【推荐1】There’s a well-known story in the world of literary translators about the translator who was thrilled to see his work appear at great length in an article in a popular magazine. He had translated many novels by a little-known Scandinavian novelist, who he believed had been ignored and not received the attention or praise the novelist deserved. He had devoted much time to trying to get this novelist some recognition. The article agreed with his assessment of the novelist’s works mentioning long passages from his translations.

But something was missing. The translator searched in vain for a mention of his name. It didn’t appear anywhere. The translator’s joy at the coverage（报道）of the author he liked was considerably ruined by this. He felt that he himself should have had some recognition in the article. It was as if the translator did not exist, and all the efforts he had made had never happened.

Most people would agree that it was wrong of the magazine not to mention the translator. However, it is also true that most readers themselves operate in exactly the same way, and for them it is also as if the translator didn’t exist. When people read a translation of a novel, they want to feel they are reading what the novelist, and not someone else, wrote. They don’t want to be reminded that they are not reading, and would not be able to read, the original novel created by the novelist, not wishing to know who the translator was or pay any attention to what they have done.

In this global age, more and more works of fiction are being translated into more and more languages. Readers are now able to experience and understand other cultures more than ever through the reading of translated novels. So the works of more and more novelists can reach people in other parts of the world. This applies not only to new novels but also to fresh translations of old classics.

【推荐3】If you love eating and drinking for free and are looking to make some pocket money, there's a job in China with your name on it. A new type of online service allows people to hire others to eat or drink their favorite treats, either to cure their boredom or satisfy their appetite without the calories that usually come with it.

Chinese media recently reported on an increasingly popular service on online platform Taobao that's as startling as it is appealing. People can now go online and hire others to consume certain foods and drinks, and ask them to provide video evidence of them eating or drinking the said treats.

Fees usually range from two to nine yuan ($0.30 - $1.35) plus the cost of the food. It's not exactly a get-rich-quick job, but there are quite a rot of people willing to do it for the free treats alone.

“Bubble tea drinking" is a particularly popular service, as the chewy tapioca(木薯粉)balls and popping drink is all the rage in Asia these days, but there are also ads from people willing to eat fried chicken or hot pot for anyone willing to pay for them.

Advertised as being "fat-free" and "free of queues", those who pay for the service will receive the full experience, which includes a 360-degree video of the drink, photos, and a detailed description. Prices of the service are based on the drink's sweetness level, its price, and popularity. Some clients even require a short written review to be sure that the person they hired actually does what they are supposed to.

Sellers explained that most customers buy their "Bubble tea drinking" service maybe because they're trying to shake off desires while they're on a diet. Drinking bubble tea by proxy may help customers avoid high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and other health problems that the sugar-laden drink may cause.

So why would anyone pay a total stranger to enjoy a treat rather than consume it themselves? Well, apparently, the online service is so cheap that some people simply do it out of boredom, while others get satisfaction from watching others indulge in their favorite treats.

This indulging-by-proxy service（代享受服务）has received a lot of attention on social media in China, with some people describing it as the job of their dreams.

【推荐2】Americans are proud of their variety and individuality (个性), yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of a lift operator or the uniform of a five-star general(将军).    1    

Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian (百姓的) clothes.People expect higher quality from a man who wears a uniform.    2    Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform.What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a hairdresser, or a waiter to lose professional identity (职业身份) than to step out of uniform?

    3    They are often more comfortable and more lasting than civilian clothes.

Among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them.Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement.     4    

    5    Though they are long-lasting, often their initial(最初的) expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes.Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.

【推荐3】On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted that 42% of Americans could be overweight by 2030. Our expanding waistlines lead to not only a medical problem, but according to a recent article In The New York Times, it could also endanger personal safety in some situations—in an airplane crash, for example.

The New York Times’ Christen Negroni reports that engineers and scientists are questioning whether airplane seats are adequately constructed to protect overweight travelers. Government standards for airplane seat strength（强度）— first set moe than 60 years ago — require that the seats be made for a passenger weighing 170 pounds (77kg). Today, the average American man weighs nearly 194 pounds (88kg) and the average woman 165 pounds (75kg). Negroni reports:

“If a heavier person completely fills seat, the seat is not likely to behave as intended during a crash,” said Robert Salazar, the leading scientist at the Center for Applied Biomechanics at the University of Virginia. “The energy absorption that is built into the aircraft seat is likely to be overpowered and the passengers will not be protected properly.”

“Nor would the injury be limited to that passenger only,” Dr. Salzar said. “If a seat or a seat belt fails,” he said, “those people who are seated nearby could be endangered from ‘the uncontrolled movements of the passenger’.”

Most complaints about airplane seats focus on their lack of comfort and high ticket price, and whether overweight passengers should be made to buy two seats. But The New York Times’ article brings up another reason to feel anxious about flying. Investigators of the issue got in touch with the airplane seat and seat belt makers, but they refused to comment on the problem. Experts agreed that crash testing should be done with overweight dummies （人体模型）. Both airplane seats and seat belts should be tested, they said.

Fortunately, however, according to Nora Marshall, a senior adviser at the National Transportation Safety Board, the board’s investigators have never seen an accident involving a commercial plane in which the weight of a passenger was a problem.