We need to be smart

I got my first smartphone last night--Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray.

It took me one and half year to finally make my mind to jump on the bandwagon.

Am I the last one to have a smartphone in our study group?

Please follow the link below to download the discussion article.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19367394/20120404topic.pdf

Discussion Questions

1. Why and when did you decided to use a smartphone? Or why not?

2. What is the most useful benefit people can get from a smartphone?

3. What is the side effect of using a smartphone?

Brands v.s. Counterfeits

We can not deny the fact that we are living in a brand-obsessed world. In most of cases, brand represents quality and tasty, but it also means more expensive. Sadly, we are manipulated by the allure of brand in different way. Some get in debt or even bankrupt because cannot resist desire, on the other hand, some choose to buy cheaper substitutes. In order to meet the latter consumer demand for owing brand product in low price, counterfeits has skyrocketed in the past decade. Today we're going to talk about these two relative topics.

Question:
1. Have you bought a counterfeit product before? What did you buy and how did you feel about the quality of the product? Why did you choose it over a real product?
2. When you make a buying decision does brand matter to you? Why?
3. What is your favorite brand? Why do you love their products over other products?
4. Some people think that counterfeiting market helps stimulate the economy, while others think it would damage the economy. What's your opinion and Why?

3/11 Is Genius Born or Can It Be Learned?

Have you ever wondered why someone is successful and others are not? Or have you ever wondered can you be a Steve Jobs one day in the future if you work hard (not dead of course, I mean the achievements he did and personal influences to the world)? I believe success does not come without reasons and it definitely takes time to make it happen. However, what are these factors to success?

Links for reading materials:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/27/genius-innovation-oreilly-technology-breakthroughs_genius.html

http://www.businesswings.co.uk/articles/Genius-Born-Or-Made

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12140064

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1879593,00.html

Questions:

1. Have you ever met someone who is really talented (in music, painting, sports, etc.)? What distinctive characteristics did they have?

2. Do you have friends who were not exceptionally excellent at school but are successful when they grow up? Or the other way round? Share your stories with us.

3. In your opinion, do you think genius is born or can it be learned?

4. What kind of education do you think is best fitted with geniuses? (Invent one if it does exist in the real life)

5. If your life can be restarted, do you want to be a genius? Why?

Lean-Sanity: US Beef Controversy Raises Again

Recently, the issue on importation of US beef with Paylean stimulates
extensive discussions. People for lifting bans of US beef with Paylean
additive claim that no evidence shows eating animal meat with Paylean
(a kind of ractopamine) residue under normal dosage will cause harm to
human health. Others have different opinions. They think we cannot
come to such a positive and solid conclusion since the cited report
only investigates a small-size of samples.

So far, no conclusion was drawn in three official cross-department
meetings. It seems the new lean-sanity will continue.

For more information about the debate on ractopamine additive of US
beef, please see following links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1xaphN2SBI

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/03/04/2003526943/1

http://www.fda.gov.tw/files/list/%E8%90%8A%E5%85%8B%E5%A4%9A%E5%B7%B4%E8%83%BA_Ractopamine_%E9%A2%A8%E9%9A%AA%E8%A9%95%E4%BC%B0%E5%A0%B1%E5%91%8A_%E5%B0%88%E6%A5%AD%E7%89%88__1010220%E4%BF%AE%E8%A8%82.pdf

1. Without considering other political or trade issues, most Taiwanese
consumers may refuse to eat US beef with ractopamine. However, we don't
know what we will pay for keeping the ban. In your opinion, do you
think the government should open the door to welcome US beef? Why?

2. Between yes or no, do you have any good idea to reach a win-win
solution(You win some, I win some)?

3. If the government finally decides to agree importation of US beef
(or pork) with Paylean, what will you react or just do nothing?