Topic Reading-Vol.50-5/31/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,Radioactive bluefin tuna crossed the Pacific to US!
Shocking news for Americans and scientists in our 50th topic reading!
As you might know, bigger fish eat smaller fish over time, which means if smaller fish is contaminated, bigger fish is most likely accumulate the contaminated material. The same thing could happen to land animals. If rabbits eat contaminated plants, their predator might accumulate the contaminated materials.
That how ecology could work in the wildlife.
Enjoy reading and learning from it!
http://news.yahoo.com/radioactive-bluefin-tuna-crossed-pacific-us-190121826.html;_ylt=AmDoc61KsaBpcpFBid6M4zsPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTN0cGpucm4yBG1pdANKdW1ib3Ryb24gU2NpZW5jZVNGBHBrZwM2NTVkMDJiMy0yZDhmLTM5MDUtODVjOC0wNzkzMDM4N2FiYmMEcG9zAzEEc2VjA2p1bWJvdHJvbgR2ZXIDNTg1MDQyODAtYThmZS0xMWUxLWIzYmYtNWZiNGMxNmQ3ZDYz;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

Topic Reading-Vol.49-5/30/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,Defectors describe horror, heartbreak in North Korea's labor camps!
Very little is known about what's going on in the dictator-ruled country.
There seem to be a number of political or hard-labor camps in the country where anyone who is thought to be a potential threat to the nation is sent into.
The conditions there seem beyond imagination of normal human rights or living standards.
And not so many outside neither knows about it well nor tries to save people from there.
Enjoy reading and thinking from it!

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/27/world/asia/north-korea-labor-camps-hancocks/index.html?hpt=wo_t3

Topic Reading-Vol.48-5/29/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,Everest season ends with 150 reaching summit!There seems to be traffic jam all over the world, even at the world-highest 8,848-meter peak above the sea level,  with 150 climbers in a day, enduring minus 30 degrees with very thin air to breathe.
This traffic jam seems to be mainly caused by its very tight window to reach the peak, only a couple days a year depending on the weather.
Enjoy reading and learning from this unusual traffic jam at the world highest and most popular place!
http://news.yahoo.com/climbers-ignore-overcrowding-fears-everest-bid-073747627.html;_ylt=AvcB4vtG.KyH12Wwd5NgEE6s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNsYTk0cGowBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBGUARwa2cDNjI0MjJiZjgtMTc4ZS0zZjBjLTkzN2UtOGJmOGM4NmRjNzhjBHBvcwM3BHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzI2YTBiYjcyLWE3OTEtMTFlMS1iZjdlLTdiY2YzMzhkNGZjMw--;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

Topic Reading-Vol.47-5/28/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,SpaceX capsule docks at space station, opens new era!
Even proud NASA is embracing this success of a private enterprise's success in docking at the International Space Station, or ISS, delivering approximately half a ton of supplies to and waste from the space laboratory.
It is expected to carry out the missions once done by state's agencies as commercial contract.
It won't  be so long  before someone takes a trip to the space with a discounted fare like air travel.
Enjoy reading and learning from it.
http://news.yahoo.com/spacex-capsule-docks-space-station-opens-era-030729654--finance.html;_ylt=AkxXEgdDlVlOb4gQm28ufSWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNsc2toYjliBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBGUARwa2cDZGE3ZTUyYzEtNzVhZS0zMDdiLTg4YzctMzkwZTJjNDhjOTlkBHBvcwM2BHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzdjYzBhMmMyLWE2ZTAtMTFlMS1hN2VmLWYwYjA2NjRkZGIyMA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

Topic Reading-Vol.46-5/27/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,Prince Philip: The man behind the queen.
How much do you know about a man who has always been at his world famous wife's side for over 60 years? This revealing story and images of a man born in Greece but later became a naval officer to prince of Britain might interest you as his wife, Queen of England, is being celebrated her 60th year as monarch.
Enjoy reading and learning about a man behind the scene!
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/24/world/europe/prince-philip/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

Topic Reading-Vol.45-5/26/2006

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,North Korea vows to push ahead with nuclear program!
Again, the same old story. Talks, deals, threats, tests and demands. The countries dealing with this poor country whose people are starving but vows to keep its position have been patient mainly because any changes in the regional, political and military map of the peninsula is so sensitive and critical to them and no one seems to want any changes now and the near future.
Enjoy reading and learning from this article!
http://news.yahoo.com/nkorea-vows-push-ahead-nuclear-program-164006975.html

Topic Reading-Vol.44-5.25.2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,China's '4D' roller coaster: The scariest two minutes of your life!
This amazing video shows how extreme a roller coaster could be. Even if you're a coaster lover, you might have a second thought before riding on this to experience a 720-degree move and 90-degree vertical drop.
Enjoy reading the article and seeing the video, and possible, riding it in China.
http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/life/4d-roller-coaster-china-373043?hpt=ias_t2

Topic Reading-Vol.43-5/24/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,MIT and Harvard announce edX: Joint venture builds on MITx and Harvard distance learning; aims to benefit campus-based education and beyond.
This announcement was made by Harvard University which had agreed to co-fund and co-work with MIT, its rival neighboring university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to launch an online learning courses of the two prominent universities at free of charge, for anyone and from anywhere in the world.
Although no diploma is offered through the courses, learners can get a course certificate should he or she completes a course.
Enjoy reading and learning from it!
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/05/mit-and-harvard-announce-edx/?utm_source=harvardalumnigazette&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=may12

Topic Reading-Vol.42-5/23/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,The day after the once-in-a-century ring-of-fire show in the sky, the tallest tower in the world is now open to public. There haven't been worth English news articles to show you, this wiki site that tells what Tokyo Skytree is about in English may be worth checking.
Enjoy reading and learning it!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Skytree

Topic Reading-Vol.41-5/22/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,Millions witness Pacific 'ring of fire' eclipse!
How many of you have seen the Ring of Fire on Monday morning? Though the sky wasn't clear, many could observed and enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime show.
If you haven't seen it enough, click the below and enjoy seeing and learning from it!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18120081

Topic Reading-Vol.40-5/21/2012

Dear Mel School's Topic Readers,Census: Minorities now surpass whites in US births.
Out of four million new births, approximately the half were the white and the rest were others such as Hispanic, African-American, mixed, oriental and others.
If you go to border states to Mexico, the ratio changes dramatically, including California.
So, when those newborns grow up like two decades or so from now, what you'll see in the U.S. will be quite different from the one now
Enjoy reading and learning from it!
http://news.yahoo.com/census-minorities-now-surpass-whites-us-births-040228336.html

Topic Reading-Vol.39-5/20/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,The greenest transport from A to B-Environment rather than economy!
Have you ever planned a measure of transportation of a trip from carbon footprint point of view?
Nowadays, there is a new way of planning as to how you're travelling, calculating the cost doesn't seem to be enough to live in the 21st century, you now need to estimate the amount of carbon footprint you'll be generating from the transport from point A to B and back from B to A.
This is an important aspect. Economy to ecology.
Enjoy reading and learning from it!
http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120516-the-greenest-transport-from-a-to-b

Topic Reading-Vol.38-5/19/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,Assignment: Greek debt crisis
Are you sick and tired of assignments? Here is one that might not make you interested now but could be in the future as a case study. You may also recognize that the tense of the question saying, "What will happen if Greece leaves the Euro?", which no longer a conditional type-2.
Enjoy reading this brief article and post your view if you're interested!
http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/747826?hpt=hp_t2

Topic Reading-Vol.37-5/18/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,Western views of China increasingly positive!
Interestingly, people in Western countries such as the  US, the UK, France and other European countries seem to have more positive views on China than the ones in its neighboring countries like South Korea and Japan, according to a recent poll.
This article in China Daily not only shows the survey result but also what the change and result indicate, which is neither biased nor opinionated so much.
Enjoy reading and learning from it!
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-05/14/content_15282350.htm

Topic Reading-Vol.36-5/17/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,
Texting While Walking Banned in New Jersey Town!
There, you'll get an $85 jaywalking ticket if you text while walking, a stunning move that has caused some arguments in the community.Visitors and new residents may have greater chance to get the tickets unless the city provides enough warning signs or messages across the city border and within the city.
Enjoy reading and learning from it!
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/texting-while-walking-banned-jersey-town-152720795--abc-news-topstories.html;_ylt=AkrLeQfWGy4dL5NAXEVVHZOs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNsbXNqZm1kBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBGUARwa2cDM2ZkNGY3OWQtZWM1Zi0zNmY1LTg5OWQtOGFmMDM2NjU5YTY2BHBvcwM3BHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzgxZWI5M2MyLTlkMzYtMTFlMS1iYmRmLTJlMTk2YjVlMDNmMw--;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

Topic Reading-Vol.35-5/16/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,Facebook CEO turns 28, IPO could be $100B gift!
That sounds like a big birthday gift even though the guy is dedicated and hardworking to connect 900 million users all over the world.
Some of you might have seen "Social Network", which biographs how he created and has grown the company and dealt with people around him. Now, he has much better staffed including Sheryl Sandberg, who was once introduced in this topic reading article.
Enjoy reading and learning from it!
http://news.yahoo.com/facebook-ceo-turns-28-ipo-could-100b-gift-192840074--finance.html

Topic Reading-Vol.34-5/15/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,
Thousands in Spain revive May 15th protests to rail against cuts, government!
If an half of the young are unemployed and the government spending is significantly cut including social benefits, education and employment, what could people do?
Austerity measures is the biggest agenda in some countries in Europe if the government tries to tackle with its deficit. One could ignore as long as it goes bankrupt like Greece but that doesn't seem responsible for the present and the future.
What people could do when they face such difficult situations? How long and how much people can bear to live in such hopeless life?
Enjoy reading and learning from the article and the video! TK
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/12/world/europe/spain-protests/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Topic Reading-Vol.33-5/14/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,
Prince Charles presents the weather!
What if His Royal Highness presented a weather forecast on TV? Well, not what if any longer.
Just click the below and you'll enjoy a royal weather forecast. What a treat!
Enjoy watching this extraordinary weather forecast!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/18020720

Topic Reading-Vol.32-5/13/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,
Beijing endorses Manila's move to resume contact
This is an article that China Daily posted on May 11, about the disputed tiny islands, or rocks and reefs, in South China Sea called Scarborough Shoal or Scarborough Reef, or Huangyan Island by China, where its sovereignty has been disputed by Taiwan, the Philippines and China.
You might have read or heard about this issue by Japanese or Western media but this is another way to look at the samy issue.
When it comes to territory, each party or state claims its right and legitimacy and accuses others who do the same. When the tension arises and diplomatic efforts seem difficult to resolve the dispute, economic sanctions or military actions could be brought about, especially where energy and/or natural resources are involved.
Enjoy reading and learning from it from it.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-05/11/content_15264579.htm

Topic Reading-Vol.31-5/12/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,
Obama says same-sex couples should be able to marry!
In the midst of the presidential election campaign, the president of the U.S., the leader of one of the most democratic and liberal countries in the world, officially has touched this very sensitive issue and made his position very clear. Is this political or social issue, or both?
It seems easier to read the below BBC article than other articles of US media as it doesn't talk so much about states' level arguments and development of this issue, which are too domestic for foreigners.
Enjoy reading and thinking about this rising topic.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18014102

By the way, if you want to learn what "Don't tell, don't ask" policy, please check the below;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_ask,_don't_tell

Topic Reading-Vol.30-5/11/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,Google gets Nevada driving licence for self-drive car!
The Internet giant seems to be interested in non-search engines businesses like this, drive a self-drive vehicle, which searches traffic and objects around it to drive the street.
It could be interesting to guess what they are going to with it.
So, enjoy reading and guessing from this article! TK
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17989553

Topic Reading-Vol.29-5/10/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,4 high-tech ways the federal government is spying on private citizens?
Here is an interesting article how the government, this case is the U.S., can  pry into its citizens' and others' lives, if they ever use and communicate the Internet.
This is the case of the U.S., not China or some states around the gulf, so you can easily imagine what are being done or could be done by the government.
Enjoy reading and learning how, if possible, you can protect yourself! TK
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/4-high-tech-ways-federal-government-spying-private-153556125.html

Topic Reading-Vol.28-5/9/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,
Samsung unveils Galaxy S III smartphone with eye and voice recognition!!!
Smartphones seem to be getting smarter and smarter these days, with voice and other recognition systems, which will enable you to command the machine by your voice command or just a glance.
It also says Samson and Apple are entering a two-horse race, which makes others harder to follow and makes the two dominate the fast-growing and ballooning market.
Enjoy reading and learning about the new gadget! TK
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/03/tech/mobile/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-smartphone/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1

Topic Reading-Vol.27-5/8/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,China's eco-cities: Sustainable urban living in Tianjin
Because of their dynamic power, China is able to develop not only conventional urban cities with numbers of skyscrapers but also environmentally friendly and sustainable ones.
Here are some snap shots of their new project. You never find such government-driven dynamic development in any other developed countries.
Enjoy reading and learning from it! TK
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120503-sustainable-cities-on-the-rise/1

Topic Reading-Vol.26-5/7/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,
Edvard Munch's iconic artwork The Scream sold for $120m!!!
$120mil for a paintwork? How much bread could be provided with that money to the starving children in Africa or medison could be to those in need for a cure? Which is the most valuable or meaningful way such large amount of money should be spent?
Enjoy reading and learning from the article. TK
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17926519

Topic Reading-Vol.25-5/6/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,
MIT, Harvard link up with free online courses!
They'll get you a certificate, not a diploma but it is still free of charge, from these two prestigious neighborly rival universities in Boston. Their unprecedented attempt offers quality higher education to students in a distance and eventually bring them to their classrooms where they can get a diploma.
However, these universities are very pick as to who should study at their campus, only 4.9% for Harvard and 8.9% for MIT were accepted from the applicants last year.
Enjoy reading and learning from it (and their courses if you wish!) TK
http://news.yahoo.com/mit-harvard-free-online-courses-161938836.html

Topic Reading-Vol.24-5/5/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,The unemployment ratio of the young in European countries is on the rise, reaching 50% or so level.
Looking at Korea or China, even college graduates seem to have difficulty finding worthy jobs to match their education or expectation, leaving over 20% of unemployment rate.
Here in an island of Philippines, a 14-year-old or even seven-year-old kid gets a job by giving up their education to help their families.
Enjoy reading and learning from this article and video. TK
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/01/world/asia/philippines-child-labor/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Topic Reading-Vol.23-5/4/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,Are you on any social network systems? Even if you aren't, you probably know what Facebook is, the most dominant of that kind with over 900 million registered members. And you probably have heard about Mark Zackerberg, it's founder, chairman and CEO. There is another famous and prominent leader in the company, Sheryl Sandberg, a brilliant yet modest COO, Chief Operating Officer, of the company, who is regarded as one of the most powerful and influential women in the U.S.
Both talk about organ donation, which isn't a popular topic on the Internet but they seem to be very serious about it. Enjoy watching and learning from them! TK
http://news.yahoo.com/video/abcnewsmakers-26815015/facebook-coo-organ-donation-is-a-social-crisis-29149089.html#crsl=%252Fvideo%252Fabcnewsmakers-26815015%252Ffacebook-coo-organ-donation-is-a-social-crisis-29149089.html

Topic Reading-Vol.22-5/3/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,The title of today's topic reading says, 'Obama affirms strong economic, security ties with Japan'
The ties range from TPP and Okinawa to military alliance and foreign policies against North Korea, which could offer you good an opportunity to learn words and expressions being used in such topics such as bilateral, essential, and volatility. You'll learn more if you compare this article with Japanese ones on the newspaper.
Enjoy reading and learning from the article! TK
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/30/us/japan-us-meeting/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Topic Reading-Vol.21-5/2/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,
Wind turbine creates water from thin air?
This article shows a breakthrough technology that  produces water while generating electricity! Unbelievable! If the cost is reduced, it may help rural or isolated regions or island become self sufficient without harming the environment.
Enjoy reading and learning from this innovative idea! TK
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/29/world/eole-water-turbine/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

Topic Reading-Vol.20-5/1/2012

Dear MEL School's Topic Readers,
U.S.-Japan deal withdraws 9,000 Marines from Okinawa, the title of the articles says on CNN's website.
This issue has been one of the most sensitive issues for US-Japan relationship.
Although the relocation of Futenma Air Base is yet to be solved, there is at least a step to move forward. Enjoy reading and learning how our counterpart reports this issue. TK
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/27/world/asia/japan-us-okinawa/index.html?eref=rss_world