通勤學英語 15Mins Today

每日跟讀#583: Businesses can deliver everything on demand, from dinner to dry cleaning. Now, entrepreneurs are exploring a growing niche: heal

 

企業界可依照需求提供從晚餐到乾洗等各種隨選服務。現在，創業家正在探索一個不斷成長的利基點：醫療保健。

 

Startups are offering access to doctors, prescription drugs and wellness programs as fast and easy as hailing an Uber driver. Experts say this is the early stages of a movement that could disrupt the health services industry, which critics have long contended suffers from soaring costs and reduced access to care.

 

透過新創公司取得醫生的服務、處方藥與保健方案，就像呼叫優步司機一樣既快又容易。專家說，一項新運動目前正處於起步階段，而這項運動可能會使醫療服務業大受震撼。批評者長期以來認為醫療服務業價格不斷飆升，提供的服務卻在減少。

 

“Health care delivery is so broken that we need to explore new channels — new conduits — and this represents one of them,” said Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and author of “The Patient Will See You Now.”

 

心臟病學家暨《未來醫療》一書作者艾瑞克．托普博士說：「醫療保健服務的提供已失靈到我們需要探索新管道的地步，而這正是其中之一。」

 

The on-demand economy, which offers consumers immediate access to goods and services, surged 58 percent in 2017 from the previous year to an estimated $75.7 billion, according to a study by Rockbridge Associates, a market research firm.

 

根據市場研究公司Rockbridge Associates的調查，讓消費者能立刻獲得商品與服務的隨選經濟，2017年規模較前一年成長58%，約達757億美元。

 

As the industry swells, dozens of health and wellness companies are tapping the trend.

 

隨著產業蓬勃發展，數十家醫療和保健公司正在利用此一趨勢。

 

Heal, DispatchHealth, MedZed, Dose Healthcare and Pager will send a doctor or a nurse practitioner to a person’s home or workplace to treat nonemergency problems like strep throat or a sprained ankle. The I.V. Doc offers intravenous treatments for conditions like jet lag, hangovers and food poisoning. And Capsule will deliver prescriptions to a person’s doorstep.

 

新創公司Heal、MedZed、DispatchHealth、Dose Healthcare及Pager會派一名醫生或執業護理師到一個人的家裡或工作場所，以處理鏈球菌咽喉炎或腳踝扭傷等不須急救的問題，IV Doc則為時差、宿醉與食物中毒等情況提供靜脈注射治療，而Capsule會將處方藥送到你家門口。

 

Some startups — especially on-demand medical companies, like Heal and DispatchHealth — needed substantial cash to hire doctors, lease vehicles and bring in administrative staff to handle insurance claims.

 

一些新創公司，尤其像是Heal跟DispatchHealth這樣的隨選醫療公司，需要大量現金以聘請醫生、租賃車輛，並雇用行政人員來處理保險請領。

 

Cue the investors.

 

提醒投資人們。

 

Samir M. Patel, a principal and co-founder of IRA Capital, was so impressed with Heal after using it for at-home visits and an annual physical in his office that he became an investor.

 

薩米．帕特爾是IRA資本公司負責人兼共同創辦人，在使用到府服務，並在自己辦公室做年度體檢後，對Heal醫療公司印象極佳，也因此成了投資人。

 

But the potential to be the next “unicorn” — a startup valued at $1 billion or more — has created a crowded field.

 

由於參與者有望成為下一個「獨角獸」，也就是市值10億美元以上的新創公司，這個領域已經頗為擁擠。

 

The popularity of the I.V. Doc prompted a flurry of smaller companies, like IVDrips, Drip Hydration and the Hangover Club/NutriDrip, to offer similar services — sometimes at cheaper prices. To fend off competition, the I.V. Doc recently expanded to offer injectable drugs, like Botox and Restylane, as well as postoperative care for plastic surgery.

 

IV Doc大受歡迎，促使一些較小的公司如IVDrips，Drip Hydration與Hangover Club或NutriDrip提供類似服務，有時候收費更低。為了擺脫競爭，IV Doc近來擴大服務範圍，開始提供注射藥物如保妥適肉毒桿菌素與瑞絲朗玻尿酸，以及整形手術的術後照護。

 

Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/338427/web/#2L-14466052L

 

更多跟讀練習單元，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

 

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每日跟讀#583: Goodbye, Password. Banks Opt to Scan Fingers and Faces Instead

 

The banking password may be about to expire — forever.

 

Some of the nation's largest banks, acknowledging that traditional passwords are either too cumbersome or no longer secure, are increasingly using fingerprints, facial scans and other types of biometrics to safeguard accounts.

 

銀行密碼可能要永遠絕跡了。

 

美國一些大銀行體認到傳統密碼不是太複雜就是不再安全，日益改採指紋、臉部掃描等生物辨識科技以確保帳戶安全。

 

Millions of customers at Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo routinely use fingerprints to log into their bank accounts through their mobile phones. This feature, which some of the largest banks have introduced in the last few months, is enabling a huge share of American banking customers to verify their identities with biometrics. And millions more are expected to opt in as more phones incorporate fingerprint scans.

 

Other uses of biometrics are also coming online. Wells Fargo lets some customers scan their eyes with their mobile phones to log into corporate accounts and wire millions of dollars. Citigroup can help verify 800,000 of its credit card customers by their voices. USAA, which provides insurance and banking services to members of the military and their families, identifies some of its customers through their facial contours.

 

美國銀行、摩根大通與富國銀行數百萬客戶慣常在手機上用指紋登入銀行帳戶。美國一些最大的銀行最近數月推出這個新功能，讓為數甚多的銀行客戶得以用生物特徵證明身分。隨著愈來愈多手機配備指紋掃描功能，預計還會有數百萬人加入這個行列。

 

其他運用生物辨識科技的方法也開始上場。富國銀行讓一些客戶用手機掃描自己的眼睛，以登入企業帳戶並電匯數百萬美元。花旗集團能藉由嗓音驗證80萬信用卡客戶的身分。聯合服務汽車協會為美國軍人及其眷屬提供保險與銀行服務，能透過臉部輪廓辨識某些客戶。

 

Some of the moves reflect concern that so many hundreds of millions of email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers and other personal identifiers have fallen into the hands of criminals, rendering those identifiers increasingly ineffective at protecting accounts. And while thieves could eventually find ways to steal biometric data, banks are convinced they offer more protection.

 

"We believe the password is dying," said Tom Shaw, vice president for enterprise financial crimes management at USAA, which is based in San Antonio. "We realized we have to get away from personal identification information because of the growing number of data breaches."

 

這些舉動多少反映了一種憂慮，就是已經有那麼多億筆的電子郵件、手機號碼、社會安全碼等個人身分識別資料落入罪犯手中，讓這些個資保護帳戶的功效愈來愈小。雖然竊賊最終仍有可能找到偷取生物特徵資料的方法，但銀行都自認已提供更多保障。

 

聯合服務汽車協會主管企業金融犯罪管理的副總裁蕭歐說：「我們認為密碼正在沒落。由於資料外洩案例愈來愈多，我們體認到必須捨棄個人身分識別資料。」協會總部在德州聖安東尼奧市。

 

Long regarded as the stuff of science fiction, biometrics have been tested by big banks for decades, but have only recently become sufficiently accurate and cost effective to use in a big way. It has taken a great deal of trial and error: With many of the early prototypes, a facial scan could be foiled by bad lighting, and voice recognition could be scuttled by background noise or laryngitis.

 

Before smartphones became ubiquitous, there was an even bigger obstacle: To capture a finger image or scan an eyeball, a bank would have to pay to distribute the necessary technology to tens of millions of customers. A few tried, but their efforts were costly and short-lived.

 

生物識別科技向來被認為是科幻小說的玩意，大銀行已測試數十年，但直到最近才變得夠精準，且成本夠低、效益夠高而能大規模應用。這種科技的發展歷經大量嘗試錯誤的過程：許多早期的臉部掃描原型機可能會因照明欠佳而無法辨識，聲紋辨識機可能會因背景雜訊或辨識對象喉嚨發炎而辨識失敗。

 

在智慧手機變得十分普及之前，發展生物辨識科技更大的困難是：為了取得手指影像或掃描眼球，銀行必須花錢，才可讓幾千萬客戶能夠使用這種必備的科技。有幾家銀行試過，卻在投入鉅資之後短命收場。

 

更多跟讀練習單元，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

 

用email訂閱就可以收到所有15mins.Today最新節目通知。

 

Source article: http://city.udn.com/50132/5510850

每日跟讀#583: Goodbye, Password. Banks Opt to Scan Fingers and Faces Instead

 

The banking password may be about to expire — forever.

 

Some of the nation's largest banks, acknowledging that traditional passwords are either too cumbersome or no longer secure, are increasingly using fingerprints, facial scans and other types of biometrics to safeguard accounts.

 

銀行密碼可能要永遠絕跡了。

 

美國一些大銀行體認到傳統密碼不是太複雜就是不再安全，日益改採指紋、臉部掃描等生物辨識科技以確保帳戶安全。

 

Millions of customers at Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo routinely use fingerprints to log into their bank accounts through their mobile phones. This feature, which some of the largest banks have introduced in the last few months, is enabling a huge share of American banking customers to verify their identities with biometrics. And millions more are expected to opt in as more phones incorporate fingerprint scans.

 

Other uses of biometrics are also coming online. Wells Fargo lets some customers scan their eyes with their mobile phones to log into corporate accounts and wire millions of dollars. Citigroup can help verify 800,000 of its credit card customers by their voices. USAA, which provides insurance and banking services to members of the military and their families, identifies some of its customers through their facial contours.

 

美國銀行、摩根大通與富國銀行數百萬客戶慣常在手機上用指紋登入銀行帳戶。美國一些最大的銀行最近數月推出這個新功能，讓為數甚多的銀行客戶得以用生物特徵證明身分。隨著愈來愈多手機配備指紋掃描功能，預計還會有數百萬人加入這個行列。

 

其他運用生物辨識科技的方法也開始上場。富國銀行讓一些客戶用手機掃描自己的眼睛，以登入企業帳戶並電匯數百萬美元。花旗集團能藉由嗓音驗證80萬信用卡客戶的身分。聯合服務汽車協會為美國軍人及其眷屬提供保險與銀行服務，能透過臉部輪廓辨識某些客戶。

 

Some of the moves reflect concern that so many hundreds of millions of email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers and other personal identifiers have fallen into the hands of criminals, rendering those identifiers increasingly ineffective at protecting accounts. And while thieves could eventually find ways to steal biometric data, banks are convinced they offer more protection.

 

"We believe the password is dying," said Tom Shaw, vice president for enterprise financial crimes management at USAA, which is based in San Antonio. "We realized we have to get away from personal identification information because of the growing number of data breaches."

 

這些舉動多少反映了一種憂慮，就是已經有那麼多億筆的電子郵件、手機號碼、社會安全碼等個人身分識別資料落入罪犯手中，讓這些個資保護帳戶的功效愈來愈小。雖然竊賊最終仍有可能找到偷取生物特徵資料的方法，但銀行都自認已提供更多保障。

 

聯合服務汽車協會主管企業金融犯罪管理的副總裁蕭歐說：「我們認為密碼正在沒落。由於資料外洩案例愈來愈多，我們體認到必須捨棄個人身分識別資料。」協會總部在德州聖安東尼奧市。

 

Long regarded as the stuff of science fiction, biometrics have been tested by big banks for decades, but have only recently become sufficiently accurate and cost effective to use in a big way. It has taken a great deal of trial and error: With many of the early prototypes, a facial scan could be foiled by bad lighting, and voice recognition could be scuttled by background noise or laryngitis.

 

Before smartphones became ubiquitous, there was an even bigger obstacle: To capture a finger image or scan an eyeball, a bank would have to pay to distribute the necessary technology to tens of millions of customers. A few tried, but their efforts were costly and short-lived.

 

生物識別科技向來被認為是科幻小說的玩意，大銀行已測試數十年，但直到最近才變得夠精準，且成本夠低、效益夠高而能大規模應用。這種科技的發展歷經大量嘗試錯誤的過程：許多早期的臉部掃描原型機可能會因照明欠佳而無法辨識，聲紋辨識機可能會因背景雜訊或辨識對象喉嚨發炎而辨識失敗。

 

在智慧手機變得十分普及之前，發展生物辨識科技更大的困難是：為了取得手指影像或掃描眼球，銀行必須花錢，才可讓幾千萬客戶能夠使用這種必備的科技。有幾家銀行試過，卻在投入鉅資之後短命收場。

 

更多跟讀練習單元，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

 

用email訂閱就可以收到所有15mins.Today最新節目通知。

 

Source article: http://city.udn.com/50132/5510850

Welcome to 15mins.today the home of English Shadowing. I'm your host Gavin and this is InTense Episode 6. Well, hi guys, today we are going to be looking at the future tense. The simple future tense and what it is, is basically, we use it to tell things that will happen.

 

And again as with every tense they are sometimes keywords or indicators that tell us which tense it is, and in this case it is the word “will.” “I will go to work tomorrow.” And so if you are you doing something, be it in 2 seconds time or in 10 minutes time, or 2 days or in 20years time, then that is where we use the future tense.

 

It is quite simple and as it's called the simple future tense and just remember to put the word “will” so when we ask questions with that, we also use the questions usually start with “Will” and then the verb usually takes the form of the same as a present and so, “Will you walk to school?”

 

跟讀練習:

 

Okay great, so without further ado let's get to the questions.

 

 

Will Mary brush her teeth? Yes, she will brush her teeth.

Will Mary brush her teeth? No, she will not brush her teeth.

 

 

Will you brush your teeth tomorrow morning? Yes, I will brush my teeth tomorrow morning.

Will you brush your teeth tomorrow morning? No, I will not brush my teeth tomorrow morning.

 

 

Will Peter eat lunch today? Yes, he will eat lunch today.

Will Peter eat lunch today? No, he will not eat lunch today.

 

 

Will Peter and James go to Japan next year? Yes, they will go to Japan next year.

Will Peter and James go to Japan next year? No, they will not go to Japan next year.

 

 

Will John work late today? Yes, he will work late today.

Will John work late today? No, he will not work late today.

 

 

Will the population in Taiwan decrease? Yes, the population in Taiwan will decrease.

Will the population in Taiwan decrease? No, the population in Taiwan will not decrease.

 

 

Will sea temperatures rise? Yes, sea temperatures will rise.

Will sea temperatures rise? No, sea temperatures will not rise.

 

 

Will you work late Friday? Yes, I will work late Friday.

Will you work late Friday? No, I will not work late Friday.

 

 

Will you learn more English? Yes, I will learn more English.

Will you learn more English? No, I will not learn more English.

 

 

Will the dog wag its tail? Yes, it will wag its tail.

Will the dog wag its tail? No, the dog will not wag its tail.

 

So that's all for the future tense. I hope you had a good practice, don't forget, repeat the question, listen to the answer and if you don't get it right, just keep repeating until you get it right. Have a great day and take care, bye!

 

更多跟讀練習單元，就在http://www.15mins.today

 

用email訂閱就可以收到所有15mins.Today最新節目通知。

Welcome to 15mins.today the home of English Shadowing. I'm your host Gavin and this is InTense Episode 6. Well, hi guys, today we are going to be looking at the future tense. The simple future tense and what it is, is basically, we use it to tell things that will happen.

 

And again as with every tense they are sometimes keywords or indicators that tell us which tense it is, and in this case it is the word “will.” “I will go to work tomorrow.” And so if you are you doing something, be it in 2 seconds time or in 10 minutes time, or 2 days or in 20years time, then that is where we use the future tense.

 

It is quite simple and as it's called the simple future tense and just remember to put the word “will” so when we ask questions with that, we also use the questions usually start with “Will” and then the verb usually takes the form of the same as a present and so, “Will you walk to school?”

 

跟讀練習:

 

Okay great, so without further ado let's get to the questions.

 

 

Will Mary brush her teeth? Yes, she will brush her teeth.

Will Mary brush her teeth? No, she will not brush her teeth.

 

 

Will you brush your teeth tomorrow morning? Yes, I will brush my teeth tomorrow morning.

Will you brush your teeth tomorrow morning? No, I will not brush my teeth tomorrow morning.

 

 

Will Peter eat lunch today? Yes, he will eat lunch today.

Will Peter eat lunch today? No, he will not eat lunch today.

 

 

Will Peter and James go to Japan next year? Yes, they will go to Japan next year.

Will Peter and James go to Japan next year? No, they will not go to Japan next year.

 

 

Will John work late today? Yes, he will work late today.

Will John work late today? No, he will not work late today.

 

 

Will the population in Taiwan decrease? Yes, the population in Taiwan will decrease.

Will the population in Taiwan decrease? No, the population in Taiwan will not decrease.

 

 

Will sea temperatures rise? Yes, sea temperatures will rise.

Will sea temperatures rise? No, sea temperatures will not rise.

 

 

Will you work late Friday? Yes, I will work late Friday.

Will you work late Friday? No, I will not work late Friday.

 

 

Will you learn more English? Yes, I will learn more English.

Will you learn more English? No, I will not learn more English.

 

 

Will the dog wag its tail? Yes, it will wag its tail.

Will the dog wag its tail? No, the dog will not wag its tail.

 

So that's all for the future tense. I hope you had a good practice, don't forget, repeat the question, listen to the answer and if you don't get it right, just keep repeating until you get it right. Have a great day and take care, bye!

 

更多跟讀練習單元，就在http://www.15mins.today

 

用email訂閱就可以收到所有15mins.Today最新節目通知。

Summary:

Headphones have come a long way. Decades ago, they were considered products only for the audiophiles, and once sony came out with their walkmans, earphones and headphones have become an important accessory for the on-the-go listening experience. Now the headphones and earphones are not only made for all levels of audio enthusiasts, but also for the those who likes to show off a bit of their status by wearing luxury headphones. Through the article, we get to learn about a few that the celebrity are embracing these days.

 

Full article here: https://www.15mins.today/blog/542-my-headphones-my-self

 

Vocabulary and sample sentences:

 

1. DJ – Disc Jockey (verb and noun)

 

I would love to learn how to DJ

 

My favorite DJ is Armin van Buuren.

 

2. Complement – sth that enhances or improves it 

Luxury headphones will complement my outfit for today.

 

Quality headphones are usually complemented by high-tech materials.

 

3. Privacy – state of not being disturbed or observed by others 

Privacy is very important when you take a shower.

 

My mother only started to respect my privacy when I moved out of the house.

 

更多跟讀練習單元，就在http://www.15mins.today

Summary:

Headphones have come a long way. Decades ago, they were considered products only for the audiophiles, and once sony came out with their walkmans, earphones and headphones have become an important accessory for the on-the-go listening experience. Now the headphones and earphones are not only made for all levels of audio enthusiasts, but also for the those who likes to show off a bit of their status by wearing luxury headphones. Through the article, we get to learn about a few that the celebrity are embracing these days.

 

Full article here: https://www.15mins.today/blog/542-my-headphones-my-self

 

Vocabulary and sample sentences:

 

1. DJ – Disc Jockey (verb and noun)

 

I would love to learn how to DJ

 

My favorite DJ is Armin van Buuren.

 

2. Complement – sth that enhances or improves it 

Luxury headphones will complement my outfit for today.

 

Quality headphones are usually complemented by high-tech materials.

 

3. Privacy – state of not being disturbed or observed by others 

Privacy is very important when you take a shower.

 

My mother only started to respect my privacy when I moved out of the house.

 

更多跟讀練習單元，就在http://www.15mins.today

每日跟讀#582: Matsu takes a stroll

 

Thousands of worshipers will descend on Dajia’s Jenn Lann Temple tomorrow evening as an act of devotion to Matsu, one of the country’s most revered deities, when the temple’s Matsu statue is placed on a palanquin and carried for more than 300km from its home to the Tienfeng Temple in Singang, Chiayi County, and back again.

The nine-day pilgrimage takes place every year in the weeks leading up to Matsu’s birthday, which is on the 23rd day of the third month on the lunar calendar. This year’s pilgrimage ends on April 16.

 

明天晚上成千上萬名信眾大批湧入大甲鎮瀾宮，向台灣最受尊崇的神祇──媽祖──致上虔誠敬意。當天晚上，信徒將會恭請鎮瀾宮的媽祖神像登上鑾轎，由信眾扛起神轎，起駕前往嘉義縣的新港奉天宮，再回到鎮瀾宮，徒步完成全長超過三百公里的遶境活動。

 

Temple organizers say the pilgrimage is the world’s third largest and is probably the biggest religious festival in Taiwan, last year attracting over a million visitors. Pilgrims (known as “incense guests” in Chinese) can expect the pious to offer them free food and drinks along the pilgrimage route, because it is a way for residents to repay Matsu’s kindness and blessings.

 

這場歷時九天的遶境活動，每年於媽祖誕辰（ 農曆三月二十三日）數星期前舉行。今年的遶境活動將於四月十六日結束。

 

Matsu will be entertained throughout the tour by performing groups like pole dancers, traditional musicians and dance troupes and protected by the Eight Generals, martial lictors and entranced spirit mediums.

 

遶境途中會有各式各樣的陣頭與表演團體獻藝娛樂媽祖，其中包括鋼管舞者、傳統樂師、舞陣；八家將、刀斧手（三十六執士隊）、以及被附身的乩童則負責保護媽祖。廟方表示，大甲媽祖遶境進香的活動規模堪稱世界第三大，更可能是台灣最大的宗教慶典。去年的遶境活動吸引了超過一百萬名信眾參與。居住在遶境路線上的民眾，為了感念媽祖平日的關照和保佑，經常會提供免費的飲食供參與遶境的 「香客」沿路取用。

 

In addition to the pilgrims who make the journey, devotees line the country roads and kneel to allow Matsu’s palanquin to pass over them — a ritual said to bring peace and good fortune for the coming year.

 

除了跟隨神轎隊伍遶境的香客之外，許多信徒也會在遶境經過的鄉鎮道路上排隊等候，依序跪下讓媽祖神轎從他們身上越過──這項稱為「稜轎底」的儀式據信會給信徒在新的一年帶來平安與好運。

 

Though the devout will walk the entire procession, there are no rules stating that a person can’t participate for only a day or two. The best days to go are the first day, when Matsu is brought out of the temple to the sounds of blaring horns, booming drums and firecrackers; the fourth day, when it reaches Singang; and the final day, when village gangs have been known to fight their way to the front of the crowd to protect Matsu as she is returned to her temple.

 

雖然虔誠的信徒會跟隨遶境隊伍走完全程，但是也可以選擇只參加其中一天或兩天。最受歡迎的日子包括第一天，可以看到媽祖在喧天的嗩吶聲以及震耳欲聾的鑼鼓和鞭炮聲中，從廟中被恭迎上轎；第四天則是遶境隊伍抵達新港；以及最後一天，信徒簇擁媽祖回到鎮瀾宮。

 

Matsu will leave Jenn Lann Temple tomorrow at 10:00pm. For more information, visit (in Chinese): www.dajiamazu.org.tw.

 

今年，媽祖將於明天晚上十時整起駕，離開鎮瀾宮廣場。更多資訊可參考鎮瀾宮官方網站（中文）：www.dajiamazu.org.tw

 

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/04/06/2003712865

 

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每日跟讀#582: Matsu takes a stroll

 

Thousands of worshipers will descend on Dajia’s Jenn Lann Temple tomorrow evening as an act of devotion to Matsu, one of the country’s most revered deities, when the temple’s Matsu statue is placed on a palanquin and carried for more than 300km from its home to the Tienfeng Temple in Singang, Chiayi County, and back again.

The nine-day pilgrimage takes place every year in the weeks leading up to Matsu’s birthday, which is on the 23rd day of the third month on the lunar calendar. This year’s pilgrimage ends on April 16.

 

明天晚上成千上萬名信眾大批湧入大甲鎮瀾宮，向台灣最受尊崇的神祇──媽祖──致上虔誠敬意。當天晚上，信徒將會恭請鎮瀾宮的媽祖神像登上鑾轎，由信眾扛起神轎，起駕前往嘉義縣的新港奉天宮，再回到鎮瀾宮，徒步完成全長超過三百公里的遶境活動。

 

Temple organizers say the pilgrimage is the world’s third largest and is probably the biggest religious festival in Taiwan, last year attracting over a million visitors. Pilgrims (known as “incense guests” in Chinese) can expect the pious to offer them free food and drinks along the pilgrimage route, because it is a way for residents to repay Matsu’s kindness and blessings.

 

這場歷時九天的遶境活動，每年於媽祖誕辰（ 農曆三月二十三日）數星期前舉行。今年的遶境活動將於四月十六日結束。

 

Matsu will be entertained throughout the tour by performing groups like pole dancers, traditional musicians and dance troupes and protected by the Eight Generals, martial lictors and entranced spirit mediums.

 

遶境途中會有各式各樣的陣頭與表演團體獻藝娛樂媽祖，其中包括鋼管舞者、傳統樂師、舞陣；八家將、刀斧手（三十六執士隊）、以及被附身的乩童則負責保護媽祖。廟方表示，大甲媽祖遶境進香的活動規模堪稱世界第三大，更可能是台灣最大的宗教慶典。去年的遶境活動吸引了超過一百萬名信眾參與。居住在遶境路線上的民眾，為了感念媽祖平日的關照和保佑，經常會提供免費的飲食供參與遶境的 「香客」沿路取用。

 

In addition to the pilgrims who make the journey, devotees line the country roads and kneel to allow Matsu’s palanquin to pass over them — a ritual said to bring peace and good fortune for the coming year.

 

除了跟隨神轎隊伍遶境的香客之外，許多信徒也會在遶境經過的鄉鎮道路上排隊等候，依序跪下讓媽祖神轎從他們身上越過──這項稱為「稜轎底」的儀式據信會給信徒在新的一年帶來平安與好運。

 

Though the devout will walk the entire procession, there are no rules stating that a person can’t participate for only a day or two. The best days to go are the first day, when Matsu is brought out of the temple to the sounds of blaring horns, booming drums and firecrackers; the fourth day, when it reaches Singang; and the final day, when village gangs have been known to fight their way to the front of the crowd to protect Matsu as she is returned to her temple.

 

雖然虔誠的信徒會跟隨遶境隊伍走完全程，但是也可以選擇只參加其中一天或兩天。最受歡迎的日子包括第一天，可以看到媽祖在喧天的嗩吶聲以及震耳欲聾的鑼鼓和鞭炮聲中，從廟中被恭迎上轎；第四天則是遶境隊伍抵達新港；以及最後一天，信徒簇擁媽祖回到鎮瀾宮。

 

Matsu will leave Jenn Lann Temple tomorrow at 10:00pm. For more information, visit (in Chinese): www.dajiamazu.org.tw.

 

今年，媽祖將於明天晚上十時整起駕，離開鎮瀾宮廣場。更多資訊可參考鎮瀾宮官方網站（中文）：www.dajiamazu.org.tw

 

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/04/06/2003712865

 

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每日跟讀#581: 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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