Topic Reading-Vol.688-2/28/2014

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Facebook goes beyond 'male' and 'female' with new gender options!

How you identify your gender status is how you want to be recognized by others. When you are asked to create your profile such as the D.O.B, race, school, religion or interests, you want to type the exact information or choose the most suitable options, not just the closest.

In addition to male or female, Facebook, the world largest social networking service, now offers more gender options for those who wish to identify themselves more accurately, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, as many as 50! Accordingly, they also added a gender-neutral pronoun “they/their.”

Enjoy reading and learning what gender options people might want to choose to identify themselves.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/13/tech/social-media/facebook-gender-custom/index.html?hpt=hp_c4

Topic Reading-Vol.687-2/27/2014

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Belgium's parliament votes through child euthanasia.

How young one can make a big decision, like to live or to die?

Euthanasia itself is a highly controversial issue. Only a handful of countries or states have legalized the practice.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Euthanasia_and_the_Law.png

In February 2014, Belgian parliament passed a bill to lift the age limit for euthanasia, allowing even an elementary child’s request for dying can be granted with his or her parent’s and doctor’s consent. The country is dominated by Catholics who usually aren’t so progressive in humane acts like abortion or euthanasia.

What made them legalize such a controversial practice? Will this law ease the mental pain of the parents whose child is in great physical pain that cannot be cured or eased?

Enjoy reading and thinking which to vote, aye or nay if you were an MP, member of parliament. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26181615

Topic Reading-Vol.686-2/26/2014

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

China is still a jobs hotspot for expats.

Though China is still the second largest country in the size of economy, the amount of trade, numbers of products produced and sold are larger than any other country in the world, such as beer, cars and smartphones, not to mention the population of 1.3 billion. Then, what about the size of job market for foreigners there?

The number of foreign workers in China, excluding those in Hong Kong and Macau, exceeded a quarter million in 2012, up 17% from 2007, according to China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Where do those expatriates come from? Mostly from the U.S. and the U.K., where job opportunities are plentiful and compensations are lucrative for talented or skilled workers, not to mention the living standards and environment, compared with China.

Are China’s job opportunities for foreigners more attractive than the ones in their homeland? You may want to research what the job opportunities and compensation packages are like. You may also want to think what benefits you may earn for the long run.

Enjoy reading and learning about the job market and opportunities for foreigners in China.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20140212-get-hired-in-china

Topic Reading-Vol.685-2/25/2014

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Gillard takes new role with global education campaign.

50 million plus. This is an estimated number of children who have no chance or access to primary school in poorest countries. They are mainly in the sub-Saharan Africa and in some parts of Asia where grownups spend more time and effort on just feeding their families, or in some cases fighting against other tribes or people of different beliefs.

An ex-PM and ex-education minister of Australia is setting out her new life to help them. Ms. Julia Gillard is taking the chairwoman’s role of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to help 60 or so poorest countries to provide education to their children.

Enjoy reading and learning about this new challenge of a dedicated and respected ex-politician of Australia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-26119394

Topic Reading-Vol.684-2/24/2014

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Danish zoo kills healthy giraffe, feeds body to lions.

It may sound outrageous and inhumane act to kill a healthy young animal even it’s an euthanasia, especially in a zoo where animals are supposedly housed, fed and taken care to entertain the visitors. On February 8, a two-year old healthy male giraffe was shot in the head in a zoo in the capital of Denmark despite the numbers of petitions and criticism from all over the places. More surprisingly, the body was autopsied outside in front of the visitors including children and the finally eaten by other habitants of the zoo such as lions and tigers.

As a matter of fact, dozens of animals like goats, antelopes and wild boar are culled in the zoo every year to maintain a sound and healthy population of those species.

Why a healthy young male giraffe?

Inbreeding, or breeding too closely related animals, may cause chronic diseases or genetic disorders.

Any other options?

Enjoy reading the article and seeing the video to find why the carers had to kill their beloved animal.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/09/world/europe/denmark-zoo-giraffe/

Topic Reading-Vol.683-2/23/2014

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Philly schools consider universal enrollment model.

The U.S. is a diverse country and people like to have choices as to what to eat, where to live, how to spend time, who to work or live with or which school to attend. Indeed, when it comes to deciding which high school to attend, there are several types to choose from such as pubic, charter, private, religious or even cyber schools. With such variety of choices, families have to research their best options and submit various applications in different forms by different due dates. In order to save such time consuming process, a new enrollment model to offer families a central gateway is becoming popular among major cities such as Washington, D.C., Newark(NJ), Denver and New Orleans.

Philadelphia, the largest and the central city of Pennsylvania and the second largest cities on the East Coast, is another major city that is considering following the suit.

Enjoy reading and learning about a new enrollment and application system that could bring in not only convenience but also limitations to applicants.

http://news.yahoo.com/philly-schools-consider-universal-enrollment-model-150603178.html

Topic Reading-Vol.682-2/22/2014

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Burgers challenge baguettes in French fast food stakes.

Can you imagine yourself eating a hamburger in a street café facing Les Champs-Élysées, one of the famous among and visited streets by tourists? Now there is no surprise seeing over half of sandwich eaters are munching hamburgers in France, where their proud and beloved baguettes sandwiches had dominated their lunch menu until recently. As a matter of fact, France is now the second largest market for MacDonald’s!

However, while giving up their luxurious two-hour lunch with wine to follow the world eat-and-back-to work trend, they still seem to maintain their gourmet taste with the simple bun-and-patty sandwich.

Enjoy reading and learning how the French enjoy American sandwich.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/07/travel/french-burgers-beat-baguettes/index.html?hpt=hp_c3