Junk Food County

Name: Jane Liu (49712038)
Reaction Article#12
Date: 12/26/2008
From: Newsweek

Junk Food County
(http://www.newsweek.com/id/76929)

My Reactions:
I think people may prefer to junk food rather than any other things, because they cannot get enough vegetables and fruit from the groceries near to their house. Because the junk food is sold everywhere and is also easy to get from any store, people will buy it if the vegetables and fruit are not available. I think it is a big problem and is needed to be solved as soon as possible. If people cannot get enough nutrition it may do damage to them, especially to the children. Only let children get enough nutrition can them grow up healthily. So, the adults should make good models to their children, not eating junk food and getting some healthy food to the children.

Speaking of junk food, it makes think of my daily life. Because I moved out of our house, I start to learn how to take care of my body. I think it’s hard for me to adapt living by myself because I have to notice what food to eat will benefit my body and always care about whether my ingestion of vegetables and fruit enough or not. Before, I didn’t have to worry about it. But now, I live alone outside so I have to notice what I eat every day. Maybe we cannot just eat some cookies or deserts for meals anymore. I need to pay more attention to my health because my parents said my complexion was not that good as before.(262 words)

Researchers put a microscope on food allergies

Name: Jane Liu (49712038)
Reaction Article#11
Date: 12/19/2008
From: International Herald Tribune

Researchers put a microscope on food allergies
(http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/09/healthscience/09allergies.php)

My Reactions:
Scientists nowadays still cannot get a clear picture about why people become allergic to something easily recently. The number of the people being allergic to something gets more and more. However, doctors don’t have the answer why it happens.

People nowadays seem more vulnerable to some normal things, such some kinds of fruits and nuts. And even lipstick can make a baby becoming allergic to it. It is horrible. Something we originally thought they had nothing to do with the allergy but now becoming to have much to do with the allergy. Why it happens? Everybody wants to know the answer.

People now are trying hard to find out why people get allergic so easily. They also did some tests and researches, just wanting to know the reason. If they really understand the secrets of allergy, they can help lots of people around the world. People in the world all are eager to get rid of allergy as soon as possible, because allergy really keeps annoying people for a very long time. If someone can save us from allergy, people will appreciate him so much.

I also have allergy. I am allergic to dust. Every time I go to some places with dirty air, I will feel mu nose itchy and have a running nose. It’s so uncomfortable and annoying. I hope the scientists will soon invent some special medicine to heal my allergy. (257 words)

New study tracks the transmissibility of happiness

Name: Jane Liu (49712038)
Reaction Article#10
Date: 12/12/2008
From: International Herald Tribune

New study tracks the transmissibility of happiness
(http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/04/healthscience/happy.php)

My Reactions:
After I read this article, I knew that one’s happy or not is not all about himself or herself. If people around him don’t be in good mood, he will maybe be influenced by them. So, it’s not the personal business to decide whether you are happy or not. Instead, a person’s happiness has much to do with others, or even some one he don’t know.

Teachers or books always tell us, “Only you can decide to be happy or not.” However, the research told us one’s happiness depends on many people. So, if our friends’ friends feel happy, we will be happy? And the answer is “Maybe”. Much to my surprise is that we may be influenced by people we don’t know. It’s so weird! I never met those people, but they had much to do with my mood and even influenced my life. So, happiness is not a personal thing.

So, after we read this article, we know if we want to help people, the easiest way is to make yourself happy. Because of if you are happy, your happiness can be spread by friends around you to your friends’ friends. And many people will be happy just because of you. And instead, if you feel unhappy, your bad mood will also influence other people’s mood. To make people and yourself feel fine, all you have to do is always be happy. This behavior not only help yourself, but also help others.(266 words)

A chatterer's guide to easing anxiety

Name: Jane Liu (49712038)
Reaction Article#9
Date: 12/05/2008
From: International Herald Tribune

A chatterer's guide to easing anxiety
(http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/27/travel/25flier.php)

My Reactions:
I think maybe it is an interesting way to talk to a stranger who sat around you. When the author traveled around, he met many kinds of people. To make his journeys more interesting, he always tries to make a conversation to who sits next to him. By so doing, he can acquaint with more people and know more different stories from others’ lives. Also, almost everyone made a conversation with the author, one became happier or felt more relaxed. So, the author can both make others and himself happier.

In western society, maybe these situations won’t be thought weird. However, in our eastern society, it may be thought strange to talk to a stranger at random. Maybe some people will think you are weird or you just want to sell them some products they are not willing to buy. I think most western people are passionate so you can just make a friendly conversation with them, but in Taiwan, I think it will be harder to find a stranger who really wants to talk to you friendly.

The differences may differ from areas. For example, people live in southern Taiwan are more passionate than those who live in northern Taiwan, and people live in southern Taiwan most are friendly. When you ask them for directions, they will tell you kindly. However, in northern Taiwan, some people will not be willing to tell you anything, even not to talk to you.

After I read this article, I realized the differences from country to country. If I have the chance to travel around, I must try to talk to people sit next to me just as the author always does.(300 words)

What happy people don't do

Name: Jane Liu (49712038)
Reaction Article#8
Date: 11/28/2008
From: International Herald Tribune

What happy people don't do
(http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/20/healthscience/20happy.php)

My Reactions:
According to this research, it seems that people who are happier spend less time on TV than those who are less happy do. By doing so, people who are happier have more time to socialize with other people, and by socializing with others, people will become happier during their conversations and their participation in many kinds of activities.

Maybe people feel happy when being with a lot of people having fun. If one just stays home all day watching TV then he will lose much time to make new friends or get along with his family members and friends. The research says that “Watching TV” is a single activity. It means that one can watch TV alone without anyone being around. Perhaps people become happier when they have friends around them.

If you want to feel happy, you should make yourself walk outside and enjoy yourself in the beauty of nature, my father tells me that. So when I feel depressed or sad, I always take a walk in the park or just run at the playground for a while, and I will feel better. If I feel unhappy and still make myself stay inside, I will feel I am almost suffocated. So, I have to go out and make myself inhale some fresh air then I feel delight.

So, I always think if people keep staying indoors for a long time, they will soon become unhappy, and all they should do is to go outside and try to feel the power of the beautiful nature.(276 words)

The thrift guide: How to stop shopping

Name: Jane Liu (49712038)
Reaction Article#7
Date: 11/21/2008
From: Guardian

The thrift guide: How to stop shopping
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/nov/02/fashion)

My Reactions:
When I saw through the news titles on the Internet, this article soon caught my eye. I was always called “shopaholic” by anyone knew about me because I like to buy anything I want, whether it is really useful to me or not. I think maybe I just like the feeling when going shopping. So when I saw this article, I felt happy because I thought maybe it could teach me how to get rid of my desire to shop.
This article provides some tips for the readers to follow and by doing so, maybe the tips can help some people become more thrift and let them know how to save money. So after I read this article, I got more tips about how to stop myself from going shopping and I learned that even if I had to spend money, how I spend it more properly.
The article mentioned that if I want to save my money, I should not browse the online shopping website. It is very easy to stop online and the article ask me stop clicking or I will buy things again. It really corresponds with my recent situation because recently I bought many stuffs from Internet. And after I paid for what I bought, I found I would run out of my money! So, after that, I think I really have to learn how to use my money properly and learn hoe to save money.(260 words)

Warm Your Hands, Warm Your Outlook?

Name: Jane Liu (49712038)
Reaction Article#6
Date: 11/07/2008
From: National Geographic News

Warm Your Hands, Warm Your Outlook?
(http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081023-warmth-coffee.html)
My Reactions:
According to this article, when people talk with others with some hot drinks in their hands, people are more friendly to get along with. I think the article is right. When I have some hot drinks in my hands, I feel warmer and I can make friends with stranger easily. I consider maybe it’s because that the hot drinks not only warm my hands but also warm my heart.
When I feel tired, my father always tells me drink or to eat something hot, and it can make me feel refreshed. When I feel upset or lonely, I seek something hot, because I think the hot feeling can really warm my heart, just like someone beside me.
I think that the feeling of heat makes people feel great is because the hot feelings are like people’s temperatures, and the hot feelings make people feel like someone is giving them a big hug or someone is with them and is giving them comfort. Many girls give each other a big hug when meeting some obstacles and something frustrating or unhappy. A warm hug really can cheer people up and can give people courage to face every challenge.
So, when there is no one can accompany you, you can just have a cup of hot tea or coffee, and I think it will make you feel much better.(247 Words)