TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – In a survey on living condition of low income families in 2008, average monthly income for low income families is NT$23,000
-
TAIWAN News
-
Subsidy is main income source for low income families: Taiwan MOI
5 Jul 2009 | 3:04 pm -
Taiwan academics slam generous pesticide rules for U.S. fruit
5 Jul 2009 | 2:51 pmTAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan’s March decision to allow the presence of the pesticide endosulfan in apples was likely to have resulted in the import -
Firms submit bids for AIG’s Taiwan unit
5 Jul 2009 | 11:57 amAbout 10 global and Taiwan financial firms have submitted bids to buy troubled American International Group's (AIG) Taiwanese insurance unit, newspapers said on Saturday, in -
Taiwan, China in ‘informal’ talks on economic pact
5 Jul 2009 | 9:59 amTaiwan and China are in informal talks at an “academic level” on preparing an economic cooperation agreement, the island’s Deputy Economic Affairs Minister John Deng -
First Pacific greenhouse gas measurement ship sails off Taiwan
5 Jul 2009 | 9:32 amAn Evergreen Marine container ship, the first commercial marine vessel equipped to measure marine emissions, set sail Saturday as part of an ambitious project to
-
Google News: Taiwan
-
Taiwan relaxes insecticide control level on apple - eTaiwan News
5 Jul 2009 | 3:33 amTaiwan relaxes insecticide control level on appleeTaiwan NewsTaiwan's government previously banned the presence of any residues of the pesticide endosulfan on any apples sold in the country, but it announced Sunday Taiwan academics slam generous pesticide rules for US fruiteTaiwan Newsall 2 news articles » -
Taiwan ex-leader to appear in court with son: media - AFP
5 Jul 2009 | 3:15 amAFPTaiwan ex-leader to appear in court with son: mediaAFPTAIPEI (AFP) — Taiwan's detained ex-president Chen Shui-bian will this week appear in court alongside his son for the first time in a continuing graft case and more » -
Hong Kong, Taiwan fans mourn Michael Jackson - San Francisco Chronicle
5 Jul 2009 | 2:17 amHong Kong, Taiwan fans mourn Michael JacksonSan Francisco ChronicleMichael Jackson fans gathered in Hong Kong and Taiwan to imitate their late hero's dance moves and watch his and more » -
Nicaraguan president snubs visiting Taiwanese leader - GMA news.tv
5 Jul 2009 | 2:00 amStraits TimesNicaraguan president snubs visiting Taiwanese leaderGMA news.tvTAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwanese media say Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has apologized for repeatedly canceling appointments with the visiting Taiwanese Taiwan benefits from China's economic stimulusAFPTaiwan, China ties improve, but still differ on unificationMonsters and Critics.comNicaraguan leader apologizes for snubbing TaiwanYnetnewseTaiwan News -China Post -Honolulu Advertiserall 68 news articles » -
Sony and Taiwan unite for game development - TheCelebrityCafe.com
4 Jul 2009 | 8:14 pmPlayStation LifeStyleSony and Taiwan unite for game developmentTheCelebrityCafe.comSony Computer Entertainment (SCEA), along with the Taiwanese ministry of economic affairs and six Taiwan-based firms, has formed an agreement to build games Rumor: playstation Cloud to be Music Streaming ServicePlayStation LifeStyleall 2 news articles »
-
China Post: Taiwan
-
A plea against human trafficking
4 Jul 2009 | 9:32 pm(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Last month, the U.S. State Department came up with its 9th Trafficking in Persons Report that listed countries suspected of not doing enough to combat illegal migration of people. -
Amateur troupe stages Chekhov
4 Jul 2009 | 9:31 pm(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904) is one of Russia's most important literary figures, and one of the greatest playwrights of modern times. -
Infrared life
4 Jul 2009 | 9:29 pm(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Taipei Film Festival (TaipeiFF) might still be in progress but some visiting filmmakers are attracting the spotlights with projects other than movies. -
Another ancient cannon unearthed in Kinmen site
4 Jul 2009 | 7:21 pm(ChinaPost.com.tw) - One more ancient cannon was unearthed at a construction site on the former frontline island of Kinmen late this past week, bringing to 29 the number of cannons discovered in the rare discovery of weapons that may date back to the 17th century. -
Kenting attracting more HK, Singapore visitors
4 Jul 2009 | 7:18 pm(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Thanks to a popular film and a TV serial shot in Kenting, the beach resort area in Pingtung County at Taiwan's southernmost tip is attracting more and more tourists from Hong Kong, according to business sources.
-
Taipei Times
-
British Air to ground aircraft, cut seats, postpone deliveries
4 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pm -
Owen jumps at chance to revive flagging fortunes
4 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pm -
N Korea fires seven more missiles
4 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pm -
[HARDCOVER: US] When affairs of the heart require courage
4 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pm -
Hoteliers lash out at Chinese tourists
4 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pm
-
TaiwanHeadlines.gov
-
Today in history
5 Jul 2009 | 12:00 amTaipei, July 5 (CNA) Today is Sunday, July 5, or the 13th day of the leap fifth month of the Year of the Ox according to the lunar calendar. Following is a list of important events that have occurred on this date in the past: 1811: Venezuela's revolutionary congress declares its independence from Spain. 1817: The first gold sovereigns are issued in Britain. 1830: The French capture Algiers and seize its ruler's fabulous jewelry collection. 1945: American Gen. Douglas MacArthur announces the liberation of the Philippines after having lost it to the Japanese in 1942. 1946: The world's first… -
Today in history
4 Jul 2009 | 12:00 amTaipei, July 4 (CNA) Today is Saturday, July 4, or the 12th day of the leap fifth month of the Year of the Ox according to the lunar calendar. Following is a list of important events that have occurred on this date in the past: 1776: In a historic session, the Continental Congress accepts the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson under the instruction of a five-member committee, formally severing colonial links with Britain. 1826: The United States losses two of its founding fathers when John Adams, the second U.S. president, and Thomas Jefferson, the third president, both… -
Taiwan headline news
4 Jul 2009 | 12:00 amTaipei, July 4 (CNA) The lead stories in major Taiwan dailies on Saturday are as follows: @The China Times: Many questions on college entrance exam's civics test focused on current events. @The United Daily News: President Ma Ying-jeou rules out allowing flights between Taiwan, China to cross Taiwan Strait center line. @The Liberty Times: KMT ignores more than a trillion in losses of Taiwan businessmen defrauded in China: @Central Daily News online: Control Yuan impeaches former Cabinet secretary-general for dereliction of duty in land purchase scandal involving ex-president. @Economic Daily… -
School principal from humble background ends up as a passionate veterinarian
3 Jul 2009 | 12:00 amWu Tung-ben was born into a farming family in Zhuqi Township of Chiayi County. After completing military service in 1967, he became a janitor, and then later on a substitute teacher at Tatung Elementary School in Chiayi. He spent many years studying on his own and was finally certified as a teacher. In 1992, he passed the exam to become a school principal. Over the years, he served as principal at elementary schools in remote areas of Chiayi County such as Dahu, Zhunglun, and Lijia. Two years ago, he retired after serving as principal at Wen Guang Elementary School. This was not the end of… -
Taiwan headline news
3 Jul 2009 | 12:00 amTaipei, June 3 (CNA) The lead stories in major Taiwan dailies on Friday are as follows: @The China Times: Kaohsiung lottery player wins 3rd-biggest jackpot of NT$924 million. @The United Daily News: Late Formosa founder pays the most individual income tax -- NT$8 billion. @The Liberty Times: Taiwanese visitors to China 10 times higher than Chinese visitors to Taiwan, despite one year of opening Taiwan to Chinese tourists. @Central Daily News online: Mainland Affairs Council turns down China's suggestion of lifting ban on flights across meridian line of Taiwan Strait. @Economic Daily News:…
-
Topix: Taiwan News
-
Analysis on the Web
4 Jul 2009 | 2:14 amIn addition to the recent pieces offering shocked American views that China has not reduced its missiles aimed at Taiwan -- a clear signal that the US Establishment thinks it would be a really good idea that China do that -- there is also a mixed bag of articles looking at the Cross-Strait march toward Anschluss. -
Taiwan should drop charges against HRDs and amend parade and assembly law
4 Jul 2009 | 2:09 amAsian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Taiwan Association for Human Rights(TAHR) have jointly called on Taiwan to respect and protect freedom of expression and freedom of assembly by dropping the charges against two prominent human rights defenders, and amending the Parade and Assembly Law in accordance to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) ratified at the Legislative Yuan in March 2009. -
Taiwan, Hong Kong And The Challenge Of National Unification
3 Jul 2009 | 1:19 pmAmong the many anniversaries being commemorated in 2009, none evoke a stronger mix of political emotions among Chinese leaders, whatever their loyalties, than the historic dates associated with Taiwan. -
Foreign ministry studying how to approach U.N. bid: official
3 Jul 2009 | 2:22 amThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs is studying how to approach Taiwan's bid for representation in the United Nations and, based on past experience, will make a decision on how best to proceed this year, a MOFA departmental chief said Thursday. -
Social groups to tie yellow ribbons for Chen Shui-bian
3 Jul 2009 | 2:16 amMore than 30 social movements called on the public yesterday to tie yellow ribbons in support of jailed ex-President Chen Shui-bian. The activity served to underline the need for fair justice in the ex-president's case, organizers said.
-
NYT > Taiwan
-
Seeking Growth Market, Chip Maker Eyes Solar Cells
12 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pmIf Taiwan Semiconductor, one of the world’s most formidable manufacturers, moves into solar cells and LED lights, prices could fall sharply. -
Taiwan Tech Firms Strive to Be Global
3 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pmNo longer content in the background, companies from Taiwan are seeking the higher profits of a global brand. -
Chinese President Meets Leader of Taiwanese Party
26 May 2009 | 9:00 pmChinese President Hu Jintao hosted the leader of Taiwan’s ruling party in Beijing on Tuesday, as both sides promised closer economic ties and a continued thaw in relations. -
Taiwan Takes Step Forward at U.N. Health Agency
29 Apr 2009 | 9:00 pmChinese officials have dropped their objections to Taiwan’s participation as an observer in the World Health Assembly. -
Rapid Declines in Manufacturing Spread Global Anxiety
19 Mar 2009 | 9:00 pmThe depth and speed of the manufacturing plunge are striking, and recall conditions that led to the Great Depression.
-
BigNewsNetwork: Taiwan
-
Taiwan, China ties improve, but still differ on unification
5 Jul 2009 | 12:59 amTaipei - Taiwan and China improved relations in the past year, but citizens differ on the prospect of unification, a survey conducted on both the mainland and the island showed Sunday. The Global View... -
First Pacific greenhouse gas measurement ship sails off
4 Jul 2009 | 10:59 pmTaipei, July 4 (CNA) An Evergreen Marine container ship, the first commercial marine vessel equipped to measure marine emissions, set sail Saturday as part of an ambitious project to measure and monit... -
DPP to announce its candidates for year-end elections
4 Jul 2009 | 10:59 pmThe Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will announce this week its candidate for the Yunlin County legislative by-election as well as its candidates for the year-end mayoral and commissioner elections... -
Ma rejects Chen's plea to lift travel ban on daughter
4 Jul 2009 | 10:59 pmPresident Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has rejected a plea by his predecessor, Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), to lift a court order that bars Chen's daughter from leaving the country. Ma said he had read Che... -
Government to spend NT$3bn on national park
4 Jul 2009 | 10:59 pmThe central government has recently approved a proposal to designate a 4 hectare plot of land and coastal waters along Tainan City and Tainan County as the country’s eighth national park. Tainan Cit...
-
TaiwanNews.net
-
Taiwan, China ties improve, but still differ on unification
5 Jul 2009 | 12:59 amTaipei - Taiwan and China improved relations in the past year, but citizens differ on the prospect of unification, a survey conducted on both the mainland and the island showed Sunday. The Global View... -
First Pacific greenhouse gas measurement ship sails off
4 Jul 2009 | 10:59 pmTaipei, July 4 (CNA) An Evergreen Marine container ship, the first commercial marine vessel equipped to measure marine emissions, set sail Saturday as part of an ambitious project to measure and monit... -
DPP to announce its candidates for year-end elections
4 Jul 2009 | 10:59 pmThe Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will announce this week its candidate for the Yunlin County legislative by-election as well as its candidates for the year-end mayoral and commissioner elections... -
Ma rejects Chen's plea to lift travel ban on daughter
4 Jul 2009 | 10:59 pmPresident Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has rejected a plea by his predecessor, Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), to lift a court order that bars Chen's daughter from leaving the country. Ma said he had read Che... -
Government to spend NT$3bn on national park
4 Jul 2009 | 10:59 pmThe central government has recently approved a proposal to designate a 4 hectare plot of land and coastal waters along Tainan City and Tainan County as the country’s eighth national park. Tainan Cit...
-
Global Voices Online » Taiwan (ROC)
-
Taiwan: Is “adogah” a racist term?
30 Jun 2009 | 6:09 pmAdogah (阿兜仔) is a Hoklo Taiwanese word used to refer to foreigners in Taiwan. Dan Bloom had an article in the Taipei Times discussing the use of the word. He had the article translated into Chinese on his blog. Following the Chinese text there are details in English of a recent survey of Taiwanese people about their attitude to the use of adogah. -
Taiwan: Meet Taiwan's “Twitter Queen”
29 Jun 2009 | 11:15 amAndrew from Feast Meets West interviewed Rose Huang, the most-followed twitterer in Taiwan, in his radio show on RTI. -
Taiwan: Burning of the Plague God Boat
23 Jun 2009 | 9:12 pmAccording to Taiwan.net, The burning of the Plague God Boat is one of the folk rituals of the seafaring people in southwestern Taiwan. The original purpose of this ritual was to send the Plague God out to the sea, and diseases along with him; today it is an activity held to pray for peace and good fortune. The festival is held once every three years, around the ninth lunar month, at Donglong Temple in Donggang. The boats are burned in the middle of the fourth month at Cingan Temple in Sigang, Tainan County. Generally, the Donggang event is bigger. These celebrations include large-scale temple… -
China: Missiles threaten Taiwan and more
17 Jun 2009 | 8:48 amThe Taiwan Link looks at China's Anti-ship Ballistic Missiles and the threat they pose to Taiwan. The Far-Eastern Sweet Potato looks at the missiles and China's second-generation nuclear-powered submarines. Both consider that the weapons systems pose threats to targets beyond Taiwan. -
Taiwan: Japan meeting highlights China threat
13 Jun 2009 | 11:10 pmAn exchange between Hsiao Bi-Khim (蕭美琴),the DPP's director of international affairs, and Wu Shumin (武樹民), the Chinese Consulate-General in Fukuoka, at a meeting in Fukuoka, Japan highlighted the tensions that exist between Taiwan and China. Bi-Khim described the incident on her blog (zh). The Far-Eastern Sweet Potato says that the incident displays the bullying tactics of China.
-
The View from Taiwan
-
July 11 Meet Up News
4 Jul 2009 | 3:22 pmJerome sends around greetings and news of the meet up:++++++++++++++++++++To all,A Happy July 4th for those of the USA, but actually for all since Independence Day marks a day of independence for all; the country is based on the premise of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness being rights of all. (unfortunately while rights they are not guarantees and have to be fought for regularly) but back to business for our topic relates to democracy, rights and Taiwan.We will have our breakfast gathering on Saturday July 11, at 10 am at our usual place (see below)The speaker is Maysing Yang, Vice… -
Analysis on the Web
3 Jul 2009 | 5:32 amThere's been a flood of stuff out there recently. In addition to the recent pieces offering shocked American views that China has not reduced its missiles aimed at Taiwan -- a clear signal that the US Establishment thinks it would be a really good idea that China do that -- there is also a mixed bag of articles looking at the Cross-Strait march toward Anschluss.First the awful. Over at Huffington Post Eric Anderson has another one of his excrutiating pieces on "cross-strait reconciliation." Anderson lauds Ma as a "master politician" -- no, I'm not making that up -- and thinks it is just… -
Two More DPP Politicians Indicted
3 Jul 2009 | 5:23 amThe prosecution of DPPers continues unabated....from KNN:Taichung District prosecutors indicted DPP secretary-general Wu Nai-jen and former DPP legislator Hong Chi-chang on charges of perfidy as prosecutors concluded that Wu, while chairman of Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC), had authorized TSC to sell land it owned under market value to a company that had close connections with Hong Chi-chang. The land deal, according to the prosecutors, caused TSC NT$ 400 million in losses.......Regarding the reports that CLD had served as Hong Chi-chang’s long-term bankrollers, Wu explained that CLD had… -
Stanton for AIT head
2 Jul 2009 | 6:09 amAP reports...The United States on Thursday named a career diplomat with wide-ranging experience in East Asia to be the new head of its de facto embassy in Taiwan.The American Institute in Taiwan said William Stanton, currently the No. 2 U.S. diplomat in South Korea, will replace outgoing institute head Stephen Young in August.Previous Taipei Times articles on Stanton here and blog post here. Take all gossip about Stanton's political stances with a massive grain of NaCl. The previous AIT head, Steve Young, has done a bang up job, and there's no reason Stanton won't as well.UPDATE: Taipei Times… -
J Michael Cole's New Book Out! (and other announcements)
1 Jul 2009 | 6:45 amI am honored to count among my friends the incisive and perceptive commentator and analyst J Michael Cole of the Taipei Times, who has just published a new book on Taiwan. He says of his new book:+++++++++++++++++++I am thrilled to announce the release of my book Democracy in Peril: Taiwan’s struggle for survival from Chen Shui-bian to Ma Ying-jeou! More than two years in the making, Democracy in Peril comes at a critical period in Taiwan’s history, and its release could not be more timely. Over the next few weeks, my book will start being available at various bookstores and online.
-
David on Formosa
-
Assembly Law attacks freedom of speech
3 Jul 2009 | 7:46 amThe Taiwan Association for Human Rights (台灣人權促進會; TAHR) and Forum Asia have released a joint statement calling on Taiwan to respect and protect freedom of assembly by dropping charges against two prominent human rights defenders and amend the Parade and Assembly Law (集會遊行法) in accordance to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The two human rights defenders are Lin Chia-fan (林佳範), President of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR), and Lee Ming-tsung (李明聰), Vice-Chairperson of Amnesty International (AI) Taiwan and… -
Summer of music
1 Jul 2009 | 3:00 amAphasia at The Wall on 14 June 2009 Summer has well and truly arrived and it brings with it an awesome line up of summer music events. Music festivals and other special events will see several major international acts perform as well as a huge number of Taiwanese bands. The events are not just limited to Taipei either, there are also festivals in Yilan, Kaohsiung and Miaoli. I have listed the events in chronological order. The Grass Festival (第三屆草地音樂節) is on 4-5 July at the Daxi Elementary School in Yilan County. It has an awesome line up of Taiwan indie bands over the two… -
Vignettes of a day in Taipei
30 Jun 2009 | 8:33 pmAt the beginning of the screening of Taipei 24H (台北異想) there was an ad featuring Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin promoting Taipei City as a site for film production. Hau introduces some locations in the city before ending the ad by announcing an NT$2.5 million dollar subsidy for film makers making films in Taipei through the Taipei Film Commission. I am not sure if there was a direct connection between the ad and Taipei 24H, which was produced by PTS (公共電視). However, Taipei 24H was also something of a showcase for Taipei as it is seen by local film makers. It also highlighted a… -
Austronesian Taiwan 2.0
26 Jun 2009 | 7:42 pmAustronesian Taiwan: Linguistics, History, Ethnology, Prehistory was first published in 2000 and has been out of print for past few years. A new edition of the book was published to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Shung Ye Museum and the exhibition of artifacts from Japan’s National Museum of Ethnology. The new edition was edited by Dr David Blundell, my thesis advisor at NCCU, with assistance from Chris Anderson and the people at SMC Books. I also played a small role in the editing process. Austronesian Taiwan is a wonderful collection of papers on the Austronesian speaking… -
End of the last semester at NCCU
25 Jun 2009 | 6:41 pmThe end of this semester marked my completion of the coursework requirements in the Master’s of Taiwan Studies program at NCCU (國立政治大學). The classes I took this semester were Political Development of Taiwan and International Relations of Taiwan. They were both great classes — Taiwan presents a vast amount of rich subject matter on these topics. In International Relations I gave a presentation on “Taiwan and the Pacific Island Nations”. This topic is very worthy of further research, particularly looking at Taiwan’s relations with the Solomon Islands…
-
TheNHBushman.com
-
New Video Camera
2 Jul 2009 | 2:18 amPhoto and video by MJ Klein By now all our readers know that I enjoy riding, especially the recumbent trike. I’ve taken lots of photos and done ride reports using my Nikon D80. But I’ve been looking for a camera specifically designed to capture action for activites such as rides, and I’ve found such a camera - the Gopro Helmet Hero WIDE angle. The Helmet Hero comes in an impressive package with a clear plastic case on top. While not intending to be a review of the camera, I will tell you a few of the cool features: Records on an SD card (up to 56 minutes of continuous… -
2009 Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party
30 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amWe’re proud to bring you a guest article written by our friend Mike, from Lynn, Massachusetts. Mike is a frequent reader of this blog (as well as a long-time personal friend of The Bushman) and he knows our readers love articles about food! So, please enjoy Mike’s first guest article: The 2009 Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party Photos and article by Mike01905 Its time again fro the Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party. “The Phantom Gourmet” is a TV show in the Boston area. They review restaurants throughout most of the 6-state New England region and they review everything that… -
Today’s Ride 090629
29 Jun 2009 | 9:10 amPhotos by MJ Klein Wow, what a glorious day it was today. The sun was shining and no threatening clouds anywhere. I put on my sunblock, strapped on my helmet and gloves and went for a nice ride on the trike. Today I decided that I would take my D80 and shoot more photos than I normally do. I found that I don’t mind riding with the camera around my neck. For those of you who are visiting from other countries, you’re going to get a nice view of what it’s like to ride in Taiwan. But that’s not all. Since I had the GPS running, and the GPS was also recording a… -
June Roof Party
28 Jun 2009 | 4:36 amPhotos by MJ Klein, and anyone else who grabbed my camera! We had been wanting to do another roof party for some time, but lately we’ve been battling bad weather. All during the week we were watching the weather forecasts to see if the approaching typhoon would veer off and spare us. It did! The party was a “go” for launch! The clouds looked threatening, almost like they were saying that they weren’t going to give up so easily! But the threat of a storm turned out to be mostly more hot air. I had been shooting photos in my foyer and had used a funky white… -
Memorable Meals 2006, Part V
26 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amPhotos by MJ Klein Wow, we’ve had a lot of great meals in 2006! It’s our pleasure to bring you part #5 of the 2006 series. This is a meal we had in Laohukou with our good friend Saumen. Pan fried togun or dried tofu. Cold Chicken with dipping sauce. This was the best dish on the table - Pan Fried Shark. Duck Intestine with Garlic Greens. A great version of this dish! A Taiwanese standard: Pan Fried Cabbage with Chili. We had an enjoyable time with some green tea and Taiwan beer. Wish you could have joined us! Thanks for reading! Please leave your comments with us below!
-
Bloggers In Taiwan
-
Featured Blog - "Letters from Taiwan"
2 Jul 2009 | 8:16 pmLetters from Taiwan"I reserve the right to be wrong at all times"by Arthur Dent -
Featured Blog - "My Life in Anecdotes"
26 Jun 2009 | 2:53 amMy Life in Anecdotes"Stories in the Past and Present Tense"by Rosanne Lin -
Featured Blog - "Strait Talk: It's Taiwan, not China... Tales from Formosa, The Beautiful Island"
18 Jun 2009 | 11:27 pmStrait Talk: It's Taiwan, not China... Tales from Formosa, The Beautiful Island"These published stories reflect what I learned during my time in Asia. They cover issues from my programs on Radio Taiwan International and stories for Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (CBC), Asia Times Online, Taipei Times, etc. Issues such as: Where is Taiwan?What is Formosa?Is Taiwan a part of China?What's the difference between Chinese and Taiwanese?Where can I get a good cup of coffee?"by Stephen A. Nelson -
Featured Blog - "Freeflying in Taiwan"
13 Jun 2009 | 8:59 amFreeflying in Taiwan"just me and my wings"by Jaco Herbst -
Featured Blog - "Hiking Taiwan"
4 Jun 2009 | 6:31 pmHiking Taiwan"A guide to hiking in Taiwan"by Stu Dawson
-
the 10 billion years before the sun blew up...
-
My new song...
29 Jun 2009 | 12:38 amLipstickLollipopsFast CarsRock 'n' Roll! -
Mondays...
21 Jun 2009 | 6:00 pmWork on Mondays, the act of repeating an action in order to attain a different result.Insanity, the act of repeating something in order to attain a different result. -
anti-climax
18 Jun 2009 | 6:19 pmMy last show in a band is Saturday... We scatter and go our different ways. I had a great time. Though I can say we had only a handful of amazingly attended show... We made in my opinion the most beautiful music, and did not sell out to be a gaggle of costumed antic driven musicians that is so required in Taiwan for people to actually go and attend a show. Play fucken music, love what you do every moment. -
My father is from Brantford Ontario...
17 Jun 2009 | 5:38 pmHome of Hockey star Wayne Gretzky... -
My mother is from Edmonton Alberta...
17 Jun 2009 | 5:31 pmGretzky played there... Coincidence? YOU DECIDE!
-
Taiwan Matters!
-
In Taiwan is it justifiable to be charged based on a law that is unconstitutional and being protested upon?
3 Jul 2009 | 8:48 pmLet’s take a closer look at the Assembly and Parade Act (APA that Prof. Lee was indicted to have “violated” The APA gives wide powers to police to disperse demonstrations and designate restricted areas, while making it compulsory for organizers to apply for permits. Human rights defenders, including students, academics and activists have strongly criticized the unconstitutionality of this law, deemed to have violated Taiwan's Constitution under Article 14, which states clearly that "The people have freedom of assembly and association". Neither Mr. Lee Ming-tsung ( nor Lin Chia-fan… -
Is this really how children are treated in Taiwan?
30 Jun 2009 | 8:50 pmFrom today's Taipei Times we see that some people are concerned that their children will study with Chen Shui-bian's grandson, who they fear, at age 6, will corrupt their own children:... several users of the school’s online message board who identified themselves as teachers and parents whose children are pupils at the school voiced objections to the possibility of the boy’s enrollment.“I have been worried that my child will make friends with bad classmates, but I feel relieved, because your school will serve as a gatekeeper,” a user with the screen name “a parent of a student”… -
Chen's 119 letter to Ma
29 Jun 2009 | 10:07 pmPresident Chen Shui-bian, under investigation along with most of the former first family for corruption and money laundering, has sent a letter to President Ma Ying-jeou asking him to lift the travel ban on his daughter Chen Hsing-yu (陳幸妤). Taipei Times reports:The move came after Chen Hsing-yu broke down in front of her father while visiting the former president last week....The former president wrote: “If Chen Hsing-yu cannot go to the US, she might not be emotionally capable of dealing [with the situation],” [Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tsai Huang-liang… -
DPP ECFA referendum ad
24 Jun 2009 | 7:14 amWith free English translation by Tim MaddogTaiwan's DPP has a great ad to enlighten the public about the lies being told by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) about an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) which his government insists will be signed with China. See what Ma says about "sovereignty," and compare it to the direct words of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) about "complete unification" [sic -- the correct word is "annexation" (併吞)]. Cringe in horror as you hear Taiwan's Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) "explain" why he can't talk about the details of this… -
Iran and Taiwan
23 Jun 2009 | 9:19 amI don't want to compare too much here, as Iran and Taiwan are very different places, with distinct historical backgrounds, but what is happening there appears to confirm one of my worst fears.We are now in an era where the concept of a "right to bear arm"s is effectively irrelevant; an uprising, even if it has the support of the majority of the people, is impossible to sustain without the assistance of the police and armed forces. I am not arguing that the Iranian population is armed, because they are not; rather, I am reminding us all that if the government has tear gas and tanks, you're…
-
The Daily Bubble Tea
-
Weekly Links – July 2, 2009
2 Jul 2009 | 7:19 amJim on the sad state of beer in Taiwan. MJ hosts a BBQ party on the roof. Craig introduces readers to the familiar yet mysterious Eight Generals. Rachel goes zorbing in Kending. Stu takes a short hike to the Silong Waterfall. Is ‘adoah’ a humorous word used to refer to Westerners or insulting and offensive? I simply find it annoying. Fili covers Chinese censorship and online social movements. Arthur Dent posts entries for a short paragraph the international press could use when describing the political situation of Taiwan. A-gu on former President Chen’s letter to… -
Kaohsiung – Zuoying Lotus Pond
27 Jun 2009 | 8:43 amThe last attraction on our Kaohsiung trip was a stop to the Lotus Pond in Zuoying [蓮池潭龍虎塔]. The man-made pond is a short bus ride from the Zuoying KMRT and HSR Station and is located between Gui Mountain [龜山] and Banping Mountain [半平山]. Here are a few photos of the pond’s Dragon and Tiger Towers: -
Kaohsiung – Urban Spotlight
27 Jun 2009 | 8:01 amKaohsiung’s Urban Spotlight [城市光廊] is located near the KMRT’s Central Park Station. It’s theme is light and is the collaboration of nine local artists. It’s a great place to stroll around after dusk. Here are some pictures from our visit: -
Weekly Links – June 25, 2009
25 Jun 2009 | 5:06 amWho made a splash this week? ShuFlies covers the Fulong Sand Sculpture Festival. Hanjie visits Orchid Island. Mark of Tushuo with clips shot from the MRT. David with info on the 2009 Taipei Film Festival. The competition heats up: Jenna of Laorencha enters Taiwan’s best trip in the world competition. Andres reminds NBA fans the Pacers and Nuggets will play a preseason game in Taipei. Craig visits Beitou’s beautiful eco-friendly library. Heading to Hong Kong? FiLi provides a 7-day itinerary. Jeff continues his series on the Central Mountains covering Yushan and Alishan. -
Kaohsiung – The Ciaotou Sugar Refinery
24 Jun 2009 | 7:11 amOur weekend in Kaohsiung began with a trip on the KMRT to The Ciaotou Sugar Refinery [橋頭糖廠]. The area is characterized by its sugar refinery which has been made into a museum of Taiwan’s sugar industry. There are plenty of old buildings, narrow gauge trains, cafes, bike paths, and artwork by local artists on display for visitors to enjoy. We followed signs to a tourist train that runs from Xingtang Station [興糖站] to Jingnong Station [精農站]. It wasn’t long before our ride pulled up, the German-manufactured Diema diesel locomotive: The workhorse of…
-
The Real Taiwan
-
The World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung
1 Jul 2009 | 7:09 pmThey are nearly here. I can honestly say I am relieved this event is almost started (and finished). If you don’t know about the World games, the can be looked at as the bastard son of the Olympics and contains an assortment of pseudo-sports. Have you ever played tchoukball? Tried your hand at korfball? I think korfball will stump even the best of you. There are, however, some more normal sports mixed into the medley backyard games. Softball and racquetball are included. I’ll admit it does have some cool sports as well. It has a martial arts division, as well… -
The Rising Hedons Farewell Concert
1 Jul 2009 | 1:45 pmCome out and celebrate the release of SEASIDE CARAVAN, the much-anticipated second full-length album from THE RISING HEDONS (mixed and mastered by Bruce A. Miller (White Stripes, Miles Davis etc) and with mixes from Grammy Award Winner Charles Dye) The album will be available at the show and at http://www.therisinghedons.com/ on July 10th. FRIDAY, JULY 10TH, 2009 - 10PM - 89K idPRODUCTIONS will be releasing their video for the song MONEY from SEASIDE CARAVAN! You can check it out for the first time on A HUGE SCREEN inside the club at MIDNIGHT! THREE! HD Cameras will capture the night! Dress… -
A Taste of Paris, Taiwan Style
1 Jul 2009 | 1:22 pmA couple of weeks after the condom ad we had the apartment building complex shoot. “Jesus. Why am I a waiter again?” complained Eric while we were on the way. “It is your fault, you choose to be the waiter in the bar ad,” answered Pierre. “Now you are type-cast. You Americans should understand that principle: all French are arrogant gigolos, and English psychos or gays, no?” “Hey, less of the gay thing,” interrupted John. “What are you looking at?” said Pierre, as for a moment we all thought the French stereotype was spot-on. I continued,“You will always be… -
Strange Jobs: The condom ad
24 Jun 2009 | 7:27 pmI was once recruited to do a condom ad. When i asked the agent why she wanted a foreigner, she explained it thus: abortion rates were among the highest in the world, and the condom manufacturer believed there was a market if he could get his message out. Unfortunately, when he had done an advert before with a couple of Taiwanese, but there had been a public outcry: parents’ groups complained the advert was corrupting Taiwan’s youth – and pointless because they just weren’t having sex. The two actors even had to go on TV to say sorry for taking part in the advert. Now, the manufacturer… -
Reggae Saturdays @ Walilei Summer 2009
23 Jun 2009 | 7:58 amStarting this Saturday 27th !! [Free entrance] Music by Black reign Crew from 5pm to 12am or more ! .. depend if people want to leave or not aha .. Schedule June 27 /// July 11, 25 /// August 8, 22 /// September 5, 19 /// October 3, 17, 31 Reggae Saturday is a Special concept for the summer for who want to enjoy the beach , Reggae music , Jamaican Cocktail and great food [pizza, pasta, BBQ..]! Walilei [cian shuei wan beach] is a wicked place for the summer time ! Dj Booth, live music, , dance floor outside , party room 2 floor, big bar with nice food and authentic Jamaican cocktails and…
-
andre in taiwan
-
threecolor cafe
3 Jul 2009 | 8:50 pmlast weekend, before going over to mj's rooftop bbq party, we went to check out my friend tina's new outdoor cafe & brasserie called threecolor (三色茉莉) located in the hsinchu science park.the literal translation of the chinese name is "three color jasmine", which is a reference to a flower called manaca rain-tree, yesterday-today-and-tomorrow or vegetable mercury.the main bar area.olivia and karen taking a swing.i've had coke and sprite floats before but never had a coffee float. ice cream and coffee..... it wasn't too bad. the toasts were really good.olivia really liked the… -
hukou rooftop bbq party
30 Jun 2009 | 7:37 pmwe had been planning for a rooftop party in hukou at mj & hui-chen's house for quite some time; but with many factors coming into play including bad weather and schedule conflicts, we had not been able to do it until this past saturday. altho' we almost had to postpone again as typhoon nangka threatened to make landfall all week long until it changed directions just before the weekend.we finally got to meet selina and ashish's beautiful baby susan.firing up the grill.....while everyone prepared things to get the party started. notice the bottle of cc lemon that mj is holding. you know what… -
olivia goes #2
25 Jun 2009 | 12:32 amolivia is now potty trained for #2. for the past month or so, she's been telling us "mmm-mmm" (baby talk for shit in chinese mandarin) when she wants to take a dump. we're working on #1 now, so hopefully we can soon get rid of diapers altogether. -
nba game in taiwan!
21 Jun 2009 | 8:50 pmthe nba is coming to taiwan!being that i'm a huge nba fan, this is super exciting news!the official press release:http://www.nba.com/2009/news/06/19/nba.taipei/index.htmlPacers, Nuggets to play NBA's first-ever game in TaipeiBy Official releasePosted Jun 21 2009 8:25PMTAIPEI, June 19, 2009 -- The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced it will play its first-ever game in Taipei when the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers tip off at the Taipei Arena on October 8, 2009. The announcement took place today in Taipei with NBA Greater China CEO Tim Chen, Mayor of Taipei Hau Lung-bin,… -
olivia & ethan riding the urobic at the mall
19 Jun 2009 | 12:12 am
-
FILI'S WORLD
-
Chinese Academics : Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center University Town
4 Jul 2009 | 12:07 pmA friend I know from my Taiwan days who is now at Hawaii University was invited to teach Finance at Guangzhou. It was very interesting to hear some of the cross cultural observations of the local Chinese students ("but, teacher, our great leaders say…" etc.) and the academic environment, so I was quite excited when I got the invitation to come have a look at the modern Chinese university. I have to hand it to the Chinese. The new "Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center" constructed on a HUGE deserted island east of Guangzhou city in no time about 4 years ago is a… -
Urban Hong Kong - Wan Chai
3 Jul 2009 | 12:05 pmAs someone who comes from a country where the biggest city of Jerusalem has about 700,000 residents with perhaps no more than 10 tall buildings in the entire municipality (we owe the British mandate for that), Hong Kong’s urban jungle on Hong Kong Island can at times be a bit too much for me. To relay some of what it feels like, here are a few shots of Wanchai, walking out of the MTR underground on a really nice day. I admit, though, that despite Wan Chai being over crowded with skyscrappers and motorized vehicles pollution, it kind of has it’s own special charm. I remember the… -
Kaohsiung City World Games 2009 : 7 Days Suggested Travel Itinerary
1 Jul 2009 | 1:09 pmKaohsiung City in southern Taiwan is hosting this year’s World Games 2009 global event. Taiwan and Kaohsiung are now in final preparations for the games, starting in less than 2 weeks. Following a number of queries by email, following are some personal recommendations for a Kaohsiung itinerary for those planning to visit Kaohsiung to see the World Games and a bit of the area. There are still alot of tickets and available accommodation options all over Kaohsiung City and County - BTW. If you’re looking for things to do in Kaohsiung, other than the World Games, following is a… -
Hong Kong’s Beautiful Lamma Island
30 Jun 2009 | 10:59 amA few weeks ago a local friend invited me for a day of hiking at Hong Kong’s Lamma Island. The wonderful company I had aside, Lamma Island turned out to be a terrific surprise and that day quickly made its way up to my "nicest days I had in Hong Kong so far" list. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the moment we hit the island it was obvious that it’s a very local place, with laid-back fishing villages, zoola beaches and gorgeous scenery. (BTW - I must say that although I strongly oppose the death penalty I was forced to reconsider my position that day… -
Chinese Censorship and China’s Online Netizens Social Movements
28 Jun 2009 | 10:30 amOutline Internet has revolutionized the way people communicate and act together as a group, theoretically allowing more power to individuals and groups to access information, share thoughts and promote personal and social agenda. China has also seen tremendous penetration of Internet related technologies and usage. The following article aims to give a quick overview and encourage a general discussion about the impact of Internet on Chinese society as a form of self-expression, social involvement, social grass-root movements and a tool for promotion of personal and social agenda in China where…
-
Taiwan 101
-
Summer Session- Back To School Blues
3 Jul 2009 | 3:05 amWell, after a one-month break from anything remotely resembling studying Chinese, I got back to studying Chinese on Wednesday morning. Early morning, I add. 8AM is a hard time to start class, particularly when you are accustomed to not being awake for at least another two hours.Since there are not many people who arrive in the beginning of July, I was put in a class which started at the beginning of the regular quarter, in June. When I got there, short of breath from walking quickly to avoid being late, I was met by a tall blond foreigner."Are you here for the class with Yan laoshi?" I asked… -
TOP
27 Jun 2009 | 4:32 amTOP (pronounced Tee Oh Pee)- These three letters have been echoing in my head the past few days... Like images from a bad dream which keep returning.TOP stands for Test Of Proficiency- Huayu. Still don't get it? It's like the TOEFL for Mandarin Chinese, in Taiwan. And though I have taken it four times now, I still haven't passed it.I woke up this morning at 7:36. Then I went to the bathroom to shave and brush my teeth. I don't know what happens in the morning, but when I looked at the clock again it was already 8:30. The test was at 9. As I walked out of the apartment, I debated whether to… -
The end, or a new beginning
29 May 2009 | 7:29 pmYou can tell it's the end of a semester at the Mandarin Training Center (MTC) just by looking at the practically empty library. Hallways are no longer filled with voices from all over the world. On Tuesday, the last day of class, two of my classmates were already out of the country (not that many but in a class of eight the difference is felt).When I arrived in Taiwan, I was shocked to find out that I had to keep an 80% grade point average and a very good attendance record to keep my scholarship money coming in. I vowed to not skip class unless I was seriously ill or had an emergency. I have… -
Visa
21 May 2009 | 5:22 amI finish pushing the last set of weights when my phone rings. It's Bob (name changed to protect privacy), my workout partner."Where are you?" I ask, noting that he is exactly 47 minutes late."My visa extension got refused and I had to go to Hong Kong on a visa run."OK, that's a good excuse if ever there was one. And he follows this up with:"Wanna go to lunch?""Sure. Meet me in the gym."Bob, a Canadian, has been in Taiwan eight years, at least some of them illegally. He reminds me a bit of the character Jay in Stephen Clarke's A Year in The Merde, an American who has lived in Paris so long he… -
My (not so) secret weapon
12 May 2009 | 9:43 amSo it's getting hotter every day. More humid. What this means is, more mosquitoes. You may have read previous posts where I rant about how much I hate mosquitoes.Well, a while back I decided to get a secret weapon. The mosquitoes cannot see it. It's like an invisible wall which blocks me from them. At night, I can hear them buzzing around me, but this does not bother me for I know I am safe from them. It's a mosquito net!And it means no more bloody mosquito stains on my wall.
-
Mark Forman/BBluesman
-
Dragon My Lake
4 Jul 2009 | 2:56 pmFrom time to time when evaluating where the shots are in a given scene I think about using an object from scene to act as a frame. This was one of the better ones I came across at one of our first stops at Sun Moon Lake that day. This is on Kuanghua Island in front of the Old Man Under the Moon Shrine-a place where young couples go to pray seeking wisdom about marriage. The mountains that surround the lake are called the Green Dragon mountains due to it’s impression of a giant scaly dragon ready to swallow the island. In and around the lakeMountains come out of the sky and… -
Umbrella for 2?
1 Jul 2009 | 7:31 pmPoor dog-he doesn’t get any shelter under the umbrella. Only the couple. He does get his own spiffy safety orange life vest. I love the elements of this shot: a lake, an umbrella, a dog in action, 2 people facing same way under 1 umbrella. One writer used umbrellas as paradigms: I have, of late, started to think of paradigms as umbrellas: devices built to protect us from the vagaries of the real world; staving off the very worst of intellectual storm and observational confusion. Although fraught with the many difficulties and limitations of metaphor, I believe the notion holds some… -
Fotopedia:Images for Humanity
30 Jun 2009 | 3:07 pmSun Moon Lake on Fotopedia This slide show is from my first album-Sun Moon Lake on Fotopedia. Fotopedia is a pictographic (yes photographic in this case) encylcopedia. It sounds like a very interesting concept and some admired photographers like Stuck in Customs are in there as well. Check it out and see what you think. -
The Boy in the Bubble
30 Jun 2009 | 12:39 amBack in the days when I first heard Paul Simon’s groundbreaking Graceland album we didn’t all have blogs and Twitter, etc. So back then I couldn’t explode all over the Internet with hyperbole on how awesome and electrifying the sound of his music energized by some of South Africa’s greatest musicians along with his stellar pop song writing. These are the days of lasers in the jungle, Lasers in the jungle somewhere, Staccato signals of constant information, A loose affiliation of millionaires I just listened to this for the first time in more years than I care to think… -
Best Look!
28 Jun 2009 | 7:23 pmThis shot was probably my favorite of the series at Sun Moon Lake that day. Liked how it looked in my viewfinder on the camera. I love how it seems like a doorway into a whole other world or realm. My wife Anne happened to walk into view just as I was pressing shutter. This is such an iconic spot for Taiwan: big Chinese palatial temple in traditional-style Chinese architecture next to a big lake. I never get bored of going to that place. Just oen of those special places that seem to have their own energy and resonate with a special glow. In honor of that glow let’s link to some St.
-
Gruvr.com: Taiwan Concerts
-
Map of Taiwan concerts
5 Jul 2009 | 4:44 amClick for map of all Taiwan shows or on individual concert maps to set email reminders. -
Saturday August 1st: Placebo Taiwan at Music Terminals Festival
5 Jul 2009 | 4:41 amMusic Terminals Festival Taiwan -
Wednesday July 22nd: FALL OUT BOY Taipei, Taiwan at Huashan 1914 Creative Park
5 Jul 2009 | 4:37 amHuashan 1914 Creative Park Taipei, Taiwan -
Thursday August 13th: Linkin Park Taipei at Taipei Soccer Stadium
5 Jul 2009 | 4:34 amTaipei Soccer Stadium Taipei -
Wednesday August 12th: nine inch nails Taipei at Nan-Kang 101
5 Jul 2009 | 4:31 amNan-Kang 101 Taipei
-
Taiwan Photographers
-
Black-Crowned Night Heron
30 Jun 2009 | 1:55 amPhoto by Carrie Marshall of My Several Worlds. Carrie is also on Flickr. Posted in Animals, Taiwan Tagged: Animals, Birds, Taiwan -
Classmates
22 Jun 2009 | 1:45 amPhoto by Alton Arts on Flickr. Posted in People, Taipei Tagged: People, Students -
Wild Buffaloes
15 Jun 2009 | 12:26 amPhoto by squitten on Flickr. Posted in Animals -
Red Bridge to Your Heart
8 Jun 2009 | 9:28 pmMark Forman has been causing a stir on Flickr with his unusual photos about life in Taiwan. Drop by his Flickr stream for more of his intriguing arwork. Posted in Architecture, Taichung Tagged: Architecture, Bridges -
Love You
8 Jun 2009 | 9:15 pmPhoto by Yutu on Flickr. Posted in People
