台灣線上圖書館日前舉辦第十屆漢字節，設計多樣活動，讓漢字變得好玩又有藝術性。由義工林蕙瀅設計漢字燈籠，把漢字變裝飾品。吳孟軒的漢字剪紙，體驗漢字的三度空間感。黃惠暄設計盲人摸漢字，從紙箱中摸出紙板做的漢字形狀，憑手感猜字。林德岳設計漢字傳聲筒，看照片猜中文詞彙。溫亞峰和蘇玫綺設計的漢字畫趣，將象形文字以圖案表示，讓來賓畫出漢字圖像。施素蘭示範書法寫作。另外由館長蔡玉茂設計的手機軟體「說話斑馬」(Talking Zebra App)，可免費下載試玩。不會說中文的家長覺得軟體很實用，可以輕鬆幫助孩子學標準的中文發音。軟體下載請上網：http://tolib.org/TalkingZebra。(圖與文：記者陳曼玲)
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明州開車禁持手機8/1上路 最高罰275元
今年4月份通過明尼蘇達州議會的「開車禁持手機法案」(Hands-Free Law)，將從8月1日起施行，州長沃茲(Tim Walz)表示，希望藉此法保護民眾生命安全，該法將全面進行違規取締，其中初次違法者罰50元，之後則將提高至275元。
明州居民迪西(Vijay Dixit)說，12年前，就讀威斯康辛大學的女兒，因朋友在開車時伸手拿東西分心，使車輛於高速公路上翻覆撞上水泥橋墩，坐在前座的19歲女兒不幸死亡，他後以女兒為名成立基金會(Shreya R. Dixit Memorial Foundation)，積極推廣開車不分心(distraction-free)的重要。
根據州府資料，過去五年來每年有53人死於分心駕駛車禍，和迪西一樣因此失去親人的許多家庭，多年來不斷遊說州政府立法，終於今年促成此法。
明州公共安全廳(Department of Public Safety)指出，新法不允許汽車駕駛滑手機、用手機讀簡訊、打字、錄影、聊天、玩遊戲、看影片或照片，也不能使用地圖以外的軟體。
駕駛可使用手機的聲控(voice commands)或單一按鍵啟動(single-touch activation)功能來打電話、傳簡訊、聽音樂和使用地圖導覽；也可從手機聽音樂，但不可以滑手機選曲目，這項新法也適用於智慧型手表(smart watch)。
新法可以使用手機上的地圖導航時，但要在開車前設定好目的地；也可使用GPS或車上的導航系統，遇到生命威脅時撥打911，是唯一允許手持電話的情況。
公共安全廳給予幾項遵守「禁持手機法」的輔助建議，包括「開車時勿用手機」、「禁用雙耳耳機」、「設定免持功能」、「車內裝上可掛放手機的支架」或「購買藍芽擴音器」。
根據國家安全委員會(National Safety Council)統計顯示，全國施行「禁持手機法」的15州當中，有12州的車禍死亡率平均降低了15%。
逛街不愁找車位 美國購物廣場可預約停車位
暑假到了，全美最大規模的室內購物中心美國購物廣場(Mall Of America)又迎來年度消費熱潮，找到最好最近的停車位也成為一大挑戰，可以先選擇預約車位的「我的停車位」(MyPark)，由於可讓消費者不用擔心或浪費時間找停車位，已成為許多當地顧客的「新寵」。
美國購物廣場設有1萬3000個免費停車位，其實如果不怕走遠路或找不到車子的話，並不太需要擔心停車問題，然而暑假遊客大增，花點錢先確保有最近最方便的停車位，還是非常受歡迎。
該購物廣場的行銷副總裁湯妮斯(Sarah Townes)說，「我的停車位」在2017年感恩節後「黑色星期五」之前推出，一開始就有超過5000人次預約使用，截至2018年底使用者已超過一萬人，目前消費者的反應良好。地點在東、西兩側的停車場一樓，各有10個保留停車格，消費者可以在到達停車處15分鐘前，或六個月前就預約停車格，相當便利。
使用方法是上網下載「我的停車位」手機軟體，軟體會顯示離你最近的停車空位。到達停車格後，按下軟體上的按鈕「進入停車位」(Let me in)，地上的直立裝置會折疊平放在地上，使車子能開入。開車離去後，系統會自動感應將裝置豎起。並以電子郵件寄出帳單給使用者。
創辦人馬言迪亞(Luis Mayendia)說，「我的停車位」的使用者中，事先預約和臨時使用的人各佔一半。有75%的消費者會重複使用，由於在美國購物廣場的使用者增加，前兩小時收費從3元漲至6元，之後每小時維持3元。
創辦合夥人布藍柯(Ricardo Blanco)早在1990年發現預約停車的必要性，當時他在建設公司有專屬停車位，但卻被附近的銀行客戶佔用，2013年他們在邁阿密創辦「我的停車位」公司，馬言迪亞說，2016年開始進駐各大購物廣場，之後每年有300%到400%的營業額成長，目前共有十萬名用戶。
馬言迪亞說，去年公司推出新功能，讓合作商家為消費的客人抵免停車費，來提升商家的服務價值，目前仍與美國購物廣場協商中，有意使用者，第一次可輸入MYPARK1享受免費停車，下載軟體可上網：www.usemypark.com。
明州園遊會8月底登場 饕客期待享美食
有100多年歷史的明州州立園遊會(state fair)將在八月底推出連續12天的活動，預計將吸引200多萬名遊客共襄盛舉，今年菜單上增加了31種食物，使得園遊會的美食項目將有近500種，讓饕客們躍躍欲試。
今年的食物方面，將包括創意十足的迷你甜甜圈拿鐵(Mini Donut Latte)，在傳統的拿鐵咖啡杯上，放上一個迷你甜甜圈，讓你一口咖啡一口甜甜圈；還有迪力熱狗(Dilly Dog)，把整條德國香腸(bratwurst)塞進整條醃黃瓜裡，再裹粉炸成熱狗。
其他還有混搭風格的美食，例如冰淇淋皮塔餅(Peaches nCream Nachos)，這道食物是把桃子冰淇淋，搭配肉桂口味的甜皮塔餅(pita chips)，再淋上蜂蜜與碎核桃，最後擠上鮮奶油，口味獨特同時熱量也接近破表。
比較有地方色彩的則有南達科他州的酒吧小吃「早餐馬鈴薯皮」(Breakfast Potato Skin)，把炸過的馬鈴薯皮，加上炒蛋、紅、青椒與牛肉塊(chislic)，淋上法式伯那西醬(bearnaise sauce)；包心菜捲(Stuffed Cabbage Roll)則是亞洲式食物的美式吃法，用高麗菜葉包上豬絞肉與米飯，淋上蕃茄醬；另一個新奇又賞心悅目的組合是「光環甜筒」(Halo Cone)，把藍紅顏色相間的霜淇淋放在棉花糖裡，甜度加倍。
目前園遊會正大舉招募臨時工，預計有500個職位空缺，分別負責停車、食物、遊樂設施、商品販賣、公共安全，或照顧農場動物，每小時的薪水從9.86到11元不等，詳情請上網查詢，網址：www.mnstatefair.org。
明州雙城住宅區速限 擬降至25哩
夏天到戶外走路和騎車的人增多，開車的人如果超速或不專心，車禍機率因此提高，根據專家指出，降低市區行車速限到25哩，能拯救生命，降低傷害。雙城地區的速限目前仍維持在每小時30哩，但市政府正在研擬立法，要把住宅區的速限降至每小時25哩。
幾年前在楓葉丘市(Maple Grove)的一名年輕媽媽遛狗過馬路時，儘管遵守交通燈號，同時也看了兩邊沒車才過馬路，然而她走到馬路中間時，突然發現來車走避不及，身體撞上引擎蓋彈到路邊，後腦著地，導致她的腦部受到永久性傷害，而失去味覺和嗅覺。
經過此意外事件，社區開始推動提醒駕駛行經住宅區應降低車速，並在有行人穿越號誌的路口禮讓行人過馬路，以免車禍釀成悲劇。
公共安全廳(Department of Public Safety)指出，超速容易使車輛失控、反應時間變短、煞車距離增加、被撞者嚴重受傷或死亡機率增加，被時速35哩的車子撞上的人，比被時速25哩的車子撞上的人，死亡機率提高三倍，此外，被休旅車撞上比被房車撞倒更容易死亡。
明尼蘇達大學的人類優先實驗室(HumanFIRST laboratory)曾以車速時速40哩、35哩與25哩做實驗，證明車速愈快，駕駛的反應時間愈短，愈容易發生車禍。
美國汽車協會AAA統計，被時速20哩的車撞上，有13%的人會死亡或嚴重受傷。車速30哩造成的車禍則提高到40%，車速40哩則有73%死傷。
為了行人安全，許多大城市，如紐約、波斯頓、西雅圖，已經降低市區的行車時速到25哩，明州附近的威斯康辛州、愛阿華州與南北達可他州，也都降低市區速限到25哩。
傳統結合科技 盧偉民書法「行雲流水」
國際知名的華裔城市規劃設計師盧偉民(Weiming Lu)日前受邀在台灣線上圖書館的漢字節中，以「行雲流水，新書法之探索」為題，分享他結合電腦創作書法的探索歷程，他說，書法讓他發掘了自己的根，並探索新方向。
盧偉民先以投影片介紹生活中到處可見的書法，像是在北京公園裡的沙地上寫漢字、國畫上的書法、街道上的招牌字與裝飾藝品的書法，他認為好的書法有動態的平衡、調性、觸感(texture)等元素，就像如交響樂般的旋律，能表達出深厚情感。
盧偉民說話溫和，但拿起毛筆來下筆俐落，盧偉民說，寫書法是他最大的興趣，他從學生時就開始臨摹柳公權和王羲之的書法，當醫生的叔叔也常帶他欣賞書法。
他在90年代與中國現代書法大師王東齡先生學習，開始嘗試臨摹甲骨文、印章風格的大字型。當時他接觸到一套可寫書法的電腦軟體，便開始運用傳統的毛筆與技巧，結合電腦軟體的創作，賦予中國書法另一種新意。
例如他揮墨書寫漢字「戰爭」，用電腦在中文字體上疊上英文句子「戰爭不是答案」(The war is not the answer)，藉此抒發對戰爭的看法；他用軟體把「愛」字寫了十多次，最後變形成兩個翩然起舞的人形。
他還創造風格另類的書法，像是有如剪紙的字形、濃淡相疊的漢字等。讓人眼睛為之一亮的是他把自然景物的照片當背景，在一旁提上書法，成了一幅現代山水書畫。
他還巧妙運用雪景上的枝幹陰影為背景，創造出傳統水墨國畫的效果，例如在藍色的天空上，用電腦的白色筆刷寫出如白雲的「心」字；而把七個不同顏色筆觸的「龍」字擺在一起，有普普藝術的風格；他還童心未泯把漢字寫成可拆解組合的變形金剛(transformer)。
盧偉民的書法企圖創新同時也保留傳統，不僅把書法運用在畫作上，更以新工具來頌揚傳統並表現新意，他說，科技不能取代藝術，但可成為延展傳統的工具。
1997年杭州美術學院開始收藏他的書法作品，並多次應邀到美國、日本等地參展，杭州電視台製作了影片介紹他運用電腦的書法創作，明州公共電視台在2015年也錄製影片介紹他的書法。
明州少年網路霸凌自閉生 控罪駁回
明州最高法院日前駁回史考特郡少年法庭(Scott County juvenile court)對一名青少年網路霸凌的控罪，被告辯護律師艾瑞奇可(John Arechigo)表示，被告並沒有威脅傷害特定對象，而言論自由受憲法保護，所以最高法院才會駁回被告在網路批評某位自閉症學生的霸凌控罪。
被告少年幾年前在網路社交媒體上散播了40多則言論，聲稱要教訓一位自閉症學生，地方法院法官主張該名少年的侮辱殘忍且過分，更嚴重貶低受害者尊嚴。
艾瑞奇可主張，公眾言論的內容如果沒有威脅要傷害某人，就不構成起訴。
代表受害者的檢方代表費勞米(Phil Villaume)表示，「這樣的判決會讓孩子以為言語霸凌是可容忍的行為，而且不違法」。
最高法院做出駁回檢方控罪訴訟後，雙方代表同意全案轉交學校或由民事法庭處理，費勞米說，根據民事法，在校園內言語霸凌不能歸類為所謂的言論自由。艾瑞奇可也同意可尋求民事途徑解決，像是避免讓雙方接觸或說話等。
根據現有的明州法律對尾隨跟蹤(stalking)和騷擾(harassment)的定義，很難在保護言論自由的憲法大傘下，對部分網路霸凌案件做出起訴。
明州少年法庭表示，會對此案件重新討論，如能找到更多證據，將會再度提出訴訟。
至於學校或家長應當如何防範網路霸凌呢？根據政府的停止霸凌網站(www.stopbullying.gov)，學校要注意學生的行為或情緒是否有異常，並與學生或家長聯絡此異常是否跟使用網路有關，如發現霸凌情況，可私下詢問學生事情的經過與涉案者，並將網路上的霸凌言論紀錄存檔，如果言論涉及暴力威脅、色情、侵害隱私、尾隨跟蹤或仇恨傷害，都屬犯罪行為，必須通報警方。
該網站說，當孩子遇到霸凌，要教他們不要回應或轉貼對方的言論，並保留證據與封鎖(block)對方聯絡。
Jesus, the Best Counselor
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NIV
Some time had passed since I heard from Sarah, a friend I pray for often.
Then I watched a movie I thought Sarah might find interesting. I sent her the information through Messenger. A few minutes later, she called and told me she was feeling miserable. The man she had been dating for years cheated on her. She felt betrayed, angry, and frustrated. She had seen a Christian counselor twice but could not fall asleep at night.
“How did the counselor help you?” I asked.
“He asked me to write down what my left brain told me so my logical sense could persuade my emotion on my right brain to forget about this lousy man. But I’m not in the mood to write it now.” She sighed.
“I may not be a licensed counselor, but I believe God, your Creator, knows your heart more than any human. Would you like me to pray for you and ask Jesus to help you?” I wanted to point Sarah to Jesus, her ultimate comforter.
“Why does this happen to me?” Sarah asked.
“Only God knows. But one thing Jesus wants to assure you is that God loves you,” I replied.
The child Jesus was sent by His heavenly Father to carry our sin debt to the cross. He is the ruler of the kingdom of God. And He is the best counselor because He understands our suffering through bearing our burdens daily.
Jesus proves Himself to be the mighty One who can calm the storm in your heart with His gift of peace.
If you’re struggling, instead of trying to grab any plank to let yourself float above the roaring ocean of trouble, cry out to God for help.
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
https://christiandevotions.us/viewblogentry/1319
超速肇事破紀錄 明州即起加強取締
明州公共安全廳(Department of Public Safety)日前公布 2018年死於車禍人數達113人，創下10年來最高紀錄，其中有23%的死亡原因是開車超速，為了防止悲劇重演，該州即日起到7月21日止，將由300個執法單位，攜手配合嚴格取締超速。
超速罰款金額因郡而異，當開車時速比速限超出10哩時，罰款通常為110元，如果時速超出速限達20哩時，則罰款加倍，一旦時速超出100哩，執照將遭吊銷半年。
夏天有許多人騎腳踏車或摩托車，因此發生車禍的機率也高，今年為止已經有11名騎士死亡，其中僅有三名戴安全帽，公共安全廳提醒騎單車的人速度不要太快，要戴頭盔，並穿明亮的衣服，讓開車的駕駛容易辨識，同時開車的人也要禮讓單車騎士。
此外，安全廳指出，7月4日美國國慶日是一年中最容易發生酒醉駕車的節日，根據紀路，從2013到2017年，每年國慶日平均就有471名駕駛因酒醉駕駛收到罰單，警察平均每小時逮捕四人，約每小時就有八人因為酒駕受傷，警察建議如果看到有酒醉的人，務必勸其不要開車，或找其他的方法回家，因為這可能會救他及就其他一命。
公共安全廳還提醒開車時如果遇上開車莽撞的人，要保持冷靜、盡量避開。也不要跟對方尬車、避免跟對方眼神接觸、不理會對方的挑釁動作、不要有任何回應，並將對方的車牌號碼、地點、車型通報警察。
Fight the Goliath: The story about the missionary, Avril Varosky
Hudson Taylor, the English missionary, founded China Inland Mission in 1865, which became OMF International in 1965. Pastor Doug Vavrosky, born in America, along with his wife Avril Vavrosky have been the missionaries sent by OMF since 1981. They served in Taiwan for 12 years and still focus on Chinese ministry for 36 years until today. This interview is about how God prepared Avril to be a missionary and equipped her to be the warrior in the spiritual warfare. She has been blessing many Christians out of darkness and to revive their spiritual life.
Avril was born and grew up in a Christian family in South Africa. At age 8, Avril decided to believe in God when she heard the pastor preached that “the believers of Jesus go to heaven and the non-believers go to hell”. Avril’s grandmother was a fortune teller. After Avril received Jesus as her savior, when she was around her grandmother, her grandmother lost the power to read other people’s fortune and couldn’t help but asking her to leave. But Avril’s father often preached gospel of truth to her grandmother, who became a Christian later.
Avril once confirmed with her mother about the image in her memory: there was the Chinese man running the grocery store in the corner of the street. Avril still remembered the candy jars and other display in the store. Avril’s vivid memory surprised her mother because Avril was not even one year old yet at that time. This Chinese man knew Avril’s father lost job and kindly allowed her mother to buy food on credit. The good deed of this Chinese man planted a little seed in Avril’s heart and seemed to motivate her to save the souls of Chinese people when she grew up.
When Avril got baptized at age 15, she told her parents that she wanted to be a missionary. Her parents regarded this idea as self-flattering because the society ranked the occupation of missionary as important as pastor, doctor and lawyer. Avril’s father wanted her to become a fashion model like her aunt, and her mother wanted her to be a teacher. Moreover, a rich relative wanted Avril to inherit his great fortune. But Avril was very clear about God’s will so she told her church pastor Dr. Arnot about her desire of being a missionary. The pastor and his wife began to coach Avril and fasted to pray for her every Tuesday. They also gave her books about missionaries, especially the stories about Dr. Arnot’s father, who served with David Livingstone in Africa.
After graduating from high school, Avril took Dr. Arnot’s suggestion to study in nursing school for preparing to be a missionary. While she studied in the nursing school, she was dispatched to the mental hospital for residency. Avril wished to work in orphanage like her classmates and she thought that her teachers might not like her so send her to the most unpleasant place. However, this training was the foundation of Avril’s future ministry in the field of mental and psychological counseling.
In the last year of studying in the nursing school, Avril attended the Christian Nurse Fellowship in Port Elizabeth. She met the man who played a video about a persecuted Chinese Christian family. Avril bought two books published by OMF from him. Avril prayed to God and was willing to die for Him with a heart zealous for ministering Chinese people.
After graduating from the nursing school, Avril was accepted by Hebron Theological College in Johannesburg. Then she found the director of OMF and told him that she heard about OMF’s mission when she was at Port Elizabeth. Strangely, the director said OMF didn’t send anyone to work in Port Elizabeth. But after hearing Avril’s testimony, the director knew that God opened the way and started to send missionaries to Port Elizabeth. In the seminary, Avril learned more about the Holy Spirit and prayed to God to fill her with the Holy Spirit. After that prayer, she noticed that she has greater love toward God, God’s truth and people.
After graduating from the seminary in 1980, Avril was admitted to be OMF missionary in February, 1981. She was sent to Singapore for training in October that year and met another OMF missionary, Doug there. They went to Taiwan together in December that year and got married in the church in Tai-Chung in 1983.
Avril did not know much about demonic force before she went to Taiwan. After she served in Taiwan, there was an American missionary getting her name in her vision that she was told to find Avril and ask her to set her free from the evil bondage. Avril didn’t know how to do it. But she remembered what Jesus did in the bible. So, she commanded the evil spirit to leave this American missionary in the name of Jesus Christ. The American missionary confirmed that she was immediately set free. Afterwards, more people were brought to see Avril for counseling and prayer. With the training in the nursing school plus the spiritual gift, Avril can discern the difference between mental illness and demonization.
One time she saw a medium man was invited to a house for practicing the evil power in the village called Tu-Chang in Taiwan. Avril felt compassionate for the lost souls. So, she prayed secretly, standing a little away from the house and bound the evil power on the medium man. This man instantly lost his power and quickly packed his equipment and ran away from the spot.
In 1993, due to the medical need of their child, Avril and her husband sadly left Taiwan which was considered their root of ministry and went back to Minnesota, sent by OMF to continue their Chinese ministry. Afterward, Avril started to read Bible in a brand new way. She saw the old testament vividly describes the situation of idol worshiping nowadays.
What is idol? Anything except God, causing us to love more than God becomes our idol. In America, there might not be man-made idols around, but the idols in modern world could be fame, health, materialism, comfort, social network, philosophy and humanism or freedom advocating which promotes all kinds of human rights. And the manipulator behind all these idols is Satan, the prince of the world (refer to John 12:31).
Avril said that we encounter Satan and the devil just like King David facing his enemies in the old testament. When we are pursued by the enemies, we easily focus on ourselves or environment and look away from God, just like the Israel soldiers were afraid of giant Goliath. However, Christians have been brought to the Kingdom of the Son (refer to Colossian 1:13) and were not controlled by Satan anymore. Avril shares that we can bring the Goliath in our lives to God and ask God if our hardship is from God or Satan. Then ask God for strategy to overcome the hardship. When your prayer is aligned with God’s will, it will be answered. Remember the same promise has been given to us as God gave it to Israelites: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (Refer to 2 Chronicles 20:15)
Avril once prayed for a Japanese pastor’s son for 8 years and did not see this prodigal son’s repentance. Finally Avril asked God for the reason and strategy for the battle. Once God revealed it to Avril, she asked God to forgive this son and the people who hurt him. She also prayed for a Christian mentor coming to help him. After 3 months, there was a Christian brother moving from other state to work in the same place with the young man, and he came back to the Lord.
Avril emphasizes on the importance of knowing God’s word as spiritual weapon in the warfare (refer to Ephesians 6:17). Avril’s ministry has three aspects: faithfully preaching God’s word, counseling people and casting out demons. While she involved in the Lighthouse Deliverance Ministry, she prayed for people and set them free from bondage of sins and demons. She teaches God’s word which transforms the mind and will of the women suffering domestic violence (refer to Romans 12). Avril teaches these women to choose to forgive and love their abusers with God’s love. And she teaches them to praise God with all their hearts as king David did (refer to Psalms 9) to build the intimate relationship with God.
Avril’s experience of becoming a missionary and her numerous testimony about spiritual fighting all have been led by God’s almighty power. The key to Avril’s victory is loving God with all her heart, mind, will and strength (refer to Mark 12:30).
