Take a Break

Hamilton: An American Musical is a sung-and-rapped-through biographical musical with music, lyrics, and a book by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

intrigued: very interested in something/somebody and wanting to know more about it/them

exhaustive: including everything possible; very careful or complete

implore: to ask somebody to do something in an anxious way because you want or need it very much

cautionary: giving advice or a warning

renowned: famous and respected

Lend-Lease Act: Passed on March 11, 1941, this act set up a system that would allow the United States to lend or lease war supplies to any nation deemed "vital to the defense of the United States."

wrestling: a sport in which two people fight by holding each other and trying to throw or force their opponent to the ground

    Burnout is increasing. Loneliness is increasing. The amount of time people spend on screens is increasing.

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

en.wikipedia.org

www.archives.gov

Online Dictionaries Used:

hk.dictionary.search.yahoo.com

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

居屋補地價

居屋補地價是指在香港政府推出的居屋計劃中，購房者在以優惠價格購得政府資助的房屋時，需要額外繳付的一筆費用，用以補償土地由最初優惠轉為市場價值後產生的差額。

簡單來說，政府以較低的「土地出讓價」或優惠方式提供土地，從而降低居屋的售價，令中低收入家庭負擔得起住房。然而，隨著市場環境和土地價值不斷上升，原本的優惠價格與實際市場價值之間會出現落差。為了平衡這種落差，確保公共土地資源得到合理補償，同時避免房地產市場因過度優惠而引起炒作，政府要求購房者在購買居屋時需繳付一筆額外費用，即居屋補地價。

具體而言，居屋補地價的計算主要根據當前土地或房屋的市場價值與政府當初讓步價格之間的差距，以及按一定比例核定。這筆補充費用能夠在一定程度上反映市場變化，防止居屋購得後短期內迅速升值套利，同時也幫助政府收回部分優惠政策所減免的土地價值損失。

這種機制不僅是房屋政策的補充調節手段，也是香港土地政策的一部分，旨在平衡社會福利與市場公平。

Summarized from Microsoft Copilot

逆滲透海水化淡

將軍澳海水化淡廠工程項目是香港政府（由水務署主導）打造的一項先進基建工程，目的是利用逆滲透技術將海水轉化為符合飲用標準的淡水，以分散對傳統淡水來源的依賴，從而提升城市供水的彈性與長遠穩定性。

這項工程採用逆滲透海水化淡技術，其流程通常包括三大步驟：首先經前處理去除海中懸浮物及污染物；接著利用高壓將預處理後的海水推送通過具極微孔徑的逆滲透膜，實現水與鹽分的分離；最後再進行後處理和消毒過程，確保出水完全符合飲用水質標準。這種技術不僅成熟穩定，同時也是全球水資源管理中的先進方法之一。

在規模和產能方面，該項目分階段實施。首期工程設計的每日供水量約為十三萬五千立方米，且預留有擴建空間，未來有望將最終產能提升至每日二十七萬立方米。這樣的產能安排能夠在常規運作下穩定供水，同時也作為應急時期的後備水源，使香港在面對氣候變化或供水挑戰時更具韌性。

此外，工程在設計和實施過程中也強調節能與環保。例如在能源回收、廢鹽處理等方面均採取先進技術，期望降低整體能耗，同時盡量減少對環境的影響。這不僅符合香港追求永續發展的戰略方向，也為其他沿海城市在海水化淡應用方面提供了寶貴的經驗與參考。

Microsoft Copilot and Summarized

Type Casting Example

Changing the integer 9 to the floating-point number 9.0 (a double) is necessary to ensure that the division operation results in a floating-point division rather than an integer division. When you divide two integers, C++ performs integer division, which truncates the decimal part and results in an integer. By using 9.0, you ensure that the division is performed as a floating-point operation, giving you a more accurate result. This is important for calculations like converting Fahrenheit to Celsius, where precision is key.

種豆得豆

endowment: a quality or an ability that you are born with

conscience: the part of your mind that tells you whether your actions are right or wrong

delicate: easily damaged or broken

stifle: to prevent something from happening; to prevent a feeling from being expressed

mistake: ​to not understand or judge somebody/something correctly

congruence: agreement with something; the state of being similar to something and not in conflict with it

disparity: ​a difference, especially one connected with unfair treatment

sinew: a strong band of tissue in the body that joins a muscle to a bone

​feast (on something): to eat a large amount of food with great pleasure

noble: having or showing fine personal qualities that people admire, such as courage, honesty and care for others

obscene: ​connected with sex in a way that most people find offensive

divine: coming from or connected with God or a god

falsehood: the state of not being true; the act of telling a lie

forfeit: to lose something or have something taken away from you because you have done something wrong

grovel: to move along the ground on your hands and knees

    There is no shortcut in developing conscience. The law of the harvest governs; we will always reap what we sow - no more, no less. The law of justice is immutable, and the closer we align ourselves with correct principles, the better our judgement will be about how the world operates and the more accurate our paradigms - our maps of the territory - will be.

    良知的培養是一個循序漸進的過程，沒有捷徑可走。我們的行為會產生相應的結果，就像農夫播種後，最終收穫自己種下的作物一樣——多寡、品質皆由自身努力決定。

    作者討論了「正確的原則」對於個人成長和成功的重要性。他認為世界運行的方式遵循公平不變的法則，人們越能遵循正確的原則，就越能培養良好的判斷力，理解世界的運作方式，並建立更準確的思維模式。這些思維模式決定了我們如何看待世界，以及如何在生活中做出選擇。

    我們要紮根於正確的價值觀，耐心耕耘，才能真正塑造良知與智慧。這種成長並非一蹴而就，而是持續學習、實踐和反思的過程。此書強調的核心理念之一：真正的成功來自內在的改變與正確的習慣，而非速成的技巧或僥倖。

reap: DJ[ri:p] to cut and collect a crop, especially wheat, from a field

sow: to plant or spread seeds in or on the ground

immutable: ​that cannot be changed; that will never change

diligence: careful work or great effort

deceive: to make somebody believe something that is not true

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 Summarized

Hong Kong Newt

紀錄片《一生螈命》網上公映好評如潮

導演馮漢城感謝五百二十名響應眾籌者

一年前，生態攝影師、影片製作人馮漢城舉辦了《一生螈命——生態影像藝術展》；一年後，同樣是四月，香港瘰螈路殺高峰期，他將曾於展覽展出、奪多個自然界攝影大獎的紀錄片放到YouTube，讓公眾免費觀看。紀錄片公映短短數周，好評如潮，近百人留言，感謝馮漢城與團隊的用心，讓香港人認識這個被忽視的近危物種的生命。馮漢城說，若非一年多前有五百二十人願意參與眾籌計劃，這一切都不會發生，十分感激眾捐款者以及一直關注此議題的公眾。

明周文化

Distance of sound wave propagation

Sound waves with lower frequencies tend to travel longer distances primarily because of their longer wavelengths. Here is a deeper dive into why this is the case:

1. Wavelength and diffraction:

Lower frequency sound waves have longer wavelengths. When a wave encounters obstacles such as buildings, trees, or even variations in atmospheric conditions, a longer wavelength can bend or diffract around these obstacles more easily. This means that low-frequency sounds are less likely to be blocked or scattered, allowing them to travel further without being significantly disrupted.

2. Atmospheric absorption:

The medium through which sound travels - typically air - absorbs sound energy as it propagates. This absorption tends to increase with frequency; higher frequency waves, which oscillate much more rapidly, interact more intensely with air molecules, converting more of their energy into heat. Lower frequency waves, on the other hand, experience less energy loss per cycle due to these interactions. The lower the frequency, the less the absorption, and the further the sound can propagate before it becomes too weak.

3. Scattering and energy loss

Real world examples:

    Animal communication: Elephants and whales, for instance, make extensive use of low-frequency sounds (even infrasound) to communicate over vast distances. Their calls can travel for kilometers, making them ideal for long-range communication.

    Engineering and communication: In underwater communication and certain military applications, extremely low frequencies are exploited because these waves penetrate water or obstacles better than higher frequencies.

Microsoft Copilot and Summarized

Relationship between plants and fungi

Over millions of years, plants and fungi have co-evolved to form interactions that both mutually beneficial and, in some cases, antagonistic. One of the most well-known examples is the formation of mycorrhizae-specialized associations where fungi colonize plant roots. In these relationships, the fungi extend their hyphal networks deep into the soil, vastly increasing the surface area for water and nutrient absorption. In return, the plant supplies the fungi with carbohydrates produced during photosynthesis. The mutual exchange not only bolsters (enhances) plant nutrition - especially the uptake of essential, but often scarce, minerals like phosphorus - but also enhances the overall resilience of the ecosystem.

While many fungi contribute positively to plant growth, not every fungal interaction is beneficial. Some fungi are pathogenic. The balance between mutualism and pathogenicity in fungal-plant interactions is complex and influenced by various factors, including environmental conditions, soil composition, and the presence of other microorganisms.

Microsoft Copilot and Summarized

static_cast

explicit: clear and easy to understand, so that you have no doubt what is meant

In C++, float is a data type used to store floating-point numbers, which are numbers that have a decimal point. It is a single-precision type, meaning it typically occupies 4 bytes of memory and provides about 7 decimal digits of precision.

parentheses: DJ[pəˋrenθisi:z]

In C++, an expression is a combination of variables, constants, operators, and function calls that evaluates to a single value. Expressions are fundamental to programming, as they allow computations and logical operations.

implicit: suggested without being directly expressed

In C++, int32_t is a fixed-width integer type that guarantees a size of exactly 32 bits. It is defined in the <cstdint> header and ensures portability across different platforms.

In C++, uint32_t is an unsigned 32-bit integer type that guarantees a size of exactly 32 bits. It is defined in the <cstdint> header and ensures portability across different platforms.

Unsigned: Can store only non-negative values

An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is a software application that provides comprehensive tools for coding, debugging, and compiling programs. It streamlines development by offering features like syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and integrated debugging.

In C++, a double constant refers to a floating-point constant that is stored as a double type. By default, any floating-point literal without a suffix is treated as a double.

Microsoft Copilot

牽一髮動全身

sequential: following in order of time or place

Quadrant II: not urgent but important

conscience: the part of your mind that tells you whether your actions are right or wrong

    The more proactive you are, the more effectively you can exercise personal leadership and management in your life. The more effectively you manage your life, the more Quadrant II (not urgent but important) renewing activities you can do. The more you seek first to understand, the more effectively you can do for synergetic Win/Win solutions. The more you improve in any of the habits that lead to independence, the more effective you will be in interdependent situations. And renewal is the process of renewing all the habits.

作者闡述了個人成長和持續更新的重要性，並強調各種習慣如何互相影響與促進整體效能。

首先，積極主動是基礎。當你主動掌握自己的生活時，你就能更有效地行使個人領導和管理。這種主動權能讓你更有計劃地安排時間和資源，而不是被外在情況所左右。正因為你能夠自主管理，便有餘裕去從事那些「不緊急但非常重要」的活動，它們能幫助你進行自我再增值與成長。

其次，「先求理解，再求被理解」的原則強調了良好溝通的重要性。當你學會耐心傾聽，真正理解別人的觀點時，你就更能夠找到雙贏的解決方案。這不僅促進了彼此間的協同效應，也讓合作變得更加順暢和高效。

此外，只要你不斷提升自己的獨立自主能力，在與他人互相合作時，你就能表現得更好。這意味著，個人的獨立成長是合作與共贏的基石；建立堅實的自我基礎後，你更能在團隊或合作環境中發揮領導力與影響力。

最後，「再生」或「持續更新」則是將所有這些習慣整合起來，使你能夠不斷地提升自我。一個人如果能夠定期進行身、心、智、靈四方面的更新，就能在面對生活與工作中各種挑戰時保持高度的效能與韌性。從積極主動到尋求理解，再到促進自立與互依，每個習慣都是相輔相成的，最終讓我們達到一種持續成長和再生的狀態，這正是書中所強調的核心理念。

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

長遠發展的不二法門

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

politicking: political activity, especially to win support for yourself

mastermind: to plan and direct a complicated project or activity

    The writer has found that the only thrust of some organizations is to make money...We cannot live without eating, but we do not live to eat.

    如果組織只專注於金錢利益，就可能忽略其他極為重要的面向，例如員工的發展、創新、社會責任及長期可持續發展等。而我們個人層面則表達了相似的道理：雖然進食是維持生命的基本需求，但生活的意義絕非僅僅依賴於生理需求的滿足。若僅僅是「為了吃飯而活」，那就缺乏精神、情感、知識與靈性的豐富，而這正是《高效能人士的七個習慣》所提醒我們必須平衡照顧的四個面向──身體、心靈、思維與精神。

gauge: an instrument for measuring the amount or level of something

benevolent: kind, helpful and generous

autocracy: a system of government of a country in which one person has complete power

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

hallmark: ​a feature or quality that is typical of somebody/something

ascendancy: the position of having power or influence over somebody/something

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 Summarized

Backorder

在商業和零售領域，Backorder指的是當某商品目前缺貨時，顧客仍然可以下訂這件商品，並等待商品補貨後再進行配送。簡單來說，當庫存不足以即時供應時，商家會接受預訂，待商品重新進貨後按照順序配送給訂購者。

如果供應商庫存不足、部分商品需要Backorder，通常我司可以考慮分開兩筆交易：對於即時供貨的部分，按時付款並開票；對於Backorder的部分，則待商品實際補出後再進行單獨的開票和付款。這樣既保障了供應商的利益，也有利於我司的資金管理。

問︰當Backorder的貨品補發時，一般來說供應商會否通知我司？還是供應商會直接發貨？譬如供應商隔了很久才發貨，我司已經不需要，這樣我司便會有損失。

供應商在補發backorder貨品前通常會提前通知貴司，確認訂單仍然有效。這個通知可以透過電子郵件、訂單管理系統或專門的溝通渠道進行。提前通知讓貴司有時間評估當前需求，如果貨品補發時已不需要，可進行取消或其它調整，從而避免不必要的庫存積壓與潛在損失。

如果合同中未明確要求供應商在發貨前先通知，那供應商可能會直接發貨。

總結來說，為防範因延遲發貨而帶來的損失，最好在合作協議中約定明確的通知和確認程序。如果現有條款不夠明確，建議與供應商討論並增訂相關條款，確保雙方利益。

Microsoft Copilot and Edited

struct in C++

Basic Syntax Rules

- Case Sensitivity – C++ is case-sensitive, meaning Variable and variable are different identifiers.

- Semicolons (;) – Statements must end with a semicolon.

- Curly Braces ({}) – Used to define blocks of code, like functions or loops.

- Header Files (#include) – Used to include standard or user-defined libraries at the beginning of a program.

- Main Function (main()) – Every C++ program must have a main() function, which serves as the entry point.

In C++, std::string name; declares a variable named name of type std::string. This means name can store a sequence of characters, effectively functioning as a string.

In C++, a struct (short for structure) is a user-defined data type that groups together multiple variables of different types under a single name. It's similar to a class, but by default, its members are public instead of private.

Microsoft Copilot

Influence others

affirm: to state clearly that something is true

absolve: to state formally that somebody is not guilty or responsible for something

poet: a person who writes poems

virtue: behavior or attitudes that show high moral standards

overpower: to defeat or gain control over somebody completely by using greater strength

dismay: a worried, sad feeling after you have received an unpleasant surprise

revert to: to return to the original owner again

deathbed: ​the bed in which somebody is dying or dies

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

    Goethe taught, "Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be."

    如果你只把一個人當作他現有的樣子看待，他就會一直停留在那個狀態；反之，如果你相信並看見他能夠變成更好、更理想的樣子，對他予以鼓勵和支持，他就會朝著那個方向成長。

    作者強調期望與認知的重要性。當我們只根據一個人的現狀來評價他時，就無法激發他的潛力；而當我們看到並相信一個人具有更大的可能性，並用那份信心來對待他時，那個人也會被引導去實現自己的潛能，從而達到更好的狀態。

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

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