In this poor economic climate, employees are suffering even more annoyances than usual at work. Night markets and Web sites have caught the mood by offering “tread-on-the-rascal” socks with a human shape and the word “rascal” printed on the soles. Now you can trample on whomever or whatever is ticking you off. You can let off steam and have fun while you’re doing it. A lot of office workers are making group purchases of several dozen pairs in one go, and some people say they would like socks with pictures of their boss or ex-boy- or girlfriend on the bottom.
With summer approaching, these short socks are now hot sellers. Whoever it is that’s got you riled, you can picture that person and get your own back by treading on them as you walk down the street. It’s a clever idea and you can’t help smiling.
A vendor peddling socks in Taipei’s Shida Road night market says sock sellers owe thanks to actor-singer Show Lo, also known as “Piglet.” Not long ago, Lo was accused of buying his way up the charts. Many fans spoke out in his support and someone sent him some “tread-on-the-rascal” socks to change his luck and get rid of his pesky accusers. Lo wore the socks in public and thanked his fans for their support, boosting sales of the anti-rogue socks. On-line enquiries shot up and night-market sales took off.
A certain Ms. Shen of Taipei has been having a rough time at work recently. She has the feeling her boss is always trying to make trouble for her, so she bought a pair of the socks to get rid of her rotten luck. “I don’t know if they really work, but at least it helps me let off steam,” she says. A Ms. Lin, who made a group purchase of anti-rascal socks with some friends, says “It’s fun – that’s the main point, even if there’s no one in particular annoying you.”
Some suppliers have turned their minds to politics and had the idea of printing politicians onto the soles of the socks so you can trample the ones you don’t like — maybe former president Chen Shui-bian, for example, or the incumbent, Ma Ying-jeou. We also spoke to “Jane,” who recently split up with her boyfriend. She says she wants her ex’s name embroidered on the soles of her socks so she can give the two-timing cheat a good treading underfoot.
(LIBERTY TIMES, TRANSLATED BY JULIAN CLEGG)
景氣不佳，工作「鳥氣」特別多，各大夜市與網站上流行一款「踩小人襪」，襪底印有「小人」字樣的人型，把不滿全踩在腳底，出氣之餘也充滿趣味，不少上班族一次團購好幾打，還有人希望訂做老闆與前男女朋友的圖案。
夏天到，今年這款短襪反常熱賣，看誰不爽，心裡想著那個人，走路多踩幾下發洩，創意令人莞爾。
台北市師大路販售襪子的小販說，拜藝人「小豬」羅志祥之賜，他先前曾被人暗指買榜，歌迷聲援力挺，並送上「踩小人襪」改運，驅趕小人，羅志祥公開穿上感謝歌迷愛護，因而讓「踩小人襪」水漲船高，網路上詢問度暴增，夜市也賣到嚇嚇叫。
台北市沈小姐最近工作不順心，覺得老闆常找麻煩，買「踩小人襪」去霉運；她說：「不知道有沒有用，起碼可以發洩情緒。」參加團購「踩小人襪」的林小姐說：「好玩的成分居多，未必真的有小人在旁邊。」
有業者腦筋動到政治人物上，想將政治人物的圖像放在襪底，取「踩扁」、「踩馬」之意，剛與前男友分手的小貞則希望在襪底繡上前男友的名字，用力大踩負心漢。（自由時報記者邱紹雯）
A: Wow, Les Miserables Staged Concert Spectacular is visiting Taiwan for the first time. B: Isn’t Les Miserables often praised as one of the world’s four greatest musicals? A: Yup. Its concert is touring Taipei from tonight to July 6, and Kaohsiung between July 10 and 27. B: The English version of the French musical, based on writer Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, has been a huge success throughout the four decades since its debut in 1985. A: The musical has never toured Taiwan, but going to the concert sounds like fun, too. A: 哇，音樂劇《悲慘世界》紀念版音樂會首度來台巡演！ B: 《悲慘世界》……它不是常被譽為全球四大名劇之一嗎？ A: 對啊音樂會將從今晚到7月6日在台北演出，從7月10日到27日在高雄演出。 B: 這部法文音樂劇的英文版，改編自維克多雨果的同名小說，自1985年首演以來，在過去40年造成轟動。 A:
Some 400 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, the “International Space Station” (ISS) operates as both a home and office for astronauts living and working in space. Astronauts typically stay aboard the station for up to six months and engage in groundbreaking research projects in various fields, such as biology, physics and astronomy. These projects help scientists understand life in space and contribute to advancements that benefit people on Earth. The ISS has experienced significant growth since construction began in 1998. The station’s design and assembly represent an extraordinary international collaboration among Canada, the European Union, Japan, Russia and the United States.
A: While hit musical Les Miserables’ concert tour kicks off, South Korean drama Squid Game 3 will be back at the end of this month. B: New Taiwanese dramas The World Between Us 2 and Zero Day Attack have also gained attention. A: I heard that Zero Day Attack is a story about the Chinese Communist Party’s People’s Liberation Army trying to attack Taiwan by force. B: The drama’s subject is so sensitive that it has sparked a lot of controversy in society. A: I just hope that such a horrible story will never happen in
Continued from yesterday（延續自昨日） https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang Living on the ISS is challenging due to the absence of gravity. Astronauts must strap themselves into sleeping bags to prevent floating away while they sleep. They also spend about two hours exercising daily using specialized equipment. Despite this, microgravity can cause muscle loss, bone density reduction and cardiovascular changes. As a result, astronauts require extensive rehabilitation upon their return to Earth. In spite of these difficulties, astronauts often describe their experience on the ISS as life-changing. One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of living aboard the space station is the unparalleled view of Earth. Traveling at
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