通勤學英語 15Mins Today

Summary:

Australian government recently passed a law to protect the rights to news content which negotiates the payment for news content used on Facebook and Google. According to research, every AUD100 in advertising payments, a third goes to Google and Facebook. Traditional media companies are suffering reduced subscriptions and advertising.

原跟讀文章: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-k069-australia-battles-big-tech-over-news-revenue-sharing-law

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Dispute n.: disagreement, argument, or debate.

- Facebook blocked news content from Australia and deepened the dispute between socialmedia and the Australian government.

- The dispute between party A and party B will have to be settled in court.

Regulator n. : a person/ organization that regulates something

- The competition regulator will check for monopolies in the market.

- Australian regulators are demanding social media companies to share their advertisingrevenue over news content.

Dwindle v.: diminish gradually

- The number of magazine subscriptions have dwindled.

- We expect the membership payments to dwindle by 50% over the next 3 years.

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

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K120: Hsinchu mothers’group screens members to exclude ‘low-class’ families’ 

Hsinchu boasts the highest salaries of any city in Taiwan, thanks to the large concentration of technology talent clustered in the city. A woman who works at the Hsinchu Science Park published a revealing post on Monday in the WomenTalk chatroom on Professional Technology Temple (PTT), the nation’s largest online bulletin board. The post’s author wrote that six months ago she changed career and began working for a technology company at the park. During a recent conversation with a 30-something colleague who is 20 weeks pregnant, the colleague mentioned that she had intended to join a fairly well-known mothers’ group called “Hsinchu Science Park Mothers.” However, she discovered that she was ineligible to join because the group vets the employment and education history of aspiring members to “prevent low-class people from joining” and “create a high-quality group.”

聚集不少高科技人才的新竹，是全台薪資最高的城市，有一名「竹科」女三日在PTT「女孩板」（WomenTalk）發文透露，半年前跳槽到新竹科技業的她，近日與一名三十多歲、已懷孕二十週的同事閒聊，對方提到想要加入新竹一個相當知名的「竹科媽媽群組」，但該群組以「不想讓低端人口加入」、「打造有質感的媽媽群組」為由，要求審核父母的學經歷，想進入沒那麼簡單。

The post went into detail about the group’s stringent requirements: at least one parent must hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from one of the four best universities or a masters’ degree from another top university, have been employed at a publicly listed company for at least five years or be a medical doctor, lawyer or civil servant. If neither parent has a glittering academic record, not to worry, so long as one of the parents has an entrepreneurial background and can provide proof that they own at least three real-estate properties.

原PO指出，條件要求「父母雙方至少有一方必須要是四大學士以上或中字輩以上碩士，或至少有待過上市上櫃公司五年以上，或至少有一方為醫生、律師、公務員」，若沒有亮眼學經歷也沒關係，但必須是家裡自己創業、持有不動產三間以上，還要拿出所有權狀來證明。

The author of the post went on to write that the mothers often form sub-groups to provide English lessons, swimming classes and music tuition, an “integrated curriculum,” “whole-brain development” and even horse-riding lessons for their precious darlings, adding that the fees are eye-watering. Furthermore, the mothers also form sub-groups to enrich their lives, such as flower arranging, baking and yoga: “As a conservative estimate, a month’s fees covering classes for both the mother and child will start at between NT$20,000 and NT$30,000.“

原PO說，該群組的媽媽們常常揪團讓小朋友上英文課程、寶寶游泳、寶寶音樂課、統合課程、全腦潛能開發、馬術等課程，費用都不便宜。就連媽媽們為了充實自己，也會揪團一起上花藝課、烘焙課或瑜珈課，「保守估計光是媽媽跟小孩加起來學費一個月至少就要兩、三萬起跳……」。

The post triggered a lively debate among netizens, with some commenting below the post: “Each to their own. I won’t be joining but I won’t criticize them either.” Another commented: “This is just how upper-class society works. Don’t let poverty get in the way of your imagination.” “This is completely normal. What a load of fuss about nothing. Class difference is real,” wrote another.

文章曝光引發網友熱議，紛紛留言「青菜蘿蔔各有所好，不想加入，也不會批判」、「上流社會階層就是這樣，不要被貧窮限制住想像力了」、「很正常啊，大驚小怪，果然階級有差」、「認真覺得篩選同溫層成員真的很重要……」。

However, other commentators were less forgiving: “The threshold is actually not that high, but it comes across as really contrived,” with another writing: “I wouldn’t want to join a mothers’ group of priggish upper-class posers that excludes the less well-off.” “This mothers’ group has no class,” wrote another.

但也有人不以為然，認為「這門檻不高，不過蠻假掰的」、「看到排除低端人口就不會想加入 自以為高端喔」、「這種群組看起來就沒什麼質感」。

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

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K119: In Streaming Age, Classical Music Gets Lost in the Metadata

When Roopa Kalyanaraman Marcello, a classical music aficionado in Brooklyn, asked her Amazon Echo for some music recently, she had a specific request: the third movement of Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto.

最近，布魯克林區的古典音樂愛好者魯帕．卡利亞拿拉曼．馬切羅要她的亞馬遜智慧音箱Echo播放一些音樂時，她具體地說出要求：貝多芬《皇帝》協奏曲的第三樂章。

“It kind of energizes me, motivates me to get things done,” she said.

她說：「它讓我精力充沛，激勵我把事情做好。」

But the Echo, a voice-activated speaker, could not find what she wanted. First it gave her the concerto’s opening movement; then, on another try, came the second movement. But not the third.

但Echo這個聲控喇叭找不到她想要的東西。它先播給她協奏曲的開場樂章， 然後在另一次嘗試中播了第二樂章，但都不是第三樂章。

Exasperated, Kalyanaraman Marcello gave up.

憤怒的卡利亞拿拉曼．馬切羅放棄了。

“Just play something else!” she recalled saying.

「就播點別的吧！」她記得自己這麼說。

Her frustration may be familiar to fans of classical music in the streaming age. The algorithms of Spotify, Apple and Amazon are carefully engineered to steer listeners to pop hits, and Schubert and Puccini can get lost in the metadata.

對串流媒體時代的古典音樂愛好者來說，她的挫折感並不陌生。Spotify，蘋果和亞馬遜的演算法是經過精心設計的，引導聽眾點擊熱門歌曲，而舒伯特與普契尼則會迷失在描述資料中。

Classical music has always been a specialized corner of the music business, with a discerning clientele and few genuine blockbusters. But by some measures the genre has suffered in the shift to streaming. While 2.5% of album sales in the United States are classical music, it accounts for less than 1% of total streams, according to Alpha Data, a tracking service.

古典音樂一直是音樂產業的一個專業領域，有著挑剔的客戶且很少有真正熱賣的唱片，但從某種程度上來說，此一音樂類型在轉向串流市場時受到挫折。根據追蹤服務公司Alpha Data指出，美國唱片銷量雖有2.5％是古典音樂，但它在整體串流市場的占比不到1％。

Two new companies, Idagio and Primephonic, see an opportunity in the disconnect. Both are challenging the big platforms by offering streaming services devoted to classical music, with playlists that push Martha Argerich over Ariana Grande, and databases tailored to the nuances of the genre.

兩家新成立的公司Idagio與Primephonic在這種斷線中看到了商機。兩家都透過專門提供古典音樂串流服務方式來挑戰大型平台，有著將阿格麗希排在亞莉安娜．格蘭德之上的播放列表，以及依據音樂類型細微差別量身訂做的數據庫。

“The mission we are on is to turn the tide for classical music the way Spotify has done for pop,” said Thomas Steffens, the chief executive of Primephonic, which is based in Amsterdam and went online last fall.

總部設於阿姆斯特丹、去年秋天上線的Primephonic執行長托瑪士．史特芬斯說：「我們的使命是以Spotify為流行樂所做的那樣翻轉古典音樂。」

For most of the music on Spotify or Apple Music, a listing of artist, track and album works fine. But critics of the status quo argue that the basic architecture of the classical genre — with nonperforming composers and works made up of multiple movements — is not suited to a system built for pop.

對Spotify或Apple Music上的大部分音樂來說，歌手、曲目與專輯的列表運作得很好，但批評現狀的人認為，古典音樂類別的基本架構並不適合於為流行樂而建的體系。該類別的作曲家並不表演，且作品由多個樂章組成。

Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/4047663

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.K118: Europe Proposes Strict Regulation of Artificial Intelligence

The European Union unveiled strict regulations on April 21 to govern the use of artificial intelligence, a first-of-its-kind policy that outlines how companies and governments can use a technology seen as one of the most significant, but ethically fraught, scientific breakthroughs in recent memory.

歐洲聯盟4月21日公布了管理人工智慧使用的嚴格規範，這項史無前例的政策，勾勒出企業與政府應當如何使用這種科技。AI是近年來最重要、卻在倫理方面令人擔憂的科學突破之一。

The draft rules would set limits around the use of artificial intelligence in a range of activities, from self-driving cars to hiring decisions, bank lending, school enrollment selections and the scoring of exams. It would also cover the use of artificial intelligence by law enforcement and court systems — areas considered “high risk” because they could threaten people’s safety or fundamental rights.

法規草案針對人工智慧在許多活動中的使用設下限制，包括自駕車、聘僱決定、銀行貸款、學校招生篩選及考試的評分等。另外新法規還涵蓋執法和司法部門對人工智慧的使用，這些領域被視為具「高風險」，因為可能威脅到人們的安全或基本權利。

Some uses would be banned altogether, including live facial recognition in public spaces, though there would be several exemptions for national security and other purposes.

有些用途將完全禁止，包括在公共場所進行即時臉部辨識，不過基於國家安全等特別目的可容許一些例外。

The 108-page policy is an attempt to regulate an emerging technology before it becomes mainstream. The rules have far-reaching implications for major technology companies including Amazon, Google, Facebook and Microsoft that have poured resources into developing artificial intelligence, but also scores of other companies that use the software to develop medicine, underwrite insurance policies, and judge credit worthiness. Governments have used versions of the technology in criminal justice and allocating public services like income support.

這份政策文件全文有108頁，宗旨是在一種新興科技成為主流之前加以規範。這些法規對於亞馬遜、谷歌、臉書與微軟等投入大量資源開發人工智慧的大型科技公司，以及另外數十家使用人工智慧軟體研發藥物、承銷保險以及評估判信用度的企業，都會產生深遠影響。一些政府也將特定版本人工智慧用於刑事司法，以及收入補助等公共服務的分配。

Companies that violate the new regulations, which could take several years to move through the European Union policymaking process, could face fines of up to 6% of global sales.

這項新規範可能需要數年才能走完歐盟的決策程序，生效後企業如果違反這些新規定，恐將面臨最高達到其全球營收6％的罰款。

“On artificial intelligence, trust is a must, not a nice to have,” Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission executive vice president who oversees digital policy for the 27-nation bloc, said in a statement. “With these landmark rules, the EU is spearheading the development of new global norms to make sure AI can be trusted.”

歐盟27國集團的數位政策由歐盟執委會副主席瑪格麗特．維斯塔哲負責督導，她在聲明中說：「就人工智慧而言，信任非有不可，而非可有可無。憑藉這些具有里程碑意義的法規，歐盟正帶頭制定新的全球規範，以確保人工智慧能獲得信任。」

The European Union regulations would require companies providing artificial intelligence in high-risk areas to provide regulators with proof of its safety, including risk assessments and documentation explaining how the technology is making decisions. The companies must also guarantee human oversight in how the systems are created and used.

歐盟法規將要求在高風險領域提供人工智慧的企業，向監管機構提供安全性證明，包括風險評估以及該技術是如何做出決策的解釋文件。企業還必須保證在系統創建與使用上要有人為監督。

For the past decade, the European Union has been the world’s most aggressive watchdog of the technology industry, with its policies often used as blueprints by other nations.

過去十年，歐盟一直是世界上對科技業最積極的監管者，其政策經常被其他國家奉為藍本。

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

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K117: About Taiwan -  Taiwan’s full stock of graphic cards elicitenvy from foreigners 

加密貨幣近幾年來的熱潮讓「挖礦」成為越來越盛行的活動。

As cryptocurrency gains momentum these past few years, Bitcoin mining has become more and more popular.

然而，因為挖礦需要顯示卡才能加速讀取影像和內容，顯示卡的需求量近期大幅暴增，使得世界各國店家大缺貨，但台灣除外。

However, as the mining process needs graphic cards to accelerate reading of images and content, the recent demand for it has reached a breaking point where stores in many countries have ran out of stock–all except Taiwan.

根據一位在台外國網友Marco的YouTube影片所示，台北光華商場的店家排滿了整櫃的顯示卡。

According to a recent video shared by YouTuber Marco, the stores at Taipei’s Guanghua Digital Plaza can be seen fully stocked with different kinds of graphic cards.

此景象與外國相比天差地別，也因此引發網友熱議。有網友就羨慕的直呼超想立馬飛到台灣搶貨。

The contrast between the shops in Taiwan and abroad led to excited discussions online with many foreign social media users commenting their wishes to travel to Taiwan just to get their hands on the chips.

也有人開玩笑地在留言區寫道，自己已經在打包準備來台，並大讚台灣根本是人間天堂。

Others jokingly claimed they were already packing their bags for “overseas” travel, while some lauded Taiwan as a “heaven on earth.”

Next Article

台灣缺水狀況攸關全球 World should pay attention to Taiwan’s drought : BBC

台灣在過去一的年未有颱風登陸，導致雨量大幅減少，造就台灣今年正值56年來最嚴重的旱災。

With no typhoons hitting Taiwan in the past year, little rain has resulted in one of the most severe droughts the island has ever seen in the past 56 years.

在台灣人努力節約用水以及當地農民極力適應政府近期對於某些地區進行限水的情況下，外國媒體也開始關注到氣候異常狀況會如何影響全世界。

As Taiwanese struggle to conserve water and farmers become hugely affected by the government’s recent policy to cut water in certain areas for intervals, foreign media have begun to notice how this climate abnormality could affect the world.

根據BBC「為什麼全世界該關注台灣的旱災」為題的報導，台灣多個水庫容量不足20%，而許多地方的水位也低於10%。

According to a BBC report titled “Why the world should pay attention to Taiwan’s drought,” numerous reservoirs in Taiwan are at less than 20% capacity, with water levels below 10 %.

文章解釋道，因為台灣為國際最大的半導體製造地之一，這樣的狀況可能會帶出更大的全球性問題。

This could pose a huge problem to the world, the article continued, as Taiwan is a huge manufacturer of semiconductors.

據作者所述，若台灣水庫中水量持續下降，全球電子行業將受到嚴重的打擊，而當今氣候下的關也鍵商品如智慧型手機和呼吸器設備生產也將受到阻礙。

If reservoirs in Taiwan continue to dry up, the global electronics industry will be hit hard, and the production of key objects in today’s climate including smartphones and ventilators will be hindered, the article said.

同時，報導也指出隨著旱災持續惡化，美國開始擔憂其過度依賴海外(尤指台灣)製造晶片。

It’s reported that with the continuing of such drought, the U.S. is now very concerned about its “over-reliance” on chips made overseas, mainly in Taiwan.

如今，許多人開始盼望台灣五月中旬至六月中旬的雨季能作為解決辦法。

Now, many are looking forward to Taiwan’s annual rainy season from mid-May to mid-June as a temporary solution to the problem.

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。

商業合作洽詢: [email protected]

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K116: Lavender's Soothing ScentCould Be More Than Just Folk Medicine 

Lavender bath bombs; lavender candles; deodorizing lavender sachets for your shoes, car or underwear drawer; lavender diffusers; lavender essential oils; even lavender chill pills for humans and dogs. And from Pinterest: 370 recipes for lavender desserts.

薰衣草泡澡球；薰衣草蠟燭；為你的鞋子、汽車或內衣褲抽屜除臭的薰衣草香囊；薰衣草擴香瓶；薰衣草精油；甚至是能讓人類和狗冷靜下來的薰衣草藥丸。還有來自社群網站Pinterest的點子：370種薰衣草甜點食譜。

Take a deep breath. Release.

深吸一口氣。吐氣。

People like lavender. We have been using this violet-capped herb since at least medieval times. It smells nice. But Google “lavender” and results hint at perhaps the real fuel for our obsession: “tranquility,” “calm,” “relaxation,” “soothing” and “serenity.” Lavender has purported healing powers for reducing stress and anxiety. But are these effects more than just folk medicine?

人們喜歡薰衣草。至少從中世紀以來，我們一直在使用這種頂端藍紫色的藥草。它很好聞。不過，上谷歌搜尋「薰衣草」，結果也許暗示著我們迷戀薰衣草的真正原因：「寧靜」、「鎮定」、「放鬆」、「舒緩」和「平靜」。相傳薰衣草有療癒力，能減輕緊張和焦慮。這些效果並不只是民俗療法？

Yes, said Hideki Kashiwadani, a physiologist and neuroscientist at Kagoshima University in Japan — at least in mice.

沒錯，日本鹿兒島大學的生理學家兼神經科學家柏谷英樹這麼說——至少在老鼠身上是如此。

“Many people take the effects of ‘odor’ with a grain of salt,” he said in an email. “But among the stories, some are true based on science.”

柏谷在電子郵件中說：「許多人對『氣味』的效果持保留態度，不過在各種消息中，有些真的有科學根據。」

In a study published Tuesday in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, he and his colleagues found that sniffing linalool, an alcohol component of lavender odor, was kind of like popping a Valium. It worked on the same parts of a mouse’s brain, but without all the dizzying side effects. And it did not target parts of the brain directly from the bloodstream, as was thought. Relief from anxiety could be triggered just by inhaling through a healthy nose.

在10月23日發表於「行為神經科學前沿」期刊上的研究報告中，柏谷與同事發現，嗅聞芳樟醇（薰衣草氣味中的酒精成分）有點像服用煩寧錠。芳樟醇在老鼠腦部中起作用的區域跟煩寧錠一樣，卻全無令人頭暈的副作用。而且芳樟醇並不像人們先前以為的、直接從血液針對部分腦部起作用，焦慮緩解可能僅靠健康的鼻子吸入芳樟醇氣味即觸發。

Their findings add to a growing body of research demonstrating anxiety-reducing qualities of lavender odors and suggest a new mechanism for how they work in the body. Kashiwadani believes this new insight is a key step in developing lavender-derived compounds like linalool for clinical use in humans.

他們的發現與愈來愈多的其他研究結果一樣，顯示薰衣草氣味能減輕焦慮，另外還提出薰衣草氣味在體內發揮作用的新機制。柏谷認為，就研發源自薰衣草的化合物（如芳樟醇）以供人體臨床應用而言，這一新見解是關鍵性的一步。

Kashiwadani and his colleagues became interested in learning how linalool might work for anti-anxiety while testing its effects on pain relief in mice. In this earlier study, they noticed that the presence of linalool seemed to calm mice.

柏谷與同事在測試芳樟醇緩解老鼠疼痛的效果時，開始對芳樟醇如何抗焦慮產生了興趣。在這個先前所做的緩解老鼠疼痛的研究中，他們注意到芳樟醇的存在似乎使老鼠平靜。

In this study, they exposed mice to linalool vapor, wafting from filter paper inside a specially made chamber to see if the odor triggered relaxation. Mice on linalool were more open to exploring, indicating they were less anxious than normal mice. And they did notbehave like they were drunk, as mice on benzodiazepines, a drug used to treat anxiety, or injected with linalool did.

而在現今這個抗焦慮的研究中，他們將小鼠暴露在芳樟醇蒸氣中，蒸氣從一個特製箱子裡的濾紙飄出，看氣味能否引發放鬆。吸入芳樟醇的老鼠更願意探索四周，顯示牠們不若一般老鼠焦慮。而且牠們的行為不像服用抗焦慮藥物苯二氮平類或注射芳樟醇的老鼠那樣，像是喝醉了。

But the linalool did not work when they blocked the mice’s ability to smell, or when they gave the mice a drug that blocks certain receptors in the brain. This suggested that to work, linalool tickled odor-sensitive neurons in the nose that send signals to just the right spots in the brain — the same ones triggered by Valium.

但當研究人員阻斷老鼠的嗅覺能力，或給老鼠一種阻斷腦部某些受體的藥物時，芳樟醇就不起作用。這顯示，芳樟醇的作用方式是逗弄鼻子中對氣味敏感的神經元，再由神經元將信號發送到腦部正確位置，跟煩寧錠觸發的位置一模一樣。Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/333494/web/

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Hello通勤家族，歡迎你收聽15mins Live Podcast直播，這個我在Mixerbox 做語音互動時，側錄下來的單元。

下週一晚上9pm也會在Mixerbox App與大家進行互動與輕鬆地談些英語學習相關的議題。我們15mins live Podcast除了會用中英文與大家互動外，也會有主題以及John老師的分享補充。未來幾週會嘗試主持這樣的Live語音互動，有空的人歡迎到Mixerbox與John老師聊聊。

我們這一集的主題是，必修的英語網路火星文，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]。

英語網路火星文如何來的？

- 電報時代 --> 簡訊 --> 網際網路 --> 行動通訊軟體(LINE/Whatsapp)

用字母取代單字 (諧音) 

- be 變 b 

- see 變 c 

- are 變 r 

- you 變 u 

- why 變 y 

- OK 變 k  

或者是用數字取代單字 

- ate 變 8 

- for 變 4 

- to 或 too 變 2 

- one 或 won 變 1 

later 變  l8r  

tomorrow 變 2mro 

for or fore 變 4 

Your and You're 變 ur 或 yr 

常見英語網路火星文

- atm --> at the moment 

- brb --> be right back

- bff --> best friends forever

- btw --> by the way

- idc / idk --> i don't care / i don't know

- imo / imho --> in my opinion / in my humble opinion

- ppl --> people

- plz / pls --> please

- ttyl --> talk to you later

- thx / tks --> thanks

- ty / tyvm --> thank you / thank you very much

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Summary:  

Students of a tourism academy in Bali can now pay in coconuts. The academy previously allowed students to pay their tuition in installments, but the pandemic has made payments difficult. Student can contribute coconut and leaves that could be made into virgin coconut oil and herbal soap that could help raise funds for the academy.

原跟讀文章: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-k068-about-indonesia-world-s-oldest-known-cave-painting-found-in?categoryId=89454

Vocabulary and Sample sentences:

Hospitality n. – friendly reception of guests

• The hospitality industry is facing difficulties all over the world.

• Taiwanese people are famous for their hospitality towards international visitors.

Convert v.– change in form

• The coconut and herbal leaves will be converted into oil and herbal products by the academy.

• I bought a stool that can be converted into a coffee table.

Installment n. – a sum of money split into equal payments for a period.

• I charged my new iPhone on my credit card for 12 monthly installments.

• The car loan can be repaid in 60 monthly installments.

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K115:  Myanmar group compiles junta rights abuse dossier

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, with nearly 600 people killed in a crackdown on anti-coup protests — nearly 50 of the dead were children — and more than 2,700 arrested.

緬甸自從二月一日軍方將文職領導人翁山蘇姬趕下台以來，一直處於動蕩中，軍方鎮壓反政變抗議活動，已造成近六百人喪生──其中近五十人為兒童，逾兩千七百人被捕。

The Committee for Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) — a group of MPs from Aung San Suu Kyi’s party — said on Wednesday last week that its lawyers would meet UN investigators to discuss alleged atrocities committed by the junta.

由翁山蘇姬所屬政黨之國會議員所組成的「緬甸聯邦議會代表委員會」（CRPH）上週三表示，其律師將與聯合國調查人員會面，討論軍政府被控所犯之暴行。

“CRPH has received 180,000 items of evidence. This evidence shows widescale abuses of human rights by the military,” the group said in a statement. They include more than 540 extrajudicial executions, 10 deaths of prisoners in custody, torture, illegal detentions and disproportionate use of force against peaceful protests, the statement said.

「緬甸聯邦議會代表委員會已收到十八萬項證據。證據表明，軍方大規模侵犯人權」，該委員會在一份聲明中表示。聲明說，這些事件包括五百四十多起非法處決、十名在押囚犯死亡、酷刑、非法拘禁，以及對和平抗議活動過度使用武力。

As well as breaking up protests and making arrests, the security forces have also sought to shut off news of the crisis. Internet access has been throttled, and independent media outlets raided and shut down.

除了驅散抗議活動與逮捕民眾，安全部隊還試圖封鎖有關此危機情勢之消息；網路連線受到箝制，獨立媒體管道被查抄並關閉。

The military insists that it is responding proportionately to what it says are violent, armed protesters. It has defended seizing power, pointing to allegations of voting fraud in the election in November last year which Aung San Suu Kyi’s party won comfortably.

軍方堅稱，它是在對其所謂的暴力武裝抗議者做出適當反應，並辯稱，軍方奪取政權是由於翁山蘇姬所屬之政黨在去年十一月的選舉中，因作票而輕鬆勝選。

The growing bloodshed has prompted warnings that Myanmar could slide into broader civil conflict, particularly after 10 ethnic rebel armies came out in support of the protest movement.

日益嚴重的流血事件讓人們警覺，緬甸可能會陷入範圍更廣的內戰，尤其是在十個少數民族叛軍表態支持抗議運動後。

Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/04/12/2003755497

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K114: About brands - Fendi launches fancy ‘doggy bags’ for devoted pet lovers

隨著近年越來越多台灣人選澤養寵物勝過養小孩，精品品牌開始推出各種新穎前衛的產品以吸引更多消費者。

With more and more Taiwanese opting to care for pets rather than children in recent years, high-end brands have come up with new and innovative ways to attract more customers.

「狗袋」原為在美國為打包餐廳吃剩的食物的塑膠袋，如今已有新的定義。近期，許多品牌開始主打高級狗袋，成為毛小孩出門用的「運輸工具」或「休息站」。

Doggy bags, once referred to as a plastic bag to pack up leftover food from a restaurant, now has a new definition as a luxurious vehicle and rest stop for lovable pets when “traveling” from one place to another.

Fendi近期推出一系列的寵物飾品，其中包括手提袋，項圈，夾克，甚至還有與主人同款的皮帶，讓毛小孩和父母能一同享受高級奢華的生活方式。

Fendi recently released a new line of pet accessories, including bags, collars, jackets, and even matching belts for owners to help both experience the life of luxury.

根據Fendi官網所述，此系列以棕色和煙草色呈現品牌招牌「FF」 logo，讓你以更時尚的方式攜帶和運輸寵物的各種必需用品。

According to Fendi, the new collection features the brand’s signature FF logo in brown and tobacco-like colors, and includes stylish ways to carry and transport your pet’s essentials.

從FF logo寵物旅行手提包、防潑水尼龍外套，到帶有FF主題圖紋金屬名牌的皮帶和項圈等，這一系列的產品對毛小孩外出所需應有盡有。

From pet–travel totes, water-resistant nylon jackets, and a leather belt and collar with a metal FF motif tag, the new line is sure to attract devoted pet owners.

現在，若寵物出門感到疲憊的話，你可以同時顧及到時尚和實用性，帶他們走遍天下。

Now, when your pet gets tired, you can combine both style and function wherever you go.

Next Article

博柏利春季推出「露點裝」　網讚：真男人就要這樣穿！| Burberry’s 2021 spring collection featuring ‘nipple windows’ becomes big hit online

隨著春天的到來，全球的時尚品牌紛紛推出2021年春季商品，以迎接新的一年。

With the arrival of spring, fashion brands all across the world are launching their new collections for the first season of 2021.

然而，2021春季最吸睛的肯定是博柏利藝術總監Riccardo Tisci的最新男裝T恤，這件胸口挖有兩個大洞的服裝剛好露出男模胸前兩點，引發網友熱議。

However, none attracted more attention than Burberry’s latest 2021 spring collection by creative director Riccardo Tisci where several men’s shirts were featured with two large circular cutouts on their chest, making it the focus of many discussions online.

根據外媒報導，Riccardo Tisci這一季的設計概念在於打造出不平凡的浪漫，而主題也圍繞在鯊魚和美人魚間的戀情。

According to foreign media, Tisci’s vision for the season was centered around the romance between “mermaids and sharks.”

以將看似毫無關聯的元素結合在一起著稱的博柏利，透過圖形設計和非規格化的剪裁推出了今年「對比世界的探索」。

Known for combining seemingly unconnected elements together, Burberry debuted its “exploration of contrasting worlds” through its graphic designs and unconventional cuts.

根據博柏利台灣官網所示，露點T恤雖然標價為稍貴的新台幣2萬1,900元，至今已全數售出。

The T-shirt, priced at NT$21,900 proved to be very popular and has been sold out, according to Taiwan’s Burberry website.

網友也紛紛在社群媒體上表示這前衛的設計似乎代表「好男人不包二奶」，以雙關點出博柏利不平凡的剪裁。

Social media users immediately commented online on the modern design and jokingly claim that good men don’t cover their chest, making a wordplay on a phrase in Mandarin with similar meaning for “good men don’t keep other women.”

有些人將其稱為「好男人制服」，也有人好奇的問道購買此上衣的人穿出門會不會時不時感到寒冷。

Some also coined it the “good men uniform,” while others questioned whether those who bought the shirt would feel “breezy” every time they go out. Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210429-2414954 ; https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210420-2380685

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