週四(9/24)1.“特殊性關係”2.空污--330萬人死亡

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“特殊性關係”

---有人羞辱你時怎麼辦?

Ko Wen-je furious over councilor's 'special relations' remark   China Post

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Tempers flared in the Taipei City Council yesterday as Mayor Ko Wen-je slammed his fist into a desk in reaction to comments made by a councilor during the afternoon session, as political haranguing over "Hatanogate" continued.

Kuomintang (KMT) Councilor Hsu Hung-ting (徐弘庭), speaking about a list of names released by EasyCard Corp. that was demanded by lawmakers on Tuesday, directed a salvo at Ko, stating: "Mayor, have you seen this list of names? Your leniency toward Tai Chih-chuan (戴季全) goes beyond the common sense of Taipei City residents. One day Neil Peng (馮光遠) will say that you and Tai have special relations (特殊性關係)."

Peng, a writer, once alleged President Ma Ying-jeou and his close adviser, former National Security Council General-Secretary King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) of the same kind of relationship. The term "special relations" in Chinese can in some occasions refer to a sexual relationship.

How to Deal With Insults and Put-Downs   Neel Burton M.D.

Anger. This is the weakest possible response, and this for three main reasons. First, it shows that we take the insult, and therefore the insulter, seriously. Second, it suggests that there is truth in the insult. And third, it destabilizes us and causes us pain.

Humor. Humor is an especially effective response for three reasons: it undermines the insult, it brings the audience (if any) on side, and it diffuses the tension of the situation. Here is an example of the effective use of humor. Cato the Younger, the Roman statesman and stoic philosopher, was pleading a case when his adversary Lentulus spat in his face. After wiping off the spittle, Cato said, “I will swear to anyone, Lentulus, that people are wrong to say that you cannot use your mouth.”

Ignoring the insult. One downside of humor is that it requires quick thinking. In contrast, ignoring the insult is easier and, in fact, more powerful. One day, a boor struck Cato whilst he was out at the public baths. When the boor realized that it was Cato whom he had struck, he came to offer his apology. Instead of getting angry or accepting the apology, Cato replied, “I don’t remember being struck.”

Q:

What do you think about the matter that mayor Ko furious over councilor's 'special relations' remark? 

How to handle negative comments?

Tips for dealing with criticism?                                                           

How to control your temper before you lose it?

How to respond when someone insult you?

Do you fight back when people humiliate you?

How to control anger?

空污--330萬人死亡

Simply Breathing the Air Kills 3.3 Million People Every Year   —By James West

On Monday, buildings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were shrouded in smog as Indonesian forest fires worsened. Joshua Paul/AP

Air pollution kills 3.3 million people per year. And that number could double by 2050 if nothing is done to clean up the dangerous levels tiny particles, toxins, and ozone that blanket many countries, especially in Asia.

These are the startling new findings published on Wednesday in the journal Nature by a team of researchers led by Germany's Max Planck Institute for Chemistry.

Children under five years of age are the leading victims in developing countries, the scientists say. In the West, most of the premature deaths occur among those over 30 years old. Air pollution—mainly tiny particles known as PM2.5—is known to lead to cancer, as well as to respiratory and pulmonary diseases.

The number of premature deaths linked to air pollution is higher than the annual death toll of HIV and malaria combined, according to the report's lead author, Jos Lelieveld. China has the most pollution-related deaths: nearly 1.4 million each year. The authors note that mortality linked to air pollution is "approximately an order of magnitude higher than that attributable to Chinese road transport injuries and HIV/AIDS, and ranks among the top causes of death." In other words, it's a public health crisis of massive proportions. Toxic pollution from dirty residential heating and cooking in China, as well as in Pakistan and India, is the leading cause of these deaths.

The authors of the report emphasized the rapid growth of the world's urban populations as a reason humans are breathing more of this toxic brew. Seventeen so-called "megacities" in Asia rank among the top 30 in terms of premature mortality, the leading one being China's Pearl River Delta. It's little wonder, given satellite images released by NASA this week that show how that region has become the world's biggest urban center in just 30 years. The delta now has 42 million inhabitants:

Q:

What are your opinions about the news reported that “air pollution kills 3.3 million people per year”?

Is air pollution serious in Taiwan? Is air quality good at Taipei areas?

What causes air pollution?

How to get fresh air?

If you were a city mayor what can you do to combat air pollution?

Ways to reduce air pollution?

Do pollution masks really work?

【大紀元2015年09月18日訊】（大紀元記者陳俊村編譯報導）最近一項國際研究揭示，空氣污染每年在世界各地造成330萬人死亡，其中以中國的死亡人數居首，達總人數的三分之一以上。科學家預測，如果空氣污染的情況沒有改善的話，在2050年之前，死亡人數將倍增至660萬人。

這項由美國、德國、沙特阿拉伯等國家的科學家所參與的研究，利用健康統計資料與電腦模型計算因空氣污染而死的人數。其中，四分之三的人死於空氣污染引發的中風和心臟病。

研究人員表示，空氣污染致死的人數超過愛滋病和瘧疾的總和。其中，以中國的大約140萬人最多；其次是印度，該國每年約有64.5萬人死於空氣污染；而巴基斯坦則有11萬人。

以美國而言，共有54,905人於2010年死於煤灰和煙霧等污染物質，其死亡人數排名全球第7。值得注意的是，農業衍生的空氣污染導致其中的16,221人死亡，僅次發電廠引發空氣污染所致死的16,929人。而在大多數西部地區，煤灰和煙霧主要來自交通工具所排放的廢氣。

研究顯示，在美國東北部、所有歐洲地區、俄羅斯、日本和韓國，農業是引發煤灰和煙霧的最大主因。就全世界而言，農業衍生的空氣污染導致664,100人死亡，是第二大主因，而最大主因則是開發中國家使用木材和其它燃料來烹飪或產生暖氣所衍生的空氣污染，其每年致死人數超過100萬人。

這項研究的主要作者、德國馬克斯‧普朗克化學研究所（Max Planck Institute for Chemistry）的研究人員列李維德（Jos Lelieveld）說，農業的主要問題是來自肥料和動物排泄物的氨氣，它會結合來自火力發電廠所產生的硫酸鹽，以及來自汽機車排放的硝酸鹽，形成煤灰這種主要的致命物質。

科學家說，農業的排放物質日益重要，卻未受到管制，像氨氣污染就能以較低的成本加以遏制，這有待人們給予更多關注。

列李維德補充說，二氧化碳是另一種污染源，也是造成全球暖化的主要氣體。如果全世界能減少二氧化碳的排放，煤灰和煙霧的水平也會降低，這將是一個雙贏的情況。

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週二(9/22)1.樂天派好不好?2.什麼是垃圾食物?

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樂天派好不好?

Too Much Optimism Can Be a Problem   By Rick Nauert PhD  Source: Duke University

Optimistic While being optimistic is generally believe to be a benefit for living a high quality and perhaps longer life, too much optimism can be a problem, especially in regards to financial matters.

Researchers from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business discovered people who are optimistic are more likely than others to display prudent financial behaviors. But too much optimism can be a problem: people who are extremely optimistic tend to have short planning horizons and act in ways that are generally not considered wise.

Manju Puri and David Robinson, professors of finance at Duke, report in the October 2007 issue of the Journal of Financial Economics that the differences between optimists and extreme optimists provide important insights into the interaction between psychology and economic and lifestyle choices.

Puri and Robinson developed a novel method to assess individuals’ levels of optimism, drawing on data from the Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finance (SCF), a triennial assessment of U.S. families’ financial and demographic information.

“Most of the information we needed was already there, but we had to create a new way of combining it with other existing data in order to extract meaning about optimism,” Puri said.

Puri and Robinson also labeled as “extreme optimists” the top 5 percent of optimists, those who think they will live an average of 20 years longer than is statistically likely.

“The differences between optimists and extreme optimists are remarkable, and suggest that over-optimism, like overconfidence, may in fact lead to behaviors that are unwise,” said Puri.

The findings could lead to useful ways to consider individuals’ investment and career planning decisions, and help people understand or overcome personality characteristics that can negatively affect important financial decisions, the authors say.

“Doctors tell us that one or two glasses of red wine a day can be really healthy,” Robinson said.

“But no one tells you to drink the whole bottle. It’s the same with optimism. A little bit is really beneficial, but too much can lead to some really bad economic choices.”

Q:

Do you think that Too Much Optimism Can Be a Problem?  

Pros and cons of being an optimist?

Do you still keep optimistic attitude If you were bankrupt?

Do you believe that optimists would have longer lifespan?

How to have longer lifespan?

How to keep a good mood?

What to do when encounter financial problems?

什麼是垃圾食物?

List of junk food

Here’s my list of the unhealthiest fast food items and substitutions you can make.

Soda

soda-alternativesAcidifying, chemical-laden, and loaded with either HFCS or artificial sweeteners (diet varieties), avoid all sodas at all costs. Instead, have some plain water or bring your own.

Fried chicken

fried-chicken-and-why-its-unhealthyMade from conventional chicken laden with hormones and antibiotics, covered with gluten-containing breading and chemicals like MSG and salt, and fried in cheap, rancid oils, fried chicken is high in calories, fat, and other chemicals that can make you sick. Skip it altogether. Please, please just never eat fried chicken.

French fries

french-fries-for-lunchFries are simply salty unhealthy fat bombs fried in the worst possible rancid oil. Many fast food places now offer alternatives to fries such as a side salad (no dressing!) .

Pepperoni pizza

pepperoni-pizza-junk-foodCheese and white flour combined with nitrosamine-containing salty processed meats, pizza is toxic and unhealthy. Why not try some brown rice or quinoa pasta with tomato sauce instead?

Caesar salad

Caesar-Salad-is-not-a-healthy-choiceThe salad part is okay – it’s everything else, the dressing, cheese, and croutons that are a problem. Caesar salad dressing likely contains salt, HFCS, eggs, and lots of fat. Instead, opt for a naked salad and add a squeeze of lemon and some tomato and mashed avocado for dressing.

Cheesecake

Cheesecake-sliceDessert in fast food places isn’t much better than the main meal. Cheesecake is particularly bad because it not only has sugar, salt, and chemicals, but also hormone-laden dairy. Avoid it, and try some yummy Chia Pudding.

Milk

Many parents select milk for their kids as a healthy fast food choice. Milk is filled with hormones and antibiotics, and is very difficult to digest. Instead, drink plain water.

Health Costs of Fast Foods

harmful additives in junk food unhealthyThe result of all of this fast food consumption in America is a growing obesity problem. Obesity is on the rise in all sectors and age groups, with youth obesity being of significant concern. Disease is on the rise, as well, and much of it links directly to diet. Rates of type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and heart disease have all risen as fast food has proliferated in America. 

樂天派

樂天派是指遇到什麼事都不會煩惱、不會憂愁、總是樂觀、積極地面對生活、處世抱樂觀態度的一類人。"樂天派"這個詞的來源，最早出於《易經》的《易*繫辭》：“樂天知命，故不憂。”後來唐代白居易、宋代辛棄疾等許許多多文人都有闡發、表達這方面意思的詩文。如白居易《達者樂天行》：“死生無可無不可，達者達者白樂天”又如辛棄疾《水龍吟·瓢泉》：“樂天知命,古來誰會。”但最早出處應是周易。又有同名歌曲，組合等，都表其意。

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週六(9/19)1.電視的影響2.國際野餐日

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電視的影響

6 Ways a TV Binge Affects Your Body, and How to Fight Each One  By Amanda MacMillan

Here are all the ways your body is affected while you binge-watch, plus how to fight each one.

Your appetite

Watching television often goes hand in hand with mindless overeating and unhealthy snacking, Dr. Higgins says, and watching episode after episode can make that worse. “You probably don’t want to stop for an hour to cook yourself a healthy meal, so you order pizza or fast food, or you snack on junk food the whole time.” And if you think that one bad-for-you dinner can’t hurt, think again: A 2012 study from the University of Montreal found that a single meal high in saturated fat can can damage arteries and restrict blood flow in the body. Furthermore, watching high-paced, action-oriented programs also triggers more distracted eating than less stimulating news or talk shows, according to a 2014 study by Cornell University.

Your mood

A recent study by University of Texas at Austin researchers found that binge-watching is linked with feelings of depression and loneliness. People often try to lose themselves in TV to distract themselves from their negative feelings, the authors say, but often they’re unable to stop—even when they know they are neglecting work and relationships. Spending a whole weekend watching TV may also cause feelings regret and guilt, says psychiatrist Grant Brenner, MD, adjunct assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, but those are usually temporary.

For viewers with pre-existing mental health conditions, however, a binge session may have bigger consequences. “Perhaps they’re in a vulnerable state and the material triggers a negative reaction—such as activating trauma or amplifying irrational beliefs of some sort,” Dr. Brenner says.

Your sleep

And not just the sleep you lose by watching straight through the night (you probably already know you shouldn’t do that); it’s possible that your shut-eye schedule in the days after your binge session could be affected as well, Dr. Higgins says. “If you watch in a dark room with a lack of sunlight it can screw up your circadian rhythm and disrupt sleep-wake cycles.” On top of that, research suggests that the blue light emitted from televisions, computers, and smartphones can impair the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps promote sleep. (Not to mention, it can cause headaches and eye strain.)

Q:

How the TV program affects your body?

Why is watching TV so bad for you?

What are some of the bad and good influences of television?

Does watching television affect your appetite?

Does watching television affect your mood/your sleep?

How much does your TV affect your spending habits?

國際野餐日

An outdoor picnic held by TLC Saturday in Taipei  CNA

          TAIPEI -- Tom and Henry Herbert, hosts of the Travel & Living Channel's (TLC) TV series "The fabulous baker brothers," said Friday in Taiwan that the best dishes are created by the love of food, a sense of sharing, and care for people.

The British brothers, set to participate in an outdoor picnic held by TLC Saturday in Taipei, said they have found the stories behind each plate and the goodwill it delivers most precious, which is also the reason they like Taiwanese food.

For instance, the brothers said they are impressed with the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and the tradition of families reuniting and celebrating with moon cakes.

Thanks to the great variety of food selections in Taiwan, the brothers said, they can play with different combinations of flavors to make the dessert unique to each person they are made for.

"That is what life is about at its best," said Tom, expressing his passion for hand-made food, perfected by a personal touch.

It is also an interesting experience to compare the difference between Taiwanese and British dining traditions and explore new ways of mixing the two distinctive concepts, said Henry.

British should be more adventurous in trying new food, while Taiwanese should pay more attention to the origin of food, he suggested.

It is always a good idea to be aware of where the food you are eating comes from and decide for yourself how it should be prepared, he said.

To share with Taiwanese more of their thoughts about good food and lifestyles, the duo, who work for their family business, the Hobbs House Bakery, will interact with participants of the picnic at Meiti Riverside Park.

Q:

What do you think about the outdoor picnic held by TLC Saturday in Taipei?

Have you ever tried an outdoor picnic?

Do you like barbecue?

What are the good Taiwanese food?

What are the activities good to do on autumn?

“This picnic event held by TLC discovery TV channel” 
What are the TV programs you are recommend?

柯文哲去野餐：為何每個人都衣不蔽體？

台北市長柯文哲（前左）12日到美堤河濱公園參加「 TLC野餐日」開幕活動，與主持人Janet（謝怡芬）（前右）一同席地而坐野餐，大口吃著主辦單位準備的三明治。中央社記者裴禛攝 104年9月12日

台北市長柯文哲（前左）12日到美堤河濱公園參加「 TLC野餐日」開幕活動，與主持人Janet（謝怡芬）（前 右）一同席地而坐野餐，大口吃著主辦單位準備的三明 治。 中央社記者裴禛攝 104年9月12日

（中央社記者黃麗芸台北12日電）台北市長柯文哲今天出席野餐日活動，看到許多民眾穿著清涼，還問主持人Janet「台灣布料是很貴嗎？為何每人都穿得衣不蔽體？」並說拒絕Janet餵食是因為不習慣。

柯文哲今天出席在美堤河濱公園舉辦的「TLC 台北國際野餐日」，主辦單位Discovery也贈送柯文哲專屬野餐籃，感謝北市府支持；柯文哲則回贈小籠包造型的胡椒罐組，還說野餐籃餐具太多，自己只需要碗公和湯匙。

柯文哲致詞表示，自己常看Discovery節目，也是個很有氣質的人，台灣9月天氣較涼爽，呼籲市民不要在家打電腦，應該多外出活動曬太陽，就可少吃維他命D藥丸。

隨後，柯文哲和活動主持人Janet一同野餐，柯文哲邊吃還邊揮手趕蒼蠅，他說，食物應該要包起來，就比較不會被蒼蠅咬；上一次野餐大概是50年前，自己從小學畢業過後就沒野餐過。

他也和新婚的Janet聊到婚姻維持話題，並說不曉得是容忍還是忽略，但最厲害的就是平淡無奇，Janet再30年後就知道了。

媒體會後聯訪詢問為何拒絕Janet餵食？柯文哲表示，不太習慣啦，「我太太餵我都不太習慣了，還外面的女人，更不習慣」，並否認是害羞，而是因為受日本教育影響。

由於活動現場，有許多穿著比基尼的辣妹席地而坐野餐，Janet也是穿著性感小洋裝參加。柯文哲還說，自己有問Janet「台灣布料是很貴嗎？為何每人都穿得衣不蔽體？」

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週五(9/18)1.你是魯蛇嗎?2.機器人照顧你

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你是魯蛇嗎?

Traits of Losers: Are you One? By Alex Shalman

What is a loser? Well, many people define it differently. Some believe that a loser is someone who has no money, no job, no family and no friends. I happen to think that a loser is someone who does not trust, does not love, and does not respect others.

Qualities of a loser

        Inhibited integrity

        Integrity means that your values, what you think, say, and do are all aligned. You could argue that a serial killer has integrity because this person thinks, says, and murders consistently with his word. I would argue that this isn’t really the core value, because the core value of human beings is to love and be loved, and a short circuit in this person’s brain is creating a disconnect between the core moral values and the thoughts that lead to being a big loser.

    Unnecessary gossip and slander

    In Judaism there is a word for this, Loshon Hora, which means “prohibition of telling gossip, truthful remarks about a non-present person or party.” Another word, Motzei Shem Rah means “slander and untrue remarks”. If you’re known as a person that gossips and slanders, you’re a loser, and as such, people will not have trust in you.

    Chronic pessimism

    I’m not talking about slight pessimism now and then, but serious, consistent, and unrelenting pessimism that makes people shy away from you and causes you to miss out on the beauty of life. Such pessimism is both stifling and paralyzing.

    Pass an injured man

    No matter what activity you are engaged in, you must never fail to be concerned for another person. If you can pass a man bleeding on the ground, leave a child crying and unattended, or simply refuse to be there for someone that needs you — you’re a loser!

    No ambitions

    They say no man is an island, and as such, you have a direct influence on the people around you. By exhibiting the contagious quality of no ambition, you are very actively and directly taking away from, and polluting, anyone you come in contact with. You should read up on mental suicide.

    Q:

What are the traits of losers? Are you one?

What is your definition of losers?

Do you talk unnecessary gossip and untrue remarks?

Are you a pessimistic person?

Do you refuse to be there for someone that needs you?

Why is good being as an integrity person?

What are your ambitions?

機器人照顧你

A Robot to Care for You in Old Age  By Dave Bernard

How would you feel about interacting with a machine rather than a human being when it comes to addressing your daily activities? I admit my first reaction when thinking of a robot caring for me in my later years was not necessarily a positive one. Robots can be a bit scary. My perspective is the result of many years as a science fiction buff, and the robot was not always such a nice guy. More often than not, the mechanical man somehow caused a variety of problems for the humans it interacted with.

But not all robots are bad. Some are being deployed to offer assistance living at home. Smart Homes, a company based in the Netherlands, has designed a program to help seniors live independently. A helpful robot named Hector that resembles a big walking and talking smartphone provides reminders for everyday tasks such as taking medications, returning phone calls and compiling grocery lists. In addition, Hector can detect falls and respond to verbal commands.

Perhaps a robot could also assist with day-to-day tasks such as retrieving objects for those whose mobility is limited. Voice activated commands are becoming commonplace in our smartphone use. It seems like a reasonable and useful extension to apply voice commands to the realm of the robot.

A big part of the future success of robots will be their acceptance by the humans under their care. In Japan robots have been around for a long time with a history that includes everything from tamagotchis to transformers. You would expect Japanese seniors to be reasonably comfortable when it comes to the idea of robots in their daily lives. 

Questions:

What do you think the idea that robot caregivers help the elderly?

How robots can help caregivers?

Do you think that robotics can and will - change our lives in the near future?

What should robots look like in the future?

What do you think a robotic girlfriend or a boyfriend?

Do you want a humanoid servant robot at home? Why or why not?

Are robots going to take our jobs?

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