葛蘭姆在去年秋天時參觀了 BiblioTech 數位圖書館，且正在努力說服查爾斯頓都會區的領袖在今年推估債券的發行量，以資助類似的概念構想，其中甚至包括了讓人想起蘋果電腦商店的時髦美學。可是蘋果電腦商店通常不會在這樣的城鎮裡設點。BiblioTech 數位圖書館位在經濟環境低迷的聖安東尼奧市南區，並與貝爾郡政府大樓共享一個購物中心。在最近的一個下午，一對困惑的伴侶走進了 BiblioTech 數位圖書館，要去找當地的治安法官。
根據人口普查數據顯示，貝爾郡的郡治聖安東尼奧是美國第七大城，但識字率卻排名第六十。BiblioTech 數位圖書館企畫協調蘿拉柯爾表示，在二○○○年代初期，BiblioTech 數位圖書館周邊的低收入戶公寓與慈善二手商店的社區領袖曾抱怨，當地附近甚至連一家書店都沒有。她指出，十年之後，當地大多數的家庭依然沒有 Wi-Fi 無線上網。
Graham toured BiblioTech last fall and is pushing Charleston leaders for a bond measure in 2014 to fund a similar concept, right down to the same hip aesthetic reminiscent of Apple. Usually, however, Apple stores aren't found in parts of town like this. BiblioTech is on San Antonio's economically depressed South Side and shares an old strip mall with a Bexar County government building. On a recent afternoon, one confused couple walked into the library looking for the justice of the peace.
San Antonio is the U.S.' seventh-largest city but ranks 60th in literacy, according to census figures. Back in the early 2000s, community leaders in BiblioTech's neighborhood of low-income apartments and thrift stores railed about not even having a nearby bookstore, said Laura Cole, BiblioTech's project coordinator. A decade later, Cole said, most families in the area still don't have Wi-Fi.
德州公共圖書館讓人一窺未來
美國德州看到了公共圖書館的未來，而那個景象看起來就像是蘋果電腦商店：一排排亮閃閃的 iMac 電腦向人招手，架設在橘色櫃檯上的 iPad 邀請讀者來使用，還有數百台準備就緒的平板電腦，等著隨時讓擁有借書證的讀者登記借閱。
「有三位醫生加入，但你的胃移除手術十分成功。現在我們來討論一下你的低電容吧。」（譯註：本漫畫的病人影射國外知名遊戲玩具 Operation，玩家必須用夾子拿出指定的器官或組織，同時避免碰觸到旁邊。這個遊戲玩具必須要有電池才能玩。而在英文中，breadbasket 是「胃」的俗稱，並且是本遊戲玩具必須移除的部位之一的名稱。）
「左腳，藍色。」「喂！小心點，傑瑞！」「就是說啊，傑瑞！你是怎樣？你是法國來的喔？」傑瑞向來不擅長轉舌（譯註：本漫畫的主角舌頭們正在玩一種叫做 Twister 的遊戲，玩家必須依照命令將手或腳放在指定的顏色圓點上，玩這個難免會有身體接觸的狀況，但舌頭碰觸卻意外形成了 French kiss 舌吻的狀況，而 tongue twister 繞口令則在此被當成「Twister 舌家」來解釋。）
「廿四小時？？怎麼會有人耗盡一生時間在做運動？」廿四小時健身房 為何蜉蝣不舉重（譯註：本漫畫影射蜉蝣的生命週期不滿一天，而 24 Hour Fitness 是目前全球會員人數最多的連鎖健身房。）
A girl spits fire on a bus turnstile, put in the street in protest against an increase in bus fares in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday, Feb. 10. Anti-government protests erupted across Brazil last June, hitting their peak as 1 million Brazilians took to the streets in a single night, calling for better schools and health care and questioning the billions spent to host this year's World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. The protests have since diminished in size, but remain violent. (AP)
A man holds a string of firecrackers and stands on a sedan chair in Taitung City (台東市), yesterday. Taitung City's Hsuan-wu Temple (玄武堂), one of the local temples that organizes the annual Bombing of Master Handan (炮炸寒單爺) event, yesterday promoted the event in the city center by throwing firecrackers at men to welcome the upcoming Lantern Festival on Feb. 14. (CNA)
Competitors take part in a "Flugtag" event in Valparaiso, Chile on Saturday, Feb. 8. Flugtag — which means "flying day" — is a competition in which teams in fancy dress attempt to pilot human-powered, home-made flying machines off a six-meter-high platform into water. (AFP)
In this photo provided by Cihan News Agency of Turkey via CNA, an unearthed church is seen in Iznik Lake in the province of Bursa, Turkey on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The history of the church can be traced back to 500 A.D.; it was presumed to be St. Peter's Church in some Christian books. (CNA)
The Grand Canyon is seen from around 10,000 meters in Arizona on July 1, 2013. The Grand Canyon as we know it was formed between five and six million years ago, which is youthful in geological terms, but parts of it could be as old as 70 million years, scientists said on Sunday, Jan. 26. (AFP)
Indian Border Security Force motorcycle specialists perform during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Sunday, Jan. 26. India celebrated its 65th Republic Day with a large military parade in the capital New Delhi and similar events across the country. (AFP)
Models present fashion creations as part of the Viktor and Rolf Spring-Summer 2014 Haute Couture collection, presented in Paris on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Dutch design duo Viktor and Rolf played visual tricks in the second outing of their relauched couture line. Models on pointe in ballet shoes, donned trompe l'oeil outfits that appeared three-dimensional but were in fact flat. Guests had to look twice: at first it appeared to be a white lycra sports top and separate skirt below an exposed midriff, but in reality both pieces were part of a single garment, which featured a flesh-colored stomach and arms. (AP)
Employees remove the ceramic mosaic facade covering the roof of the "Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia," part of the City of Arts and Science in Valencia, after pieces from the city's centerpiece opera house fell off during high winds, Tuesday, Jan. 21. The city of Valencia is now suing the designer of the art and science complex that was inaugurated a mere eight years ago, Valencia-born Santiago Calatrava. (AFP)
Presdient of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter, right, South Korean President Park Geun-hye, center, and Friendrun Sabine Burkhalter, wife of the Swiss president, arrive for the gala dinner for the South Korean President at Hotel Bellevue in Bern, Switzerland, Monday, Jan. 20. Park is on a two-day official visit to Switzerland. (AP)
A plane of the Irish low-cost company Ryanair flies in front of a rainbow over Rome on Sunday, Jan. 19. (AFP)
