3/14 ICRT英語文字檔
2025/3/14週五 ICRT News Lunchbox
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Hey! Thanks for tuning-in to today's episode of News Bites.
I'm Jacob Ingram.
And I'm Nancy Sun.
Coming up in today's stories: Hand puppet shows, and robotic exoskeletons!
And for today's Tasty Tidbit, we'll be looking into a famous joke!
Stay tuned to find out more.
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稱霸小銀幕 布袋戲大俠
The Hand-Puppet Hero Who Dominated Taiwan's TV Screens
Hand puppet shows (布袋戲) have been a big part of Taiwanese culture for many
years.
They are especially popular at temple festivals (廟會), where people of all
ages enjoy the performances.
Some say even the deities (神明) watch the shows!
But did you know that one puppet character became so popular in Taiwan that
it stopped people from working?
In the 1970s, a puppet named Shih Yen-wen (史艷文), also known as the Scholar
Swordsman (雲州大儒俠), became a TV sensation.
His show was so popular that when it was on children skipped school, farmers
left their fields, and workers rushed home just to watch it!
這個節目紅到讓學生翹課，農夫離開農田，上班族趕著回家看電視。
The show aired from 1970 to 1974 and reached a record 97% TV rating (收視率)!
That means almost everyone in Taiwan was watching.
But because it was affecting people's work and productivity (工作和生產力),
the government shut it down.
Shih Yen-wen was created by Huang Hai-tai (黃海岱) in the 1920s.
He was a puppet show innovator (創新者).
Instead of using traditional Chinese folklore (民俗故事), he wrote original
new stories based on novels and legends.
His son, Huang Chun-hsiung (黃俊雄), continued his father's work.
He updated the stories, and kept only three characters (角色) from the
original.
He also added special effects (特效) like 3D sets and lighting!
In 1995, the next generation, Huang Wen-tse (黃文擇) and Huang Chiang-hua
(黃強華), launched the Pili (霹靂) cable channel.
It's a TV channel just for puppet shows!
They created a new hero, Su Huan-chen (素還真), who became a modern favorite.
Even today, hand puppetry is a unique and exciting part of Taiwan's
entertainment.
布袋戲在台灣的文化裏有著不可或缺的地位。
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動力外骨骼幫助中國遊客登山
Robotic Exoskeletons Help Chinese Tourists Climb Mountain
Did you know there's this cool new technology that helps people climb
mountains (爬山)?
For many years, researchers have been working on robotic exoskeletons
(動力外骨骼).
These devices are mostly used to help people with mobility issues (行動障礙),
assist workers who carry heavy loads, and prevent injuries at dangerous jobs.
But now, China is testing them for something new.
And that is helping tourists climb mountains!
Mount Tai, or Taishan (泰山) in Shandong (山東), is famous for its tough
climb.
It's 1,500 meters high with over 7,000 steps (七千多個階梯)!
Many hikers say their legs feel like jelly after the climb.
許多登山客表示，爬完山後他們的雙腿感覺像果凍一樣。
On the first day of Chinese New Year, 10 AI-powered exoskeletons
(AI動力外骨骼) made their debut (首次亮相) at Mount Tai.
These devices wrap around the user's waist and thighs (腰部跟大腿).
They sense movement (感應到動作) and give "synchronized assistance"
(同步協助) to make climbing easier.
Each exoskeleton is lightweight, helps reduce leg strain (減輕腿部的壓力)
while climbing, and has a battery life of 5 hours.
電池只能用五個鐘頭。
Since the average climb takes about 6 hours, officials plan to set up battery
replacement spots along the trails.
Many senior citizens (年長者) tried the exoskeleton and loved it!
Li, a 68-year-old hiker, said: "It really works! It felt like someone was
pulling me uphill!"
Jacky, a content creator (內容創作者), tested the device for over 30 minutes.
He liked it but said it's hard to put on without help, and the battery life
should be longer.
Officials say they are improving the battery life and adding replacement
stations along the trail.
Half of the people who tested the exoskeleton were older adults.
For them, this technology is a big blessing (一大福音)!
Now, more people can enjoy hiking without worrying about tired legs.
這些助行器對年長者真的是一大福音。
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So, in today's News Bites:
Hand puppet shows are a long-loved part of Taiwan's culture.
One puppet show became so popular in the 1970s that almost everyone watched
it, even skipping work.
Later, new generations of puppeteers made the shows even more exciting with
new stories and effects.
Today, puppet shows are still a fun part of Taiwan's entertainment.
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And robotic exoskeletons are helping Chinese tourists climb mountains.
These devices help people move and make climbing easier.
Officials are working to make the devices better.
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趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit
And in today's Tasty Tidbit:
The "why did the chicken cross the road?" joke is very old.
It started in a magazine from New York in 1847.
The first answer was simple: "To get to the other side."
It's funny because you expect a clever answer, but it's just obvious.
This is called "anti-humor" (反幽默).
Over time, people made many different versions of the joke.
They changed the answer and the story.
The joke is popular because it is easy to understand.
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If you have a fun fact, a joke or interesting news story you'd like to share
with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to
newsbites@icrt.com.tw, and you might hear it at the end of an episode.
We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
