2011年7月27日 星期三

One of the most impressive songs

I got the knowledge of the song in the " Learning English From Singing Songs" class although I reckon I had heard it before.

Here is the MV:


When you believe

Whitney:
Many nights we pray
With no proof anyone could hear
And our hearts a hopeful song
We barely understand
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains long
Before we know we could

Chorus:
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who know what miracle
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe

Mariah:
In this time of fear
When prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seems like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
And now I am standing here
My heart's so full I can't explain
Seeking faith and speaking words
I never thought I'd say

Chorus:
There can be miracles

When you believe (When you believe)
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who know what miracle
You can achieve (You can achieve)
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe

Bridge: (Both)
They don't always happen when you ask
And it's easy to give in to your fear
But when you're blinded by your pain
Can't see you way safe through the rain
Thought of a still resilient voice
Says love is very near

Chorus: (Both)
There can be miracles (miracles)
When you believe (When you believe)
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who know what miracles
You can achieve (You can achieve)
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe
You will when you believe
You will when you believe
Just believe
You will when you believe

2011年4月27日 星期三

The running nose

It's really a terrible experience with a running nose all day long when seasons change, which makes me unable concentrate in the class.

2011年4月16日 星期六

2011年4月8日 星期五

今日花博-明華園

衝著明華園當家孫翠鳳的大名,老媽和我到花博文化館外的廣場,坐在台階上等了三個小時,為的就是欣賞一個小時又十分鐘的精彩演出。

明華園的武功班底也相當棒呦!這兩個人正做後空翻動作的一半。


明、後天下午三點各還有一場,記得人會更多,所以要更早去,做好防曬、帶本書、多喝水,然後好好地欣賞精彩好戲吧!

2011年3月25日 星期五

What I dislike

I really loathe those parents who left the kid staying outside the door and crying. It's their unavoidable responsibility to teach chlidren what is right and what is wrong.

2011年3月4日 星期五

Face-to-face communication

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communications, such as letters, e-mail, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to support your answers.

Successful and effective communication, besides language, contains gesture and facial expressions, which can only be achieved through face-to-face communication. Letters, e-mail, or telephone calls, sincere as they are, cannot show the instant and vivid deep innermost of someone you are communicating with, nor can those coming out of machines give warm hugs and instant comforts from your beloved one.

In contrast to letters, e-mail, or telephone calls, which can only convey words, voices, pictures, or video films, face-to-face communication can make you see and hear and touch the one you are addressing. Through eye contact, you can see his soul; from his intonation, tone of voices, you can feel his emotion, both anger and vigor; owing to the physical contact, such as gestures, facial expressions, you can find the sincerity and active interaction.

Bilateral interchanges, unlike contact through machines, which deprive us of both feelings and emotions from the bottom of our hearts, can both eliminate misunderstanding caused by machines, and improve subtle interchange of souls. The one you are communicating with can, without delay, give you a hug of warmth, a kiss as encouragement, or even a handkerchief to wipe off your tears.

In short, bilateral communication should be completed only trough face-to-face contact. A perfect touch involves both body language and tones of voice; besides, the immediate soothing qualities cannot be attained through machines.


TV

You cannnot make a kid move even a finger when the TV is turning on.

2011年2月26日 星期六

二月鷹飛

晴朗的早晨。

這樣蔚藍的天空在二月的台北是不多見的,刺眼的陽光把影子斜映在水泥地上,隨風飄揚的衣角竟也如此清晰。

「老鷹!」老師喊道。

一窩蜂衝出教室的我們,仰望著六隻鷹在高空盤旋。

是春回大地的日子啊!燦爛的陽光,將築於千仞絕壁的窠臼曬得暖洋洋的,正是振衣濯足的黃道吉日;於是嘹亮的嘯聲震破蒼穹,二月鷹飛!

2011年2月25日 星期五

這樣的政府才夠硬

宏國自宅哈菸 警察也可找上門
更新日期:2011/02/24 02:57 鍾玉玨/綜合報導
中國時報【鍾玉玨/綜合報導】
全球反菸最猛的國家非台灣在中美洲的友邦宏都拉斯共和國莫屬,連在家中吞雲吐霧都可能被罰。根據該國最新禁菸法,只要家人或訪客不滿二手菸就可報警,警察並得取締在自宅內哈菸的老菸槍且開罰。

宏都拉斯新禁菸法廿一日正式生效,凡學校、加油站、夜總會、餐廳、酒吧、公車、計程車、體育館,所有公共或私人的密閉空間一律禁菸。在開放空間吸菸,也須距離不吸菸者至少一百八十公分。

較引人注目的是在自家抽菸的規定,只要有人報案,警察就會登門處理,第一次口頭警告,再犯就逮人,被捕者須繳納三百一十一美元(約台幣九千元)的罰鍰才能獲釋,差不多是該國民一個月的最低基本工資。

另方面,酒吧與餐廳等營業場所若允許顧客吸菸,遭查獲得處一千至六千美元罰鍰,累犯可能被吊銷營業執照而關門。

有人批評新法太不近情理,執行也有困難,該國治安不佳,全國警力僅一萬兩千人,打擊犯罪都來不及,哪有閒功夫處理民宅吸菸問題?但宏都拉斯人口八百萬,約三成吸菸,與吸菸者同住者,十個有九個罹患呼吸道疾病。宏國衛生部說,菸草公司每賺一塊錢,國家就要花十塊錢來對抗吸菸引發的疾病。

---------------------------我 是 分 隔 線---------------------------

其實抽煙的人也滿可憐的,到處受人歧視。如果能影響決策,我會在全國街上的垃圾桶旁弄一個類似電話亭的封閉設施,讓抽煙的人可已有個快樂的吞雲吐霧空間。

順便提供個資料,癌症近三十年蟬聯十大死因之首,其中排名第一的就是肺癌;而且二手煙的危害遠超過吸煙者本身。

2011年2月24日 星期四

"等到有一天" 你或許沒有機會(孫越。。轉貼)

在今天,我們的房子越來越大,但是家庭越來越小。

生活越來越方便,但是時間卻越來越少。

我們的學位越來越高,常識卻越來越少。

知識越來越多,判斷力卻越來越差。

我們有更多的專家,但是也有更多的問題。

醫藥越來越好,但健康越來越少。

我們花費太多,歡笑太少。

車開得太快,火氣上來也更快。

睡得太晚,閱讀太少,電視看得太多,而且禱告太少。

我們所擁有的資產倍增,但是價值卻遞減。

我們說得太多,但是愛心太少,且謊話連篇。

我們學習如何經營生活,但沒有建造生命。

我們在生命中加增歲月,卻沒有在歲月中增長生命。

我們有越來越高的建築,但也有越來越低的 EQ。

有更寬廣的高速公路,但有更狹窄的視野。

我們花費得更多,但擁有的更少。

我們買得更多,但享受得更少。

我們可以登陸月球回來。但是卻無法拜訪對街的鄰居。

我們可以征服外太空。但是卻無法掌控內心世界。

我們可以分裂原子核,但是卻無法挪去心中的偏見。

我們更多書寫,卻更少學習。

更多計畫,卻更少成就。

我們學會忙碌,但學不會等候。

我們的收入更高了,但道德更低了。

我們生產更多電腦,掌握更多資訊,

複製更多拷貝,但我們的溝通卻更貧乏。

我們的數量提高了,品質卻降低了

這是快速食品充斥卻消化不良的時代。

高大的身軀與低劣的性格並存的時代。

更多休閒卻更少歡樂。

更多食物卻更少營養。

更多雙收入家庭,但更高的離婚率。

更多千萬豪宅,但 卻更多破碎的家庭。

我建議,在今天這樣的世代,

你不要保留任何事情到特殊的場合才做,

因為你活著的每一天都是特殊場合。

勤加閱讀,追求知識,

坐在你家的前廊上欣賞自然美景,

無需汲汲營營於生活需要。

多花時間與家人及好友在一起,

享受喜歡的食物,

到你喜愛的地方去遊覽。

生命不只是為了存活,

而是一連串愉快事件組成的的鏈條。

將你的水晶高腳杯拿出來,

不要將妳最好的香水存起來,

任何時候你想要用的時候就用它吧。

把「有一天」「將來的某一天」

從你的字典中刪除。

現在就去寫那一封

你曾經想過要等到「有一天」才來寫的信。

讓我們現在就告訴我們的家人我們多愛他們。

不要將會帶給你歡笑及喜樂的任何事情拖延到未來。

每一天,每一小時,每一分鐘都是特別的,

而且你不知道那是否是你的最後一刻。

如果你太忙以致於無法將這封信傳給你所愛的人,

你告訴自己說,「等到有一天」我再傳。

那 請你相信我  "等到有一天" 你或許沒有機會傳了。

2011年2月23日 星期三

沒有一樣工作,值得拿命去換(網路轉載)

成就是甚麼?

我是一個便利商店的早班正職人員,每天早上8點上班下午4點下班;月休5天,扣除勞、健保後平均月薪22000。

但是如果你問我一年以前的工作待遇;最基本的喔!不包括獎金!

月薪35000(底薪32000+津貼3000)保障年薪14個月。

我在12年前退伍進入銀行工作,從最基礎的一般櫃台行員做起(當時的起薪25000);那時聽人家說在銀行要升遷,最好要有證照與高學歷的加持,於是我在入行後的隔年,選擇假日進修,費時3年拿到財金碩士學歷;並且在我踏入銀行業起的5年內,將金融研訓院與證期會還有保險公會的金融證照幾乎考齊!

從證券商高級業務人員、期貨商業務員、投信投顧業務員、票券商業務人員、信託業業務人員、銀行內部控制與內部稽核、人身保險業務員、投資型保險商品業務員、財產保險業務員、金融市場常識與職業道德、外幣收付非投資型保險銷售人員、理財業務人員……夯不啷噹的12張證照,累計花了我一萬多元的報名費,與無數的時間在念書上。

終於;我有幸在我踏入銀行業的第5年,轉到理財業務部門服務,開始了我百萬年薪的職涯;因為我踏入財富管理這行的時間點,正好是全球股市正處於向上攀爬的顛峰時間;投資商品不管賣甚麼給客戶,客戶幾乎都是賺錢,所以我每個月的業績獎金大都是20萬起跳,我的平均月薪介於20~30萬元之間。

是的;沒錯,我曾經是一個年薪400萬以上的理財專員!

我們的業績獎金算法,是以底薪為基準;底薪乘以十,就是你每個月最基本的手續費收入之業績目標,當妳的手續費收入達到目標後,所有收取手續費中的十分之一,是你個人當月的業績獎金。

以我個人的業績算法為例:
底薪32000×10=320000…業績目標
假設當月手續費收入2000000÷10=200000…業績獎金
200000+32000=232000…我這個月的薪水

相信在此你們也發現,銀行在銷售理財商品時,所收取的無風險手續費收入有多少了吧,難怪現在的銀行一窩蜂的投入財富管理的市場中。

且為了加強我自身的本職學能與競爭力,我之後更利用假日自費進修CFP課程,終於在2008年,我通過了五個模組的測驗,拿到了CFP認證。

那一年應該是我人生的職場顛峰吧,我名片的抬頭從業務主任變成業務襄理,我的基本起薪從32000,調高為35000;但是我做的還是理財專員的工作,服務的還是那一群客人。

儘管我名片的抬頭從理財專員,變成資深理財專員,到理財中心業務主任,現在是理財中心業務襄理;但是我的本名還是不變,還是36年前我媽幫我取的那個!

2009年是我從雲端跌到谷底的一年;我在那年的5月因為猛爆性肝炎住院!!!

猛爆性肝炎---一種致死率90%以上的急症!

我還記得,我當天中午是因為肚子痛到站不直,才去掛急診;在急診室驗完血、照完超音波後,醫生馬上安排我住院,因為我當時的肝指數,也就是俗稱的GOT/GPT值是2974---(正常的肝指數是在40以下!) 而超音波的報告顯示,我的膽囊是一般人的1.5倍大;正所謂肝膽相照,因為我的肝臟發炎而併發急性膽囊炎!

醫生說我運氣真的很好,如果我沒有併發膽囊炎,就不會肚子痛到掛急診,就沒有機會在猛爆性肝炎發作前趕緊住院治療!

我在醫院躺了一個月;其實猛爆性肝炎也沒有甚麼不舒服,就是很累,人覺得很累,但是卻累到睡不著覺,全身無力,在我住院初期,連上廁所都要人家攙扶。

在我住院期間最讓我難過的是,我當時2歲的兒子在病床邊跟我說:把把抱抱!

我竟然無力起身,將他抱在懷裡;盡管時間過去已久,但現在有時午夜夢迴,我突然想到那時的情景,我真的心中還是會有想哭的衝動!

當時的我真的很怕我就這樣離開人世!

如果我走了!?

我兒子怎麼辦?我老婆怎麼辦?我爸怎麼辦?我媽怎麼辦?

所以在我出院之後,我就把工作辭了!

如果你問我:在銀行工作了12年,我有甚麼成就?

就如同親朋好友所預期的,大家所想的那樣,一家大型金控旗下銀行的分行理財中心小主管,兼任理財專員,連續六年三百五十萬元左右的年薪,一台三菱Outlander 2.4休旅車、台北市50坪加停車位的社區住宅、銀行帳戶裡七位數的存款。

妻子、兒子、房子、車子、銀子五子登科,也許很多人會羨慕我小有成就,但是在我生病之後,驀然回首過去,我會告訴你這不是幸福更不是快樂。

因為在瘋狂的期待將來有著百萬年薪、名牌轎車時,你的下場十分有可能像我一樣;這些奢侈的物質生活背後,是我犧牲了身體健康,與許多陪伴我兒子成長的時間去換來的,這些奢侈的物質生活,對許多理財專員而言,根本連去使用的時間都沒有。

從我擔任理財專員開始,假日可能別人是全家大小一起出遊,但我是去補習班上課,念書準備CFP考試,為的是要自我成長,讓我在財富管理這條路上走得比別人更長、更久、更寬廣;但是我犧牲得卻是自己休養生息的時間,以及和家人一起相處的時光。

尤其是在2008年金融海嘯時期,我幾乎是一天工作18個小時以上;不騙你,我真的有客人,在半夜3點,美國股市盤中大跌時,打電話問我美國股市發生了甚麼事?

我還記得那天我正好也失眠睡不著,盯著電腦螢幕的Stock-Q網站,思索著該如何面對明天客戶投資虧損上門詢問時,我要用甚麼理由、應該怎麼解釋美股的大跌、歐股的下挫、亞股的修正?
客人聽我在半夜3點還可以很清醒的回答她問題,跟我說:嗯~我有隨時在注意市場變化,我是一個很盡責的理財專員?!

一個很盡責的理財專員!?

好一句沉重的讚美,但是你可知道在這句讚美的背後我犧牲與付出了多少?

曾經在電視新聞中看到,新聞節目專訪某銀行的一位超級理財專員,他說他可以背出他所負責客戶的身分證字號!

這哪有甚麼?這是擔任理專的本職學能,這剛好而已好不好;我的前20大客戶,不要說他本人的身分證字號,包括她的家庭成員,聯絡電話、工作背景、我都如數家珍;更遑論客戶目前的投資商品與過去的投資獲利狀況、目前資產配置情形我都可以倒背如流!

而且為了讓自己顯現的專業,我花錢、花時間念書考額外的金融認證;為了維繫我和客戶之間的關係,我還曾經幫客戶念大學的女兒做過財金相關的作業報告;假日,和一個虔誠的基度教徒客戶,參加他們教會的禮拜,儘管我家是拿香拜拜的,但是為了保持和客戶良好的關係,我不敢拒絕她熱情的邀約,我還是去了...!

花時間維繫我與客戶之間的關係,最直接忽略的就是和我最親近的家人,在我生病之後,更讓我驚覺,如果沒有機會和妳的家人,一起享受這一切,那麼我這一切的努力都是毫無無價值的…!
因為當你如果不幸遇到和我相同,這個大病初癒的時候,你就會和我一樣恍然覺得,你過去所付出的一切,是將一生最寶貴的青春架構在自己的痛苦上,只是為了去追求人人所稱羨的名利雙收,你將會發現,你所做這些是多麼樣的不值得!

我還在銀行擔任理專時,每天注意的,不外乎是今天股市的漲跌幅多少、線圖走勢的技術分析如何、各種市場訊息該如何解讀;然後統計我今天賣了多少基金、保險、連動債,累積了多少手續費收入、我這個月業績獎金可以領多少?

之後再統計我的全行排名是第幾名,年終尾牙宴上可不可以上台接受董事長的表揚,從他手中接過一張製作精美、內容讚揚嘉許,但是成本不到100元的獎狀!

而在我追求所謂的成就的同時,卻完全忽略了我兒子從出生,到會坐、會爬、會走路;忽略了他會哭、會笑、會搞怪;我當時甚至覺得,這個臭小子在我專心研究技術分析時,纏著要我抱他很煩!?

我還曾經一個禮拜,出門上班時他還在睡覺,下班到家後他已經熟睡了,一整個禮拜沒有看過清醒的他!

而現在;我竟要從我老婆過去所拍的照片,與錄製的影像檔中,搜尋我兒子從出生到2歲前的成長紀錄與回憶!

天啊!我真的是一個不盡責的父親!!!

十分之一的手續費收入當業績獎金?所以手續費收越多,業績獎金就賺越多?
各位~那些只不過是老闆用盡你的時間、榨乾你的精力之後,吐回一點給你而已,比起你的犧牲與付出,這些並沒有什麼了不起的…!

在我大病初癒之後,我精算了一下,以我過去所累積的所得,加上父母將來應該會留給我的資產,我其實真的可以不用再出來工作了;但是活動、活動,要活就要動,因此我選擇了一個上下班時間固定,簡單無業績壓力的工作來做!

我朋友笑我說,我應該是中華民國便利商店史上,最專業的收銀員了!

因為哪一間便利商店的收銀員有10年以上的金融機構現金收付相關工作經歷,擁有財金碩士學歷,12張專業金融證照,外加CFP認證的呢?

現在我的月收入不到我之前的十分之一,但是我每天可以有更多的時間可以陪我兒子,可以準時10點上床睡覺,有充足的睡眠;下午四點下班後,可以去附近小學操場慢跑3000公尺,五點回家洗好澡後,開車載我兒子去接我老婆下班;我不用擔心全球股市大漲大跌的影響,我不用擔心手續費收入太少會被釘業績;我只要擔心我老婆今天上班累不累?我兒子今天過得開不開心?我老爸的血壓有沒有維持正常?我的肝指數有沒有在正常範圍內!

前悠遊卡公司董事長、國民黨榮譽主席連戰先生的長公子連勝文先生,日前在辭去悠遊卡公司董事長一職時曾經說過:這個世界上沒有任何一樣工作,值得拿命去換。

聽的我真的是感觸良多、心有戚戚焉啊!

也因此我覺得我這個病,生得很值得,因為它讓我看清楚與體會到,人生在世最該要在乎的是甚麼?

如果現在有人問我,我的成就是甚麼?

對我來說錢夠用就好,該玩樂的時候就要玩樂,該睡覺的時候就要睡覺,現在的我,能夠把時間和精力花在對我最重要的家人身上,這就是我的成就!

2011年2月18日 星期五

Queen's Christmas speech in 2010



Here is the original address from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12079065


Over 400 years ago King James VI of Scotland inherited the throne of England at a time when the Christian church was deeply divided.

Here at Hampton Court in 1604, he convened a conference of churchmen of all shades of opinion to discuss the future of Christianity in this country.

The king agreed to commission a new translation of the bible that was acceptable to all parties.

This was to become the King James, or Authorized, Bible, which next year will be exactly four centuries old.

Acknowledged as a masterpiece of English prose and the most vivid translation of the scriptures, the glorious language of this bible has survived the turbulence of history and given many of us the most widely recognised and beautiful descriptions of the birth of Jesus Christ which we celebrate today.

The King James Bible was a major co-operative endeavour that required the efforts of dozens of the day's leading scholars.

The whole enterprise was guided by an interest in reaching agreement for the wider benefit of the Christian church, and to bring harmony to the kingdoms of England and Scotland.

Four hundred years later, it is as important as ever to build communities and create harmony, and one of the most powerful ways of doing this is through sport and games.

During this past year of abundant sporting events, I have seen for myself just how important sport is in bringing people together from all backgrounds, from all walks of life and from all age groups.

In the parks of towns and cities, and on village greens up and down the country, countless thousands of people every week give up their time to participate in sport and exercise of all sorts, or simply encourage others to do so.

These kinds of activity are common throughout the world and play a part in providing a different perspective on life.

Apart from developing physical fitness, sport and games can also teach vital social skills.

None can be enjoyed without abiding by the rules, and no team can hope to succeed without co-operation between the players. This sort of positive team spirit can benefit communities, companies and enterprises of all kinds.

As the success of recent Paralympics bears witness, a love of sport also has the power to help rehabilitate.

One only has to think of the injured men and women of the Armed Forces to see how an interest in games and sport can speed recovery and renew a sense of purpose, enjoyment and comradeship.

Right around the world, people gather to compete under standard rules and, in most cases, in a spirit of friendly rivalry. Competitors know that, to succeed, they must respect their opponents; very often, they like each other too.

Sportsmen and women often speak of the enormous pride they have in representing their country, a sense of belonging to a wider family.

We see this vividly at the Commonwealth Games, for example, which is known to many as the Friendly Games and where I am sure you have noticed that it is always the competitors from the smallest countries who receive the loudest cheers.

People are capable of belonging to many communities, including a religious faith. King James may not have anticipated quite how important sport and games were to become in promoting harmony and common interests.

But from the scriptures in the bible which bears his name, we know that nothing is more satisfying than the feeling of belonging to a group who are dedicated to helping each other: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

I wish you, and all those whom you love and care for, a very happy Christmas.

2011年2月14日 星期一

Happiness(快樂)

Happiness is always considered important to human beings. But why is it so difficult to define happiness and why are definitions of happiness so different among people? What are the main factors in achieving happiness? Give some examples and relevant evidence.

Although the pursuit of happiness is a never-ending human endeavor throughout history, it is so elusive and multi-faced that people always do not see eye to eye to each other when defining the true meaning of happiness. Though its definition varies, happiness can be available from two broad ways, material satisfaction and spiritual contentment.

On the one hand, people think they can find perpetual happiness by gaining. Their lives are a continual course in pursuit of materials, such as fame, fortune, authority, or social status. After rushing through their whole life to everything that proves profitable and lucrative, only a few attain their goals yet being plagued with superficial satisfaction with material.

On the other hand, there are also people who know that happiness comes from giving rather than gaining. By devoting all to the ideal of relieving the poor and the disabled, and contributing everything to the society, they feel and inner bliss when giving a helping hand. Mother Teresa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying for 45 years with her team. Laborious as it is, those people are determined to struggle against whatever lies ahead, because they feel fulfilled and gratified after a benevolent behavior. It is this charity and generosity that make our lives worth living, meaningful and happy.

To sum up, only through dedication, rather than acquisition, can people actually find themselves immersed in a spiritual satisfaction, the true happiness. Thus happiness lies not in anything we can possess, but in everything we are giving. In my opinion, only by the spirit of philanthropy can we approach happiness.

2011年2月13日 星期日

賀!

網誌在這陰雨綿綿的夜晚開張了,可喜可賀!
從小學開始寫日記,每天的紀錄都是言之有物,還博得導師的口頭嘉許。曾幾何時這個習慣逐漸消逝,如今承科技之便,試著將她由紙本轉移到螢幕上吧!
當然隨著上課的內容,網誌中也會穿插著英文,如果有訛誤之處,也歡迎隨時糾正,一起學習成長。(忽然發現這個部落格的中文字體只有一種,Orz)

Euthanasia

Euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a person who is suffering from an incurable illness. It is commonly called mercy killing or painless death. It is an issue causing heated debates. While opponents advocate religious concerns and errors of medical systems, proponents refuse with humanitarian views.

Opponents argue that, according to the Bible, human life is decided by God. Suffering, including sickness, is a blessing and tests. And thus suicide is against religious belief and immoral. Wrong diagnosis comes second. In 2009, the misdiagnosis rate of rectal cancer in Taiwan is 41.5%. With wrong diagnosis so high, if we practice euthanasia, can you imagine how many patients will die with regrets? In addition, there is always the odd that a new cure is just around the corner. For example, appendicitis was fatal and incurable in the past but is curable now.

However, there is the other side of the issue. A large number of people support euthanasia. One common argument for euthanasia is that patients with incurable diseases should not be forced to continue living if they are in great pain like 9th degree in the pain index and cannot bear this constant pain. A second reason is that staying in a hospital for a long time often causes a financial and emotional burden on the family. Incurable ill patients often worry about the hardship and misery that will fall upon their families. Moreover, incurable patients often find their lives meaningless. Even if they are alive, they can only lie in bed. The story of Xiao-Min Wang who had been in a PVS (persistent vegetative state) for 47 years is full of sorrow. For many, this is living death, and they choose to die with dignity. Finally, proponents believe that keeping dying patients alive on life-supporting systems is cruel and senseless because it causes great suffering to both the patients and their families.

In conclusion, supports believe that doctors should have the right to end the life of a terminally ill patient with the permission of the patient while conscious or the members of the family.

The Computer

Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient. Other people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.



In my opinion, the computer advance since 1943 bears in its consequences not only upon the military but also upon whole human beings. The improvement in computer brings available entertainments to exercise instead of spending time getting companies, quick and easy access to updated information and instant and convenient ways to communicate with other people.

Developers take advantage of the computer to make new platforms such as the Wii , the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. Various games have given us choices to simplify the requirements of exercising. Everyone can do some physical exertion with friends or alone anytime at home. It’s cheaper and easier than renting the place and checking with acquaintances.   

The advance of searching engines supports us to get new messages quickly and easily. Reporters put their news on companies’ pages, scholars put their studies on school pages and all listed companies and even stores have their own homepages. One can surf the Internet to accumulate information or knowledge, reserve tickets, or buy anything he or she is interested in.

And a more excellent contribution of the advanced techniques to us is the convenience of communicating with other people. We can communicate by email, share pictures and play small games on Facebook, reserve messages or chat with friends by Plurk or MSN. Cell phones used everyday are supported by computers.

With all of the benefits of the advanced techniques mentioned above, I personally, enjoy the convenience of computers, which give us simple way to exercise, provide us easily with lots of useful messages, and furnish us with convenient communications.