Windows 7 Restaurant Opens on Taiwan

Hungry for Microsoft(R)? Love Windows so much that you just eat up the software?

Well, has Microsoft got a menu for you! The software giant recently launched "Hot Fried 77," a Windows 7-themed restaurant on Taiwan, complete with attractive promotional waitresses and Windows 7-themed meals for only NT $77 (US $2.31) each. The company teamed with a famous local seafood restaurant instead of partnering with a hotel, as local companies may do. The article was reported here. Photos and information in Mandarin are available here. The "hot fried 77" promotion is said to end in two months.

Better hit the bar before the Microsoft Paperclip Guy finishes all the Taiwan Beer! ;)

China Fights Mangled English

Could this be the end of the "fried enema" on Chinese menus? No more "fatso" or "lard bucket" menu choices or "Slip and fall down carefully" on park signs? The article was published here.

Taiwanese Vegetable Vendor Selected as a TIME Magazine 2010 Most Influential Person

Chen Shu-chu (陳樹菊), an extremely low-key Taiwanese vegetable vendor, has been selected by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the year for her unyielding philanthropy. In spite of having left school at age 13 (she was too poor to finish) to sell vegetables in Taichung's central market, Chen has donated close to NT$10 million (US $320,000) for various charitable causes, including US$32,000 for a children's fund, US$144,000 for a school library and US$32,000 for a local orphanage. Her generosity may have gone unnoticed if not for famed Taiwanese director Ang Lee (李安). She is now heading to New York's Lincoln Center to receive her prize only because President Ma called her twice to implore her to do so.

Kudos to Ms. Chen, an inspiration not only to Taiwanese people but also to all who strive to make this world a better place. The story was reported here.