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.