The Surprising Science of Happiness

Hi~This week I want us to talk about a topic about "Happiness".

Here is an interesting video about "Synthetic Happiness", which compare
the difference between synthetic happiness and natural happiness.
Beside, It also talks about the way people synthesizing happiness.
It turns out that being happy is not hard, we all have the abilities to make our self happy.

Enjoy the video: http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy.html


Brainstorming questions :

1.)Talk about a happy experience that you once worked hard and achieved some goals.

2.)Share ur experience that you once failed doing something (passing exam, interviewing a job, a relationship...), how did deal with the failure? Did you synthesize happiness in you life again?

3.)Sometimes we just overrated the importance of some goals and push ourselves too hard, did u hv some experience about that? What did you learn from it?

Surprising Result of Golden Melody Awards

I noticed this news from my Facebook wall at the day the Awards held. At first glance, my intuitional feeling was "how ridiculous and ironic it is", and then I found my thinking process is interesting. I realized that I have never heard her song before so I didn't have standing to criticize it. Additionally, Hong Kong singer, Sandy Lam, was the biggest winner that night. Both girls are not Taiwanese, but people had total different reactions. Wasn't it interesting?

Reading:
Shanghai girl wins Taiwan Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan after the song was part of the attack users

Questions:
Q1: What is your opinion about a Shanghai girl won the awards?
Q2: Do you think that the racial discrimination exist in Taiwan?
Q3: Some says the Golden Melody Awards should be limited for Taiwan singer. Do you think protectionism is good for us in the long-term?
Q4: Do you have any other observation from this event?

Google Doodles = Surprise

Are you a heavy user of google search engine? Do you notice that sometimes the homepage changes?
It is "Doodles," a creative group which making surprise, anniversaries, and memory of famous people to us.


http://www.google.com/doodles/about
pls see the story for doodles.

1. Have you ever seen Doodle? or you just skip the homepage?

2. Did you play the flash made by Doodle? If yes, share your experience.

3. Here are the collection of Doodle homepage. Pls choose one and tell us why you think it is special.
http://www.google.com/doodles/finder/2013/All%20doodles

4.What's your opinion of the team of Doodle?  (boring and nothing to do...making love and happy to the world...)

5.What's your ideas for Doodle? (that people can see your idea in Google homepage!!)

6/30 Electronic tattoos

Hey guys

Sry for late post the disscussion material this week~

Plz see the following TED video:Big Data, Tattoos & Immortality
http://www.ted.com/talks/juan_enriquez_how_to_think_about_digital_tattoos.html

Here are some questions I want us to talk about:

1.)Do you think that its normal to Google a stranger before meeting them in person? Why or Why not?

2.) American government spied on millions of Americans’ phone records and on the internet activity of hundreds of millions of foreigners to protect its citizens, do you think it's decent?

ps:Compare with the internet firewall & cencorship in China.

3.)How do you think about put anything on Facebook or twitter...what kind of informtion you think is not proper to share online?

4.)Keep 100% anonymity online also brings lots of problems, agree or disagree?

Law:tool for order or excuse for inaction?

The CEO of PChome's comment and his struggling experience with government officers seems something similar happening everyday. Government officers would rather stay comfortably behind the law instead of helping entrepreneurs to work on the frontier field. The reason seems apparent: they either fail to take responsibility for consequences or being too cautious with every setback or side effect. However, would our society tolerate a government that makes mistake or fails to take care of every aspect of the policy result?

Kissinger: ‘Illegal we do immediately; unconstitutional takes a little longer’

http://www.infowars.com/illegal-we-do-immediately-unconstitutional-takes-a-little-longer-kissinger-in-new-mass-wikileaks-document-release/

詹宏志：我打交道的公務員，是一群有禮貌的失敗主義者

http://www.businessweekly.com.tw/KWebArticle.aspx?id=50727

1. In your most idealized picture of the world, what role should the law play? 

2. Some say "even evil law is law", in what condition will you agree with it?

3. One policy may cause significant change to the life of people, any suggestion to make it more completed?

4. Do you have any case that is illegal or not legal but helps people a lot?

One more episodes-TV addiction

I am in my very last summer vacation of my life now. I know I should cherish the time and do something different in this long vacation. However,  I spent last few weeks on Korean, Japanese, and American TV shows. After I open one episode, I cannot stop myself and sit in front of monitor all day and night. I felt regretful and exhausted after finish the TV series, but I cannot resist my desire for one more episodes. It is a vicious circle. Do you have the same experience?

Readings:
TV binge watching

Discussion:
1. How much time do you spend on watching TV shows per week? Are you addicted to it?
2. Some justify themselves that watching popular TV show is an important way to build social connection. Do you agree with it or not?
3. How many episodes do you watch per time? Do you have any suggestion for TV addicts like me?
4. Everyone has some sort of addiction. What are you addicted to?

Can You Really Make Money In Direct Sales?

     My colleague just brought me to Amway today, and I am really surprised that there are so many people doing direct sales in Taiwan nowadays. Everyone believes that direct sales can help you make fortune. For me, it's brain washing.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/04/01/can-you-really-make-money-in-direct-sales/
This is an article which helps you understand direct sales better.

1. Do you know direct sales (multilevel and income system) ? Pls share you knowing to us.
2. What's your opinion on this system?
3. What brands of direct sales do you know?
4. Have you ever bough goods from direct sales? What's your opinion on their products?
5. Do you think direct sales can make fortune?