Martin Marlin, 66, a middle school science teacher in the US, was driving on the freeway about a month ago when his mobile phone rang. "I picked up and said 'hi,' and somebody on the other end goes, 'Hey, wanna go to Taiwan?' And I said, 'Um, sure. Wait, who is this?'" Marlin told the Taipei Times.
The caller was from King Car Education Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO) promoting education reform in Taiwan. Morgan Sun, the executive director of the Foundation, had heard about Marlin's new teaching techniques on a tour of US schools. So Marlin and first aid instructor Sandy Leach came to Taiwan to share their skills with Taiwanese teachers and students.
Leach demonstrated high-tech, anatomically correct manikin babies that are revolutionizing domestic science curricula in the US. Boasting a digital interface on their backs, the babies are "programmed to cry at different times for different reasons," Leach said, encouraging Sun to hold one.
PHOTO: EPA
"Oh, I grandfather now [sic]!" Sun said while rocking a baby. Before Sun could finish his sentence, however, he accidentally dropped the 4.5kg doll with a resounding thud. The manikin's disturbingly realistic wailing kicked in, leaving the executive director with egg all over his face.
More babies then started crying loudly as members of the local press put down their tape recorders to reach out to them. "At this point, you must insert a key-card in the baby's back," Leach said. " But the trick is knowing which card to insert — there's a diaper-changing key, a feeding key, a burping key, etc. The baby will only stop crying when the key corresponding to its particular need is inserted," Leach added.
Sun said the dolls are ideal teaching tools to promote responsible sexual behavior among the nation's youth, saying that once students understand the level of discipline required to care for a baby, they tend to approach sex with a more mature attitude.
(max hirsch, staff reporter)
約一個月前，六十六歲的美國中學自然教師馬丁．馬林駕駛在高速公路上時手機響起，「我接起電話說『嗨』，電話另一頭的人說『嘿，想要去台灣嗎
？』我就說『嗯，當然，等一等，你是誰？』。」 他對台北時報表示。
致電者是在台灣推廣教育的非政府組織，金車教育基金會的執行長孫慶國，他在美國學校巡迴參觀時，耳聞馬林的新教學方式，於是請馬林和急救教練珊蒂．李區來台灣和師生分享他們的技巧。
李區示範在美國本土帶起一波科學教育革命的高科技擬真娃娃。李區得意地表示，這些娃娃背上的數位介面，設定娃娃「在不同時間因不同理由哭鬧」，他還鼓勵孫慶國抱一個。
孫慶國搖著嬰兒時說︰「哇，我現在是祖父了。」不過他失手讓四點五公斤的娃娃呯地一聲掉落在地，嬰兒娃娃開始發出逼真又惱人的哭嚎聲，弄得孫執行長灰頭土臉。
更多嬰兒開始放聲大哭，此時許多本地記者放下錄音機，伸手要去抱娃娃。李區表示︰「此時你必須在娃娃的背上插入鑰匙。」她補充︰「不過，技巧在於知道插入哪一隻鑰匙，有「換尿布」、「餵奶」和「打嗝」等鑰匙，要插入符合狀況需求的鑰匙，娃娃才會停止哭嚎。」
孫慶國表示，這些電子娃娃是向台灣年輕人推廣負責任性行為的理想工具，因為學生一旦了解照顧嬰兒需要費多大的心力，就會對性行為採取更成熟的態度。
（翻譯︰鄭湘儀）
A: After attending Taiwanese baseball superstar Chen Wei-yin’s retirement ceremony in Japan, why didn’t you stay longer for some fun? B: Don’t you remember? We’re going to Blackpink member Jisoo’s fan meeting at Messe Taoyuan this Sunday. A: Oh, that’s right. She’s the second Blackpink member visiting Taiwan as a solo artist after Lisa. B: Jisoo just released her EP “Amortage” on Valentine’s Day. A: Blackpink will also release new songs and launch a world tour this summer. A: 你去日本參加台灣強投陳偉殷的引退儀式後，怎麼沒留下來玩幾天？ B: 你忘啦？我們週日還要去「桃園會展中心」參加Blackpink成員Jisoo的見面會。 A: 啊對耶，她是繼Lisa後第二位單飛訪台的Blackpink成員。 B: Jisoo不久前才在情人節，推出個人迷你專輯《Amortage》。 A: Blackpink今年夏天也會推出新歌，還會啟動世界巡演呢！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
Imagine standing in a lush forest, surrounded by the songs of birds and the rustling of leaves, with the earthy scent of soil and trees filling the air. This is the essence of forest bathing, a natural experience that brings peace to both body and mind. Originating from the Japanese term “shinrin-yoku,” forest bathing is a simple yet healing activity. It requires no special equipment or skills, just a willingness to disconnect from the digital world and embrace nature. The key is to use all of your senses to fully engage with the forest: feeling the warmth of sunlight on your
A: Taiwan’s baseball superstar Chen Wei-yin announced his retirement, and I’m still in shock. B: Didn’t you fly to Japan last Sunday just to attend his retirement ceremony? A: Yeah, it was held by Chen’s former Japanese team, the Chunichi Dragons. I even cried at the event. B: His glorious record of 96 wins in Japanese and US professional baseball altogether is unprecedented. A: His total income of NT$3.3 billion, including a huge 2016 contract of US$80 million with the US Miami Marlins, is also unprecedented. A: 台灣棒球巨星陳偉殷宣布引退，真是令人震驚。 B: 你週日不是特別飛去日本，參加他的引退儀式嗎？ A: 對啊老東家「中日龍」為他舉行了儀式，我還感動到大哭。 B: 他創下日／美職棒總計96勝紀錄，真是史無前例。 A: 而他生涯總收入高達33億台幣，包括在2016年時，和「馬林魚」簽下8千萬美元巨約，更是無人能及！ （By Eddy
In another application of artificial intelligence, a team of archaeologists from the Nazca Institute at the University of Yamagata in Japan, in collaboration with IBM Research, have discovered 303 new geoglyphs in the “Nazca” region of Peru. Though these figures are not nearly as large as their Nazca Lines counterparts, their discovery has helped enhance the understanding of the transition from the Paracas culture to the Nazca culture. The AI model, assisted by low-flying drones, was able to accomplish what the naked eye could not—quickly and accurately spotting the smaller relief-type geoglyphs in the desert area. While it previously
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