ESLTALK

The fifth annual Taiwan International Motorcycle Show is being held at the Taipei World Trade Center(世貿一館) this week from April 15th to the 18th.  Taiwan's very own Chinese Motors Company (中華汽車) will proudly feature its latest innovation titled E-Moving.  Powered by a Lithium-ion battery, the E-Moving is said to target the young, female demographic.  The company claims that the operating cost over a period of five years is significantly lower than that of a 100c.c. gas-powered motorcycle.  The suggested retail price is tentatively set at NT$50,000 with a NT10,000 government subsidy.  While the Chinese Motors Company seems to have underestimated the buying power of the male consumers, a young American company has successfully developed the world's fastest electric motorcycle to date.  It's top speed is close to 161 miles or 260 km. per hour, and they have the video on YouTube to prove it.  Their Lithium-Sulfur battery can produce 3 times more power than the Lithium-ion battery, and it easily outlasts any other batteries on the market.

The Chinese Motors Company may not have produced the sexiest motorcycle, but its sales went up by about 43% in March of 2010.  There are many other Taiwanese firms that are making their marks in the international market.  If you can find a cool Taiwanese product, please share your findings with me.  Please describe this product in detail by using what you've learned in my classes.  As always, the person with the best article will win two movie tickets and bragging rights.  Good luck.

Most people have fond childhood memories from McDonalds; romping in the play place, opening up the happy meal that Mom and Dad got for you as a reward for being good while they ran errands, and finding the cool toy stashed in the box along with your tasty burger, fries and small soda. As we grow up, we hold on to these fond memories and we return to McDonalds again and again in the hopes of feeling the simple joy that we felt there as a child. We also come to realize that McDonalds is a source of fast, cheap food. Though most of us are well aware of the fact that fast food is unhealthy, we normally ignore this knowledge and keep on eating it. Typically, once the signs that fast food is hurting us start appearing, signs such as a growing waistline or decreased energy, the food has already taken hold of your body and you have developed an addiction. How does the McDonalds Corporation lure customers in and hook them for life in spite of the well known fact that the food served in the restaurant is unhealthy? The answer is in an ingredient called MSG.  MSG can be found in a lot of food labels: the Campbell's soups, the Hostess Doritos, the Lays flavored potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, Kraft salad dressings, especially the 'healthy low fat' ones.

A few years ago, I ran into the former CEO of Playboy Enterprises Christie Hefner at a five-star Santa Monica hotel. I was a reporter with the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, and I was there to interview the royal family of Jordan on that day.  At that time, neither the Playboy Enterprises nor the Palms Casino in Las Vegas was doing too hot financially; however, things are drastically different today with the Playboy bunnies serving as casino dealers and the weekly Ditch Fridays pool parties, Palms Casino has transformed itself into one of the hottest spots in Las Vegas.  If you are looking to get away from the noise and the air pollution of Taipei, I definitely recommend a trip to Las Vegas.  For those of you who are interested in a kick-ass, adult adventure tour of Nevada, please be sure to attend my workshop on December 3rd.

By the way, if you know a hot party spot or two, I'd appreciate if you could share it with me.

Like most people out there, I too fear the prospect of unemployment; therefore, I started looking for a viable business concept that is not labor intensive.  After some brain storming, I have settled on the idea of selling unique baby products on the Internet.  I came across this rather goofy-looking Pillow Wig.  After some modifications, I believe it can effectively protect infants from hurting their heads; head injuries suffered during childhood could lead to headaches and memory problems as kids reach adulthood.

I have revealed a number of my own my business ideas in my handouts.  Now it is your turn to show off your creativity.  Albert Einstein was said, "Creativity is more important than knowledge."  I believe this statement is especially true during an economic recession.  This competition may very well be the turning point in your lives for all it takes is a good idea to strike it rich these days.  Let your imagination go wild and have fun with it.  

The winners of this competition will receive a unique gift from me.  If I really dig your business concept, I may even quit teaching and invest in your business.

As a father to a seven-month-old baby, I need to keep mosquitos and flies away from my son by all means. Incense may be harmful to a baby; therefore having it around my son is out of the question.  When I was little, my parents used a mosquito zapper (lamp), and it was somewhat effective; however, nowadays these mosquitos and flies seem to have gotten smarter; what's more, they seem to be immune to the mosquito-repelling spray.  With the summer months approaching, we are bound to see more and more of these irritating bugs.

Thanks to the Backyard Safari Bug Net Gun, an innovative toy from a UK-based company, we no longer have to put up with mosquitos buzzing above our heads while we are trying to catch some sleep.  The gun works by firing four darts towards the direction of the flying bug.  The net then expands like a parachute to trap a mosquito.  I can swear I have seen a similar device used by the American law enforcement agencies to capture fleeing suspects, but I've never thought that such technology would one day be used on toys.  Initial user reviews have all been very good.  The maker of this gun claims the gun has a firing distance of at least five to ten feet.  At $30 a pop, this is by no means an expensive toy for I have Nerf guns that cost more than that.  This neat invention is available in online stores like Amazon and Gadget Shop.  

If you know a toy that also has a practical usage, then please share it with me.  The person with the best suggestion for a toy wins a toy from me.  As I always say, "Life is unbearable without toys." 

The winner of the 2009 Cover Letter Contest is Jessie Yang of 北台灣科學技術學院.  She utilized what she has learned in class to compose a professional and concise cover letter.  Her earnestness is very inspiring, and I know that I can always count on her to set a positive example for other students to follow.

I'd also like to extend kudos to the students who worked assiduously on this assignment.  Your progress in English is the best reward for me as a teacher.     

The winner of the 2009 Most Useful Website Contest is Teresa from 北台灣科學技術學院 (T.S.I.N.T.).

She has used the website Glogster.com  to create many professional-looking posters.  Give it a try and see what 

you can do with this simple online tool.  

As strange as it sounds, I just can't wait for the new semester to begin.  I've prepared some interesting topics to make our grammar classes more fun.  I know that some of you did not particularly enjoy the last semester, so I am asking you to take a look at my proposed syllabus.  It is posted on my website.

I realize that I am an old man now and I may not know what my students like or want; therefore, I am hosting a contest.  If you have a better idea as to how I can improve my class, then please share your thoughts with me.  Unlike the previous contests, this one can have multiple winners.  Each winner will receive two V.I.P. gift certificates to the Taipei Country Club for each idea you contribute.

You may also win V.I.P. tickets by telling me a particular grammar lesson I may have missed in my lesson plan.  I am open to any suggestions or criticisms you have for me.  Please go ahead and post your answers in this section.  The contest ends on January 30th.  Let your imagination go wild and have fun with this contest! 

Her name is Ashly Wright.  She is 23-years old and she is originally from Georgia.  When I learned that she is in prison for robbery, I was totally shocked.  It goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover.  What drove this sweet-looking girl to commit a violent crime?  Was it out of necessity, or was she simply at the wrong place at the wrong time?  It seems that behind every inmate is a story that is larger than life itself.  I think it would intrigue many viewers if I were to produce a television documentary on the stories of prison inmates.  Prison documentary series have been done, but none of them has gone interactive.  In her own online introduction, Ashly said, "I'm looking for that special someone whom can fulfill my desires, in finding my perfect match.  My release is within less than 2 years, and I would love to create a bond with someone that likes what they hear and can relate and appreciate a good woman.  My qualities are that I am real.  I always stay the same.  If I left my body for ten years and came back, I would be identical.  I have made mistakes in the past, but I don't dwell on it, I just know that it's over and it has only helped me grow.  I'm loyal, dependable, I'm very down to earth.  I'm from Georgia, so I grew up with that southern hospitality in my blood.  I love to laugh.  I am goofy at times, and I know how to have a good time.  I love the outdoors.  I play softball, go camping, hiking, star gazing (I love the stars), mountain climbing, and willing to try new things.  Traveling is also something that I've dreamed of.  There are so many wonders of the world that need to be seen and felt through my eyes."  

PBS （公視）sure could use a television show such as this one to boost its poor ratings.  Let today's teens look at what life is really like in prison, and maybe the show would deter them from committing crimes.  To make the long story short, I have come up with a number of ideas to turn prisons into money-making machines for our government.  I will be discussing them with all of you in class.  You can be the judge as to whether or not these ideas are even feasible.  Meanwhile, if you'd like to write to Ashly, please copy down the address below:

Ashly N. Wright #24494-001 FCI - Danbury 33½ Pembroke Station Danbury, CT   06811-3099

The Santa Catalina Island is twenty-two miles off the coast of Los Angeles.  It is, in my eyes, paradise on earth.  The folks on this island are so friendly that you’d think you are in another world.  As a teenager I visited Catalina often with my family because my uncle used to be a sheriff on the island.  This is where I received my first lesson in horseback riding.  It took my coach only two minutes to explain the basic maneuvers.  He told me to take the horse around the track a couple of times and then we were on our way to the mountain trails.  There were Rattlesnakes everywhere, but the horses were not frightened by their sounds at all.     

Most people would check themselves into a hotel when they are on the island, but if you want true seclusion from the modern world, you can visit one of the seventeen Boat-in Campsites.  These campsites can only be reached by kayak and you must bring your own food and drink.  At night, you and your loved one may enjoy a meal under the stars, completely undisturbed.  Nightly camping fees are only $12 per adult—this is a lot more affordable and romantic than your average hotel, don’t you think?  If you are not into camping, then a room at the Pavilion Lodge would run you $133.28 a night, tax included.

I'd like to know what you consider a fantasy trip.  What aspects of the United States would you like to see in my future articles?  I would appreciate your feedback.  If your idea is something that I can write about in my future article, you will receive two gift certificates to the Taipei Country Club.   There are plenty of gift certificates to go around, so please keep those ideas coming!  There is NO LIMIT as to how many tickets you can win.