週五(1/1)1倒數進入新一年2新年新決心

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

倒數進入新一年

Count down to the New Year  timeanddate

New Year’s Eve is one of the largest global celebrations because it marks the last day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, December 31, before the New Year. Count down to the New Year no matter where you are in the world.

What Do People Do?

New Year’s Eve is a day of mixed feelings for many people. On one hand, it is a time to celebrate the end of the year gone by and welcome what is in store in the New Year. On the other hand, some people experience a sense of nostalgia as they reflect on the events that took place in their lives in the past 12 months. Many people start thinking about New Year’s resolutions at this time of the year.

Some people celebrate New Year’s Eve by attending midnight church services, while others gather around in public venues such as Times Square in New York City, or Trafalgar Square in London to count down for the closing seconds of the old year. Many people hold parties to farewell the finishing year and to celebrate the New Year. The size of festive events for New Year’s Eve can vary in size and theme. Some people attend formal masquerade balls while others have costume parties. Some people have small parties or gatherings at their homes. Many New Year’s Eve celebrations are highlighted by firework displays.

Many people start counting down to New Year’s Day in the last minute or seconds before the last night of the year ends and the New Year begins. Some people tune into watching televised countdowns. As the clock strikes midnight into New Year’s Day, many people celebrate this event by exchanging hugs, kisses, and wish each other a “Happy New Year”. In some parts of the world, including in the United States, many people sing the Scottish song “Auld Lang Syne” during the New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Public Life

New Year’s Eve is a public holiday in places such as Latvia, the Philippines, and San Marino. It is a holiday for banks in countries such as Bangladesh, Brunei, Paraguay, and Japan (New Year’s Eve is also a government holiday in Japan).

New Year’s Eve is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, but some businesses close early, schools are usually closed, and many people may have half a day off work.  Those wishing to travel via public transport may need to check with the local transport authorities on public transport schedules for New Year’s Eve.

Q:

What do you think of the counting down activity to the New Year?  

What are your plans for New Year holidays?

What do you think that the firework displays in the101 building?

What are the best things you did in the past year?

Do you know any different culture of New Year celebration?

What do people do in the New Year?

新年新決心

New Year’s Resolutions That’ll Make 2016 The Best Year Yet  by Lauren Vino

Hit the gym

Working out is one of the best things anyone can do for themselves, but the challenge is being consistent. Even if you’re only working out for 10 minutes, if you’re doing it five days a week it totally counts as a healthy habit. The options are endlessly easy from joining gym, taking a class, downloading a workout app or just following a fitness-based Instagram account. Pick something you can stick to and the only thing you’ll be giving up is inches.

Dabble in a foreign language

Learning a language as an adult can be a huge challenge, but it’s one that’s incredibly satisfying to overcome. Unless you remember ~everything~ from your high school Spanish class, there are countless apps, websites and other resources to get you started. Perhaps in 2017 you can reward yourself by visiting the country of whatever language you learn. Which brings us to…

Put money into a savings account

It might seem boring, but this is the only habit that actually pays for itself and then some. You don’t need much to get started; some banks only require a minimum opening deposit of $25. From there, decide on an amount you can commit to putting away every month. Most banks will let you set up an automatic monthly transfer into your savings, so you don’t have to think about it. Gradually money you don’t even realize you’re missing will appear in your savings account, and you’ll magically feel more like an adult.

Join a book club

Reading is good for you; science and your mom have already told you so. Taking the time to get through a book is one of those things we all say we’re going to do — until we pick up our smartphones. By joining a book club, you increase both your accountability and enjoyment of this healthy habit, with the addition of social interaction and snacks.

Q:

What are your new year’s resolutions?

Do you do exercise regularly?

Do you think that learning a new language as an adult is a huge challenge?

How to learn something new for the coming new year?

How to save more money?

Do you make spending budget usually?

Why reading is good for us? How often you read books?

Read More 看完整內容

週四(12/31)1.如何”說”的漂亮? 2.PM2.5真要命

歡迎參加 星期三PM7:30-9:00 新課程 

有效實用會話 實用俚語 英文歌曲

例句影片 講義現場提供 

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

如何”說”的漂亮?

How to Speak Nicely

Speaking nicely to other people is about using your empathy to be considerate of others. It is about saying things clearly so that you are understood well. Speaking nicely also involves thinking before you speak, in order to put aside any of your own hostilities, annoyances and gripes that can cause tension or upset when holding a conversation or discussion.

Say what you mean without demeaning another. Be assertive, not aggressive or manipulative. This means stating clearly and firmly what your needs, interests and preferences are without overriding the interests or needs of the listener. If you are aggressive or manipulative, this places the listener on the defensive and isn't a nice way to engage in a discussion.

Slow down when discussing important issues. You may feel excited, impassioned, angry or even fearful about a particular topic but your emotions are not an excuse to shoot from the hip and rally off a whole bunch of insults or demands. Instead, take the time to respond to things that matter to you or set off your emotions. There is no harm in saying something like, "That's a big issue you've raised there. I'm going to need to think it over for a day or two and get back to you on that." Buying yourself time also gives you a chance to cool off and reflect over the matter. Ultimately, it means that you keep the discussion nice.

Avoid being impulsive. Your listener may think you rude and even mean if you keep cutting them off before they've had a chance to fully explain, explore or talk about their issues. If you are in the habit of always cutting people off, or always needing to butt in and add your two cents worth before the whole story is laid out, learn to restrain yourself. Nice talk is like a well orchestrated game, with each side having a turn and in between turns, avid concentration on what the other person is really saying.

Avoid speaking ill. Gossip, rumors and backstabbing conversations have no place when you're aiming to speak nicely. Complaining is also out. Find positive and constructive ways to explain yourself and the things that happen to you. Concentrate on what you want rather on how you wish other people would behave. Remember that you can't change other people but you can make it clear what you want to happen for yourself.

Be the bearer of good news. Even in times of hardship and difficulty, it is possible to relay information in a way that helps people rather than leaves them feeling sad, angry or at a loss. Look for ways to bring positive things to everyone's attention, all while acknowledging the hardship. This is as much a habit as always complaining is a habit, and with practice, you can turn it around.

Q:

How to speak nicely?

Is it good that manipulating conversation?

What do you think that the habit of always cutting people off?

What do you think about gossip, rumors and backstabbing conversations?

Is using sarcasm good while chatting?

Do you always bring positive things when speak to others?

How to Deal With Criticism?

PM2.5真要命 去年害死6000人

Excessive exposure to PM2.5 cost 6,000 lives last year: research    CNA By Lung Pei-ning and Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Dec. 24 (CNA) More than 6,000 people died of diseases exacerbated by excessive exposure to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) in Taiwan last year, according to research by National Taiwan University released Thursday.

PM2.5, known to be linked to several chronic health problems, caused the deaths of 2,240 ischemic heart disease patients, 2,140 stroke patients, 1,250 lung cancer patients and 645 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, the research shows.

The top three administrative areas recording PM2.5-related deaths are Yunlin County, Nantou County and Kaohsiung, accounting for 21.8 percent, 21.7 percent and 21.6 percent of the victims, respectively.

Lin Hsien-ho (林先和), an associate professor of the university's College of Public Health, said exposure to PM2.5 can also increase the risk of developing active tuberculosis, as the exposure could change the function of the immune cells that protect against the bacteria that causes the disease.

Each increase of 10 µg/m³ in the amount of PM2.5 exposure can raise the chance of developing tuberculosis by 39 percent, Lin said.

He added that each increase of 10 parts per billion in the amount of exposure to the traffic pollutants nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide can increase by 33 percent and 21 percent, respectively, the chances of getting the disease.

The annual PM2.5 level in Taiwan was 25 µg/m³ last year, 2.5 times the World Health Organization's safe level, he said, urging the government to launch preventive measures to safeguard people's health.

Q:

What do you think that Excessive exposure to PM2.5 cost 6,000 lives last year?

What do you think that the air pollution issues in Taiwan?

In your option, what caused air pollution?

What do you think that there are fresh air can sale on market?

What are the ways to Improve Indoor air quality and reduce air polluted?

Which city has better quality of air in Taiwan? Where to Enjoy Fresh Air for Better Health?

Do Pollution Masks Really Work?

Read More 看完整內容

週二(12/29) 1.愛你的敵人2.年度代表字

歡迎參加 星期三PM7:30-9:00 新課程 

有效實用會話 實用俚語 英文歌曲

例句影片 講義現場提供 

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

愛你的敵人

Tips for Life’s Greatest Challenge: Love Thy Enemy   zenhabits  Post written by Leo Babauta

Whether you’re Christian or not, there’s something in the teachings of Jesus that is worth contemplation, for anyone who seeks to be a better person: his urging that we love our enemies.

Not just “Love Thy Neighbor”, which in itself can be a difficult thing.

But “Love your enemies”. That’s a powerful message, and it turns out, one of the greatest challenges in life.

Why Should I Love My Enemy?

•You’ll be happier. If you have anger or resentment inside of you, even if you don’t think about it all the time, there will be times when it surfaces. And that makes you unhappy. It’s destructive, inwardly (it eats you up) and outwardly (you might do destructive things to others). That anger also affects others around you, such as your loved ones, who are most likely affected in some way when you are angry — even if the anger isn’t directed at them. Removing this anger from yourself is a positive thing, and it will make you happier overall.

•You could make a friend. One of the most powerful effects of learning to love your enemy is that your enemy can become your friend. And while it is counterproductive to be fighting with an enemy (it hinders your progress), it is very productive to add new friends to your life — they can help you accomplish things, for example. A new friend, instead of an enemy, makes an incredible difference. And if that enemy is a family member or former friend, reuniting can be extremely powerful and important.

•You set a better example for others. Our actions set an example for other people in our lives. If you have children, for example, they learn from anything you do. Teaching them to hate is not a positive example. But teaching them to overcome that anger and hate, to make up with an enemy, and to love … there is no better example in life.

•It’s better for society. This one seems obvious to me, but it’s important. One little relationship might not seem to make a difference to society as a whole — who cares if I hate another person? But if we all hate other people, it creates a more divisive and fractured and angry society. I see the effects of this everywhere, from media and culture to politics to business to families being disrupted. And the opposite is true — if we can overcome that hatred, and learn to love our neighbor and our enemy, society is better of in so many ways.

Q:

Why we should we love our enemies?

What are the ways to ignore your enemy?

What are the greatest challenges in your life?

How to deal with your anger?

How to overcome feelings of hatred?

What are the ways to forgive and move on?

年度代表字

Words of the Year: These Characters Tell the Stories of 2015 in Strokes    blogs.wsj.com

In mainland China, President Xi Jinping’s anticorruption campaign is stretching into its third year. That’s helped propel the word “廉,” or “incorrupt,” to be named the countrys Chinese character of 2015.

The annual poll was organized by the government backed-Chinese National Language Monitoring and Research Center. It had asked Chinese netizens to submit nominations and vote for a word and phrase that best summed up the year.

An analysis earlier this month showed the number of Chinese institutions probed so far in 2015 is more than four times what it was in 2013 when Mr. Xi’s corruption crackdown began.

Across the Strait in Taiwan, more than 13,000 people voted for the Chinese word for change, “換,” in a way to show their desire for a new president and legislature ahead of next month’s elections.

The winning word had in fact been suggested by Taiwan’s leading presidential candidate and main opposition party nominee, Tsai Ing-wen, who argued that the island is facing tough challenges and needs reform.

Following a series of food safety, political and military scandals in Taiwan, respondents in 2013 and 2014 had chosen the words “fake” and “dark,” respectively. The poll is co-organized by Taiwan’s United Daily News.

In neighboring Malaysia, which this year endured slumping oil prices, a record-low currency and a political scandal, 16% of the more than 13,000 respondents to a poll run by the Han Culture Center said the word, “苦”or“bitter,”best reflects their 2015.

But“貪,meaning “greedy” or“corrupt in English, came in second with 15% of the total votes. The words popularity comes as Malaysias 1MDB scandal is drawing world-wide attention and has led to calls at home for the ouster of the country’s prime minister.

Further east, Japan’s kanji of the year, “安,” means safety, peace or security. It also happens to be one of the characters in the name of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (安倍晋三). Mr. Abe passed national security bills through parliament earlier this year, and the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation said the win by “安” reflects the Japanese public’s terrorism-related unease.

Q:

What do you think of the word of the year “change”“換”?

What are the things should be change for the New Year?

What do you think about “corruption” in Asian countries?

“安,” means safety, peace or security”

Do you think Taiwan is a safe living country?

Which country has good living conditions to live?

Is greed a bad thing?

Read More 看完整內容

周六(12/26) 英文電影欣賞 討論 & 歡樂火鍋趴

好友們 歡迎加入
今晚 12/26 週六讀書會  英文電影欣賞 討論 & 歡樂火鍋趴

詳情  在說吧群組 Line 上

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 

Read More 看完整內容

週五(12/25)1.過去一年 反省 2. 選美烏龍

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

過去一年 反省

Questions for a New Year’s Eve reflection  by Tsh Oxenreider  theartofsimple.net

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

5. Pick three words to describe this past year.

8. What were the best books you read this year?

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?

15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?

16. What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?

19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?

選美烏龍

Crown slips as Miss Universe 2015 host names the wrong woman as winner  Associated Press

The Miss Universe 2015 contest has ended in confusion and disarray after the host mistakenly named the wrong woman as the winner.

Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo from Colombia had already been crowned and was standing on stage to cheers from the Las Vegas audience when mortified host Steve Harvey returned to announce the error.

“OK, folks, um, I have to apologise,” he said, walking back on stage while Arevalo was proudly waving to fans, holding the winner’s bouquet and wearing the Miss Universe sash. “The first runner-up is Colombia,” he went on, “Miss Universe 2015 is Philippines.”

The camera panned straight to a stunned Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, who started slowly walking to the front of the stage. For a few awkward moments the two women stood side by side, in front of a TV audience of millions from around the world, before Harvey explained that he read the card naming the winner and runner-up in the wrong order.

“I will take responsibility for this, it was my mistake,” he told the crowd. “It’s on the card ... horrible mistake, but I can show it to you right here,” he said, holding up the card.

“It is my mistake, but it’s still a great night.”

“Please don’t hold it against the ladies, please don’t. I feel so badly but it’s still a great night.”

As he spoke, a former Miss Universe winner quickly removed the crown from Arevalo and placed it on Wurtzbach. The broadcast ended moments later.

The reaction on social media was swift, with viewers expressing dismay at the “fail of the decade”.

Later, Wurtzbach told reporters that she wished Arevalo well.

“I’m very sorry. I did not take the crown from her,” she said. “None of this was done on purpose. It was an honest mistake.”

Q:

What do you think about beauty pageant contests?

What do you think about miss universe 2015 host names the wrong woman as winner?

What is your own standard of beauty? What is true beauty?

What to do when make a huge mistake?

How to apologize when made mistakes?

Are beauty pageants a way to objectifying women?

環球小姐（Miss Universe）選美總決賽慘出包！主持人竟然搞錯了今年的冠軍得主，將原本屬於菲律賓小姐的后冠給了亞軍哥倫比亞小姐。當哥倫比亞小姐上台戴上后冠，感動的接受全場觀眾的歡呼時，台下主持人突然拿著麥克風上台，焦急的宣布該后冠是要給菲律賓小姐的，讓全場人士盡傻眼。

來自哥倫比的佳麗，阿勒伐洛（Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo）上台領冠、接受全場歡呼慶祝時，主持人哈維（Steve Harvey）一臉慌張的衝上台告訴大家，他錯把亞軍（first runner-up）得主當成冠軍，真正的選美皇后優勝者應該是菲律賓小姐，渥茲巴赫（Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach）。

當這2位佳麗突然聽到主持人宣布這項消息時，都感到非常的錯愕，菲律賓小姐在聽完結果後，更是用呆滯的眼神凝視著觀眾，啞口無言的站在舞台上，彷彿這一切來得太突然一樣，觀眾席更是頻頻爆出噓聲。

已經戴上后冠的哥倫比亞小姐，也很有風度的一笑置之，面帶尷尬的表情讓助理取下她原本已經戴穩的后冠，轉交給正確的獲勝佳麗。

Read More 看完整內容

週二(12/22) 1.時間銀行2.如何獲得新觀念

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

時間銀行

The Time Bank    inhabitat.com  Via The Guardian

In Lyttleton, New Zealand, an unusual currency has been circulating for the past decade, and now it’s gaining attention on a global scale. In the small port town, residents contribute hours to a ‘time bank’ from which others can make withdrawals, effectively allowing community members to trade the skills they possess in exchange for services they need. In a community where time literally is money, local residents have discovered a new kind of wealth.

A time bank is a unique system that places equivalent values on the time of all residents, regardless of occupation. That is to say that one hour of an attorney’s time is worth the same as one hour of childcare services. For every hour of time contributed to the bank, each member earns one credit, to be exchanged for an hour of someone else’s time. When you’re accustomed to attaching dollar amounts to all kinds of services, from house painting to transportation, it can be a little daunting to wrap your mind around the concept of a time bank. That is, until you learn more about how well it works, and you can see all the rhyme and reason at play.

How to start a community seed bank

Lyttleton’s time bank, the first in New Zealand, began in 2005 as a complementary currency system intended to build social ties among community members. In 2010, the area was hit by the first in a string of massive earthquakes that destroyed homes and businesses, disrupted utility services, and damaged hospitals and nature reserves. At that time, the time bank had 30,000 traded hours in total and an average of 400 hours were being traded each month. In the weeks following the earthquake, the number of traded hours more than doubled.

During the earthquake recovery period, the time bank became an essential function in the community and a way to provide the kind of support people truly needed at that time. The bank became a throughway for information and resources of all kinds. In addition to getting “jobs” done, like home repairs, the time bank fostered a sense of cooperation in the community and led to partnerships with other organizations to harness even more resources to respond to residents’ needs. Basically, the time bank has made people care more about others and feel more willing to help one another.

Q:

What do you think the idea of time bank?

Do you willing contribute hours to help other people?

Do you think is a good idea that trading the skills people possess in exchange for services someone they need?

What to do if a friend asked for financial help?

What are the way to provide the kind of mutual support to friends?

How to cherish your time?

How to made people care more about others?

如何獲得新觀念

How to Gain a New Perspective

As a person is growing, that person has a certain way of looking at what happens before his or her eyes. Once you've seen life from a different point of view, you gain a very wide knowledge of your world. Try to see the world from a new perspective! It'll be worth it.

   

Increase your awareness. One of the most important things in life is to be aware of yourself. To be aware of every step you take, the words you say, and actions you perform is very important. You probably do this already. After the day is over you might be thinking: "I wonder what would've happened if I went to the movies instead of studying." To be aware of yourself is kind of like having a bird's eye view of what you're doing.

      Travel. Traveling is an awesome (and fun) way to gain a new perspective. Land yourself in a totally different country from your own and explore the culture. Compare countries and how they value different ideas and rules. For example: In Thailand, driving can be terrifying for an American the first time. The cars move faster and come dangerously close to each other, motorbikes weave through the traffic, people run across busy streets; it is the complete opposite to what an American is used to. After a few weeks though, the heavy traffic, the fast cars and seemingly crazy pedestrians would become normal. When the American returns to America, he or she will think, "I forgot how slow the cars here went."

      

    Clean. Get rid of some of your old stuff that you don't need anymore. Move your furniture around and vacuum in those hard to reach spots. Go through all your drawers and reorganize them. Wash those mirrors, windows, and TV screens. Try to not leave a speck of dust behind. If you do this, you'll be putting your old self in the trash can, and you'll have a blank new perspective to work with.

    Image titled Gain a New Perspective Step 4

    Workout. A new body helps you have a new perspective. Those distances you couldn't handle before, you can now do with ease. Picture it.

Q:

How to gain a new perspective?

Can you see life from different point of views?

What are the ways to acquire knowledge?

What are the ways to grow mentally and physically?

What are the benefits of traveling?

What are the benefits of regular exercise?

What do you think of the heavy traffic in Taiwan?

時間真是金錢 紐西蘭辦時間銀行

台灣醒報台灣醒報

【台灣醒報記者黃捷綜合報導】電子商務正夯，但比起雲端貨幣，你聽過「時間貨幣」嗎？在紐西蘭的利特爾頓，這種不尋常的貨幣已經流通了將近十年，近日這種類型交易規則受到全球關注。舉例來說，一個律師和一位保母提供一小時的服務是等價的，存進時間銀行的每個小時，都能平等的換到他人提供的一小時服務。

在利特爾頓這個港岸小鎮，居民可以把時間存進「時間銀行」，並讓他人提領你的時間。時間銀行中，社區成員能用自己擁有的技能交換所需的服務，對小鎮居民來說，時間真的就是金錢，這比支付寶、信用卡更無形，卻一點也不虛擬。

時間銀行的概念強調，無論職業、勞動貴賤，「每個人的時間都等值」，這對習慣使用貨幣交易的人們來說，或許「時間貨幣」的邏輯令人生懼，但在這裡，從住家油漆到交通運輸，一切服務交易都習以為常。

根據《inhabitat》報導，利特爾頓的時間銀行從2005年開始運作，宗旨為建立社區成員之間的社會連結。2010年時，這個小鎮遭強震摧殘，許多家庭和企業受災，公共設施及醫院也停擺，當時，時間銀行存進的小時數爆增到兩倍，平均每個月有400小時交易。

災後復原期間，時間銀行成了當地最重要的支持網絡，人們從那裡獲得資訊及各類資源，不只是修復家園，時間銀行更促進了社區的凝聚意識，導向互助合作、資源分享的夥伴社群，讓居民更關心彼此，也更願意幫助他人。

Read More 看完整內容