Have you got what it takes to put your head into a tank filled with rats, cockroaches and snakes? Could you stomach eating a pizza topped with sheep's eyeballs and raw pig intestines?
If so, then AXN Taiwan wants to hear from you and participate in the AXN Fear Challenge 2003. Based on the popular US TV game show, Fear Factor, a show that is hugely popular with Taiwan audiences and boasts viewing figures of 0.4 percent of the population, the Fear Challenge 2003 is the first such event to be held in Greater China. Previous spin-off contests have been held in South Africa, Malaysia and India, where they proved hugely successful.
The contest proved so popular in India, in fact, that the initial two-day event was developed into a six-part TV show. While AXN Taiwan has no intention of serializing its Fear Challenge, the company has been inundated with far more applications than initially anticipated. Since the company began accepting applications a couple of weeks ago, almost 400 people have already asked to participate in the event, 18 percent of whom are women.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AXN TAIWAN
As there are only 20 places, the number of wannabe fearless folk will be whittled down at a special mild-fear challenge knockout contest on Nov. 30. Here the contestants will be asked to participate in some less-challenging Fear Factor-styled events as well as undergoing a screen test to ensure that they have what it takes to appear on national TV.
The first knockout heat of the AXN-organized and Taipei City Government-sponsored event will take place at two venues in Taipei, on Dec. 6 and 7. Those lucky, or unlucky, enough to have been chosen will be asked to do some stomach turning, inane and possibly life-threatening stunts which include bungy jumping in the Core Pacific Mall (
The final will take place on Dec. 20 in the parking lot opposite the Neo 19 shopping mall in the Xinyi District. While AXN is remaining tight lipped about the stunts the six finalists will have to undergo, according to AXN's Sofia Ong (
AXN is also hoping to play host to a special celebrity Fear Challenge on Dec. 20 and has invited several of the nation's most prominent legislators to take part in the one-off contest. Of those asked, however, none has yet accepted the open invitation to look witless on national TV.
Those fearless enough to wish to participate in the AXN Fear Challenge 2003 should log on to http://www.axn-taiwan.com and follow the instructions given. While AXN is encouraging Taiwan's foreign residents to apply, the Web site and application process are both in Chinese and a moderate level of Chinese-language ability is required for participation. Contestants have to be over 18 and applications must arrive before Nov. 29.
What was the population of Taiwan when the first Negritos arrived? In 500BC? The 1st century? The 18th? These questions are important, because they can contextualize the number of babies born last month, 6,523, to all the people on Taiwan, indigenous and colonial alike. That figure represents a year on year drop of 3,884 babies, prefiguring total births under 90,000 for the year. It also represents the 26th straight month of deaths exceeding births. Why isn’t this a bigger crisis? Because we don’t experience it. Instead, what we experience is a growing and more diverse population. POPULATION What is Taiwan’s actual population?
After Jurassic Park premiered in 1993, people began to ask if scientists could really bring long-lost species back from extinction, just like in the hit movie. The idea has triggered “de-extinction” debates in several countries, including Taiwan, where the focus has been on the Formosan clouded leopard (designated after 1917 as Neofelis nebulosa brachyura). National Taiwan Museum’s (NTM) Web site describes the Formosan clouded leopard as “a subspecies endemic to Taiwan…it reaches a body length of 0.6m to 1.2m and tail length of 0.7m to 0.9m and weighs between 15kg and 30kg. It is entirely covered with beautiful cloud-like spots
For the past five years, Sammy Jou (周祥敏) has climbed Kinmen’s highest peak, Taiwu Mountain (太武山) at 6am before heading to work. In the winter, it’s dark when he sets out but even at this hour, other climbers are already coming down the mountain. All of this is a big change from Jou’s childhood during the Martial Law period, when the military requisitioned the mountain for strategic purposes and most of it was off-limits. Back then, only two mountain trails were open, and they were open only during special occasions, such as for prayers to one’s ancestors during Lunar New Year.
March 23 to March 29 Kao Chang (高長) set strict rules for his descendants: women were to learn music or cooking, and the men medicine or theology. No matter what life path they chose, they were to use their skills in service of the Presbyterian Church and society. As a result, musical ability — particularly in Western instruments — was almost expected among the Kao women, and even those who married into the family often had musical training. Although the men did not typically play instruments, they played a supporting role, helping to organize music programs such as children’s orchestras, writes
RSS