4/30 What comes after technology?

Besides the environment issue, technology also has many impacts to human ourselves.
Here are two articles: one is about kids, and the other is about adult.
I was interested to their titles, because they were lying next with each other on the first page of CNN's tech.

Parents using smartphones to entertaine bored kids.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/26/smartphones.kids/index.html

In the tech world, porn quietly leads the way
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/23/porn.technology/index.html

Please don't feel pressure to read 2 articles. It's okay to read briefly, or if you are running out of time, just read the STORY HIGHLIGHTS on the left column. I'll prepare some general questions. Also, don't forget to share your presentation:)

See you on Friday.

4/23 Dr. Death

Hey, guys, I cover for Amy's turn this Friday. This is what we are gonna talk about.

Recently, I’ve watched an interview of Jack Kevorkian who is a former doctor and pathologist in America. Kevorkian offered the service of euthanasia for 130 people which caused him to be convicted of second-degree murder and spent eight and a half years in prison. His life now became the subject of HBO’s film called “You don’t know Jack.” (Al Pacino played Kevorkian in this film). What he did is quite controversial, so I think we can have some discussion over it.

What did Jack do?
http://www.nndb.com/people/272/000023203/

The clip of the interview (with Anderson Cooper)
http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/16/dr-kevorkian-responds-to-question-about-playing-god/

More about Jack
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kevorkian

“You don’t know Jack”
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/gives+life+Death/2921257/story.html

Questions
1. What do you think about mercy killing?
2. If you were too ill to bear the pain any longer, would you want to end your life?
3. If one of your family were in the same situation, would you think the same way?
4. Do you think Kevorkian’s verdict was fair? Please state the reasons why.
5. What do you think about Kevorkian’s comment on euthanasia?
6. Do you think Kevorkian’s service of euthanasia is kinda playing the God?
7. If you were Kevorkian, would you give your patients mercy killing when they ask you to do so?

about 4/23 discussion

Hello

Sorry for being absence on Fri. because I got an interview on Sat. accidently.
And, I have to say sorry again.
I may not be able to be your host this week (4/23). I have made appointments with some companies next week. (Interviews are really exhausted, haha….
Would you mind having your own discussion topic or someone could be the host this Fri.? or maybe everyone offers one question that night ?
Sorry for the inconvenience. ><

4/16 discussion topic!

Dear all
we are going to talk about the problem of low-birthr ate, which is on the rise and crouching every corner of developed world right now.
pls refer to the attached articles and ponder the following questions as well!
Thank you very much!

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/02/28/2003403167
http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/censusstatistic/a/aabirthrate.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/13/world/europe/13iht-spain.4.6652189.html
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20061109d1.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7096092.stm

Q1. Would you want to have a baby right now? Why?
Q2. If not, why giving you the second thought about having a child?
Q3. If you had a child, how much money did you expect to spend in order to raise your kid properly? What kind of way did you come up with to help you deal with financial stress?
Q4. If you don't want to marry and have a child right now, then when is the appropriate timing to carry out this plan? or never?
Q5. Even though you were married, would you think it is a must to give birth to a child?

4/9 discussion topics

Let's have an easy discussion:

1. Do you agree to live together before getting married?

2. Do you like fashion industry? Why or why not?

More questions are welcome :)

3/26 National Issues Night

This week will be more serious than previously relaxed Friday night :( sorry..

Let’s pay attention to the national top stories.

I only attach some links for you. More information is available on the Internet.

1. Civil servant evaluation reform

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2010/03/20/2003468499

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/03/22/2003468630

a. Please summarize what the reform is.

b. Do you agree or disagree with the reform? Why or why not?

c. What advantages and disadvantages does the reform probably has? (does it really enhance the work efficiency, or just improve the skills of flattery?? And so forth…)

d. Do you have any experiences that made you feel the civil servants are inefficient in work?(or the positive experience that made you have a good impression on civil service.)

e. If you work or have worked in the private enterprise, please share your experience with us on how your firm evaluates your work results.

2. Abolition of death penalty.

(Ma has already signed the UN treaty of abolition of death penalty.)

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/03/23/2003468718

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2010/03/22/2003468619

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2010/03/22/2003468619

a. Do you agree or disagree with the proposal?

b. Please state your reasons why you are for or against it. (ex: human rights, the pain of victims’ family, international concept, retribution, crime deterrence.. )

c. If you are the victim’s family or friend, do you hope the convict can be sentenced to death or you will forgive him?

d. If it becomes a law, what impact will it make on Taiwan? (the increase of the crime rate, people become more tolerant..?)

P.S. These issues are under much debate now. Everyone has his/her own points of view. Please feel free to express them even though we may conflict with each other. Dispute may be a good way to improve speaking.

**More questions are welcomed!**

3/19 discussion

I'm sooooo sorry that I forgot to post our topic this week. And I am sorry for the excuse is crazy..... I got limit time to use internet this week, because two of three PCs in my house crashed and then I had to share using my own nb, the only one still working, with my mom and sis. However, my nb is going to crash, TOO. In the meantime, our home internet went down yesterday. So I have a bad luck in using computer recently, I guess.

Anyway, let's talk about TRAVEL!!! Here are two topics and several questions related~

1. Introduce your home town
How would you intro. your hometown to a foreigner?
Where will you recomend a foreingner who come to TW for the first time must go/ What...must do?

2. Travel in Taiwan & around the world
Do you like to travel? By yourself or group?
What's your travel style: excited/ relaxing/ historical/ shopping/ gourmet....
Where is your favorite place in Taiwan?
What's your favorite country? Have you ever been there?
Where do you want to go in the future?
Most of us are plaining to (will) stay at a foreign country for quite a long time, what kind of experience you're expecting to enjoy/ have? (Do any wild things that u aren't dare to do in TW? Having an exotic lover?)


Sorry again for posting it so late. Hope you guys like this topic.

Vickie