當地居民時常等上幾個星期才叫救護車。該地區是全國藥品消耗量最少的地區，破傷風、流感和B型肝炎疫苗接種率也最低。

Durnwalder, the vaccine skeptic at the organic farm, argued that her main contact with the outside world is with people who rent out apartments at the farm, she said. Then, she said, she wears a mask and keeps her distance.

有機農場的疫苗懷疑論者登瓦爾德表示，她跟外界的主要接觸是在農場內租公寓的人；她都有戴口罩並保持距離。

“If you trust yourself and nature,” said her husband, Markus Burgmann, 39, throwing a snowball for the couple’s dog to fetch, “you should not be afraid.”

她39歲的丈夫馬庫斯．柏格曼在扔雪球給夫婦倆養的狗叼回時說：「如果你相信自己和自然，就不應該害怕。」Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6001923

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K286: ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Review: A Play for Nostalgia and Merch

If it seems that the only movie Big Hollywood knows how to make is the one they made last year — and the year before that — there’s a reason. The industry’s franchise fever is real, though much depends on timing.

如果好萊塢似乎唯一懂得拍攝的電影是去年拍的那部，還有前年的那部，這是有原因的。系列電影的熱度如假包換，但多數仍取決於時機。

“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” was directed by Jason Reitman, whose father, Ivan Reitman, directed the first two movies in the 1980s, and was in line to take on the third. Over many years and after many more studio notes, a new director, Paul Feig, was brought in, and the third movie became a female-driven reboot.

電影「魔鬼剋星：未來世」導演是傑森瑞特曼，他的父親伊凡瑞特曼在1980年代執導頭兩部「魔鬼剋星」，當時已排定要導第三部。經過許多年以及更多的片廠意見後，新導演保羅費格獲引薦，第三部電影變成一部女性為主的重開機之作。

Before it even opened, the reboot became the target of viciously sexist and racist trolling and rage, a casualty of the culture wars. But much like the troublesome apparitions that haunt this series, profitable franchises (and even barely profitable ones) rarely truly die in Hollywood. And “Ghostbusters” is simply too goofy, too smart about dumb fun and too potentially lucrative to stay buried for long.

電影甚至未上映之前，這部重開機作品成為惡意的性別歧視者和種族歧視者圍剿及洩恨的目標，變成一場文化戰的傷亡者。但是就像在此系列中揮之不去的惱人幽靈，有利可圖（和沒啥賺頭）的系列片在好萊塢很少真正陣亡。而且「魔鬼剋星」實在太好笑，對不用大腦的趣味發揮太精準，而且獲利潛力實在太高，很難被埋沒太久。

And so: “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” which is as cuddly and toothless as you would expect from a relaunched studio property in which the main characters are children and Paul Rudd plays a love interest. They’re all predictably adorable and have big, easy-to-read eyes, the better to widen in feigned surprise or mock fear when various ghosts come a-calling.

於是，重出江湖的片商資產「魔鬼剋星：未來世」主要角色都是兒童，一如你的期待，既可愛又無害，保羅路德飾演的角色有愛情戲。他們一如預期的令人喜愛，有著能輕易被看穿心思的大眼睛，在各種鬼出現時，更懂得誇張表現假裝的驚訝或看起來害怕的樣子。

For their part, the cartoonish apparitions range from the cutesy to the PG-13 snarly and include a roly-poly metal muncher, a pair of slathering hellhounds and some puffy, gurgling creatures whose wide-open arms and demonically cheerful smiles have been engineered for toy shelves and maximum nostalgia.

就鬼魂而言，卡通風格的幽靈從裝可愛型到13歲以下兒童不宜的易怒鬼，也包含一個圓滾滾、啃食金屬的鬼，一對大塊頭惡魔犬，以及一些咯咯笑的膨膨物體，它們張開的手臂和不懷好意的開心笑容，一直都是為了玩具貨架和最濃烈的懷舊感精心設計。

Franchise sequels bank on dependability and giving the audience exactly what it expects. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” certainly makes good on that contractual promise: There are ghosts, and they are busted.

系列電影的續集仰賴的是信賴感以及精準滿足觀眾的期待。「魔鬼剋星：未來世」確實說到做到：片中有鬼，也碰上了剋星。

The movie leans heavily into the previous installments in an effort to create the kind of self-generating franchise mythology that can support further sequels (and so on). It trots out the familiar gadgets, ghosts and goo as well as beloved faces and Ray Parker Jr.’s indestructible earworm of a theme song. Like the younger Reitman, Phoebe and her Scooby Gang battle ghosts on every front.

這部電影很依賴前幾部的架構，以嘗試創造自我生成的系列神話，能支持未來的續集（以及其他）。電影誇示熟悉的機關設計、鬼魂和黏答答的物體，還有可愛的臉孔，以及小雷派克不絕於耳的洗腦主題曲。如同小瑞特曼，菲比和她的抓鬼大隊和鬼魂全面作戰。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5986861

Topic: Fox-Style News Network Rides Wave of Discontent in France

It’s the news network that claims it tells viewers what the “woke” mainstream media won’t. It says it fights for endangered freedom of expression, even as it has been fined by the government’s broadcast regulator for inciting racial hatred.

這家新聞台聲稱，能告訴觀眾那些「警醒」的主流媒體不會說的事。它說它為瀕危的言論自由而戰，即便已因為煽動種族仇恨而遭政府廣播監管機構罰款。

It is CNews — which in four short years became France’s No. 1 news network for the first time in May by giving a bullhorn to far-right politicians, opponents of fighting climate change and a high-profile proponent of the discredited idea of using the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a cure for COVID-19.

它就是CNews，短短四年，於今年5月首次成為法國第一名的新聞台。他們提供發聲管道給極右翼政治人物、反對應對氣候變遷人士，以及高調支持使用抗瘧疾藥物羥氯奎寧治療新冠的人，儘管這想法不被採信。

The model is Fox News — including the clashing talking heads and incendiary cultural topics — and it has worked. Owned by French billionaire Vincent Bolloré, former chairman of the media group Vivendi, CNews increasingly helps shape the national debate, especially on hot-button issues like crime, immigration and Islam’s place in France that are expected to sway next year’s presidential election.

福斯新聞是其榜樣，手法包括衝突性訪問內容與煽動性文化話題，且已收到成效。法國億萬富豪、媒體集團威望迪前董事長博洛黑擁有的CNews，愈來愈會塑造全國性辯論話題，尤其是犯罪、移民、伊斯蘭教在法國地位等料將影響明年總統選舉的熱門議題。

In a country where trust in the media is very low, CNews emerged at a time of particular discontent — in the aftermath of the Yellow Vest protests of 2018, which, like the U.S. election of Donald Trump, prompted much soul-searching among journalists.

在一個對媒體信任度非常低的國家，CNews的出現，正值2018年黃背心抗議後民眾特別不滿之時，就像川普當選美國總統一樣，這引起很多記者深刻反思。

“People were sick and tired of the politically correct, and, in France, for the past 30, 40 years, news was in the hands of newspapers, television and dailies that all said the same thing,” said Serge Nedjar, the head of CNews, explaining how his channel positioned itself in a nation with four all-news networks.

CNews負責人內德賈解釋自家頻道在一個擁有四家新聞台國家的定位時說：「人們對政治正確感到厭煩，在法國，過去30年、40年，掌握新聞的報紙、電視與日報說的都是同樣的事。」

Unlike its competitors, CNews focused on “analyses and debates” of topics that Nedjar said mattered most to the French but had been ignored or insufficiently covered by the media: “crime, lack of safety, immigration.”

不同於對手，CNews專注於「分析和辯論」內德賈所說對法國人最重要卻被忽視或報導不足的事：「犯罪、缺乏安全、移民」。

He added: “We created this network by telling ourselves we talk about everything, including topics that are explosive.”

他還說：「我們成立電視台時告訴自己，我們無話不談，包括爆炸性話題。」

Nedjar said that he was unfamiliar with Fox News when CNews was created and waved away comparisons.

內德賈說，CNews成立時他對福斯新聞台不熟悉，也拒絕做比較。

“There’s the word ‘news,’ and all the better if it works like Fox News,” he said, referring to his network’s name. “Fox News works really well over there, I hear.”

他提及他的電視台名字時說：「有『新聞』這個字，若它能像福斯新聞那樣運作就更好了。我聽說福斯新聞在那邊作得很不錯。」

But critics say the problem is not with CNews’ choice of topics but with the way it treats them. They say it emphasizes on opinion, often backed up with little reporting or fact-checking, propagates popular biases and deepens cleavages in a polarized society.

但批評者說，問題不在於CNews的話題選擇，而是它對待話題的方式。他們說，它強調觀點，很少以報導或查核事實來支持，這助長了偏見，加深兩極分化社會的裂痕。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5769927

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Topic: Why France sparks anger in Muslim world: secularism explained

Many countries, especially in the democratic West, champion freedom of expression and allow publications that lampoon Islam’s prophet. So why is France singled out for protests and calls for boycotts across the Muslim world, and so often the target of deadly violence from the extremist margins? Its brutal colonial past, staunch secular policies and tough-talking president, who is seen as insensitive toward the Muslim faith, all play a role.

許多國家──尤其是民主的西方國家──擁護言論自由，並允許嘲弄伊斯蘭教先知的出版品。那麼，為什麼法國會特別被針對，讓整個穆斯林世界抗議和呼籲抵制，且往往成為極端主義死亡攻擊的目標呢？它殘酷的殖民史、堅定的世俗﹝去宗教化﹞政策，以及言詞強硬的總統（他被認為對穆斯林信仰不敏感）都是原因。

While French officials often say their country is targeted because of its reputation as the cradle of human rights and a rampart of global democracy, what distinguishes France most is its unusual attachment to secularism (or laicite).

雖然法國官員常說，法國之所以成為攻擊的目標，是因為法國是人權的搖籃及全球民主的堡壘；但法國與他國不同的最獨特處，在其牢牢固守著世俗主義。

The often-misunderstood concept of French secularism is inscribed in the country’s constitution. It was born in a 1905 law after anti-clerical struggles with the Catholic Church. Separating church and state, the law was meant to allow the peaceful coexistence of all religions under a neutral state, instead of a government answering to powerful Roman Catholic clerics. Crucifixes were at one point torn from classroom walls in France amid painful public debate.

世俗主義明訂於法國憲法中，其概念常被人誤解。一九○五年，經過與天主教會的反神職人員鬥爭後，世俗主義成為法律。該法律將教會和國家分開，旨在使所有宗教在中立的國家之下和平共處，而不是政府向手握強權的羅馬天主教神職人員稟報。公眾經歷艱難的辯論，教室牆上的耶穌受難像一度被拆除。

A century later, polls suggest France is among the least religious countries in the world, with a minority attending services regularly. Secularism is broadly supported by those on both left and right. State secularism is central to France’s national identity and demands the separation of religion and public life.

一個世紀後，民意調查顯示法國是世界上最不宗教化的國家之一，固定參加宗教儀式的人只有少數。世俗主義得到左右兩派的廣泛支持。國家世俗主義是法國民族認同的核心，它要求宗教與公共生活必須區分開來。

Schools have historically instilled the Republic’s values in its citizens — a task some teachers say becomes ever harder as a minority of French Muslims and adherents of other faiths seek to express their religious identity.

學校歷來向公民灌輸共和國的價值觀──一些教師表示，少數法國穆斯林及其他信仰的信徒試圖表達自己的宗教認同，使得這項教學任務變得愈發困難。

As the number of Muslims in France grew, the state imposed secular rules on their practices. A 2004 ban on Muslim headscarves and other ostentatious religious symbols in schools remains divisive, if not shocking to many outside France. A 2011 law banning face veils made Muslims feel stigmatized anew. In recent decades, the desire among some French Muslims to express their religious identity has dominated the debate around balancing religious and secular needs.

隨著法國穆斯林人數的增加，法國政府在施政也強加上世俗化、非宗教的規範。法國在二○○四年禁止在學校穿戴穆斯林頭巾及其他炫示的宗教符號──若法國以外的許多人不感到震驚的話，對此禁令的看法也仍然分歧。二○一一年所頒布的禁蒙面法，又再讓穆斯林覺得被污名化。一些法國穆斯林希望能夠表達自己的宗教認同，對於如何平衡宗教與世俗非宗教之需求，此議題已占據近數十年來相關辯論的主要部分。 Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/11/09/2003746587

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Topic: France to ban mink farms and use of wild animals in circuses, marine parks

France’s environment minister has announced a gradual ban on using wild animals in traveling circuses, on keeping dolphins and killer whales in captivity in marine parks and on raising mink on fur farms.

法國環境部長宣布，將逐步禁止巡迴馬戲團以野生動物進行表演、在海洋公園內圈養海豚和虎鯨，以及在皮草養殖場飼養水貂。

Barbara Pompili, France’s minister of ecological transition, said in a news conference on Tuesday last week that bears, tigers, lions, elephants and other wild animals will no longer be allowed in traveling circuses “in the coming years.” In addition, she said that starting immediately, France’s three marine parks will no longer be able to bring in or breed dolphins and killer whales.

法國生態轉型部部長巴巴拉‧彭皮里上週二在記者會中表示，「未來數年後」馬戲團將不能再有熊、老虎、獅子、大象及其他野生動物。此外，自即日起，法國的三個海洋公園不能再引進或繁殖海豚及虎鯨。

“It is time to open a new era in our relationship with these (wild) animals,” she said, arguing that animal welfare is a priority.

她說：「現在該是為我們與這些（野生）動物的關係開啟新時代的時候了」，她說，動物福利應優先考慮。

Pompili said the measures will also bring an end to mink farming, in which animals are raised for their fur, within the next five years. The ban does not apply to wild animals in other permanent shows and in zoos.

彭皮里說，這些措施還包括在未來五年內禁絕水貂養殖──這種養殖場的目的是取貂皮。該禁令並不適用其他常態演出及動物園中之野生動物。

The French government will provide an aid package of more than 8 million euros (US$9.36 million) to help animal shows transition to a new business model.

法國政府將提供逾八百萬歐元（合九百三十六萬美元）的支援計劃，以幫助動物表演轉型為新的商業模式。

Around 20 European countries have already banned or limited the presence of wild animals in circuses. In France, many cities already do not allow circuses with wild animal shows to pitch their tents.

歐洲約有二十個國家已禁止或限制野生動物在馬戲團出場。在法國，許多城市已不准有野生動物表演的馬戲團前來搭篷。

Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/10/05/2003744594

歡迎通勤家族 週一晚上9pm，在Clubhouse上跟我與Peddy一同閒聊、練習英語！快加入 15Mins 通勤學英語直播室吧~

主題: 一年重要的節日是什麼？ Important Days (Festivals) in 2022

Source: https://goldcard.nat.gov.tw/en/why-taiwan/top-6-traditional-festivals-in-taiwan/

春節Spring Festival (CNY or Lunar New Year) 2/1

Spring Festival is the most important festival and the longest national holiday in Taiwan, beginning on December 30th (New Year’s Eve) and ending on the fourth day of the first month of the lunar calendar. On the Western calendar, the dates fall around mid-January to mid-February.

元宵節Lantern Festival 2/15

The Lantern Festival happens on the first full moon of the Lunar New Year. Traditional customs include carrying paper lanterns, solving riddles written on lanterns and eating tangyuan (glutinous rice balls stuffed with sweet paste made from red bean, sesame, or peanut butter).

清明節Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) 4/5

Qingming Festival is celebrated on April 5th or 6th of every year, and is one of the few festivals that roughly coincide with the Western calendar. As the festival is close to the Children’s Day holiday on April 4th, it is the second longest national holiday in Taiwan, causing many locals to take a continuous holiday of up to five days.

On this day, it is customary for Taiwanese families to pay respects and commemorate their ancestors by visiting and cleaning their gravesites.

端午節Dragon Boat Festival 6/3

Nowadays, in celebration of Dragon Boat Festival, people will eat zongzi and race dragon boats to honor and commemorate the great Qu Yuan. Other customs also include: hanging mug wort and calamus to ward off evil spirits and cleanse the environment, balancing an egg for good luck, drinking realgar wine and wearing incense sachets to ward off evil and sickness.

七夕Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day) 8/4

While Western countries celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th, many Asian countries celebrate this holiday on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar; the day when Niulang (Cowherd) and Zhinü (Weaver Maiden) can meet in heaven.

中秋節Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) 9/10

Nowadays, many East Asian countries of celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival by eating mooncakes. In Taiwan, Mid-Autumn is also known as the Barbecue Festival, where in addition to eating moon cakes, barbecuing is also an essential activity.

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• Which festival is your favorite? Why?