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Mesolitica 36

Perdana Gayong February 2012 in Seremban, Malaysia Photos by Jen Para Cikgu Joel Champ and Jen Para were invited to the international gathering, Perdana Gayong, held this past February 2012 in Seremban, Malaysia. They were the first Americans to attend this event. More than 8,000 Anak Gayong and the Malaysian Prime Minister were in attendance.

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http://malaysilat.org/perdana_gayong2012.html

2013-06-18T22:45:23Z

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en

This week I am in Malaysia for the International Council on Archives 2008 Congress in Kuala Lumpur. Please forgive any typos; the jet lag is intense. I’m here because a former grad school classmate of mine, Anne Bast, has been interning with the ICA and arranged for me to come do some presentations with her about, what else, Creative Commons. It’s one of those “power of the network stories” that sounds too good to be true, but it’s not, because here I am. Our first presentation, Beyond Copyright: Creative Commons and new approaches to intellectual property in the archive, was this afternoon. Miriam Nisbet of UNESCO’s Communication and Information Sector joined us to talk about some of the copyright and cultural heritage initiatives UNESCO is promoting on an international scale. Anne and I talked about copyright issues in archives from an international perspective, with an emphasis on the role Creative Commons licenses can play in helping to open up archival materials for both access and re-use. We covered a lot of ground in 45 minutes: copyright basics, copyright challenges in archives, intro to Creative Commons, how to integrate CC into the archival process, a look at some cultural institutions that are using CC, and UNESCO’s take on supporting and promoting the public domain. It was a lot for one session, but I think all the pieces fit together well. I learned a few things at our talk. UNESCO’s work with archives and libraries sounds incredibly valuable, and apparently it is one of the top sites in the world for downloading free and open source software. One of the focuses there is on the dearth of material online in languages other than English, and UNESCO is working to promote and foster web development projects that will contribute to a linguistically diverse web. A subject that came up during the question period was the challenge of finding legal advisers that can tolerate a little risk. Many institutions are finding that their legal counsel objects to any project that involves possibly copyrighted work and the internet. We’re starting to see some exciting projects that involve digitizing large quantities of archival materials and sharing them online, and some of them, like the Flickr Commons partnerships, involve works with uncertain copyright status and what some attorneys might find an unacceptable amount of risk. The organizations involved, including Flickr (which is owned by Yahoo), decided that the enormous public good that would come from having these large bodies of photographic work available online outweighed the small risk that a copyright holder might come forward and object to the use of a few images. The result is a vibrant new way for the public to engage with previously hidden collections, not just viewing and downloading them, but also tagging and adding other useful metadata. If archives are to remain relevant in the digital age, archivists must be willing to stick their necks out and take a few risks with their copyright-ambiguous collections. An archivist from Hong Kong said that her solution had been to take matters into her own hands and educate herself as much as possible about the law. This way, she could make a reasoned and informed decision, even in the face of lawyers who only say “No.” Anne and I are doing another presentation on Creative Commons on Thursday. This one will be a workshop focused on the nitty gritty of Creative Commons: what it is, how to use the licenses, etc. I’m looking forward to hearing more from the participants, who really did come to the Congress from all over the world, and have had a variety of experiences to do with copyright and archives. Even though archives aren’t really my field, much of what I’m learning here is relevant to libraries and universities as well.

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2013-06-18T22:56:59Z

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Hong Kong has banned trawl fishing in its waters, a decision welcomed by conservationists Friday as a crucial move to save fish stocks and revive the city's depleted marine environment. The measure, which is expected to come into effect in late 2012, comes after a long campaign by environmental groups who say the method is extremely damaging to the seabed and fish stocks. The territory's law-making body approved the ban on Wednesday, and proposed a HK$1.7 billion ($219 million) scheme to provide payments to some 400 affected trawler owners and deckhands. "(The ban) can strengthen the sustainable development of the fishing industry, and to maintain a good oceanic environment," Hong Kong's health chief York Chow told the Legislative Council, according to a statement. A spokeswoman from the Food and Health Bureau, which oversees trawl fishing activities, told AFP Friday that the proposed payments to the trawler owners and deckhands will need to be approved by the law-making body. Conservation group WWF, which has been lobbying for a trawling ban since 2005, hailed the decision as a success for ocean conservation efforts, after a dramatic decline in catch volume since the 1970s. "We welcome and support this ban very much, as trawling is a very destructive practice," WWF Hong Kong spokeswoman Samantha Lee told AFP, adding that trawling accounts for over 40 percent of local fisheries capture. "This would help valuable fish stocks to recover. This is an important first step, but I hope the government can tackle illegal trawling," she said. Lee said the local fish population could increase by 20-30 percent five years after the implementation of the ban. Trawling is a fishing method which involves nets being pulled through the water behind one or more boats, gathering up fish but also damaging the ocean floor and capturing other unwanted species. Apart from saving fish stocks, conservationists have also said a trawling ban will give soft corals, sponges and other bottom-dwelling creatures an opportunity to recover. WWF said that countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada and Malaysia have established no-trawl zones in inshore waters to protect marine resources while Indonesia has banned trawling across the entire country. Explore further: Bay Area thrushes nest together, winter together, and face change together

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Getting to PakBara| Getting to Tammalang|Getting from koh lanta | Getting from koh langkawi | Travel Links | Map of Koh Lipe Koh Lipe is a small island that is part of the Tarutao National Marine Park located in Satun Province and can be reached by ferry from Pakbara or Tammalang pier satun, Koh Lanta (Thailand) and Pulau Langkawi (Malaysia). When purchasing your ferry ticket to Koh Lipe, it's better to purchase your ticket directly at the pier from the company, rather than on the road from ticket touts. If you arrive on Koh Lipe on a one way ticket, return tickets or tickets to different destinations can be purchased at Pooh's. If you purchase a round-trip ticket to Koh Lipe, you must return to Pakbara with the same ferry company. You can't return with a different ferry company, unless you buy a separate one-way ticket with that company. There isn't a pier at Koh Lipe. When you arrive, you will be transfered to Longtail boats, which will drop you anywhere on the island for just 50 baht. Getting to Pak Bara Pier,Satun From Southern Thailand (Phuket, Krabi) It is adviceable to arrive early morning to Trang Train Station,approach KK Tour Agent for minibus ticket (200 baht) to PakBara . It take about 2 hrs. to Pakbara. the same afternoon,board the ferry to Koh Lipe KK tour Agent contact no.+66(0)75 223664 From Bangkok and the North: Take the overnight train from Hua Lampong station Bangkok or a budget flight (AirAsia) from Suvarnabhumi airport Bangkok to Hat Yai. There is now a new central Minibus station for all destinations. You must take a tuk-tuk from the train station, about 10 baht in a shared one or 50 baht if you charter one and it is 15-20 minutes away. The ticket to PakBara cost 140 baht and takes about 2 hours. From Hat Yai Airport you can either take a car or minibus limousine to the new Minibus station which is about 15-20 minutes away. There are Air-con and non air-con public buses from the Hat Yai City Bus Terminal to Pakbara which cost about 70 baht. Note: City Bus Terminal is located in the southeast of Hat Yai while the new Minibus Station is located between Hat Yai and the Airport. However, it may take a longer time to reach PakBara by public bus. ||Pakbara -Koh Lipe By Speed Boat |Koh Lipe-Pakbara By Speed Boat |Monday - Sunday 01:30 PM- 03:00 PM ||11:00 AM - 12:30 AM Getting to Tammalang Pier,Satun From Bangkok and the North: Note: Currently this service has been discontinued Take the overnight train from Hua Lampong station Bangkok or a budget flight (AirAsia) from Suvarnabhumi airport Bangkok to Hat Yai. There is now a new central Minibus station for all destinations. You must take a tuk-tuk from the train station, about 10 baht in a shared one or 50 baht if you charter one and it is 15-20 minutes away. Minibus to Tammalang Pier cost 100 baht and takes about 1.30 hrs. From Hat Yai Airport you can either take a car or minibus limousine to the new Minibus Station which is about 15-20 minutes away. From Hat Yai City Bus Terminal there are Air-con and non air-con public buses to Satun bus terminal, cost is about 70 baht, then transfer to local mini truck to Tammalang Pier, just another 20 minutes ride only. Note: City Bus Terminal is located in the southeast of Hat Yai while the new Minibus Station is located between Hat Yai and the Airport. It is highly recommended to board ferry from Tammalang Pier, it is a newly completed pier, systematically opperated c/w Thai Immigration counter, gift shops, tour agency, ferry ticket counters, restaurant and cozy waiting lounge too! Also at Tammalang Pier, there is a daily ferry service to Langkawi, Malaysia(duty Free Island) The ferry to Koh Lipe is the Southern Ferry services tour co.ltd. ferry contact no. +66(0)74 725294 |Satun (Tammalang) - Lipe |Lipe - Satun (Tammalang) Dep. - Arr. ||Child 3 - 9 years |Langkawi - Lipe ||09.00 am. - 10.30 am. |Lipe - Pakbara ||11.00 am. - 12.30 am. |Pakbara - Lipe ||01.30 am.- 03.00 pm. |Lipe - Langkawi ||04.00 pm. - 05.00 pm. Getting from Koh Lanta - Koh Lipe- Langkawi From Bangkok by flight (AirAsia) or buses to Phuket, Krabi. Onwards to Koh Phi Phi ,finally to Koh Lanta to board a ferry to Koh Lipe by Tigerline travel time table and cost below. The Andaman Route( Lanta - koh - lipe - Langkawi) & Joint Ticket > More info/Ferry schedules Getting from Langkawi, Malaysia to Koh Lipe There are several flights into Langkawi daily, from Langkawi there are two (2) ways of getting to Koh Lipe . Langkawi Kuah Pier to Tammalung Pier, and onwards to Koh Lipe refer to timetable and cost from Southern Ferry and tour Co.Ltd . or., Telaga Harbour,Langkawi: This is the harbour where you take the ferry from Langkawi to Koh Lipe. Time table enclose. For Enquiry Contact Tel: +604 9592202 Fax: +604 9592204 note: This ferry service is newly established, there is a possibility that it may run throughout the year, please check for updates on this website. *There is a Thai Immigration Counter at Bundhaya Resort at Pattaya Beach on Koh lipe, you can get your passport stamped out or into the country. | Langkawi - Koh Lipe Hight Speed Boat |Depart Pulau Langkawi daily |Arrive Koh Lipe |Depart Koh Lipe daily |Price One Way Info on Thailand and Koh Lipe: Lonely Planet Thailand Lonely Planet Discussion forum Moonlight Bay Resort Koh Lanta Airlines that fly to Hat Yai: Departing from the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bangkok): The following airlines depart from the old airport, Don Muang Airport : Orient Thai (budget) Nok Air (budget) Tiger Airways (budget) Map of Koh Lipe

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2013-06-18T22:44:41Z

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Yusman, Tina (2002) Smartcard as a payment Alternative: A Diffusion of Innovation Perspective. Masters thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia. The main principal of the study is to determine the perception of innovation characteristics and see whether they differ between adopters and non-adopters of SmartCard. Smar Card was chosen in this study mainly because of its newness and the importance of such innovation be studied. Due to this, innovativeness was also chosen to be a part of this study. Innovativeness was measured using the Domain Specific Innovativeness Scale by Goldsmith and Hofacker (1991) for its sound psychometric values. Innovation characteristics on the other hand were measured using II-item measurement proposed by Rogers (1983). Cronbach's alpha showed a value of 0.7337 with Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sample adequacy revealed a value of 0.725. The result of the study revealed that, using ANOVA. demographic variables such as race and age have an impact on innovativeness which give rise to the fact that culture, nationalism and emotions does affect innovativeness than the more tangible values. Difference in innovativeness was also detected between the adopters and non-adopters with the adopter of SmartCard being more innovative. Wilk's Lambda showed a value of 0.861. Innovativeness was also found to be correlated with innovation characteristics, which means that how a person perceives an innovation depends on how innovative a person is. Lastly using Discriminant analysis, it was discovered that there are significant differences in the perception between both adopters and non-adopters with Wilk's Lambda value of 0.773. Perception was found to be the key in determining whether an innovation will be successfully diffused or the opposite. The authorities may view SmartCard as beneficial but the consumers may not The result of this study showed that both adopters and non-adopter held different views with regard to SmartCard thus; appropriate promotion strategy is deemed desirable. It is also hoped that the findings in this study will bridge the gap between theoretical perspective and managerial perspective ending speculation that any university research offers little practical values. |Item Type:||Thesis (Masters)| |Chairman Supervisor:||Associate Professor Dr. Samsinar Md. Sidin| |Call Number:||GSM 2002 7| |Faculty or Institute:||Graduate School of Management| |Deposited By:||Nurul Hayatie Hashim| |Deposited On:||19 Oct 2010 02:50| |Last Modified:||30 May 2012 07:05| Repository Staff Only: item control page Document Download Statistics This item has been downloaded for since 19 Oct 2010 02:50.

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I made some taro dessert (Or Nee / 芋泥) tonight. This Teochew style dessert is easy to make and tastes sweet, creamy, and very good… In Malaysia, Or Nee / 芋泥 is usually served plain. Sometimes, it’s topped with fried shallots while others come with gingko nuts. I topped mine with some ground peanuts (for both aesthetic and flavor purposes). If you don’t like ground peanuts, you can use cashew nuts instead… If you would like to get a creamier, richer, and melt-in-your-mouth texture, then by all means, you should use lard instead of cooking oil. Spring is finally here, so go to your garden and pluck off a flower or two and garnish your taro pudding. Now, just sit back and enjoy this pleasing dessert. Note: Taro is also called Yam. (Click Page 2 for the Or Nee Recipe)

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I went out this afternoon for some grocery shopping and also to hunt down the remaining ice creams in The Sixties Nine collection with Adrian. It seems that the line is not available in the big grocery chains like Coles or Bi-Lo but only in small convenience stores and the stores in petrol stations. Not only that, it also seems that each store has only part of the lineup so you have to hunt around a bit to get the whole series. I’ve gotten 8 of them so far (picked up Jami Hendrix today), and there’s only one last one to finish my collection. :) Well, saw something interesting in the meat section of Bi-Lo today. Nice and lumpy ox kidneys. It also seems that Bi-Lo (Clayton) is doing some heavy staff pruning. Only two checkout counters are open, the deli section doesn’t have a dedicated sales person, and there are heaps of weird stuff in the aisles! You know how people take something and then decided they don’t want it and conveniently put it out of order at any aisle they’re currently in? Yeah, there’s heaps of that going around. Juice in the detergent aisle and stuff like that. I also saw: An empty wrapper of crisps beside a box of Special K. A half empty McDonald’s soft drink cup in the sauces aisle. A 6 pack of pies that someone had poked their fingers through the packaging and even one of the pies, revealing the meat inside. An eaten yogurt cup in the dairy food section. Tsk…I was under the impression that the Bi-Lo in Clayton is about to go under. Anyway, what is up with all the calling cards? Indo Card, Go Bananas, GPS and several others can’t be used to call Malaysia for the past few days! Today is the third day I’ve been unable to call out. I’m not the only one either, everyone using the cards couldn’t call Malaysia. The error message is always either “The number you have called is disconnected” or “The overseas network is currently down”. I tried calling Telstra customer services at 1221 and they said their cards were fine, so I’m gonna get a Say G’Day one tomorrow. Sheesh, wtf is up with all the other cards…

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2013-06-18T22:37:05Z

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Tuesday December 14, 2010 Litter mars Sungai Liam waterfalls By STUART MICHAEL PICNICS at the Sungai Liam Waterfalls in Ulu Yam is no more a pleasant outing because the area has become an eyesore with rubbish strewn everywhere. According to Waterfall Survivors, a group in Facebook that explores and preserve waterfalls, the site is very dirty. Waterfall Survivors founder and president Joe Yap said she could see rubbish everywhere near the waterfalls and in the river. Irresponsible act: Rubbish floating in a stream at Sungai Liam. “Among the rubbish at the picnic site are sanitary pads, diapers, plastic bags, empty nasi lemak packets and drink containers. “Even more frightening is to see picnickers still camping and playing with their children in the water filled with rubbish,’’ she said. Last Sunday, Yap brought along volunteers to see for themselves the pollution in the area. “Among all the waterfalls I have seen, this is the worst,’’ she said. Major task: The members forming a human chain to remove the rubbish collected from the waterfalls at Sungai Kanching in Rawang recently. Yap said Malaysia was a land full of natural beauty and everyone should respect and be proud of it. “However, Malaysians do not know how to appreciate mother nature. We cleaned up Sg Liam about five months ago and now cleanliness at the waterfall is worse than before. “Why do these picnickers bring all their food, bbq pits, utensils, snacks but never clean up after themselves?” she asked. Unbearable stench: Two Waterfall Survivors volunteers taking pictures of the rubbish at the Sungai Liam waterfalls in Ulu Yam. She said the place would be clean if each family brought along their own rubbish bag and disposed of used items at the proper garbage sites located outside the waterfalls area. Waterfall Survivors has highlighted the problem to state tourism, consumerism and environment committee chairman Elizabeth Wong. Yap said Waterfall Survivors was funded by its members and some corporations. What a site?: Some campers oblivious to their dirty surroundings at the Sungai Liam Waterfalls. “We hope that the Selangor Forestry Department will take stern action against picnickers who litter,” she said. She hoped to get more funding from government agencies or corporations to work on more sustainable action. “We need support from colleges and schools and they should join our Save Our Waterfalls campaign,” Yap said. The group has cleaned up waterfalls in Sungai Kanching in Rawang, Kedondong Recreational Park in Batang Kali, Hulu Selangor, Lata Kinjang waterfalls in Perak and Ulu Yam waterfalls. Stiff punishment for culprits

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2013-06-18T22:24:47Z

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Difference between revisions of "Bako National Park" Revision as of 12:12, 14 April 2009 Flora and fauna Its beautifully dense rainforests and stunning beaches are home to many flora and fauna including the rare proboscis monkey. Try and spot them during low tide as they forage in the exposed Mangrove tree swamps. There are 16 color-coded jungle trails as well as lodges for overnight stays - which you have to book early. On the high ground, look out for pitcher plants. And beware of the monkeys, they are very clever and compulsive thieves!(don't forget to spot the boar!) Bako enjoys sunny weather much of the year. Temperature is constant throughout the year, in the lowland range from a cool 23C in the evening and early morning to 33C under the shade during the day. But from late November to late January, the monsoon rain may spoil plans for an outing. The hottest months are usually from June to late August, when the tribal farmers do their slash-and-burn land clearing before planting their padi, this has been blamed for the haze that envelops the regions and may cause health hazards. But since the governments of both Malaysia and Indonesia have "banned" open burning, incidents of haze have been reduced somewhat. A bus ride from Kuching to Bako Market takes about 45-60 minutes and costs 2 MYR each way. Buses leave to/from Bako about once every hour starting from about 7AM from Kuching and finishing about 6PM from Bako, but the schedule is not firm. You can get a daily schedule at the bus station 1 in Kuching (near the mosque) in the morning. When you arrive at the Bako Market purchase your entrance ticket (10 MYR for adults for one entry). Then, board the boat to the park headquarters down the river estuary (~30 minute ride, 47 MYR per boat each way, max. 5 passengers per boat). Tell your boatman when you plan to return and he'll wait for you at the dock. Departure times might depend on the tides (boats do get stuck at low tide). As of July 2008: Adult single-entry: 10 MYR Child/Senior single-entry: 5 MYR Rates for lodging vary considerably depending on level of luxury. Check in advance at the National Park information center in Kuching for availability. The interior of the park can only be traversed on foot. Staying on or close to the marked trails is strongly advised. Boardwalks and ladders are installed to help with some of the more difficult stretches. Small boats similar to those that take you to and from the park wait on the beaches at busy times of day and can be chartered to take you to other beachside destinations. A boat pickup can also be arranged to help ease the return journey from some of the park's longer trails that finish on beaches. Pulau Lakei, some distance offshore, can only be reached by boat A wide range of animal, bird and plant life including the Proboscis monkeys which come to the mangrove swamp to feed early evening. It's close to the lodging area where covered sheds are built, go there around 4PM, take a book and wait till they come. Seeing Proboscis and other species here is a lot easier and more comfortable than going on a safari. You just walk along an elevated wooden pathway, perhaps 10 minutes from where the boats land. You can also see the seastacks and a lots more. Nighttime sightseeing hikes are sometimes led by park staff, and are also easier and more comfortable than ones done on a safari. Walks radiate from the centre offering a variety of difficulties in the heat and humidity and provide access to the habitats of the wide range of animal, bird and plant life in the park. The hikes are over some pretty rugged terrain for the most part, with lots of exposed tree roots and vegetation sometimes blocking trails that are less frequented. With a little negotiation, a boatman will take you to nearby Palau Lakai, a small island just off the mainland. The views on the way here are spectacular and it's special to have an island to yourself for a day. There is a local cafeteria that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner for about MYR$5.00-7.00. There are no cooking facilities within the lodges. The cafeteria has a variety of drinks including beer and soda. At the National park headquarters there are bungalows for rent, a couple of nights stay are recommended if you have the time. 4-bed dorm with shared bathroom RM15.75; rooms from RM42. Accomodation can be stuffy and may have some mold growing on the ceilings. Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) may be found near river mouths and in mangrove swamps.

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Wantilan Bali caught my attention while browsing through the Entertainment™ Book. This restaurant offers Balinese cuisine and a 25% discount off the total bill (up to $30) via the Entertainment™ Book. This was actually my second pick for the day’s dinner after an unsuccessful call to Omah’s. The interior was very Balinese, reminded us of our regular Balinese restaurant – Bumbu Bali, in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The place was very spacious and I’m sure they have another big space upstairs as we saw a big group headed that way. We ordered the Wantilan Bebek Goreng ‘Crispy Duck’ ($28.5) – Chef’s Special marinated Crispy Skin Duck served with Urap Vegetable and Sambal. As described, the skin was really crispy and the duck meat was very tender. At one point we had doubt if the meat was duck! The portion was satisfying – three drumsticks for three of us, ribs and breast parts as well. There were two sauces provided. We loved the sauce that tasted like sambal, the other tasted ‘funky’; but it made our dinner by coupling these two sauces with the duck meat The following dish ordered was the Sosis Celeng Mepanggang ($10) – grilled spicy pork sausages served with shredded lettuce. The pork sausage was really good, one of the best I’ve tasted and the spiciness suited me – too much for Ms. L. though, but she really enjoyed it! We wanted a vegetable dish and went ahead with the Wantilan Jukut Gado-Gado ($14.5) – assortment of vegetables, bean curd, Tempeh, prawn crackers and boiled egg in peanut sauce with sweet soy and dried shallot garnish. This was another memorable dish – the peanut sauce in particular. I enjoyed the Tempeh which I haven’t had for quite some time. Since we didn’t want to have white (steamed) rice, we orderd the Wantilan Nasi Goreng ($19.5) – most popular Balinese fried rice with minced chicken, egg, garlic chives, chicken satay, fried chicken, dried shallot, prawn crackers and dried rolled omelette. This fried rice was not too bad but wasn’t the highlight as it was ordered as a ‘filler’ and was overshadowed by the dishes I mentioned above! Dinner was really good that we decided to stay on for dessert. We had the Bubuh Injin ($7.5) – traditional Balinese black glutinous rice pudding served with coconut cream. The warm black glutinous rice pudding was quite good, came with a ‘just-right’ consistency. However, we felt that Wantilan Bali was ‘too’ stingy on the coconut cream – looked like a drop to me! This dessert also came with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. We initially thought that the ice-cream won’t go with the pudding but after the first two trials, it did well! The strawberry (garnish?) on the pudding seemed to be out of place though (experienced the same at Omah’s) All in, this was one of the best dinner we had in Melbourne so far and we’ll surely drop by in the near term!Wantilan Bali 571 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, 3122 Victoria, Australia. 61-3-9819-9280 www.wantilanbali.com.au

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Swaminarayan Akshardham, Delhi, India • 360° Aerial Panorama This panorama can be opened in several different resolutions. High resolution panorama with the best quality is about 7 Mb large and it is suitable for fast internet connections and modern computers. For slower internet and old weak computers we created the smaller low resolution panorama. Some small details have been sacrificed but the size of low resolution panorama is nomore than 2 Mb. Open Aerial Panorama (high resolution) As you might know, almost all followers of Hinduism live in India, and no wonder the world's largest Hindu temple is situated in the capital of India. Speaking of Delhi landmarks, one would traditionally mention Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and India Gate on Kingsway. So how come Swaminarayan Akshardham (which means "temple of the God"), a magnificent and beautiful temple, is not so famous? The answer is simple: it is very "young". It was opened in 2005. The construction took over 5 years and involved 7 thousand artisans and 3 thousand construction workers from all over India. Their combined efforts gave birth to a building 42 meters high, 94 meters wide, and 106 meters long. The structure of Akshardham consists of 234 pillars, 9 shiny domes, 20 four-sided towers, and over 20 thousand figurines depicting themes from Indian mythology. There are over 148 statues of an elephant alone! All the facing was done by hand. Outer surface of the temple is faced with pink sandstone, while the inner surface is faced with white marble. In India, pink color symbolizes love for God, and white color symbolizes absolute purity and peace. Thanks to its enormous size the temple is included in the Guinness Book of World Records. The temple complex takes up 12 hectares of land and includes the temple itself, several parks, a museum, a large cultural center where one can learn about Indian traditions and customs, water canals, which you can traverse by boats, and lots of cafes and souvenir shops. Every evening there is a laser show with dancing fountains on Swaminarayan Akshardham grounds. The fountains are built in the form of a lotus placed inside a large bowl-shaped basin. The inner side of the basin serves as steps and benches for thousands of viewers. Construction of this beautiful site was funded by donations and done through a spirit of volunterism. In order to fill in all man-made lakes and canals surrounding the temple required huge supply of water from 151 ponds around the country. In a country, where clean water is as precious as gold, it was quite a generous donation as well. Let's take a moment and listen to Stas Sedov's story about the photo shoot. During last days of our trip across India we planned to shoot several sights in the capital of the country: Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and others. We didn't plan to photograph Swaminarayan Akshardham. We knew that we couldn't even bring a cell phone inside the temple, not to mention other heavy photo equipment. However, our success in Taj Mahal encouraged us to request a photo permit for Swaminarayan Akshardham. When we entered the temple first time we had only one document in our hands: photography permit for Delhi and Taj Mahal. At the time we were not sure what to expect, but we decided to take our chances anyway. Even if we failed with a permit, at least we would see a new wonder of the world. The next thing we know, we are talking to the middle-age man from the local administration. It's hard to remember what exactly we were talking about, but we got him interested in our project. At the moment he didn't give us a definite answer. But he did ask us to give him time to see if it was possible to get permit for aerial photography. Meanwhile he assigned a guide to give us a half-hour tour around museums and the temple grounds. To tell you the truth, I didn't know of Swaminarayan Akshardham existence. For me it was just another Indian temple. But that was before I entered its premises... Usually, at the end of every trip, when almost every day you see wonders of nature and artisan masterpieces, your emotions get "washed out". It is very unlikely that something would be able to surprise you. But this was an exception! To say that I was surprised is to say nothing! I was smitten by the grandeur of the idea and its magnificent implementation in stone. It's hard to describe the range of feelings you experience while walking the grounds of Swaminarayan Akshardham. You feel harmony, tranquility, and strength of your spirit. The only time I experienced something similar was during my visit to the Meteora monasteries in Greece. Our guide told us that the temple has no iron elements in its structure, and no cement. The concrete was used only in the foundation. The rest was made of stone. Marble and granite for the construction was delivered from all over the world. It was processed using special technology, and then joint together. All pillars of the temple are stacked, and all stone elements are turned 90 degrees after being connected. It was done to provide seismic resistance in case of earthquakes, which sometimes happen in India. Imagine the level of precision required for stone processing to assemble this big "puzzle". Beside the buildings' structure, wall facing is quite impressive: stone figurines cover the walls all around! The size of the carvings ranges greatly: from actual size to palm size, but even the smallest figurines have the highest level of detail. The time of our excursion flew by. I was heading toward the exit, but felt confident that we would be back here. We were called the following evening and granted the permit to photograph Swaminarayan Akshardham. Our first photo session was scheduled early in the morning, just before the site opens for tourists. Pigeons, flying in the morning sky, quickly welcomed our RC helicopter to their flock. It was the most comfortable photo session we had in India: both by the atmosphere and the working process. Everything indeed went very smoothly. The temple security arranged an area for us in the center of the alley for the night shooting. The temple lighting was switched on 15 minutes earlier than usual especially for our photo shoot. We just couldn't do a bad job in these perfect conditions. Leaving premises I realized that I had just completed my most important photo shoot in India. It wasn't Taj Mahal that won me over in this extraordinary and amazing country, but Swaminarayan Akshardham! I truly hope to return to this temple one more time someday. nikunjnik's shingala, India "I did not know about this temple. It is magnificent and I hope to visit it some day. Thanks!" Birgit Blume, Germany C D PATEL, India Pravinbhai Thaker, India Nitin Thacker CA, India "I hope to visit this TEMPLE one day. What a marvel? Only unique foresight, planning and will of God can enable one to build such a unique structure. Jai Swaminarian to everyone" Praful Rughani, United Kingdom "Probably best place to visit and see Indian artitechture, it is amazing" Ghanshyam Patel, United Kingdom ANIL UPADHYE, India "Maybe the best place on earth." Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Iran مجمد فرخی, Iran "There is no doubt that Akshardham temple is now identity for Delhi. Delhi missed its spiritual soul for over 900 years and now with Akshardham temple the 'REAL SOUL' of Delhi-Sanatan Dharma is ever impressive and divine. Congratulations to AIRPANO team that you have truly captured the architectural SOUL of Akshardham temple... Amazing...Captivating...Art in its best form and technology..." Praful Jethwa, Australia "Vary nice many thanks" Harshad Patel, United Kingdom ""I just visited Swaminarayan Akshardham temple (DELHI,INDIA) in May 2007. I love that! Must visit again!" "8TH WONDER OF THE WORLD"" JOÃO JOSÉ BRÍGIDA, Portugal nishith chauhan, India """Really, BAPS Swaminarayan Temple is great, Even I am living here in India but, I didn't see it, but because of this panorama I amazed the great temple.., And a amazing photography with its bested photographer"" Rushiraj Gadhavi, India "Wonderful, Never seen such a beautiful monument Delhi should be proud of this wonderful creation." jayantilal Amin, United Kingdom "i like Swaminarayan Akshardham is a so big and so good i coming india and i am go to" Jatin patel, USA "it was so beautiful i cried" patricia towner, United Kingdom "This is the wonderfull place in the world...I'm proud to be a''BAPS''" Saiyam Patel, India "Fabulous & wonderful job done by airpano.com team, Genuinely this website is mind-blowing. It is true that we can pass our whole time without blinking eyes.I really appreciate for this, awesome." Prajwal Sah, Nepal "magnificent and wonderful monument by the Hindu devotees by self-help post independence." chandra shekhar, India VINEETH kunnath, India "I and my wife, Krishna, visited this marvellous piece of art and architecture and were immensely pleased and paid great tributes to Hindu History, our ancestors and the whole Hindu community at large. It is now the first and foremost hallmark of our capital city. thanks who made it." Basheshar Nath BHANOT, United Kingdom "Divine Inspiration, Amazing work and Creating Wonders.. Thanks Airpano.ru too." Akshay Raval, India "Akshardham Temple has remarkably revived the ancient Hindu Art, Spirituality & Architecture with this magnificent, beautiful, grand and marvelous temple in Delhi..." Aditya Agnihotri, India "Overall very nice pan aroma except those birds,by the way how was your experience in the exhibitions?" Jimmy Thomas, India "I have visited akshardham twice,the place is truely divine,peace prevails in this place,you will find peace here-a must visit place...." Neesha patel, India "Wow......!!! It's miracle . It is world best structural engineering. I am proud to be an INDIAN and HINDU. this type of 'DHAM' never bild in the world without pramukhswami maharaj." ravi gohel, India "Akshrdham-"Emrald set in Pearls"" DrDevendra V Shukla, India "JAI PRAMUKH SWAMIJI TO: PUJYA PRAMUKH SWAMIJI BAPA FOR HIS IMAGINATION OF EXCELLENT REMARKABLE MASTERPIECE WORK AND AUSPICIOUS MONUMENTAL OF HEAVENLY CHOICE OF AKSHARDHAM AT NEW DELHI INDIA REGARDS ASHOKPATEL, JYOTI AND FAMILY HOUSTON -TEXAS USA-77034" ASHOK PATEL, USA "I wished i could stay the whole day in this temple. I went in February. The cool breeze and sun set image. There is no words to decribe the feeling inside. I cannot wait to visit this place again with my friends and family .. They should allow ppl to bring books and write or study here.. the air has special powers." Vinothini Kasinathan, Malaysia "Amazing architecture ... Wonderful monument .. World class exhibition and musical fountain ...must see monument ..." Saurabh Vaghela, India "excellent creation of pramukhswami maharaj." Dikesh patel, India "NEVER BEFORE NEVER AGAIN" N.V.S.KRISHNA RAO, India "A very good example of MANAGEMENT in this world.Which is possible because of mu guru " PRAMUKH SWAMI MAHARAJ "...I proud to be a part of " BAPS "" Kamal Vaja, India "Jay Swaminarayn to BAPS AND PRAGAT BHARM SAVARUP PRAMUKHSWAMI MAHARAJ.It very very very good work for world its way for take MOX." Nirav Gajjar, India "Akshardham is a heaven on the earth." Nishi Jalota, India "It is the brightning sun among the world's famous buildings stars." Arjun Mistry, India "Jay Swaminarayana ! The search of PEACE with PURITY is now completed. We are lucky to have such pios dham in INDIA." Rajiv Vaidya, India "One should never miss the opportunity of visiting Akshardham..its Heavenly place." Sowmya Karamcheti, India "every person in the world should visit "akshardham" once in their life... otherwise they miss great opportunity too feel peace & thruth of life..." jaykishan patel, India "Feeling proud to be Indian & BAPS Swaminarayan........... No words to say....... Just Amazing , Jay Swaminarayan" Hardik Dave, India "Em Abril de 2006 visitei este suberbo, magnífico e maravilhoso templo. Todo aquele trabalho em mármore branco e rosa e ouro ... magnífico.No meu entender, deverá ser incluido nas melhores maravilhas do Mundo. Parabéns India. Parabens Akshardham. Repito ...LINDO, LINDO, LINDO" JOÃO JOSÉ BRÍGIDA, Portugal "I visited Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Aug 2012, it is amazing! Must visit again!" Naseer Thodi, India "I have visited, amaging, like to visit again n again. Seen with ground level only but when saw with aerial eyes its beautyfull." Dinesh Pancholi, India "Speechless !!!!!!!!!!! No words to describe !!!!!" Manish Bhavsar, India ""WOW" "8TH WONDER OF THE WORLD" ..." Akash Patel, India "Amazing wonder, a source of divine inspirations for all times; Thanks to Pramukhswami Maharaj for giving such a divine gift to the society..." Rajendra Sarvaiya, India "This is one of the man made wonders on this beautiful Earth." Vinod Maisuria, Canada "the creation is very good, pramukhaswami is great architectural." Jani kalpesh, India

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Dragging Secretive Trade Talks Into the Light: Activists Expose Slow-Motion Corporate Coup Leaders from member states of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement. Photo Credit: Government of Chile/Wikimedia Commons Stay up to date with the latest headlines via email. While the election season seized everyone’s attention, government officials and 600 official corporate “advisors” were working behind closed doors to complete the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Negotiations have been cloaked in unprecedented secrecy and its proponents have mislabeled the TPP as a “free trade” agreement. In reality, the TPP is about much more than trade. It threatens a stealthy, slow-motion corporate coup d'etat, formalizing and locking in corporate rule over most aspects of our lives. Thirteen years ago, at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Seattle Ministerial, a similar threat in the form of a massive expansion of the powers and scope of the WTO was stopped. At the Battle in Seattle, the immovable object called grassroots democracy was victorious over the allegedly unstoppable force of corporate-led globalization. The “Doha Round,” which followed two years later and continued the attempt to expand the WTO’s reign, was also derailed thanks to tenacious campaigning by organizations and activists worldwide. Recalling these historic moments, when people power stopped the dangerous expansion of corporate power, is especially sweet today, when we must again act to safeguard these inspiring victories. All of us who will live with the results must become active to stop the TPP, the latest iteration of corporate coup via “trade” agreement. What Would the TPP Do? Eleven countries are now involved—Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States—and there is an open invitation for more to join. Think of the TPP as a NAFTA on steroids, which could encompass half of the world. This is the largest, most potentially damaging agreement since the 1995 establishment of the WTO. And you may never have heard about it before. That’s because the negotiations, which have been underway for three years, are being conducted in extreme secrecy. The public, Congress, and the press are locked out, but the 600 official corporate advisors have access to the negotiating texts. The TPP is the latest strategy by the same gang who got us into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and pushed for the expansion of the WTO: American job-offshorers like GE and Caterpillar; banksters like Citi; pharmaceutical price-gouging giants like Pfizer; oil, gas, and mining multinationals like Chevron and Exxon; and agribusiness monopolists like Cargill and Monsanto. They’ve misbranded the TPP as a model 21st-Century “trade” deal to try to sell it with the usual false promises of it expanding exports. But only two of the TPP’s 29 chapters are about “trade.” Most of the TPP’s proposed provisions instead comprise a corporate power grab. The TPP would include extreme protections for foreign investors, which would help corporations offshore American jobs to low-wage countries. These terms would require governments to provide foreign investors a guaranteed “minimum standard of treatment” when they relocate, including special privileges and rights that domestic firms and investors do not enjoy. Foreign firms—or foreign subsidiaries of U.S. firms—could extract unlimited amounts of taxpayer money as compensation when investors claim that U.S. government actions undermine a corporation’s expected future profits. Seriously. Equal Status for Corporations and Country The investor rules would elevate individual foreign firms and investors to the same status as the sovereign nations that would be party to the TPP. Corporations and investors would be empowered to privately enforce the agreement by suing a signatory government before the World Bank and other foreign tribunals. In this “investor-state dispute resolution,” three private-sector lawyers, who rotate between suing governments and acting as “judges,” could order governments to pay large amounts of our tax dollars to investors who do not want to follow the same laws as domestic firms.

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Results 1 to 17 of 79 Thread: LCW Is Fury Now 12-20-2010, 07:32 PM #1 LCW Is Fury Now Tuesday December 21, 2010 Chong Wei: Even Lin Dan’s coach will be of no help By RAJES PAUL IPOH: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei says that Malaysian back-up shuttlers will not go anywhere if they do not change their attitude. And there was sarcasm in his voice when he said that even Lin Dan’s coach, Tang Hsienhu, will not be able to make world beaters out of Malaysia’s current batch of back-up squad players. Chong Wei was frustrated with lack of enthusiasm showed by the squad comprising Liew Daren, Chan Kwong Beng, Chong Wei Feng, Tan Chun Seang and Mohd Arif Abdul Latif.He is getting more and more annoyed with the situation. After all, he has held the status as the country’s top shuttler for far too long. On Sunday, he stretched his invincibility on the local circuit to eight years by winning the Perak Open. The 28-year-old Chong Wei said that the back-up players would have to save their own skin. “It’s not about the coaches. Malaysia have Misbun (Sidek), Rashid (Sidek) and even Hendrawan. But they cannot help these players if they do not do their part,” he said. “We can even bring in Lin Dan’s coach but he too will not be able to do anything about it.” After sparring with them for a year, Chong Wei has noted their weaknesses. “I am disappointed with their attitude. Daren had no explanation when I asked him the reason for his defeat at the Hong Kong Open (recently). He said he did not know what went wrong,” said Chong Wei. “One should be able to analyse his game and understand why he won or lost. “Arif is a player from the same batch as Kenichi Tago of Japan. Tago gave me a tough fight at the All-England final this year but I did not see the same fire from Arif (in the semi-finals of the Perak Open). “We have a group of players who depend too much dependant on the coaches. They are neither analytical nor want to go the extra mile. “From my observation, they are unable to cope with the drills every day of a week. They slow down half way. This is same attitude they show on the court. They give up when the pressure gets to them.” Chong Wei hoped that the so called “future stars” would buck up by showing better commitment in training and competitions. “I have come a long way and there is no short cut. It is all about hard work,” he said. “I hope the back-up players will show better attitude and start making their presence felt in local and international tournaments next year to save their own badminton careers.” # so much highlight that I choose not to make it bold.... anyway I trust our LCW words is more meaningful than typical supporters like us... what he saw is real than our coffee shop chat.... Last edited by danielwong; 12-20-2010 at 07:46 PM. 12-20-2010, 07:42 PM #2 He said it all... more than our BOLEH talks... 12-20-2010, 08:55 PM #3 what more can he say ?? agree with with even if TSH is coaching here or even god can't help .... 12-20-2010, 09:06 PM #4 Trust LCW to call a spade a spade. 12-20-2010, 09:20 PM #5 Well, at least the backup players say they don't know why they lost when asked why... Instead of Datuk who either attributes his loss to food poisoning, flu, or back pain. 12-20-2010, 09:28 PM #6 12-20-2010, 09:30 PM #7 all habis .. haha 12-20-2010, 09:55 PM #8 Given the opportunity but you dont want to shine.. that how it works i suppose. 12-20-2010, 10:05 PM #9 looking forwards to LIMSY comment about Datuklee's furry towards these Juniors 12-20-2010, 10:08 PM #10 i will open a new thread on the elite back up/back up2011 after copenhagen master 12-20-2010, 10:09 PM #11 12-20-2010, 10:09 PM #12 12-20-2010, 10:17 PM #13 12-20-2010, 10:23 PM #14 12-20-2010, 10:28 PM #15 HH : Dato, dont angry. U are very high standard players compared with those juniors and baskup players mah. Sure they cannot fight you. Dato : Correct also ah. International stage i am unbeatable except Super-Dan. HH : Dato very hot ah? I lagi very hot! I semi-retired. I off-peak since 2003. I non-performing but still they cannot beat me. Want to retire also cannot. 12-20-2010, 10:48 PM #16 12-20-2010, 11:13 PM #17 LCW is right. That is why Malaysia is only good up to the world junior stage. After that the other top countries leave them far behind. Perhaps they need a fat thick cane to whack their behind every time they slip.

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1. SELECT MOVIE OR CINEMA 2. CHOOSE A DAY 3. CHOOSE A TIME Purchase 2 Now You See Me tickets & stand to win movie hampers each comprising a USB powerbank, a colour changing mug, a keychain with torchlight and a movie poster Terms & Conditions Promotion is valid from 6 June till end of film run or while stocks last; whichever comes first. Valid Meet The Minions Date: 25 June 2013 (Tuesday)Time: 6pm (Level 1), 6.30pm & 8.30pm (Level 5)Venue: The Cathay Date: 29 June 2013 (Saturda Cathay Cineplexes Malaysia Cathay Cineleisure Orchard © 2013 Cathay Cineplexes Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. Best viewed with Internet Explorer 7, Mozilla Firefox 3.5 and Safari 5 and above browsers.

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US clears China, Singapore from Iran oil sanctions By Bradley Klapper and Matthew Lee ,APWASHINGTON -- The Obama administration on Thursday cleared China and Singapore from possible U.S. economic penalties, citing their sharp cuts in imports of Iranian oil, as an American deadline arrived for banks to stop processing petroleum transactions with Tehran. June 30, 2012, 12:15 am TWN Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton commended the two Asian countries for “significantly” reducing the oil purchases and she announced a six-month exception for them to continue buying Iranian crude at lower levels. Eighteen other governments have received similar waivers. The U.S. penalties are intended to pressure Iran to prove it is not trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran's oil exports are down about 40 percent, while its currency has fallen sharply. European penalties coming into effect next week will further raise the economic pressure. The Islamic republic insists its nuclear program is designed solely for peaceful energy and research purposes. The United States and many other countries are unconvinced. A breakthrough has proved elusive in three rounds of negotiations since April involving Iran and the leading world powers. Technical talks resume in Turkey next week, but looming over the entire process is a possible military response from the U.S. or Israel if a compromise isn't reached soon. In the meantime, Washington and its partners are targeting the oil sector to dry up a main source of revenue for the Iranian government. “A total of 20 world economies have now qualified for such an exception,” Clinton said in a statement. “Their cumulative actions are a clear demonstration to Iran's government that Iran's continued violation of its international nuclear obligations carries an enormous economic cost.” She said Iranian crude exports have dropped to 1.5 million barrels a day, from 2.5 million barrels last year, which comes out to almost US$32 billion in revenue lost over a whole year. With the European Union deciding to cut off any oil imports as of Sunday, “Iran's leaders will understand even more fully the urgency of the choice they face and the unity of the international community,” Clinton said. Thursday's action now makes all of Iran's biggest oil purchasers free from the threat of seeing their banks cut off from the American financial system. The waiver is good for 180 days and is renewable. Belgium, Britain, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, India, Malaysia, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Turkey had been exempted. Speaking earlier Thursday in Latvia, Clinton told reporters that China and Singapore share America's goal of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and understood the need for sanctions. U.S. officials say China has cut its imports from Iran by one-quarter since January. Singapore has pledged to cease purchasing Iranian oil altogether. Sen. Robert Menendez, who co-wrote the Iran sanctions law, said the waivers showed the “tremendous effectiveness” of the U.S. restrictions on dealing with Iran's Central Bank. Menendez, a Democrat, called on China to make further reductions in imports over the coming months. But the Republican who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee said the administration was giving Beijing a “free pass.” “The administration likes to pat itself on the back for supposedly being strong on Iran sanctions,” said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican, “But actions speak louder than words, and today the administration has granted a free pass to Iran's biggest enabler, China, which purchases more Iranian crude than any other country.” The administration, however, offered no waiver to Pakistan and some other Asian countries that buy oil from Iran. Under the law, their banks are now subject to U.S. penalties if they are caught facilitating substantial purchases of Iranian petroleum.

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HAMILTON VOWS TO MERC HIS MARK ABOVE: IT"S LIKE THIS: Lewis gets the facts from a mechanic I'm aiming for consistency but in terms of performance, we don't have that pure speed to compete for the title. LEWIS HAMILTON has already written off his title challenge this season. But the good news is that he thinks his new Mercedes is good enough to win races. The 2008 world champion was third on the grid before finishing fifth in last week's season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But in yesterday's two practice sessions for tomorrow's race in Malaysia he was only ninth fastest. Even that was better than former McLaren team-mate Jenson Button, who was 11th quickest in the morning and a place worse off next time out in his worryingly bad new car. Kimi Raikonnen, who won last week, posted the fastest lap yesterday ahead of Red Bull's Mark Webber. And despite his car not being in the same league as rivals Ferrari, Red Bull and Lotus, Hamilton can see the glint of silverware in the distance. He said: "We expected to be better than Mercedes were last year but not as high as we are now. I'm aiming for consistency but in terms of performance, we don't have that pure speed to compete for the title. "I feel there is more in the car and if we set it up, we can be quicker. Whether that means we can close the gap and get ahead of the others, who knows? "I'm thinking we could get one win, maybe more than one, but the other guys are going to make it as hard as they can, that's for sure. "We're strong on race pace and the car is improving all the time, so I'm satisfied with that. We're at least where we finished in the last race, but I think we can do better." Raikkonen won in Melbourne from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Red Bull's triple champion Sebastian Vettel. That is the reverse order in which those three drivers finished last year's championship and Hamilton said those were the three teams who impressed him most Down Under. But despite Raikkonen's victory, Hamilton beieves Ferrari are in the best shape at the start of the season. He added: "Ferrari are the most impressive and then the Lotus and then Red Bull. "That's my initial thoughts but everyone has their own opinion. "Lotus did a great job but I think in terms of pure pace the Ferrari is quite quick. I wouldn't count us out just yet. I don't know about the race win. "We were a long way off in the race last week, even if the set-up could have been better." His confidence was boosted yesterday despite finishing in midfield and lapping more than a second slower than Raikonnen. "It felt quick and better than it did in the last race and fingers crossed it will be," he said. "We have taken a step forward on long-run pace but the others look pretty quick as well, so it's difficult to judge where we are." Managing the much-criticised new Pirelli tyres is top of the worry list for most teams this season. Hamilton added: "In the first session, we did chew up the tyres a bit but that was mostly due to the set up of the car. "We are stronger race-pace wise. When we did the long run, it felt pretty strong."

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Submitted by acohill on Fri, 06/13/2008 - 06:41 Once again, fairly small countries are far ahead of the U.S. in thinking about broadband. Malaysia has announced an ambitious but entirely doable plan to take fiber to major areas of the country, with the Federal government paying about 30% of the cost in a deal with the biggest telecom company in Malaysia. In the U.S., it would be the equivalent of the states making deals to write checks directly to the incumbent providers (which some states already do). The fiber system will have 100 megabit capacity, with a starter package of Internet access at 10 megabits. The good news is that U.S. communities and regions still have the opportunity to surpass Malaysia. Malaysia's deal with the incumbent telecom will not increase competition and will not be likely to encourage the rollout of innovative new services. Open service networks like those in Europe are beginning to gather momentum here in the U.S., and open networks tend to lower prices and bring lots of new services to businesses and residents. Five or six years from now, Malaysian cities will be behind many broadband community efforts in the United States. Submitted by acohill on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 09:55 Graham Richards, the former Mayor of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, spoke at the Broadband Properties Summit about why Ft. Wayne pushed fiber to the home. Some of the services and benefits included: A green affordable housing initiative cut monthly energy costs for lower income families, and the broadband network was used to monitor energy use. The network enabled live video monitoring of latchkey children whose parents had to work. Parents could have high quality video chats with their children as soon as they arrived home in the afternoon. Local schools were able to offer enhanced distance learning opportunities to their students, including afternoon and weekend mentoring with tutors (enabled by the fiber network). Their vision was fiber everywhere: a community broadband network dedicated to equality of opportunity and universal access. They began a pilot initiative to have the city use hybrid plug in vehicles to reduce fuel and transportation costs for city workers. They set a goal of saving 5% of the city budget through IT/broadband and green strategies--helping to conserve taxpayers dollars. While Richards was mayor, he was able to turn the economic growth of the city from a deep loss of jobs to a dramatic turnaround in jobs creation and new businesses, and he attributed it to setting a vision, sticking to it, and broadband. Submitted by acohill on Fri, 04/25/2008 - 13:32 Tempe, Arizona's foray into community and municipal wireless has not worked out as expected. Like many other communities that have tried the same thing and have also failed, Tempe tried to avoid spending any money. They simply granted an untested wireless firm access to city lightpoles and structures for wireless equipment. The private firm had to bear the entire cost of build out. The wireless system was also not seen as reliable as a wired system, and the wireless firm has not been able to attract many subscribers. The lesson learned is that there is no free lunch for community broadband. Communities that spend very little are getting very little in return, and if all of the risk is left in the private sector, the private sector won't come or won't stay long. Another lesson is that building out without a solid business plan to attract customers is also a non-starter. The right approach is to target underserved areas and/or to be able to offer innovative services that are not already available from other providers. Submitted by acohill on Wed, 04/16/2008 - 08:10 "Free wireless" is beginning to look a lot like "free lunch" -- it may not be possible. The City of Hartford, Connecticut embarked two years ago on an ambitious plan to provide free wireless service to large portions of the city. After two years and $800,000, there is little to show. The Hartford project appears to be having difficulties similar to other early community wireless efforts: unjustified optimism about the ability of wireless signals to penetrate apartment and office buildings filled with steel reinforcement, and the lack of a business plan that provides for long term sustainability of the system. In some quarters, there have been pronouncements that private sector wireless is not working (i.e. public/private partnerships), and that the only way to go is an all muni free or very low fee system. But it is not the nature of the partnership that is the core issue--it is the nature of the business model, which can be public, private, or a public/private partnership. Any of those can work and work well with the right business model. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Community broadband and community wireless projects are going to be very important to the economic future of many U.S. towns and cities, but it is not who owns it that determines success, it is whether or not the owners have a sustainable business plan. Submitted by acohill on Mon, 04/14/2008 - 07:49 The undersea fiber cables that were cut a couple of months ago were the subject of numerous conspiracy theories, but satellite photos have revealed the culprits--cargo ships that were anchored in the wrong place. Sometimes Occam's Razor (the simplest explanation is the likeliest one) is exactly right. The object lesson for communities is to plan for cable outages by making sure local networks have redundant cable paths. Sometimes this is quite expensive to do when just getting started with community telecom investments, so an alternative to a second fiber cable is a high capacity wireless link that can handle local traffic (perhaps with somewhat less throughput) while repairs are made. Submitted by acohill on Wed, 04/02/2008 - 08:18 In a just released Forbes survey, Blacksburg, Virginia is ranked tenth in the nation as one of the best small places to live and to work. If you live in a small community, it is worth spending some time reviewing the Forbes study. Of the nine factors they use to rank communities, four of the nine are related directly to quality of life. These factors are Culture and Leisure, Crime Rate, Educational Attainment, and Cost of Living. Among the other factors, Cost of Doing Business is one that any community can work on quickly. Our work at Design Nine takes us to small communities throughout the United States, and one of the most glaring problems I see over and over again is the lack of good "Class A" office space in smaller towns and regions. Too many communities are still trying to bring retail back to Main Street, when they should be rehabbing storefronts and second floor space for small businesses and entrepreneurs. When Norton, Virginia rehabbed an old downtown hotel for high tech start ups, including affordable fiber to the building, Main Street blossomed as the office workers in the building shopped and ate downtown. The spacious lobby of the building regularly hosts community dinners, weddings, and special events, so the investment does double duty--how many weddings have been held in the typical industrial park incubator building? The biggest mistake a small community can make these days is to put too much emphasis on business and industrial parks far from traditional downtowns--by making modest investments in high quality office space in traditional downtowns, you get a much bigger community and economic development impact. And as always, fiber has to be part of the mix. Submitted by acohill on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 08:47 An Australian wireless ISP who has operated a WiMax network for more than a year unleashed a blistering attack on the protocol, calling it a "disaster" and that it "failed miserably." Unfortunately, the article provides little detail on exactly what frequencies were used (WiMax is a catch all term for the protocol, which can use several different chunks of frequency spectrum). The interesting thing about the comments is that the firm is planning to deploy more traditional WiFi as part of their wireless network. This article illustrates that wireless systems are not a panacea, and that they have to designed and engineered carefully to get good performance. Submitted by acohill on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 08:19 The City of Seattle, which selected the open access, open services model as a general direction for its municipal broadband effort last year, is planning to issue an RFP to actually select a fiber to the home vendor. City officials continue to be dismayed with the service offerings from the incumbent telephone and cable companies. Submitted by acohill on Thu, 03/20/2008 - 05:41 According to a New York Times article, Europe is pulling far ahead of the United States in high performance broadband deployment. European countries, led by Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Finland, are adding 50,000 broadband lines a day. In Europe, most countries have required the incumbent telecom firms to allow other broadband firms to lease their infrastructure, which has led to heavy competition and lower prices. While many of the new connections are still copper-based DSL, many places have gone to citywide fiber deployments. In Paris and Vienna, 100 megabit fiber connections are widely available. Submitted by acohill on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 07:55 This article [link no longer available] from a rural update New York paper illustrates the power of fiber. The Adirondack region of upstate New York has a regional community fiber backbone that is pulling companies to the region--a region that would not give a second thought without the community fiber. Fiber is basic economic development infrastructure. It is not a luxury for business anymore, it is a necessity. Communities that have competitive fiber today, or even have a plan for getting some in the next twelve to eighteen months, have a distinct competitive edge over communities that do not. Submitted by acohill on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 22:06 If you live in Paris and have the new 100 megabit fiber to the home service, it only takes about ten minutes to download a high quality version of a one hour TV show. Here in the U.S., the FCC has announced that more than 95% of the U.S. has broadband. The FCC defines "broadband" as "anything faster than 256 kilobits, or about 400 times slower than the current Parisian definition of broadband. Submitted by acohill on Mon, 02/04/2008 - 08:59 A group of economic development and technology organizations are holding a reverse job fair tomorrow (February 5th) in Blacksburg. A traditional job fair has employers at booths, and job seekers walk around looking for a job. In this reverse job fair, graduating students (mostly from Virginia Tech) are at tables, and the employers walk around. This is an interesting idea born out of the understanding that many workers are now picking a location and lifestyle first and then looking for a job. The advantage to employers who attend is that there is a room full of prospective workers who are interested in living and working in the area. Submitted by acohill on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 17:27 Two fiber cables on the floor of the Mediterranean were cut, causing huge disruptions in Internet service to the Mideast and Asia. A fisherman's anchor apparently snapped the two cables, which were the primary and backup links to a major Internet exchange point in Egypt. The problem highlights an increasingly important economic development issue in the U.S. More and more businesses, as they consider where to relocate business operations, are asking not only if there are two or more fiber cables serving a community. They also want to see diverse routes, or two completely different paths. Unfortunately, in a lot of places, there may be two cables, but they may both share the same right of way, meaning an errant backhoe would cut both of them with one swipe. If your region wants to attract new businesses, you should be planning to address the need for redundant cables and diverse routes for those cables. It will give your region a key marketing edge if a) you already have that essential telecom infrastructure in place, or b) you can talk knowledgeably about the need and show a specific plan for achieving redundancy and diverse routes. Submitted by acohill on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 08:35 The City of Danville, Virginia has a backlog of businesses waiting to get connected to its brand new open multi-service network (also sometimes called an open service provider network). Two service providers are offering business services on the network, and a local provider is delighted with being able to offer fiber services to its existing customers. Two years ago, the City decided to leverage its existing city fiber infrastructure to make it available everywhere, but with a special focus on being able to provide any level of bandwidth a business wanted, and the city's fiber infrastructure is able to deliver it. Danville has a very simple definition of broadband: Broadband in Danville is any amount of bandwidth your business needs to be competitive in the global knowledge economy. Notice there is no number attached to that definition; any time a community defines broadband as a specific number (e.g. broadband is 2 megabits, or ten megabits, etc.), from an economic development perspective, the community is telling some businesses, "Don't locate here because we don't have the capacity to serve you." It's no different than not having enough water or sewer capacity. More information about the project is on the nDanville Web site. Disclaimer: Design Nine is providing broadband architecture and consulting services to the City of Danville for the project. Submitted by acohill on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 12:48 Galen Updike, with the State of Arizona, opened the Digital Cities Expo this morning, and told of speaking to a woman who was trying to run a business out of her rural home. She said, "You know, I can do without public water--I can have my own well. I can do without public sewer--I can put in my own septic system. I can do without a paved road to my house. I can even do without electricity--I can generate my own. But without Internet access, my business will fail." And that story illustrates the relative importance of broadband with respect to economic development. Submitted by acohill on Tue, 12/18/2007 - 14:08 Here is an interesting analysis done by Stuart Mease, who works for the City of Roanoke, Virginia. Mease's job is trying to recruit young people to live and work in the Roanoke area. He has provided a cost of living comparison between Roanoke and some of the bigger towns and cities that are more likely to attract younger workers. Roanoke compares very favorably; you can make less money and still live as well or better than you could in some bigger towns. Most smaller towns and cities would also fare very well with this kind of analysis, and could be an important factor when trying to convince a business to relocate to your area. The ability to pay lower salaries but still offer employees a great standard of living could be very attractive. Submitted by acohill on Tue, 12/18/2007 - 09:32 New studies of electronic voting machines in Ohio has led a top official there to call for a ban on the machines. The Ohio Secretary of State noted "critical security failures" on the machines that made it easy to tamper with vote counts. Submitted by acohill on Mon, 12/10/2007 - 09:05 The community of Nuenen, Holland has great news for those interested in multi--service open networks. The community broadband project, which had hoped for a 35% take rate, has seen much, much better results: "The 'pitch' in Nuenen is not about 'bandwidth' 'fibre' or anything techie. Nuenen has an elderly community, consequently Ons Net aimed to appeal to a 75 year old woman who does not own a computer nor used the internet," he explained. It is local services supporting security, home care, events on the local TV channel and improving the community that are attracting people. In order to secure the necessary funds Ons Net was looking for an initial 35% sign-up rate. In fact it got closer to 85% and posted a £1m profit in its first year. In Nuenen, residents get connected to a 100 megabit capacity fiber network, and buy individual services like Internet access, telephone service, and TV service. This is a fundamentally different business model that creates real competition among service providers and tends to lower service costs. Communities in the U.S. pursuing this approach include Palo Alto, California; Seattle, Washington; Gainesville, Florida; the 15 community MegaPOP project in Mississippi; Danville, Virginia; and The Wired Road project in southwestern Virginia. The last two communities are being assisted by Design Nine. Submitted by acohill on Mon, 12/10/2007 - 08:48 Eliot Spitzer, the governor of New York, has called for universal access to broadband in the state. The text of his speech is here (note that you have to scroll down past the agriculture remarks to get to the broadband stuff). Unfortunately, Spitzer seems comfortable relegating rural areas to second class status. He calls for a minimum of 100 megabit connectivity in urban areas, but says that just one-fifth of that (20 megabits) is fine for rural areas. Cable and DSL are not going to provide universal access in rural parts of New York, so Spitzer has apparently decided that rural areas will have to make do with wireless while the cities get fiber. Rural citizens and legislators in the state should be outraged that the governor is willing to choke their economic future so easily. Submitted by acohill on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 10:46 Japan continues to rocket past the U.S. when it comes to fiber deployment. Japanese businesses and residents can get fiber broadband connections in more than a third of the country, compared to less than 2% of the U.S. Japanese broadband customers also pay much less; a 50 megabit fiber connection in Japan sells for under $30 a month. The fiber connections are enabling all kinds of new services, including telemedicine and telehealth applications. Japan is already well beyond the tired "triple play" that still gets most of the attention in the U.S. (voice, video, and data). An open, multi-service network can provide communities with access to innovative new services far beyond the old monopoly-style services we have today. Design Nine provides visionary broadband architecture and engineering services to our clients. We have over seventy years of staff experience with telecom and community broadband-more than any other company in the United States. We have a full range of broadband and telecom planning, design, and project management services. Free Fiber to the Home Save NC Broadband Blandin on Broadband Intelligent Community Forum FCC Broadband Blog KGP Broadband Stimulus Ars Technica Tech Policy Bill St. Arnaud Stop the Cap Broadband Policy Watch Lafayette Pro Fiber

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|FOR THE DO-IT-YOURSELF DUCATI OWNER |Don't take my word for it when it comes to all of this info. The best thing that you can do is research and get opinions and information from everybody. I only list sites here that actually have quality, meaningful, content or that have great Ducati parts- I don't want this to be a yellow pages/advertising section packed with thousands of links. These sites are all ones that have helped me immensely in learning about my Duc or are just plain cool. Of special note are the discussion boards and clubs- I learn the most from other Ducati enthusiasts. |If you're in the market for a Ducati, even if you're in New York, I highly reccomend talking to Dave at Ducati Seattle. Dave is a real class act, the dealership is awesome, and they can get pretty much any Ducati part you are in need of (just e-mail Jon in the parts dept.). Ducati Seattle is what all Ducati dealerships should aspire to. I made the 1500 mile trip to see Dave for my MH and it was well worth it. |The official site, loaded with info about the world of Ducati, history of Ducati, Ducati tech, etc. The best part about the site is that you can download owner's manuals and parts catalogs. |Excellent service, excellent selection, excellent business. Chris Kelley is a real class act, and I highly recommend ordering from him. California Cycleworks carries Factory Pro jet kits, Dyna coils, Electrex regulators, Keihin carbs, chains/sprockets, MBP products, maintenance items and other stuff you can't really find elsewhere. |Martin at Moto Wheels is a great guy. He's very helpful and knows his Ducati parts well. I highly recommend Moto Wheels as a source for |Guy Martin's superior performance shop- as the name implies they make high performance cylinder heads, valve retention systems, etc. |Manufacturers/ distributors of fine Ducati parts. EXCELLENT customer service (no, seriously, the best), great prices, and quality products manaufactured in house. I highly recommend them. |Many trick parts, including Brembo bits (rebuild kits, seals, etc.) |Maker of many high-tech bits: triple clamps, rearsets, and the list goes on. Moto-art! |Manufacturers of lightweight flywheels, breather valves, baskets and much more |A Ducati/race message board to ask questions, look for parts, etc. Very friendly atmosphere. You can usually find me there ;) |A new friendly, on-line community specifically related to Ducati motorcycles. A bulletin board growing everyday with new members. |A great source of technical info, if used correctly (use the search function to avoid a flame war, don't spam, and try to ignore all the meaningless banter and picture posting :) |Italian-based Ducati Monster Club. Take a look around. |The Ducati Monster List: Anything and everything Ducati Monster- message boards, galleries, classifieds, etc. Huge gathering of Monster owners. |Ducati Monster Owners Belgium: Ducati Monster club in, you guessed it, Belgium. Great stuff nonetheless for us single language US based Duc enthusiasts ;) |UK Monster Owner's Club: UK based monster club- tons of info, links, forums, pictures, etc. Great site for Ducati lovers. Desmo Ducati is a group for nor'east Ducati enthusiasts and others to discuss Ducs and organize events and rides. |When it comes to Ducs, these guys know their stuff. Tons of articles regarding Ducati Superbike performane and a bunch of other stuff. A great read. Chris Kelley's personal site, loaded with technical information, ride reports, and project bikes- a standout being the valve adjustment info. Must see. |Ron Gilbert's Ducati pages. Must see tech tips for Monsters and Supersports, and a schedule for When Pigs Fly MC rides. Thanks for the help, Ron! |Ducatimeccanica.com is the largest and most complete bevel Ducati enthusiasts' resource in the world- always a free space on the internet for enthusiasts to share their Ducati treasures and knowledge. Tons and tons of quality info. |Very comprehensive collection of info/parts/resources for older bevel-drive Ducatis, including many products for sale. If you own a Bevel, you need this site. |This site has a great collection of Ducati technical articles and links, among other things. There is a lot of useful info here. Definitely a must see. Jeff Nash's well respected Texas Ducati dealer, look them up if you're in the big state. Australian outlet of well-known Ducati parts dealer Spareshack. Steve Allen Art A lot of great art, with more upcoming Ducati pictures. Good stuff. Motorcycle Search Engine Valve Adjustment Article Pictorial article that somebody scanned on how to adjust your valves. (Page 4 doesn't work as linked- you will need to change the extension on the file to ".jpg" instead of ".JPG" in order for it to load. Richard's Ducati ST2 Pages An excellent site with tons of technical info, specifically regarding Ducati ST2's. John's Ducati 996 Page For all you superbike owners out there- this page has a mono conversion, customizing tips, pics, and suspension setup article. Very useful- check it out! Comprehensive information resource for Ducati Paso owners. A must-see. Ducati Club Singapore Yahoo! Group for those Ducati enthusiasts in the Malaysia/Singapore region. All enthusiasts welcome to talk shop and share info. The Original Site My first site. Has my original "New Cycle Owner's Guide", put together when I got my first bike. Also, if you have a Kawasaki EX500 or Honda CB650, check it out. San Francisco Bay Monster Holligans Association Articles/forums/photos for Monster riders based in the SF Bay. The Monsta Page The airbrush, Ducati and offroad portal presented with art and eroticism. With pics, information, and link collection. Pics of Ducatis turned into streetfighters, some really cool bodywork here. Ducati TT Page Page dedicated to Ducati TT/F1's. Lots of stuff, but it needs to be translated ;) A collection of really cool photography, with a lot of Ducatis. Need to ship your motorcycle? Ship Vehicles can help- fill out one form and get multiple competitive quotes for motorcycle shipping throughout the US. |RACE AND GENERAL M/C SITES: |This page is in no way associated with Ducati.com, nor is it an entity of Ducati Motor Holding, S.p.A. All content, information, and views expressed herein are those of myself and do not reflect those of Ducati or its affiliates. The "DUCATI" logo and "Circle D" are registered trademarks of Ducati Motor Holding, S.p.A., all other content on this website is copyright 2006, Monster Man Productions.

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|Reviews for Shut Up| | theKnobblyKneedWriter 6/5/12 . chapter 1 | munkyseemunkydo 10/30/10 . chapter 1 I don't like the name "Atlanta" : You can't get any good nicknames out of it. : Well, maybe it's just me. Anyway, I love Collin! :D He's a cutie. :) I want a boy just like him! :D HAHAHAHA. It was cutely written story. :) Your characters are funny. :D | ricebear 7/7/10 . chapter 1 | Artume 6/10/10 . chapter 1 Your inbox must be flooded by now. I love these two, too. They're so cute! | Kyllex 1/10/10 . chapter 1 Very cute. (: I love how it's mostly dialogue, it adds to the story. I liked it! | hydrocancellation 8/24/09 . chapter 1 You know, to be honest, when I saw the number of reviews you've gotten, I didn't think I'd be able to enjoy reading this shot but guess what, I'm hooked and I was looking for flaws but I didn't spot any (as in the flow of the story was smooth). And this story is going to my favourites. Thanks for the wonderful read. ) P.S. You seriously from Malaysia? 'Cause if you are, that makes two for the both of us. | annoyance 6/22/09 . chapter 1 | spinelesslysweet 5/29/09 . chapter 1 Hey.. this was so sweet! i enjoyed their conversation immensely :) | Zwidon 1/28/09 . chapter 1 aw so sweet, sort of random but good | sandy candy 5/24/08 . chapter 1 very sweet, well done. | d666lisa 4/20/08 . chapter 1 Excellent story, very cute. I love oneshots :D | x3life 2/19/08 . chapter 1 aw this was so cute ) | emerald 1/29/08 . chapter 1 Aw, that's hilarious and sweet. A fantastic and fun read. | CoopersGirl 1/21/08 . chapter 1 too bad it's a one shot - it was super cute! I wanted to read more! | sweet vanilla mint 1/5/08 . chapter 1 Aw... so cute! Great story! You did a good job. :)

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General Comments: Futures closed higher on speculative buying in preparation for the USDA reports at the end of the week. Ideas are that USDA can show smaller crops in its reports this week due to the greening disease and dry weather that has been reported in Florida. USDA has cut production potential in the previous two estimates and might be forced to trim the estimate a little more next month. Weather remains about the same in Florida. Temperatures remain mild to warm in the state, and conditions are mostly dry. Forecasts do not call for any threatening temperatures, but dry weather is creating ideas that more fruit can be lost. Fruit is holding for now, and irrigation is being used by producers to hold crop condition. Harvest in Florida of mid and early oranges is continuing, and the Valencia harvest is underway. Weather in Brazil is reported to be good. Brazil is seeing near to above normal temperatures and scattered showers. Harvest is continuing, so an increase in supplies should be expected at this time of year. Overnight News: Florida weather forecasts call for mostly dry conditions. Temperatures will average above normal. The Florida Department of Citrus said that sales totaled 51.9 million gallons in January, from 48.55 million last year. Chart Trends: Trends in FCOJ are up with objectives of 123.00, 125.00, and 131.00 March. Support is at 120.00, 116.00, and 113.00 March, with resistance at 124.00, 126.00, and 128.00 March. General Comments: Futures were mixed as traders got ready for the export sales report today and the USDA reports tomorrow. Many are worried about a bearish surprise as prices have gotten much stronger in the last week. Bears point to increasing certified stocks levels for reasons to be bearish. Demand bulls noted positive economic data released last week and positive economic data in general as a reason to buy. However, export sales reports showed some reason for worry last week as sales were down and China cancelled some recent purchases. The current low new crop prices are bringing into question what farmers in Texas and the Delta and Southeast will plant this year. Some are wondering if planted area might be lower this year here in the U.S. because of weak prices against competing crops. The area lost would go mostly to Corn and Soybeans. Current weather featured some precipitation in Delta and Southeast areas, but western Texas was mostly dry. Delta and Southeast areas will be dry. Ideas are that the market can continue to work higher overall. Overnight News: The Delta and Southeast will see showers and rain tomorrow and Friday, then a dry weekend. Temperatures will average near to above normal. Texas will get dry weather, although eastern areas could see very light precipitation today and tomorrow. Showers are possible in all areas on Sunday Temperatures will average much above normal. The USDA spot price is now 76.04 ct/lb. ICE said that certified Cotton stocks are now 0.154 million bales, from 0.146 million yesterday. Chart Trends: Trends in Cotton are mixed to down with objectives of 7990 and 7750 March. Support is at 80.20, 79.90, and 78.00 March, with resistance of 82.30, 83.40, and 84.00 March. Next page: Coffee, Sugar and Cocoa General Comments: Futures were lower on speculative and origin selling. London was higher as trends turned up on Friday and as Vietnam producers are not selling due to the Tet holiday. Prices for Arabica remain in the recent trading range, but price action is weak. Bulls keep talking about the losses from rust in Central America and the bears keep noting that there is more than enough coffee being produced in other countries to cover the losses seen in Central America. For now, it looks like Central America could lose at least 5% of the total crop this year and more next year. Current crop development is good this year in Brazil, and production areas are getting beneficial showers for the developing crop. Production ideas remain big there, and also remain big in Vietnam even though producers there talk about the potential for 25% crop losses. Central America crops are mostly harvested. Colombia is reported to have good conditions. Overnight News: Certified stocks are lower today and are about 2.637 million bags. The ICO composite price is now 133.42 ct/lb. Brazil should get scattered showers and storms. Temperatures will average near to above normal. Colombia should get mostly dry conditions, and Central America and Mexico should get mostly dry conditions. Temperatures should average near to above normal. The ICO estimated world 2012-13 Coffee production at 144.5 million bags, up 0.3% from its previous guess. Chart Trends: Trends in New York are mixed to down with objectives of 140.00 March. Support is at 142.50, 141.00, and 138.00 March, and resistance is at 147.00, 150.00, and 151.00 March. Trends in London are up with objectives of 2100 and 2290 March. Support is at 2040, 2020, and 2000 March, and resistance is at 2085, 2110, and 2130 March. Trends in Sao Paulo are down with objectives of 176.00 March. Support is at 176.00, 173.00, and 170.00 March, and resistance is at 181.00, 183.00, and 184.00 March. General Comments: Futures closed lower after trading higher early in the session. It was a disappointing session for the bulls as they were unable to keep the recent strength in the market intact. Most traders still note that big supplies appear to be available to the market, but Brazil said it will increase the ethanol in its gasoline blends in May. There are ideas that this could help work off a lot of the surplus production in Brazil and could tighten world balance sheets. Production has been strong in Brazil so far this year, and reports say that the new crop production looks to be strong as well, so the diversion into more domestic ethanol use will help. Exports from Brazil continue to be very strong after the delayed start to the program. The Thai crushing season is underway with good production expected, but the crushing and export pace remain slow. It is possible that the crop size there has been overestimated. Traders wonder if and when India will cut offers to the market due to the lower prices and perhaps less than expected production due to some dry weather at the beginning of the growing season. Overnight News: Scattered are expected in Brazil through this weekend. Temperatures should be near to above normal. Chart Trends: Trends in New York are mixed. Support is at 1850, 1835, and 1830 May, and resistance is at 1875, 1900, and 1920 May. Trends in London are mixed. Support is at 503.00, 500.00, and 498.00 May, and resistance is at 512.00, 517.00, and 521.00 May. General Comments: Futures closed higher on news that the Harmattan winds were returning to Ivory Coast. Hot and dry winds now could hurt the mid-crop production and also hurt some development of the crops for next year. Ivory Coast also reported less than expected exports. Exports of cocoa were 68,578 tons in December, from 126,098 tons last year. Cocoa products exports were 21,679 tons, from 25,057 tons last year. Speculators seemed to be the best buyers as trends started to turn up on the charts. Malaysia and Indonesia crops appear to be in good condition and weather is called favorable. Overall weather patterns in West Africa production areas are good for harvest progress and for the mid-crop and next crop, although hot weather now could increase stress to trees. Demand is still reported weaker from the US and Europe, in part due to current economics and in part due to changes forced by the World Bank that encouraged forward marketing of the crops. Traders are starting to look ahead and past the midcrop harvest and note that the market could move to a production deficit next year. Overnight News: Mostly dry conditions are expected in West Africa, but some showers are expected in coastal areas. Temperatures will average above normal. Malaysia and Indonesia should see episodes of scattered showers, but Malaysia will be drier this weekend. Temperatures should average near normal. Brazil will get scattered showers and warm temperatures. ICE certified stocks are lower today at 3.794 million bags. Chart Trends: Trends in New York are mixed to up with objectives of 2270, 2330, and 2360 March. Support is at 2210, 2180, and 2155 March, with resistance at 2250, 2280, and 2300 March. Trends in London are mixed to up with objectives of 1475, 1510, and 1535 March. Support is at 1440, 1420, and 1410 March, with resistance at 1465, 1480, and 1500 March.

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Travel to Philippines: Manila: Makati, Ortigas, Global City Is there nothing in Manila that's comparable to its thriving rivals? The short answer is no: if Asia's capitals are ranged from Rangoon to Singapore, Manila is near the Rangoon end. Still, Manila's not as far gone as Rangoon, and the east side of the city has some investment-grade residential and shopping neighborhoods. There's no better place to begin than Makati Avenue, which is the main street of Makati, a city in its own right. When businessmen come to "Manila," they're actually likely to stay here, not Manila. They'll check into the Intercon or the Shangri-La or--shown here--the Peninsula Manila or (farther back the)Mandarin Oriental hotels. Makati's commercial hub is the Ayala Center, with four malls--Makati, Ayala, Pasay, and EDSA--radiating from this atrium. Flanking the center is a gated community. Manila has many. This one is San Lorenzo Village, a relatively modest refuge from the central city. We'll head up to another such area. No car? No problem: we'll take Metro Rail. We've come north now a couple of miles to Ortigas Center. Metro Rail runs here over the city's circumferential beltway, a road built by American engineers and known originally as C4 (Circumferential Road 4) or Highway 54. It's known now as EDSA, a name that became famous when the road was blocked for miles during the uprising of February, 1986, which ousted President Ferdinand Marcos. The name EDSA is an unpleasant acronym for Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue. De Los Santos was a journalist, Hispanic scholar, and librarian; it's hard to imagine that he'd be pleased to have this contagion named after him. We can visit the adjoining Megamall, where this sign lays down the ground rules. And here's Ortigas Center itself--an Edge City if ever there was one. Here, too, is the low-rise Asian Development Bank. It's very well-guarded. If Ortigas represents development, then people apparently need an alternative, because at the foot of the towers this commercial center tries to make customers feel at home. Want to stop for a minute? This is definitely the place. On the other side of EDSA is some of the most expensive residential property in Manila. We're looking at it from the elevated Ortigas Metro Station. How can the lane below be so quiet, linked as it is to EDSA? This is how. Here's the view looking back toward the Metro Rail station; above it, the BGA Twin Towers. We're on the periphery of the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club, where the local cultural ambience is heavily American. Still, fences are a good idea. Last but not least, we've driven a mile and a bit east of the Ayala Commercial Center into what was once Fort McKinley, then was Fort Bonifacio, and now is expensive condos. Here's Pacific Plaza and 1 McKinley Place. The Bonifacio Global City website promises "a sweeping view of the adjacent Manila Golf fairways. Breath-taking sights of the Makati and Ortigas skylines. These are the visual feasts available to residents of luxury condominiums." Life here, by the way, is "a hassle-free delight." Bonifacio Global City is owned by the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation, in which Ayala Land, Inc., bought a controlling interest in 2003. Here's nearby Essensa, one of the "premier high-rise residential condominiums in Metro Manila. The graceful concave buildings resembling butterly wings is a mastery of esthetics...". Well, that's what the website for Essensa East Forbes says. The development is a product of Metro Pacific, but if you read the fine print you'll see that Metro Pacific is part of Century Properties. And here's the lineup in perspective, behind Manila's American Memorial Cemetery, the largest cemetery administered anywhere in the world by the American Battle Monuments Commission. * Australia's Northern Territory * Austria * Bangladesh * Belgium * Brazil (Manaus) * Burma / Myanmar * Cambodia (Angkor) * Canada (B.C.) * China * Czech Republic * Egypt * France * Germany * Greece * Hungary * India: Themes * Northern India * Peninsular India * Indonesia * Israel * Italy * Japan * Jerusalem * Jordan * Kenya * Laos * Kosovo * Malaysia * Mexico * Morocco * Mozambique * Namibia * Netherlands * Norway * Oman * Pakistan * Philippines * Poland * Portugal * Singapore * South Africa * Spain * Sri Lanka * Sudan * Syria * Tanzania * Thailand * Trinidad * Turkey * United Arab Emirates * United Kingdom * U.S.: East * U.S.: West * U.S.: Oklahoma * Uzbekistan * Vietnam * West Bank * Yemen * Zimbabwe *

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Onward to Addis Ababa General Cunningham, on 21 March, had received a telegram from General Wavell to say that he saw no military advantage in East Africa Force's going beyond Diredawa unless such a move was likely to end the campaign in Abyssinia. The dangers of becoming too deeply committed--when the forces in the Middle East were stretched almost to the limit--were also pointed out. General Cunningham reckoned that the capture of Addis Ababa was quite possible, and though he was not banking on that resulting in general capitulation he felt that if Eritrea were also taken then the Italians would give in.1 Counting on the use of the Jibuti-Addis Ababa railway within Abyssinia, he assured General Wavell that any advance from Diredawa would not raise any new demands for transport, and the Commander-in-Chief authorized the continuation of the advance.2 On 25 March, the day that Harar fell, 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade Group (less the Natal Carbineers) moved up along the middle road from Jijigga. Behind Brigadier Pienaar's Brigade Group, no further operations were required in Italian Somaliland and 2nd S.A. Infantry Brigade Mobile Column under Lieutenant-Colonel H. P. van Noorden, which left Nanyuki on 15 March with 642 vehicles and 1,600 men and reached Mogadishu on 22 March, was ordered to move up immediately to reinforce 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade Group. Colonel van Noorden, with no petrol for the long column, had flown up to Advanced Force Headquarters at Gabredarre on 22 March and petrol was provided on 26 March. The force, known as 'Mob-Col', on 27 March set off along the route already taken by 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade Group. Way off to the east the rest of the infantry of 2nd S.A. Infantry Brigade ('Buc Force') had sailed from Mombasa on 16 March and had begun their laborious disembarkation at Berbera on 22 March, handicapped by lack of usable wharfage, as the piers had been damaged during the British evacuation and again by the Italians. By the time 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade Group moved forward from Jijigga, Brigadier Buchanan had patrols out in all directions from Berbera, and civil administration was being re-established in British Somaliland in spite of the fact that the South Africans had no transport other than what could be commandeered. No. 3 Brigade Signals Company, S.A.C.S. was doing everything possible to restore telephone and other communications in British Somaliland. On 27 March, 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade Group--dropping Headquarters Company of 10th Field Ambulance, S.A.M.C.--passed through Harar after extensive demolitions had been cleared by South African Engineers. The same day it picked up the Natal Carbineers on the road and now took over the lead from the Nigerians on the day that Keren, key position in Eritrea, fell to 4th and 5th Indian Divisions after holding out for fifty-four days in the bitterest and most decisive battle of the East African Campaign. No South African combatant troops were involved at Keren, but the East African Campaign cannot be seen in true perspective without some reference to this stern test of strength, in which the bulk of the Duke of Aosta's central reserve--the Savoy Grenadier Division--was involved, after moving north from Addis Ababa. British casualties amounted to 536 killed and 3,299 wounded,3 and Italian losses were estimated at over 3,000 killed and 4,500 wounded.* Between 15 and 27 March, the Royal Artillery facing Keren fired more than 110,000 shells, all carried by lorry from railhead over 150 miles away.4 Supply was the vital factor and the fighting troops owed much to the splendid work of 121st, 122nd, 124th and 125th† R.M.T. Companies, Cape Corps, who had gone overland from Kenya along the Nile route to Eritrea with the 'Cape lorries' to support the British and Indian troops. Lieutenant-General Piatt, Commanding Sudan Force, commended them to Sir Pierre van Ryneveld and related in a letter on 12 April 1941 how they had been doing 150 miles a day two days out of three and loading on the third day, seven days a week. In the south, with 1st Field Company, S.A.E.C. back with 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade Group after completing the bridge at Balad, 1st Transvaal Scottish went into the lead along the main road to Miesso, with the Natal Carbineers in support, while the Dukes were directed along the old Southern route. The Transvaal Scottish, with Addis Ababa 320 miles ahead, drove through the almost deserted streets of Harar before daybreak on 27 March, and pushed on in the direction of Diredawa. Less than 10 miles out from Harar the advance guard was held up on the high plateau by a demolished bridge. A near-by brickfield provided material for filling the gap and a section of 1st Field Company, S.A.E.C. soon had the column on the move again, only to strike another blown bridge 2 miles further on. Here a Transvaal Scottish platoon, almost all of whom were miners from the Sub Nigel Gold Mine, helped the Sappers build up two stone walls some 30 feet high and had the vehicles pushing on in an amazingly short time.5 With the Hubeta Pass plunging down 4,000 feet into the Great Rift Valley in a 10-mile defile of twisting spirals only a few miles ahead, Lieutenant-Colonel Hartshorn chafed at every delay, but after only another 4 miles 1st Field Company, S.A.E.C. had to tackle a further demolition and build a deviation over a stream. Speed was imperative if the Italians were to be driven off the pass before nightfall and 'A' Company and armoured cars from No. 3 S.A. Armoured Car Company, once they were through the detour, moved * By comparison, total battle casualties of the 6th S.A. Armoured Division up to the fall of Florence in the Italian Campaign amounted to 2,100, and in the whole of that campaign they totalled 5,176, of whom 753 were killed. † They were still known as 'A', 'B', 'D' and 'E' Companies, Cape Corps, at the time. fast near the shores of Lake Aramaio as they headed for the long straight stretch of road before the top of the pass. The road ran between the cultivated slopes of two mountains but only a short distance ahead, where it plunged down in a serpentine descent to Diredawa, the country was wild, and reminiscent of the Barberton district. Carved out of almost perpendicular cliff faces, the road invited major demolitions and road-blocks of the most formidable kind. A thousand feet below, a stream ran through a deep gorge, and the mountain rose sheer from the other side of the road. Here the Italians had decided to fight a further delaying action before their Awash River line, with two machine-gun companies consisting largely of regular officers whose units had disintegrated. They had taken up position in the hills at right angles to the road, but with a flank exposed as the inevitable result of continued desertion by Colonial troops. Bombardment from the air hit Italian columns on the move at Diredawa, Gota and Miesso; and Native soldiers vanished with their arms. Battalions were rapidly reduced, sometimes to 100 men or less, and at Miesso the 15th Artillery Group of 65 mm guns had no men left in the ranks and had to load its guns on to lorries, while the 13th Pack Artillery Group had to employ officers and Blackshirts in place of African gunners and muleteers. The Italians had no option but to fall back, with rearguards imposing what delay they could.6 At about 3.30 p.m. Captain Briscoe's force of five armoured cars and nine troop-carriers entered the Hubeta Pass. Two armoured cars quickly fell out. As the column rounded the next bend another came to a halt and less than half a mile down the pass they reached the first demolition, which brought the whole convoy to a stop. Captain Briscoe and an Engineer officer were approaching the hole in the road at about 4 p.m. when a '7-pounder' shell whistled overhead and exploded not far away. Deploying quickly, Lieutenant Deryck Klapka's No. 5 Platoon was soon scrambling up and down the slopes of a series of hills on which the Italians had dug in their machine-guns on the approaches to Hubeta Mountain. The dominating, boulder-strewn hills opposite the enemy positions, though covered by fire, had been left unoccupied and Numbers 6 and 7 Platoons clambered up them. No. 5 Platoon, climbing steeply, descended equally steeply into a gully. Then, climbing again as they crossed the hills, they toiled for an hour in full fighting kit before reaching a point near a Native village on Hubeta itself. Here they came under vicious machine-gun fire. On the far side of the road, Numbers 6 and 7 Platoons were also under fire from small-arms and artillery, apparently from a motorized rearguard under Colonel Buonamico and the 1st Artillery Group of 77 mm guns. 'C' Company of the 1st Transvaal Scottish had by now debussed and Lieutenant A. O. McLaren's No. 11 Platoon was ordered to scale the heights dominating the turn-off to Carsa and Asba Littorio, while Major H. A. Olsen took the other two platoons of the company across miles of open field to outflank Hubeta and force the enemy off the crest. Under fire from some thirty enemy machine-guns, No. 5 Platoon was pinned down behind a cactus hedge which hid it but offered no protection from the spray of bullets. It could make no headway with its three Bren guns and the men's rifles. The platoon signaller could not stand up and Lieutenant Klapka borrowed a steel mirror from one of his men to flash a message saying he was pinned down. He was ordered to attack while No. 14 Platoon tried to lend support by firing on Hubeta at long range with its Vickers guns. No. 16 Platoon, close to the convoy, was finding its mortars outranged by the Italians and one bomb almost hit Klapka's platoon before the Transvaal Scottish mortar detachments had to cease fire.7 To knock out two machine-gun posts, Major B. J. H. Mawson brought one gun of 2nd Anti-Tank Battery, S.A.A. into action on the pass. As No. 5 Platoon moved forward, the owner of the steel mirror, who had just returned it to his left-hand breast pocket, was hit three times. The mirror deflected a bullet which almost certainly would otherwise have proved fatal. While the platoon pressed on towards the western extremity of the enemy-occupied crest, Major Olsen's two platoons made all speed for the feature's eastern flank, swarming up it at sunset. To their astonishment, they found the position unoccupied. Moving on and firing Brens from the hip and throwing grenades, Major Olsen's men stormed the Italians from the rear as they tried to beat off Klapka's attack from one side.8 Enemy resistance collapsed and prisoners were being rounded up by nightfall. Fifty Italians with sixteen machine-guns and two mortars had manned the positions which had peppered Captain Briscoe's men.9 During the particularly hazardous advance of No. 5 Platoon, Private F. R. Potterill evacuated two badly wounded comrades and earned the immediate award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal.10 Private W. A. Flemmer, who died of wounds, was the only South African lost in the action. Booty included thirty lorries, three field guns, two mortars and numerous machine-guns, and some 200 prisoners were taken.11 While 'B' Company of the Transvaal Scottish was trying to link up with 'A' Company across the rough terrain during the bitterly cold night, enemy ammunition dumps in Diredawa were being destroyed, and thunderous explosions lit up the sky. Disintegration among enemy troops was mounting and 17th Colonial Brigade left the town with only 600-700 men. The Italians themselves had withdrawn the arms from two Colonial Battalions, whose men dispersed. Reaching Miesso in no condition to fight, remnants of the Brigade had to be directed straight back to Adama, while the Italian motorized group took up positions to block the road south from Miesso into the Chercher Mountains and to Asba Littorio.12 By daybreak on 29 March, the enemy had withdrawn from the Hubeta Pass and patrols were pushing forward down the pass, on which they encountered some enormous demolitions, of which the third was the most serious. Luckily, the Italians made little serious attempt to cover these demolitions with fire, and 10th and 12th Batteries of 4th Field Brigade, S.A.A. helped to discourage them from increasing their efforts in this respect. At five of the steepest places on the descent to Diredawa the enemy blasted the mountainside and cut the road. One of the craters was 70 yards across and it was at first estimated that it would take eight days to fill. The 2nd Nigeria Regiment was moved up to help13 repair the road and with 1st Field Company, S.A.E.C. and 54th East African Field Company working round thejclock the road was open within thirty-six hours.14 While work on the pass was proceeding, a patrol of the Transvaal Scottish worked its way down towards Diredawa. An enemy armoured car and staff car were sighted but fled. Vickers guns covering the road opened fire and the staff car overturned. Its occupants were unhurt and jumped on to the armoured car, which then sped on and touched off another demolition, which cut off a working party of forty of their own men, three field guns and four huge 10-ton diesel lorries. On the morning of Saturday, 29 March, an Italian car drove out from Diredawa towards the pass, carrying an agitated Assistant Governor with a letter begging Lieutenant-Colonel Hartshorn to enter the town before nightfall as the Italian troops had disappeared and the citizens were being menaced by the local Natives.15 Seven Italians had been murdered and mutilated by armed deserters from the Italian Colonial Infantry,16 and the Transvaal Scottish swooped down into the Great Rift Valley to block the last enemy outlet to the sea and restore order in Diredawa. There they were met with harrowing and conflicting tales of mutiny by Somali, Abyssinian and even Eritrean troops. General Gazerra had already been called from the Southern Command to Addis Ababa on 25 March to be told that the Viceroy no longer intended to hold the line of the Awash River. The capital was to be declared an open city and the Comando Superiore was being moved northward to Amba Alagi. All troops south of the Blue Nile were to pass to Southern Command if and when possible. They were to hold out as long as they could to tie up maximum British forces.17 The Duke of Aosta's Chief of Staff, General Trezzani, had flown to see General de Simone on 28 March to tell him the same discouraging news, with exhortations to hold on the Awash River line at least long enough to allow time for the troops at Addis Ababa to pull out towards Dessie and Amba Alagi.18 The same day, General Varda, previously commanding the Addis Ababa garrison, was instructed to establish defences in the area of Dessie to cover the southern approach to Amba Alagi, where the Duke himself was to take command on 7 April.19 Guards were posted at strategic points in Diredawa, but when darkness fell danger of serious trouble was still imminent. The arrival of armoured cars and troop-carriers after nightfall brought the unruly mob somewhat to its senses, but the Transvaal Scottish were forced to fire on rioters looting European homes. Next day, shooting continued and a force of rebels tried to take possession of the aerodrome, where the South African and Royal Air Force attacks had left the runways littered with burnt-out aircraft and reduced the hangars to little more than steel skeletons. Cars from No. 3 S.A. Armoured Car Company at last brought the town under control and also cleared the aerodrome. The Italian civilians, thankful that they had been saved from a blood-drunk mob, offered champagne to South Africans in the shabby hotel, and local Greeks predicted the fall of Addis Ababa and the utter collapse of the Italian forces within twenty days. South African War Correspondent Carel Birkby thought them too optimistic.20 At Awash, while the Transvaal Scottish were averting a blood-bath in Diredawa, remnants of various columns were massing chaotically between the railway station, the bridge and the village itself, with further trainloads of troops and material, and convoys of lorries arriving continually from Diredawa and Miesso to add to the confusion. Wholesale desertion had left many units in a state of hopeless disorganization, and throughout the night frantic efforts were made to try to disentangle the demoralized mass of men before daylight21 presented the South African Air Force with an irresistable target. During the brisk engagement, before the positions covering the Hubeta Pass, when he saw 1st Transvaal Scottish fully committed, Brigadier Pienaar had sent forward a company of the Dukes as a reserve, but it was not brought into action. It appeared that the demolitions ahead were likely to cause considerable delay and the Brigade Commander, to keep the enemy on the run, therefore ordered the Dukes, with 11th Field Battery, S.A.A., one medium gun and "two sections of Engineers from 1st Field Company, S.A.E.C, to move along the mountain road through Carsa and Collubi towards Asba Littorio. If possible, they were to cut down on to the Diredawa-Awash road from Deder or Irna, thus by-passing the Hubeta Pass. This tortuous track at high altitude demanded very skilful driving and the utmost vigilance, and led through defiles and passes ideal for ambush. Bends were extremely sharp, necessitating reversing by the larger trucks to round some of them and in a few cases even requiring the cutting away of the mountainside to enable the Medium Battery's 6-inch howitzer to negotiate a corner.22 At Carsa the first of a number of demolitions was encountered, holding up the column for twelve hours. Some enemy troops, mainly Natives, surrendered, rather to the annoyance of the Dukes, who were beginning to find the supplying of escorts for prisoners irksome. However, their admiration was aroused by one small party who had to be overcome by a platoon of 'A' Company supported by a section of machine-guns. At Collubi the Dukes caught up with an enemy rearguard--part of General Santini's force falling back on Mecciara--waiting in well-chosen positions on the heights dominating a narrow defile where there was no room for the infantry to deploy or for the guns to come into action on level ground. The 18-pounders of 11th Field Battery, S.A.A. dropped trails on the road and quickly opened fire while the Dukes' mortars put in some accurate shooting. A platoon under Lieutenant B. O'Leary went in to attack the enemy, who withdrew as two platoons of 'B' Company overran the position at a cost of five casualties, including Private C. F. Pearce, who died of wounds on 8 April.23 A demolition prevented pursuit and required hard work throughout the night by 1st Field Company, S.A.E.C, before the advance could be resumed next morning, only to be further delayed by the surrender of a couple of hundred Native troops who had been left by their white officers. Deder was easily taken, but the Italian Divisional Commander and his staff, who had been thought to have their headquarters there, were already well away, leaving behind 700 European and 200 very dejected Native troops--the largest single haul of prisoners made in Abyssinia by any unit of 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade Group up to that rime. A large number of serviceable arms, including a complete battery of field guns, was taken by 'A' Company (Captain P.J. O'Sullivan). The guns were loaded, with the breech blocks buried nearby and unearthed next day.24 Moving on to Irna, with the signals personnel from No. 10 Brigade Signals Company making extensive use of permanent Italian lines to maintain intercommunication, the column 'acquired' a valuable replenishment of Italian petrol25--a fact which may have had some bearing on later events, had it been known to Brigadier Pienaar. A bridge had been blown up in the village, and Sappers and infantrymen worked through the night once again, chest deep in water, to enable the advance to continue. On this, as on other occasions Sergeant M. M. Coetzee, the Dukes Transport Sergeant, set a splendid example. His ability and devotion to duty over long periods were to earn him the award of the British Empire Medal.26 Corpses and abandoned guns and lorries marked the course of the Italian withdrawal, but after turning north a serious road-block on the approaches to Asba Littorio threatened to hold up pursuit by the Dukes, who knew that the Natal Carbineers were by that time moving through Miesso to cut off enemy forces withdrawing before the Cape Town battalion.27 The Carbineers, whose 'B' Company had unsuccessfully tried to beat 1st Transvaal Scottish into Diredawa by finding an alternative route, had passed through into the lead westward on 30 March, advancing smoothly and without any trouble as far as Erer, where the bridge had been blown. The enemy covering party was captured and work begun to replace the bridge. This delay enabled the Transvaal Scottish, who had been relieved by a Nigerian battalion in Diredawa, to close up on 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade Group column, though road repairing put a severe strain on the troops involved in the clearing of demolitions. Beyond Erer, two further demolitions required Engineers and working parties to labour day and night to re-open the road, but the advance to Miesso was pressed on and, on 31 March, the Natal Carbineers entered it in time to cut off and capture enemy forces withdrawing in front of the Dukes.28 They were by no means all the enemy forces who had been retreating along the 'Upper Route' through the Chercher Mountains, for the track continued westward beyond the point where the Dukes had turned up towards Asba Littorio and Miesso. Well beyond this turn-off, the mountain road was again linked with the main Diredawa-Addis Ababa road by a track running to Arba, about 10 miles east of Awash village. Fearing that Arba--like Miesso--might fall into British hands before it could be cleared by all his rearguards, General de Simone on 30 March sent radio instructions to General Santini's Chercher Mountains column to employ all available motor transport to withdraw the European elements of his force and all artillery other than mule-pack guns through Arba as rapidly as possible. A motorized group on the lower road would halt east of Arba at a road-block till General Santini's troops were through. The rest of the Chercher column--now solely Colonial troops on foot or muleteers--was to carry on along the mountain route westward to Mecciara at the southern The fort at Wajir. Time off for cards at a mortar position during a lull at Gobwen. (Photo: Terence McNally.) An infantry patrol approaches Buna rock. (Photo: Terence McNally.) South African Air Force Hurricanes about to take off from an airfield in Kenya. South African armoured cars cross the Juba River over 'Union Bridge' at Yonte. extremity of the Awash line.29 An attempt by 1st Transvaal Scottish to make contact with the Dukes via a flank route from Bichet was frustrated by demolitions and a veld fire across the road to the south, on which a small enemy post was captured by a South African patrol. On arrival at Miesso the Natal Carbineers discovered the bridge over the narrow but deep and sheer gorge on the southward road to Asba Littorio to have been destroyed. Work was immediately begun to bridge the gorge so that the Transvaal Scottish could move through to contact the Dukes next day. However, heavy rain during the night rendered some crossings on the main road itself temporarily impassable and the Carbineers had to take over the duty, which entailed the clearing of still further demolitions, with the result that the reunion of the brigade at Miesso was tedious and laborious. The pursuit had developed into an almost continuous day and night Engineer task, with major and minor road-blocks and demolitions having to be cleared and bridges replaced all along the route; gaping holes in the road, tangled masses of steel sprawled in the beds of gorges which had once been spanned, and piles of rubble were offering stiffer opposition to the advance than were the Italian forces. The Dukes were impatient to be the first to enter Asba Littorio and Lieutenant Peter Bairnsfather-Cloete went forward with a platoon on foot from the point on the approach to the town where the battalion was held up by demolitions. They disarmed the white officers and several hundred Native troops and then directed the Dukes column to a parking-place as it moved on after repairing the road. Soon the battalion was also on its way to Miesso, less than 20 miles to the north as the crow flies. All the way back to the Marda Pass and further back to Mogadishu and Berbera work was proceeding, to improve the lines of communication and ensure supplies for further advance. Although the South African Air Force was meeting negligible fighter opposition, antiaircraft detachments from 5th and 6th Anti-Aircraft Batteries, S.A.A. were strung out all along the road from Jijigga to Miesso, on the alert for enemy bombers, which made two daring raids on Jijigga. Just after midday on 27 March, three Fiats approached Jijigga very high, as three South African JU 52s carrying personnel from Advanced Force and Air Headquarters were coming in to land on the airfield where nine communications aircraft were dispersed at the time. The enemy, by very effective bombing, meted out some severe punishment to the newly arrived transport aircraft, all three of which were so badly holed that they were rendered unserviceable. One of the communications aircraft on the aerodrome was badly damaged, and the Fiats were untouched by the light anti-aircraft fire. Hurricanes on a near-by satellite landing ground took off, but arrived to find that the enemy had escaped into the clouds. During the attack, two men were slightly wounded. On 29 March, the Italians returned to Jijigga in force, four Fiats coming in very low out of the morning sun while three others circled overhead as top cover. Light anti-aircraft sections went into action rapidly but in the first attack one JU 52, a Valencia and a Hartbeest were set on fire, and two of the JU 52s already damaged in the previous attack were again shot up. Many hits were registered by the light antiaircraft gunners and one Fiat CR 42 was shot down by No. 3 Section of 5th Anti-Aircraft Battery, S.A.A., probably with 6th Anti-Aircraft Battery guns contributing to the success, which earned for Lieutenant Mike Stott a bottle of whisky from a delighted Brigadier Blaker, R.A. Four Hurricanes from the satellite landing ground were soon in action and in the ensuing dog-fight Lieutenant Venter shot down another Fiat, which crashed in flames, while his own aircraft was also damaged in the fight. Two other Italians were chased through the valleys by Captain Frost, who eventually destroyed one of them, while the only South African casualty was Captain S. v. B. Theron, with a wound in the leg--plus a suspicion in some quarters that it came from a Lewis gun on the ground and not from the 12-7 mm machine-gun of a CR 42. The coolant tank of his aircraft was, in any event, also hit and he was forced to land on the satellite airfield, in the process of which two Fiats got on his tail and set his machine on fire as it touched down. Captain Theron managed to get clear before the flames reached his cockpit. Next morning two Savoias dropped about 200 small bombs ineffectually on Jijigga, and managed to get away when attacked by two Hurricanes which succeeded in damaging an engine on each aircraft. Two Gladiators were also in the air but were too slow to intercept the 255-mile-an-hour bombers, one of which sustained 450 bullet holes and returned to base with all the crew killed except the pilot. Reunited at Miesso, 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade Group was earmarked by General Wetherall to push on to occupy Addis Ababa, but he felt a little disturbed in view of suggestions which had already reached his ears to the effect that the Brigade was short of fuel. In fact, 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade recorded that considerable difficulty was being experienced with petrol supplies. The problem was complicated by the necessity to mix two types of Italian fuel to produce a reasonable running mixture, and by the additional fact that much of the supply was in cased tins which, in Abyssinia as in the Western Desert, were not strong enough to stand up to transport over rough roads. Many of these tins were found to be empty before being required for use--a misfortune which befell other formations just as it did the South Africans. To make matters worse, according to 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade, many of the drums of Italian spirit were found to be only partially filled or to contain nothing but water. Petrol cases were also found on many occasions to hold tins of water, as a result of having been dumped over the side from ships and floated ashore at Kismayu or elsewhere.* However, at Irna only a few days before arriving at Miesso, the Dukes had--according to their own account--'acquired a valuable replenishment of Italian petrol',30 which must have compensated in some measure for any fuel consumed unexpectedly in the minor operations at the Marda Pass, to which Brigadier Pienaar partly * At the Juba crossing on 19 February Major-General Godwin-Austen had recorded with rather obvious irritation that 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade required 1,000 cases of petrol on the strength of an original indent for only 1,200 cases--when 524 cases had been delivered only the previous day. The Brigade 'Q' Staff had apparently been wide of the mark in estimating their requirements. attributed his Brigade's fuel shortage. Whatever the reasons for the South Africans' lack of fuel General Wetherall was understandably taken aback when he was presented with a message from Brigadier Pienaar to announce that the South African Brigade Group could advance no further unless they were provided with petrol. Setting off post-haste to visit Brigadier Pienaar's Headquarters, the Divisional Commander passed through Brigadier Fowkes's 22nd East African Brigade, which was in reserve, and took the precaution of warning them to be ready to move within twenty-four hours if necessary. When General Wetherall arrived at Brigadier Pienaar's Headquarters, he asked if it were true that the Brigade could not move without being given further supplies of petrol. The South African assured the Divisional Commander that such was the case, and General Wetherall took the precaution of insisting that he be given a statement to that effect in writing so as to avoid any recriminations. Reluctant to risk the loss of any of the impetus of the hitherto highly successful advance on Addis Ababa, and with no doubts about being able to cross the Awash, General Wetherall then ordered 22nd East African Brigade to pass through the South Africans and push on towards the Abyssinian capital. Oddly enough, there appears to be no record of the South Africans ever actually being issued with more petrol to get them to Addis Ababa. General Wetherall charitably assumed that they must have captured some en route. Far from wishing to hold them back, he had intended that they should lead the way into the Abyssinian capital. The East Africans were to pursue the enemy along the southern route recently left by the Dukes, forcing the Awash River from the south at Ponte Malcasa and Bole, while the South Africans were to move forward along the main road to Adama preparatory to occupying Addis Ababa. The 23rd Nigerian Brigade was to remain at Diredawa until petrol and rations became available. That things were to work out somewhat differently could not be foreseen at the time. General Cunningham, sensing that demoralization among the enemy Native troops was spreading to the Blackshirt Battalions and other white units, was confident that the fall of Addis Ababa was imminent. To the best of his knowledge, the city had a white civilian population of some 20,000 and a Native population of about 100,000 and the protection of the white population under circumstances which were now developing in Abyssinia was causing him concern. He was anxious to avoid any pillage or more serious incidents in the period between the withdrawal of Italian military forces and the entry of 11th African Division. With the United States still neutral and the eyes of the civilized world on the conduct of the war, any untoward incident could have considerable repercussions, and on 30 March he had already telegraphed to General Wavell suggesting that the time had come to approach the Duke of Aosta on the question of protecting the civilian population of Addis Ababa.31 Next day General Cunningham received from the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, a message expressing to the Duke of Aosta General Wavell's anxiety for the safety of women and children and authorizing General Cunningham to get in touch with the Italian Supreme Command and to report back any suggestions for ensuring their safety. The message was dropped on Addis Ababa from the air, with a further message from General Cunningham to say that an envoy could be sent by air to land behind the lines in safety at certain hours.32 At 8 o'clock that night the Comando Superiore called together the Italian regional commanders at Moggio and told them that there was no longer any chance of reinforcing the Awash River Line or of guaranteeing continued protection for the thousands of European civilians in the capital. It had therefore been decided to transfer the High Command to the Dessie-Amba Alagi sector and to negotiate with the British concerning the surrender of Addis Ababa. All troops in the capital not required for police duties were to be withdrawn, partly to Dessie and partly into Galla-Sidamo.33 Meanwhile, there was no slackening in the pace of General Wetherall's operations, which owed much to the efforts of the South African wireless operators, linesmen and dispatch riders of No. 10 Brigade Signals Company, S.A.C.S. They kept communications open even though the length of the column they served on the way to Miesso sometimes reached 200 miles, which was covered at least once and sometimes twice daily by dispatch riders, who were to average eighteen hours a day on the move for the next few days as the push continued towards the capital. The wireless teams kept continuous round-the-clock watch, cablemen noted and fixed all breaks in the permanent telephone lines and sometimes had the regular services re-established in record time, for the full 200 miles back to Divisional Headquarters. Following up in rear, the South African G.H.Q.. Signals Company made all temporary repairs permanent. As if this were not enough for their not unlimited resources of skilled men and equipment, on 1 April the Brigade Signals Company learned during a visit from the C.R.A., Colonel C. L. de W. du Toit,* who had arrived from South Africa on 22 March, that owing to shortage of equipment among the artillery units, No. 10 Brigade Signals Company would have to take over responsibility for the gunners' communications. The Company then proceeded to cover 4th Field Brigade, S.A.A., 7th Field Brigade, S.A.A., and 1st Medium Battery, S.A.H.A. in addition to providing the highly trained personnel for the C.R.A.'s own control terminal. 'Mob-Col', from 2nd S.A. Infantry Brigade, following up in rear of 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade and taking over tasks on the lines of communication, reached Jijigga on 1 April and was in Harar next day. On 1 April and all through the night, 22nd East African Brigade columns, complete with 110th Reserve Motor Transport Company of the South African Indian and Malay Corps, poured through Miesso towards the Awash River where General Wetherall hoped to capture the bridges intact. Behind the river the enemy columns from the lower road had withdrawn, with their motorized group as a rearguard at Arba till a number of the vehicles from the Chercher mountains force, under Colonel De Cicco, had also passed through to the safety of the Awash Line. Other remnants of their original force continued towards * Later, for some time Commander of 2nd S.A. Infantry Brigade in North Africa and, after the war, Chief of the S.A. General Staff. Sire and the Galla-Sidamo on the upper route through Mecciara.34 At 2.30 p.m. on 2 April the Italian Engineers blew up the road between Arba and Ghelemso, thus blocking the way back to the upper route, and at 5.30 p.m.--to the great disappointment of General Wetherall who heard the explosions as he approached--they demolished both the road and the rail bridges over the Awash River gorge.35 Under command of the East African Brigade, 7th Field Brigade, S.A.A. and 1st Field Battery, C.F.A. were involved in a wild dash which ended in a bivouac 3 miles short of the deep gorge of the Awash River that evening. With them from Miesso went 4th Field Brigade, S.A.A. and 1st Medium Brigade, S.A.H.A. None of the South African field guns was needed to brush aside the Italian opposition at Arba, but 1st Anti-Tank Battery, S.A.A. (Captain Carl Leisegang) here came into action for the first time. Tank tracks had been seen and the anti-tank gunners were keyed up when they sighted armoured fighting vehicles at about 2,500 yards. The Right Section was called forward, but owing to doubts as to the identity of these camouflaged vehicles the guns were not permitted to fire. Nevertheless, they opened fire on enemy motor transport withdrawing from Arba and destroyed three lorries. In an unconventional counter-battery role, the 2-pounders also put seven anti-tank shells into the gunpit of a light enemy field gun, scoring a direct hit on one of the gunners and another on the gun itself. Meanwhile the Left Section had also been brought up and several long-range shots were sent after enemy tanks covering the withdrawal of their rearguard. Hits were scored but apparently did little damage at such long range. The enemy held a strong line on the west bank of the river, which swings to the south-west, almost parallel with the main road, a few miles south of the railway station at Awash village. Of the troops from the Harar area, various Italian white units had reached the Awash Line, including two companies of Carabinieri under Major Morelli, 504th Blackshirt Battalion, an air force battalion, 200 Customs Guards, one Engineer Battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel Florio, a signals company, two transport units with 500 vehicles, several batteries, and Buonamico's motorized group with a company of medium tanks--some 4,000 men in all, plus about 2,000 Native troops and Eritrean noncommissioned officers, and about seventy-six guns. In the line already under command of General Liberati, they found the two 'Africa Division' Blackshirt battalions under Colonel Cherosi, three Savoy Grenadier machine-gun companies, and thirty-two guns, with the Shoan Banda Group of some 1,800 under Colonel Rolle expected any minute by train.36 On the morning of 3 April 7th Field Brigade, S.A.A. deployed on the east bank of the Awash gorge without incident, and contrary to expectations the East Africans managed to cross the river almost unopposed, although both road and railway bridges had been demolished. A place where the river could be waded had been found about half a mile from the main Italian position, and as soon as he realized that his flank was being turned the enemy withdrew from his forward positions.37 The South African artillery brigade shot in its guns on Awash village and on the road west of the village.38 Having also moved forward, 1st Anti-Tank Battery, S.A.A. engaged enemy machine-gun posts across the gorge at 1,000 yards. Later that morning the South African guns came under intensive gunfire from enemy 65s for a brief spell, but at 5.30 p.m. a fighting patrol of one company of 1/5 King's African Rifles, accompanied by Forward Observation Officers from 1st Field Battery, C.F.A., and 5th Field Battery, N.F.A., fought their way into Awash village against light opposition. On the only two occasions on which 1st Field Battery, C.F.A. had tried to use its No. 1 wireless sets they had failed completely, and now, at least 500 yards from the Forward Observation Officers' positions, the telephone wire ran out. No less than 1\ miles of cable had been laid by 1st Field Battery alone during the operation, and fire orders could not reach the guns by any other means. Suddenly, the village was strongly counter-attacked by the enemy, with mortar and artillery support--apparently a force under Colonel Di Marco, who was seriously wounded a few days later. Bombardier A. J. Uys,39 under continuous enemy fire, ran back from the forward observation post to the telephone with fire orders and the South Africans immediately put down a curtain of defensive fire, under cover of which the village was evacuated without loss. Bombardier Uys was mentioned in dispatches. During the night, enemy transport was brought under fire and the following morning the King's African Rifles, supported by the Cape Field Artillery battery, successfully reoccupied the village and the South African guns registered on the Awash-Addis Ababa road. Air operations at the time were mainly directed against enemy columns retreating by both road and rail towards Adama, where the Italians now faced an ugly situation, as deserters joined local rebels. A train carrying drums of fuel was derailed near Moggio and the precious freight was only recovered by force. Meanwhile, the Awash force fell back on the Gariboldi Pass. The railway between Diredawa and Addis Ababa, which could itself become a vital line of supply for East Africa Force once it could be brought into full working order again, was a main target for the South African Air Force, with trains being effectively bombed on several occasions.40 East African armoured cars were hauled across the Awash by block and tackle and now they were racing on from the river, where the South African Engineers rapidly threw a box-girder bridge across the gorge to replace the road bridge41 and studied the possibilities of restoring the railway bridge, whose tangled wreckage presented formidable problems. The South African Air Force on 4 April sent six separate waves of bombers, each with its own fighter escort, to attack the airfield at Addis Ababa, while the East African Brigade, with 110th Reserve Motor Transport Company of S.A. Indian and Malay Corps carrying hundreds of its men, pushed on towards Moggio from the Awash River. By the time the last wave of bombers turned back from the capital, the airfield presented a scene of chaos. The only enemy fighters which had interfered with the Glenn Martins which were first over the target had been driven off by Hurricanes and Gladiators, which shot one down. One formation of four Battles dropped 208 fragmentation bombs within five minutes, one stick falling on eight enemy aircraft parked in front of the main hangar, where a fire was soon raging. Four JU 86s and two Gladiators in the fourth wave met no opposition and caused considerable damage to hangars and buildings. They were followed by three Blenheims of the Royal Air Force, protected by two Hurricanes of No. 3 Squadron, S.A.A.F., and they were followed in turn by another four JU 86s with Hurricane escort. All bombs fell in the target area and the Hurricanes machine-gunned aircraft on the ground and left a Caproni and a Savoia burning furiously. Late that afternoon Captain J. E. Frost led two separate attacks on the same airfield, setting fire to three Savoias and one Caproni, while Lieutenant R. H. C. Kershaw destroyed a Savoia and a Caproni and Lieutenant Glover severely damaged other aircraft, which failed to catch alight. In the second raid, Captain Frost destroyed two more bombers while Lieutenant Marsh severely damaged others. When the opportunity arose to inspect the airfield later, thirty aircraft were found burnt out, damaged by machine-gun fire or completely wrecked. The Regia Aeronautica had been dealt an almost crushing blow, at a juncture when the position of the women and children in Addis Ababa was becoming a matter of increasing concern. An Italian aircraft had dropped a message for General Cunningham at Diredawa42 on 2 April, saying that the Duke of Aosta's envoy would land there next day to discuss the situation. On arrival early on 3 April, the envoy had been hurried off to Advanced Force Headquarters at Harar by car, while the Italian pilots adjourned to the local hotel with Captain Frost and their other adversaries for a voluble discussion of their air battles.43 The Italians pressed invitations on the South Africans to call at their homes when they reached Addis, and when the envoy returned he was flown back to the capital with a list of conditions laid down by General Cunningham, who had been unable to decipher a badly mutilated message on the subject just received from General Wavell. Next day, with the air force already smashing the Addis Ababa aerodrome, General Cunningham received a direct wire to say that the Defence Committee did not endorse conditions put forward by General Wavell and that no responsibility for the Italian civil population was to be assumed without unconditional surrender of their armed forces.44 Through a misunderstanding of the situation--which only concerned the capital itself--the new instruction also stated that ships in Massawa harbour were to be handed over intact to the British for the evacuation and feeding of the Italian civilian community. It was apparent to General Cunningham that the Defence Committee had not grasped that the proposed conditions were to apply only to Addis Ababa, which was the junction of all main roads in Abyssinia and would have to be occupied if military operations were to continue. With no forces other than his own making any direct threat to the capital, he feared that any insistence on conditions such as proposed by the Defence Committee would simply harden the Italian attitude, as they might well be in a position to deal with any actual threat of which East Africa Force alone was capable at the time. As the Comando Superiore had not accepted his own conditions in full, General Cunningham cabled General Wavell, offering to delay his advance and reopen negotiations. No reply was received within twenty-four hours, so General Cunningham allowed the troops to continue their advance.45 By the afternoon of 5 April, the King's African Rifles column was already only 10 miles outside Addis Ababa, halted at Akaki.46 In the capital itself everyone's nerves were on edge and desperate efforts were still being made by the Italians to create a good impression with the Abyssinians and to build up some pro-Italian feeling at all costs, while the Fascist Radio still tried to keep up a pretence that the enemy were not advancing on the city. The Corriere del Impero was already being printed--with the news of resistance on the Awash! Even the Italians laughed at this,47 while the Abyssinians waited expectantly for the triumphal entry of their victorious liberators. Escorted by motor-cycle police, General Mambrini, Inspector-General of the Italian East African Police, drove out with a white flag to meet the advance guard of the King's African Rifles and surrendered the city, in which he feared for the lives of Italian troops and civilians alike. But General Wetherall halted the advance. In fact, the formal entry into Addis Ababa only took place on 6 April, and was, in the words of Kenneth Gandar Dower, who was an eyewitness, something which 'had a Central African plus Gilbert and Sullivan atmosphere'. South African War Correspondent Carel Birkby's description bears this out.48 The King's African Rifles had won the race for Addis Ababa, so Brigadier Fowkes was to lead the column behind the armoured cars in the triumphal entry.49 The war correspondents, film cameramen, Ministry of Information Representative and others had been up since first light at Akaki, awaiting the great moment. General Wetherall arrived at about 8 a.m. and staff officers began forming up a column representative of 11th African Division, and including a company of the Natal Carbineers. The war correspondents, in a motley caravan of fourteen heterogeneous cars and trucks, most of which had come the whole 2,000 miles or more from Nairobi and were sadly in need of repair, entered Addis Ababa ahead of the troops.50 The arrival of the correspondents at the Little Ghebbi, formerly the Emperor's private palace and more recently the Duke of Aosta's viceregal residence, was a bad let-down for the expectant officials, but at last the great moment arrived, and the approach of the victor's procession was heralded by the roar of an Italian motor-cycle escort near the palace. Led by a solitary East African armoured car named 'Billie', flying a little home-made Union Jack and with a sergeant grinning broadly from the turret, Major-General Wetherall, accompanied by Brigadiers Fowkes, Pienaar, and Smallwood, drove into the palace grounds. Unceremoniously the Italian flag was hauled down and the Union Jack rung up in its place. Addis Ababa had been liberated. That afternoon a green, gold and red flag emblazoned with the Lion of Judah, the Royal Standard of Ethiopia, was ceremoniously hoisted at the Grand Ghebbi amid delirious rejoicing by the Abyssinians. Shots rang out all through the capital as the local inhabitants celebrated. Still believing in the 'Phantom Fourth', an Italian recorded in his diary that Australians were guarding the palace.51 General Wetherall found himself faced with having to protect Italian civilians to prevent a massacre. To have employed his own brigades for this purpose would have immobilized his whole division, as some of the forts in the neighbourhood were held by anything up to a battalion of Italian troops. He therefore called together representatives from each of the Brigades--Major Gerrard representing Brigadier Pienaar--to discuss the situation, and it was unanimously agreed that the Italians should be allowed to retain their arms for the protection of their own women and children till proper order could be restored, and the immense task of repatriating them and evacuating the prisoners of war could be begun. In fact, the Abyssinians displayed considerable restraint. First South African unit into the liberated city--an honour claimed by the Natal Carbineers--was probably 10th (later 110th) Reserve Motor Transport Company of the S.A. Indian and Malay Corps, whose trucks carried the troops of 22nd East African Brigade into the capital on the morning of its formal surrender. The S.A. Indian and Malay Corps, with some 2,620 men in East Africa at the time, had just reached the peak of its strength in that theatre, and a section of their 107th Reserve Motor Transport Company also reached the capital at the time of its liberation. The 1st S.A. Infantry Brigade Group, on arrival at Addis Ababa, had completed a trip of 1,500 miles in twenty-five days, as part of the amazing advance of 1,725 miles by East Africa Force in a total of only fifty-three days against an enemy always numerically superior, and in face of all the most trying problems presented by bad roads, heavy demolitions, a pressing scarcity of water in the early stages and, now, torrential rain which robbed many of the men of rest during the final night's move before entry into the capital. During the whole of its advance from the Juba, 11th African Division had only once, at the Babile Gap, found it necessary to use more than one brigade at a time. Even then, only one extra battalion was employed.52 Though 1st Transvaal Scottish, with tammies and red hackles, did later march through the streets of Addis Ababa to the strains of their pipes' 'Athol Highlanders', there was as little ceremony about the South African brigade's entry as there was about General Wetherall's acceptance of the city's surrender. The Natal Carbineers helped police the town and guarded prisoners at the racecourse. In one of the suburbs the Adjutant discovered two hitherto unnoticed cavalry regiments, complete with horses, and these troops were also disarmed, to add to already arduous guard duties.53 The Dukes had to supply three companies to cover the main approaches to Addis Ababa and also had to cope with so-called Patriot bands converging on the city, keeping them in good humour so that the Italian garrisons of the forts could be disarmed and relieved, before the Abyssinians attempted forcible reprisals against them, their women and children. Patrols had to be sent out to neighbouring towns and villages to succour Italian civilians and even armed outposts, only too willing to surrender to the South Africans but fearful of vengeful Shifta, some of whom had relapsed into brigandage. Barely a mile from the outskirts of Addis Ababa a full battalion of Italians fought a pitched battle against Abyssinian rebels before being shepherded under escort to the Dukes' headquarters, suffering from hunger and thirst and carrying their dead, their dying and their wounded with them.54 Addis Ababa posed immense problems for 11th African Division and East Africa Force. In only two months, the Italians had suffered enormous losses. Over and above the thousands killed, no fewer than 50,000 prisoners had been captured by East Africa Force, which had suffered a total loss of less than 150 of its own men killed,55 in striking contrast to over 500 British and Indian dead at Keren. Now, in addition to civilians who had to be fed and protected, thousands more prisoners were being brought in, adding to the already almost insuperable problems of supply. THE NEXT PHASE Disorganization among the Italian forces was widespread. At Hera, south of Adama, General Bertello with No. 1 Echelon of the forces from Awash was trying to hold the road junction for General Santini's column from the Chercher Mountain area to get through along the mule tracks via Engheda and Sire, so as to join up with the columns heading south for Shashamanna. Meanwhile the rest of the troops which had got away from the Awash--in four other groups under General Tosti, Colonel Agosti, General Liberati and Colonel Buon-amico--were on their way south. Only the troops who had been north of the railway line at Awash were making direct for Dessie. By early morning on 5 April, they were all through Hera, harassed by rebels. General Bertello held on at Hera, waiting for Santini's footsore Chercer column, now moving in two echelons, with the 13th Brigade under General Sirigatti and the 14th under General Alborghetti. On 8 April, the 13th Brigade remnants were attacked and decimated by rebel bands and General Santini had to report by radio that it was impossible to get through even to Robi and Ticcio to bypass Hera. Together with General Sirigatti and all that was left of 13th Colonial Brigade, he surrendered near Arba railway station on 12 April.56 General Alborghetti and remnants of 14th Colonial Brigade managed to reach Guna, only to be mercilessly attacked by Arussi tribesmen on 9 April. Desperately he fell back on Minne,57 where the South Africans were to see more of him later. In the Awash River area on 7 April, Captain W. Lyall and Lieutenant Seymour, with only sixteen men of 'H' (128th) Reserve Motor Transport Company, Cape Corps, had already captured 24 Italian officers and 766 other ranks in an operation carried out with courage and skill, in which Private Joshua's behaviour was particularly meritorious. General Cunningham considered that the action reflected particular credit on the company. A mobile force, sent out by the Dukes under Major Neil Hare, to deliver a message to Colonel Orde Wingate, who was accompanying the Emperor back to the capital, missed Win-gate but became almost swamped by Italians beseeching the South Africans to accept their surrender so that they could escape the wrath of the Abyssinians. Wives and children of the Italian garrison at Licce joined the column, which set off on its return journey with a large Union Jack at its head and an even bigger Abyssinian banner bringing up the rear. This could in no way stop the Abyssinians sniping at the easily recognizable Italian vehicles all along the route. The climax came when Major Hare's strange convoy was fired on when entering a defile. He ordered the armoured cars to take on board as many of the women and children as possible,58 and had to run the gauntlet of fire from the overlooking high ground to get through to the open road leading back to Addis Ababa. Round the outskirts of the city, No. 3 S.A. Armoured Car Company was kept busy mopping up and only passed through Addis Ababa on 8 April, to camp some 4 miles further on.59 Whatever problems had to be solved in restoring order and reviving some form of civil administration in Addis Ababa--a process complicated by the suspicion with which the Emperor Haile Selassie and his British advisers, Sandford and Wingate, regarded East Africa Force--General Cunningham's primary task still remained the defeat of the Italians. After only two days in the capital, 1st Transvaal Scottish was formed into an advance guard of the South African Brigade for operations aimed at the capture of Jimma.60 Attached to the column were 10th and 11th Field Batteries, S.A.A., a composite section of one 60-pounder and one 6-inch howitzer from 1st Medium Brigade S.A.H.A., 2nd Anti-Tank Battery, S A.A., a section of South African light anti-aircraft guns, a section of 1st Field Company, S.A.E.C., a section of 10th Field Ambulance, S.A.M.C., and two sections of 2nd Reserve Motor Transport Company coping with the carrying of supplies. The Transvaal Scottish column, with whom No. 10 Brigade Signals Company maintained contact by wireless, carried sufficient petrol for only about 100 miles, and its orders were to make good the Omo River crossing on the Abalti-Jimma road, which runs almost directly southwest from Addis Ababa.61 Hundreds of miles to the east, with some twenty 30-cwt. lorries sent over from Aden and some hired transport, 2nd S.A. Infantry Brigade had been cleaning up isolated pockets of the enemy in British Somali-land and establishing political control over the country62 through which the main line of communication now ran from Berbera. All the brigade's transport was still with 'Mob-Col', which had been acting as garrison at Harar since 2 April. With Brigadier A. R. Chater back in British Somaliland as Military Governor under the general direction of General Cunningham, Brigadier Buchanan was preparing to move up towards Addis Ababa. All vehicles in the Berbera vicinity had to be commandeered to move 2nd S.A. Infantry Brigade. Most were derelict, whilst others had to be built up from parts taken from vehicles on the scrap-heap. Fortunately numerous enemy petrol dumps had been unearthed, so fuel was plentiful. Major Eugene Maggs, the Brigade Major, was put in command of an advance party for a move to Hargeisa, where 'Mob-Col' on 8 April had its proposed operations cancelled and was ordered to rejoin the Brigade. Both 'Mob-Col' and 'Buc-Force' ceased to exist and reverted to 2nd S.A. Infantry Brigade Group. Colonel van Noorden's column, with the workshop personnel sometimes working right through the night, had not lost a single vehicle on its 1,972-mile journey. On 13 April, he himself returned to South Africa on account of ill-health and Major J. R. Wocke took over command of 1st Field Force Battalion. Transport and men were now desperately needed further north, and on 8 April, from as far south as Nanyuki, a long column of nearly 150 vehicles from Regiment Botha was already en route for Juba, Khartoum and Aswan on its long trek to Mersa Matruh via Cairo under command of Lieutenant W. H. Oldrieve. The re-establishment of railway communication from Diredawa to Addis Ababa was vital to any solution of East Africa Force's supply problems in early April 1941, but midway between the two points the most formidable of all demolitions in Abyssinia blocked the way. Destruction of the railway bridge over the Awash gorge presented a challenge which was to bring out the very best in the South African Engineer Corps. Their achievement in surmounting this great obstacle was itself a minor epic, but until it could be accomplished the road itself had to be kept open and improved to cope with the endless stream of convoys moving in both directions. No sooner had it arrived from Kenya than Major G. F. Newby's 12th Field Company, S.A.E.C. was encamped west of Diredawa, Lieutenant J. M. Gosnell and a small party were sent on railway reconnaissance to the French Somaliland border and the Company provided a detachment to develop the water supply at Hargeisa for 2nd S.A. Infantry Brigade. By the time Colonel G. H. Cotton and the C.R.E., Corps Troops, arrived on inspection on 22 April the company had tackled repairs to a drift and four bridges, in addition to making good road demolitions and flood damage. Working as a giant consortium, the South African Engineer Corps at the time was virtually conducting a mammoth campaign of its own to develop the water supplies and communications of the whole of East Africa. Other units interrupted and complicated the task by fighting a colonial war on the grand scale like over-enthusiastic gladiators staging contests before the Colosseum arena had been levelled. Sapper units' tasks were so closely interlinked and co-ordinated that the Engineer units almost coalesced at times. While the Officer Commanding, 12th Field Company would design a bridge, 18th Field Park Company would provide the material; men from the Field Company would go to 39th Railway Construction Company to cut up a demolished bridge on the railway line near Mello, and a detachment from 29th Road Construction Company would simultaneously report to 12th Field Company to help repair the road for 49 miles beyond Diredawa, shortly to be taken over by Major H. D. W. Smith's 16th Field Company, which had arrived at Harar on 30 March and immediately started repairing not only bridges but also three steam locomotives found at Diredawa with damaged cylinders. Four days later Greek civilians, accompanied by a South African Sapper, drove one of the locomotives to Ourso to pick up another 'dead' engine which was also soon in running order.63 With a section of 9th Field Company, S.A.E.C. and a section of 33rd Works Company, S.A.E.C. under command, 16th Field Company, in spite of rain, rapidly repaired road demolitions, built a deviation to clear over 800 vehicles held up by a washaway on 12 April, constructed bridges, widened the roads through the gorges between Jijigga and Diredawa, and by 9 May was moving sections well forward to Adamitullo on the road down through the Lakes area, just as a cloudburst interrupted the finishing-off of tasks at Harar. The work of the Engineer units of all kinds was dovetailed, with 36th Water Supply Company, S.A.E.C. even doing pile-driving to help bridge construction. Amazing progress was made as a result. Table of Contents Previous Chapter (17) ** Next Chapter (19) Transcribed and formatted by Larry Jewell & Patrick Clancey, HyperWar Foundation

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|Malaysia PHP Meetup (Every Last Tuesday of the month) [User Group Event] (Malaysia)| Malaysia PHP User's Group (MyPHP) is one of the largest PHP user's groups with about 2000 members . We meet each month at Inkubator K-Ekonomi Melaka and maintain an active forum. See the website (www.php.net.my) for more info.| The meetings feature various activities about PHP, the group itself and the future of web development in Malaysia. Professionals are encouraged to demonstrate their skills as well as beginners can improve theirs. |May, 2013||June, 2013||July, 2013|

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Indian shares may open on a flat note on Wednesday, as concerns persist about contagion risks from eurozone countries like Greece and Spain despite the European Central Bank calling for a deposit guarantee scheme to make the euro area more resilient. Japan's Nikkei index is gaining 0.3 percent after data showed the nation's machinery orders increased more than economists expected in April. Key benchmark indexes in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia are also posting modest gains, while the markets in Australia, Singapore and New Zealand are down between half a percent and one percent. Closer home, the finance ministry has slammed rating agency S&P's report on the likely downgrade of India, saying the process it follows is not transparent and the Indian economy is in much better shape than perceived by the agency, according to reports. Indian shares rallied on Tuesday, with benchmark indexes Sensex and the Nifty climbing around 1.2 percent each, as weak industrial production data spurred hopes that the RBI will cut interest rates aggressively at its upcoming policy meeting next Monday. However, provisional data released by BSE showed that both foreign institutional investors and domestic financial institutions turned net sellers in Indian equities yesterday, offloading shares worth Rs.56.60 crore and Rs.54.21 crore, respectively. In corporate news, Ashok Leyland said it plans to raise funds up to Rs 750 crore in one or more tranches, including by way of a qualified institutions placement to eligible qualified institutional buyers to finance the capital requirements of the company. Mahindra Satyam new management will soon finalize its legal course of action on the Rs 1230-crore claims by IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company, the Business Standard reported. Reliance Industries said it expects that production will continue to decline and force the company to seek damages, if the government doesn't approve several of its investment plans for its KG-D6 gas fields, according to the Economic Times. Eros International announced the launch of its online music channel; Eros Now Music on YouTube. On Wall Street, stocks ended notably higher overnight after Spanish bond yields came off euro-era record highs. Bargain hunting following the previous session's sell-off also contributed to the buying interest. The Dow rose 1.3 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq and the S&P 500 added about 1.2 percent each. by RTT Staff Writer For comments and feedback: [email protected]

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Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts From 1 October to 30 November 2012, earn double KrisFlyer miles and take advantage of an array of complimentary services when you stay at a participating Shangri-La hotel or resort anywhere in the world. Stay on the Best Available Rate in a suite, Club room or Club suite for at least two consecutive nights at any Shangri-La hotel or resort, Traders hotel or Kerry hotel, and receive: - double KrisFlyer miles - complimentary in-room broadband Internet - complimentary WiFi access in public areas of the hotel or resort - complimentary daily breakfast at the Club Lounge* - an early evening cocktail at the Club Lounge* - the use of Club Lounge facilities, including the private meeting room* * For stays in a Club room or Club suite only, where available For more information, visit http://www.shangri-la.com. Please call Shangri-La’s Worldwide Reservations hotline on: - 001 800 8388 8388 (toll-free), if you are in Singapore - 1 300 88 7388 (toll-free), if you are in Malaysia - 1 800 222 448 (toll-free), if you are in Australia. Alternatively, you may visit http://www.shangri-la.com/shangrila/reservations to make your reservation. Please present your PPS Club/KrisFlyer membership card when you check in. Terms and Conditions Offer only applies for minimum two consecutive nights stays in selected room types at the Best Available Rate. Offer is subject to availability and advance reservation is required. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. KrisFlyer terms and conditions apply.

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Wenger: No signings imminent Hong Kong - Manager Arsene Wenger on Saturday denied speculation that Arsenal were about to buy Spanish winger Santi Cazorla, saying the club were "not close to signing anybody". Speaking in Hong Kong where the north London club are on the final leg of their pre-season tour of Asia, Wenger dismissed recent rumours that the Gunners had agreed terms with the highly rated Malaga player. "At the moment we're are not close to signing anybody," Wenger told reporters in the southern Chinese city a day before his side were due to take on local outfit Kitchee. "And when we do we will inform you," he added. The Arsenal boss has already brought in German striker Lukas Podolski and French forward Olivier Giroud this summer with reports suggesting that a fee of around 16 million pounds had been agreed with Malaga for their 27-year-old star playmaker. Wenger expressed his admiration for the player during a press conference in Beijing earlier this week but his comments Saturday suggested a deal now looks far from complete. The news will disappoint Arsenal supporters who are keen to see the squad strengthened, especially while the future of club captain Robin van Persie remains in doubt. Van Persie, 28, won both the Players' and Football Writers' Player of the Year awards last season, but stunned fans when he declared after Euro 2012 that he wanted to leave because he felt the club's ambitions did not match his own. A visibly irritated Wenger, who has been asked repeatedly about Van Persie during the Asia tour, refused to be drawn Saturday on whether the Dutchman would still be at the club come the start of the season. "I can understand it interests journalists but I have nothing special to say about him and the day we have to say some something, don't worry, we will come out and inform you," he said. "All the rest is only speculation and makes maybe good newspaper articles but it doesn't help us much to play football." The Arsenal manager, however, hinted that he was thinking about life after the Dutch striker, who has refused a new contract offer, saying that there were always young players who could follow in Van Persie's footsteps. "Van Persie was behind Thierry Henry when he started to play and people said to me, 'You have Thierry Henry but you play Van Persie but he's not good enough.' "Today he is the name but behind (Van Persie) there will be somebody who will make a name." Arsenal play Kitchee at the 40 000 capacity Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday. Kick-off is at 12:00 SA time. It will be the north London club's third and final game of their tour of Asia. On Tuesday they defeated Malaysia XI, a select squad of Malaysian League players, 2-1 in Kuala Lumpur. Friday saw them lose 2-0 to Manchester City at Beijing's Bird Nest stadium.

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Article reproduced courtesy of the Guardian Environment Network 'Sustainable' palm oil campaign banned by ASA 9th September, 2009 Advertorial claimed that controversial oil business was 'green answer' and was important to alleviating poverty A press campaign making environmental claims about the controversial product Malaysian Palm Oil, including that it is "sustainable", has been banned as misleading by the advertising regulator. Palm Oil, which is used in a third of all groceries, has been at the centre of an environmental debate over its role in the destruction of rainforest in areas such as south-east Asia. The press campaign, run by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), made a number of claims, including that the product was the "green answer" and that palm oil is the "only product able to sustainably and efficiently meet a larger portion of the world's increasing demand for oil crop-based consumer goods, foodstuffs and biofuels". MPOC also argued that the palm oil business had played an important role in the "alleviation of poverty, especially among rural populations". The advertorial went on to claim that criticism of Malaysia's palm oil industry – including "rampant deforestation and unsound environmental practices" – amounted to "protectionist agendas" not based on scientific fact or evidence. Environmental group Friends of the Earth, and two members of the public, complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that a number of the claims made by MPOC were misleading and could not be proven. The ASA said that a palm oil company sustainability certification scheme, through a body called the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), and the certification of biofuels in general, was "still the subject of debate". Therefore making a claim that palm oil could be wholly sustainable, which cannot be substantiated, was deemed to be misleading. The ASA also said that MPOC's attack on its detractors was likely to mislead. This was because MPOC could not prove that the production of palm oil did not, in fact, lead to deforestation or environmental damage. MPOC's assertion about helping to alleviate poverty was also misleading according to the ASA, as there was "not a consensus on the economic impact of palm oil on local communities". The ASA said that some research had shown that biofuel production causes adverse social impacts including rising food prices and has a major short-term impact on the poor. The ASA ruled that the ad should not be shown again. Mark Sweney is the Guardian's advertising, marketing and new media correspondent. This article is reprinted courtesy of the Guardian Environment Network. Using this website means you agree to us using simple cookies.

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The three-day festival, themed Huyen Thoai Ngan Nam (Legend of 1,000 Years), saw kites in a variety of shapes and colours from Australia, Cambodia, Canada, mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, France, the UK, the US, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Among the star attractions at the festival are New Zealand billionaire and kite-maker Peter Lynn and Vietnamese-Canadian kite flier and designer Lam Hoac. Taiwanese brought kites measuring 100 -150m long while Malaysians brought those that did not need the wind for flying. Attention is now focused on French and Filipino contestants who are known for their fighting kites. They, along with competitors from Brunei, Japan, and Singapore, will take part in a fighting-kite competition this morning at Front Beach in the north of the city. All participants and visitors are looking forward to a special night performance with sound and lights, considered the highlight of the festival. The show is broadcast live by Ba Ria – Vung Tau Television and picked up by stations belonging to Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Binh Thuan provinces. The performance this year will narrate the story of the country's founding by the mythical Lac Long Quan and Au Co. A three-day exhibition on kites tracing their history opened on March 26 at Sammy Hotel. Ho Van Nien, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee and Head of the festival organising committee, said this year's festival would also celebrate 1,000 years of Hanoi and Vietnam's assumption of the ASEAN chair. The exchange among artists and connoisseurs would help them understand more about each other's traditions and cultures, he added.

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At the Pentagon it's known as GWOT, an acronym bearing the imprint of the president who came into office swearing off nation-building and refusing to meddle in the affairs of far-off nations. Now he finds both things central to Job No. 1: the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. response began on the morning of Sept. 11 when officials shut North American airspace to block further incoming terror strikes. Historians will sift the details of what must become the most unconventional war to date but perhaps a suitable first war of the 21st century. They will note the financial freezes and manhunts and paper trails searched from Munich to Malaysia, the sudden fame of a Florida flight school, the mysterious deaths of a recreational hunter and postal workers, nasal swabs of bureaucrats and lawmakers, and how an earthquake-an earthquake!-shook New Yorkers back into the streets in the middle of an autumn night. Pentagon officials now say they began to formulate a battle plan for Afghanistan Sept. 12 while the smell of jet fuel still permeated the halls at headquarters. That day orders went out to ship senior commanders to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. By Sept. 24, they say, they were ready to attack. On Oct. 5 the word came, and the first B-2 Stealth bomber took off from Diego Garcia bound for Afghanistan with two pilots only on board. During that 41-hour mission, the pilots took turns at the controls between naps in a discount-store lawn chair. The first Stealth bomber flew two complete missions-84 hours-without turning off its engines, dropped 16 bombs, and lost only one-half quart of oil. Navy fighters flying from three aircraft carriers commenced a 95-a-day rate of sorties over Afghanistan that would continue through the opening days of the war. Unmanned Predators and Global Hawks, both crafts technically in testing phase, also took to the air over Afghanistan, bringing near-real-time images back to command posts. At the same time, Air Force cargo planes took off from Germany to drop thousands of food packets to Afghans. It was perhaps the first page of the epic in how U.S. forces go to war in the unipower, American Age. The next page belongs to special forces, who became the yeomen of the war, fighting above altitudes for which they had trained, sometimes in three feet of snow, painting laser targets for the air forces above while penetrating cave strongholds below. Ground troops linked up with local forces, eventually crumbling the Taliban regime and setting al-Qaeda terrorists on the run. Twenty-four servicemen have died in the effort. Eight American journalists have been killed in Afghanistan, along with Daniel Pearl of The Wall Street Journal, who was killed in Pakistan while reporting on the war. Now Pentagon officials are again at the drawing boards, tracing plans for other battlefields. They say they are planning not only for Iraq but also for Iran and sundry places where the United States may find itself challenged without advance warning. That includes, at present, India and Pakistan, where tensions along the border could quickly impinge on U.S. strategy and forces in the Afghan war. And when war is over, reconstruction begins. Building lasting good government is the hard part. In Afghanistan tribal factions and infighting pose real threats to lasting peace. Tribal minorities still hold most of the power, which prohibits grassroots leadership from arising. U.S. officials are aware that today's interim government leaders are yesterday's warlords. Relief worker Dan Cooper makes this analogy: "It's like the international community has taken a big old tree, cut it down then set it up in the middle of town. Everyone walks around the tree and says, 'Isn't it beautiful?' But when they walk away, the tree falls over." Pakistan and India America is either with us or with the terrorists," said Omar Abdullah, a member of India's parliament, after yet another attack across India's border in Kashmir by Islamic militants. Raids by armed extremists are keeping tensions high between the two. They force the United States to treat as a main event what should be a sideshow in the global war on terrorism. India and Pakistan for 30 years have fought over Kashmir, a beautifully rugged and poor extremity of their shared 1,800-mile border. Since both countries tested nuclear weapons in 1998, an escalating conflict-as it is now playing out-poses risks beyond the remote area. India began pouring troops along the border after Islamic militants attacked its parliament in December. Historically the militants conduct raids across the border and the better-armed Indian troops shell their Pakistan strongholds in return. Now both sides have nearly a million fighters stationed there and tension is high. Despite Pakistan's assistance in the war on terrorism, Islamic militants have not been removed from Pakistan's side of the border. President Pervez Musharraf has been tough on radical Islamic groups, but the Kashmir war of nerves displays just how entrenched are their roots in the country. When the militants storm an Indian camp, as they did on May 30, killing three policemen and wounding others, they threaten to turn the border standoff into a regional war. Daily casualties from the fighting are running up to several dozen killed and wounded. The conflict tests the limits of the U.S. alliance with Pakistan in the GWOT. Pakistan helped create and foster the Taliban and al-Qaeda, and has long used radical Islamic groups as forward troops in its disputes with India. The clashes now test whether Mr. Musharraf can bring those groups to heel. It also throws into relief the difference between government systems: India has pursued a secular democracy while Pakistan continues to blend democracy with Islam. Both countries have problems with radical religious elements, but only Pakistan retains a blasphemy law that is tied to Muslim Shariah code. Under it the government charges with violations not only 60 Christians a year but also hundreds of Muslims. But what's thus far kept the peace-such as it is-may be both sides' nuclear weapons. Violence overall in Kashmir has dropped since the 1988 nuclear tests, and both sides know it's in their best interest to find a solution before sporadic fighting goes nuclear. And the United States would like to include the two enemies as its own allies in the war on terrorism. African wars are not politically correct news. It is no news that they seldom make headlines in the United States, especially when Central Asian battlefields are hot. Civil war in Congo continues to include forces located in Angola and Uganda. A recent upsurge of fighting in Liberia threatens the government of Charles Taylor and could spill into Sierra Leone, only now breathing again after a civil war that began in 1991. In Sudan, once the base of operations for Osama bin Laden, officials of the Islamic government in Khartoum have used the cover of war on terrorism, and a flawed ceasefire plan negotiated with U.S. Special Envoy John Danforth, to terrorize southern Sudan again. An attack on the town of Rier in Western Upper Nile took place on May 22, just as U.S. Agency for International Development director Andrew Natsios, who is also the president's Special Humanitarian Coordinator on Sudan, was set to visit the area hours later. Early reports confirmed 15 dead, at least 35 critically wounded, and more than 60 others hurt. Attacks on civilians are common, particularly in this oil-rich region where Khartoum's forces would like to clear the land of habitation. Earlier, in February, a Sudanese army helicopter gunship attacked the town of Bieh in Western Upper Nile, killing 17 and injuring dozens, nearly all women and children. The attack came just as villagers gathered to accept a food delivery from the UN World Food Program. UN officials had obtained permission from the government in Khartoum to make the food drop. As fighting between rebels in the south, which is predominantly Christian, and the Islamic government in the north passes its 19th year, attack sites by the government have focused on lands slated for oil development. Those areas have been the focus of Sudanese government pogroms, with forces using the sporadic gunship attacks to scatter villagers. Then oil developers-Canadian, European, and Chinese-can move in. After the strikes, Khartoum went one step further: restricting UN humanitarian flights, which carry 80 percent of U.S. aid into southern Sudan. Despite those setbacks, former Sen. Danforth has recommended renewing diplomatic relations with Khartoum, which ended six years ago. The State Department complied, naming Jeffrey Millington the first resident diplomat. He began meetings with Khartoum leaders May 30. Christians do not speak with one voice on Middle East conflicts. On the one hand are Christian organizations and churches who view the return of modern Jews to the state of Israel as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Since they believe modern Israel should enjoy divine status in the region, these organizations align themselves with Jewish groups in the United States to lobby for a pro-Israeli policy-earning the designation "Christian Zionists." International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is one such group. It began in 1980 "to bless and comfort Zion" after 13 nations, under threat of an Arab oil embargo, moved their embassies from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. Today the organization has nine overseas branches of support, although its staff is mostly American. The group publishes, online and in print, the Middle East Digest (icej.org) with brisk analysis of the current intifada. It sides with Israelis who believe that establishing a Palestinian state within Israel's borders would compromise national security. When Palestinians took refuge this spring inside Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, Christian Embassy director Malcolm Hedding condemned their act as "a premeditated offense by militant outlaws." Christians living in Bethlehem at the same time condemned Israel for ordering forces into the city. They said that by sending tanks and troops into Manger Square, Israel provoked the confrontation and turned it into an international incident. They also condemn Israeli forces for denying food deliveries to those who remained inside the church 19 days. "The appropriate response from Israel is not to retaliate with worse war scenes to be shared, but by withdrawing, and ending the occupation," said Riah Abu El-Assal, the Anglican bishop of Jerusalem. An Arab Christian but Israeli citizen, Mr. Riah told WORLD he encountered 14 checkpoints between Nazareth and Jerusalem on his way to a meeting with church leaders during the height of the confrontation in April. The delays by Israeli authorities caused him to miss the meeting. Mr. Riah told WORLD he condemns the suicide bombings carried out by Palestinian terrorists, "but I want to make it clear that I do support Mr. Arafat in his struggle for independence, and see that peace can only be based on justice, when the Palestinians under occupation are liberated from all their sufferings." (WORLD earlier reported that Mr. Riah did not support the Palestinian Authority leader.) Many Arab Christians are discriminated against along with Arab Muslims in Israel and side with the Palestinians politically. Their position receives support from a wide range of Christian organizations-from the World Council of Churches to conservative churches and parachurch groups in the United States, like the Assemblies of God, who sponsor workers among Palestinians and identify with their hard plight. They see providing justice to Palestinians as the priority. Many also believe the prophecies concerning Israel were fulfilled in the New Testament coming of Jesus Christ. Debates between those two sides over the fighting between Israelis and Palestinians obscure another troublesome plight: the slow extinction of Christians in the Middle East. Once a majority in places like Bethlehem and Nazareth and in countries like Lebanon, Christians number less than 14 million in a population of 200 million. Millions emigrate because of individual persecution and political oppression, largely at the hands of Muslim neighbors. While 1.5 million Christians remain in Lebanon, more than 6 million live abroad. Jerusalem had 28,000 Christian residents at the time of modern Israel's formation in 1947; now they number well under 10,000.

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>> Home > Support Otago > Foundations & Trusts The University has established The University of Otago Foundation Trust, a New Zealand registered charitable trust, as well as The Otago University Trust in the UK, the University of Otago in America, Inc. in the USA and the University of Otago Foundation for Malaysia. The terms of these Trusts allow in-country tax benefits for Otago’s donors living abroad and ensure that the expressed wishes of donors are fulfilled. The University of Otago Foundation Trust The University of Otago Foundation Trust is a charitable trust which receives and administers donations, bequests and sponsorship monies for University and academic priorities. The terms of this Trust ensure that the wishes of donors and sponsors are fulfilled. Board of Trustees - Mr John Ward, Chancellor, University of Otago (Convener) - Professor Harlene Hayne, Vice-Chancellor, University of Otago - Mr Stephen Higgs, Member - University of Otago Council - Miss Lorraine Isaacs, Member - University of Otago Council - Mr Stuart McLauchlan, Pro-Chancellor - University of Otago Council - Mr John Patrick, Chief Operating Officer, University of Otago - Mr Michael Sidey, Member - University of Otago Council - Dr Royden Somerville, QC, Member - University of Otago Council For further Information please contact The Foundation Trust Secretary T: +64 3 479 8250 The Otago University Trust (UK) The Otago University Trust was established to provide a tax-effective vehicle for University of Otago supporters living in the United Kingdom. All gifts made through the Trust are transferred in full to the University of Otago for the precise purpose for which the gift was made. There are no expenses associated with the Trust as all the work is carried out by the Trustees on a pro bono basis. The Trust is registered as a charity with Inland Revenue enabling it to reclaim tax on contributions made by U.K. taxpayers. The Charities Commission oversees the Trust. By making gift aid donations, and where the donor is a U.K taxpayer, the gift is enhanced by 25% from H.M. Revenue and Customs. Therefore for every £100 received from a donor the Trust receives £125. If the donor is a higher rate taxpayer, they will receive a deduction of the difference between the higher rate of tax and the standard rate of tax. Currently this is 20%. For gifts made up until 5 April 2011 there is a government supplement of a further 3 pence payable to the charity. Any bequest left to the Otago University Trust is exempt from the 40% inheritance tax that is levied on an estate. The Trustees will ensure that, where there is an expression of wish for the funds to be used to support a particular aspect of the work of the University, the bequest will be directed there. Donations made to the Otago University Trust are administered by Chapel & York, PO Box 50, Lingfield, RH7 6FT. For further Information about the Otago University Trust (UK), or to discuss giving in the UK please contact: The Otago University Trust c/o Chapel & York Limited PO Box 50 Alumni of the University of Otago in America, Inc. The Alumni of the University of Otago in America, Inc. (AUOA) is a nonprofit corporation founded by the University of Otago to encourage alumni, friends, and colleagues to support research and scholarship. Board of Directors - Geoffrey Nichol (President) - Andrew King (Vice-President) - Neil Matheson (Treasurer) - AnnMarie Oien (Secretary) - Murray Brennan - Chris White - Helen Heslop - Harlene Hayne (Ex Officio), Vice-Chancellor, University of Otago - Philip Kearney (Ex Officio), Director of Development, University of Otago - Alison Finigan (Ex Officio), Head of Alumni Relations, University of Otago For further information visit www.alumniuoa.com The University of Otago Foundation for Malaysia The University of Otago Foundation for Malaysia was established in 2002. - Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leo Moggie - Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Haji Ahmad Azizuddin Haji Zainal Abidin - University of Otago Chancellor, Mr John Ward - University of Otago Vice-Chancellor, Professor Harlene Hayne - Head of Alumni Relations Office, Alison Finigan For further information please contact Ong & Wong Management Accountants Suite C6-5, 6th Floor Megan Avenue II 12, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng 50450 Kuala Lumpur

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The two countries do not have a formal extradition treaty but Malaysia has good relations with Saudi Arabia as a fellow Muslim country, says the BBC’s Jennifer Pak, in Kuala Lumpur. Okay, a nation’s borders are its business but refusing sanctuary to a man who – in lieu of a stink that would make the outcry that followed Yousef Nadarkhani’s prosecution look like a polite cough – is destined to be killed is nauseating. Then again, it doesn’t come as a surprise. The Malaysian government is proud to declare that it’s “moderate”, not “extremist”, but as noted in Back Towards the… passim its state and civil society are marked by communitarian rhetoric; hostile exclusivism and absurd paranoia. Deviations from the lifestyles and beliefs of the religious majority – effeminacy, say, or apparent sympathy with minority religions – are liable to get you packed off for “re-education”. Elsewhere, more traditional and straightforwardly punitive sentences like caning are enthusiastically upheld. There are major difference between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia – and they’d seem really big if you lived in either – but the cruel absurdity of Islamic law unites them nonetheless; they’re kindred, at least, in spirit. And, thus, “moderation” remains barely meaningful.

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The founders of Lawrence University had a grand vision and, throughout the college’s history, its leaders have been steadfast in their commitment to building a reputation as much more than a small liberal arts college in Appleton, Wisconsin. In the 21st century, Lawrence University is among the leading liberal arts institutions in the nation, and is included on a short list of “Colleges that Change Lives” in a book written by the late college-consumer advocate and respected education journalist, Loren Pope. But Lawrence’s mission and, indeed, its success, are evident beyond the borders of Appleton and the United States. There can be no mistaking the global impact of Lawrence University or the fact that the Lawrence community is truly worldwide. Lawrence’s global impact is seen in alumni who gained the knowledge and confidence to venture thousands of miles away from Appleton in order to flex their liberal arts muscles and create rewarding international careers; in the faculty whose research and scholarly interests take them around the world and back, bringing to the college and its classrooms unique and meaningful global perspectives; in its extraordinary collection of off-campus study programs that open the doors to life-changing adventures found in locations from the familiar to the exotic; in its many visiting artists and speakers who bring enlightening international experiences to campus; in its international students who share their cultures, their perspectives and their quests to make a difference back home someday. Lawrence’s global presence is an exciting convergence that has today’s students, faculty and alumni sitting on top of the world. Of the many items a Lawrence student packs for college, a passport might end up being one of the most valuable. Lawrence currently offers approximately 45 study-abroad programs, allowing students to immerse themselves in cultures and languages from around the globe. Off-campus programs Coordinator Laura Zuege ’02 said studying abroad is a chance for students to see their roles in the larger world. “It allows them to explore the wider range of what they’re studying and put their liberal arts theories and lessons into action.” Zuege said the program’s many offerings are popular, with an average of 130 students studying abroad each year. For Beth Larson ’12, the Francophone Seminar in Senegal allowed her to experience a culture she had been fascinated with since meeting a woman from Senegal in grade school. “I wanted to take advantage of a unique experience, and I knew Senegal was something that I most likely wouldn’t be able to do again,” Larson said. “While there I became very good friends with my neighbors, and because of this, I was able to experience things that a typical traveler would not. It was very rewarding.” Ana Kennedy ’11 chose Florence, Italy, for the chance to live in a city that many consider to be one of the world’s most beautiful places. It did not disappoint. “It is a city full of students, street vendors and soccer players, and it is vibrant, loud and very colorful,” she said. “There is a dynamic between the old and the new, the classical and the modern, tradition and experimentation. That was very interesting to me. Florence has such a rich history in terms of its art, and because so many people are visiting throughout the year, there is an influx of new ideas and styles.” Buenos Aires was the destination for Dario LaPoma ’10 because it allowed him to combine his passions for music and the Spanish language. He found the coursework at the university del Salvador inspiring and his new friendships life-changing. “The city offered endless stimulation, and within mere weeks I had formed several relationships with people as passionate about seeking concerts, delicious food, and walking for hours on end, as I was. The decision to go there wasn’t in any way counterintuitive; it was really a reaffirmation and an invitation to follow through with my wildest musical desires and share that enthusiasm with others.” Leonard Hayes ’11 spent part of his senior year studying abroad at a music conservatory in Amsterdam. Since Hayes returned, his professor noticed striking changes in his performance and attitude. Hayes describes his experience and the effect it had on him in this video. Nate Grady ’11 chose India for its endless array of extremes. “I did not know the half of it,” he said. “My time in India was so pockmarked with shock and awe, so riddled with adventure, fascination and exasperation that I will never forget it or the physical, emotional and academic learning that it provided me.” And when it comes to defining one’s Lawrence experience, Zuege said the opportunity to become more cross-culturally savvy is not to be missed. “I’m proud of the way Lawrence approaches off-campus study,” said Zuege. “It is an academically and departmentally driven program. Lawrence is unique in that respect, that we see study abroad as a whole-student experience.” How does study abroad transform today’s Lawrentian? Follow Jared Marchant ’13 as he blogs about his travels to Spain during the upcoming Fall Term. Meet Marchant and learn about his preparations. Off-Campus Program destinations for LU students in 2010-11 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Athens, Greece - Auckland, New Zealand - Beijing, China - Berlin, Germany - Budapest, Hungary - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Dublin, Ireland - Florence, Italy - Freiburg, Germany - Gaborone, Botswana - Grenada, Spain - Guanajuato, Mexico - London, England - Melbourne, Australia - Milan, Italy - Nantes, France - Oxford, England - London, England - Paris, France - Pune, India - Quebec, Canada - Rome, Italy - San José, Costa Rica - Santiago, Chile - St. Petersburg, Russia - Sydney, Australia - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Tokyo, Japan - Vienna, Austria Student Bound for Russia Meghan Hickey ’12 has been awarded a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Russian this summer at the Kazan Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities in Kazan, Russia. Hickey will spend eight weeks living with a host family in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan. The program features four hours a day of personalized, intensive language study as well as literature and political science courses and various cultural activities. World Scholarship – Faculty in Pursuit of Scholarship and Sharing their Expertise Professor of Music and Teacher of Cello Janet Anthony has been teaching in Haiti since 1997. In December 2010 she was invited to Curaçao to teach cello lessons to children in the Youth Symphonic Orchestra of Curaçao Foundation. Marcia Bjørnerud, professor of geology and Walter Schober Professor of Environmental Studies, continues to work with geologists at the University of Oslo, where she spent her sabbatical in 2000-01. In 2007 she collaborated with geologists from the Academy of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland, in fieldwork on the high arctic archipelago of Svalbard (a Norwegian territory). In 2009, a sabbatical to Dunedin, New Zealand (Otago University), allowed Bjørnerud to conduct research that could lead to the development of better risk assessment and predictive techniques in earthquake-prone areas. Ken Bozeman, Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music and teacher of voice, gave a workshop on the Acoustics of Male Passaggio at the Physiology and Acoustics of Singing conference in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 2010. Jason Brozek, assistant professor of government and Stephen Edward Scarff Professor of International Affairs, and Marty Finkler, professor of economics and John R. Kimberly Distinguished Professor in the American Economic System, gave talks at the Geochemistry Institute within Guizhou Normal University in Guiyang, China, in December 2009. Every other year, as part of the Lawrence University Marine Program, Professor of Biology Bart De Stasio ’82 takes students to Grand Cayman, British West Indies, to collect data on coral and fish biodiversity. A 2009 sabbatical took him to Stockholm University to conduct research on feeding interactions and toxic algae in the Baltic Sea. In summer 2012, De Stasio’s colleague from Finland will travel to Wisconsin to conduct research comparing grazing interactions in the Baltic Sea and Green Bay. Professor of Biology and Raymond H. Herzog Professor of Science Beth De Stasio ’83 has an ongoing collaboration with a researcher in Sweden that stems from a six-month Fulbright fellowship to the Karolinska Institutet followed by a six-month sabbatical in Stockholm in 2009. Professor of Spanish Gustavo Fares regularly lectures abroad, in Argentina (Universidad Nacional de Cuyo), where he offers a graduate course on Border Literatures, co-directs a master’s thesis, is part of an editorial board, and is of academic counsel. Peter Glick, professor of psychology and Henry Merritt Wriston Professor in the Social Sciences, has continuing collaborations with German and Spanish colleagues researching sexism, gender stereotypes and prejudice. He has been asked to present in Germany, Spain, England and Chile. Dave Hall, associate professor of chemistry, has been invited to teach and has done collaborative research on immunology at University Utrecht, Netherlands, for the past five years. He is currently serving as a member of a Ph.D. examination committee in the Netherlands. Professor of psychology Bruce Hetzler is a member of the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism and has conducted research dealing with the effects of alcohol on brain waves and the behavior of laboratory animals for the past 30 years. He has presented at conferences in Cardiff, Wales; Munich, Germany; Helsinki, Finland; Toronto; Yokohama, Japan; Mannheim, Germany; and Paris. Eilene Hoft-March, professor of French and Milwaukee-Downer College and College Endowment Association Professor of Liberal Studies, has presented her research on late 20th- and early 21st-century life writing at the Society for French Studies in England. Professor of Music and Teacher of Piano Catherine Kautsky spent a 2010 fall sabbatical in Paris doing research for a book on the Debussy “Preludes.” Carol Lawton, professor of art history and Ottilia Buerger Professor of Classical Studies, has been working in Greece every summer for more than 20 years. Her current project is publishing sculpture from the excavations of the Athenian Agora, the centerpiece of ancient Athens. David McGlynn, assistant professor of English, received a fellowship to participate in a three-week summer institute hosted by the Japan Studies Association in Honolulu, Hawaii, in June 2011. Associate Professor of Music Joanne Metcalf has had performances of her compositions in more than 25 countries worldwide. O Shining Light, commissioned by the Scottish ensemble Canty, was recently released on the group’s Carmina Celtica CD. Il nome del bel fior has been performed by the Hilliard Ensemble and Singer Pur more than 100 times in Germany, England, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Russia. Brent Peterson, professor of German, co-directed a five-week National Endowment for the Humanities seminar in Berlin last summer. It dealt with multi-culturalism in Germany, particularly as it relates to Turkish/Muslim migrants in that country. Lavanya Proctor, visiting assistant professor of anthropology, conducts research in New Delhi, India, where she explores English language ideologies and their relationship to ideologies of socioeconomic mobility. Associate Professor of Biology Jodi Sedlock has been conducting frequent research on bats in the Philippines. Fred Sturm, Kimberly-Clark Professor of Music and director of jazz studies, has conducted performances of his works in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Italy. Kuo-Ming Sung, associate professor of Chinese and linguistics, has done research in Seoul, South Korea, on the use of Chinese characters in the modern Korean society. He traveled to Tibet to research the tonal structure of the Lhasa Tibetan. He has also led study tours to China, Japan, Tibet, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Shanghai. In addition, he has also offered tutorials on Amdo Tibetan to Lawrence students and has written a book about Tibetan culture. Jere Wickens, assistant dean of faculty for student academic services and visiting assistant professor of anthropology, will return to Greece this summer to continue working on an archaeological surface survey in the area of Karystos in southern Euboea, just north of Athens, trying to figure out how use of the rural areas changed over time. He will also study how caves and rock shelters in the region around Athens were used in antiquity. Bob Williams, associate professor of education, is finishing a sabbatical in Germany where he is a visiting professor with the Natural Media and Engineering project at RWTH Aachen University. He is working with a team of gesture researchers to study the role of bodily movements in communication and cognition. In June he gave a presentation at the third Conference of the Scandinavian Association for Language and Cognition at the University of Copenhagen. Jane Parish Yang, associate professor of Chinese, has used sabbaticals in 2008 and 2010 to conduct research on 15th- and 16th-century Vietnamese “narratives of strange” written in Chinese characters at Academia Sinica, outside Taipei, Taiwan. Academic merit and leadership potential have allowed Lawrence faculty to earn appointments as Fulbright Scholars along with fellowships for teaching and research opportunities around the world. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Marcia Bjørnerud, professor of geology and Walter Schober Professor of Environmental Studies, was awarded a four-month fellowship in 2009 to the University of Otago in New Zealand for research on ancient rocks exposed along the Alpine Fault. The research — designed to increase understanding of what happens during great seismic events — complements her field-based studies with students on ancient rocks of northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, which were once in a similar tectonic setting. Carla Daughtry, associate professor of anthropology, was awarded a nine- month appointment in 2010-11 to the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud Center for American Studies and Research at American University in Cairo, Egypt. She taught courses in American perspectives on race, ethnicity, diaspora and globalization and supported student and faculty research activities through CASAR. Elizabeth De Stasio ’83, professor of biology and Raymond H. Herzog Professor of Science, earned a six-month fellowship in 2009 to the Karolinska Institutet near Stockholm, Sweden, for research investigating the role the protein DAF -19 plays in regulating the function of various genes that in turn affect nerve function and maintenance. Her research focused on the viability of C. elegans — microscopic worms — as a model system for studying Alzheimer’s disease. Gustavo Fares, professor of Spanish, received a 10-week appointment in 2004 to his native Argentina to teach the graduate-level course Hispanic Identities in the United States at the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza. Fares’ course examined the identities of Hispanic communities in the United States and the understanding of those identities outside the U.S. borders, focusing on the ways they are depicted in films, literature and the visual arts as well as the role those representations play in the political arena. Claudena Skran, associate professor of government and Edwin & Ruth West Professor of Economics and Social Science, received a six-month fellowship for an investigation of the role of non-governmental organizations in refugee resettlement in post-civil war Sierra Leone. Her study focused on how NGOs are organized, how they are funded, how they are governed, how they interact with local and national governments and their impact on the resettlement and reintegration of refugees, especially victims with special needs, former child soldiers and female victims of sexual abuse. International Alumni—Making Their Marks in the World In his work, Kurt Amend provides broad policy oversight for security assistance programs, defense trade matters and political-military relationships with countries around the world. In addition, since August 2009 he has served as the Department of State’s Senior Advisor for Security Negotiations and Agreements, leading the U.S. Government’s negotiation of status of forces, burden-sharing and access, and defense cooperation agreements with key allies and partners in South America, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and East Asia. Previous overseas assignments include Afghanistan, India, Kosovo, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan, with recent travel to Warsaw, Poland; Tokyo; Singapore; Astana, Kazakhstan; Rome; The Hague, The Netherlands; and Muscat, Oman. “Without question, the core components of a liberal arts education at Lawrence — rigorous, analytical thought, the ability to place events and trends in historical context, and clear, succinct written and oral expression, to name a few — have been vital to a career as a diplomat.” Lan Huang is CEO of Wuxi MTLH Biotechnology, a company she co-founded in China. Wuxi develops protein/peptide therapeutics for cancer and immunological diseases. Huang is also involved in several other international businesses, including HYWE Pharmaceuticals, a company she founded in 2003. An herbal drug she created at HYWE for treating brain tumors is undergoing phase II testing in the United States. She is the founder of Beyond ML Groups, a company that provides product management services to large U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including the coordination of research and development in China. In addition, she is the founder of Yolare Dermaceuticals, where she has created skin care products used for anti-aging purposes and scar reduction. Huang is the recipient of the 2010 Thousand Talent Innovator Award from China’s central government. “In my view, ‘international career’ means a person utilizes resources from different countries and makes the most value out of a global presence. In my case, I derive advanced technology from the U.S., then implement these technologies in China by further developing the technologies to make products for the market. I take advantage of China’s talent pool, low-cost manufacturing and large market. I enjoy being the bridge between the U.S. and China health-care worlds.” Tocher Mitchell recently returned to the United States following a three-year assignment in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he worked with banks and other financial institutions to find new and better ways to finance underserved small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). In addition, his international career has taken him to Hong Kong, Manila, Bosnia, Mongolia and Croatia. After graduating from Lawrence, he spent three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand. “I believe my liberal arts education at Lawrence, particularly majoring in anthropology, helped prepare me well for working and living abroad. The array of courses I had to take provided me with a broad perspective, and sensitivity to other cultures. As well, it trained me to be observant, a key skill in helping one to adapt to different living conditions.” Dorota Dabrowski runs a chamber that represents more than 300 American companies invested in Poland — almost one-third are Fortune 500 companies. The chamber provides business- networking opportunities, organizes conferences and sector- focused meetings, and advocates its positions based on U.S. best practices. “The first thing you have to learn when living and working abroad is that things are simply different — not better or worse. In a place like Poland, some of the odd nuances can be blamed on 50 years of communism, but then at some point you realize that other odd nuances are just a matter of culture. Some things may change over time, but you can expect that most will not. Having been in Poland since the beginning of the country’s transition into a free- market democracy, I have been overwhelmingly impressed by the resilience and adaptability of the Polish people to the changes taking place. Creativity, entrepreneurship and ambition abound and have made this country consistently successful for the past 20 years.” Heidi Stober currently sings with Deutsche Oper Berlin, but has sung other places internationally and continues to sing in the U.S. with various opera companies and orchestras. “I never thought I would be living in Germany and singing here. It is such a great opportunity to sing so many different roles at once. It has also been wonderful to meet singers from all over the world with different backgrounds and experiences.” In the Republic of the Congo, Christopher Murray and his team are trying to fulfill Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s goals for Africa. These include health care, especially in the areas of HIV/AIDS prevention and malaria. Other goals involve working with host governments on climate change, good governance, promoting democracy and achieving food security for their populations. “Central Africa is indeed far from Appleton. My home overlooks the banks of the Congo River, famous from Joseph Conrad’s novel “The Heart of Darkness,” which many of us read in the years before we got to Lawrence. The spirit of travel and engaging new ideas in new places is deep in the Lawrence tradition. When we get to draw on that tradition, we can only feel lucky: Lucky for what Lawrence encouraged us to do with our lives, and lucky for the experiences of living first hand in other cultures.” Sharp Shooter Films produces television commercials. The company is a joint venture between Madhura Samarth and the WPP group (a global media company). Samarth and her company have produced commercials for some of the biggest brands and worked with several Indian celebrities. ”When I graduated from LU with a degree in economics, I had no idea I’d get into ad film production — I was focused on the financial world. I started out working for a boutique investment bank in New York after graduating from Lawrence. Two years later I moved back to Mumbai where I started a company that helped raise finances for small companies. After the dot-com crash, I got into television commercial production, which was a business my father had been in for several years. It’s amazing that a Lawrence education equips you with skills that can be used across disciplines.” Michele Mayer manages a clientele of Chilean and Peruvian investors, providing a full range of services including asset management, wealth planning, corporate finance and investment banking. “I hadn’t even considered finance when I fell into a job in banking in New York City where my Spanish skills and English ‘as a native language’ skills were in high demand. I spent nine years in New York and 12 years based in Santiago, Chile. In Chile, I managed the representative offices of two major European banks and was instrumental in obtaining approval from local risk authorities for offshore investment by Chilean Pension Fund Administrators in those banks. During my tenure, I covered the Andean region (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile) as well as the Southern cone (Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay). I generated investment-banking transactions and managed institutional investors and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.” Rick Kroos’s investments have been varied and include tobacco anti-carcinogen filter developments, FDA-approved medical face masks, the New Zealand green-lipped mussel industry, forestry for carbon credits, thoroughbred horse breeding and racing, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut fast-food franchises in Asia, a call center in the Philippines, owning Miller Golf and several other minor interests. “My investments … have generally been satisfactory in monetary gains, but even more fulfilling have been the diversity and interesting connections with industries with which I had little prior experience. I have enjoyed the ride and also meeting very bright entrepreneurial persons during this journey. I have been very blessed and much can be attributed to the grounding that the four years at Lawrence provided.” Peace Corps Partners When Oliver ’10 and Rebecca (Dempsey) Zornow ’10, reached the African country of Swaziland in June, they extended a long Lawrence tradition of global service through the Peace Corps, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011. Since 1970, when Senator John F. Kennedy first challenged young people to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries, 214 Lawrence graduates have robustly answered the call, serving from A(fghanistan) to Z(ambia) and 70 countries in between. The Zornows, who as Lawrence students oversaw a project that established a tuition-free elementary school in rural Caneille, Haiti, will spend 27 months in Swaziland as non-formal-education project volunteers, supporting continuing education for school staff and programs that strengthen the school community and community at large. James Eggert ’67, among Lawrence’s first Peace Corps volunteers, spent two years (1964-66) in Kenya following his junior year. He helped the government’s Ministry of Land Settlement facilitate the redistribution of thousands of acres of former British colonial farmland to African farmers. “I remember being inspired by the JFK ‘give something to your country’ atmosphere of the early sixties and also wanting some real-world experience,” recalled Eggert, whose farming background allowed him to join the corps before graduating. “Fortunately, I was able to finish my senior year with more interest and energy when I came back in the fall of 1966.” Fiber artist Lee Ann Kleeman M-D ’64 recently used her two years of Peace Corps service in Afghanistan (1967-69) as inspiration for a stitched piece she created for a “turning point”-themed art show. “Living and working in a country and culture very different from my own enabled me to realize how much a nation’s values and viewpoints are shaped by its history, geography, religion, government and other institutions,” Kleeman said. “Because living conditions were harsh, I also learned I am capable of dealing with much more than I would have imagined.” Eyewitnesses to History Part I—Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Sae Goto ’11 was looking forward to a much-anticipated trip home during spring break to get a head start on potential post-graduation job prospects. But Mother Nature turned her travel itinerary into something completely different. Just hours before her last Term II final exam, the environmental studies major from Tokyo, Japan, learned her homeland had been rocked by a record 9.0 earthquake, then slammed by an even more damaging tsunami. Though Tokyo was nearly 200 miles from the quake’s epicenter, the change Goto saw when she arrived home was unnerving. “You never really imagine something that devastating happening to your home country,” said Goto, who experienced magnitude three and four aftershocks daily during her 10-day visit. “I went to a supermarket the day after I got home and almost all the shelves were empty. There were signs saying ‘please don’t stock up, there’s enough food’ but people were scared.” The heavily damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant left a typically vibrant Tokyo virtually dark as energy conservation became a priority. “Shops closed early and families stayed alert for emergency earthquake sirens, which went on about five seconds in advance of the aftershocks to prepare us,” said Goto. “I spent almost the entire time I was home with my family in our living room so we wouldn’t have to turn lights on in other rooms. Through a series of fund raisers, Goto and other Japanese students collected donations to support victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Nineteen students from Japan were among the 2010-11 Lawrence student body and, thankfully, none of them lost a family member in the disaster. Eyewitness to History Part II—Egypt Uprising When Associate Professor of Anthropology Carla Daughtry was awarded a Fulbright Faculty Fellowship to do research in Egypt, and Jamie Gajewski ’09 learned she had been named to a yearlong Rotary International Ambassadorship in Egypt, neither of them could have imagined the drama that would unfold. Both women unexpectedly found themselves — and their scholarly endeavors — uprooted by the 2011 Egyptian revolution. For Daughtry, her husband and their two children, it meant leaving the American University in Cairo and relocating to Forl, Italy, with family members. For Gajewski it meant an exodus from Alexandria University to Marseille, France. Both endured frightening encounters with protesters; the sounds of gunfire; strict curfews; food, water and gas shortages; bank and ATM shutdowns; cell phone and Internet outages; conflicting news media reports and airport chaos as they tried to leave the turbulent country. “It was a time when personal, school and business contacts were of the utmost importance because governments and institutions were still also in crisis,” said Daughtry. “When it became time to leave I needed to say good-bye to our home, to Egypt, and try not to cry too much … knowing in our heart of hearts that we could not return to Cairo as a family. If we had been single or married without children, we would have done as many of our colleagues: living through the protests, joining the protests and appreciating this moment in Egyptian history. We feel mixed emotions, both a sadness and satisfaction. We never imagined that we’d leave Egypt this way in such turmoil. This is not the good-bye and farewell we imagined. I certainly never imagined our Fulbright year would end so dramatically and abruptly.” Gajewski found the turn of events equally emotional. “I didn’t get to say good-bye to Egypt in the way that I would have liked. Instead, I suddenly found myself in the developed world again, in a place where I understood more Arabic being spoken on the streets than French. I worry about the safety of my Egyptian friends, who are some of the most generous and outgoing people I have ever met. In my five months in Egypt I was taken care of from the moment I landed until the moment I was forced to flee from the country.” “My Rotary year has been full of challenge, fear, excitement, wonder and joy and I would not trade my experiences for anything.” Postdoctoral Fellow in Russian Maria “Masha” Kisel calls her two-year appointment as a Lawrence postdoctoral fellow in Russian a “dream job,” as it provides the opportunity to teach at a liberal arts college while continuing to work on her research. Her niche, she said, is trying to create more courses to deal with contemporary Russia and to teach more upper-level language courses. “In the fall I taught a course on post-Soviet film,” Kisel said. “This spring I taught Russian through Film, which has never been offered before, and I also taught a course based on my own research, featuring ideas about utopian visions of humanity in the 19th-century and in the Soviet Union.” Kisel said she’s impressed by the enthusiasm of her students, the vibrancy of the department and Lawrence’s willingness to add new courses to the curriculum. “There’s a great deal of flexibility here, and that has inspired me creatively,” she said. Next year, she plans to offer a new course on contemporary popular culture in Russia. “I’ve felt very inspired here and very nourished in a way that I haven’t felt in my previous appointments,” Kisel said. “There’s a great camaraderie and spirit about the department; I feel honored to be a part of it.” From Mumbai to Appleton—and Back Lawrence Today asked alumnus Che Kurrien ’01, a native of Mumbai, India, to reflect on his time at Lawrence and the impact it had on his career. Following are his words: I was aware of some immutable truths about Lawrence even before my turbo- prop aircraft touched down at what Rik Warch fondly called “Outagamie International.” These facts, passed on by graduates who had moved back to Mumbai, included: that Freshman Studies would knock me to the mat, that the college community was governed by an honor code quite unlike anything I had experienced in India and that Professor Hah never handed out an A. That much was certain. What wasn’t — much to my middle-class parents’ consternation — were my plans for the future. Most of my friends and relatives back home had chosen technical professions, and found it hard to understand why I was investing in an undergraduate program that didn’t guarantee an immediate return. I had moments of doubt, too, especially while wrestling with Faulkner. I fully understood the value of a liberal education only as a senior, signing up in a single term for courses that might have been considered intimidating: Political Philopsophy; Morality, Rationality and Self Interest, and Satire. Each was led by a heavyweight professor. Yet magically, I had learned to connect the dots between ostensibly disparate fields, to draw from each discipline to strengthen my arguments in another. This knowledge infused me with a precious confidence I had never possessed, that I value deeply in this present, ambiguous world. I graduated into a scenario that included a tumbling NASDAQ, ravaged by plummeting Internet stock, a nationwide freeze on corporate hiring — and then a few months later, 9/11. But India felt like a different country from the sclerotic one I had left, a nation on the cusp of heady economic expansion. The Lawrence liberal arts ideal had transformed and armed me with a unique outlook. So I was well positioned to capitalize on a range of opportunities in the new India. In the decade since I graduated, I’ve worked as a city reporter for the Indian Express newspaper; as the music and nightlife correspondent for the local edition of Time Out magazine; as a financial markets analyst in Mumbai and Sri Lanka for Reuters; and most recently as the first editor of GQ India — the leading men’s magazine in the country. Studying Sustainability in China Marty Finkler, professor of economics and John R. Kimberly Distinguished Professor in the American Economic System, is happy to keep a good thing going. President Jill Beck recently signed a new agreement to cooperate with Guizhou Normal University in China, specifically with its Karst Institute and Community- based Conservation Development Research Center. Finkler first traveled to China in 2003. In 2008 Lawrence helped stage a Wisconsin water symposium attended by 25 delegates from China. This time the focus of the partnership will be on sustainable China: culture, conservation and commerce. Finkler and colleagues Jason Brozek, assistant professor of government and Stephen Edward Scarff Professor of International Affairs, Jane Parish Yang, associate professor of Chinese, and Yudru Tsomu, assistant professor of history, will travel this December with up to a dozen students to Hong Kong and the Guangdong, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces. Finkler said students will present projects related to the multifaceted sustainability theme and learn more about the tradeoffs involved in economic development. “We are excited about the opportunities to work with our friends in Guiyang,” said Finkler. “We share a common interest in finding ways to alleviate poverty and improve general well-being without destroying critical natural resources.” Collaboration for Cultural Understanding The beginning of the decade-long partnership between Lawrence University and IndUS of Fox Valley Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Indo-American friendship and goodwill, goes back to 2000, when the fledgling IndUS held its annual banquet on campus. Lawrence later helped the organization craft its charter and obtain non-profit status. Since then, Lawrence and IndUS have increasingly collaborated on events that celebrate diversity, co-hosting several concerts, film screenings and discussions each year. The collaboration continues to grow: Lawrence Postdoctoral Fellow of Ethnomusicology Sonja Downing is the latest Lawrence representative to serve on the IndUS board of directors. “I had been trying to think of ways to connect the Conservatory of Music with local organizations, especially those that highlight the culture and arts of local ethnic or international populations, and they were also keen to strengthen a connection with Lawrence University,” said Downing. “I have long had an interest in Indian culture and music, since studying Hindustani (North Indian classical) and Carnatic (South Indian classical) music in college and during my graduate work in ethnomusicology.” This July, several volunteers from IndUS will present a day-long session on Indian music as part of Lawrence’s 2011 World Music Summer Seminar; and IndUS recently committed $2,000 toward Lawrence’s plan to invite Vidya Dengle, an Indian classical violinist, to campus as an artist in residence. B.S. Sridhar, one of IndUS’ founders who currently coordinates the organization’s cultural programming, said, “The strategic goals of IndUS are centered around education, promotion of cultural understanding and awareness, social responsibility and charity. These are very similar to the mission and goals of a great university such as Lawrence, with its commitment to liberal education. Our collaboration, we believe, contributes immensely to the promotion of cultural understanding in the community and thereby to the quality of life in the Valley and beyond.” A distinctly Southeast Asian flavor was added to Lawrence’s music ensembles in January 2009 with the debut of the Balinese gamelan. Indigenous to Indonesia, the gamelan was introduced to the curriculum by Lawrence post-doctoral fellow of ethnomusicology Sonja Downing to help bridge the Lawrence conservatory and the college through a cross-cultural music experience. Launched with borrowed instruments from the university of Illinois, the 30-member ensemble unveiled its own custom-made set of instruments in a March 2011 performance. Hand-carved from native jackfruit wood by the top gamelan craftsmen in Bali, the set includes 25 core instruments, eight sets of cymbals and more than 20 bamboo flutes. “In Balinese gamelan music, it’s not about how well one person plays, but how well every member of the ensemble can play as precisely and artistically with everyone else,” said Downing, who began playing the gamelan as a senior at Swarthmore College. “In addition to the high aesthetic standards the students bring to the gamelan, we hope the skills they gain of simultaneous responsibility and humility translate well into other areas of their lives, including a broadened sense of global cultural diversity.” Bali native I Dewa K.A. Adnyana is the musical director of the ensemble. Learning the Language Thanks to Lawrence’s language assistants program, students studying German, Russian, French, Chinese, Spanish or Japanese are able to learn directly from students who make those countries their homes. The language assistants program pairs native speakers with the appropriate language department where they teach drills, run the language tables and organize Björklunden weekends or cultural events. “It’s a great program,” said Tim Schmidt, coordinator of international student services. “Having a native speaker allows students to learn how to speak a little closer to how they speak in that particular country. You can learn from a book, but it’s not as natural as learning from a native speaker. It provides that opportunity to exchange on a more natural level. And when students learn from their peers, they’re going to be speaking the language that’s appropriate for their age group.” Since 2002, Lawrence’s partnership with WASEDA University in Tokyo has brought, on average, a dozen students annually to the college for a year of study in Appleton. “Lawrence provides the chance to study at a liberal arts institution where students can take classes that are outside their majors, such as music history, studio arts, theatre arts, gender studies and environmental studies, classes they aren’t able to take at WASEDA,” said Cecile Despres-Berry, director of the Lawrence WASEDA program. The program also includes ESL classes, mentoring, cultural events and field trips. For many of the students, the experience of studying abroad also provides a first chance to develop friendships with people from other cultures. “Working with WASEDA students has reinforced for me the importance of intercultural experiences,” said Despres-Berry. “I hear from former WASEDA students that their year at Lawrence has led them to jobs with international companies, inspired them to attend graduate school in the United States or encouraged them to work for non-governmental organizations in Japan.” As far as the program’s impact on Lawrentians, Despres-Berry said some students who served as tutors were motivated to become assistant English teachers in Japan, others have begun studying Japanese after befriending WASEDA students, and still others have been inspired enough by the courage of their WASEDA friends to study abroad themselves. “In our increasingly global economy, a well-rounded liberal arts education is not complete without international and intercultural experiences,” Despres-Berry said. “The WASEDA program helps provide those experiences by increasing the cultural and linguistic diversity on campus.” The Business of International Careers in Business The successful Lawrence “Scholars In …” programs keep expanding, with the latest iteration focused on international careers. “Lawrence is always looking for alumni who are headquartered overseas,” said Mark Breseman ’78, associate vice president of alumni and constituency engagement. “They are doing creative things and we want them to share their experiences with current students.” Breseman said besides valuable information sharing, alumni collaborating with Lawrence Scholars in International Careers might be able to help students secure internships overseas or provide valuable contacts with potential employers. “The goal is to have Lawrence Scholars in International Business continually on the minds of alumni located throughout the world,” said Breseman. “We want to engage them in this program so that when their travels bring them back to the U.S. they come to Lawrence and sit down and meet with our students face to face. With today’s global economy, the time is right for the Lawrence Scholars In programs to move to an international stage.” If you are interested in the Lawrence Scholars in International Business program, email Breseman at [email protected]. Adenwalla Remembers a Hero and a Friend As a native of India, Minoo Adenwalla, professor of government and Mary Mortimer Professor of Liberal Studies emeritus, had always been an admirer of Nani Palkhivala, India’s most prominent constitutional lawyer, who also served as India’s ambassador to the U.S. Recently Adenwalla published an article titled “The Legacy of Nani Palkhivala” in Freedom First, a liberal monthly magazine published in Bombay. In it, Adenwalla recounts meeting Palkhivala and the friendship that ensued. What follows are excerpts from Adenwalla’s article. It began in 1979. Lawrence University invited Ambassador Palkhivala to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws at our June graduation. Unfortunately, the date later conflicted … and Lawrence responded by making an unusual exception. It invited Nani to address a special university convocation, where his honorary degree would be conferred. Following the faculty procession and before Nani spoke, President [Thomas] Smith conferred the honorary degree Doctor of Laws. Nani titled his convocation address “A New Birth of Freedom.” It referred to India’s rejection of the draconian emergency. Without props or notes, Nani spoke to a spellbound audience. In his speech he lauded the U.S. for “being the first nation in the world to have a guaranteed Bill of Rights.”… As Nani concluded his Lawrence address, the audience rose spontaneously in a standing ovation. Nani acknowledged the “special” convocation as “one of the happiest and proudest days of my life.” Following dinner at President Smith’s home, Nani departed. We had been together almost the whole day. Nani made me promise to visit him whenever I was in India. I kept it, with great pleasure, for almost the next 20 years. I met Nani for the last time in 1998. Every visit, Nani invited me to lunches, at Bombay House, the Ripon Club, and to dinners at his home, “Commonwealth.” … I knew that he had not been well. Yet, he continued to work. I went to Bombay House, since I did not want to burden him by being invited to dinner. As soon as I entered his office … his first words were, “When are you coming to dinner?” I protested, but he insisted. His mind was clear and sharp as ever. It was my last memorable evening with him. Celebrating all things International For more than three decades, Lawrence International Cabaret has been wowing audiences who come to enjoy international students expressing their culture through music, dance, native attire and global cuisine. The theme for the 2011 performance was “Unity in 57,” a salute to the 57 countries represented in the Lawrence student body. This year’s Cabaret also included fund-raising activities to support victims of the floods in Pakistan, the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and various campus organizations involved in humanitarian projects, such as Globemed, which supports a children’s school and health care facility in Ecuador. “We want to broaden the reach of Lawrence International to be an organization that’s more than just a tableau of cultures,” said LI President Siddhant Dayal ’11, a senior from Mumbai, India. “We want to be an organization that makes a positive difference around the world, especially in the home countries of our students.” Scholarships Support International Students Approximately 12 percent of Lawrence students come from outside the U.S. According to statistics the Office of Admissions tracks, this makes Lawrence one of the most internationally diverse colleges in the country. Several scholarships help international students receive an education at Lawrence, fostering ethnic and cultural diversity on campus. Only a handful of these funds are listed below. - The Dr. Betty Thompson and Dr. John Cowan Messenger Scholarship, to be awarded for the first time for the 2011-12 academic year, will support international students who have demonstrated financial need, particularly those hailing from West Africa. The fund was established by Betty Thompson Messenger ’47 and John Cowan Messenger ’42, former professors of anthropology at The Ohio State University who have conducted ethnographic research around the world, concentrating their work in New Zealand, the West Indies, Nigeria and Ireland. - The International Student Fund, established by Lawrence parents Robert and Patricia Johnson, is a scholarship that benefits international students at Lawrence who have demonstrated financial need. Over the past decade, the fund has helped support 12 students who hailed from countries around the world, from Bangladesh and Bhutan to Sierra Leone and Thailand. - The Dr. Scholl Foundation International Student Fund, created in 2001 through a grant from the Dr. Scholl Foundation, is awarded to a student from outside the U.S. It was established as a way to honor the foundation’s appreciation for and commitment to the brand of private education for which Lawrence is recognized. “While Lawrence offers several scholarships that help support international students, the current need for these scholarships exceeds available resources,” said Vice President for Alumni, Development and Communications Calvin Husmann. “We are working to create even more opportunities for international students to study at Lawrence.” A Home away from Home Students may come from all around the world to study at Lawrence, but thanks to a host of volunteers, it’s a bit easier for them to feel at home in Appleton. The Friendship Family program pairs international students with area families who offer friendship, support and everything else in between. Jill and Paul Wilke, who have been in the program since 2002, said it’s like having an extended family. Students have accompanied them picking apples, carving pumpkins, at sporting events, and have even joined them for Thanksgiving dinner and decorating the Christmas tree. “In general, if we have an idea or event, we send a note to the students to see if they want to participate,” said Jill. For Carrie ’95 and Ryan Korb ’95, becoming a friendship family stemmed from their own travels abroad as students at Lawrence. “We both knew how influential a family relationship can be for both the student and the family. Also, we had young children and wanted them to know people from other countries,” said Carrie. The Korbs have been a friendship family for 10 years. Both the Wilkes and the Korbs say they’ve been enriched by the experience. “Our boys have absorbed an expanded world view, and have a better understanding of how what happens on the other side of the world really does matter, and impacts our lives,” said Paul. “We have gained much more from these students than we could have ever imagined.” The Korbs agreed. “We have three children, ages 5, 11 and 12,” said Jill. “This experience has made them more aware of the world around them. Learning about the different cultures and experiencing events like Cabaret has exposed them to the diversity of human expression, but perhaps most importantly they have grown up seeing members of all nationalities as people just like them.” Graduation doesn’t mean the end of the relationship between the family and its student. Both families have stayed in touch with many of their former students. “When some of the international students graduate, they’ll praise the academics, their relationships with other students, but often what they say is that the Friendship Family was the best part of their experience, the non-academic part of American culture,” said Tim Schmidt, coordinator of International Student Services. “Some of our students don’t see their parents for four years, and they need that comfort zone to go to.” From Ethiopian doro wot to Korean bulgogi and from Vietnamese pho to sweet potato peanut stew, diners at the Warch Campus Center can take a daily international culinary cruise of the world with a stop at Andrew Commons’ Global Market food station. With menu offerings that tilt primarily toward Southeast Asia, the Subcontinent and the Pacific Rim — anything with hoisin sauce is especially popular — the Global Market features an array of student- requested dishes unheard of a generation ago. “Our students grew up watching the Food Network. They’re familiar with these exotic ingredients,” says Alan Shook, executive chef for Bon Appétit. “Their palates are much more educated these days.” “International students in the classroom provide an essential component of the education for domestic students,” said Marty Finkler, professor of Economics and John R. Kimberly Distinguished Professor in the American Economic System. “This notion is nicely illustrated by the teams students put together in Economics 425 – Entrepreneurship and Finance.” “Such a mix of nationalities helps greatly to enrich the ideas and strategies the students propose for the enterprises they wish to create,” said Finkler. “It also makes class discussion — a central component of the course — much richer than it would be if the students were all Americans.” The six teams were comprised as follows (by place of permanent residence): - Galveston, Texas; Seoul, Republic of Korea; and Berlin, Germany - Madison, Wis.; Beijing, China; and Colombo, Sri Lanka - West Bend, Wis.; Barcelona, Spain; and Pusan, Republic of Korea - Burlington, Wis. and Oxford, Mass. - Winnetka, Ill.; Minneapolis MN; and Dhaka, Bangladesh - St. Charles, Ill. and Quito, Ecuador An informal gathering place where Lawrence’s international students can feel at home to: - socialize and hang out - cook food from their homelands - watch TV from around the world - A place where international clubs can have meetings: - Lawrence international - Chinese student association - Korean student association - Afro-Caribbean Club - ¡VIVA! (Latin American Club) - German table - Russian table Ask Tim Schmidt, coordinator of international student services, what makes Lawrence stand out from some of its peers and he’ll point to the diversity of international programming at the college. Under the umbrella organization Lawrence International, students make connections, share experiences and put on a variety of events for the Lawrence community. Its activities include: - International Cabaret - Themed / Ethnic dinners - Spring break trips - Fund raisers for international tragedies In addition, LI sponsors a mentoring program that pairs a returning international student with a new international student to help ease the transition into life at an American liberal arts college. LI’s Bridging Borders program is part of Welcome Week and features a panel discussion where international students can get advice about adapting to a new culture and battling homesickness, and even obtain a list of places where they can go when they’re craving food from their home countries. “Not every university has as much international programming as Lawrence,” said Schmidt. “They all do some, but it’s not as big as what we do. And I’m very proud of that.” An African Adventure Ever since he was in elementary school, Dane Richeson, professor of music, has been fascinated with the music of West Africa. In pursuit of his passion, he travels regularly to Ghana, Brazil and Cuba to research non-Western music to include in his percussion curriculum. The result has been the creation of three Lawrence ensembles that perform these types of music: Sambistas (Brazil), Kinkaviwo (Africa) and an Afro-Cuban ensemble. While in Ghana, Richeson spent time with master drummer Godwin Agbeli. After Agbeli passed away, his son Nani began working with Richeson. Eventually Nani moved to the United States — Madison, Wis., to be exact — and the pair continued their musical endeavors. Nani has been invited to Lawrence as an artist in residence; in turn, Richeson and his students have joined Nani on summer study tours in Ghana. “The experience changes their lives,” Richeson said. “A lot of the music is percussion oriented … it makes the musical environment very inspiring. Musically my students are knocked out about the experience and can’t wait to come back to Lawrence and teach other kids about it.” Lawrence’s ever-expanding international programming has moved from the classroom to the dance floor. Last year President Jill Beck taught World Dance, a class she called a “blend of dance technique and a liberal arts approach to dance content that embraced history and multiple cultures.” Students learned different styles of dance from Mexico, Israel, Bolivia/Argentina and Vietnam. “Dance courses often tend to focus on Western techniques such as ballet and modern dance, and other familiar theatrical styles such as jazz and musical comedy,” said Beck. “The World Dance course extended the reach of dance studies to include choreography and non-theatrical styles from various countries. It was a more global approach to studying how different cultures express their values, belief systems, history and sense of identity through movement.” Beck said she enjoyed returning to the studio to teach the class and hopes to see more world dance offerings in the future. “As ethnomusicology develops in the conservatory, I predict that world dance will come right along with it,” she said. As the beneficiary of an older brother who helped her attend Lawrence, Zenabu Abubakari ’11 dreamed of a day she would have the chance to change somebody’s life herself. That dream became reality when Abubakari launched the “Ghana Reads” project in the spring of 2010. The studio art major from Accra, Ghana, spearheaded a community outreach initiative designed to support rural education in her homeland. The response, from both the Lawrence campus and Fox Valley communities, generated 7,500 pounds — 225 boxes worth — of new and gently used books, pencils and other education supplies for four schools in Ghana, including the high school she attended. Additional cash donations covered the shipping costs. Dominique Goldson ’11, Sasha Johnston ’12, Sydney Pertl ’11 and Sirgourney Tanner ’10 accompanied Abubakari to Ghana to help distribute the donated supplies. “Seeing smiles of heartfelt appreciation on the faces of needy children and their communities was truly rewarding and satisfying,” said Abubakari. A Classic Tale Whether student presentations of Latin versions of Dr. Suess stories, performances of plays by Greek playwright Aristophanes and Roman dramatist Plautus on the steps of Main Hall, or scholarly lectures on Roman baths and artistic representations of Hercules, the classics department’s annual “Classics Week” celebrates the contributions of ancient Greece and Rome to our own civilization. Classics and anthropology major Lauren Mimms ’12 continued the Classics Week tradition of connecting the ancient world to the modern world this spring with a presentation on her field research. It included highlights of her three separate study-abroad experiences in 2009 and 2010 at excavation sites in Macedonia, Greece and Egypt. A World of Service From an at-risk youth music program in Paraguay to an orphanage in Ghana and a medical clinic in Camaragibe, Brazil, Lawrence students have traveled the world, participating in meaningful service projects as learning experiences thanks to the Summer Volunteer Opportunity Grant. Since 1991, the SVOG has supported more than 80 students in a volunteer and service-related projects that incorporate academic inquiry. Katie Jubert ’12 spent nine weeks in Paraguay in 2010 teaching private and group music lessons while also working with a high school orchestra through Sonidos de la Tierra (Sounds of the Earth), an organization that provides music instruction to underprivileged students. She described her experience as “a life-changing adventure and a once-in- a-lifetime opportunity.” In working with students before and after their summer projects, Volunteer and Community Service Center Director Kristi Hill says she has seen “profound transformations.” “This program truly embraces Lawrence’s mission of preparing students for lives of achievement, responsible and meaningful citizenship, lifelong learning and personal fulfillment,” Hill said. Upon their return to campus, SVOG recipients are expected to engage the campus community around issues of social, legal and political concern relating to their self-designed service project. Kalle Larsson ’07 came to Lawrence University in search of a great education. He now searches for young men looking for the exact same thing. Larsson was a standout for the Lawrence hockey team during his time as a student and recently completed his first season as an assistant coach with the Vikings. “I wanted to go to the best school I could academically and Lawrence was by far better than any of the other schools I talked to so it was Lawrence all the way,” said Larsson, a native of Gothenburg, Sweden. Larsson had played junior hockey for one year in Victoria, B.C., and then played another year in Dayton, Ohio, before coming to Lawrence. One of his junior hockey coaches knew Lawrence’s head coach at the time and a relationship with the school was born. Lawrence’s small size and his position as a student-athlete aided a quick transition to college. “Being a small school, there’s help for an international student. You’re not just a guy in a class with 400 students,” Larsson said. Larsson was a government major with an interdisciplinary in international studies and a minor in history. “Academically, Lawrence was everything I wanted and more. It was awesome. It felt like professors cared about my education even when I didn’t,” Larsson said with a laugh. “You have the resources to do well at Lawrence. If there’s something you can’t figure out on your own, there’s help.” Larsson worked in management consulting for three years in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Chicago, Ill., after his graduation. He also started Scandinavian Hockey Consulting with former Lawrence teammate and fellow Swede Daniel Ljung ’06. Larsson got a call from Director of Athletics Mike Szkodzinski last summer to see if he would be interested in being his assistant coach with the Vikings. “When Mike called, it felt like a really good fit,” Larsson said. “This is the place where I became the person I am. I formed a lot of my values here. It’s pretty cool to be back.” Lawrence’s international presence also extends to its athletic teams: Mats Jonsson — Barcelona Jesse Simonsen — St. John, Virgin Islands Salem Barahmeh — Jericho, Palestine Alex Chee — Selangor, Malaysia Edward Li — Chengdu, China Xiaoting Liu — Congquing, China Elodie Jegu — Cochabamba, Bolivia William Thoren — Gothenburg, Sweden Pier-Andre Marquis — St. Georges, Quebec Yagmur Esemen — Cyprus Ted Chritton — Singapore Teresa Protasio — Monte Estoril, Portugal Lin Zhao — Tianjin, China World Music Series The Lawrence Conservatory of Music, known for providing world-class training in Western music, also has a strong commitment to providing students with a broad exposure to the music traditions of the world. Just as studying a foreign language gives a student a deeper understanding of his or her native tongue, studying world music traditions can provide surprising insights into Western musical thought and performance. According to Dean of the Conservatory Brian Pertl ’86, Lawrence takes a holistic approach to the exploration of world music that has three main components. First, in the classroom, Sonja Downing, Lawrence postdoctoral fellow of ethnomusicology, intellectually challenges students to explore the varied roles of music within the world’s cultures. Second, in the rehearsal hall, students are invited to experience non-Western music directly. Lawrence believes that the students should have the opportunity to play the music, feel it, groove with it — in short, begin to gain fluency in other musical languages. Lawrence offers five separate performance opportunities: Brazilian samba drumming, Ghanaian dancing and drumming, didjeridu, Cuban singing and drumming and Balinese gamelan. Third, in the performance hall, the conservatory brings in virtuoso musicians from around the globe to perform and give hands-on lecture demonstrations in the new World Music Series. Since 2008, Lawrence has hosted performers from places around the world including Tuva, India, The Ivory Coast, Palestine, Russia and Iran. “Lawrence’s offerings in world music and ethnomusicology are unprecedented for an undergraduate institution of its size, and the college is proud of this achievement,” Pertl said. “By studying world music, students become better musicians, better scholars and better citizens of the world.” Sister Cities leads to Scholarship The city of Appleton recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Fox Cities–Kurgan Sister Cities Program. The event was held at the Warch Campus Center and featured a concert by the University of Wisconsin Russian Folk Orchestra, a borscht cook-off, plus dinner and dialogue. A spin-off of the sister cities partnership was the signing of an accord between Kurgan State University and Lawrence that allows for an exchange of students and faculty between the institutions. “For the last three years, a professor from Kurgan State University has come to observe and participate in classes at Lawrence,” said Tim Schmidt, coordinator of international student services, and a Fox Cities Kurgan Sister Cities board member. “They’re learning American teaching methods, taking advantage of our library for research and learning our methods for teaching English to our international students.” Lawrentians have also traveled to Kurgan to teach classes, including Freshman Studies and English. For the Islam course taught by Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Martyn Smith, students are expected to learn about the cultural diversity within the Islamic world. But with political uprisings, ongoing instability and extensive travel restrictions, hands-on learning seemed all but impossible. Smith’s creative solution for solving the dilemma made use of Google Earth, a virtual globe featuring satellite imagery and aerial photography that allows viewers to zoom in on a specific area anywhere in the world. As a final project Smith asked students to locate on Google Earth historical and contemporary sites related to a city or country in the Islamic world. They used place markers and other tools on Google Earth to communicate their research about the sites. “I wanted an assignment that would allow students to imagine the cultural diversity within the Islamic world, which reaches from Morocco to Indonesia, and lots of versions of Islam in between,” said Smith. “Islam isn’t just one thing — which is how we tend to view a culture we don’t know — but has lots of different faces and expressions. This project was a way to get students to get at the multi- sidedness of Islam and to engage geographically with its diversity.” They don’t work for the U.S. Department of State, but several Lawrentians have been appointed honorary “ambassadors” in recent years as recipients of Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships. Rachel Young ’12 of Minneapolis was named Lawrence’s latest Rotary Scholar this spring and awarded a $27,000 scholarship for the 2012-13 academic year. She hopes to apply the scholarship toward a year of study in international relations at National Taiwan University in Taipei. A Chinese and Spanish major, Young called the scholarship “an amazing gift,” and is looking forward to “being a bridge between Rotarians here and in Taiwan.” In addition to their course work, while abroad Rotary Scholars serve as goodwill ambassadors for their home countries by participating in community service projects and speaking at local Rotary Club events, civic organizations and other forums. Other recent Rotary Scholars include: - Sarah Ehlinger ’11, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana — environmental issues, environmental inequalities and human health. - Jamie Gajewski ’09, Alexandria University, Alexandria — Egypt, Arabic - Natalie Grattan ’10, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand — public health - Sonja Weston ’07, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India — Indian politics, history and society For decades students have begun their post-Lawrence lives in cities around the world as unofficial U.S. ambassadors, teaching English or conducting research as recipients of scholarships through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. In the past six years, 13 graduating seniors have been awarded Fulbright scholarships. Jennifer Compton ’11, Ames, Iowa, will travel in September 2011 to the University of Amman in Jordan for a 10-month position as a language-learning assistant to an English teacher there. Anneliese Abney ’10, Chelsea, Michigan, was awarded an English language teaching assistantship and will spend the 2011-12 school year in the town of Zwetti, in the Niederösterreich province of Austria. It is called a “wanderjahr” — a year to travel and explore the world on a topic of the student’s choosing — by the Watson Foundation, which has been awarding fellowships to students to do just that since 1969. In the program’s 42-year history, 69 Lawrentians have seen the world, or at least parts of it, as Watson Fellows, investigating everything from the prospects for democracy in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe to the impact of deforestation on bird populations in Brazil, Ecuador and Costa Rica. Recent Watson Fellows, their study interests and destinations include: Alex Winter ’10, “Video Game Culture Studies in East Asia”, China, Japan, South Korea Madhuri Vijay ’09, “The Two ‘I’s in Indian’: Writing the Stories of the Indian Diaspora”; Fiji, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, South Africa, Tanzania Valeria Rojas 09, “Ethnic Discriminations and social Exclusion in Latin America”; Artgentian, Bolivia, Chile, Equador Rick Peterson joined Marti Gillespie in writing this feature report on Lawrence University’s Global Impact.

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Lifting the veil on conflict, culture and politics (Photo: A protest against U.S. President Barack Obama in Jakarta November 9, 2010/Dadang Tri) President Barack Obama's pledge on Wednesday in Jakarta to strive for better relations with the Muslim world drew skepticism in Cairo, where last year he called for a new beginning in the Middle East after years of mistrust. Seventeen months after Obama's Cairo University speech, al Qaeda is still threatening the West, peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians remain stalled over the issue of West Bank settlements and U.S. troops remain in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many in the Middle East believe that Washington's tight alliance with Israel makes it impossible to end the suffering of the Palestinians, breeding cynicism among Arab Muslims toward U.S. intentions in the region. "As soon as Obama took over, he said he would do this and that -- a lot of things. But he still hasn't met a single goal," said Saad Zaki Khalil, 56, who was selling cigarette lighters in central Cairo. from Russell Boyce: As the anniversary of the 9/11 attack coincided with Eid celebrations, Florida based Pastor Terry Jones announced that he would burn the Koran as a protest to plans to site a Muslim cultural centre near Ground Zero , stoking tensions in Asia. Add into the mix millions in Pakistan suffering from lack of water, food and shelter after floods, a parliament election in Afghanistan and a U. S. -led military campaign against the Taliban around Kandahar - photographers in the region had lots of raw material to work with. Raheb's picture of relief and joy caught in the harsh light of a direct flash seems to explode in a release of tension as news spreads that Pastor Jones had cancelled his plans to burn the Koran. It has to be said that ironically earlier in the day in Pakistan US flags were burned in protest against the planned protest. Below is a Reuters video roundup of the start of Ramadan in Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Afghanistan:

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Gore got a much warmer reception in Palo Alto, where young and old alike believe his hype, says an also hyped up Merc News: "Nearly every significant statement that Vice President Gore makes regarding climate science and climate policy is either one-sided, misleading, exaggerated, speculative or wrong," says CEI environmental policy expert Marlo Lewis. Otherwise, nice job Mr. Gore. Global warming alarmism serves those opposing free-market economics and its fossil-fuel reliance and those seeking power and profit by gaming the system once they force rule changes. Neither motive is in most peoples' interests. The Kyoto Protocol, which would force nations to drastically reduce CO2 emissions, if enforced would reduce projected temperatures about one degree over 100 years while – and this is not exaggeration – dampening and devastating economies worldwide. Mackenzie Pope, 12, ... was one of several kids who had the day off from school [what?!] and showed up with signs saying [to Gore] "Welcome to Palo Alto." "I was walking my dog when I saw all the people here and so I went home to get them," she said, motioning to her mom, little sisters Bailey and Rylie, and a couple of friends. [Mackenzie, Bailey and Rylie -- how cloyingly No. Cal.] The girls, like typical Palo Alto kids, were well-versed on the climate-change issue. "They say in 20 years New York City is going to be half gone," said Mackenzie's friend, Charlotte Barry. The alliance is a small organization Gore founded last year as a fundraising arm for his media campaign. Its office, at Hawthorne Avenue and High Street, once housed the Foundation for a Global Community, a descendant of Beyond War. And it's next door to POST, the Peninsula Open Space Trust. "This spot has good karma," said POST Executive Director Audrey Rust. "We're sort of at ground zero, right here on High Street." The Merc News, which is after all a news paper, somehow didn't feel compelled to correct little Charlotte's gorism. Babs At The Money Trough Wrapping up news from the Golden State, the LATimes reports that Bay Area Greenie Babs Boxer is swimming in dough from the very hooligans against The Sacred Earth Mother she has worked so hard to harm: Politicians. Love 'em or hate 'em, you gotta pay 'em off. For years Barbara Boxer has campaigned, first for Congress, then for the U.S. Senate, as a progressive Democrat strong on ... the environment. ... But now that she's chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, she's finding some new people who want to be her friend. And not in the MySpace kind of way. Roll Call reports (sorry, it's a subscriber-access page) that Boxer, who assumed the committee chair with the 2006 Democratic takeover of the Senate, received through Aug. 30 about $41,000 from political action committees representing "energy, natural resources, construction and transportation industries."But in the 2004 cycle, when she was last up for re-election, Boxer "reported $18,500 in total receipts from the energy and natural resources sector in all of 2003 and 2004, according to CQ MoneyLine .... Don't Worry About Islam There's a complicated piece by Simon Jenkins in the Times of London spurred by the 29-page letter to the Pope from 138 imams and other Muslim high and mighty. Jenkins doesn't see Islam as the biggest threat to the West, rather: The chief threat to world security at present lies in the capacity of tiny groups of political Islamists to goad the West into a rolling military retaliation. Extremists on each side feed off the others’ frenzied scenarios so as to garner money and political support for their respective armies of the night. Each sees the other as a cosmic menace and abandons communal tolerance and peaceful diplomacy to counter it.It's easy to discount this out of hand because Jenkins slices too thin. Our fear isn't of the tiny groups of jihadists ... it's the consequences of even five or ten percent of Islam picking up the jihadist terror tool kit. Still, the piece isn't just liberal pap and multi-culti over-optimism. There's a lot of food for thought there, like: It is ironic that defeat in the cold war should have led Russia to the exuberant self-confidence of Vladimir Putin’s Moscow, while victory has plunged the West into a loss of nerve. In both Washington and London are leaders who have so little confidence in democracy as to regard it as vulnerable to a few madmen, and who have so little respect for democracy’s freedoms as to suspend them at the bang of a bomb.I believe the liberties that have been suspended have been carefully defined and limited so as to protect Americans and subject suspicious foreigners and battlefield enemies to the treatment that is needed and deserved. But how about this for a Sunday pondering: What if we fought the war on terror the way the Libs would have us fight it? Would we not still win? Of course, to answer that, you also have to answer this: Would the extra American dead that might result from the Lib approach be worth the rigorous, hard-line protection of each letter of the Constitution, as applied by Lib judges? Watch It, Canadians! Canadian readers, watch out! Science Daily tells us that according to the journal Environmental Research, you might be one of the 25,000 Canadians pollution will kill this year! I love these studies that pore over medical records and death certificates and attempt to lay the blame at pollution, or global warming, or fast food, or whatever else the Lib media have their eyepieces focused on. Here's the picture that accompanies the story. I kid you not. Look at that awful, life-nipping gunk! The caption reads: Photo taken near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Industry in the foreground, pristine mountains in the background -- Canada is not immune to environmental problems. (Credit: Michele Hogan)Help me find the industries in the photo that are cavalierly ignoring Canada's environmental laws and spewing toxins into drinking water and mother's milk. More easily, help me find manipulated statistics that look at cancer deaths and low birth-weight babies (as this one did) and attribute them to pollution instead of, oh, the luck of the draw or genetics or moms who smoke and booze. Earlier in the week, Syrian flacks toured media hacks around an ag field and ag lab that they say were targeted by Israeli fighters ... why the Zionists would do that, who knows? After reporting the tour with almost a completely straight face, today the NYT joins those who understand what really was going on there: WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 — Israel's air attack on Syria last month was directed against a site that Israeli and American intelligence analysts judged was a partly constructed nuclear reactor, apparently modeled on one North Korea has used to create its stockpile of nuclear weapons fuel, according to American and foreign officials with access to the intelligence reports. The description of the target addresses one of the central mysteries surrounding the Sept. 6 attack, and suggests that Israel carried out the raid to demonstrate its determination to snuff out even a nascent nuclear project in a neighboring state. Central mystery? Not to everyone. Who Defines 'Dying Well?' Charlotte Allen, faced with minor breast cancer surgery -- seemingly an oxymoron, but not really -- was asked on three separate occasions whether she had a living will. A complicated form was stuffed into her mitt, asking her to ponder "a range of conditions under which I might like to have a Do Not Resuscitate order hung over my hospital bed, whether I would want to be denied "artificial" food and water under some circumstances, what I thought about being taken off a ventilator, and so forth." Her conclusion, as very well relayed in her WaPo piece today: As the SCHIP plan catches the news and the Dems vow to override a prez veto, do you recall ever seeing someone raise the question of whether parents would be pressured to quickly dispatch sick babies once the feds start paying for their costly health care? Neither did I. In fact, when I contemplate the concept of "dying well," I can't avoid the uneasy feeling that it actually means "dying when we, the intellectual elite, think it is appropriate for you to die." Consider what's happened in recent years: The classic Hippocratic Oath and its prohibition against physicians giving people a "deadly drug" has collapsed with the growing acceptance of such notions as physician-assisted suicide, the "right to die," and even giving some very sick, disabled or demented people a little push over the edge, as seems to be the case in the Netherlands. People facing end-of-life decisions may well feel subtle pressure from the medical and bioethical establishments to make the choice that will save the most money, as well as spare their relatives and society at large the burden of their continued existence. Start thinking about it. Road to Rangoon No, it's not a long-lost Bob Hope/Bing Crosby movie; it's the UN's continuing dismal performance in its attempts to stop the Burmese junta from killing off every monk and protester in that poor country. In this case, the road will lead UN chief Burma dude Ibrahim Gambari to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and Japan, before "hoping" to return to Burma. Condi's response? Knock it off! Get back to Burma pronto and do something.

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Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg at the Malaysian Grand prix press conference Here is the (slightly late) transcript of the Malaysian Grand Prix post-race press conference: Q: Sebastian, a victory today set up by an excellent start and one that looked fairly comfortable if you ever can be comfortable in the heat of Malaysia. Sebastian Vettel: Well, it wasn’t comfortable. I realised straight away that I had a good start and passed Nico, who was alongside, and then got the tow from Mark, so I was able to gain, gain, gain. It is a long sprint down to turn one and I clearly had an advantage over him and then I took the chance I had into turn one. It was quite late, so I just made it and then Mark had a bit of a better exit out of turn two, through turn three and it is very slippery and we both tried to push. We are here to fight ourselves but you should keep the respect and I think we both had the respect for each other. If Mark would have been in my position I am quite sure he would have done the same. After that it was just a question about getting away from our competitors. I could see Mark and I were more or less having the same pace, I think he was a little bit quicker in the beginning. I was trying to save my tyres. It did work, so before the stop I could pull away a little bit and the second stint was extremely long. It is extremely hot here and I didn’t stop sweating. Fortunately, I didn’t run out of drinks in the car. I was trying not to be too extreme in the beginning. But it is very hot and very physical and at some stage I was hoping for rain, just to get a bit of a cool down. What a day. Yesterday was extremely difficult with the conditions. Today it stayed dry all the time fortunately and we had a magnificent car. The key was to pace yourself, watch your tyres. Bridgestone did a good job bringing two compounds here that worked fairly well. A very good result for us, especially for myself after two races where we didn’t finish where we wanted to be. To come back, thanks to the team. It is very crucial in that moment not to panic and to stay relaxed. It is a long season but getting here on Sunday afternoon having won the race is the best result we can get. On top of that Mark in second place is a big, big plus for the team. A lot of points and I am very, very happy. Q: Mark, we heard the call on the radio to look after the tyres on the seventh lap. At the pit stop you lost two-and-a-half seconds. Was that when you lost the chance of catching up with Sebastian today? Mark Webber: We know these days with the strategy and how the races unfold that the first part of the race is crucial and the first sector. As Seb explained I got a little bit of wheelspin and on the run to the first corner Seb had a big tow. I didn’t really know where Nico was either. I didn’t know to go fully to the inside or stay in the middle, so I just braked late and both of us were on the limit to make the apex at the first corner. I had a bit better exit coming out of two as Seb explained and then the fight continued to turn four. We had a chat to Christian Horner at the start of the race and Christian said ‘boys, behave yourselves’ and we did. The spirit and the chemistry in our team is awesome. We fight very hard, you saw that today. It was a good fight between Seb and I. The result could have gone either way. But in the end he did the job at a crucial stage and deserved the victory. A one-two for us as a team is sensational. The cars ran very well. It was a nice comeback for us after some tough races where we didn’t finish where we should. All in all coming to the weekend you never know, you would probably take this type of result, but as the weekend went on I would like to be one spot further but a great result for the team and we executed a beautiful weekend for everybody. Well done for Red Bull and Renault, of course, the engines were great. Q: Nico, you watched the Red Bulls sail away into the distance. You sort of had a race all to yourself but the first podium for yourself with Mercedes. Nico Rosberg: It is a fantastic result for us. Quite pleased. The start did not go too well. I think this time it was quite a lot down to me. I just wanted a bit too much and got a bit too much wheelspin and lost out a little bit there. From then on, once I was third, I knew it was going to be difficult to follow the Red Bulls but I was struggling a bit in the first stint with the options. I don’t know why, we need to analyse that, and (Robert) Kubica stayed pretty close which wasn’t the plan. But once we did the pit stop and got on the prime I was very comfortable. A bit worried about (Lewis) Hamilton initially as I didn’t know how he was going to come up after his pit stop and I was expecting him to be very fast but apparently he didn’t get by the people behind me. It is a fantastic result for us here at one of our home grands prix also as we have backing from Petronas, so a lot of support here at this race and it is a great co-incidence that the first podium comes over here too. I really have to thank the whole team for all the hard work they have put in over the winter. They worked crazy hours, so a little reward now with the podium, so we need to push on as we are not there yet where we want to be but it is a good step in the right direction. Q: Sebastian, how much of a relief was that after the last couple of races? SV: A big relief. I am sorry. I feel a bit tipsy from the champagne. I think I took a bit too much. I am very pleased. A great day for us and Red Bull. As you said, the first two races we weren’t finishing where we want to be. But a great result. The start for myself was crucial. I had a good start, good initial momentum. I was a bit worried to start on the dirty side as the right side is the clean side but I was patient really trying to control the wheelspin and didn’t ask for too much throttle too early. That was the key to get past Nico and then run with big tow down to turn one. It is a long sprint. It is one of the longest sprints to turn one behind Mark and I was able to catch him and outbrake him into turn one. It was quite late. Big respect for Mark. I think he would have done the same thing. But he could have behaved differently down into turn one and turn two but that was good. The fight carried on down to turn four. It was extremely slippery for both of us and it was a question who is braking first and if the car stops. Obviously going out of qualifying it was wet, but usually you are having a completely different reference point. Now you start with the car fully filled and it is a bit of an adventure to find your braking point. From then onwards I could see we were one-two which was crucial, so we were able to pull a gap to Nico. But Mark didn’t stop pushing, so I had to push myself. I was trying to look after my tyres in the first stint especially with the soft compound. I was quite pleased that they held together. I was trying to save them a little bit for the end of the stint and then the hard tyres were quite solid and you could push all the way through. Mark again did not stop pushing. He came a bit closer and I could see he was doing faster lap times than I was, so I was just trying to control the gap. It was quite difficult with the lapped cars as they were coming quicker than you thought. Over the team radio I got the call that at some stage we were about 10 seconds quicker a lap compared to them which is funny as two laps before you had nobody there and then all of a sudden you catch them up. But in the end of the day very, very pleased with the result. I think we did a very good job yesterday as a team. Mark was the poker face yesterday and got the pole but today to finish one-two is fantastic especially for myself after the first two races, so I am very happy. Q: Mark held onto you pretty much in the opening stages but in the second stint he came back at you. Was that all to do with the traffic? SV: When you are in the lead and you have got a couple of seconds on your side then you don’t try to do anything stupid in traffic. For the guys I think in the slower cars it is a pretty difficult job to do as three corners before they had no-one in their mirror and all of sudden they had someone behind, so sometimes you find yourself in a bit of an adventure trying to get past. But they did a very good job. Sometimes you lose a little bit more depending on where you have to pass them and how quickly they move over but it was all fairly in control. On the primes in the beginning Mark was a bit faster. I was just trying to react to his times and then the gaps are sometimes shrinking, sometimes I am gaining a bit again. I was trying to bring the car home at some stage. I was hoping for rain as it was quite hot. I think we all lost quite a bit of water, so that is why after two sips of champagne you might feel a bit dizzy. I am still young. I am not used to this. Q: Mark, a little bit of frustration for you with the start and the wheel nut as well. MW: Seb has wrapped it up. The team has performed incredibly well today and the whole weekend. We were very quick all weekend and very important that we had a clean run yesterday in a very tricky session. It could easily have gone wrong for us but both of us did a good job in tough conditions which laid the foundations for a clear race today. We didn’t expect it to be dry for the whole grand prix but it was and knowing that the third, fourth row there wasn’t the normal people, so the race was going to explode massively and probably wasn’t the normal grand prix in that sense. The run to the first corner I had a little bit too much wheelspin at the start and as Seb said he was in a reasonable position to get the tow and then it was just fighting on the brakes for the first two big stops of the lap and Seb has the inside and we fought pretty close but in the end it was really tough fighting your team-mate as we have an amazing chemistry in our team and all the mechanics, Renault, everybody, we arrive at every track in such a good style. We want to get the best result we can. Every team is like that but this is by far the best team I have ever been with in terms of wanting to get the results. When you have got all those guys in your mind it is not the best thing to see Red Bull Racing wheels flying in the air, so we had a good fight but in the end today Seb got it. After that I was like, ‘my God, I have got the whole race now I am in second’ and that was how it was going to be unless Seb had a failure or he was going to make a mistake. But we know the quality of him. Both of us pushed each other to the end and that was that. I had Hamilton after the second stop but the wheel nut was putting up a fight and it seemed like an eternity when we are used to really quick stops. Then it was waiting, waiting, waiting, ok down it goes then I went. I had to sit behind Hamilton a little bit to start with and it was then a case of bringing the cars to the end of the race. You didn’t know how they were going to go. It is still a bit of a learning phase for all the teams as we go to different venues and we do a bit of work on Friday which I didn’t get to do myself but Seb did a bit of work and we still did a lot on Sunday afternoon. Sensational result for the team and we got what we deserved. Other races we didn’t as we weren’t prepared. Today we were prepared and we blew everyone away which was great. Q: Nico, on the podium here; you said you liked the place, what does this mean to you, the team and your sponsors? NR: I’m really happy for the whole team. Also for Petronas who is our biggest sponsor. It’s a great result and it’s really nice to have our first podium here at Malaysia which is a coincidence. We’ve had a lot of support. Even on the podium it was really nice to see all the Petronas guests cheering, so that was really cool. I’m also pleased because the team put so much work into it and they deserved the good result that we got here. Of course, we still need to work hard, because as we saw again Red Bull is just quicker than us at the moment and we really need to push on to close the gap now, to come up with some good ideas and some good upgrades, but I’m confident that we can do it for sure. Q: How threatening was Robert Kubica, because he got pretty close to you? NR: Yeah, I was not quite so happy with the first stint. It wasn’t going well because Robert could properly stay with me and I think he was just as fast as me, so I was a bit surprised by that, but it was the option tyres, I didn’t feel very comfortable on them and I was struggling especially with the rears on high fuel. And then after the pit stop, going on the prime, it felt much better and I could really push on and I was quite comfortable after that. Q: He still got very close to you. On lap 34 he was… NR: Yeah, that was a bit of a problem with (Karun) Chandhok, I think, who… I’m not sure but I don’t think he did a very good job on that particular occasion. He should have moved out a bit earlier. I think he maybe didn’t see me or something and that really gave Kubica a chance which shouldn’t have been there, because he was miles away. So we need to review that in the drivers’ meeting. It’s obviously difficult with all the slightly slower teams, the new teams that are out there. There’s always going to be an occasion where it’s never going to be perfect but we need to try and get it as good as possible. QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR Q: (Paolo Ianieri – La Gazzetta dello Sport) Sebastian, it only took you one race to wipe out the gap to Massa and Alonso, who were quite far ahead. Were you expecting to do that so quickly? MW: The championship is over, isn’t it? I thought the championship was over! SV: Yeah, that’s what people are saying. We are just here to race. Yes, as I said before, obviously there’s always a lot of talking and things happening. Yes, we didn’t have great races, the first and second one, we didn’t do the best job we could, but that’s life. You build racing cars to go as quickly as you can. They’re built on the limit and sometimes something breaks. Obviously it depends when. When it happens on Friday, no one cares but if it happens on Sunday, obviously everyone is highlighting the issue and blaming you for poor reliability. We are a team, we stick together in good and bad times. We win and lose together and it’s not like in football where you probably change the coach after you’ve lost two times. So we carry on and we’ve proven that we can come back. I don’t know the ranking in the championship now but I think today we scored 25 points. I saw that Fernando (Alonso) had an engine failure, I think, on the last lap. As far as I remember, our gap was about 25 points, so it’s not anymore. I think that’s a good thing. If anything, it shows how quickly it can turn around. It’s a long, long season. We still have 16 races to go which is a lot, so we are here to do our best and we want to fight for the championship, both of us, and for the team, so at the end of the day, finishing first and second was good points for the team and good points for ourselves, so I think we’re in a much better position now than probably on Friday or this morning. Q: (Simon Arron – Motorsport News) Mark, can you talk us through turn one? You said in the unilateral that you weren’t sure where Nico was. Did you have any clue where Seb was and when exactly were you aware of his presence? MW: I initially had a look off the start where Seb was and he wasn’t mega close initially; in second or third gear, he wasn’t mega close. It looked reasonable. You know the track is so bloody wide you think where the hell is everyone? I’ve obviously only got the mirrors to check the immediate positions just behind me. To be honest, I didn’t know Seb went to the inside. I thought he was more on the outside. Obviously that’s why I probably went back and maybe I’ll opened the door completely for him but it’s very difficult to see where the guys are on the run to turn one on such a wide track, so I just thought, ‘get in there nice and deep,’ for sure he arrived late, he wasn’t beside me, I couldn’t hear him or he wasn’t beside me when we were on full throttle or when we started braking. It was a fair fight and obviously there’s lots of different options into turn one, so it’s hard to know whether to go inside or outside. I saw him when we were on the brakes. Q: (Heikki Kulta – Turun Sanomat) Sebastian, last year you won the third race, and this year you’ve now won the third race. Are you on the same schedule like last year, to carry on fighting for the championship? SV: I need to remember where we finished the fourth race and the fifth race. Last year is last year, this year is this year. I think we are always looking ahead but you can live in history or you can live in the future, but I think the best thing is to live in the now and live the moment, so we have to focus on what is happening now. From here, first of all we go back and then kind of come back to Asia to go to China. The cars go more or less straight there, but there’s a bit of break between races. And hopefully we will have the same result in China as last year, that’s all I can say. Every race is a new challenge. Into the first race, I think we were pretty quick. Ferrari was very quick and in Melbourne all of a sudden we were kind of back. They weren’t really that far behind in Bahrain but it just shows that a slightly different kind of track, a different layout… you know, we’ve seen here Mercedes was very strong, so we probably do have a little bit of an advantage at the time, but we have to work hard and focus on what is happening now to maintain the good performance and then we go race by race. There may be times when we will struggle as well and we won’t be able to win. We might only get fourth or fifth but we have to make sure we finish fourth or fifth then, and not put the car in the wall or finish eighth or out of the points. I think that’s how it should work. Q: (Livio Oricchio – O Estado de Sao Paulo) To Vettel and Webber, if we’d had a normal qualifying yesterday with Ferrari and McLaren closer to your team, do you think the result of the race would have been the same? MW: No. It was a luxury today, for Seb and I, not to have to kill the engines, kill the tyres, kill everything because the gap to the other guys was more comfortable, no question about it. But Nico drove a good race, but I think there were some quicker guys, maybe particularly Lewis, who had a different day, starting at the back. Tactically the race could have been a little bit different if he was around, or Fernando or Felipe (Massa). I obviously didn’t see how their race went. Obviously Fernando didn’t finish at the end. As Jack Brabham used to say: ‘win at the slowest possible speed.’ One second or thirty seconds is the same result. We were very much in control of today’s race. It’s not always going to be like that but when it is, you have to make the most of it. SV: Not much to add. Walter Röhrl once said that he’s not interested in winning a rally by one second having had a close fight. He wants to destroy the others and win by a minute, so two great drivers, one in rallying, one in Formula One, but I think that in the end, especially here, the result is obviously most important for us. We got good points. As Mark said, it probably wasn’t the easiest race for Ferrari and McLaren, but still, it was a long hot race and first you have to go out and do it. Q: (Joris Fioriti – AFP) Mark, you had a different strategy to Sebastian; do you think that without the problem you had in the pit stop you could have passed him, after the pit stop? MW: I don’t think the pit stop cost me the victory. The start cost me the victory and then when the first car is leading, he sort of has priority or the luxury when he can stop. It was clear. Obviously if I stopped first there was a big chance I could jump Sebastian but that would not have been fair for the guy who was leading. It was really down to the start and who had track position in the first stint. I knew, when Sebastian peeled off for his stop, I pushed. Obviously I found quite a bit more pace on the in-lap but it’s not enough to take on the fresh tyres of a competitor who in this case was Seb, because we know the cars are the same weight. In seasons gone by obviously the cars were different weights because of the fuel. Now they’re the same weight and fresh tyres, so it’s very difficult to fight and then, as you say, the pit stop was a little bit of salt in the wounds or a fly in the ointment. It doesn’t help things. Q: (Joris Fioriti – AFP) Nico, you said you were really satisfied after your third place, but it also underlines how far you are from the Red Bulls, so doesn’t that frustrate you? NR: Frustrating? No, I would not say it was frustrating. It’s really early days. The team has just come together in the way it is now with Petronas and Mercedes and the ex-Brawn team. I think we’ve started the season OK with two fifth places and now a third place. I think it’s a good start with some solid results and I’m happy with that and it’s very important now that we push on because we need to develop faster than the others, which is not going to be easy, but I’m confident that we can do the job and that’s going to be the most important thing, to really push on now. Looking at today, it didn’t seem to be such a huge gap to Red Bull at the beginning. I’m not sure, but anyway, it’s definitely some tenths that we need to catch up.

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Join Date: 11/05/10 Last Logged In: 05/19/13 Hi, everyone! My name is Meloxique (pronounced melo - zeek) but most people call me Melo or other variations of such. I'm currently sixteen-years-old and getting older every 25th of April. I live in Sydney, Australia; lived in Bangkok, Thailand; and was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I presently write fanfiction for movies and K-Pop idols but will return to anime and manga in due time. If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to contact me because I regularly check my emails! Lots of love. Tuesday, 14 May 2013 - 5:00 PM Daft Punk's new album came out early on iTunes! T_____T I missed them so much. It's so nice to hear them again. Song: "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" by Fergie ft. Q-Tip & GoonRock Album: Random Access Memories by Daft Punk Movie: Star Trek Into Darkness Book: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami Heart of Steel Fandom: Iron Man Pairing: Tony Stark x Reader Status: new chapter every Friday Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader Status: slow progress The Sky is Blue Enough Fandom: Big Bang Pairing: T.O.P x Reader G-Dragon Fandom: Kaichou wa Maid-sama! Pairing: Usui Takumi x Reader Status: under revision World of Mystery Fandom: Kingdom Hearts x Final Fantasy Status: in the planning stage

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2013-05-19T10:23:43Z

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Route map of 2004 expedition to summit the highest peak of China Pamir and Kun-Lun, Kongur 7719m 0 miles away Shows major peaks and glaciers in the Karakoram mountain range in Pakistan and China. 2nd highest... 210 miles away Sketch of central Tien Shan between China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Means the "Heaven... 354 miles away Topographical map of the Fan Mountains (Fans) in Tajikistan. Home of over 10 5000+ meter peaks... 379 miles away Xinjiang, China Tourist Map showing tourist attractions, roads, cities, mountains and lakes. 737 miles away Map of Tibet showing roads, towns, rivers, railways and mountains. 853 miles away Tourist map of Tibet showing interesting sights, cities and topography in English. 868 miles away Trekking map of Minya Konka (Mt. Gongga / Gongga Shan). Minya Konka is located in eastern Tibet... 1637 miles away Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan detail map highlighting the Elbrus mountain region. Map shows roads... 1678 miles away Overview map of the central Caucasus mountains from Mt. Elbrus east in Russia and Georgia. In... 1701 miles away Tourist map of Mt. Emei in 165km west of the city of Chengdu, China in the Szechaun province... 1718 miles away Map of Isreal and Surrounding areas from "Atlas of the Middle East", published in January... 2332 miles away Physical map of the Middle East with shaded relief. 2490 miles away Tourist map of Huangshan, China. Shows scenic spots. In Chinese and English. Scanned. 2498 miles away Map of Bukovel's slopes, lifts and resort 2572 miles away Map of the Transcarpathia Hiking Trail (THT) in Ukraine. Trail runs through the territory of... 2641 miles away Map of Pirin Mountains in Pirin National Park, near Bansko, Bulgaria. Shows peaks and mountain... 2706 miles away Map of Borovets ski resort in Bulgaria. 2719 miles away Overview map of Duna-Ipoly Nemzeti Park (Danube-Ipoly National Park) north of Budapest, Hungary 2846 miles away Trail map of Yushan National Park, Tawian. Home to highest mountain in Taiwan and East Asia... 2874 miles away Map of Malaysia. Shows states of Malaysia, expressways, highways, railways, airports, mountains... 2912 miles away Topo map of the northern Lyngen Peninsula near Tromso, Norway. Shows peaks. From photo. 2924 miles away Ski run, lifts and mountain elevations for the ARE Ski Resort in Sweden. Note: The map is in... 3033 miles away 3136 miles away Shows places of interest, MRT stations and routes, and shopping/ethnic districts. Inset of Sentosa... 3148 miles away The national parks region "Nasjonalparkriket" is centrally located between the cities of... 3162 miles away Contour map of Mount Vesuvius and surrounding area. Rodad and cities also identified. 3173 miles away Panoramic summer hiking map of the Alta Pusteria, Italy, in the South Tyrol. Shows towns... 3174 miles away Summer hiking map of the Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy area in the heart of the Dolomite Mountains... 3174 miles away Topographical map of Germany. Shaded by elevation in meters. Also shows major German cities. 3182 miles away Summer map of Alta Badia region in Italian Dolomites 3186 miles away Summer panoramic trail map of the Val Gardena, Italy area in the heart of the Dolomite Mountains... 3193 miles away Tourist map of town of Santa Cristina Val Gardena, Italy. Santa Cristina lies on the sunny side of... 3193 miles away Ski trail map of San Martino di Cartozza, Italy 3194 miles away Hiking trail map of the Val di Fassa, Italy region. Highly detailed. 3196 miles away Detailed topographic map of Val di Rabbi, Italy on the edge of Stelvio National Park 3237 miles away Panoramic map of the mountains and towns of northern Italy, the Tyrol, and southern Austria 3241 miles away Panorama tourist map of the region of Valdidentro Alta Valtellina from Bormio, Italy to Livigno... 3262 miles away Summer panoramic tourist map of Engadin region of Switzerland. Includes St. Moritz, Piz Bernina... 3281 miles away

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2013-05-19T10:34:34Z

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History of Science, History of Medicine is an interdisciplinary program of studies leading toward an understanding of the development of science and medicine and their impact on society. It explores intellectual and cultural traditions, institutions, techniques, and practices; the social uses of science and medicine; the creation of science-based technologies; and the relations of science, medicine, and public health to the state. Science and Drama Themes in science, technology, and medicine as they have figured in modern plays written and produced in the United States and Europe. These fictive treatments are compared with scientific and historical reality. Playwrights include Ibsen, Brecht, Capek, Frayn, Stoppard, Molière, and Cassandra Medley.HIST 234 01 (12794) /HSHM235 Epidemics and Society in the West since 1600 The impact of epidemic diseases such as bubonic plague, cholera, malaria, and AIDS on society, public health, and the medical profession in comparative and international perspective. Popular culture and mass hysteria, the mortality revolution, urban renewal and rebuilding, sanitation, the germ theory of disease, the emergence of scientific medicine, and debates over the biomedical model of disease.AMST 135 01 (12848) /HIST127/WGSS200 U.S. Lesbian and Gay History Introduction to the social, cultural, and political history of lesbians, gay men, and other socially constituted sexual minorities. Focus on understanding categories of sexuality in relation to shifting normative regimes, primarily in the twentieth century. The emergence of homosexuality and heterosexuality as categories of experience and identity; the changing relationship between homosexuality and transgenderism; the development of diverse lesbian and gay subcultures and their representation in popular culture; religion and sexual science; generational change and everyday life; AIDS; and gay, antigay, feminist, and queer movements. Strategic, Political, and Moral Dilemmas of the Nuclear Age A chronological inquiry into the central questions raised by the invention of nuclear weapons. Topics include the impact of nuclear weapons on the theory and practice of war, nuclear deterrence, disarmament, nuclear proliferation, preemptive war, and the capacity for human self-extinction.AMST 449 01 (22720) /WGSS451 Photography and Memory: Public and Private Lives Photographs as a source for the creation of public and private memory in the United States, 1839 to the present.AMST 247 01 (12203) /HLTH170/AMST879/HSHM634/HIST147/HSHM202/HIST914 Media and Medicine in Modern America John Harley Warner Relationships between medicine, health, and the media in the United States from 1870 to the present. The changing role of the media in shaping conceptions of the body, creating new diseases, influencing health and health policy, crafting the image of the medical profession, informing expectations of medicine and constructions of citizenship, and the medicalization of American life. HIST 151J 01 (21946) /HSHM448/WGSS448 American Medicine and the Cold War The social, cultural, and political history of American medicine from 1945 to 1960. The defeat of national health insurance; racism in health care; patient activism; the role of gender in defining medical professionalism and family health; the rise of atomic medicine; McCarthyism in medicine; and the polio vaccine trials and the making of science journalism. HIST 910 01 (21108) /HSHM745 History of Health Activism This research seminar introduces students to current historical debates around health activism. Topics include progressive and conservative ideologies; debates around welfare and entitlements; gender and reproductive rights; medical professionalism; and health activism as a social movement. Research is focused on holdings in Yale libraries. CLCV232 01 (22321) /HUMS233/HIST20 Food and Diet in Greco-Roman Antiquity A review of evidence concerning dietary habits and attitudes in the Greco-Roman world, examining the various meanings of eating and drinking in literary texts and the significance of food and drink in social and religious life and in health care. HIST269 01 (22296) /JDST286/JDST788/HIST979/RLST768/RLST230 Holocaust in Historical Perspective A survey of the major historical issues raised by the Holocaust, including the roots of Nazism; different theoretical perspectives and ways of accounting for genocide; the behavior of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders; and problems of representation. AMST930 01 (11052) /HSHM701 Problems in the History of Medicine and Public Health An examination of the variety of approaches to the social, cultural, and intellectual history of medicine, focusing on the United States. Reading and discussion of the recent scholarly literature on medical cultures, public health, and illness experiences from the early national period through the present. Topics include the role of gender, class, ethnicity, race, religion, and region in the experience of health care and sickness and in the construction of medical knowledge; the interplay between lay and professional understandings of the body; the role of the marketplace in shaping professional identities and patient expectations; citizenship, nationalism, and imperialism; and the visual culture of medicine. HIST 938 01 (21114) /HSHM676 The Engineering and Ownership of Life The seminar explores the history of intellectual innovation and intellectual property protection in living matter. Focusing on the United States in world context, it examines arrangements outside the patent system as well as within it. Topics include agriculture, medicine, biotechnology, and law. May be taken as a reading or research course. EAST 525a/HIST 902a/HSHM 707a Impact of Epidemic Disease in Context: Focus on Asia The course brings historical, geopolitical, medical, and public health perspectives to bear on the study of specific epidemics, with a focus on Asia. Case studies include major epidemics such as cholera in the Philippines and plague in Manchuria in the early twentieth century, the story of Japan's biological warfare Unit 731 in World War II, recurrent influenza pandemics, and more recently, Nipah virus outbreaks in Malaysia, SARS in China, and pneumonic plague in Gujarat, India. HSHM 008 01 (12051) /HUMS090 History of Scientific Medicine The development of scientific medicine traced from classical antiquity to the dawning of the modern biomedical era. Focus on the biographies of major contributors and on cultural and intellectual currents affecting discovery. HIST 143J 01 (13155) /HSHM452 Psychopharmacology in Twentieth-Century America The history of psychotropic medications in America from the introduction of amphetamine in the 1930s through the rise of Prozac in the 1990s. Case studies of antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and stimulants within the broader social, psychiatric, cultural, and pharmaceutical landscape. HIST 233 01 (21251) /HSHM201 The Cultures of Western Medicine: A Historical Introduction A survey of medical thought, practice, institutions, and practitioners from classical antiquity to the present. Changing concepts of health and disease in Europe and America explored in their social, cultural, economic, scientific, technological, and ethical contexts. HIST 901 01 (11048) /HSHM708 The Body in Science and Art The course explores the history of the representations of the human body in science and art. It discusses recent literature on the role of the body in experimental practices. HIST 933 01 (21112) /HSHM640 Molecules, Life, and Disease in the Twentieth Century The course explores the transformation of the life sciences in the twentieth century. It focuses on the rise of molecular biology and its understanding of life and disease. It shows how and why the molecular vision on life has achieved such a high level of scientific authority and social legitimacy. It emphasizes the relationship of this transformation to broader intellectual, social, cultural, and political change. HIST 006 01 (12796) /HSHM005 Medicine and Society in American History Disease and healing in American history from colonial times to the present. The changing role of the physician, alternative healers and therapies, and the social impact of epidemics from smallpox to AIDS.

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://medicine.yale.edu/humanities/resources/courses/hist.aspx

2013-05-19T10:18:31Z

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en

Bird Paradise National Park Bird Paradise National Park (Kuş Cenneti Milli Parkı) is one of the earliest national parks of Turkey, surrounding Lake Kuş (Turkish: Kuş Gölü, lit. “bird lake”). It’s an important stop-over and final destination for migratory birds, which migrate to warmer places south in winter. There are 239 species inhabiting the area during summer, totalling about 3,000,000 individual birds, although whole area is only 64 hectares, tiny in world standards. What makes the area so popular with the birds is its ecosystem: at the end of winter, with the level rise of the water of the lake (which is related to the rising streams, which in turn are related with the dissolving of snowcover up in the mountains), a small willow grove and reed beds at the northwest of the lake submerge underwater, making it a perfect area to nest, and for the youngs to hatch and grow. Bird Paradise National Park has been awarded with Class A European Diploma by the European Council for four times since 1976, because of its effective and successful protection of the wildlife. Detailed information about the birds, and the park in general, is provided in the museum and the administrative building inside the park. The best months for bird watching are between March and July, and September and October, roughly corresponding to the migration period of the birds. There is a watchtower that commands a wide area for viewing. Scientific research in the park requires permission from the park directorate. Southern Marmara occupies a long shoreline which is the southern coast of the Sea of Marmara, Marmara Islands off the coast, and some places more inland. It’s bordered by Eastern Marmara to northeast and east, Central Anatolia to southeast, Northern Aegean to south, and Eastern Thrace to northwest and north, across the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles Strait. In addition to the Marmara coast, the region also has a shore on the Aegean Sea to the west. In ancient times, eastern two-thirds of Southern Marmara, roughly between Bursa and Balıkesir was known as Mysia, while the western one-third, a peninsula today better known as Biga Yarımadası in Turkish, between Dardanelles, Aegean Sea, and the Gulf of Edremit, was known as Troad, i.e. "the plains behind Troy". The highway D200 (which is assigned the European route number E90), starting from Çanakkale and then passing by the regional centres of Bandırma and Bursa, and then leaving the region towards east is the backbone of transportation in the region.

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

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2013-05-19T09:48:18Z

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Australian Bureau of Statistics 1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2005 Previous ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 22/04/2004 |Page tools: Print Page Print All RSS Search this Product| The University of Tasmania has research and teaching partnerships throughout the world offering off-shore academic programs in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Korea and collaborating on a diverse range of international research projects including: The University and the Tasmanian Government have established a comprehensive partnership agreement, the first such agreement between a university and its State government. Underlying the partnership agreement is the recognition of the University’s importance to the State and its future development. Successes in the first year of operation in 2001 included establishing a State Law Reform Institute (and moving towards creating additional institutes in health and the environment), developing the State’s IT capabilities and establishing new academic programs to meet Tasmania’s skill needs. The University of Tasmania also has partnerships in the: An Australian Research Council Special Research Centre (the Centre for Ore Deposit and Exploration Studies) is located in Hobart. This page last updated 21 November 2006 Unless otherwise noted, content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia Licence together with any terms, conditions and exclusions as set out in the website Copyright notice. For permission to do anything beyond the scope of this licence and copyright terms contact us.

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2013-05-19T10:06:41Z

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en

Get yourself verified before any of your flights as we want you to have a great and smooth journey! We need to confirm your identity with your travel documents (e.g: I.D, Passport, Driving license, etc) as a security measure for you. You will need the following documents for:- - Identification Card/ Passport/ Driving license. Note: Driving license is not applicable in Malaysia - Birth certificate for infant and children - Passport with 6 months validity - Return/Onward ticket (if required) - Visa (if required) Soft copies of any form of IDs are not acceptable. If you do not have the necessary documents, we have the rights to refuse boarding to ensure the security of the other guests. Everyone that is flying on any AirAsia or AirAsia X flights Document check needs to be done at the Document Check Counter 45 minutes before departure. AirAsia (AK/ FD/ QZ/ PQ/ JW flights) You can head to the Baggage Drop/Document Check Counter at the departure hall or boarding gate. AirAsia X (D7) flights Due to visa/passport and immigration requirements; guest(s) are required to head to the Baggage Drop/Document Check Counter before proceeding to the boarding gate. WITHOUT checked baggage WITH checked baggage |Proceed to Document Check Counter||Proceed to Baggage Drop Counter| |AirAsia||Between 2 hours - 45 minutes before departure| |AirAsia X||Between 2 hours - 1 hour before departure| Note: Please proceed to Baggage Drop Counter at the stations which do not have dedicated Document Check Counter. I've been verified, now what? Then you're all set! Enjoy your flight and thank you for choosing AirAsia.

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2013-05-19T09:54:44Z

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012 Although there are many of you out there who seem to think my life is one big holiday the pre-season tour is pretty much my annual break. But I don't ever remember it involving so much football. Tuesday saw our third contest of the summer - although our first 90-minute game - and we reached the Bukit Jalil Stadium via Kuala Lumpur's Monorail and Metro system. It was definitely a far more efficient way to make that journey given the quite crazy road system we experienced in the rush hour on Monday. As soon as you alight at the station the atmosphere hits you, almost party-like with the noise and colour heightened by the many merchandise and souvenir stalls vying for your business. Once inside the sheer number of Gooners in this part of the world hits home and boy can they knock up a banner! Although my flag sat proudly as always it was dwarfed by the incredible size of those present from Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia! The noise as the teams came out was fantastic and testament once again to the incredible enthusiasm from everyone there. As for the game, considering it was pre-season and played on an extremely difficult surface it proved pretty entertaining. More composure in front of goal on at least three or four occasions along with a succession of corners suggest we should have been comfortably ahead at half time but we went in a goal down after an incredible strike from distance. Post-match the squad and officials headed straight to the airport - destination Beijing and the second leg of the tour. For me it's one last day at the pool and possibly a little shopping at one of the night markets later before making my way to China tomorrow morning. Hopefully I will see some of you there but for now a massive hello to all those I have met so far, in particular Kevin and the guys and girls from Singapore. Thanks to all for such a friendly and enthusiastic welcome. For now… goodbye Malaysia. Frank @stubbsy70Copyright 2013 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source 25 Jul 2012

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2013-05-19T10:04:21Z

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en

DECK & SYSTEMS CHECKMATE Crew Profile More detailed profiles to follow...... Captain – Matthew Bishop Previously employed as Captain on LADY LILA (112’ Wesport), REDEMPTION (118’ Broward), Freelance captain on BIG CITY (142’ Trinity), MY MARILYN (112’ Hatteras). Matt has cruised the Med for many seasons: Italy, South of France, Sicily, Matt loves the East Med especially Turkey & Croatia. Chef - Lucie Dawson Previously employed as 2nd chef on charter yacht SLIPSTREAM (196’ CMN), chef on charter yacht SEAFARIS (134’ Custom), seasonal chef for several seasons on HEAVENLY DAZE (105’ Feadship), NAOS (105’ private S/Y) – cruised Malaysia – cruising Tahiland, Signapore and Borneo. First Officer - Jason Browne Previously employed on ARETI (198’ Trinity), ARETI (127’ Burger), Le Reve (110’ Lazzara), ANTARES (130’ Westport), DREAMSEEKER (140’ Feadship). Chief Stewardess - Jennifer Woolett Previously employed on ARETI (198’ Trinity), ARETI (127’ Burger), Le Reve (110’ Lazzara), SOLAIA (135’ Haakvort), LADY IN BLUE (172’ Amels). Second Stewardess – Chantelle Meegan Previously employed on RELENTLESS (146’ Trinity), PARTY GIRL (146’ Trinity), ICON (205’ Icon), FOUR ACES (183’ Benetti), SWEET ESCAPE (130’ Christensen). Bosun - Sam Hatchwell Previously employed on SEVEN SEAS (86m’ Oceanco), RONIN (58m Lurssen), AL SHOUA (56m Custom), FOUR ACES (183’ Benetti). Deckhand – TBD Third Stewardess – TBD Chief Engineer – Sorin Simion Tarcatu Chief Engineer on PERLE BLEUE (38m), AZTECA (72m CRN), ALLEGRO (37m Benetti) |LENGTH||145ft (44.2m)||BEAM||DRAFT||8ft 6in (2.6m)| |GUESTS||12||CREW||Captain Matthew Bishop & Chef Lucie Dawson + 7||REFIT| |SPEED||13kts / 15kts||STABILISERS||At Anchor (0 Speed)||FLAG| CHECKMATE can accommodate 10-12 guests in 5 cabins. The Master cabin has a king size bed, bath/tub, shower and toilet. A Guest Forward Star cabin has a twin bed, a pullman, shower and toilet. A Guest Forward Port cabin has a king size bed, a pullman and shower. A Guest Aft Port cabin has a king size bed, shower and toilet. Crew has a separate heads and shower. All information contained in this site has been provided by third parties, and Charter Index is providing this site on an 'as is' basis, and makes no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to this site or its contents and disclaims all such representations and warranties. In addition, Charter Index makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness or suitability for any purpose of the information and related graphics published in this site. The information contained in this site may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. All liability of Charter Index howsoever arising for any such inaccuracies or errors is expressly excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law. Neither Charter Index nor any of its directors, employees or other representatives will be liable for loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the use of this site. This is a comprehensive limitation of liability that applies to all damages of any kind including (without limitation) compensatory, direct, indirect or consequential damages, loss of data, income or profit, loss of or damage to property and claims of third parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the exclusions and limitations in this clause are intended to limit any rights you may have as a consumer under local law or other statutory rights which may not be excluded or in any way to exclude or limit Charter Index liability to you for death or personal injury resulting from our negligence or that of our employees. Nothing on this website constitutes advice, nor does the transmission, downloading or sending of any information create any contractual relationship. Prices and indications as to the availability of yachts, captains and crew on this website are given for guidance purposes only and are subject to change without notice. Charter Index is not responsible for the content of external websites that link to this website or which are linked from it. All content, designs, text, graphics, software compilations and source codes on this website are the copyright of Charter Index and/or its content providers. Reproduction of part or all of the contents of this website in any form is prohibited other than for individual use only and may not be recopied and shared with a third party. The permission to recopy by an individual does not allow for incorporation of material or any part of it in any work or publication, whether in hard copy, electronic, or any other form. Any other use of the website without prior written consent from Charter Index is strictly forbidden.

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2013-05-19T10:33:58Z

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en

City University London leads Erasmus Mundus project to build engineering links between Europe and Asia City University London is to lead a Euro 1.98 million Erasmus Mundus project, enabling the exchange of staff and students across higher education institutions in the European Union (EU) and South Asia. Known as Strong Ties, the initiative will focus on developing skills in emerging areas of engineering, such as electronic healthcare, information security, nanotechnology, photonics and sustainable energy. The funding will enable a total of 101 staff and students from 11 Asian and seven EU institutions to work or study abroad for periods ranging between two and 30 months. These opportunities will be open to undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, as well as early career and established researchers. Aziz Rahman, Professor of Photonics at City, who will lead the project, says: "Climate change or cyber crime, for example, are global issues, so it's vital for us to share best practice across countries and ensure that tomorrow's engineers are familiar with the latest trends. "The Strong Ties project will enable this to happen, while providing participants with all of the benefits that come from international mobility - from experiencing new languages and cultures to gaining a worldwide network of contacts." The project follows the Euro 3.9 million EM2-STEM - another Erasmus Mundus initiative led by City, which was launched in early 2011 to boost collaboration between the EU and the Western Balkans, while fostering entrepreneurship and management skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). In addition, City is a partner in five other Erasmus Mundus schemes this year - the most of any UK university - creating further ties with the Middle East and across Asia. It is also a founding member of the World Cities World Class network, which aims to build closer links between universities, local governments and business communities in major economic and cultural hubs. Other founding universities are located in Berlin, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Seoul and St Petersburg. Alongside City University London, the Strong Ties EU partners are: Poiltechnico di Milano, Italy; University of Southern Denmark; University of Limerick, Ireland; Wroclaw University of Technology, Poland; Frederick University of Technology, Cyprus; and University of Dortmund, Germany. The Asian partners are: Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and United International University, Bangladesh; National University of Science and Technology, and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan; University of Pune, India; Kathmandu University, Nepal; Royal University of Bhutan; Kabul University, Afghanistan; University of Malaya, Malaysia; Bangkok University, Thailand; and Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia. Notes to Editors Media enquiries should be directed to Luke Nava in City University London's Press Office on 020 7040 8782 or at [email protected]. About City University London City University London is an international University with a commitment to academic excellence, a focus on business and the professions and a central London location. It is placed in the top 5% of universities around the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2010-11 and is ranked in the top 30 UK higher education institutions by the Times Higher Education Tables of Tables 2011. The University's Student Centre holds the 2011 Times Higher Education Leadership & Management Award for Outstanding Student Services Team. City is a broadly-based University with world leading strengths in business; law; engineering and mathematical sciences; informatics; health sciences and the arts including journalism and music. The University attracts over 21,000 students from more than 160 countries and academic and professional staff from over 50 countries. City University London's predecessor, the Northampton Institute, was founded in 1894. City will celebrate its first half century as a University in 2016.

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.city.ac.uk/media/press-releases/2011/aug/city-university-london-leads-erasmus-mundus-project-to-build-engineering-links-between-europe-and-asia

2013-05-19T09:47:22Z

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More Cute Cat & Kitten Images! Funny Cat Videos It's Cats Gone Wild in this video tribute to fantastic Exceptional Cat Videos See some amazing and outstanding cats from the Cat Funny & Cute Cute cat pictures are pretty easy to come by because cats are always... Cats With Dogs Cats and dogs are believed to be innate enemies. Parables and other stories... Cute Kitten Cats as babies are eternally cute, animal babies are always adorable... Ugly Cat Pictures Ugly cat pictures are some of the most hilarious animal-themed pictures... Fat Cat Pictures Fat cat pictures are popular because they are often so funny... Funny Cat Cartoons It seems like cats are always up to something to make Funny Cat eCards Collect them and send them to all your friends! Mancoon Cat Pictures Mancoon cats (also spelled Maine Coon) are known for impressive... Ragdoll cats are large, medium-hair length cats known for their passive... Siamese cat pictures are some of the most coveted cat pictures because... In Himalayan cat pictures, you can see the similarity to the Siamese breed... Persian cat pictures are prized for their embodiment of luxury... Calico cats renowned for their beautiful tricolor patterning... Tabby Cat Pictures Tabby, to striped, is the most common type of patterning in domestic cats... Manx Cat Pictures cats are a breed originating from the Island of Man, where a ... Abyssinian Cat Pictures Abyssinian cat pictures illustrate a refined, yet exotic look that has... A mutation was the cause of this trait seen in breeds such as the Sphynx... White Cat Pictures White cat pictures often associate the color white with femininity, purity... Early Cheshire cat pictures were portrayed in the book... Black Cat Pictures Even though black cats are often associated with witchcraft or evil... Tuxedo cat pictures show a commonly curious patterning of black and white... Russian Blue Cat Pictures The Russian Blue has a lean, medium sized body and a short, plush... Norwegian Forest cats are a breed of domestic cat Looking for Cat Names? Browse them here! Cat Behavior, Health & Find A Cat Breeder or Sitter Find Cat Breed The smallest of the cat breeds, the Singapura makes up for its diminutive size with its striking looks which give the impression of great elegance. Body color is an old or golden ivory with a soft warm effect, ticked with sepia brown.The coat is short, fine, silky, The breed has noticeably large eyes and ears. Eyes are large, set not less than an eye width apart, held wide open, but showing slant when closed or partially closed. The specified colors for the breed are hazel, green and yellow. The original home of the Singapura is the island of Singapore with the breed taking its name from the local Malay name for the island — meaning 'Lion City'.

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http://www.cutepicturesofcats.com/singapuracatpictures/singapura_cat_pictures.htm

2013-05-19T09:53:59Z

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en

Partner Communications Reports That Its Controlling Shareholder Filed an Immediate Report by Business Wire Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner" or "the Company") (Nasdaq:PTNR) (TASE:PTNR), a leading Israeli mobile communications operator, reports that its controlling shareholder, Scailex Corporation Ltd. ("Scailex"), filed today an immediate report regarding the receipt of the Minister of Communications approval to the transaction regarding the sale of a portion of Partner shares owned by Scailex. For Scailex's full immediate report, see: http://maya.tase.co.il/bursa/report.asp?report_cd=791521 or its informal English translation attached hereto and to our immediate report on Form 6-K to be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission today. This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "seek", "will", "plan", "could", "may", "project", "goal", "target" and similar expressions often identify forward-looking statements but are not the only way we identify these statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release regarding our future performance, plans to increase revenues or margins or preserve or expand market share in existing or new markets, reduce expenses and any statements regarding other future events or our future prospects, are forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current knowledge and our present beliefs and expectations regarding possible future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Partner, consumer habits and preferences in cellular telephone usage, trends in the Israeli telecommunications industry in general, the impact of current global economic conditions and possible regulatory and legal developments. For a description of some of the risks we face, see "Item 3D. Key Information - Risk Factors", "Item 4. - Information on the Company", "Item 5. - Operating and Financial Review and Prospects", "Item 8A. - Consolidated Financial Statements and Other Financial Information - Legal and Administrative Proceedings" and "Item 11. - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" in the Company's 2011 Annual Report (20-F) filed with the SEC on March 22, 2012, as amended on March 26, 2012. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur, and actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Partner Communications Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner") is a leading Israeli provider of telecommunications services (cellular, fixed-line telephony and internet services) under the orange™ brand. The Company provides mobile communications services to over 3 million subscribers in Israel. Partner’s ADSs are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market™ and its shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NASDAQ and TASE: PTNR). Partner is an approximately 45%-owned subsidiary of Scailex Corporation Ltd. ("Scailex"). Scailex's shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the symbol SCIX and are quoted on "Pink Quote" under the symbol SCIXF.PK. Scailex currently operates in two major domains of activity in addition to its holding in Partner: (1) the sole import, distribution and maintenance of Samsung mobile handset and accessories products primarily to the major cellular operators in Israel (2) management of its financial assets. For more information about Scailex, see http://www.scailex.com. For more information about Partner, see http://www.orange.co.il/investor_site About 012 Smile Telecom Ltd. 012 Smile is a wholly owned subsidiary of Partner Communications which provides international long distance services, internet services and local telecommunication fixed-line services (including telephony services using VOB) under the 012 Smile brand. The completion of the purchase of 012 Smile by Partner Communications took place on March 3, 2011. For further details see the press release dated March 3, 2011. Scailex Corporation Ltd. ("Scailex" or "the Company") 48 Ben Zion Galis St., Petach Tikva 49277 Tel: 03-9057730 Fax: 03-9300424 January 21, 2013 Israel Securities Authority Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd. 22 Kanfei Nesharim St. 54 Ahad Ha'am St. |(Via Magna)||(Via Magna)| Re: Agreement for the sale of a portion of Partner shares owned by the Company- receipt of the Minister of Communications' approval (Immediate Report pursuant to Regulation 36(A) of the Securities Regulations (Periodic and Immediate Reports), 5730 - 1970) Further to the Immediate Report filed by the Company on November 30, 2012 (reference no.: 2012-01-297369; this reference constitutes inclusion by way of referral) (“the Original Report”), concerning its engagement in an agreement on that date (“the Purchase Agreement”) with S.B. Israel Telecom Ltd. (“the Buyer”), an Israeli special-purpose vehicle (SPV) that is wholly owned (100%) by Saban Capital Group, according to which the Company will sell to the Buyer a portion of Partner shares owned by the Company, all being pursuant to the conditions specified in the Purchase Agreement, the principal provisions of which are described in the Original Report; and further to the Immediate Report filed by the Company on December 12, 2012 (reference no.: 2012-01-308136; this reference constitutes inclusion by way of referral), in which the Company reported certain updates with respect to the Purchase Agreement, including with respect to the dates set forth therein, and with respect to accounting, tax and cash flow implications of the Purchase Agreement; and further to the Immediate Report filed by the Company on December 24, 2012 (reference no.: 2012-01-318807; this reference constitutes inclusion by way of referral), in which the Company furnished updates with respect to the fulfillment of some of the suspending conditions that are required for the completion of the Purchase Agreement, which are specified in section 4(a) of the Original Report: the approval of the holders of the public notes, approval of Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd. and clarification that the transaction, set forth in the Purchase Agreement, is not subject to the approval of the Antitrust Commissioner and does not require a report to him - The Company is pleased to announce that on January 21, 2013, the approval of the Minister of Communications was received (see section 4 (a) of the Original Report), and thus all of the suspending conditions with respect to third party approvals have been fulfilled, which are required for the completion of the transaction on the Consummation Date (as defined in the Original Report), excluding additional ancillary approvals (with respect to the licenses in the Judea and Samaria area), which are expected to be received in the next few days. Accordingly, the Company and the Buyer are preparing to complete the Purchase Agreement in the next few days (Closing), in accordance with the conditions of the Purchase Agreement, as set forth in the Original Report. Scailex Corporation Ltd. by: Mr. Yahel Shachar, C.E.O.

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http://www.dailyfinance.com/rtn/pr/partner-communications-reports-that-its-controlling-shareholder-filed-an-immediate-report/rfid634787605/?channel=pf

2013-05-19T09:54:47Z

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en

Cheap Flights from Hong Kong to Qatar - You are here: Search Flights - > Hong Kong to Middle East - > Hong Kong - to Qatar Popular Flights from Hong Kong to Qatar Did You Know? - There are 1 carriers with direct flights from Hong Kong, HK to Qatar. - The longest flight to Qatar is 8,031 miles. - There are 8 direct flights from Hong Kong, HK to Qatar. - Qatar has the most flights to Qatar. - There are 83 cities with flights to Qatar. - There are 16 countries in the same zone as Qatar. - The currency symbol for QAR is ﷼. Flights to Cities in Qatar Royal Jordanian, Malaysia, Qatar, Pakistan, Lufthansa, Emirates, Etihad, British Airways, Srilankan Airlines, KLM, Turkish, Jet India Cheap Flights from Hong Kong to Qatar, from HKD5179 Round trip from HKG to QA

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2013-05-19T10:35:49Z

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en

Alhamdulillah was-salatu was-salaamu 'ala rasoolillah. All thanks and praise is to ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, and we ask that HIS blessings and peace be upon HIS Messenger, Muhammad, salla ALLAHu alaihi wa sallam. IFCE HALAL FOOD CONFERENCE By Prof. Dr. Mohamed Sadek, Chairman, IFCE The Islamic Food Council of Europe (IFCE) organized its first International Halal Food Conference at Brussels, Belgium on April 23, 2004. The one-day conference was very well attended. Speakers from government Halal programmes from Malaysia and Singapore as well as speakers from the food industry in Europe, the USA, West Africa and Asia were invited to present papers. The conference was officially declared open by H.E. The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Belgium who also spoke about Halal and its importance to the Muslim Ummah. The Chairman of the IFCE, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Sadek, gave a welcome address and thanked several food industries in USA and Europe for their strong support of Halal by sending attendees and contributing funds towards organization of the conference. Prof. Dr. Aisjah Girindra, President of the World Halal Council, who was unable to attend in person had her keynote address read by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Sadek. She spoke of the need for Halal certifiers to work together to develop common Halal certifying and auditing procedures. She stressed the importance of unity amongst Halal certifiers and gave credit to the IFCE and its Chairman for putting together the conference. She commended Prof. Dr. Mohamed Sadek for his commitment and vision towards moving the IFCE in the right direction. Dr. Girindra expressed her strong support to the IFCE and wished it all the success. Papers were presented by government speakers from Malaysia and Singapore. They highlighted the Halal certification and enforcement programmes in their countries and discussed their Halal Guidelines and import requirements. Speakers from Nestlé West Africa spoke about Nestlé's Halal programme and the benefits of its relationship with IFANCA. Modus operandi of their Halal Programme was elaborated and the benefits derived from this experience. Several other speakers from the food industry in Europe made presentations. Francois Fleischmann from Rousselot, gave an excellent presentation on Halal gelatin manufacture and the problems which must be addressed. Edee Innis from Firmenich gave an excellent presentation on Halal Certification and how beneficial it has been for their corporation in Europe and the USA. She also discussed why IFANCA and IFCE were selected to assist them in Halal Certification of their products. Professionalism and responsiveness were among the major reasons for working with IFANCA and the IFCE. Prof. Dr. Jinap Selamat from the University of Putra Malaysia spoke on Halal and HACCP. The speech was very informative and useful to the food industry personnel in attendance. Bonnie Bell from the giant, Nutrlite/Amway, spoke on the importance of Halal to their corporation, especially with the very large market in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. She commended the IFCE for organizing such a conference and described the benefits they had derived from their relationship with the IFCE. Richard Skinner from Danisco spoke about their organization's relationship with the IFCE and the benefits derived from this relationship. He spoke eloquently about the IFCE's global commitment and support to their global Halal Certification programme. Several other speakers also spoke and stressed the need to stay the course and help improve the Halal Certification programme. The IFCE Chairman presented awards to the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for their commitment and dedication to the Halal Certification Programme in their respective countries. Congratulations to Ehsan Sairally who was recently promoted to IFANCA Regional Director, Canada. For more information, see the article below. IFANCA has been invited to present a paper at the 5th Malaysia International Food and Beverage Halal Conference and Exhibition. For more information on the conference, check the MIFB website at www.mifb.com.my. Congratulations to IFANCA's Ehsan Sairally. Mr. Sairally was recently promoted to Regional Director, Canada. The news release announcing the promotion appears below. The Islamic Food And Nutrition Council Of America (IFANCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ehsan Sairally as Regional Director, Canada. Before his promotion, Mr. Sairally was IFANCA's Regional Representative in eastern Canada. Mr. Sairally has 25 years experience in the food industry. He holds a bachelors degree in Nutrition and Food Management and a diploma in Hospitality Management from Ryerson University. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology. Mr. Sairally has a strong record of community service and has organized several nutrition and health seminars in the Toronto area. He also serves as President of the Muslim Soccer League of Toronto. In his position, Mr. Sairally will have responsibility for continuing to strengthen and promote Halal Certification in the Canadian food industry. On behalf of IFANCA's Board of Directors, Dr. Ahmad Sakr, IFANCA board member, congratulated Mr. Sairally on his promotion. IFANCA is a Chicago based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting Halal food and the institute of Halal. IFANCA is also registered in Ontario as a not-for-profit organization. IFANCA works with the food industry to help it meet the needs of Muslim and Halal consumers. IFANCA currently certifies more than 500 companies in twenty countries. For further information, contact Dr. Muhammad M. Chaudry, 773-283-3708 or IFANCA Email.

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2013-05-19T10:16:49Z

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Four dead and 130 rescued as asylum seeker boat capsizes off Australian island Four people are believed to have died and 130 others were rescued after a crowded boat carrying asylum seekers to Australia capsized and sank today, less than a week after more than 90 people drowned on a similar journey. The incident, which occurred midway between Australia's Christmas Island and the main Indonesian island of Java, has renewed Australian government efforts to deter a growing stream of boat arrivals by legislating to deport them to other Southeast Asian or Pacific countries. An air and sea search for survivors ended late today when the Australian Maritime Safety Authority determined that no one beyond the 130 rescued had survived the sinking of the wooden Indonesian fishing boat. Only one body had been recovered. "Based on information from the survivors, including crew members, it is now believed that there were 134 people on board and that three people went down with the vessel," the authority said in a statement. Three merchant ships, two Australian warships and an Australian air force plane that can drop life rafts to the sea responded to the capsizing. The search area was 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Christmas Island and 185 kilometers (115 miles) south of Java. The boat capsized in Indonesia's search and rescue zone but Australian authorities raised the alarm after the crew made a satellite phone call to Australian police. The first merchant ship reached the scene more than four hours later, officials said. Last Thursday, 110 people were rescued when a boat carrying more than 200 mostly Afghan asylum seekers capsized just 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the latest tragedy. Only 17 bodies were recovered. The survivors' refugee applications were being assessed at Christmas Island, where Australia runs an immigration detention center. Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said the survivors of today's incident would be delivered to Christmas Island early tomorrow. Australia is a common destination for boats carrying asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka and other poor or war-torn countries. In December 2010, an estimated 48 people died when an asylum seeker boat broke up against Christmas Island's rocky coast. Last December, about 200 asylum seekers were feared drowned after their overcrowded ship bound for Australia sank off Java. Other boats are suspected to have sunk unnoticed with the loss of all lives. Last week's disaster rekindled debate in Parliament on how Australia should deter asylum seekers from risking the hazardous sea journey. The government wants to send new boat arrivals to Malaysia in exchange for accepting UN-recognized refugees living there. The opposition won't support the legislation because Malaysia has not signed the UN Refugee Convention. Today, Parliament began debating legislation that would enable the government to send asylum seekers to both Malaysia and the opposition's preferred option, Nauru. Clare, who oversees ocean rescues, called for political compromise so that asylum seekers would learn that those who attempt to reach Australia by boat will not be allowed to stay. "I believe that Australia has had a gutful of us fighting on this issue," Clare told Parliament. "They're sick of the politics, they're sick of hearing of more people dying, they're sick of us yelling at each other and they just want us to fix this." The bill scraped through the House of Representatives by two votes late Wednesday, but the minor Greens party has pledged to vote with the opposition to block it in the Senate tomorrow. Gillard warned senators that tomorrow was their last chance to introduce laws before Parliament adjourns until Aug. 14 and urged them to consider their votes carefully. "We are on the verge of getting the laws we need," Gillard told reporters. Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress? Justin Bieber's unfinished monkey business World news in pictures David Cameron goes to war with newspapers over 'swivel-eyed loons' slur Revealed: Eerie new images show forgotten French apartment that was abandoned at the outbreak of World War II and left untouched for 70 years - 1 Tears and cheers as David Beckham ends glittering career after helping PSG to final win - 2 Heading for America? Prepare for the longest US immigration queues ever - 3 You thought Ryanair's attendants had it bad? Wait 'til you hear about their pilots - 4 David Cameron goes to war with newspapers over 'swivel-eyed loons' slur - 5 It’s official: thanks to Stephen Hawking's Israel boycott, anti-Semitism is no more BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page. £50000 - £58000 per annum + Benefits and Bonus: Progressive Recruitment: SAP F... £30000 - £40000 per annum + BENS: Progressive Recruitment: Drupal Developer A ... £45000 - £50000 per annum + bens: Progressive Recruitment: C# WEB DEVELOPER Le... £240 - £260 per day: Progressive Recruitment: WPF Developer (C#, VB.Net) North...

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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/four-dead-and-130-rescued-as-asylum-seeker-boat-capsizes-off-australian-island-7893352.html

2013-05-19T10:18:12Z

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Mumbai based jazz ensemble Soul Yatra is back after a very successful Asia-Pacific tour. Appointed as the Indian ambassadors of jazz by Hennessy XO, Soul Yatra has now been signed on as brand ambassadors and will perform several international events for Hennessy over the next two years. This is heartening news indeed for Indian jazz artistes who have been struggling for decades to find a voice in the international jazz arena. Jazz may have originated in America but today this form of improvised music is widely being accepted as the global sound of music. Jazz has always been alive and evolving drawing from worldwide cultures in it's journey towards global acceptance. Indian classical musicians in particular, have made a huge contribution to jazz since Indian classical music is all about improvisation-the keyword to jazz. Soul Yatra's four country Asia-Pacific tour kicked off in Taipei, Taiwan on the 7th and 8th of October. The band performed at the very stylish nightclub of the Taipei Sheraton hotel to a surprisingly receptive audience. Testing overseas waters for the first time Soul Yatra stuck to traditional straight ahead jazz. The next two concerts on the 10th and 11th were in Seoul, South Korea where the band got the opportunity to perform at 'Once in a Blue Moon' jazz club that's listed among the world's best bars. The band's original indo-jazz fusion tunes made a big impression on the jazz connoisseurs in the audience. Next on the itinerary was Shanghai, China where the band literally rocked the boat on board a luxury yacht which was the venue on the 12th and 13th. The Shanghai crowd let their hair down to some swinging sounds of Latin jazz from Soul Yatra. The final leg of the tour wound up in Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton's 'Zeta' bar on the 17th and 18th. Hollywood is big in Malaysia and what tickled the audience the most here, was the band's jazz interpretations of some popular Hollywood hits. Visit www.geocities.com/jazzgoa/soul for sample sounds, tour pictures and other updates on Soul Yatra.

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2013-05-19T09:56:41Z

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Princess speaks in white and gold James Whatling/ Corbis/ Pool/ Splash, Getty Prince William and his Catherine arrived in Malaysia today where Kate gave a speech in support of a palliative care facility for children. It was an improvement over the first time she spoke in public - click here for a refresher. The pauses between sentences were not so long. Her voice wavered less. She seemed much more relaxed. And perhaps that’s to do with her husband being there for her this time. Come on. That’s the reason we all want to believe, isn’t it? After that Will and Kate changed into formals for dinner with the King and Queen of Malaysia. The dress is McQueen and it’s embroidered with hibiscus flowers honouring their country. Certainly not my flavour but I get it that at these kinds of events you can’t always go with the most stylish option.

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2013-05-19T10:25:30Z

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Department of Biology New Biology Department Major: For more information click on Biology Department News! What are the advantages of studying biology at La Sierra University? La Sierra students study with faculty who are experts in the field—who contribute to knowledge, who don’t just teach it from a book. These are professors who are doing research into subjects such as immunology and DNA sequencing. They are out in the field actually discovering new species never before identified—and they are involving you in the research! Two recent biology students each published at least 15 peer-reviewed journal articles with their professor before they graduated from La Sierra in 2008. La Sierra students have learning opportunities that prepare them for professional programs in fields such as medicine, dentistry, and physical therapy, such as participating in a gross anatomy lab dissecting a human cadaver—the same thing you will do in first-year professional school. La Sierra University students study in a state-of-the-art building recently constructed for the study of biology. Each professor has his or her own private research lab, enabling undergraduate students the remarkable opportunity to do meaningful research. The Department of Biology is committed to providing undergraduate students with the opportunity to do research. The biology faculty are actively engaged in research and welcome qualified and highly motivated students to participate with them in their laboratories. Interested students are encouraged to discuss research opportunities with individual faculty. Limited support in the form of grants and assistantships may be available. Preparation for teaching Students preparing to teach at the secondary level should plan to qualify for state of California teaching credentials by completing the bachelor’s degree and passing the PRAXIS (or SSAT) subject area assessment. During the freshman year prospective teachers of both secondary and elementary levels should see the School of Education section of the La Sierra University Bulletin and consult the credential analyst and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education for detailed information concerning requirements. Field School of Biology To provide first-hand experience in field biology rather than only accumulating book knowledge, the Department of Biology at La Sierra University offers fieldwork-based opportunities through its Field School. Currently, we coordinate an annual 3-week course in tropical environments, typically in late June and July. Our most recent trips involved study of insular amphibians and reptiles of the Bay Islands in Honduras and of Pulau Tioman in Peninsular Malaysia. New localities will be the islands in Ha Long Bay and the Con Dao Islands in Vietnam. During this course, students collect, preserve, take tissue samples of, and photograph specimens of amphibians and reptiles as well as keep a field journal. The research conducted during this course has consistently led to publication of articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals with student authorship. Any student taking approved field courses (Field School, Rosario Beach) for 8 or more units may apply these units to substitute for BIOL 201 or 202.

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2013-05-19T09:49:01Z

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No /30 Jalan Thambypillay Brickfields , Kuala Lumpur , MALAYSIA 50470 , Malaysia View hotel location on the map Hotel Sentral KL is a new opening 3star business hotel which is located in KL Sentral,close to the KL transportation hub, shopping, entertainment and financial district. Hotel Sentral Kuala Lumpur offers a stylish, contemporary and convenience stay in the city. The hotel's prime location also makes it easily accessible via various modes of transport and hence, the ideal choice for business and leisure travelers. The Hotel Sentral Kuala Lumpur features 192 guestrooms and suites. All the room supply high speed internet access (Wi-Fi) and 2 bottles of mineral water everyday for complimentary. Modern facilities in the room are as satellite TV set, LCD flat screen TV, IDD & SDD telephone, mini bar with hard and soft drink, well decorated bathroom, hair dryer, in-room safe, iron & board on request, coffee & tea making facilities etc. Come tantalize your taste buds at our STARMINT COFFEE HOUSE located at level 5, offering a mix of traditional and international cuisine specially prepared by our Executive Chef. Hotel Sentral stylish SENTRO LOUNGE is just the place to chill your favorite cocktails and unwind, as you catch the magnificent sunset atmosphere. The modern conference room could contain 100 persons at the same time with AV capabilities, PA system, projector, flipchart, white board, hi-speed internet access and so on. If you want to have a good lunch and dinner, you will be advised to choose one of the various restaurants around the hotel. Literally minutes from the finest attractions, cultural and performing arts, shopping,dining and recreation options, everything really is close by. Short drive from major attractions including Chinatown, Merdeka Square, Putra World Trade Centre, Butterfly Park, National Mosque, National Planetarium, KL Tower and major shopping complexes such as Star Hill, Suria KLCC and MidValley Megamall. Whether you are staying with us or using one of our facilities, our hospitable staff will deliver a level of service to you that will bring a smile to your face. Welcome to Hotel Sentral Kuala Lumpur Check in from: 2:00 pm Check out by: 12:00 noon * meeting rooms The hotel is located within the Kuala Lumpur Sentral precinct - a major transport interchange adjacent to the city centre. Hotel guests enjoy direct access to the new 78 kilometer state-of-the-art express rail service between the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station (KL City Air Terminal). The journey time from the city centre to the airport is 28 minutes. The precinct will also boast the central railway station covering 1 square kilometre with integrated light rail, suburban and interstate trains as well as a major shopping complex. This location also permits easy access to the industrial cities of Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya, the government city of Putrajaya and the Multimedia Super Corridor called Cyberjaya. Nearest Airport - Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Sepang Distance from hotel - 78 kilometers - 48 miles - 1 hour via car/28 minutes via train. The 78 kilometer journey from Kuala Lumpur International Airport is by direct freeway to Kuala Lumpur and is approximately 1 hour by car or coach. A taxi from the airport will cost approximately RM70.00. There are 150 parking bays and complimentary for in-house guest. The direct express rail link is recommended from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station. Travel is an uninterrupted 28 minutes. Secure covered parking is offered to all residents.

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2013-05-19T10:24:41Z

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Organisations are no longer talking about cloud adoption. For most organisations, the cloud is already here; it is a reality. The discussion now is about the need for best practices and technologies to secure the cloud. This was one of the main highlights of CloudSec 2012, a cloud security event held in Singapore on 15 August. At the event, keynote speakers from industry leaders such as Trend Micro, VMWare, Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), and National Institute of Science and Technology underlined the need to boost customer confidence and urged all stakeholders to come together to resolve the fundamental issues that bedevil cloud security today. At the event, a signing ceremony to highlight the establishment of Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) corporate headquarters also took place. The ceremony also brought attention to the partnership between CSA, the Economic Development Board (EDB) and Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) to further cloud security in Singapore. The Cloud is here Cloud drives innovation and trends such as analytics and Big Data, social networking and consumerisation of IT are feeding the cloud frenzy, said Dave Asprey, global vice president, Cloud Security, Trend Micro. He was moderating a panel discussion for the media at CloudSec 2012. Other participants at the discussion were Timothy Grance, senior computer scientist, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Jim Reavis, co-founder & executive director, Cloud Security Alliance, and Nicholas Tan, country manager, Singapore, VMware. Citing research, Dave said that the cloud will create £702.1 billion (US$1.1 billion) in new revenues every year. This sector will create 14 million jobs between 2011 and 2015 across all businesses-from small & medium businesses to large businesses. One third of these jobs will be in four industries: communications, media, banking and manufacturing. He also said that cloud will drive jobs in the Asia Pacific region during this period (2012-2015). Cloud-related job growth will be 155 percent in Japan, 129 percent in Australia, 109 percent in Singapore, 107 percent in Malaysia, 103 percent in Indonesia and 99 percent in India. However, he noted, the adoption of cloud computing in the region is slower than expected. "Singapore manufacturing has the least affinity for cloud," he said. But the good news is that, he added, Singapore government and financial services lead cloud adoption in the country. "Overall, rate of growth is still relatively low." Dave said that the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) establishing its corporate headquarters in Singapore augurs well for the region and will provide the necessary shot in the arm to accelerate the adoption rate here. The Cloud Security Alliance is a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to promote the use of best practices for providing security assurance within cloud computing, and to provide education on the uses of cloud computing to help secure all other forms of computing. Trend Micro, a global cloud security solutions provider, is the founding sponsor of CSA Asia Pacific. According to an announcement made on 20 July, the CSA will undertake a three-year strategic private-public partnership with support from the Singapore government to further the security of cloud computing. As part of the agreement, the CSA will establish a Global Research Centre, Global Standards Secretariat, and Global Centre of Excellence for CCSK training and education in Singapore. Referring to the CSA, Dave said that three important steps are being taken to strengthen its work in the region. One, there is focus on training manpower to fill the cloud security jobs that will be created as the sector develops. Two, TrendMicro has established a research lab in Philippines to study and thwart threats to the cloud environment. The lab employs 1,000 security experts. Three, CSA is developing industry guidelines to educate end-users on the best practices in cloud security. At the event, the industry leaders agreed that the need for guidelines would be the single most important factor responsible for ensuring success in cloud.

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http://www.macworld.co.uk/digitallifestyle/news/?newsid=3376322

2013-05-19T09:55:34Z

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en

Q : Who are you? A : We are malaysian, we are a teams to collect the malaysia maps, you can treat us as map collector. Q : Why you set up malaxi and why malaxi online? A : Our teams leader is a salesman, one days when he going to the clients place, he get lost in Kuala Lumpur. The next days he try to buy some maps from the book shops, but he get lost again, becuase the infomartion inside the maps is incorrect and out dated. Finally he start cutting the maps from the newspaper, and post to the website for all the salesman for referance to getting the destination correctly. Q : Why some of the maps look like a newspaper cutting? A : We collect the maps from the newspaper, it just becuase the newspaper information is the latest information. And the newspaper maps is no copyright. Q : How to become a maps collection team member? A : Very simple, just post your maps to [email protected] and your personal information. Then your will be come to our team member. Q : What is the benefit become a teams member? A : You can post your office location map or other location to the Malaxi and Malaxi will link to your website with the map that you post.

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2013-05-19T10:18:17Z

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MUTV Online is showing highlights of Manchester United's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Galatasaray, featuring a rare European goal for Michael Carrick and the return of Darren Fletcher. Log in now to watch the goals and major incidents; you can also watch post-match interviews with Nani, Nemanja Vidic and Sir Alex Ferguson. MUTV Online is packed with other great content not to be missed, such as Sir Alex's weekly press conferences, special one-off video features, player interviews, Reserves and Academy action and more. Live radio commentary is also available for every 2012/13 first-team game followed by video highlights. *MUTV Online is available to fans worldwide with the exception of Hong Kong (HK), Malaysia (MY), Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Highlights of United's UEFA Champions League matches are available from 23:00 UK time after each match.

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http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Club-News/2012/Sep/manchester-united-vs-galatasaray-video-highlights.aspx

2013-05-19T09:54:38Z

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- Low aims for bold anti-graft measures - 'We are ready to move forward' - Nokia's affordable handphones - Govt agency head held over 'khalwat' - GST implementation to add up to RM27b to Malaysia's income - Clean water supply in Selangor, KL steadily decreasing: Syabas - Small fire sends smoke into 787 cabin in Boston - Police confirm sex videos seizure of Pas leader - ‘Opposition chaos agenda’ claim - Saiful, Nik Suryani to tie the knot - Cool, cool hills - Japan's elderly not acting their age - Cop, restaurant worker slashed - Ferguson praises 'amazing' Beckham's longevity - Chef detained in connection with wife's murder More PRESSURE MOUNTS: The Netherlands may head for early polls, writes Paul Geitner THE Dutch government -- one of the last in Europe with an untarnished credit rating on the line -- indicated on Sunday that it would press ahead with efforts to pass an austerity budget, even as it appeared to be the latest European leadership forced into early elections by the continent's debt crisis. As voters in France also delivered their initial verdict on who should lead them for the next five years, and whether they would favour more austerity or stimulating growth, the Czech government was rattled last weekend by popular protests against budget cuts and increased hardship. The Czech police estimated that 90,000 people rallied in Wenceslas Square in Prague, the site of the mass rallies that helped topple the communist government in 1989, in one of the biggest popular protests of the past 20 years. Dissatisfaction was concentrated on the shaky government of Prime Minister Petr Necas, which has been prone to corruption even as it has made unpopular budget cuts and raised some taxes. Necas is scrambling to find new coalition partners to stave off early elections. In the Netherlands, weeks of budget talks collapsed over the weekend when a government ally, the far-right Freedom Party of Geert Wilders, refused to support the additional cuts needed to bring the deficit in line with European Union (EU) rules. His walkout prompted Prime Minister Mark Rutte to announce that new elections were likely. While many countries are in similar straits as recession bites into tax revenues, the Netherlands is in a particularly embarrassing position, since it has stood firmly with Germany in insisting on the primacy of fiscal discipline in responding to the debt crisis. Although Rutte could be asked to try to form a new government, most of the other parties had been clamouring for elections, said Dick Houtman, a sociology professor at Erasmus University in Rotterdam. Rutte is expected to stay on as caretaker until an election can be held, most likely in September or October. Yet, a long period of uncertainty will put further pressure on the country's credit rating, especially if the government fails to pass a budget in the meantime. Last week, Fitch Ratings, a global credit rating agency, said it was watching the budget talks closely and would reconsider its rating in June. "If the country loses its AAA status, then even larger cuts may be necessary" because borrowing costs would probably rise, Houtman said. While the two-year-old Dutch government had been especially fragile because of its reliance on Wilders, a populist, anti-Islam campaigner, it would hardly be the first in Europe to fall victim to pressures from the financial crisis. Greece, Italy, Ireland, Spain and Portugal have all seen changes, and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France is running hard to avoid a similar fate. Jean Pisani-Ferry, director of Bruegel, an economic research institute in Brussels, said the Netherlands was different in the sense that the country was on a much sounder footing -- yet still it ran into problems meeting deficit goals when the Dutch economy took an unexpected downturn. "It shows how the very idea of having nominal targets and enforcing them quite mechanically is not a good idea," Pisani-Ferry said. "There's a clear clash between domestic politics and this rule-based, technocratic system." Like Sunday's vote in France and elections in Greece next month, the Dutch elections would be at least in part a referendum on the newly tightened euro rulebook, which demands spending be reined in to help restore confidence in the shared currency. Many economists see the austerity drive as counterproductive, given the bleak economic outlook across most of the continent. The European Commission, which enforces the rules, said it expected the Dutch government to "continue to seek budget solutions that are important for the financial stability of the country and the welfare of Dutch citizens". Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager went into meetings on Sunday after returning home a day early from Washington. A ministry spokesman, Marcel van Beusekom, said the Netherlands still intended to meet the end-of-April deadline for EU countries to submit their medium-term budget plans to Brussels. A package of additional measures had been under negotiation to save about US$18 billion (RM55.16 billion) after government forecasters in March said the budget deficit would come in next year at 4.6 per cent of gross domestic product, well above the three per cent goal. In a statement on Saturday, Wilders argued that the cuts would have caused his supporters too much pain, particularly those living on retirement benefits. "We don't want our pensioners to bleed just to meet the dictates coming from Brussels," he said, according to Dutch radio network RNW. De Jager argued that it was "good for all Dutch people", particularly "vulnerable groups" in society, to keep investor confidence in the Netherlands high, "as they create jobs in our country". "We will consolidate our budget and reform our economy not because of European rules or Brussels, but to improve the situation of our country," he said. De Jager also said the government would "look for majorities in Parliament in order to implement the necessary measures". But that could prove difficult as the election campaign hots up. In Washington, where he attended the meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, de Jager said Europe had made significant progress towards quieting its sovereign-debt crisis through closer fiscal coordination and austerity budgeting. NYT

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2013-05-19T10:05:42Z

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Ustad Iqbal Ahmad Khan Born and brought up in the musical environs of Delhi Gharana of music, '''Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan''' is an active promoter of Hazrat Amir Khusro’s tradition of Indian music. A real custodian (Khalifa) of Delhi Gharana, he is not only well known for his versatile style of singing but is also regarded as a noble soul for his social activities which he is taking up in upbringing of the Indian Music. Whereas,through his singing, on one hand he is spreading the knowledge among the masses, on the other hand he through his social activities is busy promoting the scholars of Indian Music. Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan, the successor of centuries old music tradition of Delhi Gharana, is well known for his versatile style of singing. He sings a whole range of Classical and Semi Classical music. His rich voice makes him versatile. His style of classical singing and his renderings of Thumri, Dadra, Tappa, Bhajans and Ghazals have won him great acclaims. He started learning music from teenage. He was lovingly adopted and groomed by his maternal grand father Sangeet Martand Ustad Chand Khan Sahib who had recognized child’s talent at an early age and took him under his wings. He and Iqbal’s paternal grandfather Ustad Jahan Khan and grand uncle Ustad Usman Khan gave him intensive training in Classical Vocal music. With this grounding he also had the privilege of learning from his uncles Ustad Hilal Ahmed Khan, Ustad Naseer Ahmed Khan, Ustad Zafar Ahmed Khan & his father Ustad Zahoor Ahmed Khan and eventually emerged as Top Grade Vocalist of Akashwani. As a young boy he won many prizes in music competitions at school and University including Ameer Khusro Gold Medal.. A hot favourite of his grandfather Sangeet Martand Ustad Chand Khan Sahib, he received his blessing to be chosen as the Custodian of Delhi Gharana (Khalifa) and today he is keeping up the family traditions as an active promoter of Hazrat Amir Khusro’s musical works. --Iqbal Ahmed Khan was awarded International Amir Khusro Gold medal in 1966. --As outstanding “Youngest Vocalist of the Country”, Andhra Pradesh Govt. honoured him in 1970. --In 1974 Shobana Arts of Delhi gave him the title “Best Classical Singer of the Stage”. --While doing his Bachelor of Arts from Delhi University, he repeatedly got numerous trophies, gold medals, shields and certificates and was declared as the “Outstanding Vocalist” of Delhi University. He has to his credit “Amir Khan Trophy” & Mirza Ghalib Trophy, which he got during 1976-77 in the university Youth Festival. --He was awarded as the “Best Music Director Composer” for his play “Roop Bengal” staged at Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi, and popular T.V. Serial “Amir Khusro”. --Participated in the international symposium of “The life and works of “Amir Khusro” and gave appealing lecture-cum-demonstration in 1982. --Participated in International Persian Conference held in Delhi & Bombay and rendered Persian Ghazals of Hafiz, Sadi, Jami and Amir Khusro. --Composed Music for various popular serials e.g. Indra Sabha, Chader ka Tukra, Basant Bahar, Kala Vasana, Police File Se, Safar ek Ishq ka, etc. In National Network and a documentary “Qutab Minar & its Monuments & Sculptures.” Was also awarded the Best Music Director in the year 1988 and composed Music for Tele Films Aik Pal Aur, Yaad-e-Ghalib. The LittleToy, Jung Abhi Jaari Hai, Talash and Rudra-avatar, etc. for National hook up. --Also composed Music for the well-known plays “Tamasha Aur Tamashai” based on Mirza Ghalib’s life & “Darashikoh” & also “JAHAN – E – KHUSRO” . --He has been recorded for the “Archives of Sangeet Natak Academy’. Delhi as a leading vocalist of the country representing the Delhi Gharana of Mausiqui (Music). --Two of his CDs have been released in Paris. --He has recorded more than 200 rare traditional Classical Music Compositions (Bandishes) based on various ragas & talas at Sangeet Research Academy, I.T.C. Calcutta for Ford Foundations. --He was given the title of “Gaayan Acharya” by Sangeet Saiwalaya Bodhgaya (Bihar) in 1993, “Sangeet Rattan” by Sur Sangeet Samity, Narela, Delhi & “Sangeet Saurabh” by Sangeetaayan, Delhi on 1998. --He has received “Priyadarshini Award” 2001 and “Rajiv Rattan Sadbhavna Samman” 2003.Received Sr. Fellowship from Ministry of HRD, Tourism and Culture, Govt. of India, for the year 2002-2002. He is a well known Classical Singer of International repute and has been serving Music for more than 40 years. He has given many successful recitals in India and abroad. He is a regular feature in all the major Music Festivals organized by different prestigious institutions of India. He has already performed in the following concerts: Sangeet Samarat “Miya Tansain” Sangeet Samaroh & Ustad Hafiz Ali Festival (Gwalior).ITC Sangeet Sammelan Banglore,India. & Swami Haridas Sammelan Vrindavan. -All India Music Conferences at Calcutta, Ranchi, Kota, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Bodh Gayam Bharatpur etc. -All India Sangeet Sammelan, organized by Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwa Vidhyalaya, Khairagarh, (M.P.) Muzaffar Pur, Rawat Pura Sarkar, (Jhansi). -All India Music Conference Jabalpur M.P. -Chandni Chowk Ustav (Delhi Govt.) -Haleem Academy of Sitar, Mumbai. -Ankur Festival, Guni Das Sammelan (Mumbai). -Durga Pooja Mahotsva, in all major cities of Bihar State. -Raag Rang Festival, Delhi. -Hari Vallabh Festival, Jallandhar. -Saraswati & Lakshmi Pooja Festivals at Patna, Barauni etc., -Swachh Ganga Utsav Festival, Varanasi. -Akhil Bhartiya Sangeet Sammelans at Lucknow, Muradabad, Ram Pur, Shahjahan Pur,Chandigarh & Ambala. -Nehru Centre, Mumbai. -Onam Festival, Trivandrum. -All India Music Conference Organized by Natwari at Mumbai, Allahabad, & Jodhpur. -Sharda Sangeet Vidhalaya, Mumbai. -All India Music Festivals at Shimla, Nainitaal, Sundar Nagar (Mandi). -U.P. Sangeet Natak Academy, Lucknow. -Saptsur Festival, Delhi. & Sur Rang Festival, Delhi. -Vishnu Digambar Jayanthi Samaroh, Delhi, Patna, etc. -Spic Macay Society for lecture - cum -demonstration in all the major cities of India. -Since 1966 he broadcasts regularly from All India Radio & T.V. and also sings for Akashwani Sangeet Sammelans. He was also invited by the Govt. of Great Britain, in 1988 for a lecture demonstration tour of that country. He also visited Germany and Pakistan for his performances. In 1997-98 he visited U.S.A., Canada and Malaysia and continuously visiting USA for promoting & teaching Indian classical music. - Represented India in International Seminar on Amir Khusro held at Dusumbe, Tajikistan in 2003. -Raag Darshan” by Sangeet Natak Academy, Delhi and Calcutta in 2002. -Raag Parikarma” by Sangeet Research Academy, Calcutta in 2003. -Lecture demonstration at International Seminar on Indian, Persian and Arabic music held in Mumbai, 2004. --This programme opened with rendering of Raga Yaman by seven year old Iqbal Ahmed Khan. The Child Artists succeeded in expressing the complexities of the composition. The ''Indian Express'' [[February 23]], []. --A promising child artist. The child artist sang Bihagada – holds out much promise. He displays a sensibility for Laya & Sur. The ''Times of India'' [[September 12]], []. --Iqbal Ahmed, already known as child prodigy & now with his voice at the Cracking Stage, sings with usual caress, confidence & control. The ''Times of India'' [[June 27]], []. --“Taans” were intelligent & well planned. There was accuracy of notes & general comprehensibility, ''The Statesman'' [[February 9]], []. --Iqbal Ahmed renders masterly and with versatility the glimpses of Persian, Arabic, Hindi and Urdu compositions of Khusro. ''The Statesman'' [[April 12]], []. --He is not associated with any Music Colleges who concentrate more on theory. Since Amir Khusro’s name is associated with Delhi Gharana. Iqbal has done commendable work in highlighting Khusro’s compositions. ''The Evening News'' [[August 21]], []. --Ghazals too are weaved deep into the intricacies of classical nominations. ''Financial Express'' Dec.13th 1981. --Sang compositions of Amir Khusro with great confidence, tunefulness, and flexibility of voice covering three octaves. Variety in tans & sargams were chief features of his recital. ''The Hindustan Times'' [[December 10]], []. --Iqbal’s rendering of “Maru Bihag” in vilambit and drut Khayal set to ektal was unique and outstanding ''The pioneer'' [[February 13]], []. --Iqbal Ahmed is promising young vocalist of Delhi Gharana (Chand Khan), specializing in Khayals. He presented good Khayals in Yaman Kalyan and Rageshri in AIR’s National Tuesday night concerts. ''The Hindustan Times'' [[August 23]], []. --Sang Puriya in the highly sophisticated style of his gharana particularly in the alaap in akaar. His tans keeping with his gharana’s traditions were intricate and intended to show his virtuosity. “Basant Bahar” and Surdas Bhajan in raga “Sohni” were all sung with skill and created good impression on the audience. --"The Evening News'' Jan. 29th 1990. Iqbal has matured into a very fine vocalist with a repertoire of ragas and compositions, which few artists of his age can boast of. ''The Hindu'' [[February 23]], []. --Iqbal Ahmed Khan has expanded its range to cover more than three octaves and he has acquired much “tayyari” in the speed and variety of his taans. ''The Hindu'' [[October 10]], []. --Representing the tradition of the great Ustad Chand Khan, one of Delhi Gharana’s most remembered voices, the young Iqbal Ahmed Khan was both confident and secure. His taans had fight and freedom and its striking clarity showed that the young Ustad kept his riyaz in a high state of readiness. ''The Times of India'' [[March 14]], []. --Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan who performed under the aegis of Kala Bharti is an exponent of the almost extinct Delhi Gharana, Iqbal Ahmed gave a fairly absorbing recital of this venue. ''The Afternoon Despatch & Courier'', Bombay [[June 10]], []. --Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan, ‘Khalifa of Delhi Gharana’ gave an unforgettable recital. His musicianship was as sound as it was deep rooted, reminiscent of Ustad of a bygone era. His performance made one sit up and realize that what passes as classical music today is a mere skimming of the surface. A superficiality which should be commanded if one wants to preserve the classicism of classical music. ''The Hindustan Times'' Mar. 30th 1995. --A brief reading of a Khayal in raga Puriya saw the Delhi Gharana’s khalifa, Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan in the best of his elements. The raga’s serene format was well adhered to. The brief rendering however impressed for his able handling for the raga and the composition. ''The Pioneer'' [[July 5]], []. --In a programme “Sham-e-Ghazal” held at India International Centre sometime back, Iqbal Ahmed Khan projected his brand of Ghazal gayaki. In the introductory remarks he mentioned that Ghazal singing should be reposeful and text given due prominence while interlacing it with melody. ''Sunday Herald'' [[November 17]], []. --Iqbal Khan is most articulate when he talks of the past. He belongs to what he claims to be the oldest Gharana in North India, founded by the composer-poet Amir Khusro, the father of Hindustan Music. The Hindu [[February 12]], []. --Iqbal Ahmed Khan’s scintillating recital breathed life into the Ragini Devi Desh Videsh Utsav held recently in Delhi. ''The Hindu'' Jan. 16th 1998. --Luckily, the principle I have just adverted to, was not quite ignored by Iqbal Ahmed Khan. His opening number, a khayal in raga Anandsree, was in fact noticeably true not only to the vilambit idiom but to the emotive import of the text of the composition: “Raakho moree laaj”. Sruti October 1998. --Impressive performance – Another concept in Patna by Sur Mandit at Kalidas Rangalaya presented Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan, better known as the ‘Khalifa’ of Delhi gharana of khayal singing. The organization is credited to have, for the first time, presented him in Patna and it is this very platform which again arranged for his recital here after a substantial gap. ''The Hindu'' [[December 31]], []. --The Programme opened with the vocal recital of Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan, the grandson and disciple of Chand Khan Sahib, who now heads the Gharana. He presented Raga Puriya, a favourite of Ustad Chand Khan; the Vilambit Khayal in ektaal with bols ‘Aey Parvardigar….’ Followed by the drut in teentaalwith bols (Mori arj suno dastgir, Peer). His rendering was technically impeccable and showed the ustad in his best. The end piece of a beautiful thumri in Pahadi ‘Sajanva nahin aye…’ was sung with great feeling and effect. ''Sunday Herald'' Jan. 23 2000. --The “Malhars” were a Prairie on fire. ''Hindustan Times'' [[September 6]], []. --Preliminaries over, the audience geared itself to hear some music. The opening recital was by Iqbal Ahmed Khan who at the demise of the Ustad was appointed the ‘Khalifa’ or the custodian of the Delhi Gharana. Presumably Iqbal must have gone through hectic days making arrangements for the centenary function. One almost felt that all this perhaps had inhibiting influence on his performance. On top of that opted for one of the more demanding ragas – “Puriya”. ''The Hindu'' Jan 28th 2000 --In yet another evening of the soiree, Iqbal Ahmed Khan, the Khalifa of the Delhi Gharana of Khayal singing, opened up the deeply - vented and gorgeous spectrum of his school and style, executing rare compositions of Ustad Mamman Khan, Ustad Chand Khan and other veterians of his lineage. And it was also here that he treated cognoscenti with immitable compositions of Amir Khusro and Ghalib. ''The Hindu'' [[19 May]] []. --Iqbal Ahmed Khan is a solid, substantial and out and out expressive musician, one who can rub shoulders with the great. ''The Hindu'' [[February 2]], []. --Delhi Gharana’s Iqbal Ahmed Khan sang “Lankeshwari”, “Shiv Kalyan” and variations of “Shahana”. The vocal recital was marked by melodious and faithfull. Iqbal is an accomplished vocalist whose expression has grace and suppleness. ''The Hindu'' Jan. 17, 2003. OCCUPATION: PERFORMER, SINGER, MUSIC DIRECTOR,TEACHER & COMPOSER LANGUAGES KNOWN: Hindi, Urdu, Persian, Sanskrit, and English SOCIAL ACTIVITIES: Italic text CHAIRMAN: CHAND SANGEET SAMITI, RANCHI DIRECTOR: AMIR KHUSRO INSTITUTE OF MUSIC. PATRON: ALL INDIA MUSICIAN ASSOCIATION. PRESIDENT: NEHRU KALA KUNJ SANGEET KAAR SAMITI VICE PRESIDENT: USTAD JAHAN KHAN MEMORIAL SOCIETY GEN. SECRETARY: SURSAGAR SOCIETY OF DELHI GHARANA, USTAD CHAND KHAN MEMORIAL SOCIETY, FANKARAN –E - MOUSIQI. ADVISOR: HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN MUSIC ACADEMY CULTURAL ADVISOR: MEER-TAQI-MEER CULTURAL SOCIETY & AMBEDKAR FOUNDATION FOR ART & CULTURE SECY. CULTURE: VIGILANT CITIZEN AND MULAQAAT MEMBER: NATIONAL AMIR KHUSRO SOCIETY, ALL INDIA URDU WRITERS & JOURNALISTS FORUM FOR SAARTHI (NEHRU KALA KUNJ) SAAHITYA KALA PARISHAD, DELHI

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Chinese consumption grows China, the world's second biggest consumer of oil, imported a record 130 million tonnes of crude last year, up 3.3 percent from the previous year, official data showed yesterday. The figure, in line with domestic experts' forecasts, was well below the rise of 34.8 percent in crude oil imports seen in 2004. The China General Administration of Customs, which released the import figures for last year, did not give any more details. In 2004, China consumed 314 million tonnes of crude oil, of which it imported more than 120 million tonnes, accounting for 8.0 percent of world consumption. China became a crude oil importer in 1993 and has since been racing to secure resources abroad to power its booming economy as domestic production has fallen into decline. Casino bidder pulls out Australian gaming giant Tabcorp said yesterday it has pulled out of the bidding for the second Singapore casino project because of rising costs, the expected return and the emergence of other opportunities worldwide. The number of bidders for the Singapore casino projects has been whittled down to four from 14 when the city state announced last year it was building two casino resorts to spice up its staid image and boost tourism receipts. Still in the running are Harrah's Entertainment of the US with Singapore's Keppel Land, Sands and local partner City Developments, Malaysia's Genting International and Star Cruises, and MGM Mirage and CapitaLand of Singapore. Mergers on the up The Asia-Pacific region has re-emerged as a hot spot for deals with merger and acquisitions (M&A) hitting record levels last year, an investment banking analysis firm said yesterday. For the first time, China overtook Australia as the top target country, according to Dealogic. Excluding Japan, M&A volume increased by 19 percent to US$249.4 billion from US$209.3 billion in 2004, the breakdown showed. The previous high of US$243.3 billion was posted in 2000. Within Asia, China dominated M&A transactions with US$65 billion or 23 percent of deals, of which US$37.7 billion involved cross-border transactions. US companies were the single-largest foreign buyers. Australia was second although deal volume fell 32 percent to US$48.5 billion. Microsoft releases patches Microsoft Corp released two patches on Tuesday that carry its maximum rating of critical, to fix software problems that could allow an attacker to take control of another person's computer. Microsoft said one patch is to fix a flaw in Windows desktop and server software that could let an attacker gain control of an Internet-connected computer if a user were tricked into visiting a malicious Web site. The fix is for operating systems dating back to Windows 2000. The other patch is to fix a flaw in the part of Microsoft's Office business software and Exchange Server software that lets users change and manage language preferences. The fix is for versions of the software dating back to Office 2000. The patches, released on Tuesday as part of Microsoft's regular monthly security update, follow the release last week of another critical fix for a flaw in an element of Windows that is used to view images.

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2006/01/12/2003288657

2013-05-19T10:36:23Z

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en

Tiger tattoos have different meanings to different cultures. The Koreans call the tiger the ‘King of the Animals’. In Hinduism the god Shiva, in his aspect of the destroyer, is depicted wearing a tiger skin and riding a tiger. In Chinese culture the tiger is often seen as a protector of men and often tiger skins were used to decorate a child’s room in order to bring good luck. Tiger tattoos thus can have a duality of symbolic meanings much like any other totem animal. Some Asian cultures have stories about were tigers, people that can change themselves into tigers. According to their legends, the Tibetans and Na-hsi of the Yunnan province in China have descended from tigers. The Na-hsi give tiger figures to boys and girls at their coming-of-age ceremonies and also to newly wed couples. Tiger tattoos have long been a fixture in indigenous tattooing in India, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Japan. In these cultures it’s seen as a being of immense power, cunning, intelligence and sometimes savagery. Regardless, tiger tattoos are a beautiful addition to any collection of work and are often powerful and dramatic pieces. On a final note, a tiger seen emerging from one’s flesh, as in the picture, is often a symbol of inner strength and power. When it comes to tiger tattoos this one is a bit different as it is not one of a ferocious tiger on the attack, which many of them are. This one is of a tiger who seems to be kicked back and relaxed with a very content look upon its face. Almost like it just got done eating its latest victim and is now resting and enjoying its full stomach. It is also somewhat rare to see a tiger tattoo that does not show its teeth or claws at all. It’s just sitting there acting like the cat that ate the canary. Being the ultimate symbol of power, speed and beauty this tattoo of a tiger seems to be playing to the beauty side more than anything. I like tiger tattoos in general and I like this one. It is well done and it looks pretty cool but I don’t think I would get one just like it. I would want my tiger to show a bit of attitude. But then, the owners’ argument probably is that what we are seeing is the attitude. The tiger is calm and peaceful because it’s the toughest animal around and has nothing to fear from anything or anyone. Other similar posts: Tiger Tattoos, Tiger Tattoos

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.tattoosdaily.com/tiger-tattoos/

2013-05-19T09:46:31Z

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en

I've done a few shows in Abu Dhabi and Dubai before, which seemed to go well so I was asked to come back for this tour. You are in the UAE with your fellow British comics Markus Birdman and Addy Borgh. Have you worked with them before? I've worked with Addy several times, not Markus. But we're all fairly different. I'm a miserable old man, Addy is quite animated and a bit theatrical and Markus is more surreal. I wasn't really attracted by the prospect of becoming a bank manager, and being quite alternative I thought originally that I might be a juggler and run away to the circus. But then I realised that it involved many years of practice and though I'm not naturally funny, I can make people laugh. So I started doing stand-up in London in 1994. It was an odd choice really though, because I was terribly unsuited to it, and very awkward at first. I don't like standing up in front of people, I'm not one of life's natural show-offs. No, not really. I did for years but what can go seriously wrong if you're a stand-up comedian? I suppose you can get booed off, but that's about it. Yes, everybody goes through that, but it's good for the ego. I've been booed off, sung off, shouted off and just ignored off. My worst experience was during one of my first shows in London when a seven-year-old child walked past the stage and shouted at me: "You're rubbish, mate." I had no response back then. Being a comedian isn't easy. Some people say it's the hardest job in the world but that's nonsense. Coal mining is much harder, and juggling is pretty tough too. I wouldn't want to be a bank manager either, especially at the moment. My job is great, but you do have to work at being a comedian. You can't just get up on stage and do it. I've seen some of the greatest comics around be absolutely terrible. I've worked with Harry Hill before and he was awful. Mind you I expect he's equally complimentary about me. Your comedy has taken you to cities all over Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Are stand-up comics normally so well-travelled? I think it's usual for anyone that's talented. I was the first comic to perform in East Malaysia, which sounds very grand doesn't it? Actually I flew from bigger gigs in Kuala Lumpur to perform in front of about seven people in Kuantan who didn't know what I was talking about. It was a disaster. I think I might well have been the first and last British comedian to perform in East Malaysia. Give up. We don't need any more comedians on the circuit, there are too many already. Yes, I'd say stop bothering us and go and get a proper job. The Laughter Factory Show is on tonight from 9.00pm at the Crowne Plaza, Dubai and Thursday, Chi at The Lodge, Dubai, from 9.00pm (www. thelaughterfactory.com)

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/film/standing-up-and-being-counted

2013-05-19T10:27:16Z

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en

Initial public offerings in 2012 slumped to the lowest level since the financial crisis as signs of an economic slowdown and Facebook Inc.’s disappointing debut curbed demand and prompted companies to push back sales. IPOs have raised $112 billion worldwide this year, the least since 2008, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Initial sales in western Europe dropped to one-third of last year’s level, while concern about China’s economy helped cut proceeds in Asia by almost half. U.S. offerings raised $41 billion, little changed from last year, as Facebook’s IPO spurred a monthlong drought in U.S. deals. With the possibility of $600 billion in U.S. spending cuts and tax increases that could cause another recession also weighing on the IPO market this year, the global backlog of potential offerings has now swelled to the largest year-end size since 2007, data compiled by Bloomberg and Ipreo show. That could set the stage for a rebound if lawmakers avert the so-called fiscal cliff, according to Credit Suisse Group AG and Barclays Plc, with companies from China Petrochemical Corp. to ING Groep NV poised to potentially move ahead with offerings. “A lot of people have been very selective,” Joe Castle, head of equities syndicate at Barclays, said at a briefing this month in New York. “If we see some deals go out early in the year that go well and trade well, then it feeds on itself for more volume to come out in the U.S. and on a global basis.” In the fourth quarter, IPOs in western Europe surged more than fivefold from a year earlier to $5.71 billion, and U.S. initial offerings increased 15 percent to $8.8 billion, data compiled by Bloomberg show. First-time share sales in Asia fell by 46 percent to $10.9 billion, the data show. Globally, IPOs this quarter edged up to about $32.4 billion from $29.5 billion in the year-earlier period. The annual global IPO tally declined for a second straight year as Europe slipped back into a recession, cutting the amount raised in the region by about two-thirds to $9.91 billion. In Asia, the biggest region for IPOs, proceeds fell by 43 percent to $46.7 billion. The U.S. total barely eclipsed last year’s mark, even including the $16 billion debut of Facebook, the biggest technology IPO on record. After Facebook fell as much as 32 percent in the first three weeks after its IPO, companies such as Party City Holdings Inc. and American International Group Inc.’s airplane-leasing unit pulled planned offerings in favor of private sales. The global IPO backlog swelled to about $115 billion at the end of this year, including a sale by Japan Post Holdings Co. that’s planned for 2015, according to Ipreo, a New York-based provider of market data. Excluding that offering, the backlog would be about $65 billion, larger than the $52 billion a year ago, the data show. “Many companies may have felt that the broader economic environment and their resultant earnings didn’t represent the true worth of their businesses,” Darrell Uden, co-head of equity capital markets for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Zurich-based UBS AG, said in a phone interview. “Many chose to wait for a few more earnings cycles to ensure a better valuation.” U.S. lawmakers last week scrapped a proposed plan for higher taxes, stalling budget talks and fueling concern that the officials will fail to prevent tax increases and spending cuts from taking effect in January. President Barack Obama and the Republican-led U.S. Congress returned to Washington yesterday with five days left to reach a deal. Unease on the part of companies and investors may give way to an increase in new-share sales as a possible rise in mergers and acquisitions prompts more fundraising for strategic takeovers, according to Alasdair Warren, co-head of investment banking in Europe at New York-based Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Global M&A in the fourth quarter rose to the highest since 2008 as companies started to draw on cash piles totaling more than $3.5 trillion to make acquisitions. “In the period post summer, there’s been a pickup in issuance, but overall there’s still a degree of nervousness and uncertainty in the market,” Warren said in a phone interview. “In the first half of next year you are going to see more meaningful primary capital raisings in the corporate space, in many cases to improve strategic flexibility.” In Europe, the fourth quarter was this year’s busiest for IPOs, picking up even after the region’s economy shrank for the second quarter in a row during the July-September period. IPOs in Europe since 2007 haven’t managed to recover to even half of their pre-crisis level, data compiled by Bloomberg show, as concerns over sovereign debt across the region have persisted. Telefonica SA’s German unit Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG raised 1.45 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in October in Europe’s largest IPO in 2012, listing in Frankfurt. Britain’s Direct Line Insurance Group Plc raised $1.5 billion in October, and Russia’s OAO MegaFon raised $1.8 billion in November. All three offerings were increased after underwriters exercised over-allotment options to buy more shares. There may be additional large telecom IPOs from Europe next year, as Telefonica seeks to raise as much as 6 billion euros by listing its Latin American assets, and Deutsche Telekom AG evaluates a sale of its stake in a venture with France Telecom SA. Privatization sales, including that of state-owned postal service Royal Mail, are also being lined up. “As cash-strapped governments in Europe look for ways to create new capital, more state-owned entities will come to market next year to repay government debt and reinvest in new assets,” said Maria Pinelli, global vice chairman at Ernst & Young LLP in London, who oversees the firm’s IPO advisory business. Separately, ING U.S. Inc., an insurance unit of the largest Dutch financial-services company, filed for a New York IPO in November. ING Groep was ordered by the European Union to sell insurance operations, its U.S. online bank and a Dutch mortgage lender before the end of 2013 as a condition for approval of a 2008 bailout. Slowing growth in China for a seventh straight quarter hampered Asia’s IPOs, even as People’s Insurance Co. (Group) of China Ltd. raised $3.6 billion in a Hong Kong initial sale last month. Companies raised $5 billion in Hong Kong in the last three months of the year, down 24 percent from the year-earlier period, while deals in China in 2012 reached $15 billion, down 64 percent. Proceeds from Hong Kong IPOs, which are at the lowest since 2003, may rebound next year as the Chinese economy improves, said Michiya Tomita, a fund manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co., which oversees $70 billion. China Petrochemical, the nation’s biggest refiner, plans to seek about $1.5 billion in an IPO of its engineering unit, people with knowledge of the matter have said. The IPO of Sinopec Engineering (Group) Co. may start in Hong Kong in the second half of 2013. Japan’s biggest IPO this year helped narrow the region’s loss of deal volume. Japan Airlines Co. raised 663 billion yen ($7.7 billion) on Sept. 10, bringing Asia’s value of initial sales to just over half the amount raised in 2011. Elsewhere in Asia, Malaysia’s IPOs raised $6.5 billion in 2012, data compiled by Bloomberg show. About half of that was the May debut by palm-oil maker Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd. Malaysia’s economy is set to expand 4.8 percent next year, nearly double the anticipated global rate of 2.45 percent, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg. “Investors have begun to realize the growth potential of Southeast Asia and the bright prospects of companies here,” Dato’ Charon Wardini Mokhzani, chief executive officer of CIMB Investment Bank, said in an e-mail. “The success of the Malaysian IPOs and the overwhelming demand from domestic and international investors for those IPOs have given other issuers the confidence to proceed with their respective IPOs.” The amount of money raised in IPOs globally this quarter was about 44 percent greater than in the previous three months, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The quarterly proceeds were boosted by a combined $2.3 billion of oil and gas IPOs that Credit Suisse led, helping the bank surpass JPMorgan Chase & Co. for the year’s biggest share of U.S. IPO underwriting for the first time since at least 1999, the data show. Morgan Stanley was the top global IPO underwriter for the third straight year in 2012, beating JPMorgan after helping lead the Japan Airlines IPO. While a resolution to avert the so-called fiscal cliff in the U.S., continued momentum in Asia’s emerging markets, and more government privatizations in Europe would help spur increased IPO activity next year, fluctuations in the broader equity markets may mean that companies will have to move quickly to complete sales, said Ernst & Young’s Pinelli. The market will see further benefit next year if investors are willing to put more money into equity mutual funds, enlarging the pool of cash available for new stock, according to David Hermer, Credit Suisse’s head of Americas equity capital markets. Investors have withdrawn money from equity mutual funds in favor of bonds every year since 2009, with outflows from stocks totaling $135 billion this year, according to the Washington-based Investment Company Institute “There should be a continued pickup in IPO volumes,” Hermer said in a phone interview. “But at the same time, you need a receptive market to be able to absorb that.”

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.treasuryandrisk.com/2012/12/28/ipos-slump-to-lowest-level-since-financial-crisis?t=apple

2013-05-19T09:55:29Z

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en

The Singapore Tourism Board, Tourism Malaysia and Singapore Airlines have joined forces to boost the Middle East visitor traffic this season. Recent visitor arrival figures show that many Middle Eastern travellers heading to south east Asia combine their trips with a stopover in both Malaysia and Singapore, as both destinations offer a family friendly tourism offering and strong cultural links. The Twin City promotion has built on this, and offers some exclusive packages to Arab travellers to enjoy both destinations. A five day, four night package that includes airfare and hotel accommodation in Singapore and either Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi or Penang starts at Dh2,490. “Given the strong tourism links between Singapore and Malaysia, it is a natural fit for us to team up with our valued partners to launch a Fall package that will provide Middle East travellers the opportunity to experience these two special countries,” said Jason Ong, area director for Middle East and Africa, Singapore Tourism Board. The combined package enables visitors to capture the very best of Singapore and Malaysia – from city attractions and first rate shopping to tropical rainforests and pristine beaches. “Travellers from UAE have shown great interest in Malaysia as it offers both a wide range of attractions and value for money. Malaysia and Singapore are neighbours and each country complements the other as top holiday destination. Through our partnership with Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Airlines, we are providing a range of city and island experiences, which combine to make a truly memorable trip,” said Tuan Razali Tuan Omar, director, Tourism Malaysia. “Singapore Airlines is honoured to participate with Tourism Malaysia and Singapore Tourism Board for a special “Twin City” package. This package is an attractive option for those seeking to experience two amazing holiday destinations at a very affordable price,” said Lim Meow-Seng, general manager GCC, Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines flies non-stop three times a week from Abu Dhabi and twice daily from Dubai to Singapore. From Singapore, Singapore Airlines and Silk Air offer 60 weekly services to Kuala Lumpur, 28 weekly services to Penang and 10 weekly services to Langkawi. This offer is valid until November 2008.

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.ttnworldwide.com/Articles.aspx?Artid=8176&ID=1111

2013-05-19T09:55:42Z

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en

I’m a little out of touch with the music scene recently, but I hear the kids these days really like themselves some K-pop. And South Korea as a whole appears to be doing a pretty good job of packaging this cultural export for global consumption. Not surprisingly, smartphones are a part of this process as well. Take for example the StarCall app from SK Planet (a subsidiary of SK Telecom), which since it originally launched in Korea has managed to accumulate 3 million users. The lets you receive real-time video calls from your favorite K-pop stars, or if you miss the call, you can view it later in your ‘callbox.’ The calls are mostly in Korean, but SK Planet’s agency will add translations after a call is stored in the callbox. The company is now aiming to push this application in markets across Southeast Asia – including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand – as well as Australia, America, and Japan. Featured K-pop artists in the app include Girls Generation (pictured above), Super Junior, and 2PM. There is also a StarCall SuperFan contest ongoing as well, which you can check out over on the Facebook page. The app is available for both iOS and Android. If you’d like to learn more about how StarCall works, you can check out its (somewhat cheesy) promo video below. As for me, I think I have some Nickelback on a shelf here somewhere that I can put on . The post StarCall App Lets K-Pop Stars Call You in Real Time appeared first on Tech in Asia. Comments are disabled on this post

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.utahsaint.com/starcall-app-lets-k-pop-stars-call-you-in-real-time-2/

2013-05-19T10:17:55Z

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Crowdfunding Is Coming to Biotech, so Get Ready for a Wild Ride (Page 2 of 2) at the companies, but it will need to verify whether players are “accredited” investors before they invest. “Just like how a casino advertises, ‘come and gamble,’ you still can’t get in if you’re 15 years old,” Simon says. Before listing companies, Poliwogg will review them to make sure they have viable technology, a real business plan, and a management team that isn’t “just led by somebody’s nephew,” Simon says. He adds: “We’re not picking winners and losers, but we want to make sure these are investable entities.” Once a company gets listed, the crowd gets involved. The company sets a goal, like, say $5 million to run a Phase I clinical trial of a new drug for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). If the company reaches that goal, it gets the money, and it will pay a fee to Poliwogg, Simon says. If the company doesn’t reach its goal, investors get their money back. At least in theory, serious money could flow. Under what’s known as Regulation A, pre-IPO companies previously could only raise $5 million, but they can now raise up to $50 million under the new law, Simon says. Investors, especially those putting in big bucks, will want equity. If Poliwogg is successful, it will build a deep roster of companies, so investors can put their eggs in multiple baskets for treating cancer, Alzheimer’s, or diabetes. Diversification, Simon says, is the key to making these biotech offerings work for investors. It all may sound great, but there’s surely a lot of pain to come. Most people would agree that buying lottery tickets, or going to the casino, is a good way to throw away hard-earned money. Investing in biotech, without doing the homework (or even when you know the science), offers bad odds. If you think the NASDAQ and the OTC Bulletin Board already have too many shady biotech operators, then just wait for a lightly regulated exchange for lesser-known private companies. Even if Poliwogg does an exemplary job of disinfecting its platform, it’s still questionable in my mind how much money its companies will raise. Biotech still often takes a decade of work, and tens of millions of dollars to gather solid medical evidence required to start selling a new product. No crowdfunding effort to date that I’m aware of has ever raised that kind of cash. Will people want to shell out massive sums for some promising drug that has shown in rats that it might help 7 percent of children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy? How about some platform technology like a new gene sequencer, which doesn’t tug at people’s emotional heartstrings? And then there’s the question of who will want to be listed on platforms like Poliwogg. Most of the viable private biotech companies that I follow around the country have already raised $10 million or $20 million or more in venture capital. Will the venture backers of those outfits allow them to run a crowdfund campaign to raise another $5 million to do another experiment? Even if it means diluting the value of their holdings, and potentially creating investor relations and communications hassles with a far-flung base of rookie shareholders? Will the VCs be willing to let go of control, and allow some transparency into what’s really going on in their portfolio companies? I doubt it. That means most promising private biotech companies in the U.S. will probably shy away from this new fundraising vehicle. The folks who are more likely to benefit are the ones with a new idea spinning out of a research center or a Big Pharma company, and who just need their first $1 million or $2 million to get going. Despite all the caveats, David Miller, the president of Biotech Stock Research in Seattle, says he believes crowdfunding will have broad appeal among individual biotech investors. There’s a longstanding tradition in this country of generous support for research at places like the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston or UC San Francisco. Many of those donors also want to take the next step, by investing in companies building on that research to develop treatments. And while there are places to invest on the NASDAQ—like Dendreon (NASDAQ: DNDN) or Medivation (NASDAQ: MDVN) in prostate cancer—there’s always some new up-and-coming competitor to watch in private biotechland, like Cambridge, MA-based Tokai Pharmaceuticals. “I think these guys at Poliwogg have read the market correctly,” says Miller, who writes a subscription-only newsletter for biotech stock investors. “People will be jazzed about the idea of investing in things they care about, and getting equity.” It’s less likely that investors will fully understand the risks, or how much their equity will be diluted through endless future stock offerings, he says. Consumer groups opposed the JOBS Act for some of these reasons, to protect investors. Simon dismisses the arguments as outdated. “Let’s take my sister for example. She’s a schoolteacher, a non-accredited investor. She can go on the public stock market and buy anything at any time. She can buy stocks in Malaysia if she doesn’t even know where Malaysia is. But she can’t invest in a friend’s store down the street because it’s a private company. She can’t invest in a biotech company that’s private. That’s crazy.” You could argue that it’s also crazy for people to be able to be able to dump their life’s savings into a single biotech stock they don’t understand, and watch it vaporize. But sadly, it’s part of what happens in a democratized investment world. I hope that the operators of the new biotech crowdfunding platforms are responsible, and that regulators stay on their toes. If not, a lot of people will end up thinking that “biotech” and “crowdfunding” are a couple of dirty words.

<urn:uuid:9e9fc782-6df1-4952-b5a1-93dbb8c3bf44>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.xconomy.com/national/2013/01/28/crowdfunding-is-coming-to-biotech-so-get-ready-for-a-wild-ride/2/

2013-05-19T10:04:46Z

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en

This morning, I had the pleasure of speaking with Unisys at the launching of their new ES 7000 server at the JW Marriot. Once again, it's an amazing offering for those customers with workloads (high memory utilization etc..) suited to scaling up their applications on Windows. A few times throughout the day I heard the term, “Windows mainframe” tossed around as a point of reference for those from the *nix community. I like the term; I'm smiling to myself now thinking about it. For my breif slot of 30 mins, I chose to focus on Windows as a HPC (High Performance Computing) platform, which was particualrly relevant for me, as, having just returned from Cornell University in New York State and touched the worlds largest Windows supercomputer (check out the list, the Cornell Theory Center cluster is currently 68), I thought it interesting to share with the audience how supercomputing on Windows is very doable and real right here, right now, today. At the end of my sessions, I gave the following URL, http://www.microsoft.com/hpc as the single, most imporant take away of my session, and there was suddenly vigorous taking of notes in the audience. Afterwards, mixing with customer and partners alike, they were all amazed, well, more shell-shocked I think, that we have been able to do this on Windows for years, and that this was a reality for the platform. I suddenly had a bunch of very wide-eyed, excited parcipants with many, many questions along the lines of, “are you really sure you guys have been doing this - I never knew!”. Well, it's kinda our fault too; Windows supercomputing is exactly well publicized by us, unless you're already in the HPC circles, but I'm trying to change that, at least within Malaysia, and with events like todays, I can't help getting swept away with the excitement of customers when they discover that they can now tackle the BIG computing problems on Windows.

<urn:uuid:b656d44c-e35c-4d0a-bf01-991ee74486a5>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/darien/archive/2004/02/19/76291.aspx

2013-05-22T07:50:15Z

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8 – 9 May 2010. Took a weekend trip to Kota Tinggi’s waterfall in time to cool off from the recent heatwave. Is it me or is the weather really climbing up the thermometer? I don’t remember May being so bitingly hot in the past… But the weather wasn’t the only bother that got me boiling. Arranging this trip was a whole lot of chasing to the point where I almost wanted to give up. First of all, it was very hard to get the commitment from our driver to go. He was always ‘maybe’, ‘could be’, ‘have to make arrangements’, but never confirmed in the 2 months that the trip idea was discussed. The driver (and his car) was the key to the trip and it was difficult to plan with ambiguity. If it was a last minute trip, I can understand the problem to commit. Then just say ‘no’. But if it’s planned 2 months in advance, there’s ample time to make any necessary arrangements to make the trip happen. Else, just a simple ‘no’ is welcomed rather than to leave me hanging. I guess when most people make their decisions, they forget that they’re a part of the decision-making process of others. It’s not a nice feeling having to give up another activity to make this trip happen while the other travelers are perpetual ‘Shouldbedoos’ (think Scooby Doo). Decisive by nature, I have a problem empathizing with wishy-washy characters. If you can, say ‘yes’ and make any upcoming plans around this commitment; if you can’t, say ‘no’ and allow others plan ahead. If you’re not sure, tell me by when you can give a confirmed answer and give it. Sometimes I wonder if indecisiveness is a tactic to make ourselves feel important. The other challenge was also to toe the soured relationships between some in the group. Based on my understanding from both sides, I could see that intentions were good, rationales were valid, but the execution was flawed and lots of miscommunication in-between. However, I’m so very glad that this trip worked out well and things were the way they were before. Sometimes we get in trouble with people because of our words or actions intentionally or unknowingly, or we may be troubled because we hold on to being done wrong. With the flowing of a river or a waterfall, the same water will not pass by twice, so I’m glad bygones can be bygone and whatever that stole our joy was allowed to flow away and letting the waters put out all fires of fury… ABOUT KOTA TINGGI Kota Tinggi is a small town in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, well-known for its 34m cascading waterfall from the 634m Gunung Muntahak Mountain. The fall creates refreshing pools ideal for cooling off in the afternoon heat. The waterfall is also known as the Lombong Waterfall. I’ve been there once a long time ago and had plain forgotten what it’s like so this trip felt virginal. The first thing that struck me was how murky and brown the water looked. Should be clean but definitely not crystal clear. And it was very chilly despite the morning heat. The difference in water temperature was really apparent when I took a dip in the resort’s swimming pool after soaking in the waterfall. The pool’s water was warm and felt light compared to the cold and heavy fall waters. However, I felt much more refreshed and light after a dip in Mother Nature’s saliva. The Kota Tinggi town itself is rather small with its town centre and major developments, such as a very modest shopping centre and retail complexes, situated along a river. The waterfall is situated about a 15 minutes drive from the center. We drove to Kota Tinggi from Singapore and it took us about 1 hr 30 mins via the Tuas Link. Just take the highway and after clearing about 2 tolls (or 3?), you’ll see directional signs that point you to Kota Tinggi. You’ll cross a bridge over a river when you enter into the town and along the banks is where most of the developments are including the boarding site for the Firefly Tour. Apart from the waterfall and Firefly Tour, there’s really very little else to do at Kota Tinggi. As part of our exploration, we drove up to the Desaru Fruit Farm and Desaru beach. We also had the Kota Tinggi Crocodile Farm in our itinerary but gave it a miss due to lack of time. KOTA TINGGI WATERFALL RESORT Weekend Hotel Room rate : RM150.00 Weekend Chalet rate : RM180.00 Around the vicinity of the waterfall, there’re 2 accommodation choices – Kota Rainforest Resort and Kota Tinggi Waterfalls Resort. Kota Rainforest Resort is about a 5 minutes drive to the waterfall, more expensive of the two, but looked in better condition and newer. Kota Tinggi Waterfalls Resort is right where the waterfall is located but has no ‘wow’ factor. We stayed at the Waterfalls Resort due to its proximity to the natural pool. To get there, follow the brown signs that say ‘Air Terjun’. That means water (‘air’) fall (‘terjun’) in Malay. We missed the turn into the resort initially because we were looking for English signs that said ‘waterfall’. Well, they were right before our eyes the whole time but we don’t read Malay! The authorities should really include an English translation in the signs. The resort is surrounded by forested areas and provides a rustic sanctuary embraced by nature. Facilities include air-conditioning, fan, TV, and fridge. There’s also a restaurant while food tents line the bank of the rock pool. But on hindsight, maybe we should’ve tried the Rainforest Resort instead because the room condition at the Waterfalls Resort was rather appalling. One of the room’s air-con didn’t work, I found gecko shit on the sheets, and the TV was the size for ants. Then again, maybe the other resort isn’t any better. Both resorts do not have online booking facilities. I had to email them to check rates and availability. The Waterfalls Resort is represented by Impressions ([email protected]) and I was required to TT the full amount of the lodging price to secure my reservation. Since it was such a hassle, we decided to just walk in and book 2 chalets. There’s no difference in rates for walk in or email booking and a RM200 deposit is required. Towels and remote control for the TV were issued at the reception counter and you must bring those items back to the reception for check-out. The saving grace was of course its closeness to the waterfall. There’re 2 parts to the Kota Tinggi fall that are accessible. The lower part consists of a section of the natural fall with a dammed up pool with slides, while an upper part was kept pretty much natural. There’s a stairway by the side of the lower fall that leads to the upper fall. It takes about 15 minutes of easy trekking. I preferred the upper part because there were less people and the feeling of swimming in a natural pool surrounded by a forest was just awesome! But be prepared to be nibbled on by fish in the rock pool much like those fish spas. They were not painful, more ticklish… or maybe because I have thick skin. Haha. But I thoroughly enjoyed dipping in both the upper and lower falls. Totally refreshing and inspiring to think that the waters had gushed relentlessly and with such velocity over so many years… much like how youth slides from us with such vigour. Every droplet represented a second and how I will never get back the time which has flowed. DESARU FRUIT FARM & BEACH Our self-planned itinerary included a visit to the Desaru Fruit Farm. Located 39km from Kota Tinggi, it took us roughly 30 minutes to drive there. I read that many different varieties of tropical fruits can be found in the farm and there’s even a small petting zoo and aviary. A guide will take you around while giving you a commentary on the plants either on a bull cart or your car. But when we got there, no one greeted us or showed us where to go for the guided tour. We planned to have lunch there too but it didn’t seem like the cafeteria as operating and a set meal costs RM45! So after wandering around for 10 minutes without seeing anything of interest, we left. We had lunch at a nearby food stop where everything was fried with too much oil and headed for Desaru Beach. From the roadside hawkers, it was another 15 minutes drive. Again, I’ve been to Desaru eons ago. I think I was 15 years old when I made the trip with my secondary schoolmates. I remembered the beach was white and powdery, and the waves were huge. It’s impossible to swim in that tidal assault so I never understood why people want to go there from then on. Desaru became a joke of a vacation destination for me and never went back. How very different it was this time round. The beach was still desirable, but the sea was a calm inviting blue! How I wished I could plunge in but alas, this wasn’t planned for so none of us came prepared to frolic in Poseidon’s embrace. Apparently, the mood of the waves has seasons. So I guess May is when it is on Xanax. Like a diabetic kid in a candy store, the only way to release that pent-up enthusiasm was to find a replacement. So we decided to create our own fun by taking jump shots. With the beautiful sky and turquoise ocean as our backdrop, our frogging moments turned out really great. I love those photos. Touring hours : 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Tour ticket : RM20.00 One of the must-dos at Kota Tinggi is the Firefly Trip. After taking the cruise, we left in awe of the magical presence of nature. Like Christmas trees flickering by the water’s edge, the visual symphony was simply spectacular. Found in the berembang trees that line the banks of the Johor River, fireflies are actually beetles and spend 9 months as a glowworm (larvae state) before becoming an adult. The lifespan of an adult firefly is 2 weeks with the sole purpose to mate. Different species emit a different pattern of light to attract its own kind. We bought our trip tickets (RM20.00) from the resort hotel although you can also buy it on the spot (don’t know if it is the same price). There was no pick up from our resort or map given so we had to make our own way there. The boarding place is located along the river where the town centre is. When you drive into Kota Tinggi, you’ll cross a bridge and the firefly tour jetty is located not far from it. If you lose your way, just ask the locals for directions. The tour lasts 45 minutes and it is best to go for the 8pm slot as that’s when the sky is dark enough. The best time to see the fireflies is during moonless nights. If it rained during the day, you’ll be rewarded with a bumper view of the flies. It didn’t rain during our visit so what we saw was pretty sparse but magical nonetheless. Also, it was impossible to take photos of the fireflies because it’s too dark. So forget about photographing and etch the image in your head. We didn’t explore much of the gastro-offerings of Kota Tinggi but we found this restaurant called New Mui Tou that’s affordable and good enough. It is along one of the streets near the Firefly Trip and opposite Hotel Seri Kota. We had dinner there and went back again for lunch. Dinner : Chili Crabs (though they looked more like pubic lice), Cereal Prawns (so-so), Hot Plate Tofu (yumz!), Wild Boar with Ginger and Onions (super yumz!), Fried Potato Leaves, 5 Man Tous, 1 bowl of rice, creackers, tea, and 2 bottles of Heineken. Total Bill : S$50.00 Lunch : Fish Meat Steamboat (so-so), Sambal Squid (yumz!), Wild Boar with Ginger and Onions, Sweet and Sour Pork, Stir-Fried Vegetables, Fried Noodles, 1 bowl of rice, crackers, and 5 drinks. Total Bill : RM87.80 (S$37.80) After dinner and some shopping at the riverine pasar malam, when were wondering what to do and found this karaoke, Big Box. It was newly opened so the place was nice and clean, the karaoke system works superbly, and the drinks were really cheap. A bucket of 4 bottles of Tiger beer costs RM38.00 and a cup of honey lemon tea only RM3.00! The room charge was RM25.00 per hour. I tortured my friends with my singing till 2am. And we woke up at 6:30am the next morning to shoot sunrise. We don’t know of any place to shoot so we just drove out to a field about 5 minutes from the entrance of our resort hotel. Nothing really much to shoot and by then, the sun was too bright to be photographed well. We left Kota Tinggi totally tired. Although it was a small town, we managed to max out our 2 days 1 night there. Even though I encountered some frustrations organising this trip, the company quickly dissolved the stains and the waterfall washed the black away. Don’t waste time holding on to bad times. For more photos from the trip, please visit my album Kota Tingi : 2nd Click Clique Adventure.

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Using the TPP to Renegotiate and Expand NAFTA by Dana Gabriel via gan - Global Research Wednesday, Jun 27 2012, 2:11am Both Canada and Mexico have been invited to join the U.S., along with other countries already engaged in negotiations which will deepen trade and economic ties within the Asia-Pacific region. Such a deal would surpass NAFTA in size and scope. The U.S. led talks which have been criticized for their secretive nature, could be used to update aspects of existing trade pacts among member nations. This would provide the perfect opportunity for a backdoor renegotiation of NAFTA without officially having to open it back up. After expressing interest in joining trade talks back in November 2011, NAFTA partners have been invited to join the U.S. backed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) which also includes Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk welcomed both Mexico and Canada into the TPP fold. He noted that, “Mexico has assured the United States that it is prepared to conclude a high-standard agreement that will include issues that were not covered in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).” He added, “Inviting Canada to join the TPP negotiations presents a unique opportunity for the United States to build upon this already dynamic trading relationship. Through TPP, we are bringing the relationship with our largest trading partner into the 21st century.” A joint statement by the U.S. and Canada acknowledged that, “The TPP presents an opportunity to conclude a high standard agreement that will build on the commitments of NAFTA.” The Council of Canadians who continue to be vocal opponents of NAFTA and other trade deals that follow the same flawed template, are strongly against Canada’s entry into the TPP. Its national chairperson, Maude Barlow warned that this, “could force Canada to change its drug policies, its copyright policies, its environmental and public health rules – all without going through the normal parliamentary process.” The organization cautioned how, “TPP negotiations could mean up-front concessions in a number of areas, including intellectual property rights, where the U.S. is making considerable demands on TPP member countries that will undermine access to essential medicines so that its multinational drug firms can increase profits.” They also emphasized that, “Supply management, which guarantees fair wages and stable prices for farmers in non-exporting sectors, is too valuable to Canada to sacrifice on a negotiating table.” Others have pointed out that it is important as a buy-local program, as well as key to Canada’s food security and food sovereignty. The Council of Canadians maintains that, “the TPP is by and large a NAFTA renegotiation but on U.S. President Obama’s terms.” Not surprisingly, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, an organization that lobbies the government on behalf of the country’s largest corporations, welcomed the announcement that Canada has been invited to join the TPP talks. Its President and CEO John Manley stated that, “By signing on to the TPP, the federal government has taken an historic leap toward securing Canada’s long-term strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region.” The U.S. Chamber of Commerce have also applauded Canada and Mexico’s entry into the TPP. Its President and CEO Thomas Donohue argued that, “negotiating the TPP together is an excellent strategic decision for North America.” Back in January, the Council of the Americas explained how, “it makes little sense for the United States to enter into potentially significant trade arrangements with countries in the Pacific region without our NAFTA partners.” They view the TPP as a “promising vehicle to support the updating of our bilateral and trilateral trading relationships within North America to the high standards of twenty-first century free-trade agreements.” In his article, Will invitation to join TPP talks lead to NAFTA 2.0?, Peter Clark one of Canada’s leading international trade strategists concluded that, “A successful TPP would allow NAFTA to essentially be re-opened without the optics of it actually being re-opened.” He went on to say, “The business leaders in all three NAFTA countries, as strong supporters of TPP invitations to Canada and Mexico, understand that after nearly 20 years, modernization of NAFTA is needed. For rules of origin, supply chain management and manufacturing integration.” Clark stressed that, “All Canadians should be clear about this – TPP is the negotiation of NAFTA 2.0 and it could have major implications for Canada-USA trade relations.” Meanwhile, both countries are implementing the Beyond the Border Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan which has been described as the most significant steps forward in U.S.-Canada cooperation since NAFTA. Christopher Sands of the Hudson Institute observed how, “The TPP negotiating agenda is at once similar to the bilateral agenda that Canada and the United States are pursuing, and also more ambitious and multilateral.” In May, the TPP held its twelfth round of negotiations with the next set of talks scheduled to take place in San Diego, California from July 2-10. So far, there has been a real lack of transparency, but what is clear is that the TPP seeks to go beyond other trade agreements. According to a leaked text by Public Citizen, it would expand on the investor privileges found in NAFTA, granting corporations more power and further threatening the sovereign rights of member nations. In the meantime, the U.S. continues to spearhead TPP negotiations as a way of countering growing Chinese influence. The door is open for other countries to join which is why it is considered to be a stepping stone to a larger free trade area of the Asia-Pacific and an important part of the international corporate globalization agenda. Trade deals such as NAFTA and now the TPP are being used to smuggle through a new set of transnational corporate rights, trapping nations in a web of treaties that further trump their own laws. All too often, these agreements fail to deliver on the promise of prosperity and only serve to accelerate the path towards economic enslavement. Globalization has meant sacrificing self-sufficiency and sovereignty for foreign dependency which is a sure path to world government. Author retains copyright. COMMENTSshow latest comments first show full comment text << back to stories

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SPECIAL NOTE: Approval of the unit coordinator is required to enrol in this unit at intermediate (200) level. Key Semester Dates Final WW Date* * The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (see Withdrawal dates explained for more information). DESCRIPTION China's national minorities occupy eight percent of its total population. Although few in number, they are spread over around 60 percent of China's territory, including some of the largest provinces such as Xinjiang, Tibet and Inner Mongolia. This unit is designed to offer students a unique opportunity for insights and understanding into the diversity and varied cultures and religions of peoples who live in the frontiers of China. We also examine the interactions between the centre and the periphery in terms of politics, economics and population movements through a multidisciplinary approach, taking in anthropology, folklore and cultural studies. HMC226:2hr exam (40%); 2,000-word research essay (40%), one 500 word literature review (10%); one group work project (10%) HMC326: 2hr exam (40%); 2,500-word research essay (40%), one 500 word literature review (10%); one group work project (10%) TEACHING PATTERN: 1x2 hour lecture 1x1 tutorial FLEXIBLE & ONLINE STUDY OPTIONS Note: Class attendance may still be required Web supported - H,L Online access to some part of this unit online is optional Resource dependent teaching & learning - H,L Independent study with provided resources replaces face-to-face or other classes (e.g. lectures) Video conferencing - H,L A live video link between campuses is used for at least some teaching in this unit About Flexible Study Options INTERNATIONALISATION This unit includes specific international contexts/case studies. This unit includes international cross-cultural issues/skills. 25% units passed at intermediate level in any faculties in any disciplines. Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study. Campus - H Hobart, L Launceston, W Burnie. Study Centre - V Sydney, R Rozelle, P Beauty Point. Distance units may also have a campus identifier of I Isolated, N Interstate, O Overseas. Units delivered in Transnational Education (TNE) Programs have a campus identifier of A Hangzhou, F Fuzhou, G Shanghai, K KDU Malaysia, Q Kuwait or Y Hong Kong.

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Rain at the 2011 Time 100 gala |Birth name||Jung Ji-Hoon| |Also known as||Bi (비), Rain, Bi Rain| June 25, 1982 | Seoul, South Korea |Origin||Seoul, South Korea| |Genres||Pop, K-pop, R&B, hip hop| |Occupations||Singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, record producer, music executive, actor, choreographer, dancer, designer| |Labels||FanClub (İdol Group Member) (1998-2000) JYP Entertainment (2002–07) (2011-present) J. Tune Entertainment (2007–present) William Morris Endeavor (2009–present) |Revised Romanization||Jeong Ji-hun| Rain's musical career includes seven albums (six Korean, one Japanese), 19 singles and numerous concert tours around the world. His acting career began in 2003, when he won the KBS Best New Actor award for his role in the drama Sang Doo! Let's Go To School. In 2004, Rain won the KBS Excellence in Acting award for his role in the drama Full House. After starring in A Love To Kill, he acted in his first Korean film, I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK (2006), which won the Alfred Bauer Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. Rain has acted in the American films Speed Racer (2008) and Ninja Assassin (2009), the latter of which made him the first Korean to win an MTV award. Rain acted in another Korean film, R2B: Return to Base, that was released in August 2012. Early life Rain spent most of his childhood living with his parents and younger sister, Jung Hanna, near Yonsei University. Despite being an introverted and shy child, he discovered he had a passion for dance when he performed in a talent show for High School. Rain initially had a difficult time balancing dance and academics and received low grades during the beginning of junior high because of his frequent dance practices. He decided to follow his passion and attended High School of Arts in where he received his first formal instruction in acting and was able to continue dancing as well. Rain again found he could not focus on both dance and his studies in acting; he was truant on several occasions. Rain lost his mother as she struggled with diabetes and died in 2000. Within that same year, Rain was recruited as a trainee for JYP Entertainment, led by recording artist and producer Park Jin-Young. In a CNN interview and also in a Discovery Channel documentary called Discovering Hip Korea, however, he recalled being repeatedly rejected because of his looks: "In fact, I was told after one audition that my singing and dancing was great but I did not make it because I did not have double eyelids." However, he finally got in as producer Park Jin-Young saw his drive and persistence during an audition in which Rain danced for hours non-stop, unlike the usual ten minutes for an audition.[not in citation given] During the early years of training, Rain was a backup dancer. 2002–03: Debut In 2002, Jung debuted with the album Bad Guy where he was introduced to the media through his stage name, Rain. The album's title was "Bad Guy" and was followed by "Handshake". After his first album, in 2003, he made his television debut in the KBS drama, Sang Doo! Let's Go To School. Following the success of his debut as a singer and actor, Rain released his second album, How to Avoid The Sun, and released the title song "Ways to Avoid the Sun." 2004–05: Rise in popularity In 2004, he starred in the popular drama called Full House with one of Korea's most popular actresses, Song Hye Kyo. The drama had viewer ratings of over 42,7% for every episode. It was broadcasted in various other countries including the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Turkey, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Israel, Cambodia and the United States. His performance in the drama won him the Best Actor Award at the KBS Acting Awards. His third album, It's Raining (2004), sold over 1 million copies in Asia. According to a report by Rain's previous agency JYP Entertainment to the Korea Culture & Content Agency, It's Raining topped the charts in all of the following countries as of December 29, 2005: Japan (100,000 copies), China (500,000 copies), Taiwan (70,000 copies), Thailand (150,000 copies), Indonesia (50,000 copies), and South Korea (154,000 copies), for a combined total of 1,074,000 units sold. Rain then went on his Rainy Day 2005 Tour, starting in Seoul and followed by Tokyo and Hong Kong. The tickets sold out quickly. the Rainy Day global tour in 2005 sold out over 150,000 seats in 8 cities in Korea, China and Japan. His first solo concert in Japan, entitled Rainy Day Japan held at the Tokyo International Forum sold out all the tickets 30 seconds after going on sale. 2006-07: Expansion outside Korea Rain's fourth album, Rain's World, was released in Korea on October 14, 2006. He acted in his first film, I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK, directed by Park Chan-wook. The film won the Alfred Bauer Award at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival, and was selected as the opening film for the Hong Kong International Film Festival. Also, Rain was nominated for and won Best New Actor at the 43rd Baeksang Awards. The "Rain's Coming" tour began on December 15, 2006 at Seoul Olympic Stadium in Seoul and was scheduled to continue through 2007 to the following countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, United States, and Canada. His tour incorporated the talents of producers and stage designers (such as Jamie King and Roy Bennett) who have been involved with the concert tours of other artists such as U2, Michael Jackson, Ricky Martin, Madonna, Britney Spears, and The Rolling Stones. Ticket sales were expected to be over US$100 million. Rain released his first Japanese album, Eternal Rain on September 13, 2006. His concert at the Tokyo Dome on May 25, 2007 attracted nearly 40,000 people. Rain was the first Korean artist to perform at the Tokyo Dome, the largest auditorium in Japan. United States In April 2006, Rain was mentioned in the Time magazine website article that named the "100 Most Influential People Who Shape Our World." In 2007, Rain topped Time Magazine's online user poll although he was not in the magazine's actual list. He also made it into People's 2007 list of the "Most Beautiful People" in the world. His two-day concert in the United States, Rainy Day New York was marketed and promoted by the Asian concert production company Rainstone Live. Tickets were sold out within a matter of days and the concerts were held at Madison Square Garden. Rain performed two concert dates in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 23–24, 2006; the tickets to these concerts sold out within the first week of sales. These concerts were held at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. 2007–09: Rainism and American films In 2007, Rain was included on People's Most Beautiful People in its "First-Time Beauties 2007" section. In a press release, Rain stated that he was honored to be on the list, and also noted that it will be a great boost to his efforts to raise his public awareness in the United States. Rain was the 2nd highest earning celebrity in Korea for 2007. Also in 2007, Rain topped Time's open online poll: he defeated Stephen Colbert by 100,000 votes; Colbert jokingly retaliated by producing a parody of Rain's music video for "Ways to Avoid the Sun" called "He's Singin' In Korean". Stephen Colbert then challenged Rain to a dance-off "or a cuddle-off, or a spoon-off". On May 5, 2008, Rain appeared in a surprise guest segment at the end of The Colbert Report, and proceeded to engage Colbert in a dance-off on a Dance Dance Revolution machine. On October 16, 2008, Rain released his fifth Korean album, Rainism. Rain released "Love Story", as the first single from the album with the MV starring Korean Actress Ha Ji-Won, shortly followed by the single, "Rainism". On November 24, 2008, The Commission of Youth Protection judged Rain's album, Rainism, inappropriate for people under 19 years old because of the song "Rainism". In "Rainism", the lyrics (translated from Korean) "Trembling inside your shaking body is my magic stick/Feeling the impassable limit of the body shake" were considered problematic due to their phallic and sexual references. Rain has re-released a "clean version" of "Rainism" shortly after, but instead of changing the original album's contents, he has labeled a sticker that deemed "Rainism" inappropriate for those under 19 years old. In 2008, he acted in his first American film, the Wachowski Brothers-directed Speed Racer, where he played Racer Taejo Togokahn. He made his starring role debut in Ninja Assassin (2009), as the main character Raizo. Ninja Assassin was directed by James McTeigue, and produced by Joel Silver and the Wachowski brothers. The project was inspired by the ninja scenes featured from Speed Racer, in which Rain had impressed the Wachowskis with his portrayal as a fighter. He won the Biggest Badass Award at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards because of his performance in Ninja Assassin. In October 2009, in support of his 5th album Rainism, Rain kicked off his Asian tour The Legend of Rainism Tour with two shows at Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul on 9 and 10 October. It continued with concerts in Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia and concluded at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 24–25, 2009. 2010: Return to Korea On April 6, 2010, Rain released a special mini-album titled Back to Basic including the singles "Love Song", with the MV starring Korean actress Han Ye-seul and "Hip Song". From late September to early December 2010, Rain starred in TV drama The Fugitive: Plan B (Korean: 도망자). It was aired on KBS2 and costarred Lee Na-young, and the supporting cast included Lee Jung-jin, Daniel Henney, Yoon Jin-seo and Japanese actors Takako Uehara and Takanaka Naoto. He is listed on TIME 100 for the second time. In October, Rain represented Korea and performed at the 7th Asia Song Festival, organised by Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange, at the Seoul Olympic Stadium. 2011: Military service On September 23, Rain announced that he would enlist in the military on October 11. He reported for 21 months of compulsory military service at the 306th Army draft camp in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do province. 13th In March 2012, he was transferred to the Defense Media Agency of the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. In April he was appointed Honorary Ambassador of Military. Rain will be discharged from the Korean military service 10 July 2013. Artistry and Image Styles, lyrics and themes Since his debut, Rain has primarily been influenced by R&B and pop with "Bad Guy" and "How to Avoid the Sun" being categorized as the former while "Cassiopeia" and "Lack of Space" are closer to the later. By the release of It's Raining, Rain, along with Park Jin-young, began incorporating hip hop into his sound beginning with the title track. Early in his career, most of Rain's material was handled by JYP for many years along with other songwriters and sometimes, Rain. After departing JYP Entertainment, Rain began writing more of his material with other songwriters on J. Tune Entertainment. Thematically, many of Rain's songs deal with the subjects of love and heartbreak in the case of "I Do" and "Love Story." On some occasions, it can be personal ("Can't Used to It", "My Way"), hedonistic ("Rainism", "Touch Ya"), or celebratory ("Hip Song", "Free Way"). Voice type Rain's vocal range can be classified in the baritone range. His voice can be described as smooth yet husky in songs such as "Love Story", "Love Song", "Nan" and "I Do." Having been influenced by American R&B, he uses both vibrato and falsetto in many of his songs as well as incorporating rapping into songs like "What's Love." Rain maintains strong stance against lipsyncing during his live performances. Rain is considered a 'world star' due to his popularity, not only in South Korea and Japan, but throughout Asia, Europe and North America with fans in countries like China, Singapore, Thailand, Canada and United States. Much of his popularity is attributed to his various acting roles (varying from television like Full House to indie films like I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK to blockbusters like Ninja Assassin). Before landing his role in Speed Racer, he had expressed the desire to expand beyond the Asian market when he stated in an interview, "The reason I am active in Japan, Hong Kong, China and around Asia is that I want to succeed here and then go even more international...I would really like to see, is a top Asian artist emerge strongly from the Asian market, and then go on to succeed in the U.S. market." Rain's appeal to all demographics has made him one of Korea's highest paid celebrities by endorsers with an asking price of $1 – 1.5 million USD per endorsement. Over the years, he endorsed brands such as Hyundai, Lotte, KB Card, Pizza Hut, Thailand dairy company Dutch Mill, Chinese pastry Fu Mu Cakes, Pantech, LG Electronics, SK Telecom and Pepsi. Rain has even done songs to tie-in with endorsement deals. "Still Believe" was used as both an ad and a music video for BMW Korea's "Meet the Truth" campaign with appearances by Rain as well as JYP. "Memory in My Hand" and "Any Dream" were used in campaigns for Pantech and Samsung, respectively, in China. With his booming popularity throughout the world, he has been deemed a "cultural ambassador" as he has represented South Korea in inter-Asian musical events and has appeared in a Thai published textbook. Legal issues and canceled concerts In February 2007, Rain and his former management agency JYP Entertainment as well as a concert organizer, Wellmade STAR M Corporation, were sued over copyright infringement of the stage name "Rain," by the U.S. recording firm Rain Corporation. The company, which works with an American band also called "Rain," demanded that Rain drop the English name in the United States. In June 2007, the lawsuit ended because the Nevada District Court determined there was no evidence indicating that Rain Corporation would suffer any actual harm. On his World 2007 tour, his scheduled concerts in Shanghai, Toronto, San Francisco, and Hawaii were canceled, followed by the last concert in Los Angeles. The last event at the Staples Center was canceled only two hours prior to opening: Rain's producer blamed the situation on financial problems of the local promoter, while the local promoter blamed Wellmade STAR M calling them too "incompetent to handle the situation." On March 19, 2009, a federal jury in Honolulu found that Rain, his former management agency JYP Entertainment, and two other promotion companies were guilty of breaching a contract and defrauding Honolulu promoter Click Entertainment for $2 million (originally just over $1 million) after the Hawaii concert was canceled and the promoters were not refunded the $500,000 licensing fee. Rain and JYP were ordered to pay $2.4 million each in punitive damages, $1 million for damages related to the fraud, and $2.3 million for breach of contract. A separate lawsuit filed by promoters Wellmade STAR M was dismissed by a South Korean court on January 28, 2010. Judge Bae Kwang-Kuk ruled in favor of Rain and blamed the plaintiff for poor preparations surrounding the cancelled U.S. tour. Other activities Six to Five Six to Five was Rain's first clothing line, since it also was his dream to become a fashion designer. It was launched on December 23, 2008 and was followed by a "fashion show–launch party–mini-concert" to introduce "Six to Five". Many stars came to support him, such as Lee Hyori, Kim Suna, Chae-Rim and Girls' Generation's Seohyun. He designs and models the clothing. The label "Six To Five" is described by Rain as the idea of having an extra sense (i.e. from five senses to six). This label name also is said to represent his birth date, 6/25. The line was discontinued and the on-line mall closed by the end of 2010. J. Tune Entertainment In November 2007, Rain told the Korean media that he has left JYP Entertainment and started his own entertainment company, J. Tune Entertainment (formerly known as Rainy Entertainment). He was scheduled to be CEO of the company, but told the media that he still kept in touch with his mentor and long-time trainer Park Jin Young. J. Tune Entertainment's subsidiary J. Tune Camp, debuted MBLAQ, an all-boy group, in October, 2009. Rain actively participates in MBLAQ's music, either composing, writing, producing or choreographing dance routines. In December 2010, Park Jin-Young announced that J. Tune Entertainment would be merged with JYP Entertainment. It has become the largest shareholder in J. Tune Entertainment, and it is viewed as a strategic alliance between the two companies. Humanitarian work From 2005 to 2007, Rain donated money to have 50 drinking water wells built and playgrounds built in Cambodia. He began taking up causes related to children by participating in the Love Photography Exhibition to help find adoptive parents for children in government care, donating a percent of his 2006-2007 World Tour concert proceeds to children orphaned by AIDS and participating in the Green Ribbon Hope Walking Campaign to raise funds for prevention and to help find missing children. Due to his work, he was appointed World Vision HIV/AIDS Ambassador. In recent years, Rain has been an advocate for environmental protection going as far as to volunteer in the Taean oil spill cleanup and donate 300 million won for clean water and clothing for the residents in 2008. In 2009, Rain was involved with MTV EXIT, a campaign against human trafficking in Asia, He presented Traffic: An MTV EXIT Special, a documentary which gives insight into the realities of trafficking, addresses the part everyone can play in the issue, and gives information on how people can protect themselves as well as what people can do to help end exploitation and trafficking. Over the years, he has performed at as well as put together many events and concerts for various charitable causes. Korean discography Japanese discography - 2005: Rainy Day Tour - 2006/07: Rain's Coming World Tour - 2009/10: The Legend of Rainism Tour - 2011: The Best Show Tour - 2012/13: Army Concert Series (Consoltary Train) (33 Concert) |2006||I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK||Park Il-sun||43rd Baeksang Arts Awards 2007 Grand Bell Awards 59th Berlin Film Festival |2008||Speed Racer||Taejo Togokahn| |2009||Ninja Assassin||Raizo||2010 MTV Movie Awards |2012||R2B: Return to Base||Captain Jung Tae-Yoon| |2002||The King of Disco||Parody| |2003||Run Ma Ma||Himself||Cameo role| |Sang Doo! Let's Go to School'||Cha Sang-doo||2003 KBS Drama Awards |2004||Full House||Lee Young-jae||2004 KBS Drama Awards 2004 Andre Kim Star Awards 40th Baeksang Arts Awards |2005||Banjun Drama||Himself||Cameo role| |A Love to Kill||Kang Bok-gu||2005 KBS Drama Awards 2006 Asia TV Awards 2006 RTHK International Pop Poll Awards |2010||The Fugitive: Plan B||Ji-woo| Awards and Nominations - Rain (2010-06-08). "Rain ‘Wants to Brag’ About His MTV Award". In http://www.kpoplive.com/author/rose1363/. KPOPLIVE!. Retrieved 17 June 2010. "I am the first Korean to win so I really want to brag about this one." - Hahn, Lorraine (2005-12-14). "Rain Talkasia Transcript". CNN's Talk Asia. Retrieved 2007-02-18. - "Pop star Rain (Bi), reaching out beyond Asia". KBS Global. Retrieved 2007-02-18. - "Rain’s album records sales of over one million copies in Asia". KBS Global. Retrieved 2007-02-18. - "Rain Season Breaks Records Across Asia". The Chosun Ilbo. 2005-10-13. Archived from the original on 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2007-02-18. - Jeanine Tan, Oldboy director cast Rain for his sex appeal but it's okay, Channel News Asia, March 8, 2007. Retrieved on March 24, 2008. - The 43rd Baeksang Awards Winners Are…, Asianpopcorn. Retrieved on March 24, 2008 - "Tickets for Rain’s Hong Kong Concert Sold Out". KBS Global. Retrieved 2007-03-16. - Herzkovits, Jon; Jang Sera (2006-11-16). "South Korean pop star Rain debuts as robot lover". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2007-07-11. Retrieved 2007-02-18. - "Rain becomes First Korean Star to Perform at Tokyo Dome". Japan Today. 2007-05-28. Retrieved 2007-06-08. - Walsh, Bryan (2006-05-08). "The People Who Shape Our World". Time Magazine. Retrieved 2007-02-18. - "The TIME 100". Time Magazine. 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-18. - "The TIME 100". Time Magazine. 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2007-06-08. - "Rain's Sold-Out New York Gig Could Take K-Pop Global". The Chosun Ilbo. 2006-02-03. Archived from the original on 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2007-02-18. - "All about the Beautiful people". Daily Telegraph (Daily Telegraph). 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2007-04-29. - "SKorean pop star Rain listed in People's 100 Most Beautiful". Yahoo Canada (Yahoo Canada). 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2007-04-29. - Your Time 100. April 19, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2007. - "Rain Dance-Off". Colbert Report. 2008-05-05. Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-05-09. - "비 '레이니즘', 청소년 유해매체물 판정" (in Korea). - "'레이니즘' 클린버전에 '매직 스틱' 빠지나" (in Korea). - "청보위 '동방신기, 맞대응해도 승소 어렵다'" (in Korea). - Paquet, Darcy (February 13, 2008). "Rain falls on 'Ninja Assassin'". Variety. Retrieved May 20, 2008. - Sperling, Nicole (April 28, 2008). "Wachowski Brothers getting underway on 'Ninja Assassin'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 20, 2008. - "Everybody Loves a Badass: Bi Wins at MTV Movie Awards". www.hellokpop.com. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2010-06-11.[dead link] - "Event Calendar: October 2009" Korea Herald. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 2012-04-10 - Time. 2011-04-15 http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/04/15/korean-pop-star-rain-wins-time-100-poll-again/ |url=missing title (help). - "7th Asia Song Festival" KOFICE. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 2011-10-12 - "Rain Might Join Army Next Year". Newsen (in Korea). Retrieved 2010-09-27. - "Top K-pop star Rain to join Army" Yonhap News. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-12 - "Teardrops Fall as Rain Enlists in Army" The Chosun Ilbo. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-13 - Oh, MiJung "Rain Appointed Honorary Ambassador of Military" CJ E&M enewsWorld. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-11 - "Sexiness can be a double-edged sword". www.hellokpop.com. 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2012-09-21. - "[Exclusive] "Rain’s Coming" Lead Dancer Menina Fortunato Speaks—And Cloud USA Listens". cloudusa.wordpress.com. 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2012-09-21. - "Rain on Michael Jackson: "He was my idol"". CNN International. 2009-09-07. Archived from the original on 2009-09-07. Retrieved 2012-09-21. - "Rain's Official Site". Archived from the original on 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2012-09-21. - "Mnet Concert: Usher in Seoul with Rain". Mnet. 2004-04-19. Archived from the original on 2006-07-20. Retrieved 2012-09-21. - "Rain Talkasia Transcript". CNN. December 14, 2005. Archived from the original on December 14, 2005. Retrieved September 21, 2012. - "[Thai Ad] Dutch Mill (Rain and Ploy)". January 4, 2007. Retrieved 2012-09-21. - "Rain and Christina Aguilera Pepsi Commercial". November 21, 2008. Retrieved 2012-09-21. - "Rain - BMW Meets Truth (I Stll Believe) MV". April 2006. Retrieved 2012-09-21. - "Super Junior, Rain, Big Bang, & 2PM Appear in Thai Textbooks". Mnet. 2012-05-30. Retrieved 2012-09-21. - "Pop Singer Rain Cancels L.A. Concert". Archived from the original on 2007-07-03. Retrieved 2007-07-21. - "Local promoters sue Rain over canceled concert". Honolulu Advertiser. 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2007-06-21. - Song, Jaymes (2009-03-19). "Jury rules against South Korean star for $8M". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-03-20.[dead link] - "Rain Cleared In U.S. Concert Dispute". starpulse.com. January 28, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010. - "Rain’s Six to Five Show/Concert". k-popped.com. December 23, 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2012. - "Rain’s online clothing mall gets store clearance". allkpop.com. August 16, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2012. - Idol group MBLAQ to debut at Rain's concert access date: 2012-09-22 - J. Tune Entertainment merges with JYP Entertainment access date: 2011-01-03 - Joongang Daily JYP Entertainment becomes J. Tune’s biggest shareholder 30 december 2010. Retrieved 2011-10-22 - "Rain's IMDB bio". imdb.com. January 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2012. - "Rain's Charitable Causes". January 25, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2012. - "Rain Gets Time Off from Fugitive: Plan B to Deliver a Charity Performance". October 20, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2012. |Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rain| - Rain – Official Korean website (Korean) - Rain – Official Japanese website (Japanese) - Rain - Official English website (English) - Rain (entertainer) on Twitter - Rainy Entertainment's channel on YouTube - Rain at the Internet Movie Database |Awards and achievements| |KBS Music Awards - Best New Artist |SBS Music Awards - Best New Artist |4th Mnet Asian Music Awards - Best New Artist |17th Golden Disk Awards - Best New Artist |6th Mnet Asian Music Awards - Artist of the Year |6th Mnet Asian Music Awards - Album of the Year |6th Mnet Asian Music Awards - Song of the Year |10th Mnet Asian Music Awards - Best Dance Music

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_(entertainer)

2013-05-22T07:35:11Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Hoodwink is the latest Point and Click adventure game from Malaysian based E-One Studios. We spent the last few days playing through from beginning to end and we were pleasantly surprised. Hoodwink is currently available to buy through Origin E-One Studio was established in 2006 in the lovely city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ( If you ever head that way, check out Kota Kinabulu, great place to go Diving!) The development studio has a team of 20+ working away on their PC releases, the first of which is Hoodwink. Ok I’m going to be honest here. I have never once in my life played an adventure game. I remember downloading the Sam and Max trial years ago and I gave up pretty quickly. Im a RTS\RPG\FPS man at heart, so the story line and puzzle aspects of an adventure game don’t seem to be able to hold my interest for long enough to play through. I was however determined to stick it through and loaded up Hoodwink with an open mind.. here’s what happened. I was dropped into the shoes of Michael Bezzle, a young chap working his way through the city of Kong Yang to get the love of his life an engagement ring. The story begins as I am dropped into a shady room to snoop around detectives Pire’s office, I’m looking for the ring. As I walk around I notice a litter box under the desk and soon enough I find out why, detective Pire is an overcoat wearing, cigar smoking cat! One of the many interesting characters you come across in the game. As you make your way out of the office you meet Saffron, the can do hippy sister that assists you in getting items you need throughout the game. Saffron leads you onto other interesting characters such as roses with legs that run around a Venus Fly trap looking plant that you can play fetch with. How’s that for character development! Aside from hippies and walking plants there are also second chancers. These are people that have died and have been given a second chance by having their brains implanted into robots. You also meet the local Hawker who can cook up a feast of not so savoury dishes and many more interesting characters as the story develops. One of the stand outs for me was that E-One has really managed to breath personality into these characters. The voice acting was superbly done bringing each character to life which as a non-adventure gamer, was what really kept me playing through, I was always interested to see where the game would take me next and who else I would meet along the way. The game itself is as you would expect, a point and click adventure game that has a varying difficulty of puzzles, each adding to the story line and taking you to new parts of Kong Yang. The game itself has been broken up into 4 acts, the introduction easing you into the main character and laying the foundations of the story. Coming from a non-point and click background, I was surprised that I didn’t get bored due to the lack of explosions and fatalities. Credit goes to E-One here for bringing it all together to actually keep me interested with a mix of story line, fantastic visuals and great voice acting. The puzzles within the game are both fun and head scratchingly difficult at times. Some were fairly simple and didn’t take too much effort, while others I really did struggle with. Not because they were hard to complete, but more so that it lacked some direction at times. For example in the video where we show the introduction to the game, the part where you need to open the vent to clear the smoke took longer than it should have due to the lack of hit registry when I pointed at it. Even though I had moused over it prior, it wasn’t till after I did it several times that the icon changed informing me that it was where I needed to complete the next action. There is a bit of back and forth between the levels as you need to collect things from Saffron and take them to others, but it never really got too annoying. In general you can turn the tips on and it the game will lead you in the right direction. In the settings page there are options for 8 languages too. Spanish, Russian, English, Italian, German, S.Chinese, Portuguese and French. The down side when it comes to game play is probably the length of the game. It did feel too short to me. Right as I began getting into the story and characters it felt as though it came to an abrupt end. So the game could almost be episode 1 of X. I guess you always want more of a good thing hey? Another point which did get annoying was the fact that there was no save points. So if I had to stop playing for any reason, it was back to the start of the act, this really did get annoying at times. The final thing on my hit list is the run feature, or lack of it. Hoodwink does enable you to run, but only in certain parts of the game, so when you are trying to figure out a puzzle and you go back and forth between stuff, having to walk can get really annoying. The Visuals and Audio This is where the game really stands out. Short and simple, the art style is great. Each level within each act looks gorgeous and several times I stopped playing the game to just spend time looking around. I am not comparing this to BF3 renders or LA Noire motion capture. Firstly because its not that kind of game and secondly we are talking about an Indie Dev, so to compare it to those would be unfair. I went into this game with an open mind of enjoyment and seeing if the game could possibly change my mind about point and click games. To me it was going to be a success if I enjoyed the story, liked the puzzles and would consider playing it again. I admit, I was surprised that it ticked those boxes, I was a happy gamer. The other tick comes from the in game voice acting. E-One has definitely put a lot effort into this and it shows. Each characters personality really comes across through the voice acting and adds to the games atmosphere. Listening into random conversations of people on the street is great. I remember walking past 2 girls chatting and the accents reminded me of being in Singapore or Malaysia with the little things that you hear them say. Michaels voice is not blandly read of off a script, you can hear the emotion and excitement when he talks and without the effort put into the voice acting, the game would definitely be lacking. Overall the visuals and audio stand out and there really isn’t much more I could have asked for in this area. There is really nothing here to be worried about. There is a cigar in the intro but that’s it, and really that’s only there to add to the story line as it is used to start a fire, not as a useless advertisement of some sort. So you can happily get this for your kids and not have to worry. So I set out to play this game as a veteran FPS\RTS gamer, I wanted to see if I could enjoy this genre and actually stick it out. Well I can say I finished the game and if episode 2 of Hoodwink came out, I would happily play it. The story line and jokes In the game gave me a chuckle, the visuals were fantastic and the audio I loved. It managed to keep me playing through and I enjoyed a lot of it, so E-One has succeeded in getting a non point and click gamer interested in the genre, gratz! Though, theres definitely room for improvement. As I mentioned earlier, the length of the game felt too short for me. The storyline was just beginning to take off and it came to an end. Some of the puzzles within the game could be tweaked to make things a little clearer and to be honest, I would have liked to have seen more puzzles overall. The lack of saves and ability to run gets annoying but its not really a game changer, just annoying. So who should buy this game? If you are not a point and click gamer, then I can recommend Hoodwink as a good opportunity to jump in and try the genre for yourself. If you like puzzles, enjoy a good story and want a game in your collection that is for those times you don’t feel like fighting on the battlefield, then I don’t see why you wouldn’t enjoy the game. There is a lack of replay value as once you know the puzzles, that’s it, there’s not much else you can do. But next time its on sale pick it up and immerse yourself in Kong Yang. So with its current price on Origin, you’re looking at about $5 an hour for gameplay, a few coffees or a mcmeals, so if you look at it that way, then it’s a nice little investment. If you are already a point and click player then you are more experienced than me and I really cant tell you much apart from the fact that I did enjoy the game and I’m looking forward to the next instalment by E-One. So watch the gameplay video and see for yourself. games pc 2012,pc games 2012,game pc 2012,adventure game 2012,point and click pc games latest,pc adventure games 2012,hoodwink pc review,hoodwink pc game,game adventure pc 2012,buy hoodwink pc game

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://muslimgamer.com/hoodwink-e-ones-latest-point-click-game-pc-review/

2013-05-22T07:12:50Z

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en

Every weekend, eves of long weekends and holidays in particular, long queues will form at the immigration check points at the Second Link or at the Causeway. Hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans, squeezed into a tiny piece of rock, need the space and fresh air to feel like human beans again. So they jammed the two entry points to Malaysia. Never mind if it is 6 hours or 10 hours at the jams. It is worth the trouble. Malaysia has been very successful in attracting Singaporeans and the PRs to visit the country in hordes. This is success story, without having to blow the trumpet, is confirmed by the jams. In numbers, aggregated over a year, how many tens of millions of visits must have been chalked up by the visitors? Singapore may be crowing about its success in attracting tourists to our shores. But the numbers can never match the Singaporeans heading to Malaysia. Look at all the entry points, no crowds, no jams. That shows that the number of tourists visiting the island is too small to cause any jams. And Singapore has been laying the red carpet to invite the visitors to visit. A thousand smiles will greet the visitors. Singaporeans too were chastised for not treating the visitors well. Some visitors knew how important they are to Singaporeans that it has become a past times by some to beat up Singaporeans when they are here, just for some excitement. Just make sure the injuries are not severe enough and it will become just a personal trespass. The Singaporean victims can only seek redress if they have the money to engage the top class lawyers that are in abundant supply, at top class fees too. If they don’t have the money, never mind, just accept the few bruises as their contributions to welcome visitors to the country. If they are rude or too harsh to visitors, the visitors will complain or go to some better places, like Malaysia. And we will lose out on the tourist dollars. In Malaysia, it is slightly different. Today’s paper reported about two Singapore women driving past Malaysian checkpoints without having their passports chopped and were arrested when they reported their mistake. They must have thought that Malaysia also welcomed their visitors like Singapore, with open arms and with a big smile. So they drove in happily for the adventure. In this case they were treated like hardcore criminals, stripped naked, slapped, made to do squats, with hands pulling their own ears, and ended in jail. Quite similar to Guantanamo really. Anyone thinking of a Guantanamo experience need not go too far, and need not have to pay for expensive airfares. It is at our doorstep. What is so exciting about visiting Sentosa and pay like hell when real excitement is free? Their adrenalins must be supercharged. What a high! But this will likely be forgotten and Singaporeans will continue to jam the causeway to visit Malaysia. Because Malaysia is really a great place to be. Die die they will queue up at the Malaysian immigration check points, under the hot suns for 6 hours or more, to enjoy Malaysia. Yes, Malaysia is not only a great place, it is the place for Singaporeans, and for a wonderful experience and adventure. Better than Disneyland or Sentosa. Malaysia, here we come. Thank you for your hospitality and the fun and excitement. And Malaysia Tourism Board will say, Selamat Datang. I would suggest they change their campaign slogan to , Malaysia, for an adrenalin charged experience!

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

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2013-05-22T07:49:23Z

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en

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 UNTUK EDARAN SEGERA 23hb June 2009 KENYATAAN AKHBAR OLEH YB S MANIKAVASAGAM AHLI PARLIMEN KAPAR BERHUBUNG KENYATAAN MAHKAMAH BERKENAAN WARAN TANGKAP SERTA PERMINTAAN MAAF OLEH SPRM. INKUES PEMBUNUHAN K SUJATHA Saya merujuk kepada laporan akhbar-akhbar tempatan hari ini berhubung kenyataan Mahkamah Koroner untuk mengeluarkan waran tangkap terhadap diri saya. Ingin saya menegaskan bahawa pegawai penyiasat serta seluruh rakyat Malaysia mengetahui akan persidangan Parlimen kini sedang berlangsung. Hampir setiap hari saya menghadiri persidangan Parlimen dan ianya boleh disemak rujuk melalui buku kehadiran Parlimen. Setelah menghadiri Parlimen saya berada dikawasan membantu orang awam menangani permasalahan mereka. Semalam saya berada di pejabat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) , Shah Alam sehingga pukul 2.00 pagi. Apa susahnya pihak penyiasat mencari tempat saya berada? Sehingga waktu ini, saya masih boleh menerima Sapina untuk memberi keterangan dalam Inkues tersebut. Saya merasai pihak tertentu cuba merosakkan nama baik saya demi melindungi kebocoran dalam sistem kepolisan negara. Saya percaya Yang Arif Koroner Inkues akan mempertimbangkan segala faktor sebelum membuat sebarang keputusan berharap pihak mahkamah akan menetapkan satu tarikh yang baru untuk saya hadir ke mahkamah bagi memberi kenyataan. PERMINTAAN MAAF OLEH SURUHANJAYA PENCEGAH RASUAH MALAYSIA (SPRM) Saya berpendapat bahawa perkara meminta MAAF kepada SPRM tidak wujud langsung kerana apa yang dilaporkan oleh akhbar adalah apa yang diperkatakan oleh pegawai SPRM sendiri sewaktu kami berada di pejabat SPRM, Shah Alam, Jumaat lalu. Apakah maksud “kami tidak dapat menjumpai file berhubung Kampung Perepat”? Pihak SPRM sepatutnya meminta penjelasan daripada pegawai mereka dan bukannya merampas komputer serta telefon bimbit wartawan yang melaporkan kebenaran. Semalam, saya serta mereka terlibat dalam membuat laporan mengenai isu penyelewangan Tanah di Kampung Perepat, Kapar di panggil untuk memberi keterangan dari pukul 8.00 malam sehingga pukul 2.00 pagi, kenapa tiba-tiba SPRM begitu ghairah dengan kes Kampung Perepat? Adakah mereka cuba menyelesaikan masalah Kampung Perepat atau mereka cuba menunjuk kuasa dan memperbaiki imej mereka. Saya percaya imej SPRM akan menyinar terang sekiranya mereka melakukan tugasan yang diamanahkan tanpa mengira pegangan politik. Kalau Kereta dan Lembu boleh di siasat serta merta kenapa tidak tanah yang ditukar milik dalam masa 24 jam tidak boleh. (NST) INDONESIAN teenager Mano-hara Odelia Pinot plans to take legal action in Malaysia against her husband, Kelantan prince Tengku Temenggong Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra, for alleged physical abuse. The family appointed a Malaysian lawyer on Sunday night. "We have appointed a Malaysian lawyer Mohamed Zaini Mazlan. We plan to file a suit in the civil court as well as the syariah court," Daisy Fajarina, the mother of Manohara, told the New Straits Times. "The suits will be filed as soon as possible. We leave it to the lawyer to handle the case," Fajarina said. Manohara fled from her husband on May 31 while in Singapore and returned to Jakarta. She alleged her husband had physically and sexually abused her and that she was injected with tranquillisers when she protested his treatment of her. A medical examination in Jakarta allegedly concluded she had been repeatedly slashed with sharp objects on her chest and had been burnt with a cigar on her forehead. Manohara has also said she wants to divorce her husband. When contacted in Kuala Lumpur, Zaini said Manohara had sought his advice on her rights. "Manohara had sought advice on her rights under the syariah law and the civil courts in Malaysia. "And we have advised her on her rights." He declined further comment. Tengku Fakhry also recently filed a police report against Manohara over her allegations. KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 — The teaching of maths and science in English the last six years has not improved the performance of students in those subjects, the education minister admitted today. “There have been changes but the difference is nominal,” said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He said there had only been a two to three per cent change since the policy was implemented in 2003. The deputy prime minister was responding to a supplementary question by DAP’s Tan Seng Giaw in Parliament. The Kepong MP said the policy had been in existence for six years and asked for the reports on its effectiveness to be made public. The education minister also said that the government, after much delay, will make a decision on the issue by next month. It is expected to continue with the programme, while finding ways to accommodate differing views. Muhyiddin's reply drew flak from opposition MPs, who accused the government of negligence for its refusal to shut the policy down despite admitting to having problems in implementing it. Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad from PAS said it was obvious in the minister's response that the government is not fully prepared for the implementation of the policy and students are being victimised as a result. "It is apparent that they are not fully prepared for this and have not taken into account the implication and the repercussion," he told a press conference in Parliament. He added that it was absurd that the government realised the programme's failure only after six years it has been implemented. "Don't make our children guinea pigs," said Khalid, adding that teaching maths and science in English won't upgrade students' English quality, suggesting that it would be better for the government to focus on getting the best teachers to teach the international language instead. By Haris Ibrahim, Let’s try to put a context to where Najib is coming from and headed to with his 1Malaysia. What is Najib’s grand design that he now calls 1Malaysia? Is his 1Malaysia novel and innovative, or re-hashed from a model that we’ve seen before? Two days ago, Malaysianinsider reported Mukhriz as saying that it would be difficult to realise the “1Malaysia” concept if the Malays are not united, as the the Malays are the pillar in making 1 Malaysia a reality and played an important role in ensuring the country’s progress as they are the majority in the country. I quote Mukhriz from that report : “If they are not united, how are we going to realise the 1 Malaysia concept? This will not only be detrimental to the Malays but also to other races…When we talk about Malay unity, we are not talking from the racism point of view. We have accepted the fact that there cannot be a government which is led 100 per cent by Malay leaders … we have been practising power sharing for so long” What do you discern from this? One, ‘Malay unity talk’ ala UMNO-style is not racism. Two, power sharing in the governance of this country is set, not on the premise of having the best men and women in place to get the job done, but along racial lines, with a predominance of Malays at the helm of government because they are the majority, because this is how power has been shared thus far. If you want to know where Mukhriz is coming from, you don’t have to go far. Just read his father’s ‘The Malay Dilemma’. I’ve just finished re-reading that book. If you’ve never read this book, you should make the effort to. It’ll give you an idea of how this country found itself on that slippery slope into the cesspool we now are in when Mahathir took over the PMship. It will reveal how this man, in the late 60’s / early 70’s, conveniently distorted a prevailing ‘have versus have-nots’ class issue into a racial one, portrayed as being that of the ‘marginalised Malays versus the non-Malay community’ and, through his years of rule as PM, perpetuated this thinking, with the acquiescence of the other BN component party leaders, of course. In a speech that he was supposed to have delivered at the Harvard Club of Malaysia on 29th July 2002, this is what Mahathir is reported to have said : “When I wrote The Malay Dilemma in the late 60s, I had assumed that all the Malays lacked the opportunities to develop and become successful. They lacked opportunities for educating themselves, opportunities to earn enough to go into business, opportunities to train in the required vocation, opportunities to obtain the necessary funding, licences and premises. If these opportunities could be made available to them, then they would succeed. …… So what is the new Malay dilemma? Their old dilemma was whether they should distort the picture a little in order to help themselves. The new dilemma is whether they should or should not do away with the crutches that they have got used to, which in fact they have become proud of. There is a minority of Malays who are confident enough to think of doing away with the crutches, albeit gradually. But they are a very small minority. Their numbers are not going to increase any time soon. They are generally regarded as traitors to the Malay race. ….” There you have it! Distort the picture in order to help themselves! That the truth then was that every marginalised Malaysian, regardless of race, “lacked opportunities for educating themselves, opportunities to earn enough to go into business, opportunities to train in the required vocation, opportunities to obtain the necessary funding, licences and premises”, was buried in the distorted picture that was presented, so that certain quarters could help themselves. 11 years before that reported speech to the Havard Club, in 1991, Mahathir launched his Vision 2020 where he also spoke of establishing a united Malaysian nation; a Bangsa Malaysia, as he put it. I have alluded to this in a previous post last year. This is what Mahathir had said in 1991 of that Bangsa Malaysia : “By the year 2020, Malaysia can be a united nation, with a confident Malaysian society, infused by strong moral and ethical values, living in a society that is democratic, liberal and tolerant, caring, economically just and equitable, progressive and prosperous, and in full possession of an economy that is competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient. There can be no fully developed Malaysia until we have finally overcome the nine central strategic challenges that have confronted us from the moment of our birth as an independent nation…The first of these is the challenges of establishing a united Malaysian nation with a sense of common and shared destiny. This must be a nation at peace with itself, territorially and ethnically integrated, living in harmony and full and fair partnership, made up of one ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ with political loyalty and dedication to the nation…The eighth is the challenge of ensuring an economically just society. This is a society in which there is a fair and equitable distribution of the wealth of the nation, in which there is full partnership in economic progress. Such a society cannot be in place so long as there is the identification of race with economic function, and the identification of economic backwardness with race.” 18 years on from that inspirational speech of his, why is it that we do not appear to be anywhere near establishing that one ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ with political loyalty and dedication to the nation ? Was Mahathir’s Vision 2020 no different from his ‘Look East’ policy that he innovated soon after taking office, in that both were made up of inspiring rhetoric with little political will to carry through and which got us all sufficiently distracted so that the privileged hands that were raiding the national coffers could work at will and unnoticed? What is the difference between Mahathir’s Vision 2020 and Najib’s 1Malaysia?Is there such a difference between Mahathir and Najib that we should be encouraged to believe that, whilst Mahathiir had little impact in taking us anywhere near the Bangsa Malaysia he spoke of, with Najib, it will be otherwise ? by Oon Yeoh The much-hyped, but now abandoned, unity-government concept, first touted by PAS President Datuk Seri Hadi Awang in March, and welcomed by all and sundry within Umno is a betrayal. From Pakatan Rakyat’s perspective, it is a betrayal of voters’ trust. Malays who voted for PAS did so because they preferred it over Umno. Non-Malays who voted for PAS didn’t do so because they wanted PAS but because they rejected Umno. In either case, PAS teaming up with Umno is the last thing these Malay and non-Malay voters want. By pushing for unity-government talks, the faction headed by PAS Deputy President Nasharuddin Mat Isa, is betraying PAS’ coalition partners DAP and PKR, which consider Umno the enemy (as do most of PAS’ grassroots). Lastly, this faction is betraying PAS itself, which campaigned on a platform of a “welfare state”, with justness for everybody, not just Malays or Muslims. What else could you call a PAS-Umno unity government but a race-exclusive government? Those who are under the illusion that the unity talks could be aimed at setting up a national unity government involving all parties (including DAP and PKR together with MCA, MIC, Gerakan and a host of East Malaysian parties), should look back at what happened right after the March 8, 2008 general election. Just days after the election, then-prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi held secret (now, not so secret anymore) unity talks – three such meetings were held according to Abdullah – with a PAS delegation that included Nasharuddin and the current Secretary-General Mustafa Ali. The idea was for Selangor to be ruled by a new coalition between Umno and PAS. According to PAS MP Khalid Samad, who was present at the first meeting, former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Khir Toyo was willing to become deputy MB and accept Selangor PAS Commissioner Hassan Ali as MB. Khalid told Singapore’s Straits Times last July that during the meeting, the Umno side played up the racial issue, voicing concerns over DAP coming to power and the possible erosion of Malay rights and power. Straits Times reported that other PAS insiders said Umno wanted PAS to cooperate with it in the states ruled by the Islamic party, like Kelantan, Kedah and Perak, and sideline its partners in Pakatan Rakyat. In return, PAS was promised that it would be able to dictate certain terms, such as its choice of MB. This is the kind of “unity talks” we are talking about. So, if certain factions within PAS were to push on with such unity talks, their actions would be nothing less than a betrayal of voters (both Malay and non-Malay), of its coalition partners, and of the Islamic party itself. And what of the Umno side, with so many of its leaders jumping on the unity-talks bandwagon? Umno President and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak got the ball rolling by welcoming such talks. Despite initially being wary and lukewarm about such talks, Umno Deputy President and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin very quickly changed tack and infamously stated, “We will not impose any conditions and we accept whatever terms set by PAS. As far as I’m concerned, we have to be open.” Such openness, apparently does not extend to PR component parties DAP and PKR. Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir made it clear that both those parties were not welcome to the talks. He even rationalised the need for Malay-unity talks on the grounds that Najib’s 1Malaysia concept hinged on it. “If they are not united, how are we going to realise the 1Malaysia concept?” he said. “This will be detrimental not only to the Malays but also to other races.” Going by his warped logic, Mukhriz should support a gathering that involves DAP, PKR, MCA, Gerakan, MIC and East Malaysian parties but excluding PAS and Umno. The purpose of such talks? Non-Malay unity, for the sake of achieving 1Malaysia. You can imagine the ridicule that proposal would draw. Umno leaders who harp on Malay-unity talks are not only betraying the 1Malaysia concept but their partners in Barisan Nasional, whom they know only too well, are now so weak that they can’t say a word against the notion of being sidelined by Umno in favour of PAS. Their unwillingness to object to Malay-unity talks is a betrayal to the very constituency they are supposed to represent. Not a word on this matter has been heard from Gerakan President Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon who is the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for National Unity. Note that it’s “National Unity” not “Malay Unity”. Datuk Seri Samy Vellu offered the lame proposal of Indian unity talks between MIC and various Indian parties and non-governmental organisations. Of course talking to DAP and PKR – both of which have elected Indian representatives at the state and federal level – is not on the cards. But, MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat takes the cake by offering a red herring that would be laughable if it was not so weak: “We also want to know, through a dialogue, how far the DAP is committed to informing the people of its relationship with PAS. Whether the relationship is cordial or not.” I’m sure there are many Chinese people who would like to know, through a dialogue, how far MCA is committed to informing the people of its relationship with Umno. Whether it’s one of subservience or not. Malaysians may not have yet reached a stage where we can say we are colour blind, but the politicians who are pushing for, or tolerating, the so-called unity talks, must be blind, deaf and dumb if they think the voting public can so easily have wool pulled over their eyes. Unity talks – which is just euphemism for race-based collusion – is a betrayal all around. By Gan Pei Ling PETALING JAYA, 23 June 2009: Only one of the seven students suspended by their universities in 2001 for allegedly participating in an unlawful demonstration managed to complete his university education. National Mosque (Public domain)The seven, who were all from public universities, were arrested by the police during an anti-Internal Security Act rally on 8 June 2001 in front of the National Mosque. After they were charged under the Police Act for illegal assembly, they were suspended in August 2001 by their respective universities under the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) and the Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act. Both Acts provide for the immediate suspension of any local university student who has been charged with a crime. Subsequently, only Zulkefle Idris, 29, from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), was allowed to receive his diploma certificate after he was acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates Court in 2005. "He had already completed his studies when he was arrested; he was just waiting for the convocation," Rafzan Ramli, who was arrested together with Zulkefle in 2001, told The Nut Graph. "The rest of us never received our degrees," said the 32-year-old, adding that he was a second-year electrical engineering student in Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) when he was suspended. Rafzan said he was able to find work as a technician with his diploma, but the others were less fortunate. "Some of them could only use their SPM qualification to apply for jobs," said Rafzan, adding that their futures have definitely been affected. Rafzan, together with four other students — Zulkefle, Nik Norhafizi Nik Ibrahim, Ahmad Kamal Abdul Hamid, and Khairul Amal Mahmud — were each fined RM3,900 by the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates Court on 18 June 2009 for taking part in an unlawful assembly. Nik Norhafizi, 29, and Ahmad Kamal, 28, were from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), while Khairul, 28, was from Universiti Malaya (UM). The Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court acquitted the seven students on 22 April 2005 on the grounds that the prosecution had failed to prove that the rally on 8 June 2001 was an unlawful assembly, and that the students had organised and participated in it. However, the students were ordered back to court on 9 Nov 2006 after the Kuala Lumpur High Court accepted the prosecution's appeal. (Pic by Mary Gober / sxc.hu)Rafzan said those convicted, except for Zulkefle, were expected to be expelled soon by their respective universities under the UUCA. Another student, Helman Sanuddin, 32, from UiTM, was acquitted on 18 June 2009 after the court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against him. On 13 March 2007, the court also discharged Wan Mohd Sanusi Wan Mohd Noor from UM without acquitting him. The police could not locate Wan Mohd Sanusi then to serve him the notice to appear in court. "I wrote a letter to UiTM in 2005 after the [magistrate's] court acquitted us, but they didn't respond," said Rafzan, adding that he could not pursue the matter after he was ordered back to court. Helman, who was acquitted yesterday, said he also wrote a letter to UiTM in 2005, but the university replied and said he had been expelled for being absent from the university for more than 10 semesters. "They are the ones who suspended me and prevented me from going to classes; how can they expel me for being absent from the university?" Helman told The Nut Graph. He added that he had filed a suit against UiTM in 2005. "The hearing started last month and the High Court will announce its decision on 7 July," said Helman, adding that he was confident he could win the case.Helman, who runs his own business now, said he was a final-year student and only had one more semester to go when he was arrested in 2001. 1 out of every 100 police officers in all of Malaysia deployed to “guard” DAP anniversary & Father’s Day dinner in Klang I’m not even making it up. Source - Malaysiakini? Suara Keadilan? Try The Star: Some 3,500 people turned up for the DAP’s 43rd anniversary dinner last night, which also saw 900 police and FRU personnel “attending” along with two water cannon trucks. Police had initially blocked dinner guests from entering the venue, in front of Klang MP Charles Santiago’s service centre, but relented when DAP leaders Lim Kit Siang, Gobind Singh Deo and Ronnie Liu, among others, marched past them and took their seats. However, police confiscated the public address system and told organisers that they were barred from making speeches, among other things. Klang OCPD Asst Comm Mohamed Mat Yusop confirmed that the permit for the event was cancelled, adding: “We advised them to not give speeches and if they do so, we will arrest them.” Yeah, the brave OCPD of Klang required no less than 900 cops to threaten some what, 5 politicians? See pics here. Total number of police in Malaysia: 93,348. Total number of robberies, snatch thefts, burglaries, rapes, etc that night? We can only imagine. I’m starting to think the cops just hate DAP for ‘fun.’ I don’t care how sick you and I are of hearing it: is it just me, or is something wrong with the way our police are trained and deployed? Kelantan Umno Youth executive secretary Mohamad Zaidan Abdul Rahim said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin would lead the programme, to be participated by all Umno Youth executive council members as well as state Umno Youth chiefs and vice-chiefs. "Among the programmes are friendly games, motorcycle repair workshops as well as house-to-house visits to listen to the people's problems," he told Bernama after meeting villagers here last night. The nomination for the Manik Urai state by-election is on July 6 while polling is on July 14. The seat fell vacant following the It ruled that the Election Commission (EC) is the rightful authority to establish if there was a casual vacancy in the Perak state legislature. The five-member bench comprised Federal Court judge Alauddin Mohd Sherif, Arifin Zakaria, Nik Hashim Nik Abdul Rahman, S Augustine Paul and James Foong. Following this, I wrote an article entitled ‘When justice is not administered according to law’. This is what I said: Was the Federal Court right? Before you can judge the judges of the highest court in the country, it is necessary for me to apprise you of the law applicable to the question which is the constitution of Perak. I then pointed out that the law which is applicable is Article 31(5) of the Perak constitution which reads: A person who resigns his membership of the legislative assembly of this state or any other state shall, for a period of five years beginning with the date on which his resignation takes effect, be disqualified from being a member of the legislative assembly of this state. I pointed out that an assemblyperson who resigns his membership of the legislative assembly is disqualified from being a member of the assembly for a period of five years from the date of his resignation. I also showed that Article 33(1) says: If any question arises whether a member of the legislative assembly has become disqualified for membership, the decision of the assembly shall be taken and shall be final. What this means is that, when a question arises as to whether a person is disqualified from being a member of the assembly, the decision (or ‘the vote’) of the assembly is final. Incidentally, Article 35 stipulates that an assemblyperson can resign by simply writing to the speaker. This is what it says: A member of the legislative assembly may resign his membership by writing under his hand addressed to the speaker. I concluded my article with this observation: The above is simple enough for all of us to understand. But then, all of us are wondering how on earth the Federal Court could have decided that the EC is the rightful entity to establish if there was a casual vacancy in the Perak state legislature. Don’t you all feel superior to the Federal Court judges because you know the correct answer while the highest court has given a wrong decision? So you see, when you know how to judge the judges, you would be able to separate the wheat from the chaff among them. The chaff, you will discover, may not be up to your expectations. Regurgitation in judgment The dictionary meaning of ‘regurgitate’ is ‘repeat information without understanding it’. Almost everyone knows that it is the assembly who decides the question of the disqualification of a member of the legislature and not the EC. It is only when a member has been disqualified that there is a vacancy in the assembly. Nik Hashim FCJ handed down a written judgment dated June 8, 2009 as the judgment of the court. The judgment appears to be oblivious of the fact that the general public is now aware of the law applicable. Since the people has been apprised of the law it would be foolish for any judge to give a judgment which is nothing but hogwash - it was crassly insensitive of the judges to try to pull the wool over the eyes of the knowing public. But to our surprise, this is exactly what Nik Hashim FCJ did. As usual the Federal Court has missed the point again. Recently, we discovered it was Augustine Paul FCJ who has this propensity. Now it is Nik Hashim. He said: The issue relating to question No.1 is whether it is the EC or the speaker who has the right to establish if there is a casual vacancy of the state legislative seats. To answer the question, we have to consider the provisions of Article 36(5) of the Perak constitution and section 12(3) of the Elections Act 1958, and the meaning of the words ‘casual vacancy’ and the word ‘establish’. Article 36(5) of the Perak Constitution states: A casual vacancy shall be filled within 60 days from the date on which it is established by the EC that there is a vacancy” Section 12(3) of the Elections Act reads: In relation to a vacancy which is to be filled at a by-election, a writ shall be issued not earlier than four days and not later than 10 days from the date on which it is established by the EC that there is a vacancy.” A ‘casual vacancy’ is defined in Article 160(2) of the federal constitution to mean ‘a vacancy arising in the House of Representatives or a legislative assembly otherwise than by a dissolution of Parliament or of the assembly’. The word ‘establish’ is defined in the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (6th edition) to mean: ‘to discover or prove the facts of the situation; ascertain’. And the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary defines the word ‘establish’ to mean ‘to place beyond dispute; to prove’. Nik Hashim continued: In considering the Perak constitution, the provisions of the other state constitutions and the federal constitution need to be considered. By comparison, the constitutions of Kelantan [Article 46(5)], Malacca [Article 19(5)], Pahang [Article 26(5)], Penang [Article 19(5)], Perlis [Article 55(5)], Sarawak [Article 2 1(5)] and Kedah [Article 53(5)] contain provisions similar to Article 36(5) of the Perak constitution which states that ‘A casual vacancy shall be filled within 60 days from the date on which it is established by the EC that there is a vacancy’; whereas the constitutions of Johor [Article 23(5)], Negri Sembilan [Article 56(5)], Selangor [Article 70(5)] and Terengganu [Article 44(5)] provide that a casual vacancy shall be filled within 60 days from the date on which it occurs. And blah blah blah, the verbiage continues from page 11-18 of his 20-page judgment where he concluded: Hence we unanimously ruled that the decision of the respondent speaker declaring the three state seats of Behrang, Changkat Jering and Jelapang vacant was unlawful and therefore null and void as the decision was contrary to Article 36(5) of the Perak constitution. Accordingly, our answer to question No 1 is in the affirmative. Having answered the question we found that there is no necessity to answer question No 2. Missing the point Now that you know the law which is applicable, you are in a position to judge the five judges What do you think of the quality of these judges of the highest court in the country? You must think that, after all the rigmarole and after all the effort in writing this 20-page judgment, they could have done better. But no, they still missed the point altogether. All of us ordinary folk knew the answer. But not these five judges. Of course, the point is Article 33(1) of the Perak constitution which says that, when a question arises as to whether a person is disqualified from being a member of the assembly, the decision (meaning ‘the vote’) of the assembly is final. It is neither the speaker nor the EC who determines if a person is disqualified from being a member of the assembly. If a person resigns his membership of the legislative assembly, he shall be disqualified from being a member of the assembly for five years from the date of his resignation; see Article 31(5). Article 35 only says that a member can resign simply by writing to the speaker. So, if any question arises as to the resignation of the three turncoat assemblymen - a person who resigns his membership of the assembly is disqualified for five years from being a member of the legislative assembly - the decision of the assembly by a vote being taken on their disqualification shall be final. It is only after a member of the assembly has been disqualified for membership of the legislative assembly that a vacancy of the member’s seat in the assembly arises. It is only then that a casual vacancy arises. And by Article 36(5): A casual vacancy shall be filled within 60 days from the date on which it is established by the EC that there is a vacancy. In my article which I wrote shortly after the oral decision of the Federal Court in early April, I had even pointed out the misreading of Article 36(5) by the highest court in the land. This is what I said: A casual vacancy means an occasional vacancy which can be filled simply with a by-election. But the question whether the turncoat assemblymen have resigned or not will have to await the outcome of the decision of the assembly which decision shall be final: see Article 33(1). It is only upon receiving the decision of the legislative assembly that the EC will be able to establish that there is a vacancy. As it turns out the Federal Court has put the cart before the horse - in this case, just the cart without the horse. It has held that it is for the EC to establish that there is a casual vacancy without waiting for the decision of the assembly whether the three turncoat assemblymen have been disqualified for membership of the assembly by resignation. Not administering justice according to law is this Federal Court’s besetting sin. The judges of this court have, therefore, breached section 3(l)(d) of the Judges’ Code of Ethics 1994 for bringing the judiciary into disrepute or bringing discredit to it. This is a ground for their removal from office by virtue of section 2(2) of the Code of Ethics. NH CHAN is a former Court of Appeal judge famous for his ‘All is not well in the House of Denmark’ comment regarding judicial corruption. He was referring to the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s commercial division located in Wisma Denmark. The quote is based on Shakespeare’s ‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark’. He now lives in Ipoh. Malaymail ,Monday 22June 2009 MP FURIOUS OVER “MISSING ” FILES, THREATENS COMMISSION WITH CIVIL SUIT 4 years… still no solution to District Office error ON Friday, Malay Mail reported that 17 families who held TOL for agricultural land in Kampung Perepat in Kapar, Klang, had yet to get back their land despite the promise four years ago by the Selangor government that the plots, allegedly taken over by a lawyer using the names of his family members and friends, should be returned to them. A bungalow and other terrace houses were built on the land. The State government had in 2005 admitted that the Klang District Office had made an error in allocating the land titles to the lawyer, his family members and friends. The State government had, in April the same year, revoked the titles awarded to the lawyer, who is a Datuk, his relatives and his friends. However, a recent check revealed that some of the plots were still under the Datuk’s name, while some were under the names of his wife, two sisters, two brothers-in- law, father-in-law and other relatives. Today, there is even a small stream channelled to a lake with water lilies within the bungalow’s compound. A public road leads to the residence. The gates were padlocked during a check yesterday. Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had warned that the State would demolish the structures if they were illegal. On Friday, Manikavasagam urged the MACC to investigate how the plots were transferred to the Datuk, his family members and friends — he alleged — within 24 hours. (The Star) - Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat accused DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang of being “hysterical” for repeatedly questioning him about those involved in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue. Ong was delivering a ministerial statement on the issue, saying he was doing so for the sake of transparency, when he was interrupted by Lim. Both Deputy Speakers Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Datuk Ronald Kiandee had to remind Lim repeatedly to sit down before Ong could continue with his statement. At one point, Lim was heard shouting that Ong should be referred to the Committee of Privileges for misleading the House and that the statement was a “waste of time.” Even before Ong had begun his statement, several MPs including Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) and Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) had questioned the decision of the House to allow the statement. On Lim’s outburst in Dewan, Ong said he should be allowed to continue with his statement under the House rules. In his statement, Ong denied speculations by the Opposition that the costs for the PKFZ project would balloon to RM12.453bil by the year 2051. “This cost will only increase to that sum if there is no intervention or efforts to promote PKFZ. “This is merely a hypothetical scenario,” he said, adding that there had been various initiatives to promote PKFZ Sdn Bhd lately. Later at a press conference in the Parliament lobby, he also denied a claim by the Opposition that he had asked the Government for another RM1.2bil soft loan for the project. Ong said the RM1.2bil was part of the soft loan extended to the Port Klang Authority by the Finance MInistry back in 2007 when he had yet to assume the post. On the role played by Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu), who has been named in the PriceWaterhouseCoopers report, Ong said he was the chief executive officer for Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, who sold the land to Port Klang and was the turnkey contractor during its development. “According to records, he did not hold any position either in Port Klang Authority or Port Klang Free Zone during the land transaction. “I did not make any statement on whether the Bintulu MP was involved in any conflict of interest,” he said, adding however that he had no objections against the PriceWaterHouseCoopers report. On the special taskforce and committees set up to come up with recommendations on how to rectify PKFZ, Ong said these were “now working intensely.” I would even dare bet that Pakatan Rakyat has a good chance of winning 95 seats against Barisan Nasional’s 71. This means Barisan Nasional needs to win at least 50 seats from Sabah and Sarawak to form the federal government with a minimum of 121 seats. That would give Barisan Nasional a nine-seat margin over the 112 required to form the federal government. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin Umno Youth Must Ensure Sabah Remain BN's "Fixed Deposit" - Salleh PAPAR, June 22 (Bernama) -- Sabah Umno Youth must play a vital role in ensuring that Sabah remained Barisan Nasional's (BN) "fixed deposit" assets, said Sabah Umno deputy liaison chairman Datuk Seri Salleh Tun Said. The state Umno Youth have a major responsibility to play in ensuring the trust of the people, especially the youth, and also to ensure that the party remained relevant. The former Chief Minister said in any organisation, only one leader can lead and administer and not two or more, so that the organisation can be a strong team. "In an organisation there must be a leader with caliber so as to lead Umno's struggles and strengthen the party. This is where Umno Youth can play a major role," he told reporters after closing an Umno Youth workshop in Kinarut, near here Monday. "Sabah youths must be inspired, innovative, knowledgeable and most importantly, brave to face the challenges ahead. If we remained with the old mindset, there won't be any room to accept changes and that will be meaningless to the party's struggle." Salleh who is also Kota Belud Umno division chief said Umno Youth must remain the pillars of the party, especially when facing uncertainty and challenges in politics and economy. When Sabah and Sarawak teamed up with Malaya and Singapore to form Malaysia (yes, that’s right, Sabah and Sarawak did not JOIN Malaysia) it was with certain terms and conditions attached. Some may have heard of the 20-point agreement but not many may have actually read it. I suppose the same goes for the Merdeka agreement prior to independence in August 1957 or the ‘Social Contract’ that binds the very delicate fabric of Malaysian society. This is probably the trouble with most Malaysians. They know certain words or phrases. They throw these words and phrases around. But not many know the concept behind these words or phrases. We have had the Look East Policy, the Buy British Last policy, Malaysia Incorporated, 1Malaysia, the New Economic Policy, Ketuanan Melayu, the ‘Social Contract’, and whatnot. We have all heard of them. But what do they all mean? The 20-Point Agreement is another that many Malaysians can liberally quote but very few have actually read what it says. Even the police and Peninsular Malaysia politicians do not understand it. For example, if a Sabah politician were to say that the state should pull out of Malaysia and become the Independent Republic of Sabah, the federal leaders and the police would scream treason and rush over to Kota Kinabalu to arrest that Sabah politician under the Internal Security Act. Is it treason? Or is it when Sabah and Sarawak teamed up with Malaya to form Malaysia it had been agreed that these two East Malaysian states could later leave the Federation of Malaysia if they find it untenable, but it must be done through a certain manner -- like holding a Referendum first and successfully getting the minimum number of votes required? No, it is not treason. It is provided for in the agreement when Sabah and Sarawak first sat down to discuss the possibility of forming a new country called Malaysia. The only thing is it must be done according to the method agreed upon. The Chief Minister can’t wake up one morning and just announce that Sabah is no longer part of Malaysia and is now an independent republic. But will Umno allow Sabah and Sarawak to leave Malaysia even if it is legally allowed? Would Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, again, be detained under the Internal Security Act if, again, he makes a statement saying that Sabah should leave Malaysia? The answer is ‘no’ to the first and ‘yes’ to the second. Umno will never allow Sabah and Sarawak to leave Malaysia and they will certainly detain without trial anyone who suggests so. Why are Sabah and Sarawak so important to Malaysia, other than the fact they have plenty of oil and other natural resources which we can plunder? Well, Sabah and Sarawak must at all times hold 25% of the total number of parliament seats. Currently, out of 222 parliament seats, East Malaysia has 56 -- that is 31 from Sarawak and 25 from Sabah. For all intents and purposes, Sabah and Sarawak hold the key to federal power and are the ‘Kingmakers’. Ever wonder why Barisan Nasional politicians regard Sabah and Sarawak as the ruling coalition’s ‘fixed deposit’? They are not ashamed of this and make no apologies for it. In fact, they brazenly say so openly. In the last general election on 8 March 2008, the opposition -- meaning DAP here -- won just one parliament seat in Sabah and another in Sarawak. Barisan Nasional retained 54 seats in both states. Nationwide, Barisan Nasional won 140 seats in total while the opposition won 82. But if we minus the 54 seats from East Malaysia, Barisan Nasional won only 86 seats against the opposition’s 80 (also if we minus the two DAP seats in Sabah and Sarawak). Now, however, since the Kuala Terengganu by-election, it is 85 Barisan Nasional versus 81 Pakatan Rakyat. Can you see how crucial Sabah and Sarawak are to Barisan Nasional? In the next general election Barisan Nasional may win less seats than Pakatan Rakyat in Peninsular Malaysia. I would even dare bet that Pakatan Rakyat has a good chance of winning 95 seats against Barisan Nasional’s 71. This means Barisan Nasional needs to win at least 50 seats from Sabah and Sarawak to form the federal government with a minimum of 121 seats. That would give Barisan Nasional a nine-seat margin over the 112 required to form the federal government. Nine seats is not a very large margin. But if Pakatan Rakyat increases its seats in Peninsular Malaysia from 81 to 95, then Barisan Nasional will need Sabah and Sarawak even more than before. However, Barisan Nasional will need to win at least 50 of the 56 seats in East Malaysia. If it wins only 40 seats instead of 50, then Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat would be locked in an ‘hung parliament’ with 111 seats each. Not very good for political stability is it? By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider The influential party spiritual leader had a closed door meeting with Nasharuddin this evening at the PAS headquarters here and later issued a statement that they have sorted out their differences and agree not to raise the unity talk issue anymore. “We have decided, in a family spirit, to settle our differences over the issue which has been exploited by the mainstream media,” Nik Aziz said in the statement. “We agreed to forget about the miscommunication that has occurred at the party’s leadership level as a result of Umno’s cheap political game,” he added. Nasharuddin has been the target of Nik Aziz’s attack for his pro-unity talks stand and the rift between the two culminated with the latter’s outburst, calling for the former to resign and join Umno after he stubbornly floated with the unity government idea despite heavy protest. But today, the Kelantan mentri besar seemed to want to forget about all this, retracting past statements made against Nasharuddin, who is also Bachok MP. “So this issue between me and him should no longer be raised,” Nik Aziz said further. His comments echo the earlier joint statement to reject any form of unity talks with Umno, which was made by Pakatan Rakyat leaders in Parliament this evening. That statement was meant to end the fiasco which brought the opposition coalition to the brink of separation. Pakatan leaders, including unity government proponent, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Awang, also made fresh loyalty pledges to strengthen the electoral pact and prepare for a possible takeover of the federal government in the next general elections. The regurgitation of not administering justice according to law in the written judgment of Nik Hashim FCJ in Jamaluddin & ors v Sivakumar To refresh your memory, I refer to the report in the New Straits Times of Friday, April 10, 2009: PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has declared that three assemblymen who quit their parties are still members of the Perak state legislature. This follows an unanimous ruling by a five-men bench yesterday which ruled that “The Election Commission is the rightfulll entity to establish if there was a casual vacancy in the Perak state legislature,” said Federal Court judge Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff. Sitting with him were Datuk Arifin Zakaria, Datuk Nik Hashim Nik Abdul Rahman, Datuk Sen S Augustine Paul and Datuk James Foong. Last month, Party Keadilan Rakyat’s Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Bebrang) and Mohd Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering), together with DAP’s Hew Yit Foong (Jelapang), filed an urgent application for the Federal Court to decide their matter. The three wanted a declaration whether it was the Election Commissioner or the Perak Speaker (V Sivakumar) had the final say in determining a vacancy. In February, Sivakumar, using resignation letters signed by the three, had declared the seats vacant. He informed the Election Commission, but the commission refused to hold by-elections on the ground that there was ambiguity over whether the assemblymen had resigned voluntarily. Following this newspaper report, I wrote an article which was posted on several portals on the Internet titled “When justice is not administered according to law“. This is what I said: Was the Federal Court right? Before you can judge the judges of the highest court in the country, it is necessary for me to apprise you of the law applicable to the question which is the Constitution of Perak. I then pointed out that the law which is applicable is Article 31, Clause (5) of the Perak Constitution which reads: XXXI. (5) A person who resigns his membership of the Legislative Assembly of this State or any other State shall, for a period of five years beginning with the date on which his resignation takes effect, be disqualified from being a member of the Legislative Assembly of this State. By this provision, Article 3 1(5), I pointed out in my article that an assemblyman who resigns his membership of the Legislative Assembly is disqualified from being a member of the Assembly for a period of five years from the date of his resignation. In my article, I also showed that Article 33(1) says: XXXIII. (1) If any question arises whether a member of the Legislative Assembly has become disqualified for membership, the decision of the Assembly shall be taken and shall be final. This is what Article 33(1) means. It means that when a question arises whether a person is disqualified from being a member of the Assembly, the decision (meaning “the vote”) of the Assembly is final. Incidentally, Article 35 stipulates that an assemblyman can resign by simply writing to the Speaker. This is what it says: XXXV. A member of the Legislative Assembly may resign his membership by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker. I concluded my article with this observation: The above is simple enough for all of us to understand. But then, all of us are wondering how on earth the Federal Court could have decided that the “The Election Commission is the rightful entity to establish if there was a casual vacancy in the Perak state legislature”? Don’t you all feel superior to the judges of the Federal Court because you know the correct answer whilst the highest court gave a wrong decision. So you see, when you know how to judge the judges you would be able to separate the wheat from the chaff among our judges. The chaff, you will discover, may not be up to your expectations. The regurgitation in the judgment of Nik Hashim FCJ The dictionary meaning of “regurgitate” is “repeat information without understanding it”. Almost everyone knows, because they have read the above article which informed them of the relevant law applicable, which is that it is the assembly who decides the question of the disqualification of a member of the assembly and not the Election Commission. It is only when a member has been disqualified would there be a vacancy in the assembly. Now that we, the ordinary people, know the law we could very easily judge the competence of these judges of the Federal Court. Recently, they have handed down a written judgment dated 8 June 2009 which was delivered by Nik Hashim bin Nik Abd Rahman FCJ as the judgment of the court. The judgment appears to be oblivious of the fact that the general public is now aware of the law applicable. Since the people has been apprised of the law it would be foolish for any judge to give a judgment which is nothing but hogwash – it was crassly insensitive of the judges to try to pull the wool over the eyes of the knowing public. But to our surprise, this is exactly what Nik Hashim FCJ did. As usual the Federal Court has missed the point again. Recently, we discovered it was Augustine Paul FCJ who has this propensity. Now it is Nik Hashim FCJ who has the same propensity. He said: The issue relating to question No (1) is whether it is the Election Commission or the Speaker who has the right to establish if there is a casual vacancy of the State Legislative seats. To answer the question, we have to consider the provisions of Article 36(5) of the Perak Constitution and section 12(3) of the Elections Act 1958, and the meaning of the words “casual vacancy” and the word “establish”. Article 36(5) of the Perak Constitution states: “A casual vacancy shall be filled within sixty days from the date on which it is established by the Election Commission that there is a vacancy” Section 12(3) of the Elections Act 1958 reads: “In relation to a vacancy which is to be filled at a by-election, a writ shall be issued not earlier than four days and not later than ten days from the date on which it is established by the Election Commission that there is a vacancy.” (emphasis added) A “casual vacancy” is defined in Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution to mean – “a vacancy arising in the House of Representatives or a Legislative Assembly otherwise than by a dissolution of Parliament or of the Assembly.” The word “establish” is defined in the Oxford Advanped Learner’s Dictionary, 6th Edition to mean: “to discover or prove the facts of the situation; ascertain.” And the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary defines the word “establish” to mean: “to place beyond dispute; to prove.” In considering the Perak Constitution, the provisions of the other State Constitutions and the Federal Constitution need to be considered. By comparison, the State Constitutions of Kelantan (Article 46(5)), Malacca (Article 19(5)), Pahang (Article 26(5)), Penang (Article 19(5)), Perlis (Article 55(5)), Sarawak (Article 21(5)), and Kedah (Article 53(5)) contain provisions similar to Article 36(5) of the Perak Constitution which states that “A casual vacancy shall be filled within sixty days from the date on which it is established by the Election Commission that there is a vacancy”, whereas the Constitutions of the State of Johor (Article 23(5)), Negeri Sembilan (Article 56(5)), Selangor (Article 70(5)) and Terengganu (Article 44(5)) provide that a casual vacancy shall be filled within sixty days from the date on which it occurs.” And blah blah blah, the verbiage continues from page 11 to page 18 of his 20 page judgment where he concluded, thus: Hence we unanimously ruled that the decision of the respondent Speaker declaring the three State seats of N59 Behrang, N14 Changkat Jering and N31 Jelapang vacant was unlawful and therefore null and void as the decision was contrary to Article 36 (5) of the Perak Constitution. Accordingly, our answer to to question No 1 is in the affirmative. Having answered the question we found that there is no necessity to answer question No 2. Now that you know the law which is applicable, you are in a position to judge the five judges What do you think of the quality of these judges of the highest court in the country? You must think that after all the rigmarole and after all the effort in writing this 20 page judgment, they could have done better. But no, they still missed the point altogether. All of us ordinary folk knew the answer. But not these five judges. Of course, the point is Article 330) of the Perak Constitution which says that when a question arises whether a person is disqualified from being a member of the Assembly, the decision (meaning “the vote”) of the Assembly is final. It is not the Speaker nor the Election Commissioner who determines if a person is disqualified from being a member of the assembly. If a person resigns his membership of the Legislative Assembly, he shall be disqualified from being a member of the Assembly for five years from the date of his resignation: see Article 31(5). Article 35 only says that a member can resign simply by writing to the Speaker. So that if any question arises as to the resignation of the three turncoat assemblymen – a person who resigns his membership of the assembly is disqualified for five years from being a member of the legislative assembly – the decision of the assembly by a vote being taken on their disqualification shall be final. It is only after a member of the assembly has been disqualified for membership of the legislative assembly that a vacancy of the member’s seat in the assembly arises. It is only then that a casual vacancy arises. And by Article 36(5): XXXVI. (5) A casual vacancy shall be filled within sixty days from the date on which it is established by the Election Commission that there is a vacancy. In my article which I wrote shortly after the oral decision of the Federal Court in early April of this year, I have even pointed out the misreading of Article 36(5) by the highest court in the land. This is what I said: A casual vacancy means an occasional vacancy which can be filled simply with a by-election. But the question whether the turncoat assemblymen have resigned or not will have to await the outcome of the decision of the Assembly which decision shall be final: see Article 33(1). It is only upon receiving the decision of the Legislative Assembly will the Election Commission be able to establish that there is a vacancy. As it turns out the Federal Court have put the cart before the horse – in this case, just the cart without the horse – which is that the court has held that it is for the Commission to establish that there is a casual vacancy without waiting for the decision of the Assembly whether the three turncoat assemblymen have been disqualified for membership of the Assembly by resignation. By not administering justice according to law is this Federal Court’s besetting sin. The judges of this court have, therefore, breached s 3(1)(d) of the Judges’ Code of Ethics 1994 for bringing the Judiciary into disrepute or to bring discredit to it, which is a ground for their removal from office by virtue of s 2(2) of the Code of Ethics. KUALA LUMPUR, 22 June 2009: History was almost made when a government motion on the DNA Identification Bill was one vote short of being defeated in Parliament today. A provisional amendment to Sections 2 and 3 of the Bill, proposed by the government, was passed by a sliver-thin one-vote majority. Forty-eight Members of Parliament (MPs) voted for the amendment, while 47 MPs voted against it. Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that he had never seen a vote come so close before. "Since I was an MP in the 1990s, this is the first time a vote is so narrow," Wan Junaidi, who is also former MP for Santubong, told the press. The Dewan Rakyat consists of 222 seats. The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition holds 137 of these seats, while the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition holds 82, including the Sungai Siput seat which was won by Parti Sosialis Malaysia's candidate. There are also two MPs from SAPP which left the BN and are not aligned to the PR, and one independent. "They (the BN) were lucky to get it through," PKR vice-president and Subang Jaya MP R Sivarasa said. "Forty seven of our 82 MPs were sitting there and debating, while only 48 of their 137 were present. This shows the different approaches between the government and the Opposition," Sivarasa added. Sivarasa explained that the amendment concerned the removal of Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees from the list of candidates defined as "detainee" for the purpose of the Bill. Also in question in the amendment was the description of saliva as a "non-intimate sample". "We objected to this amendment, because the definition of 'detainee' is still very broad," Sivarasa said. He pointed out that anyone detained in a drug rehabilitation centre, or under the Emergency Ordinances (EO), could be considered a "detainee" under the Bill. "When you counterfeit money, or you organise an illegal assembly, you may be arrested under the EO. These are non-violent crimes, when DNA evidence is not relevant," Sivarasa explained. Sivarasa, a laywer, stressed that the Bill should restrict its definition of "detainee" to "those suspected of violent crimes". He also described the DNA Identification Bill, in its totality, as "a weak piece of legislation". The DNA Identification Bill was tabled for a second reading in the August 2008 session of parliament. The Bill, which has been criticised by civil society and Opposition political parties, is now at the committee stage. The passing of the DNA Identification Bill is also said to be crucial to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case, since it may legitimise old samples, from Anwar's previous trial in 1998, to be used in the upcoming trial. By Zedeck Siew KUALA LUMPUR, 22 June 2009: The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Council of Leaders has unanimously rejected the idea of a unity government with Barisan Nasional (BN). "All the component parties of PR reiterate their commitment to each other and to strengthen the coalition in order to help form the future federal government," Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said while reading from a statement today. "The PR Council of Leaders reaffirms our rejection of the idea of forming a unity government with Umno/Barisan Nasional, which is clearly a malicious and desperate attempt to compromise the integrity of the PR," Anwar said. He was speaking at a press conference after a one-and-a-half-hour meeting in Parliament by the PR leaders. The meeting was called to specifically discuss the issue of proposed talks between PAS and Umno that were supposedly meant to explore the formation of a unity government. The press conference in progress (Pic courtesy of Merdeka Review) Today's PR statement was signed by Anwar, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang. Other PR leaders who attended the meeting included PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali and vice-presidents R Sivarasa and Azmin Ali, and PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustapha Ali were present. From Perak, PAS's Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and DAP's Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham were also at the meeting. When asked whether today's statement meant that PAS would not pursue a unity government with BN, Hadi said: "We will not. If that is the way [of doing things]." "Umno has played up [the unity government] issue to try to say that PAS will leave PR and join them," said Hadi. "This is evil slander, designed to create conflict, instead of unity." Hadi's statement today was an about-turn. The PAS leader was the one who first proposed the idea of a unity government with Umno/BN. At the party's recently-concluded muktamar in early June, both Hadi and deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa were seen as supporting the idea of unity talks despite being criticised from within their party. Nik Aziz Last week, on 17 June, PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat told Nasharuddin to join Umno if the latter was so keen to support the idea of a unity government with Umno/BN. In the meantime, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been calling for the unity talks to be sped up, even going as far as to say Umno would accept any terms set by PAS. Crisis of confidence When asked whether the recent talk about a unity government had affected relations within PR, Kit Siang said that it was the coalition's "first crisis of confidence". "But we've come together. This joint statement has shown that we are committed to move forward," he said. Anwar said the PR would still "adopt an open approach", adding that the Opposition coalition was willing to hold discussions with BN leaders on "issues of national interest". "[These are issues] such as economic recovery, improving the quality of education, restoring the integrity of the judiciary," Anwar said. The PR would also be willing sit down with the BN to discuss abolishing the Internal Security Act (ISA), dealing with the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, and curtailing police abuse of power, Anwar said. He added that the PR would also talk to BN on the possibility of dissolving the Perak state assembly to hold free and fair elections to resolve the crisis there.On Nik Aziz telling Nasharuddin to leave PAS, Mustapha said the matter would, "God willing", be resolved at a PAS meeting tonight. St Xavier’s Institution director Bro Paul Ho’s retirement draws to a close the 157-year presence of the brothers in the La Salle schools in Malaysia. It began with SXI and it ends at SXI. What are your thoughts on the La Salle legacy in Malaysian education? What has been your personal experience? KENYATAAN AKHBAR MAJLIS PIMPINAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 22 Jun 2009- Pendirian Pakatan Rakyat Berkenaan Isu Kerajaan Perpaduan Majlis Pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat telah mengadakan pertemuan di Pejabat Ketua Pembangkang hari ini Isnin 22 Jun dan mengambil keputusan berikut: 1. Semua parti dalam Pakatan Rakyat mengulangi komitmen untuk terus bersama memperkasakan Pakatan Rakyat bagi membentuk Kerajaan Persekutuan yang akan datang. 2. Majlis Pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat menolak idea penubuhan Kerajaan Perpaduan dengan UMNO / Barisan Nasional yang merupakan suatu fitnah dan tohmahan jahat serta tindakan terdesak UMNO untuk menggugat kekuatan Pakatan Rakyat yang semakin mendapat dukungan rakyat. 3. Pada masa yang sama Pakatan Rakyat mengambil sikap terbuka dan bersedia untuk bertemu dengan pimpinan Barisan Nasional bagi membincangkan isu-isu yang melibatkan kepentingan negara dan rakyat seperti usaha pemulihan ekonomi, meningkatkan kualiti pendidikan, mengembalikan semula integriti institusi kehakiman, memansuhkan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, skandal RM 12.5 bilion projek PKFZ, salahguna kuasa kepimpinan polis sementara kes jenayah semakin meningkat, membanteras rasuah dan menjana urustadbir yang baik, menjalankan pilihanraya yang bebas dan adil, membubarkan DUN Perak serta menjalankan pilihanraya dengan segera bagi menyelesaikan krisis rampasan kuasa negeri Perak. YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim YB Dato’ Seri Abdul Hadi Awang YB Lim Kit Siang Press Release Pakatan Rakyat Council of Leaders 22nd June 2009- Pakatan Rakyat Stand on Unity Government The Pakatan Rakyat Council of Leaders today Monday, 22 June 2009 held a meeting at the office of the Opposition Leader and agreed on the following: 1. All the component parties of Pakatan Rakyat reiterate their commitment to each other and to strengthen the coalition in order to help form the future Federal Government. 2. The Pakatan Rakyat Council of Leaders reaffirms our rejection of the idea of forming a Unity Government with UMNO / Barisan Nasional which is clearly a malicious and desperate attempt to compromise the integrity of the increasingly popular Pakatan Rakyat 3. Pakatan Rakyat agrees to adopt an open approach and is willing to hold discussions with the leaders of Barisan Nasional on issues of national interest such as economic recovery, improving the quality of education, restoring the integrity of the judiciary, abrogation of the Internal Security Act (ISA), the RM 12.5 billion PKFZ scandal, abuse of power by the police leadership during times of increasing crime, eradication of corruption, establishment of good governance and to hold immediately a free and fair election to resolve the Perak crisis. YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim YB Dato’ Seri Abdul Hadi Awang YB Lim Kit Siang

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Reema’s second directorial venture after Koi Tujh Saa Kahan (2005), stars the actress along with Nadeem, Jawed Sheikh, Momi Rana, Gia Ali, Nabeel Khan, Rambo, Ali Saleem and great Bollywood actors like Johnny Lever. The film has been picturised in Moscow and Pakistan that includes a specially choreographed title song by Pappu Samrat, which has been directed by ace ad man Saqib Malik. To make it different and something special, it has been shot in Malaysia and Baku, Azerbaijan. The playback voice is that of Ali Zafar for the title track song video and includes the crème de la crème of the Pakistani music, film and television. Artists are styled by Nomi Ansari who dazzles with the wide array of tinsel town inspired dresses, ghararas and bustiers that are expected to shock and wow. Love Mein Gum is expected to bring back the hard-core Lollywood movie buff back to the cinemas. Earlier in the year, LUX presented the Katrina Kaif starrer ‘Tees Mar Khan’. Now with Reema as face of the brand’s new 1,000 gold coins campaign, her film may get the same television boost in promotions and premieres. In a press conference to announce the LUX partnership, Reema Khan said, “I am delighted that LUX made this wonderful move to support my film. LUX continues to be the soap of the stars and as the brand ambassador I am the most associated with it”. “I am thrilled that everyone gets a chance to see previews before it gets to the cinemas on Eid. We have enjoyed making the film and hope you will love it too”, said a delightful Reema. The music track of the film has songs by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Zafar, Abrar-ul-Haq, Kailash Kher and Shazia Manzoor. The music is composed by Arshad Mehmood (M Arshad) and Ravi Bal (Ravinder Singh Bal), a UK based composer while the lyrics are penned by Khawaja Parvez. Speaking at the press conference Sabeen Fazli, Marketing Director Skin, said, “LUX’s association with cinema is undisputed and we are delighted to be able to take this forward by associating with Reema’s Love Mein Gum. A large number of media personalities, show biz stars, Momi Rana, Resham, Nadeem, Johnny Lever, Jawed Sheikh, Nabeel Khan, Sahiba and Rambo attended the press unveiling in Karachi. Love Mein Gum will be screened at leading cinemas of all cities during Eid. staff report

<urn:uuid:d40f1dab-e408-4327-8f00-c469175d3bbc>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://pakistanicinema.blogspot.com/2011/07/lux-presents-reema-khans-new-film-love.html

2013-05-22T07:26:08Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Wong , Pui See (2005) Monitoring Spatial Distribution of Nonpathogenic Fusarium Oxysporum in the Rhizosphere and Roots of Banana Using Β-D-Glucuronidase and Green Fluorescent Protein. Masters thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia. This study was conducted to monitor the spatial distribution of nonpathogenic isolate of Fusarium oxysporum (Fo4), using a detectable marker. Fo4 was transformed by GUS gene fusion system (Escherichia coli β-D-glucuronidase gene) and GFP (Green Fluorescent Proteins). The GUS was detected by 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-glucuronide (X-Gluc). The GFP activity was detected under a fluorescence microscope. There was no different in the cultural and morphological characteristics between the transformed and non-transformed Fo4. The antagonistic activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Race 4 (FocR4) was maintained at values within the range of 56.98–41.56% based on the Percentage Inhibition of Radial Growth (PIRG) in vitro. DNA polymorphism (RAPD) screening by the primers OPC-15 and OPC-11, confirmed that no mutation had occurred after the transformation and, band GUS-F vs. GUS-R and 5-GFP vs. 3-GFP showed that transformed Fo4 still carried the GUS and GFP gene after five consecutive conidiation/ generation cycles in culture. The frequency of re-isolation on PCNB medium amended with 40 µg/ml X-Gluc and 200 µg/ml hygromycin B was highest (45.48 x 103 cfu/g roots) in the rhizosphere of banana plantlet at day 24, and remained to stabilize at between 37.24 x 103 cfu/g roots to 34.52 x 103 cfu/g roots until the end of sampling at day 36. The transformed Fo4 can be detected inside the root tissues even 4 days after inoculation although the colony forming units (cfu) (1 cfu/g roots) was substantially lower than that detected on the root surface (11.76 x103 cfu/g roots), suggesting that they were colonizing the root and living on the root exudates. The population of transformed Fo4 in the non-rhizosphere soil initially fell sharply with the time of sampling, but thereafter remained stable (4.38-18.00 x 104 cfu/g soil) until 36 days of sampling. Effect of transformed and non-transformed Fo4 on plant growth and development of Fusarium wilt was conducted using 10 week-old tissue cultured nursery banana seedlings cv. Berangan. The failure to produce Fusarium wilt symptom confirmed this strain was nonpathogenic to banana seedlings. The seedlings inoculated with FocR4 were pathogenic to cv. Berangan with 100% disease severity. However, the seedlings which had been inoculated with either transformed or non-transformed Fo4 before challenged with FocR4 did not show significant differences (P>0.05) in the disease severity, confirmed the stability of the transformed GUS activity and GFP. This study suggests the possibility of using the GUS and GFP genes as visible detectable reporter genes for direct monitoring of the spatial distribution of a potential antagonist in the rhizosphere and roots of banana. |Item Type:||Thesis (Masters)| |Subject:||Bananas - Fusarium oxysporum - Case studies| |Chairman Supervisor:||Professor Sariah Meon, PhD| |Call Number:||FP 2005 19| |Faculty or Institute:||Faculty of Agriculture| |Deposited By:||INVALID USER| |Deposited On:||16 Oct 2008 01:46| |Last Modified:||02 Apr 2012 12:52| Repository Staff Only: item control page

<urn:uuid:11452094-88ca-4568-901d-01dcf81d3d59>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://psasir.upm.edu.my/571/

2013-05-22T07:42:12Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

FORTUNE -- Some analysts were concerned last Friday -- with holiday buying in full swing and just one month left in the year -- when Apple (AAPL) announced that the iPhone was available for sale in only 47 countries. That was 53 countries short of the company's self-imposed target of 100 countries by December. Would Tim Cook -- Apple's master logistician -- manage to pull it off? Wall Street didn't have to wait long for an answer. On Monday, Apple issued another press release announcing that the iPhone 5 will be available in South Korea on Dec. 7 and more than 50 additional countries by Dec. 21. That puts Apple right on target -- or one over, depending on how you count Antigua and Barbuda. But it also means that potential buyers who have to wait until Dec. 14 or Dec. 21, according to Apple's new schedule (below), to order the iPhone 5 may not actually get the thing until after Christmas. The list of new countries from Apple's Monday press release: iPhone 5 will be available in South Korea on Friday, December 7 and on Friday, December 14 in Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. iPhone 5 will also be available on Friday, December 21 in Barbados, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Egypt, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St.Vincent & the Grenadines, Tunisia, Uganda and Vietnam. |Sony shares boom on spin off speculation| |Microsoft unveils new Xbox One game console| |Bank of Japan maintains policy, cheers Abenomics| |Apple grilled about tax havens| |Make $30 an hour, no bachelor's degree required|

<urn:uuid:9a5560a2-4680-47bf-9d41-f29e664b4741>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/tag/worldwide/

2013-05-22T07:32:50Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Apple iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular for AT&T 32GB - White and Silver What's Included With This Item: - iPad mini - Lightning to USB Cable - USB Power Adapter - Apple One Year Hardware Warranty The Whole Package In a smaller package A beautiful display, powerful A5 chip, FaceTime HD camera, iSight camera with 1080p HD video recording, ultrafast wireless, and over 275,000 apps ready to download from the App Store. iPad mini is an iPad in every way, shape, and slightly smaller form. Perfectly sized LED-backlit display iPad mini makes one thing clear: Its 7.9-inch display more than measures up to the complete iPad experience. View web pages in Safari. See where you are and what's around you using Maps. Flick through your photos and watch videos in vivid detail. And wave hello to the family on a FaceTime call. The iPad mini display uses the same LED backlight technology as iPad to give you plenty of pop per square inch. And it's perfectly sized to work with hundreds of thousands of apps made for iPad. Thin and light design iPad mini has everything that makes an iPad an iPad, but it's a fraction of the size. At just 7.2 millimeters, it's pencil thin and unbelievably light. You can easily hold it in your palm. And stash it in your smallest bag without a second thought, so it's always close at hand. Right out of the box, iPad mini is ready for big things. Map out your next adventure. Then shoot it in 1080p HD. Ask Siri to help you find the best pizza in town. Watch a webcast or a movie. Read a best seller or a magazine. Check email. Send messages. Or stay in touch face-to-face over FaceTime. You'll be amazed at how much is built right in. Over 275,000 apps from the App Store The App Store is home to over 275,000 iPad apps and counting. And right from the start, they work on iPad mini. But quantity is only part of the story. These are beautiful, immersive, made-just-for-iPad apps. And they change the way you do everything. You can make a spreadsheet for work, make a Hollywood-style trailer for fun, plan a lesson, plan a trip, or simply plan a meal all on a device you can hold in one hand. Powerful A5 chip iPad is known for its fast, fluid performance, and iPad mini doesn't disappoint. It features the powerful and power-efficient A5 chip, which makes everything you do feel smooth and natural. From the little things like switching from app to app and swiping from page to page, to the big things like editing photos, watching movies, and playing games. 10-hour battery life iPad mini wouldn't be an iPad without incredible battery life. Even with so much performance packed into such a small space, it still lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge. So you can read, watch, play, write, and create whatever you want, as long as you want. Wave hello with FaceTime video calling With FaceTime built into iPad mini, you can make a video call over Wi-Fi or cellular. The front-facing FaceTime HD camera gives everyone a great view of you, while the iSight camera on the back lets you show others what you're seeing. So even when you're out and about, your friends and family are never out of the loop. You can hear every laugh and see every smile. And with the 7.9-inch display, you've got more than enough screen to take in the whole scene. You can also use the front-facing camera for taking self-portraits or recording 720p HD video. Record HD video in full 1080p An impromptu performance on the subway, the winning shot at your daughter's soccer game, an awesome 360-degree view from the top of the mountain the iSight camera on iPad mini lets you capture all these unpredictable, beautiful, spectacular moments. In 1080p HD, no less. The spacious iPad mini display gives you a great view of whatever you're filming. And with automatic video stabilization, your recording is free of bumps and shakes. So your videos are instantly ready to share. Shoot 5-megapixel still images The 5-megapixel iSight camera features a backside illumination sensor that captures great-looking pictures whether by sunlight or candlelight. When you shoot photos, the big, beautiful iPad mini display becomes a big, beautiful viewfinder giving you plenty of room to compose your shot. Autofocus, tap to focus, and tap to set exposure functions mean every photo you take instantly becomes frameworthy. And with built-in face detection that automatically balances focus and exposure across up to 10 faces, there's more room for more grins. So everyone look at iPad mini and say "Cheese". Advanced Wi-Fi technology. Built in iPad mini features advanced Wi-Fi that's up to twice as fast as any previous-generation iPad. With dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) 802.11n Wi-Fi and support for channel bonding, download speeds can reach up to 150 Mbps. Translation: The things you do every day may start to feel a whole lot faster. Next-generation cellular connectivity - up to LTE If you want to connect to the Internet even when you don't have access to Wi-Fi, choose iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular. It can make ultrafast cellular network connections around the world including LTE and other advanced wireless networks such as HSPA, HSPA+, and DC-HSDPA. So you can download content, stream video, and browse the web at amazing speeds without a contract or long-term commitment. |WiFi||802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz)| |Bluetooth||Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology| |Display||7.9-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology 1024-by-768 resolution at 163 pixels per inch (ppi) Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating |FaceTime HD Camera||1.2MP photos 720p HD video FaceTime video calling over Wi-Fi or cellular Tap to control exposure for video or still images Photo and video geotagging |iSight Camera||5MP photos Hybrid IR filter Tap to focus video or still images Tap to control exposure for video or still images Photo and video geotagging |Video Recording||1080p HD video recording Tap to focus while recording |Power and Battery||Built-in 16.3-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack Nano-SIM card tray Ambient light sensor Assisted GPS and GLONASS |Audio Playback Frequency||Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz| |Audio Playback Formats||Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV User-configurable maximum volume limit |AirPlay||AirPlay Mirroring to Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation) at 720p AirPlay video streaming to Apple TV (3rd generation) at up to 1080p and Apple TV (2nd generation) at up to 720p |Video Mirroring||Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 720p through Lightning Digital AV Adapter and Lightning to VGA Adapter; video playback up to 1080p (sold separately)| |Video Formats||Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, High Profile level 4.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 fps, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format| |Mail Attachment||Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)| |Language||Language support for English (U.S.), English (UK), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese| |Accessibility||VoiceOver screen reader Support for playback of closed-captioned content AssistiveTouch interface for adaptive accessories Full-screen zoom magnification Option to invert colors Left/right volume adjustment |Environmental||Operating ambient temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C) Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C) Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m) |System Requirements||Apple ID (required for some features) Syncing with iTunes on a Mac or PC requires: Mac: OS X v10.6.8 or later PC: Windows 7; Windows Vista; or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later |Dimensions (HxWxD)||7.87 x 5.3 x 0.28" (200 x 134.7 x 7.2mm)| |Weight||0.68 lbs (308g)|

<urn:uuid:585e67af-683b-4ab5-82a0-f1605fe5b598>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.adorama.com/ACMD538LLA.html

2013-05-22T07:34:33Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

I’m always interested in evaluating new tools and components for enriching the User eXperience of projects and shortening the time to market. In the past I used for some projects XAML controls from Telerik and I’ve been always pleased with their performance, availability of samples and ease of use. Recently I’ve received my copy of the new “Telerik RadControls for Windows 8” and I observed how the same approach has been applied to the new components for the Windows 8 platform. RadControls for Windows 8 are native XAML and HTML components for creating Windows 8 apps. Built from the ground up for Windows 8, RadControls offer the same intuitive UI and UX no matter if you are developing in XAML or HTML environment. The suite offers functionalities such as DatePicker and Chart to complement the stock UI toolbox and shorten your app time to market. If you have a certified app using the product, let Telerik know so that your app can get featured in the showcase gallery. Check out an overview video here: http://youtu.be/yxzXFrlVPfc Happy XAMLing everyone! Just a quick post to highlight an interesting article by Blaine Wastell about a new project (codename “Kona“) that will provide guidance on developing line of business (LOB) apps for Windows 8. Check out this link for the details of this interesting project! Today I’ve been honoured to receive my 4th MVP award from Microsoft for my contributions about Silverlight and XAML related technologies during the last year. Every new award is always a great emotion; I would like to thank all the people that supported me including the smart guys working in Microsoft, my amazing MVP lead Alessandro Teglia, the fantastic groups of the insiders lists and the “terrific” Silverlight MVPs. You all rock. Enjoy and continue XAMLing everyone, big times ahead! Check out these useful downloads including hands-on labs, presentations, samples and resources from the Windows 8 camps. More resources available in this post @ ExpressionBlend.com. Great news for Kinect lovers today: a new version of the SDK and tools has been released and includes tons of new functionalities like - Kinect Studio: a new tools for recording and playing back Kinect data; - Face tracking SDK: real-time 3D mesh of facial features; - Lot of new samples, additions and documentation improvements; - New seated Skeletal tracking; - New capabilities to enable avatar animation scenarios; - Four new languages supported for speech recognition: French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. Click here to read the official announcement in the “Kinect for Windows” blog. Great days and lot of new tools for Metro XAML developers on Windows 8. Callisto is a new library of controls and helpers (including SQLite support) for Windows 8 XAML applications (aka Metro style apps) developed by Tim Heuer (@timheuer) and Morten Nielsen (@dotmorten). Click here to access the project and download the new bits! The “Windows Runtime (WinRT) XAML Toolkit” is a new resource containing a set of controls and helpers for building Windows 8 Store applications. Click here to read the details and access the download link on CodePlex. New to Windows 8 development? Mark your calendars: the new book “Programming Windows, Sixth edition” by Charles Petzold is coming soon! Happy XAMLing everyone A new version of Expression Blend for Silverlight 5 is now available for download with these features: - Expiration date - June 30, 2013; - Go-live license; - updated Silverlight 5 SDK. Check out the original post by the Expression Blend Team and download the new bits from here. As announced on the Windows Phone Developer Blog, Windows Phone SDK 7.1.1 Update is now available for download on the Microsoft Download Center. The WPSDK 7.1.1 Update provides a WPSDK patch that enables developers to develop and test for the recently announced Windows Phone 7.5 256 MB devices, as well to run the WPSDK 7.1 on the Windows 8 Consumer Preview release via the following: - Updated 512 MB OS Emulator Image: An updated build Windows Phone OS 7.1 (Build 8773) - New 256 MB OS Emulator Image: A new Windows Phone OS 7.1 emulator image (Build 8773) that emulates running on 256 MB devices - Emulator Choice: Ability to debug or run your WP apps in either the 256 MB or 512 MB emulator - Windows 8 Support: An updated emulator is included, which can run on Windows 8 - IntelliSense support for adding the new 512 MB requirement to the Windows Phone App Manifest file News since the CTP release last month: - ‘Go Live’ license: The update now has a ‘Go Live’ license; developers running WPSDK 7.1.1 are now empowered to publish their Windows Phone apps to the Windows Phone Marketplace - Full Localization: WPSDK now supports all 10 IDE languages; and the OS image now has Malay and Indonesian - Windows 8 Support: The updated emulator will now run on Windows 8; note that the OS is still not officially supported by developer support until the final OS release Windows Phone SDK 7.1.1 Update CTP Download Center page For additional information on this release, please refer the post on the WP Developer Blog. Fellow MVP Daniel Vaughan has published in these days on CodePlex a new version of his “Calcium” framework targeting Windows Phone. From the official release notes: “Calcium for Windows Phone is a consolidation of the infrastructure code that has been written for the book Windows Phone 7.5 Unleashed, and is already used by a number of published apps. Some of Calcium for Windows Phone features include: - A user option’s system that allows you to add a settable option to an options page, with a single line of code. - A bindable application bar with toggle buttons and menu items, hyperlink button/menu items, which allows you to host multiple application bars in a Pivot. - Built-in support for localization. Bindable resources allows the user to change the interface language at run-time. - An IoC container and DI infrastructure, and templates to allow you to hide or show a Purchase link in your app depending on the • Trial state of your app and so forth. - Templates for Views with ViewModels. - Attribute based state persistence system. - Message service that allows you to display messages and ask the user questions from your ViewModel. - Launchers and Choosers abstraction layer. - Input Validation system, with styles customized for displaying validation errors. And much more! Unlike Calcium for WPF and Silverlight, Calcium for Windows Phone does not depend on Prism and has a smaller footprint, more suitable for the mobile platform.” Other useful resources: Fortify your apps with Calcium for Windows Phone!

<urn:uuid:3e4b1da3-507e-4ff4-846f-f263913edf64>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.davidezordan.net/blog/?cat=88

2013-05-22T07:48:59Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Diseases of Interest The following diseases have currently been defined by the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for study at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF): - Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Viral disease of domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals; acute disease characterized by fever, lameness, and vesicular lesions on the feet, tongue, mouth and teats; FMD is considered to be one of the most contagious, infectious diseases known; cost estimates of an introduction of FMD in the U.S. are more than $37 billion. - Classical Swine Fever (CSF). Wild and domestic swine are the only known natural reservoir; widespread throughout the world and has the potential to cause devastating epidemics, particularly in countries free of the disease; any outbreak of CSF would have serious consequences for domestic and international trade of swine and swine products; improved countermeasures are needed. - African Swine Fever (ASF). Infected animals have high mortality rates; effective countermeasures are not available for infected animals; no vaccines are available to prevent infection; no treatment exists for ASF and countermeasures need improvements. - Rift Valley Fever (RVF). Virus affects human beings and cloven-hoofed animals (sheep, goats, cattle, camels, buffalo and deer); suitable countermeasures to respond in the U.S. do not exist; risk for establishment of endemic disease; ranked as a major disease of concern with USDA, DHS, and other stakeholders. - Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP). Caused by an infective microorganism (Mycoplasma mycoides); primarily affects cattle including European-bred cattle and Zebu; a related form can affect goats; may survive for days in the environment; no treatment available. - Japanese Encephalitis (JE) Virus. Similar to St. Louis encephalitis virus; JE virus is amplified in the blood of domestic pigs and wild birds; the virus can infect humans, most domestic animals, birds, bats, snakes and frogs. - Nipah Virus. Virus was discovered in 1999; causes disease in swine and in humans through contact with infectious animals; mode of transmission between animals and from animals to humans is uncertain (appears to require close contact with infected tissues or body fluids); caused respiratory disease and encephalitis in people in Malaysia and Singapore; no drug therapies have yet been proven to be effective in treating Nipah infection; no countermeasures exist. - Hendra Virus. Formerly called equine morbillivirus; first isolated in 1994; the natural reservoir for Hendra virus is still under investigation; human beings and equines seem to be predominately affected; caused respiratory and neurological disease in horses and humans in Australia. The NBAF research mission will be based on current pathogen and disease risk assessments, subject to change as threats and risk assessments change. The NBAF research mission will be based on current pathogen and disease risk assessments, subject to modification as threats and risk assessments change. Researchers would focus on developing tests to detect the diseases and countermeasures to prevent the disease. In some cases, we would be studying the disease itself to determine: - what mechanism it uses to enter the animal, - what type of cell the disease affects, - what effects the disease causes on the cells , - how to develop countermeasures to help the animal develop protection against the disease, and - how quickly the animal can become protected from the disease. By knowing what type of cell the disease affects we are able to develop a test to more accurately and quickly determine if the animal is suffering from that specific disease. NBAF is owned by the Department of Homeland Security with the Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services (USDA-APHIS-VS) as our primary partners. These same agencies are currently working in the Plum Island facility. The Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies may also have space in the facility, in case of some event where the researchers would wish for a particular agency’s assistance or an event dictates a particular agency needs additional assistance. The Departments of Homeland Security and Agriculture work cooperatively to set priorities regarding diseases to be researched. They use a variety of risk assessments, gap analysis and intelligence gathering in order to establish the priorities. ARS functions to perform the early research and transition prospective candidates for countermeasure development to Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security further develops these candidates and transitions them to commercial partners for complete development and hand off to APHIS for use in the National Veterinary Stockpile. The Department of Homeland Security, ARS and APHIS work to develop diagnostic tools that can be utilized in the reference and state laboratories. Once developed, APHIS is responsible for validating the new assays/tools and deploying them to the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. APHIS is also responsible for operating the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for diagnosis of Foot and Mouth disease and other high consequence Foreign Animal Diseases as well as training veterinarians in the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician's school. There will be between 250 and 350 employees employed at the facility.

<urn:uuid:38b8226a-29da-44c9-a61b-727d5beba2aa>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.dhs.gov/facility-research-staffing-nbaf

2013-05-22T07:41:08Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Diffuser appeal hearing underway in Paris 14 Apr 2009 The FIAs International Court of Appeal meets in Paris on Tuesday to consider the legality of the diffusers used by the Brawn, Toyota and Williams teams at the first two Grands Prix of 2009. Whatever the outcome, the Courts decision is likely to have a huge impact on this years title chase. The revised technical regulations for 2009, designed to cut downforce, specify a much smaller rear diffuser. Brawn, Toyota and Williams have interpreted the rules differently to their rivals and have adapted other areas of bodywork to effectively enlarge their diffusers. Stewards at both the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and the second round in Malaysia declared the double-decker designs, which use bodywork openings to feed them more air, legal. However, BMW Sauber, Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault have all appealed the stewards findings, questioning whether the diffusers adhere to the wording and spirit of the regulations. Should the Court agree with them, it could in theory strip Brawn, Toyota and Williams of their points from Melbourne and Sepang, which would dramatically alter the face of the championship table. Alternatively, it could insist they change their diffusers for a more conventional design. If the Court deems the diffusers legal, then it will leave the other seven teams on the grid playing catch-up. Many have already begun development of similar diffuser designs - thought to be worth as much as half a second per lap - which, if required, could be introduced as early as the Bahrain Grand Prix later this month. A decision is expected from the Court on Wednesday afternoon.

<urn:uuid:8d69da06-16cb-490e-99e8-2c80b2474919>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/4/9170.html

2013-05-22T07:12:46Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

(HN, 3/25/2012) - World leaders including US President Barack Obama Monday will launch the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit a meeting on the threat from nuclear-armed terrorists, but the atomic ambitions of North Korea and Iran are set to feature heavily. Participating countries, which also gathered at the 1st Washington Nuclear Security Summit in 2010 include: South Korea, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, Ukraine, USA and Vietnam. Though not at the summit, next -door, North Korea’s upcoming rocket launch has overshadowed the run-up to the two-day meeting in Seoul, which seeks agreement on locking down fissile material that could be used to build thousands of terrorist bombs. The nuclear-armed North says its rocket will merely put a peaceful satellite into orbit. The United States and others believe next month’s launch will test a long-range missile which could one day deliver an atomic warhead. Gary Samore, coordinator for arms control at the US National Security Council, warned that North Korea would face a “strong response” from Washington and its allies if it goes ahead with the launch. “We will be working with other countries, when President Obama is in Seoul, to try to discourage North Korea from going ahead with the proposed satellite launch,” he told South Korea’s Yonhap news agency on Friday. The IAEA, while worried about nuclear proliferation by North Korea, also suspects that Iran is bent on making nuclear weapons. Iran says its uranium enrichment activities are peaceful. Neither Iran nor North Korea are on the formal agenda in Seoul. But leaders of five nations involved in stalled nuclear negotiations with the North — the United States, South Korea, China, Russia and Japan — will all be present, offering an opportunity for consultations. Pyongyang sees the summit as a chance for Washington and Seoul to gang up on it. Any South Korean move to address the North’s nuclear program at the summit would be seen as a "declaration of war", it said. Seoul says the formal event is not about nations but “non-state actors” such as al-Qaeda, Nigeria's Boko-Haram terrorist group, and others groups which it fears could lay their hands on loose nukes as proliferation continues. Obama in a 2009 speech described nuclear terrorism as “the most immediate and extreme threat to global security”, and announced a drive to secure all vulnerable nuclear material worldwide within four years, a process which led to the first nuclear security summit in Washington in April 2010. Since then, according to a joint report by the Washington-based Arms Control Association (ACA) and the Partnership for Global Security (PGS), which campaign against nuclear proliferation, acknowledged major progress since then. Former Soviet republic Kazakhstan secured over 13 tons of highly enriched uranium (HEU) and plutonium, while Chile eliminated its entire HEU stockpile, the report said. The United States and Russia signed a protocol under which each will dispose of 34 tons of plutonium — enough for 17,000 nuclear weapons. Russia ended plutonium production. Ukraine eliminated two-thirds of its HEU and was expected to dispose of the rest by the Seoul summit. But experts say much more must be done to end an apocalyptic threat. “The commitments on the books will not get the job done,” said Michelle Cann of PGS, the report co-author. “To prevent nuclear terrorism in the years ahead, the global nuclear security system must grow and adapt to new threats,” she said. “There is a danger that early successes of the summit process will lead to complacency.” The ACA says there have been 16 confirmed cases of unauthorized possession of HEU or plutonium documented by the IAEA since 1993, mainly in the former Soviet Union. Alexandra Toma of the Connect US Fund, which promotes nuclear non-proliferation, said a sophisticated extremist group could plausibly take advantage of such lapses. “It takes only 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of highly enriched uranium to make a crude nuclear bomb” the size of a grapefruit, she told a Seoul forum Thursday. The summit agenda has been expanded to cover the securing of radioactive material, freely available from hospitals and other sources, which Stanford University expert Siegfried Hecker told the forum Thursday would be the most likely nuclear threat as a “dirty bomb... a weapon of mass disruption” since radiation sources were everywhere. The meeting will also discuss the link between nuclear security and nuclear safety after Japan’s March 2011 Fukushima disaster. Experts say the accident showed terrorists could create the same conditions as a tsunami did, by damaging cooling systems and cutting off power. -- HUMNEWS. An abbreviated version of this article originally appeared in The Arab Times RELATED: North Korea: Déjà Vu All Over Again

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Since its establishment, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has worked vigorously to win international support for its position that it is the sole legitimate government of all China, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Until the early 1970s, the Republic of China government in Taipei was recognized diplomatically by most world powers and the UN. After the Beijing government assumed the China seat in the United Nations in 1971 (and the ROC government was expelled) and became increasingly more significant as a global player, most nations switched diplomatic relations from the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China. Japan established diplomatic relations with the PRC in 1972, following the Joint Communiqué between the Governments of Japan and the People's Republic of China; the United States followed in 1972. The number of countries that have established diplomatic relations with Beijing has risen to 165, while 24 maintain diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). Both the PRC and ROC make it a prerequisite for diplomatic relations that a country does not recognize and conduct any official relations with the other party. After its founding, the PRC's foreign policy initially focused on solidarity with the Soviet Union and other communist countries. In 1950, the PRC sent the People's Liberation Army into North Korea as "volunteers" to help North Korea halt the UN offensive that was approaching the Yalu River. After the conclusion of the Korean conflict, the PRC sought to balance its identification as a member of the Soviet bloc by establishing friendly relations with Pakistan and other Third World countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. In 1962, the PRC had a brief war with India over a border dispute. In the 1960s, Beijing competed with Moscow for political influence among communist parties and in the developing world generally. Following the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and clashes in 1969 on the Sino-Soviet border, Chinese competition with the Soviet Union increasingly reflected concern over China's own strategic position. In late 1978, the Chinese also became concerned over Vietnam's efforts to establish open control over Laos and Cambodia. In response to the Soviet-backed Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia, the PRC fought a war with Vietnam (February-March 1979). Chinese anxiety about Soviet strategic advances was heightened following the Soviet Union's December 1979 invasion of Afghanistan. Sharp differences between the PRC and the Soviet Union persisted over Soviet support for Vietnam's continued occupation of Cambodia, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and Soviet troops along the Sino-Soviet border and in Mongolia--the so-called "three obstacles" to improved Sino-Soviet relations. In the 1970s and 1980s the PRC sought to create a secure regional and global environment for itself and to foster good relations with countries that could aid its economic development. To this end, the PRC looked to the West for assistance with its modernization drive and for help in countering Soviet expansionism, which it characterized as the greatest threat to its national security and to world peace. The PRC maintained its consistent opposition to "superpower hegemonism," focusing almost exclusively on the expansionist actions of the Soviet Union and Soviet proxies such as Vietnam and Cuba, but it also placed growing emphasis on a foreign policy independent of both the U.S. and the Soviet Union. While improving ties with the West, the PRC continued to closely follow the political and economic positions of the Third World Non-Aligned Movement, although the PRC was not a formal member. In the immediate aftermath of Tiananmen crackdown in June 1989, many countries reduced their diplomatic contacts with the PRC as well as their economic assistance programs. In response, the PRC worked vigorously to expand its relations with foreign countries, and by late 1990, had reestablished normal relations with almost all nations. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in late 1991, the PRC also opened diplomatic relations with the republics of the former Soviet Union. The foreign relations of the People's Republic of China draws upon traditions extending back to China in the Qing dynasty and the Opium Wars, despite China having undergone many radical upheavals over the past two and a half centuries. The goal of the foreign policy within the People's Republic of China is to create a strong, independent, powerful, and united China which is a great power within the world. Chinese foreign policy experts believe that in achieving this goal, they are not pursuing any hegemonic or war-like ambitions and are sometimes very perplexed that others may see China's motives in this way. Nevertheless, many actions taken by the Chinese government in its relations with other countries as well as its rapidly developing military capacities belie this perplexity. In sharp contrast to the former Soviet Union and the United States, recent Chinese foreign policy has not been devoted to advancing any higher international ideological interests such as world communism and are generally cynical about the motives of nations, particularly the United States, who claim that they are motivated by higher goals such as spreading freedom, democracy and justice. This cynicism partially comes from Chinese thinking in which ideology is secondary to advancing national interest. In this sense, Chinese foreign policy makers may be seen to adhere to the realist rather than the liberal school of international relations theory. While this cynicism strikes many as selfish, others have pointed out that the "selfish" nature of Chinese foreign policy has made Chinese foreign policy extremely flexible and also prevents China from involving itself in the affairs of other nations on ideological grounds. Still others point out that in an era of increasing scarcity such selfishness will breed international altercations. In much of the 20th century, Chinese foreign policy was based on a sense of victimhood (of centuries-long Western and Japanese colonialism) and a determination to fight back perceived humiliations. At the start of the 21st century, there appears to be a shift in Chinese foreign policy and calls from within China to reduce its victim mentality (受害者心态, shòuhaìzhě xīntaì) and recognize that with a generation of economic growth, that China has begun to fulfil its ambitions of becoming a great power once again and should adopt a great power mentality (大国心态, dàgúo xīntaì) to use its power responsibly and optimistically. These ideas form part of the new security concept which is China's vision for the post-Cold War era in which nations interact economically and diplomatically for mutual benefit and avoid forming exclusive alliances and/or blocs. Modern Foreign Policy In recent years, China's communist leaders have been regular travelers to all parts of the globe, and the PRC has sought a higher profile in the UN through its permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and other multilateral organizations. Closer to home, the PRC has made efforts to reduce tensions in Asia; it has contributed to stability on the Korean Peninsula, cultivated a more cooperative relationship with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Myanmar, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam), and participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum. In 1997, the ASEAN member nations and the People's Republic of China, South Korea and Japan agreed to hold yearly talks to further strengthen regional cooperation, the ASEAN Plus Three meetings. In 2005 the "ASEAN Plus Three" countries together with India, Australia and New Zealand held the inaugural East Asia Summit (EAS). China has improved ties with Russia. President Putin and President Jiang, in large part to serve as a counterbalance to the United States, signed a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in July 2001.The two also joined with the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to found the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in June 2001. The SCO is designed to promote regional stability and cooperate to combat terrorism in the region. Relations between India and China have also improved considerably. After years of competition, China and India are finally starting to collaborate in several economic and strategic areas. Both countries have doubled their economic trade in the past few years and China is expected to become India's largest trading partner by 2008. The two countries are planning to host joint naval exercises to strengthen defense partnership. In 2003, China and India settled a major border dispute through dialogue. China recognized Sikkim as a part of India while India recognized Tibet as part of the PRC. However, the dispute over Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh and China's military aid to Pakistan, India's arch-rival, continues to plague Sino-India relations. The PRC has a number of border and maritime disputes, including with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin, with a number of countries in the South China Sea, as well as with Japan. Beijing has resolved many of these disputes, notably including a November 1997 agreement with Russia that resolved almost all outstanding border issues and a 2000 agreement with Vietnam to resolve some differences over their maritime border, though disagreements remain over some islands in the South China Sea. During the late 1990s and early 21st century, Chinese foreign policy appeared to be focused at improving relations with Russia and Europe in order to counterbalance the United States. This strategy was based on the premise that the United States was a hyperpower whose influence could be checked through alliances with second tier powers such as Russia or the European Union. This assessment of United States power was reconsidered after the United States intervention in Kosovo, and as the 20th century drew to a close, the discussion among thinktanks in China involved how to reorient Chinese foreign policy in a unipolar world. This discussion also occurred in the context of China's new security concept which argued that the post-Cold War era required nations to move away from thinking in terms of alliances and power blocs and toward thinking in terms of economic and diplomatic cooperation. The shift away from a balancing strategy could be seen in China's actions after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States invasion of Iraq, and the accession of Hu Jintao. Although there were some initial fears that American intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq would lead to an increase in American power and the encirclement and tighter containment of China, the actual consequence was a shift in focus by the United States to the Middle East, which resulted in a desire to avoid crises in East Asia. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Blue Team in the United States which argued that China was the largest security threat to the United States became much more muted. China was instrumental at brokering talks with North Korea over its nuclear program, and in 2003, there was a concerted effort by China to improve relations with the ASEAN nations and form a common East Asian market. These foreign policy efforts have been part of a general foreign policy initiative known as China's peaceful rise. Much of the new diplomatic activity appears to be the result of a change in China's self-image. With the accession of the fourth generation of Chinese leaders, China appears to be seeing itself less as a victimized developing nation, but rather more as an assertive but responsible regional power. In 2005, there has been talk of the European Union lifting its arms embargo, however the United States has objected to this.

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Historical Supplement to the Demographic Yearbook, 1948-1978 (ICPSR 7892) Principal Investigator(s): United Nations Summary: This data collection contains 12 statistical tables that were published in the HISTORICAL SUPPLEMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEMOGRAPHIC YEARBOOK, issued in 1980 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the publication of the DEMOGRAPHIC YEARBOOK. It presents time series data on population size, age, sex, urban/rural residence, natality, mortality, and nuptiality as well as selected derived measures concerning these components of population change for countries of the world over a 30-year tim... (more info) These data are available only to users at ICPSR member institutions. Because you are not logged in, we cannot verify that you will be able to download the data. United Nations. HISTORICAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE DEMOGRAPHIC YEARBOOK, 1948-1978. New York, NY: United Nations [producer], 1980. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 1982. doi:10.3886/ICPSR07892.v1 Persistent URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR07892.v1 Scope of Study Summary: This data collection contains 12 statistical tables that were published in the HISTORICAL SUPPLEMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEMOGRAPHIC YEARBOOK, issued in 1980 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the publication of the DEMOGRAPHIC YEARBOOK. It presents time series data on population size, age, sex, urban/rural residence, natality, mortality, and nuptiality as well as selected derived measures concerning these components of population change for countries of the world over a 30-year time period. The unit of analysis is ethnic group within a country, by year. Parts 1 and 2 contain tables (labeled 1-12, in non-chronological order) stratified by ethnicity, urbanicity, and/or sex. Part 1 contains six tables: (1) estimates of mid-year population and vital statistics summary, 1948-1978, (2) population by sex, urbanicity, and intercensal rates of increase for total population, each census, 1948-1978, (4) selected derived measures of natality, 1948-1977, (7) female population by age, total number of children born alive, and total number of children living, each census, 1948-1978, (8) life expectancy by sex and age, 1948-1977, and (11) selected derived measures of marriage and divorce. The six tables in Part 2 are: (3) population by age, sex, and urban/rural residence, each census, 1948-1977, (5) live births by age of mother and sex of infant, 1948-1977, (6) live-birth rates specific for age of mother, 1948-1977, (9) deaths by age and sex, 1948-1977, (10) death rates specific for age and sex, 1948-1977, and (12) population by marital status, age, and sex, each census, 1948-1977. The records in Part 3 are text and correspond to the footnotes for the tables in the other two files. Subject Terms: age, birth rates, demographic characteristics, demographic statistics, divorce, ethnicity, females, fertility rates, gender, life expectancy, marital status, marriage rates, mortality rates, nations, population growth, population size, rural population, United Nations, urban population, vital statistics, world population Geographic Coverage: Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda Islands, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Central America, Chad, Channel Islands, Chile, China (Peoples Republic), Christmas Island, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Democratic Republic), Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Europe, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Gaza Strip, Georgia (Republic), Germany, Ghana, Gibralter, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (North), Korea (South), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latin America, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North America, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Persian Gulf States, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome And Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, Soviet Union, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam (Socialist Republic), Virgin Islands of the United States, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Global Universe: Ethnic groups in the countries contributing to the Demographic Yearbook from 1948 to 1978. Data Types: aggregate data, and machine-readable text United Nations DEMOGRAPHIC YEARBOOKs from 1948 to 1978 Original ICPSR Release: 1984-06-28 - 2006-01-18 File CB7892.PDF was removed from any previous datasets and flagged as a study-level file, so that it will accompany all downloads. Use any of the notification links to add this study to your RSS feed; you will then receive notification if the study is substantively updated. - Citations exports are provided above. Export Study-level metadata (does not include variable-level metadata) If you're looking for collection-level metadata rather than an individual metadata record, please visit our Metadata Records page.

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Peluang kerja sebagai Kerani Kemasukan Data (Data Entry Clerk). Sebuah syarikat kejuruteraan memerlukan pekerja sebagai Kerani Kemasukan Data (Data Entry Clerk). Kelulusan minimun ialah Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Mempunyai kemahiran menggunakan komputer terutamanya perisian Microsoft Office. Anda mestilah boleh bekerja di kawasan Puchong. Bagi anda yang berminat sila baca keterangan lengkap yang disediakan di bawah; We are a growing yet established engineering company in Process Control Measurement. The reason for our existence is to provide effective solutions to our customers in Process Control Measurement with Impeccable Service. Therefore, our Tagline is “Our Real Product is Our Impeccable Service”. Furthermore, at CNN Industrial, we strongly believe in Team Work. Together as a team, we have the vision to be “The Preferred Supplier of Reliable Process Measuring Instruments and Related Calibration Service”. Consequently, we also believe in a fair-go for all team members, where your success is our success. Data Entry Clerk ( Puchong, Selangor) - Minimum SPM qualification - Computer literate (familiar with MS Office application Software) - Able to communicate in Bahasa Malaysia or English - Good working attitude and able to work independently - Applicants must be willing to work in Puchong CNN Industrial Sdn Bhd No.16 Jalan BPU 8, Bandar Puchong Utama, Data Entry Jobs for 2011 Have you recently lost your job? Or has it been six-months or even a year that you’ve been looking for a job? You may want to consider Data Entry; it’s a solid occupation that dates back to typewriters and the early data computing days. With the advent of PCs Scanners, OCRs, and various other input devices you might have thought that this occupation would be in non-existence today. But there still appear to be a great need for people to perform data entry work. Still, Data Entry jobs are even posted on many of the popular Job Boards; accuracy, detail, and speed seems to be an essential element for this type of position - in addition to having some computer skills for today’s market. Types of Work The good news is Data Entry work can be done from home; there are many companies that are in need of people to perform certain types of data entry work - understandably this is computer work that machines cannot easily duplicate, e.g. updating Company websites, maintain Social Media accounts, typing blog entries, and writing articles, to name a few. In recent years, we’ve seen many work-at-home opportunities pop-up, the good and the bad. However, many people still find legitimate “work from home” opportunities. In many instances we’ve heard where people have made more money working from home part-time than they did at their regular jobs. In a slow economy people are looking for ways to supplement their income, which have led many to look more closely at work-from-home opportunities. But how does one know which opportunity to choose, in his book “How to Easily Attain Your Dream Work-From Home Job,” author Partha Sarkhel says, “We can teach you exactly how to identify the frauds so you can eliminate being ripped off right from the very beginning. How awful it is to be scammed out of your savings in a work-from-home opportunity that never really delivers.” There are some companies that still train people in Data Entry, one company that’s been around for many years says the Data Entry market is still good and there are many types of opportunities for people who can follow a system. Data Entry has opened up doors for many people to earn money, and not just the typical work-from-home-mom, but College Students and Dislocated Workers with moderate computer skills just to name a few; basically anyone looking to supplement their income. In summary, take time to investigate, and understand the different types of work-from-home opportunities that are available; make sure it aligns with your skill set and most of all your interest - because they’re out there.

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For decades, Myanmar was isolated diplomatically, an economic backwater that seemed almost frozen in time amid a Southeast Asian region that was modernizing at a rapid pace. But the political reforms under way in Myanmar, also known as Burma, are redefining its place in the world. President Obama's visit in November was a sign of the dramatic turnaround in relations with the United States. Meanwhile, China, which has been Myanmar's main backer for years, is stepping up its investments. Chinese media report that 700-mile oil and gas pipelines will be completed in May. The pipelines will begin in the Bay of Bengal, stretch all the way across Myanmar and into southwestern China's Yunnan Province. It's the most strategically vital of China's investments in Myanmar. China will be able to ship oil from the Indian Ocean straight to the pipeline. This will avoid a potential choke point in the Strait of Malacca, as tankers go the long way around the Malay Peninsula. The pipelines can reportedly transport 22 million tons of oil and 423 billion cubic feet of gas a year. Villagers Caught In The Middle Myanmar stands to gain billions of dollars in revenue from the pipelines, but some villagers along the route are already complaining that they are worse off. Chinese and Burmese work crews could recently be seen burying the pipelines outside Myanmar's second city, Mandalay. When they're done, all that's visible is a ribbon of red earth, stretching through the green hills and valleys. Further east, the pipeline cuts through Nong Pha, an ethnic Shan village. Residents there complain that the pipeline has left them utterly destitute. Nong Pha's 42-year-old village chief, U Hla Shwe, says that the army took away their farmland to build the pipeline last year. Since 1995, he says, farmers have been forced to give the army a portion of their crops. He says the Chinese pipeline company gave the army money to compensate the villagers — but the army kept that money for itself. "I don't think this is a good project," he says. "I don't know what profits my country will get from it. I just know that my family and my neighbors are suffering and starving, and we haven't seen any money." Many of the villagers appear hurt and bewildered by their misfortune. They say they fear the army. And they don't dare complain about their troubles. "We have no jobs, and no money," Hla Shwe says. "Our children can't afford to attend school. Our new president said early in his administration that poverty would be reduced. The present government is really no different from the last one." Another farmer, 55-year-old U Pin Nya, says the project is affecting his work. "Even our cows and our water buffaloes are starving," he says. "We may have no choice but to move to another village soon." U Tin Thit, coordinator of the Myanmar-China Pipeline Watch Committee in Mandalay, cites a Ministry of Energy estimate, putting the cost of the pipeline at $2.5 billion. But only $32 million, or 1.3 percent of that, he says, will go to compensate Burmese citizens for their land. Tin Thit says he is also concerned about the project's effect on the environment and on human rights. The last leg of the pipeline still to be built is in Shan State. Ethnic insurgents have been fighting the government there for decades. Tin Thit says the government will station soldiers in Shan State to protect the pipeline. And he says that could fuel the insurgency and threaten Burmese national security. "If insurgents attack or blow up part of the pipeline, the Chinese could send troops into Myanmar to protect it," Tin Thit says. "This would have a huge impact on our sovereignty." Officials in both countries deny such a thing could ever happen. Nonetheless, it's a common perception among Burmese. Backlash Against Chinese Investments Such perceptions have led to a rising tide of opposition to Chinese investment projects. Last November, a police crackdown on demonstrators protesting the Letpadaung copper mine injured dozens and sparked a national outcry. The project is operated by a Chinese arms manufacturer, Norinco, and a Burmese military enterprise. In 2011, strong public opposition prompted President Thein Sein to shelve the Chinese-funded Myitsone Dam on the Irrawaddy River. That incident was the clearest signal yet that Myanmar has begun to reduce its reliance on China. Irked Chinese leaders have warned Myanmar to honor its agreements. Ko Ko Hlaing, chief political adviser to President Thein Sein, says Myanmar's government will address problems caused by the Chinese investments. And he also expects Chinese companies to clean up their acts. "Yes, they have to admit that there is some sort of weakness in the CSR, corporate social responsibility, in the previous time," says the former army colonel and military researcher. "Now they are quite aware of that. They need to amend their bad image in this country." He promises that the government will share revenues from the pipelines with communities living nearby. China's Roots In The Country Realistically, he says, his small country has little choice but to stay on good terms with its giant neighbor to the north. But he suggests that like many Southeast Asian nations, Myanmar will be hedging its bets. "We need some sort of help from the United States," he says, "as a check and balance power to the Chinese influence on the region." Ko Ko Hlaing says Myanmar is returning to a policy of neutrality that it maintained during the Cold War. But the big powers were never satisfied with Burma's neutrality. Winston Churchill famously called Burma a hole in the West's Cold War encirclement of China. China's leaders, meanwhile, accused Burma of fence-sitting in the fight against U.S. imperialism in Asia. China's dissatisfaction grew to a climax in 1967. Maoists tried to export their Cultural Revolution to Burma. They mobilized ethnic Chinese in Burma to wear Chairman Mao badges and wave his Little Red Book of quotations, in defiance of the Burmese government. Anti-China riots followed in Burma, and dozens were killed. Historians note that Burma's then-ruler Gen.Ne Win benefited from the riots, as it distracted from economic woes at home, particularly soaring rice prices. Beijing insists that it is careful not to meddle in Myanmar's internal affairs. But the Burmese will not easily forget that for more than two decades beginning in 1967, it armed, trained and funded communist insurgents fighting the Burmese government. Tug Of War Yun Sun, with the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution, says that China's government now publicly welcomes Myanmar's engagement with the West. But in private, many Chinese are heatedly debating how China misread Myanmar and allowed the U.S. to increase its influence there at China's expense. Sun says that China and the U.S. both assumed that Myanmar's 2010 elections were an attempt by the ruling military junta to appease public opinion, while hanging onto power. "But it turned out the new civilian government was much more eager to engage in political democratization than China originally presumed," she says. "And that's where China's grand strategic thinking on Myanmar fell apart." Sun adds that, based on its own experiences, China's government believed Burma would be more grateful for the jobs and economic growth that Chinese investments bring. "As for the downside of these investments," she says, "such as the damage to the environment or the deprivation of the livelihood of some people, China sees these as necessary costs associated with economic development for a less-developed country." In other words, China may have overestimated the appeal of its development model to the Burmese. At a Buddhist monastery outside Mandalay, a bell calls crimson-robed monks to prayer. Abbot U Sein Ni Ta, who has organized local farmers affected by the oil and gas pipelines, says he does not want to see his land exploited and his people subjugated, like Burma's deeply Buddhist neighbor just to the north. "I don't want my country's fate to be like that of Tibet," he says sternly. "The international community should examine the impact of China's investments in Burma. The former military regime signed these deals with China, and now we're paying the price for it."

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Times Watch for October 22, 2003 Christian General Biased, Notes Anti-Semitic PM Picking up a liberal media meme, an editorial in Wednesday's Times balances the pro-Christian remarks of Lt. Gen. William Boykin against the anti-Semitic rantings of Malaysia's prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. The editorial page calls for the firing of Lt. Gen. William Boykin for remarks he made months ago to a church group: "Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced yesterday that the Pentagon was investigating speeches in churches by a high-ranking Defense Department official who called the war on terrorism a Christian battle against Satan and disparaged a Muslim adversary as an idol worshiper. The inquiry seems like a waste of time. Mr. Rumsfeld should remove the officer, Lt. Gen. William Boykin, as deputy under secretary of defense for intelligence, where he leads the effort to capture the people on a most-wanted list headed by Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein." The Times reasoning? "Not only did a high-ranking government official make remarks that espoused a single religious view and denigrated others, but he damaged the national security policy of the United States. President Bush and all other top officials have said often, and rightly, that the United States is not engaged in a religious war." How dare a committed Christian espouse a single religious view! And in front of a church group, no less! The Times then relays, as credible, criticism from Malaysia's anti-Semitic ("Jews rule the world by proxy") prime minister: "Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia, who was criticized by Mr. Bush on Monday for making anti-Semitic remarks, tossed the Boykin case back at Mr. Bush yesterday, telling an interviewer that the general has a 'biased view of Muslims.'" Funny, because the Times criticized Mahathir as well, in an excellent editorial not five days ago that opened: "It is hard to know what is more alarming-a toxic statement of hatred of Jews by the Malaysian prime minister at an Islamic summit meeting this week or the unanimous applause it engendered from the kings, presidents and emirs in the audience." This cynical use of any tool, no matter how crude, to bash Bush reminds Times Watch of columnist Paul Krugman's bizarre defense of Mahathir, which Donald Luskin analyses in an indispensable piece. The Times then bizarrely calls out the defense secretary: "There was more than a whiff of hypocrisy in Mr. Rumsfeld's comments yesterday. The secretary professed to have formed no view on the Boykin matter because he had not heard the general's remarks. But Mr. Rumsfeld did not need a personal hearing earlier this year to chastise the Army chief of staff for differing with him on the war in Iraq, and to question the patriotism of retired generals who critiqued his war strategy on television. Unlike General Boykin, they did not have the backing of conservative Christians, a key constituency for Mr. Bush's re-election." The Times has no quotes to back this assertion up. Precisely whose patriotism has Rumsfeld questioned? What the Times has in the past called "questioning the patriotism" of war critics, is what most people would call "disagreeing on an issue." For the rest of the Times editorial on Boykin, Rumsfeld and Mahathir, click here. Anti-Semitism | William Boykin | Editorial | Paul Krugman | Patriotism | Donald Rumsfeld Times Bias Trickles Into Headlines Times media reporter Jim Rutenberg delivers a balanced story on an upcoming CBS miniseries on the Reagan White House: "As snippets about the television movie circulate in Washington and Los Angeles, friends and relatives of the ailing Mr. Reagan are expressing growing concern that this deconstruction of his presidency is shot through a liberal lens, exaggerating his foibles and giving short shrift to his accomplishments." But a smart-aleck headline writer apparently couldn't resist getting in one last lick against the Reagan administration, titling Rutenberg's piece "Grumbling Trickles Down from Reagan Biopic." That's of course a reference to "trickle-down economics," the dismissive description liberals gave to Reagan's supply-side tax-cutting. Hardy har har! For the rest of Rutenberg's story, click here. Arts | Headlines | Hollywood | Movies | Ronald Reagan | Jim Rutenberg Linda Greenhouse Fights Godless Communism While discussing the Supreme Court taking up the Pledge of Allegiance "Under God" case on Washington Week in Review, Times reporter Linda Greenhouse revealed: "I was in first grade at the time. I was very confused by it because having laboriously learned the Pledge without 'under God,' all of a sudden, 'under God' came in; it was a federal law. And I didn't realize at the time that I had become a foot soldier in the war against Godless communism. That's what it really was about." Linda Greenhouse | Pledge of Allegiance | Religion | Supreme Court

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MUTUAL: Outspoken Portuguese to leave Real three years before contract ends SARAWAK will be back in the Super League next season following an impressive 3-0 win over Pos Malaysia in a Premier League match at Selayang Stadium yesterday. VIRGINIA WATER (England): Golf's governing bodies approved a new rule yesterday that outlaws the putting stroke used by four of the last six major champions, going against two major golf organisations that argued long putters are not hurting the game. SUDIRMAN CUP: Germany send Malaysia packing MEETING THE TARGET: Amirul Hafiq and Husni Aizat have to begin charting their own course FOR China coach Li Yongbo, winning the Sudirman Cup is not a bigger deal than going unbeaten in the tournament. CONSEQUENCES: Players told to stay away from bookies LOW Wee Wern crashed out of the British Open at the first hurdle for the second year running as the women's competition got underway at the KC Stadium in Hull yesterday. STRONG WILLPOWER: Wins Under-18 800m gold despite ankle and back troubles DOUBLE Malaysia Games winner Elena Goh Ling Yin put so much effort into winning the Malaysian Schools Athletics Championships Under-18 5,000m walk gold that she collapsed as soon as she crossed the finish line in Kuantan yesterday.

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Thursday, 28 June 2012 Parliamentary Delegation to Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore As a member of the parliamentary delegation to Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore in November 2011, I join with my friend and colleague the member for Gippsland and support his remarks in the chamber today. It was a great honour for all of us to have the privilege of representing our country on a delegation such as the one we experienced. As the member for Gippsland said, it certainly is a privilege and an honour to engage with people at a very senior level in other countries and get a better understanding in a bipartisan way with fellow parliamentary colleagues of the trade and investment opportunities, and bring closer links between our countries. I, too, thank our host nations for the very warm hospitality extended to us and our partners, and I support the comments in their entirety made by the member for Gippsland about the importance of improving our relations with these ASEAN countries. On the subject of ASEAN it is important to record that Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam comprise three of the 10 countries, the others including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Dar es Salaam, Lao PDR and Myanmar. When we think about that it comprises a total population in excess of 600 million people—little wonder it is a very important market for Australia. In fact, the ASEAN region is around the ninth largest export market for our country and the sixth largest source of Australian imports. ASEAN nations are very important, hence this important delegation. I thank Sid Sidebottom, who led our delegation with very good humour and who was a great credit to our parliament, as I am sure the member for Gippsland will agree. It was not very long after he returned that the Prime Minister promoted the member for Braddon, and he is now the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. This was well deserved because he has been a very hardworking local member. To see him on the international stage leading his parliamentary colleagues was something that we will long remember.

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Conflict, Negotiations and Natural Resource Management A Legal Pluralism Perspective from South and Southeast Asia Edited by J.M. Bavinck, Amalendu Jyotishi, Sushanta Mahapatra To Be Published March 24th 2014 by Routledge – 320 pages This collection brings a diverse range of approaches to the question of pluralism, property and natural resource management in South East Asia. This significant contribution to the rapidly growing body of literature exploring indigenous people, legal pluralism, land rights and environmentalism is a timely and persuasive overview of the fundamental role of property rights in shaping how people manage natural resources. Whereas much has been said about property rights with a focus on static definitions, this unique collection looks at the legal anthropological perspective, highlighting the coexistence and interaction between multiple legal orders such as state, customary, religious, project and local laws – all of which provide bases for claiming property rights. These multiple legal frameworks also facilitate considerable flexibility for people to adapt their use of natural resources and to cope with uncertainty. Contributions to this volume reveal various shades and applications of legal pluralism concepts in natural resource management, covering resources including forest, water, fisheries and agriculture. This brand new research will be of interest to scholars and practitioners of environmental law, property law, environmental politics, anthropology, sociology and geography. Introduction Part 1: Introduction and Conceptual Issues 1. Conflict Negotiation and Natural Resource Management: A Legal Pluralism Perspective, Maarten Bavinck, Amalendu Jyotishi, Sushanta Mahapatra 2. Legal Pluralism and the Governability of Fisheries and Coastal Systems, Svein Jentoft 3. Law Breakers and the Law-Makers: Critical legal Pluralism, Normative Subjects and Ecological Regimes in India, D Parthasarathy Part 2 4. Legal Pluralism and the Governance Crisis in India’s Water Sector: A Critical Review of National and Sub-National Policies and Regulatory Regimes P.K. Viswanathan 5. Iron smelting and the State in Pre-and Early- Colonial India: Unearthing the Roots of Statutory Forest Law, Sashi Sivramkrishna and Amalendu Jyotishi Part 3 6. Forests for What and for Whom: The Godavarman Judgment and the Marginalization of ‘Non Forest’ Livelihoods in Gudalur, Tamil Nadu, Ajit Menon 7. Legal Pluralism Forests and Local Institutions: The Case of Uttarakhand, Pampa Mukherjee 8. Historical and Contemporary Perspective of Conflict in Chilika Lagoon Fisheries, Odisha, India, Satyasiba Bedamatta 9. Effectiveness of Non State Legal Systems in the Management of Marine Fisheries in South Kerala, India, K.T. Thomson, K.K. Baiju and G.G. Greena 10. "A Matter of Maintaining Peace", State Accommodation to Subordinate Legal Systems: The Case of Fisheries along the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu, India, Maarten Bavinck 11. Land Alienation and Tribal Self-Governance in the Context of Conflicts over Neo-liberal Development: A Legal Pluralistic Understanding to Tribal Resistance to Vedanta in Odisha, Satyapriya Rout 12. Precedence of Indigenous Law Over State Law Among Pattinavar Caste in Nagapattinam District, Tamilnadu, India: An Economic Perspective,P. Balasubramanian 13. Is there a Need for Legal Pluralism Movement in Malaysia? A Case of Jakun People and their Right Over Natural Resources in Tasik Chini, Pahang State Yonariza Satyasiba Bedamatta 14. Decentralisation against Co-Management? State Formation and Natural Resource Management in Timor-Leste, Tomoaki Kanamaru Amalendu Jyotishi is an Associate Professor at Amrita School of Business, Amrita University, India. Sushanta Mahapatra is an Associate Professor at Amrita School of Business, Amrita University, India. Maarten Bavinck is an Associate Professor at the Department of Human Geography, Planning and International Development Studies of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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Dialogues in Urban and Regional Planning Edited by Thomas L. Harper, Michael Hibbard, Heloisa Costa, Anthony Gar-On Yeh Published November 26th 2010 by Routledge – 308 pages Dialogues in Urban and Regional Planning, Volume 4 is a selection of some of the best scholarship in urban and regional planning from around the world. The internationally recognized authors of these award-winning papers take up a range of salient issues from the theory and practice of planning. The topics they address include planning and governance in Zimbabwe, rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, safety issues in urban spaces, and an analysis of French transportation policies. The breadth of the topics covered in this book will appeal to all those with an interest in urban and regional planning, providing a springboard for further debate and research. The papers focus particularly on how planning institutions can meet contemporary environmental, demographic, economic, and socio-spatial challenges. The Dialogues books are published in association with the Global Planning Education Association Network (GPEAN) and its member planning schools associations. These associations represent 360 planning schools in nearly fifty countries around the globe. They have selected these papers based on regional competitions. 1. Introduction: Rising to the Global Challenges Thomas Harper, Michael Hibbard, Heloisa Costa, and Anthony Yeh 2. Hanging Out With "Trouble-Causers": Planning and Governance in Urban Zimbabwe Amin Y. Kamete 3. Towards a Cosmopolitan Urbanism: from Theory to Practice Leonie Sandercock 4. For the Equitable City Yet to Come Tanja Winkler 5. Shocking the Suburbs: Urban Location, Homeownership and Oil Vulnerability in the Australian City Jago Dodson and Neil Sipe 6. The Re-Enclosure of Green-Space in Postmodern Urbanism Michael Hebbert 7. Safe Urban Spaces: Security Issues for City Design Maria Julieta Nunes De Souza and Rose Compans 8. Public Space and Conservation of a Historic Living City: Melaka, Malaysia Samira Ramezani, Zul Azri Bin Abd Aziz and Syed Z.A. Idid 9. New Urbanism, Social Equity, and The Challenge of Post-Katrina Rebuilding in Mississippi Emily Talen 10. Immature Take-Offs: Urbanization, Industrialization and Development in Twentieth-Century Latin America Arturo Almandoz 11. Policy And Planning for Large-Infrastructure Projects: Problems, Causes, and Curses Brent Flyvbjerg 12. Socio-Political Analysis of French Transport Policies: the State of Practice Vincent Kaufmann, Christophe Jemelin, Géraldine Pflieger and Luca Pattaroni 13. Institutional Impediments to Planning Professionalism in Victoria, Australia Alan March Thomas L. Harper is Professor, Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Canada. Michael Hibbard is Professor, Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management, and Director, Institute for Policy Research and Innovation, University of Oregon, USA. Anthony Gar-On Yeh is Chair Professor, Head of Department of Urban Planning and Design, Director of Centre of Urban Studies and Urban Planning, Director of GIS Research Centre, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR. Heloisa Costa is Associate Professor, Geography Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

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Archive for August, 2010 I wanted to write this post 2 days ago but I got tired and I got busy. Last Monday was a veeeeeery long day. My dermatologist appointment was supposed to be at 10.30 am but luckily I could call and postpone my appointment to 2 pm. That way I can go to places before I go back to my hometown. I went to college first to get my result. GAH! I’m so disappointed in myself.. or maybe my lecturer sucks. How dare gave me A- for DTP class? (Destop Publishing). I slaved myself and spent a lot of money and stressed myself to the max to do the best yet I only managed an A-??? It’s like a fucking foundation class. It’s basic stuff. And having doing graphic since I was 13 or 14 and to just get an A- is like a huge disappointment. Where did I do wrong? >.< I finally received my transcript! And a photocopy of my diploma. I have ‘almost’ graduated! Just waiting for my convocation to get my original diploma. My transcript – another HUGE disappointment. There are 2 C+ on each paper that ruined it. The rest are all A’s and B’s. I am angry at myself. I have no one and nothing to blame but myself. The reason for those 2 C’s was because I let group drama, bitches, emotion, depression, procrastination, lazyness, etc take over me and screwed me over. I am still thankful there are no D’s, but I could have avoided those C’s had I just fucking ignore all the drama and managed my time better. My CGPA – 3.48 FML. Just 0.02 to 3.5. FML FML FML. After college I went to Ikano to look for laptop table. I desperately want it. I like using my laptop while lying down and I don’t want to put my heavy laptop on my stomach anymore or my lap because it could burn my skin. I thought I wanted to go to digital mall or low yat because there’d be more choices there but I didn’t have time. I found a laptop table that’s quite cheap (RM49) instead of the usual RM60-90. It has a cooler too. So I bought it. When I was leaving the store, I bumped into my friend! Haha didn’t think I’d bump into anyone. She was shocked at how much weight I’ve lost and how thin I look compared to the last time she saw me. She thought I was sick. >.< She said my body looks the same though ack. Need to start to exercise and concentrate on my body. Funny that I don’t feel like I’ve gone thin. Yes I’ve lost weight but I feel my body is the same because I haven’t exercised at all. I have all my sickness to thank for. Basically I haven’t been having much appetite since I’ve been back here. Hence why I look sick instead of healthy thin. The moment I stepped in KL, with all the restaurants and yummy food around me, my appetite instantly returned but as soon as I reached Ipoh.. all appetite gone. I bet the longer I stay in my hometown, I’d end up skeleton-thin. Then I took my laptop table to the testing place to test the cooler fan. Went well, but suddenly as I was putting it back into the box I fucking slice my thumb! Apparently the aluminum or something was too thin and sharp at the bottom that it managed to slice my thumb quite deep. So all the way to my car it was bleeding a lot >.< The cut was not big or long but it was deep. Then I rushed to my dermatologist clinic. I reached there half and hour late. But I asked them for a bandaid so it was all cool. I did my fraxel but I don’t want to describe it here because it’s gonna be in a different post. After I’m done, I went back to pick mom up then left KL at almost 6 pm. I tried to keep my speed at 120 kmph this time haha. I don’t have a life insurance so if I crash and hurt myself and wreck the car, it’s over. Worse yet, if I die. I shudder at that thought. Freaks me out. I don’t know why up until now I still don’t have any insurance. It’s important, and I should start to have some insurance by now. I still managed to reach my hometown at 7.30 pm, just in time for buka puasa (break of fast). We went straight to ayam penyet restaurant (smashed chicken restaurant) to eat. I finally reached home at almost 10 pm. Damn. I was dead tired. Well I need to get back to work now. My face is like itching like crazy. And I also realized I left my sunblock at my PJ place.. gah. How could I forget my most important thing especially after doing fraxel? FML. Just a quick blog. I’ll write a longer blog after this post. Just thought I’d quickly write a word of advice. When I was talking to my friends last Sunday, one of them mentioned about how often he’d lose his phone either by dropping or losing it somewhere. Then 2 days ago my other friend mentioned that he lost his phone too. So I googled, and didn’t know that there’s such thing as phone insurance. There’s iphone insurance and even for blackberry. I would kill myself if I lose my BB because I can never afford a new one even though a new BB Torch is coming out and it’s a perfect BB phone to date, I can never afford it. I want a new Iphone 4 but it’ll be a while before I could afford it. But the thought of losing such expensive phone freaks me out. Especially since my old DS Lite was stolen when it was inside my bag it could happen to my phone too. Gah. Is there such thing as phone insurance in Malaysia? Just thought I’d write a quick blog. I’m in PJ now. I have dermatologist appointment tomorrow. Gosh, kinda reluctant to see them tomorrow cuz when I was sick couple of weeks ago, I haven’t been taking care of my skin and now I have like stupid blemishes and pimples and new scars on my forehead and cheeks. Urgh. It suuuucks. I left my hometown at almost 6 pm >.< You see, it has been cloudy since morning so I’ve been scared to drive. Scared it would rain on the highway, like extremely heavy rain and I wouldn’t be able to see the road. It’s one hell of a scary thing. But since I have a ‘mini reunion’ with my ex japanese classmates at 7 pm so I said what the hell. Luckily it was drizzling up until a certain point then the weather was nice so yay. Plus I wanted to reach as fast as I could and I was speeding like 140kmph on the highway with a small ‘kancil’ car. I’ve never done that! You see, speeding with kancil car is suicidal. You go over 120kmph and the car will start to wobble. But yesterday mom sent the car for checkup and they replaced some stuff which friggin cost her RM500 (see, back to being broke again). It made my shitty car become so smooth that I didn’t even realize I was speeding at almost the max limit. o.O; usually by 120kmph the car would start to shake and if I pass huge vehicles like lorry or trailer, feels like the car’s about to fly haha That’s how light that car is. Anyways, reached midvalley at 7.30 pm, had an amusing reunion with my mates and I learned a new word ‘rich man syndrome’ which I like so much that I’m gonna use it from now on haha. Poor mom though, she had to wait like 2 1/2 hours there alone waiting for me :\ Gosh being in midvalley sucks because so many restaurants, so much yummy food that I miss and can’t find in my hometown :\ I wish I have time to hangout with my other friends here I miss everyone but reaching at my place here reminds me of how much I hate this place, the people, the queuing up the elevators, the trash, the low class people, the double parking or no parking space… gosh. Hmm I wish I have electric grills cuz I’m in the mood to eat some grilled chicken. x.x Okay, my eyes are like burning right now.. I’ve been way too sleepy. Been spending hours on computer earlier, luckily I didn’t fall asleep in the car. I miss my kitties in my hometown. Feels so lonely here without them, especially my Jojo who always yell at me. I wonder what they’re doing in Ipoh right now.. cuz Jojo is very attached to me, so she’s gonna be pissed when I’m not there lol. Ok time to sleep. Hello dearies. I have written 2 emo blog posts previously so I thought I’d write something that’s not serious now. I’ve also decided to blog about this to keep my sudden obsession from driving me nuts. Picture heavy entry ahead. Have you guys watched “THE VAMPIRE DIARIES“? I’ve been wasting 3 months of my life here, and probably will for another 1 month+ or so. I realized that my body becomes very tired because I haven’t been doing much. I feel life here is very slow, dull, lame and so on. Day by day I’m starting to feel very unhappy. I used to be happy here, I used to have a life. I had friends, I had bf, I had relatives… now it’s just very very very empty. Everyone has moved on to a new life, or to the other side while I’m still stuck here in this hell-hole. I feel like I want to do something, make new friends, but WHAT is there to do here?! I only have my one and only friend here and we could go out on the weekends only, that’s if she’s not busy or I’m not sick. But everytime we go out, we’d go to the same lame place. I miss PJ. I miss my life there. I miss my friends. However my bestie is leaving me soon, and there I would be alone again. I have other friends, but she somehow turned to be the closest to me. We have a lot of things in common. We have the same interest & passion for films, we have the same interest for things, we have the same interest in food.. she’s also my sakae sushi buddy. Haha. What’s most important is our mindset. You see, it’s very hard for me to really click with people because I’m very Americanized so it’s hard for people to really understand me and my interest and the way I think. But she’s just like me, and that’s why we seem to click so well because we understand each other. I remember she was the only one who understood and loved Rocky Horror Picture Show, found Ms Swan funny (that’s how we met haha) and would find David Lehre, Craig & Allen cute haha. With her I don’t have to fake myself and pretend, because with others I have to sorta like ‘personalize’ myself for them.. like with malays I have to talk and act differently, and so on with chinese & indians depending on their personality. Now I have no one to go to a party or events with No one to spend a whole day long at the mall wandering aimlessly. I’ll miss you bitch and don’t you dare forget about me T____________T I don’t have a lot of close friends that could understand me well. Hence why in my hometown, I only have one friend whom would still stick with me because we have a lot of things in common. She, too, mentioned quite a while ago about transferring to another state. Hence why my second ex and third ex could stick with me for a long time because one of them is Australian/Chinese and the other one is Canadian…my first malay ex stuck with me for 2 fucking days wtf… but unfortunately once you break up, they won’t give a shit anymore even if they mentioned that they would continue being best friends forever. They’re just a bunch of lies. They won’t give a shit if you die. They’ve stopped talking to you. They would only care if you’re their gf. And they aren’t the only ones.. I’ve had a couple more online years ago, 1 short fling, and 2 that was unexpected.. but they’re all just the same. That’s why relationship could destroy a person. It hurts too much. Nobody knows how much it hurts to come back here in my hometown and not to have that certain someone with me anymore. It really fucking hurts. But I guess I’m used to this now.. I guess I’m meant to be alone for now… Whatever plans God have for me, I hope it’ll be a good one in the future. However, I’m no longer completely broke My paypal money from all the online works is finally in my account since yesterday so I can re-activate my phone line, and spend some for Eid celebration. Mom also received her pension today. I’ve also received my study loan balance which was in my account for 1 second before it automatically went to my college’s account. T___T It was a bitch trying to call college yesterday to confirm if they still have my refund form but when I finally talked to the person, she mentioned it might take 2-3 weeks more to refund. I actually don’t mind, because I want to use that money in December, to buy my own Christmas gift. I’m thinking of getting myself a Mac or Macbook Pro, but I don’t know if I should spend RM4,000 at once on a mac :\ But I need a mac to do editing… at least I could freelance. But… RM4,000 could be spent on a lot of things… T__T I feel like playing Second Life again.. just so that I don’t feel lonely but gosh, I’ve lost everything that I had before so it also hurts to go back in and not have everything that I used to have. But I still remember that SL was the only thing that saved me from insanity after my first extreme breakup and loneliness in Ipoh back in 2007. Maybe I should give it a chance again and start fresh. I just love the fact that I can be whoever I can’t be in real life. I can wear sexy costumes because I can modify myself to look sexy unlike my real self, haha. Maybe after I’m done with my friggin project I’ll try loggin in again and see how it goes. Wow this post turned out to be longer than I intended it to be.

<urn:uuid:0d9d3649-d433-470f-9242-335b698e7210>

CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.seventh-angel.net/2010/08/

2013-05-22T07:15:12Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Dave Morin isn't easily star-struck. The early Facebook employee is a close confidant of Mark Zuckerberg, and when Morin left the social networking giant two years ago, it was to launch a startup with Napster founder Shaun Fanning. Still, Morin couldn't quite hide his surprise a few months back when Britney Spears walked into his San Francisco office. The CEO of Path, which bills itself as a more intimate social network than Facebook or Twitter, said the pop princess is among the most active of a growing number of "celebrity angels" -- stars from the music or movie industries who are aligning themselves with tech startups as advisers, evangelists and, sometimes, investors. "Social media has changed the music industry," Spears said in an email to this newspaper. "For the first time ever, artists can directly communicate with their fans. Technology touches every aspect of my career right now." Other frequent visitors to Silicon Valley boardrooms and startup dens include rappers Snoop Dogg and MC Hammer and actor Ashton Kutcher. Kutcher's A-Grade Fund -- cofounded with Los Angeles billionaire Ron Burkle and Madonna's manager, Guy Oseary -- has invested in an A-list of hot startups. Among them are Flipboard, Airbnb and video chat site Airtime, the "Ashton is probably the most sophisticated thinker in Hollywood," Morin said. "I trust his opinion as much as any product entrepreneur in Silicon Valley." Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, singer Justin Timberlake -- who played Parker in the Facebook movie "The Social Network" -- has been helping reinvent social networking pioneer MySpace, which he and other investors bought last year. Also in L.A. is Scooter Braun Projects, launched by the talent scout who discovered a Canadian teen named Justin Bieber on YouTube and turned him into a superstar. Braun recently formed a startup incubator and investment arm; he and Bieber have put money into social music site Spotify and mobile video platform Viddy, among others. The trend is so pronounced that tech commentator and former Mashable Editor Ben Parr just raised a seed venture fund, called #DOMINATEFUND, entirely from Hollywood celebrities, including Lil' Wayne's manager, Cortez Bryant. Parr declined to discuss the details, but he noted the outfit has already invested in a number of new companies with Bay Area ties, including education apps-maker Clever. What isn't necessarily a given, though, is that big-name backers will mean big-time success for a startup. "They have to bring more than a check and celebrity," said John Doerr of venerable venture firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers. Advocates of such partnerships argue that entertainers and entrepreneurs can teach one another ways to manage a brand and build an audience. "Where I can pencil in my expertise is on the ground, for lack of a better term. I'm feeling what the people are looking for," said Printz Board, co-founder and musical director of the Black Eyed Peas. He's an adviser to San Jose-based Monkeybars, which lets up-and-coming artists sell music online. Baby-faced singer Greyson Chance, 15, recently made his first startup investment, in a New York educational video game-maker. He's also living proof of the Internet's ability to disrupt the entertainment industry's power structure. Two years ago, the Oklahoman's performance of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" at a school talent show went viral on YouTube. With 49 million hits, the performance landed him a recording contract with Gaga's manager, Troy Carter. Greyson, who just wrapped a concert tour of Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, said new broadcasting platforms like Twitter and Spreecast are key to building and keeping a fan base. And with guidance from Carter -- who last fall joined with Menlo Ventures on the Talent Fund, a $20 million portfolio of media startups -- "I definitely want to do more investments," he said. Venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar, who put the Talent Fund together, says the marriage of Hollywood and tech is "not a fad. It's about wanting to be where the value is created," both for the artists and Silicon Valley. David Lee, managing director of influential seed fund SVAngel, said the changing nature of tech has taken it out of the sole purview of coders and chief technology officers. "Technology is more accessible to people now: You can understand Airbnb, and that's much different from having an opinion on Cisco (CSCO) or Genentech," said Lee, whose fund counts Hammer among its investors. "There's a natural, mutual benefit for both technologists and certain folks in the entertainment industry," Lee added. "And, I would say, other industries as well." SVAngel's founder, Ron Conway, turned stars like Tiger Woods, Shaquille O'Neal and Matt Damon into Silicon Valley investors during the dot-com era. Conway was among the first to discover Napster and, a decade later, Facebook. But while Hollywood may have soured briefly on Silicon Valley after the dot-com bust, the celebrity trend began a revival in 2004, when Menlo Park investment firm Elevation Partners added U2 vocalist Bono to its partner roster. Another pioneering matchmaker between Silicon Valley and Hollywood is Los Angeles consultant and investor Robin Bechtel. She's credited with putting together one of the first band websites (for rockers Megadeth), selling the first digital single (for Duran Duran) and persuading Warner Music Group to cut a trailblazing deal with YouTube at a time record labels were looking to sue the video-sharing upstart. These days, she makes regular pilgrimages to Silicon Valley, introducing Hollywood movers and shakers such as Spears' manager, Adam Leber, to entrepreneurs like Morin for potential partnerships. "I explain that just because you're rich and famous in Hollywood doesn't mean diddly squat in Silicon Valley," said Bechtel, whose agency is dubbed Silicon.Wood. But with the business success of stars like Jessica Alba -- who recently cofounded The Honest Company, an online retailer of natural baby products -- Bechtel expects to see more entertainers put their names and fortunes behind tech startups. "I think," she said, "you will see next year as 'the' year of the celebrity entrepreneur." Contact Peter Delevett at 408-271-3638. Follow him at Twitter.com/mercwiretap. Tech's 'celebrity angels' Among the "celebrity angels" who've helped found or fund tech startups in recent years are: Leonardo DiCaprio, actor: Led a $4 million seed investment last year in New York mobile-social startup Mobli. Dr. Dre, music producer: In 2006, founded consumer electronics-maker Beats in Santa Monica; last year, mobile phone giant HTC bought a majority share for $300 million. Will Ferrell, comedian: Together with Bay Area serial entrepreneur Randy Adams -- who helped get Yahoo off the ground -- Ferrell in 2007 cofounded humor website Funny or Die, which has landed funding from top-shelf venture investor Sequoia Capital. Kim Kardashian, TV bombshell: Cofounded Santa Monica e-tailer ShoeDazzle in 2009; its Bay Area backers include Lightspeed Venture Partners and Andreessen Horowitz. Bruno Mars, singer: This month, joined Silicon Valley's Kapor Capital and 500 Startups to put $2 million into Santa Monica digital music startup Chromatik. Edward Norton, actor: Investor and partner in Crowdrise, a New York site that helps raise money for charity. Source: Staff reporting

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CC-MAIN-2013-20

http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci_22045766/britney-spears-ashton-kutcher-justin-bieber-startups-investors-silicon-valley

2013-05-22T07:19:51Z

s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz

en

Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. Learn more about corporations VOTING to rewrite our laws. Daniel J. Edelman Public Relations, also known as "Edelman," is the largest independently owned PR company, with 46 offices and 50 affiliates around the world. It was founded by Daniel J. Edelman, current chairman, in 1952. According to a marketing executive, an Edelman executive providing media training to his firm said: - "Sometimes, you just have to stand up there and lie. Make the audience or the reporter believe that everything is ok. How many times have you heard a CEO stand up and say, 'No, I'm not leaving the company,' and then -- days later -- he's gone. Reporters understand that you 'had' to do it and they won't hold it against you in your next job when you deal with them again." Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our PRWatch.org site. The company was founded in 1952. According to O'Dwyer's PR Services listings, the largest contributors to Edelman's 2002 earnings were from its healthcare practice ($56.71 million), high technology ($44.1 million), financial and investor relations ($33.1 million) and food ($21.46 million). Edelman tops O'Dwyer's rankings of all PR companies, earning $604.7 million in 2011. (However, it is worth noting that a number of the largest PR companies do not participate O'Dwyer's rankings.) UK climate activists target Edelman On July 16, 2008, activists with Oxford Climate Action blockaded Edelman's headquarters. Several protestors gained access to the firm's offices while others climbed onto the roof to unfurl a banner reading "Edelman: Spinning The Climate Out Of Control". Edelman PR was hired by E.ON, the world’s largest investor-owned energy service provider. E.ON is proposing to upgrade its coal-fired Kingsnorth power station to use supercritical coal technology. Kingsnorth is currently considered to be a conventional coal plant but under the European Union Large Combustion Plant Directive, the plant would eventually have to be closed without the upgrade. According to activists, Edelman PR is engaging in a campaign to 'greenwash' E.ON's continued investment in burning coal. Edelman extols the benefits of working with NGOs Edelman has been one of the leaders in the PR industry in advocating the benefits of corporations "engaging" with non-government organisations. "We recognized before anyone that NGOs, such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International, were influencing corporate social responsibility by highlighting environmental and labor practices," Edelman used to claim on its website. Edelman PR tells clients that activists are winning because "they play offense all the time; they take their message to the consumer; they are ingenious at building coalitions; they always have a clear agenda; they move at Internet speed; they speak in the media's tone." The solution, it argues, are partnerships between NGO's and business. "Our experience to date is positive," they say, citing examples such as "Chiquita-Rainforest Alliance" and "Home Depot-Forest Stewardship Council." (Download a copy of the February 2001 Edelman presentation 347k pdf file). A media release issued by Edelman touting for business described their advocacy of "partnerships" between business and environmental groups more bluntly. "You've got an environmental disaster on your hands. Have you consulted with Greenpeace in developing your crisis response plan? Co-opting your would-be attackers may seem counter-intuitive, but it makes sense when you consider that NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are trusted by the public nearly two-to-one to 'do what's right' compared with government bodies, media organizations and corporations." In 2001 they launched a short-lived series of "Edelman NGO Seminars" to "discuss the ramifications of the NGO phenomenon." U.S. Government PR contracts According to the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform Minority Office, Edelman received the following amounts per year, for federal PR contracts: - $50,200 in 2002 - $35,588 in 2004 Edelman works for the Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). While details of their work on the account are scarce, in 1997 Edelman did the PR for re-enactment of thousands of Mormons travelling from Illinois to Utah in covered wagons. Boosting PepsiCo's reputation In July 2009, PepsiCo announced it was retaining Edelman, for a "multimillion-dollar corporate reputation campaign." According to Pepsi's vice-president of strategic communications, P.J. Sinopoli, the contract includes "rais[ing] awareness among PepsiCo stakeholders about the totality of the PepsiCo brand," along with "showcasing the company's healthier snacking options and its CSR (corporate social responsibility) work." Also working on the contract are the firm Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research, on "message management," along with Edelman's research arm, StrategyOne. Hustling for Microsoft In April 1998 the Los Angeles Times revealed that Edelman had drafted a campaign plan to ensure that a dozen state attorney-generals did not join anti-trust legal actions against Microsoft. Documents obtained by the LA Times revealed that the plan included generating supportive letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles by freelance writers. According to the doucments a goal of the campaign was to counter “negative, reactive coverage that is driven by state attorneys general”. According to the documents the press clippings that would be generated were described as “leveragable tools for the company's state-based lobbyists" for use by state-based political consultants in their lobbying. The supportive clippings were intended to complement other materials – such as consumer surveys and economic studies – supporting Microsoft’s contributions to regional economies. According to the documents, Edelman – which boasts on its website that it was the PR company that pioneered litigation PR – planned to time one phase of stories to “will coincide with April 21 oral arguments before U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Microsoft motion to disqualify Lawrence Lessig as special master in Microsoft antitrust case.” The internal documents identified Rory Davenport, Edelman's director of "grass-roots and political programs" in Washington and Neal Flieger as having been involved in the preparation of the strategy and scheduled to appear at a meeting to co-ordinate the implementation of the plan. When contacted by the LA Times, Davenport stated only that “there is no agreement for a campaign like that” while Fleiger said “I'm not prepared to amplify on that at all.” Boosting the dot coms In May 2001, Richard Edelman, the President & Chief Executive Officer of Edelman, said that PR companies had to accept part of the blame for the over-hyping of the tech-sector that led to its eventual melt-down. “We willingly canonized CEOs, created buzz and relied on hype”, Edelman told the Reputation.com conference in London. According to O’Dwyers PR Services, Edelman said PR companies conducted "whoopee-cushion PR." Edelman said “We must have transparency, disclosing sources of information and revealing our presence in chat rooms. … We must also offer fact-based information, not hype or spin … We need to encourage dialog and inform all stakeholders simultaneously as information becomes available”. In an on-line response to the article, Jim Monahan, from PR IMPACT in Illinois, challenged Edelman’s speech as blame-shifting. “Richard Edelman would like to put a blanket of guilt over the entire public relations industry because his agency and others over-hyped the dot.com businesses that are failing faster than physical flatulence. Keep the blame yourself, Richard. And, for all the guilt you feel and admission you took client money and then let them down --- hey, start up a foundation with the forum topic being How PR Practitioners Should Point Guilty Fingers at Themselves First and Foremost---and Return Fees to Clients Upon Admission of Major Failure”, he wrote. Edelman and the tobacco industry In 1987, Daniel Edelman produced a plan for INFOTAB, the international tobacco industry group made up of the major worldwide tobacco companies and their associated trade organizations. Perceiving a major threat from the secondhand smoke issue, the global tobacco companies realized that they lacked coordination among themselves, and that they would need to coordinate to uniformly fight public health efforts which were increasing around the world. Thus they formed INFOTAB. According to industry documents, the goals of INFOTAB were to establish an "early warning" system for anti-smoking initiatives worldwide, to "track activities of pressure groups and international consumer unions" and "to take industry programs to the grass roots and municipal levels" to help the industry to prevail over public health. Edelman prepared a presentation for INFOTAB on how the tobacco industry could mount a coordinated, international campaign to fight the secondhand smoke issue around the world. The document is titled INFOTAB ETS Project: The Overall Plan A 1978 R.J. Reynolds document produced by Edelman Public Relations company, proposes Reynolds begin a comprehensive public relations effort to "slow or reverse the growing negative trends in public opinion regarding smoking." Edelman proposes a number of tactics including a "press event on the passive smoking issue," "a whimsical feature [publication] which seeks to bring out the humor of the smoker vs. non-smoker conflict," "excerpts from some leading civil libertarians and editorialists on the 'freedom' issue," a courteous-smoking appeal to smokers, a "Traveling Etiquette Spokesperson," production of a film on "Smoker and the Non-smoker" that would address "issues that divide them other than the primary health issue," and a Smokers' News Bureau based in New York that would "generate news stories...showing that smoking is not as annoying to the nonsmoker as is widely perceived." Edelman also proposes commissioning a survey by a "nationally famous research organization" that would poll people on the "degree of annoyance of a whole range of obnoxious habits--i.e., body odor, bad breath, whiskey breath, loud talkers, foul language, sneezing, uncurbed dogs, etc. " Edelman says, "The survey would include smoking, but our sense it that it will show that smoking is relatively insignificant as an annoyance compared with scores of other personal practices, against which there are no organized efforts." Edelman notes that surveys done by both companies (RJR and Edelman) showed that "the smoker himself has no pride, feels guilty, ashamed, is not willing to defend or describe the pleasure he gets from smoking." Edelman seeks to correct this by undertaking a campaign to associate smokers with "elegance, style, class, and intellectual responsibility -- personality traits that can give him pride." This document, titled Taking the Initiative on Smoking: A Total Program shows how the tobacco industry sought to minimize the health dangers associated with primary and secondhand smoke exposure, and reinforce the social acceptability of smoking, even as public health efforts were ongoing to discourage smoking. In November 2001 Edelman was called on to advise the Red Cross is America after it decided to set aside $264 million of the $564 million it raised for its Liberty Fund in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks for victims of any future terrorist attacks. It was a decision that angered the families of victims and legislators. Edelman was hired in February 2002 by financial services companies to organise Americans for Sensible Estate Tax Solutions, a front group to reduce estate tax. The campaign argued that the reduction of the tax would reduce the need for the rich to resort to tax shelters and increase donations to charities. Edelman was called on to assist Wampler Foods after a US federal investigation into products from the poultry packing company were identified as likely to have caused a fatal outbreak of listeria. According to a report in O'Dwyer's PR Services Report, the Centers for Disease Control, the US Department of Agriculture and local authorities identified that precooked turkey deli meat was the likely suspect of the outbreak which infected 46 people, killing seven, since July. The agencies said one food product and 25 environmental samples taken at a Pilgrim's Pride plant in Pennsylvania tested positive for listeria. Wampler had claimed in a media release that "no illnesses associated with the listeria strain in the Northeastern U.S. outbreak have been linked to any Wampler products" and argued that listeria often occurs naturally in the environment. The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) -- a coalition of food and beverage companies -- in November 2002 selected Edelman and Dittus Communications to counter calls for regulatory action to deal with the obesity epidemic in the US. ACFN funders include American Frozen Food Institute, Kraft Foods, Chocolate Manufactuers Assn., Sugar Assn., Grocery Manufacturers of America, National Restaurant Assn., National Council of Chain Restaurants, and the Assn. of National Advertisers. In October 2002, Edelman signed a pledge that it would not work for tobacco companies when it won the account with the non-profit group, the National Dialogue on Cancer. However, the specialist publication, The Cancer Letter (TCL), revealed in July 2003 that Edelman had undertaken work for British American Tobacco’s Malaysian subsidiary in promoting its social reporting project. Edelman’s Vice Chairman, Leslie Dach, told TCL that the contract with BAT Malaysia had “slipped through the cracks” and had been cancelled when it was drawn to their attention. Edelman was called on by the French-owned Sodexho Alliance to defeat proposals by a Republican congressman to strip the company of its $880 million food service contract with the Marines and award it to a US owned company. As the leader in pharmaceutical PR, Edelman is a leader in managing crises for clients and development partnerships between drug companies and patient groups. “So what does PR stand for?” asked Nancy Turett, the president and global director of Edelman Health. “It stands for powerful relationships. The heart of PR is third-party credibility,” Turett wrote in Pharmaceutical Executive in September 2002. “Third-party messages are an essential means of communication for validating scientific credibility, for legitimizing products, for building brand and disease awareness, and for building defenses against crises,” Turett wrote. “As advocates develop louder voices, pharma companies must forge alliances and win allies.” In February 2004 the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Edelman's Chicago office had contributed $32,600 to Illinois Democratic Party Governor Rod Blagojevich. The story also reported that Edelman's contract with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCED) to promote tourism had been renewed despite competition from rival PR companies Ketchum and Ruder Finn. The three-year contract was reported to be worth $6.2 million with $12.2 million having been paid to the company since 2000. While the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Edelman was not the lowest bidder, the director of communications for the department, Laura Hunter, told PR week the contract renewal was "entirely based on their qualifications." Edelman Chicago's general manager of consumer practice and tourism practice leader within the agency told PR Week defended making political contributions as a part of a strategy to win contracts. "It's really a part of doing business ... We have made contributions throughout the history of the company really because we're a part of the community," she said. In March 2004 the U.S. Department of Commerce hired Edelman and M&C Saatchi was hired by to manage a advertising and PR campaign to boost the numbers of visitors from Britain. According to PR Week, the campaign is aimed at overcoming America's 'brash' image and opposition to America's foreign policy. Edelman's UK joint chief executive Nigel Breakwell told PR Week that at least 10% of the $US6m would be for PR. In April 2005 the PR trade publication PR Week revealed that Andrew Merrill, the global managing director of Edelman's financial communications practice, was heading up a team campaigning on behalf of eight former Morgan Stanley executives to topple the chairman CEO Philip Purcell. According to the report Merrill and five other staff in Edelman's New York office were working on the campaign. In October 2005, Reuters reported that Edelman is to mount an aggressive campaign against Robert Greenwald's new documentary Wal-Mart: The High Cost of a Low Price. In what is reported to be a movie industry first, Edelman's representatives emailed reporters press kits containing a point-by-point rebuttal of the film's trailer, which Wal-Mart is demanding be altered or removed from the walmartmovie.com website. (The trailer is under fire because the documentary itself will not be released until November 1, 2005.) "The press kit includes snippets from negative reviews of Greenwald's earlier works - one dating as far back as 1980 - and three examples of what the retailer calls factual errors in the latest documentary." Edelman "is working with the American Petroleum Institute (API), the oil industry's primary lobbying group, on a public issues campaign aimed at convincing Americans that the industry is facing severe challenges, even as its members pull in record quarterly profits," PR Week reported in November 2005. Print ads designed by Edelman's advertising unit, Blue Worldwide, "have run in major daily newspapers across the nation, as well as in Roll Call and The Hill." The print ads urge "consumers to adopt conservation measures this winter" and push for the removal of "barriers on the production of natural gas on federal lands." Blue Worldwide also launched "a new TV campaign that will run during news and public affairs programming, which started with NBC Nightly News" on November 10. Health and nutrition panel In June 2008, Edelman announced the formation of the "Edelman Food & Nutrition Advisory Panel," staffed by "globally known food and nutrition experts" who will "provide strategic counsel to the firm’s food and nutrition staff in the areas of obesity, food ethics, food policy, functional foods, health claims, and nutrition communications," according to the Holmes Report. Panel members include Arthur Caplan from the University of Pennsylvania, Johanna Dwyer from the New England Medical Center, Gary Foster from Temple University, and Jeanne Goldberg from Tufts University. In May 2008, Edelman launched "Edelman Studios," a "virtual studio designed to pair emerging talent and established storytellers with brands and companies looking to connect with consumers in new ways." The effort will develop "television shows, short and feature films, and 'webisodes' from screenwriters, producers, and directors who will have the opportunity to compete for assignments from marketers," according to the Holmes Report. Initial clients included Burger King, Butterball, Expedia, and Kraft's Philadelphia Cream Cheese. In April 2005, Edelman and the "marketing intelligence" firm Intelliseek released a directory of the most influential bloggers and a white paper detailing the importance of blogs to marketing and PR. The directory "profiles bloggers in business, consumer packaged goods, consumer technology, healthcare, and marketing and public relations," and also "gives advice on blogger behavior and jargon." "Clients are calling us with increasing regularity, asking what's going on [with blogs] and how is this affecting the business," said Edelman executive vice-president and GM of diversified services Rick Murray. Murray also warned that companies face risks when "attempting to communicate with the blogosphere -- you will do yourself harm." Edelman's white paper on blogs , called "Trust MEdia?: How Real People Are Finally Being Heard," was a little less ominous. "For companies, bloggers represent an immediate source of information and feedback, but also an opportunity to engage a rapidly expanding global network of influential, credible, passionate and involved group of real people who communicate constantly," said Pam Talbot, the head of Edelman U.S. The paper also notes that Edelman was the first major PR firm to launch a corporate blog, that of CEO Richard Edelman. "Edelman has agreed a strategic business partnership with Indo Pacific Public Relations (IPPR), one of Indonesia’s largest independent public relations firms," wrote the Holmes Report ("Edelman Forms Alliance with Indonesian PR Firm," March 19, 2007). The partnership, to be known as Indo Pacific Edelman, will be launched in April 2007. "Senior technical advisor to IPPR Chadd McLisky, will continue to lead a team of 114 staff and will work closely with Bob Grove, Edelman’s managing director for Southeast Asia, to support clients, particularly in the healthcare, technology, FMCG and oil and gas sectors," according to the Holmes Report. - Edelman lends E.ON UK a hand on the company's global warming woes - Edelman's Campaign for INFOTAB on Environmental Tobacco Smoke - Richard Edelman - Pam Tabot CEO & President, US - Michael Morley, is Deputy Chairman of Edelman Public Relations Worldwide and author of “How to manage your global reputation: a guide to the Dynamics of international public relations”, New York University Press, NY 2002. - Nancy Turett, President and Global Director, Health. - Kenneth Adelman, a senior counselor to Edelman, is a member of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee, a government-appointed group that advises the Pentagon, a national editor for The Washingtonian magazine, and former deputy U.S. representative to the United Nations. . - Michael Deaver, Vice-Chairman. - Leslie A. Dach, Vice-Chairman (Public Affairs specialist) - Michael Burrell, European Chairman - Mike Seymour, Global Leader, Crisis and Issues Management - Katie Levinson, senior vice president and political director in Edelman's New York public affairs shop. Levinson previously served as communications director for Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign, press secretary to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, director of television at the Bush / Cheney White House, and senior spokeswoman and director of broadcast media for the Republican National Committee in 2004. - Nicholas Burns, chair of Edelman's global public affairs advisory board; Burns previously worked at the U.S. State Department as under secretary of state for political affairs and as a spokesperson, and before that at the National Security Council - Mark Grundy, Corporate Social Responsibility - Mary Young, executive vice president of food and nutrition communications (formerly vice president of nutrition at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association) - Jane Madden, previously with the World Bank, was named Edelman's Senior vice-president of corporate social responsibility and sustainability in April 2009; she provides "strategic counsel and support to clients on environmental and social issues, developing CSR programs domestically and in emerging global markets, engaging with multilateral organizations, and developing stakeholder communication strategies." Income and employee totals O'Dwyer's PR lists Edelman as earning $324,488,483 in net fees in 2006, up 23.9% on the previous year. It notes the firm has 2,259 employees. This makes it by far the largest independent PR firm since in second place is Ruder Finn Group with $99,303,000 in net fees and 593 employees. PR Week ranked Edelman as the number one PR agency in the United States in 2008, with 2007 revenue of $262,885,026, a 22% increase from the previous year's total revenue of $216,145,972. These totals are more than double the second largest PR firm, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide. The ranking also notes its staff total of 1,711, with $153,644 in revenue per employee. Compiled from the O'Dwyer's firm listings and additional sources as noted. Main source O'Dwyer's listing for Edelman (accessed April 2008): - Abbott Laboratories - Adobe, Inc - Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. - Alston & Bird - American Egg Board - American Heart Association - American Petroleum Institute (API) - Arla Foods UK plc - AT&T Corporation - Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund - Autodesk Inc - Avanade, Inc. - Avaya Inc. - Boy Scouts of America - Burger King - Bush Brothers & Co. - Business Roundtable - Canine Corporation Plc - Cara Operations Limited - Career Education Corporation - Charles Schwab & Co, Inc. - Chiquita Brands, Inc - Church & Dwight - Citrix Systems, Inc - ConAgra Foods, Inc - Dairy Management, Inc. - David Suzuki Foundation - Deutsche Telekom - Duke University - European Commission - France Telecom - General Electric - General Services Administration - H.J. Heinz - Hanesbrands Inc. - Illinois Dept of Commerce & Econ Opportunity - Johnson & Johnson - Kaiser Permanente - Mars Incorporated - MedImmune Inc - MetroPCS Inc. - Mobile Top Level Domain, Ltd (mTLD) - MTD Products Inc. - Mushroom Council - National Cattlemen's Beef Association - News International - Northern Star Natural Holdings, LTD - Oregon Bridge Delivery Partners - Palm, Inc. - Panama Canal Authority - Pro Team Golf - Procter & Gamble - Project Management Institute (PMI) - Prom Peru - Puerto Rico Dept. of Economic Dev - Qwest Communications International Inc. - Roche Holding Ltd - Royal Dutch Shell plc. - Royal Numico N.V. - Schering Plough - Shui On Holdings Ltd. - SICPA Holding SA - Starbucks Coffee Company - Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited - Symbol Technologies - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, LTD. - The Boeing Company - Time Warner, Inc. - Toy Industries of Europe - United Parcel Service - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Whirlpool Corporation - Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company In February 2009, the major military contractor ITT Corporation hired Edelman, to promote the company "in the defense in the defense and commercial markets, as well as raise awareness of its ongoing CSR," or corporate social responsibility, efforts. Main source O'Dwyer's October 2003 firm profile: - American Health Care Association - American Petroleum Institute - Apple Computer - Association of American Railroads - Berlex Laboratories - Butterball Turkey Co. - Campanha Serra - Chiron Corporation - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Diebold Inc. - Eli Lilly & Co. - European Society of Intensive Care Medicine - First Pacific Co. Ltd. - Fuji Photo Film - Gap Inc. - General Motors - Georgia-Pacific Corp. - Gilead Sciences - Henry Schein Inc. - Hershey Foods Corp. - Home Depot - Household International - IDA Singapore - Kinko's Inc. - MasterCard International - Motion Picture Association of America - Mutual of Omaha - National Association of Broadcasters - National Bedding Co. - New York City Economic Development Corporation - New York Life - Patton Boggs LLP - Philip Morris (Chris Merrit, "Spin Doctor has some free advice for law firm", Australian Financial Review, May 10 1996) - Progress Energy - Rockwell Collins - Shell - Taiwan Semiconductor - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Thaksin Shinawatra - Together Rx LLC - VTech Industries LLC - Valvoline Co. Wm. - Wyndham International - YUM! Brands In 2002 Edelman won a $400,000 tourism promotion contract from the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau. The firm has also done travel PR campaigns for the Governments of Mexico, Egypt, Scotland, and Texas, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, and the Bitter End Yacht Club in the British Virgin Islands. In July 2002 Edelman won a $1 million issues management and government affairs account with the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. According to O'Dwyer's PR Services Report, the contract likely included addressing the controversy over the U.S. Navy's use of one of the islands for target practice. In May 2001 O'Dwyer's reported that Edelman were working for the government of Jordan to promote trade and economic development. New York NY 10036 Phone: 212 768-0550 Email: ny AT edelman.com - Citizens' Health Care Working Group - Public relations firms - Wal-Mart Stores - Richard Sambrook - vice chair Articles and other resources - ↑ Edelman Public Relations, About Us:Welcome, organizational Web site, accessed November 23, 2010 - ↑ Hamilton Nolan, "'Sometimes, you just have to stand up there and lie'," Gawker, February 13, 2008. - ↑ Virgil Dickson, Under-fire advocacy group ALEC works with Edelman, PRWeek, May 10, 2012 - ↑ Edelman, O'Dwyer PR, online public relations firm database, accessed August 2012 - ↑ PR Firm Rankings: Independents, O'Dwyer PR, online public relations firm database, accessed August 2012 - ↑ Activists target Edelman in climate change protest, PR Week UK, 7/17/2008 - ↑ E.On Corporate Website, accessed 7/18/2008 - ↑ Carbon capture at E.ON’s Kingsnorth coal plant, Carbon Commentary, January 14, 2008 - ↑ Oxford Climate Action Spin The Spinners!, UK Indymedia, July 16, 2008 - ↑ "Edelman: Our approach - the relationship imperative," archived page of the Edelman website from August 2004, accessed via the Internet Archive. - ↑ Aarti Shah, "PepsiCo taps Edelman to lead multimillion-dollar campaign," PR Week, July 7, 2009. - ↑ "Edelman Forms Food and Nutrition Advisory Panel," Holmes Report (sub req'd), June 29, 2008. - ↑ "Edelman Launches Virtual Studio, Invites Talent to Pitch Clients," Holmes Report, May 4, 2008. - ↑ Elizabeth Benjamin, "Giuliani Campaign Aide Joins Edelman PR," New York Daily News blog, March 25, 2008. - ↑ "Edelman Lands State Veteran Burns," O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), September 17, 2008. - ↑ "Edelman Ropes Young," O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), January 22, 2009. - ↑ "Edelman Names Madden to Lead CSR and Sustainability Unit," The Holmes Report, April 12, 2009. - ↑ "2006 Worldwide Fees of independent Firms With Major U.S. Operations", accessed May 2007. - ↑ "2008 Agency Rankings," PR Week, 28 April 2008. - ↑ "Edelman," PR Firms Database, O'Dwyer's PR, accessed April 9, 2008. - ↑ Edelman, "Edelman Retained by David Suzuki Foundation to Provide Strategic Counsel in Quebec", Media Release, June 11, 2008. - ↑ "" - ↑ Tonya Garcia, "ITT awards Edelman with account," PR Week, February 3, 2009. This article may include information from Tobacco Documents Online. |Search the Documents Archives of the Tobacco Industry| |Legacy Tobacco Documents Library:|

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|Glamour Shot Eyes| Multi-action glamour revealer Sampar Glamour Shot Yeux (which translates to Glamour Shot Eyes in English) is one of the best selling products in Europe. Originated from Paris, this product promises to deliver result within just 1 minute of application. Yes, you heard me right. Is 1 minute. The packaging of the full size product looks exactly like a lipgloss, including the applicator inside. Since it sounded so magical, I was really interested to try it out so I got a sample for it. |Sampar Glamour Shot Eyes Sample| With Sampar Glamour Shot Eyes, you do not need concealer anymore because this is the concealer already. It's a transparent under-eye concealer. If you're wondering whether this is a skincare product or makeup product, the answer is: BOTH. It is a cross between makeup and skincare because it not only conceals your dark circles, blur fine lines and brighten dark areas of the eyes but this product also contain hyaluronic acid that offers a long-term and lasting anti-wrinkles action. I'm going to try it for a longer time and see how the results are! Stay tuned! Sampar Glamour Shot Eyes is priced at RM 126 for 10ml and are available at Parkson Sunway Pyramid and Sampar Malaysia's website.

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As far as I know, post-harvesting, chocolates are then fermented,dried, sorted, and then bagged. The cacaos are then shipped to factories to be roasted, crushed, conched, tempered, then made to bars.(Correct me if I'm wrong) What I'm about to ask is the post-harves methods(not the factory processing). I live in Indonesia, where these things are often neglected or done incorrectly so that the crops are usually bad(not that they're all bad, but most of the bulks are far lower qualities than West African's). What I am wondering is what are the methods of each those steps? Like in fermenting, I know that some plantations cover them with plantains, some others uses a cabinet-like thing. Is there other ways/methods of this step? And in drying, I know that some are sun-dried, and some others are smoked. Is there other ways/methods? And what are usually the guidelines of those methods? Is there a particular signs(cotyledons, degree of dryness,etc) that should be noted during this process? So, as you're aware in Indonesia - there's not a huge ingrained culture of heavily fermenting beans - in fact, most of Indonesians don't ferment their beans at all (at least not intentional fermentation, there may be some incidental fermentation occuring during transit). Different parts of the world have taken on different post-harvest practices. In Africa, 100-300 kg heaps on the ground are common - there's really no 'standard' fermentation time or practice any longer in W. African, i'm sad to say - however historically a 5 day fermentation with routine turning had been the norm. Today, it's all over the map, and is part of what's contributing to the many quality issues arising out of W. Africa. Many other parts of the world have taken to using boxes - some box fermentation can be found in your neck of the woods actually, although it's rare. C. and S. Americans often use boxes, usually of wood. Plastic boxes have been known to be used in the Carribean routinely. There are a number of techniques that can be applied to the fermentation itself to direct flavor development - for how you choose to ferment your beans has a significant impact on the type of flavor that they produce. The best way to dry is solar drying, indirect heat. The rate of drying is terribly important to the flavor of the bean as well. Some geographies - such as Malaysia - have taken to burning things as the heat source to dry the beans. This results in what is typically regarded as defect beans, as the beans absorb the resultant odors of whatever's burned. Forced air gas and infrared heaters have also been known to be used. I prefer raised beds with a specific design, covered by opaque fiberglass/plexiglass with open ends to keep the rain out and keep air flow moving myself. The Ivory Coast has, in recent years, installed huge drum dryers at the ports - this has been a terrible thing in my opinion, as it's sent the message to tretants that quality procedures - such as drying at the farm - aren't important. What then happens is that wet beans are moved about the country, resulting in high molds, and then speed dried in a drum (essentially low roasted). If CdI doesn't resolve this - i predict a huge decline in their exports in years to come. Thank you for the reply. You mentioned " here are a number of techniques that can be applied to the fermentation itself to direct flavor development" Can you tell me some of these techniques or any references(books or websites)? What are the guidelines for the procedures?(e.g appearance of half-cut of beans, level of water, smell,etc) Do you have any example pictures on how a fermentation or drying is correcly(or wrongly) executed? Jeff - as someone noted, it's a pretty large topic to cover in a 5 minute web post on Christmas eve 8-) Mass of fermentation, length of ferment, is it co-fermented with something, the type of container used (is a container used?), the degree of aeration, the degree of 'weep' removal, temperature control, type of microorganisms used and when introduced, etc all factor into it. Of course, don't forget that the most important factor is, of course, the bean itself and it's genetic heritage. One of the issues you're dealing with in Indo (and they're legion i'm afraid), is that the majority of the genetic material that has been planted is simply not that good for flavor or fat levels, but it can be a high yielding variant. Of course you've got pod transportation issues, CPB pests, emerging phytophthera issues, and not many people ferment. The majority of indonesian stock can, however, be fermented in such as way as to produce a flavor profile that emulates many other origins - but even so, the fat levels will be depressed. What's right or wrong? It depends on what you want to get - the question in and of itself is sort of like asking if a red car or a blue car is better 8-) Do your best to find Arthur Knapp's Cacao Fermentation. I know I've mentioned it elsewhere, but although it's out of print and old, it remains one of the very best resources on the subject. Be prepared...fermentation and drying together are a truly massive subject, and anybody serious about post harvest processing of cacao is likely to spend an inordinate amount of their time (and probably their entire career) thinking about and refining fermentation and drying processes. I googled the book and nothing about book came out. Looks like it's gonna be very hard to find, but well, finger crossed. :) Thank you for the warning. I am currently learning about chocolate and cocoa. One thing I've learned is that the quality of beans in Indonesia is below standard(mostly) due to the post-harvest care. I have a dream to have my very own bean-to-bar chocolate factory in Indonesia. I realize that it's gonna be time-consuming, that's why I might as well start now. Is this the book? Same author, and also worth a read, but not the book. Try looking it up on Alibris or abe's books online. Copies do show up from time to time. I would also recommend checking out more general texts on cacao like Wood & Lass' Cocoa: There are some very good reading lists in other threads around the site, so spend some time poking around older discussions as well...

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Singapore to Cull Wild Boar Population in Lower Peirce Grace Chua And David Ee The National Parks Board (NParks) has decided on a method to control the wild boar numbers in Lower Peirce. It told The Straits Times that it will round them up before vets sedate them with dart guns and euthanize them with drug injections. But it did not say when the culling will begin or how many animals will be involved. The wild boar population in Lower Peirce has been getting out of hand, said NParks, as the animals root around for worms and insects, snap off saplings for use as nest material and pose a safety hazard when they cross roads. They have been in the spotlight this year — in June, two animals attacked a security guard and a boy. There are at least two herds of about 40 animals each in Lower Peirce, a population that NParks said is unsustainable. Its decision to cull them, first publicized in June, has upset conservationists and animal welfare groups that are calling for relocation or sterilization instead. They said there is not enough data to show that the boars are causing long-term damage to the forest. NParks conservation division director Wong Tuan Wah said that while studies of long-term forest damage have not been done here, wild pigs have been shown to slow forest regrowth in other countries. By the time data is collected here, he pointed out, the unchecked population might be too much for local forests. Nature Society Singapore (NSS) president Shawn Lum agreed, citing research by ecologist Kalan Ickes of Clemson University in the United States. The latter’s work on wild pigs in Malaysia’s Pasoh forest reserve shows that wild pigs’ nesting habits were responsible for 29 percent of young sapling deaths and that the pigs specifically targeted the economically and ecologically important family of hardwood trees called dipterocarps. The NSS is doing surveys to find out whether boar activity is linked to the availability of food sources such as oil palm and sea apple. The surveys will go on until at least next month. If the link is confirmed, the answer is to clear out exotic species like oil palm, said Tony O’Dempsey, chair of the NSS’ vertebrate study group. In fact, this is what NParks wants. It aims to reforest Lower Peirce with dipterocarps and other native species, Wong said. But as long as wild pigs are rooting up turf there, the native trees will not stand a chance. In the most recent draft of the NSS position paper on wild pigs, it said that, even as the number in Lower Peirce needs to be “substantially reduced immediately”, long-term action must be taken to stop the number from increasing. It recommends studying wild pig populations in the central catchment nature reserve to work out optimal population density for its secondary forests. In the early and mid-1990s, NParks surveys did not record any wild boar in mainland forests but it has made a comeback in the last decade. Over-population put it on the NParks radar two years ago and, for the last year, two conservation officers have kept watch on the Lower Peirce herds. One has been chased up a tree for his pains. So why have the numbers grown? The boars may have swum over, driven out of neighboring Johor’s wild areas by development projects. Over here, they lack predators like tigers, have rich sources of food such as oil palm and are seldom hunted or poached, said Ong Say Lin, who studied the animal last year as a student at the National University of Singapore. The boars often travel in herds of up to 40 and have been sighted in Upper Bukit Timah, Ubin Island and Lim Chu Kang. Most opponents of culling believe the animal is not aggressive but it can be unpredictable if humans wander into its area. “A better understanding of these animals and interpretation of their behavior would reduce any hysteria or sensationalization,” Ong said. Reprinted Courtesy The Straits Times

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Alonso storms to victory in rainy Malaysia SEPANG, March 25 — Ferrari's Fernando Alonso scored a dramatic victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday when the Spaniard denied Sauber's Sergio Perez a first Formula One triumph in a race turned on its head by the weather. The race started in torrential rain and was stopped for 51 minutes after eight laps but Alonso took charge on its resumption to register a shock 28th career victory in a car that had been outpaced in qualifying in the opening two rounds. "A big surprise today the win," Alonso told reporters. "Our goal was to score as many points as possible. An unbelievable result, a great job from the team." The victory took the double world champion past Jackie Stewart into fifth in the all-time win standings but Alonso will enjoy the moment while he can, aware that his Ferrari remains well off the pace in dry conditions. "We maximised the potential in our hands," added Alonso, who climbed to the top of the drivers' standings on 35 points. "The team deserve this win. It's a tough time for us at the moment but this is a Sunday we will remember." Pole sitter Lewis Hamilton repeated his third place finish from the opening race of the season in Melbourne last weekend, with Red Bull's Mark Webber in fourth and 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen fifth in his Lotus. Australia race winner Jenson Button and current world champion Sebastian Vettel, who was running fourth at the time, both suffered mid-race collisions with the HRT of Narain Karthikeyan and finished outside the points. Alonso started the race in eighth place but worked his way up to fifth by the red flag, passed Webber soon after the resumption and capitalised on a well-timed pit stop to get past Hamilton. He overtook Mexico's Perez on the 17th of the 56-lap race and after initially dropping back, the Sauber closed to within a second of the Ferrari in the late stages and was on course to secure an unlikely victory. His dreams of becoming the first Mexican to record a Formula One win since 1970 were shattered with five laps remaining, however, when he ran wide on turn 13 and slipped too far behind Alonso to catch him before the chequered flag. "I knew I had to get him soon because in all the high speed corners I was losing my front tyres running behind him," said the 22-year-old Perez, who was ordered by Ferrari-powered Sauber to "be careful" just before the error. "Then I ran wide in the quick left hander. I touched the kerb and I went onto the dirty side of the track. It was completely wet and I lost the win." Nevertheless it was Sauber's best result as an independent team as Perez scored more points in one race than he did all of last season, adding fuel to paddock rumours that he could replace Felipe Massa (15th) at Ferrari before the end of the season. Hamilton had looked dejected after he slipped from pole to third in Australia but after repeating the trick for a second Sunday in a row, the 2008 world champion was delighted to just finish in the points. "I can't complain as I'm on the podium for the second weekend in a row. I was able to stay out of trouble with the conditions. We did a great job," he said. "We were a little unfortunate losing a lot of time at a couple of pit stops. Otherwise, I was just trying to hunt the leaders down but they were both massively quick." The Mercedes duo of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg flattered to deceive for a second race in a row, struggling all day in the conditions to finish 10th and 13th respectively after looking quick in qualification. The unpredictable nature of the race gave the rest of the top 10 an unfamiliar look with the Williams of Bruno Senna crossing the line in sixth, while Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne finished eighth between the Force Indias of Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg. The third grand prix of the 20-race season takes place in China on April 15. — Reuters

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An endangered Sumatran rhino has died at the Cincinnati Zoo, a setback to a program that successfully produced the first calves born in captivity in more than a century. Emi, a 21-year-old Sumatran rhino that had been at the zoo for 14 years, died Saturday after appearing less energetic for several weeks, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden announced Sunday. Emi produced three calves at the zoo, including Andalas, born in 2001, the first Sumatran rhino bred and born in captivity since 1889. Emi was the only captive Sumatran rhino bred successfully, said zoo director Thane Maynard. "Naturally it's always devastating when an animal reaches the end of its life, but certainly one as beloved as she is – it's a big loss," Maynard said. The zoo said Emi had appeared less energetic and had a diminished appetite since March. Veterinarians performed a complete physical exam with blood work in early April and found some subtle changes in her liver. She appeared to improve in May but her condition then continued to deteriorate, the zoo said. The zoo conducted a necropsy Saturday on Emi to try to determine exactly why she died. Zoo researchers also removed eggs from Emi's body in hope of using them someday to produce a calf through in-vitro fertilization or other means. "With a species so endangered it's important to save anything that you can," Maynard said. The zoo has two remaining Sumatran rhinos: Emi's mate, Ipuh, and Suci, a calf that Emi birthed in 2004. The zoo's breeding program grew out of an international recognition in the early 1980s that the Sumatran rhinos were disappearing at a rapid pace, due to poaching and dwindling rain forest habitat in Malaysia and Indonesia. But little was known about caring for them, let alone how to successfully breed them. Zoo researchers directed by Dr. Terri Roth used ultrasound, monitoring of hormone levels, observation and trial-and-error to learn how to breed the animals, the zoo said. "Our fond hope is that by building on that, Emi certainly won't be last Sumatran rhino to breed in captivity and that the program will grow and continue from here and be one that helps a great deal," Maynard said. Sumatran rhinos are considered the most endangered of the five living rhino species. Only nine Sumatran rhinos live in captivity worldwide and fewer than 200 animals exist in the wild, in isolated pockets of Sabah, Malaysia and the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. They can live for as long as 40 years. On the Net:

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- published: 17 May 2012 - views: 574 - author: ddarko2012 PLEASE SUBSCRIBE Please visit: http://www.ggnonline.com or http://www.youtube.com/user/DDarko2013 for the latest news commentary by Global Government News Pl... |People's Republic of China Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó "March of the Volunteers" 《义勇军进行曲》 (Pinyin: "Yìyǒngjūn Jìnxíngqǔ") |Official language(s)||Standard Chinese| |Recognised regional languages||Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur, Zhuang, and various others| |Official written language||Vernacular Chinese| |Official script||Simplified Chinese| |Ethnic groups||91.51% Han; 55 recognised minorities |Government||Nominally Marxist–Leninist single-party state[a]| |-||Congress Chairman||Wu Bangguo| |-||Conference Chairman||Jia Qinglin| |Legislature||National People's Congress| |-||Unification of China under the Qin Dynasty||221 BC| |-||Republic established||1 January 1912| |-||People's Republic proclaimed||1 October 1949| |-||Total||9,640,821 km2 [c] or 9,671,018 km² [c](3rd/4th) 3,704,427 sq mi |-||2010 census||1,339,724,852 (1st)| |GDP (PPP)||2011 estimate| |-||Total||$11.299 trillion (2nd)| |-||Per capita||$8,382 (91st)| |GDP (nominal)||2011 estimate| |-||Total||$7.298 trillion (2nd)| |-||Per capita||$5,413 (90th)| |HDI (2011)||0.687 (medium) (101st)| |Currency||Renminbi (yuan) (¥) ( |Time zone||China Standard Time (UTC+8)| |Drives on the||right, except for Hong Kong & Macau| |ISO 3166 code||CN| |Internet TLD||.cn[c] .中國 .中国| |a. ^ Simple characterizations of the political structure since the 1980s are no longer possible. b. ^ As paramount leader, Hu Jintao holds four concurrent positions: General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission for both state and party. c. ^ 9,598,086 km2 (3,705,842 sq mi) excludes all disputed territories. China (i//; Chinese: 中国; pinyin: Zhōngguó; see also Names of China), officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is the world's most-populous country, with a population of over 1.3 billion. Covering approximately 9.6 million square kilometres, the East Asian state is the world's second-largest country by land area, and the third- or fourth-largest in total area, depending on the definition of total area. The People's Republic of China is a single-party state governed by the Communist Party of China. It exercises jurisdiction over 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four directly controlled municipalities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing), and two mostly self-governing special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau). Its capital city is Beijing. The PRC also claims Taiwan—which is controlled by the Republic of China (ROC), a separate political entity—as its 23rd province, a claim controversial due to the complex political status of Taiwan and the unresolved Chinese Civil War. The PRC government denies the legitimacy of the ROC. China's landscape is vast and diverse, with forest steppes and the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts occupying the arid north and northwest near Mongolia and Central Asia, and subtropical forests being prevalent in the wetter south near Southeast Asia. The terrain of western China is rugged and elevated, with the Himalaya, Karakoram, Pamir and Tian Shan mountain ranges separating China from South and Central Asia. The world's apex, Mt. Everest (8,848 m), lies on the China–Nepal border, while the world's second-highest point, K2 (8,611 m), is situated on China's border with Pakistan. The country's lowest and the world's third-lowest point, Lake Ayding (−154 m), is located in the Turpan Depression. The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, the third- and sixth-longest in the world, have their sources in the Tibetan Plateau and continue to the densely populated eastern seaboard. China's coastline along the Pacific Ocean is 14,500 kilometres (9,000 mi) long—the 11th-longest in the world—and is bounded by the Bohai, Yellow, East and South China Seas. The nation of China has had numerous historical incarnations. The ancient Chinese civilization—one of the world's earliest—flourished in the fertile basin of the Yellow River in the North China Plain. China's political system was based on hereditary monarchies, known as dynasties, beginning with the semi-mythological Xia of the Yellow River basin (approx. 2000 BC) and ending with the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. Since 221 BC, when the Qin Dynasty first conquered several states to form a Chinese empire, the country has expanded, fractured and been reformed numerous times. The Republic of China, founded in 1911 after the overthrow of the Qing dynasty, ruled the Chinese mainland until 1949. In 1945, the ROC acquired Taiwan from Japan following World War II. In the 1946–1949 phase of the Chinese Civil War, the Chinese Communist Party defeated the nationalist Kuomintang in mainland China and established the People's Republic of China in Beijing on 1 October 1949. The Kuomintang relocated the ROC government to Taiwan, establishing its capital in Taipei. The ROC's jurisdiction is now limited to Taiwan and several outlying islands, including Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. Since 1949, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (now widely known as "Taiwan") have remained in dispute over the sovereignty of China and the political status of Taiwan, mutually claiming each other's territory and competing for international diplomatic recognition. In 1971, the PRC gained admission to the United Nations and took the Chinese seat as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. China is also a member of numerous formal and informal multilateral organizations, including the WTO, APEC, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the BCIM and the G-20. As of September 2011, all but 23 countries have recognized the PRC as the sole legitimate government of China. Since the introduction of market-based economic reforms in 1978, China has become the world's fastest-growing major economy. As of 2012, it is the world's second-largest economy, after the United States, by both nominal GDP and purchasing power parity (PPP), and is also the world's largest exporter and second-largest importer of goods. In per capita terms, China ranked 90th by nominal GDP and 91st by GDP (PPP) in 2011, according to the IMF. China is a recognized nuclear weapons state and has the world's largest standing army, with the second-largest defense budget. In 2003, China became the third nation in the world, after the former Soviet Union and the United States, to independently launch a successful manned space mission. China has been characterized as a potential superpower by a number of academics, military analysts, and public policy and economics analysts. |Literal meaning:||Middle Kingdom| |People's Republic of China| |Alternative Chinese name| |Uyghur:||جۇڭخۇا خەلق جۇمھۇرىيىت| |Zhuang:||Cunghvaz Yinzminz Gunghozgoz| |This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.| The word "China" is derived from Cin (چین), a Persian name for China popularized in medieval Europe by the account of the 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco Polo. The first recorded use in English dates from 1555. The Persian word is, in turn, derived from the Sanskrit word Cīna (चीन), which was used as a name for China as early as AD 150. There are various scholarly theories regarding the origin of this word. The traditional theory, proposed in the 17th century by Martino Martini, is that "China" is derived from "Qin" (秦), the westernmost of the Chinese kingdoms during the Zhou Dynasty, or from the succeeding Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC). The word Cīna is used in two Hindu scriptures – the Mahābhārata of the 5th century BC and the Laws of Manu of the 2nd century BC – to refer to a country located in the Tibetan-Burman borderlands east of India. In China, common names for the country include Zhōngguó (Chinese: 中国; literally "the Central State(s)") and Zhōnghuá (Chinese: 中华), although the country's official name has been changed numerous times by successive dynasties and modern governments. The term Zhongguo appeared in various ancient texts, such as the Classic of History of the 6th century BC, and in pre-imperial times it was often used as a cultural concept to distinguish the Huaxia from the barbarians. The term, which can be either singular or plural, referred to the group of states in the central plain. It was only in the nineteenth century that the term emerged as the formal name of the country. The Chinese were not unique in regarding their country as "central", since other civilizations had the same view. Archaeological evidence suggests that early hominids inhabited China between 250,000 and 2.24 million years ago. A cave in Zhoukoudian (near present-day Beijing) exhibits fossils dated at between 300,000 and 780,000 BC. The fossils are of Peking Man, an example of Homo erectus who used fire. There are also remains of Homo sapiens dating back to 18,000–11,000 BC found at the Peking Man site. Chinese tradition names the first dynasty Xia, but it was considered mythical until scientific excavations found early Bronze Age sites at Erlitou in Henan Province in 1959. Archaeologists have since uncovered urban sites, bronze implements, and tombs in locations cited as Xia's in ancient historical texts, but it is impossible to verify that these remains are of the Xia without written records from the period. The first Chinese dynasty that left historical records, the loosely feudal Shang (Yin), settled along the Yellow River in eastern China from the 17th to the 11th century BC. The oracle bone script of the Shang Dynasty represent the oldest forms of Chinese writing found and the direct ancestor of modern Chinese characters used throughout East Asia. The Shang were invaded from the west by the Zhou, who ruled from the 12th to the 5th century BC, until their centralized authority was slowly eroded by feudal warlords. Many independent states eventually emerged out of the weakened Zhou state, and continually waged war with each other in the Spring and Autumn Period, only occasionally deferring to the Zhou king. By the time of the Warring States Period, there were seven powerful sovereign states, each with its own king, ministry and army. The first unified Chinese state was established by Qin Shi Huang of the Qin state in 221 BC. Qin Shi Huang proclaimed himself the "First Emperor" (始皇帝), and imposed many reforms throughout China, notably the forced standardization of the Chinese language, measurements, length of cart axles, and currency. The Qin Dynasty lasted only fifteen years, falling soon after Qin Shi Huang's death, as its harsh legalist and authoritarian policies led to widespread rebellion. The subsequent Han Dynasty ruled China between 206 BC and 220 AD, and created a lasting Han cultural identity among its populace that extends to the present day. The Han Dynasty expanded the empire's territory considerably with military campaigns reaching Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia and Central Asia, and also helped establish the Silk Road in Central Asia. China was for a large part of the last two millennia the world's largest economy. However, in the later part of the Qing Dynasty, China's economic development began to slow and Europe's rapid development during and after the Industrial Revolution enabled it to surpass China. After the collapse of Han, another period of disunion followed, including the highly chivalric period of the Three Kingdoms. Independent Chinese states of this period such as Wu opened diplomatic relations with Japan, introducing the Chinese writing system there. In 580 AD, China was reunited under the Sui. However, the Sui Dynasty was short-lived after a failure in the Goguryeo-Sui Wars (598–614) weakened it. Under the succeeding Tang and Song dynasties, Chinese technology and culture reached its zenith. The Tang Empire was at its height of power until the middle of the 8th century, when the An Shi Rebellion destroyed the prosperity of the empire. The Song Dynasty was the first government in world history to issue paper money and the first Chinese polity to establish a permanent standing navy. Between the 10th and 11th centuries, the population of China doubled in size. This growth came about through expanded rice cultivation in central and southern China, and the production of abundant food surpluses. Within its borders, the Northern Song Dynasty had a population of some 100 million people. The Song Dynasty was a culturally rich period for philosophy and the arts. Landscape art and portrait painting were brought to new levels of maturity and complexity after the Tang Dynasty, and social elites gathered to view art, share their own, and trade precious artworks. Philosophers such as Cheng Yi and Chu Hsi reinvigorated Confucianism with new commentary, infused Buddhist ideals, and emphasized a new organization of classic texts that brought about the core doctrine of Neo-Confucianism. In 1271, the Mongol leader and fifth Khagan of the Mongol Empire Kublai Khan established the Yuan Dynasty, with the last remnant of the Song Dynasty falling to the Yuan in 1279. Before the Mongol invasion, Chinese dynasties reportedly had approximately 120 million inhabitants; after the conquest was completed in 1279, the 1300 census reported roughly 60 million people. A peasant named Zhu Yuanzhang overthrew the Yuan Dynasty in 1368 and founded the Ming Dynasty. Ming Dynasty thinkers such as Wang Yangming would further critique and expand Neo-Confucianism with ideas of individualism and innate morality that would have tremendous impact on later Japanese thought. Chosun Korea also became a nominal vassal state of Ming China and adopted much of its Neo-Confucian bureaucratic structure. Under the Ming Dynasty, China enjoyed another golden age, developing one of the strongest navies in the world and a rich and prosperous economy amid a flourishing of art and culture. It was during this period that Zheng He led explorations throughout the world, possibly reaching America. During the early Ming Dynasty, China's capital was moved from Nanjing to Beijing. In 1644, Beijing was sacked by a coalition of rebel forces led by Li Zicheng, a minor Ming official turned leader of the peasant revolt. The last Ming Chongzhen Emperor committed suicide when the city fell. The Manchu Qing Dynasty then allied with Ming Dynasty general Wu Sangui and overthrew Li's short-lived Shun Dynasty, and subsequently seized control of Beijing, which became the new capital of the Qing Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty, which lasted until 1912, was the last imperial dynasty of China. In the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty adopted a defensive posture towards European imperialism, even though it engaged in an imperialistic expansion of its own into Central Asia. At this time, China awoke to the significance of the rest of the world, the West in particular. As China opened up to foreign trade and missionary activity, opium produced by British India was forced onto Qing China. Two Opium Wars with Britain weakened the Emperor's control. European imperialism proved to be disastrous for China: The Arrow War (1856–1860) [2nd Opium War] saw another disastrous defeat for China. The subsequent passing of the humiliating Treaty of Tianjin in 1856 and the Beijing Conventions of 1860 opened up more of the country to foreign penetrations and more ports for their vessels. Hong Kong was ceded over to the British. Thus, the "unequal treaties system" was established. Heavy indemnities had to be paid by China, and more territory and control were taken over by the foreigners. The weakening of the Qing regime, and the apparent humiliation of the unequal treaties in the eyes of the Chinese people had several consequences. One consequence[according to whom?] was the Taiping Rebellion, a civil war which lasted from 1851 to 1862. The rebellion was led by Hong Xiuquan, who was partly influenced by an idiosyncratic interpretation of Christianity. Hong believed himself to be the son of God and the younger brother of Jesus. Although the Qing forces were eventually victorious, the civil war was one of the bloodiest in human history, costing at least 20 million lives (more than the total number of fatalities in World War I), with some estimates of up to two hundred million. Other costly rebellions followed the Taiping Rebellion, such as the Punti-Hakka Clan Wars (1855–67), Nien Rebellion (1851–1868), Miao Rebellion (1854–73), Panthay Rebellion (1856–1873) and the Dungan revolt (1862–1877). These rebellions resulted in an estimated loss of several million lives each and led to disastrous results for the economy and the countryside. The flow of British opium hastened the empire's decline. In the 19th century, the age of colonialism was at its height and the great Chinese Diaspora began; today, about 35 million overseas Chinese live in Southeast Asia. Emigration rates were strengthened by domestic catastrophes such as the famine of 1876–79, which claimed between 9 and 13 million lives in northern China. From 108 BC to 1911 AD, China experienced 1,828 famines, or one per year, somewhere in the empire. While China was wracked by continuous war, Meiji Japan succeeded in rapidly modernizing its military, and set its sights on the conquest of Korea and Manchuria. At the request of the Korean emperor, the Qing government sent troops to aid in suppressing the Tonghak Rebellion in 1894. However, Japan also sent troops to Korea, leading to the First Sino-Japanese War, which resulted in Qing China's loss of influence in the Korean Peninsula as well as the cession of Taiwan (including the Pescadores) to Japan. Following this series of defeats, a reform plan for the empire to become a modern Meiji-style constitutional monarchy was drafted by the Guangxu Emperor in 1898, but was opposed and stopped by the Empress Dowager Cixi, who placed Emperor Guangxu under house arrest in a coup d'état. Further destruction followed the ill-fated 1900 Boxer Rebellion against westerners in Beijing. By the early 20th century, mass civil disorder had begun, and calls for reform and revolution were heard across the country. The 38-year-old Emperor Guangxu died under house arrest on 14 November 1908, suspiciously just a day before Cixi's own death. With the throne empty, he was succeeded by Cixi's handpicked heir, his two year old nephew Puyi, who became the Xuantong Emperor. Guangxu's consort became the Empress Dowager Longyu. In another coup de'tat, Yuan Shikai overthrew the last Qing emperor, and forced empress Dowager Longyu to sign the abdication decree as regent in 1912, ending two thousand years of imperial rule in China. She died, childless, in 1913. ||This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2011)| On 1 January 1912, the Republic of China was established, heralding the end of Imperial China. Sun Yat-sen of the Kuomintang (the KMT or Nationalist Party) was proclaimed provisional president of the republic. However, the presidency was later given to Yuan Shikai, a former Qing general, who had ensured the defection of the entire Beiyang Army from the Qing Empire to the revolution. In 1915, Yuan proclaimed himself Emperor of China, but was forced to abdicate and reestablish the republic in the face of popular condemnation, not only from the general population but also from among his own Beiyang Army and its commanders. After Yuan Shikai's death in 1916, China was politically fragmented, with an internationally recognized but virtually powerless national government seated in Beijing. Regional warlords exercised actual control over their respective territories. In the late 1920s, the nationalist Kuomintang, under Chiang Kai-shek, was able to reunify the country under its own control with a series of deft military and political maneuverings, known collectively as the Northern Expedition. The Kuomintang moved the nation's capital to Nanjing and implemented "political tutelage", an intermediate stage of political development outlined in Sun Yat-sen's San-min program for transforming China into a modern democratic state. Effectively, political tutelage meant one-party rule by the Kuomintang, but the party was politically divided into competing cliques. This political division made it difficult for Chiang to battle the Communists, which the Kuomintang had been warring against since 1927 in the Chinese Civil War. This war continued successfully for the Kuomintang, especially after the Communists were forced to retreat in the Long March, until the Xi'an Incident and Japanese aggression forced Chiang to confront Imperial Japan. The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), a part of World War II, forced an uneasy alliance between the Kuomintang and the Communists. The Japanese "three-all policy" in northern China—"kill all, burn all and destroy all"—led to numerous war atrocities being committed against the civilian population; in all, as many as 20 million Chinese civilians were killed. An estimated 200,000 Chinese were massacred in the city of Nanjing alone during the Japanese occupation. Japan unconditionally surrendered to China in 1945. Taiwan, including the Pescadores, was retroceded. China emerged victorious but war-ravaged and financially drained. The continued distrust between the Kuomintang and the Communists led to the resumption of the Chinese Civil War. In 1947, constitutional rule was established, but because of the ongoing Civil War many provisions of the ROC constitution were never implemented in mainland China. Major combat in the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949 with the Communist Party in control of mainland China, and the Kuomintang retreating offshore, reducing the ROC's territory to only Taiwan, Hainan, and their surrounding islands. On 1 October 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China, which was commonly known in the West as "Communist China" or "Red China" during the Cold War. In 1950, the People's Liberation Army succeeded in capturing Hainan from the ROC, occupying Tibet, and defeating the majority of the remaining Kuomintang forces in Yunnan and Xinjiang provinces, though some Kuomintang holdouts survived until much later. Mao encouraged population growth, and under his leadership the Chinese population almost doubled from around 550 million to over 900 million. However, Mao's Great Leap Forward, a large-scale economic and social reform project, resulted in an estimated 45 million deaths between 1958 and 1961, mostly from starvation. In 1966, Mao and his allies launched the Cultural Revolution, which would last until Mao's death a decade later. The Cultural Revolution, motivated by power struggles within the Party and a fear of the Soviet Union, led to a major upheaval in Chinese society. In October 1971, the PRC replaced the Republic of China in the United Nations, and took its seat as a permanent member of the Security Council. In that same year, for the first time, the number of countries recognizing the PRC surpassed those recognizing the ROC in Taipei as the government of China. In February 1972, at the peak of the Sino-Soviet split, Mao and Zhou Enlai met Richard Nixon in Beijing. However, the U.S. did not officially recognise the PRC as China's sole legitimate government until 1 January 1979. After Mao's death in 1976 and the arrest of the Gang of Four, who were blamed for the excesses of the Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping quickly wrested power from Mao's anointed successor Hua Guofeng. Although he never became the head of the party or state himself, Deng was in fact the Paramount Leader of China at that time, his influence within the Party led the country to significant economic reforms. The Communist Party subsequently loosened governmental control over citizens' personal lives and the communes were disbanded with many peasants receiving multiple land leases, which greatly increased incentives and agricultural production. This turn of events marked China's transition from a planned economy to a mixed economy with an increasingly open market environment, a system termed by some "market socialism"; the Communist Party of China officially describes it as "socialism with Chinese characteristics". China adopted its current constitution on 4 December 1982. The death of pro-reform official Hu Yaobang helped to spark the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, during which students and others campaigned for several months, speaking out against corruption and in favour of greater political reform, including democratic rights and freedom of speech. However, they were eventually put down on 4 June when PLA troops and vehicles entered and forcibly cleared the square, resulting in numerous casualties. This event was widely reported and brought worldwide condemnation and sanctions against the government. The "Tank Man" incident in particular became famous. President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji, both former mayors of Shanghai, led the nation in the 1990s. Under Jiang and Zhu's ten years of administration, China's economic performance pulled an estimated 150 million peasants out of poverty and sustained an average annual gross domestic product growth rate of 11.2%. The country formally joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. Although rapid economic growth has made the Chinese economy the world's second-largest, this growth has also severely impacted the country's resources and environment. Another concern is that the benefits of economic development has not been distributed evenly, resulting in a wide development gap between urban and rural areas. As a result, under President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, the Chinese government initiated policies to address these issues of equitable distribution of resources, though the outcome remains to be seen. More than 40 million farmers have been displaced from their land, usually for economic development, contributing to the 87,000 demonstrations and riots across China in 2005. Living standards have improved significantly but political controls remain tight. The People's Republic of China is the second-largest country in the world by land area after Russia and is either the third- or fourth-largest by total area, after Russia, Canada and, depending on the definition of total area, the United States. China's total area is generally stated as being approximately 9,600,000 km2 (3,700,000 sq mi). Specific area figures range from 9,572,900 km2 (3,696,100 sq mi) according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, 9,596,961 km2 (3,705,407 sq mi) according to the UN Demographic Yearbook, to 9,596,961 km2 (3,705,407 sq mi) according to the CIA World Factbook, and 9,640,011 km2 (3,722,029 sq mi) including Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract, which are controlled by China and claimed by India. None of these figures include the 1,000 square kilometres (386.1 sq mi) of territory ceded to China by Tajikistan following the ratification of a Sino-Tajik border agreement in January 2011. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, the total area of the United States, at 9,522,055 km2 (3,676,486 sq mi), is slightly smaller than that of China. Meanwhile, the CIA World Factbook states that China's total area was greater than that of the United States until the coastal waters of the Great Lakes was added to the United States' total area in 1996. China has the longest combined land border in the world, measuring 22,117 km (13,743 mi) from the mouth of the Yalu River to the Gulf of Tonkin. China borders 14 nations, more than any other country except Russia, which also borders 14. China extends across much of East Asia, bordering Vietnam, Laos, and Burma in Southeast Asia; India, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan in South Asia; Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in Central Asia; a small section of Russian Altai and Mongolia in Inner Asia; and the Russian Far East and North Korea in Northeast Asia. Additionally, China shares maritime boundaries with South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines. The PRC and the Republic of China (Taiwan) make mutual claims over each other's territory and the frontier between areas under their respective control is closest near the islands of Kinmen and Matsu, off the Fujian coast, but otherwise run through the Taiwan Strait. The PRC and ROC assert identical claims over the entirety of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, and the southern-most extent of these claims reach Zengmu Ansha (James Shoal), which would form a maritime frontier with Malaysia. The territory of China lies between latitudes 18° and 54° N, and longitudes 73° and 135° E. China's landscapes vary significantly across its vast width. In the east, along the shores of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, there are extensive and densely populated alluvial plains, while on the edges of the Inner Mongolian plateau in the north, broad grasslands predominate. Southern China is dominated by hills and low mountain ranges, while the central-east hosts the deltas of China's two major rivers, the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. Other major rivers include the Xi, Mekong, Brahmaputra and Amur. To the west, major mountain ranges, most notably the Himalayas, and high plateaus feature among the more arid landscapes of the north, such as the Taklamakan and the Gobi Desert. China's highest point, Mt. Everest (8848m), lies on the Sino-Nepalese border. The country's lowest point is the dried lake bed of Ayding Lake (−154m) in the Turpan Depression. A major environmental issue in China is the continued expansion of its deserts, particularly the Gobi Desert, which is currently the world's fifth-largest desert. Although barrier tree lines planted since the 1970s have reduced the frequency of sandstorms, prolonged drought and poor agricultural practices have resulted in dust storms plaguing northern China each spring, which then spread to other parts of East Asia, including Korea and Japan. According to China's environmental watchdog, Sepa, China is losing a million acres (4,000 km²) per year to desertification. Water quality, erosion, and pollution control have become important issues in China's relations with other countries. Melting glaciers in the Himalayas could potentially lead to water shortages for hundreds of millions of people. China's climate is mainly dominated by dry seasons and wet monsoons, which lead to a pronounced temperature differences between winter and summer. In the winter, northern winds coming from high-latitude areas are cold and dry; in summer, southern winds from coastal areas at lower latitudes are warm and moist. The climate in China differs from region to region because of the country's extensive and complex topography. China is one of 17 megadiverse countries, lying in two of the world's major ecozones: the Palearctic and the Indomalaya. In the Palearctic zone, mammals such as the horse, camel, tapir, and jerboa can be found. Among the species found in the Indomalaya region are the Leopard Cat, bamboo rat, treeshrew, and various monkey and ape species. Some overlap exists between the two regions due to natural dispersal and migration; deer, antelope, bears, wolves, pigs, and numerous rodent species can all be found in China's diverse climatic and geological environments. The famous giant panda is found only in a limited area along the Yangtze River. China suffers from a continuing problem with trade in endangered species, although there are now laws to prohibit such activities. China also hosts a variety of forest types. Cold coniferous forests predominate in the north of the country, supporting animal species such as moose and the Asian black bear, along with over 120 bird species. Moist conifer forests can have thickets of bamboo as an understorey, replaced by rhododendrons in higher montane stands of juniper and yew. Subtropical forests, which dominate central and southern China, support as many as 146,000 species of flora. Tropical and seasonal rainforests, though confined to Yunnan and Hainan Island, contain a quarter of all the plant and animal species found in China. In recent decades, China has suffered from severe environmental deterioration and pollution. While regulations such as the 1979 Environmental Protection Law are fairly stringent, enforcement of them is poor, as they are frequently disregarded by local communities and government officials in favour of rapid economic development. Environmental campaigners such as Ma Jun have warned of the danger that water pollution poses to Chinese society. According to the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources, roughly 300 million Chinese do not have access to safe drinking water, and 40% of China’s rivers have been polluted by industrial and agricultural waste as of late 2011. This crisis is compounded by the perennial problem of water shortages, with 400 out of 600 surveyed Chinese cities reportedly short of drinking water. However, China is the world's leading investor in renewable energy technologies, with $34.6 billion invested in 2009 alone. China produces more wind turbines and solar panels than any other country, and renewable energy projects, such as solar water heating, are widely pursued at the local level. By 2009, over 17% of China's energy was derived from renewable sources – most notably hydroelectric power plants, of which China has a total installed capacity of 197 GW. In 2011, the Chinese government announced plans to invest four trillion yuan (US$618.55 billion) in water infrastructure projects over a ten-year period, and to complete construction of a flood prevention and anti-drought system by 2020. The People's Republic of China, along with Vietnam, North Korea, Laos, and Cuba, is one of the five remaining official Communist states in the world. but simple characterizations of China's political structure since the 1980s are no longer possible. The Chinese government has been variously described as communist and socialist, but also as authoritarian, with heavy restrictions remaining in many areas, most notably on the Internet, the press, freedom of assembly, reproductive rights, and freedom of religion. Its current political/economic system has been termed by its leaders as "Socialism with Chinese characteristics". Compared to its closed-door policies until the mid-1970s, the liberalization of China has resulted in the administrative climate being less restrictive than before. China is far different from liberal democracy or social democracy that exists in most of Europe or North America, and the National People's Congress (highest state body) has been described as a "rubber stamp" body. China's incumbent President is Hu Jintao, who is also the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, and its Premier is Wen Jiabao, who is also a senior member of the CPC Politburo Standing Committee. The country is ruled by the Communist Party of China (CPC), whose power is enshrined in China's constitution. The Chinese electoral system is hierarchical, whereby local People's Congresses are directly elected, and all higher levels of People's Congresses up to the National People's Congress (NPC) are indirectly elected by the People's Congress of the level immediately below. The political system is partly decentralized, with limited democratic processes internal to the party and at local village levels, although these experiments have been marred by corruption. There are other political parties in China, referred to in China as democratic parties, which participate in the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). There have been some moves toward political liberalization, in that open contested elections are now held at the village and town levels, and that legislatures have shown some assertiveness from time to time. However, the Party retains effective control over government appointments: in the absence of meaningful opposition, the CPC wins by default most of the time. Political concerns in China include lessening the growing gap between rich and poor and fighting corruption within the government leadership. The level of support to the government action and the management of the nation is among the highest in the world, with 86% of people who express satisfaction with the way things are going in their country and with their nation's economy according to a 2008 Pew Research Center survey. The People's Republic of China has administrative control over 22 provinces, and considers Taiwan to be its 23rd province, although Taiwan is currently governed by the Republic of China, which disputes the PRC's claim. China also has five subdivisions officially termed autonomous regions, each with a designated minority group; four municipalities; and two Special Administrative Regions (SARs), which enjoy a degree of political autonomy. These 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, and four municipalities can be collectively referred to as "mainland China", a term which usually excludes the SARs of Hong Kong and Macau. |†Taiwan is claimed by the PRC but governed by the Republic of China| China has diplomatic relations with 171 countries and maintains embassies in 162. Its legitimacy is disputed by the Republic of China and a few other countries; it is thus the largest and most populous state with limited recognition. Sweden was the first western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic on 9 May 1950. In 1971, the PRC replaced the Republic of China as the sole representative of China in the United Nations and as one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. China was also a former member and leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, and still considers itself an advocate for developing countries. Under its interpretation of the One-China policy, China has made it a precondition to establishing diplomatic relations that the other country acknowledges its claim to Taiwan and severs official ties with the government of the Republic of China. Chinese officials have protested on numerous occasions when foreign countries have made diplomatic overtures to Taiwan, especially in the matter of armament sales. Political meetings between foreign government officials and the 14th Dalai Lama are also opposed by China, as it considers Tibet to be formally part of China. Much of China's current foreign policy is reportedly based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence of Zhou Enlai—non-interference in other states' affairs, non-aggression, peaceful coexistence, equality and mutual benefits. China's foreign policy is also driven by the concept of "harmony without uniformity", which encourages diplomatic relations between states despite ideological differences. This policy has led China to support states that are regarded as dangerous or repressive by Western nations, such as Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran. Conflicts with foreign countries have occurred at times in China's recent history, particularly with the United States; for example, the US bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during the Kosovo conflict in May 1999 and the US-China spy plane incident in April 2001. China's foreign relations with many Western nations suffered for a time following the military crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, although in recent years China has improved its diplomatic links with the West. In recent decades, China has played an increasing role in calling for free trade areas and security pacts amongst its Asia-Pacific neighbors. In 2004, China proposed an entirely new East Asia Summit (EAS) framework as a forum for regional security issues, pointedly excluding the United States. The EAS, which includes ASEAN Plus Three, India, Australia and New Zealand, held its inaugural summit in 2005. China is also a founding member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), along with Russia and the Central Asian republics. In 2000, the U.S. Congress approved "permanent normal trade relations" (PNTR) with China, allowing Chinese exports in at the same low tariffs as goods from most other countries. Both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush asserted that free trade would gradually open China to democratic reform. Bush was furthermore an advocate of China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). China has a significant trade surplus with the United States, its most important export market. In the early 2010s, U.S. politicians argued that the Chinese yuan was significantly undervalued, giving China an unfair trade advantage. Sinophobic attitudes often target Chinese minorities and nationals living outside of China. Sometimes, such anti-Chinese attitudes turn violent, as occurred during the 13 May Incident in Malaysia in 1969 and the Jakarta riots of May 1998 in Indonesia, in which more than 2,000 people died. In recent years, a number of anti-Chinese riots and incidents have also occurred in Africa and Oceania. Anti-Chinese sentiment is often rooted in socio-economics. China has been involved in a number of international territorial disputes, mostly resulting from the legacy of unequal treaties imposed on China during the historical period of New Imperialism. Since the 1990s, China has been entering negotiations to resolve its disputed land borders, usually by offering concessions and accepting less than half of the disputed territory with each party. China's only remaining land border disputes are a disputed border with India and an undefined border with Bhutan. China is additionally involved in more minor multilateral disputes over the ownership of several small islands in the East and South China Seas. The relationship between China and Japan has been strained at times by Japan's refusal to acknowledge its wartime past to the satisfaction of China. Revisionist comments made by prominent Japanese officials and some Japanese history textbooks regarding the 1937 Nanjing Massacre have been a focus of particular controversy. Sino-Japanese relations warmed considerably after Shinzo Abe became the Prime Minister of Japan in September 2006, and a joint historical study conducted by China and Japan released a report in 2010 which pointed toward a new consensus on the issue of World War 2-era atrocities. However, in the early 2010s, relations cooled once more, with Japan accusing China of withholding its reserves of valuable rare earth elements. China is heavily engaged, both politically and economically, with numerous nations in the developing world. Most notably, they have followed a policy of engaging with African nations for trade and bilateral co-operation. Xinhua, China's official news agency, states that there are no less than 750,000 Chinese nationals working or living in Africa. China has furthermore strengthened its ties with major South American economies, becoming the largest trading partner of Brazil and building strategic links with Argentina. Along with Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa, China is a member of the BRICS group of emerging major economies, and hosted the group's third official summit at Sanya in Hainan Province in April 2011. China is regularly hailed as a potential new superpower, with certain commentators citing its rapid economic progress, growing military might, very large population, and increasing international influence as signs that it will play a prominent global role in the 21st century. Others, however, warn that economic bubbles and demographic imbalances could slow or even halt China's growth as the century progresses. The Chinese democracy movement, social activists, and some members of the Communist Party of China have all identified the need for social and political reform. While economic and social controls have been greatly relaxed in China since the 1970s, political freedom is still tightly restricted. The Constitution of the People's Republic of China states that the "fundamental rights" of citizens include freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to a fair trial, freedom of religion, universal suffrage, and property rights. However, in practice, these provisions do not afford significant protection against criminal prosecution by the State. As the Chinese economy expanded following Deng Xiaoping's 1978 reforms, tens of millions of rural Chinese who have moved to the cities find themselves treated as second-class citizens by China's hukou household registration system, which controls state benefits. Property rights are often poorly protected, and eminent domain land seizures have had a disproportionate effect on poorer peasants. In 2003, the average Chinese farmer paid three times more taxes than the average urban dweller, despite having one-sixth of the annual income. However, a number of rural taxes have since been reduced or abolished, and additional social services provided to rural dwellers. Censorship of political speech and information, most notably on the Internet, is openly and routinely used in China to silence criticism of the government and the ruling Communist Party. In 2005, Reporters Without Borders ranked China 159th out of 167 states in its Annual World Press Freedom Index, indicating a very low level of perceived press freedom. The government has suppressed demonstrations by organizations that it considers a potential threat to "social stability", as was the case with the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. The Communist Party has had mixed success in controlling information: a powerful and pervasive media control system faces equally strong market forces, an increasingly educated citizenry, and technological and cultural changes that are making China more open to the wider world, especially on environmental issues. However, attempts are still made by the Chinese government to control public access to outside information, with online searches for politically sensitive material being blocked by the so-called Great Firewall. A number of foreign governments and NGOs routinely criticize China's human rights record, alleging widespread civil rights violations, including systematic use of lengthy detention without trial, forced confessions, torture, mistreatment of prisoners, and restrictions of freedom of speech, assembly, association, religion, the press, and labor rights. China executes more people than any other country, accounting for 72% of the world's total in 2009, though it is not the largest executioner per capita. This high execution rate is partly due to the fact that numerous white-collar crimes, such as fraud, are punishable by death in China. However, in the early 2010s, China began restricting the application of capital punishment for some such crimes. The Chinese government has responded to foreign criticism by arguing that the notion of human rights should take into account a country's present level of economic development, and focus more on the people's rights to subsistence and development in poorer countries. The rise in the standard of living, literacy, and life expectancy for the average Chinese since the 1970s is seen by the government as tangible progress made in human rights. Improvements in workplace safety, and efforts to combat natural disasters such as the perennial Yangtze River floods, are also portrayed in China as progress in human rights for a still largely poor country. Some Chinese politicians have spoken out in favor of reforms, while others remain more conservative. In 2010, Premier Wen Jiabao stated that China needs "to gradually improve the democratic election system so that state power will truly belong to the people and state power will be used to serve the people." Despite his status, Wen's comments were later censored by the government. As the social, cultural and political consequences of economic growth and reform become increasingly manifest, tensions between the conservatives and reformists in the Communist Party are sharpening. Zhou Tianyong, the vice director of research of the Central Party School, argues that gradual political reform as well as repression of those pushing for overly rapid change over the next thirty years will be essential if China is to avoid an overly turbulent transition to a democratic, middle-class-dominated polity. With 2.3 million active troops, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the largest standing military force in the world, commanded by the Central Military Commission (CMC). The PLA consists of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF), the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), and a strategic nuclear force, the Second Artillery Corps. According to SIPRI, China's military expenditure in 2011 totalled US$129.2 billion (923 billion yuan), constituting the world's second-largest military budget. However, other nations, such as the United States, have claimed that China does not report its real level of military spending, which is allegedly much higher than the official budget. As a recognised nuclear weapons state, China is considered both a major regional military power and a potential military superpower. As of August 2011, China's Second Artillery Corps is believed to maintain at least 195 nuclear missiles, including 75 ICBMs. Nonetheless, China is the only member of the UN Security Council to have relatively limited power projection capabilities. To offset this, it has begun developing power projection assets, such as aircraft carriers, and has established a network of foreign military relationships that has been compared to a string of pearls. China has made significant progress in modernizing its military since the early 2000s. It has purchased advanced Russian fighter jets, such as the Sukhoi Su-30, and has also produced its own modern fighters, most notably the Chengdu J-10 and Shenyang J-11. China is furthermore engaged in developing an indigenous stealth aircraft, the Chengdu J-20. China's ground forces have also undergone significant modernisations, replacing its ageing Soviet-derived tank inventory with numerous variants of the modern Type 99 tank, and upgrading its battlefield C3I systems to enhance its network-centric warfare capabilities. China has furthermore acquired and improved upon the Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile system. Russia later produced the next-generation S-400 Triumf system, with China reportedly having spent $500 million on a downgraded export version of it. A number of indigenous missile technologies have also been developed – in 2007, China conducted a successful test of an anti-satellite missile, and its first indigenous land-attack cruise missile, the CJ-10, entered service in 2009. In 2011, the Pentagon reported that China was believed to be testing the JL-2 missile, a submarine-launched nuclear ICBM with multiple-warhead delivery capabilities. In recent years, much attention has been focused on enhancing the blue-water capabilities of the People's Liberation Army Navy. In August 2011, China's first aircraft carrier, the refurbished Soviet vessel Varyag, began sea trials. China furthermore maintains a substantial fleet of submarines, including several nuclear-powered attack and ballistic missile submarines. On 13 March 2011, the PLAN missile frigate Xuzhou was spotted off the coast of Libya, marking the first time in history a Chinese warship sailed into the Mediterranean. The ship's entrance into the Mediterranean was officially part of a humanitarian mission to rescue Chinese nationals from the 2011 Libyan civil war, though analysts such as Fareed Zakaria viewed the mission as also being an attempt to increase China's global military presence. Little information is available regarding the motivations supporting China's military modernization. A 2007 report by the US Secretary of Defense noted that "China's actions in certain areas increasingly appear inconsistent with its declaratory policies". For its part, China claims it maintains an army purely for defensive purposes. As of 2012, China has the world's second-largest economy in terms of nominal GDP, totalling approximately US$7.298 trillion according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, China's 2011 nominal GDP per capita of US$5,184 puts it behind around ninety countries (out of 183 countries on the IMF list) in global GDP per capita rankings. If PPP is taken into account in total GDP figures, China is again second only to the United States—in 2011, its PPP GDP reached $11.316 trillion, corresponding to $8,394 per capita. In 2009, China's primary, secondary, and tertiary industries contributed 10.6%, 46.8%, and 42.6% respectively to its total GDP. From its founding in 1949 until late 1978, the People's Republic of China was a Soviet-style centrally planned economy, without private businesses or capitalism. To propel the country towards a modern, industrialized communist society, Mao Zedong instituted the Great Leap Forward in the early 1960s, although this had decidedly mixed economic results. Following Mao's death in 1976 and the consequent end of the Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping and the new Chinese leadership began to reform the economy and move towards a more market-oriented mixed economy under one-party rule. Collectivization of the agriculture was dismantled and farmlands were privatized to increase productivity. Modern-day China is mainly characterized as having a market economy based on private property ownership, and is one of the leading examples of state capitalism. Under the post-Mao market reforms, a wide variety of small-scale private enterprises were encouraged, while the government relaxed price controls and promoted foreign investment. Foreign trade was focused upon as a major vehicle of growth, leading to the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), first in Shenzhen and then in other Chinese cities. Inefficient state-owned enterprises (SOEs) were restructured by introducing western-style management systems, with unprofitable ones being closed outright, resulting in massive job losses. By the latter part of 2010, China was reversing some of its economic liberalization initiatives, with state-owned companies buying up independent businesses in the steel, auto and energy industries. Since economic liberalization began in 1978, China's investment- and export-led economy has grown almost a hundredfold and is the fastest-growing major economy in the world. According to the IMF, China's annual average GDP growth between 2001 and 2010 was 10.5%, and the Chinese economy is predicted to grow at an average annual rate of 9.5% between 2011 and 2015. Between 2007 and 2011, China's economic growth rate was equivalent to all of the G7 countries' growth combined. According to the Global Growth Generators index announced by Citigroup in February 2011, China has a very high 3G growth rating. China is the third-most-visited country in the world, with 55.7 million inbound international visitors in 2010. It is a member of the WTO and is the world's second-largest trading power behind the US, with a total international trade value of US$3.64 trillion in 2011. Its foreign exchange reserves reached US$2.85 trillion by the end of 2010, an increase of 18.7% over the previous year, making its reserves by far the world's largest. China owns an estimated $1.6 trillion of US securities. China, holding US$1.16 trillion in US Treasury bonds, is the largest foreign holder of US public debt. China is the world's third-largest recipient of inward foreign direct investment (FDI), attracting $115 billion in 2011 alone, marking a 9% increase over 2010. China also increasingly invests abroad, with a total outward FDI of $68 billion in 2010. ImageSize = width:300 height:140 PlotArea = left:60 bottom:20 top:10 right:0 AlignBars = justify DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:0 till:16000 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal id:gray value:gray(0.5) id:line1 value:gray(0.9) id:line2 value:gray(0.7) ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5000 start:0 gridcolor:line2 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1000 start:0 gridcolor:line1 bar:USA text:USA bar:China text:China bar:Japan text:Japan bar:Germany text:Germany bar:France text:France color:tan1 width:10 bar:USA from:start till:15094 text:15,094 color:yellow width:10 bar:China from:start till:7298 text:7,298 color:tan1 width:10 bar:Japan from:start till:5869 text:5,869 bar:Germany from:start till:3577 text:3,577 bar:France from:start till:2776 text:2,776 pos:(5,1) textcolor:gray fontsize:S text:US$ bn |A graph comparing the 2011 nominal GDPs of major economies in US$ billions, according to IMF data. China's success has been primarily due to manufacturing as a low-cost producer. This is attributed to a combination of cheap labor, good infrastructure, relatively high productivity, favorable government policy, and a possibly undervalued exchange rate. The latter has been sometimes blamed for China's huge trade surplus (US$262.7 billion in 2007) and has become a major source of dispute between China and its major trading partners—the US, EU, and Japan—despite the yuan having been de-pegged and having risen in value by 20% against the US dollar since 2005. China is moreover widely criticised for manufacturing large quantities of counterfeit goods—in 2005, the Asia Business Council alleged that the counterfeiting industry accounted for 8% of China's GDP at the time. The state still dominates in strategic "pillar" industries (such as energy and heavy industries), but private enterprise (composed of around 30 million private businesses) has expanded enormously; in 2005, it accounted for anywhere between 33% to 70% of national GDP, while the OECD estimate for that year was over 50% of China's national output, up from 1% in 1978. The Shanghai Stock Exchange has raised record amounts of IPOs, and its benchmark Shanghai Composite index has doubled since 2005. SSE's market capitalization reached US$3 trillion in 2007, making it the world's fifth-largest stock exchange. China now ranks 29th in the Global Competitiveness Index, although it is only ranked 135th among the 179 countries measured in the Index of Economic Freedom. 46 Chinese companies made the list in the 2010 Fortune Global 500 (Beijing alone with 30). Measured using market capitalization, four of the world's top ten most valuable companies are Chinese. Some of these include first-ranked PetroChina, third-ranked Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (the world's most valuable bank), fifth-ranked China Mobile (the world's most valuable telecommunications company) and seventh-ranked China Construction Bank. Although a middle-income country by Western standards, China's rapid growth has pulled hundreds of millions of its people out of poverty since 1978. Today, about 10% of the Chinese population live below the poverty line of US$1 per day (down from 64% in 1978), while life expectancy has increased to 73 years. More than 93% of the population is literate, compared to only 20% in 1950. Urban unemployment in China reportedly declined to 4% by the end of 2007, although true overall unemployment may be as high as 10%. China's middle-class population (defined as those with annual income of at least US$17,000) has reached more than 100 million as of 2011, while the number of super-rich individuals worth more than 10 million yuan (US$1.5 million) is estimated to be 825,000, according to Hurun Report. Based on the Hurun rich list, the number of US dollar billionaires in China doubled from 130 in 2009 to 271 in 2010, giving China the world's second-highest number of billionaires. China's retail market was worth RMB 8.9 trillion (US$1.302 trillion) in 2007, and is growing at 16.8% annually. China is also now the world's second-largest consumer of luxury goods behind Japan, with 27.5% of the global share. In recent years, China's rapid economic growth has contributed to severe consumer inflation, causing the prices of basic goods to rise steeply. Food prices in China increased by over 21% in the first four months of 2008 alone. To curb inflation and moderate rising property prices, the Chinese government has instituted a number of fiscal regulations and amendments, raising interest rates and imposing limits on bank loans. In September 2011, consumer prices rose by 6.1% compared to a year earlier, marking a reduction in inflation from the peak of 6.5% in July 2011. A side-effect of increased economic regulation was a slowdown in overall growth – China's quarterly GDP growth fell to 9.1% in October 2011, down from 9.5% in the previous quarter, and sank to 8.1% in April 2012. The Chinese economy is highly energy-intensive and inefficient—on average, industrial processes in China between 20% and 100% more energy than similar ones in OECD countries. China became the world's largest energy consumer in 2010, but still relies on coal to supply about 70% of its energy needs. Coupled with lax environmental regulations, this has led to massive water and air pollution, leaving China with 20 of the world's 30 most polluted cities. Consequently, the government has promised to use more renewable energy, planning to make renewables constitute 30% of China's total energy production by 2050. In 2010, China became the largest wind energy provider in the world, with a total installed wind power capacity of 41.8 GW. In January 2011, Russia began scheduled oil shipments to China, pumping 300,000 barrels of oil per day via the Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean oil pipeline. |History of science and technology in China |People's Republic of China| China was a world leader in science and technology until the Ming Dynasty. Ancient Chinese discoveries and inventions, such as papermaking, printing, the compass, and gunpowder (the Four Great Inventions), contributed to the economic development of Asia and Europe. However, Chinese scientific activity entered a prolonged decline in the fourteenth century. Unlike European scientists, medieval Chinese thinkers did not attempt to reduce observations of nature to mathematical laws, and they did not form a scholarly community offering peer review and progressive research. There was an increasing concentration on literature, the arts, and public administration, while science and technology were seen as trivial or restricted to limited practical applications. The causes of this Great Divergence continue to be debated. After repeated military defeats by Western nations in the 19th century, Chinese reformers began promoting modern science and technology as part of the Self-Strengthening Movement. After the Communist victory in 1949, efforts were made to organize science and technology based on the model of the Soviet Union. However, Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution of 1966-76 had a catastrophic effect on Chinese research, as academics were persecuted and the training of scientists and engineers was severely curtailed for nearly a decade. After Mao's death in 1976, science and technology was established as one of the Four Modernizations, and the Soviet-inspired academic system was gradually reformed. In modern China, science and technology are seen as vital for achieving economic and political goals, and are held as a source of national pride to a degree sometimes described as "techno-nationalism". Almost all of the members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China have engineering degrees. Since the end of the Cultural Revolution, China has become one of the world's leading technological powers, spending over US$100 billion on scientific research and development in 2011 alone. China is also rapidly developing its education system with an emphasis on science, mathematics and engineering; in 2009, it produced over 10,000 Ph.D. engineering graduates, and as many as 500,000 BSc graduates, more than any other country. China is also the world's second-largest publisher of scientific papers, producing 121,500 in 2010 alone, including 5,200 in leading international scientific journals. The Chinese space program is one of the world's most active, and is a major source of national pride. In 1970, China launched its first satellite, Dong Fang Hong I. In 2003, China became the third country to independently send humans into space, with Yang Liwei's spaceflight aboard Shenzhou 5. In 2008, China conducted its first spacewalk with the Shenzhou 7 mission. In 2011, China's first space station module, Tiangong-1, was launched, marking the first step in a project to assemble a large manned station by 2020. The active Chinese Lunar Exploration Program includes a planned lunar rover launch in 2013, and possibly a manned lunar landing in 2025. Experience gained from the lunar program may be used for future programs such as the exploration of Mars and Venus. China currently has the most cellphone users of any country in the world, with over 1 billion users as of May 2012. It also has the world's largest number of internet and broadband users. By December 2010, China had around 457 million internet users, an increase of 19% over the previous year, and by the end of 2011 the number of internet users had exceeded 500 million. According to the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), China's average internet connection speed is 100.9 kbit/s, less than half of the global average of 212.5 kbit/s. China Telecom and China Unicom, the country's two largest broadband providers, accounted for 20% of global broadband subscribers, whereas the world's ten largest broadband service providers combined accounted for 39% of the world's broadband customers. China Telecom alone serves 55 million broadband subscribers, while China Unicom serves more than 40 million. The massive rise in internet use in China continues to fuel rapid broadband growth, whereas the world's other major broadband ISPs operate in the mature markets of the developed world, with high levels of broadband penetration and rapidly slowing subscriber growth. Transportation in mainland China has undergone intense state-led development since the late 1990s. The national road network has been significantly expanded through the creation of a network of expressways, known as the National Trunk Highway System (NTHS). By the end of 2011, China's expressways had reached a total length of 85,000 km (53,000 mi), second only to the network of the United States. Private car ownership is growing rapidly in China, which surpassed the United States as the world's largest automobile market in 2009, with total car sales of over 13.6 million. Analysts predict that annual car sales in China may rise as high as 40 million by 2020. China also possesses the world's longest high-speed rail network, with over 9,676 km (6,012 mi) of service routes. Of these, 3,515 km (2,184 mi) serve trains with top speeds of 300 km/h (190 mph). In 2011, China unveiled a prototype train capable of reaching speeds of 310 mph (500 km/h), the first ultra-high-speed train developed solely by its domestic railway industry. China intends to operate approximately 16,000 km (9,900 mi) of high-speed rail lines by 2020. As of 2012, China is the world's largest constructor of new airports, and the Chinese government has begun a US$250 billion five-year project to expand and modernize domestic air travel. However, long-distance transportation remains dominated by railways and charter bus systems. Railways are the vital carrier in China; they are monopolized by the state, divided into various railway bureaux in different regions. Due to huge demand, the system is regularly subject to overcrowding, particularly during holiday seasons, such as Chunyun during the Chinese New Year. The Chinese rail network carried an estimated 1.68 billion total passengers in 2010 alone. Rapid transit systems are also rapidly developing in China's major cities, in the form of networks of underground or light rail systems. Hong Kong has one of the most developed transport systems in the world, while Shanghai has a high-speed maglev rail line connecting the city to its main international airport, Pudong International Airport. China is additionally developing its own satellite navigation system, dubbed Beidou, which began offering commercial navigation services in mainland China in 2011, and is planned to offer global coverage by 2020. As of July 2010, the People's Republic of China has an estimated total population of 1,338,612,968. About 21% of the population (145,461,833 males; 128,445,739 females) are 14 years old or younger, 71% (482,439,115 males; 455,960,489 females) are between 15 and 64 years old, and 8% (48,562,635 males; 53,103,902 females) are over 65 years old. The population growth rate for 2006 was 0.6%. By end of 2010, the proportion of mainland Chinese people aged 14 or younger was 16.60%, while the number aged 60 or older grew to 13.26%, giving a total proportion of 29.86% dependents. The proportion of the population of workable age was thus around 70%. With a population of over 1.3 billion and dwindling natural resources, China is very concerned about its population growth and has attempted, with mixed results, to implement a strict family planning policy. The government's goal is one child per family, with exceptions for ethnic minorities and a degree of flexibility in rural areas. It is hoped that population growth in China will stabilize in the early decades of the 21st century, though some projections estimate a population of anywhere between 1.4 billion and 1.6 billion by 2025. China's family planning minister has indicated that the one-child policy will be maintained until at least 2020. The one-child policy is resisted, particularly in rural areas, because of the need for agricultural labour and a traditional preference for boys (who can later serve as male heirs). Families who breach the policy often lie during the census. Official government policy opposes forced sterilization or abortion, but allegations of coercion continue as local officials, who are faced with penalties for failing to curb population growth, may resort to forcible measures, or manipulation of census figures. The decreasing reliability of China population statistics since family planning began in the late 1970s has made evaluating the effectiveness of the policy difficult. Data from the 2010 census implies that the total fertility rate may now be around 1.4. The government is particularly concerned with the large imbalance in the sex ratio at birth, apparently the result of a combination of traditional preference for boys and family planning pressure, which led to a ban on using ultrasound devices in an attempt to prevent sex-selective abortion. According to the 2010 census, there were 118.06 boys born for every 100 girls, which is 0.53 points lower than the ratio obtained from a population sample survey carried out in 2005. However, the gender ratio of 118.06 is still beyond the normal range of around 105 percent, and experts warn of increased social instability should this trend continue. For the population born between the years 1900 and 2000, it is estimated that there could be 35.59 million fewer females than males. Other demographers argue that perceived gender imbalances may arise from the underreporting of female births. A recent study suggests that as many as three million Chinese babies are hidden by their parents every year. According to the 2010 census, males accounted for 51.27 percent of the total population, while females made up 48.73 percent of the total. |Ethnic composition (2000)| China officially recognizes 56 distinct ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Han Chinese, who constitute about 91.51% of the total population. The Han Chinese—the world's largest single ethnic group—outnumber other ethnic groups in every province, municipality and autonomous region except Tibet and Xinjiang, and are descended from ancient Huaxia tribes living along the Yellow River. Ethnic minorities account for about 8.49% of the population of China, according to the 2010 census. Compared with the 2000 population census, the Han population increased by 66,537,177 persons, or 5.74%, while the population of the 55 national minorities combined increased by 7,362,627 persons, or 6.92%. The languages most spoken in China belong to the Sino-Tibetan language family. There are also several major linguistic groups within the Chinese language itself. The most spoken varieties are Mandarin (spoken by over 70% of the population), Wu (includes Shanghainese), Yue (includes Cantonese and Taishanese), Min (includes Hokkien and Teochew), Xiang, Gan, and Hakka. Non-Sinitic languages spoken widely by ethnic minorities include Zhuang, Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur, Hmong and Korean. Standard Mandarin, a variety of Mandarin based on the Beijing dialect, is the official national language of China and is used as a lingua franca between people of different linguistic backgrounds. Classical Chinese was the written standard in China for thousands of years, and allowed for written communication between speakers of various unintelligible languages and dialects in China. Written vernacular Chinese, or baihua, is the written standard, based on the Mandarin dialect and first popularized in Ming Dynasty novels. It was adopted, with significant modifications, during the early 20th century as the national standard. Classical Chinese is still part of the high school curriculum, and is thus intelligible to some degree to many Chinese. Since their promulgation by the government in 1956, Simplified Chinese characters have become the official standardized written script used to write the Chinese language within mainland China, supplanting the use of the earlier Traditional Chinese characters. Since 2000, China's cities have expanded at an average rate of 10% annually. It is estimated that China will add 400 million people to its urban population by 2025. The country's urbanization rate increased from 17.4% to 46.8% between 1978 and 2009, a scale unprecedented in human history. Between 150 and 200 million migrant workers work part-time in the major cities, returning home to the countryside periodically with their earnings. Today, the People's Republic of China has dozens of cities with one million or more long-term residents, including the three global cities of Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. The figures in the table below are from the 2008 census, and are only estimates of the urban populations within administrative city limits; a different ranking exists when considering the total municipal populations (which includes suburban and rural populations). The large "floating populations" of migrant workers make conducting censuses in urban areas difficult; the figures below do not include the floating population, only long-term residents. Largest cities or towns of the People's Republic of China Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China (2010) |Rank||City name||Province||Pop.||Rank||City name||Province||Pop.| |8||Hong Kong||Hong Kong||7,055,071||18||Wuxi||Jiangsu||3,542,319| In 1986, China set the long-term goal of providing compulsory nine-year basic education to every child. As of 2007, there were 396,567 primary schools, 94,116 secondary schools, and 2,236 higher education institutions in China. In February 2006, the government advanced its basic education goal by pledging to provide completely free nine-year education, including textbooks and fees. Free compulsory education in China consists of elementary school and middle school, which lasts for 9 years (ages 6–15); almost all children in urban areas continue with three years of high school. As of 2007[update], 93.3% of the population over age 15 are literate. In 2000, China's literacy rate among 15-to-24-year-olds was 98.9% (99.2% for males and 98.5% for females). In March 2007, the Chinese government declared education a national "strategic priority"; the central budget for national scholarships was tripled between 2007 and 2009, and 223.5 billion yuan (US$28.65 billion) of extra state funding was allocated between 2007 and 2012 to improve compulsory education in rural areas. In 2009, Chinese students from Shanghai achieved the world's best results in mathematics, science and literacy, as tested by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a worldwide evaluation of 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance. The Ministry of Health, together with its counterparts in the provincial health bureaux, oversees the health needs of the Chinese population. An emphasis on public health and preventive medicine has characterized health policy since the early 1950s. At that time, the Communist Party started the Patriotic Health Campaign, which was aimed at improving sanitation and hygiene, as well as treating and preventing several diseases. Diseases such as cholera, typhoid and scarlet fever, which were previously rife in China, were nearly eradicated by the campaign. After Deng Xiaoping began instituting economic reforms in 1978, the health of the Chinese public improved rapidly due to better nutrition, although many of the free public health services provided in the countryside disappeared along with the People's Communes. Healthcare in China became mostly privatised, and experienced a significant rise in quality. The national life expectancy at birth rose from about 35 years in 1949 to 73.18 years in 2008, and infant mortality decreased from 300 per thousand in the 1950s to around 23 per thousand in 2006. Malnutrition as of 2002[update] stood at 12% of the population, according to United Nations FAO sources. In 2009, the government began a large-scale healthcare provision initiative worth US$124 billion, which is expected to eventually cover 90% of China's population. Despite significant improvements in health and the construction of advanced medical facilities, China has several emerging public health problems, such as respiratory illnesses caused by widespread air pollution and hundreds of millions of cigarette smokers, a possible future HIV/AIDS epidemic, and an increase in obesity among urban youths. China's large population and densely populated cities have led to serious disease outbreaks in recent years, such as the 2003 outbreak of SARS, although this has since been largely contained. Estimates of excess deaths in China from environmental pollution (apart from smoking) are placed at 760,000 people per annum from air and water pollution (including indoor air pollution). In 2007, China overtook the United States as the world's biggest producer of carbon dioxide. Some 90% of China's cities suffer from some degree of water pollution, and nearly 500 million people lacked access to safe drinking water in 2005. Reports by the World Bank and the New York Times have claimed industrial pollution, particularly of the air, to be a significant health hazard in China. In mainland China, the government allows a degree of religious freedom to members of state-approved religious organizations. An accurate number of religious adherents is hard to obtain because of a lack of official data, but there is a general consensus that religion has been enjoying a resurgence in China since the late 1980s. A 1998 survey by Adherents.com found that 59% (over 700 million) of the population was irreligious. A later survey, conducted in 2007, found that there were 300 million religious believers in China, constituting 23% of the population, as distinct from an official figure of 100 million. Despite the surveys' varying results, most agree that China's traditional religions—Buddhism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religions—are the dominant faiths. According to various sources, Buddhism in China accounts for between 660 million (~50% of the population) and over 1 billion (~80%), while Taoists number as many as 400 million (~30%). However, because of the fact that one person may subscribe to two or more of these traditional beliefs simultaneously, and the difficulty in clearly differentiating Buddhism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religions, there is likely a strong degree of overlap in the number of adherents of these religions. In addition, some who subscribe to Buddhism and Taoism follow their philosophies in principle but stop short of believing in any kind of deity or divinity. Most Chinese Buddhists are merely nominal adherents, because only a small proportion of the population (around 8% or 100 million) may have taken the formal step of going for refuge. Even then, it is still difficult to estimate accurately the number of Buddhists, because they do not have congregational memberships and often do not participate in public ceremonies. Mahayana Buddhism (大乘, Dacheng) and its subsets Pure Land (Amidism), Tiantai and Chán (better known in English by its Japanese pronunciation Zen) are the most widely practiced denominations of Buddhism. Other forms, such as Theravada and Tibetan Buddhism, are practiced largely by ethnic minorities along the geographic fringes of the Chinese mainland. Christianity was first introduced to China during the Tang Dynasty, with the arrival of Nestorian Christianity in 635 AD. This was followed by Franciscan missionaries in the 13th century, Jesuits in the 16th century, and finally Protestants in the 19th century. Of China's minority religions, Christianity is one of the fastest-growing. The total number of Christians is difficult to determine, as many belong to unauthorized house churches, but estimates of their number have ranged from 40 million (3% of the total population) to 54 million (4%) to as many as 130 million (10%). Official government statistics put the number of Christians at 25 million, but these count only members of officially sanctioned church bodies. China is believed to now have the world's second-largest evangelical Christian population—behind only the United States—and is also experiencing a surge in mainstream Christian publishing. In 2011, it was reported that more people attended Sunday church services in China than in all of Europe. Islam in China dates to a mission in 651, only 18 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims initially came to China for trade, becoming prominent in the trading ports of the Song Dynasty. Later, Muslims such as Zheng He, Lan Yu and Yeheidie'erding became influential in government circles, and Nanjing became an important center of Islamic study. Accurate statistics on China's Muslim population are hard to find; most estimates give a figure of between 20 and 30 million Muslims (1.5% to 2% of the total population). China also plays host to numerous minority religions, including Hinduism, Dongbaism, Bön, and a number of more modern religions and sects (particularly Xiantianism). In July 1999, the Falun Gong spiritual practice was officially banned by the authorities, and many international organizations have criticized the government's treatment of Falun Gong that has occurred since then. There are no reliable estimates of the number of Falun Gong practitioners in China, although informal estimates have given figures as high as 70 million. Since ancient times, Chinese culture has been heavily influenced by Confucianism and conservative philosophies. For centuries, opportunities for social advancement could be provided by high performance in the prestigious Imperial examinations, which were instituted in 605 AD to help the Emperor select skilful bureaucrats. The literary emphasis of the exams affected the general perception of cultural refinement in China, such as the belief that calligraphy and literati painting were higher forms of art than dancing or drama. A number of more authoritarian and rational strains of thought were also influential, with Legalism being a prominent example. There was often conflict between the philosophies – for instance, the individualistic Song Dynasty neo-Confucians believed that Legalism departed from the original spirit of Confucianism. Examinations and a culture of merit remain greatly valued in China today. In recent years, a number of New Confucians have claimed that modern democratic ideals and human rights are compatible with traditional Confucian values. The first leaders of the People's Republic of China were born into the traditional imperial order, but were influenced by the May Fourth Movement and reformist ideals. They sought to change some traditional aspects of Chinese culture, such as rural land tenure, sexism, and the Confucian system of education, while preserving others, such as the family structure and culture of obedience to the state. Some observers see the period following the establishment of the PRC in 1949 as a continuation of traditional Chinese dynastic history, while others claim that the Communist Party's rule has damaged the foundations of Chinese culture, especially through political movements such as the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s, where many aspects of traditional culture were destroyed, having been denounced as 'regressive and harmful' or 'vestiges of feudalism'. Many important aspects of traditional Chinese morals and culture, such as Confucianism, Chinese art, literature, and performing arts like Peking opera, were altered to conform to government policies and propaganda at the time. Today, the Chinese government has accepted numerous elements of traditional Chinese culture as being integral to Chinese society. With the rise of Chinese nationalism and the end of the Cultural Revolution, various forms of traditional Chinese art, literature, music, film, fashion and architecture have seen a vigorous revival, and folk and variety art in particular have sparked interest nationally and even worldwide. Prior to the beginning of maritime Sino-European trade in the 16th century, medieval China and the European West were linked by the Silk Road, which was a key route of cultural as well as economic exchange. Artifacts from the history of the Road, as well as from the natural history of the Gobi desert, are displayed in the Silk Route Museum in Jiuquan. |This section requires expansion.| Chinese cuisine is highly diverse, drawing on several millennia of culinary history. The dynastic emperors of ancient China were known to host banquets with over 100 dishes served at a time, employing countless imperial kitchen staff and concubines to prepare the food. Such royal dishes gradually became a part of wider Chinese culture. China's staple food is rice, but the country is also well known for its meat dishes. Spices are endemic to Chinese cuisine. China has one of the oldest sporting cultures in the world. There is evidence that a form of association football was played in China around 1000 AD. Today, some of the most popular sports in the country include martial arts, basketball, football, table tennis, badminton, swimming and snooker. Board games such as go (weiqi), xiangqi, and more recently chess, are also played at a professional level. Physical fitness is widely emphasized in Chinese culture. Morning exercises are a common activity, with elderly citizens encouraged to practice qigong and t'ai chi ch'uan. Young people in China are also keen on basketball, especially in urban centers with limited space and grass areas. The American National Basketball Association has a huge following among Chinese youths, with Chinese players such as Yao Ming being held in high esteem. Many more traditional sports are also played in China. Dragon boat racing occurs during the annual nationwide Dragon Boat Festival, and has since gained popularity abroad. In Inner Mongolia, sports such as Mongolian-style wrestling and horse racing are popular. In Tibet, archery and equestrianism are a part of traditional festivals. China has participated at the Olympic Games since 1932, although it has only participated as the PRC since 1952. China hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and received 51 gold medals – the highest number of gold medals of any participating nation that year. China will host the 2013 East Asian Games in Tianjin and the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. |Find more about China on Wikipedia's sister projects:| |Definitions and translations from Wiktionary |Images and media from Commons |Learning resources from Wikiversity |News stories from Wikinews |Quotations from Wikiquote |Source texts from Wikisource |Textbooks from Wikibooks | North Korea East China Sea South China Sea

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Friday 3rd December Georgetown is one of Malaysians most visited cities. Founded in 1786 by Captain Francis Light as a base for the British East India Company in the Malay states, the town, which was named after the Prince of Wales soon developed into the state's economic and cultural hub. Georgetown has a great feel, with it's traditional wooden shophouses, well preserved colonial buildings, and the Malays, Indians and Chinese living in harmony, there is a lively, colourful, electric vibe to the city. Our morning was filled with sight seeing, there were many temples and mosques as well as interesting, quaint little streets with shophouses tucked here there and everywhere. First stop was the Kuan Yin Temple. Dedicated to Kuan Yin, or the goddess of mercy, this temple was originally constructed as a shared Hokkien and Cantonese temple and community centre. Its foundation stone was laid in 1800, making it one of the oldest Chinese temples in Penang. Kuan Yin is perhaps the most worshiped of Chinese deities, and also much revered by Buddhists and Taoists. Associated with peace, good fortune, and fertility, she is portrayed with 18 arms. offerings........Breakfast in a side street Kuan Yin Temple Incense sticks burning at the We bought four birds and set them free as it's good luck A short walk along the road and we came across the Masjid Kapitan Kling, the oldest and best known historic mosque in Penang, founded around 1800 by Caudeer Mohudeen. He was a prominent member of the island's Indian Muslim community and bore the title Kapitan Kling, or Captain of the Klings. Kling was a term employed at that time to describe Tamil Muslims, also called Ghulia, who formed the bulk of Penang's Indian Masjid Kapitan Kling On the opposite side of the road from the mosque is the Sri Mariamman Temple, a typical southern Indian temple with elaborately carved and painted gopuram, or tiered entrance gateway of a Hindu temple. Dedicated to the deity Mariamman, or Great Powerful Mother, this is Penang's oldest Hindu temple. Artisans were brought from Madras to create images of the goddess Mariamman in all her aspects. Subsequently a 23 ft high gopuram was added, with sculptures of about 38 Hindu deities. Sri Mariamman Temple by We took a walk along Campbell Street for the boutiques mentioned in the guide book, but unfortunately most of the shops were closed. One stretch of the road was dedicated to Gold shops so there were armed guards out on the street. We had a bit of fun with them, posing with their guns and checking to see if they were loaded, which they were. I think they enjoyed it as much as we did, a break to their daily routine. There are colours The shophouses or 'Five Foot Ways' were originally used by builders from Guangdong in China. This style of Chinese shophouse has long been associated with the former Straits Settlements of Singapore, Penang and Melacca. The widespread presence of five foot ways in Singapore and urban Malaysia is attributed to Sir Stamford Raffles, who decreed that all shophouses should have verandas that form continuous and open passages. Characterised by load-bearing gable walls and massive roof beams that span the building, these shophouses extend over the narrow sidewalks forming a sort of covered walkway and providing shelter from the sun and the monsoon rains. The sidewalk can be further shaded by lowering split bamboo blinds. After walking around for hours exploring Georgetown but also looking for somewhere to eat we ended up back at Sri Ananda Bahwan and once again the restaurant was jam packed! A taxi driver later asked us how we knew to go there, apparently it is the best place to eat, where all the locals go. Lucky us! sign, placed just under the menu - 'Please do not spit'! All sorts of nuts for sale on A few new outfits were purchased from the t-shirt shop.........A hat, a fan and sunglasses in one, what more could one want!?! Komtar, the tallest building in We stumbled across a jumble sale out on the streets Reminders of home!

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