通勤學英語 15Mins Today

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K078: About Europe - Lego is spending £310m to transform its bricks

The Danish toymaker is investing £310m in efforts to create its colourful bricks using sustainable materials, but its quest to find an alternative to oil-based plastic has been quite difficult so far.

這家丹麥玩具製造商正投資3.1億歐元，努力創造使用永續材質的多彩積木，但它尋找能取代油基塑膠的替代方案之路，到目前為止還很艱難。

For five years, a team of more than 150 engineers and scientists have been testing many different plant-based and recycled materials - but making sure the bricks can stick together while coming apart easily has been a challenge.

5年來，一支超過150名工程師與科學家參與的團隊，已經測試過許多不同基於植物與可回收的材質，但要確保積木既能夠黏在一起，又能輕鬆分開，仍然是個挑戰。

Lego executive Tim Brooks said the company has been testing how to use bio-polyethylene, a type of plastic made from ethanol that’s produced using sugarcane, for its hard bricks.

樂高執行長提姆．布魯克斯說，該公司已經著手測試如何使用生物聚乙烯，這是一種由甘蔗生產的乙醇製成的塑膠，製造它的堅固積木。

Lego has also announced that it’s going to ditch plastic bags in its boxed sets, which are currently used to hold loose bricks.

樂高也宣布，它將拋棄盒裝組合內，目前用於盛裝散裝積木的塑膠袋。

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Couples design their own "virtual babies" at Dutch art exhibit 荷蘭藝術展 伴侶可自創「虛擬嬰兒」

Couples who want children of their own got a brief taste of parenthood by creating their own "digital babies" during a virtual reality art exhibit in the Netherlands.

荷蘭舉行的一場虛擬實境藝術展中，想要有自己小孩的伴侶，可以藉由創造「數位嬰兒」，短暫體會當父母的滋味。

Visitors selected the baby’s character traits, physical appearance and other features by answering questions on a computer tablet.

訪客透過平板電腦回答問題，選擇嬰兒的人格特質、外貌和其他特徵。

They sat in sofas in a futuristic room with soft lighting and flowing drapes, which was all part of an installation called "IVFX: posthuman parenting in hybrid reality," created by Dutch visual artist Victorine van Alphen.

荷蘭視覺藝術家艾爾芬推出的這項「IVFX：後人類混合現實為人父母體驗」裝置藝術展，場地是個充滿未來感的房間，有柔和的燈光和飄逸的布幕，讓參觀民眾坐在沙發上。

Their choices were then used to form a computer generated infant - a pulsating pink creature in an incubator, which squealed and had a red glowing heartbeat.

接著電腦會依據他們的選擇，在培養器裡生成一個嬰兒，這個粉紅色的蠕動生物 ，會發出尖叫，心跳會發出紅光。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1401327 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1399606

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K077: Taipei promotes hiking trail by offering certificates

The Taipei City Government is running a promotion throughout the year to encourage people to visit the Taipei Grand Trail, a 92km hiking trail which is 1,120m above sea level at its highest point, and which runs through the mountains surrounding Taipei.

台北市政府全年進行宣傳活動，以鼓勵人們參觀台北大縱走，一條全長92公里的登山步道，最高點海拔1,120m，貫穿山巒環抱台北。

The Taipei Grand Trail was launched by the Taipei Public Works Department’s Geotechnical Engineering Office in 2018, integrating more than 100 existing hiking trails that connect the five mountain areas surrounding the Taipei basin — the Datunshan, Qixingshan , Wujhihshan, Nangangshan and Ergeshan areas.

台北大縱走由台北市公務局大地工程處於2018年發起，整合了100多個現有的登山道，這些登山道連接著台北盆地周圍的五個山區（大屯山），七星山（七星山），五指山，南港山和二格山地區。

The trail is divided into seven sections, each ranging from 11km to 18km, enabling people to complete each in one day, the office said.

大地工程處說，這條步道分為七個部分，每個部分的長度從11公里到18公里不等。

The trail has bilingual directions, toilets and drinking fountains along it, and people can easily access each section by using public transportation, it added.

它補充說，這條小徑有雙語的路標、廁所和飲水器，大眾可以通過乘坐公共交通工具輕鬆地進入每個區域。

Chen Yen-chen (陳彥成), chief of the office’s Industrial and Trail Section, said that the trail includes places of cultural interest, such as temples and ancient trails, and each section has its own distinctive scenery.

工業與山道科主任陳彥成（Chen Yen-chen）表示，登山道包括寺廟和古道等文化名勝古蹟，並且每個區域都有自己獨特的風景。

The entire trail can be completed in about seven to eight days, and doing so would burn about 38,000 calories, he said.

他說，所有登山道可以在大約七到八天之內完成，這樣做將燃燒約38,000卡路里。

In 2018, the office installed 12 pillars along the trail so that people could take photographs at them as a record of their hiking experience.

在2018年，工程處沿著登山道安裝了12根支柱，以便人們可以向他們拍照以記錄他們的遠足經歷。

The program this year began on Jan. 1 and runs through Dec. 31, so people can visit the seven sections throughout the year, he said.

他說，今年的企劃從1月1日開始，一直持續到12月31日，因此人們可以全年參觀這七個登山區域。

People who take photos of themselves at each of the 12 pillars and submit a collage of them to the office would receive a certificate and a souvenir towel, Chen said, adding that they can also keep a record of their hikes by using the Hiking Biji (健行筆記) mobile app.

陳主任說，在十二個支柱中的每一個拍照自己並向辦公室提交拼貼的人將可以獲得證書和毛巾紀念品。並補充說，他們還可以通過使用遠足Biji來記錄自己的遠足記錄（健行筆記）行動應用程式。

Hikers also have the option of using the app to collect 49 virtual gems — seven on each section of the trail — and receive an online completion badge and certificate from the Hiking Biji Web site.

登山者還可以選擇使用該應用程序收集49個虛擬寶石（在每登山道的分別收集七個），並從Hiking Biji網站線上繳交徽章和證書。

If they bring the online certificate to the office, they can receive a paper certificate, a souvenir towel and a gauze towel with the Taipei Grand Trail logo printed on it.

如果他們將線上證書帶到辦公室，則可以收到紙本證書，毛巾紀念品和紗布毛巾，上面印有“台北大縱走”的標示。

Chen said that a lottery would be held at the end of the year, the information for which would be posted on the Taipei Grand Trail’s Facebook page (facebook.com/Taipei.Trail).

陳主任說，登山資格將在2020年底舉行，有關信息將發佈在台北大縱走的Facebook頁面上。

Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/02/16/2003752351

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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 

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

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K076: New data reveal salary disparity for recent graduates

According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Labor, starting full-time salaries for university and junior college graduates in the last five years were highest in the financial and insurance sector, averaging NT$47,361, and lowest in the hospitality sector, averaging NT$32,990. Comparing different disciplines, average salaries among technology, media and industry-focused disciplines — physics, chemistry and Earth sciences — all broke the NT$50,000 salary barrier, while graduates of catering, tourism and civic and life services experienced the lowest salaries, averaging NT$31,163.

根據勞動部最新統計，近五年大專畢業生踏入職場後的全時工作薪資，以金融及保險業平均四萬七三六一元「薪」情最佳，住宿及餐飲業的三萬二九九元最「薪」苦；對比不同學門，出路涵蓋科技及傳產的「物理、化學及地球科學學門」均薪破五萬元最高，「餐旅及民生服務學門」三萬一一六三元最低。

Cross-comparison of different industries and disciplines shows that students must not only read the right disciplines, but also choose the right industry to ensure that they will enjoy a good salary when they enter the workplace.

交叉比對不同行業與學門，讀對學門、也要選對行，初入職場薪情才會好。

The data set was compiled from doctoral, master’s, bachelor and junior college-level students who graduated between 2015 and 2019. Average salaries were calculated using withholding wages. Comparing different industries, finance and insurance provided the best wages at an average of NT$47,361, followed by software development and programming engineers, information management and maintenance technicians in the publishing, audiovisual production, mass media and communication services sectors — providing an average salary of NT$44,361. In manufacturing industries, specialists in the setting and operation of metal machine tools and semiconductor fabrication and equipment enjoyed average starting salaries of NT$44,029. The bottom three were starting salaries of NT$32,990 in the hospitality sector, NT$31,148 in agriculture, forestry, fishery and animal husbandry, and NT$32,900 in construction and engineering.

該統計對象是二○一五到二○一九年畢業的博碩士、學士與專科生，以勞退提繳工資來推算平均薪資。以行業別分，金融及保險業的四萬七三六一元最佳，其次是軟體開發及程式工程師、資訊管理及維護技術員為主的出版、影音製作、傳播及資通訊服務業、約四萬四三六一元，金屬工具機設定及操作、半導體製品設備操作等的製造業、則約四萬四○二九元；倒數三名依序是住宿及餐飲業的三萬二九九元、農林漁牧業三萬一一四八元及營建工程業三萬二九○○元。

Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/02/28/2003752946

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

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

Hi there!歡迎收聽Look Back Sunday回顧星期天，在這個節目John老師會彙整過去不同國家與主題的熱門跟讀文章，讓你可以在十五分鐘內吸收最精華的世界時事趣聞！我們這週聽聽紐西蘭相關的文章，Let's get started!

Topic: About New Zealand- Mittens the cat could become New Zealander of the Year

Mittens, a famous feline from Wellington, is in the running to be voted New Zealander of the Year, going up against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield.

來自威靈頓的知名母貓「米坦斯」，正在角逐紐西蘭年度人物票選，對上紐西蘭總理賈欣達．阿爾登與衛生部衛生事務首長艾希莉．布魯斐德博士。

The feline joins a host of nominees for the annual Kiwibank award, including figures from sectors such as politics, media, health, music and design.

這隻母貓獲得年度奇異鳥銀行獎的多項提名，該獎項包括政治界、媒體界、衛生界、音樂界與設計界的年度人物。

Other nominees for New Zealander of the Year include microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles and lawmaker Chloe Swarbrick.

其他紐西蘭年度人物的被提名人，還有微生物學家蘇西．威爾斯，與國會議員克羅伊．史瓦布里克。

The Wellington Museum has also dedicated a mini exhibition to Mittens and his adventures, named "Floofy and Famous." And in May the mayor of Wellington, Andy Foster, gave Mittens the key to the city, an honor previously granted to "The Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson.

威靈頓博物館也已經為米坦斯與牠的冒險辦了一場迷你展覽，名為「蓬鬆而知名」。5月時，威靈頓市市長安迪．佛斯特也給米坦斯這座城市的鑰匙，一項以前曾授予「魔戒」導演彼得．傑克森的榮譽。

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Topic: New Zealand votes to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill patients／紐西蘭表決通過絕症病患安樂死合法化

New Zealanders have voted in favor of legalizing euthanasia for people with a terminal illness － clearing the way for the controversial proposition to become law in 2021.

紐西蘭人已投票贊成絕症病患安樂死合法化——剷除讓此一具有爭議性的提案在2021年立法的障礙。

More than 65% of voters backed the proposed law, according to preliminary results of a referendum announced by the country’s electoral commission Friday.

根據該國選舉委員會週五宣布的公投初步結果，超過65%的選民支持這項法律議案。

Lawmakers voted 69-51 to approve the End of Life Choice Act 2019 last year before sending the issue to a referendum.

該法案在（紐國）國會議員去年以69比51通過「2019終結生命選擇法」後，送交公投。

More than 2.4 million people took part in the poll, which was conducted alongside New Zealand’s general election on October 17.

超過240萬人參加與10月17日紐西蘭大選一同舉行的投票。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1422581; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1396855

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Topic: Sheep Farmers in New Zealand Adapt to Changing Tastes

ST. ANDREWS, New Zealand — About three decades ago, when Andrew Fraser began raising sheep, wool was among the star exports of this nation. Its other sheep products — lamb and mutton — were supporting actors.

約30年前傅瑞澤開始養羊時，羊毛是紐西蘭的明星出口品，其他綿羊產品如羔羊肉和羊肉只是配角。

Today, the situation is reversed. New Zealand’s sheep meat exports are up, while wool faces intensifying competition from synthetic fibers. Although sheep farming is still enmeshed in the fabric of New Zealand’s cultural identity, it is another economic activity that this nation is retooling for a globalized world.

如今情勢逆轉，紐西蘭羊肉出口增加，羊毛卻面臨人造纖維日益激烈的競爭。雖然養羊這種經濟活動仍與紐西蘭的文化認同緊密交織，但紐西蘭正在調整它，以適應全球化的世界。

“Wool has traditionally been — and still is — a very good product,” Mr. Fraser said. “The trouble is that now, a similar product can be manufactured out of used Coke bottles and all sorts of stuff.

傅瑞澤說：「羊毛一向是，也仍然是很棒的產品，問題是現在可用廢可樂罐和各種東西做出類似產品。」

From 1982 to 2011, New Zealand’s sheep population declined to 31.1 million from 70.2 million, according to government data, as many sheep pastures were converted to dairy farms or other uses. The roughly 17,000 sheep farmers who remain still earn money from selling the fleece of their animals. But on many sheep farms, meat has replaced wool as the primary profit maker.

官方資料顯示1982到2011年紐西蘭綿羊從7020萬隻降到3110萬，許多牧羊場轉養乳牛或改作他途。現在大概還有1.7萬羊農，雖仍賣羊毛賺錢，許多養羊場羊肉卻已取代羊毛成為最大財源。

Since 1990, the value of New Zealand’s annual exports of raw wool and manufactured wool products has declined to about $700 million from $1.2 billion, according to government data. By contrast, lamb and mutton exports have increased almost threefold to $2.3 billion. And dairy exports, worth $1.9 billion in 1992, have soared to $14.1 billion.

官方資料顯示，1990年以來每年羊毛和羊毛製品的出口額，從12億美元減為7億美元；羔羊肉和羊肉年出口額卻增為23億美元，幾乎是原來的三倍，乳製品出口額也從1992年的19億美元大增為141億。

New Zealand, with 4.4 million people, is the world’s third-largest wool producer behind Australia and China, according to Beef and Lamb New Zealand, a farmer- owned industry group. It supplies 45 percent of all carpet wool globally, the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group said in a report last year.

紐西蘭牛羊肉協會（牛羊農同業組織）資料顯示，人口440萬的紐西蘭是全球第三大羊毛生產國，僅次於澳洲和中國大陸。去年澳盛銀行發布報告顯示，紐西蘭供應全球四成五的地毯用羊毛。

Yet more than 90 percent of New Zealand’s wool is exported in raw form, rather than in finished products like carpets or upholstery, leaving it vulnerable to swings in commodity markets.

不過，紐西蘭羊毛逾九成以未加工形態出口，而非做成地毯、椅套等成品，易受原物料市場價格波動影響。

Farmers said the wool industry would benefit from having a unified voice to promote New Zealand wool abroad as a highend fiber that, in their view, beats synthetic alternatives in several categories, including overall quality and environmental sustainability. Having a single voice could help the industry reach beyond China, its primary export market by far, into relatively untapped markets like the United States.

許多羊農希望羊毛業團結起來，向海外宣傳紐西蘭羊毛是高檔纖維，在整體品質與促進環境永續發展等好幾個方面，（他們認為）都勝過人造纖維，這樣一定有幫助。一旦有統一的聲音，羊毛業就能在目前最大出口市場中國大陸以外，打入美國等相對未開發的市場。

But New Zealand’s wool industry is viewed as highly fragmented. There were 35 wool exporters operating across the country last year, “a huge level of decentralization” given the industry’s relatively modest export earnings, the Banking Group reported.

外界卻認為紐西蘭羊毛業分散得厲害。澳盛銀行指出，去年紐西蘭全國有35個羊毛出口業者，由於出口獲利相當微薄，這個產業可說是「極度分散」。

“Everyone’s sort of undercutting each other,” said Ross Andrews, a South Island farmer who earns around $3 a kilogram for his carpet-grade wool.

南島羊農安德魯斯出售地毯級羊毛，每公斤約賺3美元，他說：「每個人多少都在削價競爭。」

Wool growers long assumed that their industry would somehow look after itself, but there is now a clear need to promote wool over synthetic fibers, said Sandra Faulkner, an industry advocate. According to an industry group, Beef and Lamb New Zealand, wool accounts for 1.3 percent of global fiber production and synthetics 61.4 percent.

行銷紐西蘭羊毛的桑德拉．福克納說，羊農一直以為羊毛業終究會挺過難關，不過現在真的有必要宣傳羊毛比人造纖維好。紐西蘭牛羊肉協會資料顯示，羊毛只占全球纖維產量1.3%，人造纖維卻占61.4% 。

“It’s about identifying ourselves in the luxury marketplace, which is where we’ve always belonged,” Ms. Faulkner said.

福克納說：「我們要立足於精品市場，我們本來就屬於那裡。」

Peter Lyon, the supervisor of a South Island shearing team, said farmers’ views on how the wool industry should evolve typically depend on factors like whether they have reliable export contractors, the quality of wool they produce and their level of debt.

南島剪羊毛團隊督導里昂說，羊農對於羊毛業何去何從的看法，常取決於某些因素，如他們有沒有可靠的出口貿易公司、生產羊毛的品質和債務的多寡。

In the mid-20th century, wool growers were often “asset-rich and cash-poor,” Mr. Lyon said . “But you can’t afford to be cashpoor today or you’ll get thrown out. ”

里昂說，20世紀中期羊農經常「資產多，現金少」，「但在這個時代，你不能沒現金，否則很難生存」。Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/268494/web/

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Topic: Got Hangover ? New Zealand’s ’morning maids’ help clean up post-party mess 宿醉纏身？紐西蘭「晨光女僕」幫你收拾派對殘局

A New Zealand maid service cleaning up the homes of hung-over party-hosts has been inundated with requests for their services, from home and abroad.

紐西蘭一家專門協助舉辦完派對卻宿醉纏身者打掃房子的女僕服務公司，接獲來自國內外源源不絕的訂單。

Flatmates Rebecca and Catherine launched their cleaning service in Auckland. The service picks up the pieces from parties – cleaning up revellers’ debris （including vomit at NZ$10）, cooking or buying breakfast for hung-over hosts – even doing coffee and painkiller runs.

住在同一間公寓的芮貝卡和凱瑟琳，是在奧克蘭市展開這項清潔事業。她們的服務是收拾派對結束後的殘局，包括清理尋歡作樂者留下的垃圾（有嘔吐物再加10紐幣），為宿醉的派對主人打理早餐，甚至還可以跑腿買咖啡或止痛藥。

Since launching on Facebook in early May, Rebecca and Catherine have been receiving requests from around the country, as well as calls from people in the US and Canada interested in franchising the startup.

芮貝卡和凱瑟琳5月初開始在「臉書」上接受預約，此後收到來自全國各地的訂單，也有美國和加拿大民眾表示，有興趣加盟這項新興事業。

Rebecca and Catherine are both in full-time employment, and squeeze their business into their nights and weekends.

芮貝卡和凱瑟琳都有全職工作，因此都是擠出夜晚和週末時間來做這項生意。

"When people answer the door they are usually really apologetic about the state of their house. But we’ve both been in our 20s and partied so it’s nothing we haven’t seen before," laughs Catherine.

凱瑟琳笑說：「當人們來開門時，通常都是一副對家裡的狀況感到十分抱歉的模樣。但我們倆都是廿來歲，也都參加過派對，還有什麼慘況沒見識過。」Source article: http://iservice.ltn.com.tw/Service/english/english.php?engno=1048326&day=2016-11-03

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

Summary:

In recent years, Taiwan’s boba milk tea has taken the world by storm. Now, many more Taiwanese local snacks are becoming more visible internationally. Wheelcake – a thick, round pancake made in a mold that sandwich a variety of fillings is now giving London foodies something to drool over. What are some of your favorite Taiwanese snacks? Do you think they would be loved as much overseas?

原跟讀文章: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-k024-taiwanese-cakes-take-london-by-storm

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Street vendor n. – vendors that sell goods on the street, usually with a cart or on a mat.

Shilin nightmarket started with a few street vendors aiming to serve night owls that later evolved into a market of street vendors covering the neighboring streets.

Selling on the streets as a street vendor is the easiest way to test market your product.

Fluffy adj. – light in texture and containing air

Wheelcake is a popular street snack made by sandwiching a filling between two fluffy pancakes.

Milk is the secret to making fluffy scrambled eggs.

Filling n. – something edible put between layers of a sandwich or cake

Beard papa puffs now offers strawberry cream filling.

Mister Donut’s angel cream donut now comes in 3 flavors of filling.

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

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

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K075: About the US - Man wins $2M after mistakenly buying extra lottery ticket

A detroit-area man who accidentally bought an extra lottery ticket has won two $1 million jackpots.

（美國）底特律地區一名男子意外多買一張彩券，贏得2組各100萬美元的頭獎。

Samir Mazahem, 56, of Dearborn Heights said he was saving numbers on a lottery app after buying a $2 ticket for the Mega Millions game. He then realized that he had purchased a second ticket with the same numbers.

住在迪爾伯恩海茨的56歲薩米爾．馬札海姆說，他在「超級百萬樂透」的應用程式上，花了2美元買了1張彩券，並把號碼儲存下來後，發現自己竟用同樣的號碼買了2張彩券。

"I was a little bummed but didn’t think much about it," Mazahem said. Until he recently logged onto the app and found he had two $1 million winners.

馬札海姆說：「我有點氣惱，但沒有多想。」直到最近登入應用程式，他才發現自己贏了2張各100萬美元的大獎。

"I couldn’t believe it was real," he said. "It took several days for the reality to set in." He plans to buy a new house and save the rest after claiming his prize.

他說：「我不敢相信這是真的，過了好幾天才有真實感。」他領獎後打算買新房子，並把剩餘的錢存下來。

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The Super Bowl had 30,000 cardboard fans 超級盃擺了3萬個球迷人型立牌

Super Bowl LV kicked off between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida looked full with the help of some fake fans.

第55屆超級盃在坦帕灣海盜隊與堪薩斯酋長隊的對決中揭開序幕，佛羅里達州坦帕灣的詹姆斯球場在一些假球迷幫助下，看起來客滿。

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the NFL had approximately 25,000 in the stadium for the 55th Super Bowl, far fewer than the 70,000 fans that attended the big game the last time it was held in Tampa.

由於疫情持續，美國國家美式足球聯盟（NFL）在第55屆超級盃體育場大約有2萬5000名觀眾，遠遠少於這場大型賽事上次在坦帕舉行的7萬名球迷。

To make up the difference, the NFL produced 30,000 cardboard cutouts of fans to fill most of the remaining seats.

為了弭補差額，NFL製作3萬個球迷人型立牌，來填補剩餘的大部分座位。

Unlike other sporting events where the cardboard cutouts are all bunch together in some areas of the stadium that receive the most TV coverage, the fake Super Bowl fans are spread out to keep the real fans socially distant.

這些超級盃的假球迷被分散開來，以讓現場真球迷保持社交距離。而在一些其他體育賽場上，人型立牌都聚集在一些電視轉播較集中的區域。

The NFL charged fans $100 for each cardboard cutout at the game. That’s a cool $3 million in revenue to make up for some of the lost ticket and concession sales.

NFL在比賽中向球迷收取每個人型立牌100美元的費用，那是不錯的300萬美元收入，可以彌補一些門票和特許銷售的損失。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1431867 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1431453

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 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

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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.K074: About Vietnam - Vietnamese man with five metre hair says lifelong grow-out is divine calling

While coronavirus lockdowns caused many men across the world to grow their hair longer than usual, none compare with Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Chien who has gone almost 80 years without a trim.

雖然冠狀病毒行動限制令讓全世界許多男人留著比平常還長的頭髮，沒人能和幾乎80年沒修剪過的越南人阮文戰相比。

The 92-year-old from the southern Mekong Delta region is the proud owner of five-metre long dreadlocks, owing to his belief in a faith that prescribes leaving untouched what a person is born with.

這個來自南部湄公河三角洲地區的92歲男子，以擁有5公尺長的髮辮自豪，因他的信仰就是與生俱來的東西不該修飾。

"I believe if I cut my hair I will die. I dare not to change anything, not even combing it," Nguyen told Reuters in his village about 80km west of Ho Chi Minh City.

阮在他位於胡志明市以西80公里的村莊告訴路透，「我相信我如果剪頭髮就會死。我不敢改變任何東西，就算是梳它也不敢。」

"I only nurture it, cover it in a scarf to keep it dry and clean and looking nice."

「我只滋養它、用圍巾包住它以保持乾燥清潔又好看。」

Nguyen, who worships nine powers and seven gods, believes it was his calling to grow his hair, which he bundles up under an orange turban.

崇拜9種力量和7種神明的阮把頭髮緊裹在一塊橘色頭巾下，他相信是神明的召喚讓頭髮生長。

He was required to trim it when at school, but left after third grade and decided never to cut, comb or wash it again.

他在學校唸書時曾被要求修剪，但三年級以後離開學校就決定永遠不再剪、梳或洗髮。

Next Article

Vietnamese woman having abortions twice in two years 沒人談性：2年內墮胎2次的越南女子

20-year-old Huong has had two abortions in two years. No one had ever talked to her about sex： not her parents, not her teachers － and her friends knew as little as she did. She is not alone.

20歲洪姓女子在2年內墮胎2次。沒人和她談過性，包括父母和師長，且她的朋友都和她一樣一知半解。她並非個案。

A lack of sex education at home or in school in Vietnam, has resulted in some relying on abortion as a form of contraception, experts say.

專家說，越南家庭和學校中缺乏性教育，已導致部份人把墮胎當成一種避孕方式。

Parents edge away from the topic of safe sex and society "has no idea what sex education is and how to do it," said 23-year-old Linh Hoang.

23歲的黃玲（譯音）說，父母迴避安全性行為的話題，整個社會也都「不知道性教育是什麼、該如何進行」。

Together with three friends all in their early 20s, Linh runs sex education start-up WeGrow Edu in Hanoi, where they stash gift boxes filled with sanitary pads, pregnancy tests and condoms － as well as vital guides on how and when teens might use them.

黃玲和3名同樣20歲出頭的朋友，一起在河內經營一家名為WeGrow Edu的性教育初創公司。她們會在禮物盒中裝滿衛生棉、驗孕棒、保險套，以及教導青少年何時及如何使用的重要指南。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1396243 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1412187

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

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K073: Attacks on Taiwan’s invasive iguanas draw international attention

美洲綠鬣蜥」十年前被引進台灣作為寵物，後因體型龐大遭棄養，在南部大量繁殖，影響農作物生長。在地政府推野外移除計畫，去年起開始鼓勵民眾捕捉綠鬣蜥。

The green iguanas have been introduced to Taiwan as a pet ten years ago, but was later abandoned due to their large size. The number of iguanas has since proliferated in the south, affecting the growth of crops. Since last year, the local government has been encouraging people to catch green iguanas by promoting the removal program of non-native species.

然而，政府對於移除計畫毫無規範法規，近日傳出有民眾以鞭炮、自製弓箭射殺綠鬣蜥，引起外媒關注。

However, the government has no rules and regulations for the removal program. Some people reportedly set off firecrackers in iguanas and shot them with bows and arrows, drawing concern from foreign media.

根據《衛報》報導，台灣屢傳有民眾將炮竹塞到綠鬣蜥的嘴巴、甚至以弓箭射殺，引起動保團體抗議，呼籲政府盡速制訂外來入侵動物移除相關規範。

The Guardian reported on Friday that the images of killing iguanas had caused protests from animal protection groups that call on the government to implement regulations on the removal of invasive animals as soon as possible.

台灣動物社會研究會週三召開記者會表示，地方政府組織鼓勵民眾參與獵捕行動，卻未制定詳細人道捕捉規範，導致動物遭受虐待殺害。

The Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan (East) said on Wednesday that local and provincial government campaigns encourage people to remove invasive animals, but lack guidelines suggesting humane methods for people to refer to.

對此，林務局表示，捕捉規範都有跟專家學者討論制定，但相關內容尚未公開，未來將研擬公開這些外來物種的捕捉方式。

In this regard, the Forestry Bureau said on Wednesday that it has discussed the regulations of capturing invasive species with experts. However, the relevant rules have not yet been made public, the Forestry Bureau said. The representative stressed that the government would consider publishing the rules.

林務局補充道，針對綠鬣蜥，預計今年4月會再請屏東科大野生動物保育所副教授陳添喜再跟各縣市政府加強宣導、教育訓練。

The Forestry Bureau added that for the iguana, the government will ask Chen Tien-hsi, an associate professor at the Institute of Wildlife Conservation of National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, to step up publicity and education training in cooperation with the local governments.

Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210305-2175942

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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K072: Europe’s Bankruptcies Are Plummeting. That May Be a Problem.

France and other European countries are spending enormous sums to keep businesses afloat during the worst recession since World War II. But some worry they’ve gone too far; bankruptcies are plunging to levels not seen in decades.

法國和一些其他歐洲國家正投注巨資，讓企業在二戰以來最大經濟衰退期間不致破產。但有些人擔心這些國家做得太過頭，致使破產公司數量大跌至數十年來最低水平。

While the aid has prevented a surge in unemployment, the largesse risks turning swathes of the economy into a kind of twilight zone where firms are swamped with debt they cannot pay off but receiving just enough state aid to stay alive — so-called zombie companies. Unable to invest or innovate, these firms could contribute to what the World Bank recently described as a potential “lost decade” of stagnant economic growth caused by the pandemic.

這些金援確已阻止失業率暴升，如此大肆撒錢卻也冒有風險，可能使經濟中相當部分變成不死不活的衰萎區，企業受困於無力償還的債務，所獲政府援助卻只夠勉強維持生計，成了所謂的殭屍公司。世界銀行日前以「失落的十年」形容疫情可能帶來的經濟成長停滯期，這些殭屍公司無力投資或創新，可能成為導致這種現象的部分原因。

“We need to get off of all of these subsidies at some point — otherwise, we’ll have a zombie economy,” said Carl Bildt, co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations and a former prime minister of Sweden.

「我們需要適時去除所有補助，否則將迎來殭屍經濟。」智庫「歐洲外交關係協會」共同主席、瑞典前總理畢爾德說。

Bankruptcies fell 40% last year in France and Britain, and were down 25% on average in the European Union. Without government intervention, including billions in state-backed loans and subsidized payrolls, European business failures would have almost doubled last year, according to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a private American organization.

法國和英國的破產企業數目去年下滑40%，歐盟則平均減少25%。根據美國民間組織「全國經濟研究所」的研究，若無政府干預，包括數十億的政府背書貸款和薪資補助，歐洲去年倒閉的企業幾乎會多出一倍。

By contrast, Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings in the United States rose in the third quarter to the highest level since the 2010 financial crisis, a trend that is expected to continue in 2021, according to an index compiled by the U.S. law firm Polsinelli.

相對之下，美國去年第三季依破產法第11章聲請破產保護者，卻增至2010年金融危機以來的新高，根據美國波西內利律師事務所彙整的指數，這個趨勢2021年料將持續。

Those statistics are shaping a debate over whether Europe’s strategy of protecting businesses and workers “at all costs” will cement a recovery, or leave economies less competitive and more dependent on government aid when the pandemic recedes.

這些數字正形塑以下論辯：歐洲「不計代價」保護企業和勞工的策略在疫情消退之後，究竟會鞏固經濟復甦，還是讓經濟更缺乏競爭力，且更依賴政府援助。

Analysts say the government programs are already seeding the economy with thousands of inefficient businesses with low productivity, high debt and a high prospect of default once low interest rates normalize.

分析師說，政府的方案已為經濟播下數以千計的無效率企業，這些企業債台高築，且一旦低利率回升至正常水平很可能違約倒債。

An estimated 10% of companies in France were saved from bankruptcy because of government funds, according to Rexecode, a French economic think tank.

法國經濟智庫「法國經濟研究觀察中心」估計，約有10%法國公司因政府資助始未破產。

Letting unviable businesses go under, while painful, will be essential for allowing competitive sectors to thrive, said Jeffrey Franks, the head of the International Monetary Fund’s mission for France.

國際貨幣基金駐法國辦事處主任法蘭克斯說，讓無法存活的企業破產，雖然痛苦，卻是讓有競爭力的區塊得以成長的必要措施。

A wave of bankruptcies “is not something that’s necessarily so bad,” he said. “It’s part of the normal creative destruction process of regenerating economies.”

一波破產潮「未必是太壞的事」，他說。「這是讓經濟再生時，正常的創造性破壞過程的一部分。」

Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5264805

通勤學英語15mins.Today榮獲

•  Apple Podcast 2020年十大熱門節目

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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.K071: About Germany - German pilot makes point with syringe in the sky

German pilot Samy Kramer has traced a giant syringe in the sky, flying 200 kilometers to remind people about the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Europe.

德國飛行員薩米‧克拉馬在空中勾勒出一個巨大的注射器，飛行200公里提醒民眾，2019冠狀病毒疾病疫苗接種運動在歐洲起跑。

The 20-year-old pilot mapped out the route he would need to take on a GPS device before taking to the skies near Lake Constance in southern Germany. The syringe-shaped route showed up on internet site flightradar24.

這位20歲的飛行員在德國南部康士坦茲湖附近起飛前，已規劃出需用到全球定位系統裝置的路線。注射器狀的航線出現在「航班雷達24」網站。

"There are still relatively many people opposing the vaccination and my action may be a reminder for them to think about the topic, to get things moving", Kramer told Reuters TV on Sunday.

克拉馬週日告訴路透電視，「仍有相對多的人反對施打疫苗，我的行動可能提醒他們思考這話題、動起來」。

"Perhaps it was also a bit of a sign of joy, because the aviation industry has been hit pretty hard by the pandemic", Kramer said.

克拉馬說，「或許它也算是個令人開心的符號，因為航空業受這場全球大流行病打擊甚深。」

Next Article

One university is offering students from around the world the opportunity to win a $1,900 scholarship for doing nothing at all.

一所大學提供全世界學生，不用做任何事，就能贏得1900美元獎學金的機會。

The unique scholarship program — called "Scholarships for Doing Nothing" — is offered by the HFBK University of Fine Arts in Hamburg, Germany.

這個特別的獎學金計畫名為「無所事事獎學金」，由德國「漢堡美術學院」提供。

Friedrich von Borries, a design professor at HFBK, created the scholarship to challenge social perceptions of achievement and success.

弗里德里希．馮波里斯，漢堡美術學院的設計教授，創立這項獎學金，挑戰成就與成功的社會認知。

"The world we are living in is driven by the belief in success, in growth, in money. This thinking was leading us into the ecological crisis — and social injustice — we are living in," Borries told CNN.

「我們生活的這個世界，被成功、成長、金錢等信念驅使。這種思考導致我們生活的環境出現生態危機與社會不正義」，波里斯告訴美國有線電視新聞網（CNN）。

Borries said that his idea was partly inspired by the lack of activity during COVID-19 lockdowns.

波里斯說，他的想法部分受到武漢肺炎封鎖期間活動減少所啟發。

Source article: https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1422914 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1399829

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