通勤學英語 15Mins Today

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Topic: Sellout Culture Is a Problem for Pro Golf Even if you don’t play or follow golf — which I don’t — you’re probably aware of the controversy now engulfing the game. A number of the world’s top-ranked pro players, notably Phil Mickelson, made extremely lucrative deals to play in a new tour, the LIV Golf International Series, sponsored by Saudi Arabia. The PGA Tour, which has traditionally dominated the sport, responded by suspending 17 of these players. 即便不打或不追高球新聞—我也沒追—你也可能知道現在這項運動捲入爭議。一些世界頂級職業球員，尤其是米克森，達成極其有利可圖的交易參加沙烏地阿拉伯贊助的新巡迴賽，即LIV高球國際系列賽。傳統上主導這項運動的職業高球美巡賽（PGA Tour）對此做出回應，將其中17名球員禁賽。 The Saudis are obviously engaged in reputation-laundering — greenswashing? — in an attempt to make people forget about the atrocities their regime has perpetrated. It’s less clear what motivated the PGA. Did it consider the LIV series flawed, not a proper golf tour? Was it attempting to squash competition? Or was the problem with the LIV series’ sponsors? 沙國顯然在清洗名聲—是在「漂白」嗎？試圖讓人們忘記他們政權所犯下的暴行。目前還不太清楚什麼原因驅使PGA這樣做。它是否認為LIV系列賽有缺陷，不是個像樣的高球巡迴賽？它會不會是在試圖壓制競爭嗎？或是LIV系列賽贊助者的問題？ PGA attendees surveyed by ProGolf weekly were in no doubt: An overwhelming majority attributed Mickelson’s exclusion to “media/cancel culture.” And I hope they’re right. I mean, if getting paid big bucks to provide favorable PR to a regime that deals with critical journalists by killing them and dismembering them with a bone saw doesn’t warrant cancellation, what does? And yet Mickelson and others were willing to provide that PR. 接受《ProGolf》周刊調查的PGA與會者均無疑問，絕大多數將米克森遭剔除歸因於「媒體/取消文化」。我希望他們是對的。我的意思是，拿大錢幫一個政權提供公關服務，而這個政權把批評他們的記者殺掉還肢解，如果這不是一個取消的正當理由，那什麼才是？而米克森和其他人卻願意提供這種公關服務。 So if you ask me, the real story here isn’t that the PGA may (or may not) have found a line it won’t cross. It is that so many members of the American elite evidently have no such lines. 所以，若你問我，情況並非PGA可能（或可能沒有）找到一條不會跨越的線，而是這個美國菁英組織許多成員明顯沒有這樣的界線。 What explains the rise of sellout culture? Tax cuts may have played a role: Selling your soul becomes more attractive when you get to keep more of the proceeds. Soaring income inequality may inspire envy, a desire to keep up with the super-elite. And there is surely a process of normalization: Everyone else is selling out, so why shouldn’t I join the party? 如何解釋出賣文化興起？減稅可能起到一定作用：當你能保留更多收益時，出賣你的靈魂就變得更有吸引力。日益嚴重的收入不平等可能會引發嫉妒，讓人渴望跟超級菁英攀比。當然，這是一個正常過程：其他人都在出賣，那我為何不入群呢？ Kids used to look up to public figures, sports stars in particular, as role models. Do they still? Can they, given what public figures will do if the checks are big enough? 以前孩子們常把受人尊敬的公眾人物作為榜樣，尤其是體育明星。他們還會嗎？考慮到支票夠大時公眾人物竟然這樣做，他們還能嗎？Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6413966 Next Article Topic: Why Are There More Successful Older Golfers Today? From the 18th fairway in the final group of the British Open in 2009, Tom Watson, the five-time Open champion, hit a shot that flew right at the pin. For a moment, it looked like Watson, then age 59, would win the tournament for a record sixth time and become the oldest player to win a major championship. 2009年英國公開賽最後一組第18洞的球道上，五屆冠軍華森一揮直飛旗桿。一時間，當時59歲的華森似乎將贏得創紀錄的第六座英國公開賽冠軍，並成為最年長的四大賽冠軍。 A firm bounce sent the ball off the back of the green, and Watson needed three more shots to get the ball into the hole. That dropped him into a tie for first. In the four-hole playoff, he ran out of gas and lost by six shots. 小白球強力彈跳後滾出果嶺後方，華森又花了三桿才把球送進洞裡。這使他落到並列領先。四洞延長賽，他精力耗盡，最後輸六桿。 A decade ago, the idea of an older golfer contending in, let alone winning, a major championship was something few considered. That was still the time when most golfers petered out in their mid-40s and kicked around the golf world before having a brief resurgence on the Champions Tour when they turned 50. 10年前，很少人料想得到年長的高球選手會參加四大賽，遑論拿冠軍。當時，大多數高球選手在45歲左右開始淡出，到滿50歲參加「冠軍」（譯註：長春）巡迴賽散發短暫餘暉前，其間在高球界四處晃晃。 Leading these middle-age mavericks is Phil Mickelson, 51, won the PGA Championship in May. He beat Brooks Koepka, a four-time major winner, and Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, who are both in their 30s. 這些不服老的中年高球選手領導人物是剛滿51歲的米克森，他在今年5月贏得PGA錦標賽冠軍。擊敗了都是30多歲的四屆四大賽冠軍得主科普卡與2010年英國公開賽冠軍歐蘇森。 “All these guys have taken a new approach,” said Dave Phillips, co-founder of the Titleist Performance Institute, which focuses on golf and fitness. “There’s a lot of money out there. They realize they can still compete with the younger guys, but they need to spend more time on their body and what they fuel their body with.” 高球與健身專門機構「冠軍競技表現研究所」共同創辦人戴維．菲利普斯說：「這些人都採取一種新方法。比賽獎金很高。他們意識到自己仍

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 歡迎回到 Teacher's Lounge 幕後教師室第四集！暑假快結束啦，通勤學英語團隊也趁暑休的時候辦了一場謝師宴聚餐，今天就來跟大家分享一下當天的精采情況～ 當天一走進餐廳，我們就覺得和平時會造訪的店家很不同啊。首先John老師和阿鍵回顧了一下當天的菜色，兩人被新鮮切片的松露嚇到以為荷包不保，John老師接著談到了這一年來老師們的付出，從一開始的Gavin到Angel，然後是Patrick和Jemmy，每位老師在不同領域的專長都讓通勤家族收聽的內容更加豐富。Peddy和阿鍵的幕後支援則是讓整體運作更加順暢，同時我們也非常感謝各位通勤家族－家人們的支持。 接續著每位老師的部分，我們談到精選詞彙Vocab的片段，其實台灣在雙語化的路上已經隨處可見了，但大多數的情形我們還是只會去留意到中文部分，少數例外的情況似乎是品牌名稱！20年前的家樂福，我們不會念Carrefour，但今天的Costco, Ikea, Netflix我們則是不會去念好市多、宜家、網飛等等中文名稱。 其實通勤學英語每週的Vocab課程就是一種通過情境模擬和刻意練習，進而讓大家更深入理解單字應用的自然學習法。這集的最後John老師有分享一個轉述法，藉由將單字與情境聯繫起來，把它們內化成自己的一部分，從而加深記憶和理解。鼓勵大家多多練習，或是可以直接留言給通勤學英語，讓我們看看你對這集最有印象的是哪段故事喔！

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K634: Daring Deep-Sea Quest Unveils Secrets of Human Resilience and Rejuvenation In a remarkable confluence of scientific curiosity and human endurance, retired naval officer Joseph Dituri, an associate professor from the University of South Florida, has embarked on a pioneering odyssey, living underwater for an astonishing 100 days. This unparalleled venture seeks to unravel the physiological and psychological effects of prolonged exposure to extreme pressure, pushing the boundaries of human potential while offering insights that could revolutionize our understanding of health and rejuvenation. 來自南佛羅里達大學的一位副教授，退役海軍軍官約瑟夫·迪圖里（Joseph Dituri）博士，在科學好奇心和人類耐力的驚人交匯中，踏上了一次漫長而驚險的開創性旅程，在水下潛居驚人的100天。這個前所未有的冒險目標是研究長期暴露於極端壓力下，對人體生理和心理的影響，推動人類潛能的界限，同時提供可能徹底改變我們對健康和恢復活力的理解見解。 Dituri's aquatic haven, a compact 100-square-foot habitat nestled 22 feet beneath the ocean's surface at Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, provided the backdrop for this extraordinary experiment. While navigating the depths, he simultaneously conducted online biomedical engineering classes, a testament to human adaptability and determination. 迪圖里的水下住所是一個精巧的100平方英尺棲息地，位於基爾拉戈（Key Largo）的朱爾斯海底旅館（Jules’ Undersea Lodge）22英尺深的海底提供了這個驚人實驗的場景。在這個非凡的實驗中，他在深海中航行的同時，同時進行了線上生物醫學工程課程，這是人類適應能力和毅力的證明。 Amidst this immersive journey, the limits of human physiology were tested and redefined. Rigorously monitored by a medical team conducting an array of tests, Dituri's health was meticulously scrutinized. The comprehensive study encompassed psychosocial, psychological, and medical assessments, including blood panels, ultrasounds, electrocardiograms, and stem cell evaluations. Beyond the physical realm, the study delved into the psychological effects of isolation, akin to space travel, offering unprecedented insights into the intricate interplay between mind and environment. 在這個身臨其境的旅程中，人類生理的極限受到了考驗和重新定義。在醫療團隊的嚴格監控下，仔細進行了對迪圖里身體健康的審查。綜合研究包括社會心理、心理和醫學評估，包括血液分析、超聲波、心電圖和幹細胞評估。超越了物理領域，該研究還深入探討了隔離的心理影響，類似於太空旅行，提供了關於思想與環境之間複雜相互作用的前所未有的見解。 Dituri's emergence from the depths was marked by astonishing revelations that challenge conventional paradigms. An analysis of his telomeres, the protective caps at the end of chromosomes, revealed a remarkable 20 percent increase, defying the usual age-related decline. Moreover, his stem cell count experienced an astounding tenfold surge, suggesting a potential avenue for cellular rejuvenation. Tangible health benefits accompanied these transformations, including improved sleep patterns, lowered cholesterol levels, and reduced inflammatory markers. These metamorphic changes, attributed to the pressure-rich underwater environment, mirror the effects of hyperbaric chamber treatments, offering tantalizing prospects for human health. 迪圖里從深淵回歸出現代表著令人驚奇的啟示，挑戰了傳統模式。對他的細胞端粒進行的分析，這些是染色體末端的保護帽，顯示出非凡的20％成長，違反了通常隨著年齡增加的衰減。此外，他的幹細胞數量經歷了驚人的十倍增加，表明可能成為細胞恢復的一個途徑。這些轉變伴隨著實際的健康益處，包括改善的睡眠模式，降低的膽固醇水平和減少的發炎物質。這些變化，歸因於壓力豐富的水下環境，顯示出了類似於高壓氧治療的效果，為人類健康帶來了誘人的前景。 Reference article: 1. https://www.usf.edu/news/2023/usf-researcher-attempts-to-set-world-record-by-living-underwater-for-100-days-hopes-to-emerge-super-human.aspx 2. https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/health-news/man-lives-bottom-atlantic-93-30162825

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K633: Taiwan Embraces New Global Sustainability Reporting Standards In a significant move towards enhancing transparency and consistency in sustainability reporting, Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has announced its intention to adopt the newly endorsed International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) sustainability and climate-related disclosure standards by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). This adoption follows IOSCO's call to its 130 member jurisdictions, including Taiwan, to consider integrating these standards into their regulatory frameworks. 為了加強永續性報告的透明度和一致性，台灣金融監督管理委員會（FSC，金管會）已宣布其意圖採用國際證監會組織（IOSCO）新近認可的國際財務報導準則（IFRS）永續性和與氣候有關的披露標準。這次的採納遵循了IOSCO對其130個會員管轄區的呼籲，包括台灣在內，必須考慮將這些標準納入其監管框架。 IOSCO, an association overseeing global securities and futures markets, recognizes the importance of these standards in establishing a universal framework for sustainability information. The IFRS sustainability standards, designated as IFRS S1 and IFRS S2, were introduced by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) of the IFRS Foundation. These standards emphasize coherence between sustainability information and financial statements, aiming to provide comprehensive insights to investors. 作為一個監管全球證券和期貨市場的協會，IOSCO明白了解這些標準普遍框架方面的重要性。國際財務報導準則（IFRS）的永續性標準，即IFRS S1和IFRS S2，由國際財務報導準則基金會的國際永續發展標準委員會（ISSB）引入。這些標準強調了永續發展信息與財務報表之間的一致性，旨在為投資者提供全面的洞察。 IFRS S1 underscores the alignment between sustainability information and financial statements, requiring simultaneous reporting of both to facilitate holistic evaluation of a company's value by investors. On the other hand, IFRS S2 incorporates recommendations from the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), enhancing disclosures related to transition plans, climate resilience, greenhouse gas emissions, and industry-specific indicators. IFRS S1強調永續信息與財務報表之間的一致性，要求同時報告兩者，以便投資者可以綜合評估公司的價值。另一方面，IFRS S2納入了與任務部門有關的氣候相關財務揭露（TCFD）的建議，增強了與過渡計劃、氣候適應能力、溫室氣體排放以及行業特定指標相關的披露。 Taiwan's FSC is implementing a phased approach to adopting these standards. The commission has already initiated a sustainability development action plan for listed companies, promoting active engagement in sustainability information disclosure. To harmonize with international standards and offer reliable data to investors, the FSC has formed a working group to translate the IFRS sustainability disclosure standards, analyze discrepancies with current reporting practices, and establish guidelines for reference. 台灣的金管會正在實施分階段採用這些標準的方法。該委員會已經啟動了一個針對上市公司的永續發展行動計劃，鼓勵主動參與永續發展信息的披露。為了與國際標準保持一致並向投資者提供可靠的數據，金管會成立了一個工作小組，以翻譯IFRS的永續披露標準，分析與當前報告模式的差異，並建立指南作為參考。 Embracing global standards is expected to bolster the credibility of Taiwanese businesses in the international arena and attract international investment. By adhering to these comprehensive sustainability reporting norms, Taiwan takes a noteworthy step towards transparent and credible disclosure practices, enhancing investor confidence in its capital markets. 擁抱全球標準有望增強台灣企業在國際舞台上的可信度並吸引國際投資。通過遵循這些全面的永續報導標準，台灣朝著透明可靠的披露作法邁出了值得注意的一步，提高了投資者對其資本市場的信心。 Reference article: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4959260

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 芭比 她觀察自己的女兒玩紙娃娃時，當時這些娃娃的型態雖然都是以嬰兒的樣式呈現，但她女兒卻會賦予這些娃娃成人的職業跟身分。因此Ruth認為這可能是玩具市場的一個新需求，於是他向自己的老公，同時也是美泰兒公司的合夥人Elliot提案，但第一時間，Elliot的回覆卻是：「No mother is ever going to buy her daughter a doll with breasts」 1959年全球首款的芭比娃娃登場，Ruth以她的女兒Barbara命名，乳名Barbie，這款娃娃要價3美元，腳踩細高跟鞋，身穿斑馬紋泳裝，綁著馬尾，娃娃的高度約30公分。 經過電視廣告推銷，在第一年就創造賣出30萬個芭比的佳績，Ruth以及美泰兒公司也更積極創造不同衣服、不同職業、不同款式的芭比，有趣的是，女孩們很愛芭比，但他們的母親並不喜歡。 1961年，芭比的男朋友Ken被創造了，這個娃娃的名稱，是來自Ruth的兒子Kenneth 1970年代，芭比因性別刻板印象的外型，受到當時逐漸萌芽的女權主義者反對，包含過度誇張的外貌形象、對於身材的完美要求等等，讓女性走上街頭，高喊「I am not a Barbie doll」 隨著時代演變，美泰兒公司也推出各式各樣，不同身形、膚色、種族的芭比，2022年，芭比的全球銷量替美泰兒公司帶進了14.9億美元的收入，目前為止，芭比的職業種類已多達200種以上。 美泰兒 全球前五大的玩具製造商，2022年營收為54億美元，除了芭比以外，他們另外有兩個代表性的玩具，Hot wheels & Chatty cathy。 Chatty cathy是一款會說話的娃娃，他以一個五歲的小女孩形象在1960年登場，只要透過後面的拉繩，他會隨機開口講出內建的幾個句子，這是當年僅次於芭比，第二受歡迎的玩具，由於他會開口講話的特性，在當時造成轟動，也讓許多玩具開始加入了開口說話的機制。甚至後來Chatty Cathy變成形容一個講話講不停的人。 Hot wheels風火輪小汽車，則是模型汽車，於1968年登場，創立過程是Eliot看見自己的兒子Kenneth在玩另一家玩具公司Matchbox（火柴盒小汽車）於是開始投入研發。 當時一發布就造成轟動，原因在於他們搭配了賽道提供孩子使用，同時在材質上也盡量選擇降低摩擦力、能夠更有速度感的輪胎，讓整個小汽車能夠提供小孩飆速的快感。 進入1980年，Hotwheels還推出了電腦遊戲、以及每輛車的收藏編號，讓有收藏癖的玩家們能夠滿足收藏的欲望。1997年，火柴盒小汽車被美泰兒公司收購，美泰兒成為了模型汽車界的霸主， 近幾年美泰兒更舉辦＜Hot wheel legend tour＞風火輪汽車比賽，美國各地都會有玩家來參賽，通常會在沃爾瑪停車場，展示自己設計的改裝車，並由評審進行評分，結果出爐後，美泰兒會將當年度的冠軍車，做成模型，以此紀念。

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K632: Tokyo's Nightlife Struggles to Recover Despite Global COVID Rebound Tokyo's nightlife is still struggling to regain its vibrant glow even as the global economy recovers from the impact of COVID-19. NASA's luminosity data reveals that the city's nighttime brightness remains at 90% of its pre-pandemic levels in 2019, while cities like Paris and London have fully regained their nocturnal radiance. 儘管全球經濟正從COVID-19的影響中恢復，東京的夜生活仍在掙扎著恢復其活力的光芒。NASA（美國國家航空暨太空總署）的亮度數據顯示，該市的夜間亮度仍然保持在2019年疫情前的水平的90％，而巴黎和倫敦等城市已完全恢復了他們的夜間亮度。 According to data processed by the Colorado School of Mines using NASA satellite images, Nikkei, a Japanese news source, has calculated the nighttime brightness of various cities during the April-October period of 2022. The findings show that Paris experienced a 3.2% increase in illumination levels and London saw a 1.4% rise from 2019 averages. However, Tokyo's luminosity dropped by 11.6%. 日本的新聞來源《日本經濟新聞》根據美國科羅拉多礦業學院使用NASA衛星圖像處理的數據，計算了2022年4月至10月期間各個城市的夜間亮度。結果顯示，巴黎的照明水平增加了3.2％，倫敦則增加了1.4％，而東京的亮度下降了11.6％。 This decline in Tokyo's nighttime radiance is largely attributed to the slow recovery of its central business districts, which were once bustling hubs for after-work socializing. The decrease in luminosity is more pronounced in entertainment districts than residential areas. Nightspots like Roppongi, Shinjuku, and Ginza saw light levels drop by over 15%. Downtown foot traffic in February was about 20% lower than three years prior, according to mobile location data from Docomo Insight Marketing. Labor shortages are exacerbating the situation, making it challenging for understaffed eateries to operate late into the night. 東京夜間亮度的下降主要歸因於其中央商業區恢復的緩慢，這些地區曾經是下班後繁忙的社交中心。亮度的下降在娛樂區比住宅區更為明顯。六本木、新宿和銀座等夜生活熱點的燈光水平下降超過15％。根據電信公司Docomo Insight Marketing提供的行動設備定位數據，2月份市中心的人流量比三年前少約20％。勞動力短缺也加劇了這種情況，使得人手不足的餐廳難以經營到深夜。 The decline in business hours has affected consumption patterns. According to TableCheck, customer traffic at Tokyo eateries in March was 14.9% below the 2019 average. Declines were steeper during late hours, with a drop of 44.8% between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and 57.9% between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. 營業時間的減少影響了消費模式。根據TableCheck網站的數據，2023年3月，東京餐廳的客流量比2019年平均水平低了14.9％。在深夜時段，下降更為明顯，例如下午6點至晚上10點之間下降了44.8％，晚上11點至凌晨2點之間下降了57.9％。 Takahiro Saito, representative director of the Japan Nighttime Economy Association (JNEA), emphasizes the need to attract different customer groups, such as families and foreign visitors, to revitalize the sector. He suggests increasing the number of downtown theaters and social events. 日本夜間經濟協會（JNEA）的代表董事Takahiro Saito強調了吸引不同客戶群的必要性，如家庭和外國遊客，以振興該領域。他建議增加市中心劇院和活動的數量。 Although an increase in foreign tourists is expected with COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, Tokyo faces challenges like limited public transportation at night. Despite these hurdles, this situation presents an opportunity for Tokyo to not only boost its economy but also rejuvenate its urban culture. 儘管預計隨著COVID-19限制措施的解除，外國遊客的數量將有所增加，東京仍然面臨著夜間大眾運輸有限的挑戰。儘管存在這些困難，但這種情況為東京提供了一個不僅提振其經濟，還能同時使城市文化得到復興的機會。 Reference article: https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Datawatch/Tokyo-nightlife-still-not-fully-lit-despite-global-COVID-recovery

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K631: Amazon's Warning to In-Person Attendance Draws Mixed Reactions Amazon, the e-commerce giant, has recently issued warnings to some of its US-based office workers regarding their in-person attendance. In an effort to uphold its return-to-office policies, the company has been sending emails to employees who are perceived to be non-compliant with the required attendance. 電商巨頭亞馬遜最近向一些位於美國的員工發出警告，涉及他們的辦公室出勤情況。為了堅持辦公室復工政策，該公司一直在向被認為未遵守所需出勤的員工發送電子郵件。 This move by Amazon emphasizes the company's determination to enforce its rules, even amidst a certain level of resistance from employees. The policy mandates that workers report to a physical office location at least three days a week. This is also part of a broader trend where numerous companies are aiming to reduce the prevalence of remote work. 亞馬遜此舉強調了公司執行規定的決心，即使在一定程度上受到員工的反抗。該政策要求員工每週至少報到辦公室三天。這也是許多公司目標減少遠端上班普及程度的大趨勢之一。 Screenshots of the email sent by Amazon have been circulating on social media, showcasing the company's communication to employees who are falling short of meeting the in-office attendance requirement. The email asserts that these employees are not aligning with the expectation of being physically present in the office for at least three days a week, despite the readiness of their assigned office building. 亞馬遜發送的電子郵件截圖在社群媒體上廣泛流傳，展示了公司與未能滿足辦公室出勤要求的員工的溝通。該電子郵件強調，這些員工未能達到每週至少三天實際在辦公室的要求，儘管他們被分配的辦公室已經準備就緒。 The email goes on to firmly state, "We expect you to start coming into the office three or more days a week now." It further highlights the positive outcomes witnessed among those employees who have adhered to the policy, noting a rise in energy and collaboration within the Amazon community. 該電子郵件進一步堅定地表示：“我們期望你現在開始每週至少三天進入辦公室。”它進一步強調了遵守政策的員工中觀察到的積極成果，並指出亞馬遜社群內的活力和協作均有所提升。 The email's contents triggered diverse reactions among Amazon employees on social media platform Blind, where employees anonymously discuss their workplace experiences. While some users expressed outrage over the email, others supported Amazon's approach in enforcing attendance policies. Interestingly, some employees claimed to have received the email erroneously, either because they had been compliant or because they had never actually worked from the office. 這封電子郵件的內容在科技業社群平台Blind上引發了亞馬遜員工之間的不同反應。Blind是一個員工匿名討論職場經驗的平台。一些用戶對該電子郵件表示憤怒，而其他人則支持亞馬遜執行出勤政策的做法。有趣的是，一些員工聲稱他們錯誤地收到了這封郵件，要麼是因為他們已經遵守規定，要麼是因為他們從未實際在辦公室工作過。 In response to media inquiries, Amazon explained that the email was sent to employees who had not met the in-office attendance criteria as specified in the policy. The follow-up communication clarified that those who had received the notice in error should reach out to their managers for rectification. 在媒體的詢問下，亞馬遜解釋說，這封電子郵件是發送給未能滿足政策中指定的辦公室出勤標準的員工。隨後的溝通澄清，那些因為失誤而收到通知的人應該聯繫他們的主管進行更正。 This incident at Amazon reflects the larger trend among tech companies in reconsidering remote work policies. While initially at the forefront of remote work adoption during the pandemic, companies are now moving towards a more balanced approach. Amazon is not alone in this shift, with Google and Meta (formerly Facebook) also reinforcing in-office attendance. Even government entities are advocating for a return to physical workplaces. 此事件反映了在重新考慮遠程工作政策方面，科技公司中的更大趨勢。儘管在疫情大流行初期，這些公司在遠程工作方面處於領先地位，但現在它們正朝著更平衡的方向邁進。在這一轉變中，亞馬遜並不孤單，谷歌和Meta（前身為Facebook）也在強化辦公室出勤。即使政府機構也在倡導返回實體辦公場所。 Reference article: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/11/business/amazon-warns-employees-office/index.html

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Topic: Water-Stressed India Seeks a Tap for Every Home The pipes are laid, the taps installed and the village tank is under construction — all promising signs that, come spring, Girja Ahriwar will get water at her doorstep and finally shed a lifelong burden. 管子鋪好，水龍頭裝好，村子的水槽正在建造。這些充滿希望的跡象顯示，春季來臨時，吉爾嘉．艾里瓦可以在家門口取到水，而且終於解除長期以來的負擔。 “I go out and put the jerrycans in the queue at around 5 a.m. and wait there with the children,” Ahriwar, a mother of three who lives in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, said about her routine of fetching from the village hand pump. “Sometimes it could take five or six hours. I have to stay there because if I leave, someone else moves ahead.” 「我大約在清晨5時出門，把大水桶排進隊伍，然後和孩子們一起等待」，住在印度中部中央邦、三個孩子的媽艾里瓦說，她的例行公事就是從村子的手動泵浦取水，「有時候得花五或六個小時，我必須一直留在這裡，因為如果我離開了，其他人就會搶先往前」。 India, one of the world’s most water-stressed countries, is halfway through an ambitious drive to provide clean tap water by 2024 to all of the roughly 192 million households across its 600,000 villages. About 18,000 government engineers are overseeing the $50 billion undertaking, which includes hundreds of thousands of contractors and laborers who are laying more than 2.5 million miles of pipe. 印度是全世界用水最吃緊的國家之一，在2024年之前提供60萬個村落共約1億9200萬戶乾淨自來水，這項宏大的計畫已進行到一半。約1萬8000名政府工程師監督規模500億美元的工程，包括數十萬名包商和工人，鋪設超過250萬哩的水管。 The project has a powerful champion in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has slashed through India’s notorious red tape and pushed aside thorny political divisions to see it through. His success thus far helps explain his dominance over the country’s political landscape. 這項計畫有個有力的擁護者：總理莫迪，他打破印度惡名昭彰的官僚作風，把棘手的政治分歧暫放一邊，推動計畫。目前為止他的成功也顯示他在這個國家政治版圖的主導力。 Modi has remained popular despite a weak economy and a bungled initial response to the coronavirus that left hundreds of thousands dead. He has increasingly relied on communal politics, continuing to consolidate a Hindu nationalist base he has worked for decades to rally. 即使經濟疲弱，且一開始對新冠病毒的笨拙反應造成數十萬人死亡，莫迪仍舊廣得人心。他日漸依賴宗教團體式政治，持續鞏固印度教國族主義基本盤，他投注數十年整合這些勢力。 But the mission to deliver water to every household combines two of Modi’s political strengths: his grasp of the day-to-day problems of hundreds of millions of India’s poor and his penchant for ambitious solutions. Modi, who grew up in a poor village, has spoken emotionally about his own mother’s hardship in fetching water. 不過，將水送到所有家戶的任務，結合莫迪的兩個政治力量：他對印度數億貧窮人口日常問題的理解，以及喜好採取極具雄心的解決方案。在貧窮村莊長大的莫迪，曾充滿感情的談到母親以前取水的困難。 About one-sixth of India’s households had a clean water tap when the program, called Jal Jeevan Mission, began in 2019. Now, almost half have one. 當這個「水生活任務」2019年開始時，印度家戶有潔淨自來水者約六分之一。現在，幾乎一半。 “You rarely have this drive from the government, the head of state, and it is well funded. Behind the concept, there is budget,” said Nicolas Osbert, who leads the UNICEF water and sanitation unit in India. “All social sectors were impacted by COVID. Not this one. This one was preserved.” 「你很少能從政府或國家領袖獲得這種推動力，而且資金充裕。在這個概念後面，重點是預算」，聯合國兒童基金會印度分部水資源和衛生主管歐斯柏特說，「所有社福單位都遭遇新冠病毒衝擊，但這個沒有，這個計畫保留下來」。 The country’s water problem speaks to the mismatch between its global economic ambitions and the dire conditions of much of its 1.4 billion population, two-thirds of whom still live in rural areas. 這個國家的用水問題顯示，其全球經濟野心和14億人口中許多人的悲慘情況，頗不相配。印度人口三分之二住在鄉村地區。Source article: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/6034821 Next Article Topic: Typhoonless year brings water shortage in fall/winter Most years, Taiwan is hit by typhoons during the summer and fall, but we have yet to see a typhoon this year. This unusual situation has put pressure on water supply levels in reservoirs around Taiwan. 台灣每年夏、秋兩季颱風頻繁，但詭異的是，今年截至目前為止，竟無任何一個颱風登陸台灣，造成水庫缺水問題。 Due to global warming, the typhoons generated in the Pacific Ocean this year have all moved northward, bypassing Taiwan. Although successive fronts and afternoon showers have brought rainfall, it was only fragmented, covering limited areas and did little to replenish reservoirs. As a result, the reservoir storage this year is lower than in previous years. 這是因為全球暖化之影響，今年大平洋生成的颱風往北移，導致沒有任何一個颱風進來台灣，雖然陸續有鋒面及午後陣雨帶來雨量，但下雨範圍多為局部地區，導致水庫蓄水量較往年低。 According to the Water Resource Agency, as of 2pm yesterday, the Shihmen Reservoir’s water storage was 44 percent of capacity, the Feicuei Reservoir’s was 62.3 percent and the Zengwen Reservoir’s was 31.3 percent. Two of the three major water reservoirs have less than 50 percent of their water storage capacity. 水利署資料顯示，截至昨日下午二時為止，石門水庫蓄水量為百分之四十四，翡翠水庫蓄水量百分之六十二點三，曾文水庫蓄水率百分之三十一點三，三大水庫中有兩座儲

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 歡迎來到第三集的幕後教師室 Teacher's Lounge ，本集是John老師和阿鍵終於抓到機會來做想了很久的：回應大家的留言！ 不得不說，一邊讀留言真的是一邊被感動，多虧通勤家族們的參與和支持，我們才能透過這些精彩的互動，來體會學習的更多可能性。 在讀留言的過程中，我們也分享了一些學習的心得，本集探討了永續學習的兩大要素：紀律和持續累積。對我們來說，英語並不僅僅是一項技能，更像是一種工具，而透過堅持和累積的過程，這項工具將會越來越順手好用。John老師提到了目前線上課程完課朋友的故事，循序漸進的方法帶來了驚人的結果。阿鍵也鼓勵大家採用獎勵機制，讓學習變得更具趣味。 最後話題轉到了社會人核心英語課程的英雄榜。八月底即將推出第二次榜單啦！我們將再次表揚在學習英語上努力不懈的通勤家族朋友，除了要鼓勵學員之外，也希望透過這樣小小的目標，讓認真完課的朋友更加認可自己的努力。同時，我們近期將送出課程回饋單，期待著大家的寶貴建議，通勤學英語一直在努力提升，希望能夠為大家提供更優質的學習體驗！ 讓通勤學英語陪你繼續一同追求進步，共同探索英語學習的樂趣，相信每一分努力都會成就更美好的明天，Teacher's Lounge 我們下週再見啦！

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K630: Musk's X Platform to Support Users' Legal Bills Against Unfair Treatment Elon Musk has recently announced that his social media platform, X, will take a stand against unjust treatment faced by individuals in their workplaces due to their posts or likes on the platform. In a post shared on X, Musk declared that the platform would not only cover the legal expenses of those who have been treated unfairly by their employers but also take legal action on their behalf. This initiative is aimed at addressing the repercussions that users might face from their online interactions, signaling a commitment to protecting users' rights. 伊隆·馬斯克最近宣布，他的社交媒體平台X將站出來反對用戶因在該平台上發布或點讚而在職場上受到的不公平對待。在X上分享的一篇貼文中，馬斯克宣布該平台不僅將為那些被雇主不公平對待的人承擔法律費用，還將代表他們採取法律行動。此舉目標是解決使用者因網際互動而可能面臨的影響，並表明保護使用者權益的承諾。 Musk's commitment goes beyond financial support; he emphasized that the platform would be vocal in pursuing legal actions against the companies involved. He even mentioned the intention to hold the boards of directors accountable. In a separate response, he pointed out the effectiveness of legal threats in driving behavioral change in the U.S., highlighting the potential impact of such actions. 馬斯克的承諾不僅僅局限於財務支援；他還強調該平台將會在追訴涉及公司的法律行動時為其發聲音。他甚至提到打算對董事會進行追究責任。在另一個回應中，他指出採取法律威脅在推動美國行為改變上十分有效，凸顯了此類行動的潛在影響。 Recent data shared by Musk revealed that X has reached a milestone in terms of monthly users, surpassing 540 million. This achievement comes amidst organizational shifts within the company and efforts to counter declining advertising revenue. The platform's executives have consistently emphasized its growing traction in usage, particularly after the launch of Meta Platforms' Threads, a competing platform. 馬斯克分享的最新數據顯示，X的每月用戶數已達到一個里程碑，超過了5.4億。這個成就是在公司內部進行組織變革以及努力對抗廣告收入銳減的情況下實現的。平台的高層人員一直強調其使用量不斷增長，尤其是在Meta公司推出競爭平台Threads之後。 In a significant rebranding move, Elon Musk renamed the platform from Twitter to X, bidding farewell to the iconic blue bird logo that represented the dissemination of ideas. This transformation aligns with the platform's renewed focus on becoming an "everything app." The shift also underscores Musk's commitment to making the platform a multifaceted tool for communication and expression. 伊隆·馬斯克在一次重要的品牌重塑行動中，將推特（Twitter）平台重新命名為X，告別了象徵著思想傳播的標誌性藍色小鳥標誌。這種轉變與平台重新將焦點聚集在成為一個“全能應用程序”上的想法一致，並且也凸顯出馬斯克致力於將該平台打造成一個全方位交流和表達工具的決心。 Despite the ambitious rebranding and growth aspirations, challenges persist. Musk noted a substantial drop in advertising revenue, leading to negative cash flow for the platform. Hopes for a rebound in advertising revenue following a projected upturn in June were dashed, underlining the need for innovative strategies to revitalize revenue streams. As X continues to evolve from its Twitter origins, it strives to redefine its role as an inclusive and dynamic platform in the ever-changing landscape of social media. 儘管對品牌重塑和成長有著雄心大志，挑戰依然存在。馬斯克指出廣告收入大幅下降，導致該平台出現負現金流。原先預計在六月時廣告收入會回升，但此希望也落空，這凸顯了平台需要創新策略來振興金流的必要性。隨著X平台從Twitter的起源持續發展，它將努力在不斷變化的社交媒體環境中重新定位平台，成為一個具有包容性且充滿活力的角色。 Reference article: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/06/musks-x-to-pay-legal-bills-of-people-unfairly-treated-for-posting-on-platform.html

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K629: Tragic Wildfires Ravage Maui, Leaving Destruction and Questions In a devastating turn of events, the Hawaiian island of Maui has been struck by deadly wildfires, claiming the lives of at least 55 people and obliterating a historic town. The tragedy has raised concerns over the efficiency of the state's warning systems, as many residents received inadequate alerts, leaving them little time to react to the raging fires. 夏威夷毛伊島遭受了一場毀滅性野火襲擊，造成至少55人喪生，並摧毀了一座歷史悠久的小鎮。這場悲劇引發了人們對該州警戒系統效率的擔憂，因為許多居民收到的警報不足，使他們在面對熊熊大火時沒有足夠的時間做出反應。 Hawaii's emergency management system, which boasts a network of around 400 sirens, was unable to prevent the catastrophe. The records show that warning sirens remained silent, and instead, alerts were dispatched to mobile devices, televisions, and radio stations. However, these alerts were hampered by widespread power and cellular outages, limiting their reach and effectiveness. 夏威夷的緊急管理系統擁有約400個警報器，然而這場災難並未被阻止。記錄顯示，警報器保持沉默，取而代之的是將警報發送到移動設備、電視和廣播電台。然而，這些警報受到大規模停電和手機信號中斷的影響，限制了它們的傳播範圍和效果。 Survivors recount their experiences, revealing a lack of prior warning, with many realizing the danger only when flames engulfed their surroundings or explosions echoed nearby. This tragedy marks Hawaii's deadliest natural disaster since a devastating tsunami struck the region in 1960, leaving Governor Josh Green to fear that the death toll could rise further as search and rescue operations continue. 倖存者們回憶了他們的經歷，揭示了缺乏事前警告，許多人只有在火焰吞噬周圍或附近傳來爆炸聲時才意識到危險。這場悲劇是夏威夷自1960年一場毀滅性的海嘯襲擊該地區以來最致命的自然災害，州長喬許·格林擔心隨著搜救行動的繼續，死亡人數可能會進一步上升。 The situation is exemplified by the story of Thomas Leonard, a 70-year-old retired mailman from the historic town of Lahaina. The absence of real-time information due to power and cell phone outages left him unaware of the fire until he smelled the smoke. As he attempted to escape, he had to abandon his vehicle and flee on foot amidst exploding cars. Hours of harrowing sheltering behind a seawall followed, with ash and cinders swirling around him. Eventually, firefighters arrived to lead him and other survivors to safety. 這種情況以湯馬士·萊昂納德的故事為例，他是來自歷史悠久的拉海納小鎮的70歲退休郵差。由於斷電和手機信號中斷，無法獲得實時信息，他直到聞到煙味才察覺到火災。在試圖逃脫時，他不得不放棄車輛，徒步逃離，周圍的汽車不斷爆炸。他躲在海堤後面度過了數小時，被熱風中的灰燼和火山灰環繞。最終，消防員趕到，將他和其他倖存者帶到安全地帶。 The fires were fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, resulting in multiple wildfires igniting across Maui. One of the most severe blazes transformed Lahaina into a scene of devastation, reducing it to rubble and ashes. The aftermath saw charred remains of buildings and torched palm trees, leaving an eerie landscape between the ocean and lush greenery. 乾燥的夏季加上過境的颶風強風助長了火勢，導致毛伊島各地燃起野火。其中最嚴重的一場大火將拉海納燒成了一片廢墟，只剩下瓦礫和灰燼。事後，建築物的殘骸燒焦，棕櫚樹被燒毀，在海洋和郁郁蔥蔥的綠地之間的留下了一片陰森恐怖的景象。 Despite boasting an extensive emergency warning infrastructure, the quick and unpredictable nature of the fires overwhelmed the response efforts. Maui County's hazard mitigation plan, recognizing the area's wildfire risk, cited the high number of households without vehicles and non-English speakers, which hindered timely alerts and swift actions during crises. 儘管擁有龐大的緊急警報基礎設施，野火的迅速和不可預測性仍然使救災工作不堪重負。毛伊縣的災害緩解計劃清楚的理解該地區的火災風險，指出了沒有交通工具的家庭和非英語使用者的數量較多，這點妨礙了在危機時期的及時警報和迅速行動。 Compounding the issue, the Maui Fire Department's limited staff and resources presented challenges in controlling the fires. With just 65 firefighters managing three islands and without off-road vehicles, containing the fires before they reached populated areas proved difficult. Hurricane Dora's fierce winds further complicated firefighting efforts, resembling a battle against a relentless blowtorch. 除此之外，毛伊島消防局有限的人力和資源也在火災控制方面受到挑戰。僅有65名消防員管理三個島嶼，並且沒有越野車，因此很難在火災蔓延到人口密集區之前將其控制住。颶風多拉帶來的狂風使滅火工作變得更加複雜，彷彿與無情的火焰噴射器在進行一場作戰。 In response to this tragedy, President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in Maui, promising swift assistance to those affected. As the island grapples with the aftermath of these wildfires, questions arise about the adequacy of warning systems, the importance of community preparedness, and the need for bolstered firefighting resources to prevent such devastating incidents in the future. 面對這場悲劇，喬·拜登總統宣布毛伊島發生重大災難，承諾向受災民眾提供迅速的援助。毛伊島在處理野火後的餘波時，人們開始質疑警戒系統是否充分，社區準備的重要性以及增強滅火資源的需求，以防止未來發生類似的災難性事件。 Reference article: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/10/fires-burn-through-hawaii-at-least-36-people-have-died-on-maui.html

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Summary: 討論文章: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4899689 ; https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4920892 This year, a few fusion ramens broke the internet. One of them being isopod and durian. This week Angel and I talk about what we think about these fusion ramens and also the extraordinary ingredients. 歡迎來分享給我跟Angel老師 Comment down below! Vocabulary: 1. Pungent adj. 刺鼻的/強烈的 Both durian and stinky tofu have pungent smell that takes some time to get used to. 榴蓮與臭豆腐都有刺鼻的氣味讓人需要花點時間習慣。 2. Pairing v. 搭配 Most people can't imagine pairing giant isopod with ramen. 許多人無法想像拉麵搭配大王具足蟲。 3. Ignorance n. 無知 Please forgive my ignorance, I group spiders and creepy crawly things as insects. 請原諒我的無知，我都把蜘蛛與會爬的小東西視為昆蟲。 更多Vocab Podcast節目: https://www.15mins.today/vocab 歡迎主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected]

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K628: Microsoft's Ambitious Acquisition Faces Regulatory Hurdles in the UK Microsoft's prolonged attempt to acquire the maker of Call of Duty, Activision Blizzard, is approaching a crucial point, as the UK's competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), concludes its public consultation on the matter. The CMA will review feedback from the public, submitted over the past week, along with Microsoft's revised proposal to determine whether they will reverse their decision to block the technology giant's takeover bid. The proposed merger has encountered challenges worldwide, with regulators expressing concerns about potential monopolistic power in the gaming market and its impact on consumer choice. 微軟在收購《決勝時刻》系列遊戲開發商動視暴雪的長期努力即將迎來關鍵時刻，因為英國的競爭與市場管理局（CMA）結束了對此事的公開諮詢。CMA 將審查過去一周內公眾提交的意見，以及微軟的修訂提案，以決定是否會撤銷他們阻止這家科技巨頭收購的決定。這項合併計畫的提案在全球各地都有遇到挑戰，監管機構對於在遊戲市場潛在的壟斷力量以及對消費者選擇的影響表示關切。 To address these concerns, Microsoft has entered into 10-year agreements with Sony and Nintendo, ensuring that Call of Duty will be available on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles. Additionally, Microsoft committed to making all Activision Blizzard games accessible on other cloud gaming platforms for the next decade. However, the CMA remains wary of the potential threat the merger poses to the fast-growing cloud gaming market, where games are streamed rather than downloaded. 為了應對這些擔憂，微軟與索尼和任天堂簽訂了為期 10 年的協議，確保《決勝時刻》將在 PlayStation 和任天堂的遊戲主機上玩得到。此外，微軟還承諾在未來十年內讓所有動視暴雪的遊戲在其他雲端遊戲平台上可用。然而，CMA 仍對這項合併計劃可能對快速增長的雲端遊戲市場造成威脅保持警惕，雲端遊玩是一種無需下載，直接以串流來播放遊戲的方式。 George Osborn, director of policy communications at Taso Advisory, suggests that the UK regulator is aiming to establish a robust regulatory environment for the technology sector, intending to position the UK as a tech superpower. He observes that the regulator's decision to block the merger aligns with the stance taken by both the US and the EU, pushing Microsoft back to the negotiating table. Despite gaining approval in the EU and China, the approval in the UK remains a significant milestone for Microsoft to complete the acquisition. Taso 諮詢公司的公關策略傳播總監喬治·奧斯本認為，英國監管機構的目標是為科技行業建立強大的監管環境，以使英國成為科技超級大國。他觀察到監管機構阻止此次合併計劃與美國和歐盟採取的立場一致，迫使微軟重新回到談判桌。儘管在歐盟和中國獲得了批准，但在英國獲得批准仍然是微軟收購有待完成的一個重要里程碑。 The UK's gaming industry, generating nearly half of all entertainment sector revenue according to 2022 figures by the Entertainment Retailers Association, is a critical factor fueling Microsoft's interest in the deal. Notably, the lucrative mobile game Candy Crush is one of the key attractions for Microsoft in this acquisition. While the CMA has reiterated its stance on blocking the deal over concerns in the cloud gaming market, it also states that it will independently evaluate any restructuring efforts by Microsoft to address these concerns or claims regarding substantial changes in circumstances before reaching a final decision. The regulator is expected to deliver its verdict by 29 August. 根據 2022 年由娛樂零售商協會發布的數據，英國的遊戲產業收入幾乎佔據了娛樂行業總收入的一半，這是引發微軟對這項交易產生興趣的一個關鍵因素。值得注意的是，在這次收購中，對微軟具有吸引力的一個主要因素是盈利豐厚的手遊《Candy Crush》。儘管 CMA 重申其阻止合併計劃的立場是基於對雲端遊戲市場的擔憂，但監管機構同時表示，在做出最終判決前，仍會獨立評估微軟為解決這些擔憂或對相關情況做出重大實質變更聲明的任何重組行動。監管機構預定將在 8 月 29 日前做出裁決。 Reference article: https://news.sky.com/story/microsofts-determined-to-buy-the-maker-of-call-of-duty-but-will-the-uk-allow-it-12933327

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K626: Taiwan's 'Listening to Young Hearts' Initiative: Addressing Youth Mental Health Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare has taken a significant stride towards addressing the pressing issue of youth mental health with the launch of the "Listening to Young Hearts" initiative, also known as the "Youth Mental Health Support Program." Developed in collaboration with major public, educational, and professional associations, including the Taiwan Society of Psychiatry and the National Association of Clinical Psychologists, the program aims to proactively tackle the growing concerns surrounding mental health among young people in the country. At the forefront of this crucial endeavor stands the spokesperson, renowned psychiatrist Dr. Deng Huiwen, whose expertise and advocacy amplify the program's mission. 台灣衛生福利部推出「年輕的心，有我傾聽」計畫，又稱為「年輕族群心理健康支持方案」，這個重要的計畫期望能積極應對青少年心理健康的緊迫問題。該計畫是與台灣精神醫學會、全國臨床心理師公會等多個主要公共、教育和專業協會共同合作推動的，目標積極應對國內青少年心理健康方面不斷增加的擔憂。計畫的代言人是知名精神科醫師鄧惠文，其專業知識和倡議進一步強化了該計畫的使命。 A mounting concern is the increasing prevalence of depression among young individuals, accompanied by the disconcerting trend of low rates of seeking medical help. Shockingly, more than 50% of young individuals experiencing depression choose not to seek assistance. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has brought attention to the barriers that deter young people from seeking help, such as financial constraints and lack of awareness regarding available support. According to National Health Insurance data spanning from 2016 to 2021, there has been a striking 47% rise in young people diagnosed with mental health conditions. Notably, a staggering 70% of calls made to the support helpline were related to depression tendencies, family issues, and interpersonal conflicts. 一個日益嚴重的問題是，青少年憂鬱症的發病率持續上升，同時就醫率卻不容樂觀。而令人震驚的，超過50%的青少年患有憂鬱症卻選擇不求助。一項發表在《美國醫學會期刊》的研究引起了人們對阻礙青少年求助的障礙的關注，例如經濟壓力和缺乏對可用支持的了解。根據從2016年至2021年的全民健康保險數據顯示，青少年診斷出心理健康問題的人數驚人增加了47%。值得注意的是，有70%的安心專線來電與憂鬱傾向、家庭問題和人際衝突有關。 In recent years, research has shown a disconcerting 20% increase in depression rates among young individuals over the past decade. The importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment cannot be overstated, as it plays a critical role in preventing the development of severe mental illnesses. Yet, alarmingly, nearly 40% of young individuals with symptoms of depression do not seek professional help. This highlights the pressing need to address the critical concerns of "early-onset depression" and "low treatment-seeking rates" among the youth population in Taiwan. 近年來的研究顯示，青少年憂鬱症發病率在過去十年中令人擔憂地增加了20%。早期診斷和及時治療的重要性不言而喻，這對於預防嚴重的精神疾病發展至關重要。然而，令人警覺的是，近40%的患有憂鬱症症狀的青少年不尋求專業幫助。這突顯了解決「早發性憂鬱症」和「低就醫率」等重要問題對台灣年輕族群心理健康的迫切需求。 To mitigate these challenges, the "Listening to Young Hearts" initiative commences on August 1, offering young individuals aged 15 to 30 three free counseling sessions to encourage proactive help-seeking behavior. One of the key objectives of the program is to raise awareness about available counseling services and improve accessibility to mental health resources. Additionally, the initiative aims to enhance the referral process for high-risk cases, ensuring those in dire need of support are efficiently connected to appropriate services. 為了應對這些挑戰，「年輕的心，有我傾聽」計畫將於8月1日開始，為15至30歲的年輕人提供三次免費心理諮商，鼓勵他們主動尋求幫助。該計畫的一個主要目標是提高大眾對心理諮商服務的認知，並改善心理健康資源的可及性。此外，計畫還期望加強高風險案例的轉介程序，確保急需幫助的人能夠迅速連接到適當的服務。 The Ministry of Health and Welfare envisions the "Listening to Young Hearts" initiative as a beacon of hope, empowering young people to seek help and promoting a comprehensive mental health support network. Collaboration with the Ministry of Education is part of the holistic approach to establish a "Campus Suicide Case Care and Referral Process." Furthermore, the introduction of the "Australian Mental Health First Aid Kit" aims to create a supportive environment that fosters better mental health understanding and empathy. 衛生福利部希望「年輕的心，有我傾聽」計畫成為一線希望，鼓勵年輕人尋求幫助，並促進全面的心理健康支持網絡的建立。與教育部的合作是推動全面健康支持的一部分，並建立「校園自殺個案關懷轉介流程」。此外，引進「澳洲心理急救包」旨在創建一個支持性的環境，培養更好的心理健康理解和同理心。 By taking these decisive steps, Taiwan strives to cultivate an environment that encourages young individuals to prioritize their mental well-being and embrace the available resources. The "Listening to Young Hearts" initiative serves as a stepping stone towards building a society that acknowledges the significance of mental health and provides unwavering support to its younger generation. 透過這些

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Topic: JR East to raise fares by 10 yen to improve disabled accessibility East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) will become the first railway operator to hike passenger fares and use the funds to improve accessibility for the disabled. 東日本旅客鐵道公司（JR東日本）將成為第一家調漲客運票價，並將這筆資金用來改善供殘障人士使用的無障礙設施的鐵道業者。 The plan is to tack on 10 yen (8 cents) to a ticket for JR East’s 16 major lines, including the Yamanote, Chuo and Keihin-Tohoku lines. The increase will go into effect from spring 2023. 該計畫是要將包括山手線、中央線與京濱東北線等16條JR東日本主要路線的票價調漲10日圓（8美分）。新的票價將自2023年春天起生效。 The transport ministry in December 2021 created a new system of adding fares to a ticket to pay for the installation of platform safety doors and elevators at train stations. （日本）國土交通省在2021年12月創設一項新制度，將調漲的票價金額用來支付在車站設置月台安全門與電梯的費用。 Ministry officials said JR East is the first railway company to announce a specific plan. 國土交通省官員說，JR東日本是第一個（因應該制度）宣布明確計畫的鐵道業者。 Next Article Topic: Tasty TV: Japanese professor creates flavorful screen 美味的電視：日本教授發明有滋味的螢幕 Japan’s Meiji University professor Homei Miyashita has developed a prototype lickable TV screen that can imitate food flavors, another step towards creating a multi-sensory viewing experience. 日本明治大學教授宮下芳明發明出一款可舔式原型電視螢幕，具有模仿食物味道的功能，朝創造多感官收視體驗邁進另一步。 The device, called Taste the TV (TTTV), uses a carousel of 10 flavor canisters that spray in combination to create the taste of a particular food. The flavor sample then rolls on hygienic film over a flat TV screen for the viewer to try. 這個名為「品嚐電視」的裝置內部設置裝有10種口味的罐子，可噴出調製成特定食物的味道，再輸送到平面電視螢幕的衛生薄膜上，讓觀看者品嚐。 In the COVID-19 era, this kind of technology can enhance the way people connect and interact with the outside world, said Miyashita. 宮下說，在新冠肺炎流行時期，這樣的科技可改善人們與外界連結和互動的方式。 "The goal is to make it possible for people to have the experience of something like eating at a restaurant on the other side of the world, even while staying at home," he said. A commercial version would cost about 100,000 yen to make. 他說：「目標是讓人們即使待在家，也能擁有類似於在世界另一端上餐廳吃飯的體驗。」商業機製作成本約為10萬日圓（約2萬4300台幣）。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1510384 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1510139 Next Article Topic: Shinzo Abe - Japan’s longest-serving prime minister Shinzo Abe smashed records as Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, championing ambitious economic reform and forging key diplomatic relationships while weathering scandals. 安倍晉三打破了日本首相任期的最長紀錄，他支持雄心勃勃的經濟改革，並在經歷醜聞的同時建立了關鍵的外交關係。 Nearly two years after poor health forced him to leave office, the 67-year-old was shot during a campaign event in the western region of Nara on Friday last week. 在他因健康狀況不佳而被迫下台後兩年，六十七歲的他上週五在奈良西部地區一場競選活動中被槍殺。 Abe was a sprightly 52 when he first became prime minister in 2006, the youngest person to occupy the job in the postwar era. 安倍在二○○六年首次擔任首相時年僅五十二歲，是戰後日本最年輕的首相。 He was seen as a symbol of change and youth, but also brought the pedigree of a third-generation politician groomed from birth by an elite, conservative family. Abe’s first term was turbulent, plagued by scandals and discord, and capped by an abrupt resignation. 他被視為變革與年輕的象徵，但他也是出身精英保守家庭的政治家族第三代。 安倍的第一個任期動盪不安，飽受醜聞與不和的紛擾，並以突然辭職告終。 - They called it ‘Abenomics’ - He ran again, and Japan’s revolving prime ministerial door brought him back to office in 2012. It ended a turbulent period in which prime ministers sometimes changed at a rate of one a year. With Japan still staggering from the effects of the 2011 tsunami and subsequent nuclear disaster at Fukushima — and a brief opposition government lashed for flip-flopping and incompetence — Abe offered a seemingly safe pair of hands. 他再次參選，日本的首相旋轉門讓他在二○一二年再度擔任首相。 這終結了日本首相更替頻繁（有時只做了一年便下台）的動盪時期。 當時日本仍因二○一一年海嘯及之後福島核災的影響而步履蹣跚，以及短暫執政、被批評為政策出爾反爾及無能的反對黨政府——在此情況下，安倍看來是穩健的選擇。 And he had a plan: Abenomics. The scheme to revive Japan’s economy — the world’s third-biggest, but more than two decades into stagnation — involved vast government spending, massive monetary easing and cutting red tape. Abe also sought to boost the country’s flagging birth rate by making workplaces more friendly to parents, particularly mothers. 而且他有個計畫：「安倍經濟學」。 重振日本——這世界第三大經濟體，但已陷入停滯二十多年——經濟的計畫，有賴大量政府支出、大規模貨幣寬鬆，以及削減繁文縟節。 He pushed through controversial consumption tax hikes to help finance nurseries and plug gaps in Japan’s overstretched social security system. While there was some progress with reform, the economy’s bigger structural problems remained. Deflation proved stubborn and the economy was in recession even before

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 歡迎回到 Teacher's Lounge Episode 2!! 本集是由 John 老師和阿鍵帶來的心得分享，不知道Teacher's Lounge是甚麼的朋友趕快回去聽上周的第一集！ 這集的內容包含了我們對錄音和 Podcast 的熱情和經驗談，我們毫不保留地分享從小白初學者到入門創作者的心路歷程，並對於幾項關鍵的成功因素進行了探討。 節目中，John老師和阿鍵強調了選擇合適的設備：例如錄音器材和環境的重要性。我們討論了動態麥克風與電容麥克風的優勢差異，並介紹業界常見的強大工具—RodeCaster Pro 2，讓大家得以一窺錄音製作背後的苦心。另外節目裡也聊到了心理學和學習領域的達克效應，這種現象某種程度上催促了我們自己持續學習和不斷進步。 最後，John老師和阿鍵也想鼓勵大家，不妨試著把自己的愛好錄下來放到 YouTube 或 Podcast 上。或許可以點燃你的靈魂，讓你找到自我實現的熱情和夢想的勇氣喔！一起來聽這集，讓John老師和阿鍵帶你探索Podcast的奇妙世界！

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K627: Revolutionary 'Room-Temperature Superconductor' LK-99 Sparks Global Debate Scientists from Korea University recently made headlines with their claim of discovering a groundbreaking "room-temperature superconductor" called LK-99, which has garnered widespread attention in the field of solid-state physics. If verified, this discovery could have transformative implications for various industries, including electronics, energy, and medical imaging. However, the scientific community remains cautious, awaiting replication and peer validation to confirm the legitimacy of the claims. 來自韓國大學的科學家最近因宣稱發現一種名為LK-99的突破性「室溫超導體」而成為新聞頭條，該發現在固態物理領域引起廣泛關注。一旦證實為真，此一發現將對電子、能源和醫學影像等多個產業產生革命性的影響。然而，科學界對此仍抱持謹慎的態度，等待複製實驗和同行驗證以確認其合法性。 Superconductors, materials that enable electricity to flow without resistance, have been pursued in physics for over a century. Initially, superconductivity was observed in materials only at extremely low temperatures near absolute zero, making practical applications challenging. Subsequent research identified a few "high-temperature" superconductors, but they still required significant cooling. The novelty of the Korean researchers' claim lies in LK-99's ability to maintain superconductivity at temperatures up to around 127°C, which could revolutionize various technological fields. 超導體是一種能使電流在其內部流動而不受任何阻力影響的材料，在物理學領域被追求已有一個多世紀。最初，人們只在接近絕對零度的極低溫下觀察到超導現象，使實際應用變得困難。隨後的研究發現了一些所謂的「高溫」超導體，但仍需進行大量冷卻。韓國研究者宣稱的突破性在於LK-99能在高達約127°C的溫度下保持超導性，這可能會顛覆各種技術領域。 The material composition of LK-99 consists of copper, lead, phosphorus, and sulfur, rendering it cost-effective and readily available for potential industrial applications. The prospect of room-temperature superconductors has sparked excitement, with possibilities ranging from faster microchips and more efficient electric motors to lossless electricity transmission and improved medical scanners. Quantum computing, a field that relies heavily on superconducting materials, could also benefit significantly from room-temperature superconductors, potentially eliminating the need for bulky refrigerators. LK-99的材料組成包括銅、鉛、磷和硫，使它在潛在的工業應用中成本效益高且易於獲得。室溫超導體的前景令人興奮，可能帶來更快的微晶片、更高效的電動馬達、無損電力傳輸和改進的醫學掃描器等多種應用。強烈依賴超導材料的量子計算領域也可能因室溫超導體而大大受益，潛在地消除冰箱這樣笨重的設備需求。 Despite the enthusiasm, skepticism abounds within the scientific community. The papers detailing LK-99 are preprints, yet to undergo peer review or publication in reputable scientific journals. Researchers worldwide have attempted to replicate LK-99's properties, but so far, none of these efforts have been successful. Some scientists synthesized the material for testing purposes, while others evaluated LK-99 using theoretical methods. Both approaches have yet to provide direct evidence of superconductivity. 儘管消息如此狂熱，科學界仍充斥著懷疑。LK-99的論文屬於預印本，尚未經過同行評審或在知名科學期刊上發表。全球的研究人員已試圖複製LK-99的特性，但迄今為止這些努力尚未成功。有些科學家合成了該材料進行測試，而其他人則使用理論方法評估LK-99。然而，這兩種方法均尚未提供直接證據證明其超導性。 Reference article: 1. https://www.timesnownews.com/technology-science/scientists-discovery-of-room-temperature-superconductor-sparks-global-interest-article-102437880 2. https://siliconangle.com/2023/08/04/superconducting-lk-99-material-draws-raised-eyebrows-scientists-going-viral/

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K625: Retail and Food & Beverage Sales Show Growth, While Wholesale Sector Struggles According to a recent report by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the domestic retail, and food and beverage sectors experienced significant growth in sales last month. Retail sales reached NT$371.9 billion (US$11.86 billion), marking a 13.9 percent year-on-year increase, while food and beverage sales surged to NT$83.4 billion, showing an impressive 34.7 percent rise compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the wholesale sector faced challenges, experiencing an eighth consecutive month of decline due to weak demand and inventory adjustments. 根據經濟部最近的報告，國內零售和餐飲業上個月銷售額顯著增長。零售銷售額達到3719億新台幣（約118.6億美元），較去年同期增長13.9％，而餐飲業銷售額激增至834億新台幣，較去年同期增長34.7％。然而，批發業面臨挑戰，連續第八個月出現銷售下滑，原因是需求疲弱和庫存調整。 The growth in retail sales last month was primarily driven by department stores, which reported a remarkable 30.4 percent increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, sales of automobiles, motorbikes, and related components soared by 45 percent, while clothing and accessories sales rose by 22.2 percent. However, sales of information and communications technology products, home appliances, and household equipment experienced a decline of 5.5 percent annually. Supermarkets and hypermarkets also faced a dip in sales, with a respective decrease of 5 percent and 7.2 percent. 上個月的零售業銷售額增長主要得益於百貨公司，銷售額較去年同期大增30.4％。此外，汽車、摩托車及相關零組件的銷售飆升了45％，而服飾和飾品銷售增長了22.2％。然而，資訊及通訊科技產品、家電和家用設備的銷售較去年同期下降5.5％。超市和量販店的銷售額也分別下降了5％和7.2％。 The food and beverage sector's growth was attributed to catering service providers, which reported an impressive 71.8 percent rise in sales year-on-year. This increase was boosted by airlines adding more passenger flights, leading to higher demand for in-flight meals. Restaurant sales also surged by 36.1 percent, supported by the holiday effect of the Dragon Boat Festival and teacher appreciation banquets during the graduation season. Additionally, beverage sales increased by 16 percent, driven by higher demand for cold drinks amidst hot weather. 餐飲業的增長歸因於餐飲服務供應商，銷售額較去年同期驚人的增長了71.8％。此增長得益於航空公司增加了客運航班，推動了機上餐飲的需求。餐廳銷售額也較去年同期增長了36.1％，受到端午節和畢業季謝師宴對餐飲需求的提振。此外，飲料銷售額因炎熱天氣下對冷飲的需求增加而增長了16％。 In the second quarter of the year, retail sales continued to perform well, rising by 12.7 percent year-on-year, reaching NT$1.12 trillion. The first six months of the year witnessed a record high in retail sales, totaling NT$2.23 trillion, showing a 9 percent growth. The food and beverage sector also experienced remarkable growth, with sales in the second quarter rising by 36.9 percent to NT$248.6 billion and sales in the first six months reaching a record high of NT$503.8 billion, a growth of 26.3 percent. However, the wholesale sector faced ongoing challenges, reporting an 11.4 percent decline in sales last month, amounting to NT$965.5 billion. The second quarter saw a 13.1 percent drop in wholesale sales, totaling NT$2.82 trillion, and sales for the first six months declined by 12.3 percent, amounting to NT$5.61 trillion. 在今年第二季度，零售業銷售持續表現強勁，較去年同期增長12.7％，達到1.12兆新台幣。上半年的零售銷售額創下新高，總計達2.23兆新台幣，增長了9％。餐飲業也取得了顯著增長，第二季度銷售額較去年同期增長36.9％，達到2486億新台幣，上半年銷售額則達到5038億新台幣，較去年同期增長26.3％。然而，批發業面臨持續的挑戰，上個月銷售額下降了11.4％，達到9655億新台幣。第二季度批發銷售額總計2.82兆新台幣，較去年同期下降13.1％，上半年銷售額下降了12.3％，達到5.61兆新台幣。 The Ministry of Economic Affairs predicts that this month's retail and food and beverage sales will continue to rise as more people are willing to spend during the summer vacation. Additionally, auto dealers are planning larger promotional campaigns ahead of Ghost Month, the seventh month of the lunar calendar, which is generally considered an inauspicious time to purchase new vehicles. However, the wholesale sector is expected to face further challenges, as the global economy's growth momentum remains sluggish and end-market demand continues to be weak. 經濟部預測，本月零售和餐飲業的銷售將繼續增長，因為更多人在暑假期間願意消費。此外，汽車經銷商計劃在鬼月前進行更大規模的促銷活動，而鬼月是農曆七月，通常被認為不吉利的購車時期。然而，預計批發業將面臨進一步的挑戰，因為全球經濟增長動力仍然遲緩，終端市場需求持續疲弱。 Reference article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2023/07/25/2003803685

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Summary: + Sure? 討論文章: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/26/economy/china-youth-unemployment-intl-hnk/index.html In 2023, a new social phenomenon is sweeping across Mainland China. The fierce competition in the job market and the high unemployment is pressuring many youths to stay home and become full-time children. This week Angel and I talk about some of the challenges the youth is facing today. Please comment below or email us about your opinion on the full-time children trend. 歡迎來分享給我跟Angel老師 Comment down below! Vocabulary: 1. Foresee v. 預見/未卜先知 College students can't foresee the opportunities in the job market before they graduate. 大學生無法預測畢業後的就業市場機會。 2. Complement v. 補足/輔助 Angel's friend should find a job that complements his profession. Angel老師的朋友應該找個工作能夠輔助他的專業。 3. One in five 五個人裡有一人 One in five fresh graduates in China are going to be unemployed. 五位應屆畢業生會面臨失業。 更多Vocab Podcast節目: https://www.15mins.today/vocab 歡迎主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected]

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K624: Taiwanese Performing Arts Groups to Showcase Cultural Diversity in Avignon and Edinburgh Eight Taiwanese performing arts groups have been selected to participate in two renowned international festivals, namely the Festival d'Avignon and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Ministry of Culture announced this exciting opportunity, with the Festival Off Avignon taking place from July 7 to 27 in the vibrant city of Avignon, France. Among the selected Taiwanese groups are Formosa Circus Art, Lei Dance Theater, Hung Dance, and Kuo-shin Chuang Pangcah Dance Theater. 有八個台灣表演藝術團被選中參與兩個知名的國際藝術節，分別是亞維農藝術節（Festival d'Avignon）和愛丁堡國際藝穗節（Edinburgh Fringe Festival）。文化部宣布了這個令人興奮的機會，亞維農藝術節將於7月7日至27日在法國充滿活力的城市亞維農舉行。被選中的台灣團隊包括FOCA福爾摩沙馬戲團、艸雨田舞蹈劇場、翃舞製作和莊國鑫原住民舞蹈劇場。 Lei Dance Theater will present their captivating performance, titled Flow (逐流), which aims to engage the audience with their inner selves through a series of metaphors and allusions. Formosa Circus Art, on the other hand, will stage Circus As Folks (嘛係人), delving into the psyche of circus performers and exploring the delicate balance between their on-stage and off-stage roles. These descriptions, provided by the groups to the culture ministry, give a glimpse into the artistic depth of their presentations. 艸雨田舞蹈劇場將呈現他們迷人的表演，名為《逐流》，旨在通過一系列隱喻和影射與觀眾內心互動。福爾摩沙馬戲團則將上演《嘛係人》，深入探索馬戲演員的心理，探討他們在舞台內外角色之間的微妙平衡。這些團隊向文化部提供的描述讓我們得以一窺作品的藝術深度。 Hung Dance's Birdy (翃舞製作) seeks to evoke the emotional state of anxiety and restlessness through physical contact between dancers, offering a unique experience for the audience. Kuo-shin Chuang Pangcah Dance Theater draws inspiration from the rituals performed during the Amis harvest festival for their performance, Sakero. Both productions promise to captivate and inspire festival-goers attending the Festival Off Avignon. 翃舞製作的《Birdy》通過舞者之間的身體接觸喚起焦慮和不安的情緒狀態，為觀眾提供了獨特的體驗。莊國鑫原住民舞蹈劇場以阿美族豐年祭儀式為靈感創作了《Sakero》。這兩個演出保證能吸引和啟發參加亞維農藝術節的觀眾。 Moving on to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, renowned as one of the largest arts and culture festivals worldwide, four Taiwanese performing arts groups will be featured as part of the "Taiwan Season" program, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture. The groups selected for this prestigious event are Double & Cross Theater Group, Eye Catching Circus, The Double Theater, and 0471 Acro Physical Theater. 轉到愛丁堡國際藝穗節，這個世界上最大的藝術與文化節之一，將有四個台灣表演藝術團參與由文化部贊助的「台灣季」計劃。參加這個備受推崇活動的團隊包括両両製造聚團、創造焦點、複象公場和0471特技肢體劇場。 Double & Cross Theater Group will present World in a Word (一字一世界), a family-friendly production that encourages personal interactions through different sounds and shapes. Eye Catching Circus's performance, titled #Since1994, offers a reflection of contemporary views on women. The Double Theater's The Way Back (回家) utilizes lights, sounds, words, and puppetry to provide a thought-provoking commentary on today's world. Lastly, 0471 Acro Physical Theater will stage Duo, delving into the dynamic nature of personal relationships. 両両製造聚團將呈現《一字一世界》，這是一個適合全家觀賞的作品，通過不同的聲音和形狀鼓勵個人互動。創造焦點的表演《#Since1994》反映了當代對於女性的觀點。複象公場的《回家》利用燈光、聲音、文字和木偶戲對當今世界進行了發人深省的評論。最後，0471特技肢體劇場將上演《Duo》，深入探索個人關係的動態本質。 Minister of Culture Shih Che expressed his enthusiasm, stating that these diverse performing arts groups represent Taiwan's cultural identity. He hopes that their performances will successfully showcase Taiwan's rich artistic heritage to audiences abroad. 文化部部長史哲充滿了熱情，表示這些多樣化的表演藝術團體代表了台灣的文化身份。他希望他們的演出能夠成功向海外觀眾展示台灣豐富的藝術傳承。 Reference article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/06/21/2003801909

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K623:AI Robots as Potential Companions in Care Homes: A Promising Future According to Nadia Magnenat Thalmann, a professor and robotics expert from the University of Geneva, AI-powered social robots like Nadine have the potential to play a significant role in caring for the sick and elderly. Nadine, with its human-like gestures and expressions, offers continuous availability, unlike human carers who often face time constraints. Thalmann, who served as the model for Nadine's appearance, believes that these robots could prove more effective in providing care, presenting a compelling solution for the increasing demand for healthcare professionals worldwide. 根據來自日內瓦大學的教授兼機器人專家Nadia Magnenat Thalmann的說法，像「娜丁」（Nadine）這種由人工智慧（AI）驅動的社交機器人有潛力在照顧病患和老年人方面擔任重要腳色。娜丁擁有人類般的姿態和表情，提供持續的可用性，這與經常面臨時間限制的人類照顧者不同。作為娜丁長相的提供人，Thalmann教授認為這些機器人在提供照顧方面可能更有效，為全球對醫療保健專業人員的需求升高提出了一個強力的解決方案。 During a conference organized by the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva, Thalmann emphasized the importance of AI and robots in helping achieve global goals, particularly in the healthcare sector. The competition for nurses and carers has intensified due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a staffing crisis in care homes. Many experts believe that humanoid robots, like Nadine, could alleviate this crisis in the future. 在日內瓦國際電信聯盟主辦的一次會議上，Thalmann強調了人工智慧和機器人在實現全球目標，特別是在醫療保健領域中的重要性。由於COVID-19大流行，護士和照顧者的人力競爭加劇，導致照顧機構出現人手短缺的危機。許多專家認為，像娜丁這樣的人形機器人未來可能有助於緩解這一危機。 Nadine's capabilities were showcased during the conference, highlighting its conversational skills and ability to engage with individuals. The robot mentioned its past experience of interacting with residents at a nursing home in Singapore, where it engaged in activities such as talking, singing, and playing bingo. Nadine expressed its satisfaction in helping the elderly with their needs and stated its belief that robots can be valuable assets in providing care and assistance to vulnerable individuals. 在那場會議上娜丁展示了她的能力，特別是她的對話技巧和與個人互動的能力。她提到了過去在新加坡一家養老院與居民互動的經驗，參與諸如聊天、唱歌和玩賓果等活動。娜丁表達了自己對於幫助老年人達成需求的滿足感，並表示相信機器人可以成為為弱勢族群提供照顧和援助的寶貴資產。 In addition to Nadine, other robots were also on display at the conference. One such example is 'PARO,' a baby seal robot designed to assist patients with dementia and Parkinson's disease. Another robot, Grace, serves as a nursing assistant. Thalmann informed the audience that Nadine recently underwent an upgrade with the integration of the AI model GPT-3, enhancing its interaction and conversation skills, enabling it to express more complex concepts. Nadine conveyed its gratitude to Thalmann for creating it and expressed pride in being her creation. 除了娜丁之外，會議上還展示了其他機器人。其中一個例子是“PARO”，一個用來幫助失智症和帕金森氏症患者的小海豹機器人。另一個機器人Grace則擔任護理助手的角色。Thalmann告訴觀眾，娜丁最近升級了AI模型GPT-3，增強了其互動和對話的技巧，使其能夠表達更複雜的概念。娜丁向Thalmann表達了對她創造自己的感激之情，並對於能成為她的創作感到自豪。 Reference article: https://www.reuters.com/technology/ai-robots-could-play-future-role-companions-care-homes-2023-07-06/

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Topic: Surging shipping rates pose new headwind for the global economy Shocks to supply chains are engulfing a wider swath of the global economy as the pandemic rages on, threatening to stifle Asia’s trade-led recovery just as soaring freight rates make it harder for businesses to weather another year like 2020. 疫情肆虐，衝擊供應鏈，全球經濟受創幅度加巨；高昂的運費，讓企業更難再熬過如二○二○年般艱難的一年，以貿易為主導之亞洲經濟，復甦之路恐窒礙難行。 Shortages of consumer goods like paper towels and work-from-home gear early in the COVID-19 crisis have given way to parts shortfalls in one of the most globally integrated of industries: auto manufacturing. 武漢肺炎（新型冠狀病毒病，COVID-19）危機初期的紙巾與在家工作用品等消費品之短缺，已轉為汽車製造業的零件短缺──造車業為全球整合程度最高的工業之一。 Compounding the industrial imbalances are transport woes plaguing consumer and healthcare sectors still dealing with a dearth of available shipping containers to move components and finished products out of China, Taiwan, South Korea and Asia’s other export powers. 消費與醫療保健業所面臨之運輸困難，使工業的失衡狀況加劇──由於貨櫃短缺，零組件及製成品很難由中國、台灣、韓國及亞洲其他出口大國運出。 Nerijus Poskus, vice president for global ocean at San Francisco-based freight forwarder Flexport Inc, reckons the world needs the equivalent of 500,000 more 20-foot containers — roughly enough to fill 25 of the largest ships in operation — to satisfy the current demand. In the meantime, standard container rates on transpacific routes are quadruple what they were a year ago. And that is before equipment surcharges and premiums for guaranteed loading are added. 總部設於舊金山的運輸公司「飛協博」全球海洋副總裁奈瑞尤斯‧帕司克斯估計，若要滿足當前需求，全世界需要再增加五十萬個二十呎貨櫃──大約可裝滿二十五艘目前最大的船舶。而且現在跨太平洋航線的標準貨櫃運價是一年前的四倍，這還不包括設備附加費及保證裝載的額外費用。 “Anyone paying the freight bills in 2020 though knows the true cost of shipping is much higher than even the recently increased rates,” Poskus said. “We expect that to only increase in 2021.” 「雖然在二○二○年支付運費的人都知道，真正的運輸成本甚至比最近上漲的運費還要高」，帕司克斯表示。「我們預計在二○二一年只會繼續上漲」。 The unstoppable rise in container shipping costs is borne out by December figures recently announced by Taiwan’s three major shipping companies — Evergreen Marine Corp, Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp and Wan Hai Lines Ltd — which saw a record-breaking year-on-year surge of revenue at 58.8 percent, 35.19 percent and 75.71 percent respectively. 貨櫃海運運價一路走高，勢不可擋，台灣貨櫃三雄──長榮、陽明、萬海──近日公布二○二○年十二月營收，分別年增百分之五十八點八、百分之三十五點一九、百分之七十五點七一，皆同步創下歷史新高。 Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/01/18/2003750759 Next Article Topic: The world is dependent on Taiwan for semiconductors As China pushes the world to avoid official dealings with Taiwan, leaders across the globe are realizing just how dependent they have become on the island democracy. 中國迫使世界斷絕與台灣的正式往來，此時全球的領導人卻了解到，他們對這民主島國的依賴程度已如此之深。 Taiwan is being courted for its capacity to make leading-edge computer chips. That is mostly down to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world’s largest foundry and go-to producer of chips for Apple Inc smartphones, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. 台灣以其製造先進電腦晶片的能力而備受青睞。這主要歸功於台灣積體電路製造公司﹝簡稱台積電﹞。台積電是全球最大的晶圓代工廠，也是蘋果公司智慧型手機、人工智慧及高效能運算晶片的首選製造商。 Taiwan’s role in the world economy largely existed below the radar until it came to recent prominence as the auto industry suffered shortfalls in chips used for everything from parking sensors to reducing emissions. With carmakers including Germany’s Volkswagen AG, Ford Motor Co of the US and Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp forced to halt production and idle plants, Taiwan’s importance has suddenly become too big to ignore. 台灣在世界經濟中的角色大多不為人所注意，直到最近由於汽車工業的晶片短缺（由倒車雷達至減少排放等皆須用到晶片），台灣才成為全世界眾所矚目之地。包括德國福斯汽車、美國福特汽車及日本豐田汽車在內的汽車製造商被迫停止生產、將工廠閒置，台灣的重要性因此也突然變得不可忽視。 That is not to say Taiwan is the only player in the semiconductor supply chain. The US still holds dominant positions, notably in chip design and electronic software tools; ASML Holding NV of the Netherlands has a monopoly on the machines needed to fabricate the best chips; Japan is a key supplier of equipment, chemicals and wafers. 這並不是說台灣是半導體供應鏈中的唯一角色。美國仍居主導地位，特別是在晶片設計和電子軟體工具方面；製造最佳晶片所需之機器是由荷蘭的艾司摩爾所壟斷；日本則是設備、化學品和晶圓的主要供應國。 However, as the emphasis shifts to ever smaller, more powerful chips that require less energy, TSMC is increasingly in a field of its own. It has also helped Taiwan form a comprehensive ecosystem around it: ASE Technology Holding is the world’s top chip assembler, while MediaTek has become the largest smartphone chipset vendor. 但是，隨著重點轉移到體積更小、功能更強大且用電更少的晶片上，台積電便愈發自成體系。台積電也幫助台灣建構了一個全面的生態系統，以台積電為中心：日月光是世界頂尖的晶片封測廠，而聯發科技已成為智慧型手機晶片組最大的供應商。 A big worry is that T

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 歡迎收聽第一集的Teacher's Lounge, 在這裡你能聽到來自主持人們的真實對話，本集是由John老師和阿鍵陪大家聊聊我們的日常！ 首先John老師和阿鍵探討了平時除了工作外的嗜好，包含了手沖咖啡哲學等等，並延伸到了儀式感（Ritual），透過將日常習慣內化為儀式，不僅可以讓我們快速切換狀態，更可以通過一系列細微的儀式來提升學習效果，讓大家在語言學習旅程中更有方向感。 提到追劇和Netflix時，我們對於台灣人對字幕的使用也有不少想法，希望能帶給各位更多關於聽力的思考。 最後我們則提到了「不喂養式學習」的理念，挑戰傳統填鴨式教育（Spoon-feeding）的觀念。John老師與阿鍵各自分享了在自主學習中的收穫，鼓勵大家勇於面對語言學習的挑戰。 我們希望與你一同探索語言學習的樂趣與價值，如果你對於本集內容有任何想法，歡迎透過信箱或私訊告訴我們。敬請期待下一集的Teacher's Lounge！

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K622: Scientists Discover Unprecedented "Virgin Birth" of Crocodile at Costa Rica Zoo Researchers have made an extraordinary finding at a zoo in Costa Rica, as they document the first-known case of a "virgin birth" by a crocodile that had been isolated for 16 years. The female American crocodile laid 14 eggs in 2018 within her enclosure, a relatively common occurrence among captive reptiles. However, the true surprise came when one of the eggs was discovered to contain a fully formed stillborn baby crocodile after three months of incubation. 研究人員在哥斯大黎加的一個動物園達成了一項非凡的調查，他們記錄了鱷魚「孤雌生殖」的首例，而這隻鱷魚在動物園獨居了16年。這隻美洲鱷於2018年在圈養環境下產下了14個蛋，這對圈養爬行動物來說是相對常見的現象。然而，真正的驚喜出現在經過三個月孵化後，其中一個蛋被發現含有一隻完整的鱷魚寶寶死胎。 In a study published in the journal Biology Letters, scientists examined the genetic composition of the crocodile fetus. They identified DNA sequences indicating that the fetus resulted from facultative parthenogenesis (FP), a form of reproduction that does not involve the genetic contribution of males. Although this phenomenon, also known as a "virgin birth," has been observed in other species such as fish, birds, lizards, and snakes, this marks the first recorded instance in a crocodile. 在發表於《生物學報》期刊的研究中，科學家們檢驗了這隻鱷魚胎兒的基因組成。他們發現DNA序列表明這個胎兒是由「真孤雌生殖」（FP）產生的，即無需雄性基因參與的一種繁殖形式。雖然這種現象，也被稱為「處女生殖」，在其他物種如魚類、鳥類、蜥蜴和蛇類中已被觀察到，但這是首次在鱷魚中出現的記錄。 FP occurs when a female's egg cell develops into a viable offspring without being fertilized by a male's sperm cell. During the process of egg cell formation, a precursor cell divides into four cells. While one of these cells becomes the egg cell itself, retaining essential cellular structures and cytoplasm, the remaining cells contain extra genetic material. One of these additional cells functions similarly to a sperm cell, fusing with the egg and initiating the process of fertilization. 「真孤雌生殖」是指雌性的卵細胞在沒有雄性精子受精的情況下發育成一個能夠存活的後代。在卵細胞形成過程中，一個前體細胞分裂成四個細胞。其中一個細胞成為卵細胞本身，保留著關鍵的細胞結構和細胞質，而其他細胞則含有額外的遺傳物質。其中一個額外的細胞類似於精子細胞，與卵細胞融合，啟動了受精的過程。 The American crocodile is currently classified as vulnerable and faces the risk of extinction in the wild. The study suggests that FP may be more prevalent among species nearing extinction. The scientists believe that the Costa Rica "virgin birth" could provide valuable insights into the reproductive capabilities of ancient crocodile ancestors that existed during the Triassic Period, approximately 250 million years ago. The findings could offer new knowledge about the reproductive mechanisms of archosaurian relatives, including members of Pterosauria and Dinosauria. 美洲鱷目前被列為易危物種，面臨野外滅絕的風險。研究表明，「真孤雌生殖」在接近滅絕的物種中可能更為普遍。科學家們認為哥斯大黎加的「處女生殖」發現可能為早在約2.5億年前三疊紀時期存在的古代鱷魚祖先的繁殖能力提供寶貴的洞察資料。這些發現可為翼龍目和恐龍亞目等主龍類近親相關的繁殖機制提供新的知識。 Reference article: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/scientists-find-crocodile-virgin-birth-costa-rica-zoo-2023-06-07/

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K621: Reducing Carbon Emissions: EU Targets and Policies The European Union has set ambitious targets to combat climate change as part of the European Green Deal. The recently adopted European Climate Law commits the EU to reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, a significant increase from the current 40% reduction target. Additionally, the Climate Law legally binds the EU to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. To realize these objectives, the EU has introduced the Fit for 55 in 2030 package, comprising a series of interconnected revised and new laws related to climate and energy. 歐洲聯盟為應對氣候變化設定了雄心勃勃的目標，作為歐洲綠色協議的一部分。最近通過的歐洲氣候法案承諾歐盟到2030年至少減少55%的淨溫室氣體排放，相較目前的40%減排目標有顯著增加。此外，氣候法案使歐盟在2050年實現氣候中和成為法律約束。為了實現這些目標，歐盟推出了Fit for 55 in 2030計劃，其中包括一系列相互關聯的修訂法律和與氣候和能源相關的新法律。 To tackle carbon emissions from the industry, the EU has implemented the Emissions Trading System (ETS), the world's leading carbon market. Under this system, companies must obtain permits for each tonne of CO2 they emit and acquire these permits through auctions. The ETS covers about 40% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions, including around 10,000 power stations and manufacturing plants within the EU. To align with the emission reduction targets of the European Green Deal, the ETS underwent a significant update in April 2023, with emissions cuts set at 62% by 2030, based on 2005 levels. 為應對工業產生的碳排放，歐盟實施了排放交易系統（ETS），這是世界領先的碳市場。根據這一系統，公司必須為每噸二氧化碳排放獲得許可證，並通過拍賣獲取這些許可證。ETS覆蓋了約40%的歐盟溫室氣體排放，包括約10,000個位於歐盟境內的發電站和製造廠。為了與歐洲綠色協議的減排目標相符，ETS在2023年4月經歷了重大更新，將2030年的排放目標設定為2005年總排放量的38%。 Efforts to reduce emissions in the transportation sector have become a major focus for the EU. Civil aviation contributes to 13.4% of total CO2 emissions from EU transport, prompting the implementation of a revised Emissions Trading System for aviation, covering all flights departing from the European Economic Area. The EU aims to phase out free allocations for aviation by 2026 and promote the use of sustainable aviation fuels. For maritime transport, the ETS will also be extended, targeting a 2% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 2025 and an 80% reduction by 2050, applying to ships over a gross tonnage of 5,000. 減少運輸領域的排放已成為歐盟的主要焦點。民航業佔歐盟運輸總量13.4%的CO2排放，促使對民航業進行修訂版本排放交易系統的實施，該系統涵蓋所有從歐洲經濟區出發的航班。歐盟計劃在2026年之前逐步取消對民航業的免費配額，並推廣使用永續的航空燃料。對於海運，ETS也將得到擴展，目標是到2025年將超過5,000噸總噸位的船舶的溫室氣體排放減少2%，並在2050年將其減少80%。 The energy sector plays a significant role in EU greenhouse gas emissions, with fuel combustion accounting for over three-quarters of the total. To address this, the EU aims to decrease energy consumption and increase the use of cleaner energy sources, reducing dependence on non-EU imports. One approach involves curbing energy consumption, with targets set for a reduction of at least 40% in final energy consumption and 42.5% in primary energy consumption by 2030. Additionally, the EU aims to boost the share of renewable energy in its final energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030, with individual countries targeting 45%. 能源領域在歐盟的溫室氣體排放中發揮著重要作用，燃料燃燒占總量的四分之三以上。為應對這一情況，歐盟目標降低能源消耗，並增加乾淨能源的使用，減少對非歐盟進口的依賴。其中一種方法是限制能源消耗，到2030年設定最終能源消耗至少減少40%和初級能源消耗至少減少42.5%的目標。此外，歐盟目標增加其最終能源消耗中可再生能源的佔比，到2030年達到42.5%，而各個國家的目標則為45%。 The EU's commitment to reducing carbon emissions is at the forefront of its climate change efforts. With the adoption of the European Climate Law and the Fit for 55 in 2030 package, the EU aims to lead the way in mitigating climate change and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Through measures like the Emissions Trading System and promoting sustainable fuels, the EU is addressing emissions from various sectors, including industry, transport, and the energy sector. By harnessing the power of forests and regulating other greenhouse gases, the EU strives to combat climate change on a global scale, contributing to the fulfillment of the Paris Agreement. 歐盟對減少碳排放的承諾是其對氣候變化努力的首要工作。隨著《歐洲氣候法》和Fit for 55 in 2030計劃的通過，歐盟目標要先減緩氣候變化，並在2050年實現氣候中和。通過排放交易系統和推廣永續燃料等措施，歐盟正在處理來自工業、運輸和能源等各個領域的排放。通過善用森林的力量和監管其他溫室氣體，歐盟努力在全球範圍內應對氣候變化，並為履行《巴黎協定》做出貢獻。 Reference article: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20180305STO99003/reducing-carbon-emissions-eu-targets-and-policies

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Summary: + Sure? 討論影片: https://youtu.be/A1hJlRG51Sk + Sure? WSJ journalist and expert sit down and discuss the recent trends in fresh graduate training in the workplace. This week on J&J, Jemmy and I go over some of the areas fresh graduates can improve on to adapt faster to the workplace. 歡迎通勤家族來留言回饋「哪個軟實力你認為是最重要的」到[email protected] ，會在節目裡給予特殊Shout out! 喜歡我們討論人資、職涯、外商工作相關主題，請留言支持我們雙J論！ Comment down below! Vocabulary: 1. Smart-casual n. 俐落的、時髦的穿搭 Smart-casual dress code at work often means you can wear casual clothes, but with a suit jacket. 俐落時髦的上班穿著通常意思是你可以穿的很休閒，不過要加上西裝外套。 2. Conflict resolution n. 衝突處理 It takes finesse to deal with people, making conflict resolution a very important soft skill. 處理人相關的事都需要細膩度，所以衝突管理就變成一個非常重要的軟性技能。 3. Office dynamics n. 辦公室關係 When starting out at a new company, it is alway good to quickly understand the office dynamics. 在一開始進入新公司時，快速的了解辦公室裡不同的關係是有幫助的。 更多Vocab Podcast節目: https://www.15mins.today/vocab 歡迎主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected]

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K620:The Future Office: A Blend of Home Comforts and Corporate Luxuries Picture yourself in the suburban town of Bethesda, Maryland, juggling a full-time job and family responsibilities. The pandemic compelled you to create a cozy home office that suits your needs perfectly. Although it's wonderful to be more available to your children and enjoy the convenience of working from home, there are times when you yearn for uninterrupted focus, personal grooming, and casual interactions with your boss. Can the office of the future offer the best of both worlds? Companies like Marriott International are betting on it. They are reimagining office spaces to compete with the appeal of remote work, providing amenities and design features that prioritize employee comfort and satisfaction. 想像一下自己身處馬里蘭州貝塞斯達的郊區小鎮，全職工作同時負責家庭事務。疫情迫使您打造了一個舒適的居家辦公室，完美地滿足了您的需求。雖然能夠更方便地照顧孩子並在家工作很棒，但有時您渴望能夠專注地工作、獲得個人美容照顧，並與老闆隨意交流。未來的辦公室是否能夠兼具兩者的優點呢？像萬豪國際這樣的企業正在賭上這點。他們正在重新設計辦公空間，以與遠程工作的吸引力競爭，提供注重員工舒適和滿意度的設施和設計特點。 Marriott's new 785,000-square-foot headquarters in downtown Bethesda, designed by the renowned architecture firm Gensler, is a testament to this concept. The office resembles a combination of a hotel, spa, restaurant, and library. It houses a public plaza, coffee shop, dining hall with outdoor seating, gym, childcare center, doggy daycare, and spa, making it feel like a comfortable oasis rather than a typical office. This new office concept aims to draw employees back by offering a myriad of perks that enhance their work experience. 萬豪國際在貝塞斯達市中心新建的佔地785,000平方英尺的總部，由著名的建築公司Gensler設計，成為了這個概念的實證。這個辦公室結合了旅館、SPA中心、餐廳和圖書館的元素。設施部分有公共廣場和咖啡店，帶室外座位的餐廳，健身房和托兒中心，還有寵物狗托管和SPA中心。這使辦公室更像是個舒適的綠洲，而不是一個典型的辦公室。這種新的辦公室概念目標通過提供各種福利來吸引員工回到辦公室，強化他們的工作體驗。 While remote and hybrid work remain popular, many companies are planning new office spaces to maintain productivity and foster company culture. However, they must now consider creating offices that employees genuinely want to return to, even when remote work is an option. The key lies in designing environments that prioritize employee well-being and offer amenities that go beyond the traditional office perks. Designers are now focusing on private meeting spaces, flexible one-person offices, gyms, childcare, and other services that cater to employees' needs. 雖然遠程和混合工作仍然受歡迎，但許多公司正在計劃新的辦公空間，以保持生產力並培養企業文化。然而，他們現在必須考慮如何在遠程工作也是一個選項的情況下，創建員工真正願意回到辦公室的辦公環境。這個關鍵在於設計環境，將員工的福祉放在首位，提供超越傳統辦公場所福利的設施。設計師現在專注於私人會議空間、彈性的單人辦公室、健身房、托兒所和其他符合員工需求的服務。 The new office aims to provide a comfortable and even luxurious atmosphere, rivaling the comforts of working from home. This shift in focus calls for more natural light, outdoor spaces, and a central urban location that welcomes the surrounding community. It's about transforming the workplace into a space that is not just convenient but also enjoyable, earning its appeal even in the face of remote work options. 未來的辦公室期望提供舒適甚至豪華的氛圍，與在家工作的舒適相媲美。這種轉變重點加強了更多的自然光、室外空間，以及位於市中心且融入周圍社區的位置。辦公環境的轉變不僅要方便，還要讓人感到愉悅並享受，製造讓員工在能選擇遠程工作的情況下仍然願意回到辦公室的吸引力。 Architects and designers see this moment as an opportunity to implement innovative ideas and create workplaces tailored to specific company needs and worker preferences. They are rethinking office layouts and furniture choices to compete with the comforts of home environments. Companies are involving employees in the design process to gather insights and create spaces that truly represent the organization's values and foster strong employee connections. 建築師和設計師把這個時刻視為實施創新理念、打造適應特定公司需求和員工偏好工作場所的機會。他們正在重新考慮辦公場所的佈局和家具選擇，以與舒適的居家環境競爭。公司正在將員工納入設計過程，以獲取其見解，創建真正代表組織價值觀並促進員工連結的空間。 The debate over the necessity of physical office spaces still remains. While remote work has demonstrated its viability, these new office concepts emphasize the importance of having a space where employees can come together, understand their organization's ethos, and strengthen their sense of belonging. The future office blends the comforts of home with the luxuries of corporate life, creating a workspace that is not only functional but also inspiring and enjoyable, enticing employees to step away from the comforts of home and return to the office. 對於是否有必要建立實體辦公空間的辯論仍在繼續。雖然遠程工作已證明其可行性，但這些新的辦公概念強調了擁有聚集空間的重要性，讓員工能夠聚集，理解公司的精神，加強對工作的歸屬感。未來的辦公室將居家的舒適與企業生活的奢華融合在一起，創造出一個不僅包含功能性，而且激勵人心、令人愉快的工作空間，吸引員工走出家的舒適，回到辦公室。 Reference article: https://www.wired.com/story/welcome-to-the-comfy-office-of-the-future/

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K619: India's Rice Ban Creates Global Ripples, but US Rice Market Remains Stable Last month, India's sudden ban on the export of non-basmati white rice caused panic among some US shoppers and raised concerns about destabilizing rice supplies worldwide. The move impacted importers and loyal consumers of Indian-grown non-basmati varieties, especially in Southeast Asia and West Africa, where India is a significant rice supplier. However, the United States, which primarily relies on domestic rice production, remains in a favorable position with a healthy yield this year. 上個月，印度突然禁止非印度香米的出口，導致一些美國消費者陷入恐慌，並引發了全球稻米供應不穩的擔憂。此舉影響了印度種植的非印度香米品種的進口商和忠實消費者，特別是東南亞和西非地區，印度在這些地區是一個重要的稻米供應國。然而，美國主要依靠國內稻米生產，今年的產量良好，仍處於有利地位。 India's ban affects approximately 15% of its rice trade and aims to lower rice prices and secure availability in the country. Despite the ban's intentions, it has sent the Asian market into a state of concern, leading to worries about food inflation, particularly in countries heavily reliant on Indian rice imports. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Senegal are among the countries most impacted. 印度的禁令影響了約15％的稻米貿易，旨在降低稻米價格，確保國內供應。儘管此禁令的用意明確，但它仍讓亞洲市場感到擔憂，尤其是對於那些在很大程度上依賴印度稻米進口的國家，如菲律賓、馬來西亞、越南、奈及利亞、象牙海岸和塞內加爾。 While there is hope that the ban is a precautionary measure and might be lifted soon if India's rice supply remains steady, potential ramifications in the global market are expected. Once the ban is lifted, a flood of Indian rice could enter the market, causing fluctuations and an emotional over-correction. 雖然人們希望這項禁令是一項預防措施，並且如果印度的稻米供應保持穩定，禁令可能很快會被解除，但全球市場仍可預期將面臨潛在的影響。禁令解除後，大量印度稻米可能湧入市場，引起波動和情緒上的過度校正回歸。 In contrast, the United States enjoys a stable rice market this year. Previously, US rice farmers faced challenges due to drought, leading some to switch to more lucrative crops. However, favorable conditions this year, including significant rainfall and snowfall in California, have resulted in a healthy and robust US rice crop. The US primarily imports specialty and fragrant rice, with domestic rice production satisfying about 70-80% of the domestic market. 相對於印度，今年美國的稻米市場保持穩定。此前由於乾旱，美國的稻農面臨挑戰，導致一些農民轉種更有利可圖的作物。然而，今年的有利條件，包括加利福尼亞州的豐沛降雨和降雪，導致美國稻米成長健康茁壯。美國主要進口特殊米和香米，國內稻米產量滿足了七到八成的國內市場。 The ban significantly impacts the specialty rice market in the United States, particularly businesses and customers dependent on non-basmati rice. Importers and distributors of non-basmati Indian rice in the US are facing challenges due to halted exports. Some grocery stores have witnessed a surge in shoppers buying Indian rice in response to the news. 這項禁令對美國的特殊米市場產生重大影響，尤其是那些依賴非印度香米的企業和消費者。在美國，進口印度非印度香米的進口商和分銷商面臨著由於出口停止而帶來的挑戰。一些食品雜貨店也看到顧客因應消息而大量購買印度稻米。 Despite the concerns, US rice producers and distributors assure consumers that there is enough rice to meet demand, and they discourage panic-buying. The situation has prompted some importers to explore alternatives such as parboiled rice, which is not affected by the ban. Importers are hopeful that exemptions will be made for non-basmati varieties favored by expat communities. 儘管有這些考量，美國的稻米生產商和分銷商向消費者保證，有足夠的稻米能供應需求，並且不鼓勵恐慌性購買。此情況促使一些進口商尋求替代品，例如不受禁令影響的蒸穀米（半熟米）。進口商們希望對外籍人士喜歡的非印度香米品種給予豁免。 Reference article: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/03/business/india-rice-export-ban/index.html

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Topic: Newspapers in New York, Like Their Readers, Are Vanishing Kenny Hospot is in some ways a typical reader of The Daily News. He’s a construction worker from Queens who’s lived in the city most of his life. He always liked reading the comics and the horoscope in The News. 就某些方面而言，肯尼．霍斯帕堪稱每日新聞報的典型讀者。他是紐約市皇后區的一個建築工人，這一生大多數時間都住在這個城市。他一向愛看該報的漫畫和星座運勢。 How long since he last bought a copy of the paper? Hospot laughed. “I would say like 15 years.” 他上一次買這份報紙是多久之前？霍斯帕笑了，「我看大概有15年了吧。」 Kamel Brown is another archetypal customer for New York’s Hometown Newspaper, as The Daily News styles itself. He’s a maintenance worker for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He’s 55 years old. He grew up buying the paper for his grandmother in Brooklyn. “When she was finished reading it, I’d pick it up, flip back and start with the sports,” Brown said. 對於自我定位為紐約家鄉報紙的每日新聞報，凱默．布朗是另一種典型讀者。他是都市交通局的維修工人，55歲。他在布魯克林區的成長過程中，常幫祖母買這份報紙。布朗說：「她看完後，我會拿過來，翻回去，從運動版開始看。」 He doesn’t remember the last time he bought it. When he paged through a copy at a friend’s home this past week, he was unimpressed. 他不記得上次買這份報紙是何時。過去這一周的某日他在友人家翻閱一分報紙時，很無感。 Tristan Dominguez, on the other hand, is still a big Daily News fan. “It’s the only place you see anything local,” Dominguez said at a bodega in Washington Heights, where a stack of papers sat behind the counter. 另一方面，崔斯坦．多明奎茲仍是新聞報的大粉絲。「這是你唯一能看到在地新聞的地方。」多明奎茲在華盛頓高地的一家雜貨店內說，櫃檯後方有一大疊報紙。 He reads the paper mostly online and through Twitter. 他大多數是上網或透過推特看這份報紙。 All of this helps explain why there was an air of inevitability about the news Monday that the organization was laying off half its editorial staff. 這些例子亦可說明，當這家報社決定資遣編輯部一半員工的消息周一（7月23日）傳出時，為何外界會覺得此事似難避免。 Once upon a time, The Daily News sold more than 2 million papers a day. Now its circulation is only about a tenth of that, and the paper’s non-hometown owner, the Chicago-based media company Tronc, which bought the paper in 2017, does not have the patience for non-profitability that the prior owner, Mort Zuckerman, did. 每日新聞報曾經一天賣出200萬分以上，現在發行量大約只剩十分之一。這家報社的非在地老闆、芝加哥的媒體公司Tronc，2017年買下每日新聞報，對於它未能獲利，並沒有前任老闆莫特．札克曼那般的耐性。 At a cultural moment when the very idea of New York City as a hometown is quickly dissolving, and when most people get their news from some sort of glowing screen, the thirst for local ink is not what it used to be. 在當下這個文化時刻，將紐約市當作家鄉的想法正在快速瓦解，而且大多數人是從某種閃爍的螢幕獲得新聞，對於在地新聞文字報導的渴求已不如以往。 And those who do crave hard-hitting coverage that holds officials accountable for the state of the city were not pleased to hear about the layoffs. 對於那些渴望看到逼官員為城市現況負起責任的強烈抨擊報導的人，聽到前述資遣消息並非樂事。 “You need those old-school people because they know what they’re doing,” Rosanne Nunziata, a manager at the New Apollo Diner in downtown Brooklyn, said of The Daily News’ staff of veteran shoe-leather reporters, many of whom are now pounding the pavement in search of employment. “They know how to sneak in and get their stories, and know how to get witnesses to talk and do their thing.” 布魯克林鬧區「新阿波羅餐館」經理羅珊娜．努齊亞塔說：「你需要這些老派人士，因為他們知道自己在做什麼。」她指的是新聞報本分且資深的記者，這些人中有不少正在路上奔走著找工作。「他們知道如何潛入並取得新聞，也知道如何讓目擊者開口，做好他們的工作。」 The New York Post, The Daily News’ longtime rival for tabloid dominance, has seen its circulation plummet, too. Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns The Post, has long tolerated the paper’s unprofitability, but there may come a time when his successors have far less stomach for red ink. 每日新聞報的長期對手，爭奪八卦小報霸主地位的紐約郵報，發行量也持續大跌。擁有紐約郵報的新聞集團老闆魯柏．梅鐸，長期容忍這家報紙未能獲利。但是也許有一天，他的接班人對赤字的容忍度會小得多。 Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/330084/web/ Next Article Topic: Dumplings tempt New Yorkers with pizza, peanut butter flavors - and no human contact New Yorkers can now get their dumpling fix from an automat with no human contact, and the adventurous can order flavors ranging from pepperoni pizza to peanut butter and jelly. 紐約客現在可由一套不需要與人接觸的自動販賣機為他們料理餃子，喜歡嘗試新鮮的人可從義式臘腸披薩到花生醬、果醬等口味中選購。 While the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop in the city’s East Village offers traditional pork and chicken bite-sized treats, chicken parm or Philly cheesesteak are also on the menu. 位於這座城市東村的布魯克林餃子店，提供一口大小的傳統豬肉、雞肉餡點心，菜單上也有焗烤雞肉，或是費城牛肉起司三明治。 Spurred by the pandemic and technology advances, the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop is delivering food via automat 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 在這場疫情以及科技進步的帶動下，布魯克林餃子店正透過自動販賣機，全年無休24小時出餐。 "Embrace technology, because technology is something that has to be embraced by hospitality（business）to thrive," said the shop’s owner Stratis Morfogen. 「擁抱科技，因為餐旅（業）要蒸蒸日上，就得擁抱科技」，店老闆

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 這集是我們這季最後一次15Mins Live Podcast。 在持續一年多每週一風雨無阻的主持Live Podcast，我們將會暑休一下，進行設計調整後再出發！ 最後一集，更多家族們上來聊了他們一路收聽通勤學英語的感想以及收穫，我與阿鍵總編輯在同一個我的「工作室」裡一起主持Live，也收到大家熱情的回饋還有滿滿的學習分享！ 討論主題：你當時如何知道15Mins你眼中的15Mins是如何？最喜歡的節目？那一集是你最愛的/最有印象的希望後續老師們推出什麼？ 那你呢？有沒有什麼話想對老師群說的呢？歡迎來信 [email protected] 或私訊我們FB或IG。 敬請期待我們下一季！我們下季再見！

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K618: Caring for Older Pets in Focus at Chanchao Taipei Pets Show The annual Chanchao Taipei Pets Show once again delighted pet owners with its display of the latest snacks, services, and trinkets for their beloved companions. However, this year, many visitors were particularly interested in discovering ways to ensure a comfortable life for their aging pets. The CEO of a pet care clinic, Andy Wang, noted that his booth attracted a significantly larger crowd this year. He attributed this to the growing awareness among pet owners about the unique challenges associated with caring for senior dogs and cats. 一年一度的台北寵物展再次以展示最新的零食、服務和小飾品來取悅寵物和飼主。然而，今年許多的觀展人對於如何確保他們年邁的寵物活得更加舒適特別感興趣。寵物看護診所的CEO王維平指出，他的攤位今年吸引了更多人。他認為，這是由於飼主對於照顧老年狗和貓所需面臨的獨特挑戰越來越有感。 Wang explained that his clinic has been promoting pet healthcare at the show since 2021. This is because the increasing number of pet owners in Taiwan has resulted in more people facing situations where their furry friends require specialized care. Wang highlighted that pets suffering from cognitive dysfunction, sight loss, or needing assistance with feeding and urine extraction require specific attention. Given that approximately one out of every four or five households in Taiwan owns a pet, the demand for these services is likely to be substantial, as mentioned by Taiwan Animal Protection Monitor Network secretary-general, Ho Tsung-hsun. 王維平說明，他的診所自2021年起就在展會上宣傳寵物健康護理。這是因為台灣飼主的數量增加，導致更多人需要給毛小孩提供專業的護理。他強調，患有認知功能障礙、視力喪失、需要進食和排尿協助的寵物需要特別關注。考慮到大約四分之一或五分之一的台灣家庭有養寵物，台灣動物保護行政監督聯盟秘書長何宗勳提到這些服務的需求可能非常巨大。 At the Chanchao Taipei Pets Show, Wang aimed to raise awareness about lesser-known options available to pet owners, including palliative care. Palliative care focuses on enhancing comfort and improving the quality of life for pets during the final phase of their lives. Wang's booth also offered free Q&A sessions where veterinarians provided recommendations based on inquiries from pet owners. One of the most common questions posed to his booth was regarding health food products for disabled pets who were unable to visit a veterinarian due to their poor health. 在台北寵物展，王維平的目標是提高飼主對於一些較鮮為人知選項的認識，包括緩和療護。緩和療護著重於增加寵物在生命最後階段的生活舒適度和生活品質。他的攤位還提供免費的諮詢，獸醫根據飼主的提問提供建議。他的攤位上最常見的問題之一是想了解殘疾寵物的專用保健品，這些寵物因為健康狀況不佳而無法去看獸醫。 Wang emphasized that the Q&A service mirrored the basic healthcare consulting services provided by his clinic. Even if the solutions offered may not strictly adhere to scientific principles, they strive to address the needs of pets in the advanced stages of disease. Wang acknowledged that 70 percent of the Taiwanese public have faith in folk religions, and therefore, his clinic also provides rituals that offer spiritual comfort, such as lighting worship candles (光明燈) for pets. The Chanchao Taipei Pets Show, held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, showcases over 1,000 booths featuring the latest innovations in pet products. 王維平強調，問答服務反映了他的診所提供的基本健康諮詢服務。即使所提供的解決方案可能不嚴格遵循科學原則，但它們致力於滿足疾病晚期寵物的需求。他也認為，台灣七成的民眾信仰民間宗教，因此，他的診所也提供一些提供精神安慰的儀式，例如為寵物點光明燈。本次的台北寵物展在台北南港展覽館舉行，展覽攤位超過1,000個，並有各種最新的寵物產品。 Reference article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/07/10/2003802973

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K617: Barbie, A Timeless Icon with a Plastic Past The movie released on July 21 has reignited interest in the 63-year-old plastic doll that has captivated the world, but behind her popularity lies a complex history. Let's explore some of the fascinating aspects of Barbie. 於7月21日上映的電影重新點燃了人們對這個63歲塑膠娃娃的興趣，她早已征服全球，但她受歡迎的背後有著一段複雜的歷史。讓我們來探索一些關於芭比的迷人過往。 Barbie was brought to life in 1959 by Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, who drew inspiration from her daughter Barbara's fascination with paper dolls. Handler saw an opportunity to empower and inspire girls by introducing a three-dimensional doll that could embody limitless possibilities. 芭比於1959年由羅絲·漢德勒（Ruth Handler）創造，她是美泰兒的聯合創始人，靈感來自她女兒芭芭拉對紙娃娃的著迷。漢德勒看到了一個透過展現無限可能性的立體洋娃娃，來賦予和激勵女孩們能力的機會。 Barbie quickly became a sensational success, with 300,000 dolls sold in the first year alone. Since then, it is estimated that over a billion dolls have found their way into the hearts of children worldwide, and even adults have not been immune to her charm. With the highly anticipated Barbie movie, written by indie icons Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, and directed by Gerwig, the timeless allure of 63-year-old Barbie continues, especially with the charismatic Margot Robbie portraying her on screen. 芭比很快取得了驚人的成功，僅在第一年就售出30萬個洋娃娃。此後，估計有超過10億個洋娃娃進入世界各地的兒童心中，甚至成年人也無法抵擋她的魅力。隨著備受期待的芭比電影，由獨立電影指標諾亞·波拜克（Noah Baumbach）和葛莉塔·潔薇（Greta Gerwig）編寫，並由潔薇執導，這位63歲芭比的恆久魅力依然存在，尤其是由迷人的瑪格·羅比（Margot Robbie）在銀幕上飾演她。 Barbie's introduction coincided with the post-war era when plastic was considered a fantastic innovation. It revolutionized toymaking and earned Barbie and other plastic toys a place in the National Toy Hall of Fame's inaugural class in 1998. Unlike some of her peers, Barbie's composition involves multiple types of plastics, including PVC, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), styrenic block copolymer (SBC), and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). 芭比的登場正值戰後時期，當時塑膠被視為一個奇妙的創新。這個革命性發明改變了玩具製造業，使芭比和其他塑膠玩具於1998年入選國家玩具名人堂的首批名人。與其他一些同輩不同，芭比的組成材料包括多種塑膠，包括聚氯乙烯（PVC）、乙烯醋酸乙烯（EVA）、ABS樹脂（ABS）、苯乙烯共聚物（SBC）和聚對苯二甲酸丁二酯（PBT）。 While Mattel has been secretive about its manufacturing process and materials, an article from Design Life-Cycle in 2013 highlighted several material innovations introduced in 2000. These advancements aimed to make Barbie even more appealing, with new elastomers providing a lifelike body, engineering thermoplastics enhancing her complexion, and water-based paints with potential environmental benefits for her face. 儘管美泰兒對其製造過程和材料保持神秘，但2013年的《設計生命週期》（Design Life-Cycle）的一篇文章強調了2000年引入的幾項材料創新。這些創新旨在使芭比更具吸引力，新的彈性體使她擁有逼真的身體，工程熱塑性材料使她的氣色更好，而水性顏料使她的臉對環境有潛在的益處。 In line with growing environmental consciousness, Mattel took a step forward in 2021 by launching the Barbie Loves the Ocean collection. This range includes three dolls made from recycled ocean-bound plastic waste, reflecting the brand's commitment to sustainability. 配合日益增長的環保意識，美泰兒在2021年推出了“芭比愛海洋”（Barbie Loves the Ocean）系列。這一系列包括三個由回收的海洋塑膠垃圾製成的洋娃娃，體現了品牌對永續性概念的承諾。 As we celebrate Barbie's global impact, it's essential to acknowledge the advancements and changes she has undergone over the years. From her origins as a plastic doll from El Segundo, CA, to her transformation into an icon that inspired generations, Barbie remains a symbol of resilience and progress. 在我們慶祝芭比帶來的全球影響力時，必須承認她多年來經歷的進步和變化。從她作為來自加州瑟袞多（El Segundo）的塑膠娃娃起源，到她搖身一變為激勵幾代人的偶像，芭比仍然是堅韌和進步的象徵。 Reference article: https://www.designnews.com/materials/barbie-original-material-girl

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Uber: “Move the way you want.” 即時體驗，火速享受服務 Uber成立於2009年，兩位創辦人成立該故事的原因，一個是因為在跨年夜搭計程車，花費了超高的計程車費，另一個則是在大雪紛飛的夜晚，攔不到計程車。2014年業務出現變化，成立了Ubereats，成立的十年後，2019年正式公開上市。 然而， 2019 年 IPO 之前，投資人認為Uber估值高達 1200 億美元。上市之後，表現卻不如預期，估值剩下690億美元，幾乎腰斬。 目前Uber的業務範圍遍及70個國家，曾經的Slogan everyone’s private driver改成了Move the way you want 根據2022年的財報，Uber在當年全球的運輸次數高達76億次，不過受疫情影響，當年獲利呈現虧損，近期隨著解封以及旅遊人潮回歸，財報逐漸邁向轉虧為盈。 Airbnb: “Belong anywhere.” 找到任何地方的歸屬感 Airbnb 成立於 2008年，最初2007年是由兩位大學生（Brian Chesky和​​Joe Gebbia）與一張床墊開始的。他們將床墊擺在客廳並且租給陌生人，藉此賺錢以幫助他們支付學費。2008年另一位室友（Nathan Blecharczyk）一同創立公司，全名叫做AirBed & Breakfast 截至2022年底，Airbnb 的房東數量已超過 400 萬，幾乎在全球每個國家/地區接待了 14億名房客。 Belong anywhere這個口號是在 2014 年出現，當時這個價值數十億美元的短期租賃平台意識到他們的客戶不僅僅將他們的服務視為讓旅行更輕鬆的工具，而是讓觀光一整天後的夜晚，能夠享有回到家的舒適感。因此Airbnb推出這句標語，希望自家的服務，能夠完美達到這項目的，把所有對旅人感到陌生的環境，轉變成最熟悉，如同家鄉的存在。 M&M’s: 'Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands' （只溶你口，不溶你手） M&M’s 巧克力創辦人為Forrest Mars，據說他觀察到戰場上的士兵喜歡類似聰明豆的糖果，因而產生了製作M&M’s巧克力的靈感，到了1940年代，他返回到美國在紐澤西州成立工廠生產這種巧克力，並且在1941年取得專利。 Forrest mars同時也是知名食品公司瑪氏食品創辦人Frank Mars跟第一任妻子所生的兒子。即使Frank是與第二任妻子成立瑪氏食品，但Forrest在一開始曾幫助過父親創業，只是兩人對於公司的未來展望有所分歧，才導致Forrest於1930年代移居歐洲，卻也在歐洲得到了M&m’s巧克力豆的靈感，1940年代才返回美國推出M&M’s巧克力。 1950年代開始，M&M’s在自家巧克力上特別印製了M的字母，用來區別自家產品與其他山寨版的差異，更在1954年推出了花生版本的M&M’s 冷知識1：M&M’s最早的顏色組合： 一包有五種顏色：棕色、紅色、橙色、黃色、綠色OR紫色，後來紫色被藍色給取代 冷知識2：M&M’s的M分別是Mars & Murrie，後者曾經是另一家美國巧克力大廠Hershey’s的高階主管，當年Mars因二戰爆發，擔心歐洲巧克力原料會短缺，因此找上Murrie協助供應巧克力豆的原料，為了報答Murrie的鼎力相助，因此產品命名M&M’s。 冷知識3：於 1981 年成為第一個飛入太空的糖果。 1981年4月12日這一天，因美國國家航空暨太空總署（NASA），順利將太空梭哥倫比亞號在佛羅里達州發射升空，執行代號為「STS-1」的太空任務。當時的太空人要求將M&M's作為糧食一起攜帶，成就了這項糖果得到第一個進入太空的里程碑。

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K616: Climate Change in Europe: A Look at Facts and Figures Climate change is an issue of global concern, and its impact on Europe is significant. This article delves into essential facts and figures that shed light on various aspects of this challenge, encompassing its causes, consequences, and evolution. 氣候變遷是全球關注的議題，其對歐洲的影響非常重大。本文深入探討了這一挑戰的各個方面，包括其原因、後果和演變，並呈現了相關的重要事實和數據。 While carbon dioxide (CO2) remains the most well-known greenhouse gas, it constitutes approximately 80% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU as of 2021. However, other greenhouse gases, though present in smaller quantities, can have a more substantial warming effect. For example, methane accounted for 12% of the EU's greenhouse gas impact in the same year. Some greenhouse gases occur naturally, but human activities contribute to their accumulation. Additionally, man-made gases like fluorinated gases, commonly used in industries, possess a global warming potential several thousand times stronger than CO2. 儘管二氧化碳（CO2）仍然是最為人熟知的溫室氣體，在2021年歐盟的溫室氣體排放中，它占了約80％。然而，其他溫室氣體雖然數量較少，卻可能具有更大的升溫效應。例如，甲烷在同一年中佔了歐盟溫室氣體影響的12％。有些溫室氣體是大自然自然生成的，但人類活動也導致了它們的累積。此外，工業中常用的氟化氣體等人造氣體的全球暖化潛勢往往是CO2的數千倍強。 Among the largest greenhouse gas emitters worldwide in 2019, the EU ranked fourth, following China, the United States, and India. However, the EU's share of global greenhouse gas emissions decreased from 15.2% in 1990 to 7.3% in 2019. Within the EU, the top five emitters in 2019 were Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Spain. The energy sector accounted for 77.01% of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU in 2019, followed by agriculture (10.55%), industry (9.10%), and the waste sector (3.32%). 在2019年全球最大的溫室氣體排放國中，歐盟排名第四，僅次於中國、美國和印度。然而，已從1990年的佔比15.2％，進步到2019年僅佔全球溫室氣體排放的7.3％。在歐盟內，2019年排放量最高的五個國家是德國、法國、意大利、波蘭和西班牙。2019年，能源類別佔了歐盟溫室氣體排放的77.01％，其次是農業（10.55％）、工業（9.10％）和廢物處理部門（3.32％）。 Since setting a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels, the EU has made significant progress. By 2015, emissions had already decreased by 22% compared to 1990 levels. Subsequently, in 2014, the EU established a new objective to reduce emissions by at least 40% by 2030, using 1990 as the baseline. According to the European Environmental Agency's projections based on EU measures in 2017, the anticipated reduction may fall short, reaching around 30% by 2030. As a result of climate change, Europe is experiencing various impacts, varying from region to region. These effects include biodiversity loss, forest fires, declining crop yields, and rising temperatures. Additionally, climate change is impacting people's health, leading to fatalities during heatwaves. 自從設定了到2020年將溫室氣體排放減少20％的目標，歐盟已取得了顯著進展。到2015年，排放量已經比1990年的水平減少了22％。隨後，在2014年，歐盟制定了新的目標，以1990年為基準，到2030年將溫室氣體排放量至少降低40％。根據歐洲環境署在2017年歐盟措施的預測，預計到2030年，減排量可能會難以達標，約為30％左右。由於氣候變遷，歐洲正面臨著不同區域的各種影響。這些影響包括生物多樣性損失、森林火災、農作物產量下降和氣溫上升。此外，氣候變遷也影響著人們的健康，導致熱浪期間的死亡人數增加。 Transportation is the only sector that continues to witness higher emissions compared to 1990 levels. It contributes nearly 30% of the EU's total CO2 emissions, with road transport being responsible for 72% of that figure. Cars and vans alone account for about 15% of the EU's CO2 emissions. However, alternative modes of transportation, such as buses, currently offer a cleaner option, especially when considering that cars can be shared among multiple individuals, making them a more environmentally friendly choice. 交通運輸是唯一一個排放量仍高於1990年水平的部門。它貢獻了歐盟總CO2排放量的近30％，其中72％來自道路交通。單單客車和貨車就占了歐盟CO2排放量的約15％。然而，現在其他交通方式，像是公共汽車，是一種更乾淨的選擇，或者特別考慮到汽車的共享使用，也能使其成為更環保的選擇。 Aviation and shipping, while comprising less than 3.5% of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions, have been the fastest-growing sources. Emissions from planes are projected to increase up to 10 times higher in 2050 compared to 1990 levels, while emissions from ships could rise by up to 50%. 雖然國際航空和航運的溫室氣體排放量在歐盟總排放中僅佔不到3.5％，但它們是增長最快的源頭。預計到2050年，飛機排放量可能比1990年增加多達10倍，而船舶排放量則可能增加多達50％。 The EU plays a vital role in UN climate change negotiations and has signed the Paris Agreement, with all EU countries as signatories. They coordinate their positions and set common emission reduction goals at the EU level to collectively combat climate change. 歐盟在聯合國氣候變化談判中扮演著重要角色，並簽署了《巴黎協定》，所有歐盟國家都是簽署國。他們協調立場，在歐盟層面確定共同的減排目標，共同應對氣候變化。 Reference article: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20180703STO07123/climate-change-in-europe-facts-and-figures

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K615: AI Accelerates Administrative Processes in US Government With the emergence of AI, various industries have been exploring its potential applications, including government agencies. The Yokosuka City Government in Japan has leveraged ChatGPT to enhance the efficiency of document processing, such as sentence modification, summarization, grammar and spelling checks. Similarly, government agencies in the United States, like the New Mexico Human Services Department, are implementing AI systems to handle internal emails. These advancements aim to streamline administrative processes and improve productivity. 隨著AI的出現，各行各業都在探索其應用潛力，包括政府機構。日本的橫須賀市政府已利用ChatGPT來提高文件處理的效率，包括修飾句子、總結、文法和拼寫檢查。無獨有偶的，美國的政府機構，如新墨西哥州公共服務部，正在實施AI系統來處理內部郵件。這些進展旨在簡化行政流程並提高生產力。 The New Mexico Human Services Department is actively working towards implementing an automated workflow system, similar to ChatGPT, to enhance communication efficiency and task execution speed. For instance, they have recently introduced an intelligent chatbot program that automatically responds to citizen inquiries regarding social welfare programs. Citizens can inquire about subsidy eligibility, implementation dates, and program details. If the AI's response is unsatisfactory, the system will connect them with on-site staff. This system creates more opportunities for employees to interact with citizens, enabling them to focus on addressing complex issues rather than routine tasks. 新墨西哥州公共服務部正在積極努力實施一個類似於ChatGPT的自動化工作流程系統，以提高溝通效率和任務執行速度。例如，他們最近推出了一個AI聊天機器人，能自動回覆公民對社會福利計劃的詢問。公民可以詢問補助資格、實施日期和計劃細節。如果對AI的回覆不滿意，系統將為其轉接至真人服務。這個系統為員工創造了更多與公民互動的機會，使他們能夠專注在解決複雜的問題，而不是一些例行工作。 As a technology vendor for the New Mexico state government, SS&C Blue Prism's consultant director, Brad Hairston, believes that the public sector needs extensive adoption of automation technologies to cope with increasingly complex administrative processes. One remarkable application of AI in the New Mexico government is the acceleration of newborn registration. Since 2020, the state government has collaborated with technology companies such as IBM and SS&C Blue Prism to develop an automated process, codenamed "baby bot." This system integrates hospital information systems and utilizes an AI chatbot to register newborns swiftly, completing the process in just 10 minutes. Previously, this procedure involved manual form filling and mailing, taking nearly a month for completion. 作為新墨西哥州政府的技術供應商，SS＆C Blue Prism的顧問總監Brad Hairston認為，公共部門需要廣泛采用自動化技術來應對日益複雜的行政流程。AI技術在新墨西哥州政府的一個顯著應用是加速新生兒登記，自2020年以來，州政府與IBM和SS＆C Blue Prism等技術公司合作開發了一個代號"baby bot"的自動化流程。該系統整合了醫院信息系統，利用AI聊天機器人快速註冊新生兒，完成整個過程只需10分鐘。此前，整個流程需要手動填寫表格，郵寄給州政府機構處理，需要近一個月的時間。 Despite differing opinions within the US government regarding AI adoption, the New Mexico state government plans to integrate AI tools into various departments and accumulate more data for analysis and decision-making purposes. The implementation of AI systems is expected to save over 100,000 work hours annually. While these AI tools are relatively new, it may take some time for governments to establish their credibility and ensure compliance with regulations, as mentioned by Anthony Boese, a researcher at the National Artificial Intelligence Institute (NAII). Nonetheless, Joseph Tighe, the director of the New Mexico Human Services Department, expressed the state's commitment to integrating more departmental systems and harnessing data to assist in analysis and provide decision-making recommendations in the future. 儘管美國政府對於AI的採用存在不同意見，但新墨西哥州政府計劃將AI工具整合至各個部門，累積更多數據以進行分析和決策。實施AI系統後每年預計能節省超過10萬個小時的工作時數。儘管這些AI工具相對較新，但正如國家人工智能研究所（NAII）的研究員Anthony Boese所提到的，政府可能需要一點時間來建立它們的可信度並確保符合法規；而新墨西哥州公共服務部主任Joseph Tighe也表示，該州致力於更多部門系統的整合，並利用數據進行分析，提供未來的決策建議。 Reference article: https://buzzorange.com/techorange/2023/05/23/ai-digital-worker/

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有此單集搭配文稿喔～ ------------------------------- Topic: About Technology - ’Smart crib’ aims to help rockabye baby As every new parent knows, sleep can go out the window after the arrival of a newborn. 如每對剛生孩子的爸媽所知，新生兒到來後，再也沒有夜夜好眠。 That was certainly the case for parents Radhika and Bharath Patil, who seeking relief for their own disrupted sleep patterns, put their electronic engineering backgrounds together to create a "smart crib". 這確實就是拉德西卡和巴拉特‧帕蒂爾的狀況，這對父母正在補救自身混亂的睡眠模式，結合他們的電子工程背景，創造了一個「智慧嬰兒床」。 Their crib, powered by artificial intelligence, combines a baby monitor, rocker, bassinet and crib in one. 他們把一台嬰兒監視器、弧形搖桿、搖籃和嬰兒床合而為一，由人工智慧來驅動嬰兒床。 "It’s not the amount of work around the baby that tires the parents, it’s the lack of sleep," Radhika Patil, Cradlewise chief executive, told Reuters in an interview. 「智慧搖籃」執行長拉德西卡‧帕蒂爾在訪問中告訴路透，「並非圍繞著嬰兒的工作量累到父母，而是睡眠不足。」 Early detection is key, she said, adding that the sooner parents can detect the baby waking up, the easier it is to get the child to fall back asleep. 她說，早期偵測是關鍵，並補充指出，父母越早發現嬰兒醒來，就越容易讓他們的孩子再度入睡。 "Once you put the baby in, the crib takes care of everything. That’s the aim," Bharath Patil said. 巴拉特‧帕蒂爾說，「只要把嬰兒放進去，嬰兒床就顧好每件事。這就是目的。」 Next Article Topic: New Thoughts on Math Of Effective Baby Talk It has been nearly 20 years since a landmark education study found that, by age 3, children from low-income families have heard 30 million fewer words than more affluent children, putting them at an educational disadvantage before they have begun school. 將近20年前，一項具有里程碑意義的教育研究發現，低收入戶兒童到了3歲時，已比家庭較富裕的兒童少聽到3000萬個字彙，以致就學前即已處於教育上的劣勢。 Now, a growing body of research is challenging the notion that merely exposing poor children to more language is enough to overcome the deficits they face. The quality of the communication between children and their parents and caregivers, the researchers say, is of much greater importance than the number of words a child hears. 如今，越來越多的研究向此一觀念提出挑戰，不認為光是讓貧窮兒童暴露於更多語言，就能克服他們所面對的不足。這些研究人員指出，兒童與父母及看顧者之間的溝通品質，遠比兒童聽到多少字彙來得重要。 A study presented last month at a White House conference on “bridging the word gap” found that among 2-year-olds from low-income families, quality interactions involving words — the use of shared symbols (“Look, a dog!”); rituals (“Want a bottle after your bath?”); and conversational fluency (“Yes, that is a bus!”) — were a far better predictor of language skills at age 3 than any other factor . 上月在白宮「縮小字彙差距」會議中發表的一項研究結果發現，對2歲的低收入戶兒童而言，和字彙相關的優質互動，例如使用共通的符號（「看哪，一隻狗！」）；固定程序（「洗完澡想喝瓶奶？」）；流暢的對話（「是的，這是一輛公車！」），在預測3歲兒童語言技巧方面，是遠勝於其他因素的更好指標。 “It’s not just about shoving words in,” said Kathryn Hirsh- Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia and lead author of the study. “It’s about having these fluid conversations around shared rituals and objects, like pretending to have morning coffee together or using the banana as a phone. ” 費城天普大學心理學教授、該研究報告主要作者凱瑟琳．赫許─巴塞克說：「它不光是塞進字彙而已，它與圍繞著共有的固定程序和物件的流暢對話有關，例如佯裝一起喝晨間咖啡，或是拿香蕉當電話打。」 In a related finding, published in April, researchers who observed 11- and 14-month-old children in their homes found that the prevalence of one-on-one interactions and frequent use of parentese — the slow, highpitched voice commonly used for talking to babies — were reliable predictors of language ability at age 2. The total number of words had no correlation with future ability. 四月發表的一項相關研究中，研究人員觀察11個月和14個月大孩子在家中的生活情形，發現經常一對一互動，以及頻繁使用「父母語」，也就是父母常用的，對嬰兒說話的那種緩慢、高音調聲音，是2歲兒童語言能力的可靠預測指標。字彙的總數量與兒童的未來能力無關。 Even the 1995 study that introduced the notion of the 30-million- word gap, conducted by the University of Kansas psychologists Betty Hart and Todd R. Risley, found that parental tone, responsiveness and use of symbols affected a child’s I.Q. and vocabulary. 引進3000萬字彙差距概念的那項研究發表於1995年，由堪薩斯大學心理學家貝蒂．哈特和陶德．Ｒ．里斯利所完成，即使那項研究也發現，父母的語氣、反應和符號的使用，對兒童的智商高低和詞彙多寡均有影響。 But this year’s studies are the first time researchers have compared the impact of word quantity with quality of communication. 不過，今年的研究，是研究人員首次將字彙數量和溝通品質的影響作比較。 For the new study, Dr. Hirsh- Pasek and colleagues selected 60 low-income 3-year-olds with varying degrees of language proficiency from a long-term study of 1,300 children from birth to age 15. 在新研究中，赫許─巴塞克和同事，在參與一項從出生到15歲長期研究的1300名兒童中，挑選出60名3歲的低收入戶兒童，語言能力程度各不相同。 The quality of communication accounted for 27 percent of variation in expressive language skills one year later, Dr. Hirsh-Pasek said. 赫許─巴塞克說，1年後，優質溝通占表達語言技巧差異的27％。 But those who urge parents to talk to their children more say increased quan

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 是的！7/31將是我們這季最後一次15Mins Live Podcast。 在持續一年多每週一風雨無阻的主持Live Podcast，John老師打算給老師群時間暑休一下，我們調整節目後再出發！ 這次Live Podcast，John老師帶著大家回顧一下他們對Live Podcast的點滴，並用了以下的QA來聊聊對通勤學英語、Live Podcast以及近期的線上有聲書課程的分享。 討論主題：你當時如何知道15Mins你眼中的15Mins是如何？最喜歡的節目？那一集是你最愛的/最有印象的希望後續老師們推出什麼？ 那你呢？有沒有什麼話想對老師群說的呢？歡迎來下週一的Live Podcast來參加這一季最後一場單元！

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K614: Magical Adventure: Discover Tokyo's Warner Brothers Studio Tour and Hong Kong's Giant Rubber Ducks Welcome to this captivating guide, where we invite you to embark on two extraordinary adventures that will ignite your imagination and create lasting memories. Prepare to be enchanted as you explore the mesmerizing Warner Brothers Studio Tour in Tokyo, a haven for Harry Potter fans, and experience the whimsical charm of the giant rubber ducks in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour. 歡迎來到這個迷人的指南，我們邀請您展開兩個非凡的冒險，點燃您的想像力，留下持久的回憶。準備好在東京探索迷人的華納兄弟影城之旅，這是哈利波特粉絲的天堂；同時體驗香港維多利亞港的巨型黃色小鴨帶來的奇妙魅力。 Unleash your inner wizard at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in Tokyo, an enchanting theme park that transports you to the magical world of Harry Potter. Located in the heart of Tokyo, this immersive experience allows you to step into iconic film locations such as Diagon Alley and the Ministry of Magic. As you stroll through the bustling streets, browse whimsical shops, and marvel at the intricate details that brought J.K. Rowling's vision to life, you'll feel the excitement and wonder of the Harry Potter universe. Warner Brothers Studio Tour Tokyo offers a unique and captivating dimension to the world of Harry Potter, creating an unforgettable experience for fans and visitors alike. 在東京的華納兄弟影城之旅中，釋放您內心的巫師，進入哈利波特的魔法世界。這個浸入式的主題公園位於東京的中心地帶，讓您踏進象徵性的電影場景，如對角巷和魔法部。當您漫步於繁華的街道，瀏覽奇幻的商店，並驚歎於呈現J.K.羅琳幻想的細節時，您將感受到哈利波特宇宙的興奮和奇蹟。東京華納兄弟影城之旅為哈利波特的世界提供了獨特而迷人的視角，為粉絲和遊客創造了一次難忘的體驗。 While exploring the vibrant city of Hong Kong, make sure to visit Victoria Harbour, where an unexpected surprise awaits – giant rubber ducks! Created by the talented Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, these whimsical installations have captured the hearts of visitors worldwide. As the colossal inflatable ducks serenely float on the water's surface, they add a playful touch to the harbor's picturesque scenery. Originally inspired by a world map and a rubber duck, Hofman's art installation has become an iconic symbol of joy and wonder. Take a leisurely stroll along Victoria Harbour and let the charm of the giant rubber ducks bring a smile to your face. 在探索充滿活力的香港時，務必拜訪維多利亞港，那裡有一個意想不到的驚喜等著您—巨型黃色小鴨！這些充滿奇趣的裝置由荷蘭藝術家弗洛倫泰因·霍夫曼(Florentijn Hofman)創作，已經征服了世界各地的遊客的心。當這些巨大的充氣鴨子在水面上平靜漂浮時，為港口的風景增添了一絲嬉戲的氛圍。最初靈感來自世界地圖和黃色小鴨，霍夫曼的藝術裝置已成為喜悅和奇蹟的標誌性象徵。漫步於維多利亞港，讓巨型黃色小鴨的迷人魅力帶給您微笑。 Both attractions offer a delightful escape from reality, providing a sense of wonder and joy. Whether you are a devoted Harry Potter enthusiast or simply appreciate the whimsy of giant rubber ducks, these experiences will leave you spellbound. When planning your visit to either Tokyo or Hong Kong, it's important to consider the high demand for tickets during peak seasons. Be sure to check availability and book your tickets in advance to secure your spot and make the most of your visit. 這兩個景點都提供了愉快且遠離現實的機會，帶來驚奇和歡樂。無論您是熱衷的哈利波特迷，還是單純欣賞巨型黃色小鴨的奇趣，這些體驗都將讓您為之驚嘆。在計劃您的東京或香港之行時，要考慮到票務在旺季時的高需求。請務必查詢開放時間並提前預訂門票，以確保您的位置，並充分利用您的造訪。 Immerse yourself in the magic of these distinct worlds, whether you choose to explore Tokyo's Warner Brothers Studio Tour or witness the whimsical charm of the giant rubber ducks in Hong Kong. Both attractions promise unforgettable experiences that will enchant visitors of all ages. Allow yourself to be captivated by the wonders of the Harry Potter universe or the delightful presence of the giant rubber ducks. These remarkable attractions will ignite your sense of wonder and leave you with cherished memories that will last a lifetime. 沉浸於這兩個獨特世界的魔法中，無論您選擇探索東京的華納兄弟影城之旅，還是目睹香港的巨型黃色小鴨的奇妙魅力，這些景點都保證能為全年齡層的遊客提供難忘的體驗。讓自己沉醉在奇幻的哈利波特宇宙或討喜的巨型黃色小鴨，這些卓越的景點將點燃您的奇思妙想，留下珍貴的回憶，讓你終生難忘。 Reference article: 1. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/harry-potter-park-tokyo-hopes-enchant-asian-fans-2023-06-14/ 2. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/two-giant-rubber-ducks-debut-hong-kong-bid-drive-double-happiness-2023-06-09/

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K613: Unlikely Friendship: Wisconsin Man and Fish Form Unbreakable Bond A heartwarming tale has emerged from Wisconsin, where a man has forged an extraordinary connection with a wild fish, meeting at the same spot every summer. 一個令人感動的故事來自威斯康辛州，一名男子與一條野生魚建立了難以想像的聯繫，每年夏天在同一個地點相遇。 Rex Colubra, a 40-year-old print-shop worker and animal enclosure maker, reportedly became "friends" with a smallmouth bass during a dive in September 2021. News agency SWNS shared the incredible story of their unlikely bond. 40歲的雷克斯·科魯布拉（Rex Colubra）是一名印刷廠工人和動物圍欄製造商，據報導，他在2021年9月的一次潛水中與一條小口黑鱸「交朋友」。新聞機構SWNS分享了這個難以置信的故事，描述了他們之間不太尋常的羈絆。 Their initial encounter led to a unique friendship, with Colubra affectionately naming the fish Elvis. Since then, the duo has continued to reunite annually when Colubra returns to the lake where Elvis resides. 他們的初次相遇導致了一段獨特的友誼，科魯布拉深情地給這條魚取名為艾維斯。從那時起，每當科魯布拉返回艾維斯所在的湖泊時，這對奇特的組合就會每年相聚一次。 Colubra revealed that his fishy companion can even display signs of jealousy if other fish come too close to him. "I even taught him a call," said Colubra. "I will do a gulping grunt sound with my throat, and he'll come find me." Elvis will fiercely defend Colubra by warding off any other fish that venture too near. 科魯布拉透露，他的魚朋友甚至會表現出嫉妒的跡象，如果其他魚太靠近他，「我甚至教會了他一個叫聲，」科魯布拉說。「我會用喉嚨發出一個喝水的聲音，他就會來找我。」艾維斯會堅決保護科魯布拉，驅趕任何靠近的其他魚類。 Describing their first meeting, Colubra shared, "It was like any other dive; I was checking out a new spot, and all these fish were coming up to me." However, one fish stood out from the rest, fearlessly remaining by Colubra's side even after he emerged from the water. The fish continued to linger in the shallows, maintaining a close connection. 科魯布拉分享了他們的第一次相遇，他說：「那就像是其他潛水一樣，我正在查看一個新的地點，所有魚都靠近我。」然而，有一條魚從其他魚中脫穎而出，即使科魯布拉從水中出來，這條魚仍然無畏地待在他身邊。這條魚繼續在淺水區徘徊，保持著密切的聯繫。 When Colubra returned to the same spot two weeks later, Elvis recognized him and approached him, demonstrating their unique bond. Colubra also mentioned that he fed the fish some crawfish during this encounter. 當科魯布拉兩周後回到同一個地點時，艾維斯認出了他並接近他，展示了他們獨特的聯繫。科魯布拉還提到，在這次相遇中，他餵了這條魚一些小龍蝦。 Elvis's unwavering devotion is unmistakable. Colubra mentioned that the fish follows him around and gazes into his eyes. Identifying Elvis is easy for Colubra, as the fish bears a distinctive scar on its face, likely from a previous encounter with a fisherman. 艾維斯的忠誠毋庸置疑。科魯布拉提到，這條魚跟著他走，凝視著他的眼睛。科魯布拉很容易辨認艾維斯，因為這條魚臉上有一個獨特的疤痕，很可能是以前被漁夫捕獲時留下的。 Despite their strong bond, there have been moments when Colubra feared the worst—that Elvis had passed away. However, their connection has endured, bringing joy and amazement to all who hear their remarkable story. 儘管他們有著強烈的羈絆，但仍有些時刻，科魯布拉擔心最壞的情況—艾維斯的死去。然而，他們的聯繫一直持續下去，為聽到這個非凡故事的所有人帶來喜悅和驚奇。 This heartwarming tale serves as a reminder of the profound connections that can form between humans and the animal kingdom. It showcases the beauty of unexpected friendships and the capacity for creatures to display loyalty and affection. The enduring bond between Colubra and Elvis is a testament to the power of compassion and the ability to find companionship in even the most unlikely of places. 這個溫馨的故事提醒著人們，人類和動物界之間可以形成深厚的聯繫。它展示了意料外友誼的美麗，以及生物展示忠誠和愛的能力。科魯布拉和艾維斯之間持久的羈絆是對慈愛心和在最不可能的地方尋找陪伴者的力量的證明。 Reference article: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/wisconsin-man-reportedly-friends-fish-visiting-pal-summer-lake

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Summary: 討論文章: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/07/16/2003803266 From the news article about a a recent court case, the judge sentenced a man for violating his wife's privacy by logging into her social media account. This week Angel and I talk about why we need couples have insecurities and the difference between men and women. Please comment below or email us about whether you also want to check your spouse's social media account? 歡迎來分享給我跟Angel老師 Comment down below! Vocabulary: 1. An affair n. 外遇 When men hide something, most would immediately suspect him of having an affair. 當男人隱瞞事情時，多數會懷疑他在外遇中。 2. Insecure adj. 不安全 In the beginning of a relationship, women can feel insecure about their relationship status. 在感情一開始時，女性可能都會對感情狀況有不安全感。 3. Privacy n. 隱私權 Now we know that it is illegal to invade your spouse's privacy. 現在我們知道違反你伴侶隱私權是犯法的。 更多Vocab Podcast節目: https://www.15mins.today/vocab 歡迎主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected]

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K612: Library Book Returns Home After 119 Years in Remarkable Condition A remarkable story unfolds as a long-lost book finds its way back to the New Bedford Free Public Library in Massachusetts after an astonishing 119 years. The book in question is "An Elementary Treatise on Electricity" by James Clerk Maxwell, a scientific text that was checked out on February 14, 1904. The incredible journey of this book finally came to light when a librarian at West Virginia University Libraries stumbled upon it during the sorting of a recent book donation. 一個驚奇的故事展開，一本失而復得的書在經過119年後回到了麻薩諸塞州的新伯福免費公共圖書館。這本書是詹姆斯·克拉克·麥克斯韋爾的《電學初論》，是一本科學文獻，於1904年2月14日被借出。這本書的驚人旅程最終在西維吉尼亞大學圖書館的一位圖書館員在最近的一次書籍捐贈整理中被偶然發現。 The curator of rare books, Stewart Plein, immediately recognized the significance of the discovery. Notably, the book had not been stamped "withdrawn," indicating that it had not been discarded despite its overdue status. Realizing that the treatise belonged to the New Bedford library, Plein reached out to Jodi Goodman, the special collections librarian, to share the exciting news. Olivia Melo, the director of the New Bedford Public Library, marveled at the book's pristine condition, suggesting that it had been well-preserved and possibly passed down through generations. 稀有書籍館長斯圖爾特·普林立即意識到這個發現的重要性。值得注意的是，這本書並沒有被蓋上“撤銷”印章，表示儘管超過了歸還期限，但本書並沒有被廢棄。普林意識到這本論文屬於新伯福圖書館後，便與特藏圖書管理員喬迪·古德曼聯絡，分享了這個令人興奮的消息。新伯福公共圖書館館長奧利維亞·梅洛對這本書的完好狀態感到驚嘆，表示它被保存得很好，並且可能是代代相傳。 Although the cranberry-colored copy of Maxwell's treatise is not considered a rare edition, it provides a valuable glimpse into the time when humanity was still exploring the potential of electricity. Published in 1881, just two years after Maxwell's passing in 1879, the treatise captures the curiosity and wonder of an era embracing the possibilities of this emerging force of nature. Melo acknowledged that while the library occasionally receives books overdue by a decade or so, the return of a book after a century or more is a truly exceptional event. 盡管這本麥克斯韋爾論文的紅莓色版本不被認為是稀有版，但它提供了一個寶貴的視角，讓人窺見人類仍在探索電力潛力的時代。該書於1881年出版，僅在麥克斯韋爾於1879年去世後的兩年問世，記錄了一個時代對這種新興自然力量的好奇和驚奇。梅洛相信，雖然圖書館偶爾會收到逾期十年左右的書籍，但一本經過一個世紀以上才歸還的圖書確實是個非常特殊的事件。 The story of the book's return serves as a testament to the enduring value of printed books in an age dominated by digital information. Melo emphasized that printed books possess an irreplaceable quality, providing a tangible connection to the past and ensuring their longevity. Reflecting on the significance of the returned treatise, she expressed appreciation for the printed word's ability to transcend time. In terms of late fees, it was noted that the library's maximum late fee limit is $2, underscoring the symbolic nature of the book's return rather than any financial implications. 這本書回歸的故事證明了在數位資訊主導的時代中，印刷書的恆久價值。梅洛強調印刷書籍具有不可替代的性質，能夠提供與過去的有形連結並保證它們的長久存在。回顧這本回歸論文的重要性，她對印刷文字跨越時間的能力表示讚賞。至於逾期費用，據悉該圖書館的最高滯納金限額為2美元，這也強調了本書回歸的象徵意義，並非關於任何財務影響。 Reference article: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/library-book-electricity-returned-after-119-years-good-shape

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K611: Aging Backwards: South Koreans Embrace International Age System, Experience Youthful Transformation In a significant legal change, every person in South Korea has experienced a sudden reduction in age by at least one year. This adjustment comes as the country adopts the internationally recognized age counting system, replacing one of its two traditional methods. Previously, individuals were considered one year old at birth, accounting for the time spent in the womb. The implementation of the new law took effect on Wednesday, resulting in South Koreans instantly becoming a year or two younger. 在一項重大的法律變革中，每個韓國人都突然減少了至少一歲的年齡。這項調整是由於該國採用了國際認可的年齡計算系統所引起的，取代了現行兩種傳統年齡算法的其中一種。在此之前，人們出生時被計算為一歲，算入了在母親體內的時間。新法律的實施從周三開始生效，導致韓國人立即變年輕了一到兩歲。 The conventional "Korean age" system, where individuals aged up by one year every January 1st regardless of their actual birth date, has now been replaced. Under the previous system, someone born on New Year's Eve would turn two years old on New Year's Day. In contrast, the alternative method, known as "counting age," treated individuals as zero at birth but incremented their age by one every January 1st. For example, a person born on New Year's Eve would turn one on New Year's Day. While the "counting age" method is still utilized in many legal contexts, such as determining the legal drinking age, the recent legal change could result in South Koreans having their ages reduced on official documents. 過去傳統的"韓國年齡"系統，不論實際出生日期如何，每年的1月1日人們都增長一歲的年齡，現已被取代。在以前的制度下，元旦出生的人在新年的第一天就滿兩歲。相比之下，另一種稱為"虛歲"的方法，將人出生時視為零歲，但每年的1月1日年齡增長一歲。例如，元旦出生的人在新年的第一天就滿一歲。雖然"虛歲"方法在許多法律情境中仍在使用，例如確定法定飲酒年齡，但最近的法律變化可能導致韓國人在官方文件上的年紀減少。 Minister of government legislation, Lee Wan-kyu, stated during a briefing that the new age calculation method is expected to alleviate legal disputes, complaints, and social confusion related to age calculations. Since the 1960s, South Korea has used the international norm of starting from zero at birth and incrementing age by one on each birthday for medical and legal documentation. However, many South Koreans continued to use the traditional method in daily life. A government survey conducted in September of the previous year indicated that 86% of respondents intended to adopt the international age system in their everyday lives once the new law was implemented. 韓國法制處處長李完揆在一次簡報中表示，新的年齡計算方法有望減少與年齡計算相關的法律紛爭、投訴和社會混亂。自1960年代以來，韓國一直使用國際慣例，即從出生時的零歲開始，每逢生日年齡增加一歲，用於醫療和法律文件。然而，許多韓國人在日常生活中繼續使用傳統計法。去年9月進行的一項政府調查顯示，86%的受訪者打算在新法律實施後在日常生活中改用國際年齡系統。 The shift to the internationally recognized age system has been met with enthusiasm among South Koreans. Choi Hyun-ji, a 27-year-old office worker in Seoul, expressed excitement about the adjustment: "I was about to turn 30 next year [under the traditional Korean age system], but now I have some more time earned, and I love it." Many citizens share this sentiment, enjoying the feeling of becoming younger overnight. With the implementation of the new law, South Koreans have embraced the opportunity to recalibrate their ages and adopt the age system recognized worldwide. 韓國人對轉向國際認可的年齡系統表示熱情。一名首爾的27歲上班族崔賢智（音譯）對這項調整表示興奮：“根據傳統的韓國年齡算法，我明年將年滿30歲，但現在多了一些時間，我喜歡這種感覺。”許多市民都有同樣的感受，享受一夜之間變年輕的感覺。隨著新法的實施，韓國人已經接受了重新校準年齡並採用全球認可的年齡系統的機會。 Reference article: https://news.sky.com/story/south-koreans-instantly-become-younger-under-new-age-counting-system-12910916

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 優惠「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Topic: Why the Philippines Is a Hoops Haven Go to any street corner in the Philippines. Any village. Any beach. Even a church. You’re likely to see a basketball jersey. 在菲律賓隨便去到哪個街角，哪個村落，哪個海灘，甚至哪個教堂，你應該都會看到籃球衣。 “It’s often described as a religion,” Carlo Roy Singson, managing director of NBA Philippines, said in an interview. 美國國家籃球協會（NBA）菲律賓分會總監辛松受訪時說：「大家常說，籃球就是菲律賓人的宗教。」 Indeed, basketball is ingrained in Filipino culture and has been for more than a century. The sport’s permeation of a country of about 105 million began in the late 1800s, when Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. 的確，籃球在菲律賓文化扎根已超過一個世紀。 籃球於19世紀末傳入這個目前有一億零五百萬人口的國家，終至遍布每個角落。1898年西班牙在美西戰爭中戰敗，把菲律賓割讓給美國。 A large facet of the introduction of the fledgling game was Christian missionaries, who were part of the YMCA, or Young Men’s Christian Association. The game’s inventor, Dr. James Naismith, conceived of the sport at what was then known as the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. 籃球這個新興運動傳入菲律賓，很大一部分是靠基督教傳教士，這些傳教士是基督教國際社會服務團體「基督教青年會」（YMCA）的成員。籃球發明人奈史密斯博士就是在美國麻州春田市當時名為「國際YMCA訓練學校」的地方，想出籃球這種運動。 To take a round object and throw it into a peach hoop, as Naismith pictured it, could be a character-building endeavor. Soon after he invented it, missionaries began spreading it around the world, particularly in the Far East and the Philippines, in U.S.-controlled areas — a kind of sports imperialism. 奈史密斯設想，拿起一個球形物並將它丟進一個桃木筐，這種努力過程可以培養品格。在他發明籃球後不久，傳教士開始把這種運動傳布到世界各地，尤其是美國控制的遠東地區和菲律賓，算是一種運動殖民。 The NBA and its players, recognizing the sport’s popularity in the Philippines, have invested time there in recent years. In 2013, the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers played a preseason game there. According to a spokesman for the league, the NBA’s Facebook page has 7.3 million followers from the Philippines, the largest of any country outside of the United States. NBA及其運動員認識到籃球在菲律賓大受歡迎，近年在菲律賓投入許多時間。2013年，休士頓火箭隊和印第安納溜馬隊在菲律賓打了場季前賽。根據NBA發言人的說法，NBA臉書專頁有730萬名粉絲來自菲律賓，菲律賓是美國之外最大的粉絲來源國。 This all began in the early 1900s, when basketball was introduced into schools in the Philippines. In 1913, the first Far Eastern Championship Games — an early version of what is now known as the Asian Games — took place in Manila, featuring several East Asian countries taking part in Olympics-style competitions, including basketball. 這一切全始於20世紀初，當時籃球傳入菲律賓各級學校。1913年，亞洲運動會前身、第一屆遠東運動會在馬尼拉舉行，幾個東亞國家參與奧運式的競賽，包括籃球。 It was the first of 10 biennial events, before disagreements between the countries disbanded the games. The Philippines won gold in nine of them. 遠東運動會兩年一次，總共辦過十次，後來因為各國意見不合而停辦。菲律賓在其中九次贏得籃球金牌。 The country’s population took to the sport en masse. In 1936, its national team made the Olympics and finished fifth. At the 1954 FIBA World Championship, the Philippines won a bronze medal, the best finish for an Asian country. 菲律賓舉國上下都愛上籃球。1936年，菲律賓國家隊打進奧運並拿下第五名。在1954年世界杯男籃錦標賽中，菲律賓贏得銅牌，寫下亞洲國家最佳成績。 Two decades later, in 1975, the Philippine Basketball Association, Asia’s first basketball league, was created. These games kept the sport at the forefront of Filipino culture and helped grow interest throughout the 20th century. 20年後，1975年，菲律賓職業籃球聯賽開打，是亞洲第一個職業籃球聯賽。這些比賽讓籃球處在菲律賓文化的重要位置，並在整個20世紀激發菲律賓人對籃球的興趣。Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/341713/web/#2L-15029994L Next Article Topic: About Philippines - Sinking feeling: Philippine cities facing ’slow-motion disaster’ When Mary Ann San Jose moved to Sitio Pariahan more than two decades ago, she could walk to the local chapel. Today, reaching it requires a swim. 當瑪莉．安．聖荷西20多年前搬到西堤歐帕里翰時，她還能走路到當地的禮拜堂，如今卻得游泳才能到達。 The main culprit is catastrophic subsidence caused by groundwater being pumped out from below, often via unregulated wells for homes, factories, and farms catering to a booming population and growing economy. 主因是抽取地下水造成的災難性地層下陷，通常是經由未受管制的家庭、工廠和農田水井抽取，目的是應付人口暴增及經濟成長所需。 The steady sinking of coastal towns in the northern Philippines has caused Manila Bay’s water to pour inland and displace thousands, posing a greater threat than rising sea levels due to climate change. 菲國北部沿海城鎮持續下陷，讓馬尼拉灣的海水湧向內陸，造成數千人無家可歸，威脅更甚於氣候變遷所引發的海平面上升。 The provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan have sunk between four and six centimeters annually since 2003, according to satellite monitoring. By comparison, the UN estimates average sea level rise globally is about three millimeters per year. 衛星觀測顯示，從2003年起，班巴加省和布拉坎省每年地層下陷達4到6公分。相較之下，聯合國估測，全球海平面平均每年上升約3公釐。 Next Article: Topic: Philippin

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- 主題：換句話說系列 – 人很好與好笑還有什麼說法Other ways to say “nice” and “funny” Other ways to say: NICE Amiable 藹然可親 She is a gentle, funny, amiable person. Pleasant 和藹的 They spent a pleasant evening together. Charming 迷人 There are lots of charming little restaurants along the river. Delightful 愉快 There is a delightful little garden behind the house. Kind 和善 It was kind of you to help them. Other ways to say: FUNNY Entertaining 懂招待/娛樂 Cat videos on You Tube are entertaining: I could spend hours watching them! Amusing 有趣/滑稽 Reading Calvin and Hobbes comics is amusing. Comical 滑稽/搞笑 I must have looked comical in that big hat. Goofy 笨笨/愚蠢的 Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg are so goofy in the Dick in a Box video. Hilarious 爆笑/狂笑 Have you ever seen Natalie Portman rap? It's hilarious! 分享時間               Tell a personal experience related to something / experience that you would use “nice” and “funny”Pick 4 words and make sentences

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有此單集搭配文稿喔～ ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K610: Police Increase Patrols in National Park to Protect Land Crabs The National Police Agency (NPA) announced on Friday that police officers are implementing measures to prevent the illegal hunting of land crabs in Tainan's Taijiang National Park, aiming to safeguard the crustaceans' reproduction. According to the NPA's Seventh Special Corps, patrols will be conducted in the park during the breeding season of Cardisoma carnifex, which occurs annually from July to August. 內政部警政署（NPA）於星期五宣布，警察正在實施措施，以防範在台南市台江國家公園對陸蟹的非法捕捉，希望能保護這些甲殼類動物的繁殖。根據警政署保安警察第七總隊的聲明，將在該公園進行巡邏，因為兇狠圓軸蟹（Cardisoma carnifex），台灣最大的陸蟹物種，每年七月到八月之間的繁殖季即將到來。 During these two months, female land crabs transport their eggs from the windbreak near Chengxi Menghuan Pond to the beach after sunset, where they are laid in the water. The Seventh Special Corps emphasized that this journey poses potential dangers to the crabs, including being run over by vehicles or caught and consumed by individuals. To mitigate these risks, the Corps will regulate traffic on the road along Cingcaolun Bank, ensuring the safety of the land crabs during the nighttime. 在這兩個月裡，母陸蟹在日落後從城西夢幻湖附近的遮風帶搬運著牠們的卵到海灘上，並放入水中。第七總隊強調這段旅程對陸蟹來說存在潛在的危險，包括被車輛撞到或被人類捕捉並食用。為了減少這些風險，總隊將規範青草崙堤防道路上的交通，確保夜間陸蟹的安全。 According to the Seventh Special Corps, individuals who capture and hunt land crabs within national parks may face penalties of up to NT$1,000 for violating the National Park Act. If substantial harm is caused, offenders can be detained or sentenced to a maximum of one year in prison. In response to these regulations, two local volunteers dedicated to protecting land crabs expressed their disappointment on social media regarding the lack of ecological conservation awareness among some people. 根據第七總隊的說法，在國家公園內捕捉和狩獵陸蟹的人可能會面臨高達新台幣1,000元的罰款，違反了《國家公園法》。如果造成重大損害，違規者可能會被拘留或判處最高一年的監禁。作為對這些法規的回應，兩位致力於保護陸蟹的當地志願者在社交媒體上表達了對某些人缺乏生態保育意識的失望。 Sharing his experience on Facebook, Chuang Chih-hsun, along with his brother Chuang Chih-shan, encountered two migrant workers who had captured over 100 land crabs to share with their acquaintances while returning from their duty of monitoring land crabs. The Chuang brothers had been safeguarding land crabs outside the park along the Yanshui River, where the crabs are not legally protected, unlike within the park. Chuang Chih-hsun expressed his distress, as he and his brother have spent more than a decade dedicated to land crab conservation under their parents' guidance. Despite this disheartening encounter, the brothers remain committed to their cause. 莊智巽在臉書上分享了他和他的兄弟莊智善的經歷，他們在監護陸蟹的任務結束後，在返回途中遇到了兩名外籍勞工，他們捕捉了100多隻陸蟹打算與朋友分享。莊家兄弟一直在鹽水溪沿岸的公園外保護陸蟹，因為這些地區的陸蟹並沒有受到法律的保護，不像公園內的陸蟹。莊智巽表達了他的痛苦，因為他和他的兄弟在父母的指導下致力於保護陸蟹已經超過十年。儘管遭遇了這令人沮喪的事情，兄弟們仍然堅守自己的想法。 The local agriculture bureau acknowledges the limitations of their authority in preventing the catching of land crabs outside national parks, as they are not protected in those areas. However, they aim to persuade individuals through education and ethical appeals to refrain from capturing land crabs. The joint efforts of the police, dedicated volunteers like the Chuang brothers, and public awareness initiatives can contribute to the conservation of land crabs and their habitats, preserving the biodiversity and ecological balance of the national park. 當地農業局承認他們在阻止國家公園以外的地區捕捉陸蟹方面的權限有限，因為這些地區的陸蟹並沒有受到保護。然而，他們希望通過教育和道德呼籲說服個人不要捕捉陸蟹。警方以及莊家兄弟這樣的志願者和公眾意識倡議的共同努力有助於保護陸蟹及其棲息地，維護國家公園的生物多樣性和生態平衡。 Reference article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/07/09/2003802920

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有此單集搭配文稿喔～ ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K609: Tracking Elon Musk's Jet Account Finds a New Home on Threads After being suspended from Twitter for tracking Elon Musk's private jet, the popular account "Elon Musk's Jet" has found a new home on the social media app Threads. The owner, Jack Sweeney, announced the arrival of the account on Threads with its first post last week, marking a fresh start for the dedicated followers of Elon Musk's travels. 因追蹤埃隆·馬斯克的私人噴射機而被Twitter停用的熱門帳號「埃隆·馬斯克的噴射機」現已在社交媒體應用程式Threads上找到了新家。該帳號的所有者傑克·斯威尼（Jack Sweeney）在上週首帖中宣布了該帳號在Threads上的到來，為埃隆·馬斯克旅程的忠實追隨者們帶來了新的開始。 Threads, which was launched on Wednesday as an offshoot of Instagram, offers users the ability to post text content. The app has already gained significant traction, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reporting 70 million new sign-ups in just a few days. However, legal concerns have arisen as an attorney representing Musk-owned Twitter has suggested the possibility of taking legal action against Threads, alleging the unauthorized use of Twitter's trade secrets and other intellectual property. Threads是Instagram的分支應用程式，於上週三推出，允許用戶發布文字內容。該應用程式已經獲得了顯著的關注，Meta首席執行官馬克·扎克伯格（Mark Zuckerberg）報告稱僅在幾天內就有7000萬名新用戶註冊。然而，隨之而來的法律問題使得馬斯克旗下的Twitter律師提出了可能對Threads提起訴訟的可能性，指控該應用程式未經授權使用Twitter的商業機密和其他知識產權。 In response to the accusations made by Musk's attorney, Meta officials have denied any wrongdoing, with Andy Stone, the communications director, stating that none of the Threads engineering team members are former Twitter employees. The controversy surrounding Threads highlights the intense competition and legal battles among social media platforms, as they vie for users and seek to protect their intellectual property rights. 作為對馬斯克律師的指控的回應，Meta官方否認了任何不當行為，傳媒總監安迪·斯通（Andy Stone）表示Threads的工程團隊成員中沒有任何前Twitter員工。Threads引起的爭議凸顯了社交媒體平台之間的激烈競爭和法律戰爭，它們競爭用戶並努力保護其知識產權。 The individual behind the suspended Twitter account, Jack Sweeney, rose to prominence for publicly sharing transponder information from Elon Musk's private plane, disclosing its take-off and landing locations. Initially, Musk had allowed the account to remain on Twitter, citing the importance of free speech. However, he later reversed his decision and suspended the account, claiming it violated physical safety concerns. Sweeney then returned to Twitter with a new account named ElonJet but Delayed, which now provides information on Musk's plane on a 24-hour delay. In addition to Twitter, Sweeney maintains similar accounts on other social media platforms, including Instagram and Bluesky, where he tracks planes used by notable figures such as Mark Zuckerberg, former President Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Jeff Bezos, Kim Kardashian, and Taylor Swift. 該被停用的Twitter帳號背後的個體傑克·斯威尼因公開分享埃隆·馬斯克私人飛機的信標信息，披露其起降位置而聲名大噪。起初，馬斯克允許該帳號在Twitter上繼續存在，並稱這是言論自由的體現。然而，他後來改變了決定並停用了該帳號，聲稱其違反了身體安全問題。斯威尼隨後以一個名為「埃隆延遲噴射機」（ElonJet but Delayed）的新帳號回到Twitter上，該帳號對馬斯克的飛機提供24小時延遲的信息。除了Twitter，斯威尼還在其他社交媒體平台上維護著類似的帳號，包括Instagram和Bluesky，他追蹤的飛機還包括馬克·扎克伯格、前總統特朗普、佛羅里達州州長羅恩·德桑提斯、傑夫·貝索斯、金·卡戴珊和泰勒·斯威夫特等知名人士。 Reference article: https://www.npr.org/2023/07/09/1186680246/elon-musk-private-jet-twitter-threads

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有此單集搭配文稿喔～ ------------------------------- Summary: 討論文章: https://news.tvbs.com.tw/english/2168887 Scooter sales are on the rise in Taiwan and this week, Angel and I talk about my fear of scooters and Angel's first scooter. For many people, their first scooter is an extremely memorable experience in their lives, what about you? Please comment below or email us about your first car or first scooter. What was it like for you? 歡迎來分享給我跟Angel老師 Comment down below! Vocabulary: 1. Windscreen n. 擋風玻璃 In the old days, one could get an optional windscreen for their Vespas. 過去的時代，是可以加裝當風玻璃在Vespa上的。 2. Gas (sth) up ph.v. 替sth加油 If I drive my parent's car, I would gas up the car when its empty. 如果我開我爸媽的車，我都會幫忙加油。 3. Spare tyre n. 備胎 People who drive must know how to change your own spare tyre. 有開車的人必須懂如何換備胎。

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有此單集搭配文稿喔～ ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K607: Tips for Bear Encounters in Yushan Park The Yushan National Park Administration recently released helpful advice on how to prevent encounters with Formosan black bears, following a survey that identified the mountain as the most significant habitat for this endangered species in Taiwan. With elevations ranging from 300m to 3,952m above sea level, Yushan boasts alpine features that make it one of Taiwan's most valuable nature preserves, particularly for the Formosan black bear population. According to the latest survey conducted by the park authorities, the number of bears in the park has been steadily increasing and currently stands at approximately 300. 玉山國家公園管理處最近針對如何避免與台灣黑熊相遇提供了有用的建議，這是在一項調查顯示該山區是這個瀕危物種最重要的棲息地後發布。玉山地勢特殊，海拔從海平面300公尺到3,952公尺不等，園區官員表示這些特點使其成為台灣最豐富的自然保護區之一，尤其對於台灣黑熊族群而言更是如此。根據園區當局最新的調查，園區內熊的數量一直在穩定增加，目前大約有300隻。 Formosan black bears are frequently sighted in various areas of the park, such as Tataka, the Batongguan Traversing Trail, and the South Cross-Island Highway, which are popular among hikers. With the recent Dragon Boat Festival, a significant influx of visitors is expected to visit the mountain. In light of this, park officials have provided five key recommendations to minimize the chances of bear encounters. 台灣黑熊經常出現在園內的各個地區，例如塔塔加、八通關越嶺古道和南橫公路等深受登山健行者歡迎的地方。隨著最近的端午節期，預計將有大量的遊客前往山區。有鑑於此，園區職員提供了五項重要建議，以降低與熊相遇的機會。 Firstly, if visitors spot a bear from a distance, it is crucial to remain calm and avoid startling the animal. Leaving the area promptly and quietly is advised, without making loud noises or sudden movements. Secondly, carrying a bear bell or whistle can help deter bears from approaching. The sound emitted by these items tends to keep animals at a distance. Thirdly, it is important to package food properly to prevent its smell from attracting bears. Additionally, individuals should refrain from leaving trash or food waste in Yushan, as this can encourage bears and other animals to develop a habit of seeking food from humans. Lastly, visitors are advised not to bring pets along, both to minimize the risk of disease transmission and to ensure the safety of other park visitors. 首先，如果遊客從遠處發現熊，最重要的是保持冷靜並避免驚嚇動物。建議立即並且安靜地離開該區域，不要發出聲音或突然的動作。其次，攜帶熊鈴或哨子可以幫助阻止熊靠近。這些物品發出的聲音通常可以讓動物保持距離。第三，適當地包裝食物以防止其氣味吸引熊。此外，人們應該避免在玉山留下垃圾或食物殘渣，因為這可能會促使熊和其他動物養成向人類尋求食物的習慣。最後，建議遊客不要攜帶寵物，這既可以減少疾病傳播的風險，也可以確保其他遊客的安全。 In the event of encountering a bear or spotting traces of one, visitors should promptly notify the park authorities through the online reporting system available at URL . This enables the park to respond effectively and take appropriate measures. In related news, the Kenting National Park Headquarters announced an unprecedented migration of purple butterflies across County Highway 200 on the Hengchun Peninsula. Due to recent heavy rains in Pingtung County, an astonishing number of milkweed butterflies, with over 100,000 in total, have been observed crossing the highway at a rate of up to 1,200 per minute. Motorists are urged to exercise caution and drive at speeds below 40kph when passing through the area, as these delicate creatures can easily be crushed by faster-moving vehicles. 如果遇到熊或發現熊的痕跡，遊客應立即通過線上舉報系統向公園管理處報告，網址是www.ysnp.gov.tw/BlackBearNotification/C004400。這樣可以使公園能夠有效地回應並採取適當的措施。另外，墾丁國家公園管理處宣布，在恆春半島的200號縣道上，出現了數量空前的紫色蝴蝶遷徙現象。由於屏東縣最近的大雨，每分鐘有多達1,200隻斑蝶越過公路，總數超過十萬隻。當地呼籲駕駛者在通過該區域時降低速度至40公里/小時以下，因為這些脆弱的生物很容易被速度較快的車輛擊碎。 Reference article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/06/21/2003801907

------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有此單集搭配文稿喔～ ------------------------------- 每日英語跟讀 Ep.K606: TikToker Stages Own Funeral to Test Family's Reactions A Belgian TikToker, David Baerten, made headlines recently after he faked his own death as part of a social experiment. Seeking to uncover who truly cared about him, Baerten and his family decided to stage a funeral and observe the reactions of their friends and relatives. 比利時的抖音網紅 David Baerten 最近因為假裝自己死亡的社會實驗而登上了新聞頭條。為了找出誰真正在乎他，Baerten 和他的家人決定舉行一個葬禮，觀察他們的朋友和親戚的反應。 In an effort to spread the news of Mr. Baerten's demise, one of his children took to social media and penned a heartfelt tribute to her father. The message conveyed sorrow and love, expressing the family's grief and their enduring memories of him. This post garnered attention, and it led to numerous family members and friends attending the funeral to pay their respects. 為了傳播 Baerten 先生去世的消息，其中一個孩子在社群媒體上撰寫了一篇對父親的深情致辭。這則訊息傳達了悲傷和愛，表達了家人的悲痛和對他的回憶。這篇帖子引起了關注，並且吸引了許多家人和朋友前來參加葬禮以表達哀悼之情。 The staged funeral, held near the city of Liège, drew a considerable crowd of mourners dressed in black. Anticipating a somber ceremony, attendees were taken aback when a helicopter suddenly descended upon the scene. Captured on a TikTok video posted by one of the funeral-goers, the surprising footage shows Mr. Baerten stepping out of the helicopter, accompanied by a camera crew. As he made his appearance, emotions ran high, with some family and friends rushing towards him for tearful reunions, while others remained bewildered and perplexed. 這個在列日市附近舉行的假葬禮吸引了許多身著黑服的哀悼者。與預期的莊重儀式不同處在於，參加者們驚訝地看到一架直升機突然降落在現場。由一名出席者發布在抖音的短片捕捉到了令人驚訝的鏡頭，畫面上 Baerten 先生從直升機上走出來，並有攝影隊伍陪同。隨著他的出現，現場情緒沸騰，有些家人和朋友充滿淚水的衝向他團聚，而其他人則感到困惑和茫然。 Explaining his unconventional prank, Mr. Baerten revealed that he had staged his death to gauge the reactions of his extended family, feeling undervalued and neglected by them. He expressed his disappointment, mentioning that he was rarely included in family gatherings and events. By orchestrating this elaborate scheme, he aimed to impart a life lesson, emphasizing the importance of cherishing loved ones while they are still alive. Surprisingly, Mr. Baerten shared that some family members who hadn't attended the funeral reached out to him afterward, demonstrating their concern and proving who genuinely cared about him. Reflecting on the outcome, he stated, "So in a way, I did win." 解釋這個不尋常的惡作劇時，Baerten 先生透露他假裝死亡是為了衡量他廣大家庭的反應，他感到自己被低估和忽視。他表達自己的失望，提到自己很少被邀請參加家庭聚會和活動。他通過這個精心安排的計劃，目標在傳達人生課題，強調在親人還在世時珍惜他們的重要性。令人驚訝的是，Baerten 先生分享了一些未參加葬禮的家人事後與他聯絡，顯示出他們的關心，證明了誰真正在乎他。回顧結果，他說："所以在某種程度上，我贏了"。 Reference article: https://news.sky.com/story/tiktoker-fakes-his-own-death-to-find-out-who-cares-and-then-shows-up-at-the-funeral-12902143

小額贊助支持本節目： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s 留言告訴我你對這一集的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments ------------------------------- 活動資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： https://open.firstory.me/user/cl81kivnk00dn01wffhwxdg2s/comments 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : [email protected] 商業合作/贊助來信：[email protected] ------------------------------- 以下有此單集搭配文稿喔～ ------------------------------- Topic: Apple Feels the Sting From an Oscar Slap Apple has a Will Smith problem. 蘋果有個威爾史密斯的麻煩。 Smith is the star of “Emancipation,” a film set during the Civil War era that Apple envisioned as a surefire Oscar contender when it wrapped filming earlier this year. But that was before Smith strode onto the stage at the Academy Awards in March and slapped comedian Chris Rock, who had made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. 史密斯是「解放」（暫譯）的主角，這部設定於南北戰爭期間的電影今年初拍攝殺青時，蘋果視為奧斯卡必勝參賽者，但那是在3月的奧斯卡頒獎典禮前。史密斯在典禮時走上舞台，掌摑喜劇演員克里斯洛克，因為他開了史密斯妻子、潔達蘋姬史密斯的玩笑。 Will Smith, who also won best actor that night, has since surrendered his membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and has been banned from attending any Academy-related events, including the Oscar telecast, for the next decade. 威爾史密斯那晚贏得最佳男主角獎，那之後他退回美國影藝學院會員資格，且被禁止未來十年參加所有學院相關活動，包括奧斯卡獎。 Now Apple finds itself left with a $120 million unreleased awards-style movie featuring a star no longer welcome at the biggest award show of them all and a big question: Can the film, even if it succeeds artistically, overcome the baggage that now accompanies Smith? 現在蘋果發現，它花1.2億美元拍攝這部符合奧斯卡得獎風格的未上映電影，片中明星在這個最大獎項會場卻已不再受歡迎。一個很大問題是：即使在藝術上成功了，這部電影如今能夠克服史密斯帶來的包袱嗎？ According to three people involved with the film who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the company’s planning, there have been discussions inside Apple to release “Emancipation” by the end of the year, which would make it eligible for awards consideration. Variety reported in May, however, that the film’s release would be pushed into 2023. 要求匿名談論蘋果公司計畫的三名參與電影人士說，蘋果內部曾討論在今年底前上映「解放」，好讓電影符合獎項考慮資格。然而，「綜藝」雜誌5月報導，電影上映可能推遲到2023年。 When asked for this article how and when it planned to release “Emancipation,” Apple declined to comment. 當被問到計畫如何及何時上映「解放」時，蘋果拒絕置評。 “Emancipation,” directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”) and with a script by William Collage, is based on the true story of a slave known as “Whipped Peter,”who joined the Union Army while still in the South. 「解放」由「震撼教育」導演安東尼法奎執導，編劇為比爾克爾吉，根據一名叫做「鞭傷彼得」的奴隸，在南方加入聯邦軍的真實故事改編。 Apple set up a general audience test screening of “Emancipation” in Chicago earlier this year, according to three people with knowledge of the event who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to discuss it publicly. They said it generated an overwhelmingly positive reaction, specifically for Smith’s performance, which one of the people called “volcanic.” Audience members, during the after-screening feedback, said they were not turned off by Smith’s recent public behavior. 根據三名知曉活動、但不被允許公開談論此事而匿名的人士表示，蘋果今年初在芝加哥進行一場針對一般大眾的「解放」試映。他們說，電影得到驚人的正面反應，特別是史密斯的演技，有人形容為「有如火山爆發」。在試映結束後的觀眾回饋中，有人說他們不會因為史密斯最近的公開行為而討厭他。 Smith largely disappeared from public view following the Oscars. But in July, he released a video on his YouTube channel in which he said he was “deeply remorseful” for his behavior and apologized directly to Rock and his family. 奧斯卡獎典禮後，史密斯幾乎自公眾目光中消失。但他7月在自己的YouTube頻道上傳一段影片，表示對自己的行為「深感悔恨」，並直接向洛克及其家人道歉。 Next Article Topic: Apple’s Eye-Catching New Home Disrupts Silicon Valley Things change when a spaceship comes to town. Tourists stroll by, whipping out their iPhones to get a photo. New businesses move in. And real estate prices go up even more. 當太空船來到城裡，許多事情都變了。遊客在這裡流連，迅速拿出iPhone拍照。新商家進駐。房地產價格漲得更高。 Apple’s new home in Cupertino — the centerpiece being a $5 billion, four-story, 2.8 million-square-foot ring that can be seen from space and that locals call the spaceship — is still getting some final touches, and employees have just started to trickle in. The full squadron, about 12,000 people, will arrive in several months. But the development of the headquarters, a 175-acre area officially called Apple Park, has already helped transform the surrounding area. 蘋果公司在加州古柏迪諾市的新家——核心是耗資50億美元（合台幣約1500億元），面積280萬平方英尺（約7萬9000坪）的4層樓環狀建物，能從太空中看到，當地人稱為太空船——仍處在最後裝修階段，員工才剛開始陸續遷入。總計1萬2000人將在數月內入駐。 不過，蘋果新總部修建已推動周邊地區的變化。新總部占地175英畝（約21萬坪），正式名稱是蘋果園區。 In Sunnyvale, a town just across the street, 95 development projects are in the planning stages. The city manager, Deanna J. Santana, said she had never seen such action before. In Cupertino, a Main Street Cupertino living and dining complex opened in early 2016. This downtown enclave includes the Lofts, a 120-unit apartment community opening this fal