A: I know we do this every year, but did you make any New Year’s resolutions?
B: I don’t bother. I never follow through on them. They’re always too ambitious. It’s better to make moderate promises to yourself that you will be able to keep, rather than break them within the first week of the year. How about you?
A: Just one, in light of the horrible consumerism we indulged in this week. I’m going to keep closer tabs on my expenditure.
Photo: Pixabay 照片：Pixabay
B: I think I’ll join you on that one. After our grand experiment in stimulating the economy, I think it’s time to keep a low profile and just save some money.
A: Ah, it’s nice to splash out on yourself occasionally, but we also have to take control of the purse strings.
A: 我知道我們每年都說啦，不過，你有沒有立下什麼新年新希望呢？
B: 我才懶得玩這套呢！我從來都沒有做到 。這些目標都訂得太高了。還是訂一些普通的、自己可以做得到的目標比較好，總比訂一些在新年第一週就破功的目標好吧。那你呢？
A: 只有一個目標。有鑑於我們這禮拜對消費主義的沉迷，我想要好好控制一下花費。
B: 我也想要加入。在參加了刺激經濟的盛大實驗以後，我想我們應該要低調一點，來存點錢。
A: 啊，偶爾灑錢買東西是蠻爽的，可是我們應該也要看緊荷包才行。
（Paul Cooper, Taipei Times／台北時報林俐凱譯）
English 英文:
Chinese 中文:
UK lawmakers voted on Nov. 29 in favor of assisted dying for terminally ill people in England and Wales, advancing the emotive and contentious legislation to the next stage of parliamentary scrutiny. MPs voted by 330 to 275 in support of legalized euthanasia in the first vote on the issue in the House of Commons for nearly a decade. The result came following an emotionally-charged debate that lasted almost five hours in a packed and hushed chamber, and as competing protestors made their voices heard outside parliament. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill now progresses to the committee
In the world of DIY and crafts, creating terrariums has emerged as a popular trend. Whether you have a spacious garden or a compact apartment, anyone can enjoy the beauty of nature at their fingertips with these miniature gardens. But what are terrariums, and why have they taken the world by storm? A terrarium is a sealed glass container that supports plant growth without daily watering. This concept was first developed in the 19th century by Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, an English botanist. While experimenting, Ward accidentally discovered that ferns could grow well in a sealed jar. This observation led
A: The 2024 BWF World Tour Finals just kicked off in Hangzhou, China yesterday. B: Only the world’s top 8 players and Olympic gold medalists are qualified for the annual games. A: Taiwan’s badminton duo, Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin, won the Olympic gold. Did they qualify? B: Of course. This will be the “Lin-Yang duo’s” last dance. A: Taiwan’s badminton king Chou Tien-cheng, men’s doubles, Yang Po-hsuan and Lee Jhe-huei, and mixed doubles, Yang and Hu Ling-fang, will also compete this time. It’s sure to be awesome. A: 2024世界羽聯「BWF年終總決賽」，昨天已在杭州開打了。 B: 只有世界前8名選手，或奧運金牌才有資格參賽。 A: 台灣的李洋、王齊麟榮獲奧運男雙金牌，也可以參男雙賽囉？ B: 當然啦，而這次將是「麟洋配」的最後一舞！ A: 而台灣球王周天成，男雙楊博軒、李哲輝，混雙楊博軒、胡綾芳也將參賽，讚啦。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
2020 年在新冠疫情籠罩下，口罩 (face masks/face covering) 成了日用必需品。疫情爆發初期，外科口罩製造原料「熔噴不織布」(melt-blown nonwoven fabric) 一度成為戰略管制品，也導致熔噴布國際價格飆漲。 我們可以利用這個機會了解一下相關詞彙及知識。 「不織布」(nonwoven fabric)，顧名思義，不似一般編織的紡織品，而是使用高壓黏合各種纖維所生成的布狀物，是口罩或抹布等的原料。不織布通常含有聚丙烯（polypropylene，簡寫 PP）或聚乙烯（polyethylene，簡寫 PE）。「熔噴不織布」是在吹送熱風的同時將熔化的樹脂原料從噴嘴擠出，堆疊出極細小的連續纖維，最後形成布片，適合製成各種濾材。 「外科/醫用口罩」 (surgical face mask/medical mask)，通常於進出醫院時配戴，是「三層不織布口罩」(nonwoven 3-layer face mask)，外層是防潑水的不織布，可避免飛沫，中間是過濾層，能過濾細菌、病毒等細小物質，內層是可以吸水的材質，用途主要是吸收配戴者自己的口沫。 一般的布口罩多少也能擋住飛沫，進而降低感染風險，但防護力明顯不足，且須勤於清洗、消毒、晾乾；而 N95 口罩 (N95 respirator/N95 mask) 有最好的隔離效果，但容易使人呼吸困難；所以外科口罩還是最適合一般民眾配戴防疫，也有足以阻絕病毒的效果。 When used properly and in higher-risk settings, medical masks and respirator masks give better protection from COVID-19 infection than cloth masks. 此外，還有以伸縮性的聚氨酯泡棉 (Polyurethane, PU) 製作較美觀的、可清洗的「匹塔口罩」(pitta mask)。 Made with polyurethane, this mask is very light and comfortable. The texture makes it flexible and stretchable to match the shape of your face. It can be washed and reused repeatedly. 最後要提的是英文的 face mask 一詞是一詞多意的 blanket term，它可以指口罩，也可以指面膜或面罩。 防疫必備詞彙：防護器具用品 社交距離 social distancing 額溫槍 forehead thermometer 耳溫槍 ear thermometer 紅外線體溫測量儀 infrared thermometer 體溫熱像儀 thermal imaging camera 乾洗手（劑）hand sanitizer 消毒濕巾 disinfecting wipes 個人防護裝備 personal protective
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