Have you ever seen a circular intersection where cars continuously flow in one direction around a central island? That is a “roundabout,” a well-known alternative to traditional intersections. Drivers enter and exit at different points without relying on traffic lights. Their primary purpose is to improve traffic flow and minimize the likelihood of high-speed collisions, particularly dangerous T-bone and head-on crashes. Roundabouts have existed and been implemented for over a century. In the 1960s, the modern roundabout emerged in the UK, with added rules for yielding. Unlike intersections with red lights, roundabouts allow vehicles to continue moving at a
A: So you’re reading Jin Yong’s martial arts novel again? B: Yup, Jin’s novels are so fascinating, especially the trilogy: “Legends of the Condor Heroes,” “Return of the Condor Heroes,” and “Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.” A: The late novelist published his first story in 1955, which means this year marks the 70th anniversary of his “wuxia” world. B: Wasn’t an English version of “Legends of the Condor Heroes” also released in 2018? A: Yes, but the debate over the translation of kung fu moves continues — like the evil move “Nine Yin Skeleton Claw.” A: 你又在重讀金庸的武俠小說啦? B:
If you’ve recently spotted adults parading around with cuddly toys dangling from their designer handbags, your eyes haven’t been deceiving you. The playful trend of adorning bags with cute charms has become popular among people of various ages. Plushies like Labubu and anime and manga characters such as Chiikawa have become must-have accessories that make personal statements. The practice of attaching charms to personal items has been common across cultures throughout history. In ancient civilizations, charms were often used as symbols of protection, good luck, or identity. Fast-forward to more modern times, and style icons like Jane Birkin, a
A: Apart from Jin Yong, the late martial arts novelists Liang Yusheng and Gu Long were also very popular. B: Wasn’t Liang a pioneer of the “new school” wuxia genre in the 20th century? A: Yup, I really like his Tianshan mountain series. All the characters — such as the “White Haired Demoness” — are so vivid. B: The roles in Gu’s books are lively, too — like the “Fragrant Commander” Chu Liuxiang. A: And the TV drama adapted from the Chu Liuxiang series swept across Taiwan in the 1980s, with ratings surging over 70 percent at that time.