Topic Reading-Vol.598-11/30/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

A solar panel on every home?

Solar panel owners get cheaper electricity bills at the cost of added charges on the bills of others’ who don’t have ones and the taxpayers’ expense, government budget.

That is what government subsidized and promoted renewable energy program is about. And make such attempts more expensive, those programs initially had been incentivized highly when solar panel costs were ten times or more expensive than today.

Now the prices of those power generating panels and the cost of installation have become much more affordable, those subsidized incentive programs are to be blamed as they entice the richer rather than those who aren’t.

Enjoy reading and learning about the once-lucrative solar power programs.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20131115-solar-flares

Topic Reading-Vol.597-11/29/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

How Pisa became the world's most important exam?

First, now famous and influential, often bringing shocking impacts to some educational organizations and politicians, “Pisa tests” stands for Program for International Student Assessment. It is developed and offered by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD.

How much and well students gain from the effort and investment on education in one region may not be measured relatively without a comparative standard test. There seems to be good rationale to conduct this controversial test and reveal the results as economy is becoming more globalized and the job market is more converged accordingly.  

"Your education today is your economy tomorrow," says the organizer of the test system.

Enjoy reading and learning what the Pisa tests is about.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24988343

Topic Reading-Vol.596-11/28/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

In photos: 3,000 Korean housewives, 250 tons of kimchi.

When you think of Korean food, what comes after popular main dish Korean barbecue? Most likely, kimuchi, traditional salted, heavily spiced and fermented cabbage always served with any Korean meal. It looks and smells awful but tastes awesome for spicy food lovers. For many Korean people, it is “absolutely necessary” side dish for every meal, which used be for most of them a decade ago.

Despite the complicated and labor intensive work, as many as two-thirds of the country’s households still make then own kimuchi at home, which used be nearly all households two decades ago. They still seem to enjoy making this traditional delicacy a lot even for others who are in need of food aid.

Enjoy reading the article and seeing the photos of soon-to-be Guinness certified kimuhi making event.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/15/travel/kimchi-festival/index.html?hpt=hp_c5

Topic Reading-Vol.595-11/27/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Dogs first domesticated in Europe, study says.

Were dogs and wolves from the same origins? Did humans domesticate wild wolves? When and where did the four-legged animal become our one of the closest friend?

Scientists have been digging holes and analyzing DNAs of the fossils of this popular pet to answer these questions. It had been widely thought that they were first domesticated in the Middle East or China at the time those ancient people started farming. Now this new study says dogs seem to have become friends with hunter-gatherers in Europe long before they did in other places.

Enjoy reading and learning how our relationships with dogs have been developed and evolved.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/14/health/dogs-domesticated-europe/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

Topic Reading-Vol.594-11/26/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

US: China claim of air rights over disputed islands 'creates risk of incident'

An “Air Defense Identification Zone" was unilaterally created and announced by China over the disputed islands with Japan. The zone has been identified by Japan for some time and that claim and defense activities have been endorsed by the U.S. So, if two claiming nations dispatch their military aircraft into the zone and tried to get the other away, what could happen then?

Also to make the matter more critical, the disputed islands were returned to Japan by the U.S. as part of it withdrawal from Okinawa back in 1972. So if Chinese military aircraft intrude into the zone, that could mean the same situation for the U.S. as being intruded into Okinawa’s defense zone where their military forces reside.

Could the claim by China create present and clear danger to the region and the two super giants?

Enjoy reading and learning about the self-claimed air defense identification zone.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/23/world/asia/china-japan-disputed-islands/index.html?hpt=ias_c1

Topic Reading-Vol.593-11/25/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

How did Kennedy's assassination change the world?

Half a century has passed since the tragedy took place in Dallas, Texas. Not only Americans but also many in the world were saddened by the assassination of the popular leader of the U.S.

Had the weather been unfavorable for the parade, he might have opted to have a roof on the limousine. Had there been a roof on the limo, the assassin might have failed to hit the target.

But even if he had survived the day, haven’t there been other attempts to eliminate him?

And what if he had survived from all those attempts and served another term as President of the most powerful and influential nation, how different the world today would be?

Enjoy reading the article, seeing the photos and asking yourself such “what if” questions.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/22/opinion/opinion-kennedy-world-badger/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

Topic Reading-Vol.592-11/24/2013

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

The girl with no identity: Being a second child in China.

Here is a girl in China who lives in a house with her parents and a sister but doesn’t have any legal proof to exist to enjoy any social benefits.

She has neither attended any school nor been seen by any doctor in her life. She was born as a second child. In short, she has never existed on record. She was born to look after her disabled mother when she becomes old.

Though the current administration is expected to change, the China’s long-criticized one child policy has created such miserable situation to its own people (can’t say “citizen” as they aren’t supposedly exist). And even if the policy is loosened or amended, will it apply to this poor girl?

Enjoy reading and learning about one of the poor victims of the one child policy and/or her parent’s decision.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/10/world/asia/china-second-child/index.html?hpt=hp_c4