Beer lovers of Wisconsin, USA rejoice! You're a step closer to getting a free half-can of beer.
Both chambers of the Wisconsin state legislature unanimously gave key approval last Tuesday to allow grocery and liquor stores to hand out beer samples up to 6 ounces (170 grams) to a person of legal drinking age.
"It's a good bill. It's a Wisconsin bill. It's a beer bill," said Republican Representative Scott Newcomer, one of the measure's sponsors.
Current state law allows wineries to offer up to 170g of free samples.
Senator Pat Kreitlow, a Democrat from Chippewa Falls, home of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, is the bill's main sponsor in the Senate. He said the measure would help brewers market a wider variety of specialty brands and compete with wine makers.
Pete Marino, a spokesman for Miller Brewing Company, which has been pushing the bill, said brewers should have the same chance to get the public to taste their products as wine makers.
"It's a great opportunity for them (consumers) to try the beers and figure out if they want to spend their hard-earned money to take the beer home with them," Marino said.
Miller and Leinenkugel are subsidiaries of SABMiller PLC.
Mike Fassbender, owner of Fuzzy's liquor store in Sun Prairie, said he probably will stay away from samples. He might be held liable if he hands out samples and the consumer causes damage, he said.
Final passage of the bill is expected this week at the earliest. Governor Jim Doyle then would have to sign it into law.(AP)
美國威斯康辛州的啤酒愛好者,歡喜同慶!距你得到免費的半罐啤酒,又邁進了一步。
威斯康辛州議會的參眾兩院四月十七日一致通過決議,准許雜貨店與酒類專賣店提供最多六盎司(一百七十公克)的試飲啤酒給達到法定年齡的人。
這項法案的提倡者之一、共和黨州議員史考特.紐康默說︰「這項法案極佳,是威斯康辛的法案,是啤酒法案。」
目前威斯康辛州已准許葡萄酒廠提供最多一百七十公克的免費試飲。
Chippewa Falls的民主黨參議員帕特.克瑞特羅,是這項法案在參議院的主要發起人。Chippewa Falls是Jacob Leinenkugel啤酒商的大本營。他說,這項法案有助於啤酒廠推出更多選擇的專屬品牌,與葡萄酒商一較高下。
遊說這項法案的美樂啤酒發言人彼特.馬利諾表示,啤酒商應該與葡萄酒商機會平等,讓大眾品嚐他們的產品。
馬利諾說︰「這對消費者來說是大好機會,可以試喝啤酒,想一想自己是否願意花辛苦錢把啤酒買回家。」
美樂與Leinenkugel都是SABMiller PLC的子公司。
Sun Prairie的Fuzzy's酒類專賣店老闆麥克.法斯賓德表示,他大概對試飲敬謝不敏。假如他提供試飲,而顧客卻鬧事,他可能要吃上法律責任。
這項法案的最後階段預計最快本週就會出爐。威斯康辛州長吉姆.道爾屆時必須簽屬這項法案。 (美聯社/翻譯︰賴美君)
figure out 理出頭緒
When you figure out something, you decide what you want to do or solve a puzzle. "I can't figure out how to win the game. Will you help me?" Phrases with the same meaning include work out, puzzle out and solve.
If you figure in something, you take it into account: "We figured in hotel and ticket costs, and the trip should be affordable." If you figure on something, you expect or depend on it: "We figure on leaving at 9am. Will you be ready?"
當你「figure out」某事,你決定了該怎麼做,或如何解決問題。例如︰「我想不出要怎麼贏得比賽。你可以幫我嗎?」類似的片語還有「work out」、「puzzle out」和「solve」。
假如你「figure in」某事,你將此事列入考量。例如︰「我們評估了旅館與票價,應該負擔得起這趟旅程」。假如你「figure on」某事,你預期或仰賴這件事。例如︰「我們預計在早上九點離開。你可以準備好嗎?」
OUT LOUD 對話練習
Gary: The liquor store down the street is handing out free beer samples!
Karen: Get out of here. How can that be legal?
Gary: The state legislature just passed a law for it.
Karen: The legislature never ceases to amaze me.
Gary: You're not the only one.
蓋瑞︰街上的那家販酒的商店正在發送免費試飲的啤酒!
凱倫︰怎麼可能!那樣合法嗎?
蓋瑞︰州議院剛剛才通過法案。
凱倫︰州議院總是讓我瞠目結舌。
蓋瑞︰不是只有你。
get out of here 別開玩笑了,怎麼可能
If you tell someone to get out of here, you are jokingly saying you don't believe what they are saying. "A-mei was sitting next to you at the restaurant? Get out of here!"
假如你對某人說「get out of here」,你揶揄地說自己不相信對方所說的。例如︰「阿妹在餐廳坐在你旁邊?怎麼可能!」
A: Artificial intelligence technology has been causing controversy lately: a student was caught cheating with AI to win the grand prize in an art contest. B: That’s so absurd. Does this mean that AI paints better than humans? A: Maybe. Luckily, the student was later disqualified. B: And more absurdly, it’s becoming more and more popular to use AI technology to “resurrect” people. A: Yeah, some netizens even posted videos featuring the late singer CoCo Lee, who was “resurrected” by them with AI software. A: 人工智慧的爭議不斷,有學生違規使用AI參加美術展,甚至贏得首獎。 B: 真誇張,這是不是代表AI比人類還強大? A: 或許吧,幸好得獎資格被取消。 B: 還有更誇張的︰讓死者重現的「AI復活」技術越來越熱門。 A: 對啊,還有網友製作已故歌后李玟「復活」的影片呢! (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
It’s no secret that Japanese people have a deep affection for noodles. Like in the rest of East Asia, noodles are an important staple food, second only to rice. Japanese people have enjoyed noodles for over 1,000 years. The first noodles came from China and were introduced around 800 CE. As time passed, noodles in Japan not only became widespread but also developed some unique Japanese characteristics. The three most popular types of noodles in Japan are ramen, soba, and udon. Ramen, typically made from wheat flour, is usually thin and firm. The dough is kneaded and left to
Rice is an essential ingredient in Taiwanese cuisine. Many foods are made of rice, adding more variety to our cooking, such as rice cake, or “gui.” Wagui is made by steaming rice flour batter in a bowl. The term “gui” refers to a type of food made from rice, while “wa” refers to a bowl. The pronunciation of “gui” in Taiwanese Hokkien is similar to the word for “nobility” in Chinese, so it is common for people to prepare various types of gui, including wagui, as offerings to the gods or ancestors,. 米是台灣重要的主食,用米製成的食品十分多元,豐富我們的飲食,如米做成的「粿」。粿的意思是米做成的糕點,碗粿是將在來米漿倒入碗中蒸熟,因而得名。粿因為音同「貴」,因此碗粿等粿食常用作供品祭拜神明和祖先。 nobility (n.) 高貴,高尚;貴族 offering (n.) 供品 While Taiwan may not be
Continued from yesterday(延續自昨日) https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang As with many aspects of Japanese culture, there is etiquette to follow when you enjoy noodles. To fully experience noodles like a local on your next visit to Japan, consider these simple guidelines. First, be careful where you put your chopsticks. Don’t leave them sticking up in the broth or set them at the side of the bowl. When you have finished eating or if you’re taking a break, place them on the chopstick rest next to the bowl. Also, it is impolite to wave chopsticks around or bring them above mouth-level. Second, don’t take too