The people started to call this monster Year as it came out only once a year. They tried so many ways to frighten Year away, but every method failed. They tried firecrackers, hoping the noise would scare the monster away. It did scare Year, but still they woke up with children who were gone and taken by the monster.
They made special cakes, which they called Year Cake, hoping that the monster would eat the cakes. It did eat the cakes, but some children were also eaten. They tried to stay up all night and hoped that they would be able to catch the monster. But that also did not work.
ILLUSTRATIONS: COURTESY OF EXPLORER PUBLICATIONS
The people were trying to look for a way to stop this monster as they were losing too many children each year. But they were out of ideas. Just when they were about to give up, a new family moved into the village. This family was a poor family with only one young son. The father went around, begging for work. He did whatever strange jobs the people offered him. So, the villagers had an idea. What if they paid the man to give up his son? Would that stop the monster?
On New Year’s Eve, the people set the boy in the middle of the village square, with year cakes around him. The father’s heart could not stand leaving the child alone in the square. He loved his son so much. So, he decided to stay with the boy and prayed that perhaps Year would eat him instead. Throughout the night, the father and the son waited for Year to come.
(To be continued tomorrow...)
ILLUSTRATIONS: COURTESY OF EXPLORER PUBLICATIONS
因為這個怪獸一年只出現一次，所以人們就開始稱牠為「年」！他們嘗試各種方法想要嚇跑牠，卻都徒勞無功。他們嘗試用鞭炮，希望這種噪音能嚇走牠；這招確實奏效，但隔天一覺醒來還是有小孩被抓走。
他們又做了稱之為「年糕」的特別糕點，希望「年」會吃年糕；牠的確吃了年糕，但還是有小孩被牠吃掉。他們再嘗試整夜不睡希望能抓住牠，可惜又失敗了。
因為每年失去太多孩子，所以他們試圖找出阻止「年」的方法，就在他們無計可施準備要放棄時，有個新的家庭搬到村裡來。這家人很窮，只有一個小男孩，做爸爸的到處懇求工作機會，他接受各式各樣人們提供的奇怪工作；於是村民們有了個主意：如果付錢請這名男子犧牲他的兒子，這樣能阻止怪獸嗎？
除夕當晚，村民們將小男孩放在村裡的廣場中央，四周還放了年糕；這個爸爸因為太愛兒子，不忍心讓他獨自在廣場上，所以決定陪著他，並祈禱「年」會吃掉自己而不是兒子。他們整晚都在等待「年」的出現。
(明日待續...)
At an unusual event, a group of people gather and sit together without interacting or checking their phones. Instead, they concentrate on nothing at all and empty their minds for the Space-Out Competition. Originally proposed by South Korean artist Woopsyang in 2014, this event is a form of performance art. It challenges the social expectation to remain constantly busy in this fast-paced world, offering competitors a pause from their routines. For 90 minutes, players are scored on how well they “space out” based on artistic and technical aspects, with their heart rates monitored every 15 minutes. Then, the audience votes for
A: Taiwanese-language pop singer Jody Chiang is finally staging a comeback after having “turned off the microphone” for nine years. B: Yeah, she’s set to perform for the National Day celebration at the Taipei Dome this Saturday. A: As the best Taiwanese-language singer, it would be a big loss if she continued her hiatus. B: Recently, Chiang revealed that she quit singing in 2015 due to cancer. A: That’s shocking. But it’s great to see her healthy and able to turn the mic back on again. A: 台語歌后江蕙「封麥」9年後，終於即將復開唱了。 B: 對啊她本週六將參加國慶晚會，在大巨蛋開唱。 A: 江蕙可是最棒的台語歌手，如果不唱歌太可惜了。 B: 她最近才透露，其實2015年是因為罹癌才會「封麥」。 A: 真是令人震驚！能再看到她健康地「開麥」太好啦。 （By Eddy Chang,
A: Apart from Taiwanese-language pop diva Jody Chiang’s comeback, South Korean girl group (G)I-dle is also performing in Taiwan this weekend. B: I know. They have concerts at the Taipei Arena on Saturday and Sunday. A: Actually, to meet their fans’ high demand, they’ve added one more show on Friday. B: They’re even adding a show? That shows how popular they are. A: My favorite group member is Taiwan’s Susan Yeh, known by her stage name “Shuhua.” Let’s go cheer her on. A: 本週末除了江蕙復出，南韓熱門女團(G)I-dle也將開唱唷。 B: 我知道，他們本週六、日將在小巨蛋開唱。 A: 應粉絲的要求，他們本週五還會加場。 B: 還加場？不愧是韓流人氣女團。 A: 我最喜歡台灣團員葉舒華！我們快去幫她加油吧。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park is a great example of how art can be combined with environmental conservation. __1__ on the ocean floor of the Caribbean Sea, this aquatic gallery was the brainchild of British sculptor and ecologist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006. The park features sculptures that function as man-made coral reefs, with holes and shelters to attract marine life, thus forming a strikingly beautiful __2__. The sculptures are placed in a way that diverts visitors from nearby natural reefs. This creative approach to ecological preservation demonstrates how art can inspire, educate, and contribute to the sustainability of our environment. The
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