通勤學英語 15Mins Today

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K149: England delays ending COVID lockdown

The planned fourth phase of removing lockdown in England, UK, due to take place on 21 June, has been delayed for four weeks.

英國原訂六月二十一日將英格蘭地區第四階段解封，此計畫將延後四週。

As widely expected, Downing Street has decided to delay the final unlocking, which would have allowed businesses like nightclubs to reopen and lifted many other restrictions. This will not happen until 19 July at the earliest.

正如普遍預期，英國政府決定延後此最後階段之解封──包括讓夜總會等商家重新開業，並鬆綁許多其他限制。現在這最快也要等到七月十九日才能夠實現。

Why has the decision been made? For one reason: the Delta variant. Now dominant in the UK, this variant, first identified in India, is between 40 percent and 80 percent more transmissible than the Alpha variant it supplanted, with infection numbers rising 64 percent week on week, and doubling by the week in some parts of the country. Hospitalization numbers are rising 50 percent week on week, and by 61 percent in the north-west of England, with modeling suggested that if the June 21 easing went ahead as planned, patient numbers could approach those seen in the peak of the first wave of coronavirus in spring 2020.

為何做出此決定？原因只有一個：Delta變種病毒。此變種首先在印度發現，現已取代Alpha變種病毒〔首先在英國發現〕，成為在英國傳染的主要病毒株，其傳染性高了百分之四十至八十，使感染人數每週增加百分之六十四，有些地區則是每週增加一倍。住院人數每週增加百分之五十，英格蘭西北部則是增加百分之六十一。模型模擬結果顯示，若按原計畫在六月二十一日解封，冠狀病毒患者人數可能會接近二O二O年春季所發生之第一波疫情高峰人數。

What will the delay do? Again, the reasoning is very simple: to allow more people to be vaccinated, whether with a first injection or both. The plan is to step up vaccinations, to have offered all adults at least a first vaccination by July 19, and to have offered two to all people aged over 50 or clinically vulnerable, against the earlier target of the end of July. The wait time between the first and second injection for the over-40s will also be shortened from 12 weeks to eight weeks. With two jabs shown to be especially effective in mitigating against serious illness, and even one playing a significant role in reducing someone’s propensity to transmit COVID, No. 10 says modeling shows that a four-week delay could save “thousands” of lives.

延期解封之目的為何？理由一樣很簡單：為了讓更多人接種疫苗，無論是注射第一劑或接種兩劑者。政府打算加快疫苗接種速度，在七月十九日之前提供所有成年人至少第一劑疫苗接種，並為所有五十歲以上或臨床易受感染之民眾提供兩劑疫苗接種，原先設定達到此目標之日期為七月底。四十歲以上民眾注射第一劑和第二劑之間的等待期間，也將從十二週縮短為八週。經證明，注射兩劑疫苗後，對減輕重症特別有效，即使是只注射一劑，也會明顯降低COVID之傳播力。英國政府表示，模擬模型顯示，延期四週解封，可挽救「數千人」之生命。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/06/21/2003759512

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K148: About the US -  Brooklyn studio unveils ‘no regrets’ tattoo inking

疫情期間，許多人關在家裡太久容易感到無聊，有些人或許想讓生活增添一些樂趣而考慮刺青，然而，不少人害怕刺青後會後悔而讓卻步。

During quarantine, it’s easy to get bored, so many may want to spice up their life by getting tattoos. Yet, the worry of regretting it, later on, may deter some from making the leap.

位於紐約布魯克林的「短暫刺青店」(Ephemeral Tattoo Studio) 非常了解這些「重大」決定背後猶豫不決的原因，進而成為史上第一家「保證」顧客不後悔的刺青店。

Brooklyn-based Ephemeral Tattoo Studio understands all-too-well the hesitance behind these “big” decisions and became the first-ever tattoo parlor that “guarantees” no regrets.

此公司確保客人不後悔的秘訣在於讓刺青自然的於9個月到15個月間慢慢褪色。

To accomplish this, the studio ensures that the tattoos inked will naturally fade over 9 to 15 months.

根據「短暫刺青店」的網站所述，他們請了頂級皮膚科醫生和化學工程師經過六年多的研究設計出今日使用的醫療級、生物可分解的墨水。

According to Ephemeral Tattoo’s website, over six years of research by top dermatologists and chemical engineers went into designing the medical-grade and biodegradable ink solution they use.

該網站也表示，墨水自然分解最後會變成極小的顆粒讓人體吸收，隨後消失。

The ink breaks down naturally and disappears when the particles are small enough to be absorbed by the body, the website says.

一年後，墨水會完全消失，而顧客可以再設計他們下一個想要的圖案。因此，刺青師經常鼓勵客人大膽地展現自己的個性，設計出自己的風格圖案，好好利用這個「無須承諾」的刺青。

After a year, the ink disappears, and users can change their designs to whatever they wish. Therefore, the artists often encourage clients to express their individuality, as it’s completely “commitment-free” and judgment-free.

而他們的IG頁面上也充斥著有趣的圖案，其中可見客人在腿上刺上自己畫的幸運貓，也有另一位和他的媽媽一起在手臂上刺「偶像」一詞。

From their Instagram pages, one client can be seen getting a tattoo of a lucky cat on her leg while another and his mom got matching tattoos, with the word “icon” on their arm.

一位顧客也在網站上大讚，「工作人員真的很友善和專業」，也有人分享「整個刺青過程都感到超舒服」。

“The staff is really friendly and professional,” a client said on their website, while another added, “Felt comfortable the whole time”.

其他人也在IG頁面下方留言表示這樣的刺青真的是「最酷的體驗」。

Others also commented on their Instagram page with some praising it as “the coolest experience”.

因為去除掉一個永久性的刺青可能要耗費大量資金也會造成很多不必要的疼痛，該工作室為傳統刺青提供一個很好的替代方案。

The studio provides a good alternative for traditional tattoos, as it takes a lot of money and a lot of pain to remove a traditional tattoo that you might regret.

然而，目前「短暫刺青店」所有的紋身都是用黑色墨水完成的，所以想要五彩繽紛刺青的民眾可能需要再等一下。

However, all tattoos are currently done in black ink, so those looking for more colorful inkings may have a small wait.

毫無壓力和非常包容的環境下，這家刺青店鼓勵了許多客戶，除了已經有紋身的人以外，從來沒有刺青過的人也一同前往嘗試。

The stress-free and inclusive environment encourages many clients, including people that already have tattoos and people that have never gotten one to go try it out.

Next Article

「尿美國牛仔褲品牌Wet Pants Denim 最近推出一系列讓人看起來像是不小心尿褲子的牛仔褲，而此奇葩的商品還標榜「濕濕的外觀，乾乾的感覺。」

American company “Wet Pants Denim,” recently launched a range of jeans that make it look like you wet yourself while promising a “wet look, dry feel.”

該公司在他們的網站上聲稱，「明星、網紅和普通人都在假裝失禁，就是為了跟上漏尿穿衣風格。」網站上更附上了小賈斯汀 (Justin Bieber) 和連恩·尼遜 (Liam Neeson) 等名人穿著有濕漬褲子的照片。

The company claims, on their website, that “Celebrities, influencers, and everyday individuals alike are feigning incontinence in search of the ‘wet pants’ look”, which is accompanied by pictures of celebrities like Justin Bieber and Liam Neeson wearing pants with a wet stain.

該公司更表示，「Wet Pants Denim提供相同的款式，且不會感到不舒服。」

The company goes on to say: “Here at Wet Pants Denim, we’re delivering an identical style without the need to feel uncomfortable.”

這條牛仔褲一共有三種款式，顏色包括藍色、灰色和白色，每條售價約新台幣2,073 元。但客戶也可以選擇自行寄出牛仔褲進行訂製。這個服務比較便宜，只需要新台幣829元左右。

The jeans come in three different styles and cost around NT$2,073 each. The colors available include blue, gray, and white, but customers also have the option of sending in their own jeans for customization. This service is cheaper, with a price of around NT$829.

儘管公司每條牛仔褲都是自行採購和進行手工染色，他們還是承諾會在三到五個工作日內交付獨一無二的牛仔褲。不過，此牛仔褲僅在美國有販售，目前不接受國際訂單。

Even though the company self-procures each pair to hand-dye, they promise that the one-of-a-kind jeans would be delivered in three to five business days. However, the jeans are only available in the United States, as international orders aren’t accepted. Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210621-2613686; https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210616-2594796

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K147: When Spies Hack Journalism界

For decades, leakers of confidential information to the press were a genus that included many species: the government worker infuriated by wrongdoing, the ideologue pushing a particular line, the politico out to savage an opponent. In recent years, technology has helped such leakers operate on a mass scale: Chelsea Manning and the WikiLeaks diplomatic cables, Edward Snowden and the stolen National Security Agency archive, and the still-anonymous source of the Panama Papers.But now this disparate cast has been joined by a very different sort of large-scale leaker, more stealthy and better funded: the intelligence services of nation states, which hack into troves of documents and then use a proxy to release them. What Russian intelligence did with shocking success to the Democrats in 2016 shows every promise of becoming a common tool of spycraft around the world.

數十年來，向新聞界揭露機密情報的洩密者，多為同一屬但涵蓋許多種的人物：被不法行為激怒的政府工作人員，推動特定路線的意識型態者，試圖攻擊對手的政治人物。近年來，科技成為這些洩密者採取大規模行動的助力：雀兒喜．曼寧和「維基解密」的外交電報，愛德華．史諾登和被竊的國家安全局檔案，以及「巴拿馬文件」和它仍是無名氏的消息來源。然而現在這個由各不相同的角色構成的卡司，又增加了另一種迥然不同的大規模洩密者，更隱密，銀彈也更足：他們是各國的情報部門。這些情報部門駭得大量文件資料，再利用代理人發布出去。俄羅斯情報部門2016年驚人成功地駭入美國民主黨這件事，顯示這種作法肯定會在未來成為通行全球的間諜活動工具。

In 2014, North Korea, angry about a movie, hacked Sony and aired thousands of internal emails. Since then, Russia has used the hack-leak method in countries across Europe. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Persian Gulf rivals, have accused each other of tit-for-tat hacks, leaks and online sabotage. Other spy services are suspected in additional disclosures, but spies are skilled at hiding their tracks.“It’s clear that nation states are looking at these mass leaks and seeing how successful they are,” said Matt Tait, a cyber expert at the University of Texas who previously worked at Government Communications Headquarters, the British equivalent of the National Security Agency.

2014年，對某部電影怒不可遏的北韓，駭入索尼公司，並公布了數千封內部電子郵件。此後，俄羅斯在歐洲各國也採用了這種駭入─洩露方法。波斯灣的對立國家，阿拉伯聯合大公國和卡達互控對方肆行以牙還牙的駭客攻擊、洩密和網路破壞。其他情報單位也被懷疑是另一些洩密事件的主謀，只是這些間諜擅長隱藏他們的蹤跡。德州大學網路專家馬特．泰特說：「顯然，各國正在審視這些大規模洩密行動，且目睹它們是多麼成功。」泰特之前在英國等同於美國國家安全局的政府通信總部工作。

What does this mean for journalism? The old rules say that if news organizations obtain material they deem both authentic and newsworthy, they should run it. But those conventions may set reporters up for spy agencies to manipulate what and when they publish, with an added danger: An archive of genuine material may be seeded with slick forgeries.This quandary is raised with emotional force by my colleague Amy Chozick in her new book about covering Hillary Clinton. She recounts reading a New York Times story about the Russian hack of the Democrats that said The Times and other outlets, by publishing stories based on the hacked material, became “a de facto instrument of Russian intelligence.” She felt terrible, she reports, because she thought she was guilty as charged.Others hurried to reassure Chozick that she and hundreds of other reporters who covered the leaked emails were simply doing their jobs. “The primary question a journalist must ask himself is whether or not the information is true and relevant,” wrote Jack Shafer, the media critic for Politico, “and certainly not whether it might make Moscow happy.”

這對新聞界而言意味著什麼？按照老規矩，新聞組織一旦取得他們認為具有真實性和新聞價值的材料，就認為應該公諸於世。但是這些慣例可能導致記者遭到間諜機構操縱他們所發布的內容以及時間，而且還有一項風險：真材實料的檔案可能暗藏巧妙的造假。我的同事艾咪．丘齊克在她談採訪希拉蕊．柯林頓的新書中，情緒激動地說明了這項窘境。她描述看過紐約時報與俄羅斯駭入民主黨相關的一篇報導，文章指出，紐時和其他媒體根據被駭資料做報導時，「實際上也成了俄羅斯情報單位的工具」。她報導說，她感覺糟透了，因為她自覺犯了這樣的錯。其他人急忙安慰丘齊克，她和數百位採訪外洩電子郵件新聞的記者，只是盡職而已。 Politico媒體評論家傑克．薛佛寫道：「記者必須問自己的首要問題是，這些資料是否屬實以及是否相關，絕不會是這樣做會不會讓莫斯科高與。」Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/327698/web/

更多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

用email訂閱就可以收到通勤學英語節目更新通知。

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K146: About food -  Taiwan gourmets shocked at Pizza Hut’s newest cilantro, century egg-flavored delight

必勝客最近傳出將推出「香菜皮蛋豬血糕比薩」，交雜台式料理讓最勇猛的台灣人都震驚。

Pizza Hut is about to release a new “cilantro, century egg pig’s blood cake pizza” (香菜皮蛋豬血糕比薩) whose chaotic combination of flavors is poised to shock even the most daring Taiwanese gourmet.

據網友所述，此比薩將結合台灣各式道地美食，而這個消息也引來熱議。

According to social media users, the new pizza will combine many well-known traditional Taiwanese street foods, and

The announcement sparked intense discussions online.

許多人表示當每道口味都那麼重的時候就不會那麼美味，也有人開玩笑的問必勝客「到底有多討厭義大利」。

Many thought that the flavors were too strong and would clash. Social media users even teased Pizza Hut, commenting “how much do you hate Italy?”

必勝客之前也已推出過眾多奇特的口味，其中包括臭豆腐、麻辣鍋、拉麵、榴槤和湯圓等。

Pizza Hut had launched many unusual pizza flavors in the past, including stinky tofu, spicy hot pot, ramen, durian, boba, and fried tangyuan.

最近也因為端午節特別推出了粽子口味的「北皇粽比薩」，如今依舊在菜單上。

Their recent Dragon Boat Festival series, which includes Zongzi flavored pizza, is still on the menu.

根據網友分享，新口味的DM上寫著此比薩內含「香菜、花生粉、豬血糕和Q彈皮蛋」。

According to the poster provided by social media users, the cilantro century egg pig’s blood cake pizza is made with four key ingredients: cilantro and peanut powder from Yunlin, braised pig’s blood cake and chewy century eggs.

網友表示這個口味對於不敢吃香菜、皮蛋、豬血糕或是對花生過敏的人都是極大的挑戰。

Some commented that this flavor is challenging people who dislike cilantro, century eggs, and pig’s blood cake, or are allergic to peanuts.

也有人點出這四種材料單看起來都好，但是被混搭在一起後胃口全沒了。

Others expressed their strong dislike over the idea of mixing those four ingredients together.

然而，還是有勇者表示自己想試試看，並稱「這個口味還是比鳳梨好」。

However, many were still willing to give the pizza a try, commenting “this new flavor is better than pineapple on pizza.”

更有人建議必勝客應該試做「辣味鴨血」或是「銀絲卷」口味。

Another suggested adding “spicy duck blood” or “silver thread buns” (銀絲卷).

網友也開玩笑的指出必勝客真的在向義大利宣戰了，留言中寫道「如果義大利攻打台灣，我一點也不會感到意外」。

Some also joked that Pizza Hut is challenging Italy with this outrageous flavor, with one questioning“Does Pizza Hut want Italy to declare war?” while another said, “If Italy attacks Taiwan, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

根據網友所述，此新口味將在六月底登場。

According to social media users, this flavor will be released at the end of June.

Next Article

男大生鑽漏洞爽吃肯德基　詐86萬超悽慘下場曝光 | Chinese student to spend 2 years in jail for using app loophole to get ‘free’ KFC meals

中國一位23歲男大生因為發現並利用肯德基APP的漏洞，騙取價值將近86萬新台幣的免費炸雞，近期遭判入獄兩年。

A 23-year-old university student in China was recently sentenced to 2.5 years in prison after finding, and taking advantage of, a loophole in the KFC ordering app, helping him to swindle around NT$866,000 worth of chicken.

根據外媒報導，徐姓男子早在2018年發現了可以透過肯德基優惠券在官方APP上點餐，再立即透過官方微信帳號要求退款以免費取得餐點。

According to foreign media reports, the man, surnamed Xu (徐), discovered the bug in 2018 and realized that he could order food by using coupons via the KFC official app and then immediately asking for a refund via its WeChat account.

報導指出，徐姓男子接著將這個漏洞分享給朋友，也於網路上販售優惠券使得肯德基損失此重。

The student then shared this discovery with his friends and reportedly began selling the coupons online to profit from this loophole.

徐姓男子在接下來的六個月中使肯德基虧了將近86萬新台幣等值的食物，最後也因此被當地警方逮補。

In the following six months, Xu and others caused around NT$866,000 worth of economic loss to local KFC stores. The scammer was later nabbed by authorities.

這名男大生被依詐欺罪名被判入獄2年半，同時將要付出2.6萬新台幣的罰金。他的朋友也被罰新台幣4000元至1萬7千元不等的罰金，同時遭判15個月至兩年的刑期。

The university student was then put on trial and sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for fraud and was fined around NT$26,000, while his friends were also sentenced between 15 months to 2 years behind bars along with NT$4000 to NT$17,000 fines.

然而，網友在社群媒體上紛紛議論，單純發現並利用一個設計不良的APP也有錯嗎？

However, the issue sparked debate among many social media users as some questioned whether it constitutes a crime to take advantage of a poorly designed app.

此爭議也釣出中國警方回應，表示這樣的情況等同於發現一個故障的提款機，卻持續的領錢占為己有。

The debate also brought about Chinese authorities’ official reply which equated the situation to that of withdrawing and keeping money from a malfunctioning ATM machine.

根據當地法律所述，這樣的行為為「不當得利」，示為犯罪行為。

In accordance with Chinese law, it is considered a crime as it falls in the category of “unjustified enrichment.”

此事件肯定能成功遏止日後任何想利用訂餐APP的bug獲取免費食物的人。

This incident will certainly make anyone think twice the next time they discover a bug in a food-ordering software. Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210624-2620461; https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210517-2482527.

更多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

用email訂閱就可以收到通勤學英語節目更新通知。

Hello通勤家族，歡迎收聽15mins Live Podcast直播，在這個新單元可以聽到直播過程中，我的主題分享以及聽眾互動。在這個單元我會用中英文與大家互動，也會跟直播聽眾做當場的 Q and A，幫助解惑與點出學英語的技巧。

未來的週一晚上9pm，會在Mixerbox App與大家進行互動與輕鬆地談些英語學習相關的議題，有空的通勤家族歡迎到Mixerbox與John老師在線上聊聊。

我這一集分享的的主題是，外國人常用的禮貌用語，shownotes裡有簡易大綱給你參考，有任何相關意見或點子，歡迎寫信到[email protected]。

簡易大綱

面對外國人常用的禮貌用語

1. 到底多禮貌才夠禮貌？用sorry就最禮貌了?

2. 西方社會從小教育的 Please請, Thank you謝謝, Sorry對不起

3. 西方教育的社交禮貌

3.1 打招呼/ 握手

• Hello / Hi / Good day / Good morning

3.2 請教/請問的問句

• Excuse me?

3.3 互動中常稱讚/接收稱讚

• You look amazing today! / Thank you for your compliment

3.4 接收禮物時回應

• I really love this gift (你對禮物的感想) + You are so thoughtful (對送禮人的稱讚) + Thank you (感謝)

3.5 請求/要求他人的協助

• It would be great if… / I would appreciate it if…

4. 猜題時間，如果外國人跟你說，你如何回應？：

o Thank you --> Don’t mention it / You are welcome

o I’m sorry -->It’s ok / It’s fine

5. 猜題時間，如果你遇到以下的情境，你會用英文說？：

o 打噴嚏 --> Excuse me

o 請問這裡有人坐嗎? --> Is this seat taken?

通勤學英語15mins.Today榮獲

• Apple Podcast 2020年十大熱門節目

• KKBox 2020年十大Podcast風雲榜 (唯一語言學習Podcast)

• Himalaya 人氣票選播客總冠軍

更多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

用email訂閱就可以收到通勤學英語節目更新通知。

Summary: 

Many who are now WFH, are facing new challenges. Apart from the transition into being able to work anywhere, office dynamics and emotions are the new issues bugging people. Interacting with your colleagues over video conferencing is not the same as interacting with them face to face. According to Stanford Professor, remote work can contribute to “feeling out of the loop, because you’re missing the kinds of ad hoc conversations that tend to reassure us we’re in good standing.    

原跟讀文章: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-k084-is-remote-work-making-us-paranoid?categoryId=89454

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:   

Anxiety n. (Anxious adj.) – feeling of worry, nervousness or unease 

- People are facing new anxieties during work from home. 

- When you see your messages and emails read but without a reply, you become anxious.   

Out of the loop / Keep in the loop id. – not part of the group that knows or makes the decisions. 

- I was out of the loop halfway into the project. 

- Jack kept me in the loop about his wedding plans.   

Lose out ph.v. – not having advantage that others have 

- If our videos are not in good quality, we might lose out to other youtubers. 

- We would lose out if we don’t get our products into the major e-commerce sites. 

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K145: About Japan - Emergency bathroom run lands Japanese "bullet train" driver in hot water 

The famed high-speed "bullet train" in Japan got some unwanted attention from regulators last month after the driver briefly abandoned his controls to take a bathroom break — leaving the train and its 160 passengers to hurtle along the tracks at 93 miles-per-hour.

日本知名的高速「子彈列車」上月因一名司機員暫離駕駛室去上廁所而被監管人員盯上——（他）讓列車與車上160名乘客以93英里的時速奔馳於鐵軌上。

The train departed Tokyo Station at 7:33 a.m., bound for Shin-Osaka station. At 8:14, outside the city of Odawara southwest of Tokyo, the driver suffered a bout of abdominal distress.

這班前往新大阪站的列車在早上7時33分從東京站出發。8時14分來到東京西南方的小田原市外圍時，司機員感到一陣腹痛。

Instead of stopping the train to run to the bathroom, he called in the conductor to occupy the control room for three minutes, until he was able to scramble back to his post.

與其停車以便跑去上廁所，他反而找來車掌在駕駛室待3分鐘，直到他趕回與重返駕駛崗位。

"Many of our conductors are licensed to take the controls," Central Japan Railway public relations representative Ryumon Hashimoto said. "But this one wasn’t."

「我們的許多車掌有（列車）駕駛執照，」JR東海公關部的橋本龍門（譯音）說。「但這位沒有。」

Next

Wearing someone else’s face： Hyper-realistic masks to go on sale in Japan戴上其他人的臉：日本開始販售超逼真面具

A year into the coronavirus epidemic, Japanese retailer Shuhei Okawara has come up with a new take on the theme of facial camouflage - a hyper-realistic mask that models a stranger’s features.

新型冠狀病毒大流行1年後，日本零售商大河原修平想出臉部遮掩方式的新點子—以陌生人五官特徵為範本的超逼真面具。

Okawara’s masks won’t protect you or others against the virus. But they will lend you the exact appearance of an unidentified Japanese adult whose features have been printed onto them.

大河原的面具不會保護你或其他人免於病毒威脅，但可以讓你擁有一個陌生日本成年人的容貌，他們的五官特徵都被印在上面。

The masks will be sold for 98,000 yen apiece at his Tokyo shop, Kamenya Omote, whose products are popular as accessories for parties and theatrical performance.

這些面具將在他的商店Kamenya Omote，以每個9萬8000日幣（約2萬5700台幣）的價格販售。該店因販售派對和戲劇表演配件而廣受歡迎。

More than 100 applicants sent Okawara their photos, with each receiving 40,000 yen in return.

逾100名申請「賣臉」者，已將自己的照片寄給大河原，每人可獲4萬日幣（約1萬500台幣）報酬。

Demand for the masks are strong, Okawara said. "There are not so many people who buy （face masks） for specific purposes. Most see them as art pieces."

大河原說，面具需求很強勁，「為了特定目的買（面具）的人沒那麼多，大部分都視為一件藝術品。」

Next

Ministry brass entertained by company Suga’s son works at 部會高官接受菅義偉之子任職的企業招待

High-ranking bureaucrats at the telecommunications ministry were secretly wined and dined by employees of a major visual media production company, including Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s son － a possible ethics code violation.

總務省高官曾秘密接受一家大型視訊媒體製作公司的工作人員—包括首相菅義偉之子—的餐飲招待，此舉恐有違反風紀規範之虞。

After Bunshin Online broke the scandal on Feb. 3, Suga told reporters, "I am not aware of the matter at all."

在文春（週刊）網路版2月3日踢爆此一醜聞後，菅義偉告訴記者：「我完全不曉得這件事。」

"I think the ministry will properly handle the case," Suga said, adding that he has "no intention" of asking his son about it.

「我認為總務省會適當處理此事。」菅義偉說，並補充道，他「不打算」問兒子這件事。

But Suga’s aloof approach quickly changed at a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Feb. 4, where opposition lawmakers grilled the prime minister about the scandal.

但當他在2月4日的國會眾議院預算委員會的會議上，被反對黨國會議員盤問這起醜聞時，菅義偉一改原本的冷處理態度。

Suga said he has talked with his son over the phone about the Bunshin report.

菅義偉說，他曾在電話裡與兒子談過文春週刊的報導。

"I told him to cooperate with the fact-finding investigation," Suga said.

「我告訴他要配合核實調查。」菅義偉說。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1452760;https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1441828;https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1436388

更多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

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.K144: Fighting Dementia With Memories of Childhood and Happy Times 

“We’re lost,” said Truus Ooms, 81, to her friend Annie Arendsen, 83, as they rode a city bus together.“As the driver, you should really know where we are,” Arendsen told Rudi ten Brink, 63, who sat at the wheel of the bus.

「我們迷路了。」當她們一同搭乘一輛市區巴士時，81歲的楚絲．烏姆斯對她的83歲友人安妮．艾倫德森這麼說。艾倫德森對坐在巴士駕駛座、63歲的魯迪．滕．布林克說：「身為司機，你真的應該要知道我們身在何處。」

But she was joking.

不過她是在開玩笑。

The three are dementia patients at a care facility in the eastern Netherlands. Their bus ride — a route on the flat, tree-lined country roads of the Dutch countryside — was a simulation that plays out several times a day on three video screens.

這三位是荷蘭東部一間照護中心內的失智症患者，他們的巴士之旅－在荷蘭鄉間有行道樹的平坦道路上行駛的路線－其實是每天會在三個螢幕上播放數次的模擬旅程。

It is part of an unorthodox approach to dementia treatment that doctors and caregivers across the Netherlands have been pioneering: harnessing the power of relaxation, childhood memories, sensory aids, soothing music, family structure and other tools to heal, calm and nurture the residents, rather than relying on the old prescription of bed rest, medication and, in some cases, physical restraints.

這是荷蘭各地醫師和照護人員一直在率先嘗試的失智症非正統療法的一部分。利用放鬆的力量、兒時回憶、感官輔具、柔和音樂、家族結構及其他工具，去治療、安撫和滋育入住者，而非依賴以往的方式：臥床休息、藥物，有時候甚至會用到身體約束。

“The more stress is reduced, the better,” said Dr. Erik Scherder, a neuropsychologist at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and one of the country’s best-known dementia care specialists. “If you can lower stress and discomfort, it has a direct physiological effect.”

「減少愈多壓力，效果愈好。」荷蘭最知名的失智症治療專家之一、阿姆斯特丹自由大學神經心理學家艾瑞克．薛德說。「如果你能降低壓力和不適，就有直接的生理效果。」

Simulated trips in buses or on beaches — like one in a care facility in Haarlem, not far from a real beach — create a gathering point for patients. The shared experience lets them talk about past trips and take a mini holiday from their daily lives.

模擬的巴士或沙灘旅行－像是在哈倫一所照護機構舉辦的一場，距離真正的海灘也不遠－為病患創造了聚會的時機。這個共享的經驗讓他們談起過往的旅行，並且在日常生活中享受一個迷你假期。

Dementia, a group of related syndromes, manifests itself in a steep decline in brain functions. The condition steals memories and personalities. It robs families of their loved ones and saps resources, patience and finances.

失智症是多個相關症候群的統稱，主要顯現在大腦功能的急遽退化，這個病症會偷走記憶及個性，奪走家人深愛的人，並榨取資源、耐心與金錢。

Up to 270,000 Dutch people — roughly 8.4 percent of the 3.2 million residents over the age of 64 — have dementia, and the government expects that number to double in the next 25 years.

多達27萬人－在64歲以上的320萬居民中約占8.4%－罹患失智症，政府認為這個數字在未來25年將會增加一倍。

In recent years, the government has preferred to pay for home care rather than in a licensed facility so most people with dementia live at home. The facilities, which are privately run but publicly funded, are generally reserved for people in an advanced state of the disease.

近年來，政府偏好資助失智症患者的居家照護甚於送往有執照的機構，因此大多數患者住在家裡。這些由公家出資、民間經營的照護機構，通常保留給重度失智的病患。

In the 1990s, the Dutch started thinking differently about how to treat the disease, moving away from a medicalized approach.

在1990年代，荷蘭開始跳脫訴諸醫藥的角度，思考治療這種疾病的其他方法。

“In the ‘80s, clients were treated like patients in a hospital,” said Ilse Achterberg, a former occupational therapist, who was one of the pioneers of “snoezel” rooms, which feature light, aroma, massage and sound therapy, and let patients relax and access emotions that are often blocked in stressful clinical settings.

曾任職能治療師的伊爾絲．艾徹柏格說：「在80年代，個案在醫院被當成病人治療。」她是採行「多感官環境」療法的先驅之一，這種方法在房間中利用燈光、香氣、按摩和聲音治療，讓患者放鬆，釋放在充滿壓力的醫院環境中被封鎖的情緒。

These rooms were the forerunner of some of the techniques found today in many care facilities in the Netherlands.

這些多感官環境室，是現今荷蘭許多照護機構採行的一些技術的先驅。Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/331158/web/

更多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

用email訂閱就可以收到通勤學英語節目更新通知。

老師互動信箱: [email protected]

商業合作洽詢: [email protected]

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K143: About India - Indian Bride Shuts Down Wedding After Groom Fails Her Math Test 

An Indian bride canceled her wedding after her groom recited the multiplication table of two incorrectly.

一位印度新娘因為新郎背錯2的乘法表，當場取消婚禮。

A bride and groom who wish to remain unidentified were supposed to have the wedding for their arranged marriage on May 1 in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.

不願透露姓名的新娘和新郎本應於5月1日在印度北方邦舉行婚禮，這是一樁包辦婚姻。

Skeptical of her future husband’s educational background, the bride decided to test his knowledge during the ceremony.

新娘懷疑未來丈夫的教育背景，因此決定在婚禮上測試他的知識。

When he failed to recite the multiplication table of two, the bride left, "saying that she could not marry someone who did not know basic math," reported INQUIRER.net.

據「菲律賓每日問訊者報」網站報導，當他背不出2的乘法表時，新娘轉身離開了，「說她不能嫁給一個連基礎數學都不懂的人。」

The bride’s cousin stated that the groom’s family did not inform them of his lack of education, adding that the bride was "brave" for leaving the wedding venue.

新娘的表妹說，男方家庭沒有告知新郎教育程度低的事實，並補充道，新娘離開婚禮現場的做法「很勇敢」。

The two families came to a compromise which included returning all gifts and jewelry to the appropriate parties.

這兩個家庭達成妥協，包括同意退還所有的禮物和珠寶給對方。

Next

India’s ’Angry Brides’ game wages war on dowry 印度「憤怒新娘」遊戲向嫁妝陋習宣戰

An online game in India called "Angry Brides" which seeks to highlight the problem of illegal dowry demands has attracted more than 270,000 fans.

印度一款名為「憤怒新娘」的線上遊戲，旨在凸顯非法索取嫁妝帶來的問題，吸引了逾27萬名粉絲。

The game by online matchmaker shaadi.com – inspired by the hugely popular "Angry Birds" game – sees players attack prospective grooms greedy for dowry with a variety of weapons, from a brick-red stiletto to a broomstick.

這款遊戲由婚友網站「Shaadi.com」推出，靈感來自廣受歡迎的「憤怒鳥」遊戲，玩家可使用從磚紅色細高跟鞋到帚柄等各式武器來攻擊貪求嫁妝的準新郎。

The three grooms – an engineer, a doctor and a pilot – dodge the attacks while demanding dowries starting at 1.5 million rupees. Each time a player hits a groom, he or she wins money towards a virtual anti-dowry fund.

遊戲中的3位新郎分別是工程師、醫生和飛行員。他們一邊索求150萬盧比起跳的嫁妝，一邊躲避著玩家的進攻。玩家每擊中新郎一次，他或她就會贏得一筆虛擬的反嫁妝資金。

The game, available as a free application on Facebook, has already attracted more than 272,000 "likes."

這款遊戲在臉書上是一款免費應用程式，已吸引了超過27萬2000人按「讚」。

Paying and accepting a dowry in India has been illegal since 1961, but the centuries-old tradition of the bride’s parents presenting gifts of cash, clothes, jewellery, even appliances to the groom’s family remains strong.

從1961年至今，收送嫁妝在印度都是違法的，但是新娘的父母向新郎家庭贈送現金、衣服、珠寶甚至器具等禮物的傳統已有幾世紀之久，至今依然盛行。

Demands for dowry often persist well past the wedding ceremonies, and in the worst cases, brides are tortured and even murdered if they or their parents do not comply.

索取嫁妝的情況就算在婚禮後也揮之不去，在最壞的情況下，如果新娘或她們的父母不給嫁妝，新娘就會受到折磨甚至被謀殺。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1451980; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/565200

通勤學英語15mins.Today榮獲

• Apple Podcast 2020年十大熱門節目

• KKBox 2020年十大Podcast風雲榜 (唯一語言學習Podcast)

• Himalaya 人氣票選播客總冠軍

更多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

用email訂閱就可以收到通勤學英語節目更新通知。

老師互動信箱: [email protected]

商業合作洽詢: [email protected]

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K142: San Francisco may be first major US city to hit herd immunity, experts say 

San Francisco may have become the first major American city to hit herd immunity to the coronavirus, experts say.

專家表示，舊金山可能已成為美國第一個達到對冠狀病毒群體免疫的主要城市。

San Francisco is still recording a small number of coronavirus cases, about 13.7 per day, said Dr George Rutherford, professor of epidemiology at University of California San Francisco, but they don’t appear to be gaining enough of a foothold in the population to trigger wider outbreaks.

加州大學舊金山分校流行病學教授喬治‧盧瑟福醫師說，舊金山仍有少量冠狀病毒病例出現，大約每天十三點七例，但這些病例似乎並不足以在人群中引爆更大的疫情。

“That is what herd immunity looks like,” Rutherford said. “You’re going to have single cases, but they’re not going to propagate out.” Health officials still lack agreement on exactly what percentage of the population must be immune to COVID-19 to achieve the much-vaunted status of “herd immunity,” when so many people have antibodies against the virus that it can no longer spread widely through the community.

「這就是群體免疫的樣子」，盧瑟福說，「會有零星的病例，但它們不會蔓延出去」。對COVID-19免疫的人要到底要達到人口中多少比例，才能達到備受吹捧的「群體免疫」狀態──即許多人對該病毒具有抗體，而讓病毒無法繼續在社區大肆傳播──衛生官員仍未有一致的意見。

Throughout the pandemic, the vaccination goals to hit herd immunity have been a moving target, a briefing from Yale School of Medicine notes, with experts initially estimating that the virus would have difficulty spreading if 60 to 70 percent of the population was immune. With several variants in circulation, some of which are more contagious, the estimates have been climbing. Many experts now estimate that herd immunity will be achieved when 80 to 90 percent of residents have been vaccinated.

耶魯大學醫學院的一份簡報指出，對於要達到群體免疫所需接種疫苗的目標數量，因應疫情而始終在變動。專家最初估計，若百分之六十至七十的人口免疫，病毒將難以傳播。現已有數種變種病毒，有些傳染力更強，因此估算出來，應達到的目標一直在提高。許多專家現在估計，當百分之八十至九十的居民接種了疫苗後，就會達到群體免疫。

San Francisco has been close to that target. Nearly 80 percent of San Francisco residents eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine have received at least one shot, according to data from the city’s health department, and 68 percent are fully vaccinated.　

舊金山已接近了這個目標。根據該市衛生部門的數據，有資格接種冠狀病毒疫苗的舊金山居民中，近百分之八十至少接種了一劑疫苗，百分之六十八的人已完整接種了疫苗。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/06/14/2003759109

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