【推荐2】Repair or replace? This is a difficult choice for people when appliances (家用电器) that they own, like TVs and refrigerators, break down. Too often, the only option, or at least the cheaper one, is to replace an appliance rather than get it repaired.

But now in the UK, people don’t have to do this. Manufacturers (制造商) are now legally required to make spare parts that people can buy to repair their products.

The right to repair rules are designed to deal with “built-in obsolescence” where manufacturers build appliances to break down after a certain period on purpose to encourage people to buy new ones.

These new rules should bring an end to the frustration (沮丧) of having to throw away a product because a small part is no longer working and no longer supplied. Rather than having to buy a whole new product, replacement parts must now be sold directly by the manufacturer for 10 years, whether or not they are still selling the complete product.

Some companies said the rules could make appliances more expensive. John Elliott, chairman of Ebac, said, “The rules will influence companies who have been in a race to the bottom on prices for many white goods, but it will not make much difference to my business. We don’t look to make the cheapest washing machine. We look for one that’s going to do the job and last a long time.”

The company has been manufacturing washing machines for about fifty years. “Our focus is always on quality — not just a low price,” Mr Elliott said. “The secret of a product that’s easy to repair and long-lasting is the design.”     

Rob Johnson, operations director at repair business Pacifica, said that his company was now hoping to enlarge its team of engineers because of new rules. The company already has 400 skilful engineers going into homes to fix about 6,000 appliances per week.

He said the rules “give customers real choice” about whether to repair or replace their product.

【推荐2】The 71^st annual Boston Marathon was held on April 19, 1967. This day was filled with freezing rain, snow and strong winds. However, for one participant named Kathrine Switzer, the weather conditions were the least of her worries. Kathrine was the first and only registered female runner in the marathon and she had something to prove.

The first few miles were a piece of cake for Kathrine. Then around mile four, she realized someone was chasing her. She turned around and was startled to see an angry face just inches away. It was the race director (赛事总监), Jock Semple.

“Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!” Jock yelled. As he said this, he grabbed Kathrine and tried ripping her race numbers off her sweatshirt. Kathrine was so shocked and terrified. As Jock clung to her sweatshirt, Kathrine struggled to break free.

Kathrine felt awful. She thought about dropping out, but soon she knew that wasn’t an option. “If I quit, nobody would ever believe that women had the capability to run 26-plus miles. If I quit, everybody would say it was a show. If quit, it would set women’s sports back, way back, instead of forward…”

While all this thinking was going on, Kathrine continued, until she found herself nearing the finish line. Completely soaked and greeted by only a handful of reporters, none of whom cheered, Kathrine completed the race in a time of 4 hours and 20 minutes. The race was over, but her pursuit of change was just beginning.

She was a primary force behind getting women officially accepted into the Boston marathon in 1972. Her leadership also paved the way for the International Olympic Committee to admit the women’s marathon into the 1984 Olympic Games. Her number 261 on that historic day in Boston has also become a symbol of fearlessness for millions of women worldwide.