Bliss English Club

My Dear Blissers,

Home is cradle of building children character, the concern of which will certainly bring about some conflicts between couples of different family background or even battles among generations if grandparents get involved!

This coming Saturday, two –kid father, “Good New Man”, all the way from Taichung, is going to share and discuss with us what would be the appropriate way to deal with them.

The meeting would surely helpful for us to think back how we were brought up and to discuss what attitudes or methods we are going to take after the discussion!

Listen up!

Introduction from Host Kurt:

Any parent raising children is bound to have disagreements about the right way to manage their kids' behaviors and/or habits. But there are some issues that are so loaded they threaten to divide parenting partners. Parents took an informal poll to see which conflicts topped couples' lists, and three sources of frustration came up again and again. The conflict becomes more complicate if the children’s grandparent also involve into this battle. This is what exactly happened to my family. In this meeting, I want to share/discuss this parental conflict.

Guided Questions:

What are kind of conflicts over parenting styles happen at your family?

How do you handle this kind of battle?

Meeting agenda:

14:30 - 14:45 Warm up and self-introduction

14:45 - 14:55 Experience sharing

14:55 - 15:50 Group discussion

15:50 - 16:00 Break time

16:00 - 17:10 Clip watching and brainstorm

17:10 - 17:30 Q and A

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My Dear Blissers,

As November with mostly sunny and pleasant weather and little rain, invites us to enjoy the fall foliage, hot springs, geysers, so are Bliss November meeting!

Here you are!

Date: Nov. 3, 2018

Time: 14:30~`7:30

Venue: Agatha’s Bookstore偵探書屋

Host: Kurt

Topic: Common Conflicts from Different Parenting Styles: The Battle Happens in Our Daily Life

Date: Nov. 10, 2018

Time: 14:30~17:30

Venue: TOHOHI Arts Corner東豐喜

Host: Angel &* Ellen

Topic: In-depth Discussion of ‘Ghost in the Shel’ 1995 Version

Date: Nov. 17, 2018

Time: 10:00~13:00

Venue: Agatha’s Bookstore偵探書屋

Host: Ellen

Topic: Reflection of My Russian Business Trip

Date: Nov. 24, 2018

No Meeting

Election Day

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My Dear Blissers,

Cellphones and computers are everywhere, nowadays, and those are even more widespread and powerful in lives!  We see people gaze at cellphones more than computers!

That is the trend influencing our communication, interaction, business, and even education!

Practically, when we cannot stop it, we had better know how to live with and make the best of them!

This Saturday, our knowledgeable expert is going to discuss what both impacts you have been affected and you can picture in the future.

Agenda

10:00~10:10  Self-introduction ( what’s your mobile phone mean to you ?)

10:10~11:10  how cellphones and computers changed our lives?

1.      Target (high efficiency work)

2.      People (Character, personality)

3.      Something occurring (myopia, short sight, presbyopia, time...)

4.      Change of time management

5.      Location

6.      Material

7.      Money

11:10~11:20 Break Time

11:20~12:20 What’s the impact now and in the future that you can image from phone and computer?

12:20~13:00 what suggested and constructive ideas brought by TED Speakers for us to make better use of these devices?

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My Dear Blissers,

Parenting is always a human concerned issue!

Karl, an experienced Scout Troop Leader and two-kid father, has contributed all his passions and efforts on how to cultivate “Elite” generation in Taiwan, working together with other fathers and friends!

This coming Sat., his eagers to share such precious findings and secrets with us! Listen up!

Introduction from Karl:

If Searching for why the United States can remain the strongest country in the world, you will find thousands of links. Flowingly, you continue to notice some certain clue leading to the correct answer. That is, USA started the ELITEcultivation very early, even through a mystery group OA (order of the arrow) from 1912!

. 

The founder of the Boy Scouts Association Baden Powell once said "The wilderness is the "daytime" of the Scout Movement, camping is the "noon" of the wilderness activities, and campfire is the "pulse" of camping."

In Taiwan, although mountain Education Promotion and Implementation Plan is integrated into the curriculum of the middle school in full swing, do those outdoor activities help us to reach the same American goal, building “strong” characters in next generation ?

Do you know where we are and where to go?

1. Meeting agenda

i. 14:30-14:40 An Ice-breaker game.

ii. 14:40-15:30 Introduce the core value and ceremony of OA.

iii. 15:30-15:45 Group games

iv. 15:45-15:55 Break Time

v. 15:55-16:35 Introduce a wilderness Boy Scout camping in Ali Mountain

vi. 16:35-17:15The Core value/Responsibility/ Ecological sustainability/Risk in Taiwan mountain education. (Conflict between aboriginal hunting activities and environmental resources)

vii.17:15-17:30 Introduce Bushcraft (Share personal experience.)

2. Guided questions

i. What’s the meaning of wilderness activity/camping/camp fire for you?

ii. LNT（Leave No Trace）7 guidelines：
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly                                           4.Leave What You Find
5.Minimize Use and Impact from Fires
6.Respect Wildlife
7.Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Choose any of the most interesting LNT guidelines and communicate the idea to the folks in the meeting

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My dear Blissers,

This is the Last call on  <Bliss Q3 Outing「Nuit Blanche 白晝之夜」on Oct. 6, 2018, the citizens’ excitement and participation will count down till the next morning with all the other 120 cities over the world! Cheers for the Event and See you there.

Here you go!

活動獎勵：Bliss限量客製"個人版"復古明信片
A. 志在參加之初階版 選一名
B. 偵探挑戰之進階版 選二名

Also for your reference: https://style.yahoo.com.tw/全都不要睡-2018白晝之夜玩整晚-6大必逛裝置-3間強勢美食-4大亮點-070000226.html

<Bliss Q3 Outing>「Nuit Blanche 白晝之夜」on Oct. 6, 2018

Activity mode:
 

Event Winners:

We will choose one winner from Group A and 2 winners from Group B to give Bliss awards with Bliss Limited-Edition customized restro postcard for the winners

Also for your reference: https://style.yahoo.com.tw/全都不要睡-2018白晝之夜玩整晚-6大必逛裝置-3間強勢美食-4大亮點-070000226.html

My Dear Blissers,

Bliss October begins with “Nuit Blanche” in Taipei, inviting all Blissers to stay awake the whole night to be part of performing art interacting with the live art forms with all the other 120 cities globally at the same time!

Then followed by the outdoor education and impact discussion on computer and cellphone addiction as October Poster presents

To be sure, Bliss October is shaping a “History” in itself and stays unique globally!

Without further undo, just jump on the wagon and enjoy yourselves here!

Date: : 19:00~21:30 on Oct. 6, 2018

Gathering Place: 台北當代藝術館 Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei

Bliss Q3 Outing Topic: Nuit Blanche’s a World-famous City Art Festival

Date: 14:30~17:30 on Oct. 13, 2018

Venue:東豐喜藝文空間, TOHOHI Arts Corner

Host: Karl

Topic: From a Mystery Group OA (Order of The Arrow), Look Back on Taiwan’s Outdoor Education

Date: Oct. 20, 2018

Note: No Meeting

Date: 10:00~13:00 on Oct. 27, 2018

Venue: 偵探書屋 Murder Ink Bookstore

Host: Peter

Topic: How Are Our Life Styles Changed by Cellphones or Computers?

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Bliss Recap of “The Fantasy World of JinGuang Palmar Drama” by Carmelo on Sep. 29, 2018

Date: September 29, 2018

Host: Carmelo

Topic: “The Fantasy World of JinGuang Palmar Drama”

Participants: Emily, David, Ellen Wang, Ellen Huang, Eric, Will, Rita, Annie, Carmelo, Devry, Emma

Meeting photo: https://photos.app.goo.gl/C89FMmFMoeuUBqMs

Meeting started:

Our handsome and knowledgeable-ever host, Carmelo arranged his meeting as interesting and organized as expected. We were obsessed by his articulate guidance and overwhelming power of “Traditional Taiwanese Art” 金光布袋戲.!

Stereotypes of watching布袋戲

That is old-fashioned stuff, suitable only for the aged people! Actually, it is typically Taiwanese Arts, distinguished from others all over the world, worthwhile appreciating more often for all ages!

Barriers of Watching布袋戲

1. Oral Taiwanese is seldom spoken or understood by young generation.
2. Beauty of the art is hidden in the Rhyming Verse Spoken in Old Taiwanese!

The Art in布袋戲

1. Dialogues/narration are usually done by one person who dramatizes each character with proficient vocal varieties and vivid Taiwanese rhyming verse, and who also narrates each scene and background. “Screenwriters” act as the souls of the dramas, even guide how the “puppeteers “should manipulate their puppets! 

2. Sound & visual effects; traditionally in flat stages but now developed to bigger screens with animated, lighting, sound technologies.

3. Photography: They apply photographic skills like Zoom-in/out and special shots to correspond with characters and backgrounds to make the puppets act like real people with true feelings!

Branches of黃俊雄布袋戲

1.Traditonal one by 黃俊雄

2.霹靂布袋戲by 黃強華&黃文擇 since1980s

3.金光布袋戲 by黃立綱(3^rd son of黃俊雄) &黃俊雄since 1990s

Scenes in 金光布袋戲: : Acting without fighting actions

1. Carmelo showed us how a great Master taught his successor by teaching through sword skills, strategies, even encouraging him to killing “Master” with resolution and no regret!

2.  He then showed us how a mood can be delicately created and“Friendship” can accurately interpreted in 金光布袋戲

Fighting Scenes in 金光布袋戲:

Along with the storyboard, they use different shots to make the puppets fight even more flexibly and violently than real people.

Source of Stories

Like 金庸, the screenwriters creates the stories on some historical backgrounds mingling ling some imagination.For example, the legends of 李白and 徐福 became one of the sources of their inspiration!

Reflections:

Carmelo’s meeting wowed us so much that we talked about it after the meeting till very late. We admired his presenting and organizing skills and most unforgettably his remakable Taiwan金光布袋戲 vocal imitation! He convinced us well that he is an adept in Western but also in Taiwanese local arts! By the way, if Blissers feel interested in this Taiwanese Legacy, please take time to watch them in 台灣偶戲館 in Taipei! Stay Tune!

My dear Blissers,

Trembling but irresistible!

Have you ever wondered why you love watching creepy, mysterious and intriguing “crime fiction”? This Sat., an extraordinary expert in this genre writing and dissemination is going to unveil the hidden secrets behind it.

In the meeting, we ensure you will be inspired to get much in-depth understanding or even to start “writing” after such face-to-face author’s presentation and discussion. Welcome to the “Murder Ink” to plan a “defect-free” crime scheme. Ha-ha!

Bloody Murder: what shapes Crime Fiction?

Crime fiction has been one of the most popular genres since the 19th century, but has roots in works as varied as Sophocles, Herodotus, and Shakespeare. In Tommy’s very short Introduction explores the history of the genre, by considering the various definitions of 'crime fiction' and looking at how it has developed over time. Discussing the popularity of crime fiction worldwide and its various styles; the role that gender plays within the genre; spy fiction, and legal dramas and thrillers; he will give his insight into how the crime novel was shaped by the work of British and American authors in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Highlighting the works of authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Raymond Chandler — to name but a few — he considers the role of the crime novel in modern popular culture and asks whether we can, and whether we should, consider crime fiction serious 'literature'.

Guided Questions

What books do you remember are crime novels or what movies are in this genre?

What percentage do you find the crime novels take in the whole book market?

What genre movie do you like to watch? Please share the reasons why.

Key Words

The genre literary

Crime Novel

Mystery Novel

Historical Mystery Novel

Thriller

Plot

Characterization

Discussion

1. What are most important parts to form a mystery fiction? Plot or Characterization

2. What movie you like the most, and what genre it belongs to?

3. Choose a movie or TV series or a fiction which combined two genres?  What do you think about it?

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My dear Blissers,

As a famous quote by Steve Jobs, “Stay foolish, stay hungry”, everyone heard of MBA but rarely distinguish it from other professions like sales or technological expertise!

This Sat., we feel so honored to invite our knowledgeable MBA-degreed Blisser, Kevin Cheng to help us adapt the MBA prospective to enrich real lives!

Please have your ears up to what he says: 

Kevin’s Introduction:

Do you know what MBA is?  Is marketing related to our daily life? Is MBA a profession? What to do to make ones famous?

In fact, we can apply M.B.A. into our daily life; however, you would never know before the meeting.

Let’s learn how to develop and apply marketing on your job and life. Kevin Cheng will introduce what MBA is and the art of marketing.

If you are considering about making life interesting, do not miss it.   

Meeting agenda:

14:30 - 14:45  Warm up, self-introduction  

14:45 - 15:20 “Is M.B.A a Profession?

15:20 - 16:00 Essential Spirit of M.B.A

*10-Minute Break

16:10 - 17:10  Apple’s Style Marketing

17:10 - 17:30  Brain storming discussion

Guided Questions:

Is MBA a profession?

What do you think of when you see an advertisement?

What is the best advertising you have even seen?

Does marketing promotion help you make decision for shopping?