Internet subscribers vent their anger

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/08/20/2003511204

Chunghwa Telecom is an overwhelming Monopoly internet access
provider in Taiwan. Consumers of broadband Internet service
and 3G mobile Internet connections in taiwan have been
exploited for a long time by Chunghwa Telecom.
Taiwanese government has claimed that the Popularization of
internet is higher than many countries for many times. But
the question is where the quality is,do people feel fair
since only 10M bandwidth after paying for 100M bandwidth,
and why Taiwanese government doesn't compare the unit price
with Japan or korea. Hence, here comes few questions:

1.Which internet broadband service do you use? Why? How is
it? Whcih one do you recommend us to use?

2.Over ten thousand people have clicked "like" to vent
their anger about Chunghwa Telecom's services. What do you
think?Did you click it or express your emotion on it.

3.How about Chunghwa Telecom response to these compaints?
Do you think they really have very bad attitude and only know
how to suck the blood from stupid Taiwanese citizens?

A Tragedy Brings Up the Meaning of Life

Today I read the news about the death of the president of Taishin Financial Holdings Co., Mr. Lin Keh-hsiao (林克孝). Mr. Lin is a person who loves mountain climbing. The accident happened when he challenging a tough route in Ilan mountain, he fell down the cliff and died. This is not his first time for this risky route, and he has two companions who are both familiar with the mountain, however, the tragedy still happened. While feeling a pity for this man, there are some issues worth of thinking.

Taishin Holdings president found dead after fall in Yilan
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2011/08/13/313231/Taishin-Holdings.htm


1. Are you an adventure lover? Have you tried actitvies such as rock climbing, white-water rafting, surfing? Or more exciting like bungee jumping or skydiving? Share your experience.

2. Say you were a family of Mr. Lin, will you stop him from his favorite yet highly dangerous activities?

3. Mountains are Mr. Lin's favorite. He even published a book called "Finding the Way" talking about a ancient path in Ilan mountain. This passion touched me. Please share things that you are passionate about and are executing.

4. In the opposite side, share things that you've dreamed of but never had a chance doing.

City Wandering

Every time when I got tired of work and need to take a breath, I would

like to escape from the office for a city wandering. It doesn't take very

long time. It may not cost much. But it is a kind of quick remedy for

coping with stress, at least to me.

http://thedailybubbletea.com/2007/02/28/228-memorial-park-and-surrounding-area/

Above links are blog articles written by a Taiwanese's son-in-law.

Through the window of an American immigrant, every streets, buildings,

scenes look different.

Taiwan Tourism Bureau Video Clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqETnl1mWrc

Discussion:

(1) If you have a one-day break, how will you arrange your time?

(2) What is your favorite city or town in Taiwan? Why?

(3) "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then

wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris

is a moveable feast." --- Hemingway

Paris is so attractive that it has become a symbol of romance. What

makes a city so famous? Ancient relics, magnificent museums, left

banks or something else?

(4) What do you think about the pros and cons of Taiwan tourism? Do

you think promotion and advertisement can bring more tourists here

and make them impressive?

Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin?

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1914974-1,00.html

The article is rather long but the conclusions of some studies mentioned are quite interesting.

Some of my female friends went to yoga or aerobic classes after work to stay thin or to lose weight. However, this article poses a question: does exercising really make you lose weight? According to the author, the answer to this question is “NO”. You can read the article to find out why (If you can not read the whole article before our discussion, please read page 1. You can finish it later on.)

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you exercise regularly? What kind of exercise do you do? Why do or do not exercise?

2. Have you (or your friends) ever tried to lose weight or go on a diet? What are your (or your friends’) ways to lose weight?

3. Celebrities and fashion models always care much more about their weight and appearance than normal people do. Do you think “thinner is prettier?”

4. Imagine that you are in a “Girlfriend or Boyfriend Supermarket” where there are only two kind of people left for you to choose from to be your girlfriend or boyfriend, would you choose someone who is obese but rather funny and have a sense of humor or someone who have perfect body (thin and have muscles) but rather a boring person?

5. To be announced later in our discussion.

PLASTIC SURGERY

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/05/19/korea.beauty/index.html?iref=allsearch

“Nature is beauty” is out of date, while plastic surgery is catching on in all races and ages. In the film, a 12-year-old Korean girl wants her eyelids to be done with plastic surgery because she thinks that having Western-like eyelids would make her pretty and give her a bright future. Also, many parents are eager for their children to be successful, so they will invest their money in plastic surgery to transform their kids’ appearance, even the tongue muscle.

1. How do you define beauty? Do you think it has a correct answer?

2. Do you know someone who had plastic surgery? How did they look like before and after?

3. Do you think the government should ban the plastic (cosmetic) surgery for children, even if they have their parents’ permission?

4. It seems like that more females undertake plastic surgeries than males. Do you think appearance is more important for woman?

5. Have you ever considered having plastic surgery? If yes, which part of yourself do you dislike?

6. Would you mind if your partner had or is going to have plastic surgery?

Are you a fast food fan?

A retired prison guard ate his 25,000th Big Mac few weekenks ago, 39 years passed to the day after eating his first Big Mac.

Don Gorske was honored after reaching the meaty milestone during a ceremony at a McDonald’s in his hometown of Fond du Lac. Surely McDonald’s most loyal customer, Guinness World Records recognized Gorske’s feat three years and 2,000 Big Macs ago, and the 57-year-old says he has no desire to stop.

"I plan on eating Big Macs until I die," he said. "I have no intentions of changing. It’s still my favorite food. Nothing has changed in 39 years. I look forward to it every day."

Gorske, who appeared in the 2004 documentary "Super Size Me," which examined the fast food industry, looks nothing like one might expect of a fast food junkie. He’s trim and walks regularly for exercise, and he attributes his build to being "hyperactive."

Discussions:

1.Are you a fast food fan like the role in this article?Or do think this guy is crazy?

2.Do you have preference to fast food(whatever Mcdonald, KFC, Carl's Junior, or any other brand)?

3.Do you think fast food is good or will it make people have obesity? Why?

4.How often do you east fast food? Why?

5.Do you think having a meal with your chasing target at fast food restaurant is stingy? Why? Why not?

Discrimination against homosexuality

Here is a video which I saw on a friend's Facebook wall. I was quite touched about the humanity shown in it and I was also interested in this kind of test to the public. Let's have some discussion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0bzup1jQEJE

1. After watching the video, assume you were one of the customers in that restaurant when the thing happened, what will you do?

2. "Texas is one of the 29 states where guys can be refused service." What do you think about this announcement?

3. When you see a homosexual couple, do you tend to observe more than what you do to straight couple? And what do you think if you see them hold hands, hug, or even kiss in public?

4. Do you have preference for lesbian other than gays? Do you think people do act differently when they face gays and lesbians?

5. What do you think it will happen when the same test applies in Taiwan?

6. New York just passed the law to legalize same-sax marriage, but the opposite voice seems won't give up fighting, the opposition plans to use methods to weaken the power of those legislators who vote for the law. What do you think about the news?