Topic Reading-Vol.521-9/14/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Washington out in the cold as China-Russia relations flourish.

There are several vital issues need to looked at when it comes to set diplomatic courses and actions between two countries, especially the ones that share the border, water or competitor (or potential enemy). The relationship between Russia and China is a typical example of such complex situations of shared interests and becoming more and more influential to the region and world as energy trade and pipe lines for gas and oil tie the two countries strongly. Furthermore, they seem to use the tie conveniently when they deal with the once-dominant superpower, the U.S. and possibly its key ally in the region, Japan.

Enjoy reading and learning about the historically not-so-friendly countries but are now enhancing their ties for their common interests

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/03/world/asia/china-russia-relations-hiscock/index.html?hpt=hp_c5

Topic Reading-Vol.520-9/13/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Diana Nyad's jellyfish-proof face mask.

Last year, the 64-year-old endurance swimmer’s attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida, approximately 160 kilometers in distance, was aborted almost half of the way because deadly box jellyfish repeatedly stung her in the mouth, only spot exposed to the deadly creatures. The venom of the box jellyfish, which is common to tropical waters, suffered the swimmer so badly that she later mentioned that she had felt being burned alive in the water.

However, thanks to the specially designed silicon mask that covers the swimmer’s entire face and neck and was worn through one night when box jellyfish was around her, she could manage to swim to Key West, Florida in her fifth attempt in 35 years.

Enjoy reading and learning one road to the dream.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/03/tech/innovation/diana-nyad-face-mask/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

Topic Reading-Vol.519-9/12/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Space archaeologist unlocks secrets of ancient civilizations

You might wonder what a space archaeologist does or is. Is that someone who uses satellites to look for alien settlements on other planets or in outer space? Nope. Unlike typical archaeologists who work on the ground digging soils to look for ancient monuments, space archaeologists use satellites to look at the earth’s surface.

How do they do that? Enjoy reading the article or watching the video to learn the modern way to search for ancient traces. 

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/02/travel/space-archaeologist-unlocks-secrets/index.html?hpt=hp_c5

Topic Reading-Vol.528-9/11/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Samsung unveils Galaxy Gear smartwatch accessory.

Is it something to explore a new era of wearable devices or just another charge-battery-everyday gadget?

Samsung, the world leader of smartphones and several key high tech devices and technologies, has unveiled a much expected new wearable gadget. However, to industry watchers surprise it works only with their smarphone or tablet PC, just like another accessory device but still needs to be recharged its battery nearly every day.

Such a wearable device might be needed because their smartphone is getting so big that users may have difficulty taking it out of their pocket or bag or even holding it, especially users with small hands.

Enjoy reading and learning about the newest wearable devices and ask yourself if you’re interested in adding any of them to your gadget collection.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23961692

Topic Reading-Vol.517-9/10/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Vietnam internet restrictions come into effect.

The world seems to be pretty much divided between freedom or restriction, generosity or control, democracy or one-party/dictatorship ruling especially when it comes to how people can use the Internet media such as Twitter, blogs or social network services like Facebook.

Will it be sustainably effective to limit or control interactions of these popular media? It seems to take substantial investment and effort to monitor the web traffic and consequently take “appropriate actions” like China, which is said to be deploying tens of thousands personnel for such incredibly demanding tasks for its 600 million Internet users 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Even in a smaller population like Vietnam, which is ruled solely by Communist party, will it be really possible to limit the use of such popular media to exchange or share only personal information but not news or opinions?

Enjoy reading and learning what the economically prospective country is trying to do. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23920541

Topic Reading-Vol.516-9/9/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Do Christians, Muslims and Jews worship the same God?

It seems that Faith, Submission and Repentance are the essential elements of these three religions respectively that are said to worship the same god. They all trace their faiths back to Abraham, whom they all claim was chosen by the Almighty.

Then why they don’t get along well? Furthermore, even within the same religion, some factions fight each other like Catholic and Protestant of Christians, and Sunni and Shia of Muslims. Why so?

Enjoy reading and learning about the differences of these religions that are said to have been derived from the same root. 

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/01/do-christians-muslims-and-jews-worship-the-same-god/?hpt=hp_c5

Topic Reading-Vol.515-9/8/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Four most useless rules in China.

There must be numbers of rules and regulations set by law makers or municipal offices that have rarely been enforced by the relevant offices or officers or even recognized by the public but not many of them have been admitted so, especially in a one-party ruled society, China.

So it is quite interesting to find this web article in the semi-state media about some of the rules in China that have not been in effect.

Enjoy reading and learning what kind of rules aren’t working.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-08/30/content_16932293.htm