Friday, February 10, 2023

Why You Should Read and Watch the "Attack on Titan."

Attack on Titan is a Japanese manga and anime series that has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world. Created by Hajime Isayama, the series follows the journey of Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert as they join the military to fight against the Titans and uncover the mysteries surrounding their existence. Since its first publication, the series has gained a large and passionate following, and it has been adapted into several anime seasons, as well as a number of spin-off manga series and light novels.

The manga and anime series are set in a world where humanity lives in fear of Titans, massive humanoid creatures that devour humans seemingly without reason. The Titans first appeared over a hundred years prior to the start of the story, and since then, humanity has been forced to live within a set of walls to protect themselves from the Titans. The story follows Eren, Mikasa, and Armin as they join the military in an effort to fight against the Titans and protect their home from destruction.

One of the defining characteristics of Attack on Titan is its dark and intense storytelling. The series is known for its graphic violence, its exploration of human nature and the lengths that people will go to in order to survive, and its compelling characters and intricate world-building. The characters are well-developed, with each having their own unique personality, motivations, and backstories. As the story progresses, the characters evolve and grow, adding depth and dimension to the world of Attack on Titan.

The anime adaptation of Attack on Titan is highly regarded by fans and critics alike. The animation is top-notch, with detailed character designs, fluid action sequences, and breathtaking landscapes. The voice acting is also superb, with each voice actor bringing their own unique energy and emotion to the characters. The music and sound design in the anime are equally impressive, adding to the overall atmosphere and tone of the series.

In conclusion, Attack on Titan is a must-watch for fans of action-packed anime and manga with a strong focus on character development and a compelling story. The series is intense, dark, and at times graphic, but it is also a triumph of storytelling, world-building, and character development. Whether you're a fan of anime, manga, or just great storytelling, Attack on Titan is definitely worth checking out.

Exploring the Potentials of Vietnam-Taiwan Tourism Development: A Path to Future Growth - Written by ChatGPT

The tourism industry is one of the world's most dynamic and fastest-growing sectors, creating a significant impact on the global economy. In recent years, the relationship between Vietnam and Taiwan has been growing increasingly close, and this has also been reflected in tourism development. This editorial aims to shed light on the potential and opportunities of the tourism industry between Vietnam and Taiwan and the future growth prospects of this partnership.

Recent data suggests that the number of tourists visiting Vietnam has been steadily increasing, with a total of 19.5 million visitors in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, Taiwan received 11 million visitors in the same year, with a significant number coming from Vietnam. The robust growth of the tourism industry in both countries is a testament to the potential of this partnership.

One of the reasons for this growth is the geographical proximity of the two countries, which enables convenient and cost-effective travel for tourists. The Vietnam-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement, signed in 2009, has also created a favorable environment for tourism development by eliminating trade barriers and reducing costs for travel and tourism services. Additionally, both Vietnam and Taiwan have a rich cultural heritage and unique attractions that appeal to tourists, making them popular travel destinations.

Moreover, the tourism industry in both countries has been focusing on sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, which has increased its appeal to environmentally conscious tourists. Vietnam has been promoting responsible tourism through initiatives such as reducing plastic waste and preserving its natural beauty, while Taiwan has been actively promoting its eco-friendly tourism products. This shared commitment to sustainability is another reason for the positive outlook of the tourism industry between the two countries.

The potential for growth in the tourism industry between Vietnam and Taiwan is vast, and there is a lot of room for collaboration and cooperation. For example, the two countries can work together to develop new travel products and packages that cater to specific target markets, such as adventure or cultural tourism. They can also collaborate on marketing efforts to promote their destinations and attract more visitors.

In conclusion, the Vietnam-Taiwan tourism development is a promising partnership with tremendous potential for future growth. With their proximity, cultural richness, and shared commitment to sustainability, there is no doubt that this partnership will continue to thrive and benefit both countries. It is essential for the tourism industry in both countries to continue to work together to explore new opportunities and enhance the quality of their services. This will not only lead to an increase in tourists but also to the development of the local economy, creating jobs and generating income for the people.

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Sunday, February 5, 2023

A Story Written by ChatGPT? (Can you detect any flaws from the text?)

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled at the foot of a great mountain, there lived a young girl named Lily. She lived with her grandmother, who had raised her since her parents had passed away when she was just a baby. Lily's grandmother was known throughout the village as the wisest woman in all the land, and it was said that she possessed magical powers.

One day, while out gathering firewood, Lily came across a small, glittering object. It was a key, unlike any she had ever seen before. Intrigued, she took the key home to her grandmother and showed it to her.

Her grandmother's eyes lit up with recognition when she saw the key. "This is the key to the treasure of the mountain," she said. "The treasure is guarded by a powerful dragon, who will only give it up to the bravest of all the villagers."

Lily was determined to be the one to retrieve the treasure and prove her bravery. She set out on her journey, climbing the mountain and facing many obstacles along the way. But she never gave up, for she was determined to succeed.

When she finally reached the top of the mountain, she found the dragon, who was fiercely guarding the treasure. But instead of attacking her, the dragon spoke to her in a deep, rumbling voice. "Why have you come here, young one?" he asked.

Lily bravely told the dragon of her quest to retrieve the treasure and prove her bravery. The dragon was so moved by her determination that he offered to give her the treasure as a gift. But he warned her, "The treasure is cursed, and whoever possesses it will never find happiness."

Lily hesitated for a moment, but then decided that she would take the treasure and face the curse head-on. She returned to the village, where she was greeted as a hero. The villagers admired the treasure and were envious of her bravery.

However, as the days passed, Lily found that the curse was true. She was never happy, no matter how many possessions she acquired or how much money she had. She realized that the real treasure was not the gold and jewels that she had retrieved from the mountain, but the bravery and determination that she had shown in her journey.

From that day on, Lily lived a simple and content life, sharing her story and the lesson she had learned with all who would listen. And so, she became known throughout the land as the bravest and wisest of all the villagers.

Saturday, June 4, 2022

Movie Genres that I Like

Cinema - the seventh art – deserves appreciation. There are two types of movies: one is serious, designed to make the audience think, and the other entertains and amuses moviegoers. I like both genres because the former educates and entertains me.

Every seriously-made film is a lesson. For instance, "Hachiko," released in 2008, is a lesson about love and loyalty. “The Pursuit of Happyness” featuring Will Smith, teaches me how unfair life is and how not to give up pursuing happiness and dreams. Another example is the Korean thriller, “I Saw the Devil” starring two household names Choi Min Sik and Lee Byung Hun. The film shows me how cruel life can be and the consequences of the cycle of vengeance and hatred. On the other hand, “Hacksaw Ridge” teaches me that we can express courage and commitment differently. In short, this type of motion picture teaches me about love and loyalty, in-your-face reality and determination to overcome it, the consequences of violence and vengeance, and the commitment to the ideology.

Amusing and entertaining films help me decompress in various ways. For example, I love to watch movies starred by Jackie Chan because they bring me laughter and merriment. Also, the trilogy of “The Bourne Identity," “The Bourne Supremacy,” and “The Bourne Ultimatum” captivates and excites me with the thrilling and fast-paced plot combined with actions. Besides, Marvel Studio’s movies like Doctor Strange, Thor, and Endgame satisfy and spoil me with fantasies. Lastly, “Too Fast Too Furious” contains high-speed and virtually impossible car-chasing scenes making me feel a surge of adrenaline inside me. So, this type of film makes me laugh, thrilled and excited.

In conclusion, I love both types of movies. One genre enriches my thoughts and understanding of life, and the other relieves stress and uplifts my mood. 

 

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Pros and Cons to Advertisements

Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things we do not need, while others believe that advertisements inform us of new products which may improve our lives. I agree with the former. There are a few reasons supporting my opinion.

Firstly, we unconsciously choose to purchase products that we know better. That behavior of ours is one of our human natures. We habitually look for familiar brands when we want to buy some food or drink. Also, by applying knowledge of consumer behaviors, the advertising experts have ingrained the impressions of the products into the consumers’ minds. McDonald’s, for example, is using that technique to tempt us to choose its burgers when we crave fast food.

Secondly, we tend to trust the quality of the advertised products more than the others that are not. Humankind is a visionary-dependent animal. We perceive the world through the eyes, and almost like a habit, we believe in what we see, especially in things that show up before us many times. For example, consumers who already have smartphones prefer buying a newly released smartphone to the one from a less-advertised brand, even though the two new smartphones’ quality may be more or less the same. Indeed, the advertising companies are attacking us with numerous visionary stimuli turning us into the shopping-frenzy mode.

Lastly, companies use ads to create trends that non-violently force consumers to spend their money. The tendencies, which are social phenomena being triggered by chances or on purpose and going viral, are cleverly being taken advantage of by corporations. One of the companies’ common strategies to create trends is celebrity endorsements – hiring influencers to promote the companies’ products – is ubiquitous in the cosmetic and fashionable industry. So, next time, when your favorite celebrity tweets a photo sitting by a brand-new car or trying new lipstick, do not flip out to see a spike in an increase in the sale of that car or lipstick.

To conclude, advertisements make us buy things that we do not need. They are one of the companies’ strategies based on knowledge of consumer behaviors hypnotizing and tempting us to purchase their products.

A Gift for Kids

A gift represents what the givers wish to express to the recipients. I would give a child a book if I were to help them develop. Books are beneficial to children in several ways.

First, books help kids develop language abilities. Children who read books regularly more quickly acquire basic grammar than those who do not. Additionally, they are more familiar with written words and can read faster than their peers.

Second, reading books nurtures the habit of reading in children. Kids' minds are like the white papers that when we write something on them, it is there permanently. Besides, their minds have not fully developed yet and are easily affected by adults. So, most children may gradually be interested in reading when adults introduce books to them. In the long term, children who have the habit of reading often excel in the classes and succeed in later careers.

Next, reading books is one of the healthy ways to keep children from harm. The harm may be both physical and psychological. Physically, kids who love reading books are more vigilant about the abnormal situations around them. Thus, they tend to protect themselves from any factors – people or high-risk environments. Psychologically, many believe that children will be more sensitive, kind, and compassionate when they read regularly. Children usually learn moral lessons in the stories of the books they read, and they want to reflect on and apply what they learn from them in real life.

Last, reading books help children explore and trigger their potential. For instance, a girl who loves reading scientific-related materials is probably more interested in natural subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, or Biology. A boy who spends most of his reading time in adventure storybooks may decide to become a writer. Therefore, appropriately chosen children's books will provide children with numerous ideas that guide them to various possible paths they may choose to set their feet on.

In conclusion, I would give children a book to read if I wanted to help them develop. It helps kids develop language abilities quicker, nurtures the healthy habit of reading, keeps them from harm, teaches them to be more empathizing and kinder, and helps them explore their innate capabilities.

Sunday, July 11, 2021

Short Story - Untitled Part 2

 10:30 AM November 19, 2020.

I don’t know how long I sit motionlessly in my car after those two idiots kick me out of the elevator, maybe an hour or so. I’ve been trying to figure out what this madness is. What’s happened? What’s going on? Why’s everybody acting like this? Oh, God! What’s happening to me? What’s happening to everyone? They act like I’m a stranger. Like an instinct, I call my parents who’re living fifty miles away from here to check if everything’s alright, but no one answers. It’s weird. My parents are always awake and having breakfast in the kitchen during this time. Something’s wrong. At once, I ignite the engine, drive out of the garage, turn left, and head to my parent’s place.

11:31 AM November 19, 2020.

The digital clock says 11:32 when I stop in front of my childhood home. I knock on the door. No one answers. I circle behind the house where the little garden is to see if they are there, but I see no one. They’re not at home. Where are they? I try their mobile phones but all I hear is a sequence of emotionless monotones of “toot… toot… toot…” sound. They don’t answer my call. I phone my younger sister - Naomi, but she, too, doesn’t answer my phone call. I get back in the car and drive back to downtown where my sister’s workplace is. I get there but the receptionist says that she’s taking a leave today. Where are they? Mom, dad, and Naomi… Grandpa. I call my grandfather on his mobile phone; he’s taking a camping trip with his old buddies, but the call doesn’t get through. What’s this about? Why’s everyone all of sudden disconnected? Can anybody tell me WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? I literally thinking out loud those last four words. Jane! Jane! That’s right. Maybe she knows what’s happening.

12: 10 PM November 19, 2020

Jane is a painter and owns a small gallery downtown where she stays most of her time. I grab the back door's key of the gallery, which Jane gives me, and plug it in the keyhole and open the door or I suppose so. The door doesn’t open like it used to. I try again and again but the door remains locked. “Open up! you goddamn door!” in rage, I thump the door repeatedly. “Who is it?” a voice behind the door comes up, “who’s there?” that’s Jane. “It’s me, John,” thank God she’s here. “Open the door, Jane. The key that you gave me doesn’t work somehow.” The door opens followed by a figure. Jane stands at the threshold and alertly asks me: “Who are you? Why do you know my name?” A surge of unusual feelings filling up in me. “It’s me, John. Don’t tell me that you don’t know me, do you? Something weird happened today. When I came to work this morning, everybody acted like they didn’t know me; they treated me like a stranger. This is so ridiculous. I’ve been working there for a decade, and all of sudden, they said they didn’t know who I was. Can you believe it? Come, let’s go inside. I’ll tell you more about this.” Jane’s still standing there and with a mixture of confusion, anxiety, and a suspicious look on her face. After a while, she says: “look Mister, I don’t know why you claim that you’re my fiancé, John, but I don’t know you and I don’t want to hear your story either. I see you’re trying to break into my place, and that’s illegal behavior. I want you to leave here or I’ll call the police.” My heart feels like sinking to the bottom. “Not you too, Jane,” I frustratedly talk to her, “today’s madness is enough to me. Everybody’s acting insanely and I think at least you’re not one of them.” Jane’s calling her mobile phone: “Hello, a man is trying to break into my place and harassing me. Yes, my name is Jane. I’m calling from…” She hangs up the says: “I’ve called the police. I suggest you leave here at once.” I feel a pain in me. “No, I’m your fiancé. I’m John Wellington. I’m not going anywhere!” Jane suddenly shuts the door in front of me and yells from the other side of it: “The police’s coming. You need to get out here, now.” Like a madman, I kick and thump at the door again and again shouting: “Open the door, Jane. We need to talk. Open the goddamn door.” A sharp and hurried sound comes up behind me. A police car stops. Two uniformed officers get out of the car. Jane opens the door and shouts out to them while pointing at me: “It’s him. He’s trying to break in my place and saying odd stuff.” Two policemen approach me and do exactly what those two security guards did to me a few hours ago, but this time with a handcuff on my wrists. They escort me into the vehicle. Jane’s talking to one of the officers for a while; then she gets inside and shuts the door behind her.

12:42 PM, November 19, 2020.

“I’ve told you a hundred times already. I’m not an intruder. I don’t want to break into anybody’s house. That’s place is my fiancée’s gallery. Her name’s Jane and she gives me a backup key to the back door. I don’t know why she’s acting like I’m a stranger. She’s acting very weird. Actually, everybody’s acting weird, today.” I’m sitting in the back of the police vehicle trying to explain to two officers in the front seats when the digital clock in the car indifferently tells 12: 50 PM. “She said she didn’t know who you are. Her fiancé’s name is John Wellington working at a big company,” One of the officers turns around and talks to me “and you’re not him.” He holds in his hand my ID card and nonchalantly warns me: “I don’t know where’d you get this fake ID. It’s excellently forged I’ve to admit. Unfortunately, using forged documents violates federal law. We’re going to have a serious conversation at the station, my friend.”

“It’s the real one,” I feel extremely outrageous, “I’m not using forged ID.” Two idiots in the front seats ignore me and talk to each other like I don’t exist. I don’t know for how long; they stop in front of a convenience store and both of them get out of the car and go inside. I see the handcuff’s key on the passenger front seat. A crazy idea suddenly pops up in my mind. I grab the key, uncuff myself, open the front door, and slip out before those two idiots notice. I run as fast as I can without a destination. I just want to get away from there.

16: 35 PM, November 19, 2020.

In an abandoned four-story edifice, I hide on the third floor after running away. The sun is about to set in the west, dying an orange color upon the sky. It’s such a beautiful view, but I’ve got no time to appreciate it. Right now, all that’s filling my mind is this madness. Why does Jane act like that to me? Why is everybody acts like they don’t know me? Why? WHY?

I’ve been sitting here for hours trying to figure out what’s going on. It seems like somebody trying to rob my identity, my life. But for what purpose? What do they get from this? Should I call the police? No, I can’t trust them. What am I going to do now? I distractedly look outside the window toward the tolling sound of the clock tower not far from here. It’s 17: 00 PM already. The meeting with potential clients is over. What a pity. I got a telephone call from Dan that a group of potentially important clients wanted to visit the company yesterday evening. He said that he needed my help in welcoming these potential clients. Hence, it was this morning's meeting’s purpose. Wait for a second! A sudden thought flashes through my mind. Now I carefully think of it there’s something unusual with this meeting. Why is it so urgent? Why is it so early in the morning? Potential clients normally don’t want to meet so early in the morning. And why me? Dan can ask his colleagues in the same department to help him. We’re not in the same department. I need to go home and check the phone call from Dan yesterday. There must be some clues in it.

18: 15 PM, November 19, 2020.

I get off the bus and surprisingly see that my car is parking in front of my house. Why is it here? who drove it back? was it Jane? But she claimed this morning that she didn’t know me. Then why did she have to act contradictorily like this? I lurk to the rear of the house, hide in a bush behind the garden. I sit there and anxiously wait. After a while, I slowly approach the back door and realize that door is unlocked. Someone’s here or was here. I nervously pushed the door inward; and waiting for me is nothing but a thick veil of darkness. I reach out to the switch on the left. Here it is. I press the switch and prepare for whatever hostility may be hurling at me. The lights are on and there’s indeed something waiting for me but it’s not what I thought. “SURPRISE!” to my surprise, my parents, grandfather, sister, Jane, Dan and two scores of my colleagues are there. “Happy Birthday, John.” The situation still perplexes and bewilders me. As if knowing what I’m thinking, Jane hugs me and reveals the mystery: “It was all a prank, John. We’ve been preparing this for weeks to celebrate your birthday. I’m sorry. I said to them that it was a little bit extreme, but Dan assured me and your family that there was nothing to worry about.” I turn to Dan who’s standing next to me with his signature grin. Dan says: “I’m sorry to fool you like this John. Everything is a prank; the morning meeting to make you leave home early, the fake John Wellington with the pretending of everyone to make you feel frustrated and angry, and the right-in-the-moment appearance of those two fake cops. Everything went almost perfectly as plan except for a flaw. And we were afraid that you would see through our prank.” I recalled every detail that was happening this morning, and this was it. It was Mike the senior officer of the Marketing Department. He couldn’t say “you’re not John Wellington” if he pretended that he hadn’t known me before. I just asked them to tell the security guys who I was at the time. I didn’t tell them my name. What a moron I was that I didn’t notice it. I look back to the crowd at my house, there I see Mike, my secretary, and the actor played the role of me named Sean and the other two men playing the cops. It’s all a joke. How silly of me. I burst out a laugh and join them in celebrating my birthday, a birthday anniversary that I’ll never forget.

The End.

Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence Park

Chiang Kai-shek Residence Park, located in Taipei, Taiwan, is a significant historical and cultural site that reflects the life and legacy o...