Bitcoin fever reaches Honduras with first cryptocurrency ATM

 

首設加密貨幣自動提款機 比特幣熱潮傳到宏都拉斯

【摘要2021.9.29.三.自由】◎管淑平

The first cryptocurrency ATM in Honduras opened this week as bitcoin backers sought to spur demand for virtual assets after neighboring El Salvador became the first country to establish bitcoin as legal tender.

在鄰國薩爾瓦多率先將比特幣列為法定貨幣，比特幣擁護者刺激虛擬資產的需求之際，宏都拉斯第一部加密貨幣自動提款機本週啟用。

The machine allows users to acquire bitcoin and ethereum using the local lempira currency and was installed in an office tower in the capital of Tegucigalpa by Honduran firm TGU Consulting Group.

這部ATM由宏國公司TGU諮詢集團裝設在首都德古西加巴一座辦公大樓內，可讓使用者利用當地倫皮拉幣換取比特幣和乙太幣。

Juan Mayen, 28, chief executive of TGU, led the effort to bring the ATM to Honduras in hopes of educating people about virtual assets through first-hand experience. (Reuters)

現年28歲的TGU執行長馬炎帶頭推動把這台ATM引入宏都拉斯，希望讓民眾透過親身體驗，認識虛擬資產。（路透）

新聞辭典

fever：名詞，狂熱，興奮，熱衷。例句：Football fever swept across the country.（足球熱潮席捲全國。）

spur：動詞，激勵，鼓勵，刺激。例句：The manager spurred on his team to try harder.（總教練鼓勵他的隊員繼續多努力一下。）

first-hand：副詞或形容詞，直接的。例句：We have the firsthand account of the war.（我們有這場戰爭的第一手消息。）

 

Scientists are potty-training cows in a bid to help save the planet

 

為拯救地球科學家訓練乳牛如廁

【摘要2021.9.27.一.自由】◎陳成良

If you can potty-train a child, you can potty-train a cow. At least, that was the theory a group of researchers in Germany decided to test, in a bid to find a solution to the environmental damage caused by livestock waste.

如果你可以訓練孩子自己上廁所，你也可以訓練乳牛進行如廁訓練。至少，這是一群德國研究員決定驗證的理論，目標是解決牲畜糞便危害環境的問題。

"It’s usually assumed that cattle are not capable of controlling defecation or urination," said Jan Langbein, co-author of a study published Monday in the journal Current Biology.

這項研究週一發表在《當代生物學》期刊上。該研究的合著作者揚‧朗本說：「人們通常認為，家畜無法控制大小便。」

Farmed cattle produce roughly 66-88 pounds of feces and 8 gallons of urine each day and are free to relieve themselves where they please. However, the spread of their waste into the soil can have negative effects on the environment.

在農場飼養的牲畜每天大約會排出66到88磅糞便和8加侖尿液，而且都是隨地大小便。但是，牠們的排泄物滲入泥土中，會對環境產生負面影響。

The main question for Langbein, an animal psychologist at the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) in Germany, and his team was: "Why shouldn’t (cattle) be able to learn how to use a toilet? Animals are quite clever, and they can learn a lot." Langbein said in a statement.

德國農場動物生物學研究所的動物心理學家朗本在一份聲明中說道，對於他和他的團隊來說，主要問題在於：「為什麼牲畜不能學會如廁？動物們很聰明，也能學習很多東西。」

新聞辭典

in a bid to：片語，為了、試圖。例句：The boy stays away from the tent in a bid to give the girl some privacy.（男孩站得離帳篷遠遠的，好讓女孩有一點隱私。）

relieve oneself：原意是「放鬆自己」，俚語中則是「上廁所」的委婉說法。其他同義的婉稱還有︰go to the men’s（ladie’s）room／restroom／washroom 或wash one’s hands。

 

The Timelessness of Bob Ross

 

跟著爆炸頭老師一起歡樂繪畫

【摘要2021.9.27.一.蘋果】

With his unique hairstyle, Bob Ross was perhaps an unlikely TV star. But he became an internationally famous painter after his TV show aired. For over 10 years, his show, The Joy of Painting, taught viewers how to paint.

Even now, decades after the show’s last episode, people all over the world still watch it. Why? The main reason is Bob Ross. His gentle voice and kind appearance puts viewers at ease. He also talks positively throughout every episode.

頂著一頭奇特的造型，鮑伯‧魯斯或許不大可能成為電視明星。不過在他的電視節目播出後，他成為了享譽國際的畫家。他的電視節目《歡樂畫室》，教觀眾繪畫度過了十餘個年頭。

即使是現在，最後一集播映完畢的幾十年後，世界各地的人仍在觀賞這個節目。這是為什麼呢？主要的原因就是鮑伯‧魯斯本人。他柔和的嗓音和親切的外表讓觀眾很安心。在每一集的節目當中，他所說的話也都很正面。

生活必備字詞：

unlikely　a. 不太可能的

air　vi.（電視或廣播）播放，播送

decade　n. 十年

◆免費線上聽外師朗讀

本文節錄自《常春藤生活英語》雜誌，完整內容請見九月號。

 

Nobel ceremonies marred by pandemic for second year

 

諾貝爾頒獎典禮連續第二年受到疫情大流行干擾

【摘要2021.9.26.日.自由】◎ 周虹汶

The foundation that organises the Nobel Prizes said Thursday that for the second year in a row the winners in science and literature would receive their awards in their home countries, citing the Covid-19 pandemic.

組織諾貝爾獎的基金會週四表示，該獎項科學與文學獎的得主連續第二年將在本國領獎，原因是新冠肺炎疫情大流行。

The foundation added that a decision on the Peace Prize, which is traditionally awarded in Norway, had not been made yet.

該基金會補充說，傳統上在挪威頒發的和平獎尚未做出決定。

The Nobel Committee "is still keeping open the possibility of welcoming the year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate(s) to Oslo," it said.

諾貝爾委員會說，仍然抱持著歡迎今年的諾貝爾和平獎得主前來奧斯陸的可能性。

It is to announce the format of the Oslo ceremony by mid-October.

它將在十月中旬宣布奧斯陸頒獎典禮的形式。

The winners are announced in early October but are usually handed out at large, lavish ceremonies in the two Scandinavian capitals on December 10, the anniversary of the death of the prizes’ founder Alfred Nobel who died 1896.

桂冠得主在10月初宣布，但通常會在12月10日在這兩個北歐國家首都舉行盛大、華麗的頒獎典禮。12月10日是諾貝爾獎創辦人艾佛瑞德．諾貝爾在1896年過世的週年紀念日。

新聞辭典

mar：動詞，損毀、損傷。例句：The strip mining area mars the beauty of the mountains.（露天採礦區破壞了山區的美麗。）

in a row：片語，接連地，連續地。例句：Japan topped the list for the third year in a row.（日本連續三年名列榜首）

laureate：形容詞，戴桂冠的；享有殊榮的 。 名詞，桂冠詩人；得獎者。如a Nobel laureate諾貝爾得獎者。

 

IT phoned home: Storytelling box foils kindergarten thief

 

資訊科技打電話回家：故事盒擊退幼稚園小偷

【摘要2021.9.25.六.自由】◎周虹汶

German police say they have solved a burglary case at a kindergarten after a storytelling gadget the suspect had swiped revealed his location.

德國警方說，他們解決了一起幼稚園的竊盜案，在這名嫌犯把一個說故事的小玩意兒點開並洩漏位置後。

Police said Tuesday that the 44-year-old suspect had stolen various items during a break-in at a kindergarten in the western town of Halver in April.

警方週二說，這名44歲嫌犯4月闖入西部哈爾沃鎮一間幼稚園時，偷了各式各樣的物品。

Among them were a laptop, picture books, cups and glasses, some fish sticks, pasta and a smart speaker for playing children’s stories.

其中包括一台筆記型電腦、繪本、杯子和眼鏡、些許魚條、義大利麵和一個播放兒童故事的智慧音箱。

When the man tried to download new stories onto the device a month later it sent his home location to the manufacturers, who informed police.

這名男子一個月後試圖把新故事下載到該裝置的時候，它把他的住家位置發送給製造商，後者通知了警方。

“He faces criminal charges,” district police spokesman Christof Huels told The Associated Press. （AP）

地區警方發言人克里斯托夫．休爾斯告訴美聯社，「他面臨刑事控罪。」（美聯社）

新聞辭典

foil：名詞，指箔、金屬薄片、陪襯者、練劍術用的輕劍；動詞，指貼箔、擋開對方的劍頭、挫敗、阻擾。例句：The cynical character in the play is the perfect foil for the innocent Isablle.（劇中這個憤世嫉俗的角色正好襯托出伊莎貝爾的天真無邪。）

gadget：名詞，指小器具、小裝置、小玩意兒、小配件、詭計。例句：The room’s full of silly gadgets.（房裡盡是些不實用的小玩意兒。）

swipe：名詞，指強打、用力揮擊；動詞，擦碰、刷卡、手指在螢幕上滑動、扒竊、大口喝酒。例句：Stop swiping your credit cards . You are racking up a huge debt.（別亂刷卡了。你現在債台高築。）

 

Geisha facing dire straits as virus scares off Kyoto customers

 

病毒嚇跑京都顧客 藝妓面臨困境

【摘要2021.9.24.五.自由】◎張沛元

Geisha and their "maiko" trainees are being forced out of work here as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, shutting down parties where the traditional artists make their living entertaining guests by playing music and dancing.

隨著武漢肺炎疫情持續肆虐，席間有以奏樂與跳舞娛賓來營生的傳統藝術者陪侍的宴會停辦，此地的藝妓與練習生「舞妓」被迫失業。

Parties have been scrapped in all five major "kagai" traditional entertainment districts here, leading some of the women, collectively known as "geimaiko," to quit the business.

京都的五大「花街」（傳統風月區）的宴會皆已取消，導致某些通稱為「藝舞妓」的女性退出這一行。

"Last year, I made only 10 percent of my usual income. I have to dip into my savings to pay my daily expenses," said a geisha based in the Kamishichiken district.

「我去年只賺了我通常收入的一成。我不得不動用我的存款以支付日常開銷，」上七軒區的一名藝妓如是說。

While maiko trainees are postponing their debuts, some geimaiko have chosen to leave the kagai districts, citing drastically reduced incomes and uncertainty about the future.

儘管舞妓練習生因此延後出道，部分藝舞妓則因收入銳減與未來的不確定性而選擇離開花街。

新聞辭典

dire straits：慣用語， 困境，險境。

earn/make a/one’s living：片語，營生，謀生。例句：He earns his living driving a taxi in Taipei.（他在台北開計程車謀生。）

dip into：片語，隨便翻翻，瀏覽；動用，花費（部分積蓄）。例句：He dipped into his savings to buy a yacht.（他動用積蓄買了一艘遊艇。）

 

Ole! Spanish chef gives thumbs up to a robot-made paella

 

真棒！西班牙大廚大讚機器人烹調的海鮮飯

【摘要2021.9.23.四.自由】◎孫宇青

Spanish company BR5 has developed a robot that can cook paella. "Our goal is to travel around the world and be able to eat the same rice that we eat in our country," said founder Enrique Lillo.

西班牙BR5公司開發出可以烹調海鮮飯的機器人。創辦人安立奎．里悠說：「我們的目標是在環遊世界時，能夠嚐到和國內一樣的飯食。」

"In my opinion it’s a wonderful tool, and ’Ole!’ for the developers," said Maria Munoz, paella chef and director of "Cocinea" gastronomy school after trying the robot-made paella.

西班牙海鮮飯主廚、Cocinea料理學校校長瑪莉亞．穆諾茲，在嚐過機器人煮的海鮮飯後說：「我認為這是很棒的料理工具，我也要對開發者說『你們太棒了！』」

The robot consists of an electronically controlled stove and a mechanical arm which puts the sauteed ingredients over the paella pan, adds the rice and then stirs it with a slotted spoon before pouring in the fish stock.

這個機器人由一組電子驅動的火爐，以及能夠將煎炒過的食材放入海鮮飯鐵盤並倒入米飯的機器手臂組成，還能在放入魚料前，用帶孔的舀勺加以翻攪。

All ingredients have to be prepared in advance and are already measured for one paella. Once all the ingredients are in the pan, the robot stirs and shakes it constantly until it is done. (Reuters)

所有食材均須事先備妥，且控制在一份海鮮飯的量。當食材全都入鍋，機器人就會不斷攪拌、翻滾，直到完成。（路透）

新聞辭典

gastronomy：名詞，烹飪法。例句：Her goal is to become a world-class master of gastronomy.（她的目標是成為世界級烹飪大師。）

saute：動詞、名詞或形容詞，煎、煸、炒。例句：She is especially skilled in saute foods.（她特別擅長煎炒料理。）

slotted：形容詞，有溝槽的。例句：A slotted slice is a necessary kitchen tool.（有溝槽的鍋鏟是必要的廚房工具。）

Vaccine inequity remains Achilles’ heel of COVID-19 response in Americas-PAHO

 

泛美衛生組織：疫苗不平等依然是美洲因應新冠病毒疫情的致命傷

◎管淑平

The unequal distribution of vaccines which protect against COVID-19 is the weak point in efforts to combat the disease in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization said on Wednesday.

泛美衛生組織（PAHO）週三說，防範新冠病毒疫情的疫苗分配不平等，是目前美洲對抗此疾病的最大弱點。

"A handful of companies produce all the world’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines," PAHO Director Dr. Carissa Etienne said during the organization’s weekly virtual briefing.

「全球新冠病毒疫苗供給量，全由少數幾家公司生產」，PAHO主任埃蒂安在該組織每週視訊簡報會中說。

"Many of them are letting price and country of origin, not need, determine how doses are rolled out, so much of today’s vaccine supply remains in the hands of wealthy nations around the world."

「它們當中許多公司由價格、產地國，而非依照需求，來決定如何供應疫苗，現今許多疫苗在全球少數富國手上。」

Countries are also suffering because of production delays, leaving them waiting for doses purchased months ago, she said. (Reuters)

她說，各國也受生產延宕之累，使它們苦等數月前採購的疫苗。（路透）

新聞辭典

Achilles’ heel：片語，致命傷，致命弱點。例句：Physics is my Achilles’ heel.（物理學是我的致命傷。）

supply：名詞，供應量；動詞，供應，提供。例句：Don’t be panic. We have a large supply of food.（不要驚慌，我們有大量的食物。）

roll out：片語，推出，實施。例句：The government will roll out a tax reform plan next week.（政府下週將推出一項稅制改革計畫。）