英倫翻譯社/ Trsmaster

2021/08/09 05:30

◎ 陳成良

The world’s tallest sandcastle has been completed in Denmark, towering more than 20 metres high and comprising nearly 5,000 tonnes of sand, according to its designers.

世界最高沙堡已在丹麥落成，據設計師稱，這座沙堡高度超過20公尺，用掉近5000噸沙子。

Standing 21.16 metres in height, the castle is more than 3 metres taller than one built in Germany in 2019, which previously held the title, according to Guinness World Records.

這座打破金氏世界紀錄的城堡高21.16公尺，比起先前紀錄保持者、德國2019年沙堡高出約3公尺多。

A total of 4,860 tonnes of sand make up the intricately decorated structure, which is reminiscent of a pyramid, in the small seaside town of Blokhus.

這座精雕細刻的沙堡位於布洛克豪斯海邊小鎮，總共用掉4860噸沙子，造型讓人聯想到金字塔。

Its Dutch creator, Wilfred Stijger, was assisted by 30 of the world’s best sand sculptors. He said he wanted the castle to represent the power the coronavirus has had over the world since the beginning of the pandemic. On top of the sandcastle is a model of the virus wearing a crown.

來自荷蘭的沙堡設計師威爾弗雷德．史蒂格，在全世界最傑出的30名沙雕師協助下，完成這座沙堡。他表示，他希望這座城堡能夠代表自大流行開始以來冠狀病毒在世界上的影響力。沙堡的頂部是一個戴著皇冠的病毒模型。

英倫翻譯轉自https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1465756

2021/08/05 05:30

◎孫宇青

From the age of 5, Filipino graphic artist Percival Lugue has had a passion for collecting toys from fast-food restaurant chains like McDonald’s, Burger King and home-country favorite Jollibee.

菲律賓平面設計師帕西瓦爾‧魯格，從5歲開始就滿腔熱血地蒐集麥當勞、漢堡王及當地人最愛的快樂蜂等速食連鎖餐廳的玩具。

Now, the 50-year-old has about 20,000 toys packed from floor to ceiling in his home and holds a Guinness World Record from 2014, when his collection reached more than 10,000 items.

現在，50歲的魯格擁有約2萬組玩具，在家裡從地板堆到天花板，且2014年起持續保持金氏世界紀錄，當時他收藏的玩具已超過1萬組。

Lugue built his home especially to house his collection. He likens the excitement that getting new toys gives him to Christmas morning. "The toy is like a storyteller in itself."

魯格蓋了自己的房子就是為了放藏品，他把得到新玩具的興奮感比擬成耶誕節早晨，「玩具本身就像個說故事的人。」

While most of his toys were obtained through personal purchases, some were donated by friends and family.

儘管大部分玩具都是他自己花錢買的，但也有朋友和家人送的。

His dream now is to eventually put his collection on display for the public or even open a museum to "give others a chance to revisit their own childhood memories." (Reuters)

◎ 陳成良

A new research suggests roughly two-thirds of couples start out as friends and maintain a platonic relationship for long periods before sparking a romance.

新研究顯示，約3分之2的夫妻是從作朋友開始，並維持一段相當久的柏拉圖式愛情，才燃出浪漫的火花。

Danu Anthony Stinson, an associate professor in the department of psychology at the University of Victoria, Canada, and her co-authors investigated the experience of nearly 1,900 university students and crowdsourced adults（including 677 who were married or in a common law partnership）, all of whom were asked whether they were friends with their current romantic partner before they became romantically involved.

加拿大維多利亞大學心理學系副教授達努．安東尼．斯廷森和該研究報告的合著者們，調查近1900名大學生和參與群眾外包的成年人（包括677名已婚者或同居者）的經歷，並向所有受訪者提出一個問題：他們和現任伴侶在一起之前，兩人是不是朋友。

Most participants（68%）reported that their current or most recent romantic relationship began as a friendship. The rate of friends-first initiation was even higher among 20-somethings, with 85% of such couples saying their romance began as a friendship.

大多數參與者（68％）表示，他們目前或最近的戀愛關係始於友誼。在20幾歲的年輕人中，以朋友為先的比率更高，85％的此類伴侶表示他們的愛情始於友誼。

英倫翻譯轉自https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1464377

2021/07/28 05:30

◎管淑平

The city of Tomakomai in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, plans to promote a local camping resort for teleworkers interested in "workations" that combine work and vacations.

日本最北邊的主要島嶼北海道的苫小牧市，打算向有意「工作度假」結合工作與度假的遠距工作者，推銷當地的露營休閒場。

The municipal office is eyeing a budget of 40 million yen to provide high-speed internet access in the cottages and meeting rooms at Auto Resort Tomakomai Arten, a popular resort owned by the city close to New Chitose airport.

市府正打算用4000萬日圓預算，在當地熱門的公營Arten汽車渡假區的小木屋、會議室提供高速網路。

Workations are drawing attention with the growth of remote working amid the coronavirus pandemic.

由於在新型冠狀病毒疫情中，遠距工作增加，工作度假也正受到注意。

Tomakomai is facing a population decline and hopes its efforts will attract teleworkers to counter the trend, a city official said.

市府官員說，苫小牧正面臨人口減少，希望這麼做會吸引遠距工作者，扭轉這種趨勢。