【Food】journal- Taiwan Stingy Tofu

Web : http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/臭豆腐

Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTOFuom9L-M


There are many special local foods around the word. In Taiwan, stingy tofu is most representative and unique. However, stingy tofu not only appears in Taiwan; it covers Hong Kong and Singapore. Then, why stingy tofu can be on behalf of Taiwan? The following is some reasons in my opinion. On the one hand, stingy tofu develops to versatile forms of stingy tofu in Taiwan, such as spicy stingy tofu, steamed stingy tofu and charbroiled stingy tofu. Taiwan is a special place where combines many races and customs; therefore, food are usually developed into many cooking ways in order to be adapt by so many races. This case can be seen on not only stingy tofu, but also on lots of part, like clothing. So, I concern that stingy tofu can show this characteristic of Taiwan.


On the other hand, stingy tofu, as the food aptly named, is fermentative tofu. Tofu is made by soybeans and can seldom be used in western countries. This can point out that Taiwan is located in East Asia, whose populated citizens are also accustomed to use tofu making many cuisines. That is, stingy tofu can stands for our oriental culture and location.

To sum up, we can see through one place’s culture background by small cuisines; as for the food mentioned, stingy tofu is a small, stingy but good symbol of Taiwan.

【Art】journal- The stages of life

Web : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspar_David_Friedrich

The picture is drawn by Friedrich, one of my favorite artists.

This drawing reminds me many novels describe the dark side of life, and the following is about our stages in long life mentioned n the books. On childhood, we are ignorant about everything, and eager to touch the world more; we imagine flying in the sky, putting beautiful marbles into nostrils or even dream about blue small fairy; our childhood Is colorful and worriless. Entering adolescence, we are curious about sex and our hearts are full of zeal and hope about future. That’s the stage of students; they dislike many trite policy and unfair social order because there are still many blueprints of dreamland in their mind. In this stage, people keep struggling and trying until totally frustrated. Then, they step in the middle age, facing the aging appearance and burdens, such as social condition, making a living, their family, and realizing that altering the world is impossible. About old age, I think there is no more description to say. Then end up the whole life, which is mixed by small joy and sadness.

However, there are still lots of people choose to live in different ways. They may be the first black-skinned president, a kindhearted nurse working in Africa for free, or an honest normal businessman. We can be normal, but still hold our impossible dream happily without giving up. Like a poor beggar, no matter how tough his life may be, he still insists on picking garbage for better clean environment. We can still learn dancing, singing and dressing ourselves for not blanking up any stage of our life.

Destiny is holding in our palm, which depends on how we view our lives.

【Politics】journal- Kosovo

Web: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/11/13/kosovo.elections/index.html

Kosovo is a young country which announces its independence for recent years; it is divided from Serbia, located in east Europe. However, facing the opposite position and denial of other countries, Kosovo still sticks to the end of being an independent country. Now, the day for which their citizens are waiting over a long period is finally coming; their vote begins! It is Kosovo’s first step of democracy.

Many areas still seek for help to build countries, such as Kosovo, but apparently there is a long way to go. Luckily, Serbia claims that they will impose sanction against Kosovo but not in military way; it is to say that they can keep intact citizens and lands. In contrast, same situation in Taiwan seems not so bright; main land China recently legislate a new law, in order to forbid separating and execute it including military way.

We can notice so many people struggling for independence around the world, and lots of methods their governments choose to take. In the case of Kosovo, it chooses active way and persists on its standpoint; but in Taiwan, which way do we go?

【interesting】journal- Names of MLB main teams

Picture is the origin of major teams in MLB

Introduction web: http://ck101.com/archiver/tid-1491789.html

Photo detail: http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/MLB

It can’t be denied that there is a meaning behind every name, and this is why so many parents beat their brains out for naming their children. I am fond of linking the name of baseball team to the location they derived from; in this way, I can benefit from this in two parts. On the one hand, I can easily gain high grades in geography by being familiar with the background of baseball teams’ names, such as Yankees located in New York, and Lakers. Besides, knowing more about American native customs; for instance, Red Sox reveals the industry there. On the other hand, we can read the features and spirits of this team through their names; take Cubs for example, they decide to name their team as cubs not bears.


Names are quite interesting to study because we can see the owners inside through them.

【Dance】a great dancer from Taiwan-- Fayi

introduction: http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/%E8%A8%B1%E8%8A%B3%E5%AE%9C



Blog: http://www.wretch.cc/album/par7327



Many great men originated from Taiwan, and Fayi is no doubt one of them. I first knew her from my friend; at that time, she is a famous and active dancer around the world. However, what I care about is not her reputation but her attitude toward dancing; when she make the name of herself, she still remember her hometown, Taiwan, appreciating and dedicating herself in here. One day during her tour for performing around the world; suddenly the homesick strike her mind, and she planed to cultivate new trainee in Taiwan; this is the beginning of dance company Lafa.


It’s quite tough to initiate a new dancing company, but she still decided to abandon being a principle dancer in Martha Graham dance company, with a view to promote dancing in Taiwan; this truly touch my mind because this deed shows that she always be thankful to everyone passing in her life, and it’s so different from many celebrities.
Besides, she never dislike tiredness during dancing but pursue the perfect one as best as she can.

She teaches me that the more successful I am, the more humble I should be.

【health】journal- Obesity

WEB:http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/21/childhood.obesity/index.html#cnnSTCText

Obesity is now a common disease in western world, due to the new trend of consuming junk or high-fat food. Children nowadays have no need to worry about their living costs and tuition; they keep eating and then overweight. Unlike seen in movies, people in western countries are not slender but fat. In comparison, there are many children die of starvation in Africa; fried chicken and coke are like dreams to them.

Besides, weight becomes a new standard of beauty, due to the affection of up-to-date fashion. More and more modern girls prefer to drop or vomit food than consume and absorb nutrition completely. We can see many news broadcast that lots of models died because of anorexia, they always regard themselves as fat girls and keep going on diet. But I think that what they lack is confidence not good shape of body; if people pride and love themselves, they can live happily without caring their appearance. That is, slenderness is not a crucial part of girls. To think in another way, while many models throw rest of their lunch, there is a helpless woman pass away out of lacking nutrition.

Obesity not only stimulates public attention on this kind of modern disease but also show how great the poverty gap is, and this is a topic we should think about.

【Art】journal- Vincent van Gogh

WEB: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh

It’s no doubt that Vincent van Gogh is an outstanding artist in nineteenth century, though he fascinated people for recent years. I have already bought a ticket of Vincent van Gogh exhibition in Taipei historic museum with my high school friend about December; I can’t wait for that day.

Vincent van Gogh moved me when I was in senior high school, an article described him as a life fighter for he keeping his goal no matter how tough the process was. As everybody knows, he relied on the livelihood sended by Theo van Gogh, his younger brother and a successful art dealer. In spite of living in straitened circumstances, Vincent van Gogh still never gived up painting until ended his tragic life, even though there were no painting sold out during his life; this spirit truly urged me for sparing no effort on everything.About his death, I regard Vincent van Gogh’s suicide out of the relief to both he and his brother not the exhaustion of originality; his creativity is never drained.

Besides, he didn’t receive the professional training in his early life. Originally Vincent van Gogh planed to be a priest, an art dealer, and finally he determined to paint at late twenties. This long way stimulates me that impossibility is nothing; any opportunity may develop into turning point in life, and if there is a hope, there is a way. That is, It will never too late to achieve the dream.

Behind a great man exist a story; Vincent van Gogh is an suitable example.