Unconditional Dedication

jugular: DJ[ˋdʒʌgjulə] the most vital or vulnerable part of something

authentically: in a way that is true and accurate

transcend: to be or go beyond the usual limits of something

monumental: very important and having a great influence, especially as the result of years of work

thy: a word meaning ‘your’, used when talking to only one person

mighty: very strong and powerful

feverish: showing strong feelings of excitement or worry, often with a lot of activity or quick movements

clod: a small piece of earth or mud

ailment: an illness that is not very serious

grievance: DJ[ˋgri:vəns] something that you think is unfair and that you complain or protest about; a feeling that you have been badly treated

devote yourself to: to give most of your time, energy, attention, etc. to somebody/something

rejoice: to express great happiness about something

    N. Eldon Tanner has said, "Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth." And there are so many ways to serve. Whether or not we belong to a church or service organization or have a job that provides meaningful service opportunities, not a day goes by that we can't at least serve one other human being by making deposits of unconditional love.

    這段文字在告訴我們，服務他人不僅僅是一個選擇，而是一種我們作為人類在這個世界上生活必須履行的責任，就像我們支付房租來享受居住權一樣。無論我們是否屬於某個教會或服務組織，或者擁有一份可以帶來意義的工作，我們每天都有機會通過付出無條件的愛來幫助至少一個人。這裡的意思是強調，不論我們的行動大小，每一點善意都是珍貴而有意義的。

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

www.merriam-webster.com

Explained by Microsoft Copilot

公道杯

在傳統茶具中，公道杯扮演了調和茶湯、確保分杯公平的重要角色。當茶葉在茶壺中浸泡時，由於局部溫度和濃度的差異，茶湯的風味往往存在微妙變化，直接分杯可能會導致每位品茶者所品嚐到的茶湯風味有所不同。公道杯正是在這種背景下應運而生：先將茶壺內的茶湯倒入公道杯中，並進行充分攪拌，使茶湯達到均衡狀態，然後再分倒到各人的茶杯裡，保證每一杯茶都擁有一致的濃度和口感，這既是對茶藝的講究，也是對客人公平與尊重的體現。

Microsoft Copilot

Enumerations

In C++, an enum (short for enumeration) is a user-defined data type that consists of a set of named integral constants. It is often used to make code more readable and maintainable by giving meaningful names to constant values.

In C++, enum class (also known as scoped enumeration) is an improved version of the traditional enum. It provides better type safety and avoids name conflicts by keeping the enumerators scoped within the enum class.

sparingly: in a way that is careful to use or give only a little of something

squiggle: a line, for example in somebody’s handwriting, that is drawn or written in a careless way with curves and waves in it

Scoped Enumerators: The enumerators are confined to the scope of the enum, so you must qualify them with the enum name (e.g., Color::Red).

Microsoft Copilot

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

活在當下

subject to: to make somebody/something experience, suffer or be affected by something, usually something unpleasant

subtle: not very obvious or easy to notice

imperceptible: very small and therefore unable to be seen or felt

Putting first things first means organizing and executing around your most important priorities.

grateful: feeling or showing thanks because somebody has done something kind for you or has done as you asked

hone: to develop and improve something, especially a skill, over a period of time

commend: to recommend somebody/something to somebody

wrestle: to fight somebody by holding them and trying to throw or force them to the ground, sometimes as a sport

temptation: the desire to do or have something that you know is bad or wrong

tremble: to shake in a way that you cannot control, especially because you are very nervous, excited, frightened, etc.

miserably: ​in a way that makes you feel very unhappy or uncomfortable

conquer: to succeed in dealing with or controlling something

    Some day, in the years to come, you will be wrestling with the great temptation, or trembling under the great sorrow of your life. But the real struggle is here, now... Now it is being decided whether, in the day of your supreme sorrow or temptation, you shall miserably fail or gloriously conquer. Character cannot be made except by a steady, long continued process.

    未來的某一天，你可能會遇上重大的誘惑或極大的悲痛。然而，真正的考驗並不只存在於將來，而是在當下就已經開始了。也就是說，現在你的每一個選擇、每一個決定，都在鋪墊著未來你是會在極度悲傷或誘惑面前慘遭失敗，還是能夠榮耀地戰勝困境。

    個人的品格並不是憑空而成，而是在每天面對種種挑戰和抉擇時，不斷努力、持續奮鬥中逐漸鍛造出來的。每個看似平凡的現在，其實都在形成你未來的自己。

    我們不要等到重大考驗來臨時才行動，而應該從此刻開始，認真對待生活中的每一次試煉，用堅韌不拔的努力來塑造堅強的人格。

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Explained by Microsoft Copilot and edited

核心理念

Begin With the End in Mind means to look out across the coming hours, days, weeks, months, and years with a clear vision of your desired destination—and then to proactively pursue that future.

pursue: to do something or try to achieve something over a period of time

supremely: extremely

uplift: to make somebody feel happier or give somebody more hope

timeless: existing or continuing forever

humanity: people in general

prayerful: involving the act of praying

scriptures: the holy books of a particular religion

bequeath: leave

discord: a combination of musical notes that do not sound pleasant together

unflappable: able to stay calm in a difficult situation

for a time: 曾經

stale: no longer fresh; smelling unpleasant

wane: to become gradually weaker or less important

therein: in the place, object, document, etc. mentioned

inexorable: ​(of a process) that cannot be stopped or changed

Zen: ​a Japanese form of Buddhism

serenity: the quality of being calm and peaceful

recommit: to entrust or consign again

inwardly: in your mind; secretly

    The writer believes that a personal statement is very important. If we have a deep understanding of our center and our purpose, we can review and recommit to it frequently. In our daily spiritual renewal, we can visualize and "live out" the events of the day in harmony with those values.

    作者認為個人目標闡述非常重要。如果我們能夠深入了解自己的核心和志向，就能經常回顧並重新堅守致力於它。在日常心靈更新中，我們可以將一天中的經歷具象化，並依據這些價值觀去實踐生活。

    上文主要強調個人宣言或自我承諾的重要性。意思是說，當我們能夠清楚認識自己內心的核心價值和真正的目標時，就會更有能力定期反思與重新確認自己的方向和信念。在日常生活中，我們可以透過「心靈更新」來做到這一點，也就是將每天所經歷的事情具體化，並根據這些核心價值來引導我們的行為和選擇，以確保我們的生活始終和這些理念保持一致。

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

www.merriam-webster.com

Translated and explained by Microsoft Copilot and edited

內臟外的脂肪

    Adipose tissue is a type of loose connective tissue made up primarily of fat-storing cells called adipocytes. One of its key functions is to protect internal organs by acting as a natural cushion. This cushioning effect helps absorb mechanical shock and reduces the risk of injuries caused by impacts or sudden movements. Essentially, the soft, malleable (有延展性的) structure of adipose tissue provides a buffer, safeguarding delicate organs like the heart, kidneys, and liver against external forces.

    Adipose tissue is found in various locations throughout the body. It exists both as subcutaneous fat beneath the skin and as visceral fat surrounding internal organs. The visceral fat directly enveloping the organs is especially important for cushioning and insulation, illustrating how the body adapts its fat distribution to protect vital structures from physical harm.

Microsoft Copilot and Summarized

香港地形與海嘯機率

    香港的沿海地形確實具備一定的自然屏障效應，但這種防護效果並非萬無一失，也不意味可以完全抵擋海嘯的侵襲。

    首先，由於香港位處較深的水域邊緣，海底的地形與地質結構有助於使來自遠洋的海嘯波浪在接近陸地前逐漸被折射、反射和衰減。加上菲律賓群島、臺灣等地的天然屏障，原本可能發生在深太平洋的海嘯能量往往在到達香港前已大幅削弱，這在歷史記錄與天文台的觀測中也顯示出香港受到直接強烈海嘯衝擊的機率較低。

    然而，這並不代表香港完全免於海嘯風險。若發生極端事件，例如鄰近海域內發生大規模地震或海底滑坡，生成的海嘯仍可能帶來局部或有限範圍的海水暴漲。正因如此，香港天文台持續對海平面進行精密監測，並在必要時迅速發出海嘯警告，以便市民和相關部門做好防災及應變工作。

Microsoft Copilot and Edited

Type aliases

In C++, type aliases are a way to give a new name to an existing type, improving readability and reducing redundancy in code. They can be created using either the typedef keyword (older syntax) or the using keyword (modern syntax introduced with C++11).

unsigned int is a data type in C++ used to represent non-negative integer values. 

versatile: able to do many different things

intimidating: frightening in a way that makes a person feel less confident

In C++, a pointer is a variable that stores the memory address of another variable. Pointers are a powerful feature that allows you to work directly with memory, enabling dynamic memory allocation, function arguments by reference, and more. However, they should be used carefully, as improper use can lead to bugs like segmentation faults or memory leaks.

Microsoft Copilot

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Moderate exercise at the weekend

inordinate: far more than is usual or expected

racquetball: a game played especially in the US by two or four players on a court with four walls, using rackets and a small hollow rubber ball

skiing: the sport or activity of moving over snow on skis

dissipate: to gradually become or make something become weaker until it disappears

stiff: difficult to bend or move

calisthenics: physical exercises intended to develop a strong and attractive body

pull-up: an exercise in which you hold onto a high bar above your head and pull yourself up towards it

athlete: DJ[ˋæθli:t]

    Ask anyone who does exercise consistently. Little by little, your resting pulse rate will go down as your heart and oxygen processing system becomes more efficient. As you increase your body's ability to do more demanding things, you will find your normal activities much more comfortable and pleasant. You will have more afternoon energy, and the fatigue you have felt that's made you "too tired" to exercise in the past will be replaced by an energy that will invigorate everything you do.

    問問任何一位持之以恆運動的人，有關經常運動對他們的影響。漸漸地，當你的心臟和氧氣運作系統變得更加高效，你的靜止心率就會逐步下降。隨著你提升身體承受更高強度活動的能力，日常生活會變得更加輕鬆愉快。你在下午會感到更多精力，而曾經讓你覺得「太累」而無法運動的疲勞，也會被充沛的活力所取代，讓你每一項活動都充滿動力。

invigorate: to make somebody feel healthy and full of energy

Be proactive is about taking responsibility for our lives. This is the first habit because every other habit depends on our ability to act proactively rather than reactively—to make things happen rather than waiting for them to happen.

profoundly: ​in a way that has a very great effect on somebody/something

    Consistent exercise enhances our oxygen processing system through a series of remarkable adaptations that occur in our cardiovascular, respiratory, and even cellular systems.

Cardiovascular adaptations

When you regularly engage in aerobic activities like running, cycling, or swimming, your heart becomes a more efficient pump. Over time, its muscle fibers strengthen, leading to an increased stroke volume --- meaning your heart can eject more blood with each beat. With a more efficient heart, oxygen-rich blood is delivered more effectively to the muscles and organs that need it. This process is reflected in an improved VO2 max (the measure of how much oxygen your body can utilize during exercise), which is a key indicator of cardiovascular fitness.

Respiratory adaptations

Your lungs and respiratory muscles (like the diaphragm and intercostals) also benefit from consistent exercise. Although the physical size of your lungs may not change dramatically in healthy adults, the efficiency of oxygen exchange in the alveoli improves. Respiratory muscles become stronger, helping you breathe more deeply and effectively. This enhanced ventilation ensures that the oxygen you inhale is better transferred into your bloodstream, where it can be distributed to the tissues that need it most.

Cellular and metabolic adaptations

Beyond the heart and lungs, regular exercise triggers adaptations at the cellular level. One of the most significant changes is the increased number of mitochondria in your muscle cells. These mitochondria become more adapt at using oxygen to produce adenosine triphosphate, Additionally, exercise promotes the development of a denser network of capillaries within muscle tissues, ensuring that oxygen is delivered promptly and efficiently. Increased levels of myoglobin, a muscle protein that stores oxygen, also contribute to these improvements by facilitating oxygen transport within the muscle cells.

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Translated and explained by Microsoft Copilot and Edited

明報社評

穩住並加強越南柬埔寨關係 協助減少出口過分依賴美國

    國家主席習近平昨天開始訪問越南、柬埔寨和馬來西亞，雖然這是預先計劃的行程，但在美國發動關稅戰的情況下，穩住周邊國家關係，更添另一層意義。東盟諸國承接中國加工業外溢的格局，是市場驅動使然，不能因為美國採取手段箝制這些國家的出口，而使這個對中國和東盟互惠互利的格局受到損害，中國應該帶動這些東盟國家，將出口向其他市場轉移，既能協助東盟國家擺脫對美國市場的過分依賴，也可鞏固中國與這些周邊國家的關係向縱深發展。

終生學習的價值

tempt: to attract somebody or make somebody want to do or have something, even if they know it is wrong

feverishly: in a way that shows strong feelings of excitement or worry, often with a lot of activity or quick movements

beat: very tired

PC: production capacity

preserve: to keep a particular quality, feature, etc.; to make sure that something is kept

explicitly: clearly or directly, so that the meaning is easy to understand

implicitly: ​in a way that is suggested without being directly expressed

guru: a Hindu or Sikh religious teacher or leader

    This is the single most powerful investment we can ever make in life --- investment in ourselves, in the only instrument we have with which to deal with life and to contribute. We are the instruments of our own performance, and to be effective, we need to recognize the importance of taking time regularly to sharpen the saw physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.

    我們一生中最強大的投資——投資在我們自己身上，因為這是我們唯一擁有的工具，可用來應對人生挑戰並作出貢獻。我們正是自身表現的工具；要發揮最佳效能，就必須定期在身體、心智、社交與靈性上磨練自己。

    投資在自我成長是我們一生中最有力的投資。它指出，我們自身——包括身體、心智、社交網絡以及內在靈性——是應對各種人生挑戰並創造價值的唯一工具。只有不斷地提升這四個維度，我們才能不斷進步，發揮最大的效能，從而更好地面對生活並貢獻社會。

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Translated and explained by Microsoft Copilot and Edited

Qualifiers in C++

snippet: a small piece of information

const int

In C++, the void keyword is used to indicate the absence of a type.

In C++, using const with function parameters ensures that the parameter cannot be modified within the function.

In C++, the volatile keyword is a type qualifier that tells the compiler that a variable's value can be changed at any time, even outside the program's control.

In C++, the mutable qualifier is a special keyword that allows modification of a class member variable, even if the containing object is declared as const.

In C++, the inline qualifier is used to suggest to the compiler that the function's code should be expanded at the point of each call, rather than performing a traditional function call. This can improve performance by avoiding the overhead of a function call, especially for small, frequently used functions.

The constexpr qualifier in C++ is used to indicate that a variable, function, or object can be evaluated at compile time, enabling optimizations and ensuring constant expressions.

In C++, compile time refers to the phase during which the source code is translated into machine code by the compiler. During this phase, certain operations and checks are performed, such as syntax validation, type checking, and optimization.

A variable declared as static inside a function is initialized only once and retains its value between function calls. Although its scope is limited to the function, its lifetime extends across the entire execution of the program.

encapsulate: to express the most important parts of something in a few words, a small space or a single object

Within a class definition, a data member declared with static is shared among all instances of the class—the class itself holds one instance of the variable instead of each object having its own copy.

In C++, the scope resolution operator (::) is used to access members or entities that are defined in a specific scope, such as a namespace, class, or global scope. 

Microsoft Copilot

Blue Sky

The blue color of the sky is a fascinating phenomenon explained by Rayleigh scattering. When sunlight enters Earth's atmosphere, it interacts with air molecules and tiny particles. These particles scatter shorter wavelengths of light (like blue and violet) more effectively than longer wavelengths (like red). Even though violet light is scattered even more than blue, our eyes are less sensitive to violet, and some of it gets absorbed in the upper atmosphere. Consequently, the sky predominantly appears blue to us during the day.

At sunrise and sunset, the sun’s light must travel through a much thicker layer of the atmosphere. In this longer path, most of the blue light is scattered away before reaching the observer's eyes. What remains are the longer wavelengths like red and orange, which gives these times of day their dramatic, warm hues (色調).

Microsoft Copilot and edited

複方三七

問題︰廣告聲稱複方三七能夠清除血管垃圾，這樣的話，如果血管內的硬塊鬆脫，游走至腦血管，有沒有機會導致缺血性中風？

從現代醫學角度來看，廣告中所謂的「清除血管垃圾」通常是一種較為模糊且誇大的說法，它大致指的是改善血液循環、減少或穩定血管內的不良沉積（例如動脈粥樣硬化斑塊）。在動脈粥樣硬化的過程中，血管內斑塊如果發生破裂或部分脫落，的確可能形成栓子，這些栓子若進入腦部的血管，就有可能導致局部供血不足，進而引起缺血性中風。

至於複方三七，它在中醫裡主要被視為具有活血散瘀、改善循環的藥材。不過，中醫所追求的是通過調節整體血液循環、穩定血管內環境來預防血瘀現象，而不是以急速分解斑塊為目標。現代臨床治療動脈硬化（如使用他汀類藥物）的主要策略就是穩定斑塊，減少炎症，避免不穩定斑塊脫落，而不是強行清除斑塊，因為一旦斑塊不穩而脫落，便可能引發栓塞，增加中風風險。

因此，從理論上講，如果某種產品或藥物導致血管內的硬塊突然脫落，這確實存在導致缺血性中風的潛在風險。但在正規治療中，醫師會考慮到斑塊的性質（穩定型與不穩定型）、患者的整體狀況以及藥物的作用機制，並通常採取循序漸進、穩定斑塊的方式來降低風險。

總結來說，廣告中的說法比較簡化與誇大。實際上，若要改善血管健康，關鍵在於穩定、調節而非急速「清除」內部沉積；否則，強行操作可能反而增加斑塊脫落的危險，理論上就會存在中風的風險。對於有動脈粥樣硬化或血管疾病風險的人來說，使用任何具有活血或改變斑塊性質的藥物，都應在專業醫師的指導下進行，以確保安全性。

進一步來看，中醫藥在改善循環和血液微環境方面有其傳統應用，但現代醫學治療血管疾病講究的是循序漸進、監控風險，而非大幅度改變血管內斑塊結構。

Microsoft Copilot

植物與蚊子

蚊子產卵需要特定的環境條件，主要包括以下幾點︰

1. 積水環境︰蚊子偏愛靜止的積水，例如花盆底盤。

2. 潮濕的土壤︰潮濕的土壤可成為蚊子產卵的場所。

3. 適宜的溫度與濕度︰蚊卵需要溫暖潮濕的環境來孵化。

4. 隱蔽的空間︰蚊子通常選擇隱蔽的地方來躲避天敵。

Microsoft Copilot and edited

Science behind sneezing

    Sneezing is a reflex that involves involuntary muscle contractions.

    

    The process begins when irritants like dust, pollen, or other foreign particles stimulate sensory receptors located in the nasal mucosa. These receptors rapidly send signals via the trigeminal nerve (三叉神經) to a designated area in the brainstem, sometimes referred to as the "sneeze center." In response, your body initiates a cascade of involuntary nerve signals that result in the rapid contraction of several muscle groups. Notably, the diaphragm, intercostal muscles, and muscles in the throat contract suddenly, forcing a powerful burst of air out of the lungs. This coordinated response effectively helps to expel the irritants from your respiratory system, protecting your airways and lungs.

(cascade: something arranged or occurring in a series or in a succession of stages so that each stage derives from or acts upon the product of the preceding)

    Because this reflex operates through neural pathways and muscle responses that you cannot consciously control, it is classified as an involuntary reflex. Although you might try to stifle (阻止) a sneeze, the underlying physiological mechanism is automatic, showcasing the body's remarkable ability to protect itself from potentially harmful invaders.

    Sneezing may come along with mucus. I experience further times of sneezing when I do not get rid of the nasal discharge using tissue.

    Sneezing often continues if nasal mucus is not cleared with a tissue, it is because mucus itself can continue to stimulate the sensitive receptors in your nasal passages. This mucus is not just a byproduct --- it is a complex mixture designed to trap dust, allergens, and other irritants. If the mucus stays in place, these irritants linger (逗留), repeatedly activating your sneeze reflex through the nerve endings in the nasal mucosa.

    The sneeze reflex is your body's rapid-response mechanism to expel unwanted particles from your respiratory system. When you blow your nose, you mechanically remove much of the mucus along with the trapped irritants. Without this cleaning action, those irritant signals can persist, effectively prolonging or even restarting the cycle of sneezes. In this way, blowing your nose serves as an important first step in breaking the chain reaction of sneezing.

Microsoft Copilot

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.merriam-webster.com

Variables in C++

In programming, including C++, octal numbers (base-8) are represented using a leading 0. Octal digits range from 0 to 7, and the prefix 0 helps distinguish an octal value from decimal or hexadecimal.

For example:

- 012 in octal is equal to 10 in decimal.

- 075 in octal is equal to 61 in decimal.

Hexadecimal is a base-16 numbering system widely used in computing. The prefix 0x is commonly used to indicate that a number is in hexadecimal format. For example:

- 0xA represents the decimal value 10.

- 0xFF represents the decimal value 255.

- 0x1A3 represents the decimal value 419.

In hexadecimal, the digits range from 0 to 9 and A to F, where A equals 10, B equals 11, and so on up to F, which equals 15.

In C++, the suffix U (or u) is used with integer literals to indicate that the literal is of type unsigned int.

This can be particularly useful when working with numbers that should never be negative, such as array indices, bitwise operations, or certain calculations.

In C++, the suffix f (or F) is used to denote a float literal explicitly. When you write 2.5f, it tells the compiler to treat 2.5 as a float instead of the default double type.

In C++, single quotes (' ') are used to represent character literals. A character literal stores a single character, which can be a letter, number, punctuation, or even an escape sequence, in a variable of type char.

Global variables:

- Scope: A global variable is declared outside of all functions, typically at the top of the file. It is accessible throughout the program, across all functions.

- Lifetime: Global variables exist for the entire duration of the program.

- Use case: Useful for data that needs to be shared across multiple functions. However, overusing them can lead to poor code structure or unexpected bugs.

Local variables:

- Scope: A local variable is declared within a function or block. It is accessible only within that specific function or block.

- Lifetime: Local variables exist only during the execution of the function or block in which they are declared.

- Use case: Preferred for temporary or function-specific operations to avoid unintended side effects.

compiler: (computing) a program that translates instructions from one computer language into another for a computer to understand

In C++, automatic variables are simply local variables that are automatically created when their scope is entered and destroyed when their scope is exited. By default, all local variables in a function are automatic unless explicitly specified otherwise.

Making declarations anywhere in the code but not just at the beginning of a scope is a great feature of C++.

Microsoft Copilot

Pros and Cons of Aquatic Therapy

    Swimming is an excellent form of physical therapy, especially for people recovering from injuries or managing conditions such as arthritis, chronic pain, or limited mobility. In water, the buoyancy (浮力) reduces stress on joints and bones, allowing for a safer, low-impact exercise that can improve flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular fitness. Moreover, the natural resistance of the water provides a means of strengthening muscles without the need for heavy weights, making it particularly beneficial during rehabilitation.

    However, while the benefits are significant, there are also certain risks and limitations to consider. For instance, water therapy might not be suitable for those with open wounds, certain skin conditions, or infections, as pools or natural bodies of water can sometimes expose individuals to harmful bacteria. Additionally, because buoyancy reduces the load on bones, relying solely on aquatic exercise may not provide enough weight-bearing stress, which is necessary for maintaining bone density. Safety concerns such as drowning (淹死), slipping on wet surfaces, or overexertion (用力過度) should be taken into account, particularly for individuals who are not strong swimmers or who lack proper supervision.

Microsoft Copilot

隱惡揚善

    Don't build your emotional life around the weakness of another person. Instead, run with his strengths and try to compensate for his weaknesses. Complement him.

    不要把你的情感生活建立在別人的缺點上，而是要依靠他的優點，同時幫他彌補不足。彼此互補，共同成長。

    這句話告訴我們，在情感關係中，不要總是著意在對方的缺點上。相反，應該看到對方的長處，利用這些優勢來建立正面的情感聯繫，同時也要一起努力改善對方的不足，使雙方能互相補足，推動彼此更好的發展。

humble: showing you do not think that you are as important as other people

frugality: a way of living in which you use only as much money or food as is necessary

contention: anger between people who disagree

renown: the state of being famous and receiving respect because of something you have done that people admire

notable: deserving to be noticed or to receive attention; important

compliment: to tell somebody that you like or admire something they have done, their appearance, etc.

plead: to ask somebody for something in a very strong and serious way

stealthily: quietly and secretly

palette: the colors used by a particular artist

inventory: all the goods in a store

furiously: with great energy, speed or anger

chores: the regular or daily light work of a household or farm

thrilled: very excited and pleased

culmination: the highest point or end of something, usually happening after a long time

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

www.merriam-webster.com

Translated and explained by Microsoft Copilot and edited

Third Alternatives

slate: [usually passive] to plan that something will happen at a particular time in the future

obnoxious: extremely unpleasant, especially in a way that offends people

contradict: to say that something that somebody else has said is wrong, and that the opposite is true

painstakingly: in a way that takes a lot of care, effort and attention to detail

garage: a building for keeping one or more cars or other vehicles in

dorm: a building for university or college students to live in

set aside: to save or keep money, time, land, etc. for a particular purpose

ego: your sense of your own value and importance

dexterity: skill in using your hands or your mind

decipher: to succeed in finding the meaning of something that is difficult to read or understand

consequential: important; that will have important results

distinction: a clear difference or contrast especially between people or things that are similar or related

incentivize: to encourage somebody to behave in a particular way by offering them a reward

stale: something that is stale has been said or done too many times before and is no longer interesting or exciting

odds: disagreement

lottery: a way of raising money for a government, charity, etc. by selling tickets that have different numbers on them that people have chosen. Numbers are then chosen by chance and the people who have those numbers on their tickets win prizes.

skyrocket: to rise quickly to a very high level

revamp: to make changes to the form of something, usually to improve its appearance

flounder: to struggle to know what to say or do or how to continue with something

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

www.merriam-webster.com

news.rthk.hk

    美國總統特朗普警告，如果中國不在星期二前撤銷對美國徵收34%的反制關稅，美方從星期三起會對中國再額外加徵50%關稅。

    特朗普在社交平台貼文中又說，此外，所有中方要求與美方的會談都將會終止，美國與其他提出會談要求的國家之談判，將會立即展開。

    白宮官員確認，若果特朗普最新警告的關稅生效，美國對中國徵收的關稅總額將會達到104%。

    另外，特朗普公布的關稅措施引發全球股市震盪，他星期一在社交平台貼文時，呼籲國民不要軟弱和做傻事，要堅強、勇敢、有耐性。

data types

In C++, the representation of integers as either int or char reflects the flexibility of programming languages rather than strict mathematical definitions.

int is a fundamental data type used to represent integers (whole numbers without fractional components).

It is used to store signed integer values (both positive and negative numbers).

An unsigned integer can only store non-negative values (zero and positive numbers).

In C++, both float and double are used for representing floating-point (real) numbers, but they differ primarily in precision and memory usage.

Scientific notation is a way of expressing very large or very small numbers in a simplified format, making them easier to work with, especially in mathematical and scientific calculations. It uses powers of ten to represent numbers.

In C++, \n is an escape sequence that represents a newline character.

The sequence 0\ in C++ doesn't have a specific, standard meaning on its own and may result in syntax errors if used improperly.

\0 signifies a null character, often used for marking the end of strings in low-level programming.

<cstdint>is a standard header file in C++ that provides fixed-width integer types and limits from the C standard library (stdint.h).

In C++, bool is a built-in data type used to represent boolean values, which can only be either true or false.

True: 1; False: 0

Microsoft Copilot

Synergistic Ecology

    The relationship of the parts is the power in creating a synergistic culture inside a family or an organization. The more genuine the involvement, the more sincere and sustained the participation in analyzing and solving problems, the greater the release of everyone's creativity, and of their commitment to what they create.

    各部分的連結是建構家庭或組織內部協同文化的關鍵動力。只有當每個人都真誠投入，持續參與問題的分析與解難時，才能激發出更強大的創造力，同時也增強大家對共同成果的歸屬感。

    換句話說，家庭或組織中的每個部分透過真心參與、認真分析問題並共同找出解決辦法，能夠形成一種協作互助的文化氛圍。這種氛圍不僅推動了集體創造力的釋放，也使每個人對所取得的成果更有歸屬感和責任感，進而促進整體的發展和進步。

adversarial: involving people who are in opposition and who argue against each other

sidestep: to avoid answering a question or dealing with a problem

affirm: to state clearly that something is true

intrinsic: belonging to or part of the real nature of something/somebody

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Translated and explained by Microsoft Copilot and edited

Force field analysis

juxtaposition: the fact of putting people or things together, especially in order to show a contrast or a new relationship between them

enmesh: to involve somebody/something in a bad situation that it is not easy to escape from

humanity: people in general

affirmative: an affirmative word or reply means ‘yes’ or expresses agreement

astounding: so surprising that it is difficult to believe

wrangle: to argue angrily and usually for a long time about something

courthouse: a building containing courts of law

irreparable: too bad or too serious to repair or put right

exacerbate: to make something worse, especially a disease or problem

accusation: a statement saying that you think a person is guilty of doing something wrong or illegal

faith: trust in somebody’s ability or knowledge; trust that somebody/something will do what has been promised

hassle: a situation that is annoying because it involves doing something difficult or complicated that needs a lot of effort

prosper: to develop in a successful way

desperately: in a way that shows you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others

foreclose: (especially of a bank) to take control of somebody’s property because they have not paid back money that they borrowed to buy it

undercapitalize: to supply with insufficient capital for efficient operation

meantime: meanwhile

languish: to be forced to stay somewhere or suffer something unpleasant for a long time

prime: main; most important; basic

eyesore: a building, an object, etc. that is unpleasant to look at

palpable: that is easily noticed by the mind or the senses

attorney: DJ[əˋtə:ni]

prospect: the possibility that something will happen

officious: too ready to tell people what to do or to use the power you have to give orders

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

www.merriam-webster.com

C++ Exercise

programming foundation

雞精與皮質醇

Daily essence of chicken consumption was evidenced to increase blood cortisol recovery rates after working memory tests, possibly the result of an enhanced cortisol metabolism and increased blood flow to the brain.

Toh, D. (2019). Daily consumption of essence of chicken improves cognitive function: A systematically searched meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: Nutritional neuroscience: Vol 24, no 3. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1028415X.2019.1619984

          經常飲用雞精可能有助於加速身體從壓力中恢復，尤其是在大腦經過高強度記憶活動後。雞精可能通過改善體內皮質醇的代謝效率，以及促進大腦獲得更多血液，從而有助於更快平衡因壓力而升高的皮質醇水平。

雞精是一種以雞肉為原料的營養補充品，其豐富的生物活性成分可能有助於提高體能和緩解精神疲勞，進而間接幫助調節因壓力導致的皮質醇上升。然而，目前科學研究尚在進一步探討箇中具體作用機制，因此不能將雞精視為單一降決方案。保持均衡飲食、適量運動、充足休息以及良好的壓力管理，更能全方位地維護健康。

問題︰雞精可以補身，但夏天將至，從中醫角度，經常服用雞精會否燥熱？

從中醫角度來看，雞精屬於溫補性質的食品，具有補氣養血的功效。然而，夏天屬於「陽氣旺盛」的季節，人體容易出現燥熱的情況。如果經常服用雞精，尤其是添加了溫熱性藥材的雞精，可能會加重燥熱症狀，導致喉嚨乾痛、煩躁、長痘等不適。

Microsoft Copilot and edited

Simple Mathematics

A logarithm is fundamentally the inverse operation to exponentiation. This means that if you have an equation of the form

[ b^x = y, ]

then the logarithm tells you what power (x) you need to raise the base (b) to in order to obtain (y). In other words, the logarithm of (y) with base (b) is given by:

[ \log_b y = x. ]

Microsoft Copilot

相異的價值

bother: (often used in negative sentences and questions) to spend time and/or energy doing something

minutiae: very small details

conditioning: the training or experience that an animal or a person has that makes them behave in a particular way in a particular situation

humility: the quality of not thinking that you are better than other people

reverence: a feeling of admiring and respecting

    Unless we value the differences in our perceptions, unless we value each other and give credence to the possibility that we are both right, that life is not always a dichotomous either/or, that there are almost always third alternatives, we will never be able to transcend the limits of that conditioning.

    除非我們珍惜彼此獨特的視角，除非我們相互尊重並相信每個人都有其正確之處，除非我們認為生活不僅僅是非黑即白的選擇，而總是存在更多可能，否則我們永遠無法突破制約思維的局限。

    只有當我們開始重視每個人不同的看法、互相尊重，並認識到可能每個人都有道理時，我們才能明白生活遠比簡單的對立模式豐富得多。換句話說，只有打破非此即彼的思考模式，才能發現隱藏在二元對立之外的更多可能性，從而超越那些限制我們視野的陳舊觀念。

credence: a quality that an idea or a story has that makes you believe it is true

transcend: to be or go beyond the usual limits of something

affirm somebody: to provide emotional support or approval

fable: a traditional short story that teaches a moral lesson, especially one with animals as characters; these stories considered as a group

heroic: showing extreme courage and admired by many people

squirrel: DJ[ˋskwirəl]

charley horse: a sudden pain that you get when the muscles in a particular part of your body contract, usually caused by cold or too much exercise

eel: fish that looks like a snake

valedictorian: the student who has the highest grades in a particular group of students and who gives the valedictory speech at a graduation ceremony

prairie dog: a small brown North American animal of the squirrel family that lives in holes on the prairies

levy: an extra amount of money that has to be paid, especially as a tax to the government

burrow: to make a hole or a tunnel in the ground by digging

apprentice: a young person who works for an employer for a fixed period of time in order to learn the particular skills needed in their job

badger: an animal with grey fur and wide black and white lines on its head. Badgers are nocturnal (= active mostly at night) and live in holes in the ground.

groundhog: a small North American animal of the squirrel family

gopher: a North American animal like a rat, that lives in holes in the ground

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Translated and explained by Microsoft Copilot and edited

The C++ Standard Library

A function is a block of code that performs a specific task. Functions are used to avoid repetition, improve code readability, and organize logic.

A class is a blueprint for creating objects, encapsulating data (attributes) and functions (methods) that operate on that data.

An algorithm is essentially a step-by-step procedure or set of rules for solving a problem or completing a task. Algorithms can be implemented in programming to perform operations, compute results, or automate tasks efficiently

In C++, a string is a sequence of characters. Strings are used to store and manipulate text.

In C++, containers and iterators are core components of the Standard Template Library (STL), used for efficient data storage and traversal.

cin: character input

cout: character output

The insertion operator (<<) in C++ is primarily used with streams to output data. It sends data to an output stream, such as std::cout, which allows you to print text or variables to the console.

The extraction operator (>>) in C++ is used with input streams like std:cin to extract or read data from an input stream into variables.

concatenation: a series of things or events that are linked together

In C++, cstdlib and cstdio are two standard library headers inherited from the C language.

The <cstdlib> header includes general-purpose functions that are useful for tasks like memory allocation, conversion, random number generation, and process control.

The <cstdio> header provides input/output functions for file and console operations, closely mirroring their C counterparts.

The <cmath> header in C++ provides mathematical functions for performing common operations like trigonometry, exponentiation, logarithms, and more.

log₁₀ 1000 = 3

In C++, shared_ptr and unique_ptr are part of the Standard Library's smart pointers provided in the <memory> header.

unique_ptr: exclusive ownership

shared_ptr: shared ownership

In C++, threads allow you to execute code in parallel, enabling multitasking and improving performance, especially for computationally intensive programs.

using namespace std is not recommended in large programs. In larger or complex programs, it might introduce ambiguities if multiple namespaces (e.g., std and custom namespaces) define identifiers with the same names.

Microsoft Copilot

Concepts of OOP

Inheritance enables a class (known as the derived class) to acquire properties and methods from another class (the base class). This mechanism allows you to reuse existing code, extend the functionality of existing classes, and establish a hierarchical relationship between classes.

Polymorphism—meaning “many forms”—allows you to write code that can operate on objects of different types through a common interface. In C++, this is most commonly achieved through runtime polymorphism using virtual functions.

Microsoft Copilot

電動車與碳排放

電動車常被看作減少碳排放的重要途徑，因為它們在運行時不會直接燃燒化石燃料，也就沒有燃油廢氣排放。然而，當我們以整個電動車生命周期來看，從製造(尤其是電池生產)、使用到回收再處理，電動車的碳排放問題就變得更為複雜。

例如，電池的生產過程通常需要大量能源，而若這部分能源來自高碳來源(如煤炭或油氣)，那麼電動車初始階段的碳足跡可能會因此較高。不過，隨著全球各國大力推動充電網絡建設與電網低碳化，越來越多的電動車將使用來自可再生能源的電力，從而使電動車的碳排放顯著下降。

此外，各國也在透過技術創新與回收機制來降低電池製造和再生產過程中的碳排放。隨著新一代電池技術的出現，以及電池循環再造的推動，電動車整體對環境的影響正不斷改善。研究顯示，即使考慮電動車生產前期的高碳排放，隨著充電能源脫碳和車輛長期使用，其總體碳排放往往仍顯著低於傳統內燃機車。

總之，電動車本身在運行中的低碳優勢固然明顯，但其最終能否達到環保目標，取決於整個供應鏈和能源結構的轉型。隨著全球越來越多地採用可再生能源並優化製造流程，電動車有望成為推動全球低碳交通的重要力量。

Microsoft Copilot and edited

Brain and muscle

Our brains like muscle, they have to be trained regularly. Our muscles also can be trained as if they have memory.

That is an insightful observation. Our brains truly do function much like muscles, requiring regular exercise to maintain and improve their capabilities. When we repeatedly challenge our thinking - whether through learning new skills, solving puzzles, or even engaging in deep conversations - we reinforce neural pathways in a process known as neuroplasticity. This means that, just like lifting weights builds muscle strength, mental workouts strengthen the connections in our brains, making it easier to recall information, solve problems, and think creatively.

Similarly, the concept of "muscle memory" is not just about the muscles themselves but also about the brain's ability to store learned patterns for coordinated movement. When an action is repeated consistently - like playing a musical instrument or even typing on a keyboard - the brain and nervous system work together so that these actions become almost automatic. Though it is termed "muscle memory," it is really your brain that is doing the heavy lifting by optimizing the motor control circuits for efficiency.

It is interesting to consider that both kinds of training - physical and mental - are essential for overall well-being. While physical exercise improves not only muscle strength but also supports brain health through increased blood flow, mental exercises gear up your ability to adapt and learn throughout life. These practices can complement each other beautifully; for example, regular physical activity has been shown to enhance cognitive performance, while challenging the mind can lead to more robust and agile neural network.

Microsoft Copilot

My device is an antique

Question: I am using iPhone SE 2 which is an old model, will the apple company provide iOS update for my phone to fix bugs in the future?

Answer: Based on historical trends and community discussions, you can expect the iPhone SE 2 to receive iOS updates - including bug fixes and security patches - for several more years. The SE 2, released in 2020, is generally expected to be supported with major software updates for at least 5 years, and possibly up to 7 years, with security updates extending beyond that period. For example, the iPhone 6s - which came out in 2015 - is still receiving updates, which gives a good indication of Apple's long-term support for its devices.

It is important to note that while Apple does not provide official end-of-support dates, their update cycle typically reflects both the hardware's capability and ongoing security needs. As long as your iPhone SE 2 remains capable of handling new iOS versions without major performance issues, you can expect incremental enhancements and bug fixes that continue to improve the overall user experience.

Looking ahead, even if some of the major feature updates eventually become limited by hardware constraints, Apple is likely to offer essential security patches and stability fixes for a few years afterward. This means that your device should remain reliable and safe for everyday use for quite some time. Also, considering that bug fixes and optimizations are part of these updates, the play a crucial role in maintaining smooth performance across various apps and services, even on older hardware.

Microsoft Copilot

Complementary Synergy

envision: to imagine what a situation will be like in the future, especially a situation you intend to work towards

cottage: a small house, especially in the country

ailing: ill and not improving

miserable: very unhappy or uncomfortable

give in: to admit that you have been defeated by somebody/something

grudgingly: in a way that is given or done unwillingly

prophecy: DJ[ˋprɔfisi] a statement that something will happen in the future, especially one made by somebody with religious or magic powers

contention: anger between people who disagree

wedge: 在某人／某物之間挑起不和

comprehensive: including all, or almost all, the items, details, facts, information, etc., that may be involved

take into account: consider

apex: DJ[ˋeipeks] the top or highest part of something

dichotomous: dividing into two parts

mentality: the particular attitude or way of thinking of a person or group

politicking: political activity, especially to win support for yourself

rivalry: DJ[ˋraivəlri] a state in which two people, companies, etc. are competing for the same thing

mastermind: to plan and direct a complicated project or activity

eloquence: the ability to use language and express your opinions well, especially when you are speaking in public

thrive: to become, and continue to be, successful, strong, healthy, etc.

    Insecure people think that all reality should be amenable to their paradigms. They have a high need to clone others, to mold them over into their own thinking. They do not realize that the very strength of the relationship is in having another point of view. Sameness is not oneness; uniformity is not unity. Unity, or oneness, is complementariness, not sameness. Sameness is uncreative and boring. The essence of synergy is to value the differences.

    缺乏安全感的人總覺得現實應該迎合他們的思考模式。他們迫切希望別人能複製自己，把別人塑造成與自己完全相同的樣子。他們沒有意識到，關係中真正的力量恰恰在於彼此擁有不同的觀點。相同不等於合一和諧；一致也並非真正的統一。真正的合一和諧，是建立在互補之上，而非全然相同。單調的相同性既缺乏創意又令人乏味，而協同效應的精髓就在於欣賞和重視差異。

    真正的關係力量在於不同觀點的交流與碰撞，這樣才能激發創意與活力。完全相同不僅無法代表真正的團結，反而會使人陷入單調與無趣；而真正的統一是基於互補，即各自發揮優勢、彼此補足。因此，只有尊重與接納差異，我們才能達成真正富有活力的協作與共融。

amenable: easy to persuade; willing to accept a suggestion

sameness: the fact of being the same; a lack of variety

oneness: the state of being completely united with somebody/something, or of being in complete agreement with somebody

uniformity: the fact of not varying and of being the same in all parts and at all times

unity: the state of being in agreement and working together; the state of being joined together to form one unit

complementariness (n.) complementary (adj.)

complementary: two people or things that are complementary are different but together form a useful or attractive combination of skills, qualities or physical features

embody: to express or represent an idea or a quality

authenticity: the quality of being true or what somebody claims it is

atrophy: if a part of the body atrophies, it becomes weak because it is not used or because it does not have enough blood

intuitive: obtained by using your feelings rather than by considering the facts

intriguing: very interesting because of being unusual or not having an obvious answer

pleasantry: a friendly remark made in order to be polite

ought to: used to say what is the right thing to do

gestalt: a set of things, such as a person’s thoughts or experiences, that is considered as a single system that is different from the individual thoughts, experiences, etc. within it

dumbness: the state or quality of being stupid

interrogate: to ask somebody a lot of questions over a long period of time, especially in an aggressive way

deposition: a formal statement, taken from somebody and used in court

sigh: to take and then let out a long deep breath that can be heard, to show that you are disappointed, sad, tired, etc.

incredulously: in a way that shows you cannot believe something

exclaim: to say something suddenly and loudly, especially because of strong emotion or pain

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Translated and explained by Microsoft Copilot and edited

Identifiers

In C++, identifiers are the names used to identify variables, functions, arrays, or other user-defined elements.

Identifiers in C++ are case-sensitive.

Identifiers cannot begin with a number.

Microsoft Copilot

Difference

In C++, expression produce a value.

Statements perform actions.

Each statement in C++ ends with a semicolon.

For example:

int a = 3; // A statement that assigns the result of an expression (3) to 'a'.

int b = (a + 2); // A statement containing an expression (a + 2).

Microsoft Copilot

信任與合作

entail: to involve something that cannot be avoided

disciple: a person who believes in and follows the teachings of a religious or political leader

commission (v): to officially ask somebody to write, make or create something or to do a task for you

commission (n): an official group of people who have been given responsibility to control something, or to find out about something, usually for the government

commitment: a promise to do something or to behave in a particular way; a promise to support somebody/something

manipulative: showing skill at influencing somebody or forcing somebody to do what you want, often in an unfair way

viable:  that can be done; that will be successful

When trust and the level of cooperation are high, synergistic communication is enhanced.

如果我們彼此之間建立了充分的信任，而大家願意積極合作，那麼我們之間的溝通就會變得更有效率以至產生協同效應。換句話說，高度的信任和合作能夠使溝通過程中各自的想法和能量互相疊加，從而產生遠超過各自單獨運作的效果。

在這種狀態下，訊息交流不只是簡單地傳遞訊息，而是一種一加一大於二的互動效果。例如在一個團隊中，當成員彼此信任、彼此支持時，他們更容易分享真實的想法和訊息，並且能夠從彼此的意見中獲得啟發，促使整個團隊解決問題、創新思維，達到更好的整體效果。

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Explained by Microsoft Copilot and edited

長和賣港口 | 計劃暫緩 下周不會簽署交易

【Yahoo 新聞報道】長和擬出售巴拿馬港口，將會暫緩。有關交易計劃近日引起中方不滿，原訂四月二日前簽訂港口權益最終協議，《Yahoo新聞》接獲長和高層消息人士透露，下周不會簽署交易文件。被問到是否與近日政治因素有關，消息人士僅透露︰「大家明啦！」

港澳辦、中聯辦曾四度轉載文章批評交易

據報中國曾要求國有企業暫停與李嘉誠家族合作

昨日《南華早報》引述消息指，長和正與港府尋求「合理的解決方案」，不過方案選擇有限︰如果長和停止交易會面臨高昂代價，而且帶來嚴重的政治影響；如果繼續推進交易，則對公司和國家都會構成損失。

另一方面，《彭博》昨天亦引述消息指，中國已要求國有企業，暫停與李嘉誠家族展開任何新合作。報道指，該項命令是在上周由中國高層官員發出，而現有的合作關係則不受影響。根據指令，國有企業與李嘉誠相關的商業活動不會立即獲批，監管機構亦正審查李嘉誠家族在中國和海外的投資，以了解其商業活動範圍。

大師的初衷

magnificence: the quality of being extremely attractive and impressive

authentic: true and accurate

piggyback: to set up or cause to function in conjunction with something larger, more important, or already in existence or operation

worthwhile: worth spending time, money or effort on

engrave: to cut words or designs on wood, stone, metal, etc.

trepidation: great worry or fear about something unpleasant that may happen

obsolete: no longer used because something new has been invented

transcend: to be or go beyond the usual limits of something

Often attempts are made to recreate a particular synergistic experience, but this seldom can be done. However, the essential purpose behind creative work can be recaptured. Like the Far Eastern philosophy, "We seek not to imitate the masters, rather we seek what they sought," we seek not to imitate past creative synergistic experiences; rather we seek new ones around new and different and sometimes higher purposes.

人們常常試圖再創造某種特定的協同體驗，但這種嘗試很少能夠成功。然而，我們始終可以找回創造背後的核心意義。正如東方哲學所言：「我們不在於模仿大師，而在於追尋他們當初追求的東西。」因此，我們不需要再模仿過去的協同創造經驗，而是應圍繞著全新、不同，甚至更高的目標。

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

www.merriam-webster.com

Translated by Microsoft Copilot and edited

Sth about Function

In C++,  void is a special return type used in functions that do not return a value. When a function is declared with a void return type, it means the function performs an action but does not give back any data to the caller.

A parameter is a variable defined in a function's declaration or definition. It acts as a placeholder that specifies what type and how many inputs a function expects. Parameters exist only within the scope of the function.

An argument is the actual value or expression provided to a function when it is called. Arguments are passed to the function and used in place of the corresponding parameters.

Microsoft Copilot

C and C++

In C++, the <cstdio> header provides support for input and output operations using C-style functions.

#include <cstdio>

printf("Hello, World! Number: %d\n", 42);  // Prints: Hello, World! Number: 42

The functions rely heavily on format specifiers (e.g., %d for integers, %s for strings), which can lead to bugs if not used carefully.

For modern C++ development, prefer <iostream> over <cstdio> for safety and maintainability.

When the main function in C++ completes, it returns an integer value to the operating system. If you include return 0; at the end of the main function, it signifies successful execution.

In C language, \n is a special escape sequence that represents a newline character.

In C++ language, an argument is a value or variable that you pass to a function when you call it. Arguments act as input data that the function uses to perform its operations.

In C++, char* is a pointer to a char type, and it is used to represent a character array or C-style string. 

In C++, argc is a parameter of the main function that stands for "argument count." It represents the number of command-line arguments passed to the program when it is executed.

Microsoft Copilot

明報社評

資助精英運動項目 多看潛力多講策略

    政府公布精英運動員及體育項目資助新安排，桌球及網球保留為體院A級精英項目，另體院全職運動員資助亦獲上調。近年港將在桌球和網球國際賽事有不俗表現，隨着陸續有世界頂尖桌球手移居香港，本地桌球運動及發展，絕對有條件更上一層樓，A級精英項目地位不穩，純粹因為現行評級機制太過以奧運及亞運獎牌導向，反映當局的精英運動發展策略存在缺失，以成績決定評級及資助看似公道，但其實沒有考慮不同精英運動項目在本港的長遠發展潛力。當局推動體育產業化，需要因時因地制宜。精英運動資助機制，除了考慮獎牌成績，也應該將產業化等宏觀戰略，納入考慮之列。

協同溝通的鑰匙

teeter: to stand or move in an unsteady way so that you look as if you are going to fall

chaos: DJ[ˋkeiɔs]

subordinate: to treat somebody/something as less important than somebody/something else

thrust: a sudden, strong movement that pushes something/somebody forward

humility: the quality of not thinking that you are better than other people; the quality of being humble

reverence: a feeling of admiring and respecting somebody/something very much

mesmerize: to have such a strong effect on you that you cannot give your attention to anything else

transcend: to be or go beyond the usual limits of something

overwhelming: DJ[ˋəuvəˋhwelmiŋ]

undertake: to make yourself responsible for something and start doing it

elapse: if a period of time elapses, it passes

    There was usually an early moment that required considerable courage, perhaps in becoming extremely authentic, in confronting some inside truth about the individual or the organization or the family that really needed to be said, but took a combination of considerable courage and genuine love to say. Then others became more authentic, open, and honest, and the synergistic communication process began. It usually became more and more creative, and ended up in insights and plans that no one had anticipated initially.

    通常一開始，需要極大的勇氣。也許是為了變得極其真實，面對個人、組織或家庭，必須說出但卻難以啟齒的內心真相，而這種表達需要具備極大的勇氣和真摯的愛。接著，其他人也開始變得更真實、開放、更誠實，協同溝通的過程就此啟動。這個過程通常會變得越來越有創意，最終催生出一些最初無人預料的見解和計劃。

authentic: true and accurate

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Translated by Microsoft Copilot and edited

Create a simple C++ program

C++, GitHub Copilot and VS Code

明報社評

沙盒測試拆牆鬆綁 釋放民間創新力量

    政府公布首批三十八個低空經濟沙盒測試項目，涵蓋運送外賣、藥物、化驗樣本，以及巡查架空電覽、協助緊急救援等。本港低空經濟起步較遲，亦要顧及市區高樓林立等客觀環境制約，但其實也有不少有利發展的條件，諸如通訊網絡完善、3D地圖數據詳細等，實際操作是否可行、成本效益是否理想、公眾是否受落，不作測試永遠無法確定。今次獲批的沙盒項目，既有涉及公共服務，亦有商業場景應用，大部分無人機航線都是圍繞沿海地區，突顯無人機在港不乏應用潛力，只要當局拆牆鬆綁，民間創意自然能夠釋放出來。

Most Basic Content

In C++, the # symbol is used to indicate a preprocessor directive. When you see #include <isotream>, it tells the preprocessor to include the contents of iostream header file in your program before actual compilation begins.

In C++, int main() is the standard entry point for a C++ program. Here's a simple breakdown:

int: This indicates that the function returns an integer value. By convention, returning 0 typically signifies that the program executed successfully.

main: This is the name of the function where the execution of the program begins.

The std namespace in C++ is part of the Standard Library, which provides a rich set of functions, classes, and objects to help with various programming tasks.

A namespace is a declarative region that provides a scope to the identifiers (the names of types, functions, variables, etc.) inside it. Namespaces are used to organize code into logical groups and to prevent name collisions that can occur especially when your code base includes multiple libraries.

In C++, the double colon :: is known as the scope resolution operator. It is used to define the scope in which a particular identifier (such as a variable, function, or class) resides.

cout: character output

endl: end line

In C++, return 0; is used in the main function to indicate that the program has executed successfully.

Using std::cout << std::endl << std::endl; in C++ will print two newline characters to the console, effectively creating a blank line between outputs.

Microsoft Copilot

Compilation

A compiled programming language is one where the code you write (source code) is transformed into machine code (binary executable) through a process called compilation. This machine code is specific to the target system's architecture and can be executed directly by the computer's hardware.

Microsoft Copilot

OOP

An object-oriented programming (OOP) language is a type of programming language that organizes software design around objects. These objects can represent real-world entities (existences) or abstract concepts, and they are designed to encapsulate (include) both data (attributes) and behavior (methods). This approach promote reusability, modularity, and flexibility in programming.

Microsoft Copilot

明報社評

縮班殺校陰霾籠罩 莫讓學生成犧牲品

    適齡學童人口下滑，殺校問題再受關注。下學年因收生不足「派零班」的小學雖然只有兩間，較預期少，然而本港人口老化及少子化乃是大趨勢，學童人口下跌，問題屬結構性，部分地區情況尤其嚴重，隨著教育局收緊官津小學救校方案，未來數年估計將有更多收生不足的學校，被迫在合併或停辦之間二擇其一，當局須小心處理，避免對教育界構成太大震盪，確保受影響的教師、學生及家長得到合適支援。本港教育制度過度重視競爭，學童壓力巨大，近年自殺個案趨增，情況令人憂慮。隨著殺校壓力增加，學校為了催谷學生成績，操練文化會否變本加厲，需要密切留意。

Q10 temperature coefficient and plant growth

    The Q10 temperature coefficient is a measure indicating how the rate of a biological or chemical process changes with a 10°C increase in temperature. In many biological processes, a Q10 value of around 2 suggests that the rate doubles with a 10°C rise, provided the temperatures remain within an optimal range.

How Q10 relates to plant growth:

    Metabolic processes: Plant growth depends on various metabolic activities - for example, photosynthesis, respiration, and nutrient uptake - all of which are temperature-sensitive. Within an optimal temperature window, raising the temperature moderately can enhance these processes, speeding up growth as predicted by the Q10 effect.

    Photosynthesis: The enzymes driving photosynthesis become more active with a moderate temperature increase, generally improving the conversion of light energy into chemical energy. However, if temperatures exceed an optimum threshold, these enzymes can start to denature (change the nature), and photosynthetic efficiency may drop.

    Respiration: Like photosynthesis, respiration in plants also speeds up with increased temperature (following a similar Q10 effect). While a higher respiration rate can mobilize more energy, if it outpaces (goes faster than) photosynthesis, it may lead to a net loss of carbon, thereby reducing the overall growth efficiency of the plant.

    Optimal temperature range: Each plant species has its own ideal temperature range. Within this range, the Q10 effect can be favorable-metabolic processes are accelerated, and growth is promoted. Conversely, if the temperature climbs beyond this range, plants may experience heat stress, water loss, and enzyme malfunction, all of which can stall (to stop making progress) or even reverse growth.

Microsoft Copilot

Online dictionary used: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

職場上的不信任

inward: inside your mind and not shown to other people

    Many people have not really experienced even a moderate degree of synergy in their family life or in other interactions. They have been trained and scripted into defensive and protective communications or into believing that life or other people cannot be trusted.

    很多人在家庭生活和其他人際互動中，從未真正感受到合作所帶來的正面效果。他們從小就習慣用防備和保護自己的方式交流，也因此認為生活和他人都不可信任。

untapped: available but not yet used

endeavor: an attempt to do something, especially something new or difficult

unnerving: making somebody feel nervous or frightened

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Translated by Microsoft Copilot and edited

陰陽互補

saint: a very good, kind or patient person

manifestation: an event, action or thing that is a sign that something exists or is happening

unleash: to suddenly let a strong force, emotion, etc. be felt or have an effect

adventure: an unusual, exciting or dangerous experience, journey or series of events

wilderness: a large area of land that has never been developed or used for growing crops because it is difficult to live there

trailblazer: a person who is the first to do or discover something and so makes it possible for others to follow

commingle: to mix two or more things together or to be mixed, especially when it is impossible for the things to be separated afterwards

adversarial: involving people who are in opposition and who argue against each other

possessive: not liking to lend things or share things with others

The very way that a man and a woman bring a child into the world is synergistic. The essence of synergy is to value differences --- to respect them, to build on strengths, to compensate for weaknesses.

男人和女人共同把孩子帶到這個世界的方式本身就充滿了協同效應。協同效應的本質在於重視差異──尊重彼此的不同，發揮各自的優勢，並彌補各自的不足。

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Translated by Microsoft Copilot and edited

int in C++

The <cstdint> header in C++ provides fixed-width integer types and other integer-related definitions. These types ensure that you have integers of specific sizes, which can be very useful for writing portable code that behaves consistently across different platforms.

Here are some of the key types and definitions provided by <cstdint>:

1. Fixed-width integer types:

• int8_t, uint8_t: 8-bit signed and unsigned integers.
• int16_t, uint16_t: 16-bit signed and unsigned integers.
• int32_t, uint32_t: 32-bit signed and unsigned integers.
• int64_t, uint64_t: 64-bit signed and unsigned integers.

Copilot for work

儲存量的幾何級數

1. Bit:

   • The smallest unit of data in computing.
   • Represents a binary value of either 0 or 1.

2. Byte:

   • Consists of 8 bits.
   • Commonly used to represent a single character of text.

3. Kilobyte (KB):

   • Approximately 1,024 bytes (2^10 bytes).

4. Megabyte (MB):

   • Approximately 1,024 kilobytes (2^20 bytes).

5. Gigabyte (GB):

   • Approximately 1,024 megabytes (2^30 bytes).

6. Terabyte (TB):

   • Approximately 1,024 gigabytes (2^40 bytes).

香港圖騰

維多利亞陶質嵌花地磚

(Victorian encaustic clay tile)

以上圖片在十五年前攝於香港大學本部大樓

Device: Sony Ericsson C510

Photo Cropped

Data Types of C++

In C++, an unsigned int is a data type that represents non-negative integers. Unlike a regular int, which can hold both positive and negative values, an unsigned int can only hold positive values and zero. This allows it to have a larger range of positive values compared to a signed int.

In C++, primitive data types are the most basic types of data that are built into the language. They serve as the foundation for more complex data structures.

In C++, floating-point types are used to represent real numbers that have fractional parts. They are particularly useful for scientific calculations, graphics, and any application where precision with decimal points is required.

In C++, the boolean type is represented by the keyword bool. A bool variable can hold one of two values: true or false. This type is commonly used in conditions, loops, and logical operations.

In C++, an array is a collection of elements of the same type stored in contiguous memory locations. Arrays are useful for storing multiple values in a single variable, which can be accessed using an index.

contiguous: touching or next to something

C++ also supports multidimensional arrays, such as 2D arrays. For example, int matrix[2][3] declares a 2D array with 2 rows and 3 columns.

In C++, a C-string is a sequence of characters stored in a character array and terminated by a null character ('\0'). C-strings are used for handling text and are compatible with C-style string functions.

C-style string functions are a set of functions provided by the C Standard Library for manipulating and handling C-strings (null-terminated character arrays).

In C++, std:: is a namespace prefix that stands for the Standard Namespace. Namespaces are used to organize code and prevent name conflicts, especially in large projects or when using libraries.

A namespace is an optionally named scope. You declare names inside a namespace as you would for a class or an enumeration. You can access names declared inside a namespace the same way you access a nested class name by using the scope resolution ( :: ) operator.

enumeration: a list of this sort

Use struct for simple data structures where you want all members to be public by default. Use class for more complex data structures where you need encapsulation and private members by default.

encapsulation: the act of expressing the most important parts of something in a few words, a small space or a single object

In C++, a union is a special data type that allows you to store different data types in the same memory location. Unlike struct, where each member has its own memory location, all members of a union share the same memory space. This means that at any given time, a union can hold only one of its members.

In C++, an enum (short for "enumeration") is a user-defined type that consists of a set of named integral constants. Enums are used to assign names to integral values, making the code more readable and maintainable.

std::cout: This is the standard output stream object in the C++ Standard Library. It is used to print data to the console.

<<: The stream insertion operator. It takes the data on its right and sends it to the output stream on its left.

In C++, void is a keyword used to specify that a function does not return a value. It can also be used to indicate that a function does not take any parameters or to declare a pointer to an unknown type.

In C++, a return value is the value that a function gives back to the part of the program that called it. The return value is specified in the function's return type and is provided using the return statement within the function.

Reference are immutable.

Copilot for work

不要太執著

acknowledgement: an act of accepting that something exists or is true, or that something is there

proponent: a person who supports an idea or course of action

tag along: to go somewhere with somebody, especially when you have not been asked or invited

unravel: if you unravel threads that are twisted, woven or knitted, or if they unravel, they become separated

enlightenment: knowledge about and understanding of something; the process of understanding something or making somebody understand it

bathroom: a room in which there is a bath, a washbasin and often a toilet

    It is hard to listen when you know you are right.

    當你知道自己是對的時候，傾聽就會變得很困難。

sergeant: a member of one of the middle ranks in the army and the air force, below an officer

inventory: a written list of all the objects, furniture, etc. in a particular building

impediment: something that delays or stops the progress of something

shutter: to have difficulty speaking because you cannot stop yourself from repeating the first sound of some words several times

quarterback: (in American football) the player who directs the team’s attacking play and passes the ball to other players at the start of each attack

devastated: extremely upset and shocked

huddle: ​a small group of people, objects or buildings that are close together, especially when they are not in any particular order

poised: in a position that is completely still but is ready to move at any moment

ego: your sense of your own value and importance

beat up: to hit or kick somebody hard, many times

vicariously: by watching or reading about somebody else doing something, rather than by doing it yourself

cart: to carry something in a cart or other vehicle

in retrospect: thinking about a past event or situation, often with a different opinion of it from the one you had at the time

    Sometimes your kids, spouse, or coworkers will make negative or irresponsible comments, and instead of talking it on and trying to resolve it, ignore that it was even uttered.

    有時候，孩子、配偶或同事會說些負面或不負責任的話。與其為此爭論或試圖解決問題，不如乾脆當作他們從未說過。

envision: to imagine what a situation will be like in the future, especially a situation you intend to work towards

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Translated by Microsoft Copilot and edited

For loop in C++

A for loop in C++ is used to repeat a block of code a specific number of times. Here's the basic syntax:

for (initialization; condition; increment) {
    // Code to be executed
}

Here's a simple example that prints numbers from 1 to 5:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
        cout << i << " ";
    }
    return 0;
}

In this example:

Initialization: int i = 1 sets the starting point.

Condition: i <= 5 checks if the loop should continue.

Increment: i++ increases the value of i after each iteration.

Copilot for work

木建築的防火設計

    雖然傳統觀念認為木結構建築易受火災威脅，但現代防火技術使其既保有自然美感，又能確保高度安全。透過利用木材的天然炭化效應、採用耐火塗層與高性能木材產品、結合自動滅火系統與防火分區設計，以及嚴格遵守建築法規，木結構建築在面對火災時可有效延緩燃燒進程並控制火勢蔓延。

    木材在遇火時，表面會先進行炭化反應，形成一層炭化層。這層炭化層在一定程度上起到隔熱保護的作用，可以延緩火勢向內部蔓延。

Microsoft Copilot

Summarized by blogger

被理解的勇氣

    Seeking to understand requires consideration; seeking to be understood takes courage.

想要理解別人需要體貼，想要被別人理解就需要勇氣。

    Ethos: your personal credibility

    Pathos: emotional connection

    Logos: logical reasoning

magnificent: extremely attractive and impressive; deserving praise

embody: to include or contain something

credibility: the quality that somebody/something has that makes people believe or trust them

validity: the state of being logical and true

acquaintance: a person that you know but who is not a close friend

grandiose: seeming very impressive but too large, complicated, expensive, etc. to be practical or possible

rhetoric: (formal, often disapproving) speech or writing that is intended to influence people, but that is not completely honest or sincere

soapbox: a small temporary platform that somebody stands on to make a speech in a public place, usually outdoors

    When you can present your own ideas clearly, specifically, visually, and most important, contextually --- in the context of a deep understanding of other people's paradigms and concerns --- you significantly increase the credibility of your ideas.

如果你能清晰、具體、生動地表達自己的想法，並且以深入了解他人的思維方式和關注點為背景來說明，那麼你的觀點就會更有說服力。

deplete: to reduce something by a large amount so that there is not enough left; to be reduced by a large amount

reverent: ​showing deep respect

discerning: able to show good judgement about the quality of somebody/something

dividend: great advantages or profits

fester: to become much worse because you do not deal with them successfully

    Make the human element as important as the financial or the technical element. You save tremendous amounts of time, energy, and money when you tap into the human resources of a business at every level.

將人性化因素看得和財務或技術因素一樣重要。當你在企業各個層面充分利用人力資源時，就能節省大量時間、精力和金錢。

    When we really, deeply understand each other, we open the door to creative solutions and third alternatives. Our differences are no longer stumbling blocks to communication and progress. Instead, they become the stepping-stones to synergy.

當我們真正理解彼此時，就能開啟創意解決方案和第三個選擇的大門。我們的差異不再是溝通與進步的障礙，而變成了邁向協同增效的墊腳石。

stumbling block: something that causes problems and prevents you from achieving your aim

Stephen R. Covey "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Translated and rewrote by Microsoft Copilot

Edited by blogger

滑手機對腦部的影響

青少年常見的類似上癮的社群媒體使用 (addiction-like social media use, ASMU) 現象，與憂鬱和其他健康問題密切相關。本研究旨在探討大腦處理正向社交回饋的發展軌跡 (developmental trajectories of neural social feedback) 是否與後期青少年較高的ASMU水平有關。研究中，103名學生在6至9年級期間參加了1至3次功能性磁振造影 (fMRI) 掃描，期間完成了一個社交激勵延遲任務 (social incentive delay task)；大約兩年後 (10至11年級) 他們又進行了關於ASMU和憂鬱症狀的自我報告評估。

研究重點在於考察：

ASMU對大腦對正面社交回饋反應 (positive social feedback) 的影響：特別是在青春期過程中觀察大腦反應的變化。

大腦反應的發展變化與ASMU和憂鬱症狀之間的關係：同時分析了性別之間可能存在的差異。

主要發現是，在青春期期間，下列腦區的反應性逐漸降低：

腹內側前額葉皮質(ventral media prefrontal cortex)

中前額葉皮質(medial prefrontal cortex)

後扣帶皮層(posterior cingulate cortex)

右下額回(right inferior frontal gyrus)

這種反應性下降與兩年後較高的ASMU症狀有關。進一步的分析表明，對於女青少年來說，這種大腦反應性下降不僅會增加ASMU症狀，還會與憂鬱症狀的增加有關；而男青少年則未見明顯聯繫。

研究總結為：在青春期前，大腦對正向社交回饋可能會表現出過度敏感，但隨著青春期的發展，這種反應逐漸減弱，這個過程可能會增加晚期青少年出現類似上癮的社群媒體使用問題的風險。

Translated, summarized and simplified by Microsoft Copilot

Abstract

Addiction-like social media use (ASMU) is widely reported among adolescents and is associated with depression and other negative health outcomes. We aimed to identify developmental trajectories of neural social feedback processing that are linked to higher levels of ASMU in later adolescence. Within a longitudinal design, 103 adolescents completed a social incentive delay task during 1–3 fMRI scans (6–9th grade), and a 4th self-report assessment of ASMU and depressive symptoms ∼2 years later (10–11th grade). We assessed ASMU effects on brain responsivity to positive social feedback across puberty and relationships between brain responsivity development, ASMU symptoms, and depressive symptoms while considering gender effects. Findings demonstrate decreasing responsivity, across puberty, in the ventral media prefrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and right inferior frontal gyrus associated with higher ASMU symptoms over 2 years later. Significant moderated mediation models suggest that these pubertal decreases in brain responsivity are associated with increased ASMU symptoms which, among adolescent girls (but not boys), is in turn associated with increased depressive symptoms. Results suggest initial hyperresponsivity to positive social feedback, before puberty onset, and decreases in this response across development, may be risk factors for ASMU in later adolescence.

Flannery, J. (2024, February 9). Developmental changes in brain function linked with addiction-like social media use two years later | Social Cognitive and affective neuroscience | oxford academic. https://academic.oup.com/scan/article/19/1/nsae008/7604373

深度學習利用人工神經網路來處理資訊，模仿人類腦部的結構與功能。人工智能每分每秒都在成長進化，然而人類無時無刻都在滑手機，瀏覽社交媒體、觀看短片，浪費自身的腦部潛能。今天，在地下鐵車廂內，一位女生正在閱讀一本麥田出版的台版書。雖然我看不到書名，但她已經成為少眾。也許你會說在手機看網絡小說有什麼分別，有機會的話，我會跟您探討它們的分野，對腦部來說，有何分別。