A story

That was 9:00 PM in the countryside where I was born and grew up. I was coming back home after my English class. I was thinking about my Maths exercises. I hadn't finished yet. The weather was so cold and the wind made me afraid. I felt something was not right.

Suddenly, I looked up at the sky and I saw a strange object. It was a big bright disk.

After landing, two aliens got out of it. They looked very tall with metal clothes and two sticks on their heads. "They may be his antennae" I thought.

- Could you help me please! - They talked to me in perfect English.

- Oh, oh, yes, yes, may I help you? - I tried to stay calm and answer them.

- Could you explain to us this point in Vietnamese grammar? We are studying Vietnamese but it's so hard and we could not do anything.

And for a long time, I answered many many questions about Vietnamese, also Maths. I thought about three hours passed. I was really worried because my parents did not like me to come home late. But I could not stop because they asked many things.

Finally, they said "Thank you! You will receive a present, a special present. Please wait a moment!". Then they got back in the space ship and flew away. I stood still for a while and then I turned round. That time, I felt very happy and immediately I solved all my Maths exercises in my mind. I felt more intelligent myself and I could speak English very well. I saw my watch, it was just 9:00 PM.

Which pet is the best for Zoe?

I think a dog is the best for Zoe because it is a cute animal and Zoe could play with him without being boried. When Zoe goes out for a picnic with her friends, her dog could go with. I think Zoe's dog could be beside her everywhere and all the time. Besides, a dog is a very intelligent pet. It could do many things to help his owner. To having a cuddly pet, Zoe should clean her dog everyday and she should look after it carefully too.

In my opinion, a dog is a good friend for Zoe. Perhap for a short time, her parents will like animal because of a cute image of her pet. Though, having a goldfish is also a good idea. But it cannot go anywhere with Zoe and she cannot reach it.

Finally, Zoe need a dog now. I have one, and I would like to present it to her.

Fit and Unfit

Toby is unfit and overweight. One day his wife gave him a surprise birthday present: one week at a health farm! There has a clear environment, and his wife hoped he would be better after one week there. When he came there, he still smoked so much. The trainer, a beautiful girl, showed him the "NO SMOKING" sign and said "Don't smoke, please!". Toby didn't like that but he couldnot do anything.

After that, Toby had to have a health test. He weighed about 95kg. His trainer smiled and said "Don't worry! You'll feel better after a week!"

At 1:00 a.m, Toby went to the canteen for his lunch. He had to go on a diet so he was given a meal with just a few vegetables. Toby was so sad and he said: "No, I cannot eat them! Some taster things, please!"

In the afternoon, everyone had a yoga class. Toby was very tired and immedietly he fell sleep. And so, while everyone was trying the yoga exercise, he was sleeping. In the evening, Toby was not able to stand his hunger. He phoned a fastfood restaurant for pizzas. He found a way to get out and meet the pizza delivery man in the street. He ate so many pizzas and felt very happy. "Oh, that's my lifestyle!" he said.

One week later, at the weigh-in, he weighted... 100kg. It was the result of eating so many pizzas every night. His trainer felt so sad and so angry. She said to him: "Why? What did you do, Mr Toby?". "Oh, I don't know!" said Toby.

(ILA)

What do you think about Taiwanese nigh market?

A character of Taiwanese culture I am very interested in is night market. I have had some opportunities to come to some night markets in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung. In my opinion, night market is not only a Taiwanese cultural feature, but also a Taiwanese business symbol.

We say night market is a Taiwanese cultural feature because whenever we mention about this, we often think of Taiwan and vice versa. Some famous night markets are Shilin, Shida in Taipei, Fengjia in Taichung and Liuhe in Kaohsiung. In a night market, vendors sell many kinds of merchandises. Some games are also introduced. Specially, you can enjoy many delicious foods there and study further interesting Taiwanese cooking styles as well. Night market is also a place for families, friends and maybe lonely people to go there to relax at weekend.

There are many kinds of commodities shown in a Taiwanese night market such as clothes, toys for childen, aromatic spices, cosmetics and others. Most of Taiwanese bussinessmen know how to make customers pay special attention to their commodities. For the first idea, besides being made better, the commodities are decorated to be more beautiful. The second one is that vendors are known (famous) for good manners. They are very good at winning customer’s heart. It is a Taiwanese art of business.

If you have any opportunity to come to Taiwan, do not forget to drop in a night market. You will get better ideas about this beautiful island.

Performance Measures

The performance of a coded communication system is in general measured by its probability of decoding error (called the error probability) and its coding gain over an uncoded system that transmits informatin at the same rate. There are two types of error probability, probability of word (or block) error and probability of bit error. The probability of word error is defined as the probability that a decoded word (or block) at the output of the decoder is in error. This error probability is commonly called the word-error rate (WER) or block-error rate (BLER). The probability of bit error, also called the bit-error rate (BER), is defined as the probability that a decoded information bit at the output of the decoder is in error. A coded communication system should be designed to keep these two error probability as low as possible under certain system constraints, such as power, bandwidth, and decoding complexity.

(p. 15-16, Error Control Coding - 2nd Edition - Shu Lin, Daniel J. Costello - Pearson Education International)

Communication Systems

The goal of a communication system designer is to configure a system that transports a message signal from a source of interest across a noisy channel to a user at the other end of the channel with the following objective:

"The message signal is delivered to the user both efficiently and reliably, subject to certain design constraints: allowable transmit power, available channel bandwidth, and affordable cost of building the system."

(Commuication Systems - 4th Edition - Simon - Haykin)

A thank you letter

My dear friend,

First of all, I would like to say thank you very much for your help for my Taiwan trip last September. It is such an interesting journey.

In the beginning of the journey, I wondered how I should stay in Taiwan and also worried about the transportation and accommodation. Then, it was very lucky for me when I met you on the http://www.couchsurfing.org/. You have helped me with much important information. What’s more exciting, you did agree to join with me as my tour guide.

I think we had a wonderful time together. We have explored around Taiwan, and I have discovered many beautiful places (spots) in your country as well. You know, those experiences touched my heart.

Merry Christmas and best wishes to you and your family. Hope to meet you in my country, Vietnam, in the near future.

Your friend,

Hoang-Hiep Le

Making sentences

1. In order to:

I must study hard in order to finish my degree as soon as possible.

2. Look into:

My father is looking into his writing novel now.

3. Focus on:

She always focuses on her work when she goes to the school.

4. As long as:

As long as the teacher stays in our Lab, we can not go out.

5. As well as:

I know her and I know her sister as well.

I know her as well as I know her sister.

6. As if (as though):

He ordered everybody around as if he is their boss.

7. Attribute ST to ST (SB):

He attribute his achivement to his wife's support.

8. Look after:

I am very busy now. I am looking after my sister's baby.

9. Look up (stop by):

I have already looked up a good thing (paper) for our research.

When I want to go to a movie, I will look you up.

10. Be composed of:

This book is composed of many different results.

A letter: Up-to-date list of address.

Thank you for your letter of 11th November, asking for an up-to-date list of address of our branches.

We have pleasure in enclosing this brochure, showing the location of all our branches and agencies at home and abroad.

Yours faithfully

S.S Carson

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Book: "Business Letters for All"

Oxford University Press

Bertha J. Naterop

Erich Weis

Eva Haberfellner

ISBN 0-19-580232-2

LOVE AND HELP CHILDREN

Today’s children will become tomorrow’s civilization. Bringing a child into the world today is a little bit like dropping one into a tiger’s cage. Children can’t handle their environment and they have no real resources. They need love and help to make it.

It is a delicate problem to discuss. There are almost as many theories on how to raise a child or not raise him as there are parents. Yet if one does it wrong much grief can result and one may even complicate his or her own later years. Some try to raise children the way they were themselves raised, others attempt the exact opposite, many hold to an idea that children should just be let grow on their own. None of these guarantee success. The last method is based on a materialistic idea that the development of the child parallels the evolutionary history of the race; that in some magical way, unexplained, the “nerves” of the child will “ripen” as he or she grows older and the result will be a moral, well-behaving adult. Although the theory is disproven with ease—simply by noticing the large criminal population whose nerves somehow did not ripen—it is a lazy way to raise children and achieves some popularity. It doesn’t take care of your civilization’s future or your older years.

A child is a little bit like a blank slate. If you write the wrong things on it, it will say the wrong things. But, unlike a slate, a child can begin to do the writing: the child tends to write what has been written already. The problem is complicated by the fact that, while most children are capable of great decency, a few are born insane and, today, some are even born as drug addicts: but such cases are an unusual few.

It does no good just to try to “buy” the child with an overwhelm of toys and possessions or to smother and protect the child: the result can be pretty awful.

One has to make up his mind what he is trying to get the child to become: this is modified by several things: (a) what the child basically can become due to inherent make-up and potential; (b) what the child really wants to become; (c) what one wants the child to become; (d) the resources available. But remember that whatever these all add up to, the child will not survive well unless he or she eventually becomes self-reliant and very moral. Otherwise the end product is likely to be a liability to everyone including the child.

Whatever one’s affection for the child, remember that the child cannot survive well in the long run if he or she does not have his or her feet put on the way to survival. It will be no accident if the child goes wrong: the contemporary society is tailor-made for a child’s failure.

It will help enormously if you obtain a child’s understanding of and agreement to follow the precepts contained in this book.

What does have a workability is simply to try to be the child’s friend. It is certainly true that a child needs friends. Try to find out what a child’s problem really is and, without crushing their own solutions, try to help solve them. Observe them—and this applies even to babies. Listen to what children tell you about their lives. Let them help—if you don’t, they become overwhelmed with a sense of obligation which they then must repress.

It will help the child enormously if you obtain understanding of and agreement to this way to happiness and get him or her to follow it. It could have an enormous effect on the child’s survival—and yours.

A child factually does not do well without love. Most children have an abundance of it to return.

The way to happiness has on its route the loving and the helping of children from babyhood to the brink of adult life.

(Special thanks to: http://www.thewaytohappiness.org/thewaytohappiness/precepts/love-and-help-children.html)

Topic: Why are human beings living longer nowadays?

Human beings nowadays are living longer and longer. There are many reasons leading to this achievement. We can list here some main ideas as better living environment, good health care and nutritional food.

First of all, a recent better living environment gives human a longer life. With development of economy, science and technology, humans nowadays gain better living conditions than before. Most dangerous work now is executed by modern machinery A man by himself can do his job and make more products effectively without being under a rough condition. And he may choose a good living for himself and his family as he likes, with green environment and comfortable entertainment as well. A convenient living gives people optimistic and active attitude which helps us live longer. Next, a popular education is broadcasted now for most people all over the world. Everyone is guided on how to stay alive in dangerous situations (we call it “safety culture”) when he was a child. And he is also taught to make his surrounding environment fresher and better.

One of the other important reasons why humans are living longer is good health care. To attain our aim of getting longer life, humans always hope to find out good methods to treating for all diseases. The twentieth century saw the development in medicine, for examples, pharmaceutals, antibiotics, vaccines and surgical skills… These major achievements will help humans against most health problems such as cold, fever, headache even cancers or AIDS. Besides, diagnoses now are more and more exact which can make treatments become more effective and easier. By building popular health networks, reaching good health care conditions of people is not an “impossible thing” even in rural communinties. The people with better health care should live longer.

The third idea we could show to explain the question in this topic is nutritional food. By development of biotechnology, humans have made recent food more nutritional with abundance than before. Therefore we can say that food is not still thehumans’ greatest challenge recently or in the future. Genetically modified food is a very strong demonstration for this opinion. Unfortunately, like all new technology, they also pose some risks, both known and unknown. To fix this problem, organic food became a good choice for us. It brings good health fundation to people by fresh food, and then we can live longer.

However the human is destroying his own life at the same time. The climate change is now widely recognized as the major environmental problem facing the globe. The greenhouse effect and deforestation will impact on our lives. Floods, droughts and other natural calamities became more and more complex problems. These consequences are mainly a result of human activities. Besides, terrorism and wars do not stop stepping up. The conflicts with effective modern weapons still cost the lives of many people. The growing risk of a nuclear war remains very serious. It exists possibility of leading human living be destroyed completely. The mass destruction of human lives is still a possibility.

There are many reasons leading people to live longer and longer. The three main ones are better living environment, good health care and nutritional food. However, human have to work together (corporate) against negative phenomena, then make our life better and longer.

An English topic: Describe your last week at home before you came to this city

Describe your last week at home before you came to this city / country. Then describe what you have done and been doing since you arrived here.

I have lived in Taiwan for one month and half. (I came to Taiwan one and half month ago) The last week at home before I came here was a special period. My parents were very happy when they knew I got the DYU scholarship. We had a small party together and I drank with my close friends also. However, there had been some worries of me because I didn’t know when I would come back home.

When I came to Taiwan, there were many things to do. The first thing was expanding my Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) for the next year. The second thing was signing up my courses. Then I went shopping for my life in dormitory. This semester my scholarship is increased so I could buy more than before. I have planned a schedule for me to do exercise, because I hope I could be stronger and fatter. I have been doing my exercise for one month and I feel everything is better now.

I have started my study since early September. I must work hard for my own knowledge. I have been studying English and Digital Communications for my courses this semester. And I have been working in my Lab to do my research. Besides, I have been learning Chinese for one month also.

CLARENCE TULLY - A Man With a Secret (2/2)

(continued...)
When Tully went to military meetings or gatherings with real veterans as a reporter, he would dress in a serviceman's uniform. As he became more comfortable with the uniform and the imaginary stories about his years in the Air Force, he began to wear medals of honor and make the stories more danger-filled and exciting. Also, as he got more important jobs in real life, he gave himself a higher rank in his fictitious military life. He became a second lieutenant, then a first lieutenant, then a major. It got to the point where he himself could not tell the difference between fact and fiction anymore. In reality, he never attended college or served in the Air Force.
Tully was doing very well in his career, and people easily trusted and respected him. He was always careful and consistent when he talked about his military adventures. He did not make mistakes with his "facts." He was a clever impostor; he told believable phony stories. No one questioned the exciting, brave, dangerous events of his nonexistent military experience. he deceived everyone for many years.
Recently, something happened that changed Tully's whole life. In his newspaper, he published some negative articles about a well-known lawyer of his city. This lawyer became very angry with Tully. He decided to investigate Tully's personal life. In a short time, he discovered that Tully was a impostor. He publicized the fact that Tully told untrue stories about himself. Tully immediately acknowledged all his dishonest information and resigned from his job. He did not give any explanation for his behavior. He put himself in the care of a psychiatrist in order to find out why he did this. As he entered a hospital in Arizona, he said, "I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me." With these words, the fantasy life-style of "Duke" Tully ended.
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CLARENCE TULLY - A Man With a Secret (1/2)

Clarence Darrow Tully was tall, good-looking, and intelligent. He worked as a reporter at first and eventually became publisher of two newspapers in Arizona. He was a competent newspaper executive and got along well with other important people in the community. He was very successful in his career. These was, however, something unusual about Tully that was a secret for a long, long time.
When Clarence Darrow Tully was a young man, he told everyone to call him "Duke." He copied that name from a famous movie actor, whom Americans liked because he was strong, tough and brave. Tully want to be admired for the same reasons as this actor was. He also believed that men in military uniform looked strong, tough, and brave. Tully wanted very much to make this impression on others. His desire for this image got stronger and stronger as time went on.
He tried to join the Air Force, but poor vision prevented him from being accepted. His older brother became a Marine pilot and was killed in service in 1942. When this happened, Tully began to put his imagination to work: he started to tell untrue stories about his personal life. At first, he simply claimed he was in the Air Force and that he had a college degree. Every time he got a promotion in his career, he added more stories about brave active duty in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
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(to be continued...)

On Being Shy (2/2)

(continuous)
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We can help ourselves be rid of shyness. Nobody is perfect, and everybody has good qualities. Is it fair to pay attention to our imperfections and overlook our good qualities? Definitely not! The following suggestions may be helpful in reducing shyness:
1. First, understand that you cannot eliminate shyness overnight. It is a slow process that you must work on gradually.
2. Think about situations when being shy is most painful. Perhaps your biggest problem is making small talk with a stranger at a party. In that case, prepare yourself with some interesting current news to talk about. The weather is a topic often used for starting conversations.
3. Getting the other person to talk about himself/herself is a clever idea. Many people enjoy talking about themselves - or give their opinions. For example, you can say something like, "I notice you like modern jewelry; your rings are very unusual. Did you design them yourself?" This can be the start of a friendship.
4. Whenever you begin making negative comparisons between yourself and others, force yourself to stop doing that immediately. Take your thoughts off yourself. Observe others and think of a compliment with which to start a conversation with someone.
5. If you are shy at work where there are many coworkers, choose the least intimidating person to perhaps have coffee with or make casual small talk with.
6. Know that if an effort to socialize sometimes is unsuccessful, it happens to everyone now and then. Feel proud of yourself for making the effort.
7. If you are required to give a report to a group, tell them that you feel nervous. This feeling is quite natural, and everyone can sympathize. Expressing that to the group will make you feel better.
8. Think about your good qualities and believe that you are as good as anyone else... because you are!
9. Take a course in developing self-confidence or read books on the subject.
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Life is much more enjoyable for people who are not shy.

On Being Shy (1/2)

How many times have you felt angry with yourself because you were too shy to speak up when you really wanted to have a conversation with another person? Are parties times for standing in the corner and watching others chat and dance - afraid to join them? Do you listen to discussions but do not give your opinions because you think you are not smart enough? Do you wish to be friendly but don't know how? All these thoughts lead to unhappy feelings.
This kind of unhappiness comes about not because other people are trying to hurt us. We make this unhappiness for ourselves. Naturally, we really don't want to hurt ourselves, but often we grow up thinking we are not as good as others - we are inferior; everyone is better, smarter, and more interesting. These negative thoughts make us shy. Why do we do this to ourselves? Only a psychologist can discover the reasons. It is interesting to note that very large numbers of people are shy. There is, however, good news. If we want to get rid of shyness, it can be done.
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(to be continued)

Texas: More than Cowboys and Oil Wells

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"Bang! Bang! Cowboy?" I often heard these words while traveling in Europe years ago when I said that I was from Texas. The next words were usually, "Do you have an oil well?" Although my home state is known around the world for its cowboys and oil wells, Texas has other interesting, though lesser known, features, which are its varied geography, its cultural heritage, and its strong pride.

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The first interesting feature of Texas is its varied geography. Texas is located at the intersection of several geographical regions. It has mountain, hills, plains, beaches, deserts, and forests. In one long day of driving, a person can start the morning beside rice fields in the humid southeastern part of the state and, in the evening, stop beside wild cactus plants in the dry western part. On a winter day, a person in the northern tip of Texas can be playing in the snow while another person in the southern tip is picking oranges near palm trees.

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The second interesting feature of Texas is its cultural heritage. The Institute of Texas Cultures, a museum in San Antonio, explains the cultural history of Texas and contains permanent exhibits of twenty-six cultural groups that helped build Texas. These groups range from Native Americans and Mexicans to Japanese and Chinese. Today visistors to Texas can still see elements of ranching and cowboy culture, the culture of the rural Old South, and the cultures of German and Czech immigrants, mixed with the generic culture of modern American. However, the past and the future of Texas are most closely associated with Mexico. For examble, the 2000 census shows that about 28 percent of Texans speak Spanish in their homes, and this number is likely to grow.

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In addition to its geography and cultural heritage, the third interesting feature of Texas is the regional pride of its people. Supermarkets sell Texas-shaped pasta and people wear Texas-shaped earrings. Bumper stickers say, "Native-born Texan" and "I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could." Many people think of themselves as Texans first and as U.S. citizens second. This strong Texas identity is rooted in the history and the size of Texas. From 1836 to 1845, Texas was an independent country. Then, after it became a state, it was the biggestin area for over 100 years, and Texans loved to say that everything was biggest in Texas. When Alaska became the forty-ninth and largest state in 1959, proud Texans joked that, because Alaska was mainly ice, it could melt. According to them, Texas was still the biggest state..
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In conclusion, Texas is an interesting place because of its varied geography, its cultural heritage, and the strong pride of its people. When I travel outside Texas or meet international visitors in Texas, I know the stereotypic images of Texas that they probably have. Therefore, I make sure to tell them that Texas is very diverse and has much more to see than cowboys and oil wells.

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Portraits of Special People

My Grandmother
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Wood, my grandmother, died many years ago, but she is still one of my favorite people. Althought she was too strict, she had many good qualities. One of these is her love of learning. She had little money and lived on a farm, but she wanted to learn as much as possible. For examble, after she finished all eight grades of her rural school, she took a one-month course in teacher training. It was the maximum education available for her. When she was old, she often took out her world globe after dinner and studies the countries on it. Another of Lizzie's good qualities was she ability to cook everything well. Without written recipes, she made delicious bread and desserts, such as fruit pies. She turned ordinary potatoes into tasty soup and ordinary apples into wonderful jelly. Still another of her good qualities was that she was helpful to everyone. One time she organized a drama production for kids in her community. Another time she was the president of a service organization. Many times she helped her neighbors with the hard parts of their sewing. Grandma Wood was a strict person, but her good qualities made her one of my favorite people.

A Great Friend
Kyle Robertson, my best friend from childhood, has three good qualities that I admire. His sister's name is Emily. The first quality is his energy and sense of adventure. We visited his grandparents in Georgia. His granfather dirves a Volvo. We went to see my uncle in San Francisco. We went skiing, backpacking, or rock climbing together. A second quality is his technical skills. In junior high, we spent hours at the computer as "pilots" of simulated planes and, in high school, flew remote-controlled planes. Now we enjoy different activities. We like building Web sites and editing wideos together. A third good quality is that he is loyal. He is always there for me, no matter when or where. I recently needed last-minute help at 4 A.M. with an important Java assignment. I love computers. There was no problem when I telephoned and woke him up, and he had an answer to my question, as always. In short, Kyle has many good qualities and is really a special friend.

Sharing Stories - Quick Action

It was an ordinary day at the First National Bank. Everything seemed normal. An elderly woman and her grandson were in the bank. The woman had an old handbag and a new umbrella on her arm, and the little boy had a balloon on a long string. The woman began to make a deposit and cash a check. Then a man with a black-and-white hat walked in. The little boy saw the man's picture on the wall and began to feel afraid. The man slowly walked to a teller's window and suddenly pulled out a big gun. He gave the teller a note and got two heavy bags of money from her. He started to run away, but the woman quickly started to run after him. She hit him hard with her umbrella and stopped him! A young policeman immediately took the famous robber away to jail, and a crowed watched. The bank manager gave the woman a reward, so she looked very happy. He gave the boy seven balloons, so the boy also had a big smile of his face. In the end, everyone was happy except the robber. In this incident, quick action by an ordinary person stopped a crime.

Not Only On TV

When my family lived in another city, we had two experiences with robberies.One time someone broke into our car in front of our house and took some CDs.We were upset and unhappy, but we did not call the police. It did not seem too important.Another time a few week later, someone took our new camera and $55 from our house.The person came in through a window when we were out of the house during the day.The camera was very expensive, and we did not have teh money for another camera.We felt afraid and bought new blocks.Robberies were not only on TV. They were real now.(Philip L. Sladek)