[Photo/Unsplash]
>Univ offers 'idleness grants'德大學授予'閒人獎學金'A German university is offering "idleness grants" to applicants who are seriously committed to doing sweet nothing. 德國一所大學正在向致力於無所事事的申請者提供"閒人獎學金"。The University of Fine Arts in Hamburg advertised three 1,600 scholarship places to applicants from across Germany. 位於漢堡的美術大學近日宣布向德國各地的申請者提供三個1600歐元(約合人民幣1.3萬元)的獎學金名額。The applicants can submit their anonymous pitches until Sept 15 and will have to convince a jury that their chosen area of "active inactivity" is particularly impressive or relevant. 申請者可以在9月15日前提交匿名自薦書，他們將必須說服評委會自己選擇的"積極的不作為"領域讓人印象特別深刻或特別有意義。The application form consists of only four questions: What do you not want to do? For how long do you not want to do it? Why is it important not to do this thing in particular? Why are you the right person not to do it? 申請表上只有四個問題：你打算不做什麼？你打算多長時間不做這件事？不做這件事為什麼很重要？為什麼你是不做這件事的合適人選？The idea behind the project arose from a discussion about the seeming contradiction of a society that promotes sustainability while simultaneously valuing success, said Friedrich von Borries, a design theorist who came up with the program. 提出這個項目的設計理論家弗裡德裡希馮博裡斯說，這一項目的想法源自一次關於社會倡導可持續發展同時又重視成功這一矛盾的討論。"This scholarship program is not a joke but an experiment with serious intentions – how can you turn a society that is structured around achievements and accomplishments on its head?""這個獎學金項目不是玩笑，而是有著嚴肅意圖的一個實驗。你怎樣能顛覆一個圍繞著成果和成就構建起來的社會？"
Transparent toilets: Designed by Shigeru Ban Architects, a Pritzker Prize-winning architecture firm, two new sets of transparent toilets have been installed in two Tokyo parks. Satoshi Nagare/The Nippon Foundation
>Transparent public toilets東京推出透明公共廁所One of Tokyo's most popular districts has recently added some unusual new attractions: Transparent public toilets. 東京最受歡迎的地區最近增添了一道與眾不同的新風景：透明公廁。Designed by Shigeru Ban Architects, the two new sets of see-through restrooms have been installed in Shibuya, the bustling city center famous for its busy pedestrian crossing. 坂茂建築事務所設計的這兩組透明公廁安裝在以人行橫道擁擠聞名的繁華市中心澀谷區。Though the restrooms sound risqué, they're actually part of an innovative project aimed at changing people's perceptions of public toilets. 儘管這種公廁聽起來有傷風化，但實際上它們是一個創新項目的一部分，該項目旨在改變人們對公廁的認知。"There are two things we worry about when entering a public restroom," says a statement on the project's official website. "The first is cleanliness, and the second is whether anyone is inside." 該項目官網上的一則聲明稱："人們進入公廁時，會擔心兩件事：第一件是清潔問題，第二件是裡面是否有人。"Shigeru Ban Architects' design tackles these two concerns by offering a toilet with glass walls that - at first - allows the public to see through from the outside.坂茂建築事務所的設計解決了這兩點擔憂，通過廁所的玻璃牆讓公眾可以事先從外面看到裡面的情況。But once a user enters the toilet and locks the door, the walls turn opaque to provide privacy.一旦用戶進入廁所鎖上門，牆壁就會變得不透明以保護隱私。
[Photo/Unsplash]
>Performers could sing or play softly音量大小決定病毒傳播Sing softly and don't shout to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, new research suggests, offering a ray of hope for musicians who have been restricted from performing in public. 新研究指出，輕聲歌唱、不喊叫可以降低新冠病毒傳播風險，這給那些被限制在公共場合表演的音樂家帶來了一絲希望。Music makers have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with singing, as well as playing of woodwind and brass instruments, deemed to be a potential high risk for spreading the disease – a concern fueled by outbreaks in choirs. 音樂家受疫情打擊很嚴重，因為演唱以及吹奏木管和銅管樂器被視為傳播新冠肺炎的潛在高危因素，合唱團暴發的聚集性病例加劇了這一擔憂。But the research offers hope to performers keen to get back on stage as soon as possible. 但是這項研究為那些想儘快回到舞臺的表演者帶來了希望。"It is not about the vocalization – whether it's singing or speaking – it is about the volume," said Jonathan Reid, a professor of physical chemistry at the University of Bristol and a co-author of the research. "Just by singing a little bit more softly you really reduce the risk. The volume of the activity is the main factor in governing the aerosol mass that is generated," Reid said.該研究的合著者、布裡斯託大學物理化學系教授喬納森裡德說："病毒傳播風險與發聲方式無關，無論是唱歌還是說話，而是與音量有關。唱歌時稍微輕柔一些就能降低傳播風險。音量才是決定產生的氣溶膠總量的主要因素。"
[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
>Dog walking rule in Germany德國規定一天遛狗兩次?A new rule forcing Germans to take their dog for a walk twice a day has unleashed a debate on whether the state can decide what is best for the country's 9.4 million pet canines. 德國計劃出臺新規，要求養狗的人們每天必須遛狗兩次。這項新規引發爭論，即政府是否有權決定應該怎樣照顧該國約940萬隻寵物狗。Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner announced she had taken expert advice and was introducing a law to ensure dogs go for a walk or run in the garden at least one hour twice a day. 德國農業部長茱莉亞克洛克納近日宣布，她已經聽取了專家的建議，並將推行一項新的立法，以確保寵物狗每天至少在花園裡跑動撒歡兩次，每次一小時。"Pets are not cuddly toys - their needs have to be considered," said Kloeckner, adding pets must get sufficient exercise and not be left alone for too long. "她說："寵物不是可愛的玩具，主人們要考慮它們的需要。"她補充道，動物們必須得到足夠的鍛鍊，不能單獨待太久。"Compulsory Walkies for Dog Owners? Rubbish!" wrote the top-selling Bild newspaper in an opinion piece on the new decree. 德國最暢銷的《圖片報》在一篇評論文章中怒批新規："強迫狗主人帶狗散步？荒唐至極！""One rule for all dogs is probably well-meant but unrealistic," said Udo Kopernik, a spokesman for the VDH German Dog Association.德國狗類協會VDH的發言人烏多科佩爾尼克說："給所有的狗制定一條規定可能是出於好意，但不現實。"Dog trainer Anja Striegel said the amount of exercise a dog needs depended on the health, age and breed of dog.馴狗師安雅斯特裡格爾說，狗狗需要的運動量取決於其健康狀況、年齡和品種。
Find more audio news on the China Daily app.
來源：chinadaily.com.cn