Taiwanese traditional Cuisines

My home country, Taiwan, is quite famous for the traditional ''xiao-chi'' ( Xiao-chi translates broadly into snacks or ''small eats'').

''Xiao-chi'' is the one of the most representative local culture in Taiwan, it even shaped the specific diet culture - Night Market Culture, which is also another distinguishing characteristic of my country. In fact, night market culture has become a indispensable part of Taiwanese daily life. You can find there are various kinds of ''xiao-chi'' sold in night markets; the diversity of food will definitely dizzle you!

Now, I would like to introduce few typical ''xiao-chi'' in Taiwan to you.

1. Stinky tofu

Undoubtedly,Stinky tofu is the most famous ''xiao-chi'' in Taiwan. It is well known all over the world for its ''unusual'' smell. The speciality of this dish is the use of fermented tofu, which causes the strong flaver of Stinky tofu. I know most of the foreign people don’t dare to taste this dish; however, I strongly advice you to give it a try if ther is a chance. I bet you will like it!

2.Beef noodles

Beef Noodle is another representative gourmet in Taiwan. It is a kind of Chinese noodle soup made of stewed beef, beef broth, vegetables and Chinese noodles. Chinese noodles looks similar with Spaghetti ; however, the taste is quite different with Western-style noodles.

3. Oyster omelet

Although Oyster omelet is not as famous as Stinky tofu, it is a really popular ''xiao-chi'' in night markets. Oyster omelet is composed of oysters, eggs, vegetables, and potato starch. People usually enjoy it with some souse. The English name of this dish is ''Oyster omelet'', but it actually tastes differently with the western omelet, the ingredients are different as well.

4.Coffin

This dish may sound frightening, but it is very delicious! The name-''coffin'' came from its appearance; the hollow toast looks like a coffin. We fill seafood, vegetables ,and stew meat in the hollow toast.

5. Bubble tea (pearl milk tea)

Bubble tea is originated from Taichung, Taiwan. This drink consists of iced tea, milk, and tapioca; the black balls at the bottom of the cup are made of tapioca. The origin of given name ''pearl milk tea'' is due to the symbolization of the black ball-pearl.

These days, when I was in the New York City, I saw Bubble tea shop!I felt honor for Bubble tea!

6. Doubled layer roll (sausage)

The Doubled layer roll looks like the hot-dog roll here in America.

The inner sausage is pork sausage; the outer part is rice roll.

It is an old-time flavor of Taiwan; usually char-grilled.

7.Braised pork rice

Braised pork rice is a food with great significance in Taiwan. It looks quite ordinary; however, it brings olderly Taiwanese back memories of times. In the ancient poverty ages, rice with meat juice is the main food in Taiwan.

These are some typical representive ''xiao-chi'' in Taiwan; they are only the tiny part of variety of Taiwanese food. If you ask me which dish I like most, I really can not make the choice. I like them all indeed!

If you have an opportunity to travel in Taiwan in the future, you must go to the night markets. They are worth to visit! There are various kinds of food offered and you can have them with the very low prices. From the bottom of my heart, I strongly recommend you to experience the night market culture in Taiwan!

Any comment is welcome.Thank you for yor reading!

The European Music

Which musician do you like most? Bach, Mozart or Beethoven? We almost know lots of musicians which come from European music. European music has begun developed from the Renaissance. These are 3 main periods of music to identify European music which is Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods. These periods music has different styles, texture, and rhythm even different compositions by typical musicians. Different periods of music represent different culture and history, they also represent the kind of music is popular in European music.

Because the reason I play the piano, I know lots of the european music, and like them especially the romantic music. I'd like to talk about the european music.

Baroque belongs to the much decorated style of music that was common in European in the 17^th century. The typical musician of Baroque period is Johann Sebastian Bach (Mar 21, 1685- July 28, 1750), from 1700 he had several positions like singer, violinist and organist. Much of his music contains an extremely convincing of the two styles. At St.thomas he wrote more than 200 church compositions. His orchestral works include the six Brandenburg concertos, four orchestral concertos, and many harpsichord concertos, a format he invented. Today, Bach is considered as the greatest composer of the Baroque era, and the greatest composer of all time. During the period, composers and performers used more tiny musical decoration, made changes in musical item, and developed new instrumental playing techniques. Baroque music extended the size, range, and complexity of instrumental performance, and also established opera as a musical style. Many musical terms and concepts from this era are still in use today.

(this link is about some sample music of Baroque music with some introduction)

The Classical period, from about 1750 to 1820, established many of the forms of composition, presentation and style. In the classical period, the piano became the main keyboard instrument. However, the term classical music is used to describe a variety of Western musical styles from the ninth century to the present, and especially from the sixteenth or seventeenth to the nineteenth. In the middle of the 18th century , Europe began to move towards a new style in archecture, literature, and the arts, generally known as Classism. That make music moved away from the Baroque period, towards a style where a melody over a subordinate harmony. Classical music has a lighter, clearer texture than Baroque music and is less complex. The typical musician of classical periods is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Jan 27, 1756-Dec 5, 1791). In his last year he composed the opera The Magic Flute and his great Requiem. Despite his success, he always lacked money and had to borrow heavily from friends.


(The sample music of classical period)

The Romantic movement in music agree with a general Romantic movement in all arts. At this period, the arts of literature and painting began to influence music. In the Romantic era, music achieved lyric or sensible meaning. Romantic music struggled to increase emotional expression and power to describe these deeper truths, it saved even extended the formal structures from the classical period. The romantic music has a freedom in form and design and more intense personal expression of emotion in which fantasy, imagination. The Romantic era produced many great composers whose names and music are still familiar and popular today. Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Schubert, Chopin, and Wagner are perhaps the most well-known, but there are plenty of others who may also be familiar, including Strauss, Verdi, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Puccini, and Maishler. These composers are i most like. The typical musician is Ludwig van Beethoven, the most famous composer of all, is harder to replace. His early works are from the Classical period and are clearly Classical in style. But his later music, including the majority of his most famous music, is just as clearly Romantic.

(the sample music of The Romantic period music)

European music had developed for a long time. Baroque, Classical and Romantic, these are different periods have different contributions for European music. Most western music based on these periods of music. It is fun to classify and explode music, even other area music.

Thanks for your reading, do you guys know more about the European music?

How's your feelings ? And do you have some favorite musicans?

What do you think about the European music? What kind of music do you like?

Leave some comments....

Do not mis the chance to blow

this opportunity comes in a lifetime
yo
.
.
- Lose your self / Eminem
This movie is what we talked in the class.
his name is Paul potts.

Things that I want to do before kictket the bucket.
Are you remembering what we talked about at the first class?
We talked about our goals and hope that we want to achieve before kicket the bucket.
I want to leave some tracks of that I thought at the first class in this summer.
These are what I want to do before kicket the bucket.

1.Seeing the Wimbledon final match!! At the most expensive seat!!
I mentioned about tennis in class which is my favorite sport. I can release my stress by playing tennis, and it also helps me to make friends by playing together. It is why I like tennis; I have played it for 10years. As I become older, I’m not satisfied just for playing, I started to get interest to see pro tennis player’s match through TV. I saw Wimbledon through internet, but it is hard to see in real. Because of its expensive fee and location problem; Major world tennis competitions are held at the England, USA, Australia, and France. However I set my goal for seeing Wimbledon final match at the most expensive seat. Wimbledon has biggest authority among the other world tennis competition. All of the players have to wear white color clothes, and it held on the classic grass court. I’ll abbreviate longer explanation in this blog, but you can find more information about Wimbledon world tennis competition in its homepage.
According to my examination, at the 2010 match, the most expensive seat ticket fee was £104 = $164.32. It’s not that expensive, but when I think about tour expense, it was not cheap.
One of the Wimbledon tour site(http://wimbledon-experience.com/default.asp?contentID=673) let me know the Wimbledon final match tour price, and it was about £4485 = $7086.3.
I think I should have to work hard, after get a job.


2. Going to the Italy Duomo, Firenze with my wife
This place is shown at movie ‘Between Calm And Passion’
I had seen this at the army by book, for my first time. After finish my army duty, the movie was released and I saw it. The ‘Duomo’ is the place that many lovers promise their everlasting love to each other in the movie. It was very romantic, so I couldn’t forget that scene. For this reason, I decide to go that place with my future wife.
I think my future wife would be very happy woman. How you think about it? : )

3. Happy sharing life


After I get my job, and make romantic memory with my wife, I want to share my happiness with other people, I’m Christian. However, I’ll never write any religious sentences.
Not only is sharing life appropriate for my religion, but it also the happiest life. It is just my opinion, but there are opportunities make my opinion like this way. I read about Mother Teresa’s life through the book which name is “Finding Calcutta” It was written by Mary Poplin. I strongly suggest this book to you! It let us know how Mather Teresa helped other poor child in Kolkata (original name was Calcutta). I think the way people feel after read this book is depend on the person. However, in my case, I finish this book at the airplane which was going to the JFK Airport, I believed that the way of Mather Teresa’s life would be the life that I have to admire. I can’t post the book’s content, but I’ll link some information of Mather Teresa for people who have no idea about her.

Now, It is the conversation time!

If you don’t mind, please leave your opinion after read my post.
There are some unfamiliar words I hope my definition will be help for your understanding.
I’ll be waiting your comment! Thank you for reading!

Abbreviate : to shorten (a word or words), or to make (something) shorter

£ : pound, one of the England monetary unit. £1 = $1.58

Definition From ‘Cambridge Dictionary of American English’.

Business Class Film-- On the waterfront

If there is better performance by a man in the history of film in America, it must be-《On The Waterfront》. Indeed, it is a Oscar film( including best picture& Best Actor) in 1954 which has been played by our business professor to educate us and loosely based on American real-life events, even though the politics of the era no longer manipulate the society now. This film was directed by Elia Kazan who is one of the most honored and influenced directors in Boradway and Hollywood history. Elia Kazan's on the waterfront is revered as a classic, as it was Elia Kazan's statement to the world about pursing a justice and conflicting his fate. Just as its name implies, this film describe a story back of the manual laborer who worked in a crooked dockers' union on the waterfront .
The film is dark, inspired, spunky directly by less extent. The film was based on a true story of a longshoreman tried to overthrow a corrupt union. The central figure is Terry Molly( Malon Brando), an ex-boxer who runs errands for Johnny Friendly(Lee J. Cobb), the crooked boss of the workers' union. Terry's brother, a member of Johnny's inner circle, partly influenced by him, Terry is trusted. When the longshoreman threaten Johnny's position, the boss killed him with Terry's unwiting assistance. Afterward, Terry meet the victim's sister-Edie and fall in love deeply with her. Once Terry realize that he was unwitting involved into the murder of Edie's brother, he was torn between loyalty of Johnny and his brother and the growing inffatuation with the mudered man's sister. Meanwhile, the local priest, Father Barry, tried to organize the longshoreman to fight against the corruption. In the end, Terry was pushed into a position that he betray someone to escape demands.



From an acting standpoint, the actors' performance is nearly perfect. As I remembered, the most memorable lines recorded in the most classical words within one century is:" you don't understand, I could had class, I could been a contender, I could have been somebody. Instead of a bum, which is who I am." (From Terry) The laborers' face may be rough and scraggy, they submit the worker organization and get paid by them, but like the type of people ones would expect to encounter when wandering into blue-collar working atmosphere. It happens anywhere that the emplyees do whatever great effort the boss asks for if you are not in the highest department in a corporation. It called "codes of Ethics" (define by Professor Arthur Menton, a experienced professor in Stony Brook University) which means become a part of the culture of the company in business field. Another remark by James T. said:" Elia Kazan completed this film with the weathered buildings, the dirty alley, and the gritty waterfront unlike other typical films in Hollywood ones. " That would be the realest scene reveal the old-fashioned American corruption life among the working class especially as a longshoreman. I was told some critical thinking by the professor with my popcorn. Terry Moalloy suffered a struggle that be loyal or betrayal to the union's mod leaders as other labors did. Although he nearly lose the love of Edie when he was found invovled to the unwitting muder, he is honest at least and brave enough to "betray" his brother and fight against the workers' union.


Furthermore, from this movie, you may see clearly the early unions to welfare of American worker is important which permeated nearly every aspect of American industry. In addiction, there are some situation in that corrupt climate: graft, drugs, not paid by the rules, etc.

More content link to the video of movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSImMMMf5nA&feature=related


This story happened during the World WarII. Could you think one or more connection with this film? Under what political or economic situation?
At last, feel free to ask me or correct me if there are something you confused about. Thank you for your reading and participating.

The Other Boleyn Girl

The Other Boleyn Girl is a historical fiction novel written by the British author Philippa Gregory. I would like to recommend you not only the novel but also the movie adapted by the novel and directed by Justin Chadwick. As a person who prefers the novels better than the movies most of the times; I still can list this movie in my favourites.

I saw this book at home when I was in Turkey. My mom was reading it like she was addicted to it. I felt really curious about it and she also wanted me to read it after she finished the book. I started reading the book and it didn't take me a week to finish it. What happened to me was, I really found my self searching on English history and culture after I read the book. That's why I watched the movie and found myself in the spectacular 16th century of England again.

The Boleyn family is an important family that has a prestigious place in the court of England. The family members work for the King Henry VIII while they live there. One of the two sisters Mary Boleyn takes her place in the court as well as the other family members. Now, here is the place where the action begins. King Henry VIII first notices Mary Boleyn, he is attracted to her pure beauty and innocence. Mary, already married, can not resist the king and they fall in love. However the sister Anne Boleyn returns from the French court and gets used to her new place in this new court so quickly. Because she is one of the cleverest minds of the family. She notices the king's interest on Mary and does whatever she can to steal Henry's attention on herself. Anne soon becomes irresistable to Henry, and Mary can do nothing but watch her sister's rise. Anne pushes it so hard to achieve her ambition. From now on, Mary will be no more than the Oher Boleyn Girl. She even make the king ends his marriage with Katherine of Aragorn and changes the destiny of England.

This book is a perfect example for a person's endless desires and passion of success and non-acceptance for failure. However Anne Boleyn experiences the most tragical failure at the end of the story and is sent to the Tower of England by the king for her own exucution. So basicly, she creates the evilest and the most determined character of the English royalty.

I chose to write about this book and the movie of the Other Boleyn Girl because it's one of the most extraordinary and tragical history I've read ever. So, for the ones who is interested in the story I would suggest to read the book first to have a better oppurtunity to get the knowledge on the history. However watching the movie afterwards might the a perfect thing to do to visualize the images and the characters that takes place in the book.

I can also recommend the series called "The Tudors" if you want to continue to live in those days a little bit more :)

That's it! Now please share your opinions with me. What do think? Do you feel interested in the story or does it sound boring to you :) I can't wait to see your reactions. Thank you very much and I hope you enjoyed my blog.

Damla

12 Coolest New Inventions

Human beings were called the most brilliant animal in the world because they use their talent and imagination to create the new tools, launch the new activities, and come up with some ideas in order to improve their lives.

Today, I would like to introduce you the 12 coolest new inventions that were chosen by the Industrial Designers Society of America. Besides, I will give out some of my opinions about those inventions. Some products I thought are awesome, but some objects may not be really useful in the real world.

You can take a look of this website "12 Coolest New Inventions", which is from The Daily Beast, and then I will introduce those inventions one by one as followed.

1. A Better Mousetrap:
Although this mousetrap could catch the mouse without killing them, what people will do to the next step, to kill them or to feed them? I have no idea of what the purpose of this invention.





2. The Grill to End All Grills:
The most important concept of this grill equipment is all-in-one. Like i-pods, this machine combines different functions to be more compact.




3. Flash Drive as Accessory:
People will regard a flash drive as a key. why? It is necessary for you to bring your key everyday is as same as it is essential for you to use a flash drive to save documents everyday. Actually, I do not think it is the new invention because I saw the same application on the pens and decorations before. For the USB flash drive industry, it is easy to produce flash drives. In fact, there are no barriers to enter this market. Therefore, companies would come up with know-how to compete with their competitors.



4. Beauty in the Kitchen:
Creating this kitchen, the inventor wanted not only to have the elegant atmosphere but also to save energy by adding a convection and air flow distribution. In my opinion, the issue of environmentally friendly is the selling point.





5. Doors of Perception:
I have no idea with this locker because I do not use any sliding door in my home.







6. A Modern Rosetta Stone:
Rosetta Stone was used to translate the ancient Egyptian language.
The creator named his product to demonstrate the similar conception of the Rosetta Stone.



7. Out Mac-ing the Mac:
There is no doubt that Mac is a successful company. Every year, they announce the new and amazing products to the public. From their products, we can tell that the wireless skill is still a trend and will be lasting for a while in the IE industry.


8. Garden in a Box:
Here is another invention about environmentally friendly. It shows that people are more and more aware of this issue.

9. Voice-powered Car:
The resources are limited, so people try finding a way to use resources effectively. This is a car was made by less mental materials. The surprising thing is that people can drive a car by speaking. However, I wonder that if a person who can not speak, how he can control the car by voice. Furthermore, if people are talking in the car, how this car can respond to those sounds and take actions.


10. Plug In, Then Zero to 150:
This sportbike is combined computer and motorcycle. This shows that a lot of things will connect with the computer in the future.

11. Perpetual Light:
Nowadays, water resource becomes a big problem, especially the clean water resource. Not only because of pollutions but also because of population explosion, available and clean water will be difficult to get. Hence, I am not sure that this light maker will be practical in the future.

12. Pack-and-go Bicycle:
The zero pollution bikes become very popular after people are aware of the global warming. As I said before, the green products still have been a trend in the market.




I usually take participate in the innovation forum in my home country. I really enjoy exploring different inventions around the world because those objects can make our society become better and better and show the unlimited imagination of our brains. Moreover, I believe that demand creates supply, this concept is one of the economic theory. Observing those inventions allows me to think what the trend of the world is or what people are interested in. Furthermore, in the list of the innovators, I discovered that the some countries, such as Germany, U.S.A., England, South Korea, ..., and etc., are devoted to invent the new products.

Now, it is your turn to give me your point of views about those inventions. I would like to know 1 or 2 objects that are interested in you and explain your reasons. Otherwise, you could choose 1 or 2 objects to express your different opinions from me or the inventor.