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！」
You’re sitting in class when a classmate asks to borrow a pencil. It seems like a small favor, so you agree without hesitation. The following week, the same classmate asks to share your notes. Later, they request help with a group project. You agree each time — after all, you helped out the first time — but before you know it, it has become automatic. This scenario demonstrates the “foot-in-the-door technique,” a psychological concept that shows how agreeing to small, acceptable demands makes it easier to accept larger ones later on. The name for this strategy comes from door-to-door
A: The four-day Tomb Sweeping Day long weekend begins Friday and will run until Monday. Are you going to sweep your ancestors’ tombs? B: I did in advance last weekend, so I can go to Kaohsiung to see the musical “The Phantom of the Opera.” A: Wow, is “Phantom” touring Taiwan again? It debuted in 1986, so this year marks the 40th anniversary of the show. B: And it’s not just touring Kaohsiung starting March 31, but also Taipei starting April 21 and Taichung starting May 26. A: “Phantom” is one of the world’s Four Major Musicals. I’ve seen all of them, except “Les
A: Apart from the musical The Phantom of the Opera, off-Broadway classic “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” and musical-themed concert “Broadway Hits Live” are also touring Taiwan. B: Musical-themed concert? That sounds interesting. A: Set for April 18 and 19, the show will feature a group of Broadway vocalists and dancers — with British singer Keala Settle as a special guest. B: So the audience can enjoy all the timeless hits from various shows at one concert. . . I like that. A: And there’s more: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical Jesus Christ Superstar will finally visit Taiwan for the first time
Despite being a basic tool, pens come in a wide variety of forms. Classic styles include fountain pens, which deliver liquid ink smoothly through metal tips. Another common type is the ballpoint pen, which is easy to use. There are even special felt pens that are especially popular among artists. __1__ They have a small hole at the top. So why is it there in the first place? Could it actually be a design flaw? __2__ Since 1991, companies such as BIC have been producing ballpoint pens with holes in their caps for two main reasons: quality control
RSS