Is the pandemic over?

     In these few days, Taiwan's local infection cases have surged from two-digit numbers to 15,000 in a month. However, CECC still loosens the quarantine days from 10days to 7 days(3 days in separate rooms +4 days mandatory to wear masks and keep social distance) for the incoming foreigners from other countries.

    The advanced omicron is difficult to detect and now spreading rapidly in some countries. It is obvious that it has more transmissible than omicron, though not more severe. Some said that some have immunity from vaccinations and infections from the previous omicron wave may be protective. Still, the pandemic is not officially to be declared has been ended.

    It is been a difficult two years since the pandemic began. And now, just as we are starting a possible return to normalcy. However, I still cannot be convinced that it is over, the long-side effect cannot be predicted after several mutants variated at any time. Therefore I still keep staying at home instead of wandering outside of my house.

Testimonial again!

    Em, hey there! I am Christine from Malaysia. In this video, I am going to tell you how to stay motivated as you learn English. Frankly speaking, very few of us are able to stay excited about something a hundred percent of the time. Especially if that something takes a lot of time, effort, and energy to make happen, like becoming fluent in another language. It takes work and effort to stay focused. So let's join and visit the online community "Home English Language Practice". You can meet the proficient American teacher and all the non-native speakers from around the world. It is the easiest way to find English-speaking friends to get regular practice. This program is a safe and supportive space for students from beginner to advanced levels of English. It is incredibly fun and made you immerse yourself into a big home family. 

Come and visit us at  "Home English Language Practice".

What is the most embarrassing moment currently?

    I used to walk two dogs together in my neighborhood in the morning, at the noon, and at night before I sleep. This is my regular routine and habits for exercising as well. But sometimes I did not well conscious of what my dogs are doing.

    Once, my neighbor posted a video via the line group. He argued that my Huskey taking a pee in front of his house. I thought I was blunt when I woke up earlier, and I did not make sure where he was taking a pee. I apologized for it and will not do it again.

    I feel embarrassed when people argued about my mistakes. I know that this behavior is normal in a rural area but I still need to conform to the rules here.

Would you rather explore the deepest parts of the ocean or outer space

    If I had to pick one, it is easier to explore the ocean than outer space. I have more participation and engagement in ocean research. I can go to the ocean with the scuba equipment which is not too expensive or hard to use. If you think you have discovered the entirety of what is in the world. We only just scratched the surface. Literally, humanity has explored only five percent of the oceans, which means 95 percent of the ocean is still undiscovered.
    However, space exploration is very crucial to the technical progression of humanity. The current technology may cost me an arm and a leg. Using telescopes and landing robots on Mars or the moon can help us to discover a bit about outer space. Some satellites have reached other planets in the solar system and all we can see is in the images. Radar can penetrate the atmosphere to the spacer but it cannot penetrate the ocean floor.

Would you rather live on the beach or in the mountains?

    This is really hard for me to choose. I would like to choose between the beaches and mountains. I would like to enjoy the breathtaking beach view with thunderous waves, as well as fresh air in the mountains. That is so why so many tourist spots are located nearby beached on the mountain. Most of them have fascinating places but there are quite touristy for me.

    If I should make a decision between them. I would like to live in the mountains as I typically like the winter weather. I do like snowboarding, hiking, and sightseeing in the picturesque and sleepy countryside surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery. I could get plenty of amazing views, basically all of the land. It is a natural paradise,  my pets could live much more freely in the mountains. Getting far enough away from a city, I am likely to enjoy singing out loud on the magnificent peaks without any neighbors in eyesight.
    Otherwise, having a beach house is completely devastating when the salt and moisture in the sea breeze into your house. After a decade, there will be a corrosive house. All the metal material will be corroded or oxidized.

How to calculate FI number

 FI : Financial Independence Number: how much money do you need to successfully retire?

How to calculate the FI number?

FI involved societal circumstances and personal circumstances.

Step 1: How much money will you spend in retirement? Please calculate your one-year expenses. Perhaps I can calculate 75% of my current spending. However, I need to consider the inflation rate in the future.

Step 2: Pick the withdrawal rate, it is the percentage of your retirement portfolio that you will convert to cash every year. Refers to the withdrawal rate, which can ensure we never run out of money.

Step 3:

FI number=annual retirement spending/safe withdrawal rate

Your retirement nest eggs should be 25 times your annual spending if the withdrawal rate is 4%.

Would you rather know when you will die or how you will die?

     I prefer to know when I will die. I could calculate the rest of my money in my savings accounts. Somebody could inherit my properties or my belongings after I die. I will try everything I can do and achieve something in the time that has been given to me. I could arrange everything I have and divide the rest of my money among the people in need.

    That would be frustrating if you know how to die. You would try everything to avoid anything that related to death. You would become paranoid to avoid doing something that sounds dangerous to you.

    No matter how could you know when you will die or how you will die, I would not choose either of them. It is meaningless to know about your future. You will easily get depressed or anxious for the rest of your life. You cannot be happier, I could say ignorance is bliss. 

ASMR

    ASMR stands for an autonomous sensory meridian response. It is a tingling sensation that begins on the back of the scalp and moves down to the back of the neck and upper the spine. It signifies the subjective experience of a "low-grade euphoria", usually triggered by specific auditory or visual stimuli.

Autonomous: spontaneous, self-governing, with or without control.

Sensory: about the senses or sensation

Meridian: signifying a climax, a peak, a point of the highest development.

Response: referring to an experience triggered by something internal or external.

What is the best advice you ever received in your life?

     Always responsible for your life. You can take control of yourself, which included your energy, happiness, choices, career, and fulfillment. You are not responsible for others. I was a social butterfly, I love taking care of others' feelings without hesitation. 

    I have wasted my spare time getting along with them, I did not brush up on my skills or did my chores frequently. My rented room was a mess and chaos sometimes. I feel guilty when I did not complete my jobs perfectly or with no mistakes.

    Try to make new mistakes in your learning process. You will learn more than you could when you correct the mistakes that you already knew. I imagined that I was perfect before this advice.

What are your thoughts on giving money to beggars?

     I am not a wealthy person, but I am willing to give some necessary things to the people in need. However, this question is very clear that it cannot solve the problems and that would not be satisfying. Some person who was previously fit and healthy ends up sick and disabled, then we toss him some food, is it really a heroic thing?

    In Taiwan, citizens here are not possibly starving to death. There are a lot of food banks and non-profit organizations that will keep you fed. There are also many temples or religious places that can keep the homeless people living, 

If you could be any animal for a day, what would you be and why?

     The first come to mind is a bird as I like singing and flying around the world without any boundaries. I would fly in to the mountains or jungles, enjoy the creatures. I still can communicate with my friends or families, and feathers together.

    The 2nd thought should be panda, as it plays smart not to work too hard. They just can survive in a cold environment, I will feel more grateful as I love winter. People will treat me like prize, there will have many snacks or playground around me even though I just staying chill and nothing to do.