Topic Reading-Vol.1091-4/7/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Why missing a night of sleep can damage your IQ

How long is enough? That’s a question whose answers vary by person.

Even though you know the answer, say seven or eight hours a night, you probably can’t enjoy such luxury every day. Some people never miss their daily exercises and others watch their diet for every meal. But not enough attention or passion is paid to good-night sleep.

According to some researchers, social ability, emotional stability and intellectual capability are all linked to sleep, except for very few who can survive and perform only with four or five hours of sleep.

It then seems to a question of your priorities. Sleep longer to do things better or sleep shorter hours to do more.

Enjoy reading and then think how long you’re going to sleep tonight.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/01/business/sleep-and-leadership/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1090-4/6/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

President's books and speeches go mobile

Sounds like a modern version of The Little Red Book, doesn’t it? The Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong, or毛主席語錄; pinyin: Máo Zhǔxí Yǔlù, is a book of selected statements from speeches and writings by the nation’s founder. It was published from 1964 to about 1976 and widely distributed during the Cultural Revolution. The Little Red Book is the most popular versions designed to be carried easily for anyone to anywhere.

A half century later, there is a modern version of the party’s education initiative under the ubiquitous concept. The party seems to have agreed to go for Xi Jinping to be their dominant leader for the next decade.

Should western leaders read his books and quotations?

Enjoy reading and thinking of the influence of education.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-04/03/content_19986492.htm

Topic Reading-Vol.1089-4/5/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Pennsylvania university expels three students for racist comments on radio

Social standards before education. That’s what students need to learn before enrolling in college or university in the U.S. because it costs far more than the tuition to learn what not to do after enrollment.

Racism seems to still exist throughout the country and society even though it is forbidden by laws, regulations and cord of conducts. For politicians or business leaders, racially discriminating comments or behavior easily costs their current jobs and future opportunities.

Does it sound similar to driving after drinking?

Enjoy reading and learning how costly and serious it is to make racial remarks in the US.

http://news.yahoo.com/pennsylvania-university-expels-three-students-racist-comments-radio-230512563.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1088-4/4/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Identical Triplet Sisters Get Married Together in Joint Wedding in Brazil

The brides are not just twins but triplet sisters. And they are not just triplet sisters but identical triplet sisters. They all married at the same church on the same day. They wore identical wedding dresses and had the same hair style. The only differences are the color of the bouquets they were holding and bridegrooms they were being held by. Interestingly, one of the bridegrooms said he doesn't have any problem identifying his bride because she is the most beautiful one of the three.

Enjoy reading this amazing wedding and seeing the photos of the three couples.

https://gma.yahoo.com/identical-triplet-sisters-married-together-joint-wedding-brazil-171205786--abc-news-sex.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1087-4/3/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

China unveils action plan on Belt and Road Initiative

The Silk Road is a network of trade and cultural transmission routes that linked China and India to the Mediterranean Sea in various times in history. It was named after China’s silk that was carried out along the route during the Han dynasty.

Now, under the present dynasty, China is trying to revive this ancient trade and cultural routes on both ground and seas. It is called the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road which was introduced by Xi Jinping in 2013 to enhance regional connectivity and prosperity.

This new initiative is going to be partially, or could be largely, funded by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, or AIIB, a financial project for regional infrastructure development, which is also initiated by China. Over 50 countries jumped on this wagon including major European countries which are usually regarded the US allies.

Enjoy reading and learning about China’s ambitious plans to build new trade infrastructure within and interconnect the regions and also financing initiative that has drawn participation from most of the major countries in the world.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2015-03/28/content_19938124.htm

Topic Reading-Vol.1086-4/2/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Why Singapore banned chewing gum

If you want to live in a safe and clean city, try Singapore. But you’re also required to obey the laws not to chew gums, litter, graffiti, jaywalking, spitting and urinating anywhere but in a toilet there.

Not only most of the Singaporeans but also many political and business leaders in the world seem to respect this long-term ruler of the city state who turned the tiny place of nothing to one of the most advancing and dynamic hub of economy, Lee Kuan Yew. But the nation is also known as one of the strictest nations when it comes to public manners.

So the choice seems to be yours. Would you be bothered by these things by others’ or by not doing these things yourself?

Enjoy reading and learning about the famous chewing-gum-ban.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32090420

Topic Reading-Vol.1085-4/1/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Cuddly Sifakas fight off Huge Marauding Snake

Another story of the monkey today. Don’t fool Sifakas, they could intimidate you to death. They are unique primate, only about 50 centimeters in length and five kilograms in weight, native to Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Southeast Africa.

When a female of a group of eight sifakas was attacked by a 2.7meter-long boa, the group members counterattacked the boa and rescued her. But that wasn’t it. The released sifaka bit the boa snake on the head, damaging its lower jaw. The bite was so severe that the poor boa became unable to close its mouth. It retreated to nearby vegetation but didn’t move any more. Two months later, it was found dead. On the other hand, the lucky female sifaka gave birth to her baby four months after the boa’s death.

 What an unbelievable story is it? But it isn’t an April Fool’s but a real story witnessed and described by four hotel workers on the site.

Enjoy reading this amazing story.

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150327-cuddly-sifakas-fight-off-snake