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  1. 2 HR AGO

    第2821期:Not in front of the children

    Since TV advertising began, there has always been food adverts aimed at children. Yes, sweets, chocolate, ice cream. But that may be about to change.自从电视广告诞生以来，就一直有针对儿童的食品广告。是的，糖果、巧克力、冰淇淋——但这种情况可能即将改变。 We're looking at the UK's radical plans for advertising of junk food for children.我们今天要看看英国针对儿童垃圾食品广告的一项激进计划。 There's growing concern, isn't there, Richard, that children's health is being negatively affected by how food products are marketed to children.人们越来越担心，不是吗，理查德？孩子们的健康正受到食品广告营销方式的不良影响。 Yes, in the UK, the government have estimated that children under the age of 16 are exposed to billions of food adverts online every year.是的，据英国政府估计，16岁以下的儿童每年在网上接触到数十亿条食品广告。 But now the government's decided to do something about it. They plan to ban all junk food adverts on TV before nine o'clock in the evening and a total ban online.但现在，政府决定采取行动。他们计划在晚上九点前禁止所有垃圾食品电视广告，并在网络上全面禁止此类广告。 The total ban online. This is not just for children, is it?网络上的全面禁令。这不仅仅是针对儿童的，对吧？ No, because online advertisers aren't able to effectively identify which users are children and which are adults.没错，因为网络广告商无法有效区分哪些用户是儿童、哪些是成年人。 So restricting all advertising is the best way to ensure that children aren't exposed to and harmed by highly influential but unhealthy food adverts.因此，全面限制广告是确保儿童不受这些具有强大影响力但不健康的食品广告伤害的最佳方法。 Now, they say that if implemented, the ban would affect ads on Facebook, Google, social media activity.他们表示，如果该禁令实施，将影响Facebook、Google等平台上的广告，以及社交媒体活动。 I mean, we're talking Twitter and Instagram. How on earth are they going to do that?也就是说，还包括Twitter和Instagram。他们到底打算怎么做到这一点？ I have absolutely no idea. What are they talking about?我完全不知道。他们到底在说什么？ They're talking about products like burgers, meat pizzas, ice cream, chocolate, crisps.他们指的是像汉堡、肉类披萨、冰淇淋、巧克力、薯片等产品。 All of these products won't be able to be advertised online.所有这些产品都将不能在网上投放广告。 It may not come as a great surprise to you, but the number one advertising company in the UK is McDonald's and they spend over £85 million on advertising every year.这可能并不让人惊讶，但英国最大的广告主是麦当劳，他们每年在广告上花费超过8500万英镑。 So why are they doing it, Richard? What's this big thing now?那么，他们为什么要这样做呢，理查德？这次的大动作是为了什么？ Well, let's face facts. Britain is the second fattest European nation and obesity is thought to be a factor that could have worsened the country's death toll during the pandemic.说实话，英国是欧洲第二肥胖的国家，而肥胖被认为是导致新冠疫情中死亡人数更高的一个因素。 Yeah. Research has shown that one in three children leaving primary school are overweight or obese.是的，研究表明，每三名小学毕业的孩子中，就有一人超重或肥胖。 That's a third of 11-year-olds. That's terrible, isn't it?也就是说，三分之一的11岁儿童。真是可怕，不是吗？ And obese children, I think they're five times more likely to remain obese into adulthood.而肥胖儿童成年后继续肥胖的可能性高达五倍。 Yeah. Now, we mentioned how much McDonald's spends on their advertising, right?是的。我们刚提到麦当劳在广告上的花费，对吧？ Now, compare that to the government's healthy eating campaign. What's the budget for that? £5.2 million.现在，把它和政府的健康饮食宣传活动预算相比——只有520万英镑。 And then on top of that, the NHS spends an estimated £38 million a year on weight loss surgery.此外，英国国家医疗服务体系（NHS）每年还花费约3800万英镑用于减肥手术。 Yes, but wait for it. It's a further £5.1 billion a year on treating obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, which is really increasing.是的，但更惊人的是——每年还要额外花费约51亿英镑来治疗与肥胖相关的疾病，比如糖尿病，而且这些病例正在不断增加。 I think the interesting thing though, Richard, is why has Boris Johnson really taken these companies to task now?不过有趣的是，理查德，鲍里斯·约翰逊为什么现在才决定对这些公司出手？ Well, in 2020, a number of UK ministers got Covid but only the Prime Minister. He was the only one who was seriously ill and needed to go into intensive care.2020年，英国有几位部长感染了新冠病毒，但只有首相本人病得很重，还被送进了重症监护室。 He admitted himself he was too fat and he thought his weight was a factor in why he became so ill.他后来亲口承认，自己太胖了，并认为体重是导致病情严重的一个重要原因。 So there we go, Richard. No more chocolate adverts on the telly.所以就是这样，理查德——电视上再也不会有巧克力广告了。

    4 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    第2820期:The human touch

    It has been suggested that one in three jobs that exist today will eventually be done by smart machines, robots and software. Some say as soon as 2025. The robots, it seems, are taking over.有人指出，当今存在的工作中有三分之一最终将由智能机器、机器人和软件来完成。有些人甚至认为这一切最早会在2025年发生。看来，机器人正逐步接管人类的工作。 Now we have some podcasts about the rise of automation, we're looking at jobs that only humans can do. Right then, Jackie, give me a job then that robots can't do that humans can. Well, they can't taste like humans.现在，我们有一些关于自动化崛起的播客，来探讨那些“只有人类能做的工作”。好吧，杰姬，那你给我举个例子，机器人无法胜任而人类可以完成的工作。——“嗯，它们不会像人类那样‘品尝’。” Already in the food industry, robot vision is used to grade food, it can identify foreign components, plastic for example. Yes, it can see things, can't it, with cameras. Read barcodes, etc, etc.其实在食品行业，机器视觉已经被用来为食品分级，它还能识别异物，比如塑料。——“是啊，它能通过摄像头‘看见’东西，还能读取条形码之类的。” Now, there are e-noses that can prevent food poisoning. E-noses? Well, they can smell for things like salmonella or e.coli.现在还有“电子鼻”，可以用来预防食物中毒。——“电子鼻？那是什么？”——“它们能嗅出像沙门氏菌或大肠杆菌这样的致病物质。” Wow, things that... Well, that'll make you ill. But they can't, obviously robots, they can't smell or taste as humans do.哇，那些……会让人得病的东西啊。但显然，机器人并不能像人类那样真正地闻或尝。 In fact, scientists don't really understand how smell works. Because we all taste differently as well, don't we? Or taste things differently, rather, and have different food preferences. So presumably, chefs are going to be fairly safe then.事实上，科学家们至今仍未完全理解嗅觉的工作原理。而且每个人的味觉也不同，对食物的偏好也各异。所以，厨师这个职业大概还是相当安全的吧。 Exactly. Now, you mentioned vision, Jackie. That's a sense that robots can do.没错。杰姬，你刚才提到了视觉——这是机器人可以具备的感知能力。 But there are still some jobs which humans are better at. That involves vision. And one is the fire lookout.不过，仍有一些依赖视觉的工作是人类更擅长的，比如“森林防火观察员”。 OK, so what fire lookout? Well, these are the people in the fire towers that stare at the horizon looking for the first signs of fire, which obviously is smoke.“防火观察员”？——“他们是在瞭望塔上观察地平线的人，负责发现火灾的最初迹象——通常是烟雾。” And perhaps they can even see a small puff of smoke in the distance. The problem is, in environments with fog, low cloud or haze, smoke can be very difficult to spot and robots can't do it.他们甚至能在远处看到一缕细微的烟。但问题是，在有雾、低云或霾的环境下，烟雾很难辨认，机器人在这种情况下几乎无能为力。 OK, so differentiate between a low cloud on the horizon or a puff of smoke. The humans can do that much better. Exactly.“也就是说，人类能更好地区分地平线上的低云和一缕烟，对吧？”——“没错，人类确实更擅长。” They do use high-tech cameras and satellites and drones, etc. But they're not quite as good as people.虽然现在确实使用高科技摄像机、卫星、无人机等设备，但它们的表现仍不如人类观察员。 Now, there are huge fires in the west of the US at the moment. Are they being detected by humans?目前，美国西部正在发生大规模森林火灾——这些火灾是由人类发现的吗？ Well, as I said, they do use high-tech cameras, drones, etc. And there are fewer lookouts. But human lookouts remain crucial.就像我刚才说的，确实有高科技设备在使用，也有越来越少的人工观察员，但人类观察员仍然是不可或缺的。 Maybe they need more. Indeed. A dangerous job though, perhaps.“也许他们需要更多人手。”——“确实，不过这工作挺危险的。” The last thing, Richard. What makes people happy? It seems that it's not the things that people have, it's the things that people do.最后一个问题，理查德——是什么让人们感到幸福？看起来，并不是人们“拥有”的东西，而是人们“做”的事情。 Yeah, so experiences are much more important than possessions.是的，经历远比物质更重要。 Yes. And it seems that the interest in outdoor life and adventure tourism is increasing these days. And as a result, tour guides will be pleased to hear that they are much more in demand.没错。如今人们对户外生活和探险旅游的兴趣日益增长。因此，导游们应该会很高兴听到，他们的需求也大大增加了。 Yes, because these are the people who can show you the best of these places and where to go, what to do, sharing their knowledge and expertise.是的，因为导游能带你领略这些地方的精华，告诉你该去哪里、该做什么，并分享他们的知识与经验。 Exactly, exactly. And we've been on city walks, haven't we, with a tour guide? Yes. Fascinating. Exactly. Much better than listening to something on your phone or... Or the headphones.没错没错。我们也曾经参加过城市导览，对吧？——“是的，非常有趣。”——“确实，比听手机导览或戴耳机要好得多。” Exactly. You can ask questions, you can interact. Obviously, there are, you know, you can have your GPS on your smartphone.没错。你可以提问、可以互动。当然，现在每个人手机上都有GPS导航。 But at the end of the day, that might replace a map. But a robot can't replace a tour guide. And that personal experience.不过归根结底，那或许能取代地图，但机器人永远无法取代导游——尤其是那种人与人之间的交流体验。 Exactly. Well, those jobs seem to be pretty safe, don't they? And let's just hope teachers are safe as well.没错。看来这些职业还是相当安全的，对吧？希望教师这个职业也同样安全。

    4 min

  3. 2 DAYS AGO

    第2819期:What a waste

    A global level study by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations says that one third of food, roughly 1.3 billion tonnes, is wasted every year.联合国粮食及农业组织（FAO）的一项全球性研究显示，全球约有三分之一的食物——大约13亿吨——每年被浪费掉。 Yes, but it's also estimated that about 815 million people in the world are suffering from chronic undernourishment.是的，但据估计，全球约有8.15亿人长期营养不良。 Yes, we're looking at organisations who are addressing the difference.是的，我们来看看那些试图弥合这种差距的组织。 Yes. Now, let's start in India where almost 190 million people go to sleep every day hungry. Now, you know India very well, Richard.好的。我们先从印度说起，那里的大约1.9亿人每天都带着饥饿入睡。理查德，你对印度很熟悉吧。 There's a huge difference, isn't there, between the haves and the have-nots?在印度，富人和穷人之间的差距非常大，不是吗？ Yes, there is indeed. And back in 2014, an initiative called No Food Waste was started.确实如此。早在2014年，一个名为“No Food Waste（不浪费食物）”的倡议诞生了。 No Food Waste? Yes, it's a very simple idea.“不浪费食物”？是的，这是一个非常简单的理念。 It aims to redistribute excess food from weddings, parties, events, etc., where the people over-order the food and they give that excess food to the hungry.它的目标是将婚宴、派对、活动等场合中过量订购的剩余食物重新分配，送给有需要的人。 So, it's the uneaten food?所以，这些食物是没有被吃过的？ Yes, but obviously hygiene standards are very, very important. So, it's untouched edible surplus food.是的，但显然卫生标准非常重要。这些食物必须是未被接触过的、可安全食用的剩余食物。 So, it's not half-eaten or spoiled stuff.所以不是吃了一半的或变质的东西。 Right, and it's not thrown away.没错，而且它不会被浪费掉。 Exactly.完全正确。 Well, that's interesting, Richard, because closer to home, in Europe, a Danish organisation started Too Good To Go in 2015.这真有意思，理查德。离我们更近的欧洲，在2015年有一家丹麦组织创立了“Too Good To Go”（好食不弃）。 Now, again, they aim to reduce food waste and also redistribute surplus food, but in their case, it's food that's not sold. It's a B2C.同样，他们的目标是减少食物浪费并重新分配多余食物，但他们的情况是处理“未售出的食物”，属于B2C（企业对消费者）模式。 B2C, OK, business to consumer. So, in this case, the business is things like grocery stores, bakers, pizzerias, restaurants and markets, etc.B2C，明白了，也就是“企业对消费者”。在这里，企业指的是杂货店、面包店、披萨店、餐厅和市场等。 Right, OK, so that sounds good, but how does it actually work?好的，听起来不错，但它到底是如何运作的？ It's all through a free mobile application.这一切都通过一个免费的手机应用来实现。 The retailers display on the app what sort of food, you know, baked food, meals, any kind of produce, etc., etc., is available within a certain radius and a specified time slot, usually of 30 minutes or more.零售商会在应用上展示他们可提供的食物类型，比如烘焙食品、餐点或其他产品等，并标明供应范围和时间段，通常为30分钟或更长。 So, how does that actually work in practice then? For example, a grocery store realises at the end of the day it has a load of fruit that needs selling immediately.那在实际操作中是怎样的呢？比如，一家杂货店在一天结束时发现还有一批水果需要马上出售。 Right, so they box up a variety of things and they advertise it on the app.于是他们把这些水果打包成盒，并在应用上发布信息。 They give the weight of the box, the original price the fruit goes for and the reduced price.他们会标明盒子的重量、原价以及折扣价。 Right. So, a local customer sees that it's available from, let's say, 5 to 5.30pm, they want the box, they pay over the phone and then they go and collect it.是的，比如某位本地顾客看到这个水果盒在下午5点到5点半之间可取，他通过手机付款后再去现场领取。 Yeah, so the grocer doesn't throw the food away and the customer gets a good deal.没错，这样杂货商不用丢掉食物，顾客也能买到便宜的东西。 Yeah. Everyone's happy.是的，皆大欢喜。 Yeah, however, the customer doesn't know exactly what's in the box. It's a bit of potluck. Sounds simple.不过，顾客并不知道盒子里具体有什么。这有点像“盲盒”，挺有趣的，操作也很简单。 I actually quite like the element of surprise, Richard. So, you take a baker, for example, towards the end of the day they've got a load of cakes, buns, pastries, etc. still available.我其实挺喜欢这种惊喜感的，理查德。比如一家面包店，到了傍晚时分，他们可能还有很多蛋糕、小面包和点心没卖完。 So, they box these up, they say that originally they're worth €12 but if someone collects them in the afternoon, late afternoon, they can have them for €3.99.他们会把这些食物装箱，原价可能是12欧元，但如果有人在当天下午取走，只需支付3.99欧元。 That reminds me of when I was a lad. I am. Coming home from school, I used to pop into the baker's shop and they used to give me free staleys which they hadn't sold during the day.这让我想起我小时候放学回家的情景。我常常顺路去面包店，店主会把当天没卖出去的面包免费送给我。 Well, hopefully this food isn't actually stale. But yes, I mean everyone's benefiting, you know. So, I think if you have a business that sells produce with a use-by date, then I think you should check out the app.当然，希望这些食物并不是“过期的”。不过确实如此，这种方式让所有人都受益。所以，如果你的生意涉及保质期较短的商品，我建议你试试这个应用。 Yes, so the consumers save money and it prevents waste. So, everyone's happy.没错，消费者省了钱，商家减少了浪费，真是皆大欢喜。

    4 min

  4. 3 DAYS AGO

    第2818期:The weirdest stuff orbiting Earth

    In July of 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin left the first human footprints on the moon. They also left two pairs of boots, a handful of tools, and four vomit bags. This lunar litter was far from the last space junk humanity has produced. In 2006, Suni Williams lost her camera while tussling with a stuck solar array on the ISS. And the following year, a similar job resulted in the loss of a bag filled with $100,000 worth of tools. These accidental satellites typically have short lifespans, before falling back to Earth and burning up in our atmosphere. However, other pieces of space junk, like SpaceX’s Tesla Roadster, will be stuck in their orbits for the foreseeable future.1969年7月，尼尔·阿姆斯特朗和巴兹·奥尔德林在人类历史上第一次在月球上留下了脚印。他们还留下了两双靴子、一些工具以及四个呕吐袋。这些月球垃圾远不是人类制造的最后一批太空废弃物。2006年，宇航员苏尼·威廉姆斯在国际空间站上处理卡住的太阳能电池板时丢失了她的相机。第二年，一次类似的任务又导致一个装有价值10万美元工具的袋子遗失。这些意外的“人造卫星”通常寿命很短，最终会坠回地球并在大气层中烧毁。然而，像SpaceX的特斯拉跑车这样的太空垃圾，将在可预见的未来长久地被困在轨道上。 In the early days of space travel, this kind of littering was largely considered inconsequential. But in today's crowded skies, orbital debris poses a serious threat to the thousands of satellites that underpin Earth’s vital technologies. Currently, there are over 131 million pieces of debris whipping around the planet at an average speed of 10 kilometers a second. This debris ranges in size from pieces as large as an entire bus, to those as small as a grain of sand. But roughly 1 million pieces are at least one centimeter across, which is large enough to severely damage most satellites. While losing any spacecraft is bad enough, the knock-on effects are even worse. When satellites crash into debris or each other, such as in 2009, when an American communications satellite collided with a defunct Russian satellite, they can explode into thousands of pieces. And if events like these happen often enough, the increase in debris could trigger a catastrophic cascade that researchers have named the Kessler syndrome: a runaway effect which could destroy untold numbers of orbiting spacecraft.在太空探索的早期，这种“乱扔垃圾”的行为被认为无关紧要。但在当今拥挤的太空环境中，轨道碎片对支撑地球重要科技系统的数千颗卫星构成了严重威胁。目前，有超过1.31亿块碎片以平均每秒10公里的速度围绕地球飞行。这些碎片大小不一，从一辆公共汽车那么大到一粒沙子那么小不等。其中大约有100万块直径至少一厘米的碎片，这已经足以严重损坏大多数卫星。失去任何一颗航天器本身已经够糟糕了，但连锁反应更为可怕。当卫星与碎片或彼此相撞时——比如2009年，美国一颗通信卫星与一颗报废的俄罗斯卫星相撞——会产生数千块新的碎片。如果此类事件频繁发生，碎片数量的增加可能引发一种灾难性的连锁反应，即研究人员所谓的“凯斯勒综合症”：一种失控的效应，可能毁灭无数在轨航天器。 But what does all this mean for people on Earth? Well, even if space shrapnel does take down a satellite, most debris burns up during re-entry. So theprobabilityof waking up to a spacecraft in your yard is very small. That said, some large specimens can survive the trip, such as the SpaceXCapsulethat landed in an Australian field in August of 2022. And the odds of something similar happening again grows alongside the amount of space junk. So how can we save our satellites and ourselves from all this trash?那么，这一切对地球上的人意味着什么呢？即使太空碎片击落了一颗卫星，大多数残骸在重返大气层时都会烧毁。所以，你早晨醒来发现院子里掉了一艘飞船的概率非常低。不过，也有一些体积较大的物体能在重返地球时幸存下来，比如2022年8月坠落在澳大利亚农田中的SpaceX飞船舱。而随着太空垃圾数量的增加，这种事情再次发生的几率也在上升。那么，我们该如何拯救卫星和自己免于这片“太空垃圾场”呢？ Part of the solution is to stop creating waste in space, but debris is generated in a lot of ways. In addition to collisions, solar radiation erodes spacecraft surfaces, motors spew slag, and satellite launches routinely abandon rocket bodies, covers, cowlings, and explosive bolts. Since 1957, we’ve ferried almost 16,000 satellites to space using thousands of disposable rockets. Researchers are finally experimenting with new systems that can send up over 100 satellites in a single rocket launch. Meanwhile, both NASA and private companies are working to prevent existing satellites from becoming junk by using servicer satellites to refuel, inspect, and repair them. But we also need to clean up the junk that's already up in orbit.解决问题的一部分是停止在太空中制造垃圾，但碎片的来源非常多。除了碰撞外，太阳辐射会侵蚀航天器表面，发动机会喷出熔渣，而每次发射卫星时，火箭的主体、保护盖、整流罩以及爆炸螺栓等部件都会被遗弃。自1957年以来，人类已通过数千枚一次性火箭将近1.6万颗卫星送入太空。研究人员终于开始尝试使用新系统——能在一次火箭发射中部署超过100颗卫星。同时，美国国家航空航天局（NASA）及多家私人公司正努力防止现有卫星成为太空垃圾，他们利用“服务卫星”为其加油、检查和维修。但我们也必须清理那些已经在轨道上的垃圾。 When a satellite is ready to retire, engineers can use controlled re-entry to intentionally burn it up in Earth's atmosphere. Ideally, this would happen as soon as a satellite is out of use, but outside the US, current guidelines allow defunct satellites to remain in orbit for up to 25 years, but this rule has barely been enforced. Beyond retired spacecraft, researchers have identified some particularly dangerous debris, so efforts could be made to tackle them first. Some debris experts have proposed using lasers, based both on Earth and in space, to nudge small debris to a higher, safer orbit or into the atmosphere. And private companies are attempting to use space tug boats to ferry large debris to less dangerous orbits.当一颗卫星准备退役时，工程师可以通过“受控再入”的方式，让它在地球大气层中有意烧毁。理想情况下，这应在卫星停止使用后立即进行。但除美国外，目前的国际准则允许报废卫星在轨道上停留长达25年，而这一规定几乎从未被严格执行。除了退役卫星外，研究人员还确定了一些特别危险的碎片，因此可以优先处理这些目标。一些碎片专家提议利用地面或太空中的激光，将小型碎片推向更高、更安全的轨道，或让其坠入大气层中燃烧。而私人公司则尝试使用“太空拖船”，将大型碎片拖往较不危险的轨道。 Whatever the solution, all these satellites and orbital debris reflect human consumption back on Earth. So if we want to keep using and exploring this final frontier, we'll need to get better at cleaning up our trash both up there and down here.无论采用哪种解决方案，这些卫星和轨道碎片都折射出人类在地球上的消费行为。如果我们想继续利用并探索这片“最后的疆域”，就必须学会更好地清理我们的垃圾——无论是在太空中，还是在地球上。

    5 min

  5. 4 DAYS AGO

    第2817期:The Dragons' Den

    We're talking about The Dragon's Den.我们今天要谈的是《龙穴》（The Dragon’s Den）这档节目。 Yes, so Richard, what is The Dragon's Den?是的，那么，Richard，《龙穴》到底是什么节目呢？ Well, the BBC describes it as a show where budding entrepreneurs get three minutes to pitch their business ideas to five multi-millionaires who are willing to invest their own cash.BBC 的官方描述是：这是一个节目，让有抱负的创业者在三分钟内向五位愿意用自己资金投资的百万富翁展示他们的商业创意。 Now it's the multi-millionaires, isn't it Richard, who are the dragons and they can be very fierce indeed.而这些百万富翁就是所谓的“龙”，对吧，Richard？他们确实非常强势。 They're very cutthroat, aren't they?他们可谓是相当“冷酷无情”的，对吧？ So, as part of their opening pitch, the entrepreneurs are required to specify the amount of money they require from the dragons. And what percentage that will get of their company.所以在开场陈述中，创业者必须说明他们希望从这些“龙”那里获得多少资金，以及愿意出让公司多少股份。 Right, the equity, plus they have to say how much they think the company could be worth.对，就是股权比例。此外，他们还得说明他们认为公司目前的估值是多少。 Yes, and then if a dragon or maybe multiple dragons are interested, then they negotiate then and if they're not interested, they simply say they're out.是的，如果有一位或多位“龙”感兴趣，就会进入谈判阶段；如果不感兴趣，他们会直接说：“我退出（I’m out）。” It doesn't sound exciting, Richard, but it is.听起来似乎没什么刺激的，Richard，但实际上节目非常精彩。 What makes it compelling TV?那是什么让这档节目如此吸引人呢？ Well, the first thing, from the people pitching their ideas, you can see these enthusiastic but very nervous people.首先，是那些上台推介的创业者——他们既充满热情，又紧张不安。 They're just normal people and they're talking for three minutes on something which they're passionate about and they really don't know the reaction of the dragons.他们只是普通人，用三分钟讲述自己热爱的事业，但他们完全不知道“龙”们会作何反应。 And as you've said, they can be quite scary.正如你说的，那些“龙”有时候确实挺吓人的。 Now, on the programme, most of the people walk away with nothing. There are only, what, one or two successful pitches every time.在节目中，大多数人都空手而归。每一期大概只有一到两个成功的案例。 And there are also times when the entrepreneurs, they're so nervous in front of the TV cameras, they completely freeze up.有时候创业者因为太紧张，面对镜头完全僵住，说不出话。 So, who can apply to the show then?那么，谁可以申请参加这个节目呢？ Well, there's a form on the BBC website you can fill in.BBC 的网站上有一个申请表格可以填写。 It's interesting because they say that the final selection for participation in the programme will be decided on the strength of the idea, a robust business plan and a projected turnover.有趣的是，他们说明最终能否被选中要看创业点子的实力、商业计划书的完整性以及预计的营业额。 And this is decided by the BBC, presumably.这 presumably（大概）是由 BBC 来决定的。 Presumably the dragons don't know the product before the people come up to present it.也就是说，那些“龙”在创业者登场前并不知道他们要介绍的产品是什么。 No, and I think also that's one of the exciting things about the programme.没错，我觉得这正是节目有趣的地方之一。 There's a whole range of products and companies that the people present.上节目的创业者展示的产品和公司种类非常广泛。 Now, as we said, most people don't get a deal. However, sometimes the dragons turn down people who become very successful.正如我们说的，大多数人没能成功融资，但有时那些被拒绝的人反而后来大获成功。 Yes, one such guy was a guy called Sean Palfrey and he invented the Tangle Teaser.是的，其中一个例子是一位叫 Sean Palfrey 的人，他发明了“Tangle Teaser”（解结梳）。 He got turned down by the dragons but he had a hairbrush that also smooths knotted hair.他被“龙”们拒绝了，但他的发明是一种可以轻松梳顺打结头发的梳子。 And he appeared on the Dragons' Den in 2007. He offered 15% of his company Tangle Teaser for £80,000 but was rejected.他在2007年登上《龙穴》，希望以公司15%的股份换取8万英镑投资，但遭到拒绝。 And what's more, they were very, very negative about his product.更糟的是，“龙”们对他的产品评价非常负面。 However, when the episode was aired on TV, his website crashed as a result of the public demand and they immediately placed 1,500 orders for the Tangle Teaser.然而，当那期节目播出后，他的网站因访问量过大而崩溃，公众反而立刻下了1500份订单。 Subsequently, two years later, the brand had turned a profit and started to expand into a global market.随后两年，这个品牌实现了盈利，并开始向全球市场扩张。 Where is Tangle Teaser today then, Richard?那么，Richard，现在的 Tangle Teaser 发展得怎样了？ Well, I checked up on this and Tangle Teaser are expecting to post sales of close to £30 million.我查了一下，Tangle Teaser 预计年销售额接近3000万英镑。 This is 2020 and the brushes are sold in over 75 countries.那是在2020年，他们的梳子已在75个国家销售。 So they turned down a fantastic offer.所以，“龙”们错过了一个极其优秀的投资机会。 I'm not sure if we went on.我不确定我们是否要继续。

    4 min

  6. 5 DAYS AGO

    第2816期:Can we trust the supermarkets?

    We're talking about marketing terms used on food products and deciding if they are officially recognised terms or not.我们今天要讨论的是食品包装上常见的营销术语，并判断这些术语是否是官方认可的。 Richard? Yes. A popular term used on many products, organic.Richard？是的。一个在许多产品上都能看到的热门词——“有机”。 Right, yes. So, do you think organic is a legitimate term?好，对。那么你认为“有机”是一个合法、正规的术语吗？ Yes, I think you have to pass certain standards to label your product organic.是的，我认为要想在产品上标注“有机”，必须通过一定的标准。 Yeah, it's one of the most strict labels.没错，这是最严格的标签之一。 Right, OK. It means that 95% of the ingredients have to originate from organically produced plants or animals.是的，确切地说，这意味着产品中95%的成分必须来自有机种植或有机饲养的动植物。 Which means that no pesticides or herbicides.也就是说，不能使用农药或除草剂。 Exactly. And also it means that there are no GMO, no genetically modified organisms in the food as well.没错，而且还意味着食品中不能含有任何转基因成分。 OK, that makes sense. Very strict. Free range.好，我明白了，非常严格。那么“放养（Free range）”呢？ Free, I know this. People generally think it means, it's chickens, isn't it? They think they can run around free wherever they want to go. But the reality is it's not true.“放养”，我知道这个。人们一般认为这是指鸡，对吧？他们觉得这些鸡可以随意到处跑。但事实上并不是这样。 I know in Australia it means they have fresh grass to eat but they're not actually free to run around. It's just the matter they have fresh grass. I don't know what it means in other countries though.我知道在澳大利亚，“放养”意味着这些鸡有新鲜的草可以吃，但它们并不能真正自由活动。只是说它们的饲料中有新鲜草料而已。我不太清楚在其他国家是怎样的。 In the UK, it only refers to the amount of space a chicken has, no more than 13 birds per square metre.在英国，这个词只表示鸡的饲养密度——每平方米不超过13只。 Wow, they're packed in, that's not free-ranged for me.哇，那也太挤了吧！这在我看来根本算不上“放养”。 No, there has to be access to open-air runs, that's all.不，他们只要求鸡能接触到户外区域，仅此而已。 So, a legally defined term but it's very misleading.所以，“放养”虽然是法律定义的术语，但非常具有误导性。 Natural. That doesn't mean anything, I'm sure.“天然的（Natural）”，我敢肯定这个词毫无意义。 Well, actually it does. It is legally defined but it's defined very, very logically. When you read the definition you say, of course.其实它是有法律定义的，只不过定义得非常笼统。你看完之后只会觉得：“哦，原来如此。” Apparently a lot of people are turning away from products labelled natural when they know it is because they just see it as a marketing ploy.显然，许多人在了解“天然”这个词的真实含义后，会刻意避开这类产品，因为他们认为这只是营销手段。 A gimmick. A gimmick.一种噱头，没错，就是噱头。 Right, OK, I can understand that. Superfood.好吧，我能理解。那么“超级食物（Superfood）”呢？ Superfood? I don't think it has any meaning whatsoever.“超级食物”？我觉得这个词根本没有任何意义。 I know it's blueberries or something.我知道，人们通常会用它来形容蓝莓之类的东西。 No. It's simply a marketing term.不，这纯粹是一个营销术语。 It's not based on any scientific basis.它没有任何科学依据。 It doesn't mean you can't use it, everybody can use it but it doesn't mean anything.当然，任何人都可以用这个词，但它本身并不代表什么实际含义。 Yes, yes, nonsense.是的，没错，纯属胡扯。 Sugar-free.“无糖（Sugar-free）”。 Yes, it doesn't have any sugar.对，就是没有糖。 It means a product can contain up to 0.5 grams of sugar per 100 ml or 100 grams.其实它的意思是每100毫升或100克产品中最多可以含有0.5克糖。 Oh, that's complicated. So, a bottle of... a two-litre bottle of Fanta Zero... Right. ...can contain 10 grams of sugar.哦，这听起来有点复杂。那么，一瓶两升的“零度芬达”……对，可能含有10克糖。 Now wait, so that's two and a half teaspoons. Right, OK. Wow.等等，那大概相当于两茶匙半的糖。是的，没错。哇。 So, it's not sugar-free.所以它并不是真的“无糖”。 It's not sugar-free. So, it's a legal term but again I would say that's misleading.没错，它并不是真的无糖。虽然这是一个法律定义的术语，但同样具有误导性。 Yes. Gluten-free. That's got to be legal, hasn't it? Because people, celiacs have problems with gluten so that must be strict.是的。那么“无麸质（Gluten-free）”肯定是合法且严格定义的吧？因为患有乳糜泻的人不能吃麸质，所以标准应该很严。 Very, very strict. However, you can have up to 200 parts of gluten per a million.是的，非常严格。不过，允许每百万份中含有多达200份的麸质。 At the end of the day, Jackie, from a consumer's point of view, all of these marketing terms can mean anything but what you really need to do is just check the ingredients.总的来说，Jackie，从消费者的角度来看，这些营销术语可能什么都意味着，也可能什么都不代表。真正重要的是——仔细查看配料表。

    4 min

  7. 5 DAYS AGO

    第2818a期:Patreon

    When we first started podcasting many, many years ago, other podcasters who didn't have worksheets to sell suggested that those who used their podcasts to buy me a coffee. Yeah, buy me a coffee. It was a way of generating a small income for their work, wasn't it? And also advertisements on sites are also one way of making money and there are a few websites that don't have Google Ads or something similar on them.当我们许多年前刚开始做播客时，那些没有可出售资料的播客主持人建议听众通过“请我喝杯咖啡”的方式来支持他们。对，“请我喝杯咖啡”。这是一种为他们的工作赚取一点收入的方式，不是吗？另外，网站上的广告也是赚钱的一种途径，很少有网站上没有谷歌广告或类似的内容。 Yeah, absolutely. But for this week's podcast, we're looking at an alternative way of making money, Patreon. OK, Jackie, so what is Patreon? Well, it's an American membership platform.没错，完全正确。但对于这周的播客来说，我们要看一种不同的赚钱方式——Patreon。好的，Jackie，那Patreon是什么呢？它是一个美国的会员制平台。 It's a way of helping creators and artists earn a monthly income. It provides the tools to run a subscription payment service. All right, OK.这是一种帮助创作者和艺术家获得月收入的方式。它提供了运行订阅付费服务的工具。好吧，明白了。 But how does it actually work then? Well, content creators, those people who have a website or a blog, they set up a Patreon page, right? And this allows patrons to pay a fixed amount to the creator on a monthly basis. Right, OK. So who are these patrons then? Well, they're the people who want to support the creator and help to pay for their income.但它究竟是怎么运作的呢？创作者，比如那些有网站或博客的人，他们会建立一个Patreon页面，对吧？这样，赞助者就可以每月向创作者支付一笔固定金额的费用。好的，那这些赞助者是谁呢？他们就是那些希望支持创作者并帮助他们维持收入的人。 Right, OK. Instead of buying them a coffee, you become a patron. Yeah, and rather than buying the product, which they don't necessarily have, you're paying for their service.没错，也就是说，你不是“请他们喝咖啡”，而是成为他们的赞助人。是的，而且你不是在购买具体的产品（他们可能并没有产品），而是在为他们的创作服务付费。 OK, for example, Richard, there's a Spanish chef behind Spain on a Fork. Ah yes, OK. Now on his website, all the recipes are free to read and all the instructional cooking videos that he produces are all free to watch.举个例子，Richard，有一位西班牙厨师经营着“Spain on a Fork”这个网站。啊，是的。现在在他的网站上，所有的食谱都可以免费阅读，他制作的教学烹饪视频也都可以免费观看。 Right, so just like many, many blogs on cooking. Yeah, yeah, exactly. But the patrons want to support him to carry on producing his content, which is just fantastic.对，这就像许多烹饪博客一样。是的，完全没错。但那些赞助者希望支持他，让他能持续创作内容，这真是太棒了。 And how much do they pay for this then? Well, it depends. Every single creator chooses the amount. If we look at Spain on a Fork again, he has four levels and you can choose to pay as little as one euro a month, subscription remember.那他们为此要付多少钱呢？这取决于创作者本人。每个创作者可以自己设定金额。以“Spain on a Fork”为例，他有四个等级，最低的订阅费用是每月1欧元（记住，这是订阅制的）。 Right. Up to 22 euros a month. OK, and what do you get for that then, for the different amounts? Well, it depends.最高可以到每月22欧元。好吧，那不同的金额能获得什么呢？这也要看创作者设定。 But for all of them, you get extra content, extra recipes, extra instructional videos that other people won't see. Right. And if you pay more, you presumably get to see more.但无论哪个等级，你都会获得额外的内容、额外的食谱，以及普通观众看不到的教学视频。没错。而且如果你支付更多，自然能看到更多独家内容。 And also he thanks you publicly, you know, that you've paid to support him. Also, Richard, patrons can cancel at any time. So you can do a one-off payment if you want.此外，他还会公开感谢你，表示你对他的支持。而且，Richard，赞助者可以随时取消订阅。如果你愿意，也可以只支付一次性的费用。 But most people like join for a year to support these people who are working at the end of the day. OK, it sounds like a good idea. But of course, how much do the creators pay Patreon for this? Well, it's not free, is it? I can imagine.不过，大多数人都会选择一年期的订阅，以支持这些全职创作者。听起来这是个不错的主意。不过创作者要为此付给Patreon多少费用呢？显然，这不是免费的，对吧？我可以想象。 They charge, Richard, anywhere between a commission, five to 12 percent. Wow, that's quite a lot actually, isn't it? Of their monthly income. Yeah.他们会收取佣金，大约在5%到12%之间。哇，那其实挺高的，对吧？这是从创作者的月收入中扣除的。是的。 And also, sorry, and also there are payment processing fees as well. Of course. I think one of the problems is, Richard, with the Internet is that many people expect the content always to be free.而且，对不起，还有支付处理费用。当然。我认为，互联网的一个问题是，很多人总是期望内容是免费的。 And there is a lot of stuff on the Internet that is completely free. Yeah, so good quality stuff, which takes a lot of time to prepare. And these videos, for example, very well done, very well presented.确实，网上确实有很多完全免费的内容。但那些高质量的作品往往需要花费大量时间准备。比如这些视频——制作精良，呈现专业。 It's his job at the end of the day. And you can choose whether you want to pay or not. I think that's a great idea.归根结底，这就是他的工作。而你可以选择是否愿意付费支持。我觉得这真是个好主意。 Yeah, it's a way of supporting those who work online. And if you're just paying a few euros a month, well, that's keeping someone in employment. Everybody's happy.没错，这是一种支持网络创作者的方式。而且每月只付出几欧元，就能让一个人有稳定收入。大家都开心。

    4 min

  8. 6 DAYS AGO

    第2815期:The business world today

    We're talking about how technology has really changed the face of business. 我们在谈论技术是如何改变商业面貌的。 To be more specific, We're really talking about the internet, aren't we?更具体一点，我们其实是在谈论互联网，不是吗？ Yeah. I mean, nowadays, Richard, every company, whether they provide a service or sell a product, they have a website.是啊。我的意思是，如今，Richard，不论一家公司是提供服务还是销售产品，他们都有自己的网站。 Or at the very least, a Facebook page.或者至少也会有一个 Facebook 页面。 Yeah. Now, you mentioned Facebook, Richard.是的。你刚才提到 Facebook，Richard。 The rise of social media has really changed business, hasn't it?社交媒体的兴起确实彻底改变了商业模式，不是吗？ I mean, it wasn't that long ago that you really needed to be able to, what, write a professional email.我的意思是，不久之前，一个人只需要会写一封专业的电子邮件就够了。 But today, business owners, what, they must be able to communicate on Twitter, they need to engage regularly on Facebook, have a LinkedIn account...但如今，企业主必须能够在 Twitter 上交流，定期在 Facebook 上互动，还要拥有一个 LinkedIn 账号…… And also, obviously, video conferencing is by Zoom.而且，显然，现在视频会议都是通过 Zoom 进行的。 Yeah. And recruitment has changed completely.是的。而招聘方式也发生了彻底的变化。 The whole explosion of social media has made it a part of our everyday lives, but both personally and professionally.社交媒体的全面爆发使它成为我们生活中不可分割的一部分，无论是个人生活还是职业领域。 And of course, the other technology is, of course, mobile technology.当然，另一项重要的技术就是移动技术。 Everything's done on the move and remotely.一切事情都可以在移动中、远程完成。 Fewer actual phone calls are being made nowadays.如今人们打真正电话的次数越来越少了。 It's all emails, texting, tweeting, and using messaging apps, isn't it?现在全都是发邮件、发短信、发推文，以及用各种通讯应用，对吧？ Yeah. And the problem with that is that we are always connected.是的。而问题在于，我们总是“在线”的。 So therefore, the line between work and home life, that's become blurred, hasn't it?因此，工作与家庭生活之间的界限变得模糊了，不是吗？ Yes. There's no such thing nowadays as out of the office.是的。如今已经不存在所谓的“下班”状态了。 Interesting, Richard, becausePortugalhas banned bosses from text messaging and emailing staff out of working hours.这很有趣，Richard，因为葡萄牙已经禁止老板在非工作时间发短信或发邮件给员工。 They have this new law, the right to rest.他们制定了一项新法律，叫作“休息权”。 Yes, it's all about improving work-life balance, which is very important.是的，这一切都是为了改善工作与生活的平衡，这非常重要。 And of course, Richard, the other thing is, you say there's no out of office, but actually there's no office nowadays.当然，Richard，另一点是，你说没有“下班”，但实际上，现在很多人连“办公室”都没有了。 Well, actually, that's good because starting a business used to mean a huge amount of investment required for an office.实际上这挺好，因为过去创业往往意味着要投入大量资金去租或建办公室。 You don't need that anymore.而现在你已经不再需要这样做了。 Yeah. Small businesses, they can be run entirely virtually. It's a huge saving.是啊，小型企业完全可以虚拟化运营，这节省了大量成本。 Cuts down on a lot of overheads.大大减少了各种固定开支。 Not just small businesses though, Richard. More and more employees, as we know, want to work remotely.但这不仅限于小企业，Richard。正如我们所知，越来越多的员工也希望能够远程工作。 And PricewaterhouseCooper, a huge organisation, they recognise this and they have said it will allow all US employees who can telework the ability to work virtually from anywhere on the continent, which is amazing.普华永道这样的大型机构也意识到了这一点，他们宣布允许所有可以远程办公的美国员工在北美大陆的任何地方工作，这真是了不起。 That's 40,000 employees who can, if they want to, work from home. Wow.这意味着有四万名员工如果愿意，都可以在家工作。哇。 So that's a huge change in the way businesses are run nowadays, isn't it?这真的是商业运作方式上的巨大变革，不是吗？ Yeah. We've talked mainly about engaging with customers, but obviously payment methods, getting paid online is much easier as well.是的。我们主要谈到了客户互动，但显然，在线支付方式也让收款变得更加容易。 Yes. Online banking, PayPal, etc, etc.没错，比如网上银行、PayPal 等等。 And consumers spend more than ever nowadays as well. It's so easy just to click on buy now, isn't it?如今消费者的支出也比以往任何时候都多。只要点一下“立即购买”就能完成购物，太容易了，对吧？ Yes. So at the end of the day, Jackie, starting a new business in this digital age has never been easier.是的。总的来说，Jackie，在这个数字时代创业从未如此简单。 So if you've got an idea, go for it.所以，如果你有一个好点子，就大胆去做吧。

    4 min
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