周五(2/14)1.情人節--巧克力?2.神明銀行

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  情人節--巧克力?

Valentine's Day in United States (timeanddate.com)

Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14. It is a festival of romantic love and many people give cards, letters, flowers or presents to their spouse or partner. They may also arrange a romantic meal in a restaurant or night in a hotel. Common symbols of Valentine's Day are hearts, red roses and Cupid.

 What do people do?

Many people celebrate their love for their partner by sending cards or letters, giving gifts or flowers and arranging meals in restaurants or romantic nights in hotels. People who would like to have a romantic relationship with somebody may use the occasion to make this known, often anonymously. Valentine's cards are often decorated with images of hearts, red roses or Cupid. Common Valentine's Day gifts are flowers chocolates, candy, lingerie and champagne or sparkling wine. However, some people use the occasion to present lavish gifts, such as jewelry. Many restaurants and hotels have special offers at this time. These can include romantic meals or weekend breaks.

Background

There are a number of Saints called Valentine who are honored on February 14. The day became associated with romantic love in the Middle Ages in England. This may have followed on from the Pagan fertility festivals that were held all over Europe as the winter came to an end. Traditionally, lovers exchanged hand written notes. Commercial cards became available in the mid nineteenth century.

Symbols

The most common Valentine's Day symbols are the heart, particularly in reds and pinks, and pictures or models of Cupid. Cupid is usually portrayed as a small winged figure with a bow and arrow. In mythology, he uses his arrow to strike the hearts of people. People who have fallen in love are sometimes said to be 'struck by Cupid's arrow. Other symbols of Valentine's Day are couples in loving embraces and the gifts of flowers, chocolate, red roses and lingerie that couples often give each other.

Beautiful bouquet of roses

Valentine's Day: one of the most romantic days of the year.

Why Give Chocolates on Valentine's Day? (yahoo.com)

Chocolate is one classic gift to give on Valentine's Day. But, why chocolates, do you ever wonder why?

Well, chocolate in reality is the sweetest food, human could indulge.

And, when we eat it, we eat it voraciously, letting our tongues ravenously enjoy every bit of it.

It symbolizes deep love and passion, affection and attraction, sensuality and luxury.

It also believed to be one good aphrodisiac that could trigger tremendous energies and create kinkiest desires.

Questions:

1. What do you think about Valentine’s Day?

How to plan a romantic Valentine’s Day date?

2. How to be the most romantic boyfriend/girlfriend?

3. How to pick the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for her/him?

Have you ever receive gifts from your lovers?

4. Why do people send roses on Valentine’s Day?

5. Is it a good idea that giving the gift of chocolate on Valentine’s Day?

6. Ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day as a single person

7. Do you believe cupid exists?

8. How to find the right guy?

How can you tell who the right person is for you?

                  
神明銀行

Zi Nan Temple attracts 1 million pilgrims

Copyright © 2013 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)

Zi Nan Temple in central Taiwan’s Zhunan Township, Nantou County, attracted nearly one million worshippers over the Lunar New Year holidays, while also becoming the most-searched temple on Yahoo Taiwan.

“The temple grounds have been as crowded as a market,” according to Zhuang Qiu-an, the site’s chief executive manager. “A lot of people lined up overnight for a gold ingot, and even more have come to ask for good fortune with a gold chicken or by borrowing lucky cash from the Earth Lord.”

A gold chicken is a figurine in a glass case that is purchased from the temple. The lucky cash of the Earth Lord, Tudi Gong, is real money that pilgrims borrow from the temple, with a limit of NT$600 (US$20.26), and return after a year, as a means of bringing prosperity. According to the temple website, the god usually responds to what is wished for, and worshippers return more to the temple than they borrowed.

The temple uses the god’s profit to fund community projects, including NT$15 million annually in scholarships for students in the county.

The total amount of lucky cash borrowed and returned this year topped NT$100 million, up more than 10 percent from 2012. The temple will shoot off fireworks on the Lantern Festival Feb. 24 and invite pilgrims to eat chicken soup Feb. 25, another ritual symbolizing a peaceful year ahead.

Zhuang said the temple is also investing more than NT$40 million to build a water-themed wedding park where couples will be able to take photos and hold marriage ceremonies free, with blessings from the Earth Lord and Yuexia Laoren, the matchmaking god. The Earth Lord has told him several times in dreams that young people are not “productive” enough, Zhuang said.

“Tudi Gong wants them to have more children.”

Plans for the two-hectare facility include traditional buildings and a Western-style church, with glass-topped floors over water with fish swimming in it. (THN)
Questiopns:

1. What do you think the idea that borrowing money from temples?

Have you ever borrowed from temples?

Want do you think of temple cultures in Taiwan?

2. Where can you borrow money fast if you needed?

3. Have you ever borrowed money from banks?

4. Have you ever borrow money from friends? How to borrow money from friends?

How to lend money to a friend?

5. How to get lucky - increasing your chances of getting some luck?

Do you want to get lucky and very rich? Why or why not?

6. Does God Want Us To Be Poor?

Does God Want Us To Be Rich?

7. What do you think about Taiwanese superstitions?

Do you have any superstitions? Do you know of Superstitions?

 此為周六 2/15 文章   歡迎周六來討論
1.麻吉/知己

 The term “confidant” is often used to describe a person who has been trusted with sensitive or private personal information.  Everyone needs a confidant, but choosing a trustworthy person to share your secrets with can be a tricky task.  Unfortunately, the ability to keep a secret is simply not a trait that everyone possesses.  If you feel the need to divulge the details of your personal life, it's a good idea to take the time to consider if your secret will be safe.

 For some people, the ability to keep a secret is an absolutely vital part of their professional integrity.  Doctors must work with private medical information on a daily basis.  Lawyers are often privy to secrets as well.  By the very nature of their professions, priests and psychiatrists must be trustworthy confidants.  If you share your secret with someone who deals with sensitive information as a part of his or occupation, you can be reasonably assured of your privacy.

Finding a Confidant

http://www.overcomedepression.co.uk/findingconfidant.html

 The average person, however, may be much less likely to act as a trustworthy confidant.  Before you share a secret with a friend, ask yourself if he or she has been responsible in the past.  If your friend is best described as reckless and impulsive, think twice before sharing your secret.  A friend who regularly gossips about a mutual acquaintance is also a poor choice to share your secrets with.  The best confidant is a friend who is both sensitive and emphatic.

A common feeling experienced as a symptom of depression is loneliness and isolation. In fact you could be surrounded by people who care for you yet still feel completely isolated. You may also find you withdraw from social activities, friends and family. This type of withdrawal can, however, leave you bottling up your feelings and your depression may become more difficult to manage. Medications can only do so much, and finding a trusted person to confide in and share your struggle with can make an enormous difference in your recovery from depression.

Trust And Reliability

Finding a confidant can be difficult if you have a hard time placing trust in others. Perhaps your trust has been betrayed on numerous occasions and you have difficulty believing people are genuine. When you lose faith in others, it can be extremely challenging to learn to be vulnerable again by sharing intimate fears, hopes and issues you are facing. Lack of trust in people is a strong barrier to finding and maintaining a close relationship with a confidant. Some areas to focus on in learning to trust a confidant are:

##    Forgiveness: By forgiving those who have previously betrayed your trust, you allow yourself to heal and can approach your relationship with a confidant without the 'baggage' of previous betrayals.

##    Openness: By risking yourself a little and being vulnerable, you can share more of yourself with a confidant, and this can deepen the relationship.

##    Be trustworthy yourself:Having confidence and faith in your own trustworthiness can make it easier to extend that emotion to other people.

If you have been let down by people, you might find it frightening to rely on a confidant to 'be there' for you. You may find it easier to trust someone who is consistently reliable because you will not doubt that they will continually offer support. Those people who have show consistence in their offerings of support may be ideal persons to take on as a confidant.

Friends and Family Members

The ability to confide in someone tends to come when you feel close and comfortable with that person. Finding a confident may involve going outside of your current familial and social circle and meeting new people who you can develop deep friendships with, or it may involve strengthening current relationships. If you have a particular friend or family member who you are thinking to confide in, you may want to develop the relationship by spending more time together socially. One-on-one interactions can be more comfortable and because the focus is narrower, you have a better chance of learning more about that person and deepening the relationship. This can open the door to confiding the less superficial parts of yourself.

Self Help Groups

If you feel that you don't have anyone in your life at present who could be a confidant, you might find that self-help groups for depression are a way to meet new people. Such people are likely to have an understanding and empathy for your depression, having struggled with similar experiences themselves, and may be willing to offer individual support as a confidant. Alternately, you may be able to offer the same level of support for that person's personal challenges and issues.

Counsellor

Some may view a confidant in terms of a close friendship but a confidant can be anyone who you are able to trust with intimate details of your life. It is someone who you can confide in; for many people suffering from depression, a counsellor is just that person. The difference here is that depending on the type of counsellor you choose, he or she may also be providing techniques and suggestions for how to handle your depression. If you are only looking for someone to 'unload' with and share your feelings, without the input, you may wish to find a counsellor who is not solution focused.

Meeting People

If a challenge for you in finding a confidant is meeting people and developing friendships, you may wish to try new activities where you can extend your social circle. Some of the ways you can try meeting new people are:

##    Volunteer work: This can introduce you to many different people, sparking friendships with people you may wish to confide in. It can also provide many other benefits, such as increased self-esteem and the warm feeling that comes with providing services to those who need it.

##    Sports: You may want to join a local sports team, which will allow you to reap the benefits of exercise while making new friends.

##    Public interest groups: Local community centres tend to have bulletins for various groups and get-togethers involving people who share common interests. You may find a group for areas such as writing, cooking or hiking. You can meet new people and may then develop close friendships.

Finding a confidant may mean strengthening current relationships or seeking out new friends and developing those friendships. If there is a great deal of trust involved, you will likely have an easier time sharing the feelings surrounding your depression. By talking with a confidant about your depression, you can release some of the negative and stressful emotions that are holding you down, and can successfully move forward in your recovery.

Questions:

1. Where can you find good friends?

2. How to make friends and get a social life?

3. How and where do you make good friends?

How to find your soul mate/confidant?

4. What makes a good friend? What makes a bad friend?

5. What are the ways to be a true friend?

6. Do you tell secrets to a good friend sometimes?

Is your best friend someone you can really trust?

7. How to maintain a friendship?

8. Friend is depressed — how to help?

2.新聞討論

Largest earthquake centered in Taipei in the past 26 years

The China Post

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The 4.0-magnitude earthquake with its epicenter located in Taipei City's Shilin District was the most intense earthquake originating in Taipei City in the past 26 years, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said yesterday. Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) The Taiwan branch of Costco Wholesale Corp. said Wednesday that its stores have not sold any U.S. pork products containing ractopamine, a leanness-enhancing drug banned in pork in Taiwan.

Q: What do you think about earthquakes?

Food Safety

A shipment of 600 kilograms of ham that contained 1.8 ppb (parts per billion) of ractopamine was destroyed at Taiwan's border and was not sold to the public, Costco said.

Taiwan allows the veterinary drug in U.S. beef imports, but not in pork.

The big-box warehouse retailer said it has asked all its importers to follow regulations and only import products that meet Taiwan's standards.

Q: What do you think about Costco, and food safety isuue?

Foreign journalists flock to Taiwan for lantern festival

Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) Some 100 foreign journalists have arrived in Taiwan to cover the 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Nantou County, which is part of the annual

Lantern Festival celebrations, according to the Tourism Bureau.

The journalists are from 14 countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, India, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, said the bureau, which is organizing the festival.

Q: What do you think about lantern festival?

3.口與訓練 講義現場分發