通勤學英語 15Mins Today

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Summary:

The story of Ms. Beshara, the founder of Ninjavideo in 2010 was busted by the federal agents for illegally streaming and distributing pirated tv shows on her website. At the time, her site has 2.6m visits a day and 60,000 registered members. File-sharing online amounts to about a quarter of all consumer traffic. In 2012, Megaupload was seized and shutdown with Kim Dotcom arrested in New Zealand, but not extradited. 

原文章討論: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-927-in-culture-of-access-a-frustrating-pursuit-of-bootleggers  

Vocabulary and Sample Sentence 

Piracy n. the practice of robbing ships at sea. Many movies were pirated and made available online before its actual release. Online piracy hinders the development of the movie and music industries. 

Indict v. accuse or charge with a serious crime Kim Dotcom was indicted by the US on charges related to copyright infringement. He was indicted by the prosecutor for theft. 

Confiscate v. take or seize someone’s property with authority The FBI confiscated Ms. Beshara’s computer hardware. The school teacher confiscated the student’s smartphone when he was caught using it in class. 

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你有沒有覺得隨著年齡增長，自己的腦袋卻越來越不靈光？明明是日常小事，卻老是忘東忘西？這週《英語咖啡館》John 老師和 Angel 老師要來聊聊，我們平常那些「理所當然」的習慣，到底是在保護大腦，還是在偷偷讓它退化？

我們看到的報導說「深夜追劇讓你變笨」？但是John老師強烈反對這個說法，甚至說這會讓你更聰明？Angel老師則坦承自己過度依賴手機和 AI，已經開始影響自己獨立思考的能力。除此之外，我們還有講到一些新時代的網路習慣，像是五分鐘電影recap、doom scrolling無腦滑抖音、以及為什麼多喝水可能比你想的更重要。

Have you noticed that as you age, your brain seems less sharp? You keep forgetting things even though they're just everyday matters? This week on "English Cafe," John and Angel discuss whether those habits we take for granted are actually protecting our brains or secretly causing them to deteriorate.

We've seen reports claiming "late-night binge-watching makes you dumb"? But John strongly disagrees with this claim, even saying it can make you smarter? Angel admits that her over-reliance on phones and AI has already started affecting her ability to think independently. Beyond that, we also discuss some new-age internet habits, like five-minute movie recaps, doom scrolling mindlessly through TikTok, and why drinking more water might be more important than you think.

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L192: Japan Ends Its Postwar Ban on Lethal Arms Exports

Highlights 主題摘要

Japan spent eight decades defined by restraint. The postwar constitution that followed Hiroshima and Nagasaki built pacifism into the country's legal and moral architecture, and strict arms export controls became one of its most visible expressions. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet voted to dismantle that framework, approving guidelines that will, in principle, allow Japan to export any category of defense equipment to approved partner nations.

日本在克制原則下走過了八十年。廣島與長崎之後誕生的戰後憲法，將和平主義深植於國家的法律與道德根基，嚴格的武器出口管制正是其中最鮮明的體現。週二，首相高市早苗的內閣投票通過廢除這套框架，批准新版指導方針，原則上允許日本向核准夥伴國出口任何類別的國防設備。

The rules being replaced dated to 1967 and were formally enacted in 1976, limiting permissible exports to five non-lethal categories: rescue, transport, surveillance, warning and minesweeping equipment. Decades of incremental adjustments had chipped away at the edges — a 2014 opening for non-lethal military supplies, a 2023 revision allowing licensed weapons to be sold back to originating countries such as the United States — but the core prohibition on lethal weapons remained intact. The new guidelines scrap those category restrictions entirely and allow exports of fighter jets, missiles and destroyers, subject to National Security Council approval and post-transfer monitoring.

被廢除的舊規範可追溯至1967年，於1976年正式施行，將許可出口項目限定於五類非致命性裝備：救援、運輸、偵察、預警與掃雷器材。數十年來歷經多次局部調整，逐步鬆動邊界，包括2014年開放非致命性軍事物資，以及2023年允許將授權生產的武器賣回原始授權國（如美國），但對致命性武器的核心禁令始終未鬆動。新版指導方針全面取消這些類別限制，允許出口戰鬥機、飛彈與驅逐艦，並須經國安會議核准，出口後亦受政府持續監管。

Takaichi has framed the overhaul in twin terms: security necessity and economic strategy. Her government lists defense as one of 17 strategic growth sectors, and manufacturers including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are already expanding their workforce in shipbuilding and missile production in anticipation of new contracts. At least 17 countries that have signed bilateral defense agreements with Japan are immediately eligible to purchase; that list may grow. Australia last week signed for three Mogami-class frigates with eight more to be jointly built in Australia, and New Zealand, the Philippines and Indonesia have also signaled interest.

高市早苗將這次改革定位為安全需求與經濟戰略的雙重考量。日本政府已將國防列為17項戰略成長產業之一，三菱重工等製造商也已擴編造船與飛彈生產部門，提前布局新訂單商機。目前至少17個與日本簽署雙邊國防協議的國家可立即採購，名單未來可能持續擴充。澳洲上週正式簽約，確認採購三艘最上級巡防艦，另外八艘將在澳洲境內合作建造；紐西蘭、菲律賓與印尼也相繼表達採購意願。

The reaction from Beijing was swift and sharply worded. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China would firmly resist what it called Japan's reckless new-style militarization, pledging that the international community would remain highly vigilant. Critics inside Japan echo those concerns, arguing the shift erodes the constitutional commitment to pacifism and risks drawing the country into conflicts beyond its borders. The government maintains that weapons will not be exported to countries currently at war, though exemptions are permitted under special circumstances where national security interests apply.

北京的反應迅速而強硬。外交部發言人郭嘉昆表示，中方將強力抵制所謂日本「輕率的新型軍事化」，並強調國際社會將保持高度警覺。日本國內批評者也有同樣的憂慮，認為此舉侵蝕了憲法確立的和平主義承諾，可能使日本捲入境外衝突。對此，日本政府重申不會向交戰國出口武器，但在涉及國家安全利益的「特殊情形」下可予以豁免。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Pacifism [noun, the belief that war and violence are never justified]: The constitution was rooted in pacifism after the war.Dismantle [verb, to completely abolish or take apart an existing system]: The new law will dismantle years of trade restrictions.Chipped away at [verb phrase, to gradually weaken or reduce something over time]: Budget cuts have chipped away at the programme.Bilateral [adjective, involving two countries or parties]: The two nations signed a bilateral defense agreement.Militarization [noun, the process of building up military power and capabilities]: Rapid militarization in the region has raised tensions.

Reference article:
1. https://www.npr.org/2026/04/21/g-s1-118178/japan-ban-lethal-weapons-exports
2. https://www.dw.com/en/japan-loosens-long-standing-curbs-on-arms-exports/a-76874734
3. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/21/japan-lifts-ban-on-lethal-weapons-exports-in-major-shift-of-pacifist-policy

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

Topic 1: Mittens the cat could become New Zealander of the Year

Mittens, a famous feline from Wellington, is in the running to be voted New Zealander of the Year, going up against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield. 來自威靈頓的知名母貓「米坦斯」，正在角逐紐西蘭年度人物票選，對上紐西蘭總理賈欣達．阿爾登與衛生部衛生事務首長艾希莉．布魯斐德博士。

The feline joins a host of nominees for the annual Kiwibank award, including figures from sectors such as politics, media, health, music and design. 這隻母貓獲得年度奇異鳥銀行獎的多項提名，該獎項包括政治界、媒體界、衛生界、音樂界與設計界的年度人物。
Other nominees for New Zealander of the Year include microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles and lawmaker Chloe Swarbrick. 其他紐西蘭年度人物的被提名人，還有微生物學家蘇西．威爾斯，與國會議員克羅伊．史瓦布里克。

The Wellington Museum has also dedicated a mini exhibition to Mittens and his adventures, named "Floofy and Famous." And in May the mayor of Wellington, Andy Foster, gave Mittens the key to the city, an honor previously granted to "The Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson. 威靈頓博物館也已經為米坦斯與牠的冒險辦了一場迷你展覽，名為「蓬鬆而知名」。5 月時，威靈頓市市長安迪．佛斯特也給米坦斯這座城市的鑰匙，一項以前曾授予「魔戒」導演彼得．傑克森的榮譽。

Topic 2: New Zealand votes to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill patients｜紐西蘭表決通過絕症病患安樂死合法化

New Zealanders have voted in favor of legalizing euthanasia for people with a terminal illness — clearing the way for the controversial proposition to become law in 2021. 紐西蘭人已投票贊成絕症病患安樂死合法化——剷除讓此一具有爭議性的提案在 2021 年立法的障礙。

More than 65% of voters backed the proposed law, according to preliminary results of a referendum announced by the country's electoral commission Friday. 根據該國選舉委員會週五宣布的公投初步結果，超過 65% 的選民支持這項法律議案。
Lawmakers voted 69-51 to approve the End of Life Choice Act 2019 last year before sending the issue to a referendum. 該法案在（紐國）國會議員去年以 69 比 51 通過「2019 終結生命選擇法」後，送交公投。

More than 2.4 million people took part in the poll, which was conducted alongside New Zealand's general election on October 17. 超過 240 萬人參加與 10 月 17 日紐西蘭大選一同舉行的投票。

Topic 3: Sheep Farmers in New Zealand Adapt to Changing Tastes

ST. ANDREWS, New Zealand — About three decades ago, when Andrew Fraser began raising sheep, wool was among the star exports of this nation. Its other sheep products — lamb and mutton — were supporting actors. 約 30 年前傅瑞澤開始養羊時，羊毛是紐西蘭的明星出口品，其他綿羊產品如羔羊肉和羊肉只是配角。

Today, the situation is reversed. New Zealand's sheep meat exports are up, while wool faces intensifying competition from synthetic fibers. Although sheep farming is still enmeshed in the fabric of New Zealand's cultural identity, it is another economic activity that this nation is retooling for a globalized world. 如今情勢逆轉，紐西蘭羊肉出口增加，羊毛卻面臨人造纖維日益激烈的競爭。雖然養羊這種經濟活動仍與紐西蘭的文化認同緊密交織，但紐西蘭正在調整它，以適應全球化的世界。

"Wool has traditionally been — and still is — a very good product," Mr. Fraser said. "The trouble is that now, a similar product can be manufactured out of used Coke bottles and all sorts of stuff." 傅瑞澤說：「羊毛一向是，也仍然是很棒的產品，問題是現在可用廢可樂罐和各種東西做出類似產品。」

From 1982 to 2011, New Zealand's sheep population declined to 31.1 million from 70.2 million, according to government data, as many sheep pastures were converted to dairy farms or other uses. The roughly 17,000 sheep farmers who remain still earn money from selling the fleece of their animals. But on many sheep farms, meat has replaced wool as the primary profit maker. 官方資料顯示 1982 到 2011 年紐西蘭綿羊從 7020 萬隻降到 3110 萬，許多牧羊場轉養乳牛或改作他途。現在大概還有 1.7 萬羊農，雖仍賣羊毛賺錢，許多養羊場羊肉卻已取代羊毛成為最大財源。

Since 1990, the value of New Zealand's annual exports of raw wool and manufactured wool products has declined to about $700 million from $1.2 billion, according to government data. By contrast, lamb and mutton exports have increased almost threefold to $2.3 billion. And dairy exports, worth $1.9 billion in 1992, have soared to $14.1 billion. 官方資料顯示，1990 年以來每年羊毛和羊毛製品的出口額，從 12 億美元減為 7 億美元；羔羊肉和羊肉年出口額卻增為 23 億美元，幾乎是原來的三倍，乳製品出口額也從 1992 年的 19 億美元大增為 141 億。

New Zealand, with 4.4 million people, is the world's third-largest wool producer behind Australia and China, according to Beef and Lamb New Zealand, a farmer-owned industry group. It supplies 45 percent of all carpet wool globally, the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group said in a report last year. 紐西蘭牛羊肉協會（牛羊農同業組織）資料顯示，人口 440 萬的紐西蘭是全球第三大羊毛生產國，僅次於澳洲和中國大陸。去年澳盛銀行發布報告顯示，紐西蘭供應全球四成五的地毯用羊毛。

Yet more than 90 percent of New Zealand's wool is exported in raw form, rather than in finished products like carpets or upholstery, leaving it vulnerable to swings in commodity markets. 不過，紐西蘭羊毛逾九成以未加工形態出口，而非做成地毯、椅套等成品，易受原物料市場價格波動影響。

Farmers said the wool industry would benefit from having a unified voice to promote New Zealand wool abroad as a high-end fiber that, in their view, beats synthetic alternatives in several categories, including overall quality and environmental sustainability. Having a single voice could help the industry reach beyond China, its primary export market by far, into relatively untapped markets like the United States. 許多羊農希望羊毛業團結起來，向海外宣傳紐西蘭羊毛是高檔纖維，在整體品質與促進環境永續發展等好幾個方面，（他們認為）都勝過人造纖維，這樣一定有幫助。一旦有統一的聲音，羊毛業就能在目前最大出口市場中國大陸以外，打入美國等相對未開發的市場。

But New Zealand's wool industry is viewed as highly fragmented. There were 35 wool exporters operating across the country last year, "a huge level of decentralization" given the industry's relatively modest export earnings, the Banking Group reported. 外界卻認為紐西蘭羊毛業分散得厲害。澳盛銀行指出，去年紐西蘭全國有 35 個羊毛出口業者，由於出口獲利相當微薄，這個產業可說是「極度分散」。

"Everyone's sort of undercutting each other," said Ross Andrews, a South Island farmer who earns around $3 a kilogram for his carpet-grade wool. 南島羊農安德魯斯出售地毯級羊毛，每公斤約賺 3 美元，他說：「每個人多少都在削價競爭。」
Wool growers long assumed that their industry would somehow look after itself, but there is now a clear need to promote wool over synthetic fibers, said Sandra Faulkner, an industry advocate. According to an industry group, Beef and Lamb New Zealand, wool accounts for 1.3 percent of global fiber production and synthetics 61.4 percent. 行銷紐西蘭羊毛的桑德拉．福克納說，羊農一直以為羊毛業終究會挺過難關，不過現在真的有必要宣傳羊毛比人造纖維好。紐西蘭牛羊肉協會資料顯示，羊毛只占全球纖維產量 1.3%，人造纖維卻占 61.4%。

"It's about identifying ourselves in the luxury marketplace, which is where we've always belonged," Ms. Faulkner said. 福克納說：「我們要立足於精品市場，我們本來就屬於那裡。」

Peter Lyon, the supervisor of a South Island shearing team, said farmers' views on how the wool industry should evolve typically depend on factors like whether they have reliable export contractors, the quality of wool they produce and their level of debt. 南島剪羊毛團隊督導里昂說，羊農對於羊毛業何去何從的看法，常取決於某些因素，如他們有沒有可靠的出口貿易公司、生產羊毛的品質和債務的多寡。

In the mid-20th century, wool growers were often "asset-rich and cash-poor," Mr. Lyon said. "But you can't afford to be cash-poor today or you'll get thrown out." 里昂說，20 世紀中期羊農經常「資產多，現金少」，「但在這個時代，你不能沒現金，否則很難生存」。

Topic 4: Got a Hangover? New Zealand's 'morning maids' help clean up post-party mess｜宿醉纏身？紐西蘭「晨光女僕」幫你收拾派對殘局

A New Zealand maid service cleaning up the homes of hung-over party-hosts has been inundated with requests for their services, from home and abroad. 紐西蘭一家專門協助舉辦完派對卻宿醉纏身者打掃房子的女僕服務公司，接獲來自國內外源源不絕的訂單。

Flatmates Rebecca and Catherine launched their cleaning service in Auckland. The service picks up the pieces from parties — cleaning up revellers' debris (including vomit at NZ$10), cooking or buying breakfast for hung-over hosts — even doing coffee and painkiller runs. 住在同一間公寓的芮貝卡和凱瑟琳，是在奧克蘭市展開這項清潔事業。她們的服務是收拾派對結束後的殘局，包括清理尋歡作樂者留下的垃圾（有嘔吐物再加 10 紐幣），為宿醉的派對主人打理早餐，甚至還可以跑腿買咖啡或止痛藥。

Since launching on Facebook in early May, Rebecca and Catherine have been receiving requests from around the country, as well as calls from people in the US and Canada interested in franchising the startup. 芮貝卡和凱瑟琳 5 月初開始在「臉書」上接受預約，此後收到來自全國各地的訂單，也有美國和加拿大民眾表示，有興趣加盟這項新興事業。

Rebecca and Catherine are both in full-time employment, and squeeze their business into their nights and weekends. 芮貝卡和凱瑟琳都有全職工作，因此都是擠出夜晚和週末時間來做這項生意。

"When people answer the door they are usually really apologetic about the state of their house. But we've both been in our 20s and partied so it's nothing we haven't seen before," laughs Catherine. 凱瑟琳笑說：「當人們來開門時，通常都是一副對家裡的狀況感到十分抱歉的模樣。但我們倆都是廿來歲，也都參加過派對，還有什麼慘況沒見識過。」

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—— 以上為 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

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你聽過 Thermos 嗎？就是那個保溫瓶品牌。但你知道它現在其實是台灣公司嗎？這集幕後教師室，John老師跟阿鍵老師從英語咖啡館最新一集聊起，順手帶出幾個在台北辦公室、捷運上都能馬上用的英文慣用語。不是課本英文，是那種讓你聽起來很上道的那種。

從保溫瓶聊到品牌變動詞
Thermos 本來是個品牌名，現在英文裡直接拿來代替「保溫瓶」這個概念。就像以前大家說「搜尋」，現在說「Google 一下」。John老師說當你的品牌名變成一個動詞，那你就真的紅了。

這種品牌轉動詞的現象，英文裡還有不少。幾年前大家提到 AI，不說 AI，說的是 ChatGPT。那段時間，ChatGPT 差一點也要變動詞了，不過後來其他家追上來，沒有跑成。John老師說他希望以後大家提到 shadowing 跟讀練習，第一個想到的就是 15Mins。野心不小。
說回 Thermos，它的概念店幾年前在台北開過，賣咖啡。John老師說當時疫情前找不到低消的咖啡廳辦公，就跑去那邊用 MacBook 窩著，結果只有他一個人，最後跟店員聊起品牌故事，才知道現在大股東是台灣人。這種 brand trivia，跟 Patrick 老師聊起來就很難踩剎車。

辦公室八卦也能說得很有品
這集阿鍵老師從英語咖啡館 ep.318 抓了幾個他自己覺得很好用的 idioms，學英文不只是背單字，更重要的是知道什麼情境下用。

1. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen。 字面上是廚房的熱受不了就出去，實際上是在說，這份工作/這個壓力你扛不住，那就別待了。John老師說他做企業 one-on-one 顧問，客戶常抱怨 Gen Z 難搞。這時候他就用這句話來 summarize 一下——對方馬上點頭，That's it。

2. Give me the lowdown。這個是美式口語，意思是「跟我說細節、說內幕」。比直接說 gossip 來得高級，意圖沒那麼明顯。你在台北辦公室茶水間問同事，Clem, give me the gossip，聽起來很瞎；換成 Hey, give me the lowdown，突然有種探員在問案的感覺。阿鍵老師說其實幕後教師室每集都在幫你 give you the lowdown of English Cafe，哈。

3. Get a whiff of something。這個比較英式，字面是「聞到一點氣味」，引申為「嗅到什麼風聲」。竹科同事突然換辦公室了，Did you get a whiff of what happened to Peter? 比直接說「你知道 Peter 怎麼了嗎」含蓄，也比較不像在造謠。John老師說這句話讓你聽起來像是上個世紀的人，或是受過英式教育的那種。用對場合，有種老派的質感。

偷師才是真正的學英文
這集裡面阿鍵老師分享了他自己「偷師」的方式：聽到一個好用的 idiom，不只是記下來，而是馬上在腦袋裡演練——這週我在哪個情境可以用到？拜訪客戶、開捷運、碰到外國人，哪一個 context 可以插進這句話？

他說這樣做，下次真的遇到的時候，不用想就說出來了。不是在背英文，是在準備一個工具，等時機到就拿出來用。

Speaking of which也是這集出現的一個短語。阿鍵老師說他之前比較少注意到這個，但聽完之後馬上抓起來。它的意思有點像「說到這個」，用來岔題、換話題，比 By the way 正式一點，比 chime in 有一種英倫紳士的感覺。John老師說美式的就用 By the way，英式的就用 speaking of which，結果是你的英文讓人家猜你是哪個年代、哪種背景的人。

這集如果你想拿走學習筆記、完整逐字稿、idioms 整理加閱讀小測驗，訂閱 VIP 會員就可以下載。過去 300 多集的筆記也可以補回來，搜 Patrick 老師那集也找得到。

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—— 以上為 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

Summary:

This article discusses how 2 Korean Airlines posted profit when all other airlines globally lost heavily. They did this by using their jets as cargo planes. A person put money in a washing machine to clean it and lost a lot. They were destroyed. She received $23 000 from the bank. That was less than half of the total!

原文章討論: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-925-about-skorea-how-major-south-korean-airlines-made-profits  

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:  

Commendable adj.: deserving praise Were his heroic actions commendable? Is supporting charities commendable?  

Skeptical adj.: doubting that something is true or will happen Are you skeptical about self-driving cars? Is being skeptical a good trait in politics?  

Mutilate v.: to damage something/somebody very badly Was he mutilated in the accident? Did the shredder mutilate the document? 

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你聽過一句老話嗎？「人生不如意十之八九」但你有沒有想過，「that's life」這句話，在我們的不同人生階段，20 歲、30 歲、50 歲說出口，感覺是完全不同的喔。

本週的《英語咖啡館》John 老師和 Shimin 老師用 Lady Gaga 翻唱的經典名曲來聊聊人生這件事。這首《That's life》原本是 Frank Sinatra 的老歌，現在搖身一變成了 DC 宇宙 Harley Quinn 的主題曲，歌詞裡的 puppet、pauper、pawn and queen，每一個角色或許都是我們人生某個階段的縮影。

Have you heard the old saying? "Life is full of disappointments" or "Most things in life don't work out." But have you ever thought that "that's life"—when said at different stages of our lives, at 20, 30, or 50—feels completely different?

This week on English Cafe, John and Shimin use Lady Gaga's cover of a classic song to discuss this thing called life. This song "That's Life" was originally Frank Sinatra's old tune, now transformed into the theme song for the DC universe's Harley Quinn. The lyrics' puppet, pauper, pawn and queen—each role is perhaps a reflection of some stage in our lives.

「牽起慢飛天使的手，用愛築起希望花園。」

每個孩子都是獨特花朵。公益大使楊祐寧邀您響應伊甸「弱勢兒童服務計畫」，

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—— 以上為 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L188: Humanity Returns to Lunar Space After 54 Years

Highlights 主題摘要

More than half a century after the last Apollo moonwalkers returned home, humanity has ventured back into deep space. NASA's Space Launch System rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026, carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft named "Integrity." The crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—embarked on the first crewed test flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17. The massive rocket generated 8.8 million pounds of thrust, marking a flawless start to the 10-day journey that would take them farther from Earth than any humans before.

時隔半個多世紀，自最後一批阿波羅太空人返回地球後，人類再次踏入深太空。2026年4月1日，美國國家航空暨太空總署的太空發射系統火箭從甘迺迪太空中心升空，搭載四名太空人乘坐命名為「誠信號」的獵戶座太空船。機組人員包括指揮官里德·懷斯曼、駕駛維克多·格洛弗、任務專家克莉絲汀娜·柯克及加拿大太空人傑瑞米·漢森，展開自阿波羅17號以來首次飛離近地軌道的載人測試飛行。這枚巨型火箭產生880萬磅推力，完美開啟這趟將把他們送往比過去任何人類更遠之處的十天旅程。

The day after launch, Orion's main engine fired for six minutes in a translunar injection burn, breaking free from Earth orbit and accelerating the crew to over 24,000 miles per hour toward the Moon. During their lunar flyby, the spacecraft swooped to within 4,067 miles of the surface, offering unprecedented views of the far side. The astronauts observed ancient impact basins like Orientale and Hertzsprung, witnessed a solar eclipse lasting nearly an hour, and documented meteoroid strikes flashing across the darkened surface. At their farthest point, they reached 252,756 miles from Earth, shattering Apollo 13's distance record. Mission Specialist Hansen marked the moment by proposing to name two unnamed craters after their spacecraft and Commander Wiseman's late wife.

發射隔天，獵戶座主引擎點火六分鐘，執行奔月軌道注入，掙脫地球軌道後將機組人員加速至每小時超過2萬4000英里朝月球前進。在繞月飛行期間，太空船俯衝至距離月表僅4067英里處，呈現月球背面前所未見的景觀。太空人觀測到東方海和赫茨普龍等古老撞擊盆地，目睹持續近一小時的日食，並記錄隕石撞擊在黑暗月表閃現的光芒。在最遠點，他們抵達距地球25萬2756英里處，打破阿波羅13號的距離紀錄。任務專家漢森提議以他們的太空船和懷斯曼指揮官已故妻子的名字，為兩個未命名隕石坑命名，標記這一刻。

After completing their observations, Orion used lunar gravity to swing back on a free-return trajectory toward Earth. The crew prepared for reentry by conducting emergency drills and testing critical systems. Following their 694,481-mile journey, the capsule separated from its service module and plunged into the atmosphere at 25,000 miles per hour. Protected by a heat shield enduring temperatures of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean just 2.9 miles from its target. Navy teams recovered the astronauts and transported them to the USS John P. Murtha for medical checks. The successful mission validated vital systems for future lunar landings and confirmed that the path to sustained Moon exploration—and eventually Mars—now lies open.

完成觀測後，獵戶座利用月球重力以自由返回軌道擺盪回地球。機組人員進行緊急演習並測試關鍵系統，為重返大氣層做準備。經過69萬4481英里的旅程後，太空艙與服務艙分離，以每小時2萬5000英里衝入大氣層。在承受華氏3000度高溫的隔熱罩保護下，獵戶座號降落於太平洋，距離目標僅2.9英里。海軍團隊救出太空人，並將他們送往約翰·P·穆爾薩號軍艦接受醫療檢查。這次成功任務驗證了未來登月的重要系統，並確認通往持續探索月球，最終前往火星的道路已然敞開。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Break free [verb phrase, to escape from a force or constraint]: The spacecraft broke free from Earth's gravity.Translunar injection [noun phrase, a rocket burn sending a spacecraft toward the Moon]: The translunar injection burn lasted six minutes.Flyby [noun, a close pass by a celestial body without landing]: The lunar flyby lasted seven hours.Heat shield [noun, protective barrier against extreme reentry temperatures]: The heat shield endured 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.Splashdown [noun, the landing of a spacecraft in water]: The crew's splashdown was right on target.

Reference article:
1. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-artemis-ii-mission-leaves-earth-orbit-for-flight-around-moon/
2. https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/artemis-ii-live-tracker-day-5
3. https://gizmodo.com/artemis-2-live-updates-countdown-to-the-moon-%F0%9F%94%B4-2000740775
4. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/watch-live-nasa-shares-update-on-artemis-ii-mission-around-the-moon-2-days-after-launch
5. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly148lvyevo

KUMON Podcast《從學會到會學》

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Hi there!歡迎收聽Look Back Sunday回顧星期天，在這個節目John老師會彙整過去不同國家與主題的熱門跟讀文章，讓你可以在十五分鐘內吸收最精華的世界時事趣聞！我們這週聽聽科學相關的文章，Let's get started! Topic: Eating a big breakfast could double the amount of calories you burn in the day, according to a new study Eating a big breakfast could help you burn double the amount of calories than if you eat a larger meal at dinner. 相較於一頓份量較大的晚餐，吃一頓豐盛的早餐可以幫助你燃燒2倍卡路里。 It could be the key to losing weight while also keeping blood sugar levels steady, researchers at Lübeck University in Germany said. 德國盧貝克大學的研究人員表示，這可能是幫你減肥，同時保持血糖水平穩定的關鍵。 Their study found filling up in the morning boosts a metabolism process known as diet-induced thermogenesis （DIT）. 研究人員發現，早上吃飽可以促進「飲食誘導產熱」（DIT）此一新陳代謝過程。 DIT refers to the number of calories the body expends to heat the body and digest food. It was shown to be twice as high for those who ate more at breakfast than at dinner. 飲食誘導產熱指的是身體為保暖和消化食物而消耗的熱量。研究表明，相較於晚餐吃得多的人，早餐吃得多的人的食物誘導產熱是其2倍。 The study also showed increases in blood sugar and insulin concentrations, caused by eating a meal, was diminished after breakfast, but not so much after dinner. 研究還表明，吃飯時升高的血糖和胰島素濃度在早餐後有所降低，晚餐後則下降沒有那麼明顯。 The results also showed eating a low-calorie breakfast caused sweet cravings with a higher appetite. 該研究結果也顯示，吃低卡路里的早餐會導致對甜食的食慾增加。 This suggests those saving all their calories for the end of the day may face consequences because they snack more. 這表明，把一天中高熱量的食物都留到晚上吃的人會得不償失，因為他們會吃更多零食。 Next Article Topic: Air pollution ’pandemic’ shortens lives by 3 years: study 研究：空污「大爆發」 人類減壽3年 A ’pandemic’ of air pollution shortens lives worldwide by nearly three years on average, and causes 8.8 million premature deaths annually, scientists said Tuesday. 科學家週二表示，空氣污染「大爆發」，使得全球人口的平均餘命縮短近3年，且每年有880萬人因空污問題提早死亡。 Eliminating the toxic cocktail of molecules and lung-clogging particles cast off by burning oil, gas and coal would restore a full year of life expectancy, they reported in the journal Cardiovascular Research. 根據他們在醫學期刊《心血管研究》發表的研究報告，排除因燃燒石油、天然氣和煤炭所釋出的有毒物質，以及會造成肺阻塞的微粒，將可使人類平均餘命增加整整1年。 Compared to other causes of premature death, air pollution kills 19 times more people each year than malaria, nine times more than HIV/AIDS, and three times more than alcohol, the study found. 該研究發現，相較於其他造成提早死亡的原因，空污每年奪走的人命是瘧疾的19倍、愛滋病的9倍，也是酗酒的3倍。 Coronary heart disease and stroke account for almost half of those deaths, with lung diseases and other non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure accounting for most of the rest. Only six percent of mortality stemming from polluted air is due to lung cancer. 冠狀動脈心臟病和中風的人數，約佔全球提早死亡人數的一半，其餘死因則多半與肺病及糖尿病和高血壓等非傳染性疾病有關。而因空污致死的案例中， 死於肺癌者僅佔6%。 The worst-hit region is Asia, where average lifespan is cut 4.1 years in China, 3.9 years in India, and 3.8 years in Pakistan. 亞洲是受空污影響最嚴重的地區。空污使中國人平均餘命減少4.1年，印度人減少3.9年，巴基斯坦人減少3.8年。 Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1360772 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1358960 Next Article Topic: Chemical found in spinach has the same effect as steroids and should be banned for athletes, scientists say Maybe Popeye was onto something when he ripped open a can of spinach for beating up the bad guys. 當大力水手卜派為了痛毆壞人而打開一罐菠菜時，或許知其所以然。 Scientists in Germany say, ecdysterone, a chemical found in spinach is close to steroids and has a similar effect on humans. Researchers at Freie Universität Berlin ran a 10-week test on nearly 50 athletes and found athletes who took capsules of ecdysterone increased their strength by up to three times. 德國科學家表示，菠菜中發現的化學物質「蛻皮甾酮」（ecdysterone）與類固醇相近，對人體有類似作用。柏林自由大學研究人員對近50名運動員進行歷時10週的測試，發現服用蛻皮甾酮膠囊的運動員，體力最多增加3倍。 The capsules the athletes were given were the equivalent of about nine pounds of spinach but researchers say the capsules could be used as a performance enhancing drug. The study has called on the World Anti-Doping Authority to dig further into ecdysterone and wants the chemical added to the list of banned substances for athletes. 給那些運動員服用的膠囊，約等同於9磅重的蔬菜。但研究人員表示，這些膠囊可能會被用來做為提高成績的藥物。該研究呼籲「世界運動禁藥管制組織」近一步研究蛻皮甾酮，希望將這種化學物質加入運動員禁用物品清單裡。 Next Article: Topic: Genes, yes, but obesity pandemic mostly down to diet：study 研究：基因有影響，但肥胖流行病主因在飲食 A three-fold jump since 1975 in the percentage of adults worldwide who are obese has been driven mainly by a shift in diet and lack of exercise, but genes do play a role as well, according a large-scale study published Thursday. 根據週四發表的一份大型研究，1975年以來全球成年人口中，肥胖者所佔比例大增3倍，主要由飲食習慣改變和缺乏運動造成，但基因確實也有影響。 For people genetically predisposed to a wider girth, these unhealthy lifestyles compounded the problem, resulting in an even higher rate of weight gain, researchers reported in The BMJ, a peer-reviewed medical journal. 研究人員在同儕審查醫學期刊「英國醫學期刊」發表報告指出，對於基因上易胖的人而言，這些不健康的生活方式加重問題，導致體重更大幅度增加。 To tease out the relative impact of environment and genes on obesity, scientists led by Maria Brandkvist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology combed through data on nearly 120,000 people in Norway whose height and weight were regularly measured between 1963 and 2008. 為了瞭解環境和基因對肥胖的相對影響，挪威科技大學的布朗克韋斯特領導的一群科學家，探究挪威從1963年到2008年間定期測量身高、體重的近12萬人資料。 Adults began tipping the scales at significantly higher weights in the 1980s and 1990s, they found. Those born after 1970 were far more likely to have a substantially higher BMI as young adults than earlier generations. 他們發現，1980和1990年代成年人的體重顯著增加。1970年以後出生的人，更有可能在年輕時就有比前幾世代人高得多的BMI值。 Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1312177 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1313703 Next Article Topic: Science proves that alcohol increases your ability to speak a second language 科學證實，酒精增進你的第二外語口說能力 A new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology has found that a bit of Dutch courage might be the key to boosting your ability to speak a second language. 一項發表於《精神藥理學期刊》的最新研究發現，一點酒後之勇可能是促進你第二外語口說能力的關鍵。 Researchers tested 50 native German speakers who had just learned Dutch. Some were given a low dose of alcohol, and others a control beverage with no alcohol, and then were asked to have a conversation in Dutch. 研究人員測試50名以德語為母語的人士，他們剛學習荷蘭語。部分人士被給予低分量的酒精，其他人士則被給予沒有酒精的控制組飲料，之後他們被要求以荷蘭語對話。 The study showed that those who were slightly intoxicated had better pronunciation than their sober counterparts. Alcohol may impair your memory, making it harder to pay attention and recall facts, but on the other hand, it also boosts your self-confidence. 研究顯示，相較於對應他們的清醒受試者，那些微酣受試者的發音更佳。酒精可能損害你的記憶，使你更難專注及回想事情，但另一方面，酒精也會增進你的自信。 However, participants in this study consumed a low dose of alcohol, and that higher levels of alcohol consumption might not have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language. The participants knew what they were drinking, so it’s not clear if their speech improved because of alcohol’s psychological or biological effects. 不過，研究中的受試者只飲用少量酒精，而更多的酒精攝取，可能對外語發音無益。受試者知道自己飲用何物，因此並不清楚他們的口說改善是因為酒精的心理還是生理作用。 Source article: http://iservice.ltn.com.tw/Service/english/english.php?engno=1149846&day=2017-11-07 每日英語跟讀Podcast，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing每週Vocab精選詞彙Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/vocab每週In-TENSE文法練習Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/in-tense

KUMON Podcast《從學會到會學》

💙解鎖自學力：化被動為主動

💛教養不煩惱：掌握教養關鍵

💜超越滿分：榜樣啟發可能

❤️教育未來式：AI時代能力趨勢

5/18-5/30 免費體驗招生中，立即預約

https://fstry.pse.is/8ynb3z

—— 以上為 FMTaiwan 與 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

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「我老了,記憶力不行了,學不進去了。」聽起來很熟悉?這句話可能是你說服自己不用努力的最大謊言。這集John老師跟阿鍵老師聊的不是什麼英文技巧,是你腦袋裡那個一直在偷偷搞破壞的聲音。

你在騙誰?

John老師一開口就說他老了、動力差、不想學了。聽起來很誠實,但阿鍵老師馬上戳破:這不是事實,這是lie,你在騙自己。
大腦不是手機,不會用久就變慢然後強制更新。神經科學告訴我們,大腦的可塑性強到什麼程度?有人車禍後腦袋壞掉一半,另一半還能慢慢補回功能。你只是因為下班塞在國道上滑了兩小時抖音就覺得自己「老化」?不一樣的事。
問題不是你老了。是你很久沒有認真學過任何新東西了。上班族的日子就是捷運、辦公室、茶水間、外送晚餐,然後週末睡到中午。你的大腦這塊肌肉,根本沒在練。

這本書的作者,腦袋真的壞過

今天聊的書叫《Limitless》,作者Jim Kwik。名字就叫Kwik,很可愛。他不是什麼沒受過挫折的天才,他小時候腦部受過嚴重外傷,連字母都認不得。後來跟對了老師,學會怎麼用腦,才變成到處幫Google、Nike、SpaceX、哈佛大學做培訓的學習教練。
酒病變良醫。他知道大腦壞掉是什麼感覺,所以他教的東西不是理論,是真的有用過的方法。
他提出一個3M框架——Mindset、Motivation、Method。聽起來很buzzword,但拆開來還蠻實在的。

先破掉腦袋裡的謊言

第一個M是Mindset。你告訴自己的那些話,有多少是真的,有多少只是你懶得動的藉口?
「我太老了」——lie。「我沒有語言天分」——可能也是lie。「我竹科上班這麼累,回家哪有力氣學英文」——這個是事實,但你從來沒試過在開車塞車的路上聽podcast吧?
John老師說,你說出口的話是有力量的。你一直告訴自己我老了學不會,你的大腦就真的照辦了。不要說出來。就算真的很累,也把那句話換成「我還可以做什麼」。0.1%的可能也是可能。
找到讓你肚子餓的那根胡蘿蔔

第二個M是Motivation。很多人說想學英文,但說不出來學了要幹嘛。「想要進步」這個why太遠了,遠到你看不見,自然就沒動力。
Jim Kwik說要找強烈的why。不是那種高大上的「想要成為更好的自己」,是更接近本能的那種。想交外國男女朋友?想看懂巴菲特的股東信原文不用等中文翻譯?想進外商讓台北辦公室的主管刮目相看?這些才會讓你肚子餓。
而且目標太遠的話要切小。不是「我要英文流利」,是「這個月我要聽懂一集英文podcast不用倒帶」。可以達到的目標才會讓你踏出那一步。
FAST學習法,不是叫你衝

第三個M是Method, Jim Kwik給了一個FAST的縮寫。
F是Forget——先把腦袋裡「我學不會」的雜念歸零。A是Active——不要只是被動收聽,要動手做筆記、跟讀、輸出。S是State——管理自己的狀態,累到不行的時候硬逼自己學,學進去的機率是零。T是Teach——學了以後去教別人,才會真的變成你的東西。
這其實就是Feynman Technique的概念。你以為你懂, 直到你試著解釋給別人聽才知道自己哪裡有洞。把你學到的英文用法分享給朋友, 這也算teaching。

KUMON Podcast《從學會到會學》

💙解鎖自學力：化被動為主動

💛教養不煩惱：掌握教養關鍵

💜超越滿分：榜樣啟發可能

❤️教育未來式：AI時代能力趨勢

5/18-5/30 免費體驗招生中，立即預約

https://fstry.pse.is/8ynb3z

—— 以上為 FMTaiwan 與 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

Summary:
This article discusses the negative saving rate in Japan and how a lack of increases has led to this shift. People are not able to save and live from hand to mouth monthly. This is a huge shift in the culture and poses a huge problem for the government. They need spending, but also saving for when people retire.

原文章討論: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-920-saving-is-out-of-style-in-japan 

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Budge v.: to move slightly, change an opinion Did the stock price budge after the scandal? Did his opinion of the movie budge after he read its review?  

Hoard v.: to collect and keep large amounts of something Did she hoard lots of toilet paper? Would you like to hoard some cash?  

Void n.: large empty space Do children fill a void in people’s lives? Is there a void of savings in Japan at present?  

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你有用保溫杯嗎？一個、兩個？還是多到數不清？在本集的英語時光機裡 John 和 Patrick 兩位老師從一個超級日常的問題聊起：「保溫瓶」的英文怎麼說？咦～沒想到這些大牌子的英文本身就包含了溫度的意思！

另外 Patrick 老師也帶來了一段關於 Thermos 品牌的身世背景，而 John 老師也提到了現在的膳魔師，居然跟台灣的關係意外的緊密喔。

Do you use insulated water bottles? One, two? Or too many to count? In this episode of English Cafe, John and Patrick start with a super everyday question: "How do you say 'insulated bottle' in English?" Wow~ turns out these brand names themselves contain the meaning of temperature!

Additionally, Patrick shares the background story of the Thermos brand, while John mentions that the current Thermos actually has an unexpectedly close relationship with Taiwan.

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L182: China's OpenClaw "Lobster" Frenzy: Hype Meets Alarm

Highlights 主題摘要

At a recent seminar hosted by AI startup Zhipu, retirees, office workers, and curious parents gathered to learn how to train their own "lobster" — the affectionate nickname Chinese users have given to AI agents built on OpenClaw, an open-source platform whose red crustacean logo has swept Chinese tech circles. Far from being the preserve of early adopters, the technology has captivated an improbably broad audience, from primary school children pestering their parents for a digital pet to retirees hoping to monetise their industry knowledge. "OpenClaw can actually help you accomplish many practical things," one attendee said.

在AI新創公司智譜近期舉辦的研討會上，退休人士、上班族與好奇的家長紛紛湧入，學習如何訓練自己的「龍蝦」。這是中國用戶給OpenClaw AI代理取的暱稱，這款開源平台以紅色龍蝦為標誌，如今已在中國科技圈掀起熱潮。這項技術早已不再是科技達人的專利，從纏著父母討龍蝦養的小學生，到希望將專業知識變現的退休族，吸引的族群出乎意料地廣泛。「OpenClaw確實能幫你完成很多實際的事，」一名與會者說。

Released in November by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger, OpenClaw has since become one of the fastest-growing projects in GitHub's history. Unlike conventional chatbots, which respond passively to queries, OpenClaw operates more like a human assistant: it can browse the web, manage files, send emails, and execute complex multi-step tasks with minimal intervention. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has called it "the next ChatGPT," a comparison that sent Chinese technology shares surging by as much as 22% as Baidu, Tencent, and other giants rushed to release localised versions.

OpenClaw由奧地利開發者彼得‧斯坦伯格於去年11月推出，迅速躋身GitHub史上成長最快的專案之列。與被動回覆問題的傳統聊天機器人不同，OpenClaw更像一位真正的人類助理，能瀏覽網頁、管理檔案、發送電子郵件，並在幾乎不需人工介入的情況下完成複雜的多步驟任務。輝達執行長黃仁勳將其稱為「下一個ChatGPT」，此言一出，中國科技股應聲大漲，漲幅最高達22%，百度、騰訊等業者也紛紛跟進，推出各自的本地化版本。

The frenzy has spilled well beyond tech circles. Local governments are offering subsidies of up to 20 million yuan — roughly $2.8 million — annually to qualifying one-person companies that deploy AI agents. At Baidu's "Lobster Market" events, engineers offer free cloud-based installation; Tencent drew queues of nearly a thousand people at a Shenzhen venue. Yet the enthusiasm has unsettled Chinese authorities: state-owned People's Daily urged officials to maintain the "safety bottom line," while government agencies, brokerages, and universities have banned staff from installing the software.

這股風潮早已遠遠超出科技圈的範疇。地方政府開始向符合資格的「一人公司」提供補貼，每年最高可達2,000萬人民幣（約新台幣1.28億元）。百度舉辦「龍蝦市集」，由工程師現場協助用戶免費安裝雲端版本；騰訊在深圳的活動則吸引近千人排隊等候。然而，這股熱潮也引起中國當局高度警戒，黨媒《人民日報》呼籲官員「守住安全底線」，各地政府機關、券商與高校也陸續禁止員工安裝OpenClaw。

Security risks have proved real. Malicious GitHub repositories distributed Vidar infostealer and GhostSocks proxy malware to users searching for OpenClaw installers, while Chinese cybersecurity authorities have documented cases of photos, payment credentials, and API keys being stolen. Token costs are also mounting: Zhipu raised prices on its OpenClaw-optimised model by 20%, and frustrated users have begun paying to have the software removed. With Steinberger announcing plans to join OpenAI and the project's long-term stewardship to be transferred to a foundation, OpenClaw's future remains as unsettled as the frenzy it ignited.

安全風險已不再是紙上談兵。有人在GitHub上架設偽造程式庫，針對搜尋OpenClaw安裝程式的用戶散播Vidar資訊竊取程式及GhostSocks代理惡意軟體；中國網路安全當局也記錄到多起照片、支付憑證與API金鑰遭竊的案例。代幣費用同樣持續上漲，智譜已將旗下OpenClaw最佳化模型的收費調漲20%，不少用戶更開始花錢請人「除蝦」。斯坦伯格宣布將加入OpenAI，並計畫將專案移交基金會管理，OpenClaw未來何去何從，至今仍充滿未知。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Affectionate [adjective, showing warmth or fondness toward someone or something]: Fans gave the app an affectionate nickname right away.Early adopter [noun phrase, someone who uses a new technology before most others do]: Early adopters often shape how a product evolves.Spill beyond [verb phrase, to spread past original or expected limits]: The story spilled beyond tech news into mainstream headlines.Infostealer [noun, malware that secretly collects and transmits sensitive personal data]: The infostealer grabbed passwords without the user noticing.Stewardship [noun, responsible management of something entrusted to one's care]: He handed over stewardship of the project to a foundation.

Reference article:
1. https://www.openclaw.org.tw/
2. https://www.reuters.com/technology/openclaw-enthusiasm-grips-china-schoolkids-retirees-alike-raise-lobsters-2026-03-19/
3. https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/hackers-exploit-openclaw-to-spread-malware-via-github-and-a-little-help-from-bing
4. https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/articles/c93wvdn91kxo/simp

The 'Right to Repair' Movement Gains Ground

If you buy a product — a car, a smartphone, or even a tractor — and it breaks, should it be easier for you to fix it yourself?
如果你買了一個產品，例如一輛汽車、一部智慧型手機，甚至是一台拖拉機，結果它壞了，是不是應該讓你自己修理起來更容易些呢？

Manufacturers of a wide range of products have made it increasingly difficult over the years to repair things, for instance by limiting availability of parts or by putting prohibitions on who gets to tinker with them. It affects not only game consoles or farm equipment, but cellphones, military gear, refrigerators, automobiles and even hospital ventilators, the lifesaving devices that have proved crucial this year in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
多年來，許多種產品的製造商都讓維修變得愈來愈困難，比如限制零件的取得，或對何人有權動手維修施加限制。受影響的產品不止於遊戲主機或農用機具，還有手機、軍用設備、冰箱、汽車，甚至包括今年對抗新冠病毒疫情發揮關鍵作用的救生設備—醫院裡的呼吸器。

Now, a movement known as "right to repair" is starting to make progress in pushing for laws that prohibit restrictions like these.
現在，一項名為「維修權」的運動在推動禁止此類限制的立法上，正取得進展。

In August, Democrats introduced a bill in Congress to block manufacturers' limits on medical devices, spurred by the pandemic. In Europe, the European Commission announced plans in March for new right-to-repair rules that would cover phones, tablets and laptops by 2021.
今年8月，美國民主黨因防疫需要而在國會提出一項法案，旨在阻止製造商對醫療裝置設下限制。在歐洲，歐盟執行委員會3月宣布了新的維修權規定計畫，在2021年以前實施，涵蓋手機、平板電腦和筆記型電腦。

And in more than 20 statehouses nationwide, right-to-repair legislation has been introduced in recent years by both Republicans and Democrats.
近年來，在全美國20多個州的議會裡，共和黨和民主黨都提出了維修權法案。

Over the summer, the House advanced a funding bill that includes a requirement that the Federal Trade Commission complete a report on anti-competitive practices in the repair market and present its findings to Congress and the public.
今年夏天，眾議院推動了一項資助法案，其中責成聯邦貿易委員會做成一份關於維修市場反競爭行為的報告，並向國會和民眾提交調查結果。

The goal of right-to-repair rules, advocates say, is to require companies to make their parts, tools and information available to consumers and repair shops in order to keep devices from ending up in the scrap heap. They argue that the rules restrict people's use of devices that they own and encourage a throwaway culture by making repairs too difficult.
倡議人士表示，維修權規定的目的是要求企業向消費者和維修商家提供零組件、工具及資訊，以免這些裝置最終被扔進垃圾堆。他們主張，目前的慣例對人們使用自己的裝置設下限制，並透過讓維修變得太過困難的方式，助長了一種用完即丟的文化。

They also argue that it's part of a culture of planned obsolescence — the idea that products are designed to be short-lived in order to encourage people to buy more stuff. That contributes to wasted natural resources and energy use at a time when climate change requires movement in the opposite direction to rein in planet-warming emissions.
他們還認為，這是一種計畫性淘汰文化的一部分，即為了鼓勵人們購買更多東西，產品被設計成短命的。在氣候變遷需要採取反向行動來控制溫室氣體排放的此際，這助長了自然資源的浪費以及能源的使用。

Manufacturing a new device or appliance is still largely reliant on polluting sources of energy — electricity generated from burning fossil fuels, for instance — and constitutes the largest environmental impact for most products.
製造一種新設備或裝置在很大程度上，仍仰賴會造成汙染的能源，例如燃燒化石燃料產生的電力，對大多數產品而言，這正是構成最大環境影響的因素。
Source: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5015841

UK Gamers and Politicians Take Aim at Console 'Scalpers'

Furious British gamers and lawmakers are training their sights on "scalpers" who are buying up coveted PS5 and Xbox consoles and selling them online at vastly inflated prices.
氣沖沖的英國玩家和議員將焦點指向「黃牛」，這些黃牛買光搶手的PS5、Xbox電玩主機，然後在網路上以大幅灌水的價格出售。

The popular consoles have also been hard to come by in other parts of the world, but in Britain anger has boiled over to the point where some lawmakers want to ban the practice of reselling them online at higher prices.
這些熱門電玩主機在世界其他地方也一機難求，但是在英國掀起的怒火已沸騰，一些議員為此打算禁止網路高價轉售的作法。

While a PS5 normally costs between £360 and £450 depending on the model, its median resale price on sites like eBay is £650-£750, according to US researcher Michael Driscoll.
根據美國研究員麥可．德里斯考的說法，通常一部PS5依版本差異，售價在360英鎊到450英鎊之間，但在諸如「電子海灣」的網站上轉售價中位數為650到750英鎊不等。

Singaporean Student Plays Pokémon on Ingenious 'Melonboy'

Imagine that you are on the MRT and a young man sitting next to you is playing video games on a watermelon-like console.
想像你搭捷運時突然有個年輕男子拿著一顆鑲有小螢幕的西瓜淡定的坐到你旁邊，開始認真的玩。

That's the unusual sight some people recently experienced in Singapore when a teenager was seen playing "Pokemon Go" on a self-built console made of a watermelon, a screen and some buttons.
近期，就有新加坡民眾在捷運上目睹這奇葩的一幕。一位星國少年自製了一台「西瓜Game Boy」，上面不僅有螢幕和實體的按鈕，裡面還裝載了近期最流行的寶可夢遊戲軟體。

Cedrick Tan, a student from the Singapore Management University, has been tinkering with the project on YouTube which has led to him building his own version of Pokemon Emerald inside a fruit. An avid creator, Tan's long list of projects include turning a map into a blank canvas for augmented reality, finding a way to send messages to Telegram using Microsoft Excel, and building a playable Game Boy Advance inside a melon.
就讀新加坡管理大學的Cedrick Tan，近日在YouTube上分享了自製的水果寶可夢GameBoy，揭露製作過程和最後實驗結果。一向天馬行空的他其實已經有無數的作品，包括將一個地圖放進虛擬實境和利用微軟Excel發送訊息至通訊軟體Telegram。如今他又再次突破自己，將遊戲機成功的裝進蔬果內。

When asked about his project, Tan said: "When it came down to actually making the Melonboy, it happened to be really convenient seeing as the melon was very spacious on the inside allowing me to wire everything up with ease."
當被問起做這個作品的過程時，Cedrick表示其實非常簡單，因為西瓜內部空間非常足夠，電路的連接也非常方便。

The Game Boy emulator can then be loaded and run with the same software as the original game. Inside the scooped-out melon, a power bank, buttons, a 1.8-inch screen and loudspeakers are assembled.
遊戲機目前可以成功的開啟，使用的軟體也和原版相符，而挖空的西瓜塞進了一個電池、數個實體按鍵、一個1.8寸的螢幕和小喇叭音響。

According to Tan, the construction took about a month; though he blamed the time-length on a faulty device integral to the game boy. Without the problem, the watermelon-based console could have been finished in less than a week, he said.
Cedrick表示，因為買到瑕疵零件，導致製作過程延宕，西瓜GameBoy花了他將近一個月才完成。若沒有遇到這些問題的話，大概一週以內就能完成，他自信滿滿地說。

"As an information systems student, I have no background in electrical engineering, so learning that from scratch took some time," Tan recalled. The result is a working game console, complete with a Game Boy Advance emulator and a game controller.
「身為一個資管系的學生，我對於電機其實一知半解，所以一切從零開始學，花了一點時間。」Cedrick說。然而，他對於自己的成果表示滿意，成功的製作出一個有著完整介面的「攜帶式」遊戲機。

But the best thing about Tan's video is the public's reaction to the watermelon game boy. On a visit to the market, he played the game console surrounded by real watermelons, which provoked weird looks from passers-by.
吸睛的西瓜GameBoy影片獲得廣大民眾迴響，這大概也是Cedrick最大的收穫。Cedrick也實驗過將西瓜帶去賣場玩，捕捉到許多人好奇的眼光。

Tan also recalled being quizzed about the device when he brought it into a train station. A distressed SMRT staff asked him about the strange device, and after hearing his explanation, requested him to show it to her colleagues.
Cedrick憶起他曾帶著西瓜進火車站，當時還被站務員攔截，詢問他手上的大西瓜是怎麼回事。一位緊張的員工甚至跑到他身邊詢問奇形怪狀的西瓜用途，聽完他的解釋後，員工還非常興奮地將他拉回辦公室要他將作品展現給其他同事看。

In addition, Tan said he also experienced another unforeseen problem where someone complained that he was carrying a watermelon bomb.
此外，Cedrick坦言他曾經被誤認為西瓜炸彈客，而他從沒想過帶著西瓜會碰上這樣的麻煩。

Tan also posted on Reddit about his clumsy contraption, where he received plenty of praise, inspiring him to build different versions in the future, including avocados and coconuts.
Cedrick也將自己的作品分享到美版PTT Reddit上面，不僅獲得外國網友的讚賞，還有許多人鼓勵他之後利用酪梨和椰子製作遊戲機。

Unfortunately, Tan revealed that the watermelon had rotted just a few days after his YouTube video was uploaded. However, Tan vowed to continue making his creations and could take on the challenge of turning the durian into a game that could be called StinkyBoy's Pain Game.
不幸地，Cedrick透露，影片上傳YouTube後過了幾天，西瓜就爛掉了。然而，Cedrick表示將會繼續創作，未來也規劃以榴槤製作遊戲，將其命名為「臭Boy痛苦遊戲」。
Source: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20200827-1697494

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辦公室茶水間最尷尬的事：外國同事站在你旁邊，你腦袋空空，只剩「How are you」。這集 John老師跟阿鍵老師 recap 了最近幾則國際時事，重點不是叫你把新聞背起來，而是教你怎麼把這些話題變成你跟外國同事打成一片的工具。

1. 19歲就拿 F1 冠軍，我們那時候在幹嘛
最近 F1 出了一個 19 歲的新人 Antonelli，在開賽前兩站都拿下 pole position 又抱走冠軍。接的還是 Lewis Hamilton 在 Mercedes 留下來的位置。John老師說連他老婆看到都問「他哪個車隊的」，可見話題熱度。
重點是，F1 這種運動話題在外商公司超好用。你不需要每週跟盯，只要抓一個亮點就夠了。
茶水間版本的聊法：Did you see the 19-year-old that just made F1 history? That was seriously impressive. 對方如果有在追，馬上就接起來了；如果他沒有看，你反而可以問他 Which team do you support? 就變成你在帶話題的人。

体育話題的妙處就是這樣——不懂的人可以問，懂的人會講不停，兩邊都不尷尬。

2. 麥當勞 CEO 吃漢堡，吃出一個 PR 危機

這則是最近在 TikTok 和 Threads 上流傳的影片：McDonald's CEO 親自吃自家漢堡，結果表情看起來很嫌棄，被網友笑翻。John老師說人家可能是因為心血管問題只能小心咬，但畫面確實沒什麼說服力。
Burger King 看到機會，馬上推出自家經理人大口吃漢堡的影片，吃得津津有味。行銷教科書等級的反差。

茶水間版本的聊法：Do you think the video would have gone more viral if it was Ronald McDonald eating the burger instead of the CEO? 這樣問比直接評論 CEO 失誤安全多了，也比較有梗。阿鍵老師補了一句——如果你跟同事都有 PR 或 advertising 背景，你還可以問 Do you think having CEOs represent their own brand is ever a good idea? 這樣一杯咖啡可以聊很久。

3. 日圓又貶了，你還沒訂機票嗎
日圓對美元破 160，創近年新低。對台灣人來說這根本是強制出遊的訊號。John老師說這話題在外商辦公室好用的原因，是你可以從匯率聊到旅遊計畫，完全不沉重。

茶水間版本的聊法：Hey, the yen is getting really weak again. Are you planning a trip to Japan anytime soon? 這樣開場幾乎沒有人會不接。如果對方不常去日本，你就問他 Where would you go if you did? 如果他很常去，那就說 You basically have to go this year, right?
當然阿鍵老師也示範了一下怎麼當個「掃興同事」——人家在說要去玩，他說日本通膨其實也跟著漲，換多但花更多。John老師說這種 water cooler 話題千萬別聊太深，Don't take it too seriously，輕輕帶過就好。

4. Elon Musk 又在整合他的帝國了
這集還聊了 Musk 把 xAI 跟 SpaceX 合併，同步推出 X Money——一張金屬質感的白色信用卡，目前美國部分州已經在試用，Silicon Valley 已經有人拿到實體卡了。

John老師跟阿鍵老師順帶解釋了一下 merge 跟 converge 的差別：merge 是正式商業語境，兩家公司股權合一；converge 或 connect 比較口語，適合聊 Musk 自己幾家子公司整合在一起的感覺。

茶水間聊法分兩種。如果你同事是炒股型的，問他 Why do you think SpaceX needs to be in the mix? 他可以講半小時。如果對方比較一般，就問 Are you going to apply for X Money? 就算台灣還不能用，光是「你想申請嗎」這個問題就夠聊了。
John老師最後說，這些新聞不是要你記起來交報告，而是幫你跟同事建立「我們在同一個頻道」的感覺。你看同樣的新聞、聊同樣的話題，比 I like your shoes 有效太多了。通勤時間聽完，進辦公室馬上能用。

Summary

A study funded by NASA is putting people in a domeshaped building on a Hawaii volcano for eight months that mimicks a stay on the surface of Mars. This simulation is to examine how well people can work and live together, entirely separated from civilization. The 2030 Mars mission with astronauts will consist of a six-month journey to Mars, then 500 days of stay, and another six-month return trip. NASA does not intend to put people on this mission without understanding the psychological consequences. A mock Mars mission of 520 days showed the people developed sleep disorders and became less productive. The six crew members selected are able to email with a 20minute delay, check their bank accounts, and browse limited websites. Crew members will perform a variety of work that mimics astronauts, including excursions in spacesuits. 

原文討論: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-918-living-in-hawaii-aiming-for-mars  

Vocabulary and sample sentences: 

Last-minute adj. – last possible time before the event The crew members picked up last-minute things before entering the dome. Please wait for me at the restaurant, I am busy with a last-minute customer at the moment.  

Escalate v. – become more intense or increase rapidly Personal conflicts that can escalate over months could be bad for the Mars mission. BLM escalated after the death of George Floyd.  

Worst-case adj. – the worst possible outcome NASA is creating a mock environment that simulates the worst-cast scenario. The worst-case scenario of a computer crash is the loss of data. 

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你喜歡傳統市場嗎？上一次去是什麼時候呢？是熟門熟路地跟老闆娘殺價，還是像個觀光客一樣站在攤位前完全不知道該買多少？本週的《英語咖啡館》John 老師和 Klim 老師要來聊聊一個台灣人再熟悉不過、但外國人卻有些頭痛的地方：傳統市場！

這集從「超市派 vs. 市場派」的激辯開始，兩位老師各有喜好、聽起來難分軒輊互不相讓！再來是傳統市場的議價文化和計量單位等眉角，Klim 老師還透露了他在市場裡買過最「猛」的食材，而 John 老師每次逛市場一定要吃的那樣東西居然是這個？

Do you like traditional markets? When was the last time you went? Do you know your way around and haggle with the vendors, or do you stand in front of stalls like a tourist completely unsure how much to buy? This week on English Cafe, John and Klim talk about a place that's all too familiar to Taiwanese people but can give foreigners a headache: traditional markets!

This episode starts with a heated debate of "Team Supermarket vs. Team Market," with each teacher having their own preferences—it's neck and neck with neither backing down! Then there's the haggling culture and measurement units of traditional markets and their intricacies. Klim even reveals the most "intense" ingredient he's ever bought at the market, and the thing John must eat every time he visits the market is actually this?!

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L178: 日圓重貶，日銀騎虎難下 Yen Slides to 160, BOJ Signals It Is Watching

Highlights 主題摘要

For Japan, the currency market has become the fulcrum of economic debate. On March 30, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda told parliament that foreign exchange movements have a "huge impact" on the country's economy and prices — the clearest signal yet that yen weakness is no longer a peripheral concern but a primary driver of monetary policy. The yen briefly touched 160.27 to the dollar on March 28, its weakest since July 2024, when authorities had previously intervened to arrest the currency's slide. Tokyo's Vice Finance Minister Atsushi Mimura warned of growing speculative activity, while Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama stated the government stood ready to take "bold actions."

日圓匯率問題，已成為日本當前經濟辯論的核心議題。3月30日，日銀行長植田和男在國會表示，外匯市場的波動對日本的經濟與物價走勢有「巨大影響」，這是迄今最直接的信號，顯示日圓疲軟已不再是次要問題，而是貨幣政策的主要考量。日圓在3月28日一度觸及1美元兌160.27日圓，創下2024年7月以來新低，當年當局曾進場干預，壓制日圓跌勢。財務省副大臣三村淳表示對外匯市場投機交易升溫的憂慮，財務大臣片山皋月則聲明政府已準備好採取「大膽行動」。

The structural cause remains a stubbornly wide interest rate differential. After ending its negative interest rate regime in March 2024, the BOJ raised borrowing costs cautiously, taking a gradualist path to 0.75%. But with the US Federal Reserve keeping rates elevated, the gap remains vast. Investors routinely borrow cheaply in yen and deploy capital into higher-yielding assets elsewhere — the carry trade — putting the yen under persistent selling pressure.

日圓長期走軟的結構性根源，在於日本與其他主要經濟體之間長期懸殊的利差。日銀於2024年3月結束負利率政策後，已逐步將利率調升至0.75%，但美國聯準會為壓制通膨而維持高利率，兩者之間的利差依然顯著。投資人持續以低廉成本借入日圓，將資金配置到海外收益率更高的資產，形成所謂的套利交易，持續壓低市場對日圓的需求。

Urgency sharpened in 2026 as surging oil prices, driven by the Middle East conflict, compounded the inflationary effect on import costs. At the March meeting, at least one BOJ board member called for rate hikes "without hesitation." Ueda told parliament the bank would "guide policy appropriately" by scrutinising how currency moves affect its forecasts. Markets now price a two-in-three chance of a hike to 1% as soon as May — the first aggressive tightening cycle Japan has seen in decades.

進入2026年後，局勢明顯更加緊迫。中東衝突帶動油價飆升，進一步放大日圓貶值對進口成本的推升效應。在3月政策會議上，至少一位委員主張，只要經濟情勢未見明顯惡化，就應「毫不猶豫」升息。植田和男在國會答詢時表示，日銀將評估匯率波動對成長與物價預測的影響，「適當引導政策方向」。市場目前預估，日銀最快在5月升息至1%的機率約達三分之二，若成真，將是日本數十年來首次連續緊縮的升息週期。

For ordinary households, the toll is concrete. Overseas travel by Japanese citizens recovered to only 13 million departures in 2024 — still roughly a third below 2019's 20.1 million — as the weak currency renders foreign trips prohibitively expensive. Food and utility bills are climbing five to seven percent year-on-year. A depreciating yen, it turns out, is anything but abstract: it erodes purchasing power with every paycheck and every trip to the supermarket.

對一般家庭而言，日圓貶值的代價早已不是紙上數字。2024年日本出境旅遊人次僅回升至約1,300萬，較2019年的2,010萬仍少了約三分之一，疲軟的日圓讓海外旅行對許多人來說愈來愈難以負擔。食品與電費支出年增幅更達5至7%。日圓持續貶值，說到底就是每個月領薪水、每次去超市採購時，默默縮水的購買力。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Gradualist [adjective, describing a slow, step-by-step approach to policy change]: The BOJ's gradualist approach has drawn criticism from market watchers.Carry trade [noun phrase, borrowing in a low-interest currency to invest in higher-yielding assets elsewhere]: Low rates make the yen a popular carry trade funding currency.Selling pressure [noun phrase, sustained market demand to sell an asset, driving its price lower]: The yen has been under constant selling pressure for months.Inflationary [adjective, causing or related to a general rise in prices]: Surging oil costs have had a clear inflationary effect on household bills.Tightening cycle [noun phrase, a period in which a central bank raises interest rates consecutively to curb inflation]: Markets are bracing for Japan's first tightening cycle in decades.

Reference article:
1. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/boj-watching-fx-movement-factor-affecting-economy-governor-ueda-says-2026-03-30/
2. https://tw.stock.yahoo.com/share/5e3c1e6b-ddb1-3244-9979-1bc5f8c68e22
3. https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/03/economy/japan-declining-yen-shortcake-travel-intl-hnk

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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。」

New Thoughts on the 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, high-pitched 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 quantity of language inevitably leads to better quality. Anne Fernald, a developmental psychologist at Stanford University in California, said, "When you learn to talk more, you tend to speak in more diverse ways and elaborate more, and that helps the child's cognitive development."
但是，那些呼籲家長多跟自己孩子說話的專家表示，提高語言數量，定會帶來更高的品質。加州史丹福大學發展心理學家安妮．費納德說：「當你學會說得更多時，你會以更多樣、更複雜的方式說話，這有助兒童的認知發展。」

Still, Ann O'Leary, director of Too Small to Fail, a joint effort of the nonprofit Next Generation and the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation that focuses on closing the word gap, acknowledged that messages to parents could do more to emphasize quality. "When we're doing these campaigns to close the word gap, they do capture the imagination, they do get people understanding that we do need to do a lot more talking," she said. "But we also need to be more mindful that part of what we need to do is model what that talking looks like."
「小到不能失敗」計畫負責人安．奧利里說，在提供給家長的訊息上，確實可多強調質。「小到不能失敗」由非營利組織「下一代」和「比爾、希拉蕊、雀兒喜．柯林頓基金會」共同設置，致力於縮小兒童字彙差距。她說：「當我們從事縮小兒童字彙差距努力時，它確實引起我們注意，它也讓人們理解，我們確實需要多說點話。但我們同時需要更注意的是，在我們必須從事的工作中，有一部分是提供那種談話的模範，那種談話中該有的東西。」
Source: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/269227/web/#2L-5280944L

Scientists Identify Ancient Baby Bottles — and Some Are Really Cute

Ceramic vessels, sometimes fashioned in whimsical animal forms, were used thousands of years ago as baby bottles to feed infants animal milk, according to scientists, offering an intriguing look at how and what infants were fed in prehistoric times.
科學家指出，數千年前的人類有時會把陶製容器塑造成異想天開的動物形狀，將它們作為奶瓶使用，餵嬰兒喝動物的乳汁。這項發現提供一個有趣的觀點，讓人一窺史前時代人類如何、又是用什麼來餵食嬰兒。

Archaeologists said on Sept. 25 they confirmed the function of these ceramic objects by finding chemical traces of milk belonging to animals such as cows, sheep and goats in three such items found buried in child graves in Germany.
考古學家在九月二十五日表示，他們在埋入德國兒童墳墓裡面的三個同類型物件中，發現殘留動物乳汁的化學痕跡──包括母牛、綿羊、山羊等──因此確認了這些陶製物品的用途。

The oldest of the three vessels described in the study was made between 2,800 and 3,200 years ago during the Bronze Age. Other similar objects dating back as far as about 7,000 years ago during Neolithic times have been found in various other locations, the researchers said.
在研究描述的三個容器中，年代最早的製造於兩千八百年前到三千兩百年前的青銅器時代。研究人員指出，其他許多地點都曾經發現類似的物件，最遠可追溯到大約七千年前的新石器時期。

"I think this has provided us the first direct evidence of what foods babies were eating or being weaned on in prehistory," said biomolecular archaeologist Julie Dunne of the University of Bristol in the UK and lead author of the study, published in the journal Nature. "I think this shows us the love and care these prehistoric people had for their babies."
該篇研究發表於期刊《自然》，主要作者為英國布里斯托大學的生物分子考古學家茱莉‧鄧恩，她表示：「我認為這項發現提供第一手直接證據，顯示史前時代的小寶寶吃什麼食物，或是用什麼食物斷奶。」她也指出：「我想，這項發現也向我們展現這些史前時代人類對小嬰兒的愛與關懷。」

These objects, little enough to fit into a baby's hands, served as vessels for milk, with a narrow spout for the baby to suckle liquid. While the three objects examined for the study were somewhat plain, others boasted lively shapes including animal heads with long ears or horns and human-looking feet.
這些物件小到能夠放進嬰兒的小手中，是用來盛裝奶水的容器，瓶身上附有一個狹長的壺嘴，讓小寶寶能夠從中吸吮液體。雖然研究檢驗用的三個物件外觀稍嫌平淡無奇，但其他同類陶器形狀卻相當生動，有著動物的頭，附著長長的耳朵或是犄角，以及像人類的腳。

"I find them incredibly cute. And prehistoric people may have thought so, too — they would certainly have a dual function of entertaining the children just like modern stuffed animals," said archaeologist Katharina Rebay-Salisbury of the Austrian Academy of Sciences' Institute for Oriental and European Archaeology, and a co-author of the study. "They testify to the creativity and playfulness we often forget to attribute to our ancestors."
研究的共同作者、奧地利科學院東方與歐洲考古研究所的考古學家凱瑟琳娜‧雷貝─索爾斯伯里表示：「我覺得這些陶器難以置信地可愛。而且搞不好史前的人們也是這樣覺得──這些陶器很可能還具備另一項娛樂小孩的雙重功能，就像是現代的填充玩具。」她補充說：「這些陶器證實老祖先們具備的創意和愛開玩笑的個性，那都是我們經常忘記的。」

Life at the time was not easy, Rebay-Salisbury added, with many people living in unhygienic conditions, experiencing famine and disease and facing low life expectancy. During the Bronze Age and subsequent Iron Age in Europe, perhaps about a third of all newborns died before their first birthday and only about half of children reached adulthood, Rebay-Salisbury said.
雷貝─索爾斯伯里還指出，當時的生活並不容易，原因在於許多人都居住在不衛生的環境中、遭受饑荒與疾病，還要面臨很短的預期壽命。她表示，在青銅器時代以及接下來的鐵器時代，歐洲地區可能有大約三分之一的新生兒在一歲之前死亡，而且大概只有一半的小孩能夠順利長大成人。

These feeding vessels may have made life easier for mothers, as animal milk could substitute for breastfeeding, the researchers said. "Duties of mothering — amongst which feeding is an important one — can also be undertaken by other members of the community when children are fed with feeding vessels," Rebay-Salisbury said.
研究人員表示，這些餵食用的容器會讓母親們的生活輕鬆一些，因為動物的乳汁可以代替親餵母乳。雷貝─索爾斯伯里指出：「當小孩可以用器具餵食的時候，為人母的諸多責任──其中，最重要的一項是餵食嬰兒──也就可以由部落的其他成員接手幫忙。」
Source: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/10/06/2003723440

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學英文一定要很痛苦才有效?小時候老師說「不努力就不會進步」,長大後變成「不加班老闆會覺得我不認真」。結果每天逼自己念英文念到舌頭打結,反而越學越抗拒。

這集要聊一本打破這個迷思的書:《Effortless》。作者是哈佛MBA的Greg McKeown,他說重點不是不努力,是用對力氣。就像在台北捷運上通勤學英文,不用坐在書桌前硬K兩小時,15分鐘聽podcast照樣有效。

John老師現在煮咖啡煮到不用想就自動完成,而且還很好喝。這就是effortless state。學英文也可以這樣。

你中了幾個?
在台灣職場待久了,這些想法是不是很熟悉?
加班到九點才敢離開辦公室,因為怕主管覺得你不認真。週末還在回工作訊息,不然好像沒盡責。學英文也一樣,逼自己每天念一小時,念到很煩還是硬撐,因為覺得「沒有痛苦就沒有收穫」。
阿鍵老師說他從小就被教:「有價值的事情要花很多力氣去完成,搞得自己很累才對。」長大後變成「我一定要加班,老闆才會覺得我認真。」
但活得這麼辛苦,真的有意思嗎?

問題出在哪?
John老師點出盲點:「你覺得pain要到100分,gain才會100分。問題是你在處理pain就已經消耗掉很多能量,能量根本沒有放在gain上面。」
就像你在竹科上班已經很累了,晚上回家還逼自己念英文念到很痛苦。結果能量都在對抗「好煩不想念」這個情緒,根本沒力氣吸收東西。
John老師說:「你覺得學英語的時候像是在被處罰,這就很明顯不對了。」
這本書要說的不是不努力,是不要蠻幹。用對力氣。

Effortless的三個層次
怎麼做到輕鬆學英文?三個層次

先搞定你的狀態
運動員說的「進入zone」、藝術家說的「心流狀態」,其實學英文也需要。不是每天硬逼自己,是先把情緒垃圾清掉。
在台北捷運上通勤,擠得要死心情很煩,這時候硬要聽英文podcast效果不好。但如果你坐著剛好有位子,窗外風景不錯,這時候聽就很順。狀態對了,吸收就快。

跟讀不用硬撐
John老師建議:「如果我一開始只習慣念兩行,念了兩行就覺得有點吃力,那我就停了。不要硬撐說要念十行,把自己逼到嘴巴舌頭都累了。」
健身教練會說「肌肉痠痛再來一組」,但學英文不是這樣。舌頭已經快咬到了就停,何必呢?
關鍵是知道自己什麼時候累
有些上班族覺得「我沒壓力啊」,結果頭髮一直掉。壓力禿。你的身體還是感受到壓力的。
跟讀文章這麼多,今天這篇地緣政治你不喜歡,下次動物主題你比較喜歡,可能就可以多念一點。不用拼今天要全部念完。

真正進入狀態是什麼感覺?
John老師和Angel老師錄Café的時候就尬聊,聊到忘記時間。「我一個小時了,本來只要錄30分鐘。」這就是進入effortless state,in the zone。
每次上場都in the zone,你就是Kobe Bryant!

別想太多,做就對了
有些事情你想了反而做不了。「等一下要安排時間,然後跟小孩坐下來,好好來聊這個idiom,然後要練習三遍...」光想就累了。
Just do it。

從最小的開始
早上起床真的太難?那就先坐起來,或先把被子拿開。先做一個簡單的動作,剩下的就會自然跟上來。
學英文也一樣。讀完Café拿到學習筆記,老師這週給了十幾個idioms,覺得很多怎麼辦?
一天一個就好。"I can do one a day, I cannot do ten a day。"把它拆開來,action有做到,但不會覺得很effort。
或者這週十幾個,挑兩個你最喜歡的記下來。這兩個就是你的了。

不要被自己卡住
John老師和阿鍵老師都常被自己的thinking卡住。腦筋一直在想:「我要安排什麼時間?要準備什麼?要練習幾遍?」OS就已經消耗一堆能量了。
不去想這個effort,反而更容易去做那個action。
通勤時打開手機聽podcast,不用想「我今天要學什麼」「我進度到哪了」。上車按play就對了。竹科工程師開車上班那段路,塞車剛好聽完一集。

建立自己的自動化系統
最高境界是什麼都不用想就完成了,而且成果還不錯。就像《原子習慣》講的,system越簡單,越容易一直做下去。
通勤學英文就是最好的例子
老通勤家族跟著15Mins三四年下來,已經變成習慣了。早上開車上班就打開podcast,聽完覺得有趣的就跟著念幾句,晚上回家有空就做個shadowing。
不用每天提醒自己「我今天要學英文」,就是自然而然在做。
很多人給feedback說:「現在跟外國人講話好順,自信心特別好。」不是文法多厲害或單字量多大,是溝通對方聽得懂。出去工作、出國旅遊就很夠用了。

John老師煮咖啡的境界
「早上做咖啡的時候,自動開機、自動燒開水、自動鋪濾杯。我煮完咖啡才發現,咦我剛煮完一杯咖啡?」
以前還會想這杯要準備什麼、溫度幾度,壓力很大。現在進入effortless state就是:怎麼咖啡煮好了?我好像不記得剛剛怎麼沖的。
然後阿鍵老師喝了說好喝。這就是effortless result。
學英文也可以到這個境界。五月報稅季很煩,但通勤時間還是照樣聽podcast,不用額外安排時間。捷運兩站剛好聽完一集,下車就開始一天工作。英文在不知不覺中進步。

跟其他學習方法有什麼不同?
John老師發現很多哈佛、史丹佛的人都在講類似概念:《原子習慣》講系統、《心流》講狀態、《刻意練習》講方法。
阿鍵老師說:「很多learning tips都互通,同一個概念。要不然就是motivation,要不然就是讓你學得更輕鬆,要不然就是幫你做系統化。只是每一本切入的角度不太一樣。」

這本書特別的地方
John老師認為這本書比《原子習慣》更進一步:「我們很少去care那個state。我們太care那個system。這本書我蠻喜歡那個state的部分,就是care yourself跟love yourself。多注意自己的狀態,這個其實蠻重要的。」
不只學英文,工作、生活都適用。找到自己最順手的方式、最順的狀態,去做你想做的事。
不要在生氣七七的時候練英文
何必呢?力氣要用在對的地方。

那你的輕鬆時刻是什麼時候?
有些人做菜的時候很開心,進入心流。阿鍵老師就覺得「又要做一件事好累」。

歡迎留言分享:

你什麼時候會進入effortless state?

書籍推薦: 《Effortless: Make It Easy to Do What Matters》by Greg McKeown (哈佛MBA作者)

KUMON Podcast《從學會到會學》

💙解鎖自學力：化被動為主動

💛教養不煩惱：掌握教養關鍵

💜超越滿分：榜樣啟發可能

❤️教育未來式：AI時代能力趨勢

5/18-5/30 免費體驗招生中，立即預約

https://fstry.pse.is/8ynb3z

—— 以上為 FMTaiwan 與 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

Summary:
Once the king of film, Kodak has struggled over the years to find their footing in the digital era. In 2013, the company emerged from bankruptcy and till today is looking to find business model to sustain itself. What used to be 200 buildings of Eastman Kodak’s business park, is now left with a few buildings, with the rest either demolished or sold off. The article mentions the story of Mr. Taber, a Kodak employee of 34 years, together with 300 other scientists and engineers are working through their legacy innovations in optics and chemistry can be turned into new business ventures. In July this year, Trump administration made a $765 million loan to the Eastman Kodak Co. for its launch of a business making pharmaceutical ingredients in the US. 

原文討論: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-912-kodak-struggles-to-envision-a-viable-future-after-film  

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences: 

Capitalize v. – chance to gain advantage from / convert into capital. Kodak has packaging sensor technology that they did not capitalize. Entrepreneurs are constantly looking to capitalize on any market opportunities.  

Complacent adj. – showing smug / self-satisfaction with one’s achievement The cash Kodak made from film made them complacent. Having too much luxuries in life would make you complacent.  

IP – Intellectual Property (patent, copyright, trademark) CEO of Kodak believes that they will not be able to capitalize on their IP through Kodak-branded sales. Filing patents is a way to protect a company’s intellectual property. 

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你有沒有想過，你的英文名字在外國人耳裡是什麼感覺？在台灣，很多人的英文名字是國中老師取的、或是從喜歡的明星那裡借來的，甚至有人每換一個工作就用一個新名字。但你知道嗎？有些名字在西方文化裡，可以算是社交地雷喔！

本週的《英語咖啡館》John 老師和 Angel 老師要來談談英文名字的 "faux pas"(如果你不認識這個字，趕快打開本集節目！)。命名的禁忌往往不是因為名字本身不好，而是像 COVID 時代崛起的 Karen 迷因，或是健身房的 Chad 文化，這些網路文化、迷因、甚至成人娛樂業讓名字和特定情境做了連結啦！

Have you ever wondered what your English name sounds like to foreigners? In Taiwan, many people's English names were given by their junior high school teachers, borrowed from favorite celebrities, or even changed with each new job. But did you know? Some names can be social landmines in Western culture!

This week on English Cafe, John and Angel discuss English name "faux pas" (if you don't know this word, quickly tune into this episode!). Naming taboos often aren't because the names themselves are bad, but rather due to internet culture like the Karen meme that rose during the COVID era, or gym bro Chad culture. These internet trends, memes, and even the adult entertainment industry have created associations between names and specific contexts!

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L176: No 2027 Taiwan Invasion, U.S. Intel Says

Highlights 主題摘要

For years, 2027 has loomed over strategic planning rooms from Washington to Tokyo — the unofficial deadline by which China's People's Liberation Army was expected to be capable of seizing Taiwan by force. On Wednesday, the U.S. intelligence community offered a carefully calibrated reassessment. According to the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Chinese leaders "do not currently plan to execute an invasion of Taiwan in 2027, nor do they have a fixed timeline for achieving unification." The finding does not erase the threat — it reframes it.

長年以來，「2027年」盤旋於華盛頓到東京各地的戰略研判室，被普遍視為中國人民解放軍具備武力奪台能力的非官方期限。週三，美國情報界就此提出了措辭審慎的重新評估。根據美國國家情報總監辦公室（ODNI）發布的《2026年美國情報界年度威脅評估》，中國領導人「目前不計畫在2027年對台灣發動入侵，亦無實現統一的固定時間表。」這份評估並未消弭威脅，而是重新定義了威脅的框架。

The PLA has been making what the report describes as "steady but uneven" progress on capabilities required for a potential Taiwan operation, including efforts to deter U.S. military intervention. Beijing has never renounced the use of force, and the report acknowledges that China continues to refine contingency plans for doing so. Yet it concludes that Chinese leadership — weighing PLA readiness, Taiwan's political posture, and the probability of U.S. intervention — currently prefers coercive pressure over outright conflict. Anti-corruption purges that have swept out roughly 100 senior officers since 2022 may have further constrained operational readiness.

解放軍在強化潛在台海行動所需能力方面，持續取得報告所稱「穩定但不均衡」的進展，其中包括嚇阻美軍介入的相關部署。北京從未放棄以武力達成統一，報告也承認中國持續精進各項應變計畫。然而報告指出，中國領導層在綜合評估解放軍戰備狀況、台灣的政治走向以及美國介入的可能性後，目前仍傾向以施壓手段取代全面武裝衝突。自2022年起的反腐整肅已拔除逾百名解放軍高階將領，此一動盪或已進一步削弱整體作戰準備度。

The assessment lands at a diplomatically charged moment. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to visit the White House the day after the report's release, and the document describes her statement that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan as a "significant shift" — framing likely to unsettle Tokyo. U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly downplayed the threat of Chinese military action, citing Xi Jinping's personal assurances, even as his administration approved a record $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December.

這份報告的出爐時機外交意涵格外敏感。日本首相高市早苗預計於報告發布隔日赴白宮訪問，而報告將她去年所稱中國攻台將對日本構成「存亡威脅」的言論，定性為日本領導人立場的「重大轉變」，此一定性極可能令東京方面感到不滿。與此同時，川普多次援引習近平的個人保證，屢屢淡化北京的對台軍事威脅，但其政府卻在去年十二月批准了規模創紀錄、總值110億美元的對台軍售案。

The economic stakes make any conflict scenario deeply unappealing. Taiwan dominates global semiconductor production, and roughly one-fifth of world trade transits the Taiwan Strait annually. A protracted confrontation would shatter critical tech supply chains and inflict costs on the U.S., Chinese, and global economies alike — even without Washington's direct involvement. Some analysts now regard the 2030s as the more consequential window of risk, with military capability rather than political intent driving the calculus. China's 2049 deadline, the centenary of the People's Republic, remains the overarching horizon.

任何衝突情境背後，都潛藏著沉重的經濟代價。台灣是全球半導體生產的核心重鎮，全球約五分之一的貿易往來途經台灣海峽。一旦爆發曠日持久的對抗，關鍵科技供應鏈將面臨重創，美國、中國乃至全球經濟都難以倖免，即便華盛頓選擇不直接出兵亦然。部分分析人士已將2030後視為更值得警戒的風險時間，驅動這項判斷的是軍事能力的發展，而非政治意圖。中國所設定的2049年統一期限，也就是中華人民共和國建國百年，始終是更長遠的戰略目標。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Contingency plans [noun phrase, prepared strategies for dealing with possible future emergencies]: Every airline has contingency plans for bad weather.Downplayed [verb, to make something seem less serious or threatening than it is]: The manager downplayed the risk to keep the team calm.Unsettle [verb, to make someone feel anxious or off-balance]: The sudden announcement unsettled investors.Protracted [adjective, lasting far longer than expected or desired]: The protracted dispute cost both sides dearly.Overarching [adjective, covering everything; most important overall]: The overarching goal is long-term stability.

Reference article:
1. https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202603190004
2. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-assesses-china-is-not-currently-planning-invade-taiwan-2027-2026-03-18/
3. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/19/us-intelligence-agencies-not-expecting-china-to-invade-taiwan-in-2027
4. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/us-assesses-china-not-planning-invade-taiwan-2027-rcna264239
5. https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-isnt-planning-to-invade-taiwan-in-2027-u-s-concludes-1fbedcbd

Here are the three articles properly titled and paragraphed:

Traditional Toys May Beat Gadgets in Language Development
Baby laptops, baby cellphones, talking farms — these are the whirring, whiz-bang toys of the moment, many of them marketed as tools to encourage babies' language skills.
嬰兒筆電，嬰兒手機，交談農場，這些都是當前推出快速又先進的玩具，許多被當成激發嬰兒語言技能的工具行銷。

But a new study raises questions about whether such electronic playthings make it less likely that babies will engage in the verbal give-and-take with their parents that is so crucial to cognitive development.
不過，新研究報告質疑這類電子玩具是否會使嬰兒跟父母的口頭交流減少，這種交流對認知發展極其重要。

The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, found that when babies and parents played with electronic toys that are specifically advertised as language-promoters, parents spoke less and responded less to baby babbling than when they played with traditional toys like blocks or read board books. Babies also vocalized less when playing with electronic toys.
發表於「美國醫學會小兒科學期刊」的該研究報告發現，嬰兒與父母玩廣告中特別宣傳能促進語言發展的電子玩具時，父母說話及對嬰兒發聲的回應，要比玩傳統玩具如積木或閱讀硬頁書時來得少。嬰兒玩電子玩具時發聲也較少。

"My hunch is that they were letting the baby interact with the toy and they were on the sidelines," said Anna V. Sosa, an associate professor of communications science and disorders at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, who led the study.
帶領研究的弗拉格斯塔夫北亞利桑納大學傳播科學與溝通障礙副教授安娜．索沙說：「我的直覺是，他們讓嬰兒跟玩具互動，自己退居一邊。」

The study builds on a growing body of research suggesting that electronic toys and e-books can make parents less likely to have the most meaningful kinds of verbal exchanges with their children. "When you put the gadgets and gizmos in, the parents stop talking," said Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University who was not involved in the new study, but who has found similar effects with e-books and electronic shape-sorters. "What you get is more behavioral regulation stuff, like 'don't touch that' or 'do this,' or nothing because the books and toys take it over for you."
這項研究建立在日漸增多的一些研究結果之上，既有結果顯示電子玩具和電子書可能使父母較少與小孩進行最有意義類型的口語交流。天普大學心理學教授凱西．赫許帕塞克說：「當使用這類工具與裝置時，父母們就會閉口。你做的是更多行為規範，像是『別碰那』或『做這個』，甚至啥也不做，因為電子書與玩具已代勞了。」赫許帕塞克未參加上述研究，但此前對電子書跟電子形狀分類盒的研究有類似發現。

She added, "A toy should be 10 percent toy and 90 percent child, and with a lot of these electronic toys the toy takes over 90 percent and the child just fills in the blank."
她並補充道：「玩玩具應是玩具只占10%，90％由小孩做主，許多這些電子玩具卻是玩具占了90%以上，小孩只能補白。」

Sosa said she was surprised by the results. She had expected some parent-baby pairs would talk more with one type of toy, while others would talk more with another. But the results were consistent almost across the board. When electronic toys were being used, parents said about 40 words per minute, on average, compared with 56 words per minute for traditional toys and 67 words per minute with books.
索沙說，她對結果感到驚訝。她原本預期一些父母嬰兒組玩某種玩具時說話較多，而其他組則是在玩另種玩具時說較多話。然而，結果卻幾乎一致。玩電子玩具時父母平均每分鐘說40字，少於玩傳統玩具的56字，及讀書時的67字。

The study was small — 26 families — and most were white and educated. So the researchers say the results might be different with a larger and more diverse group. But the study is notable because it sought to capture real world parent-child playtime in their homes without researchers watching.
這是個小型研究，共26個家庭參與，多為受過良好教育的白人家庭。因此研究人員說，若以更大、更多樣化的群體為研究對象，結果可能不同，但這個研究仍值得注意，因為它盡力捕捉現實世界中無研究人員觀看下的居家親子遊戲時間。
Source: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/292769/web/

"Boffin Barbie": Toy Creator Honors Vaccine Co-Creator

Toy giant Mattel said Wednesday last week it hoped to "inspire the next generation" after creating a model of its iconic Barbie doll in honor of Sarah Gilbert, co-creator of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.
玩具大廠美泰兒公司上週三表示，為表彰牛津／阿斯捷利康冠狀病毒疫苗之共同發明人莎拉‧吉伯特，該公司為其著名產品芭比娃娃開發了新款，希望能「鼓舞下一代」。

Gilbert said she found the news "very strange" but hoped "children who see my Barbie will realize how vital careers in science are to help the world around us." "My wish is that my doll will show children careers they may not be aware of, like a vaccinologist."
吉伯特聽聞此消息，說她覺得「挺怪的」，但希望「看到我的芭比娃娃的孩子們會了解，科學職業對幫助我們周遭的世界是多麼重要」。「希望我的玩偶會向孩子們展示他們可能不知道的職業，比如說疫苗學家」。

The toy company created models in honor of five other women in the sciences: US healthcare workers Amy O'Sullivan and Audrey Cruz, Canadian campaigner Chika Stacy Oriuwa, Brazilian researcher Jaqueline Goes de Jesus and Australian medic Kirby White.
這家玩具公司也設計了其他款式，來表彰五位科學界的女性：美國醫護人員艾米‧奧沙利文及奧黛莉‧克魯茲、加拿大活動人士奇卡‧史岱西‧奧里瓦、巴西研究人員賈克琳‧戈耶思‧德‧杰索斯，以及澳洲醫師克兒比‧懷特。

"Barbie recognizes that all frontline workers have made tremendous sacrifices when confronting the pandemic and the challenges it heightened," said Lisa McKnight, senior vice president of Barbie and dolls at Mattel. "To shine a light on their efforts, we are sharing their stories and leveraging Barbie's platform to inspire the next generation to take after these heroes and give back. Our hope is to nurture and ignite the imaginations of children playing out their own storyline as heroes."
美泰兒公司芭比娃娃及玩偶部門高級副總裁麗莎‧麥克奈特表示：「芭比肯定所有前線工作人員，在面對疫情大流行及加劇的挑戰時，都做出了巨大犧牲」。「為彰顯其努力，我們分享他們的故事，並利用芭比娃娃這平台，來激勵下一代追隨這些英雄並做出回饋」。「我們希望培養及點燃孩子的想像力，讓他們在遊戲扮演角色時，有自己的英雄故事」。
Source: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/08/09/2003762257

Giant Japanese Robot Spurs Hopes for Tourism After Virus Hit
受病毒衝擊後 巨大的日本機器人為觀光業燃起希望

An 18-metre "Gundam" robot that can walk and move its arms was unveiled in Japan on Monday amid hopes that it will help invigorate tourism hit by COVID-19.
一個18公尺、可以走動及移動手臂的「鋼彈」機器人週一在日本亮相，希望它能幫忙振興受到2019冠狀病毒疾病衝擊的觀光業。

The robot is modelled after a figure in "Mobile Suit Gundam", a Japanese cartoon first launched in the late 1970s about enormous battle robots piloted by humans. The series spawned multiple spin-offs and toys and gained a worldwide following.
這個機器人仿照「機動戰士鋼彈」其中一款打造，這部日本卡通於1970年代晚期首度發表，描述了由人類操控之大型戰鬥機器人。一系列漫畫催生出多項衍生產品與玩具，並獲得全球關注。

It will be the centrepiece of the Gundam Factory Yokohama, a tourist attraction that opens on Dec. 19 in the port city.
它將是12月19日於橫濱這個港市開張的觀光景點「橫濱鋼彈工廠」最引人入勝的核心。

"I hope this will lead to stimulating tourism demand and revitalising local areas," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a news conference.
內閣官房長官加藤勝信在記者會說，「我希望這會帶動刺激觀光需求並振興當地。」
Source: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1417730

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感謝推薦: ItschihaOK在Threads上推薦
15Mins四月壽星: 生日快樂!可以在IG留言或email給我們

聽過Wait What嗎?就是那種讓你聽完要慢半拍才懂的英文慣用語。15Mins在IG推出新系列,專門收集這些讓人黑人問號的idioms,配上視覺圖讓你印象更深刻。

這集還聊到蘋果三月發表會的MacBook Neo(沒錯,就是駭客任務那個Neo),教你用英文在辦公室茶水間聊科技產品。最讓John老師困惑的是Gen Z流行的Admin Night——約朋友來家裡一起報稅、對發票、整理帳單。這什麼新型社交方式?

Wait What系列:英文慣用語學習新方法
阿鍵老師在15Mins IG推出新系列,專門收集那些「蛤?怎麼會這樣講?」的英文慣用語。這些idioms其實都在English Café出現過,但現在配上視覺圖,學英文變得更容易記住。
阿鍵老師說圖都改了兩三次才放上去:「不想被說是AI垃圾,所以還要送去Canva調整。」看到成品,真的會讓人Wait What一下。
如果你熟悉某個idiom或英文俚語,歡迎在IG分享你怎麼用、跟誰用過!

MacBook Neo:辦公室英文會話實用技巧
三月初蘋果發表會推出M5系列處理器,新機叫Neo——沒錯,就是駭客任務那個救世主Neo。John老師和阿鍵老師都在等這波降價換新電腦。
為什麼?因為M系列晶片真的改變了一切。John老師說以前筆電做翻譯或回email,一小時就要找插座,現在一整天都不用充電。阿鍵老師被John老師「污染」後,現在也離不開Apple生態系——耳機自動切換、傳檔案點一下就飛過去。
兩個人已經自稱「Apple Citizen」,被養套殺逃不了了。

辦公室英文閒聊必學句型:

這種話題在茶水間超好聊,不管對方是不是蘋果迷都能接上話。學這些英文對話句型,就能輕鬆開啟small talk。

Admin Night:Gen Z社交英文新詞彙
John老師看到這篇新聞時黑人問號:「我看了好幾次,真的不太懂!」

Admin Night就是約朋友來家裡一起做行政瑣事——對發票、報稅、整理醫院資料、規劃旅行、買保險。聽起來很無聊對吧?但Gen Z和Gen Alpha覺得這樣比單純吃飯聚餐更有togetherness。

概念有點像以前的study group。暑假作業最後一週找同學一起趕工,考試前臨時抱佛腳做筆記。現在成年了,換成一起處理大人的responsibility。這也是學習英文時事用語的好機會。

阿鍵老師找到優點:「我買機票訂旅館不在行,約的人可能常旅遊,我就能問他怎麼優化。我會寫帳單,他的帳單就能交給我。」
但也可能變成災難:一群拖延症患者約好做admin,結果拿出來後就跑去看電視,躺平躺得更平,回家時東西還是放在那邊。
重點是:做不娛樂的事,但一起做就沒那麼無聊。這種新型社交方式的英文表達方式,值得通勤族學起來。

不算Admin Night的:
John老師和阿鍵老師的remote working不算,「那叫Overtime Night,聽起來好難過!」

試過Admin Night的人, 用comment link分享你們都做了什麼!

「挺你所想！與你一起生活的銀行」 

2026/5/31前至中國信託LINE官方帳號輸入「母親節拿優惠」玩互動遊戲，免費領勝博殿、雞湯大叔…等多家餐廳優惠券，現省超過300元！

首次綁定LINE個人化服務再送10點OPENPOINT。

加入中國信託LINE官方帳號 https://fstry.pse.is/92lzf8

—— 以上為 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

Summary: This article covers 2 topics. The storm in a teacup over how a lady made fried rice on the BBC. And the second talks about Dua Lipa’s love for bubble milk tea ice cream from Taiwan.

原文章討論：https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-909-about-uk-bbc-bbc-host  

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Controversial adj.: causing public anger and disagreement
Was the decision to close the water park controversial? Does social media cause lots of controversies? 

Trigger v.: to cause people to get upset Are people triggered by animal cruelty? Do people get triggered by social media? 

Troll v.: creating discord on the Internet by starting quarrels or upsetting people by posting inflammatory or off-topic messages in an online community Does getting trolled trigger people? Have you been trolled on Facebook?

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你上次使用 Google Maps 是什麼時候呢？本週的《英語咖啡館》John 老師和 Cariya 老師要來聊聊這個我們每天都在用、卻從來沒有好好了解過的 app——以及它剛推出的全新 AI 功能，保證讓你刮目相看，更加的認識它！

原來 Google Maps 每秒都在更新資料、每天處理高達 2 億筆用戶資訊，甚至曾經把相機裝在綿羊身上去拍攝農村街景！？除了這些冷知識，本集最大亮點是全新的 AI「Ask Maps」功能——你可以直接用自然語言跟地圖「說話」，不管是找符合個人口味的餐廳、還是同時滿足多位外國訪客的用餐需求，通通交給它搞定。John 老師更大膽預測，Google Maps 正在往「超級 App」的方向進化，未來搞不好連 Google 搜尋都會被它取代！

When was the last time you used Google Maps? This week on English Cafe, John and Cariya talk about this app we use every day but have never really understood—along with its newly launched AI features that will definitely impress you and help you get to know it better!

Turns out Google Maps updates data every second, processes up to 200 million user data points daily, and even once mounted cameras on sheep to photograph rural street views!? Beyond these fun facts, this episode's biggest highlight is the brand-new AI "Ask Maps" feature—you can directly "talk" to the map using natural language, whether finding restaurants that match your personal taste or simultaneously meeting the dining needs of multiple foreign visitors, it handles it all. John boldly predicts that Google Maps is evolving toward becoming a "super app," and in the future it might even replace Google Search!

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L172: Iran War Sends Oil Past $100, ECB Holds

Highlights 主題摘要

When the European Central Bank gathered in Frankfurt on Thursday, energy markets were already in turmoil. Oil had briefly touched $119 a barrel, European gas prices had surged 35 per cent in a single morning, and traders were scrambling to reprice a global economy suddenly exposed to the full force of a Middle Eastern conflict. Against that backdrop, Lagarde delivered a widely expected decision — but one whose implications are still unfolding.

歐洲中央銀行週四齊聚法蘭克福召開決策會議，此時能源市場早已陷入動盪。油價一度觸及每桶119美元，歐洲天然氣價格單日暴漲35%，交易員競相重新評估這場中東衝突對全球經濟的衝擊幅度。在此背景下，拉加德宣布了一項市場早有預期的決定，但其後續影響至今仍在持續發酵。

The ECB held its benchmark rate at 2 per cent for the sixth consecutive meeting — a stance unchanged since June 2025. Though the decision was unanimous, the accompanying forecasts were sharply revised: Eurozone inflation is now projected to reach 2.6 per cent this year, up from December's estimate of 1.9 per cent, the entire revision attributable to the energy shock. GDP growth was cut to 0.9 per cent from 1.2 per cent, as higher energy costs began registering across the bloc.

ECB連續第六次將基準利率維持在2%，自2025年6月起未曾變動。決議雖獲一致通過，隨附的經濟預測卻大幅上修：歐元區今年通膨率預計攀升至2.6%，遠高於去年12月估算的1.9%，升幅完全肇因於此波能源衝擊。與此同時，GDP成長率預測從1.2%下修至0.9%，能源成本的攀升已開始在歐元區各地留下印記。

In its most extreme modelled scenario, a 60 per cent disruption of flows through the Strait of Hormuz could send oil to $150 a barrel and push inflation to 4.8 per cent in 2027. Lagarde acknowledged the situation differed from the 2022 shock — the Eurozone labour market is less overheated today — but warned that memories of that inflationary episode risk complicating the task of keeping longer-term expectations anchored. Before Thursday's decision, traders had already priced in two quarter-point rate increases by October, a complete reversal of earlier bets that borrowing costs would stay unchanged.

在ECB最極端的情境推演中，若荷姆茲海峽的石油與天然氣過境量遭受60%阻斷，油價恐將衝至每桶150美元，並推升2027年通膨率至4.8%。拉加德坦承，此次情況與2022年的能源衝擊有所不同，當前歐元區勞動市場並未像四年前那般過熱，但她也提醒，民眾對上一波通膨飆升記憶猶新，恐將增加穩定長期通膨預期的難度。週四決策公布前，交易員已預期ECB最快今夏將啟動升息，並在10月前累計升息兩碼，與年初認為全年利率將按兵不動的主流押注完全相反。

The volatility extended into Monday, when crude briefly topped $113 before dropping sharply after Trump announced "productive conversations" with Iran and postponed threatened strikes for five days. Wall Street surged, with the S&P 500 gaining nearly 2 per cent, while European bourses reversed their losses. Asia had already absorbed the blow: Japan's Nikkei fell 3.5 per cent, Taiwan's Taiex shed 2.5 per cent, and South Korea's Kospi tumbled 6.5 per cent. The International Energy Agency warned that the conflict posed a "major, major threat" to the global economy, with at least 40 energy assets across nine countries already damaged. For now, diplomacy has offered a brief reprieve — but the Gulf remains a live wire.

這股震盪延續至週一。布蘭特原油盤中一度突破每桶113美元，隨後在川普宣布美伊已進行「富有成效的對話」、並將軍事打擊威脅暫緩五天後
急速回落。美股聞訊反彈，標普500指數上漲近2%，歐洲各大指數也由跌翻漲。亞洲市場則已提前承受這波衝擊：日本日經225指數重跌3.5%、台灣加權指數下挫2.5%、南韓綜合股價指數大跌6.5%。國際能源總署警告，此次衝突對全球經濟構成「極為重大的威脅」，九個國家共計至少40座能源設施已遭破壞。外交斡旋暫為市場帶來喘息空間，但波斯灣情勢依舊暗潮洶湧。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

In turmoil [adjective phrase, in a state of chaos or severe disruption]: Financial markets were in turmoil after the surprise news.Overheated [adjective, describing an economy growing too fast, fuelling inflation]: The central bank raised rates to cool an overheated market.Anchored [adjective, kept stable and prevented from drifting, used especially of inflation expectations]: Long-term expectations remained anchored despite the shock.Absorbed the blow [verb phrase, to endure the negative impact of something]: Asian markets absorbed the blow before Wall Street even opened.Reprieve [noun, a temporary relief from a difficult or threatening situation]: The announcement offered nervous markets a brief reprieve.

Reference article:
1. https://www.ft.com/content/5757febc-d888-4d34-af83-4a6b0f7a11dd
2. https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/03/23/markets-tumble-as-oil-prices-climb-over-100-on-middle-east-conflict-fears

Dark Hair Was Common Among Vikings, Genetic Study Confirms

They may have had a reputation for trade, braids and fearsome raids, but the Vikings were far from a single group of flaxen-haired, sea-faring Scandinavians. A genetic study of Viking-age human remains has not only confirmed that Vikings from different parts of Scandinavia set sail for different parts of the world, but has revealed that dark hair was more common among Vikings than Danes today.
維京人或許以貿易、髮辮，以及讓人聞風喪膽的燒殺擄掠聞名，但是他們並非全部來自單一群體，不只是一群亞麻色頭髮、經年航海的斯堪地那維亞人。近日一項維京時代人類遺骸的基因研究，證實維京人從斯堪地那維亞半島的不同地區揚帆航向世界各地，更透露維京人頭髮多為深色，跟今日的丹麥人相比更為普遍。

What's more, while some were born Vikings, others adopted the culture — or perhaps had it thrust upon them. "Vikings were not restricted to blond Scandinavians," said Eske Willerslev, a co-author of the research from the University of Cambridge and the University of Copenhagen.
更重要的是，儘管有些北歐人天生就是維京人，其他族群也會吸收維京文化──或是可能被迫接受。該研究由英國劍橋大學和丹麥哥本哈根大學合作，共同作者之一艾斯克‧威勒斯列夫指出：「維京人並非僅限於金髮碧眼的斯堪地那維亞人。」

Writing in the journal Nature, Willerslev and colleagues report how they sequenced the genomes of 442 humans who lived across Europe between about 2,400BC and 1,600AD, with the majority from the Viking age — a period that stretched from around 750AD to 1050AD. The study also drew on existing data from more than 1,000 ancient individuals from non-Viking times, and 3,855 people living today.
在這篇刊登於《自然》期刊的研究中，威勒斯列夫和他的同事闡述他們如何定序四百四十二人的基因體。這些研究對象來自歐洲各地，大約生活在西元前兩千四百年到西元一千六百年間，其中大多數人屬於維京時代──也就是橫跨西元七百五十年到一千零五十年之間的時期。該研究也運用現有的基因資料，其中包括超過一千名並非生活在維京時代的古老人類，以及三千八百五十五名現代人。

Among their results the team found that from the iron age, southern European genes entered Denmark and then spread north, while — to a lesser extent — genes from Asia entered Sweden. "Vikings are, genetically, not purely Scandinavian," said Willerslev. However, the team found Viking age Scandinavians were not a uniform population, but clustered into three main groups — a finding that suggests Vikings from different parts of Scandinavia did not mix very much.
在他們的研究結果中，團隊發現南歐的基因在鐵器時代進入丹麥，而後往北傳播，也有少部分來自亞洲的基因進入瑞典。威勒斯列夫指出：「維京人，從基因上來說，並非純然是斯堪地那維亞人。」另外，團隊發現維京時代的斯堪地那維亞人並非種族齊一的人口，而是由三個主要族群組成──這項發現顯示：來自斯堪地那維亞不同地區的維京人並未充分融合。

The team found these groups roughly map on to present-day Scandinavian countries, although Vikings from south-west Sweden were genetically similar to their peers in Denmark. Genetic diversity was greatest in coastal regions. Further analysis confirmed the long-standing view that most Vikings in England came from Denmark, as reflected in place names and historical records, while the Baltic region was dominated by Swedish Vikings, and Vikings from Norway ventured to Ireland, Iceland, Greenland and the Isle of Man.
團隊表示，這些族群的分布範圍大約和今日的北歐三國疆界疊合，不過瑞典西南部的維京人在基因上和丹麥維京人較為相近。基因多樣性則在沿岸地區最為顯著。進一步的分析更證實一項存在已久的學界看法：英國大多數的維京人來自丹麥，正如同地名和歷史紀錄反映出的情況，而巴爾幹地區是由瑞典維京人統治，至於挪威的維京人則冒險前往愛爾蘭、冰島、格陵蘭以及今日的英屬曼島。

However, the team says remains from Russia revealed some Vikings from Denmark also travelled east. The study also revealed raids were likely a local affair: the team found four brothers and another relative died in Salme, Estonia, in about 750AD, in what is thought could have been a raid, with others in the party likely to have been from the same part of Sweden.
不過，團隊指出，來自俄國的遺骸顯示，丹麥的維京人也曾往東方旅行。研究也透露維京人的劫掠可能只是「地方事件」：團隊發現，有四名兄弟和一名親戚，大約在西元七百五十年死於愛沙尼亞的薩爾梅，看起來是一場劫掠的結果，其他參與者可能也來自瑞典的同一個地區。

In addition, the team found two individuals from Orkney, who were buried with Viking swords, had no Scandinavian genetic ancestry. "[Being a Viking] is not a pure ethnic phenomenon, it is a lifestyle that you can adopt whether you are non-Scandinavian or Scandinavian," said Willerslev, adding that genetic influences from abroad both before and during the Viking age might help explain why genetic variants for dark hair were relatively common among Vikings.
此外，團隊還發現兩名奧克尼群島的個體，遺骸旁有維京劍陪葬，但是這兩人沒有斯堪地那維亞的基因世系。「（身為維京人）並不是單純的人種學現象，無論你是不是斯堪地那維亞人，都可以採取這種生活方式，」威勒斯列夫補充表示，來自國外、在維京時代之前，以及該時代期間的基因影響，也許可以解釋為什麼深色頭髮的基因變異在維京人當中相對普遍。

Steve Ashby, an expert in Viking-age archaeology from the University of York, said the study confirmed what had been suspected about movement and trade in the Viking age, but also brought fresh detail. "The evidence for gene flow with southern Europe and Asia is striking, and sits well with recent research that argues for large-scale connectivity in this period," he said. "[The study] also provides new information about levels of contact and isolation within Scandinavia itself, and offers an interesting insight into the composition of raiding parties."
英國約克大學的維京時代考古學專家史蒂夫‧阿什比指出，這項研究證實了先前科學家對於維京時代遷徙和貿易活動的猜測，並且帶來新的細節。「（維京人與）南歐以及亞洲基因流動的證據相當驚人，也吻合近年研究主張這段時期大規模的人類交流情況。」阿什比表示：「（這項研究）傳達新的資訊，透露斯堪地那維亞半島內部交流和隔離的程度，並且提供有趣的見解，讓我們一窺強盜集團的組成。」
Source: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/09/27/2003744127

Finland Has Faith in the Euro

Finland is, in many ways, the anti-Greece.
芬蘭，在許多方面，是希臘的反面。

Like Greece, it is geographically far from the core Western European powers of Britain, France and Germany. And like Greece, it uses the euro currency. But unlike Greece, it is a model of sound governance and responsible use of debt.
像希臘的是，芬蘭的地理位置遠離英國、法國、德國等西歐核心強權。不同於希臘的是，芬蘭是穩健治理與負責舉債的模範。

Yet Finland's economy is also not doing so great, with an 11.8 percent unemployment rate and with contracting gross domestic product in the last three years.
但是芬蘭的經濟不算挺好，失業率11.8%，而且過去三年國民生產毛額萎縮。

A number of American commentators have looked at Finland's current economic troubles as a clear sign that what ails the eurozone is far deeper than profligate spending by the Greeks. Paul Krugman has made that case at The New York Times, Tim Worstall at Forbes and Matt O'Brien at The Washington Post.
某些美國評論者檢視芬蘭當前的經濟困境，認為這顯示出歐元區的毛病遠比希臘的揮霍更嚴重。保羅．克魯曼，提姆．伍思道和麥特．歐布萊恩分別在《紐約時報》、《華盛頓郵報》和《富比世》雜誌上發表了此一主張。

Alexander Stubb, the Finnish finance minister, thinks they're wrong. I brought this up with him recently in Espoo, the Helsinki suburb where he lives. His vigorous defense of what the euro has done for Finland, and his comments help explain why elite opinion about the euro is so different on the two sides of the Atlantic.
芬蘭財政部長亞歷山大．斯圖布認為他們都錯了。筆者日前在斯圖布位於赫爾辛基郊區埃斯波的住所提出這個話題。他為歐元給芬蘭帶來的好處強力辯護，而他的評論有助於理解何以大西洋兩岸菁英對於歐元的看法如此南轅北轍。

There are three main causes of Finland's economic weakness. Nokia has gone from the world's largest mobile phone maker to an afterthought, costing thousands of Finnish jobs and many more when its supply network is counted. Demand for paper, another major export, has fallen. And the economy of neighboring Russia, with which Finland has deep trade ties, has collapsed because of plummeting oil prices and Western sanctions.
芬蘭的經濟疲弱有三個原因。諾基亞從全球最大手機製造商淪為配角，數以千計的芬蘭人因此失業；倘若把供應網一併算進來，失業人數會更多。芬蘭的另一項主要出口項目是紙，需求也下滑。芬蘭與毗鄰的俄羅斯有很密切的貿易往來，而俄國經濟也因為油價重挫和西方的制裁而大壞。

Because Finland has used the euro since its inception, the value of its currency cannot adjust in ways that would cushion the overall Finnish economy from those shocks. If Finland still had its old currency, the markka, it would have fallen in value on international markets. Suddenly other Finnish industries would have had a huge cost advantage over, say, German competitors, and they would have grown and created the jobs to help make up for those lost because of Nokia and the paper industry and Russian trade.
因為芬蘭從歐元一登場就開始使用，所以無法藉由自行調整匯率的方式來降低芬蘭經濟所遭受的衝擊。假如芬蘭現在用的是原本的貨幣芬蘭馬克，在國際市場將會貶值。其他芬蘭產業將突然享有重大的成本優勢，像是對上德國的競爭對手，產業將持續成長，創造職缺，協助彌補因為諾基亞、紙業和俄國經濟走軟而損失的工作機會。

"Rubbish," Mr. Stubb said. To evaluate the euro, you can't just look at what he calls a current "rough patch" for the Finnish economy. You have to look at a longer time horizon. In his telling, the integration with Western Europe — of which the euro currency is a crucial element — deepened trade and diplomatic relations, making Finland both more powerful on the world stage and its industries better connected to the rest of the global economy. That made its people richer.
「一派胡言，」斯圖布說。他說，要評價歐元不能光看他所謂芬蘭經濟當前的「黑暗期」。你得從較長的時間範圍著眼。照他的說法，芬蘭與西歐整合歐元是關鍵要素，而這整合深化了貿易與外交關係，讓芬蘭在世界舞台上更有力量，芬蘭的產業與全球經濟也有更好的連結；這使得人民更富裕。

"In the early 1990s in the middle of a Finnish banking crisis and economic depression, we were a top 30 country in the world in per capita G.D.P.," he said. "Then we opened up; we became members of the E.U. Now we're always up there in G.D.P. per capita or whatever other measure you look at with Sweden, Denmark, Australia and Canada."
「在1990年代初期，芬蘭銀行危機和經濟蕭條之際，我們的人均GDP（國內生產毛額）排在全球前30名，」他說。「然後我們開放了，變成歐盟的會員國。現在無論你是用人均GDP或其他衡量標準，芬蘭都和瑞典、丹麥、澳洲與加拿大位在同一個等級。」

As to whether the ability to devalue its currency would help deal with the current economic downturn, Mr. Stubb is similarly skeptical. "Devaluation is a little like doping in sports," he said. "It gives you perhaps a short-term boost, but in the long run, it's not beneficial. Just like anyone else, we need structural reform, structural adjustment; we need to increase our competitiveness, and a little bit of luck."
至於具備讓貨幣貶值的能力是否有助於處理當前的經濟衰退，他同樣存疑。「貶值有點像是運動賽事服用禁藥，」他說。「或許能在短期內增進你的表現，但長期而言並沒有好處。跟任何其他人一樣，我們需要結構性的改革，結構性的調整；我們需要增強競爭力，再加上一點點好運道。」
Source: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/283515/web/

In Sweden, Happiness from a Shorter Workday Can't Overcome the Cost

A controversial experiment with a six-hour workday in one of Sweden's largest cities wrapped up this week with a cheerful conclusion: shorter working hours make for happier, healthier and more productive employees. There's just one catch. The practice is too expensive and unwieldy to become widespread in Sweden anytime soon.
把工時減為6小時的一項爭議性實驗，上個月在瑞典最大城市之一結束，得到了愉悅的結論：較短的工時使員工更快樂、更健康，也更有生產力。只有一個但書。這種作法太昂貴也太不方便，短時間內難以拓展到瑞典全國。

The two-year trial, which took place in the southern city of Gothenburg, centered on a municipal retirement home where workers were switched to a six-hour day, from eight hours, with no pay cut. Seventeen new nursing positions were created to make up for the loss of time, at a cost of around 700,000 euros, or $738,000, a year. Although it was small, the experiment stoked a widespread discussion about the future of work, namely whether investing in a better work-life balance for employees, and treating workers well rather than squeezing them, benefits the bottom line for companies and economies.
這項為期兩年的試驗在瑞典南部哥特堡市一處市立養老院進行，員工從每天上班8小時變成6小時，薪水不變。養老院增加了17個養護職缺以填補工時減少導致的人力缺口，每年支出約增加70萬歐元，合73.8萬美元。這項實驗雖然規模不大，卻引發對未來工作的廣泛討論，亦即是否投資於改善員工工作與生活的平衡，善待員工而非壓榨他們，會給企業和經濟帶來根本的好處。

"The trial showed that there are many benefits of a shorter working day," said Daniel Bernmar, the leader of the Left party on Gothenburg's City Council, which had pushed for the experiment. "They include healthier staff, a better work environment and lower unemployment." But the high price tag, and political skepticism about the practicality of a shorter workday, was likely to discourage widespread support for taking the concept nationwide. "The government is avoiding talking about the issue," Mr. Bernmar said. "They're not interested in looking at the bigger picture."
大力推動這項實驗的哥特堡市市議會左派黨領袖貝恩馬說：「這項試驗顯示較短工時有許多好處，包括更健康的員工、更好的工作環境、更低的失業率。」然而由於成本太高，政界又對短工時的實用性抱持懷疑態度，很可能使這項實驗推廣到全境遭受阻力。貝恩馬說：「政府避談這個議題。他們也無意放大眼界來看這件事。」

While a growing number of countries and companies are studying the concept of employee happiness, the idea of improving it through shorter work hours has by no means gained broad traction. In Gothenburg, the City Council's conservative opposition parties derided the experiment as a utopian folly and sought to kill it, citing high costs for taxpayers and arguments that the government should not intrude in the workplace. The current government is also not backing a shorter workweek. Even the handful of progressive political groups aligned with Mr. Bernmar's Left party have not made a six-hour workday in Sweden a priority in their platforms. Nor have large Swedish companies, including multinationals active around the world, embraced the idea. Other Swedish towns that previously conducted limited experiments with a shorter public-sector workweek eventually abandoned the concept, citing high costs and flawed implementation.
儘管研究員工幸福這個概念的國家和企業愈來愈多，透過縮減工時來加以改善的點子卻尚未獲得廣泛迴響。在哥特堡市，市議會保守派反對黨嘲笑這項實驗是烏托邦式的愚行並試圖扼殺它，理由是納稅人負擔太重，以及政府不應干預職場。瑞典政府也不支持縮短每周工作時數。就連與貝恩馬的左派黨結盟的數個進步政治團體，也未將6小時工時列為最重要黨綱。瑞典各大企業，包括活躍於全球的跨國公司，也不熱中於這個點子。另有一些瑞典城鎮曾在公部門實施縮短每周工時的實驗，但最後都放棄這種做法，因為成本太高且執行上也有問題。
Source: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/310747/web/

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⏰ 一週168小時,你的時間都去哪了?Laura Vanderkam教你audit自己、找出馬賽克時間!
這集John老師和阿鍵老師分享《168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think》這本書的核心概念。為什麼很多人說「我好忙」卻講不出忙什麼?為什麼通勤、折衣服、刷牙時間都能拿來學英語?關鍵在於:審查自己的時間分配,找出混合時間(Mosaic Time)!

📚 《168 Hours》核心概念
作者: Laura Vanderkam (TED講者)
168小時 = 24小時 × 7天 = 一週的總時間
Level 1: Audit Yourself - 審查你的時間
記錄72小時(至少三天),以30分鐘為單位:
半小時通勤

阿鍵老師:「就像記帳一樣!我們常覺得花在吃東西比較多,但其實可能花在追星比較多!」
John老師:「我們對time和money有overconfidence(過分自信)!都覺得『我沒花什麼錢,我的錢應該要很多才對』『我努力上班,時間應該夠用』,但實際記錄下來就會發現盲點!」
時間盲點:
花在喜歡的事情上會覺得時間不夠,所以算少了

「我的Elden Ring打170個小時、Monster Hunter 350個小時...都很扎實地玩!這就是為什麼要audit自己——I feel ashamed(我很慚愧),但你不能等別人來audit你,那更痛苦!」
「自己audit自己只是有點尴尬、丟面子;別人來audit你——你媽媽來audit你的錢、你的另一半來audit你的時間——哇塞,會起衝突、會糾紛!」

📊 Level 2: 重新分配 - Fixed vs Variable Time
就像money有fixed cost和variable cost:
Fixed Time(固定時間):
必須花的時間(睡覺、吃飯、照顧小孩...)

有彈性,但也不能太誇張

先把想做的事情記錄下來

再把它排進去把這些事情當做「必須要用的時間」之後就不會亂花了🎨 關鍵突破:Mosaic Time(馬賽克時間/混合時間)

什麼是Mosaic Time?
可以同時做多件事的時間:
只需要用耳朵的事

John老師:「為什麼一邊通勤一邊學英語?以前通勤應該眼睛閉著好好睡覺,但當通勤時間變長,你會思考how do I better use my time,你就發現通勤其實是你生產力的一環!」
Mosaic Time實例:
John老師的實踐:
拖地時聽podcast

早上起床刷牙時放來聽

🎯 核心訊息
不是你沒有時間,是你沒有在做分配!
John老師:「不要說『我這輩子life就routine到這個程度,I have no time』!其實不是!是你沒有認真audit你所可以用的時間跟不可以用的時間,沒有在做分配!」
You are in control! 記住:你可以掌控時間!

📝 行動步驟
記錄72小時(至少三天),30分鐘為單位
Audit yourself - 審查時間花去哪裡
找出Fixed Time和Variable Time
1. 辨識Mosaic Time - 哪些時間可以混合利用
2. 重新分配 - 把想做的事排進去

Summary:
This article discusses the thorny issue of having a national airline named after another country. What to do and what will the cost be?

原文章討論: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-907-rebranding-is-beneficial-to-china-airlines  

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Prohibitive adj.: when a price is so high it causes people to not buy something
Was the cost of renovating the building prohibitive? Is the La Ferrari prohibitively expensive? 

Polarize v.: separate people into 2 camps with opposing opinions
Did the new passport design polarize the public? Is politics very polarizing? 

Rebrand v.: change the name of a product / company or how it is advertised
Can rebranding be effective in changing people’s opinions?
Is rebranding a guarantee for success?

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你在尾牙或春酒中過大獎嗎？或是你總是看著別人歡呼呢？本週《英語咖啡館—人生系列》John 老師和 Patrick 老師要來聊聊各自最難忘的尾牙故事——包括一頭烤全豬、猜歌遊戲連勝三關，還有13歲就被老爸推去跟廠商談判的「童工陰影」！

台灣的尾牙文化和西方的年終派對有什麼不同呢？從砸重金請明星的大企業尾牙，到部門自辦的主題派對，原來「慶祝年終」在不同文化下的想像天差地遠。

Have you ever won a major prize at a year-end banquet or spring banquet? Or are you always watching others cheer? This week on English Cafe - The Life Series, John and Patrick share their most unforgettable year-end banquet stories—including a whole roasted pig, winning three consecutive rounds in a song-guessing game, and the "child labor trauma" of being pushed by dad to negotiate with vendors at age 13!

What are the differences between Taiwan's year-end banquet culture and Western year-end parties? From big corporations spending heavily to invite celebrities for their banquets, to departments hosting their own themed parties—it turns out that "celebrating year-end" varies drastically in different cultures.

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L168: AI Giant Rejects Pentagon Contract

Highlights 主題摘要

In an unprecedented move that has sent shockwaves throughout the technology industry, leading artificial intelligence startup Anthropic has officially rejected a major partnership offer from the United States Department of Defense. This highly lucrative contract, which was specifically designed to integrate cutting-edge machine learning models into national security infrastructure, was turned down due to profound ethical reservations. The decision highlights a growing and complex tension between private technological innovation and government military objectives. Anthropic, which has consistently branded itself as an organization deeply committed to the safe and responsible development of artificial general intelligence, stated that military applications fundamentally contradict its core corporate mission.

頂尖人工智慧新創公司 Anthropic 破天荒地正式拒絕了美國國防部一項重大的合作提案，此舉在整個科技界引發了震撼。這份利潤極為豐厚的合約原本專門為了將尖端機器學習模型整合至國家安全基礎設施之中，最終卻因深層的道德疑慮而遭到回絕。這項決定凸顯了私人科技創新與政府軍事目標之間，正日益加劇且更趨複雜的緊張關係。Anthropic 一向將自己定位為致力於安全且負責任地發展通用人工智慧的組織，其發出了聲明指出軍事應用從根本上牴觸了其核心企業使命。

The ambitious proposal was strongly championed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has recently accelerated the Pentagon's aggressive push to modernize its combat capabilities through advanced algorithmic systems. Hegseth has repeatedly emphasized that collaborating with top-tier Silicon Valley firms is absolutely crucial for the United States to maintain its strategic global dominance and effectively counter emerging digital threats from foreign adversaries. The military establishment believes that leveraging commercially available artificial intelligence can drastically improve battlefield logistics, intelligence gathering, and predictive threat analysis. However, this aggressive procurement strategy frequently clashes with the deeply rooted pacifist ideologies held by many prominent tech executives.

這項極具野心的提案由美國國防部長皮特赫格塞思強力主導。他近期正加速推進五角大廈的積極布局，期望透過先進的演算法系統來實現軍事作戰能力的現代化。赫格塞思一再強調，與矽谷頂尖企業結盟，是美國維持全球戰略主導地位，並有效反制外國敵對勢力新興數位威脅的絕對關鍵。軍方高層深信，導入商用人工智慧將能大幅提升戰場後勤、情報蒐集以及預測性威脅分析的效能。然而，這種激進的採購策略，卻時常與許多知名科技業高層根深蒂固的和平主義理念產生衝突。

Explaining the controversial refusal, Anthropic Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei issued a comprehensive statement outlining the terrifying risks associated with weaponizing next-generation neural networks. Amodei warned that deploying autonomous intelligence in active combat zones could rapidly escalate conflicts beyond human control, potentially leading to catastrophic global consequences. He emphasized that current AI models are prone to unpredictable hallucinations and operational errors, making them fundamentally unsuited for high-stakes military environments where a single miscalculation could trigger unprecedented collateral damage. The company's rigorous safety framework strictly prohibits its sophisticated technology from being utilized in scenarios that involve lethal force or automated weapons.

針對這項引發熱議的拒絕舉動，Anthropic 執行長達里歐．阿莫戴發布了一份詳盡的聲明，具體點出將次世代神經網路武器化所伴隨的駭人風險。阿莫戴警告，在交戰區部署具備自主能力的 AI，恐使衝突迅速升溫至人類無法預期及控制的局面，進而可能引發災難性的全球後果。他強調，目前的 AI 模型仍容易出現無法預測的幻覺與操作失誤，使得它們根本不適合投入高風險的軍事環境；在戰場上，哪怕只是一次運算錯誤，都可能引發史無前例的附帶損害。該公司嚴格的安全規範明文禁止將其精密技術應用於涉及致命武力或自動化武器的任何場景。

This landmark confrontation sets a critical precedent for the rapidly evolving tech sector, potentially inspiring other prominent artificial intelligence developers to carefully reevaluate their own lucrative government defense contracts in the near future.

這場具指標性意義的交鋒，為日新月異的科技產業立下了關鍵先例，未來極有可能促使其他知名的人工智慧開發商，去審慎重新評估他們自己手中那些利潤豐厚的政府國防合約。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Contradict [verb, to be in conflict with or state the opposite of]: Military applications fundamentally contradict the company's core corporate mission.Algorithmic [adjective, relating to a set of mathematical rules or processes used by a computer]: The Pentagon pushes to modernize combat capabilities through advanced algorithmic systems.Procurement [noun, the process of purchasing or obtaining supplies, especially for a government]: This aggressive procurement strategy frequently clashes with deeply rooted pacifist ideologies.Weaponizing [verb, adapting or using something as a weapon]: The CEO outlined the terrifying risks associated with weaponizing next-generation neural networks.Collateral [adjective, secondary or unintended, usually referring to damage or casualties in a military operation]: A single miscalculation could trigger unprecedented collateral damage.

Reference article:
1. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/27/defense-anthropic-ai-war-risks-hegseth-amodei.html
2. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5g3z3xe65o
3. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/26/tech/anthropic-rejects-pentagon-offer

KUMON Podcast《從學會到會學》

💙解鎖自學力：化被動為主動

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Fox-Style News Network Rides Wave of Discontent in France

It's the news network that claims it tells viewers what the "woke" mainstream media won't. It says it fights for endangered freedom of expression, even as it has been fined by the government's broadcast regulator for inciting racial hatred.
這家新聞台聲稱，能告訴觀眾那些「警醒」的主流媒體不會說的事。它說它為瀕危的言論自由而戰，即便已因為煽動種族仇恨而遭政府廣播監管機構罰款。

It is CNews — which in four short years became France's No. 1 news network for the first time in May by giving a bullhorn to far-right politicians, opponents of fighting climate change and a high-profile proponent of the discredited idea of using the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a cure for COVID-19.
它就是CNews，短短四年，於今年5月首次成為法國第一名的新聞台。他們提供發聲管道給極右翼政治人物、反對應對氣候變遷人士，以及高調支持使用抗瘧疾藥物羥氯奎寧治療新冠的人，儘管這想法不被採信。

The model is Fox News — including the clashing talking heads and incendiary cultural topics — and it has worked. Owned by French billionaire Vincent Bolloré, former chairman of the media group Vivendi, CNews increasingly helps shape the national debate, especially on hot-button issues like crime, immigration and Islam's place in France that are expected to sway next year's presidential election.
福斯新聞是其榜樣，手法包括衝突性訪問內容與煽動性文化話題，且已收到成效。法國億萬富豪、媒體集團威望迪前董事長博洛黑擁有的CNews，愈來愈會塑造全國性辯論話題，尤其是犯罪、移民、伊斯蘭教在法國地位等料將影響明年總統選舉的熱門議題。

In a country where trust in the media is very low, CNews emerged at a time of particular discontent — in the aftermath of the Yellow Vest protests of 2018, which, like the U.S. election of Donald Trump, prompted much soul-searching among journalists.
在一個對媒體信任度非常低的國家，CNews的出現，正值2018年黃背心抗議後民眾特別不滿之時，就像川普當選美國總統一樣，這引起很多記者深刻反思。

"People were sick and tired of the politically correct, and, in France, for the past 30, 40 years, news was in the hands of newspapers, television and dailies that all said the same thing," said Serge Nedjar, the head of CNews, explaining how his channel positioned itself in a nation with four all-news networks.
CNews負責人內德賈解釋自家頻道在一個擁有四家新聞台國家的定位時說：「人們對政治正確感到厭煩，在法國，過去30年、40年，掌握新聞的報紙、電視與日報說的都是同樣的事。」

Unlike its competitors, CNews focused on "analyses and debates" of topics that Nedjar said mattered most to the French but had been ignored or insufficiently covered by the media: "crime, lack of safety, immigration."
不同於對手，CNews專注於「分析和辯論」內德賈所說對法國人最重要卻被忽視或報導不足的事：「犯罪、缺乏安全、移民」。

He added: "We created this network by telling ourselves we talk about everything, including topics that are explosive."
他還說：「我們成立電視台時告訴自己，我們無話不談，包括爆炸性話題。」

Nedjar said that he was unfamiliar with Fox News when CNews was created and waved away comparisons. "There's the word 'news,' and all the better if it works like Fox News," he said, referring to his network's name. "Fox News works really well over there, I hear."
內德賈說，CNews成立時他對福斯新聞台不熟悉，也拒絕做比較。他提及他的電視台名字時說：「有『新聞』這個字，若它能像福斯新聞那樣運作就更好了。我聽說福斯新聞在那邊作得很不錯。」

But critics say the problem is not with CNews' choice of topics but with the way it treats them. They say it emphasizes on opinion, often backed up with little reporting or fact-checking, propagates popular biases and deepens cleavages in a polarized society.
但批評者說，問題不在於CNews的話題選擇，而是它對待話題的方式。他們說，它強調觀點，很少以報導或查核事實來支持，這助長了偏見，加深兩極分化社會的裂痕。
Source: https://udn.com/news/story/6904/5769927


Why France Sparks Anger in the Muslim World: Secularism Explained

Many countries, especially in the democratic West, champion freedom of expression and allow publications that lampoon Islam's prophet. So why is France singled out for protests and calls for boycotts across the Muslim world, and so often the target of deadly violence from the extremist margins? Its brutal colonial past, staunch secular policies and tough-talking president, who is seen as insensitive toward the Muslim faith, all play a role.
許多國家──尤其是民主的西方國家──擁護言論自由，並允許嘲弄伊斯蘭教先知的出版品。那麼，為什麼法國會特別被針對，讓整個穆斯林世界抗議和呼籲抵制，且往往成為極端主義死亡攻擊的目標呢？它殘酷的殖民史、堅定的世俗﹝去宗教化﹞政策，以及言詞強硬的總統（他被認為對穆斯林信仰不敏感）都是原因。

While French officials often say their country is targeted because of its reputation as the cradle of human rights and a rampart of global democracy, what distinguishes France most is its unusual attachment to secularism (or laïcité).
雖然法國官員常說，法國之所以成為攻擊的目標，是因為法國是人權的搖籃及全球民主的堡壘；但法國與他國不同的最獨特處，在其牢牢固守著世俗主義。

The often-misunderstood concept of French secularism is inscribed in the country's constitution. It was born in a 1905 law after anti-clerical struggles with the Catholic Church. Separating church and state, the law was meant to allow the peaceful coexistence of all religions under a neutral state, instead of a government answering to powerful Roman Catholic clerics. Crucifixes were at one point torn from classroom walls in France amid painful public debate.
世俗主義明訂於法國憲法中，其概念常被人誤解。一九○五年，經過與天主教會的反神職人員鬥爭後，世俗主義成為法律。該法律將教會和國家分開，旨在使所有宗教在中立的國家之下和平共處，而不是政府向手握強權的羅馬天主教神職人員稟報。公眾經歷艱難的辯論，教室牆上的耶穌受難像一度被拆除。

A century later, polls suggest France is among the least religious countries in the world, with a minority attending services regularly. Secularism is broadly supported by those on both left and right. State secularism is central to France's national identity and demands the separation of religion and public life.
一個世紀後，民意調查顯示法國是世界上最不宗教化的國家之一，固定參加宗教儀式的人只有少數。世俗主義得到左右兩派的廣泛支持。國家世俗主義是法國民族認同的核心，它要求宗教與公共生活必須區分開來。

Schools have historically instilled the Republic's values in its citizens — a task some teachers say becomes ever harder as a minority of French Muslims and adherents of other faiths seek to express their religious identity.
學校歷來向公民灌輸共和國的價值觀──一些教師表示，少數法國穆斯林及其他信仰的信徒試圖表達自己的宗教認同，使得這項教學任務變得愈發困難。

As the number of Muslims in France grew, the state imposed secular rules on their practices. A 2004 ban on Muslim headscarves and other ostentatious religious symbols in schools remains divisive, if not shocking to many outside France. A 2011 law banning face veils made Muslims feel stigmatized anew. In recent decades, the desire among some French Muslims to express their religious identity has dominated the debate around balancing religious and secular needs.
隨著法國穆斯林人數的增加，法國政府在施政也強加上世俗化、非宗教的規範。法國在二○○四年禁止在學校穿戴穆斯林頭巾及其他炫示的宗教符號──若法國以外的許多人不感到震驚的話，對此禁令的看法也仍然分歧。二○一一年所頒布的禁蒙面法，又再讓穆斯林覺得被污名化。一些法國穆斯林希望能夠表達自己的宗教認同，對於如何平衡宗教與世俗非宗教之需求，此議題已占據近數十年來相關辯論的主要部分。
Source: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/11/09/2003746587


France to Ban Mink Farms and Use of Wild Animals in Circuses and Marine Parks

France's environment minister has announced a gradual ban on using wild animals in traveling circuses, on keeping dolphins and killer whales in captivity in marine parks and on raising mink on fur farms.
法國環境部長宣布，將逐步禁止巡迴馬戲團以野生動物進行表演、在海洋公園內圈養海豚和虎鯨，以及在皮草養殖場飼養水貂。

Barbara Pompili, France's minister of ecological transition, said in a news conference on Tuesday last week that bears, tigers, lions, elephants and other wild animals will no longer be allowed in traveling circuses "in the coming years." In addition, she said that starting immediately, France's three marine parks will no longer be able to bring in or breed dolphins and killer whales.
法國生態轉型部部長巴巴拉‧彭皮里上週二在記者會中表示，「未來數年後」馬戲團將不能再有熊、老虎、獅子、大象及其他野生動物。此外，自即日起，法國的三個海洋公園不能再引進或繁殖海豚及虎鯨。

"It is time to open a new era in our relationship with these (wild) animals," she said, arguing that animal welfare is a priority.
她說：「現在該是為我們與這些（野生）動物的關係開啟新時代的時候了」，她說，動物福利應優先考慮。

Pompili said the measures will also bring an end to mink farming, in which animals are raised for their fur, within the next five years. The ban does not apply to wild animals in other permanent shows and in zoos.
彭皮里說，這些措施還包括在未來五年內禁絕水貂養殖──這種養殖場的目的是取貂皮。該禁令並不適用其他常態演出及動物園中之野生動物。

The French government will provide an aid package of more than 8 million euros (US$9.36 million) to help animal shows transition to a new business model.
法國政府將提供逾八百萬歐元（合九百三十六萬美元）的支援計劃，以幫助動物表演轉型為新的商業模式。

Around 20 European countries have already banned or limited the presence of wild animals in circuses. In France, many cities already do not allow circuses with wild animal shows to pitch their tents.
歐洲約有二十個國家已禁止或限制野生動物在馬戲團出場。在法國，許多城市已不准有野生動物表演的馬戲團前來搭篷。
Source: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/10/05/2003744594

KUMON Podcast《從學會到會學》

💙解鎖自學力：化被動為主動

💛教養不煩惱：掌握教養關鍵

💜超越滿分：榜樣啟發可能

❤️教育未來式：AI時代能力趨勢

5/18-5/30 免費體驗招生中，立即預約

https://fstry.pse.is/8ynb3z

—— 以上為 FMTaiwan 與 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

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幕後揭秘!15Mins怎麼選新聞?從Epstein陰謀論到可愛小猴,從寶可夢狂潮到油價危機!

John老師和阿鍵老師這集帶大家看幕後作業:為什麼最近世界局勢加速得有點快?為什麼新聞多到追不完?15Mins如何選題、製作、回應VIP許願?還有本週重點新聞速報,從陰暗面到療癒系通通有!

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15Mins選題原則
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本週ShoutOut: Wilson!
「恭喜Wilson!他非常關注體育,從自己練習柔道,到WBC也覺得要跟大家分享!」
John老師:「我們也在製作這一塊,思考要什麼angle講WBC!主要有一個跟我們算好朋友的國家——捷克,有相關資料想分享!」
「有時候選題做文章時會思考:大家想聽什麼?我們都不想聽最不喜歡的事情,都只喜歡想聽贏的事情!但很不幸,這個世界人外有人天外有天,還是有很多努力空間!」
「不過大家看起來蠻開心的!至少對韓國那一隊是開心的——不用夢想贏了他們,實際上就贏了他們!」

VIP會員優惠持續中!
月訂閱和年訂閱都非常優惠!

John老師:「年訂閱優惠甚至近乎打對折!Ifyou haven't, go on ahead and subscribe right now!」
訂閱後你會發現:
非常廣大的選題

Summary:

This article talks about recent developments in the USA. In particular the removal and defacing of statues of historical figures who did terrible things, in the minds of some people. 

原文章討論: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-906-reconsidering-the-past-one-statue-at-a-time  

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences: 

Deface v.: damage the appearance of something
Did the protesters deface the building?
Are walls in Taipei defaced with graffiti? 

Indigenous adj: belonging to a particular place
Are the indigenous people of Taiwan represented in government?
Does Taiwan have indigenous animals? 

Inflection n.: turning, bending / change in the form of a word especially regarding grammar / change in the pitch of your voice Does the inflection of adding and “s” in English make it more difficult to learn? 
Are lectures with no inflection boring?

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你有過這種經驗嗎？原本只是好朋友，某天卻突然萌生「好像可以約會看看」的念頭！結果赴約前一刻又緊張到想落跑，內心小劇場狂飆，懷疑自己是不是瘋了。今天我們要聊的，就是這種讓人又愛又怕、神魂顛倒的「暈船」時刻！

本週的《英語咖啡館》，John 老師和 Shimin 老師要帶大家聽聽剛再度拿下葛萊美獎的爵士歌手 Laufey（林冰），這首將戀愛腦描寫得淋漓盡致的浪漫...或瘋狂歌曲《Clockwork》。我們除了解析歌詞裡那些生動的約會恐慌（像是想落跑的 fight or flight 反應），還聊到了東西方對於「純友誼」的觀點：英文裡的 "friend-zoned" 和我們台灣常說的「被發好人卡」，在心境上有什麼巧妙的不同？

Have you ever had this experience? You're just good friends, but one day you suddenly develop the thought "maybe we could try dating!" Then right before the date you get so nervous you want to run away, your internal monologue goes wild, and you wonder if you've lost your mind. Today we're talking about these moments of being "lovesick" that make you both excited and terrified, completely head over heels!

This week on English Cafe, John and Shimin take everyone to listen to jazz singer Laufey (Lin Bing), who just won another Grammy Award, and her romantic...or crazy song "Clockwork" that vividly depicts the lovestruck brain. Besides analyzing the lyrics' vivid dating panic (like the fight-or-flight response of wanting to run away), we also discuss Eastern and Western perspectives on "pure friendship": What subtle differences exist in mindset between the English term "friend-zoned" and what we in Taiwan commonly call "being given a good person card"?

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L164: Global Chokepoint Cut: Oil Prices Skyrocket

Highlights 主題摘要

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared complete control over the Strait of Hormuz, issuing severe warnings to any vessels attempting to navigate this route. This dramatic escalation follows recent military clashes, effectively halting operations in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. Currently, maritime traffic has plummeted by eighty percent, leaving hundreds of oil tankers dropping their anchors. The immediate suspension has sparked widespread anxiety across major financial markets worldwide.

伊朗伊斯蘭革命衛隊已宣布全面控制荷莫茲海峽，並對任何企圖航經該路線的船隻發出嚴厲警告。在近期的軍事衝突後，局勢急遽升溫，導致這個全球最關鍵的海上咽喉之一形同停擺。目前，當地海上交通量已暴跌八成，迫使數百艘油輪下錨滯留。這場突如其來的封鎖，已在全球各大金融市場引發廣泛恐慌。

To understand the gravity of this crisis, one must recognize the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly twenty million barrels of oil transit through this narrow waterway daily, representing approximately one-fifth of global oil consumption. Furthermore, the passage accommodates up to one-third of the world's supply of liquefied natural gas. Much of this energy is exported to major Asian markets, making them particularly vulnerable. Because most volumes have no alternative pipeline routes, energy dependency relies entirely on this corridor.

要了解這場危機的嚴重性，必須先認知荷莫茲海峽的戰略地位。每天約有兩千萬桶石油穿越這條狹窄的水道，約占全球每日石油消耗量的五分之一。此外，全球高達三分之一的液化天然氣供應也仰賴此航道。這些能源大多出口至亞洲主要市場，使其處境顯得格外脆弱。由於多數貨運量缺乏替代的管線，能源需求幾乎完全受制於這條走廊。

The situation has rapidly deteriorated into chaos, with maritime insurers withdrawing coverage and reports emerging of tankers being struck by explosions. Further complicating regional stability, United States military actions have reportedly expanded into international waters, significantly escalating the confrontation. Officials indicated that naval forces would be deployed to escort commercial oil tankers if absolutely necessary. As military presence intensifies on both sides, the entire shipping industry is desperately seeking safe alternatives while navigating an increasingly unpredictable and highly volatile geopolitical landscape.

隨著海運保險業者紛紛撤回承保，加上油輪遇襲爆炸的通報頻傳，局勢已迅速惡化至失控邊緣。更讓區域穩定雪上加霜的是，據報美軍的行動已擴大至國際水域，大幅激化了雙方的對峙局面。美方官員指出，若有絕對必要，將部署海軍艦隊為商用油輪護航。在雙方軍力持續集結下，整個航運業正拼命尋求安全的替代方案，在日益難以預測且動盪不安的地緣政治局勢中夾縫求生。

Industry experts are now sounding the alarm about the profound long-term consequences of this unprecedented disruption. Analysts warn that a full closure of the strait lasting a month or longer would push crude oil prices well into triple digits, severely impacting consumers worldwide. This would simultaneously drive European natural gas prices back toward extreme crisis levels. Ultimately, the ongoing standoff highlights the fragile nature of global energy security. International leaders must urgently pursue diplomatic solutions to restore commercial operations, or the global economy could face a crippling recession triggered by skyrocketing inflation and severe energy shortages.

業界專家現已對這場史無前例的動盪可能帶來的深遠影響發出強烈警告。分析師示警，若海峽全面封鎖長達一個月以上，原油價格恐將飆破三位數大關，重創全球消費者。這也將同時推升歐洲天然氣價格，使其重返極度危機時的高點。歸根究柢，這場持續的僵局凸顯了全球能源安全不堪一擊的脆弱本質。各國領袖必須緊急尋求外交解方以恢復商業運作，否則全球經濟恐將面臨由通膨狂飆及嚴重能源短缺所引發的毀滅性衰退。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Chokepoint [noun, a point of congestion or blockage]: Halting operations in a critical maritime chokepoint.Liquefied [adjective, turned into a liquid state]: The passage accommodates one-third of the world's liquefied natural gas.Deteriorated [verb, to become progressively worse]: The situation has rapidly deteriorated into chaos.Confrontation [noun, a hostile or argumentative situation between opposing parties]: Military actions have significantly escalated the confrontation.Crippling [adjective, causing a severe and almost insuperable problem]: The global economy could face a crippling recession.

Reference article:
1. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-strait-of-hormuz-attacks-oil-gas-b2932373.html
2. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78n6p09pzno

Topic: About Christmas: Make your own Christmas tree with these money-saving hacks

相信大家都知道，節慶的裝飾品並不便宜，尤其是在亞洲地區。因此，也難怪有越來越多人決定自己DIY製作裝飾品打造出屬於自己的夢幻聖誕節。
Most people agree that decorating for the holidays isn’t cheap, especially in Asia. There is, therefore, little wonder that an increasing number of people have decided to make this Christmas season extra special by doing a lot of crafts on their own.

能夠把一樣東西化腐朽為神奇總是讓人著迷，而展示自己創意成品的最佳方式就是把它掛到聖誕樹上。
There’s something magical about turning something ordinary into something special, and there’s no better way to display your creations than on your Christmas tree.

許多人在網路上分享交流各自創意手作點子，在臉書上還能找到像是「低成本手作」等教你省錢做裝飾品的社團。裡面的成員不吝於分享用花串、燈泡和木框等簡易材料製作聖誕樹的秘訣。
Many ideas are shared online and through money-saving Facebook groups such as “On a Budget.” The members show people how to create a Christmas tree out of just garlands, lights and a wooden frame.

他們放上手作過程的圖片讓人一目瞭然，像是示範如何將常綠樹狀裝飾花串纏繞在三角木框上。
There are many photos that show some crafty methods of creating a tree by simply wrapping the green evergreen-like garland around the triangle-shaped wood frame.

最後，一棵固定在牆上、形狀完美的精美手作聖誕樹令網友驚艷，網友們紛紛留言讚嘆：「這個點子太棒了！看起來好美」、「很適合住在小房間的人用來佈置」。
The end result is a stunning, perfectly shaped wall-mounted Christmas tree. “What a great idea this looks fantastic,” one person wrote. Another said: “Great for anyone who has a small room.”

這些手作教學除了能吸引房間不夠擺不下一棵正規大小聖誕樹的人以外，對於那些不想花大錢買短期聖誕裝飾品的人而言，這些教學也相當實用。
In addition to appealing to people who may not have room for an actual tree, the hack is also useful for those who do not want to spend money on Christmas decor that is only good for a few weeks.

有網友留言稱讚：「手作DIY告訴我們只要善用創意與想像力，不用花大錢也能做很多事。」另外也有熱心的人分享自己的手作技巧，既簡單又能充滿節慶氣氛。
“Shows what you can do with imagination and a small budget,” one person wrote. Others shared their own versions of the hack, showing just how festive and easy it can be.

Next Article

Topic: Chimei Museum to hold pre-Christmas celebrations on weekends 超浪漫！奇美博物館超大聖誕樹成熱門打卡地

進入一年的尾聲也代表浪漫聖誕節即將來臨，各大百貨商場開始佈置聖誕裝飾並擺出超大聖誕樹吸引民眾目光。住在台南的你有福了！奇美博物館在繆思廣場擺放一棵13公尺高的「幸福耶誕樹」，每日下午五點半至十點半點燈，浪漫的燈光下搭配奇美博物館西洋建築外觀，絕對是聖誕節熱門打卡景點！

Christmas is around the corner and local department stores have already installed their Christmas decorations and set up large Christmas trees to attract the attention of shoppers. If you are living in Tainan, you should know that The Chimei Museum has also installed a 13-meter-high Christmas tree on its Muse Plaza. The tree lights up from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day. The installation is the perfect match to the western architecture of the museum which has become one of the top destinations for celebrating Christmas in southern Taiwan.

另外還有集結多達70攤的皇家聖誕市集於十二月十四、十五日、二十一日和二十二日兩個週末中午十二點至晚上十點展開，販賣各式美食飲料，還有皇家貴族最愛糕點。

In addition, the Royal Christmas Market boasts 70 specialty stalls on the weekends on Dec. 14-15 and 21-22nd from noon to 10 p.m.,
selling various delights, drinks and Royal family’s favorite pastry.

活動期間還有精緻音樂饗宴，邀請多位奇美藝術獎得主在館內大廳演奏弦樂、管樂、爵士樂等聖誕主題音樂。

What’s more? There will also be music feasts over the weekends. Some award-winning musicians are invited to play Christmas-themed jazz and orchestra music during the celebrations.
Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20191209-894509 ; https://chinapost.nownews.com/20191127-873777

Topic: Dihua Street’s Lunar New Year market

Every year, in the two-week run up to the Lunar New Year break, businesses along Taipei’s Dihua Street hold a special Lunar New Year specialties market.
每年春節假期前兩週左右，台北迪化街的商家都會辦理年貨市集。

The store-lined roads, with outside stalls laden with New Year dried fruits, candies, spiced drinks and meat jerkies, are packed with people anxious to stock up for the holiday.
商店林立的年貨大街擠滿趕辦年貨的人，店鋪前擺出的攤子滿是蜜餞、糖果、薑茶和肉乾等年貨。

The weather was cold on Wednesday, but mercifully sunny to take the bite from the cold, and the air was full of anticipation and festive spirit.
週三天氣很冷，但幸好出了太陽，驅走了一些寒意，空氣中充滿著年節的味道與對過年的期盼。

The sellers themselves, wearing matching Lunar New Year jackets and tops in each individual stall, were all in a jovial mood, smiling and joking with the customers as they handed out free samples and took their money.
每攤的售貨員都穿著自家店統一的春節外套及上衣，喜氣洋洋，發試吃品和收錢的時候，都跟顧客有說有笑。

The shoppers were dressed up warm, some in casual clothes, some in their best suits for the occasion; there were monks and foreigners and photographers and mothers bringing their children, as well as pet owners, carrying their dogs on their shoulders or pushing them along in pet pushchairs. There was one guy walking his pet pig — he’d had it for five months, he said — which had its snout pressed to the ground, hoovering the tarmac for fallen sweets, treats or dried meats.
採買的顧客穿著保暖的衣服，有些只是居家服，也有人穿得很慎重。人群中有僧侶、外國人、攝影師、帶著孩子的母親，以及把狗扛在肩上或用寵物推車推著的飼主。還有一個人牽著寵物豬──他說他已經養了五個月──那隻豬把鼻子貼在地上，把掉在路面上的糖果、零食或肉乾吸起來吃。
Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/01/18/2003729416

Topic: EPA steps up checks for carcinogenic industrial dye in Mid-Autumn mooncakes

With the Mid-Autumn Festival nearly upon us, bakery shelves are heaving with a vast array of appetizing mooncakes in a mind-boggling variety of shapes, sizes and flavors. For many Taiwanese gourmands, the venerable egg yolk pastry is a special favorite. However, in the past some unscrupulous businesses were discovered to have added the harmful industrial dye Sudan Red G to their egg yolk pastries to give the salty egg yolks a rosy-red luster. Sudan Red G was classified as a toxic chemical by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) in July 2018. The administration says it has been carrying out inspections since the ban but has not discovered any illegal use of Sudan Red G. However, with increased demand for egg yolk pastries during the festive season, the administration says it will intensify inspection work during the period.

中秋佳節即將到來，市面上開始出現各式各樣可口的月餅，尤其蛋黃酥最受歡迎。然而過去曾發生有不肖業者為了使鹹蛋黃色澤紅潤，而添加對人體有害的工業用染料「蘇丹紅」。環保署表示，蘇丹紅色素已於二○一八年六月公告為「毒性化學物質」，近年來稽查沒有再發現業者違法使用蘇丹紅，不過考量中秋節將近，鹹蛋黃需求增加，環保署將加強稽查。

In the past, some egg farms would add the carcinogenic substance to duck feed in order to give their salted duck eggs a deep color and luster. In 2017, the illegal use of Sudan Red G was detected in an online retailer’s salted egg yolk mooncakes. The poultry farm which supplied the egg yolks was required to cull its duck population and destroy its stock of duck eggs. Fraud charges were also brought against the farm. The following year, the EPA classified Sudan Red G as a category 4 toxic chemical.

過去有業者為了讓鹹鴨蛋看起來色澤飽滿，在鴨隻飼料中添加有致癌風險的蘇丹紅，二○一七年曾發生網購名店月餅原料鹹蛋黃被驗出違法添加蘇丹紅，供貨畜牧場鴨隻撲殺、鴨蛋銷毀，業者被依詐欺取財罪嫌起訴，環保署則在隔年將蘇丹紅色素列為第四類毒性化學物質。

Sudan Red G is in fact an umbrella term for a series of related chemical dyes that sound similar but have different molecular structures, chiefly Sudan Red I, II, III and IV, and Sudan Red 7B and G. Because the molecular structure of the Sudan Red G dye is easily soluble in oils, it is often used in industrial settings such as colorant in furniture paint, shoe polish, floor wax, car wax and oils to give products a rich color and luster.

蘇丹紅其實是幾種相似但不同的分子之統稱，這幾種化學物質常作為染料，主要包括：蘇丹紅I、蘇丹紅II、蘇丹紅III、蘇丹紅IV、蘇丹紅7B、蘇丹紅G，由於蘇丹紅色素的分子結構易溶於油脂，在工業上常用於家具漆、鞋油、地板蠟、汽車蠟和油脂著色，使色澤飽滿鮮豔。

Sudan Red G’s unique properties — inexpensive, easy-to-obtain, stable, and color-fade resistant — mean that it often crops up in food safety incidents. In addition to salted egg yolks, outside of Taiwan Sudan Red G has been found to have been added to chilli sauce and chilli powder; however, the group of dyes with which Sudan Red G shares a common molecular structure are listed as category 3 carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

由於蘇丹紅便宜易取得、穩定又不易褪色的特性，因此常在食安事件中佔有「一席之地」，除了鹹蛋黃，國外也曾在辣椒醬、辣椒粉中發現添加蘇丹紅；不過這類色素的分子都被國際癌症研究機構列為第三類致癌物。

EPA Toxic and Chemical Substances Bureau Director-General Hsieh Yein-rui advises consumers not to choose food products that appear overly vivid and bright, or that look unnatural. Hsieh adds that the nutritional value of egg yolks is the same whether they are yellow or red in color, and warns that customers who select egg-containing products on the basis of their bright luster may well be consuming adulterated egg yolks.

環保署毒物及化學物質局長謝燕儒呼籲，消費者不要挑選顏色過於鮮豔、看起來不自然的食品，且蛋黃不論是黃色或紅色營養價值都一樣，過度在意色澤，反而可能吃進「加料」的蛋黃。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/09/19/2003764584

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⏰ 5-4-3-2-1,轉念就是這麼簡單!Mel Robbins的無秒法則,讓你從猶豫到行動!

📚 為什麼選Mel Robbins?

John老師:「很多生產力提升的書,讀完方法論就像讀完PhD,手冊太厚、要follow的事情太多,你就覺得成功離你太遠!但Mel Robbins很friendly,就像隔壁家阿姨,戴著粗框眼鏡,平易近人,用的詞彙不會很深!」

她用的比喻超簡單:

AI時代的閱讀方式:

阿鍵老師:「現在有AI輔助,我們看得很快、過濾也很快!以前可能花半天一天看一本書,現在一個下午20幾本書,一直過濾過濾!」
「比較多是在篩選上面協助我們!」

The 5 Second Rule:五秒法則
核心概念:5-4-3-2-1

當你沒有辦法take action時,當你心中很多雜念、無法專注時:在心裡默念或直接念出來「5-4-3-2-1」
在這幾秒鐘裡,你就很容易轉念!

阿鍵老師:「這五秒鐘不要去想你待會要幹嘛,你就是倒數!在這五秒鐘會幫你把思緒集中到接下來要做的事情上面,這是一個很神奇的心理運作過程!」
背後原理:啟動「蜥蜴腦」

蜥蜴腦(Lizard Brain):
管理我們求生、比較原始的能力

John老師:「小時候媽媽說『我數到三,一二三八樓!』是在幫我們啟動蜥蜴腦——你跟媽媽打架,要不然就逃跑!」
「如果我媽媽倒數,我應該很慘!但想一想,Mel Robbins講得也沒錯:你在倒數時,尤其是自己替自己倒數,更容易摒除雜念、啟動理性作業、理清當下!」**

💡 Two Uses:兩種使用情境

情境1:猶豫不決時
John老師:「When you are undecisive,沒辦法決定一件事情時:5-4-3-2-1,你更能回歸本心、看清楚本心本意是什麼!」
阿鍵老師舉例:「內向的人問路時會想很多,到底要不要找這個人?但其實5-4-3-2-1,直接上了,問路是大家都會的!」
John老師補充:「你猶豫的是要找帥哥還是美女?5-4-3-2-1,結果不是找美女也不是找帥哥,找那個老伯伯——回到本位了!」

情境2:拖延、動力不足時
「我今天應該要做學習、我已經plan要做這件事,但為什麼行動帶不起來?這時候你需要5 second rule!」
阿鍵老師:「倒數完就是幫你解決掉理由、把藉口給殺掉了!」

John老師:「甚至讓你可以觀察到你的猶豫!當你觀察到它以後,它就不存在了!你會問:Why am I hesitating?為什麼我不做?立場就switch了——本來是被理由綁住,現在變成一個主動、active的人!」

🎯 需要刻意練習!
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't
John老師:「這需要刻意練習!就像任何運動員一樣,不是天生來就有辦法,有些人有天賦5-4-3-2-1就啟動了,但別人要花刻意練習的能力才能啟動!」

刻意練習久了:

每次倒數5-4-3-2-1後,那些雜念、心裡的反抗、蜥蜴腦的voice就會消失

起床爬不起來:5-4-3-2-1

John老師:「心理學裡有一個部分是自覺感。If you become more self-aware,很多問題其實就不見了,它自己會不見!但你越沒有self-awareness、沒有自覺感,你就不知道它存在!」

Prioritize你的注意力:

阿鍵老師:「你注意的著重點是什麼,它就會變成重要的!只要注意點一直都是『我好緊張我好焦慮』或『我不會』,那它就變成重要的。但如果把注意點放在『我要去進行了』,那些不會、焦慮就變得沒那麼重要了!」

💪 信心來自行動!
Mel Robbins的核心觀念:
阿鍵老師:「我們的信心來自於行動,不是因為有信心之後才去做行動!我們行為做久了之後,才能夠建立信心!」

John老師:「肯定是這樣!刻意練習久了,在更多情境應用時,你肯定會對自己更有信心!為什麼?Because you are in control!那些蜥蜴腦的voices就不會來control你!」

跟英語學習的關聯:
「你的英語只要有用,那一定有用!進不進步這件事,很多人都會進入完美主義心態『我要進步、分數要得高』。但你有沒有用?有用,信心就會大增!」

「常聽而已、單向input絕對沒辦法幫助信心!但當你跟外國人開口、在meeting大膽用字、大膽享受full English environment時,你的信心倍增!你才會發現:這個東西才是我的,我控制它,而不是它控制我!」

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Summary:

Tesla’s overtook Toyota as the world’s most valuable carmaker recently as a sign that investors are believing more and more in an energy transition away from fossil fuels. On the day that Tesla exceeded Toyota in market value, Tesla shares rose 3.5% in intraday trading, giving it a market capitalization of US207.2billion (Toyota’s were USD201.9billion). Tesla made 103,000 vehicles in the last quarter, only about 4% of the 2.4 million made by Toyota. So, by 2025, we should be able to see electric vehicle account for 10% of all global passenger vehicles.

原文章討論: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-896-tesla-overtakes-toyota-and-exxon-s-market-value-in-symbolic 

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Surpass v. – exceed
Tesla surpassed Toyota in market value last week.
Investor enthusiasm surpassed the forecast of market analysts. 

Doubled v. - two times
Shares of Tesla doubled in a few months.
Peter doubled his pay by working overtime every day. 

High-profile adj. – well known  
Toyota is making high-profile investments in electric vehicles and self-driving cars.
Terry Kuo is a high-profile entrepreneur in the tech industry.

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齋戒月（Ramadan）來了！你身邊有穆斯林朋友嗎？或者你自己正在台灣旅遊、尋找 Halal 餐廳？本週《英語咖啡館》特別為齋戒月獻上一集「台灣清真美食地圖」，John 老師和 Klim 老師要告訴你，為什麼台灣是全球穆斯林旅客越來越愛來的美食天堂！

這集 Klim 老師親自出馬，帶大家從台北、台中、高雄一路吃到花蓮，精選四間風格截然不同的 Halal 友善餐廳，有70年老字號、土耳其料理、印尼小吃，還有跨越印度、尼泊爾、巴基斯坦風味的咖哩館。每一間都有讓人意想不到的亮點，其中有一道菜的中文名稱讓 John 老師當場傻眼——到底是什麼菜這麼特別？聽了就知道！

Ramadan is here! Do you have Muslim friends around you? Or are you traveling in Taiwan and looking for Halal restaurants? This week on English Cafe, we're dedicating a special episode to Ramadan: "Taiwan's Halal Food Map." John and Klim will tell you why Taiwan is becoming an increasingly beloved food paradise for Muslim travelers worldwide!

In this episode, Klim personally takes everyone on a culinary journey from Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung all the way to Hualien, featuring four distinctly styled Halal-friendly restaurants. There's a 70-year-old establishment, Turkish cuisine, Indonesian snacks, and a curry house spanning Indian, Nepalese, and Pakistani flavors. Each one has unexpected highlights, and one dish's Chinese name left John completely dumbfounded on the spot—what dish could be so special? Listen to find out!

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L160: Epstein Files Unleash Political Conspiracies

Highlights 主題摘要

The release of the Jeffrey Epstein files has reignited a firestorm of political controversy and wild conspiracy theories across the United States. In early 2026, millions of recently declassified documents were made public, exposing extensive networks of powerful figures. Rather than providing clear answers, the document dump has fueled rampant speculation. Names of high-profile politicians, including former President Bill Clinton and current President Donald Trump, appear frequently in the logs. While the files confirm both men socialized with Epstein decades ago, no concrete evidence of criminal wrongdoing by either leader has officially emerged.

艾普斯坦檔案的發布，在全美再度引爆了政治爭議與各種荒誕的陰謀論。二〇二六年初，數百萬頁近期解密的檔案被公開，揭露了龐大的權貴交友網絡。這批外洩文件非但沒有提供明確解答，反而助長了猖獗的臆測。前總統比爾・柯林頓與現任總統唐納・川普等知名政客的名字頻繁出現在這些紀錄中。儘管檔案證實兩人幾十年前都曾與艾普斯坦有過往來，但目前官方尚未提出任何關於兩位領導人涉嫌犯罪的具體證據。

Adding fuel to the fire, the chaotic release has severely damaged public trust. The Department of Justice faced intense backlash after catastrophic redaction failures exposed the identities of numerous victims. Online sleuths quickly discovered that blacked-out text could easily be recovered, revealing sensitive information. This staggering incompetence has led to widespread allegations that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the FBI are deliberately manipulating the narrative. Critics argue that the selective exposure of names proves deep-state operatives are orchestrating a massive, coordinated disinformation campaign.

讓情況雪上加霜的是，這次混亂的文件發布過程已嚴重損害了民眾的信任。美國司法部因災難性的文件塗黑疏失，意外暴露了眾多受害者的身分，進而面臨強烈的輿論反彈。網路鄉民很快就發現，只需簡單操作就能還原被遮蔽的文字，輕易揭開敏感資訊。這種令人錯愕的嚴重失職，導致外界普遍質疑中央情報局和聯邦調查局正刻意在背後帶風向。批評者認為，這種選擇性地揭露部分名字的做法，證明了深層政府的幕後黑手正在策劃一場大規模、有組織的假訊息戰。

President Trump recently addressed the unfolding situation during a highly tense White House press briefing, aggressively pushing back against the mainstream media. When repeatedly pressed by a CNN reporter about the sensitive documents, the president visibly lost his temper. He angrily dismissed the ongoing inquiries as a fabricated witch hunt orchestrated by political enemies, bluntly stating that it was time for the country to move on. Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee has urgently requested the Clintons to testify regarding past associations, guaranteeing more political theater.

川普總統最近在一場氣氛緊繃的白宮新聞記者會上，針對這個不斷延燒的局面做出回應，並強烈反擊主流媒體的報導。當一名 CNN 記者不斷追問這些敏感文件時，總統明顯情緒失控。他憤怒地將這些持續進行的調查斥為政敵策劃的捏造獵巫行動，並直言不諱地表示國家是時候該向前看了。與此同時，眾議院監督委員會已緊急要求柯林頓夫婦就過去的交往關係作證，這無疑保證了未來將有更多的政治大戲上演。

The unrelenting obsession with these highly classified files highlights a profound sickness within the modern American political landscape. As toxic conspiracy theories continue to mutate and spread unchecked across digital platforms, the actual victims of these horrific crimes are repeatedly traumatized and completely forgotten. Until an independent commission can thoroughly investigate without political interference, the truth will remain buried beneath layers of political spin, leaving society vulnerable.

外界對這些極度機密文件的無休止迷戀，凸顯了現代美國政壇中一種深層的病態。隨著有毒的陰謀論在數位平台上持續變異並肆無忌憚地散播，這些駭人聽聞犯罪事件的真正受害者卻不斷受到二度傷害，甚至徹底被遺忘。除非有一個獨立委員會能夠在不受政治干預的情況下徹底展開調查，否則真相將永遠被埋藏在層層的政治話術之下，讓社會繼續處於脆弱的危險之中。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Declassified [adjective, having had security classification removed]: Millions of recently declassified documents were made public.Redaction [noun, the process of removing sensitive information from a document before publication]: Catastrophic redaction failures exposed the identities of numerous victims.Fabricated [adjective, invented or produced in order to deceive]: He dismissed the ongoing inquiries as a fabricated witch hunt.Unrelenting [adjective, not yielding in strength, severity, or determination]: The unrelenting obsession with these highly classified files highlights a profound sickness.Interference [noun, the action of getting involved in a situation where you are not wanted]: An independent commission must investigate without political interference.

Reference article: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/21/politics/epstein-files-conspiracy-theories-trump-clinton-cia-analysis

Topic: Hurricane, tropical storm or super typhoon? Here is what to know about Asia’s most dangerous weather systems
颱風是一個具有破壞性的風暴。大西洋另一端稱之為「颶風」的颱風，在亞太地區最常於七月到十月間侵襲台灣。

A typhoon is a storm of damaging proportions. Also known as hurricanes across the Atlantic Ocean, the most dangerous weather systems in the Asia-Pacific region are most likely to hit Taiwan from July to October.
然而，熱帶性低氣壓和超級颱風的差別到底是什麼？

But, what’s the difference between tropical depressions and super typhoons?
亞太地區有四種類型的的破壞性暴風。它們與地震不同在於它們一定程度的可預測性。

There are four types of destructive storms in the Asia-Pacific region which, unlike earthquakes, are somewhat predictable.
風速每小時29英理(46公里)以下的稱之為「熱帶性低氣壓」；風速在每小時29英里（46公里）和每小時55.5英里（89公里）之間的稱之為「熱帶風暴」或「熱帶氣旋」。而又稱之為颶風的颱風則是風速在每小時55.5英里（89公里）和每小時114.5英里（183公里）之間的風暴。

The tropical depressions — wind speeds of 29 mph (46 kph) or less; the tropical storms — wind speeds between 29 mph (46 kph) and 55.5 mph (89 kph); and, the typhoons, also known as hurricanes — wind speeds between 55.5 mph (89 kph) and 114.5 mph (183 kph).
超級颱風，相當於第五類風暴，因為其風速超過114.5英里/小時（183公里/小時）。

Super Typhoons, which are equivalent to a category 5 storm, have wind speeds greater than 114.5 mph (183 kph).
除了帶來破壞力強大的巨風外，颱風還能降下難以置信的雨量。由於台灣島的山脈縱貫全島，這些風暴的降雨量有時會在數個月中超過常規降雨量。

In addition to bringing damaging winds, typhoons can drop incredible amounts of rain. Owing to the mountains running the length of the island, these storms can sometimes drop rain in excess months of regular precipitations.

應該準備什麼？｜What should you prepare?
颱風來襲，你應該在家中準備好一個緊急災難包，裡面應當有急救箱和基本藥物。
In case of a typhoon, you should prepare a disaster supplies kit for home, including a first aid kit and essential medications.

台灣災難醫療隊建議民眾備好足夠維持至少一天的食物量、水、電池和其他應急用品。
Disaster preparedness officials recommend that you have enough food, water, batteries, and other emergency supplies to last at least 1 day.

在斷水的情况下，可以考慮到附近的便利商店買可飲用的水和一些泡麵。
In case of water cuts, think of rushing to a convenience store next door to buy some drinkable water and some instant noodles.

還剩下什麼呢？｜What’s more?
記得將電器產品充飽電，多儲備可飲用水和電池，同時也別忘記為車子加好油(以防萬一)。同時，你也可以將家裡的浴缸先裝滿水以備不時之需。
Remember to charge up electronics, secure extra water and batteries, and fill up your car ahead of the weekend. You can also run a bathtub full of water for a large supply of emergency water, in case the water supply is interrupted.

颱風很危險不只因為它們可以造成身體傷害和財產損失；強風還可能擊倒電線和中斷水的供應。
Typhoons are dangerous not only because they can cause bodily injury and damage to property, but strong winds can also knock down power lines and disrupt the water supply. Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210911-2762480

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水量低於五成。

In order to prepare for demand for water next year, the government has decided to implement three measures to control water usage. Firstly, starting from last Wednesday, night water pressure in the Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli areas was to be lowered from 11pm through to 5am the following day. Secondly, the irrigation of some areas of Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli was to be suspended, and farmers affected by the measures will receive government compensation. Thirdly, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is setting up a central drought response center to better respond to the crisis and to distribute water resources according to needs. Taiwanese are advised to take water-saving measures.
為審慎因應明年用水需求，政府實施三項因應措施。第一，桃竹苗中自上週三起，每天晚上十一點至隔日清晨五點實施減壓供水；第二，桃竹苗部分地區的農田，將停止供灌，政府也會給予補償，維持農民生活；第三，經濟部將成立抗旱中央應變中心，拉高應變層級，做好調度節水，更請全民配合省水。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/10/19/2003745390

Next Article

Topic: Wax apples price rise expected due to premature drop caused by weather

Wax apples are popular gifts during the Spring Festival season in Taiwan. The fruit’s major producing area is the coastal townships in Pingtung County such as Donggang, Fangliao and Nanjhou. However, since 2016, wax apple production has been affected by adverse weather, including the strongest cold stream for 10 years and the effect of typhoons in 2016. This year’s anticipated bumper harvest never arrived, hampered by the unexpected low temperatures brought by the cold stream early this month. Prices for the popular Spring Festival gift are expected to have increased by the time of the holiday.

蓮霧是春節時令熱門的伴手禮，其主要產地為屏東沿海的東港、枋寮、南州等鄉鎮。但近年蓮霧產量連續受到二○一六年的霸王寒流，及去年因二○一六年颱風的後續影響而減少。原以為今年能豐收，但豈料日前寒流的低溫出乎意料，春節伴手禮恐面臨漲價。

This year’s first cold stream hit Taiwan in early January. It was initially hoped that wax apples would not be overly affected, but temperatures turned out to be as low as 5 degrees Celsius, as measured by a farmer in Pingtung’s Nanjhou Township. The delayed chilling injury is now in play, resulting in a sharp decrease in production. Even the fruit that survived have blackened spots on their skin, due to the effects of frostbite. The estimated output has dropped by at least 50 percent.

今年首波寒流一月初侵台，原預期蓮霧不會產生太大農害，不過卻傳出南州鄉有農友在園中測到攝氏五度低溫。現在遲發性寒害發酵，產量大減，部分僅存的蓮霧，卻也出現表皮瘀黑的凍傷，預估產量至少下滑五成。

The affected batch of wax apples was originally due to be ready to ship in about 1-2 weeks. However, the recent cold stream sent the temperature in southern Taiwan plunging to 9 degrees, and then back up to 27 to 28 degrees when the sun came out. The considerable temperature difference caused serious premature drop in wax apples, by an estimated 30 percent. To prevent further loss, farmers have harvested wax apples and put them on the market, explaining why prices have yet to increase. However, by the time of the Spring Festival, when the supply of wax apples will have fallen dramatically, it is estimated that their price will rise 20-30 percent, making them cost NT$700-800 per kg. This is still less expensive than last year’s price of over NT$1,000 per kg, the result of the strongest cold stream in 10 years.

這批受害的蓮霧大約再一到二週後就能熟成出貨，而這一波寒流南部低溫來到九度，天氣回溫後陽光直曬溫度又達二十七、八度，溫差過大的情況造成蓮霧熟前落果的情況嚴重，預估落果可能達到三成；為避免進一步損失，農民紛紛採收上市，因此蓮霧目前的價格因為產量多，仍維持平盤；但到農曆春節時，將因產量大幅減少，上品蓮霧相當搶市，因此價格預估將上漲二～三成，每公斤價格可能達到七百～八百元，但是應不至於像去年霸王級寒流來時，每公斤一千元以上還買不到蓮霧的情形。
Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2018/01/24/2003686300

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💼 228連假後,該收心了!一個年沒練習,嘴巴舌頭都卡卡?這集教你找出Speaking盲點!
農曆年後第二週,John老師和阿鍵老師要帶大家做輕量級收心操!過年吃太多、錢包變瘦、體重飆升,嘴巴也生疏了?這集從最直達心脏的tips開始:台灣人Speaking常犯的5大錯誤,自覺了才知道怎麼修正!

🎯 成功秘訣:刪掉失誤就成功!
John老師:「You can learn fast by knowing how not to fail, you succeed faster!找到失誤的點,把失誤都eliminate掉,我們就成功了!成功的方法有好幾百種,但刪掉失誤永遠不敗!」
阿鍵老師:「做起來沒那麼容易!大家多少都意識到這些問題,只是不見得有心力去調整。」
關鍵:必須先自覺!先自覺才知道what to fix, what is the problem, then we will deal with how to fix it!

❌錯誤1:Lazy Tongue - 尾音全部不見!
最常見的問題:最後一個音節不發音
經典例子:
Help→ Hel (沒有p) = Hell(去地獄吧!)
Work→ Wor (沒有k)
Life→ Lif (沒有F音)
Live→ Li (沒有V音)
Please→ Plea (沒有Z音)
John老師:「一個是『幫幫我』,一個是『去地獄吧』!差很多!」

為什麼會這樣?
阿鍵老師:「尾音對華語使用者來說不是中文會用到的講法,我們比較不在意。」
日本人 vs 台灣人:
日本人:補足音節 → Work變成「Wa-ku」(加ku)

解決方法:Shadowing時把它念完整!
John老師:「只有read out loud、經歷shadowing exercise時,才會發現『啊!John老師的有V,我的沒有V!我的沒有T,沒有D!』」

❌ 錯誤2:過去式全部消失 - 沒有ED!
台灣人習慣:全部都是現在式,沒有過去式!
沒有Wanted,只有Want

John老師解釋:「中文語法影響我們!昨天做的、今天做的、明天做的,我們都會加『昨天』『今天』『明天』,所以習慣性就是『I work yesterday』『I will work tomorrow』,work就是always work!」
阿鍵老師:「我們以前國高中真的會變這樣!」
ED發音有時是eat、有時是id: 所以大家覺得「我懶得think,那我就全部現在式,反正大家聽得懂!」

❌ 錯誤3:Will vs Going to - 承諾的差異
阿鍵老師問:「日常生活中聽外國人比較少用will,比較常用going to(gonna),這有什麼關係嗎?」
John老師解析:Commitment的差異
I will go to Japan this year:
一個commitment、一個promise

不知道什麼時候

「現在的人不喜歡做太多承諾,不喜歡把話講死!所以用going to就是『反正今年去一下』,沒有那麼committed的感覺!」

❌ 錯誤4:過度補償 - 把尾音發得超級重!
另一個極端:為了提醒自己發音,把它發得超級重!
經典例子:
Work:
正常:Work(k很輕)

Street:
正常:Street(三個子音str連在一起)

Spring:
正常:Spring(spr是同一個音的輔音)

Ask:
國外:Ask(K是輕音)

為什麼會這樣?
John老師:「當老師提醒要念出來時,不是叫你把那個音加重,而是『Remember the syllable, don't skip it!』但華語小朋友(大人也會)為了補足,就做過頭了!」
兩個極端都不好:
都沒有(omit)

全部加重我們要取中間值!

阿鍵老師:「這些連音、子音沒有母音輔助,真的需要靠shadowing多練習,習慣它怎麼發!」

❌ 錯誤5:S的混亂 - 單複數、第三人稱
兩種S常常搞錯:
1. 第三人稱動詞的S:
He work at Google ❌

2. 複數名詞的S:
Singular and Plural

完全不加S(加S會錯,那我乾脆不加!)

「是不是我常態都過分加S?或過分都不加S?Singular and plural分不清楚?Countable and uncountable nouns搞不懂?」
但是...Who Cares?
John老師安慰:「外國人也常講錯!但如果你能意識到這個,聽的人會覺得你講話還蠻好聽的、有水準!」
阿鍵老師:「You care about communication more than the grammar!」

💡 學習心態:一次進步一個錯誤
John老師:「We eliminate one mistake at a time!你去自覺一個,慢慢去消除它。如果真的有錯,who cares!先從溝通開始,有更多應用,再從中eliminate錯誤,這就是學習的過程!」
阿鍵老師:「學習就是先做了,然後再把錯誤調掉,一步一步進化!」

🔥 2026火馬年目標
今年從自覺開始:
做Reading Out Loud時identify自己的common mistakes

透過Shadowing練習修正一次改善一個問題不要怕錯,溝通最重要有需要幫忙?

歡迎留言在幕後教師室!John老師和阿鍵老師會想更多方式鼓勵你、幫助你!

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Summary:

Climate change is benefitting South Korean farmers, as increased temperatures enables them to farm bananas, causing a boom in it. The second article discusses how a Soccer club got fined for using sex dolls to fill empty seats in their stadium due to coronavirus.

原討論文章: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-874-about-skorea-more-korean-bananas-to-be-harvested-this-year  

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Agriculture n.: science or practice of farming
Is agriculture the most important industry in the world?
Does Taiwan excel at fruit agriculture? 

Controversy n.: public discussion about something negative
Did the recall of the mayor of Kaoshong spark controversy?
Is controversy good for a brand? 

Salacious adj.: too much sexual detail
Was Playboy a salacious magazine?
Did the scandal contain lots of salacious details?

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在這 MBTI 當道的年代，你偶而是否也懷念起以前翻雜誌追「每週運勢」的日子呢？本週《英語咖啡館》John 老師與 Angel 老師決定帶大家重溫經典話題，讓我們暫時把 E 人 I 人擺一邊，一起來聊聊歷久彌新的星座話題！

你有發現星座的英文發音特別難嗎？原來這些詞彙的起源大有來頭！你知道最近很紅的 AI 模型 "Gemini" 其實大部份的人都唸錯了嗎？還有 "Pisces" 千萬別唸成 "Pieces"！除了帶大家破解這些發音陷阱，我們也大膽揭露了心中「最神隊友」與「最難溝通」的星座。想知道你的星座有沒有上榜嗎？快戴上耳機，答案就在節目中！

In this era dominated by MBTI, do you sometimes miss the days of flipping through magazines to check your "weekly horoscope"? This week on English Cafe, John and Angel have decided to take everyone back to revisit a classic topic—let's put aside the E-types and I-types for a moment and talk about the timeless subject of zodiac signs!

Have you noticed that the English pronunciations of zodiac signs are particularly difficult? It turns out these words have quite the origins! Did you know that most people mispronounce the recently popular AI model "Gemini"? And "Pisces" should never be pronounced as "Pieces"! Besides helping everyone crack these pronunciation traps, we also boldly reveal which zodiac signs we consider the "best teammates" and "hardest to communicate with." Want to know if your sign made the list? Put on your headphones—the answer is in the show!

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L156: Trump's Ultimate Legal Battle Over Global Tariffs

Highlights 主題摘要

Shortly after the Supreme Court definitively struck down his flagship trade policy, President Donald Trump aggressively retaliated by pivoting to a new legal strategy, announcing a sweeping fifteen percent tariff on global imports. The high court ruled that Trump unconstitutionally bypassed Congress when he previously imposed border taxes using an unprecedented emergency mandate. Infuriated by this legal defeat, the president utilized a different statutory framework to introduce a blanket ten percent levy on Friday, which he suddenly escalated to fifteen percent over the weekend.

就在美國最高法院正式推翻其具指標性的貿易政策後不久，總統川普隨即採取強硬姿態報復，轉向新的法律策略，宣布對全球進口商品徵收高達百分之十五的全面性關稅。最高法院裁定，川普先前利用史無前例的緊急授權來實施邊境稅，已屬違憲繞過國會的行為。面對這場法律挫敗，川普大為震怒，於週五改採一套截然不同的法源依據，祭出百分之十的全面性關稅，隨後更在週末突襲式地將稅率調升至百分之十五。

To circumvent the recent judicial restriction, the administration formally invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This rarely utilized provision explicitly permits the president to unilaterally implement import restrictions, including tariffs up to fifteen percent, specifically to combat severe national trade deficits. However, this statutory executive authority is strictly limited to one hundred and fifty days unless Congress officially approves an extension. Trump confidently argued this legally tested maneuver provides the executive branch with sufficient power to act decisively.

為了規避近期的司法限制，美國政府正式動用《一九七四年貿易法》的第一二二條。這項罕見的法律條文明文允許總統為對抗嚴重的國家貿易逆差，單方面實施包含高達百分之十五關稅在內的進口限制。然而，這項法定的行政權力有嚴格的時間限制，除非獲得國會正式批准展延，否則僅能實施一百五十天。川普充滿信心地主張，這項經過法律考驗的策略，能為行政部門提供果斷行事的充分權限。

The core of this escalating dispute centers entirely on the constitutional separation of powers regarding taxation. Following the Supreme Court ruling, numerous organizations immediately filed massive lawsuits demanding billions of dollars in refunds for the previously collected exorbitant and unlawful tariffs. Legal scholars emphasize that the US Constitution explicitly grants Congress the exclusive power to lay and collect taxes. By continually seeking obscure statutory loopholes to impose these controversial unilateral duties, the current administration is aggressively challenging the established boundaries of presidential authority and legislative oversight.

這場不斷升溫的爭端，其核心完全圍繞在憲法對課稅權的「權力分立」原則。在最高法院做出裁決後，許多機構立即提起大規模的集體訴訟，要求當局退還先前違法徵收、高達數十億美元的高昂關稅。法界學者強調，《美國憲法》明定國會擁有制定與徵收稅款的專屬權力。現任政府不斷尋找冷僻的法規漏洞以實施這些具爭議的單方面關稅，此舉正積極挑戰總統職權與立法監督的既有界線。

As the administration vigorously defends its tariff agenda in federal courts, the long-term implications for constitutional law remain highly uncertain. The central legal question is whether the president can continuously repurpose emergency powers and outdated trade statutes to bypass legislative approval. With the statutory deadline rapidly approaching, this intense legal showdown is essentially guaranteeing a historic constitutional crisis and unparalleled economic turbulence. Ultimately, this relentless regulatory warfare highlights a profound institutional struggle over the fundamental limits of executive power in modern American governance.

隨著當局在聯邦法院極力捍衛其關稅政策，這項舉動對憲政法理的長期影響仍充滿高度不確定性。核心的法律爭議在於：總統是否能不斷重新挪用緊急權力與過時的貿易法規，藉此繞過立法機關的批准。隨著法定期限（一百五十天）迅速逼近，這場激烈的法律攻防幾乎注定將引發一場歷史性的憲政危機，以及史無前例的經濟動盪。歸根究柢，這場無休止的法規戰，凸顯了現代美國政府體制中，關於行政權基本界限的深刻制度性角力。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Retaliate [verb, to perform an action in return for a perceived injury or wrong]: President Donald Trump aggressively retaliated by announcing a sweeping tariff.Circumvent [verb, to find a way around an obstacle or legal restriction]: The administration invoked the act to circumvent the recent judicial restriction.Unilaterally [adverb, in a way that involves doing something without the agreement of others]: This legal provision explicitly permits the president to unilaterally implement import restrictions.Exorbitant [adjective, describing a price or amount that is unreasonably high]: Economists warn that these exorbitant import costs will simply be passed down to everyday citizens.Turbulence [noun, a state of confusion, violence, or disorder]: Global markets eagerly brace for unparalleled economic turbulence.

Reference article:
1. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/22/trump-to-raise-us-global-tariff-from-ten-to-fifteen-percent-after-supreme-court-ruling
2. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8r1e327z46o

Topic: More ’Korean bananas’ to be harvested this year amid climate change

Jeju Island was long considered the only warm-enough region in Korea for commercial banana farming, but climate change is now turning the mainland into a producer of the tropical fruit.

濟州島長久以來被認為是韓國唯一一個夠溫暖的地區，適合香蕉商業化種植。但氣候變遷現在正使韓國本土，變成這種熱帶水果的產地。

According to the agricultural technology center in North Chungcheong Province, the number of people investing in banana farming has surged in recent years.

根據忠清北道農業技術中心，投資香蕉種植的人數近年來已急遽增加。

About 99.7 percent of all bananas consumed here are imported, mainly from the Philippines, and most of the rest is produced on Jeju. But with more farmers exploring the field, this soon could change.

南韓吃掉的所有香蕉中，約99.7%為進口，主要來自菲律賓，其餘大多數產自濟州島。惟隨著更多農民探索這片領域，這種情形不久就可能有所改變。

Next Article

Topic: Climate change exposes future generations to life-long health harm

A child born today faces multiple and life-long health harms from climate change, growing up in a warmer world with risks of food shortages, infectious diseases, floods and extreme heat, a major global study has found.

一項大型全球研究發現，今日出生的孩童，面臨著氣候變遷帶來多項終生的健康危害──他們在暖化的世界長大，伴隨著糧食短缺、傳染性疾病、洪水，以及極端高溫等風險。

Climate change is already harming people’s health by increasing the number of extreme weather events and exacerbating air pollution, according to the study published in The Lancetmedical journal. And if nothing is done to mitigate it, its impacts could burden an entire generation with disease and illness throughout their lives.

根據這份發表於醫學期刊《刺胳針》的研究指出，氣候變遷造成極端天氣事件不斷增加，空氣汙染持續惡化，早已開始傷害人類健康。而且，如果不採取任何行動來緩和情況，氣候變遷的影響將帶來疾病和病痛，加重一整個世代終生的負擔。

“Children are particularly vulnerable to the health risks of a changing climate. Their bodies and immune systems are still developing, leaving them more susceptible to disease and environmental pollutants,” said Nick Watts, who co-led the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change study. He warned that health damage in early childhood is “persistent and pervasive,” and carries lifelong consequences. “Without immediate action from all countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions, gains in wellbeing and life expectancy will be compromised, and climate change will come to define the health of an entire generation,” he told a London briefing.

《刺胳針健康與氣候變遷倒數計時》的研究共同主持人尼克‧沃茲指出：「孩童面對變遷氣候的健康風險特別脆弱。小孩的身體和免疫系統仍然在發展階段，使得他們更容易受到疾病和環境污染物影響。」

Yet introducing policies to limit emissions and cap global warming would see a different outcome, the research teams said. In that scenario, a child born today, would see an end to coal use in Britain, for example, by their sixth birthday, and the world reaching net-zero emissions by the time they were 31.

The Lancet study is a collaboration by 120 experts from 35 institutions including the WHO, the World Bank, University College London and China’s Tsinghua University.

不過，研究團隊表示，推出政策限制氣體排放，並控制全球暖化程度，則會出現不同的結果。在那樣的情況下，舉例而言，今天出生的孩童會在六歲生日那天看到英國停止使用燃煤，並在三十一歲時看到全球達成淨零碳排放的目標。《刺胳針》這項研究是一百二十位專家的合作成果，他們來自三十五個機構，其中包括世界衛生組織、世界銀行、倫敦大學學院，以及中國的清華大學。

On a “business-as-usual” pathway, with little action to limit climate change, it found that amid rising temperatures and extreme weather events, children would be vulnerable to malnutrition and rising food prices, and the most likely to suffer from warmer waters and climates accelerating the spread of infectious diseases such as dengue fever and cholera.

研究發現，如果照著「一切照常進行」的路徑發展，只採取少許行動限制氣候變遷，除了持續攀升的氣溫和極端天氣事件之外，孩童容易受到營養不良以及食物價格上漲的影響，也最可能面臨暖化的水源和氣候，加速登革熱和霍亂等傳染性疾病的傳播。

Among the most immediate and long-lasting health threats from climate change is air pollution, the researchers said. They called for urgent action to reduce outdoor and indoor pollution through the introduction of cleaner fuels and vehicles, and policies to encourage safe and active transport such as walking and cycling.

研究人員表示，氣候變遷帶來最立即且持續最久的健康威脅就是空氣汙染。他們呼籲各國政府採取緊急行動，藉由引進較乾淨的燃料和交通工具，以減少室外和室內的污染，並推出政策鼓勵大眾採取安全且自主性較高的通勤方式，包括步行和騎腳踏車。

The WHO says that globally in 2016, seven million deaths were due to the effects of household and ambient air pollution. The vast majority of these were in low and middle-income countries. “If we want to protect our children, we need to make sure the air they breathe isn’t toxic,” said Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson, a global health specialist at Britain’s Sussex University who worked on the Lancet study.

世界衛生組織表示，二○一六年全球有七百萬人的死亡原因來自於家庭和周遭環境中的空氣汙染。這些人絕大多數都居住於中低收入國家。英國薩塞克斯大學的全球健康專家索妮雅‧阿耶布─卡爾森參與了這份研究，她表示：「如果想要保護我們的孩子，就必須確定他們呼吸的空氣是無毒的。」
Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/11/17/2003725971/2

Next Article

Topic: Physics Nobel rewards work on climate change, other forces

Three scientists won the Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday last week for work that found order in seeming disorder, helping to explain and predict complex forces of nature, including expanding our understanding of climate change.

致力於在看似無序中找到秩序的三位科學家，上週二獲得了諾貝爾物理學獎。他們的研究有助於解釋及預測複雜的自然力量，包括增進我們對氣候變化的理解。

Syukuro Manabe, originally from Japan, and Klaus Hasselmann of Germany were cited for their work in developing forecast models of Earth’s climate and “reliably predicting global warming.” The second half of the prize went to Giorgio Parisi of Italy for explaining disorder in physical systems, ranging from those as small as the insides of atoms to the planet-sized.

原籍日本的真鍋淑郎與德國的克勞斯‧哈斯曼，因研發地球氣候預測模型，以及「可靠地預測全球暖化」而獲獎。獎金的另一半，則是授予義大利籍的喬吉歐‧帕里西，因他解釋了物理系統──小至原子內部，大至行星大小──其中的無序。

Hasselmann told the Associated Press that he “would rather have no global warming and no Nobel Prize.” Calling climate change “a major crisis,” Manabe said that figuring out the physics behind climate change was “1,000 times” easier than getting the world to do something about it.

哈斯曼對美聯社表示，他「寧願沒有全球暖化，也沒有諾貝爾獎」。真鍋稱氣候變化為「一場重大危機」，並說弄清楚氣候變化背後的物理學，要比促世界採取行動容易「一千倍」。

All three scientists work on what are known as “complex systems,” of which climate is just one example. But the prize went to two fields of study that are opposite in many ways, though they share the goal of making sense of what seems random and chaotic so that it can be predicted.

這三位科學家都在研究所謂的「複雜系統」，氣候只是其中一個例子。獲獎的兩個研究領域，在許多方面都大相逕庭，雖然其共同目標皆為理解看似隨機與混亂的事物，以便能夠預測。

The research of Parisi, of Sapienza University of Rome, largely centers around subatomic particles, predicting how they move in seemingly chaotic ways and explaining why. It is somewhat esoteric, while the work by Manabe and Hasselmann is about large-scale global forces that shape our daily lives.

羅馬大學的帕里西，其研究主要圍繞次原子粒子，探究它們如何以及為何以看似混亂的方式運動，並加以預測。帕里西的研究有時深奧難解，而真鍋及哈斯曼的研究，則是有關型塑我們日常生活的大規模全球力量。

Parisi “built a deep physical and mathematical model” that made it possible to understand complex systems in fields as different as mathematics, biology, neuroscience and machine learning.
帕里西「建立了一個深刻的物理及數學模型」，使得理解數學、生物學、神經科學和機器學習等不同領域的複雜系統成為可能。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/10/11/2003765868

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Happy Horse Year!這是2026年農曆年後的第一集幕後教師室!John老師和阿鍵老師要帶大家回顧過年期間的重要新聞:從AI三雄的最新動態、台灣關稅終於settle down的好消息,到日本高市早苗引發的Sanamania狂潮,還有Super Bowl上的壞兔兔Bad Bunny!
開工了,讓我們start this year with a bang,把台灣再次make great again! 🔥

🐎 Fire Horse Year是什麼?
阿鍵老師科普:「你知道為什麼是Fire Horse嗎?它是天干地支的『丙午年』,丙和午都是屬火,所以是double fire horse!」
John老師的理解:「我沒有follow,但我覺得華人文化喜歡red——red envelope、Ferrari red!所以我覺得Fire horse就是Ferrari horse、Ferrari stallion!」
火屬性旺盛的影響:

📝 15Mins有專文解析Fire Horse,非常適合想對外國人解釋的人!
✈️ 過年去哪了?
阿鍵老師:「過年期間我有用到英文!出國了!但對方沒有回我英文,因為我去韓國了!」 😂
John老師:「去韓國玩,看K-pop看韓劇都會了!」

🤖 AI三雄最新動態:OpenAI、Anthropic、Gemini
這三家在去年第四季到今年第一季都推出新功能,有的試水溫,有的已經做得不錯。特別是Gemini,已經搶走至少兩成的GPT使用者!
John老師:「GPT現在有點在struggle了!」

重點不是三雄在做什麼,而是Read Between the Lines:

Security awareness越來越高

三家畫出不同護城河

未來趨勢:像Apple vs Microsoft、iOS vs Android一樣分派系!
John老師預測:「以後慢慢就會有分類了!有的人穿Claude T-shirt『I love Claude』,有的人穿GPT T-shirt!交友軟體會問『我猜你是用OpenAI的?你的代理人是哪間的?』」

理性建議:
「不要過分FOMO!AI一定會進步,時不時catch up就好。除非有特殊update或劃時代功能,否則就久久一次整理。不是我們不愛AI,是實際上追得很緊,用到的越來越少,差不多就是這些『牙膏式更新』!」

💰 台灣關稅終於Settle Down:15%

過年前的好消息!
John老師:「Finally我們台灣的tariff settle down了!過年前就讓我們finalize,好過個年!非常謝謝阿川哥,讓大家可以知道年後要往哪裡去fight!」

關稅數字:15%
「他給台灣算是最優的比例!雖然最好還是0%,但最優的部分不是在15%,而是在其他額外的優惠規範上!」

重點:250 Billion的投資條件

阿鍵老師的比喻:
「這聽起來跟我去韓國玩有點像!我參加的是購物團,所以團費很低,但他要求我在那邊買東西!」
John老師接:「就像Freemium遊戲!玩遊戲是free,裡面的皮膚全部都要錢,或給我看廣告,或買寶石才能level up!羊毛出在羊身上!」

為什麼Settle Down是好事?
「不管我們認為是好的還是不好的tariff,至少settle down了!我們就知道往哪裡努力、處理business model、做哪些生意投資。我們需要certainty!不能說還在談,每次談都心驚膽跳,可能明天就30%,太可怕了!」
John老師:「我個人認為至少今年過得還蠻順利的,知道15% and that's what I'm facing and I'm good!」

💎 貴金屬暴跌:川普新Fed主席上任

Tariff settle down之後,川普派了新的Fed主席,結果貴金屬直接砍半!
John老師:「愛炒黃金的人要哭哭!突然就變成麻吉大哥了!一瞬間變成麻吉大哥!麻吉大哥玩虛擬貨幣更厲害!」
麻吉大哥的Jinx傳說:
「最近比較local的internet news,大家拿他的梗『純一隻』(輸到脫內褲)!他不只這個輸得很慘,他所有投資的國片都很慘!他是jinx!投資的每一個國片都很慘!」
「不過他現在好像還有留一個以太幣,看看之後會不會有專題新聞!他可能是2026年的『8自1自1』——反指標!If you know, you know!」

🎌 日本高市早苗狂潮:Sanamania!
日本首相高市早苗宣布解散國會重新選,造成非常大量曝光,帶動年輕人把她當偶像追!
什麼都搶翻:

像誰?Margaret Thatcher!
John老師:「大家認為她的感覺像以前的British Margaret Thatcher,那種『She takes no nonsense』、『She's a straight shooter』!結果大家莫名其妙把她變成偶像!」
她改革了很多東西(She did a lot of damage),所以有個Sanamania風潮!

台灣人的觀點:
「日本的anything我們都喜歡!你可能不見得追高市作為role model,但她用的產品你可能都在用!她最近提到在弄瘦小臉的醫美、棒棒糖之類的!」
John老師:「如果我們15Mins Family去日本,maybe you've already got a couple of her merch!藥妝店就已經把它擺出來寫『Sanai在用的』!大家沒有把她當political leader,把她當成生活上的KOL!」

🐰 Bad Bunny得葛萊美:Latino文化來襲!
西方Entertainment Industry一定要知道的人:Bad Bunny(壞兔兔),今年得了葛萊美大獎!

為什麼台灣不紅?
John老師:「因為我們都聽K-pop!但Bad Bunny是Latino Pop,他是Latino的Rapper!我們沒有那麼大的Latino group。」
「Bad Bunny在西方世界的英語pop music裡很紅,因為他做很多collaboration,rap的部分都是Latino,是我們比較不熟悉的風格!」
Super Bowl表演震撼全場!
「除了Grammys,最大的是Super Bowl!點進去,哇,載歌載舞!Jessica Alba都出現了,名人都在台上跳舞!一個字都聽不懂!」
「他面子很大,請到知名藝人!我看到有一段他shout out所有countries——Puerto Rico、Venezuela...你如果不認真聽,以為他只是在rap唱歌,其實他在shout out這些國家名字!」
拉丁文化在北美很普遍:
「你的隔壁classmate、neighbor都是!但在台灣比較沒這個感覺。」
今年葛萊美延續金球獎感覺:持續反川普政府
「當然就是要造聲量,有色人種被壓迫,所以幫忙講講話!」
學Latino更難!
John老師:「你覺得英文很難?Guess again!Latino的卷舌、快嘴、打舌音、R的部分都不容易!它那個flow更明顯,intonation、tone要很Latino,人家才聽得懂你在講什麼!」
「我們在台灣還在在意English accent什麼的,這個過時了好不好!人家更在意的是你的Latino accent有沒有到位!」

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Why?
Because we will get you up to date with all the interesting news around the world!
透過國際時事新聞創造英語空間,讓你在聽跟讀上面更上一層樓!
今年不要掉隊!Come and subscribe right now!

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Summary
Few years ago, delivery apps such as UberEats, GrubHub, FoodPanda, Deliveroo were the disruptive technology that gave way to a closer link between the gig economy and restaurants. Thanks to these apps, restaurants are able to make deliveries and reach more customers. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants that have turned to rely solely on these apps for business are feeling the pain- the pain of higher costs. With most of the delivery apps charging 40% of the order taken, restaurants are now losing money.

原文章討論: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-890-as-diners-flock-to-delivery-apps-restaurants-fear-for-their

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Delivery apps（Food-delivery apps） n.
- 外送平台 Delivery apps deliver restaurant food and groceries. Foodpanda and UberEats are the most well
-known food-delivery apps in Taiwan. 

Hostage n.
- 被綁架的人 The tourists were taken hostage by the gunman. 
Wine growers have been held hostage to the interests of the cereal and soybean farmers. 

Deceptive adj. - 虛偽的，詐欺的
Appearances can be deceptive.
The firm is indicted for deceptive business practices.

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你還記得上次聊過 Nano Banana 嗎？短短幾個月內，它已經在職場、學校甚至學術圈被大家瘋狂使用了！本週的《英語咖啡館》John 和 Cariya 老師要來帶大家一窺幾個 2026 年最具話題性的科技大趨勢。

據傳聞，接下來我們可能會看到要價 2,000 美元、展開後將近 7 吋且擁有四顆鏡頭的折疊 iPhone！除了硬體設備，AI 助理也迎來了全新突破，像是能幫你整晚自動寫程式的「Clawdbot」，甚至讓 Mac Mini 一度賣到缺貨！？另外，兩位老師也聊到了即將在世界各國擴大測試的自動駕駛計程車 (Robo-taxi) 以及走入家庭的「人形機器人」。如果是你，會願意花高價買單 AR 智慧眼鏡嗎？能安心接受機器人幫忙做家事嗎？

Do you remember when we talked about Nano Banana? In just a few months, it's already being used like crazy in workplaces, schools, and even academic circles! This week on English Cafe, John and Cariya explore several of 2026's most talked-about tech trends.

According to rumors, we might soon see a foldable iPhone priced at $2,000 USD, unfolding to nearly 7 inches with four cameras! Beyond hardware, AI assistants have also achieved new breakthroughs, like "Clawdbot" that can automatically write code for you all night, even causing the Mac Mini to sell out at one point!? Additionally, the two teachers discuss robo-taxis that will soon expand testing worldwide and "humanoid robots" entering households. If it were you, would you be willing to pay top dollar for AR smart glasses? Could you comfortably accept robots helping with household chores?

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L152: Sana-mania: Iron Lady Becomes Japan's Pop Idol

Highlights 主題摘要

Japanese politics has traditionally been the dull, predictable domain of elderly men in gray suits making obscure backroom deals, but Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has thoroughly shattered this exhausting mold. As the nation's first female leader, she has ignited a cultural wildfire dubbed "Sana-mania," transforming the typically staid election season into a vibrant, high-energy spectacle rivaling major pop star fandoms. This unprecedented shift has turned political apathy into feverish excitement, capturing the imagination of the electorate and drawing global attention to a democratic process that was once considered sleep-inducing.

日本政壇向來是身著灰西裝的高齡男性與晦澀密室協商的代名詞，既沈悶且乏味；然而，首相高市早苗已徹底粉碎了這令人疲乏的既定印象。作為日本首位女性領袖，她點燃了一股被稱為「早苗狂熱」的文化野火，將向來死氣沈沈的選舉季，轉變為一場熱度堪比流行巨星崇拜的政治奇觀。這種前所未見的轉變，將原本的政治冷感轉化為狂熱的興奮，不僅抓住了選民的想像力，更讓全球目光聚焦於這個曾經被視為令人昏昏欲睡的民主進程。

This viral phenomenon, locally known as "Sanakatsu," is continuously fueled by a youth-led obsession with her meticulously curated style and savvy digital presence. Fans avidly clamor to purchase the specific pink pens she wields in parliament and dissect her luxury handbags, while her X account commands millions of loyal followers. By showcasing heavy metal drumming skills and projecting an approachable, "commoner" persona, she has successfully re-engaged a younger demographic that had previously felt deeply alienated by the rigid stiffness and perceived irrelevance of traditional political discourse.

這股在日本當地被稱為「早苗活」的病毒式現象，源於年輕世代對其精心經營的個人風格與精湛數位操作的狂熱追逐。粉絲們爭相搶購她在國會使用的特定款粉紅鋼筆，熱烈剖析她的名牌手提包款式，而她的 X（前推特）帳號更坐擁數百萬名忠實追隨者。透過展現重金屬爵士鼓的才華並投射出親民的「庶民」人設，她成功重新連結了那些過去因傳統政治論述僵化、且認為政治與己無關而深感疏離的年輕族群。

However, strictly beneath the viral hashtags and fashionable accessories lies a steely political operator frequently compared to Britain’s "Iron Lady," Margaret Thatcher. Takaichi is an unapologetic ultra-conservative who champions drastically increased defense spending to counter regional threats and maintains fiercely hardline stances on both immigration and relations with China. Her signature "Sanaenomics" policy promises bold fiscal stimulus, skillfully blending populist economic relief with distinct nationalism designed to restore national pride and consolidate her power base across varied demographics.

然而，在病毒式傳播的主題標籤與時尚配件之下，隱藏的卻是一位常被比作英國「鐵娘子」柴契爾夫人的鐵腕政治操盤手。高市是一位毫不掩飾的極端保守派，她極力主張大幅增加國防預算以抗衡區域威脅，並在移民改革與對中關係上維持極度強硬的立場。她招牌的「早苗經濟學」承諾推行大膽的財政刺激政策，巧妙地將民粹主義式的經濟救濟與鮮明的民族主義結合，旨在重振國家榮耀並鞏固其跨越不同人口結構的權力基礎。

This hybrid strategy has proven devastatingly effective, securing her Liberal Democratic Party a historic supermajority of 316 seats in the lower house. This stunning landslide victory provides Takaichi with a clear, unshakeable mandate to aggressively reshape Japan’s constitution and economy without the usual fear of opposition interference. By successfully merging celebrity allure with iron-fisted governance, Takaichi has not only dominated the election but fundamentally rewritten the rules of Japanese political engagement for the modern era, proving that style can indeed be substance.

這種混合戰略已證明成效斐然，確保了她所領導的自民黨在眾議院奪下 316 席的歷史性絕對多數。這場令人震驚的壓倒性大勝，賦予高市早苗明確且不可動搖的授權，讓她能在無懼在野勢力干擾的情況下，大刀闊斧地推動修憲與經濟重塑。透過完美融合名人魅力與鐵腕治理，高市不僅主宰了這場大選，更從根本上為現代領導時代改寫了日本政治參與的遊戲規則，證明了「風格」本身即是強大的「實質」力量。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Spectacle [noun, a visually striking performance or event]: She transformed the election into a vibrant pop spectacle, drawing global attention to the process.Obsession [noun, the state of being obsessed with someone or something]: The phenomenon is fueled by a youth-led obsession with her curated style and digital presence.Alienated [adjective, feeling that you do not belong to a particular group]: She re-engaged a younger demographic that had previously felt alienated by traditional politics.Unapologetic [adjective, not acknowledging or expressing regret]: Takaichi is an unapologetic ultra-conservative who champions increased defense spending.Landslide [noun, an overwhelming majority of votes for one party in an election]: This stunning landslide victory provides Takaichi with a clear mandate to reshape Japan.

Reference article:
1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/06/sana-mania-grips-japan-as-ultra-conservative-takaichi-expected-to-secure-election-landslide
2. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-02-04/handbags-and-hashtags-japans-takaichi-rides-youth-led-craze-into-election

Topic: Maybe This Time, the Bikes Won’t End Up in the River

In 2013, Rome pulled the plug on its bike share program after it ran out of money and cars kept double-parking in front of its bike racks. Last year, a Hong Kong company gave up after many of its green bicycles ended up in the Tiber river. Months later, a Singapore company bailed after Romans stole the yellow bikes and broke them down for parts.

2013年，由於經費用盡，加上老有汽車並排停在單車架前，羅馬終止了單車共享計畫。去年，在旗下許多綠色自行車落得葬身台伯河的下場後，一家香港公司打了退堂鼓。數月後，一家新加坡公司在羅馬人偷走其黃色單車並拆解拿走零件後，也離開了。

Rome has been a bike share wasteland, but Uber says things will be different for the shiny new red bikes it has introduced all over the city.

羅馬一直是單車共享難以生存的荒原，但優步宣稱，它在全市推出的閃亮紅色新單車會讓情況改觀。

“We’ve tested ours on Rome’s cobblestones,” said Michele Biggi, manager of Uber’s Jump electric-bike program in southwestern Europe, who added that previous competitors’ bikes weren’t up to the city’s demands and “could have fallen down with just a gust of wind.”

優步南歐地區Jump電單車計畫經理米歇爾．畢吉說：「我們已在羅馬的鵝卵石街道上做過測試」，並指以前競爭對手的單車未達到城市的要求，「可能光是一陣風吹過就倒下了」。

He has big plans for the Uber bikes, he said, which “will change Rome and give the city a new lifeblood.”

他說，他為優步單車制定宏偉計畫，這「將改變羅馬且給這座城市注入新的生命力」。

Uber and its competitors have already introduced similar pedal-assisted bikes and electric scooters in Paris; London; Lisbon, Portugal; Brussels and other cities that in several cases are overrun with rolling menaces. (Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, has decried “the scooter anarchy.”) But Rome, the first Italian city to get Uber’s electric-bicycle service, is not any other European city.

優步及其競爭對手已在巴黎、倫敦、里斯本、布魯塞爾及其他城市推出類似的助力單車和電動滑板車，而其中有些城市狀況連連。（巴黎市長安妮．伊達戈曾譴責「滑板車無政府狀態」）。然而，第一個獲得優步電動自行車服務的義大利城市羅馬，可不是任何其他歐洲城市。

Rome could be a bike-share dream in one respect: There is no shortage of demand. The city has only two finished subway lines (a third is perennially under construction), and buses come late, fail to show up and occasionally explode.

從某方面來說，羅馬可以成為共享單車的夢幻國度：不乏需求。該市只有兩條完工的地鐵線路（第三條一直在興建中），而公車則會晚點、不出現，偶爾還會爆炸。

Driving on the city’s notoriously clogged streets is a nightmare. Parking is worse.

在這個城市塞到爆的街道上開車有如噩夢一場，找地方停車更會要了老命。

But the obstacles to a bike share program are daunting: Rome’s infamous potholes, its mounds of uncollected trash, double-parked cars, a strong vandal spirit in place since the actual Vandals sacked Rome, and a local resistance to change and physical exertion.
Rome’s embattled mayor, Virginia Raggi, urged Romans to show that the city is civilized after all.

但單車共享計畫遇到的阻礙也令人生畏：羅馬惡名昭彰的路面坑窪、成堆待收的垃圾、並排停放的汽車、自真正的汪達爾人洗劫羅馬以來就一直存在的強烈破壞精神，以及當地人對改變和體力消耗的抗拒。陷入困境的羅馬市長拉吉敦促羅馬市民，以行動證明這座城市畢竟是文明的。

“If we don’t want these bikes to be badly treated, guess who it is up to?” Raggi said at the Uber bikes’ unveiling Oct. 21. “Romans themselves are the first defense against degradation.”

拉吉10月21日在優步單車發布會上說：「如果我們不希望這些單車受到虐待，猜猜要靠誰呢？羅馬人自己是抵禦毀壞的第一道防線。」
The company is introducing a fleet of 2,800 bicycles that can be left practically anywhere, and they seem to be everywhere.

該公司正推出總數2800輛的自行車隊，使用後幾乎隨處皆可停放，而它們也似乎無所不在。
But not all Romans are fans. “Rome Is Gross” a well-known social media feed decrying the city’s degradation, has posted complaints about the high price of the Uber bikes, which cost 50 cents to unlock and then 20 cents for every minute of use. That is about the rate charged by car-sharing services.

但並非所有羅馬人都很喜歡。譴責城市退化的著名社交媒體消息「羅馬讓人噁心」抱怨優步單車收費高昂，解鎖價格為50美分，每用一分鐘收費20美分，這跟汽車共享服務費率差不多。
Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/347676/web/#2L-16028705L

Next Article

Topic : Bike-promoting Belgian minister finds own cycle stolen

A Belgian minister arrived by bike to a news conference to promote cycling on Tuesday, only to find it had been stolen when he left half an hour later.
週二，比利時一位部長為了推廣騎自行車，騎單車至新聞發佈會現場，半小時後離開，卻發現自己的單車被偷了。

Ben Weyts, minister of mobility for the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders, unveiled a plan to invest 300 million euros （$320 million） in cycle lanes until 2019, as part of a wider program to promote alternative modes of transport.
班．維茨，荷語法蘭德斯區的交通部長，推出一項斥資3億歐元（3億2000萬美元）在2019年前興建自行車專用道的計畫，作為範圍更廣泛的推廣替代性交通模式的一部分。

"We left the bike in racks at the station and locked it," a spokesman for the minister said. "When we got back half an hour later, it was gone."
「我們把單車停在停車架上，還上了鎖，」該位部長的發言人說。「當我們半小時後回來，車就沒了。」

While Belgium is a country obsessed with cycling as a sport, cars are the main method of commuting to work, leading to some of the worst road congestion in Europe.
比利時仍堅信騎自行車是一種運動，汽車還是通勤上班的主要工具，使得比國的交通壅塞情況在歐洲數一數二。

The minister had to call his driver to pick him up from the station in Halle, just south of Brussels, the spokesman said, and hoped police would discover the bicycle thief with the help of security camera footage.
發言人說，部長只好打電話給他的司機，要司機到位於布魯塞爾南部的哈勒自行車站接人，自行車只能指望警方透過監視器影像的協助找出小偷。
Source article: http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/1079689

Next Article

Topic: Bicycle helmets can prevent injury and death

While riding a bicycle in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District on Oct. 15, author Chen Ro-jinn was hit from behind by a scooter courier. Chen was alive when paramedics arrived but she was unconscious and had a fractured skull. After being taken to hospital, she died of her injuries on Monday last week at the age of 57.

作家陳柔縉十月十五日在新北市淡水區騎腳踏車時，遭後方騎機車的外送員追撞。救護人員抵達時，陳柔縉仍有生命跡象，但意識不清、頭部骨折，送醫急救後仍於上週一傷重不治，享年五十七歲。

At present, Taiwan has no legal requirement for bicyclists to wear helmets, but the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Health Promotion Administration (HPA) has in the past called, as well as mandatory wearing of helmets by motorcycle and scooter riders, for cyclists to also take safety seriously and put on a cycle helmet when riding on the road.

目前國內法規並未要求騎自行車須戴安全帽，但衛生福利部國民健康署過去即曾呼籲，除了機車族強制戴安全帽外，單車族更應重視安全，配戴單車專用安全帽才上路。

The HPA says people often wrongly believe that because bicycles are human-powered they must be safer than motor vehicles. What they fail to consider is that bicycles and motorized vehicles do not have separate lanes, and bicycles lack protective structures, making cyclists prone to physical injury in the event of a crash, especially during rush hour.

國健署強調，一般人常誤認自行車是人力車，要比機動車輛來得安全；殊不知自行車與機動車未分道行駛，及缺乏保護裝置，導致自行車騎士在車禍時，易發生身體創傷，尤以上下班尖峰時間最為常見。

According to a 2016 study by Taipei Medical University, the number of bicycle accidents in Taiwan grew from 7,213 in 2005 to 14,874 in 2013, and the proportion of bicycle accident deaths among all traffic accident deaths grew from 3.55 percent to 6.74 percent. The likelihood of an accident resulting in death, coma or disability was 2.4 times higher for those who did not wear a helmet while cycling than for those who did. 20.7 percent of those who did not wear helmets were in moderate to severe condition when they were admitted to hospital, compared to 2.3 percent of those who wore helmets. Those wore helmets stayed for fewer days in hospital than those who did not.

根據台北醫學大學二○一六年的研究發現，二○○五年至二○一三年，台灣腳踏車事故從七千二百一十三件成長到一萬四千八百七十四件，腳踏車事故死亡佔交通事故死亡率也從百分之三點五五提升到百分之六點七四。而騎乘腳踏車未戴安全帽者預後結果為死亡、植物人、殘障狀態為有戴安全帽者二點四倍。未戴安全帽者有百分之二十點七入院時嚴重度為中重度，戴安全帽者為百分之二點三。配戴安全帽者住院天數也比未配戴安全帽者短。

There are geographical and age differences in bicycle accidents. In urban areas, more accidents occur during commuting periods, whereas in rural areas the accident rate is higher in the afternoon. The number of bicycle accident patients with moderate to severe head trauma is about 3.2 times higher among those aged 65 years or older than those under 18 years old.

腳踏車意外事故也有地域性及年齡差異，都市較多是在上下班通勤時段發生事故，鄉鎮則是下午時段較高；腳踏車事故頭部外傷病人年齡六十五歲以上，嚴重程度為中重度的人數，高於十八歲以下病人約三點二倍。

The HPA says that the number of deaths due to head trauma in motorcycle accidents in Taiwan fell sharply after the 1997 passage of a law mandating wearing a helmet when riding motorcycles and scooters. In contrast, in recent years, with the trend of saving energy and reducing carbon emissions, more and more people are riding bicycles, but most of them have not gotten into the habit of wearing helmets, so when an accident happens it can easily cause irreparable damage and regret.
國健署指出，自一九九七年立法強制騎乘機車須戴安全帽之後，國內因機車肇事頭部外傷死亡人數急遽減少；反而近年來在節能減碳的風潮下，騎自行車的人越來越多，卻大多未養成戴安全帽的習慣；一旦發生事故，容易造成無可彌補的遺憾。Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/10/26/2003766749

「牽起慢飛天使的手，用愛築起希望花園。」

每個孩子都是獨特花朵。公益大使楊祐寧邀您響應伊甸「弱勢兒童服務計畫」，

每月只要300元，就能讓慢飛天使在成長黃金期，獲得專業的協助，也能給予照顧者支持力量。

https://fstry.pse.is/8zs2wl

—— 以上為 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

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🎙️ 特別來賓:克寧老師!聊聊Podcast剪接時最想刪掉的Filler Words!
這集非常榮幸請到克寧老師來喝咖啡!讓阿鍵老師休息一下,換個口味!John老師和克寧老師要聊聊Podcaster剪接時的秘密:那些「嗯」「啊」「那個」「you know」「I mean」到底要不要剪?剪太多會不會太像念稿?保留多少才natural?
從Podcaster的角度到英語學習者的實戰技巧,這集要告訴你filler words的存在意義,以及如何聰明使用、有效練習!

👋 開場:克寧老師很難Book!
John老師:「非常榮幸,因為時間喬不上!克寧老師的時間很難book,而且最主要是——這個單元不需要我吧!」
克寧老師:「這個單元不需要你!」
John老師:「所以15Mins Family如果想在Teacher's Lounge多聽到克寧老師的聲音,用comment link給克寧老師一個shout out!要不然會覺得沒有存在感!」
**今天的話題來源:**之前John老師跟阿鍵老師聊到podcast剪接,私底下又發想了一個主題:Podcast剪接時最想刪掉哪幾個字?

🎬 Podcaster的剪接哲學
克寧老師的做法:盡量保留來賓特色
「我其實蠻喜歡的是,最近做比較多人物訪談,我喜歡讓大家聽得到來賓本來的特色!只要不會太不順、不會造成『替他提心吊膽』或『你對這個東西是不是很有自信』的感覺,我通常都會盡量保留!」

但有些真的要剪:

John老師的觀察:看波形就知道!
「我現在只要看波形,我就可以知道這一段是他在講『那個』,這段可以直接拉掉;他在講『對』,這個也可以拉掉!」
克寧老師:「我已經可以看波形看出來了!」

💬 中英文常見的Filler Words
英文Filler Words:
克寧老師最常講:

「因為那時候我可能用中文在思考,腦袋還在想怎麼轉化成英語,我就會怕對方尴尬,想辦法用一些詞去填!」
John老師 x Angel老師的互相影響:
「我跟Angel老師很常互相影響!如果那次聊天我用了很多you know,他就會開始使用大量的you know;他用like的時候,就會影響我一直用like!」
為什麼會這樣?
「聊開以後會不自覺開始用同樣的頻率或用詞,達成和諧——讓對方覺得『我get你在做什麼』的樣子!」
John老師 x Gavin老師的特殊Pattern:
「我跟Gavin老師最常的是——I mean(換句話說)!」
「我們兩個都很喜歡講完一件事情,進入那種老師狀態,怕對方聽不懂:I mean, 換句話說... 然後再重新summarize一遍!」
「我跟Angel沒有這個問題!」
克寧老師:「我今天自己節目也很常會有!他講完某個話題怕我聽不懂,就再解釋一遍。通常這個地方我就把它剪掉!」
跟不同人就有不同Filler Words:
John老師分析:「跟Patrick老師比較少,因為Patrick會很stick to the outline,他很precise!我跟Angel老師、Gavin老師幾乎沒有在follow outline,outline拿來參考用!」
「我們沒有熟到那種尬聊、完全忘記前面是麥克風、忘記我們在錄podcast!」

🎭 Filler Words的存在意義

好處1:聽起來更Natural
克寧老師:「我會猶豫到底要不要剪,而且Podcast應該很real!剪太多就很像在念稿!」
John老師:「變成一個預錄節目,顯得很生硬,可能有距離感!我們就是要表現很real,尤其Café一開始設定的目標就是最模擬的狀態——咖啡廳裡隔壁桌兩個人在尬聊!」

好處2:大腦還在組織
克寧老師:「很多filler的存在好像有幾個原因:第一個就是你的腦子還在動、嘴巴還在組織,所以你會想說我要講什麼;第二個是你可能跟人家聊天,對方還在思考沒有講話,你會很怕那個silence,覺得很尴尬!」
John老師補充第三個原因:「你不自覺的!比如說在家裡沒有演練、沒做rehearsal,然後去做presentation,你很容易回歸到原本的狀態——跟朋友聊天的狀態。Filler word就會再次使用,但那個場合可能需要你很formal!」

🎯 如何練習改善Filler Words?
克寧老師的方法:聽自己錄音
「對我來講最有用的方法是——我以前真的會有很多『對啊所以然後』,但我覺得可能因為自己有在做podcast,就會被迫去聽自己講話的習慣。你就會覺得『原來我常常有這些語詞』,我就會想辦法有意識地去修正它!」
John老師:「聽自己錄音很好!等你聽到那個filler word,你才會自覺『我還蠻常用這個字的』!」

Angel老師的練習法:自己對自己講話
克寧老師問:「所以John老師你鼓勵平常沒事的時候要自己多對自己講話嗎?」
John老師:「這個其實Angel老師當年就是這樣練習的!聽起來像配音員課程的感覺!」

Angel老師的成功案例:

「如果你喜歡Scarlett Johansson講話的語氣,大量吸收她的interview,去模仿的話,你就變成台版的Scarlett Johansson——雲端情人!模仿久了就變你的!」

📝 進階技巧:用更好的Filler Words取代
❌ 不好的Filler Words(可以刪掉):

克寧老師:「那個就拜拜!Delete those!」
✅ 好用的Filler Words(可以保留):

🎯 升級版的Filler Words(更專業):
Instead of "I mean":

Buy time的技巧(Presentation必學):

克寧老師:「先贊同對方,然後賺時間!其實意思跟well、you know沒差太多,只是換一個比較長、真的是句子的講法!」

KUMON Podcast《從學會到會學》

💙解鎖自學力：化被動為主動

💛教養不煩惱：掌握教養關鍵

💜超越滿分：榜樣啟發可能

❤️教育未來式：AI時代能力趨勢

5/18-5/30 免費體驗招生中，立即預約

https://fstry.pse.is/8ynb3z

—— 以上為 FMTaiwan 與 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

Summary: 
For higher education students, standardized college exams in the US have been upended during the pandemic. In-person SAT exams have been canceled and a number of selective schools have made the exams test optional, at least temporarily. A group of high school students sued the College Entrance Examination Board, claiming its advanced placement tests are unfair to teens trapped at home by the coronavirus pandemic without adequate computers or Internet connections. Students take the AP exams often with the hopes of earning college credit. As many as 20 percent of students were unable to submit their responses through the testing platform in the first three days of the exam. 

原討論文章：https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-869-college-tests-called-unfair-to-homebound-tech-poor-students 

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences: 
Discriminate v. discrimination – make an unjust distinction in the treatment of different categories of people to things
- It would be considered discrimination if the online tests do not allow students with low internet bandwidth to participate.
- The AP test discriminated against students who were in remote areas and lack in resources. 

Unrealistic adj.
– not realistic- It is unrealistic to think all students have good internet connectivity
- One cannot have unrealistic expectations about Advanced Placement Tests. 

Upend v.
– set or turned upside down
- College exams are upended by the pandemic
- Kelly upended her lego box, trying to find that one lego figure. 

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你喜歡喝手搖飲嗎？台灣的 Boba Tea 現在可是紅遍全球，但當年John老師剛回台灣時，站在飲料店櫃檯前可是經歷了一場震撼教育！本週的《英語咖啡館》，John老師和克寧老師要來聊聊這個讓外國人感到文化衝擊，令人又愛又困惑的台灣之光。

對習慣英文邏輯的人來說，台灣獨有的「冰塊甜度」客製化就像是在解謎！為什麼「正常」甜聽起來一點都不正常？在這集節目中，John老師要回到當年，用外國人的視角來解釋為什麼客製化流程會嚇到他們，克寧老師則是帶大家回顧珍奶從 30 元銅板價到現在精緻化的進化史，大家也可以學學怎麼跟外國朋友介紹我們的國民飲料。

Do you like drinking hand-shaken beverages? Taiwan's Boba Tea is now popular worldwide, but when Teacher John first returned to Taiwan, standing at the drink shop counter was quite the educational shock! This week on English Cafe, John and Klim talk about this Taiwan pride that gives foreigners culture shock and leaves them both loving and confused.

For people accustomed to English logic, Taiwan's unique "ice level and sweetness" customization is like solving a puzzle! Why does "normal" sweetness sound not normal at all? In this episode, Teacher John goes back to that time and uses a foreigner's perspective to explain why the customization process scared them, while Teacher Klim takes everyone through the evolution of bubble tea from a NT$30 coin price to today's premium versions. Everyone can also learn how to introduce our national beverage to foreign friends.

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L148: AI Giants War: Age Checks & Security

Highlights 主題摘要

The global AI arena exploded into action this week as three industry titans launched major updates simultaneously. Moving beyond simple text generation, the battle has aggressively shifted toward user safety, rigorous developer security, and streamlined enterprise efficiency. This strategic divergence indicates a maturing market where companies are no longer just showing off speed, but are fiercely competing to integrate their models into the fabric of daily life while balancing rapid innovation with strict regulation.

近期全球人工智慧戰場烽火連天，三大科技巨頭不約而同地發布了重量級更新。這場戰役已超越了單純的文字生成，轉而積極搶攻用戶安全、嚴密的開發者資安以及企業運作效率。這種策略上的分歧，顯示出市場正邁向成熟：各家公司不再僅止於炫耀運算速度，而是激烈競逐將自家模型融入日常生活的運作架構中，力求在快速創新與嚴格監管之間取得平衡。

OpenAI is tackling digital safety head-on by rolling out a controversial age-prediction system for ChatGPT. This new mechanism utilizes advanced algorithms to analyze usage patterns, aiming to identify and strictly block users under thirteen while protecting teenagers. While privacy advocates voice concerns, OpenAI insists that automatically filtering inappropriate content is non-negotiable. By enforcing these checks, the company aims to preempt regulatory crackdowns and ensure its platform remains a responsible educational tool rather than a liability.

OpenAI 選擇正面迎擊數位安全議題，為 ChatGPT 導入了一套備受爭議的年齡預測系統。這項新機制運用先進演算法分析使用者的行為模式，旨在精準識別並嚴格封鎖 13 歲以下的用戶，同時強化對青少年的保護。儘管隱私權倡議團體對此表達憂心，但 OpenAI 堅持，自動過濾不當內容是不可妥協的底線。透過強制執行這些查核，該公司試圖搶先防範潛在的監管打壓，確保其平台能維持負責任教育工具的定位，而非淪為安全漏洞。

In parallel, Google officially unveiled Gemini 3, featuring the specialized "AntiGravity" hub to revolutionize development security. This launch directly addresses past vulnerabilities by prioritizing architectural integrity alongside raw processing power. Developers can now build complex applications with the confidence that their infrastructure is shielded against external threats and internal leaks. This move signals Google’s commitment to raising the standard for secure software engineering in an increasingly hostile digital environment.

與此同時，Google 正式揭曉了 Gemini 3，並主打名為「AntiGravity」的專屬中心，誓言徹底革新開發安全性。此次發布將架構的完整性置於與原始運算效能同等的地位，直接回應了過去的安全漏洞問題。開發者現在能更有信心地建構複雜的應用程式，確信其底層基礎設施能有效抵禦外部威脅與內部資料外洩。此舉宣示了 Google 在日益險惡的數位環境中，致力於提升安全軟體工程標準的決心。

Finally, Anthropic is targeting the corporate sector with "Claude Cowork," a feature designed for seamless team collaboration. Unlike its rivals focusing on consumer safety or backend code, Anthropic is doubling down on office productivity, allowing users to analyze documents together in real time. This transforms the chatbot into a dynamic colleague capable of managing heavy workflows. As these distinct paths emerge, users now face a diverse ecosystem where AI serves as a specialized utility for safety, security, and professional success.

最後，Anthropic 透過推出「Claude Cowork」鎖定企業端市場，這是一項專為無縫團隊協作所打造的功能。不同於競爭對手聚焦於消費者安全或後端程式碼，Anthropic 選擇在商務生產力上加碼押注，允許使用者即時共同分析文件。這項功能成功將聊天機器人轉型為能駕馭繁重工作流程的動態協作夥伴。隨著這三條截然不同的發展路徑浮現，使用者如今面對的是一個多元蓬勃的生態系，在此之中，AI 已演化為能滿足安全、資安防護與專業成就的專門工具。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Simultaneously [adverb, at the same time]: The global AI arena exploded into action as three industry titans launched major updates simultaneously.Divergence [noun, a difference in opinions, interests, or directions]: This strategic divergence indicates a maturing market where companies are competing to integrate models into daily life.Controversial [adjective, causing a lot of disagreement or argument]: OpenAI is tackling digital safety by rolling out a controversial age-prediction system for ChatGPT.Preempt [verb, to take action in order to prevent something from happening]: By enforcing these checks, the company aims to preempt regulatory crackdowns and ensure its platform remains responsible.Architectural [adjective, relating to the design and structure of a building or system]: This launch addresses past vulnerabilities by prioritizing architectural integrity alongside raw processing power.

Reference article:
1. https://www.indiatvnews.com/technology/news/chatgpt-starts-detecting-under-18-users-new-safety-system-age-verification-explained-2026-01-21-1026855
2. https://www.reuters.com/technology/openai-rolls-out-age-prediction-chatgpt-2026-01-20/
3. https://au.lifehacker.com/ai/117292/news/chatgpt-is-getting-on-the-ai-age-verification-bandwagon
4. https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/11/26/google-antigravity-ai-hacked/
5. https://tw.news.yahoo.com/google-officially-unveiled-gemini-3-a-culmination-of-its-development-featuring-google-antigravity-as-a-new-hub-for-ai-development-173909893.html
6. https://www.aol.com/finance/anthropic-launches-claude-cowork-file-140500284.html

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: Philippines’ Duterte pestered again as gecko stalls speech 菲律賓杜特蒂又被糾纏 因壁虎打斷演說

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte just keeps getting bugged during his public speeches.
菲律賓總統羅德里戈．杜特蒂公開演講時，一直被打擾。

A noisy gecko was the latest wildlife contributor to an address by Duterte, interrupting the leader on Thursday evening just as he launched another tirade at human rights groups critical of his bloody war on drugs.
一隻喋喋不休的壁虎，是供稿給杜特蒂演講的最新野生生物，週四晚間就在他發表另一段長篇大論斥責批評他嗜血反毒戰的人權團體時，打斷這名領袖。

The reptile’s persistence caused laughter in the crowd of mostly soldiers, causing Duterte stop mid-sentence, turn to his left and pause for a while to see what the off-camera commotion was.
這隻爬行動物的堅持不懈，引發以軍人為主的群眾大笑，導致杜特蒂話說一半停了下來，向左轉暫停片刻，看看是什麼造成鏡頭外騷動。

"You brought a gecko here?" he asked an official sitting behind him, drawing laughs.
他問一名坐在他後面的官員，「你把一隻壁虎帶來這邊？」引來笑聲。

While activists accuse Duterte of cowing his opponents into silence, reptiles and insects have no qualms about pestering him during his often hours-long, televised addresses.
雖然社會運動人士指控杜特蒂恐嚇反對者噤聲，但爬行動物和昆蟲對在他往往長達數小時的電視演說加以糾纏一事，毫無不安之意。

A big cockroach crawled up his shoulder and down his shirt during a speech in May when he was lambasting an opposition party ahead of a national election. He joked the cockroach was its supporter.
在5月一場全國大選前的演說上，當他正在痛批一個反對黨時，一隻大蟑螂爬上他的肩膀再爬下襯衫。他打趣說，這隻蟑螂是對方的支持者。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1321064 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1313926

Next Article

Topic: Philippines store rolls out ingenious face masks for bubble tea lovers

珍珠奶茶在國際舞台上幾乎與台灣劃上等號，在台灣時常能看到人手一杯手搖飲。然而礙於疫情，戴著口罩要喝飲料變得麻煩許多，一間菲律賓飲料店為了解決這個問題，最近推出了一款讓人無需脫口罩就能吸到珍奶的超神口罩。
In recent years, bubble tea has become synonymous with Taiwan among members and friends of the foreign community, and many locals can often be seen drinking hand-shaken beverages wherever they go.

With the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent requirements of wearing face masks in crowded areas, however, drinking soft drinks has become a bit of a hassle.
To solve this problem, a beverage store in the Philippines recently released a new line of face masks that you won’t need to take off to enjoy a sip from your favorite drink.

此店Gallontea將口罩命名為「吸吸罩」(Sippy Mask) ，表面看起來與一般布口罩差不多，但是口罩的嘴巴邊卻有一個小開口，上面附著一個蓋子讓喜愛喝珍奶的人可以邊喝邊防疫。

The “Sippy Mask” released by Gallontea looks like an ordinary cloth face mask, but if you look closely, you’ll find that there is a small opening near the mouth, with a small-cap for bubble-tea lovers to enjoy a safe drink.

店家也特別在官網上表示，只要消費有達1,000披索（約新台幣605.56元）就會贈送此口罩。而雖然口罩預購期已於昨日截止，目前也只在菲律賓販售，然而因為銷量不賴，期望未來有機會進軍台灣；不過大家需特別注意，喝完飲料要再將開口關上，才不會白帶口罩。

On their official Instagram page, Gallontea announced that customers can receive a free face mask with a minimum purchase of 1,000 pesos (US$20.59).
Although the pre-order time was only till Aug. 18 and the masks are currently only being sold in the Philippines, with the way it’s selling out, many people have expressed hope that customers will see this ingenious invention on Taiwan racks very soon.
However, users of the face masks should be mindful of closing the opening once they’ve taken a sip from the drinks or else the act of wearing face masks would be rendered useless. Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20200819-1696789

KUMON Podcast《從學會到會學》

💙解鎖自學力：化被動為主動

💛教養不煩惱：掌握教養關鍵

💜超越滿分：榜樣啟發可能

❤️教育未來式：AI時代能力趨勢

5/18-5/30 免費體驗招生中，立即預約

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—— 以上為 FMTaiwan 與 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

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🧧 農曆新年到了!「恭喜發財」、「馬到成功」用英文怎麼說?為什麼硬翻會變成笑話?
過年要到了!John老師和阿鍵老師這集要聊聊中英文新年祝福語的差異。從廣東版的「Gong Hei Fat Choy」到現代的「Happy Lunar New Year」,從家庭祝福到職場吉祥話,還有那些讓外國人一頭霧水的諧音梗——為什麼鳳梨不能帶去醫院?為什麼馬到成功翻成「Horse Come You Good」會被笑?

💰 過年的兩種心情:小孩 vs 大人
John老師感嘆:「小時候過年是等著拿bonus、收income,現在這個年紀是害怕——破財!」
最可怕的:

John老師:「過年趕快安排出去,不要跟家人見面!『Really? Oh I'd love to see you but I'm sorry I'm going to Kaohsiung this afternoon!』旅行盾、尿盾什麼都來!」
阿鍵老師也說:「Budget會比較緊一點!」

🏮 Chinese New Year vs Lunar New Year
阿鍵老師:「英文的New Year wishes在農曆新年也有講一些吉祥話,但比較多是在元旦1月1號。」
名稱演變:

為什麼改變?
John老師解釋:「有些人不覺得自己是Chinese,但也celebrate這個節日。像越南算一個很大有在慶祝農曆年的國家。很多follow農曆的國家和人,所以漸漸變成Lunar New Year。」

🎊 廣東版 vs 國語版祝福語
經典廣東版:Gong Hei Fat Choy(恭喜發財)
阿鍵老師:「我在英國的時候他們都講這句,但這兩年好像慢慢變成國語版的『恭喜發財』越來越多人講!」
John老師:「因為最早開唐人街的都是廣東裔,他們最早移民、最早接觸海外,所以有這種influence。」
外國人的困惑:
「外國人不懂為什麼『恭喜發財』是a thing, something you say很重要。他們可能用別的表達方式。還有『恭喜恭喜』,他們也不太懂恭喜什麼東西?因為恭喜我們就講congratulations!」
阿鍵老師:「其實應該是well-being的感覺,但well-being好難翻譯!」

🎯 現代英文祝福語:不要硬翻!
老派硬翻(別這樣用):

John老師:「外國人就顯得比較囉嗦!『恭喜發財』四個字,結果要『Wishing you prosperity and success in the year ahead』,那為什麼不能prosperity only呢?」
正確的家庭祝福:

🐴 生肖祝福語:文化差異大挑戰
今年是馬年,一定會講「馬到成功」!
John老師:「英文怎麼翻?沒得翻!真的不知道怎麼講!Horse come you good!」
「你去跟外國人講馬到成功,他會想:是他沒有馬嗎?他家沒有坐騎嗎?」😂

其他諧音梗的困境:
大吉大利(橘子): 阿鍵老師:「我們會用橘子(Orange or Tangerine)來當代表,但他們不懂為什麼。Good orange good life?」
旺來(鳳梨): John老師提到去年爬英音樂節拜鳳梨,Alex看到就問:「Why is the pineapple an offering?」
「而且還不是所有occasion都可以用!在醫院裡面不能用pineapple,會被打死!」
結論:很多諧音梗非常不適合被翻譯!

💼 職場祝福語:安全第一原則
阿鍵老師問:「有沒有什麼比較適合職場上用來祝福的?工作順利、事事順心之類的?」
❌ 不能用的:
John老師:「Wish you a good bonus!這個超級實際!但不行!外國人對salary package和bonus是very private的topic,it's private!有點尷尬!」
「We should get a big bonus this year也沒有這種wish。人家賺不賺錢管你屁事!有點觸犯隱私,要有點邊界感!」

✅ 可以用的正向關鍵字:
John老師建議:「祝福他需要的東西!」
安全正向的關鍵字:

Prosperity (繁榮) - 絕對安全Success (成功) - 一定是keywordGrowth (成長) - 非常好Abundance (豐盛) - 沒有負面意思Collaboration (合作) - 近年流行,但可以不用

❓ 避免使用:

John老師:「除非這個人剛好在找工作、是fresh graduate或創業,那就適合!」

📧 完美的職場祝福範例
John老師提供範本:
"Wishing you a prosperous and successful Lunar New Year. May the year ahead bring continued growth and strong collaboration."
阿鍵老師評價:「可以聽得出來文法上和英文語感是順的,同時又帶有一點年節的氣氛!」
關於Collaboration: John老師自己偏向可以不用:「因為我是老派!沒有什麼,你不跟我collab我也是繼續上班,就巴結一點、官方一點!」

🎯 選字的黃金法則
John老師總結:「這些吉祥語裡面的用詞,絕對是只有正向的,沒有模稜兩可的!沒有辦法被interpret as negative的字才適合!」
正向字的特徵:

「挑這種字最安全!」
👥 看對象調整用詞
阿鍵老師:「看你的對象是誰,用他聽得懂的話!」
世代差異:

🤖 不確定就問ChatGPT!
John老師建議:「大家可以用ChatGPT再revise一下,看有沒有文化上人家看不懂或有點危險的地方,做cultural faux pas check!」
更好的方法:投稿給15Mins!
John老師邀請:「You can send your Lunar New Year wishes to us using the comment link, and we will revise it for you and give you an alternative!」
互相祝福! 寄過來給我們祝福,我們接受祝福後,再把修訂的吉祥話幫你修訂一下!

想要加入這個充滿學習熱忱的VIP社群嗎？
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Summary:
The first article discusses how FB will compensate moderators in the US for emotional stress and PTSD from viewing disturbing images and videos. The second article talks about a restaurant that filled social distancing table seats with well-dressed mannequins to improve the atmosphere and have a laugh. 

原文章討論: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-865-about-the-us-facebook-will-pay-52-million-to-employees-who 

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences: 

Moderator n.: a person responsible for preventing offensive material from being published on a website Is being a moderator for YouTube difficult? Is AI a big threat to moderators?

PTSD n.: post-traumatic stress disorder > mental and emotional problems resulting from shocking experiences Is war the main reason for PTSD? Is PTSD subjective?

Uncanny adj.: strange and difficult to explain Are UFO’s uncanny? Was his behavior uncanny?

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大家平常追劇或嘴饞時，手邊會是什麼零食呢？本週的《英語咖啡館》John 和 Patrick 老師要來聊聊大家最愛的罪惡零食：Lay's 樂事。你知道嗎？這個隨處可見的品牌其實快一百歲了，而且它跟我們小時候記憶中的「波卡」有著前世今生的關係！

就在2025年，樂事官方決定更改Logo和Slogan，而且原因讓我們兩位大感意外！另外，世界各國都可以看到類似樂事的洋芋片包裝，難道是盜版嗎？這背後其實牽涉到一場橫跨全球的商業佈局，而且跟百事可樂公司有關喔。

What snacks do you usually have on hand when binge-watching shows or feeling peckish? This week on "English Cafe," John and Patrick discuss everyone's favorite guilty pleasure snack: Lay's. Did you know? This ubiquitous brand is actually almost 100 years old, and it has a past-life connection with "Poca" from our childhood memories!

In 2025, Lay's officially decided to change its logo and slogan, and the reason surprised both of us! Additionally, you can see similar Lay's chip packaging in countries around the world—are they knockoffs? Behind this is actually a global business strategy that involves PepsiCo.

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單身租屋族有機會免繳稅？  

幼兒、長照扣除額有感大升級 

《十樂不設 💰進人生》邀請國稅局局長親自解密報稅大禮包  

快點擊收聽連結： https://fstry.pse.is/8zyzjq

省錢出大招，不要白白跟錢說掰掰！💸 

—— 以上為 FMTaiwan 與 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

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國際時事跟讀VIP Ep. L144: Taiwan's 2026 Border Bans & Fines

Highlights 主題摘要

Starting in 2026, travelers entering Taiwan face a significantly stricter border control environment designed to protect the island's biosecurity. The government has officially eliminated the convenient "green channel" at international airports, marking a major shift in customs protocol. Previously, passengers with nothing to declare could bypass detailed checks, but rising concerns over African Swine Fever have forced authorities to tighten the net. This policy change ensures that every piece of luggage, regardless of the passenger's origin, undergoes a mandatory X-ray scan or manual inspection upon arrival.

自2026年起，入境台灣的旅客將面臨更加嚴格的邊境管制，以確保國門生物安全滴水不漏。政府已正式宣布取消國際機場便利的「免檢疫綠色通道」，此舉標誌著海關查驗程序的重大變革。過去，無須申報的旅客可直接略過詳細檢查快速通關，但隨著防堵非洲豬瘟的壓力日益嚴峻，當局決定全面收緊防疫網。這項政策意味著，無論旅客來自哪個國家，其所有行李在抵達時，一律必須接受強制的X光機掃描或開箱查驗。

This universal screening aims to intercept high-risk prohibited items before they enter the local market. Travelers must be extremely vigilant about carrying meat products, fresh fruits, and uncertified plants, as these categories trigger the harshest penalties. Even a seemingly harmless ham sandwich or a bag of fruit can result in an immediate fine of one million NT dollars. While processed seafood and certain dried goods remain permissible under specific conditions, the authorities advise passengers to declare any doubtful items to avoid accidental violations and costly delays.

全面篩檢旨在高風險違禁品流入國內市場前予以攔截。旅客對於攜帶肉類製品、新鮮蔬果及未經檢疫的植物必須提高警覺，這些類別的物品一旦違規將面臨最嚴厲的處罰。即便只是一個看似無害的火腿三明治或一袋水果，都可能導致最高新台幣一百萬元的鉅額罰款。雖然符合特定條件的加工海鮮與部分乾貨仍可攜帶入境，但海關當局強烈建議，若對物品屬性有任何疑慮，應主動申報，以免誤觸法網並造成通關延誤。

Beyond agricultural restrictions, popular Japanese drug store items are subject to precise quantity limitations that frequently confuse tourists. For non-prescription drugs like EVE painkillers or Alinamin vitamin supplements, an individual is permitted to carry up to twelve bottles of a single brand, with a combined total of thirty-six bottles. This quota also applies to dietary supplements in tablet or capsule form. Exceeding these allowances without proper medical documentation implies commercial intent, which could lead to confiscation of the excess goods by vigilant customs officers.

除了農產品禁令，國人赴日必買的熱門藥妝商品，也受制於常讓遊客混淆的限量規定。針對EVE止痛藥或合利他命等非處方藥，每位旅客單一品牌最多僅能攜帶12瓶，且所有非處方藥合計不得超過36瓶。此額度同樣適用於錠狀或膠囊狀的保健食品。若在缺乏適當醫療文件的情況下超量攜帶，將被視為具有商業販售意圖，並可能導致過量商品遭警覺的海關人員沒收。

The regulations extend to medical devices and prescription medications, such as the trendy "skinny jab" weight-loss injections. These specific treatments require a doctor’s prescription and are limited to a six-month supply, while common items like adhesive bandages have a cap of sixty pieces. Furthermore, daily disposable contact lenses are restricted to sixty pieces per distinct degree. To navigate these complex 2026 rules successfully, tourists must meticulously review guidelines before packing, ensuring all medical proofs are prepared to prevent legal issues at the border.

管制範圍更延伸至醫療器材與處方用藥，例如時下熱門的「瘦瘦針」減重筆。這類特定製劑必須出示醫師處方箋，且攜帶量以六個月為限；而像OK繃這類常見耗材，上限則為60片。此外，日拋隱形眼鏡限制每種度數最多攜帶60片。為了順利應對這些複雜的2026年新制，遊客在打包行李前務必詳閱相關規範，並備妥所有必要的醫療證明文件，以防在邊境卡關或衍生的法律爭議。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Protocol [noun, a system of fixed rules and formal behavior used in official business]: The government has eliminated the green channel, marking a major shift in customs protocol.Intercept [verb, to stop and catch someone or something before they reach their destination]: This universal screening aims to intercept high-risk prohibited items before they enter the local market.Supplement [noun, a thing added to something else in order to complete or enhance it]: This quota also applies to dietary supplements in tablet or capsule form.Confiscation [noun, the action of taking something away from someone as a penalty]: Commercial intent could lead to confiscation of the excess goods by vigilant customs officers.Meticulously [adverb, in a way that shows great attention to detail; very thoroughly]: To navigate these rules, tourists must meticulously review guidelines before packing.

Reference article:
1. https://www.bella.tw/articles/travel&foodies/54480/fresh-entry-pork
2. https://www.bella.tw/articles/travel&foodies/55585/2026-medication-doctor-drugstore

About WFH - Microsoft to let employees work from home permanently

Software giant Microsoft will let employees work from home permanently if they choose to, US media reported on Friday, becoming the latest employer to expand work-from-home provisions prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

美國媒體週五報導，軟體業巨擘微軟將允許讓員工選擇永久在家工作，在武漢肺炎（新型冠狀病毒病，Covid-19）大流行疫情下，微軟成為最新擴大讓員工遠距上班的雇主。

US tech news website The Verge said most Microsoft employees are still at home as the health crisis drags on, and the company doesn’t expect to reopen its US offices until January of next year at the earliest.

美國科技新聞網站The Verge稱，在這場健康危機拖延之際，大多數微軟員工仍在家辦公，微軟預期最早明年1月才會重新開放在美國的辦公室。

But when it does, workers can choose to work from home permanently with their manager’s approval, although they will have to give up their office space.

但當它重開，員工經主管批准，可以選擇常態性在家工作，儘管他們將必須放棄他們在辦公室的空
間。

Next Article

Working parents’ woes deepen as schools shut down again 學校再次關閉 在職父母的麻煩加深

Working parents of kindergarten and elementary school students are struggling again to find suitable childcare options, as all schools in the Seoul metropolitan area have been ordered to move classes online until Sept. 11.

（南韓）幼兒園和小學學生的在職父母，正再次努力尋找合適的育兒選項。因為首都圈的所有學校，均已被通令將課程改為線上，直到9月11日。

Although the measure was in response to the recent surge in the number of infections among students, teachers and other education workers, remote learning poses a burden to working parents as younger children are less likely to stay focused on lectures for a longer time.

儘管這些措施旨在因應最近在學生、教師與其他教育工作者中，感染人數激增的疫情，但遠距學習對在職父母造成負擔，因為較年幼的孩童，比較不可能長時間專注於課程。

The only option for working parents is sending their children to "emergency child care" classes, set up at schools for kindergarteners and younger elementary students who are in need of care during the day.

在職父母的唯一選項，是將他們的小孩送到「緊急托兒」班，學校的緊急托兒班是為了有日間照顧需求的幼兒園生及低年級小學生而設。
Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1410043 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1396438

Next Article

Topic: The New, Hip Co-Working Spaces

Technology has upended where we work. The line between work and play has been blurred, and the difference between the office and home has all but disappeared.

As a result, there's a new class of white-collar workers who roam the earth looking for places to get their jobs done.

科技顛覆了我們工作的場所。工作與玩樂之間的界線模糊了，辦公室和家的區別也幾乎消失了。
因此，出現了新一類的白領工作者，他們在地球上四處遊走，尋找完成他們工作的地方。

Some of them work from home, curled up on the couch or in a home office — maybe with a drone hovering nearby. Others camp out at expensive cafes, refilling their mugs of fancy coffee throughout the day.
But increasingly, these untethered employees are gathering in a new kind of office known as the co-working space.

他們當中有些人在家工作，蜷縮在沙發上或是家庭辦公室裡，或許還有架無人機在附近盤旋。其他人則是在昂貴的咖啡店內紮營，整天將他們的昂貴咖啡不斷續杯。

然而，這些不受束縛的員工正聚集在一種被稱為共同工作空間的新的辦公室，而且此風日盛。

Surely, you've heard of these places. But their numbers have multiplied across the country in the past few years, filling a niche for those who need more than a cafe but less than an office.

They now come in a wide range of options. Some are fancy; some are not. Some require memberships; some do not. Some target technology workers; others are for writers or small businesses. And in the Los Angeles area, there seems to be a co-working option for every neighborhood and every profession.

你肯定聽說過這些地方，然而它們的數量過去幾年裡在全國卻呈倍數成長，滿足了那些需要一處不只是咖啡店，卻又不像辦公室的場所的小眾的需求。

這種場所如今可有多樣的選擇。有些很昂貴，有些則不會。有些需要是會員，有些則不用。有些瞄準科技業員工，也有些針對作家或小企業。而在洛杉磯地區，每個區里和行業似乎有都共同工作空間可供選擇。

Before you rush out to join a co-working space, there are pros and cons to consider.
Some believe working away from a traditional office improves productivity. A study published last year in The Quarterly Journal of
Economics examined Ctrip, a 16,000-employee Chinese travel agency, where call-center employees were randomly assigned to work in either the office or the home. Those who worked from home were 13 percent more productive, the report found. When Ctrip gave all its workers the option to work from home, productivity grew even further, to 22 percent.

在你急著加入共同工作空間前，必須考量其中利弊。
有些人認為不在傳統辦公室工作能提高生產力。去年發表在經濟學季刊的一項研究報告對於攜程進行了研究。攜程是家有1萬6000名員工的中國大陸旅行社，其客服中心員工被隨機分配到辦公室或是在家工作。這篇報告發現，在家工作的員工生產力多了13%。當攜程讓所有員工在家工作時，生產力更進一步成長22%。

Another study published last year in the journal Sleep Health, found that people who had flexible work schedules slept better than those who had to report to the office at specific times.

But there are studies that raise doubts about working remotely. "How Effective Is Telecommuting?" published last year in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest, found that working from home can make people feel sad. The report says this is likely because of the social and professional isolation experienced from being home alone for too long.

另個去年發表於睡眠健康期刊的研究報告發現，享有彈性工作時間的人比那些必須在特定時間向辦公室報到的人睡得更好。
但也有研究對於遠距工作提出了質疑。去年發表於公共利益心理科學期刊的研究報告「電子通勤效果如何？」發現，在家工作會讓人感到悲傷。報告稱，這很可能是孤獨在家太久而產生的社會與職業隔離感造成的。Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/293698/web/

Next Article

What can employers do if workers avoid COVID-19 vaccines?
若員工不想打疫苗，雇主可以採取哪些措施應對？

What can employers do if workers avoid COVID-19 vaccines?
美國企業雇主可以要求全體員工打疫苗並開除那些不願意配合的人，或是取消公司福利、加收健康保險金等。

They can require vaccination and fire employees who don’t comply or take other actions such as withholding company perks or charging extra for health insurance.
企業在過去數個月以來一直鼓勵員工打疫苗，有時更會祭出休假、發放禮卡等獎勵措施。不過，現在有更多企業採取強硬的立場要求還沒施打的員工完成接種，這種做法在輝瑞疫苗獲得美國食藥署（FDA）核准通過後變得更加普遍。

Businesses for months have been encouraging workers to get vaccinated, in some cases offering incentives like time off or gift cards. But more are taking a harder stance and requiring vaccinations for any remaining holdouts, a push that has gained momentum since Pfizer’s vaccine recently received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
美世諮詢公司（Mercer）的合夥人西蒙斯（Wade Symons）表示，「雇主認為除非公司採取重大的措施，否則這些員工不會去施打疫苗」。

Employers “feel like they’ve sort of hit that point where the unvaccinated are not going to do it unless there’s something significant making them do it,” said Wade Symons, a partner with Mercer, a benefits consultant.
目前，雇主要求員工打疫苗在美國是合法的，他們也有權開除不願意配合的員工。在一些企業裡，未接種疫苗的員工會被要求戴口罩並定期接受篩檢，有的公司則考慮提高未接種者的健康保險金額。

It’s legal for businesses to require the shots, and they could fire employees who don’t comply. In other cases, workers might be required to wear masks or get regular tests for the virus. Some companies also are considering making the unvaccinated pay more for their health insurance.
在達美航空，公司的健康計畫則針對未接種疫苗的員工加收一個月200美金的費用，以分擔未來可能染疫住院所需的開銷。

At Delta Air Lines, unvaccinated employees on the company health plan will be charged $200 a month to help cover costs for possible COVID-19 hospital stays.
西蒙斯表示，其他公司則多會從員工每個月的薪水中小額扣款20-25美金費用(約等同於新台幣600元至750元)，並在員工接種完疫苗後將款項退還。

Symons said other employers will more likely add smaller charges of $20 or $25 per paycheck that might be refunded once the employee is vaccinated.
雇主也可能限制公司的公共空間使用權，只允許打過疫苗的員工上公司健身房運動，或進行商務旅行。在拉斯維加斯，美高梅國際酒店集團
（MGM Resorts International）則規定未接種疫苗的員工若被確診出染疫，公司將不會在其隔離期間給薪。
Employers might also restrict the use of office space, company gyms or business travel only for the vaccinated. In Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International has said unvaccinated employees will not be paid for time off to quarantine if they test positive for the virus.
西蒙斯也指出，這類強制員工打疫苗的規定大多來自需要員工在辦公室工作的企業。

Vaccine requirements will mainly come from businesses that need workers on a job site, Symons said.
不過，針對一些因醫療或宗教因素不打疫苗的員工，雇主必須提出豁免或調解方案。

Employers have to offer exemptions or accommodations from vaccine requirements for some who don’t get the shots for medical or religious reasons.

迪士尼和俄亥俄州立大學（The Ohio State University）是強制員工打疫苗的機構中規模較大的集團，他們表示輝瑞疫苗已經得到食藥署的完整批准，因此將強制要求員工施打。美國國防部長奧斯丁（Lloyd Austin）也表示，軍人必須立刻開始接種疫苗。
Walt Disney World and Ohio State University are among the large employers that said they’ll make vaccination mandatory since Pfizer’s shot was given the FDA’s full approval. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also has said that military troops must immediately begin to get the vaccine. Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20210903-2749357

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延續誇張練習法的話題,John老師和阿鍵老師這集要分享一個被遺忘但超重要的練習技巧:

**錄下自己的聲音!**就像照鏡子才知道自己的表情,錄音才能聽到別人聽到的你。而且,透過跟15Mins音檔比對,你會發現原來那些停頓、語調變化都有意義!
🎧 Podcaster的秘密:為什麼要戴監聽耳機?
阿鍵老師透露:「我們在錄音的時候一邊帶著監聽耳機,這個叫做監聽,是在聽我們自己的聲音!」
監聽的目的:

John老師說:「這叫direct monitoring(直接監聽),當下就要聽到自己哪個咬字不對、聲音飽不飽和。就好像照相,一開始照好了,後面修圖就不用修得那麼辛苦!」

兩種monitoring方式:

同步監聽(Synchronous): 錄音當下戴耳機即時聽非同步回放(Asynchronous): 錄完之後playback剪輯時聽

🔊 為什麼聽自己的聲音這麼奇怪?
John老師解釋:「從物理性來講,我們自己發聲時聽到的聲音是骨傳導,從體內聽到的,不是從耳朵聽到的!所以對著麥克風錄出來再playback,跟我們體內聽到的聲音不太一樣!」
需要習慣多久?
John老師:「50集左右!」

阿鍵老師驚訝:「John老師的50集很快,我的50集大概是一年!你50集大概一個月兩個月就到了!」(當初日更時代)
John老師坦白:「其實不是習慣,是根本無視了!I start to ignore my own voice or how different it is。慢慢就比較在意voice control——我發聲出去有沒有控制力,而不是在意聲音有沒有磁性、像不像radio voice。那個都是其次了!」
真正要在意的是:

大概總共within a month, over three hours of content,三個小時左右的錄音時間就會習慣了!
📱 Language Learning的Recording Benefits

John老師:「Recording yourself has a lot of benefits!在台灣我們都做silent reading(默讀),但還有一種方式:record yourself!」
具體做法:

Take a couple of lines(挑幾行)Record yourself(錄下自己)Play it back(播放回聽)Check your own work(檢查自己的表現)

這樣可以double check和review你的Reading Out Loud到底做到心中的幾分!

🎥 要不要錄影?
阿鍵老師建議:「如果要做的話,可以連夸張的嘴型一起錄!用錄影的,這樣可以連嘴巴的形狀跟聲音一起錄下來!」
John老師:「如果沒有camera shy(鏡頭恐懼)當然沒問題!如果camera shy就先從recording開始。」
阿鍵老師:「Camera shy的話你要一次面對兩個挑戰:聽自己的聲音,還要面對自己的臉!」
John老師:「就好像照鏡子有點害羞,沒有那麼自恃!照久了要慢慢習慣!」

💡 Recording的三大好處
好處1:發現困難點
阿鍵老師:「你會很容易發現自己在哪些地方有困難點,下次就知道要在哪個地方多小心、放慢速度或加強!」
當你遇到比較難發音的字,或某個paragraph念Reading Out Loud有困難,把它錄下來會很明顯!
好處2:Compare Playbacks(比較錄音)
John老師:「我們國際時事跟讀單元,John老師已經念好一種版本,你拿這個文稿自己做Reading Out Loud exercise,自己錄自己,然後兩個recording做comparison(比較)!」
可以清楚抓到細節:

阿鍵老師:「這就有點像我們上次提到英文比較像rhyming(有韻律感),用playback的時候就可以聽得出來句子的節奏!」
好處3:培養細節敏感度
John老師用咖啡比喻:「就像我們煮兩杯咖啡來比較哪一杯比較好喝、喜歡哪種豆的風味。有了comparison以後,對細節的敏感度會非常非常好!」
阿鍵老師:「你同時要練的部分蠻多的:耳朵的聽覺反應、嘴巴的肌肉,它的速度累積都需要一段時間練習!」

⏱️ 練習建議:不用太長!
阿鍵老師貼心提醒:「時間不用太長,一段大概30秒到90秒,跟一個reels的時間差不多就夠了!」
回聽時的重點:

📈 每次都會進步!
John老師鼓勵:「每一次的recording都不是考試!你下一個recording一定會比之前的recording更好!」
Podcast界的智慧:
「很多人錄podcast錄一兩集就想放棄,覺得『哇我怎麼那麼難聽,口條怎麼這麼差』。但沒有人生下來口條就好的!」
阿鍵老師:「我們建議大家都要自己錄、自己剪輯。剪輯是你最快知道自己哪個地方要進步的方式!」
進步公式:

🎁 農曆年前活動持續中!
每週挑一兩段小段落或few lines來做這樣的練習,有體會的時候:Use the comment link and let us know your experience!
分享你的:

我們繼續累積農曆年前的好寶寶貼紙!

👨‍👩‍👦 Shout Out時間
1️⃣ 香港小吉與Winston:
去年中秋節帶月餅來台灣的香港朋友小吉,這次Winston哥哥聽到克寧老師美食單元(Café某集)講到生日要帶「乖乖桶」跟同學分享,很好奇:「乖乖桶是什麼?那是可以吃的嗎?」
John老師:「現在都很難找到了,結果他來台灣要找這個東西!香港沒有乖乖桶!」
答案:可以吃!是滿滿一桶的軟糖(Gummies)——乖乖Gummies!
感謝小吉和Winston每次一上車就play English Café!Winston, keep listening to the foodie stuff!

「牽起慢飛天使的手，用愛築起希望花園。」

每個孩子都是獨特花朵。公益大使楊祐寧邀您響應伊甸「弱勢兒童服務計畫」，

每月只要300元，就能讓慢飛天使在成長黃金期，獲得專業的協助，也能給予照顧者支持力量。

https://fstry.pse.is/8zs2wl

—— 以上為 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

Summary:
The pandemic in 2020 has changed many aspects of our lives. In Japan, it did not only affect the economy, but also their office processing. Japan, like Taiwan has a culture that require paperwork such as memos be confirmed or checked off with a personal seal/chop. Since the Japanese Minister has called on citizens to stay at home during the pandemic, he asked the government to change the custom of using seals to promote remote work. At the same time, the government require small businesses applying for subsidies to hand in the paperwork in person at unemployment offices, which is in conflict with the Prime Minister’s intentions of promoting remote work. This custom was imported from China from over a thousand years ago, where citizens were required to legally register their name to use on important documents.

原文章討論: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-850-japan-taking-another-look-at-ancient-seal-custom-to-push

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Custom n. – a tradition or a widely accepted way of behaving The local custom dictates that you take off your shoes before entering into other people’s homes. When in Rome do as Romans do means you should follow the local customs whereever you go.

Formalize v. – give something legal or formal status / give something structure or shape The use of a seal was formalized by Japan’s modern government in 1800s. Our business relationship will be formalized through a business contract.

Telecommute n. – work from home through the use of internet or phone My boss wants me to start telecommuting next week. You need to check the stability of your internet connection in order to telecommute. 

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今天介紹的這首《Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night》可是大有來頭，它不只曾出現在電影《星際效應》（Interstellar）和《危險遊戲》（Dangerous Minds）中用來渲染關鍵劇情的張力，作者 Dylan Thomas 更是我們廣播和有聲書的大大大前輩喔！

「Good Night」只是單純的晚安嗎？詩中不斷重複的 "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" 又是什麼意思呢？趕快收聽本集節目，讓John老師為你注入面對生命的「戰鬥力」吧！

Today's featured piece, "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night," has quite the pedigree! Not only has it appeared in films like "Interstellar" and "Dangerous Minds" to intensify key dramatic moments, but its author Dylan Thomas is also a great, great predecessor of ours in radio and audiobook work!

Is "Good Night" simply a way to say goodnight? What does the repeatedly mentioned "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" in the poem really mean? Tune in to this episode quickly and let John inject you with the "fighting spirit" to face life!

單身租屋族有機會免繳稅？  

幼兒、長照扣除額有感大升級 

《十樂不設 💰進人生》邀請國稅局局長親自解密報稅大禮包  

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國際時事跟讀VIP Ep. L136: Trump's Greenland Ultimatum Sparks NATO Crisis

Highlights 主題摘要

In a move shaking the global geopolitical landscape this January 2026, President Donald Trump has aggressively renewed his campaign to acquire Greenland. Following recent US military decisiveness in Venezuela, the White House has signaled that taking control of the vast Arctic territory is a critical national security priority. Trump explicitly argued that American ownership is essential to deter adversaries, even suggesting that the use of military assets remains a potential option if diplomatic avenues fail to secure the island. This resurgence of what was once considered a mere "real estate fantasy" has now hardened into a concrete foreign policy objective.

2026 年 1 月，川普總統大動作重啟「收購格陵蘭」計畫，此舉在國際地緣政治版圖投下震撼彈。繼美軍近期在委內瑞拉展現雷厲風行的行動後，白宮已明確定調，將掌控這片廣袤的北極領土視為攸關國家安全的優先事項。川普明確主張，美國擁有格陵蘭主權是嚇阻敵對勢力的必要手段，甚至暗示若外交斡旋失敗，不排除動用軍事資產來達成目標。這項一度被譏為單純「炒房狂想」的議題，如今已轉化為具體且強硬的外交戰略目標。

The strategic logic behind this demand centers on Greenland’s pivotal location and untapped resources. Situated between North America and Europe, the island commands the "GIUK gap," a maritime corridor vital for monitoring Russian naval activity. Furthermore, as melting ice opens new shipping lanes, the territory has become a hotspot for competition with China and securing dominance in the high north. The administration views Greenland’s massive deposits of rare earth minerals as indispensable for reducing dependence on foreign supply chains for advanced military technology.

這項要求背後的戰略邏輯，核心在於格陵蘭樞紐般的地理位置及其未開發資源。該島位於北美與歐洲之間，扼守著監控俄羅斯海軍動向的咽喉：「GIUK 缺口」海廊。此外，隨著冰層融化開啟新航道，該地已成為與中國角力及鞏固極北霸權的兵家必爭之地。川普當局認為，格陵蘭蘊藏的龐大稀土礦藏，對於降低先進軍事科技對海外供應鏈的依賴，具有絕對的不可取代性。

Tensions escalated when President Trump declared that NATO should actively facilitate the territory's transfer to American jurisdiction. He asserted that the alliance would become "far more formidable" with Greenland under US command, dismissing alternatives as unacceptable. White House officials are reportedly drafting acquisition options ranging from economic incentives to coercive measures. This direct challenge has transformed a diplomatic disagreement into a severe test of alliance unity, as Washington doubles down on its "America First" doctrine.

當川普總統宣稱北約應積極促成該領土移交美國管轄時，緊張局勢急遽升溫。他斷言若格陵蘭納入美軍指揮體系，北約戰力將「如虎添翼」，並駁斥任何替代方案皆無法接受。據傳白宮官員正研擬各種併購劇本，手段涵蓋經濟誘因乃至於強制性措施。隨著華府加倍貫徹「美國優先」路線，這項直接挑戰已將一場外交分歧，演變成對盟國團結度的嚴峻試煉。

The response from Copenhagen and Nuuk has been immediate, creating a "fundamental disagreement" that threatens the NATO alliance. Danish officials and Greenland’s leadership have firmly rejected the proposal, emphasizing that the autonomous territory is not for sale. European leaders have rallied behind Denmark, warning that forced annexation would violate international law and shatter trust. Despite intense political pressure from Washington, the Greenlandic people remain resolute in their desire for self-determination, insisting that their home cannot be bought.

哥本哈根與努克（格陵蘭首府）當局隨即強力回擊，雙方爆發危及北約聯盟的「根本性分歧」。丹麥官員與格陵蘭領導層嚴正拒絕這項提議，強調該自治領土絕非待價而沽的商品。歐洲各國領袖紛紛聲援丹麥，警告強行兼併將違反國際法並摧毀互信基礎。儘管面臨華府排山倒海的政治施壓，格陵蘭人民捍衛自決權的意志堅定不移，堅持家園不容買賣。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Indispensable [adjective, absolutely necessary; essential]: The administration views rare earth minerals as indispensable for reducing dependence on foreign supply chains.Jurisdiction [noun, the official power to make legal decisions and judgments]: Trump declared that NATO should actively facilitate the territory's transfer to American jurisdiction.Coercive [adjective, relating to using force or threats]: White House officials are drafting acquisition options ranging from economic incentives to coercive measures.Autonomous [adjective, having the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs]: Danish officials and Greenland’s leadership emphasized that the autonomous territory is not for sale.Annexation [noun, the action of seizing something, especially territory]: European leaders warned that forced annexation would violate international law and shatter trust.

Reference article:
1. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/06/europe/why-trump-wants-greenland-importance-intl
2. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74x4m71pmjo

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Topic: Chinese ready meals have more salt than 11 bags of potato chips

Chinese takeaways and ready meals should carry compulsory health warning labels on menus and packaging to alert consumers to “astonishing and harmful” salt levels, UK health experts have recommended.

英國健康專家建議，外帶餐廳或是超市販售的即食中式料理，應該在菜單中以及包裝上強制加上健康危害警告標語，提醒消費者餐點中的含鹽量達到「令人驚恐而且有害」的程度。

The worst-offending Chinese takeaway dishes in a survey published on March 13 by Action on Salt were found to have as much salt as five McDonald’s Big Macs, while many had more than half an adult’s entire daily allowance.Supermarket Chinese ready meals were also laden with salt, with some containing more than the amount found in two Pizza Express margherita pizzas, the report reveals. Some rice dishes contained more salt than 11 bags of ready salted crisps.

英國組織「抗鹽行動」在三月十三日發布一項調查結果，發現那些對健康造成最嚴重危害的外帶型中式料理，其中鹽分的含量相等於五個麥當勞大麥克堡，還有許多菜餚的含鹽量超過一個成人每日食鹽建議攝取量的一半。這份報告同時揭露出超市的即食中式料理同樣充滿著鹽分，其中一些菜餚含鹽量遠超過連鎖義式餐廳Pizza Express的兩個瑪格麗特披薩。某些米飯類料理所含的鹽分甚至超過十一袋加鹽的洋芋片。

Action on Salt is leading a group of health experts in calling on Public Health England to set tough new salt targets, make front-of-pack labelling mandatory and to follow New York’s lead by requiring chains to put warning labels on high-salt dishes. They are also urging the food industry and restaurants to reduce salt by reformulating takeaways and ready meals.

「抗鹽行動」組織率領一群健康專家，向英國公共衛生部呼籲應制定嚴格的新鹽分標準、強制食物包裝正面必須加上標示，並且仿效紐約之前率先採取的行動，也就是要求連鎖超市或餐廳必須在高鹽分菜餚的包裝上加註警語。他們同時也呼籲食品產業和餐廳重新設計外帶與即食料理的成份，減少其中的鹽分。

Of 141 supermarket Chinese ready meals analysed, nearly half (43 percent) were high in salt — containing more than 1.5g/100g, or 1.8g per portion — which would trigger a red “traffic light” label.

在經過分析的一百四十一種中式即食料理中，有接近半數（百分之四十三）的菜餚含鹽量過高──每一百克的菜餚中就有超過一點五克的鹽，或是一份菜餚中含有一點八克的鹽──可能導致身體中的鹽分攝取亮起紅燈。

“Salt is the forgotten killer as it puts up our blood pressure, leading to tens of thousands of unnecessary strokes, heart failure and heart attacks every year,” said Graham MacGregor, the chairman of Action on Salt and a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary University of London.“

「抗鹽行動」的理事長葛拉漢‧麥可葛瑞格表示：「食鹽是經常遭到忽略的殺手，它會增加我們的血壓，每年導致好幾萬個可以避免的中風、心臟衰竭，以及急性心臟病等案例」。葛拉漢‧麥可葛瑞格同時也是倫敦瑪麗王后大學心血管醫藥研究部門的教授。

Reducing salt is the most cost-effective measure to reduce the number of people dying or suffering from strokes or heart disease.”Accompanying rice dishes, spring rolls and prawn crackers — and soy sauce — can pile on the salt in a Chinese meal.Dishes from six Chinese restaurants were also analysed, with 97 percent found to contain 2g of salt or more. More than half (58 percent) contained in excess of 3g of salt per dish: Half an adult’s maximum recommended daily intake.

「要減少中風或心臟疾病的死亡人數或罹病者數量，減少鹽分是最有效率又成本最低的措施。」
中式餐點如果搭配米飯類菜餚，或是春捲和蝦餅──再淋上醬油──鹽分就會大幅增加。
這個組織同時也分析了六間中式餐廳的多種料理，有百分之九十七的菜餚含有兩公克或以上的鹽分。超過半數（百分之五十八）的菜餚每份的含鹽量甚至超過三公克──這已經是一位成人每日食鹽建議最大攝取量的一半了。

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2018/03/25/2003689953

Next Article

Topic: ‘Free chips with your bag of air’ is good for you, says FDA

Have you ever felt like you have been conned when you joyfully open a bag of potato chips, only to find a mere handful of chips inside? The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) says that storage in a sealed bag filled with nitrogen is necessary to keep the chips fresh and tasty.

你是否曾經有過滿心歡喜打開洋芋片，卻發現裡面東西只有一點點，感覺像被騙呢？台灣食品藥物管理署表示，為了保持洋芋片的新鮮美味，密封包裝以及氮氣充填保存是必須的。

The TFDA shared a post on its Facebook page and an article on its Web site, in which it said that potato chips are fried at a high temperature during the manufacturing process, and when they come into contact with air they can easily become oxidized, which would tend to make them turn soft and crumble, and can even make them smell and taste rancid.

食藥署在臉書專頁「食用玩家-食藥署」及食藥好文網發文分享，洋芋片的製造過程會經高溫油炸，與空氣接觸後易氧化，導致洋芋片容易變軟、破碎，甚至還會產生油耗味，變得不好吃。

The TFDA explained that a sealed bag can prevent the chips from coming into contact with air, thus reducing oxidation and extending their shelf life. This it done by sealing them inside a plastic bag lined with a compound material such as tin foil or aluminum foil. As well as keeping out contamination by things like air, grease, damp and microbes, it can also help to prevent light exposure and reduce oxidation.

食藥署說明，密封包裝可以避免洋芋片接觸空氣，減少氧化的程度，延長保存期限。目前是運用內層有錫箔或鋁箔等複合性材質的塑膠包裝袋密封，不僅能阻擋空氣、油脂、潮濕、細菌微生物等外在汙染，錫箔或鋁箔的材質還可以輔助避光，減少氧化。

The TFDA says that food manufacturers pump the bags full of nitrogen to prevent the chips from being damaged and broken by knocking or crushing during transportation. Nitrogen is chemically stable and does not easily react with other substances. It is the most plentiful gas in the Earth’s atmosphere, comprising 78.09 percent of its total volume, which makes it easy and cheap to obtain. “Nitrogen flushing” technology can therefore be used to ensure the quality and safety of potato chips, making them look wholesome and taste good as well as keeping them free from contamination by bacteria or other microbes.

食藥署表示，為了避免洋芋片在運送的過程中因碰撞、擠壓而受損碎裂，食品製造業者會在包裝中填充足夠的氮氣量。氮氣的化學性質穩定，不容易與其他物質發生化學反應，也是地球大氣中含量最多的氣體，佔總體積的百分之七十八點零九，方便取得且成本較低，所以透過「氮氣充填」的技術，能確保洋芋片的品質與安全，使洋芋片外觀完整、口味好吃又不受細菌微生物汙染。 Source article:
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/10/12/2003765925

Next Article

Topic: Taiwanese cakes take London by storm

近年來，台灣美食小吃席捲不少國家，像是珍奶就成功擄獲外國人的胃。近日，美國網路媒體Insider在官方推特分享台式「車輪餅」製作影片，引起不少外國人好奇關注。

Taiwanese food has taken many countries by storm in recent years, such as boba milk tea. Recently, the U.S. online media Insider shared a video of the making of “Taiwaneses cakes” on its official Twitter account, drawing much attention from social media users.
Insider旗下美食頻道Food Insider於12月26日貼出一則影片，介紹位在英國倫敦的一家「小島車輪餅」，拍攝道地車輪餅的製作過程，並訪問台灣老闆林意庭。
Food Insider, a popular food channel, posted a video on Dec. 26, introducing a shop called “Wheelcake Island” in London.

在影片貼文中，外媒形容「這個最受歡迎的小吃點心就像兩片鬆軟的鬆餅夾內餡，你們想吃哪個口味呢？」
The tweet reads, “The popular street food snack is made by sandwiching a filling between two fluffy pancakes — which one would you like to try?”

影片中，林意庭受訪時向外國記者介紹道，「這是我們在台灣每天都會吃、非常受歡迎的傳統點心。」
In the video, Lin explained: “It’s a very popular traditional street snack we have every day in Taiwan.”

林意庭說，因為他們非常喜歡車輪餅，才決定把這樣美食帶到倫敦。
He added that they decided to bring the snack to London because they love wheelcakes very much.

「小島車輪餅」的吉祥物是一隻青蛙，因為林意庭覺得這隻青蛙符合他們的精神，「放鬆、享受生活，好似牠吃了幾噸重的車輪餅。」
Asked about the reason why they used a frog on their logo, Lin said: ” We feel like we like its spirit very much. Very relaxed and enjoying. Feels like he has eaten tons of wheelcakes.”

車輪餅餡料都是老闆一手包辦，真材實料，共販賣四種口味，分別是經典香草卡士達、牛奶巧克力、抹茶、以及紅豆。
Fillings, which are made from scratch, include four flavors: classic vanilla custard, milk chocolate, green tea, and adzuki beans.

每個車輪餅售價3英鎊 (約新台幣114元)。許多外國網友看到紛紛在影片下留言，「我想要做做看車輪餅」、「看起來好好吃」。
Each cake costs £3 (about NT$114). In response to the video, one social media user commented, “I would love to make them” while another said “Yummy.”
Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20201228-1965725

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🎤 為什麼練習要夸張?因為練習場大哥不等於實戰高手!
延續上週的發音錯誤主題,這集John老師和阿鍵老師要分享更technical的內容:配音員Angel老師的暖身秘訣!為什麼練習要夸張?因為「Aim for the moon and you will reach the star」,更重要的是——口腔發音是肌肉訓練,不push到極限,你怎麼知道自己的極限在哪裡?

💪 夸張練習的核心原理:肌肉記憶
John老師解釋:「這跟去健身房、游泳一樣,不push到極限,你不知道生理極限在哪裡。口腔也是一樣!舌頭沒有伸出來,你怎麼知道你有舌頭?」
發音的三大要素:

Vocal chord(聲帶)口腔肌肉(留一個空洞讓聲音回盪)舌頭(做靈活動作讓聲音轉化、變形)

阿鍵老師:「口腔叫做『腔』,就是中間有一個洞,我們要讓這個洞打開!」

為什麼平時不夸張?
John老師說:「練習的時候夸張,平時發揮的時候才會正常!我們平常講話會打個七折左右。如果你夸張演繹intonation,在日常跟人講電話時並不是這樣,但你的muscle memory會記得『我嘴巴要打開,讓人家聽到我每一個音節』!」

練習場大哥 vs 實戰高手的比喻:
John老師幽默地說:「我全馬跑一個半小時(練習場),高爾夫球打72桿(練習場),但上場就廢了!因為練習都是平的,沒有高坡度。實際情況有風吹日晒、爬坡下坡!」
「所以Driving Range Pro(練習場的Pro)不等於真正下場的Pro。練心態練久了,你沒下場就只是練習場大哥!」
重點:練習是為了實戰,讓你有muscle memory,舌頭靈活,抗拒感降最低!

🎭 Angel老師偷師來的配音員暖身法
John老師和阿鍵老師去偷學Angel老師(聲優/配音員)的練習法!
聲優進錄音室前的暖身重點:

Angel老師分享的暖身三步驟:
步驟1:嘴部肌肉練習(不發聲)
1.嘴巴張到最大

2.細部嘴唇練習

3.放鬆練習

阿鍵老師補充按摩師教的技巧:「用力咬住然後放開,你就會知道放鬆是什麼感覺!像橡皮筋拉到最長再放鬆,恢復肌肉的感受!」

步驟2:母音AEIOU練習
從最基本的母音開始:

台灣人比較不熟的:

John老師:「張開你不習慣,就很容易吃掉那個音節,變成A或乾脆不發音就跳過,尤其是字尾的最後一個音節就不見了!」
記住:Go crazy!過頭、夸張地練習!看到音節時會有更好的掌握度!

🎯 Practice vs Performance的黃金比例
John老師提醒:「Practice是一個樣,上場是另一個樣!打七折不是你心裡打折,你還是要努力發音!你回到原來狀態就會打折了,結果你在原來狀態再打折——七折再七折,我們沒有要跳樓拍賣,那可能就骨折了!」 😂
正確心態:

🍷 克寧老師的秘密武器:喝一杯小酒?
阿鍵老師提到之前English Café單元:「克寧老師基本上都會喝酒,稍微放鬆一點,英文外語可以講得更好!」
John老師:「對某些人來講,英文的靈魂就會上升,上輩子的英文靈魂上升!Whatever makes you comfortable, you do that!」

📚 自然發音法 vs KK/IPA音標的世代差異
話題延伸到小朋友和大人的學習方式差異:
現在小朋友:自然發音法(Phonics)

老人家:KK音標/IPA

世代衝突:
John老師:「小朋友去補習班回來,那個老師如果是加拿大人,可能每個音節都要念出來。你跟小朋友說『我老師不是這樣教的』,他說『KK音標是老人家在用的』,你就會吵架!」

🎪 實用通勤練習法
阿鍵老師:「捷運上可能不好練習RRRAAA,但可以練嘴型!」
Conference前的準備: 在會議前把facial muscles(面部肌肉)稍微移動一下,等一下的full English meeting可以比較順暢!
可以練習的:

🎁 持續活動:農曆年前送周邊
練習TH音、V音、L音這些,記得用comment link回覆你的feedback和insight:

想要加入這個充滿學習熱忱的VIP社群嗎？
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Summary:
The first article discusses how junk food messes with our brain chemistry, making us stupid and not feeling full. Thus triggering a desire for more junk food. The second article found that if you need to sit all day, kneeling or squatting is much healthier for people, than sitting on a chair. 

原文章討論：https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-847-about-scientific-research-certain-junk-foods-could-be

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Undermine v.: make something weaker or less effective Did the mistake undermine her confidence? Would you fire someone who undermines your authority?

Amiss adj + adv.: not as it should be Is there something amiss with your sleep patterns? Is there something amiss with the climate?

Sedentary adj.: a lot of time sitting Are you sedentary on the weekends? Is a standing desk a great alternative to a sedentary lifestyle at work? 

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你搭飛機時，是否曾好奇空服員之間的「神秘對話」？當他們透過對講機說出 "Cockroach" 或 "Deadhead" 時，其實指的可能不是昆蟲或死腦筋，而是飛機上不能讓乘客知道的秘密？本集《英語咖啡館》是 Angel 老師2026年的首次上場， John 老師準備了一些機組員才懂的航空業「暗號」要來考考她！

你知道為什麼有些穿著制服搭機的組員必須全程把自己「蓋起來」嗎？或是當空服員在登機門口親切問候時，其實眼神正在掃描誰是關鍵的 "ABP"？Angel 老師要來分享這些行話背後的故事與規範，絕對讓你在下次的旅行有全新的觀察。

When you're on a flight, have you ever been curious about the "mysterious conversations" between flight attendants? When they say "Cockroach" or "Deadhead" through the intercom, they might not actually be referring to insects or stubborn people, but rather secrets on the plane that passengers can't know about? This episode of "English Cafe" marks Angel's first appearance in 2026, and John has prepared some aviation industry "code words" that only crew members understand to quiz her!

Do you know why some crew members in uniform must keep themselves "covered up" throughout the flight? Or when flight attendants greet you warmly at the boarding gate, their eyes are actually scanning to identify who is the critical "ABP"? Angel shares the stories and regulations behind this jargon, giving you completely new insights for your next trip.

KUMON Podcast《從學會到會學》

💙解鎖自學力：化被動為主動

💛教養不煩惱：掌握教養關鍵

💜超越滿分：榜樣啟發可能

❤️教育未來式：AI時代能力趨勢

5/18-5/30 免費體驗招生中，立即預約

https://fstry.pse.is/8ynb3z

—— 以上為 FMTaiwan 與 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

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📜 單集逐字稿 & 內容摘要（播放器字數有限，完整逐字稿請到官網查看）
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KUMON Podcast《從學會到會學》

💙解鎖自學力：化被動為主動

💛教養不煩惱：掌握教養關鍵

💜超越滿分：榜樣啟發可能

❤️教育未來式：AI時代能力趨勢

5/18-5/30 免費體驗招生中，立即預約

https://fstry.pse.is/8ynb3z

—— 以上為 FMTaiwan 與 Firstory Podcast 廣告 ——

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L136: Rich Feast, Poor Starve: The K-Shaped Economy Reality

Highlights 主題摘要

The year 2026 has solidified a starkly divided reality known as the "K-shaped" economy, where financial fortunes diverge sharply based on social class. While wealthy households celebrate record-breaking stock market gains and robust investment returns, working-class families are continuously battling a severe cost-of-living crisis. This economic phenomenon has created a split-screen existence across the nation: one privileged group enjoys luxury spending, while the other faces mounting debts and the agonizing decision to sacrifice holiday celebrations just to keep food on the table.

2026 年，「K型經濟」的殘酷現實已然成形，貧富差距徹底拉大。當富人忙著慶祝股市頻創新高、投資荷包滿滿的同時，工薪階層卻深陷生活成本飆升的泥淖。這種經濟現象讓美國社會彷彿活在兩個平行時空：特權階級豪擲千金享受生活，另一端的人們卻背負著沉重卡債，為了求頓溫飽，甚至不得不忍痛放棄過節。

For ordinary citizens like Marcus Satterfield, booming macroeconomic statistics feel like a cruel illusion rather than reality. Despite having steady employment, his purchasing power has been eroded by inflation, forcing him to slash budgets and consider driving for Uber to afford groceries. Similarly, retirees on fixed incomes are struggling to manage skyrocketing medical bills and utility costs. Federal data confirms this distress, revealing that credit card delinquencies have surged to a fourteen-year high as families exhaust their savings to cover basic daily necessities.

對於像 Marcus Satterfield 這樣的小老百姓來說，亮眼的總體經濟數據不但無感，反倒像場殘酷的笑話。儘管工作穩定，通膨卻吃掉了他的薪水，逼得他必須大砍預算，甚至考慮去開 Uber 貼補日常開銷。同樣地，依靠固定退休金生活的長輩，也被飆漲的醫藥費和水電瓦斯費壓得喘不過氣。聯邦數據證實了這股慘況：為了支付日常開銷，許多家庭已將積蓄耗盡，導致信用卡違約率飆升至十四年來新高。

The financial strain is further compounded by a "hiring recession," making it increasingly difficult for people to find second jobs or secure better wages. As safety nets shrink, desperate households are relying on credit cards, leading to a dangerous cycle of high-interest debt that threatens their long-term stability. Economists warn that while aggregate numbers look healthy, serious pockets of pain exist, with student loan defaults and personal bankruptcies climbing rapidly. For the bottom half of the economy, there is simply no end in sight.

雪上加霜的是，就業市場正面臨「求職寒冬」，民眾想找兼差或跳槽加薪變得難上加難。隨著社會安全網破洞越來越大，走投無路的家庭只能刷卡度日，陷入高循環利息的債務黑洞，嚴重威脅未來的財務穩定。經濟學家示警，雖然整體數據光鮮亮麗，但暗處卻充滿隱憂，學貸違約和個人破產數正急速攀升。對經濟底層的一半人口而言，這場苦難似乎還看不到盡頭。

Looking ahead, there are faint glimmers of hope as retailers begin cutting prices to stimulate sluggish demand. However, experts caution that these potential savings may be offset by a weakening labor market and slowing wage growth in the coming months. While proposed tax cuts might offer some relief, the immediate outlook remains precarious. Without structural changes to bridge this widening wealth gap, the punishing wind of this two-lane economy will continue to leave vulnerable populations behind.

展望未來，零售商為了搶救買氣也許會開始降價，這似乎透出一絲微小的希望。但專家同時也警告，勞動市場疲軟與薪資成長停滯，恐怕會抵銷掉這些降價帶來的小確幸。雖然擬議中的減稅方案或許能稍解燃眉之急，但眼前的局勢仍然岌岌可危。若沒有結構性改革來縮小貧富差距，這種「一個國家，兩個世界」（雙軌經濟；two-lane economy）的經濟寒風，將繼續無情地掃向弱勢族群。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Starkly [adverb, in a way that is very obvious and often grim or harsh]: The year 2026 has solidified a starkly divided reality known as the K-shaped economy.Diverge [verb, to follow a different direction or to become different]: In this economy, financial fortunes diverge sharply based on social class.Agonizing [adjective, causing extreme physical or mental pain or difficulty]: Many families face the agonizing decision to sacrifice holiday celebrations just to keep food on the table.Delinquencies [noun, failure to pay money that is owed on time]: Federal data reveals that credit card delinquencies have surged to a fourteen-year high.Precarious [adjective, not safe or certain; dangerous]: While tax cuts might offer some relief, the immediate economic outlook remains precarious.

Reference article: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/31/economy/k-shaped-consumers-left-behind-2026

A coronavirus "vaccination persuasion" initiative is gearing up to be rolled out across Turkey after proving a resounding success in a district in the country’s south-east.

一項新冠病毒「接種疫苗勸說」倡議在土耳其東南部一個地區證明成效卓著後，正加緊在全國各地推出。

Since February, doctors and healthcare workers in the mainly Kurdish city of Adıyaman have been calling people in age groups already eligible for the vaccine to ask why they have not come to clinics for appointments.

醫師和醫護人員2月起在以庫德族為主的阿德亞曼市，打電話給符合接種年齡資格的族群，詢問他們為什麼沒有到診所預約接種。

Then, equipped with cooler boxes full of vaccine vials, they fan out across the rural area to visit patients who are still reluctant.

然後，他們帶著裝滿疫苗針劑的保冷箱，在這個鄉村地區四處拜訪仍不願去接種疫苗的患者。

It is working, boosting the vaccine take-up rate among the 250,000 strong population scattered across the province’s central district by nearly 30%.
此舉確實發揮作用，將散佈該省中心地區約25萬人口的疫苗接種率，提高了將近30%。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1452359;

Next Article

Topic: Prehistoric settlement in Turkey bears telltale signs of modern woes

Overcrowding. Violence. Infectious diseases. Environmental degradation. It may sound like the worst of modern mega-cities.
過度擁擠、暴力、傳染性疾病、環境惡化，這聽起來就像是最惡劣的現代巨型都市。

But people encountered these very same problems when the first large settlements were being established millennia ago as humans began to swap a nomadic hunter-gatherer existence for a lifestyle centered on farming, scientists said on June 17, based on findings from a prehistoric site in south-central Turkey.
不過，科學家在六月十七日指出，根據土耳其中南部一處史前遺址發現的證據顯示，人們早在幾千年前建立最初的大型聚落時，就遭遇過這些類似的問題，人類當時正開始從遊牧式狩獵採集的生活型態轉換成農牧為主的生活方式。

The researchers examined 742 human skeletons unearthed at the prehistoric ruins of Catalhoyuk, inhabited from 9,100 to 7,950 years ago during a pivotal time in human evolution, for clues about what life was like at one of the earliest sizable settlements in the archeological record. At its peak, 3,500 to 8,000 people lived there, with the researchers calling it a “proto-city.”
研究人員檢驗「加泰土丘」史前遺跡出土的七百四十二具人類骨骸，希望能找到線索，拼湊出人類當初在這處大型聚落中生活的樣貌。加泰土丘是考古紀錄中年代最早的一處大型聚落遺址，人類在九千一百年前到七千九百五十年前居住於此，當時正好是人類演化的關鍵時刻。在巔峰時期，當地約有三千五百到八千位居民，研究人員遂稱此地為一個「原始城市」。

The residents experienced a high rate of infections, as seen in their teeth and bones, probably caused by diseases spreading in crowded conditions amid challenges to proper hygiene, the researchers said. Overcrowding may have contributed to interpersonal violence. Many skulls bore evidence of healed fractures to the top or back of the cranium, some with multiple injuries.
研究人員表示，居民的牙齒跟骸骨顯示他們遭到感染的比例相當高，可能是因為擁擠的生活條件，難以維持良好衛生，使得疾病於其中散播。過度擁擠也可能導致人與人之間發生暴力行為。證據在於，許多頭骨在頭蓋骨上方或後腦處可見癒合後的骨裂痕跡，有些頭骨還有多處損傷。

The shape of these injuries indicates they may have been caused by hard clay balls found at Catalhoyuk that researchers suspect were used as projectiles from a sling weapon. “A key message that people will take from these findings is that our current behaviors have deep roots in the history of humankind,” said Ohio State University biological anthropologist Clark Spencer Larsen, who led the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
從形狀研判，這些損傷可能是遭到堅硬的黏土球體撞擊而導致。研究人員懷疑，在加泰土丘發現的黏土球當時可能被用來當作投石器或彈弓的子彈。「人們從這些發現中獲得的關鍵訊息就是，我們目前的行為模式在人類歷史中有著很深的根源，」俄亥俄州立大學的生物人類學家克拉克‧史賓瑟‧拉爾森這麼說，他是這篇發表於《美國國家科學院院刊》研究的主持人。

“The people living in this community faced challenges of life in settlements addressing fundamental issues: what to eat, who produces the food, how is the food distributed, what are the social norms for division of labor, the challenges of infection and infectious disease in settings where there is limited sanitation, the strategy of interpersonal relationships involving animosity in some instances,” Larsen added.
拉爾森補充指出：「住在這個社群中的人們，當時在聚落生活中面臨解決基礎問題的挑戰：要吃什麼、誰負責做東西吃、食物如何分配、分工的社會規範是什麼、感染和傳染性疾病在環境衛生受限的情況下帶來的挑戰，以及在某些場合中當人際關係牽涉到敵意時該採取的策略。」

As the world emerged from the last Ice Age, with warmer conditions conducive to crop domestication, there was a shift from foraging to farming beginning 10,000 to 12,000 years ago among people in numerous places. The people grew crops including wheat, barley and rye and raised sheep, goats and eventually cattle. Some homes boasted wall murals, and other art included stone figurines of animals and corpulent women.
在一萬到一萬兩千年前，隨著世界從上一次冰河時期中浮現，加上較溫暖的氣候條件有助於人工培植農作物，世界各地的人們開始從搜尋食物轉為從事農業。加泰土丘當地人類種植的作物包括小麥、大麥、裸麥，也會飼養綿羊、山羊，最後甚至還有牛。有些家屋裡繪有壁畫，其他藝術品則包含主題為動物或是豐滿女性的石雕像。

Catalhoyuk’s residents lived in clay brick structures akin to apartments, entering and exiting through ladders that connected the living areas of houses to the roofs. After death, residents were buried in pits dug into the floors of the homes.
加泰土丘的居民住在由黏土磚砌成的建築結構，類似公寓的模樣，只不過進出是靠連接屋內起居空間和屋頂的階梯。居民過世後，其他人會在家屋的地板底下挖洞，將他們埋葬於其中。

Catalhoyuk, measuring about 13 hectares, was continuously occupied for 1,150 years and appears to have been a largely egalitarian community. It was eventually abandoned, perhaps because of environmental degradation caused by the human population and a drying climate that made farming there harder, the researchers said.
加泰土丘面積約十三公頃，持續有人居住長達一千一百五十年之久，看起來像是一個大致上平等的社群。研究人員表示，當地最後被放棄的原因可能是因為人口數量導致環境惡化，而逐漸乾燥的氣候也讓農業變得較難進行。
Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/07/07/2003718231/2

Next Article

Topic: Spurning Erdogan’s Vision, Turks Leave in Droves, Draining Money and Talent

17年來，土耳其總統厄多安靠著給選民一個願景而連連勝選，那就是恢復土耳其鄂圖曼帝國時期的光榮。他藉由加強貿易和軍事部署擴大土耳其的影響力，並用多年不間斷的經濟成長提高生活水準。
For 17 years, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won elections by offering voters a vision of restoring the glories of Turkey’s Ottoman past. He extended his country’s influence with increased trade and military deployments, and he raised living standards with years of unbroken economic growth.

但在2016年發生一場未遂政變後，厄多安展開了全面鎮壓。去年土耳其經濟情勢不穩，而且在厄多安贏得連任並獲取更大權力後不久後，土耳其里拉就驟貶。隨著土耳其政府任人唯親和威權的情況更加嚴重，土耳其人開始用不同的方式投票——這次是用腳。
But after a failed 2016 coup, Erdogan embarked on a sweeping crackdown. Last year, the economy wobbled and the lira plunged soon after he won re-election with even greater powers. As cronyism and authoritarianism seep deeper into his administration, Turks are voting differently — this time with their feet.

根據土耳其官方的統計和分析家的說法，他們成群離開土耳其，而且把才能和資金一併帶走，他們離開的方式意味人們對厄多安的願景失去信心，失去信心的現象不但普遍，而且令人擔憂。
They are leaving the country in droves and taking talent and capital with them in a way that indicates a broad and alarming loss of confidence in Erdogan’s vision, according to government statistics and analysts.

過去這兩三年，從土耳其出走的不只是學生和學者，還有企業家、商人和數以千計的有錢人，他們把值錢的東西變賣一空，並把家人和資產送到國外。
In the past two to three years, not only have students and academics fled the country, but also entrepreneurs, businesspeople, and thousands of wealthy individuals who are selling everything and moving their families and money abroad.

土耳其統計局的資料顯示，2017年移民到國外的土耳其人超過25萬人，比2016年的將近17萬8000人成長了42%。
More than a quarter of a million Turks emigrated in 2017, according to the Turkish Institute of Statistics, an increase of 42 percent over 2016, when nearly 178,000 citizens left the country.

倫敦攝政大學跨國研究中心主任史克西等分析家指出，土耳其發生過幾波師生外移潮，不過這波出走潮看來像是更具永久性的社會重新排序，恐怕會使土耳其倒退數十年。
Turkey has seen waves of students and teachers leave before, but this exodus looks like a more permanent reordering of the society and threatens to set Turkey back decades, said Ibrahim Sirkeci, director of transnational studies at Regent’s University in London, and other analysts.

史克西說：「人才外流是千真萬確的。」
“The brain drain is real,” Sirkeci said.

推動人群、才能和資金外逃的是一組強而有力的因素，這些因素決定了厄多安統治下的生活，而且反對厄多安的人對消弭這些因素日益絕望。
The flight of people, talent and capital is being driven by a powerful combination of factors that have come to define life under Erdogan and that his opponents increasingly despair is here to stay.

這些因素包括：對政治迫害的恐懼、恐怖活動、對司法體系和法治的任意性日漸加深的不信任，以及逐漸惡化的經商環境，人們擔憂厄多安破壞性地操縱經濟，好讓他自己和核心圈子得利，這樣的憂慮讓經商環境加速轉壞。
They include fear of political persecution, terrorism, a deepening distrust of the judiciary and the arbitrariness of the rule of law, and a deteriorating business climate, accelerated by worries that Erdogan is unsoundly manipulating the economy to benefit himself and his inner circle.

結果就是，自從土耳其共和國近100年前成立以來，存在已久的富裕階層（特別是主宰土耳其文化與
商業生活數十年的世俗菁英）之中，頭一次有許多人遷離土耳其，而由與厄多安及其執政黨親近的新富階層取而代之。
The result is that, for the first time since the republic was founded nearly a century ago, many from the old moneyed class, in particular the secular elite who have dominated Turkey’s cultural and business life for decades, are moving away and the new rich close to Erdogan and his governing party are taking their place.
Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/336081/web/#top

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過年期間是不是一直被Facebook的發音課程廣告洗版?John老師和阿鍵老師也是!這集他們在二哥藝能館的錄音室,要來聊聊台灣人最常見的發音問題,從大魔王TH音、日本influence的R/L不分,到懶惰舌頭造成的V/W混淆,還有讓人尷尬的長短音錯誤。

John老師:「今天我們移駕了,不在kitchen counter也不在我們家或你家,到二哥藝能館這邊!因為二哥不在家,所以我們就來幫忙顧店!」
他們時不時週二會來這邊參加podcaster早餐聚,今天就偶爾來喝喝別人的咖啡,We're taking over! 😂

👅 台灣人發音的五大常見錯誤

1️⃣ TH音:大魔王級的舌頭挑戰
這個the的TH音真的是大魔王!要咬住舌頭吐出來,但台灣人兩種TH音都不用,通常會變成:
應該有兩種TH音:

台灣人變成:

阿鍵老師:「其實國高中都有學TH有兩種發音,但台灣人兩種都不用!」
解決方法: 看到TH不要太懶惰!牙齒夾著舌頭,然後吐氣:

2️⃣ R/L不分:受日本影響的發音
台灣人有點日本influence!日本人的R和L是同一個音,我們就學到日本人的習慣:R不會捲舌,L舌頭沒有放在牙齒正後方。
經典對比:

阿鍵老師示範grass時說:「草的話我會發比較英式的,所以比較沒問題。」
John老師:「Potato, potato!大家心裡都知道舌頭要捲舌,L是一個le的音,可是舌頭不聽使唤!所以要多練習!」
晨間練習法: 早上刷牙洗臉、聽15Mins的時候:

3️⃣ V/W混淆:懶惰舌頭的後果
中文裡沒有V這個音,所以台灣人很容易念成W或B!
經典錯誤:

John老師回憶:「我小時候很有名的男生內衣褲品牌BVD,大家都念成『逼V滴』!」
阿鍵老師補充最近Thread趨勢:「對岸的口音會反過來,應該念W的音念成V,像『問你這個問題』會念成『V你這個V題』!」
正確發音: 咬住下唇,嘴巴要開:

4️⃣ 長短音:Ship vs Sheep的尷尬
這是John老師在課堂上必須常常修正的錯誤!E的長短音和扁開的音,真的是Lazy Tongue(懶惰舌頭)的表現。
經典危險組合:

還有年度提醒: 今年是馬年,記得horse要念對,那個R要發音!不然horse變成hose就是另外一個東西了,可能會變成罵人的話! 😂
Beach的陷阱: "I go to the beach" 如果念錯會變成...這位先生小姐你是在說什麼!

5️⃣ 音節拉長的藝術
中文每個音節時間差不多,但英文的長短音要明顯區分。
心裡默念節拍法:

練習句:

💡 根本解決之道:最新夸張這一點!
John老師回憶修道院修女的教導:「音試教育很在意你要把每個音節都把嘴巴打開,念完整!最新夸張就可以避免A/E、R/L的錯誤!」

🎤 下集預告:Vocal Exercise來了!
John老師和阿鍵老師預告:「下一集要準備一些資料,分享怎麼做vocal exercise(聲樂練習)!像Angel老師做配音,他們進錄音室前的暖聲練習,都可以用在發音練習上!」
完整練習流程:

每天15分鐘聽通勤學英語(培養聽力)做暖聲和舌頭伸展嘴巴和舌頭ready了進行reading out loud和shadowing exercise

🎯 入境隨俗:因地制宜的發音策略
John老師提醒:「看你溝通的對象是誰!對台灣人他們都聽得懂,對外國人他聽不懂,你就要想是不是TH發成T或D了?」

Target audience很重要:

John老師分享經驗:「誰說英文不會通?你要講Japanese English就沒問題!Makudonarudo(麥當勞)、Ebi bāgā(蝦堡)、Kechappu(番茄醬)、Tokyo tawā(東京鐵塔)!你講人家聽得懂的英文,入境隨俗!」

🎁 農曆年前挑戰活動持續中!
還記得上次的挑戰嗎?現在加碼:分享你的發音突破經驗或容易出錯的地方,就能累積好棒棒點數!

活動內容:

**活動時間:**到農曆年前
**如何參加:**使用comment link留言分享
**獎品:**15Mins周邊禮物!

💪 2026年目標:把英語全部說出來!
John老師:「我們不只要練聽力,聽力練完就要練口說!今年2026年,就把英語全部說出來了!」
實用建議: 透過國際時事跟讀的文章,找你自己覺得發音困難的部分,然後突破它!耳朵應該已經打開差不多了,接下來就是練你的嘴巴!

Summary:
A bakery in Helsinki took the opportunity to be creative when their cake orders were getting canceled. As Finnish people began to panic and hoard toilet rolls, the bakery decided to demonstrate their creativity by creating a cake that looked like toilet rolls. It took social media by the storm and became the bakery’s lifeline in the past few months. Meanwhile, in Iceland, because of the social distancing rules, the Icelandic Forestry Service suggested an alternative to hugging friends and family members by hugging trees.

原討論文章: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-845-about-odd-news-novelty-toilet-roll-cakes-keep-finnish-baker

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences:

Hoard v. – stock/store valuable goods In his senior life, my grandfather began to hoard all the imported cigarettes he would receive as gifts. People who likes to keep hoarding stuff is a “hoarder”.

Relieved adj. – no longer feeling anxious or distressed My parents were relieved to find out that their favorite restaurant didn’t close down because of the lockdown. I am relieved that KFC didn’t hike their prices this year.

Impose v. – force / forcibly put on When the governments around the world imposed the lockdown, many people’s travel plans were disrupted. You have to impose strict house rules to discipline your children. 

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2026年，還在用 ChatGPT 玩吉卜力濾鏡就太落伍啦！AI 的發展真的是快到讓人跟不上，本週《英語咖啡館》邀請到《電商讀書會》的 Cariya，要帶大家認識目前 Google 最強大的 AI 工具：Gemini 3 Pro 與影像生成神器 Nano Banana 3 Pro。如果你曾覺得 AI 生成的照片總是有點「假」，或是圖片裡的中文字變成亂碼，那你一定要聽聽這一集，看現在的技術多麼驚人！

除了介紹工具外，本集我們也探討了去年 AI 的核心關鍵字"Reasoning"（推理能力），這讓下指令（Prompt）變得更像在說「人話」。我們也聊到了現在的 AI 如何在短短 10 秒內產出專業攝影棚等級的視覺效果，以及為什麼現在的行銷圈已經開始用 AI 背景來取代傳統的實地外拍。這些變革不只提升效率，也改變了數位行銷的遊戲規則。

In 2026, if you're still using ChatGPT to play with Ghibli filters, you're way behind! AI development is really advancing so fast that it's hard to keep up. This week on English Cafe, we've invited Cariya to introduce everyone to Google's most powerful AI tools: Gemini 3 Pro and the image generation marvel Nano Banana 3 Pro. If you've ever felt that AI-generated photos always look a bit "fake," or the Chinese text in images turns into gibberish, you definitely need to listen to this episode to see how amazing the technology is now!

Beyond introducing the tools, in this episode we also explore last year's core AI keyword "Reasoning," which has made giving prompts more like speaking "human language." We also discuss how current AI can produce professional studio-level visual effects in just 10 seconds, and why the marketing world has now started using AI backgrounds to replace traditional on-location photo shoots. These transformations not only improve efficiency but also change the game rules of digital marketing.

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L132: Trump’s Shock Raid: Maduro Captured

Highlights 主題摘要

Loud explosions rocked Caracas on Saturday as low-flying aircraft signaled the start of an audacious US military operation. The strike targeted President Nicolás Maduro, culminating in his capture and transport to New York. While the city descended into confusion with smoke rising from La Carlota airport, the objective was clear: decapitating a regime Washington accuses of narco-terrorism. This aggressive move shatters the long-standing geopolitical stalemate that had defined relations for years.

週六，震耳欲聾的爆炸聲撼動卡拉卡斯，低空飛掠的軍機揭開了美軍大膽軍事突襲的序幕。此次行動直指委內瑞拉總統馬杜洛，最終成功的將其逮捕並押解至紐約。儘管拉卡洛塔機場濃煙竄升，整座城市陷入混亂，但行動目標十分明確：旨在對華府指控為「毒品恐怖主義」的政權實施「斬首」。這記重拳徹底粉碎了多年來僵持不下的地緣政治局勢。

Following the raid, President Donald Trump declared that the United States is effectively "in charge," warning interim leader Delcy Rodríguez of severe consequences and a similar fate if she resists. Maduro now faces federal drug trafficking charges, a reality that has sent shockwaves through the region. The administration views the operation as a necessary enforcement of law against a "criminal enterprise." The swift removal of the Venezuelan leader has left a power vacuum and raised questions about the country's future stability.

突襲過後，川普總統霸氣宣稱美國已實質「接管大局」，並向臨時領導人德爾西·若德里格茲喊話，若敢抵抗將面臨嚴重後果，恐步上馬杜洛後塵。馬杜洛目前面臨聯邦販毒重罪指控，這個事實震撼了整個區域。美方當局將此行動定調為針對「犯罪集團」的必要執法。委國領導層遭迅速拔除留下了權力真空，也讓該國未來的穩定性充滿變數。

Emboldened by the success in Caracas, Trump immediately pivoted to other strategic interests, reviving his controversial push to acquire Greenland. He argued the semi-autonomous Danish territory is essential for security due to Russian and Chinese vessels in the Arctic. Meanwhile, the President dismissed the need for military action against Cuba, suggesting the island is already on the verge of economic collapse without Venezuelan oil subsidies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this hardline approach, labeling the Cuban government a "huge problem" that is rapidly running out of time.

挾著卡拉卡斯行動捷報的氣勢，川普隨即轉向其他戰略利益，重提備受爭議的格陵蘭購地案。他主張由於中俄船艦頻繁出沒北極，這塊丹麥半自治領土對國安至關重要。同時，總統駁斥了對古巴動武的必要性，暗示若無委內瑞拉的石油奧援，該島國經濟早已瀕臨崩潰。國務卿魯比歐也呼應此強硬立場，直指古巴政府是個「大麻煩」，且時日無多。

The warning blitz extended beyond the Western Hemisphere, as Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Iran regarding its handling of domestic protests. He threatened that the US would "come to the rescue" of demonstrators if Tehran resorted to lethal force. This series of blunt declarations signals an increasingly confrontational posture from Washington. As the world digests these developments, the administration has made it clear that it will aggressively pursue its interests, regardless of diplomatic norms or international condemnation.

這波警告攻勢更延伸至西半球之外，川普就伊朗處理國內抗議發出嚴厲最後通牒。他揚言若德黑蘭當局動用致命武力，美國將「出手相救」示威者。這一連串直言不諱的聲明，凸顯華府採取了日益強硬的對抗姿態。隨著各國消化這些局勢發展，美方已擺明無論外交慣例或國際譴責為何，都將強勢追求自身利益。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Audacious [adjective, showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks]: Loud explosions rocked Caracas on Saturday as low-flying aircraft signaled the start of an audacious US military operation.Decapitating [verb, removing the leader or head of a group or organization]: The objective was clear: decapitating a regime Washington accuses of narco-terrorism.Enforcement [noun, the act of compelling observance of or compliance with a law, rule, or obligation]: The administration views the operation as a necessary enforcement of law against a "criminal enterprise."Ultimatum [noun, a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation]: The warning blitz extended beyond the Western Hemisphere, as Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Iran regarding its handling of domestic protests.Posture [noun, a particular way of dealing with or considering something; an approach or attitude]: This series of blunt declarations signals an increasingly confrontational posture from Washington.

Reference article:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/1/3/live-loud-noises-heard-in-venezuelas-capital-amid-us-tensions
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/05/world/greenland-cuba-iran-trump-warning-intl
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/05/politics/venezuela-what-to-know-monday

Topic: Inside Italy’s Shadow Economy

In a second-floor apartment in the southern Italian town of Santeramo in Colle, a middle-aged woman sat in a black-padded chair this summer, hard at work at her kitchen table. She carefully stitched a sophisticated woolen coat, the sort of style that will sell for 800 to 2,000 euros ($935 to $2,340) when it arrives in stores this month as part of the fall and winter collection of MaxMara, the Italian luxury fashion brand.

在義大利南部城鎮聖埃拉莫因科萊一棟公寓的二樓，一名中年婦女今年夏天坐在黑色軟墊的椅子上，在廚房用桌前辛勤地工作著。她以針線細心縫製一件精緻的羊毛外套，這個款式本月送進商店時，標價800至2,000歐元（935至2,340美元）不等，是義大利奢侈品牌MaxMara秋冬系列的一部分。

But the woman, who asked not to be named for fear that she could lose her livelihood, receives just 1 euro from the factory that employs her for each meter of fabric she completes.

不過，擔心可能因此失去生計而不願透露姓名的這名女性，每完成1公尺面料，只能從雇用她的工廠那裡拿到1歐元。

“It takes me about one hour to sew one meter, so about four to five hours to complete an entire coat,” said the woman, who works without a contract, or insurance, and is paid in cash on a monthly basis. “I try to do two coats per day.”

這名女性說：「我大概1小時縫1公尺，大約4到5小時完成一整件外套。我試著每天做兩件大衣。」 她的工作沒有聘雇合約，也不提供保險，僅按月支領現金。

The unregulated work she completes in her apartment is outsourced to her from a local factory that also manufactures outerwear for some of the best-known names in the luxury business, including Louis Vuitton and Fendi. The most she has ever earned, she said, was 24 euros ($28) for an entire coat.

她在公寓內完成，未受任何規範的這份工作，是當地一家工廠外包給她的，該廠還替奢侈品界另一些知名品牌製造外套，包括路易威登和芬迪。她說，她所獲得的最高收入，是一整件外套24歐元（合28美元）。

Homework — working from home or a small workshop as opposed to in a factory — is a cornerstone of the fast-fashion supply chain. It is particularly prevalent in countries such as India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and China, where millions of low-paid and predominantly female homeworkers are some of the most unprotected in the industry, because of their irregular employment status, isolation and lack of legal recourse.

家庭代工─ 在家中或小型工作室而非工廠工作─已成為快速時尚供應鏈的基石。在印度、孟加拉、越南和中國這些國家，家庭代工尤其普遍，數以百萬計，且主要是女性的家庭代工從業人員 ，因就業狀況不穩定，孤立和欠缺法律追索權，屬於該行業中最缺乏保護的一群。

That similar conditions exist in Italy, however, and facilitate the production of some of the most expensive wardrobe items money can buy, may shock those who see the “Made in Italy” label as a byword for sophisticated craftsmanship.

然而，類似狀況同樣存在於義大利，而且幫忙生產錢能買到的一些最昂貴衣物，卻可能讓視「義大利製造」標籤為精緻工藝代名詞的人震驚。

Increased pressure from globalization and growing competition at all levels of the market mean that the assumption implicit in the luxury promise — that part of the value of such a good is that it is made in the best conditions, by highly skilled workers, who are paid fairly — is at times put under threat.

全球化帶來更大壓力，市場各層面競爭亦日益激烈，意味奢侈品的承諾之一，這種商品部分價值來自它在最佳狀態下，由高技術、拿合理報酬的工人製造的這項隱含的假設，不時受到威脅。

Although they are not exposed to what most people would consider sweatshop conditions, the homeworkers are allotted what might seem close to sweatshop wages. Italy does not have a national minimum wage, but roughly 5 to 7 euros per hour is considered an appropriate standard by many unions and consulting firms. In extremely rare cases, a highly skilled worker can earn as much as 8 to 10 euros an hour. But the homeworkers earn significantly less, regardless of whether they are involved in leatherwork, embroidery or another artisanal task.

儘管他們的處境還不到大多數人會認為是血汗工廠的境地，但家庭代工的工資似已接近血汗工廠。義大利沒有設定全國最低工資，但許多工會和顧問公司認為每小時5-7歐元是適當標準。在極少數情況下，高技術工人每小時可賺取8-10歐元。但是家庭代工的收入低了許多，無論他們從事的是皮革製品，刺繡或其他手工藝工作。
Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/332436/web/

Next Article

Topic: White truffles fetch 75,000 euros at Italian auction 義大利拍賣會 白松露七萬五千歐元高價拍出

Alba, a small town in the northwestern region of Piemonte, is known as Italy’s white truffle capital.
阿爾巴是位於義大利西北部皮埃蒙特的一個小鎮，被稱為義大利白松露之都。

It has hosted Italy’s most famous white truffle market, during which the auction is held, for close to 90 years.
義大利最著名的白松露市集在此舉辦已近九十年，松露拍賣會則在此間舉行。

Every year at this time it hosts the famous International Alba White Truffle Fair, which attracts around 100,000 visitors from all over the world who come to buy, sell and smell the tasty tuber.
每年此時，阿爾巴舉辦著名的國際阿爾巴白松露會展，吸引了來自世界各地的大約十萬名訪客前來，來買賣和嗅聞這些美味的蕈類。

Dry weather and changing climate patterns have hit production and sent prices soaring. Over the past 25 years, there has been a 30 percent decrease in truffle production. In some places, they are disappearing altogether.
乾燥的天氣和不斷變化的氣候模式已重創松露的產量，並使其價格飛漲。在過去的二十五年間，松露產量已下降了百分之三十。在某一些地方，松露正徹底消失。

Truffle hunter Marilena Tarable says with this week’s much needed rain the truffles have started growing a little bigger and a bit rounder because the earth has softened.
松露獵人馬利雷娜‧塔拉布雷表示，本週降下了及時雨，因此松露已開始變大、變圓了一點，因為泥土變軟了。

“But up until now, with the very hard earth, it’s really hard to extract them,” she says.
「但是到目前為止，因為泥土很硬，要拔起松露真的很難。」她說道。

A highlight of the fair is the truffle auction, now in its eighteenth year, with proceeds going to charitable causes. This Sunday it took place in Grinzane Cavour Castle with live satellite links to Hong Kong and Dubai. The winning bidder for the biggest truffle at this year’s auction, from Hong Kong, paid 75,000 euros for a well-rounded truffle weighing 850 grams.
會展的一大亮點是松露拍賣，今年是第十八年舉辦，所得款項將捐助慈善事業。拍賣會上週日在格林贊‧卡烏城堡舉行，現場並有衛星連線至香港和杜拜。
今年拍賣會上最大松露的得標者來自香港，花了七萬五千歐元買下了一枚重達八五○公克、形狀飽滿的松露。

Isabelle Gianicolo of the National Truffle Study Centre noted that the auction price was “symbolic” and did not necessarily reflect the true market price, since the proceeds were donated to charitable causes.
全國松露研究中心的伊莎貝‧加尼可洛指出，拍賣價格是「象徵性的」，並不一定反映實際的市場價格，因為拍賣的收益要捐贈給慈善事業的。
Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2017/11/18/2003682450

Next Article

Topic: Fresh pizza vending machine prompts curiosity and horror in Rome

Raffaele Esposito, the 19th century Neapolitan credited with inventing Italy’s most famous type of pizza, may be turning in his grave：Rome has a new vending machine which slides out freshly cooked pizzas in just three minutes.
義大利人克勞狄歐．贊皮加嘗試羅馬的披薩自動販賣機製作的披薩。 （路透檔案照）
被譽為義大利最有名披薩發明人的19世紀拿波里人拉斐爾．艾斯波西多，或許會死不瞑目：羅馬現在有一種新的販賣機，可在短短3分鐘內送出新鮮烤出爐的披薩。

Buyers using the flaming red "Mr. Go Pizza" machine can choose from four different kinds of pizzas costing from 4.50 to 6 euros. The machine kneads and tops the dough and customers can watch the pizza cook behind a small glass window.
顧客可在這台火紅色的「披薩隨來先生」販賣機上，從4種不同的披薩中選擇，售價介於4.5到6歐元不等。機器會揉麵團、在麵團上加配料，顧客可隔著一扇小玻璃窗觀看製作過程。

"It looks good but it is much smaller than in a restaurant and there is less topping," said Claudio Zampiga, a pensioner.
退休人士克勞狄歐．贊皮加說，「看起來不錯，但是比在餐廳的小一點，而且料少了點。」

Gina, a pensioner who declined to give her surname, rejected the concept outright. "Terrible. Pizza really needs to be eaten hot, immediately. This doesn’t work for me," she said.
拒絕透露姓氏的退休女子吉娜完全拒絕這個概念。「糟糕。披薩真的需要趁熱吃，對我來說，這不行。」

Next Article

Topic: Italy says arrivederci to cafe culture 義大利向咖啡文化說再見

Like pizza and ice cream parlours, the coffee bar is sacred in Italy. But the tradition of going for a cappuccino or an espresso is under threat from a new menace - the coffee machine. Thanks to aggressive marketing by manufacturers, who are practically giving them away free in offices, factories, universities and even train stations, self-service coffee is invading Italy and putting in peril the livelihood of many baristas.
就像披薩和冰淇淋店一樣，咖啡吧在義大利具有神聖不可侵犯的地位。但義大利人到咖啡吧喝杯卡布奇諾或濃縮咖啡的傳統現在受到新對手的威脅 - 咖啡機。在咖啡機製造商祭出強勢促銷手段，在辦公室、工廠、大學、甚至火車站裡幾乎免費奉送咖啡之後，自助式咖啡正大舉入侵義大利，許多咖啡師傅的生計也岌岌可危。

New figures show half a million automatic coffee machines have been installed in the past year in public places, serving an estimated two million 'portions' of coffee.
根據最新統計數字，過去一年間義大利的公共場所內已裝設了五十萬台自動咖啡機，估計可提供兩百萬份咖啡。

One of the reasons for the change is that Italians are struggling to deal with a faster pace of life, under pressure to do more, earn more and not waste time.
造成這項改變的原因之一，是義大利人正努力適應更快的生活步調，應付必須做更多事、賺更多錢、不要浪費時間的壓力。

The depersonalisation of the coffee rite is sneaking into Italian homes as well. Sales of automatic machines were recently declared in a brides' magazine to be the most sought-after gift of young couples.
這種去除人性色彩的喝咖啡儀式也正偷偷潛入義大利的家庭中。一本新娘雜誌最近就宣稱，自動咖啡機是年輕新人最想要的結婚禮物。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1453710; https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/39829

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📱 Google地圖在韓國:20年的數據之爭

你能想像沒有Google地圖的生活嗎?在韓國就是這樣!因為data privacy和與Google的關係不佳,韓國政府不給Google最新的地圖數據,導致在韓國Google地圖幾乎無用武之地,連基本的turn-by-turn navigation(轉彎導航)都沒有,還會叫你改用Naver的地圖。

John老師說:「我們在台灣用Google地圖吃喝拉撒、看live traffic、用street view,這些都是commonplace。但到了國外,你就會發現Google在這邊怎麼沒效?」
阿鍵老師補充街景導航功能:「真的很會迷路的人可以打開導航,對著街上照,他就會實時導引你怎麼走!」
有趣的發現:LINE的母公司其實是韓國的Naver!LINE在日本,但其實是Naver投資的子公司,嚴格來說LINE的主腦就是韓國人。阿鍵老師形容:「韓國人去日本生小孩,然後在台灣落地生根!」

這個故事告訴我們:**各國的App user behaviour(應用程式使用行為)都不一樣。**台灣用LINE、Threads很紅,國外則是WhatsApp當道。如果你是App design相關產業,這是必須了解的cultural insight!

📈 台股破三萬:台積電的「一人武林」

台股破三萬點了!但John老師坦言:**「對我們這種沒有股票的人,who cares!」**不過這確實是經濟指標(indication of our economy)。
大家都說這是**「solo market」**(solo leveling,我獨自升級),主角就是台積電(TSMC)!從六七百一路漲到一千七,根本是「台積一人的武林」!

但John老師發現另一個隱藏高手:台達電(Delta)
「去年我看他200塊,現在1000塊了!感覺有點像那種YouTube大陸短劇,轉身到異世界突然功力大增,有系統幫他level up。不只是solo leveling,根本有點仙俠!不知道吃了什麼大力丸!」

💊 GLP-1瘦瘦藥:口服版來了!
講到體重,就要提本週的重要新聞:Wegovy口服藥核准了!去年談了三四次GLP-1都是筆型注射劑,現在不敢打針的人有福了,pill(口服藥)版本在美國已經核准販售,台灣雖然還沒跟上,但已經有人買進來了。

GLP-1的進化:

John老師的prediction:「我們以後可能會更願意花錢吃瘦瘦藥,然後省食物的錢,因為food inflation(食物通膨)讓食物越來越貴!有一天可能食物貴到我們寧願吃瘦瘦藥來抑制食慾!」
阿鍵老師補充:「以前買代餐但沒有滿足感,GLP-1打下去食慾真的會降低,實際使用感覺差很多!」

🚄 歐洲之星停駛:別把便利視為理所當然
跨年夜12月31日,貫穿整個歐洲、連接巴黎和倫敦的Eurostar因為電力問題全面停駛,造成巨大災難。更慘的是:Eurostar不會賠償你!No way! Thank you very much, you can go home now!

John老師的朋友去年在歐洲出差時就遇到好幾次車站沒電、三不五時就發生基礎設施問題。有陰謀論說是境外勢力(俄羅斯、北韓)破壞,但也可能只是年久失修。
Eurostar的重要性:

Summary:
During the COVID-19 outbreak, Malaysia enforced what is called “MCO” – Movement Control Order which only allows the “head” of the family to leave the house to purchase necessities. What went viral on social media was the men who were considered the head of household at the supermarket being clueless in their mission to shop for groceries, and also supermarkets creating guides to help these men to buy the right groceries. Next article is about the endangered elephants in Malaysia being killed, not by poachers for their tusks, but poisoned so that they would not destroy the palm plantation.

原討論文章: https://www.15mins.today/blog/ep-834-about-malaysia-malaysia-supermarket-creates-grocery-shopping

Vocabulary:

Clueless adj. – having no knowledge, understanding or ability. The clueless men shopped for hours in the supermarket, trying to find the groceries they need at home. One should always write down a shopping list before visiting the supermarket cluelessly(adv.).

Necessities n. – something that is indispensable (can’t do without) Grocery shopping is all about shopping for your daily necessities. Your daily necessities include tooth brush, detergents, food and drinks.

Plantation n. – area where trees are planted /crops cultivated by resident labor My mother grew up near rice paddies and bamboo plantations. Plantations of any sort would require a large piece of flat land. 

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一月壽星們照過來～本週的《英語咖啡館》John 老師和 Klim 老師要來聊聊世界各國生日吃什麼！你知道嗎？台灣人吃長壽麵、韓國人喝海帶湯，不同國家的生日餐桌上藏著什麼樣的文化意義呢？

台灣除了麵線、壽桃外，還有一個七、八年級生小時候超級紅的生日食物，你猜到是什麼了嗎？當年只要帶了這個到班上，走路都有風喔！

Calling all January birthday boys and girls! This week on English Cafe, John and Klim discuss what people eat for birthdays around the world! Did you know? Taiwanese people eat longevity noodles, Koreans drink seaweed soup—what cultural significance is hidden in different countries' birthday meals?

Besides noodles and longevity peach buns, Taiwan has another birthday food that was super popular among millennials and Gen Z when they were kids. Can you guess what it is? Back in the day, if you brought this to class, you'd walk with swagger!

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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L128: Approves Wegovy Pill for Weight Loss

Highlights 主題摘要

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially authorized a pill version of Wegovy, marking a groundbreaking historic milestone in the treatment of obesity. This decision makes it the first oral GLP-1 medication authorized specifically for chronic weight management. Developed by pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, the drug contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient found in blockbuster injectables. For years, patients had to rely on weekly self-injections, which acted as a psychological barrier for many individuals struggling with their weight.

美國食品藥物管理局正式批准了口服版的 Wegovy （週纖達/瘦瘦筆），這標誌著肥胖治療領域一個突破性的里程碑。這項決定使其成為首款專門被授權用於慢性體重管理的口服 GLP-1 藥物。這款由製藥大廠諾和諾德研發的藥物，含有與明星針劑商品相同的藥物活性成分。幾年來，患者必須依賴每週自行注射，這對許多與體重抗爭的人來說，無疑是一個巨大的心理障礙。

The approval was primarily supported by clinical trials evaluating a daily 25 mg dose. Data showed that participants who carefully followed the daily regimen lost 16.6% of their body weight over 64 weeks, a result remarkably similar to the injectable version. However, doctors emphasize that the pill requires more discipline than the weekly shots. To ensure the medication is properly absorbed, users must take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with a small amount of water.

這項核准主要基於評估每日 25 毫克劑量的臨床試驗支持。數據顯示，嚴格遵守每日療程的受試者在 64 週內減輕了 16.6% 的體重，這個結果與注射劑型非常相似。然而，醫生強調，與每週注射一次相比，藥錠需要更強的自律性。為了確保藥物能被妥善吸收，使用者必須在早晨尚空腹的狀態下，搭配少量開水服用。

Despite the convenience of a tablet, patients may still face common potential gastrointestinal side effects. During trials, symptoms such as nausea and vomiting were reported, particularly as users increased their dosage. Experts suggest that because the medication hits the stomach directly, some people might find these sensations more intense than with injections. Nevertheless, the pill's shelf-stable nature offers a clear advantage over injectables, which require refrigeration. This makes the treatment much easier to manage for people who travel frequently.

儘管藥錠具有便利性，患者仍可能面臨常見的潛在胃腸道副作用。在試驗期間，受試者報告了噁心和嘔吐等症狀，特別是在增加劑量時。專家表示，由於藥物直接進入胃部，有些人可能會覺得這些感覺比注射更強烈。儘管如此，藥錠可在常溫保存的特性優於需要冷藏的注射劑。這使得對於經常出差的人來說，管理治療變得更加容易。

The market landscape for weight loss is expected to shift rapidly as this oral option launches in early January. To remain competitive, Novo Nordisk has reached a pricing agreement with the administration to offer the starting dose for approximately $149 per month. This significant strategic move aims to lower the financial threshold for many people. The company hopes to reach a demographic of American patients. This expansion represents a vital step toward treating obesity as a biological condition rather than a personal failure.

這款口服藥將於一月初上市，減重市場的格局預計將迅速轉變。為了保持競爭力，諾和諾德已與政府達成價格協議，提供每月約 149 美元的起始劑量。這項重大策略目標是降低許多人的經濟門檻。公司希望能接觸到更廣大的美國患者族群。這次醫療選擇的擴張是重要的一步，代表肥胖應被視為一種生理疾病，而非個人的失敗。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字

Psychological [adjective, relating to the mental and emotional state of a person]: Weekly self-injections acted as a psychological barrier for many individuals.Regimen [noun, a prescribed course of medical treatment or way of life]: Data showed that participants who carefully followed the daily regimen lost significant weight.Gastrointestinal [adjective, relating to the stomach and the intestines]: Patients may still face common potential gastrointestinal side effects associated with the drug.Threshold [noun, the level at which something starts to happen or have an effect]: This strategic move aims to lower the financial threshold for many people.Demographic [noun, a particular sector of a population sharing common characteristics]: The company hopes to reach a large and important demographic of American patients.

Reference article:
1. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-approves-wegovy-weight-loss-pill-novo-nordisk-rcna240800
2. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/fda-approves-wegovy-pill-weight-loss/story?id=128644712

Topic: Malaysia supermarket creates grocery shopping guide for clueless husbands

Malaysia’s movement control order（MCO）states that only the "head of the household" should be allowed to leave the house to purchase necessities, and although it didn’t state whether the person should be male or female, the husbands probably took it upon themselves to accomplish "mission grocery shopping".

馬來西亞的行動管制令（MCO）指出，只有「一家之主」被允許出門採購必需品，雖然管制令並未明說這個人應該是男性還是女性，但是丈夫們較有可能承擔這項「買東西任務」。

In hilarious posts shared by Malaysians Cheanu Chew and Muzaffar Rahman on Facebook, they observed many men looking clueless in supermarket aisles while glued to their phones. These "remote shoppers", as Chew called them, were presumably receiving instructions from their wives to ensure that they got the grocery list right.

馬來西亞人Cheanu Chew與Muzaffar Rahman在「臉書」發布的一則滑稽貼文中指出，他們觀察到許多看起來毫無頭緒的男性，在超市走廊上黏著手機不放。被Chew稱為「遙控購物者」的人們，想必正在接收妻子的指示，確保他們買對採購清單上的物品。

Now, supermarket chain Tesco in Malaysia has come to the rescue, with an ingenious hack to put all their troubles to rest. The shopping guide "for husbands" provides pictures of basic ingredients with captions, and also breaks it down to the nitty-gritty.

現在，馬來西亞的連鎖超市Tesco投入救援，巧妙地解決他們的麻煩。「給丈夫」的商品指南提供基本商品的圖片與名稱，並將其細分。

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Topic: Three elephants found poisoned in Malaysia 馬來西亞發現三頭大象被毒死

Three elephants were poisoned to death near a palm oil plantation in Malaysia, officials said Friday, in the latest case of the endangered creatures being killed near human settlements.

馬來西亞官員週五說，三頭大象在棕櫚油園附近被毒死，是這種瀕危生物在人類墾地附近被殺害的最新一起案例。
Local police in southern Johor state found the animal carcasses and alerted wildlife officers on Tuesday, Wildlife and National Parks Department director-general Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim told AFP.

野生生物及國家公園保護局局長阿卜杜勒．卡迪爾．阿布．哈希姆告訴法新社，南部柔佛州當地警方發現動物屍體，週二通報野生生物官員。
The dead animals are believed to be part of a herd of 30 elephants from the nearby forest reserve.

這些死去的動物據信是來自附近森林保護區的一群30隻大象的部分成員。
"We conducted a post-mortem on the three female elephants aged between 18 and 22, and it revealed they were poisoned," Abdul Kadir said.

阿卜杜勒．卡迪爾說，「我們對這三頭年齡介於18至22歲的母象進行驗屍，結果顯示牠們遭下毒。」
"I am shocked and saddened by this incident. If this trend continues, all our wild elephants will be wiped out."

「我為這起事件感到震驚悲痛。如果這股趨勢持續，我們所有野生大象將消失殆盡。」
Electric fences used to keep elephants away from village crops were not functioning and allowed the creatures to trespass on plantations, Abdul Kadir said.
阿卜杜勒．卡迪爾說，用來避免大象靠近村落作物的電籬笆未起作用，使這些生物得以侵入棕櫚油園。
Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1296139 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1365803

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Topic: Eat your rice straws after finishing your drink?

馬來西亞媒體The Star報導，上週五在馬來西亞檳城舉辦的2019年國際綠色論壇及會議中，大馬業者Ricestraw向全世界推出了由稻米及木薯粉製作而成的可食環保吸管，引起熱論。

Made from rice and tapioca, the environmental-friendly straws are edible but tasteless, said Ricestraws IT director Anddrew Loh on Penang International Green Conference & Exhibition (PIGCE) 2019 held in Malaysia on Sept. 27.

業者表示，米吸管可以在浸泡在熱飲中長達2至5小時，冷飲更可以維持10小時，下半部因為浸泡在飲料裡吃起來有點黏糊，但是上半部分是酥脆的口感，就像在吃薯片。另外，業者強調米吸管沒有任何添加物，可以在90天內百分之百分解，甚至可以回收成動物飼料或肥料。

“The straws can last for two to five hours in hot water and about five to 10 hours in cold water,” Loh said. “The bottom part when immersed in drinks will taste a bit starchy while the upper section will be crispy like chips.”
Loh added, “The straws, made from natural ingredients, do not contain any additives and will decompose completely in 90 days and can also be turned into animal feed or fertiliser.”

業者進一步表示，製作米吸管是幫助生態循環，因為他們利用的是人類不吃的碎米去製作吸管。業者更指出使用紙吸管並不完全環保，因為製作紙吸管代表要砍伐更多樹木。

Furthermore, the Malaysian company stressed that by producing rice straws, the company has helped to complete the ecosystem cycle. “We use broken rice which people hardly eaten,” Loh said. “When we use paper straws, we are actually cutting down more trees.”

世界趨勢在淘汰一次性使用塑膠吸管，在這波環保浪潮裡，米吸管成為眾多亞洲業者爭相開發的產品。據The Hindu報導，南韓業者Yeonjigonji在政府開始實施限塑政策後，在去年研發推出百分之30木薯粉其他百分之70穀米製作成的可食米吸管。而The Epoch Times報導，越南業者HungHau Foods也在這兩年推出類似的米吸管產品。

Asian merchandisers are competing to produce eco-friendly commodities in reflecting this worldwide trend of ditching plastic straws. Malaysia is not the first one who uses rice to make straws. With 30 percent of tapioca and 70 percent of rice, The Hindu reported that company Yeonjigonji from South Korea started to market the edible straws last year after the government imposing relevant policies to reduce plastic use. Vietnam-based HungHau Foods also has had similar products in these two years, The Epoch Times reported.

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馬來西亞蘇丹想要給老婆香吻被嫌棄  Queen tweets candid pix of king trying to steal kiss during photoshoot

馬來西亞最高元首蘇丹阿布都拉的妻子，東姑阿濟茲占阿米娜，週四在推特上發表一系列她自己跟蘇丹的合照，合照中阿布都拉企圖親吻老婆臉頰未果，可愛的互動引起熱議。
Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah won the hearts of Malaysians on Twitter Thursday (Oct 3) afternoon with a series of tweets.
The tweets featured photographs of her and Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

有些推特上的照片應該是來自夫婦倆的御用攝影師。其它照片則是偷拍。
Some of the tweets posted on her Twitter account (@cheminahsayang) are believed to be formal photographs with the royal pair in traditional attire, while others contained more candid shots.

東姑阿濟茲占的PO文其中有一張阿布都拉想要親吻她的照片，搭配上文字「我的天啊啊啊啊…」。
One of the photos was of Sultan Abdullah attempting to kiss Tunku Azizah, with the latter giving a deadpan look, with the caption “fuyuuuuuuuu..”.

另一張照片除了有王室夫妻外，還有小孫子亞當，東姑阿濟茲占在這張照片的配文寫道亞當瘋狂用照片「轟炸」她。
Another tweet had photographs which feature the Royal couple’s grandson, Adam, with the Tunku Azizah noting that he was “photobombing” her in the tweet.

東姑阿濟茲並未在推特說明照片拍攝時間。
The tweets did not mention when or where the photographs were taken.

照片發布的半小時內就吸引了一萬五千個讚，並被轉發超過兩千次 (現在已經超過一萬一千次轉發)。
Within half an hour the tweets received a collective 15,000 Likes, and were retweeted more than 2,000 times.

許多人留言道這些照片很甜蜜也很可愛。
Many people commented that the photographs taken were sweet and lovely.
Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20191004-779620 ; https://chinapost.nownews.com/20191002-777124