How do you extend the value of a brand? How do you forge ties with consumers? B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore's book The Experience Economy suggests that experi- ences are in fact a kind of economic product, one that goes beyond traditional goods and services and creates new value for companies. When Yilan's Sheng Yang Leisure Farm faced price competition, and when Tainan's Chih Kang Mat…
These days, the phrase "Tai jiu xian"-which usually means "Taiwan Provincial Highway No. 9"-doesn't necessarily refer to the east coast high- way at all, but to a burgeoning connection between Taiwan and Japan's Kyushu Region. The island of Kyushu in southwestern Japan was the cradle of ancient Japanese civilization. And, taking a time machine forward to the late 19th century, we find that …
In recent years, mothers in Taiwan have enthused about Isu Mer's Giving Birth to a Child: The Magical Cure for My Over-Sentimental Personality. The author describes trenchantly how motherhood transformed her from a tender- hearted young culture vulture into a woman whose daily life requires her to take the bull by the horns. Labay Eyong knows this transformative experience all too well. A sensi…
Bamboo has always been an important element in East Asian cultures. Emerald green bamboo, sprightly and fresh, is like an elegant gentleman of virtue and integrity. Its beauty is not showy or eye-catching, but one whose ap- peal grows over time. Bambu selalu menjadi elemen penting dalam budaya Asia Timur. Bambu hijau zamrud, segar dan bersemangat, bagaikan pria yang anggun, berbudi luhur, d…
In their communications with the public, government agencies are turning away from old habits of issuing haughty pronouncements couched in stuffy officialese. Instead, they are employing social media editors who are full of whacky ideas and are a match for every concelho able challenge. These editors expose fake news and interpret policies for the general public by making connections with every…
The high-school years are turbulent ones. In the fleeting moments spent away from classwork, young souls quietly grow into their own identities. School publications offer a space for outsiders to see distillations of these students' imaginations and their hopes and expectations for the world. Tahun-tahun sekolah menengah atas adalah tahun-tahun yang penuh gejolak. Di saat-saat singkat yang d…
They don't boast splendid furnishings, but they do offer freshly the prepared ingredients. Don't expect super-powerful air conditioning there but be prepared for a sweet and invigorating coolness. Come and visit the old, shaved ice shops of Madou and Qishan. Enjoy a bowl of ice and experience authentic vintage flavors and down- home hospitality. What better thing to do on a hot summer's day?
In early summer, different-colored hydrangeas bloom riotously at Zhuzihu on Yangmingshan, vying for the attention of the visitors who pass among them and record this moment of beauty with their cameras. In the language of flowers, hydrangeas symbolize hope, happiness, and eternity. While continuing to guard against the coronavirus, why not take some time to come to the mountains and admire the …
A grinding wheel-or "sand wheel" in Chinese-is neither a nor a neither a wheel made from sand nor a big-wheeled steamship that transports sand, but rather a tool that grinds or cuts a variety of materials such as plastic, wood, and steel. And Kinik Company (formerly China. Grinding Wheel Corp.) is not a state-owned enterprise of Taiwan or of mainland China, but rather a privately owned company …
A National Chengchi University Golden Melody Award is something many music-loving students aspire to, and generations of singers and songwriters first made their marks with one. 2021 will be the 38th year of the awards, giving them a longer history than the Ministry of Culture's Golden Melody Awards. The works submitted by contestants are increasingly diverse in style, and there is a rich offer…