曾采岑的Self-Learning Log by cynthia

Morocco earthquake(1.5 hours)

cen940119 — 2023-09-10 16:56:13 UTC

Main ideas of this news :
There was a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Morocco on September 8 and the epicenter was near Marrekesh. This severe earthquake caused many houses collapsed and caused casualties. A lot of people were afraid to go home due to the aftershocks. Additionally, the ancient city of Marrekesh, the local medieval red walls, and mosque minarets were also severely damaged by the earthquake. After this disaster, the country's royal palace has declared a three-day national mourning period and announced that the army will send rescue teams to help the disaster-stricken areas. There are also many countries willing to provide assistance and support to Morocco.

Meaning of some vocabularies:

1.magnitude(noun.):
the scale of an earthquake
2.epicenter(noun.):
the central point on the surface of Earth above where an earthquake occurs deep underground
3.aftershock(noun.):
a smaller earthquake that happens after the main one, and it usually not as powerful as the main earthquake
4.casualty(noun.):
someone who gets hurt or injured, especially in accidents, disasters, or wars.

My thoughts about this news:

I think that it is very important for us to know how to protect ourselves when an earthquake happens because Taiwan situates in Circum-Pacific Seismic Belt. Besides, doing disaster prevention beforehand is also a significant thing. We can learn how other countries face earthquakes by following international news.

The Balance Between Pokémon Sleep and Well-being(1.5 hours)

cen940119 — 2023-09-21 15:15:35 UTC

Main ideas:
SELECT BUTTON Inc. developed Pokémon Sleep app which can monitor users' sleep patterns. To excel in this app, some users adopt negative strategy such as the use of sleeping pills. Although aiming to master the game is exciting, it's important to strike a balance between the digital realm and our health. This app prompt users who want to pursue the best performance in the game to improve their sleep quality.

Meaning of some vocabularies:
1.incentive(noun.):
a thing which can encourage or motivate someone to do something.
2.merge(verb.):
to combine two or more things
3.excel in(phr.):
to perform something well
4.wholesome(adj.):
good for our health, emotion, or physical
5.paramount(adj.):
the most important thing

My thoughts about this app:
I think this app can help users improve their sleep quality, however, it can still bring some negative influences. As mentioned in the article, some users use sleeping pills to improve their sleep quality in order to gain an advantage in this game. This behavior makes Pokémon Sleep app lose its original meaning.

TOEIC分級測驗(1 hour)

cen940119 — 2023-12-07 10:28:19 UTC

How to keep AI under control | Max Tegmark | (1 hour)

cen940119 — 2023-12-09 07:37:55 UTC

Main ideas:

Progress of AI has been faster then anticipated, and recent progess shows that we may only have 2-3 years before being surpassed by AI. Some companies like OpenAI, Google DrrpMind, and Anthropic have goals about developing general artificial intelligence(AGI) and superintelligence. However, superintelligence resembles a new species that we are building, and Alan Turing predicted that machine would take control. Also, the risk of extinction for humanity has been warned by various industry leaders and researchers. As a result, we need a convincing plan for AI safety. Besides, we have to stop trying to train models that we don't understand such as superintelligence. We can have a promising future with AI without obsessing over superintelligence.

My thoughts:

I think that the progress of AI is inevitable. There are a lot of advantage of AI in our daliy life. For example, ChatPDF can help us read a journal article faster, and ChatGPT can help us translate a article completely and quickly. However, even if AI is very convenient to us, we still can't rely too much on AI.

Christmas Gingerbread Man(1.5 hour)

cen940119 — 2023-12-15 17:12:42 UTC

We discussed about the history and shared some intresting stories of Gingerbread Man. Besides, we talked about the difference of Christmas between Taiwan and other countries.

I think this activity is unforgettable to me because I made a number of new friends during the 1 hour. We decorated our Gingerbread Man together and chatted with each other happily. The most important thing is that I talked with the people from various countries through this activity and I consider that I won't be fear of talking English from now on. If there is any chance that can talk with foreigner in the furture, I think I will give it a try.

Why Thinking About Death Helps You Live a Better Life | Alua Arthur | (1.5hours)

cen940119 — 2023-12-16 04:43:07 UTC

Main ideas:

The speaker considers that it's healthy to think about death and prepare for it. She shared her story of becoming a thanadoula(end-of-life care provider) and her discovery of the meaning in life and death through this special carrer. Also, the speaker encourages embracing our humanness, with all its imperfections and uncertainties. She thinks we have the ability to creat meaning and find beauty in the ordinary moments of life. After working with people facing the end of their lives, the speaker believes that the true gift of our mortal condition is the miracle of being alive, and she expresses gratitude for the opportunity to live and love, and for the chance to reflect on the meaning of life and death.

My thoughts:

I think that our life is a brief span which only measures some seventy or eighty years in all, and we are walking towards death every day. As a result, in my opinion, we have to seize every day because every day is unique. Maybe sometimes life is not perfact, but every moment is worth treasuring and rethinking.

A Long Walk to Water(3 hours)

cen940119 — 2023-12-16 10:20:17 UTC

About the novel:

The novel "A Long Walk to Water" contains two parallel narratives, respectively telling the arduous journey of the two protagonists. The first narrative line tells the story of Salva Dut, a boy living in South Sudan who was forced to leave his homeland during the South Sudanese civil war in 1985 and embarked on a long and dangerous journey to find safety and refuge. The journey was full of hardships, but Salva Dut's perseverance and hope eventually allowed him to find a new home.

Another narrative line follows Nya, a girl living in South Sudan. She had to walk long distances and cross difficult terrain every day to get the water she needed. It's a difficult journey to survive, yet her story is also one of resilience and hope.

The stories of these two protagonists are intertwined in the book, showing their perseverance, courage, and desire for life in extreme difficulties. This novel uses a profound narrative to reveal the impact of war, flight and water crisis on life, while also emphasizing the belief in hope and perseverance. Through these stories, the author presents touching themes of survival, resilience, and humanity.

My thought:

In fact, the reason why I chose to read this novel is the war between Israel and Palestine. I consider that we should think about the consequences of war and avoid war.

"A Long Walk to Water" profoundly depicts the profound impact of war on human life through the stories of the two main characters Salva and Nya. Salva Dut lost her family in South Sudan's civil war and was forced to leave her homeland and embark on a long and dangerous journey. Under such extreme adversity, his perseverance and hope became the driving force for survival, making us think about the tenacity of human nature in extreme environments.

Nya's story, on the other hand, focuses on the impact of war on water resources necessary for survival. She has to walk long distances every day to get water, a life that shows how war profoundly threatens the basic needs of communities, especially women and children. This novel profoundly explores how war profoundly changes people's lives and the resilience and hope that emerge in extreme adversity. It calls readers' attention to areas still experiencing war around the world and inspires us to work toward peace, human rights, and justice.