Topic Reading-Vol.1335-12/7/2015

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Xi'an's Terra-cotta warriors: What to know before visiting

Have you been to Xi’an, China? It is located in the northwest of the country and the oldest of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang, may be better known as Chang’an before the Ming dynasty. Xi'an was the starting point of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who first unified China 2,200 years ago.

The first bodies of the army was discovered by chance by local farmers about four decades ago. Since then, China has put great effort to unearth over 8,000 life-size Terra-cotta figures, horses and chariots. All but a few bodies were intact, so they have been restored by experts.

The most amazing part of this Terracotta Army is the figures of the soldiers. Their faces and bodies, even their hairlines, are all unique. It took over 20 years by hundreds of thousands of craftsmen. Who were the models? They don’t look cheerful but sad.

But that’s not yet. There are still 400 more pits waiting to be unearthed. It’ll take years and decades to uncover the ancient mystery for the fastest growing country, modern China.

Enjoy reading and imagining how those craftsmen sculpted such unique soldiers and objects in that scale.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/22/travel/xian-terra-cotta-warriors/index.html?iref=obnetwork

Topic Reading-Vol.1334-12/6/2015

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg to give away 99% of shares

The power of love. One of the richest pairs in the world was just given another fortune. A baby girl. She will be cherished by her parents who are both taking paternity and maternity leaves at least for months. The powerful Internet social web site leader announced that he would take a two-month paternity leave from his CEO job.

Now, he is joined by his wife to pledge 99% of their fortune shares in Facebook to good causes. How much money are they talking? US$45bil, not million.

What are good causes? Personalized learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities to advance human potential and promote equality for all children in the next generation. The couple seems to want to make the world better for their baby girls and others children. What a big picture, isn’t it?

Enjoy reading and thinking of the magnitude of goodwill by US billionaires, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and now Mark Zuckerberg.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34978249

Topic Reading-Vol.1333-12/5/2015

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Saudi Arabia to build world's tallest tower, reaching 1 kilometer into the sky

Introduced in Vol.752 on May 3, 2014, Saudi is building a tallest architecture in the world, but now under Jeddah City project. This sky piecing tower has been under construction and now is at 26^th floor as of November 2015. As the financing plan has been finalized, the tower will reach one-kilometer mark when completed in 2020. Currently, the world tallest building title belongs to The Burj Khalifa in Dubai at 827 meters.

They still have to overcome several hurdles to build and sustain such a tall structure near salt water. The durability of concrete is the most challenging issue. Wind is another factor. Also, to lift massive materials such as concrete and steel to the upper floors is not an easy task.

However, when Romans built their colosseums and aqueducts and Chinese made the Great Walls and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, they managed such challenges.

Enjoy reading the update of this historic project and think what role this 1K tall tower is going to play in the kingdom, the peninsula and the region.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/30/world/meast/saudi-arabia-worlds-tallest-building-jeddah-tower/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1332-12/4/2015

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Beethoven: An unlikely hero in China

In early and the middle of 20^th century, music wasn’t treated as pure art in some part of the world. The profile and life of the composer and musician were examined by political viewpoints whether they are suitable for or against the party disciplines. Rachmaninov and Shostakovich the Soviet Union to name a few.

Even Beethoven was no exception in communism China. Although his ninth symphony was performed before the party leaders in the 10^th anniversary of their independence, his works weren’t excluded to be banned during the Cultural Revolution.

However, the music played and inspired the students in Tiananmen Square in 1989 was again the ninth symphony’s "Ode to Joy."

Nothing seems to stop people from enjoying the great composer’s works, doesn’t it?

Enjoy reading how Beethoven’s works were treated in China.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/29/asia/china-beethoven/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1331-12/3/2015

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Is Africa getting a Dubai?

Dubai is an ultramodern city in the United Arab Emirates. It has become one of the fastest growing and prospering cities that had had nothing substantial in history until the 21^st century. It now serves as the regional business center and has the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic and the 3rd busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic.

Now, there is a tiny country in eastern Africa which seems to follow the path that Dubai took. Djibouti. Located on the Horn of Africa, Djibouti is a country of dry shrub lands, volcanic formations and Red Sea beaches. It also has one of the world saltiest lakes in its desert where nomads still live in tradition.

The country is inviting foreign investments and accommodate new businesses to become a regional business hub in Africa. It also plans to attract tourists with its unusual experiences.

Interested?

Enjoy reading and seeing the photos of now under or pre developed African country.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20151118-is-africa-getting-a-dubai

Topic Reading-Vol.1330-12/2/2015

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

School bus withstands running through brick wall in safety test

Does a school bus driver need to do this? Isn’t that supposed to be tested by the manufacturer of the vehicle especially if it is designed for school students?

A school bus driver runs a brand new school bus into a brick wall to check if the bus is safe for him and the passengers. The news doesn’t report how fast the bus smashed into the wall but it seems to have been fast enough to destroy it.

Safety and quality of food have been long and widely concerned by Chinese. Many spend extra money on foreign named branded products especially for their children such as baby milk and diapers.

Yet the rigidity of a vehicle must be guaranteed, the reliability of vehicle operations and safety procedures such as overloading and reckless driving might have been causing more harmful and serious consequences there,

Enjoy reading and thinking what this sort of user-proven safety assurance test is for.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/trending/2015-11/28/content_22526248.htm

Topic Reading-Vol.1329-12/1/2015

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What it costs to produce a barrel of oil

Familiar with oil prices? Not the price of gas that you pump into the gas tank of your car but the crude oil prices traded in the world market. The price of oil plunged to around US$40 per barrel, or 159 litters, in the latter half of 2015, which was traded over hundred dollars before and after the 2008 financial crises. Good news for users but bad news for producers.

Why the plunge? It was driven by the decision made by OPEC, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, to keep the production level despite the decreasing demand.

Why is OPEC so influential? OPEC member countries produce about 40 percent of the world's crude oil, but more importantly, their oil exports represent about 60 percent of the world petroleum trade.

Why do they want lower oil prices? They seem to want non-member states such as the US, Canada and Russia, whose production costs are much higher than OPEC members, to be squeezed out to the market.

Enjoy reading and thinking if OPEC’s target is limited to non-member states or greener energy.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/11/24/news/oil-prices-production-costs/index.html?iid=obnetwork