週四(12/10)1.台灣食物安全嗎?2.從生病中學習

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

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台灣食物安全嗎?
How Safe is Taiwan’s Food?  by Tim Ferryon
Good eating has long been one of the joys of living in Taiwan, but a series of food-related scandals has left the public concerned about the safety and reliability of the food supply. Although the government has been taking action, the problem is not easy to resolve, given the large number of unregistered factories and food providers.
In the wake of a slew of shocking food-safety scandals over the past four years, Taiwan’s reputation as a gastronomic paradise is under threat. Beginning with plasticizer found in cold drinks, jams, and pastries, followed by tainted starch products and counterfeit olive oil made green with a chemical additive, and culminating in last year’s horrific waste-oil scandal that embroiled several of Taiwan’s most venerable firms, the series of incidents has crushed consumer confidence in the safety of the food supply. The brazen malfeasance of prominent players, especially Wei Ying-chun of the tycoon Wei brothers, not to mention the inadequacies exposed in the government regulatory system, outraged the public as much as the gory details of tannery waste and diseased animal corpses mixed into food oil.
The Legislative Yuan amended the law to impose steeper fines and tougher prison sentences for violators, and added the word Safety to the statute – now called the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation. Prosecutors indicted violators operating throughout the oils supply chain, and the perpetrators, including high-level executives, have either been sentenced to lengthy prison terms or remain in custody awaiting trial. And the Executive Yuan, for its part, has decided to add 70 new inspectors to the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) staff to improve the authorities’ ability to conduct meaningful monitoring.
Night market vendors Taiwan ensure food safety Night market vendors are demanding more documentation from their upstream vendors so they can assure customers of the safety of the food being offered.
But are these moves sufficient? Is Taiwan putting enough resources toward finally solving its food-related problems, and are those resources being put where they will be most effectively utilized? While most experts agree that progress has been made, many also say that much more needs to be done to satisfactorily ensure the safety of Taiwan’s food supply.

Q:

How safe is Taiwan’s Food?

What are your opinions that the food-related scandals happened frequently in Taiwan?

What do you think about the businesses tycoon Wei brothers?

What are the typical local food that attract foreign visitors?

What do you think about night market food? Are night market food safe?

How to solve food-related problems?

How to conduct food safety monitoring?

從生病中學習

Powerful Things to Do for Yourself When You’re Sick  By Samuel Gentoku McCree  tinybuddha

Reflect on the benefit of health.

Often illness brings into focus what we wish we could be doing when we feel healthy.

Once, back when I was a pack-a-day smoker, I got food poisoning, and I remember the smell or thought of cigarettes made me feel so much worse. At that time I vowed not to smoke anymore. I felt the frailty of my body and I didn’t want to live a life that hurt my body. I saw how much I needed my body, how bad it felt to not be able to rely on it.

Unfortunately as soon as I felt better I forgot what I knew when I was really sick. Being sick gives us the chance to reflect on the value of health and what you want to do with your life energy when you do feel better. People who are in hospitals only have time to sit around and watch TV; is that what you want to do with your free time?

We only have so many hours and days of health. How can we use each hour of our lives to benefit the people we love the most?

Take time to do little things.

Write letters, reorganize your closet, or read a book of poetry. We often take small simple tasks for granted. Their simplicity can seem too easy for us when we are in the midst of a busy life, but when we are sick they might be at just the right pace for us.

I tend to “veg” in front of the TV, but reading that book I’ve been meaning to finish or writing an email to my sister wouldn’t take much energy either.

Sickness makes us slow down, so it’s a great time to do the simple things. We can use this change of pace to change perspective.

Reflect on the frailty of life.

So let’s face it: We aren’t going to be here forever. There is no way to avoid old age, sickness, and death. Our willingness to acknowledge impermanence can either bring anxiety or help us focus on what we want to do with our lives.

Being sick is a great time to reflect on the meaning of our lives. Sickness can be a wake up call to remind us that we aren’t made of Teflon. Alas, all sorts of stuff sticks to us in life and it’s up to us what we want to work to let go of.

What principles do you want to adhere to in life and what small things could you let slide? If you only had a year to live, what would you do with the time you have left? If someone you care about got sick, what would you want to say to that person? Why are you waiting?

Q:

What are the things to do for yourself when you’re sick?

What do you do when you feel like you're getting sick?

What are the benefit of being sick?

How can we do to benefit the people we love the most?

How to have new perspectives?

What are the tips for maintaining good health?

What are the tips to help you slow down and enjoy your life?

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週二(12/8)1.如何浪漫?2.關心別人 得到更多

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

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如何浪漫?

How to be romantic   By Samuel Stoddard

Being romantic is hard work. Some people think that romance is easy, that anybody can be romantic with very little work. This is not true. To be romantic there are a lot of things you must know about romance and a lot of situations you must prepare for.

       

Cute Things    Teddy bears are romantic. Puppies are romantic. Cherubic baby archers are romantic. Those photographs where two little kids exhibit an unnatural affection for each other and only the roses are in color are romantic.

Candles are romantic. Sunrises and sunsets are romantic. Any kind of low light, you see, is romantic, hence why dinner dates after dark are more romantic than lunch dates at noon. Combine low light sources, and it stands to reason that the air of romance will be so thick, your beloved will be blind to anything else but the radiance of her shimmering knight in armor. Open the curtains on a sunset and light some candles, and you might even be able to get away with watching a football game during dinner.

Color red   Red is romantic  because red is the color of love and passion. Consider roses. Red roses mean, "I love you." Yellow roses mean, "Let's just be friends," which is synonymous with, "You are irritating, and I hate you." So you do not want to be wrong. Get her red roses, red ribbons, red balloons, red teddy bears, red puppies, and red tickets to the World Series, and she'll fall hopelessly under your spell.

       

Background Music     Background music is romantic, and note the word "background," because not just any music is romantic. For music to be romantic, it must be too soft to hear. Also, it may not be lively or funny or good. Elevator music is the most romantic genre of music out there.

      

  Chocolates        Chocolates are not only romantic, they're complimentary. When you give a box of chocolates to your beloved, it says, "You could pig out on this tub of lard and bloat out to three tons, but you'd still be the apple of my eye." It doesn't matter if it's true -- it's the message that counts. But the real reason to give your loved one chocolates is because any loved one worth her salt will turn right around and offer you some.

Q:

Are you a romantic person? How to be romantic?

What are the cute things you gave to your love one or close friends?    

Do you think that candle lights and sunsets are romantic?

What colors you consider as romantic colors?

How to make compliments to your love one?   

What kind of music you consider as romantic music?

Do you think give chocolates as a romantic way?

 

關心別人 得到更多

How to Be Caring

Being caring allows you to have empathy for others and to live a life based on affection, love, and compassion for the people around you.

Be polite. You may not think that being polite has much to do with being caring, but in fact, being polite will make you a more caring person who is determined to treat the people around him or her with respect. Being polite means having good manners, not being overly vulgar or rude in front of people, holding doors for people and asking people about their day.

Be affectionate. People who are caring give affection to the people they love or care about. Whether you're cuddling with your son or holding your girlfriend's hand, it's important to give people affection as a way of showing that you care. Hugs can be very powerful and can bring comfort to people in need. You shouldn't go around giving physical affection to the people you don't know well, but you should give hugs, light touches, kisses, affectionate pats, or other signs of physical love to the people close to you.

Be more generous. Being generous, whether it's with your time or your money, can go a long way in being a more caring person. If you want to be caring, then you have to give to others and to not be selfish with what you do have. We all have busy schedules, but it's important to make the time to donate your things, do favors for people in need, or just to compliment a person close to you.

Treat others like you want to be treated. This may sound very obvious, but you'd be surprised by how few people actually live by this law. If you want to be more caring, then you have to be kind and thoughtful toward others, and think of how you would feel if you were in their shoes. You may not care much when you make a rude comment to your waiter because you're cranky, but think about how the comment would make him feel. You may not care about being rude to your little brother, but you should think about how your words really affect him. Making a habit of putting yourself in someone else's shoes can make a big difference in how you see the world.

Be considerate of others. Being considerate is another major aspect of being caring. If you want to be considerate, then you have to respect the people around you, and to avoid making a nuisance of yourself. This includes not talking too loudly on the phone on a crowded bus, not minding your own personal space.

Q:

How to be a nice caring person?

Are you will providing a listening ear, and help someone when needs help?

Can hugs bring comfort to people in need?

What are the ways to express love?

How to be more generous? 

How to stop someone who talked loudly on the phone in public areas?

How to put yourself in someone else's shoes

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周六(12/5) 1.巧克力比愛情更棒 2.危機處理

好友們 週六讀書會  需要您多出席支持

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 

巧克力比愛情更棒

Scientists prove chocolate 'better than being in love'   by COLIN FREEMAN

The Ancient Incas knew it, as does Bridget Jones and that kindly person who always gives you their last Rolo. Ever since humankind grew its first sweet tooth, there's been nothing like chocolate to raise the spirits.

For years, academics have tried to discover exactly what makes it so irresistible - speculating that key ingredients like cocoa beans, caffeine or any of its other 300 compounds can boost energy and libido.

But now scientists at Cambridge University have carried out brain scans that suggest a much more simple explanation. Chocolate is linked to feelings of wellbeing because it simply tastes so good.

They claim munching a bar induces sensations that could be even more pleasurable than listening to your favourite music, winning the lottery, or falling in love.

The average bar of chocolate, he claimed, simply did not contain enough mood-altering substances to make a difference - some of them, for example, were found in higher doses in a lump of Cheddar cheese or sausage.

Dr Owen, who works at the university's Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, said: "The scientific data suggests that the mood-enhancing effects of chocolate are not pharmacological - the constituents of chocolate do not appear to affect the brain via a direct biological action.

"An alternative explanation is that the effects of eating chocolate are psychological - the unique combination of aroma, texture and taste makes eating chocolate a pleasurable experience that stimulates the emotional 'feel-good' centres of the brain. In short, the chocolate tastes good, so we feel good.

Q:

Do you support the idea that chocolate can boost energy and libido?

Can eat chocolate boost the feeling of wellbeing?

What is the feeling when falling in love?

In your opinion, what are the happy food?

What are the food to make you feel fantastic?

Why do we give chocolate on Valentine’s Day?

Why women love chocolate more than men?

 

危機處理

Ways to Cope During a Life Crisis     by Paul Browning  pickthebrain

One of the great things about a life crisis is you get to find out what works. When life is easy and no major challenges are on the horizon, you can read all about affirmations, pray, meditate, firewalk or just read self-help manuals written by big-name gurus. Then life throws you a major health challenge, the end of a relationship, the death of somebody close to you and an unexpected job loss.

Tactic 1 – Run Toward, NOT Away If there is no growth without discomfort, why do so many people run away when things become uncomfortable? They avoid public speaking, they panic when the partner they know is wrong for them threatens to leave and they beg to keep the job they don’t even like. When my father was diagnosed with a terminal illness and when my marriage ended, I was taking the situation to the end and imagining myself coping. Well, not just coping but moving on with my life and being happy. Everything must come to an end and real peace of mind comes when you accept this.

Tactic 2 – Do What You Don’t Want to Do During a life crisis, you will be tempted to crawl into your bed and pull the sheets over your head. You may even want to turn to alcohol, drugs, food or something else to help numb the pain. Instead, do this:

◾Feed your body fresh, organic food

◾Exercise every day, even if it is just walking

◾Read books that inspire you

◾See a comedy show and laugh

If you have some spare cash, get a nice haircut and treat yourself to a new outfit. The temptation will be to neglect yourself, but you must do the opposite and invest in yourself.

Tactic 3– Avoid Pity Parties Your friends and family will not want to see you suffer and at times like this, you will be thankful for a support network. When I was having my major crisis, I would spend every night on the phone with friends and relatives talking about what I was going through. Here’s the thing though; is talking about how terrible you feel helping you at all? Sometimes we can fall into the trap of becoming a victim in the story of our life. If you can, share your problem with a professional counselor or hypnotherapist who is there to help you move on with your life. Spend the time with your family and friends doing fun stuff.

Q:

What are the ways to cope life crisis?

Do exercise and read books help handling life crisis?

How to overcome your difficulties?

How to be strong in life?

How to deal with an unexpected job loss?

What are the problem solving skills do you have?

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週五(12/4)1.外國人眼中台灣食物2.音樂&歌唱影響情緒

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

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外國人眼中台灣食物

The Best Taiwanese Food You Can’t Miss     January 5, 2015 By Sammi 14 Comments

Once you go to Taiwan, you’ll understand why. All the different dishes varying in textures, flavors and smells makes your mouth water every time you go out. The highlight of many who travel to Taiwan is the food.

Fried pork chop rice 排骨飯

Pork chop rice is a normal lunchbox or bian dang dish but there are some places in Taiwan that has turned this fast train food into a specialty. They fry the pork chop so it’s nice and crispy and it’s eaten with a bowl of rice and vegetables. This particular pork chop rice in the picture was from a famous restaurant in the Yingge district.

Shou Zhua Bing 手抓并

I don’t think there is an name in English for this one but the English translation is “hand grab pancake.” This is actually one of me and my brother’s favorite things to eat in Taiwan. It is similar to a green onion pancake except no green onion, less oily and the dough is a bit chewier. They cut this pancake into long sections so it falls apart when you grab it, hence the name. It is so good!

Pineapple cake 鳳梨酥

This is Yeison’s favorite Taiwanese snack and one of mine as well. Pineapple cake is a popular snack item in Taiwan especially with foreigners. You could say pineapple cake is the signature of Taiwan and you’ll see them in the grocery stores, night markets and old streets but the best ones are the ones by Sunny Hill.

Tea eggs茶葉蛋

Taiwan’s version of tea eggs can almost be synonymous as 7-eleven (yes the convenience store). 7-elevens are notorious in Taiwan, being just as common as Starbucks in Seattle or even more! And with every 7-eleven is a pot of tea eggs.

Tea eggs make for a great quick snack. They are pre-boiled eggs that are boiled again in tea. They’re really good and I usually grab one whenever I go to 7-eleven.

Drinks

Taiwan Beer is nationally recognized as one of the best so if you like beer, you have to try Taiwan Beer. Since I don’t drink, Apple Sidra was my go to drink. It’s bubbly apple soda!

Some other options are Super Supau, Honey Aloe, and of course bubble tea. Bubble tea is probably the most famous export of Taiwan and you can find a bubble tea stand in nearly every corner.

And the drink you should try the most in Taiwan? The tea. Taiwan is famous for their tea and the oolong grown in Taiwan is 20% of the world production. That is a lot! My favorite tea from Taiwan is Alishan.

Q:

In your opinion, what are the best Taiwanese food?

How often you eat lunchbox / Bain dang dish?

What are your favorite local food?

What are the local food you would introduce to foreign visitors?

What do you think about pineapple cake/tea eggs /“hand grab pancake?

What do you think about Taiwanese beer and bubble tea?

What do you think that the food sale in 7-eleven?

音樂&歌唱影響情緒

Music Affects Our Moods  healthline.com Written by Suzanne Boothby

New research shows that listening to music can lift (or reinforce) your mood and ultimately lead to a greater quality of life.

Music and Mood

Scientists at the University of Missouri have found that people can boost their mood simply by listening to upbeat music.

“Our work provides support for what many people already do—listen to music to improve their moods,” said lead author Yuna Ferguson in a press release. “Although pursuing personal happiness may be thought of as a self-centered venture, research suggests that happiness relates to a higher probability of socially beneficial behavior, better physical health, higher income, and greater relationship satisfaction.”

People can successfully improve their moods and boost their overall happiness in just two weeks, according to Ferguson's research, published in The Journal of Positive Psychology.

In the study, participants improved their mood after being told to try to do so, but they only succeeded when they listened to the upbeat music of Copland, as opposed to the sadder tunes of Stravinsky. Other participants, who simply listened to the music without attempting to change their mood, didn't report an increase in happiness.

Making Your Own Music

While listening to music has great health benefits, making your own, especially through singing and chanting, is also therapeutic.

“My research showed that doing vocal singing sessions is a way to bring you into the present moment,” Lewis said. “Vocal improvisation is potentially a mindfulness practice and could be correlated to longer telomere lengths."

She said that singing is doubly beneficial for your body in that it helps relax you, but also helps you to feel energized.

Q:

Can music really affects our moods? 

What kind of music you like most? What kind of music could boost your mood?

What is upbeat music to you?

What music can helps you to feel energized?

What do you think about positive psychology?

What do you think the idea that singing and chanting, is therapeutic?

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週四(12/3)1.男人不壞女人不愛2.顏色影響心情

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

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男人不壞女人不愛

4 Reasons Women are Attracted to 'Bad Boys' by eHarmony Staff

There are typically four reasons good girls fall for guys like these:

1. The impulse to perpetuate what’s familiar.

 Many women attracted to rogues had a father who was a little wild and rebellious. Because many girls idealize their father, they may seek a partner with similar traits. This usually isn’t a conscious decision; much of the allure happens below the level of awareness. Girls may also choose these boys on the assumption that Dad will be impressed.

2. The urge to redo the father-daughter relationship.

 The motivation is an attempt to revise a troubled or distant relationship with their dad. Often, attraction is fueled by unmet childhood needs from the opposite-sex parent. So if a woman chooses someone reminiscent of her father, her motivation may be to remedy childhood hurts.

3. The drive to rehabilitate or “save” a wayward man.

 Simply put, many women are rescuers. It’s a challenge for them to reform an incorrigible man. These women think, Sure, he gets into trouble, but I can change him! Ego is involved as well. It’s inflating when a woman feels like she is the only one who can transform a man.

4. The appetite for adventure.

 Other women like the excitement, thrills, and sense of danger bad boys bring. This is especially true for those who have been “good girls” all their lives. Perhaps they grew up in a family that demanded conformity and compliance with rules. So they’re intrigued with men who scoff at rules and shrug off responsibility.

How do these relationships usually turn out? In a word, poorly. That’s because bad boys won’t change unless they want to—no matter how long-suffering their partner might be.

Q:

Why Women are attracted to 'Bad Boys'?

What qualities make a great boyfriend/ girlfriend?

What are the ways to choose the right life partner?

Why do people become stupid once they fall in love?

How to Deal with Emotional Abuse in relationship?

What are the best traits of an ideal partner?

顏色影響心情

Room Color and How it Affects Your Mood By Mihaireshome.com

The colors of the rooms in your home are a direct reflection of your personality. While most of us may not spend a lot of time thinking about room color, it affects us every day. Room color can influence our moods and our thoughts.

Red raises a room’s energy level. The most intense color, it pumps the adrenaline like no other hue. It is a good choice when you want to stir up excitement, particularly at night. In the living room or dining room, red draws people together and stimulates conversation. In an entryway, it creates a strong first impression.

Yellow captures the joy of sunshine and communicates happiness. It is an excellent choice for kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms, where it is energizing and uplifting. In halls, entries and small spaces, yellow can feel expansive and welcoming.

Even though yellow although is a cheery color, it is not a good choice for main color schemes. Studies show that people are more likely to lose their temper in a yellow interior. Babies also seem to cry more in yellow rooms. In large amounts, this color tends to create feelings of frustration and anger. In chromotherapy, yellow is believed to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.

Blue is said to bring down blood pressure and slow respiration and heart rate. That is why it is considered calming, relaxing and serene, and it is often recommended for bedrooms and bathrooms.

To encourage relaxation in social areas such as family rooms, living rooms or large kitchens, consider warmer blues, such as periwinkle, or bright blues, such as cerulean or turquoise. Blue is known to have a calming effect when used as the main color of a room — but go for softer shades. Dark blue has the opposite effect, evoking feelings of sadness. Refrain from using darker blues in your main color scheme.

Green is considered the most restful color for the eye. Combining the refreshing quality of blue and the cheerfulness of yellow, green is suited for almost any room on the house. In the kitchen, green cools things down; in a family room or living room, it encourages unwinding but has enough warmth to promote comfort and togetherness.

Orange evokes excitement and enthusiasm, and is an energetic color. While not a good idea for a living room or for bedrooms, this color is great for an exercise room; it will bring out all the emotions that you need released during your fitness routine. In ancient cultures, orange was believed to heal the lungs and increase energy levels.

Q:

How does room color affects your mood?

What is your favorite color?

What do you think the idea that your favorite color says about your personality?

In your opinion, what color could cheer your mood?

Does red color creates a strong first impression?

What do you think the idea that “people are more likely to lose their temper in a yellow interior”?

Do you think that blue is considered calming, relaxing and serene?

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