E-books (too weak)

 Written By Joanna Edited By Horace, Amy, and Messi

(Full Names, please!)

 With the rapid development of modern technology, innovative ideas are happening every day. When it comes to cultural changes, E-books are the most representative products in this generation. E-books have replaced paper books in several areas, such as education and literary entertainment. E-books have brought a lot of convenience to our lives. 

E-books promote paperless lifestyles and workplaces that are good for the environment. E-books are also portable; all you need is a smartphone or tablet. Moreover, E-books have multimedia features, including audio, videos, and animations. With these features, E-books can increase the pleasure of reading and learning. 

            E-books have many advantages, but they still have some downsides. When we need to read two different books for comparison, paper books may be a better choice. When compared with endlessly switching screens on your mobile, paper books are a lot easier to read. You can display the contents from both of the books simultaneously in front of you.  

The invention of E-books does not eliminate the usage of paper books. Neither does television replace radio and radio stations. Nor does the video game console, Wii, make people stop playing actual sports. E-books and paper books are both evolutionary inventions. Both of them are incredibly useful to provide people with information. Therefore, we might as well grab one of them and start reading. 

E組：張皓翔 曾靖芸 吳之勻 江秉宸 第二篇

Wakaresaseya

 Written By Horace Edited By: Joanna, Amy, and Messi

(Full Names, please!)

In Japan, there is an extraordinary profession that provides you a chance to put an end to your bad relationship. Whenever people are tired of their relationship or want to save it from the other intruder, they can ask for help from the special agent. Different clients have different needs in their cases. Therefore, the service can be customized.

This unique service is called “Wakaresaseya.” It takes a great effort to make it happen. Firstly, the agent will need to do a complete background investigation into the client’s mark. Secondly, the agent will build up a team of actors to get close to and make friends with the mark. All these actions are to secure the knowledge of the target’s interests and preferences in a relationship. Lastly, the agent will follow the aforementioned information and design a perfect lover by ideal timing to lure the targets. It is like playing an RPG.

It became popular ten years ago until an agent of a Wakaresaseya agency fell in love with his target and went so far as to kill her. This shocking news led to the downfall of many Wakaresaseya agencies. Ten years later, it makes a significant comeback. Despite some persistent negative voices in society, it is gradually showing its sign of comeback on different social media.

There are more and more people seeking this exceptional service. In this modern world, people hardly have time to deal with their problems. Wakaresaseya seems to be the best way for people who are out of choices. Though Wakaresaseya is a helpful choice, people should try to be honest and deal with the problems on their own. Wakaresaseya should be the last option for people to choose.

E組：張皓翔 曾靖芸 吳之勻 江秉宸 第一篇

BeanKind: Spreading Love

Written By: 林姿攸  Edited By: 翁子晴 戴佩儀 彭婷筠

(都請提供刊登用的英文全名)

“BeanKind” is a free game that encourages people to share their love on the Internet. What’s more, it does not come with ads and no in-app purchases! It is a worldwide clicker game that you can gain “Love Taps” from other players (of the game) around the world. Certainly, you can give people your “Love Taps.” By collecting “Love Taps,” you not only unlock new characters but also receive more furniture. According to the official website, there are more than 2.2 million items of furniture for you to choose to decorate your customized room. And you can use the camera in this game to record every moment anytime.

“Bean” is the main character in this game. It combines a cute and pink body with big eyes that attract many people. It is created by the artist, Harry Hambley. He is better known as Ketnipz. He posts a series of the Bean on social media. His works of webcomics, comics post online, are funny and people always give them a knowing smile because of humor. Do you know the reason why he wants to create the “Bean”? The answer is to spread positive energy around the world. Even if the chance is small, he still wants to do that.

The design company is Frosty Pop, which is famous for game designing. They team up with Ketnipz because they have the same idea of doing something to change the world. One of the people on the team is in charge of the design of the game. Ostrow said, "When we started this company, we wanted to rethink how games, brands, and purpose come together to create things we believe in.” Therefore, this contributes to the development of the worldwide game, “BeanKind.”

This game is perfect for those who are depressed. When you feel down, you just need to start the game and share the love with other people. Then you will feel you still have someone who loves you. Moreover, decorating the room can kill a bad mood. These are the goals of Frosty Pop and Ketnipz. Especially during this pandemic time, playing this game may help you release negative vibes. In conclusion, “Bean” is like a guide for leading us to the bright side. Every little thing makes a miracle. If you feel down now, you might as well download this game right now!

E組: 翁子晴 戴佩儀 彭婷筠 林姿攸 第二篇

The Famous Movie: “Jurassic World: Dominion” Stopped Filming

 Written By: 戴佩儀  Edited By: 翁子晴 戴佩儀 彭婷筠 林姿攸 

(都請提供刊登用的英文全名)

The movie, “Jurassic World,” was one of the most famous movies released in 2015. It is a science fiction adventure movie. And its sequel, “Jurassic World: Dominion,” would come out in 2021, which was expected to take the box office by storm. The storyline of the movie, “Jurassic World,” is about lots of dinosaurs, and they have to leave their residence because of the volcano eruption. The villain wants to get Blue’s DNA, one of the dinosaurs, to create a new species. And the main characters have to rescue Blue. Unfortunately, there was an unanticipated obstacle while the first time the film crew started shooting the film. 

The sequel, “Jurassic World: Dominion,” would be postponed until 2022 because of the outbreak of the COVID-19. This is the main reason why it was postponed. This movie was mainly expected by lots of movie fans. Owing to the horrible virus, the movie industry was greatly impacted, and so was this movie. The director decided to stop shooting the film to protect the actors and the film crew. 

On July 1st, the film crew returned to shoot the film after the outbreak of the COVID-19. This was the first famous movie that restarted to film after the outbreak. But one of the film crew tested Coronavirus positive on the first day when they shot the film. Therefore, the film was forced to put on a halt again to ensure the safety of the film crew, and they were compelled to stop filming for another two weeks. This movie company also formulated an epidemic prevention manual with 107 pages for all of the film crew. 

People who look forward to seeing the movie, “Jurassic World: Dominion,” still have to wait a period. Are you still anticipating this fantastic movie after rolling with lots of punches?

E組: 翁子晴 戴佩儀 彭婷筠 林姿攸 第一篇

The Science of Interstellar

 Written By: ???  Edited By: ???, ???, ???

     Mankind has been forced to search for another inhabitable planet as the Earth reaches its capacity. Over the years, the Earth has provided resources that have secured our lives on the planet. Yet, human activity has caused great damage to the environment, and it has contributed to the destruction of our ecosystem.  Now it is time to pay the price for putting our planet in such peril by traveling to space. This non-fiction book The Science of Interstellar will take you on a journey to explore the mysteries of the universe.

     The Earth can no longer produce any food due to the loss of its arable land. At this critical moment, a group of courageous astronauts have dedicated themselves to finding a miracle in outer space. Throughout the chapters, you can see the author Kip Thorne, who is also a physicist, illustrating these physical theories in a way that is comprehensible to everyone. This is a brilliant way to help readers enjoy this book, despite having no scientific knowledge. 

     On the downside, even though the author has tried to use plain English to explain the theory that lies in the story, it is still quite difficult for readers to fully understand the narrative logic if they lack scientific knowledge. Furthermore, the book does not explain the complex timeline that was in the movie Interstellar. Those who watched the movie were apt to be confused with the timeline of events. It is true that sometimes we do not need to pay too much attention to small details, but if you are a fan of science fiction, you may find it a bit disappointing. 

     Overall, The Science of Interstellar is a great book to read if you want to untangle the questions you may have after watching the movie Interstellar. Even though some of the content may still seem a bit puzzling, you will notice that this book is full of philosophical ideas once you read it carefully. After reading the book, people may have the desire to rewatch the movie.

組長 ：劉聖英 組員：解如意 卓悅銘 洪鈺瑄 第二篇

Being Healthy and Fashionable at the Same Time

 Written By: ???  Edited By: ???, ???, ???

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, designing face masks has been in vogue. Face masks have become a necessity in our lives. They must be worn wherever we go. Those who refuse to comply with the regulation will receive a severe punishment. Hence, nowadays it is common to see people on the streets putting their masks on. This is considered a tremendous opportunity for the fashion industry to make a fortune.

Every coin has two sides; there are negative and positive sides of the pandemic. Obviously, Walt Disney has chosen to focus on the positive. The company has launched a series of cloth face masks featuring some of the most famous Disney characters. The combination of health and fashion is deemed to capture the attention of Disney fans and collectors. The reusable cloth face masks, which come in a wide range of colors as well as characters, attract more people to wear them, keeping themselves safe against the pandemic. On the other hand, the value of these face masks will rise as they are popular collectibles, especially for the complete sets. 

Furthermore, one-million-dollar profit from the masks will go to Medshare, a national non-profit organization which collects and redistributes extra medical resources from American hospitals and manufacturers to developing countries in need. Cloth masks do not help fight the pandemic as medical masks do, though some intelligent and fashionable geniuses have found a solution to this problem: they can wear a medical mask underneath the cloth mask. That way, everyone can stay protected and stylish simultaneously.

All in all, I think it is indeed a good way to encourage people, especially Disney fans, to put their masks on. In the United States, some people feel that wearing masks infringe upon human rights. They believe that the government should not force them to do something against their will. Therefore, Disney came up with this great idea, which not only encourages the public to wear masks but also offers money to charities. This is one simple act that benefits all.

Peer Review 簡芝伶 宋子瑜 傅暄淇 吳冠瑩

組長 ：劉聖英 組員：解如意 卓悅銘 洪鈺瑄 第一篇

Travel Issues Behind COVID-19

By Tsai Peiyi

  Summer vacation used to be a good time for people to travel abroad. However, this year,
influenced by COVID-19, almost every country is lockdown. People had nowhere to go. While millions across the world can only stay at home. Even so, there are some countries that are actually doing really well in controlling the epidemic. For example, Taiwan. Taiwan was almost the first country to do epidemic prevention measures against COVID-19. Nevertheless, the aviation industry and tourism industry of Taiwan still have a huge impact. 

Due to COVID-19, Taiwan banned transit travel on March 24, After that, the first quarter of this year, China Airlines and EVA Air are tragically lost. Not only the aviation industry took a hit but also the tourism industry.  COVID-19 has hit out against the operation of inbound and outbound travel agencies. During the recession, both industries announced the layoff of several hundred employees. Fortunately, the government had found this issue, the government launched a relief package for companies and employees. In addition, the government budgeted NT$ 13.4 billion for coupons and vouchers to help boost consumption. After a few months, the epidemic has been ebbing. Both the aviation industry and tourism industry have rolled out different schedules for people to travel in Taiwan during summer vacation. For instance, StarLux Airlines launched a "pretend tour abroad" to Dongsha Islands. The flight headed south along the coast of eastern Taiwan. It allows passengers to enjoy Taiwan's landscape from above. Also,  EVA Air and China Airlines have rolled out Father’s day schedules, which can have meals at the airport's VIP lounge before having afternoon tea on board the plane. 

Apart from airlines schedules, many people choose to travel to offshore islands. Taiwan's offshore islands are very beautiful, including Green Island (Lüdao) , Lanyu Orchid Island (蘭嶼), Kinmen (金門, Jinmen) , Matsu and Penghu archipelago. Here will introduce Taiwan's offshore islands. 

● Green Island (Lüdao, 綠島) 

Green Island, also known as 火燒島(Island of Fire), because it is a small volcanic Island. The administration belongs to Taitung County. Covering an area of 16 square kilometers.The largest and oldest known living coral population worldwide is stands 18 meters below Green Island. 

In Green Island, you can go to a hot spring in Jhaorih Hot Spring. Jhaorih Hot Spring is a rare saltwater hot spring in Taiwan. Also, you can go diving in the Chaikou Diving Area. Last, you can see the lighthouse. Everything here is romantic. 

● Lanyu, Orchid Island (蘭嶼)

Lanyu, which is located on the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Also called Orchid Island or Irala. Irala is named by Tao. Tao is the Taiwanese indigenous people who lived in Lanyu. Irala means sea. The average number of rainy days each year in Lanyu is 244 days. The rock on the island is volcanic tholeiite andesite and explosive fragments.

Lanyu is one of the best destinations for scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. Lanyu is completely surrounded by numerous, unpolluted coral reefs and home to green sea turtles. There are 35 tropical plant species unique to the island. If you are a nature lover, you should go to explore this friendly and safe island. You will fall in love with it.

● Kinmen (Jinmen,金門) 

Kinmen, also named Quemoy, covering the total area of 151.656 square kilometres.      Kinmen is subtropical monsoon climate, the weather there is hot and humid. Actually, Kinmen is closer to China, it is located only about two kilometres east of the China city of Xiamen. 25% of Kinmen is national park. 

If you go to Kinmen, you have to go to Jincheng Township. Jincheng Township is the largest and oldest town in Kinmen. The Buildings and culture there are so vintage. There are many small roads that you will feel like walking in a maze. Also, you can found Shisa (風獅爺) in everywhere. There were many wars in Kinmen before. So there are a lot of historical remains about batteries, tanks and fighter aircrafts. If you are interested in war culture, you should come here.

● Matsu (馬祖)

Matsu is located  north of the Taiwan Strait. Total area is 29.6 square kilometers. Matsu is made up of 36 small islands. It is the smallest county in the free area of the Republic of China. 

Environment of Matsu is so great that you can watch Blue Tears at Beihai Tunnel from April to September. Besides, northernmost of Taiwan is in Matsu. People can take a photo and check in there.

● Penghu archipelago (澎湖)

Penghu archipelago is located on Taiwan Strait. Magong is the largest city, which is in the largest island. The largest island is also named Magong. The total area covered 41 square kilometers. Because of geography, national defense, military and strategic location is excellent. Since ancient times, it has been a relay station for contacts the Taiwan Strait, a fortress zone for economic and military rivalry with all parties. 

You can do a lot of things in Penghu. Ride a bike from Magong's Rainbow Bridge along the bicycle path beside the seashore. You will get perfect views across the water to Xiyu Island. The sea around Penghu is a saturated turquoise and the sand coral (so pack beach footwear). Besides, Penghu is famous for its local delicacies, the seafood there is  top-notch fresh. The best part of Penghu is the Penghu Firework Festival. The festival lasts three months, start from 9th July to third September. A lot of couples and families will come to Penghu during the firework festival.

As introduced above, we can know that Taiwan’s offshore islands are very beautiful. People who have been there will be highly recommended. However, too many people go to these islands. Therefore, these islands have lots of problems now. For example, park the car in a disorderly, heavy traffic, litter trash, blackout. Not only make residents annoying, but also ruin the environment. Hope that people who go to travel can remember to pay more attention to environmental issues. Also, don't make trouble for residents.

An Unfortunate Birthday in the Year of Plague:

The Painting by the Famous Artist Was Stolen from the Dutch Museum on the Birthday of the Artist.

By Woo Jiwoo

Due to COVID-19, we have lost our ordinary life and the painting by the famous Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring (1884) was taken overnight from a small museum, Singer Laren Museum in the Netherlands. Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, March 13, the Museum had been temporarily shut down to help preventing the spread of virus. According to the police statement, the alarm went off around 3:15 a.m. on early Monday morning. When the time officers arrived, all that they found was the shattered glass front door and an empty showcasing in which the painting was displayed. The thief or thieves had already disappeared. 

“I feel enormous anger and sadness. Because especially in these dark days that we are in, I feel so strongly that art is here to comfort us, to inspire us and to heal us,” said the museum’s curator, Jan Rudolph de Lorm, over the theft.

The painting was created within 1883 to 1885 while Van Gogh stayed in the town Nuenen where his parents lived. It shows the ruins of the local church in the town. The painting never belonged to the Singer Laren Museum where the painting was stolen; it was on loan from another museum in the Netherlands, Groninger Museum, for the exhibition “Mirror of the Soul”. 

It is not the first time for the Singer Laren Museum targeted to a heist. In 2007, seven statues were stolen from the museum’s garden including the well-known bronze cast The Thinker by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The sculpture was found and damaged that it missed one leg.

People are wondering whether Van Gogh’s 167th birthday is related to the heist. But Mr. de Lorm, the curator of the museum, insisted that the thieves probably didn’t know about this and it’s just a strange coincidence.

Classic Video Games

 

By Tsai Peiyi

In modern times, we have access to more video games than ever. Some of the most recent video games are just amazing. Gamers can enjoy new gaming experience with vivid graphics, real-time virtuality, and well-advanced AI. They are available worldwide in forms of TV games, PC games, mobilephone games, stand-alone game units, etc. And they come in numberous types and genres. In retro, however, we did not have as many types and genres. Yet, we had the classics back then. Here let me share with you a brief history of video games, along with some classic games and game consoles.

●      History

The history of video gaming goes all the way back to the early 1950s. The first proper video game was created that time. People considered Spacewar! the first widely recognized video game. Academic computer scientists began to design games and simulations for research as well as for leisure. It was all the rage in the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, people began to play arcade games, gaming consoles, and PC games. During that time, game units and game designs perfectly reflected the advanced development of computing technology; the idea of video gaming was defined. Up till now, the entire history of video games has been  divided into eight generations.

The first generation designates the time when home consoles first came out. Pong and its various clones were most popular. From 1976 to 1992 was the second generation.During that time,game consoles emerged. When the 8-bit units showed up, they declared the beginning of the third generation that spanned between 1983 to 1985. The fourth-generation consoles, which were 16-bit models, came into beingfrom 1987 to 1999. The 1990s was the time when video games entered the 3D gaming era. Spanning between 1993 and 2006, it was the fifth generation, with its consoles improved for both handheld units and PC’s gaming, on 32 and 64-bit units. During the fifth generation, mobilephone gaming arose. In the 2000s, the sixth generation of consoles were issued. In this generation, mobilephone games and online gamesclaimed their major presence on the market. In the seventh generation, from 2005 to 2012, the most popular console was the Wii console. 2013 witnessed the birth of the eighth generation, with its main consoles including Wii U, Nintendo 3DS,  Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

●      Game consoles

-        Family Computer (FC)

        Family Computer is known as the Famicom, which was marketed by Nintendo on July 15, 1983. Famicom is an 8-bit home video game console (third generation). Since 1985, it has been released in Europe and the United States under the name Nintendo Entertainment System. Famicom was the best-selling game console of the time, with a cumulative global sales of more than 61 million units. The emergence of Famicom had a profound effect on video games. It enabled the American video game industry to recover from the impact it received in the 1983 crash. There are a lot of groundbreaking games on Famicom. Super Mario Bro. is a pioneer in side-scrolling video games. At the same time, the Legend of Zelda made built-in memory system popular (the technology of “battery storage recording”). The most popular game of Famicom is Super Mario Bro. It sold 40.24 million copies worldwide.

-        Game Boy (GB)

GB stands for Game Boy, which is an 8-bit handheld game console. It was also marketed by Nintendo. Game boy is the first handheld unit in the Game Boy family. It has three modified models. The first one is Game Boy Pocket, which is a small and light unit that runs on batteries. The second one is Game Boy Light; it adds the features of  electroluminescent backlight for low-light conditions. The thrid one is Game Boy Color, which is a color-screen model. Game Boy has sold apporximately 118 million units in total. GB has five buttons. A, B, select,  start and directional pad. The game memory is stored on its ROM cartridge. The most popular game of Game Boy is Pokémon Red and Blue.

-        Wii

        Wii was released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. It belongs in the seventh generation of home console. On the market, Wii competed with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. It made a strong entrace into the market, however, the global sales of Wii was outstripped by that of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It still sells more than 101 million units. The most special thing about Wii is that it works with the “Wii Remote controller”. The Wii Remote controller is a handheld pointing device, which detects manual motions. Also, Wii can receive information and updates over the Internet. Wii games are issued on Wii DISC’s; the most popular game of Wii is Wii Sports.

●      Classic Games

-        Tetris

Tetris was the most popular video game around the world from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. It is the predecessor of various puzzle games we play today. The word Tetris was coined from the prefix “tetra,” which means “four” in Greek. (Because all blocks are made up of four sub-blocks.) , and “tennis,” its designer Alexey Pajitnov's favorite sport. Tertis also became the most popular game in the Game Boy history. Electronic Gaming Monthly listed this game No.1 of the Greatest 100 Games. Because of its mathematical and dynamic features and its lasting popularity,Tetris is widely adopted as a training program for game programming.

-        Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. is a platform game marketed by Nintendo in 1985, first played on Famicom. The player needs to control the character Mario to save Princess Toadstool from the main antagonist Koopa. The second player controls Luigi, Mario's younger brother. Mario can collect coins scattered around the Mushroom Kingdom. The player has a certain number of lives. The game is composed of eight worlds, each with four sublevels called “stages” in it. Super Mario Bros. sells more than 40 million physical copies.

        In retro, even though these classic games’ art design and audio effects are not as good as those trending games at the present time, they claim their own credits and merits with their origianlity, niches, etc. If you are a big fan of video gaming, you should definitely go back to these classic games without missing any.

The Wonderful Green Valley By the Sea in Keelung

                                                                                                                      By Bamboo Chen

If you are planning on visiting a beautiful place near Taipei, Wangyou Valley (望幽谷/忘憂谷) will be an excellent sight to head for. A lot of the tourists going to Keelung likes to go nowhere else but the Miaokou Night Market (廟口夜市), Keelung Harbor, or E-Square, the newly opened shopping mall. However, there are many sightseeing spots near the mountains or by the sea in the landscape-boasting city. One of many spots is the Wangyou Valley, which is likely to be the most popular.

Wangyou Valley has most scenic trails in northern Taiwan. The Chinese name “Wangyou” has two meanings: one is that this is a valley with a magical view which endows the viewer with a peaceful mood; the other means that it is a relaxing place where the visitor can leave all worries behind.

From the moment you enter the valley, a V-shaped green valley comes in sight along with the blue coastline. Walking on the trail, visitors will see giant stones with grass on top, the sea in various shades of blue, and the nearby Keelung Islet (基隆嶼). Below the hills are some spectacular landforms on the seashore caused by sea and wind erosions. There people linger to enjoy the view or to have fun with water. There is no questioning about why some people call this place a fairy land. It is true that oftentimes visitors are so overwhelmed by the wonderful sea views and the soothing sea breezes around this place that all mundane worries seem petty and trifling.

It takes about one hour to hike through the Wangyou Valley Trail, but most people spend a longer time stopping from time to time for its scenery and pictures. For a pleasant visit without missing out too much, here are a couple of suggestions for people who are interested in Wangyou Valley. Since there are no trees or bushes to give shade on the windy hills, it is best to avoid visiting Wangyou Valley at noon during summer when the scorching sun can hurt you. Besides, in case of getting sunstroke, it is important to rest and hydrate yourself between long walks.

Wangyou Valley is located in Badouzi Coastal Park in Keelung. Both trains and buses run regularly from Taipei City to facilitate your visit. After passing the National Museum of Marine Science & Technology (國立海洋科技博物館), you need to allow no more than 15 minutes to reach the trailhead which is on the small cliff of the ridge. Wangyou Valley is definitely a perfect option for a short visit on the weekends.

The Legend of Queen: Freddie Mercury

                                                                                                                   By Florence Huang

When all the instruments were set, a man with an iconic mustache, wearing a white vest and tight jeans came out. He walked to the center of the stage with his special movement. He made everyone screamed, shouted, and whistled. He is Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, also regarded as one of the greatest singer in history.

A 20 minutes live concert for Live Aid in 1985, everyone agrees that Queen had the most mind-blowing show. Some people said it might be the greatest live concert on stage, and will never be forgotten. The person that made Queen the most popular band since the 70s is Freddie Mercury himself.

In the early days of Freddie’s musical career, he followed a band named Smile. In 1970, Smile’s lead singer left the band, and Freddie seized the opportunity to become part of the band. Just like Freddie said, “I’m not going to be a pop star. I’m going to be a legend!” Freddie changed the band’s name into Queen, started to sing in the band with his recognizable voice, and established various music styles. All of a sudden, the band started to get attention from everywhere.

Besides his band members, another important person who was always by the side of Freddie is his beloved, Mary Austin. Freddie and Mary got married for a few years and they divorced. Freddie came out that he was bisexual, but Mary was convinced that he was pretty much a homosexual, but still struggling with his sexual identity. Regardless, Mary remained an important person in Freddie’s life, who was always supportive and believing in him. Just like he said, “The only friend I’ve got is Mary, and I don’t want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage. We believe in each other, that’s enough for me.”

In 1991, Freddie died from complications of AIDS, of pneumonia. Just 24 hours after he released a formal statement that revealed he had lived for years with HIV. Before he died, he was still recording and producing new songs. His death is one of the most mournful events in the 90s. He once said, “I always knew I was a star, and now the rest of the world seems to agree with me.” After his death, everyone misses his unique and powerful voice. All we can do is to appreciate Queen’s music, to know him better through his music, and to be thankful for his music, stardom, and legend.

Rediscover the Joys of Life with Christopher Robin

(photo source: Disney Taiwan <http://www.disney.com.tw/> This photo here is taken intact from the aforementioned source and is therefore subject to immediate removal upon notice)

 Florence Huang

People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing everyday

–Winnie the Pooh

Disney produces some successful live action films in the recent years, such as Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent, and Beauty and the Beast etc. This summer, they prepared a new heartwarming live action movie, Christopher Robin.

Christopher Robin, who is all grown up now and becomes a working-class family man. He has lost the sight of what is important in life. He returns to Hundred Acre Wood after an unexpected visit from Winnie the Pooh. After a short adventure, Pooh and the friends realize that they should help Christopher Robin to rediscover happiness.

Some people might think that although Disney remakes their old animated films into live actions films, the stories and the characters are still for children. However, this is the reason why Disney remakes their films. They remind us through those characters from our childhood that in this hustle-bustle world, grownups should still keep a pure heart and childlike happiness in their lives. Just like the saying goes, “People say nothing is impossible”. It is an encouraging sentence for children, but for adults, it becomes a struggle. Most of us have become Christopher Robin. We can’t find a balance between work, friendship, and life. We are busy all day, and sometimes we have to sacrifice something important to us in order to achieve other things that we need. Gradually, we lose our joys.

Walt Disney said “Everybody in the world was once a child.” Therefore, sometimes we should slow down our life pace, without thinking of the future or the past. What we need to do is to find the clean and unspoiled world which hides deep in each of our hearts, and then we can taste the happiness that we thought we had lost. That world also reminds us not to forget and also cherish the most innocent moment we had.

The full trailer has released, and comments acclaim it one of the most adorable and heartwarming films. It receives a lot of positive comments. In addition, lots of people comment that Winnie the Pooh is their best childhood memory, and they get emotional while watching the trailer. It seems like Christopher Robin is going to be Disney’s next big hit.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

(photo source: "5 Reasons Why Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Should Win Best Picture This Year." Taste of Cinema. By Conor Lochrie. <http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2018/5-reasons-why-three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri-should-win-best-picture-this-year/>. This photo is taken intact from the aforementioned source and is therefore subject to immediate removal upon notice.)

Penny Lai

    This Oscar nominated film discuses a mother’s journey of seeking justice for her daughter who was raped and murdered. The power of a mother’s love is not a new subject for Hollywood movies. It is easy for directors to portrait a mother’s struggle on parenting, because family issues are a relatable subject for most people. However, to present a tough mother who will do anything to find the murderer of her daughter is a difficult task. 

     Mildred’s daughter was raped and tortured to death by a remote road of a small town, Ebbing. After one year of her daughter’s death, the police have no useful evidences to bring in the murderer. Unwilling to give in, Mildred decides to rent the three giant billboards located exactly where her daughter was killed. Mildred uses the three billboards to publicly shame Willoughby, the head police officer of the town. The mother thinks that the police fails their job of catching the murderer and of bringing justice to those who deserve it. Suddenly, Mildred becomes the target of the whole town for going extreme and shaming the police. However, she does not back down, and the tension between Mildred and the police keeps rising as the story goes. 

     The director, Martin McDonagh did a fantastic job on building the character Mildred. The basic setup of Mildred is an angry mother who will do anything to find the murderer, but at the same time, the audience can see Mildred’s weak spot when she’s committing crimes. She turns her anger into violence and defense when she goes against the authorities. It is easy to portrait this character as an extreme maniac who will hurt anyone getting in her way. However, a closer look will reveal that actually Mildred does not want to hurt anyone; she just wants the authorities and the public to treat her and her daughter’s death seriously. All she asks for is an answer, so she can exempt herself from the guilt of failing as a parent. 

     The story itself might seem dull for a Hollywood big production. However, the details in each character’s construction is more than admirable. We as viewers can definitely relate to the changing of each character throughout the film and grow with the characters as Mildred comes to a realization of being a parent in the end of the movie.