White lies

Our daily lives are full of lies. White lies, usually small and non-hurt lies, make our life easier, reduce several quarrels and promote world peaceJ. Almost everyone tells white lies carelessly or deliberately and in the same time listens to white lie. I pick an article, which gives an example of white lie. The doctor in the story told a white lie to earn more time for her patient. I hope that you find that interesting!

Reading:

Jane Fibber, M.D.: Why Do Doctors Tell White Lies?

Discussion:

1.  Some say women prefer lies to truth. Do you agree with that? Do you prefer ugly truth or white lie? Why?
2. Describe a situation you have to tell a white lie.
3. What is the reason making you to or not to tell a white lie?
4. Some consider white as a social manner, while some think little white lie hurt, too. What’s your opinion?
5. Who benefit from the white lie?

Does Mobile cause cancer?

Following link has been forwarded through email in Taiwan recently. It warns people not to use mobile too often and be better to keep it away because  wave could cause cancer.

http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/lisa-920904/article?mid=-2&prev=1925&l=a&fid=8

This article cited a report from The World Health Organization and said mobile is classified as 2B level, which is a serious level that cause cancer.

http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf

I also want to show following article, which introducing more about the level and wave couldn't cause cancer.

http://www.emfsite.org.tw/news_detial.php?level1_id=6&bbsId=181


1. What' your habits of using mobile? Do you keep it away from you? Or always bring it with you?

2. Do you think the wave of mobile could cause cancer based on this two articles?

3. Will you forward the letter to others when you get it?

4. There are many forwarded mails in daily life, will you check the truth?

5. According to the last link, base station couldn't cause cancer. Do you believe that? Will you still live near base station if there is one near you house?

A Walk in the Clouds

The term 'cloud computing' has been hot since 2011.

Instead of buying out a software or hardware for your own, now you can use the remote service from any device without spending a lot of money on upgrading. 

You can log in from any device and work under the same platform, the internet could bring everything you need at door.

For example, youtube actually counts as cloud service.

you don't need to save all the videos in your computer but just watch it through the net. That is even a better idea for sharing.

Some questions we may use for discussion:

What kind of cloud service are you using now?

What is the best cloud service you like or you expect to have?

What is the side effect this service may bring to us?

What is the threat and opportunity this trend is bringing to taiwan tech companies?

related Ref:

cloud computing as a threat to older tech companies

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/cloud-computing-endangers-older-tech-companies/

Taiwan Data Center

http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/locations/taiwan/

http://www.techbang.com/posts/8901-google-zhang-bin-data-centre-earth-night-remaining-energy-to-cool

The power of media

Facebook is a enormously powerful website, which was approved again this week. Business Week post a news that 7-11 decided to postpone Business Week selling just because a report which was attacked 7-11. Within less than one day, numerous webzines started to boycott 7-11. The whole news reminds me a video.  This video is from CBS WKBT News anchor, who responded viewer’s critical/advised (depends on how you see it) email on her show. 

Question:

1.  Do you see this email as a malicious critics or a neutral advice?
2.  Do you think a public personality/celebrity has responsibility to maintain health physical condition?
3. The anchor said this email could be seen as a bully behavior. Do you agree with it?
4. The anchor categorized obesity, skin color, sexual preference, and disability together. In fact, all them list above except for obesity are born of nature. However, obesity is not. People can get rid of it if they make up their minds to change lifestyle. Do you think this anchor misuse media’s power as a weapon?
5. Share with us your thought about Business Week v. 7-11 event. 

Growing Tax Burden for the Wealthiest

     The economic of the whole world is implicated by the economic of the United States.
A few weeks ago, Obama fought for fiscal cliff and striving for getting agreement with the Republican.
Finally, he made an agreement with the Republican and launch the new tax increasing plan.

According to this new plan, only the highest-earning Americans will be influenced, with about 99.3 percent of households experiencing no change in their income taxes. But the Tax Policy Center estimates that the average family in the top 1 percent will pay a federal tax rate of more than 36 percent this year, up from 28 percent in 2008. That is the highest rate since 1979.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/05/business/after-fiscal-deal-tax-code-may-be-most-progressive-since-1979.html?hp

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/05/business/growing-tax-burden-for-the-wealthiest.html?ref=business

Not only the United States, France also released the tax increasing plan. It seems becoming a trend.
Therefore, let's talk about the latest news this week.

How do you feel about the economic of the world now?
Are you afraid of Financial tsunami of 2008 happened again?
What's you idea of the future (since 2012 not the end of the world....)?
What's your opinion on tax system in Taiwan?

Land Expropriation

After series protests from farmers and activist, the Land
Expropriation Statute was amended in Jan 4, 2012.
The compensation mechanism has been improved in the new version law,
however, the activists are apparently not satisfied yet.

The two links below reflect the point of view from government and folks.

farmers and activists
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/12/17/taiwan-disconcerting-land-expropriation-act/

official media
http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=174549&ctNode=413

Land expropriation is an extreme example on how the state can use her
power to deprive citizens' right of property.

I hope you never encounter an issue like those farmers in your life.

But the conflict of personal interest and public development is always
a good topic for discussion.

I would not show the questions beforehand, but I do require you take a
side on this issue and give reasons to defend your position.

Be prepared for challenging questions from other members.

Foreign Housekeepers

This week, I would like to talk about the foreign housekeepers in Taiwan.

I was trying to find an English article which describes the current regulation of hiring a legal foreign housekeeper in Taiwan, but I couldn't find it.  So please allow me to post a Chinese article link as below:

http://www.coolloud.org.tw/node/47997

Here is another article about hiring a housekeeper:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6827021_hire-foreign-live_in-housekeeper.html

Following the mode last week, I'll leave the questions open to everyone.
Please feel free to make any comment and tell your experience related to the foreign housekeepers.