英文讀書會
12/18 Topic1.錢買不到? Topic2.「憂」2012
哈佛教授桑德爾 談錢買不到的東西【聯合報】
著名的哈佛大學教授邁可‧桑德爾（Michael Sandel）昨晚在文化部邀請下舉行大師講座，以「錢買不到的東西」為題在台大小巨蛋引導現場六千名聽眾進行金錢與正義攻防。
昨晚現場如同將哈佛大學講堂搬到台灣，桑德爾以該不該搶購五月天演唱會開始，在現場進行即席「投票」，贊成和反對買黃牛票的人數各半。相反的，對於高價購買有限的外科手術掛號、以現金獎勵小朋友讀書，觀眾則多表反對。有趣的是，桑德爾即席調查在場觀眾，發現絕大多數與會者都曾因為考試進步，收過父母親給的獎金。至於媒體壟斷獲絕大多數反對票。
清大學生陳為廷現身時，現場響起掌聲。這回他為家鄉的社區小雜貨店發聲。他說，農村裡的雜貨店不只賣雜貨，還賣鄰里自己種的菜，著重社區的互動。與超商充斥「偽善的謊言」的市場邏輯不同。
桑德爾表示，超商不只是生意的問題，也可能遭大財團壟斷。他要求觀眾闡述雜貨店vs.超商，並與媒體壟斷之間進行聯結。一位學生說，超商著重的是便利性，半夜有超商提供熱騰騰的泡麵，當然會受歡迎。但人們希望媒體能提供不同意見、不同的聲音以及挑戰，供我們思考及回饋。不希望媒體被壟斷。
桑德爾在總結時表示，我們經常排除爭議而說：「由市場決定吧！」以致全世界都缺乏公共論述。他說，公共論述的目的並非為了得到單一的結論，而是讓生活更有價值，讓每個人成為更好的公民。
1. What does money mean to you?
2. How much money is enough?
How much money is really enough to retire
on?
3. How Much Money Do You Really Need To Be
Happy?
4.. Reasons Money Can Buy Happiness? Reasons
Money Can not Buy Happiness?
5. Good or Bad For Students? Debating on
social issues?
Harvard professor in Taiwan to speak on money, markets
Taipei, Dec. 9
(CNA) Noted political philosopher Michael Sandel is visiting Taiwan for the
first time to share his views on justice and ethical issues, including money
and markets, as part of Human Rights Day events in Taiwan, the organizers said
Sunday.
Sandel, a
professor at Harvard University whose course on justice has become one of the
most popular in the university, was to attend a public discussion with Taiwan's
Culture Minister Lung Ying-tai that day in Taipei, according to the Ministry of
Culture.
Shortly after his
arrival that day, Sandel attended a news conference and said his talks in
Taiwan will focus on the questions of what should be the role of money and
markets in a good society.
"I very much
look forward to engaging in a dialogue with readers of my books," said
Sandel, whose books "Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?" and
"What Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets" have received
wide interest in Taiwan.
The culture minister
said at the news conference that justice has many facets and becomes a
complicated issue when it involves the power of the government and the power of
markets.
Meanwhile, asked
about concerns over the media concentration in Taiwan that could arise from a
recent media acquisition, Sandel said many countries around the world face the
serious problem of concentrated control of the media, including the United
States and the United Kingdom.
"It's
important to try to avoid the media from being concentrated in very few
hands," because it will damage free exchanges of ideas through the media,
he added.
Although he did
not put forward a solution specifically for Taiwan, he suggested that
generally, creating a system of regulation and law that limits a market power
or monopoly power is one way to preserve a media industry that is competitive
and gives expression to many voices.
When asked to
comment on other contentious issues in Taiwan such as the death penalty and
same-sex marriage, Sandel said the debate surrounding both issues has raised
strong competing, ethical ideas and contending philosophies of justice in many
countries around the world.
He added that
while discussing these issues, "I don't tell my students or readers what
they should think about these questions."
Instead, Sandel
said he tried to promote and trigger a debate on such difficult questions that
highlight opposing ethical convictions.
During his
four-day visit, Sandel will also give a lecture Dec. 11 at National Taiwan
University.
Both events will
be broadcast online and on the Public Television Service, the organizers said.
More than 5,000
people have registered to attend the events, the organizers said.
(By Elaine Hou)
台灣二○一二年度代表字大選昨天揭曉。經歷廿一天、六萬二千一百零八通的全民電話票選，「憂」字以八千零九十四票居冠，成為這一年全民心靈與社會亂象的寫照。
由遠東集團徐元智紀念基金會、聯合報合作舉辦的「台灣年度代表字大選」，今年邁入第五年，去年選出「讚」字。今年第二到十名依序為：漲、轉、感、慘、鬱、苦、怨、窮、爛。前十名中，僅第三名的「轉」字為正面字。
「憂」字的原始推薦人是中研院副院長陳建仁。他指出，這一年來，無論是末日預言、國際形勢、歐債危機、貧富差距、薪資倒退、物價上揚、朝野族群對立、台灣競爭力落後等，「在在令人『憂』。」
主辦單位請來倫敦奧運奪牌選手許淑淨、曾櫟騁，曾櫟騁並以其充滿力量的雙手寫下「憂」字。
「有擔心、才有未來！」曾奪下台灣奧運舉重首面獎牌的蔡溫義說，台灣選出「憂」字，「代表大家醒了」，未來希望大家以「憂」字自我要求，將「憂」化為動力。與會的體委會主委戴遐齡說，「憂」字代表今年體育界的整體心情，她說，就是憂慮在倫敦奧運時無好成績，就更加努力。
遠東集團代表、SOGO董事長黃晴雯表示，民眾的「憂」是因為關心這塊土地，「『憂』可能會帶來沮喪、也會帶來力量。」
遠東集團董事長徐旭東推薦的「轉」字高居第三，是正面字中的第一高票。黃晴雯說，「轉」代表這股力量，她期許民眾帶一個溫暖、反省的心，「揮別這一年的困頓，帶動台灣向前轉動。」
聯合報總編輯游美月表示，第一名的「憂」字反映整體社會心情，第二名的「漲」字則反映民眾的憂慮所在：「萬物皆漲，薪水沒漲」，需要政府和社會各界關心，排名第三的「轉」字，或可視為解「憂」的力量，正視憂慮，轉一下心念，尋找新的方法，讓「轉」的力量，帶動台灣正向前進。
1. What Do You Worry About Most In Life?
2. How Much Do You Worry About Money
issues?
3. How to Stop Worrying About Money?
4. Should we be worrying about the global
crisis?
5. How to Get Rid of Your Worries?
6. How to solve the economic crisis, if you
were a leader of a country?
Talk of the Day -- `Worry' is word for 2012 (CNA)
"Worry"
was selected in a recent survey as the word that best represents public feeling
about the soon-to-end year in the fifth year that such a poll has been
conducted.
The survey,
jointly conducted by Far Eastern Memorial Foundation and the United Daily News,
asked respondents to choose words that they think best epitomize 2012.
The results,
published Friday, show that "worry" was the top choice out of a list
of words recommended by nearly 100 scholars and laymen.
Next came the word
"hike," followed by "turnaround," "feeling,"
"misery" and "blue."
The other words
that rounded out the top 10 were "hardship," "grievance,"
"poverty" and "sucks."
Most of the words
selected are negative in nature, showing collective gloom among the public
about the year.
The following are
excepts from coverage of the list by the United Daily News:
Chen Chien-jen,
vice president of Academia Sinica, who recommended the word "worry,"
was a bit surprised about the result of the survey.
He said it shows
that the public shares his feelings.
He pointed to the
international situation, the European debt crisis, the widening gap between
rich and poor, the stagnant and shrinking salaries, rising consumer prices, the
confrontation between the ruling and the opposition parties, the dropping of
Taiwan's competitiveness, and even the 2012 doomsday predictions, as making
"every one of us worried."
But he also
expressed hope that the public will try to find a way out and that "there
will be no worries next year."
Fan Chiang
Tai-chi, spokesman of the Presidential Office, said that due to the fallout
from the European debt crisis, all countries in the world, including Taiwan,
are facing rigorous tests.
Despite the
economic downturn, Fan Chiang said that some positive signs have begun to show
since September, including the industrial production index, exports and economic
outlook taking a turn for the better.
He cited President
Ma Ying-jeou as saying that he "sees a light at the end of the
tunnel."
Wang Min-sheng, a
spokesman of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, said Ma has been in
office for more than four years and that the people are not just worried this
year but have been worried for a long time.
Sophia Huang,
Pacific Sogo Department Store chairwoman, said said the public feel worried
because they care about the country.
She said that
"worry can bring depression but can also bring strength."
The word
"turnaround" recommended by Far Eastern Group Chairman Douglas Hsu,
ranked third, the highest of the positive words in the survey, and this word
represents strength, she said.
The word
"worry" is the collective mentality of the people of Taiwan and the
words ranking second to 10th illustrate why they are worried.
For example, the
word "hike" shows the public's concern about rising prices for
everything except salaries, while the word "feeling" represents the
people's feelings about the "insensitive" government in pushing its
policies.
The eighth-ranking
word " grievance" is a sign of worry about increasing rivalry between
the ruling and opposition parties and the widening gap between rich and poor.
The ninth word --
"poverty" -- is a reflection of the government's financial crisis
embodied by the controversy about year-end bonuses for retired civil servants.
In 2008, the first
year of the representative word survey, the word "chaos" was
selected, and eight of the 10 top words were negative.
In 2009, the top
word went to "aspiring," with the negative words cut to six. In 2010,
it was the neutral word "light" and the only negative word was
"hike."
In 2011,
"like" was top and the only negative word was "worry."
This year, the
fact that the only positive word was "turnaround" should serve as a
warning to the government. (By Lilian Wu)
Conversation
vent his anger on me
Sherry: You look upset.
What's going on?
Billy : My wife is
being unreasonable! She flared up at me, making a mountain out of
molehill!
Sherry: What's the
matter?
Billy: I just paid
NT$ 3,000 bought her a handbag, and I didn't think it was any big deal, but she
blew up at me!
Sherry: Well, She has
been under a lot of pressure these days.
Billy : Well, I
know she is careful with money
, but it doesn't
mean she can vent his anger on me.
會員好朋友們大家平安: 12月11日將討論兩主題---
12/11 Topic1. 聖誕老人 Topic2.年度英雄
12/11 Topic1. 聖誕老人 Topic2.年度英雄
各位會員好朋友們大家平安:
下周我們將探討兩個有意義的題目: 一.聖誕節及耶誕氣氛給您的感覺? 二. 隨著2012年即將結束，您有做過哪些有意義的事呢? CNN每年度都會票選十位，在這一年中，在民間有特殊貢獻的人士，其中有許多令人感動的故事，希望大家互相鼓勵，做好事，做好人，有好報。
聖誕老人的傳說
聖誕老人的傳說在數千年前的斯堪的納維亞半島即出現。北歐神話中司智能，藝術，詩詞，戰爭的奧丁神，寒冬時節，騎上他那八腳馬坐騎馳騁於天涯海角，懲惡揚善，分發禮物。與此同時，其子雷神著紅衣以閃電為武器與冰雪諸神昏天黑地惡戰一場，最終戰勝寒冷。
也有傳說稱聖誕老人由聖．尼古拉而來，所以聖誕老人也稱St.Nicholas.因這些故事大多弘揚基督精神，其出處，故事情節大多被淡忘，然而聖誕老人卻永駐人們精神世界。每年聖誕日，聖誕老人騎在白羊星座上，聖童手持聖誕樹降臨人間，隨著世事變遷，作家和藝術家開始把聖誕老人描述成我們今日熟悉的著紅裝，留白鬍子的形象。 同時不同的國度和文化對聖誕老人也有了不同的解釋。在德國，傳說他扮成聖童把堅果和蘋果放在孩子們鞋裡。他乘雙輪馬車四處漫遊，觀察人們的行為，尤其是小孩，如果表現好，將會得到蘋果、堅果、糖等諸多獎品。壞孩子則得一鞭子。家長們靈機一動紛紛採用此傳說來鼓勵孩子們聽話。聖誕節的普及大大超過了新年，成為一個全民的節日。聖誕老人已經成為聖誕節最受喜愛的象徵和傳統。他趕著馴鹿，拉著裝滿玩具和禮物的雪橇挨家挨戶給每個孩子送禮物的快樂老精靈的形象已深深地留在人們的記憶中。11世紀末來自意大利的宗教士兵將Nicholas聖人的遺物帶回意大利，並在港口城市Bari建造了一座教堂來紀念他。很快世界各地的基督教徒紛至沓來朝聖這位聖人。這些朝聖者將聖人Nicholas的故事帶回他們的本土，所以有關聖誕老人的傳說在各個國家都各具特色。許多國家都保存了他們自己有關聖誕老人的風俗和傳說。在荷蘭的傳說中，聖誕老人Sintirklass還帶了一個叫Black Peter的助手，乘著一艘船於12月6日來到。他帶著一本大書，書中描述了所有荷蘭小孩在過去一年中的表現。表現好的小孩就送禮物給他們，不好的小孩便讓他的助手帶走。
德國的聖誕老人也帶著一個叫做Knecht Ruprecht、Krampus或Pelzebock的助手，肩上背著個裝著禮物的大袋子，手上拿著一根棍子。好孩子可收到他的禮物，頑皮的孩子卻要給教訓幾棍子。 意大利的聖誕老人叫La Befana ；法國的聖誕老人叫Father Christmas或Pere Noel ；瑞士的聖誕老人叫Christkindl或Christ Child；斯勘的納維亞地區的聖誕人叫julenisse 或 juletomte ；而英國的聖誕老人和法國一樣也叫 Father Christmas（聖誕之父），他的形象比其它聖誕老人更莊嚴，更清瘦一些。北美的聖誕老人便是乘著馴鹿拉的雪橇來給孩子們送禮物的。(資料來源:世華網)
Questions:
1. How do you feel about Christmas? What are you doing this holiday?
2. Do you celebrate Christmas? Why do people celebrate Christmas?
3. Is Christmas really important?
4. What are your wishes for the New Year?
History of Santa Claus
Santa Claus History (By Abhijit NaikPublished)
In the United States and Canada he is known as Santa Claus, while in United Kingdom he is more popular as Father Christmas. Even today, children across the world wait for Santa to get them their well-deserved gift. (No wonder, the children spend their whole year wondering, 'when Santa Claus will return?'.) While children wait for their gifts, adults wait for this moment because it makes Christmas celebration even more special. Even though the aforementioned description of Santa Claus aptly describes how we see him today, it has not always been the same. Whilst going through the history, you'd realize that the Santa Claus legend has come a long way to become what it is depicted as today. Given below is a summary of Santa Claus history which will give you the details of the journey of this legendary figure throughout the history.
St. Nicholas and Sinterklaas
The American Santa Claus draws inspiration from St. Nicholas of Myra, as well as the legends of Sinterklaas and Father Christmas from Europe. 'St. Nicholas' of Myra (present day Turkey which was then under the Byzantine Empire) was 4th century Greek Christian bishop renowned for his practice of giving gifts for the poor. One of the numerous legends about this great saint shows how he helped a poor man to marry off his three daughters by gifting away three bags of gold coin to him. St. Nicholas has been an inspiration for the Americanized Santa and so is 'Sinterklaas' - a legendary figure associated with Winter Holiday in various European countries. These European countries celebrate Sinterklaas tradition every year on 5th December (i.e. St. Nicholas eve) or on the early morning of 6th December. Yet another mythical figure which is closely associated with the legend of Santa Claus is 'Father Christmas' - a symbolic figure associated with Christmas celebrations in English speaking countries. Even though Father Christmas was considered to be a symbol of the spirit of Christmas celebrations just like the Santa - he never got Christmas gifts for children like Santa did. More recently, however, the two figures have been associated with each other, thus making differentiation very difficult.
Odin from Norse Mythology
While St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas and Father Christmas have been the most prominent influences for the legend of Santa, there are citations of many other influential figures in the history with whom the Santa Claus has been closely associated. One such figure is Odin (Woden) - a god from the Norse mythology who ruled the heavenly dwelling of the Norse gods Asgard. According to a popular folklore, when Odin used to hunt on his flying horse - Sleipnir, in the sky; the children used to place their boots filled with carrots and straw near the chimney for Sleipnir to eat. Odin used to give these children toys and candies as gifts in return for this favor. The practice of keeping boots near chimney flourished in Europe for a long time, and eventually made headway in the United States in the 17th century through New Amsterdam - which was then a Dutch colony. Eventually boots were replaced by stockings, and thus came into existence a new Christmas tradition of hanging stockings at the fireplace.
The Legend of Santa Claus in America
In the 17th century, this legendary figure made its way to the United States and Canada though the Dutch and British colonies. In the United States, the image of Santa Claus received a major makeover as the American cultural influence made him more than a mere gift-giver. The fist instance of the use of name 'Santa Claus' by the American media can be traced back to 1773. By 1809, the bishop's apparel worn by Sinterklaas had long gone, and the Americanized version represented Santa as a Dutch sailor with a thick belly and a green coat. As time elapsed, the thick belly became even thicker and Santa became a plump old man wearing a red and white coat. The modern image of Santa Claus - the one with which we tend to associate Santa today, is attributed to some of the most popular works of the 19th century American cartoonist - Thomas Nast. In fact, the story that Santa lives at the North Pole is also attributed to one of Nast's works.
Even though the history of Santa is quite interesting in itself, it is at times marred by some urban legends - the most popular among which is the myth that Santa Claus was a Coca Cola Company creation. Even though, Santa was used as a brand ambassador by Coca Cola Company in 1930s (and he does wear a red and white coat which are the colors used by this company,) concept is not at all its own creation. This may come as a surprise for many, but long before Coca Cola's Santa came into the picture, brand Santa was used by the White Rock Beverages to market their products. Even though the legend of Santa is traced back to several centuries, the concept continues to inspire writers, artists, and more importantly children - to good deeds, even today. After all, every child aspires to see his name in Santa's 'nice list', and not in the 'naughty list'!
Questions:
1. What do think these heroes?
2. Have you ever done any good deed in the year of 2012?
If yes, why do you like helping people?
3. How to do a good deed? How to help the people in need?
4. Do you think a good deed will comes back to you?
5. Do you think helping others may make you happier?
The top 10 Heroes of 2012 CNN
Pushpa Basnet was shocked to learn that many children in Nepal have to live in prisons with their parents. In 2005, she started a children's center that has provided support, such as housing, education and medical care, to more than 140 children of incarcerated parents.
Wanda Butts
Wanda Butts lost her son in a drowning accident six years ago. In his memory, she started the Josh Project, a nonprofit that taught nearly 1,200 children -- most of them minorities -- how to swim.
Mary Cortani is a former Army dog trainer who started Operation Freedom Paws, a nonprofit that helps war veterans train their own service dogs. Since 2010, she has worked with more than 80 veterans who have invisible wounds such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Catalina Escobar
Catalina Escobar is helping young moms in Colombia, where one in five girls age 15-19 is or has been pregnant. Since 2002, her foundation has provided counseling, education and job training to more than 2,000 teenage mothers.
Razia Jan
Razia Jan is fighting to educate girls in rural Afghanistan, where terrorists will stop at nothing to keep them from learning. She and her team at the Zabuli Education Center are providing a free education to about 350 girls, many of whom wouldn't normally have access to school.
Thulani Madondo
Thulani Madondo struggled as a child growing up in the slums of Kliptown, South Africa. Today, his Kliptown Youth Program provides school uniforms, tutoring, meals and activities to 400 children in the community.
Leo McCarthy
In memory of his daughter who was killed by a drunken driver in 2007, Leo McCarthy started Mariah's Challenge. The nonprofit gives college scholarships to teenagers who pledge not to drink while they're underage. Nearly $150,000 in scholarship money has been awarded.
Connie Siskowski
Connie Siskowski is helping young people who have to take care of an ill, disabled or aging family member. Since 2006, her nonprofit has provided assistance to more than 550 young caregivers in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Scott Strode
After beating his addiction to drugs and alcohol, Scott Strode found support through sports. Since 2007, his nonprofit, Phoenix Multisport, has provided free athletic activities and a sober support community to more than 6,000 participants in Colorado.
Malya Villard-Appolon
Malya Villard-Appolon is a rape survivor dedicated to supporting victims of sexual violence in Haiti. In 2004, she co-founded KOFAVIV, an organization that has helped more than 4,000 rape survivors find safety, psychological support and/or legal aid.
Conversation:
Billy:Can you do me a favor?
Sherry:Sure. What is it?
Billy:Can you keep an eye on my backpack, please? Nature's calling.
Sherry:Sure. Will you be long?
Billy:No.I just want to use the bathroom.
Sherry:Go ahead. I'll take care of it.
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