週二(9/2)1.廟宇與街頭小販2.安全城市?台灣!

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廟宇與街頭小販

Popular temple opens doors as usual without smoke, vendors CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taipei's iconic Xing Tian Temple (行天宮), which attracts an estimated 6 million visitors every year, announced Sunday its decision to remove incense burners and tables for worshipers to place offerings of food for deities in order to reduce pollution and waste.

How many vendors in Taiwan? (sinorama.com)

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics (DGBAS) monitors grassroots economic activities by conducting a Taiwan-wide survey of street vendors every five years. The results of the most recent of these surveys were published in 2008 and offer people outside the industry a glimpse of the actual operations and economic scale of Taiwan's night markets.

The survey found that Taiwan had 309,154 street vendors in 2008, an increase of 18,000 (6%) from 2003's figure. In fact, the ranks of Taiwan's street vendors have swollen by more than 70,000 over the last 20 years, growing steadily regardless of the state of the rest of the economy.

Vendors of beverages and snacks comprise 52.11% of Taiwan's street vendors. Sellers of fresh produce (9.93%) and of clothing, bags, shoes and accessories (9.91%) are the next most common. The preference for hawking food is hardly surprising given the Taiwanese fondness for snacking anywhere and everywhere.

Street vendors situate themselves primarily in traditional markets (40%), residential areas (17.3%), night markets (14.8%), and temple environs (5.2%). That breakdown suggests that Taiwan has on the order of 45,700 night-market vendors.

Questions:

What do you think that Xing Tina temple opens doors as usual without smoke?

Do you think incense burners for deities cause pollution and waste?

 “There are some fortunetelling shops nearing Xing Tina temple” Have you ever visited?

What do you thank temples in Taiwan?

What do you thank the temple street vendors sale incense burners?

What do you thank the street vendors in Taiwan? 

What do you thank Taiwan’s night markets.

Do you thank the street vendors are good for Taiwan’s economy?

Do you eat in the street?

What are the local food you like most in night markets?

安全城市?台灣!

Top 10 Safest Countries In The World To Settle In 2014  
by Mia Autumn

  
1. Japan – The Safest Country In The World

safest country in the world

Topping this list of safest countries in the world is none other than “Japan”. The reason behind this is its rare crime activities. On the other hand, its culture becomes one of the main reasons honoring this country. I am sure you must have heard how well disciplined Japanese are and therefore, they will never involve in activities, which brings shame to their country.

Possession of firearms is strictly prohibited according to their laws. Firm gun control, strict laws and wealthy economy makes sure that the one living there is 100% safe. According to the 2010 GPI (Global Peace Index) framed by IEP (Institute for Economics and Peace) report, Japan has also been ranked as the 3rd peaceful country in the world. With homicides, terrorism and violent crimes. 

2. Taiwan

Taiwan is one of the best and safest places to live, as there are less violent crimes and robbery. People are more friendly, kind-hearted and welcoming. So, if you plan to live here, you don’t have to worry about it. Believe it or not, people of Taiwan are more honest.

It is the country where you can see people helping you before you approach. Many tourists reviewed that they never felt worried or scared in Taiwan. Moreover, it is the perfect place for women to reside. No more nerve-racking about what could particularly occur when a woman goes out late night. In this established country, every citizen feels very safe.

Top 100 Safest Countries In The World

1. Japan, Crime Rate Variable : 13.11, Safety Rate Variable : 86.89

2. Taiwan, Crime Rate Variable : 16.26, Safety Rate Variable : 83.74

3. Hong Kong, Crime Rate Variable : 16.57, Safety Rate Variable : 83.43

4.South Korea, Crime Rate Variable : 17.40, Safety Rate Variable : 82.60

5. United Arab Emirates, Crime Rate Variable : 18.01, Safety Rate Variable : 81.99

10. Singapore, Crime Rate Variable : 19.98, Safety Rate Variable : 80.02

Questions:

According the report, what do you think that japan is the safest country in the world?

What do you think that Taiwan is one of the best and safest places to live?

Taiwan is a safe country for woman goes out late night?

Do you think that Taiwan are less violent crimes and robbery?

Do you think that Taiwanese are more friendly, kind-hearted to foreign visitors?

Do you think that Taiwanese are more honest? Or Japanese are more honest?

Which countries have the best quality of life in the world?

What is your impression on Japan?

What do you think the crime rate in Taiwan?

What is your impression on Singapore?

行天宮禁香首日 空氣變好

改雙手合十參拜 信徒：怪怪的

【張勵德╱台北報導】知名廟宇行天宮台北本宮、北投及三峽分宮，昨起不再設置香爐及供桌，民眾參拜不燒香及準備供品，新制上路第一天參拜人潮不減，多數民眾都遵守規定、改以雙手合十及三跪九叩方式參拜，但不少民眾受訪時直言不習慣，感覺「怪怪的」；附近攤商也少了生意、叫苦連天。其他廟宇則指，尚無跟進實施的計劃。

附近靠販賣供品、香的攤商及商家卻相當苦惱，以往行天宮四周常見許多攤商叫賣，昨天幾乎都不見了，只剩下零星攤商苦撐。有攤商昨改賣玉蘭花，但一整個上午都沒有生意，難過地說：「一家人生計不知該怎麼辦才好！」

行天宮表示，附近攤商如果生計困難，可以向行天宮洽詢提供急難救助，會盡力協助這些攤商度過難關。而昨台北其他宮廟如龍山寺、文昌宮等均表示，來參拜的人數並沒有明顯增加，目前也沒有計劃要跟進實施。

2014年全球10大安全國家　台灣榮登第2名！

        國際中心／綜合報導

台灣

儘管日前台灣發生震驚社會的捷運喋血事件，但相較於他國而言，台灣還是一個充滿溫暖、愛與人情味的地方，被選為最適合居住的國家一點也不為過，畢竟我們譽有「福爾摩沙」的美名；根據生活網站「Lifestyle9」依據美國聯邦調查局資料統計結果，台灣榮登2014年全球10大最安全國家的第2名，其中評語大讚台灣人友善、熱心、誠實，因此就算夜晚女性出門在外，也不會感到膽戰心驚。

依據美國聯邦調查局資料，在生活網站「Lifestyle9」所公布的2014年全球10大最安全國家中，其中半數都是亞洲國家，而台灣更以犯罪率變量16.26、安全率變量83.74榮登第2名，當中提到台灣是一個穩定、老實的國家，來這裡旅遊亦不會感到危險。

日本東京

因日本犯罪極少，再加上槍枝管制良好，以及穩定、富裕的經濟發展，讓人感覺相當安全舒適，所以最後日本以犯罪率變量13.11、安全率變量86.89成為世界第1名的安全國家。

香港

而第3名則是，犯罪率比美國和歐洲低的香港，調查表示在香港有著高標準的安全檢查，所以享受夜生活也不會有安全疑慮。第4名依然是亞洲國家，由街頭暴力犯罪極為罕見，再加上槍枝擁有是非法的韓國榮登。

阿拉伯聯合大公國

第5名則是整體罪案率被美國政府歸類為「中等」的阿拉伯聯合大公國榮登，因其積極維持安全、打擊恐怖主義犯罪，所以提高其安全形象。而6、7名則分別由歐洲小國馬爾他與盧森堡榮登，至於第8名則是被公認是黑馬，由因建立專業法降低總體犯罪率所呈現出理想安全標準的喬治亞州上榜。

巴林

至於第9名是一個有著發達的金融與區域旅遊產業，還提供安全避風港的巴林上榜；第10名則是被視為治安模範的新加坡，除了是極低犯罪率的安全國家，更是世界上最重要的商業樞紐，同時還有世界上最好的醫療保健基礎設施，因此新加坡是不少人前往旅遊的勝地。

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週六(8/30)1.幫助陌生人2.暑期整型潮

周六聚會地點: 快提café  7:00PM-- 9:30PM新北市板橋區文化路一段387巷10號 (沿著新埔捷運站1號出口左方向前走約100公尺 經過新埔郵局看到康是美 從信義房屋旁的巷子進入)    連絡電話: 0976217450   Billy
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幫助陌生人

Subway passengers ignoring fainted foreigner (Chinadaily Wang Fan)

Reports of a foreigner who fainted in a subway car in Shanghai being ignored by station workers have been refuted, xinmin.cn reported on Wednesday.

Earlier media reports showed a foreigner who fainted in a subway car in Shanghai being unattended on Aug 9. According to surveillance video from the carriage, the male expat fainted on a seat at about 9:34 pm and fell down to the floor as the train entered the station.

Five passengers sitting near the foreigner got up and left; within five seconds, the car was empty except for the foreigner.

The surveillance video also showed passengers in neighboring cars of the train disembarking from the train within 10 seconds after someone shouted, "Accident occurred!"

Initial reports say the passengers ignored the fainted foreigner and ran away. However, the subway operator said their workers received notice from the passengers and rushed to offer help to the fainted man. When they went to the car where the foreigner had fainted, he had woken and stood up.

The subway operator revealed the incident on Tuesday and urged passengers keep calm when something unexpected happens during their journey.

Would You Help an Injured Stranger? ( By HOLLY EPSTEIN OJALVO  The Learning Network)

After being injured in the process of aiding of a woman being attacked, a man lay dying on a New York City street last week. Numerous passers-by noticed him but did not try to help – and the man died. If you saw someone lying on the street, would you mind your own business or get involved?

Questions:

What do you think about this news “a foreigner who fainted in a subway car in shanghai”?

Would you help the stranger?

Will you run away or do sty for a help?

How to help a stranger in need?

What do you do when you see a car crash in front of you?

Why people choose to ignore others?

How far will you go to help a stranger?

Why don't people help others more?

Why our society become estrangement?

How come people don’t trust each other these days?
                                      
                         
暑期整型潮

More youth undergoing cosmetic surgery over summer 

By Rachel Chan  /  CNA

A young woman receives cosmetic surgery in Taipei yesterday. More students have been using summer vacation to go under the knife in pursuit of beauty, clinics say.

Instead of spending money on buxibans or traveling, many students are using the summer break to get beauty treatments and plastic surgery.

Cosmetology and plastic surgery clinics are reporting an increase in the number of student clients since the summer break began.

The Plastic Surgical Association of the Republic of China and the Taiwan Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, two professional associations that represent certified aesthetic doctors and plastic surgeons respectively, said it was impossible to get an accurate estimate of how big the market is and how much it grows each year, mainly because such treatments are not covered by the National Health Insurance.

Individual beauty clinics, however, are reporting year-on-year increases in the number of youths undergoing cosmetic procedures, with the figure doubling last month over previous months.

“Business in cosmetic procedures has surged in July and August because of the increasing number of student customers — whether they are from Taiwan or abroad,” said Tseng Chung-ren (曾忠仁), a dermatologist who owns a medical cosmetic center and clinic in Taipei.

Tseng said students normally constituted 20 percent of his clientele, but that the figure had jumped to 40 percent over the summer, while another 20 percent to 30 percent are students from abroad and the remaining customers are mostly Taiwanese women aged 25 to 45.

Chao Tzi-kang (趙子康), the director of a beauty clinic in Taipei’s Ximending district (西門町), a shopping district popular with students, also reported the trend.

Chao said student customers generally increase every summer during the break, as it provides enough time for students or new graduates to recover from the procedures before entering a new school or starting a job.

Tseng and Chao claimed people were increasingly concerned with their physical appearance because of the increasingly competitive job market.

The economic downturn is prompting people to acquire what they consider more advantageous features and get rid of what they may feel are blemishes or imperfections, to improve their chances of getting hired.

“Patients come to have cosmetic treatment for a better look and to boost their confidence. The patients are getting younger and younger,” Tseng said.

Questions:

What do you think about cosmetic surgery?

Is cosmetic surgery good or bad?

What do you think about plastic surgery clinics in Taiwan?

Why people are increasingly concerned with their physical appearance?

What do you think the competitive job market in Taiwan?

Do you think that having a good look that improving the chances of getting hire?

Do you think that Asian girls are pretty?

Why Korean are obsessed with plastic surgery?

Why plastic surgery boom in Taiwan?

What to do if plastic surgery gone wrong?

Is it possible addict to plastic surgery?

老外地鐵昏倒 乘客逃光光

一名外國人（箭頭處）在上海地鐵車廂中突然暈倒，其餘乘客10秒內全「快閃」離開。翻攝網路

新浪微博：上海人的冷漠程度，搭個地鐵就能看出！日前一名外國人乘坐上海地鐵2號線時，突然失去意識，身體先向旁邊傾倒並橫躺在座位上，隨後更滾落至地面。不料同車廂十多名乘客見狀不但無人上前攙扶，反而在10秒內火速逃離該車廂，前後三節車廂的乘客更在列車入站後爭相逃向月台，有人還因此跌倒。獨留在車廂地面的老外，則在清醒後自行出站。整個過程被監視器拍下後放上網路，網友感嘆：「真可悲，見死不救，這就是上海人。」

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