關於 long turkish war ，我們在網路上蒐集到這些相關的討論、資訊與評價

聖誕冷知識!

Are you ready for some Christmas trivia?

準備好挑戰關於聖誕節的冷知識大考驗了嗎？

Test you friends on these tidbits of Christmas knowledge. How many did you get right?

考考你朋友有關聖誕節的趣聞知識，你答對了幾題?

祝同學聖誕節快樂🎄🎁🎅

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1. Out of every 10 people, how many Americans celebrate Christmas?

美國人當中每十人有幾個慶祝聖誕節？

Answer: Nine in 10 Americans celebrate Christmas, according to a 2017 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, and around 55% consider it a religious holiday, while 33% think of it as more of a cultural celebration.

皮尤研究中心於2017年進行的一項調查顯示，十分之九的美國人慶祝聖誕節；大約55％的人將其視為宗教節日，而33％的人則將其視為一種文化慶祝活動。

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2. Has Christmas ever been illegal to celebrate?

慶祝聖誕節曾經是非法的嗎？

Yes. The Massachusetts-Bay Colony ordinance of 1659 made Christmas illegal to celebrate in that specific colony. The law was repealed in 1681. Christmas didn’t become a state holiday in Massachusetts until 1856, though.

沒錯。 1659年的馬薩諸塞州灣殖民地法令讓在那個殖民地慶祝聖誕節是非法的，該法律於1681年被廢止。聖誕節直到1856年才成為馬薩諸塞州的國定假日。

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3. How did red and green become Christmas colors?

紅和綠是如何成為聖誕節代表色？

We mostly have holly and Coca-Cola to thank for the rise of red and green as Christmas colors. Holly, obviously, has bright red berries and dark green leaves. It was used long ago by the ancient Celts for winter solstice celebrations as a symbol of protection and good luck. Coca-Cola’s role in making the colors a widespread combo for the holiday began in 1931 with ads featuring Santa Claus in a red and white suit surrounded by a green background and accents.

拜冬青樹和可口可樂所賜，紅色和綠色逐漸成為聖誕節的顏色。顯然地，冬青有鮮豔的紅色漿果和深綠色的葉子；古代凱爾特人很早以前就用它作為冬至慶祝活動，冬青有保護和好運的象徵。可口可樂讓這兩個顏色成為聖誕節廣為人知的組成則始於1931年，廣告中聖誕老人穿著紅色和白色的西裝，周圍環繞著綠色背景和符號點綴。

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4. True or false: "Jingle Bells" was written to be a Christmas song.

「鈴兒響叮噹」是為了聖誕節而寫的對嗎？

False! The song wasn’t intended to be attached to the holiday. Some historical reports say it was first performed at a Thanksgiving church service. In any case, the lyrics don’t mention any holiday at all.

錯！這首歌當初和這節日沒有關聯。有歷史報導說這首歌第一次是在感恩節教堂第一次被表演。總之，歌詞當中根本沒有提到任何節日。

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5. How many Americans use artificial Christmas trees?

多少美國人會用人造聖誕樹？

A survey conducted by Nielsen for the American Christmas Tree Association found that nearly 94 million U.S. households will display a Christmas tree this year. Of those, 85 percent are artificial.

尼爾森為美國聖誕樹協會所做的一項調查發現，今年有將近9,400萬的美國家庭展示聖誕樹，其中85％是人造的。

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6. How much do Americans spend on holiday shopping?

美國人在聖誕節會花多少錢買東西？

The National Retail Federation reports that Americans plan to spend an average of about $998 this year on holiday shopping. That’s down from last year’s average of around $1,048.

全美零售聯合會指出，美國人預計在這個聖誕節平均花費大約998美元消費，相較去年的平均值1,048美元有所下滑。

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7. True or false: People no longer send out Christmas cards.

人們不再寄聖誕卡片了對嗎？

False! The rate of sending any greeting card has gone down over the years, but this year especially, people are sending holiday cards as a way to connect with others during the pandemic.

錯！這些年來發賀卡的速度不斷下降，但特別是在今年，為了在流行病期間與他人聯繫，人們會發送節日賀卡。

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8. What's the most popular Christmas song of all time?

歷史上最受歡迎的聖誕節歌曲為何？

Answer: The most recorded Christmas song of all time is "Silent Night," according to Time, whereas "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling single.

答：根據《時代》雜誌，有史以來錄製最多次的聖誕節歌曲是《寂靜的夜晚》，而Bing Crosby的《白色聖誕節》則維持吉尼斯世界紀錄的最高銷量。

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9. Why do we hang Christmas stockings?

為什麼我們要掛聖誕襪？

Answer: The tradition came about thanks to a legend that states the generous Turkish bishop St. Nicholas helped a set of three poor sisters avoid a life of indentured servitude by paying for their dowries. For three nights, the bishop threw gold down their chimney, which landed in their stockings hung by their fireplace to dry. Now we carry on the tradition by hanging stockings to fill with gifts and small treats.

答：這個傳統來自於一個傳奇。故事說道，慷慨的土耳其主教聖尼古拉斯支付嫁妝幫助一組可憐的三個姐妹免除奴役。主教把煙囪裡的金子扔了下來共三晚，而金子掉入壁爐旁掛著的長襪中晾乾了。現在，我們透過掛襪子來放禮物和小點心來延續傳統。

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10. True or false: There was once a real-life Santa Claus.

現實生活中曾有聖誕老人對嗎？

Answer: True! The Christian bishop Saint Nicholas was the inspiration behind the jolly man we all know and love. St. Nicholas, a generous, gift-gifting clergyman, lived in modern day Turkey and devoted his life to helping the poor, according to Biography.

答：沒錯！基督教主教聖尼古拉是我們大家都知道並且喜歡的歡樂男人（聖誕老人）背後的靈感來源。根據傳記，聖尼古拉斯是一位慷慨、會送禮的神職人員，住在現代土耳其，一生致力於幫助窮人。

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Bonus Question: Can you still say Merry Christmas?

I will leave this question to you.

你還能再說「聖誕快樂」嗎？還是要講別的說法? 這問題的答案留給你好好思考。

社論:
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/using-merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays-no-longer-about-putting-ncna1106181

https://this.deakin.edu.au/society/are-we-allowed-to-say-merry-christmas-anymore

https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/merry-christmas-happy-holidays-war-on-christmas-20191211.html

https://www.history.com/news/the-war-of-words-behind-happy-holidays

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資料來源:
https://www.housebeautiful.com/entertaining/holidays-celebrations/a35016633/christmas-trivia/
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g2972/surprising-christmas-facts/

圖片來源:
https://icebreakerideas.com/christmas-trivia/

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生活美語: https://bit.ly/2H42k8T

批判性思考問題大全: http://bit.ly/34rdtJ7

Saya nangis teresak-esak tengok cerita Ayla: The Daughter of War. Ini kisah benar seorang tentera Turki, Suleyman yang terjumpa seorang kanak-kanak Korea, Ayla, semasa perang Korea. Suleyman jaga Ayla selama dia berada di Korea. Hubungan mereka sangat rapat macam bapa dengan anak. Ayla panggil Suleyman "Baba". Bila tugas Suleyman tamat, dia kenalah balik ke Turki. Dia cuba bawa Ayla tapi tak berjaya. Selepas 60 tahun, barulah Suleyman dapat jumpa Ayla semula. Boleh tengok cerita dan dokumentarinya di Youtube.

Movie (Indo Sub): https://youtu.be/UtqwMtdjTQ0

Movie (Eng sub): https://youtu.be/8Yxhnbp5uKs

Momen dari dokumentari Suleyman bertemu semula dengan Ayla selepas 60 tahun terpisah. https://youtu.be/v4XRcBtdds0

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Kredit : Nazifa Samsi
I cried so hard to see Ayla's story: the daughter of war. This is the true story of a Turkish Soldier, suleyman who found a korean child, Ayla, during the Korean war. Suleyman take care of Ayla as long as he is in Korea. Their relationship is very close like father and child. Ayla called suleyman "baba". when the duty task ended, he had to go back to turkey. He tried to bring ayla but didn't make it. After 60 years, then suleyman can meet ayla again. Can see stories and stories on Youtube.

Movie (Indo sub): https://youtu.be/UtqwMtdjTQ0

Movie (Eng sub): https://youtu.be/8Yxhnbp5uKs

The moment of the suleyman documentary meets Ayla after 60 years of separation. https://youtu.be/v4XRcBtdds0

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Credit: nazifa samsiTranslated

這是截至今天目前為止(3/2)的敘利亞北部戰區勢力範圍，以下為各方勢力控制色塊：

土耳其控制和支持的敘利亞反抗軍(紫色)

親土耳其的敘利亞反抗軍(橘色)

伊斯蘭聖戰組織(暗紅色)

庫德族武裝勢力(綠色)

阿薩德政權統治的敘利亞政府軍(黃色)

敘利亞政府軍急於對付反抗軍，去年起一步步攻擊反抗軍據點，結果導致兩國在俄國的眼皮下打了起來，敘北戰區有庫德族、黎巴嫩真主黨(Hezbollah)支持敘利亞政府軍，土耳其則支援反阿薩德政權的敘利亞民主軍(FSA)，以及還有從其他中東或北非的激進聖戰組織，盤據在敘北戰區

土耳其在北部鄰近阿勒坡(Aleppo)和南方的伊德里布(Idlib)的戰線，在敘利亞政府軍受俄國支援下被猛攻，土耳其的防線從去年12月26日到今年2月17日為止慢慢被逼退後，尤其土耳其不滿遭到敘利亞政府軍轟炸造成嚴重死傷，這幾天開始猛攻轟炸，支援在北部的反抗軍拓展勢力，也透過空襲摧毀敘利亞政府軍據點和武裝單位

Idlib sitrep

The SAA has been losing a lot of ground on the Ghab Plains in Western Idlib. Three days ago, Almost all of the plain had been reconquered by the Syrian army and the M-4 Highway was in sight. Right now the SAA has been pushed roughly half way back the plain.

However, government forces are apparently regaining some ground toward Saraqib (East Idlib). There were fights along the strategic city's suburbs all night long. Hezbollah was apparently heavily involved in the fight...

So far, the Hezbollah had been careful not to get involved in a fight with Turkish troops and Turkey avoided targeting Hezbollah camps and bases. This has changed this weekend: Hezbollah militiamen were targeted by Turkish strikes, causing casualties. Both the Hezbollah and Iran warned Turkey not to target Lebanese and Iranian proxies in Syria. Tehran went as far as threatening Ankara by reminding the Turks that they are within range of many Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles.

Turkish drone warfare has turned the tables in this conflict and will most certainly become a case study in the near future. Turkish operators are getting good at targeting Syrian reinforcements columns, sapping their morale and effectiveness before they even reach the frontline. Said operators are also targeting any retreating forces, often turning orderly retreats into mini routs and forcing said men to abandon hardware and vehicles behind them. The Turkish drone campaign has inflicted a fair amount of casualties and hardware on the Syrian forces. Hardware can be replaced by Moscow, but Damascus is already short of manpower as it is. It is good to keep in mind that while the Syrian losses figures are probably high, the ones published by Ankara are overly overestimated. The information warfare on both sides is in full swing.

The SyAD seems powerless against those drones: It lacks short and medium range mobile SAM batteries to protect its forward positions and convoys on the move. And the few batteries it has are needed around Damascus to try and mitigate the effects of constant Israeli strikes.

The SyAF lost two Su-24 Fencers over the province, yesterday.. Most probably shot down by Turkish F-16s.

Turkey seems to be shifting some more HTS (Al Qaeda) fighters from Idlib to Libya. Ex-Syrian rebels and foreign jihadis that fought in the Syrian civil war have been fighting on behalf of Ankara in Libya for the past month or so.

General Haftar of the Libyan National Army was in Damascus yesterday, to coordinate action against Turkish policies in both countries. An agreement was reached: Any Syrian caught prisoner in Libya will be handed over to Damascus...

Washington, which has spotted a golden opportunity to drive a wedge between Ankara and Moscow, has pledged to (politically) support Turkey in Idlib. The Turkish request to have US Patriot batteries deployed in Turkey hasn't been granted, however.

Moscow, using almost the same language, has pledged to keep on supporting Damascus in its fight against terrorism...

Putin and Erdogan are supposed to meet up within days to bridge their differences. Delegations from both countries' foreign ministries have already met to prepare the upcoming high level meeting. This might not be as straightforward as it sounds: This weekend, Turkey has requested Russian forces to move back to their Syrian bases and let the Turkish army conduct its business in Idlib... Moscow reminded Ankara that Russia is currently the only country operating in Syria whose armed forces were legally deployed on Syrian territory after having been invited there by the country's official government...

Pretty big bridge to gap, then...

-RBM.