Topic Reading-Vol.1324-11/26/2015

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What to do in a terror attack: 'Don't play dead'

If you had been one of the audience at the Bataclan Music Hall in Paris on Nov. 13^th, what do you think you would have done? Run, scream or play dead?

Though some people survived pretending dead in certain situations, escape might give you a better chance for survival, according to the UK's National Counter Terrorism Security Office. That sounds like a good idea if there is a way out and you aren’t trapped in the middle of the crowd or place.

Then what’s next options? Hide. Of course. But that is again viable if only you had a chance to find one and time to get there.

Somehow, playing dead isn’t suggested. Why?

Enjoy reading and thinking what would you do should you ever encounter such a tragedy.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/19/world/what-to-do-in-a-terror-attack-paris-survival/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1323-11/25/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Mark Zuckerberg to take two months paternity leave

Not so many leaders of large corporations can do this. CEO of Facebook, one of the most successful and influential IT companies, is taking a two months off to take care of his first baby girl. His decision and action will certainly encourage not only the employees of his own company but also of any others to take such private leaves with less hesitation.

A similar move by a top CEO was Tim Cook of Apple, who said last year that he is gay, which inspired many people and societies in the world to become more open to their or others’ sexual orientations, partnership and rights.

America seems to lead not only new businesses and innovations but also social moves, doesn’t it?

Enjoy reading and learning about another progressive initiative by an American leader.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/11/20/technology/mark-zuckerberg-paternity-leave-facebook/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1322-11/24/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

This is why people cut cruise ships in half.

Cut a cruise ship in half! Is that to scrap the ship? Nope. That’s a start of rebuilding a larger passenger liner to meet the growing demand for cruise vacation. Instead of building a brand new ship, which takes years and fortune, this is much faster and cheaper to bring more passengers on board.

How they do that? It’s basically the same process as making a stretched limo, cutting the body in half, adding a piece between them, and put them together. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

You’ll see this amazing process in a video only in three and a half minutes, which actually took three months in dock in Germany.

Enjoy seeing the video and thinking if you’d like to get onboard the ship.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20151113-this-is-why-people-cut-cruise-ships-in-half

Topic Reading-Vol.1321-11/23/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

China third most-popular country for international students

377,000 international students in China in 2014-2015 academic year. How does it sound? If you compare the same number in the U.S.A, it was nearly a million, a 10% increase over the previous year. Among those international students who took higher education in the U.S., approximately 300,000 were from China, as reported in yesterday’s Topic Reading, Vol.1320.

Interestingly, that number is about the total of US students studying abroad, with only 5% of them went to China.

Though the majority of the international students came from South Korea and Japan, China ranked number three in the number of overseas students. Considering their rank in the size of economy, spending in military and amount of greenhouse gasses emission, it may not surprise you anymore. But what are those students studying in China?

Enjoy reading and comparing the international students studying in the US and China.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2015-11/17/content_22478086.htm

Topic Reading-Vol.1320-11/22/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

India, China provide nearly half the international students in US: Report

The two most populous countries are aggressive towards quality higher education in the U.S. Of the nearly one million international students who took higher education in the U.S. in 2014-2015 academic year, 31% of them came from China and 14% were from India. The growth by these two countries alone accounted for the two-thirds of the total growth. Especially the number of students came from India jumped nearly 30% over the previous year, while the total number of international students grew by approximately 10%, according to the Institute of International Education.

Interestingly, nearly two-thirds of the students from India are at the graduate level. One of the reasons could be the fact that most of the prominent colleges and universities in India run their courses in English, while many students from other non-English speaking countries like China or South Korea are trying to improve their English proficiency.

Enjoy reading and thinking of the sheer number of the international students studying in the U.S. and the influence over their careers and lives.

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/india-china-provide-nearly-half-international-students-us-report-655062

Topic Reading-Vol.1319-11/21/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Why you don’t want to your child to be a genius

Having an extraordinary child seems to impose extraordinary burden on the parents. Gifted children are demanding. They are so eager to pursue their interests that parents have hard time figuring out and catching up with what they want. In the meantime, they also need to balance the children’s physical and mental growth. Any child needs to develop social skills in order to live and work with others.

Another aspect is financial. Many parents of child prodigies try to provide what the child wants more than what they can afford, even by sacrificing their saving for their future.  They hope that the child will be one of the superstars in the respective area, sports, music or academic, which one out of over hundred could achieve.

Child prodigies seem to be grateful but troublesome.

Enjoy reading and learning what the parents of child prodigies are like.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20151111-do-child-prodigies-cost-their-parents-more

Topic Reading-Vol.1318-11/20/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Photographer Vincent Laforet captures mega-cities from 12,000 feet

Like living or working in a big city? Either you like it or not, many of you probably feel overwhelmed by the noise and fast-moving people and things whether you’re on the ground or in a building. You may also feel small and isolated despite the fact that there are so many people around you.

That perception seems to change greatly when you see the same city from above in the air. A New York grown photographer shows astonishing photos of mega-cities from 3,600 meters in the air, a little higher altitude than the top of Mount Fuji.

There, he found more connected to the city and the people within it. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? Seeing is believing. Enjoy seeing these rare photos from the air. And if you’re interested, enjoy reading the article as well.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/09/architecture/vincent-laforet-air/index.html