Topic Reading-Vol.1182-7/7/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Big boost for Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)

Harvard University is known as one of the most prominent and prestigious universities in the US and the world. It has produced numbers of entrepreneurs like Bill Gates and Mike Zuckerberg to name a few as well as leaders and executives in global or promising corporations.

It is also known for its premium tuition. Though many of the students have access to variety of financial aid programs, they still have to pay or owe a lot.

But what makes the university stand out the most is the huge endowment from its graduates. They are campaigning to raise 6.5 billion now and has already raised over five billion. And this newly donated staggering 400 million by one of its MBA graduates seems to ensure the success of the campaign. The amount of this generous donation by a single person is the record high even in Harvard’s 379-year history.

Enjoy reading and learning about this generosity and investment for future engineering and technology.

http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/06/harvards-biggest-donation/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hag&utm_content=haa_all_alumni_2015-06-30

Topic Reading-Vol.1181-7/6/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

China unveils new, ambitious climate goals

The world most populous country is also the largest greenhouse gas emitter. With annual car sales has gone beyond 20 million mark since 2013, China itself has suffered from climate change and environmental problems, especially water and air pollutions.

Prior to the upcoming UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris this fall, China has submitted its action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emission for the next few decades. The plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emission per unit of GDP by 40-45 percent from the 2015 level by 2020.

China still regards itself as a developing country and blames already developed countries for the climate change. It also seems to take a leadership role to inspire developing countries to bring their action plans to cope with the climate change.

Whatever their intentions are, there won’t be any considerable outcomes from the fall convention without China and the US’s commitment.

Enjoy reading what China has said it will do for the next decades.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-06/30/content_21146004.htm

Topic Reading-Vol.1180-7/5/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

'Webtoons' become S Korea's latest cultural phenomenon

No wonder why people look so intense when they look at their smartphones with earplugs. Webtoon is a mixed word of web and cartoon. It is specifically designed to be read in smartphone or tablet displays. Readers scroll down the display instead of turning the pages. It is also enhanced with voice overs, music or sound effects and is delivered via smartphone platform or app providers.

All these works could be done by a single webtoonist who is equipped with a powerful PC and dedicated software. Webtoonests can also modify their works or create new works specifically designed for sponsors who want to use webtoons to promote their products or services. Some of the hit webtoons have even been remade for movies or TV drama series.

All parties involved, the creators, distributors and readers, seem to enjoy this new entertainment art and the government is supporting this new industry as their next Korean art.

Enjoy reading and learning about this new win-win entertainment.

http://www.aljazeera.com/blogs/asia/2015/06/korea-latest-cultural-phenomenon-150630055653457.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1179-7/4/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

As hostility grows, some Chinese say so long Hong Kong

Hong Kong has been politically part of the Republic of China since 1997. However, the residents of Hong Kong, or Hong Kongers, seem to have distinctive identity apart from the mainlanders. And their cultural and behavioral gap seems to be widening, occasionally escalates to hostile protests or disputes.

Millions of the mainlanders have attained middle-class status, income and buying power in recent years. They own houses for investment and a car or two, buy luxurious goods and travel overseas. They are also eager to save money and go shopping wherever they can buy things cheaper or save taxes, such as Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. Retailers in those market places welcome these aggressive and deep-pocketed buyers, of course. But some local residents seem to be annoyed by their buying spree, which sometime creates price hikes and merchandise shortages. As a result, mainlanders who have been treated coldly or protested by Hong Kongers started turning their back to the town of skyscrapers.

Enjoy reading and learning about what is going on in this small part of China.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/30/asia/china-mainlanders-in-hongkong/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1178-7/3/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Live tiny, save big

How small is tiny? It seems to depend on to who you ask this question.

The median size of a new home is over 230 square meters in the US and Australia but it’s only 137 square meters in Denmark. Popular size family condos in Tokyo have only 70 to 80 square meters. At any rate, living in a smaller-than-average home seems to save a lot such as the utility bills, maintenance fees and work, insurance payment and cleaning chores, not to mention the cost of the property or mortgage. It also offers freedom from financial burdens, security concerns and unworthy pride. Actually you may feel proud to live in an eco-friendly home.

Just pros but no cons? Not really. There are issues you need to deal with.

Enjoy reading and learning what a living-in-a-tiny-space is like.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20150626-a-new-status-symbol-less-space

Topic Reading-Vol.1177-7/2/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Hotdog cheese burger layered with chips & more freaky combinations

If you’re looking for extraordinary fast food, check this out. There are several appetizing, or at least interesting combinations of typical junk food items such as pizza, hot dog, fried chicken, hamburger, and tacos. Some of them are simply added or sandwiched and others are wrapped or rolled. It may be convenient to get such combos when you want to have two or more kinds of junk foods. For example, pizza and hot dog, fried chicken and waffle or donuts and burger.

If you worry about the calories, don’t even look at these menus, or share one with others.

Enjoy reading and seeing this fast food extravaganza.

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/news/2015/06/11/crazy-fast-food-combinations/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1176-7/1/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Sex-themed e-books given curfew in Germany

Before anything, a new law should be enforceable. Only after it’s enforced, its validity and effectiveness can be assessed. However, lawmakers sometimes seem to make rules that are hardly enforceable, mainly for face-saving purpose, leaving those are going to be affected stranded.

In Germany, a new rule has been set to limit adult e-book sales only during the midnight, intending to protect the youth from the exposure of such adult contents. Retailers are now struggling to find a way to enforce the rule. However, kids will soon find ways to maneuver the rule. This could make those adult e-books somehow more interesting and valuable to kids, just like smoking or drinking.

Enjoy reading and learning about this highly controversial German rule.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-33237519