Temporary ignorance of Hippocratic oath

California passed the physician-assisted suicide lawast two weeks ago, following Vermont, Washington, Oregon and New Mexico to become the 5th state to allow for this fiercely debated medical practice. It should be a wrenching moment for doctors who may need to temporarily deviate their Hippocratic oaths.    http://time.com/4038096/meet-the-doctors-fighting-to-grant-patients-the-right-to-die/

Experienced teacher, a perfect candidate for millionaire

很難想像在課堂上兢兢業業上課的老師，可以因為傳授他(她)的實際教學經驗(不是補習班老師)，而有超過100萬美金的額外收入。 昨天紐約時報的一篇報導，介紹一個付一點錢，就可以得到其他很多經過實際驗證的上課教學經驗的網站， teacherspayteachers.com (九年前創立)。 這個網站有一百七十萬個教學經驗和計畫，三百萬個用戶，超過五萬個老師提供教學經驗，至今為止已經有十二個老師超過100萬美金的收入，300個老師有10萬塊美金的收入。 這個網站所以會這麼樣地受老師歡迎，我想是因為根據美國的統計資料，87%的老師相信其他老師的教學經驗，只有不到三分之二的老師相信教育專家的經驗，更只有38%老師相信教科書和書商的教學課程。 用額外的收入來鼓勵老師將教學的經驗，精心整理成其他老師可以立刻使用的資料，上網和大家(付費)分享，我想這應該是有利於整體教育。 而且老師也不可能因為這樣子就辭掉工作，因為這些教學經驗有價值，是因為有實際的驗證，而不是紙上談兵。http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/06/technology/a-sharing-economy-where-teachers-win.html

Metaphor of tadpoles applicable to Silicon Valley

Interesting theory regarding the nagging conundrum: "Why other countries have difficulties to copy Silicon Valley?" Frogs lay 20,000 eggs but only a few survive to evolve into adult frogs to enjoy mosquito dinners. In the same token, only 1% of startups become viable companies and less than 0.1% become the so-called unicorns. Only in Silicon Valley does it have the chance and will to fall over each other in this massive battlefield. If the population of startups is statistically significant, it is always true that a few will emerge with flying colors.   http://www.newsweek.com/silicon-valley-failing-succeeding-367179

mania in Taiwan's stock market

Take the advantage of "borrow for free" feature in my Kindle Paperwhite, I spent the weekend to read the following interesting book about the Taiwan stock market bubble in the years around 1990. The mania of the herd mentality was staggering. In 1989, every outstanding share was changed hands, on average, for every 15 days in Taiwan. By contrast, in NY stock exchange, it was every 16 months.   http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Taiwan-Bubble-Emerging/dp/1881896188

Crispr-Cas9

Genetically engineered baby with any traits to which parents prefer may not be a science fiction a few decades from now. With the breakthrough genome editing technology, Crispr-Cas9, genes can be deliberately altered and modified. It may be a very potent tool to ward off diseases or cancers; however, renegade scientists may target this Crispr-Cas9 for the incarnation of Frankenstein at which you cannot thumb your nose any more.   Crispr-Cas9   

GDP makeup

中國最近的經濟成長消退, 對台灣的影響可能最大. 因為台灣的出口佔GDP的70%, 而台灣的出口有40%銷往中國. 中國假如不能像美國一樣，轉型成以家庭消費為GDP的最大宗, 那中國經濟成長就很難穩定和長久。

Warren Buffett's wrecking ball

全球競爭和生活習慣改變，已經使的幾年前還是牢不可破的美國食品業，起了重大變化。 兩年多前，Warren Buffett 和3G (一家以"高效率"財務整頓聞名的投資公司)以280億美金買下Heinz食品公司. 兩年之內，公司員工裁掉20%, 九成的高階主管離職, 營業額降了5.1%, 市場佔有率掉了65%, 但是投資人的獲利增加38% Warren Buffett 和3G，上個月再以500億美金買下Kraft食品公司和Heinz合併, 這個月就宣布要裁公司員工5%, 連續三年,每年要省下15億美金。 在這個資本掛帥的時代，沒有任何一個工作(公務員除外??)是穩穩當當的。  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-20/kraft-warren-buffett-3g-capital-may-push-cost-cutting