On the left, a woman prepares incense sticks, binding them together with elastic bands. On the right, a Taoist priest performs a ceremony, painting in the pupils of the eyes of a god statue, cupping the leg of a statue with his hand. Both are taking part in a temple festival in the important Matsu temple of Chaotian Gong in Chiayi County, and both are absorbed in their duties, despite the distractions of the bustling crowds around them.
The woman remained absolutely intent on what she was doing, although I did get the impression she knew full well that I was hovering around her, taking photos. The priest, for his part, is an old hand at concentrating on the rituals he is performing, unfazed by the audience that has gathered around him.
They both have their implements laid out before them. The woman has a cluster of incense sticks spread out before her on the table, and a bag of elastic bands with which to bind them. To her side, she has placed all of the bunches of sticks that are ready for use.
Photos: Paul Cooper, Taipei Times
照片：台北時報記者古德謙
The priest has a collection of the implements he needs to carry out the ceremony: He has two bells with vajra handles, an incense burner, a glass of holy water for sprinkling, and a brush for painting in the gods’ pupils.
I was quite impressed with how they continued their allotted tasks, despite the distractions around them. I also loved the reds and golds of the temple architecture and the altar table and god statues.
Find a photo or photos, describe it or them.
Photos: Paul Cooper, Taipei Times
照片：台北時報記者古德謙
Write about what you see, who is in the picture and what they are doing. Include some specific details and your feelings about the photo or photos. (Paul Cooper, Taipei Times)
左邊，一個女人正在準備線香，並用橡皮筋將它們綁在一塊兒。右邊，一名道士正在進行為神像點睛的儀式，並用手捧著神像的腿。兩個人都在參加一場由朝天宮所舉辦的廟會。此廟位於嘉義縣，為極具重要性的媽祖廟。儘管周圍人群熙攘，兩人卻聚精會神在自己的工作上。
雖然相片中的女人全神貫注在手邊的工作，但我仍認為她非常清楚我正繞著她拍照。至於那名道士，已經是個老手，知道如何專注於眼前的儀式，不受到身旁的觀眾打擾。
兩人的工具都擺在他們面前。女人將一束束線香擺在桌上，還有一包用來綁線香的橡皮筋。在她身旁，是一捆捆準備好拿來使用的香。
而道士也為廟會典禮，準備了一整套的工具：兩只金剛鈴、一只香爐、一杯大悲咒水和一支用來為神明點睛用的毛筆。
儘管兩人周圍十分喧鬧，他們仍持續專注在手邊的工作，這讓我印象深刻。我也非常喜歡紅金相間的廟宇、神桌和神像。
找一張或多張照片，闡述照片的故事。將你的所見、照片中的人物及他們的行為、細節和你的感覺記錄下來。（台北時報記者古德謙翻譯）
Despite being thoroughly prepared for the coming exam, Sarah couldn’t stop herself from thinking about what could go wrong on test day. So, she kept studying her textbooks again and again. Do you often find yourself caught in this same type of loop, endlessly thinking about scenarios? If so, you’re likely struggling with a common challenge: overthinking. Overthinking is a phenomenon in which individuals become trapped in a tangle of worries, continuously replaying past events in their mind or feeling uneasy about what the future holds. It’s like being stuck in a never-ending loop of negative thoughts that can prove challenging
“Beep—beep—beep.” Your phone roars in the dead of night and wakes you up. Adrenaline surges as a low rumble shakes the pictures on the nightstand. Panic threatens, but you remember the earthquake drill you practiced. You drop to the ground, take cover under your desk, and hold on tight. Though the shaking intensifies, relief washes over you because you knew it was coming thanks to the warning. How do we get these precious seconds before an earthquake hits? Enter earthquake early warning systems, life-saving tools that provide a crucial head start for taking cover or evacuating. Operating through a network of
A: Hey, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame just announced its latest inductees. B: Which superstars were inducted this year? A: The inductees included singers Cher, Mary J. Blige, Ozzy Osbourne and Peter Frampton. B: So, the legendary artist Cher was finally recognized. A: And Mary J., the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul,” surely deserved the induction as well. A: 「搖滾名人堂」公布今年的入選名單了。 B: 有誰入選啊？ A: 歌手雪兒、瑪麗布萊姬、奧茲奧斯朋、彼得佛萊姆頓都獲此殊榮！ B: 78歲的傳奇藝人雪兒終於受到肯定啦。 A: 嘻哈靈魂樂皇后瑪麗J.也是實至名歸。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
A: Apart from singers Cher, Mary J. Blige, Ozzy Osbourne and Peter Frampton, who else was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? B: The other inductees were Kool and the Gang, Dave Matthews, Foreigner and A Tribe Called Quest. A: All four of those bands are awesome. B: Also, Dionne Warwick received an award for musical excellence. A: Wow! Isn’t she the late pop diva Whitney Houston’s cousin? They both have the greatest voices. A: 除了雪兒、瑪麗J.、奧茲奧斯朋、彼得佛萊姆頓，還有誰入選「搖滾名人堂」？ B: 還有庫爾夥伴合唱團、大衛馬修樂團、外國人合唱團、探索一族。 A: 這4個樂團都很棒耶。 B: 狄昂華維克則榮獲「音樂卓越獎」！ A: 哇，她不是已故天后惠妮休斯頓的表姊嗎？兩姊妹都是美聲天后。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
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