周六(2/23)1.登山健行好處2.競爭的好處下午4:30--6:30

板橋區文化路一段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    星期六 聚會時間為下午4:30--6:30

登山健行好處

Health Benefits of Hiking

By Health Fitness Revolution -

    Increases fitness: Just one hour of trekking can burn well over 500 calories, depending on the level of incline and the weight of the pack you’re carrying. Hiking trails are often softer on joints than asphalt or concrete, so it’s easier on your ankles and knees compared to running. If you head for the hills, weight loss results are even better. Not only are you burning serious calories, but altitude itself has also proven to be a weight loss ally.

   

    Helps prevent and control diabetes: Regular hiking helps you control, or even prevent, diabetes by lowering your blood sugar levels. Hiking gives your muscles a workout, which moves glucose from your bloodstream for energy.

    Lower blood pressure and cholesterol: Hiking through the trails on a regular basis decreases blood pressure and cholesterol, thus reducing the danger of heart disease, diabetes and stroke for those at high-risk. In fact, hiking downhill is two times more effective at removing blood sugars and improving glucose tolerance.

    Hiking heals: Some research suggests that the physical benefits of hiking extend far beyond cardiovascular health, and may even help cancer patients recover. A study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine  found that long distance hiking trips may improve the antioxidative capacity, which helps fight off disease, in the blood of oncological patients. Another study showed that breast cancer survivors who exercised regularly — many in the form of hiking — believed that physical activity complemented their recovery from cancer treatment.

  

 Is a social activity: Hikers always recommend using the buddy system.  A regular weekend meet-up or a planned long-distance trek can help you forge bonds while you shape up. Plus, interaction with the larger hiking community encourages you to engage with your workout as a lifestyle, rather than a chore, which will make you more likely to stick with it for the long haul.

  

 Increase creativity: Research shows that spending time outdoors increases attention spans and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50 percent. The authors of the study also point out that the results may have as much to do with unplugging from technology as they do spending time outside. Researchers from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education also found that walking gets the creative juices flowing far more than sitting.

  

 Increase happiness levels and curb depression: Research shows that using hiking as an additional therapy can help people with severe depression feel less hopeless, depressed and suicidal. It may even inspire those suffering from it to lead a more active lifestyle.

    Commune with nature: Being out in nature, away from the chaos of our daily lives and technology, can allow people to connect with themselves and nature in a way that brings about peace and a sense of well-being.

 

競爭的好處

Benefits of Competition | Evolve Vacation

 Competition is a true test of your skills.

You’ve attended countless classes, drilled for hours at a time, perfected your techniques, built strength and flexibility—why not put all that to the test? A fight can gauge where you are in terms of technique and athletic ability. It can also test whether or not you have the mental strength to push through tough times.  It is a great way to learn where your weaknesses lie so that you can begin working to improve them.

There’s nothing like that competition rush!

There is no other feeling like stepping into the ring for the first time. It’s sensory overload; battling your nerves with a crowd watching along is definitely unforgettable. Whether you win or lose, there’s nothing quite like the experience of competing!

You’ll gain self-confidence.

Putting yourself out there isn’t the easiest thing in the world, and anyone who is willing to step up and compete deserves respect. By competing, you are showing the world that you believe in yourself and your skills. It also proves that you are okay with whatever the outcome may be. You know that win or lose, you have learned something from this experience.

 If it happens, you can learn from your losses.

So you’ve dedicated every single waking hour to preparing for your competition. You’ve dieted so that you can make weight, you’ve drilled your techniques for hours and hours, you’ve started lifting weights so you can get stronger, and you’ve been putting in extra sparring time. You’ve done all that you possibly can to win, but unfortunately, someone else’s hand is raised instead of yours. Instead of being angry, look at the bright side of the experience. Ask your coach about the mistakes you made and analyze them together. Work on these mistakes and make sure they never happen again. In the end, you will learn far more from your losses than you ever will from your victories.

Because it helps you get over the fear of competing and makes you want to compete more.

Once you’ve experienced the nerves and jitters of your first competition, the next one won’t be as bad. You’ll know how to prepare better, and fix your game plan based on the strengths and weaknesses you saw in your last competition. For athletes who compete all the time, they know that regular sparring sessions with teammates just can’t mimic the adrenalin and experience of competition.

Because it feels great to win!

After all the hard work, preparation, and pre-competition jitters—you’ve finally reached your ultimate goal. You’ve competed, given it your all, and emerged victorious! There is no greater feeling than having your arm raised in victory. You’ve put your blood, sweat, and tears into your sport, so why not take recognition and appreciation for it?

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週四 (2/21)1.享樂是重要的 2.櫻花季

板區橋文化路一段421巷11弄1號 (陽光甜味咖啡館)

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    PM 7:00-9:30

享樂是重要的

Reasons Why Entertainment Is Important    topictrends

We face a lot of hardships, frustrations, and disappointments every single day. With this blazingly fast pace, taking time out for yourself seems impossible or not as important compared to deadlines or projects. Add to that the fact that technology has made it easier for us to connect or keep in touch with other people within our own home, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a shut-in.

After work, you simply plug in your headphones, and then head over home so that you can simply browse the net or watch TV. You won’t find the need to go out so you might skip out on physical contact or socializing totally. If you need to check-up on a friend, you can simply call them or send them a message. You can even have a video call if you’re up to it. This replaces a lot of social interactions for many people out there. However, man is still a social being whether he’s comfortable with it or not. To further motivate you, here are some of the reasons why you should go outside and socialize once in a while.

Mix Things Up

During workdays, your schedule will more or less be the same. Wake up, eat breakfast (optional), head off to work, come home, and then spend the rest of the day surfing the internet or watching TV. It sounds like a real bore – and it is. Frequent activities like these make your life mundane and can lead to a build-up of stress. It will spill over from your personal life to your work, eventually adversely affecting your career or relationships.

Unwind Your Stress

When you’ve had a stressful day and when you come home directly, it’s very easy to vent your anger on the nearest living thing you see. Even though you’re not really angry at that person, it’s easy to lose control since you were angry before even coming home and your fuse is relatively short. Sleeping on the couch might be a common thing for you by now.

However if you entertain yourself or keep yourself busy before coming home then you can come home more relaxed. Dinners will be pleasant, and your conversations with the people around you will be brighter. There won’t be any nitpicking or sudden flaring of tempers. This is all just because you chose to have fun for a few minutes or hours before coming home.

Develop Friendships

If you become a regular at a place (a bar or restaurant) of your choosing, you’ll eventually become close with the people working there and even the other patrons as well. You won’t have to go out of your way and go to bars or other unknown places just to meet people. You could do it at your watering hole. Since they also like that place, you can just meet up there after work or during weekends. Keeping yourself entertained with your friends will help keep your outlook positive and you’ll have healthy relationships as well.

 

櫻花季

Significance of Sakura: Cherry Blossom Traditions in Japan

| Erina Takeda

Spring has arrived! The cherry trees are starting to bloom again around the National Mall and Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. In Japan, cherry blossoms are called sakura, a special flower for the people and the country.

Cherry blossoms are a symbolic flower of the spring, a time of renewal, and the fleeting nature of life. Their life is very short. After their beauty peaks around two weeks, the blossoms start to fall.

During this season in Japan, people like to have cherry blossom parties with colleagues, friends, and family. A cherry blossom makes people merry. They enjoy eating, drinking, and barbecuing underneath the cherry blossoms. We call this custom hanami. Hanami literally means “watching blossoms,” and the tradition can be traced back at least a thousand years. We bring cooked meals, alcohol, snacks, and sweets, like a potluck party. Schools and offices hold welcome parties during hanami, a chance for people to bond and meet new friends.

Even at night, viewing spots are crowded with people enjoying the blossoms in a beautiful, romantic atmosphere. Couples go at night to enjoy the special mood created by cherry blossoms. Hanami at night is called yozakura.

Hanami at night is called yozakura, when the trees are illuminated. Photo by Yamaguchi Kazunori

The exquisite beauty of cherry blossoms only occurs for a few weeks from the end of March to the beginning of April. Photo by Maki Matsuda

A hanami picnic in Tokyo. Photo by Tomoko Ishigaki

While American schools begin in the fall, the Japanese fiscal and school year begins in April, the season of sakura. We feel like the fully bloomed cherry blossoms are celebrating and welcoming our brand-new start. Many schools and companies have cherry trees outside of them. This is why Japanese people have special feelings for the cherry blossoms.

I have lovely memories from when I was young, doing hanami with my parents, brother, and sister. My mom packed a special lunch box, hanami bento, full of our favorite foods. My father was in charge of securing a good place for us at the famous park by placing a blanket under the cherry trees in the early morning.

Now I like to go to hanami with a few of my close friends just to enjoy the cherry blossoms, but if I go with a lot of friends or a group of colleagues, it mostly means having a party with lots of eating and drinking.

Cherry trees have spread throughout the world to other Asian country, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, Spain British, Australia, and beyond. We’re lucky to have thousands of cherry trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.

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週二(2/19)1.為何爆粗口? 2.放天燈

板橋區文化路一段421巷11弄1號 (陽光甜味咖啡館)

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    PM 7:00-9:30

為何爆粗口?

Why do people swear?   By David Edmonds BBC News

By definition, swear words are offensive. If a word, over time, ceases to be offensive, then it falls out of use as a swear word. Offence alone is not enough, though, for we can offend with language without swearing. The N-word, for example, is what is called a slur: it is a derogatory term about an entire group. It is profoundly offensive, but it is not a swear word.

Philosopher Rebecca Roache says that as well as the ingredient of offence, swear words tend to have a cluster of other characteristics. We will often use swear words "to vent some emotion", she says. "If you're angry or particularly happy, swearing is a catharsis. Swearing also centres on taboos. Around the world swear words will tend to cluster around certain topics: lavatorial matters, sex, religion."

There's also a paradoxical component to swearing, says Roache. "As well as being taboo-breaking, swear words are taboo-breaking for the sake of taboo-breaking. The whole point is that you're not allowed to use them, but they exist just for that rule to be broken."

Find out more

Words develop their power over time; it's a historical process. In the past, many swear words were linked to religion. But as countries like Britain have become increasingly secular, imprecations such as "Damn" and "Jesus Christ", have begun to lose their force. The Times leader writer, Oliver Kamm, author of Accidence Will Happen: The Non-Pedantic Guide to English, says that the swearing lexicon now draws less from religion and more from body effluvia. "There's a hierarchy of effluvia, according to how disgusting we find them in public. 'Shit' is worse than 'piss' which is worse than 'fart' which is worse than 'spit' which is not a taboo word at all. It's an interesting linguistic hypothesis that the taboos relate to how disease-ridden or dangerous or disgusting we find the effluvia themselves."

The emotional release from swearing has been measured in a variety of ways. It turns out that swearing helps mitigate pain. It is easier to keep an arm in ice-cold-water for longer if you are simultaneously effing and blinding. And those who speak more than one language, report that swearing in their first language is more satisfying, carrying, as it does, a bigger emotional punch.

Catharsis aside, swearing can boast other benefits. The claim has been made that swearing is bonding: a few blue words, uttered in a good-natured way, indicates and encourages intimacy. A very recent study suggests that people who swear are perceived as more trustworthy than those who are less potty-mouthed.

But back to the conundrum. If writing F with asterisks alleviates the offence of the full word why should this be? Roache says swearing is best viewed as a breach of etiquette. It is a little like putting your shoes on a table when you are the guest in someone's house. If you know it would offend, and do it anyway, you are guilty of showing insufficient respect.

"It doesn't matter that it's a swear word. Imagine meeting someone who has a fear of crisps, and who finds references to crisps traumatic. If you carry on talking about crisps in their presence, even after discovering about their phobia, you are sending a signal that you don't respect them, you don't have any concern for their feelings."

  

放天燈

Taiwan Religious Culture Map    taiwangods

The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is the epitome of lantern festival celebrations in Taiwan. It has been named by Fodor’s as one of the 14 Festivals To Attend Before You Die, called “the second biggest New Year’s Eve celebration in the world” by the Discovery Channel, and is one of CNN’s 52 Things To Do. Historically, sky lanterns were released as a signal telling those hiding in the mountains from ransacking marauders that it was now safe to return to their villages. The practice originated from the traditions of settlers who came to Pingxi from the Minnan (southern) region of China during the Qing Dynasty. At the end of the 20th century, as people began to value and respect local cultural traditions, the practice of releasing sky lanterns was turned into an annual celebratory event for the lantern festival, held on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. Incorporating local history, religion, and culture, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is a classic example of a regional festival that developed and spread into a nation-wide celebration.

Believed to be a predecessor of hot air balloons, sky lanterns, also known as Kongming lanterns, were invented by Zhuge Liang (181 – 234), a chancellor during the Three Kingdoms period, whose courtesy name was Kongming. The lanterns were initially used to convey military messages. There are various speculations as to how sky lanterns became a tradition in Pingxi. In 1821, settlers from China arrived in the Pingxi district and began building villages in the surrounding area. During the Qing Dynasty, these remote villages were difficult for the provincial government to control and protect, leaving them vulnerable to brigands. To protect themselves, villagers sometimes packed up and hid in the mountains after the winter solstice when the final harvest was complete (the season when bandits, driven by hunger, were most likely to attack), leaving only able-bodied men to defend their village. After the worst of the winter passed, the men in the village would release lanterns to signify safe passage for the villagers return. This practice eventually evolved into the Sky Lantern Festival of today. In another telling of the origins of the festival, some believe that sky lanterns started out as prayer lanterns released at the beginning of spring planting each year. Since women at the time often wished for more children to add to the number of hands working on the family farm, they would release sky lanterns with invocations for smooth childbearing and plentiful harvests. As the number visitors at the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival has grown in recent years, the festival has gained as much recognition as the renowned Yanshui Beehive Rocket Festival in Southern Taiwan. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival has been named “the second biggest New Year’s Eve celebration in the world” by the Discovery Channel and listed in 52 Things To Do by CNN.

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周六(2/16)1.約會Apps 2.假期讓你變胖! 下午4:30-6:30

板橋區文化路一段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    星期六 聚會時間為下午4:30-6:30

約會Apps

Why Dating Apps Are Better Than Dating Sites

Natalia Lusinski  bustle.com

Here’s why dating apps are better than dating sites.

1. They’re Faster And More Efficient

Due to the nature of apps, on our phones versus computers, the interfaces are easy-to-use and the profiles are short-and-sweet. “Dating apps have the portability factor, so you can use them while you’re on the bus or waiting for an appointment,” New York–based relationship expert and author April Masini tells Bustle. “Because they’re so easy to use on phones, you can take them with you and use them all over the place. Your life can be a lot more flexible with these portable apps. They can be big time savers and success builders in dating.”

2. Apps Tend To Show You Mutual Friends

It’s always a plus to meet a romantic interest through a friend, right? It’s like a letter of recommendation, but an IRL person recommendation instead. “It’s great to see that you have mutual friends in common (on a dating app) because it automatically creates a sense of comfort and trust,” Tina Wie, VP of Marketing for Three Day Rule, tells Bustle. “The stronger your mutual friend connection (i.e., first-degree over third-degree) and the context in which you know them (i.e., they went to business school with your high school buddy or used to work with your college bestie), the more likely you’ll feel that the person you connected with is a normal, interesting person. You’ll also have something in common to talk about instantly when you’re first communicating, which is nice.”

3. They’re Perfect For People Who Are Super Busy

Giphy

Do you seem to be at work all the time, so when are you supposed to go places to meet people IRL? Yep, that’s where apps come in. “Dating apps give you more choices than you’d normally have in real life,” says Masini. “They can be like going to a big party where you meet people — except with much less wear and tear on your body!”

4. They’re Perfect For Introverts

Let’s face it: Some people are just awkward when you speak to them at bars or parties or at whatever social outing you happen to meet them at. But, one-on-one, via a dating app, for instance, they’re great. Dating apps are an introvert’s dream come true. As an extrovert who tends to date a lot of introverts (whom I’ve met on apps), I vouch for this 100 percent.

 

假期讓你變胖!

3 Reasons Why You Gain Weight During the Holidays... And What to Do Instead

mindbodygreen

We’re about to enter one of the biggest eating seasons of the year: the holidays! If you aren’t careful, you can easily gain 10 pounds by the end of the year!

Mistake #1: You skip breakfast.

Holiday events are often characterized by a big meal (or party) later in the day. Often, people will skip breakfast in an effort to save up their calories, since they know they’ll be pigging out later.

Here’s why this will actually cause you to gain weight: Your metabolism is red-hot from the time you wake up in the morning until about 2pm. After that, it starts to slow down. If you're eating a majority of your calories in the evening, your body will store it as fat.

Mistake #2: You show up starving.

How many times have you stalked the kitchen on Thanksgiving, wondering when the feast will be served because you’re starving! I've been guilty of that.

Here’s why this will actually cause you to gain weight: When we begin a meal in starvation-mode, we're more likely to overeat, which is a surefire way to pack on the pounds.

What to do instead: Have a snack before you go. One of my favorite go-to snacks is an apple with almond butter. This way, if you show up and the meal isn't served asap, you can socialize and have some fun. Also, when the meal is ready, your eyes aren’t bigger than your stomach.

Mistake #3: You keep eating when you're not hungry.

It's probably a no-brainer as to why this causes weight-gain, but I'll say it anyway: if you’re eating more food than your body needs, it’s going to store it as fat. Do this a few times and your clothes may start feeling tighter than normal.

What to do instead: If we think of our hunger on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being stuffed and nauseous, you want to aim to stop eating at a 7. Ideally, this is where you feel full and satisfied, but not busting at the seams. This will leave you feeling light, clean and energized.

Being aware is the first step, now start putting it into practice! Keep food on hand for breakfast, gather snacks and practice stopping at a 7 today. This will help you soak up the holiday cheer without packing on the pounds, which will truly make this the most wonderful time of the year!

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週四 (2/14)1.點光明燈? 2.不動的代價

新春愉快!
  2/14  星期四 新年第一次聚會
板區橋文化路一段421巷11弄1號 (陽光甜味咖啡館)

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    PM 7:00-9:30

點光明燈

Lines form to sponsor lights at Taipei’s Lungshan Temple          FTV

A large crowd formed outside of Lungshan Temple eager for the opportunity to sponsor some of the 200,000 lights inside the temple. Many believe this lighting activity will bring blessings and peace to their family in the upcoming year. Some even believe that the position and the size of the light is also important.

Taipei’s Lungshan Temple attracts a crowd of people each year to sponsor lights that are thought to bring peace or blessings throughout the year. The activity is growing in popularity, attracting more and more people each year.

Lungshan Temple currently has around 200,000 lights, which range in size and location. Larger lights can cost NT$2,000 while smaller ones are just NT$600.

Each temple sets the price for these lights differently, sometimes depending upon the wall or the proximity to a deity. Some believe these factors can be important.

Early this morning, Longshan Temple began processing people eager to sponsor temple lamps. Many began waiting as long as a month ago, as they believe sponsoring these lamps can bring them good fortune or health.

At six o’clock, Taipei’s Longshan Temple began accepting people to sponsor temple lamps. The first person to apply for a lamp was Mr. Yang who works in the financial industry.

Last night we came. About a month ago, I asked my family to come here first and begin waiting.

Today was the first day of lighting lamps and Longshan Temple was packed with visitors. Many wanted to light medicine lamps to pray for health, while others chose lamps for wealth. These lamps were in such demand that some came more than a month ago to begin waiting in line.

In addition to a huge line of people waiting patiently, reporters have witnessed hawkers selling their place in line. With more than 1000 people in line, tempers began to flare though there was little the temple could do to alleviate the situation.

Chang Hsue-lin

Longshan Temple Director

For those that began waiting a month ago, we issued 1,000 numbers, and if these we all issued by today, I told people come back the next day. This is the only way I could control the situation. 

Each day up to 1,000 people are allowed to choose lights in the temple, and based upon past practice, the first day of the lighting an additional 300 people are permitted, as processing this many people in one day may take an entire day with many waiting long into the night.

不動的代價

Sedentary lifestyle can kill     BBC Fergus Walsh Medical correspondent

The world is just days away from the greatest global showcase of elite sport.

But while a few thousand athletes will be pushing their bodies to the limit, most of the world will be watching on TV, sitting inactive for hours on end.

In a series of articles in the Lancet timed to coincide with the Olympics, researchers from 16 countries set out the scale of the health burden created by physical inactivity. You can read more about the research here.

The scientists say they are neither Olympics kill-joys nor are they advocating punishing gym sessions. As Pamela Das from the Lancet puts it: "It is not about running on a treadmill, whilst staring at a mirror and listening to your iPod."

There's nothing wrong with going to the gym of course, but the aim is to encourage everyone to build physical activity into their daily lives, such as by walking, cycling, swimming, gardening or doing any sport they enjoy.

The trouble is, all that sounds familiar. We all know we should move more and sit less.

Despite that, one in three adults worldwide fails to do the recommended 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity per week. In the UK two out of three adults don't manage it. The guidance is here.

So rather than stressing the health benefits of exercise, the Lancet researchers have opted to show the harm caused by inactivity. They estimate lack of exercise is responsible for about 5.3m deaths a year - about the same number as smoking.

This is based on estimates of the impact on inactivity on coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and two specfic cancers - breast and bowel - where lack of exercise is a major risk factor.

There are some weaknesses in the data. The scientists have had to rely on the results of questionnaires sent out to 122 countries in which people self-report their levels of activity. It must also be difficult to separate the disease burden of obesity from the figures.

Q:

Why sedentary lifestyle can kill?

How much hours you have been sitting watching on Tv, search sth through internet?

How often do you do exercise?

What are the risks of inactivity?

What are the benefits of physical activity?

What are the benefits of exercise?

How to deal with obesity?

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