週五(11/13)1.我們變笨了嗎?2.日本護身符

今晚 Johnson 與 Billy 先探勘 單車行 路線 彩虹色的 新月橋很漂亮  還有 薩克斯風音樂

周日11/ 15 午3:30 說吧英文讀書會   新月橋單車活動

活動路線: 3:30 新埔捷運4號口集合 /出發/空檔時間下午茶或是新莊老街行/回程傍晚看星光新月橋 
(租借  需要優遊卡) 請先報名額 不需費用  自帶下午茶費用

板橋區文化路段421巷11弄1號 (陽光甜味咖啡館)

新埔捷運站1號出口 旁邊7-11巷子進入20公尺 看到夏朵美髮

左轉       聚會時間7:00pm--9:30pm 

我們變笨了嗎?

Are we becoming more STUPID?

Are we becoming more STUPID? IQ scores are decreasing - and some experts argue it's because humans have reached their intellectual peak

IQs have largely increased since the 1930s thanks to better living conditions and education - a trend known as the Flynn effect

But IQ test results suggest people in the UK, Denmark and Australia have become less intelligent in the past decade

Opinion is divided as to whether the downwards trend is long-term  

Some studies have shown the average IQ of Westerners has plunged 10 points or more since Victorian times and others claim it will keep decreasing

But other experts argue that even if we are becoming more stupid, better healthcare and technology means the 'problem' will regulate itself

Technology may be getting smarter, but humans are getting dumber, scientists have warned.

Evidence suggests that the IQs of people in the UK, Denmark and Australia have declined in the last decade.

Opinion is divided as to whether the trend is long-term, but some researchers believe that humans have already reached intellectual peak.

Dumb and dumber? Evidence suggests the IQs of people in the UK, Denmark and Australia have declined in the last decade. A study by the University of Hartford claims the larger the global population becomes, the less intelligent we will be, dropping by around eight IQ points by the year 2110 - and other estimates are even more pessimistic

An IQ test used to determine whether Danish men are fit to serve in the military has revealed scores have fallen by 1.5 points since 1998.

And standard tests issued in the UK and Australia echo the results, according to journalist Bob Holmes, writing in New Scientist.

Q:

Are we becoming more stupid?

Why technology may be getting smarter, but humans are getting dumber?

Are smartphones making us dumber?

How to be smarter, increase your IQ?

Is Google making us stupid?

Are men on average smarter than women? Why or why not?

IQ or EQ: which one is more important?

日本護身符

Japanese customs Omamori, Japanese good luck charms

One of the most popular, common to both Shinto and Buddhist traditions, is the use of good luck charms, omamori. Sold at both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, omamori are so popular in Japan that almost anyone has one in its wallet, in the purse or in the car.

The most common type are the small silk bags you see in my photo, having inside a prayer written on paper or wood. Mamori 「守り」 means “protection", but depending on the prayer, they are intended for good luck, good health, traffic safety, business prosperity, household happiness, entrance exams, pregnancy protection, love, etc.

An interesting fact is that an omamori must not be opened: not only that the opening will be an act of disrespect, but it is said that the charm will loose its powers or even bring bad luck…

The connection between omamori, Shinto and Buddhism is quite complicated – whoooo syncretism! The two religions overlapped and intermingled in Japan until they were separated legally in 1868. Omamori came out of a fusion of Buddhist amulet tradition, such as ones that are still popular in Thailand today, and Shinto charms, such as ofuda. Omamori in their current form became popular during the Tokugawa period in the 17th century. Today omamori can be bought at both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Omamori can act as a physical prayer for a mini-miracle as well as being an offering to a shrine or temple. The sale of omamori helps support shrines and temples.

In Shinto, the power of the omamori comes from the enshrined kami, goshintai 御神体. Buddhist omamori draw their power from a gohonzon 御本尊 (Buddhist image). Also, for a shrine or temple’s omamori to be popular, it should have an engi 縁起 or story of a numinous or miraculous occurrence at or near the site. For example, Sensei Temple in Asakusa, which claims to sell the most omamori in Japan each year, has an engi about a golden dragon who came out of the sea to bask in the sun at the site of the temple. I don’t know about you, but that makes me want to get an omamori there!

There is another component to the power of an omamori. That’s you! You can’t just buy an omamori and expect all of your problems to be solved. They serve to encourage and support you in your efforts. Indeed, there is one sect of Buddhism, Jōdo Shinshū, which doesn’t use omamori because you are supposed to give your fate and devotion entirely to Amida, while omamori expect you to contribute something to your own wellbeing.

 Q:

What do you think about that Omamori, Japanese good luck charms?

What is your Lucky Symbol?

What are the Good Luck Symbols? Why those Symbols that bring good luck?

How to have good luck?

Do you know any Japanese customs?

Are Taiwanese superstitious?

Do you believe in luck? Why or why not?