Discussion Topic for Feb. 6, 2010

Hi, there,

It's my turn to host the discussion.
The topic for Feb. 6 will be "Internet Censorship" via the case study of Google in China market.

You might need to read this one, or, if you got time, more related articles (optional).

Here are some relevant questions for discussion:

1. Have you ever heard of this news? What's your opinions?
2. Have you ever encounter "internet censorship"? What's your experience?
3. Do you argree with the idea of internet censorship?
4. In terms of children welfare, does internet censorship benefit or damage kids' rights?
5. How should we set up a more proper internet censorship system, if we need it?


Cheers,
James

MBA Discussion Follow-up

Hey all,

Remember several weeks ago we had discussion on MBA ranking? Precisely, it's only me and James haha. Just now I checked out udn News (聯合新聞網) and saw this: 倫敦商學院 蟬聯最佳MBA. The article is not only related to the MBA ranking but also the recent trends toward MBA programs, which are kinda similar to what we discussed and what our discussion article talked about: slight downturn in MBA programs and its return on investment rate.

Followed by what the udn article mentioned, I found the original raking and report on Financial Times. Some key findings from this ranking report, also mentioned in udn's article, are relevant to what we discussed back then. The findings, again, are striking to me. Same with the ranking. Though I do know Wharton (U Penn) and LBS are also excellent business schools, I do feel surprised that Harvard is in the third place. The implications? As my research project is about business schools, I think I need to pay more attention on both LBS and Wharton, instead of Harvard, haha.

Just some interesting follow-up :)

Maria's Self Introduction

My name is Maria, and I'm a negative person ^.^ The reason? Just wanna protect myself from disappointments. Yup, I wasn't used to be negative, I chose to be one after I say bye-bye to the age of the Innocent. I think you need to know that in advance so in the future you won't get surprise with my negative comments.

I'm a Indonesian passport holder. Born in Indonesia, breath her air and only hers until 18 years old, before decided to try Taiwan's. Gosh Mandarin with it's 5 different tones is one of the most difficult languages in the world! But it's the first happiest time I ever had!

I was lucky enough to be able to spend the next 5 years in Tung Hai university as an architecture student. Working as an architecture designer in Taipei for almost 4 years gave me the chance to study MA Degree of the Environment in Chelsea College of Art&Design, London. That is my second happiest time.

Happy time never last long. I applied a work in Singapore, a very beautiful country that was built with "sweat and blood" and COMPETITION! I'm sure they're plenty other good stuff in Singapore, but too bad ... I'm already a negative person by then.

And here I am now, in Yilan, with my husband, pressing down all desires ...

I like kids on certain ages, but only for couple of hours in a whole years! Little kids are usually innocent, like a piece of white paper, who accept anything you'll write on them. That's why one of my dream is to become an author of children picture books. Being with them makes me feel that I'm a Discovery Channel ... that I'm special. I think human, at least me, needs this kind of feeling, being different, to prove that they are really exist. I like being with elderly too ... they are my Discovery Channel. ^.^

My fantasy (yup, it's a fantasy now, not a dream) was to become an ambassador's wife, because that will give me chance to stay in different places. I love traveling. Indigenous cultures are always fascinating me. It'll be great if I can spend a year or two in different countries. But traveling needs hell lots of money, so I have to be happy with reading books or watching documentaries instead.

That's pretty much everything about me. Nice to meet you! ^.^

Topic for Jan 30th, 2010 - Surrogacy

I read this article "Scrambled Eggs" , which I think it might be interesting enough as our topic.

And to give an idea about what surrogacy is, you might need to read this one too.

Here're some questions to help our discussion:

1. Have you ever heard about surrogacy? Do you have someone close to you that are having surrogacy?
2. Which side are you: “The joy of parenthood is something that every couple should be able to experience” or “Parents should not put their own desire to be parents over the possible damage it might cause to the baby”?
3. Commercial surrogacy would involve women ‘hiring out’ their wombs to the highest bidder. Do you think surrogacy is likely to be commercialized?
4. Do you agree that a voluntarily surrogacy woman can be seen as offering the exploitation of her body for commercial gain? Or is this a good way for the woman to help her family’s financial problem? Do you think there’s a difference between commercial surrogacy and selling-blood?
5. It's generally understood that if you hire a surrogate to carry your embryo, she, not you, gets to decide whether to abort it. It may be your baby, but it's her body, and that's the legal trump card. Do you agree with that?
6. What happens if the surrogate mother or commissioning couple change their mind?
7. What happens in the case of miscarriage or multiple births?
8. What happens if the child has serious disabilities?
9. What are the rights of the child?
   
   
   cheers, ^.^
   maria
   
   
   
   

We're going to talk about Culture Shock this coming Saturday (Taiwan Time)

Hey all,

I hope you are having fun for your weekend! Vancouver is finally having sunshine right now haha. It's my pleasure again to be the host for the discussion this coming Saturday (Jan. 23rd, Taiwan time). We're going to talk about culture shock. Please watch the video I posted days ago and try to reflect any culture shock experiences you encountered until now. Do share with us during the discussion. Also, the speaker in the video mentioned three stages of the culture shock. Do you agree? How does this relate to you when you encounter something new to you? Do share with us as well!!

I'm looking forward to hearing your culture shock experiences :)

P.S. If I find some articles relevant to culture shock, I may post it here before Thursday.

Love,
Angela

Apology!!!

Dear all,

I'm sorry for not showing up today, especially it is my turn to lead the discussion for this week.
I thought today is Friday.
SORRY!!!

How's today's discussion going?
Do you still discuss "cool Japan"?

SORRY AGAIN!!!


James

[share & discussion] video of a speech on culture shock

saw something interesting from YouTube. It's a video clip of a speech on culture shock, delivered by Tiffany Chin, possibly a member of Toastmasters International Hsinchu Club. Here's the clip:

I don't belong to that club, yet I do found the topic, the three stages of culture shock, and the implication of culture shock that Tiffany addressed, interesting. I hope one day I could speak English as good as Tiffany did ha ha. Maybe we can talk a little bit about culture shock or merely the clip or the speech here on the blog or later during the skype discussion. As James is going to host the discussion this coming Saturday (Taiwan time), I think we may be able to discuss the clip and any "culture shock" we encounter the week after.

That's pretty much it so far. Enjoy your week and the clip :)

Angela L.

Discussion Material for Jan. 16, 2010 (Taiwan time)

I'm responsible for the discussion in this week. Topic for this week will be "Cool Japan." Here is the reading meterial: http://www.time.com/time/asia/2003/cool_japan/story.html

James