Monday, December 28, 2009

Idiomatic Expressions



Mimi: Tomorrow's English test is going to be a piece of cake.
Liza: How did you know?
Mimi: Let's just say a little bird told me.
Liza: O come on. Don't beat around the bush.
Mimi: Sorry, Liza, but my lips are sealed.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Kung Fu Hustle

 KUNG FU HUSTLE
Have any of you (particularly the students from China) watched this comedy-action film? The sequel "Kung Fu Hustle 2" will come out next year. Why did this movie became one of the most popular movies in Asia in 2004 and in the U.S. in 2005. What do you think will happen to Sing and Fong now that they're together? How about Bone and The BEAST? :-) What are your favorite movies ever and why?

For the ladies, comment on the meaning of the word "fashionable." What does "fashionable" mean to you? Is Li Yuchun (Chris Lee), for example, a "fashionable" celebrity? Which famous female actresses or models from your country and from the U.S. do you like the most? If given a chance, would you like to become famous like them also?

For the men, given that you have lots and lots of money and that you can buy any car you like, which car make and model would you buy? Explain why.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

PUXIN biogas digester

Shenzhen Puxin Science & Technology Co. Ltd. (www.puxinbiogas.com) is a company that manufactures the Puxin brand of small-scale to large-scale biogas digesters. The company was founded by a group of professionals and businessmen led by a scientist with a doctorate in physics.

The Puxin biogas digester has two main design and fabrication innovations, which are: (1) the floating gas-holder that is constructed from fiberglass, and (2) the use of removable steel molds for constructing the concrete neck and the main holding tank of the biogas digester. The advantages of the fiberglass gas-holder are its low cost, lightness and durability. Fiberglass is a widely available construction material that comes in various grades and specifications. Not only is fiberglass widely available and relatively inexpensive, it is also easier to repair and to replace compared to floating gas-holders that are made of steel or other metals.

Constructing a biogas digester usually requires the services of highly skilled bricklayers and masons in order to ensure that the digester will not leak and that the flow of slurry from one end of the digester (inlet opening) to the other end (outlet opening) will not be impeded. Construction of a typical fixed-dome or floating-dome biogas digester usually takes weeks or even months, depending on its size. The use of removable and re-usable steel molds has made it possible for Puxin to construct small-scale (“family” size) digesters within a matter of days, or less than one week for even very large digesters. Also, the steel molds precludes the need for highly skilled masons. The end product is an inexpensive and easily built biogas digester unit that provides combustible methane fuel for household or commercial use.

If you are a business major, how would you promote Puxin's technology outside of China (export market)? If you are an engineer, what design or construction improvements can you think of that might make this product more suitable and practical to deploy in your country?