To say the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton will be a massive media revelry is, at best, an understatement. Every major U.S. and international news organization and cable channel is jockeying for position. • Thirty years ago, Prince William's parents' wedding was the quintessence of royal watching. At the time, some 750 million people were said to have tuned in. This month, estimates of those who will be watching William and Kate tie the knot are as low as 1 billion viewers to as many as 2 billion. And it's happening in the early morning for U.S. royal watchers.
Television rundown What to expect, how to see it
Broadcast networks
PBS 3 to 8:30 a.m.
Public television stations will carry the BBC's live, commercial-free coverage as led by BBC veteran Huw Edwards. The BBC plans to cover the royal family's arrival at Westminster Abbey, the ceremony itself, the newly married couple's return to Buckingham Palace and, finally, the moment when Prince William and Princess Catherine greet the crowds from the palace balcony. BBC.com will stream the wedding live at bbc.com/royalwedding.
ABC 4 to 10 a.m.
Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters anchor coverage from Buckingham Palace.
NBC 4 to 10 a.m.
Today begins coverage from London at 4 a.m.
CBS 5 to 9 a.m.
After anchoring the evening news for a third straight night from London, Katie Couric leads live coverage beginning at 5 a.m.
Cable networks
BBC America 3 to 8:30 a.m.
The cable network will carry a direct simulcast of BBC One's commercial-free coverage.
MSNBC from 3 a.m.
Martin Bashir and Chris Jansing lead coverage from London until 5 a.m., when Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist take the reins.
CNN from 4 a.m.
Piers Morgan, Richard Quest, Anderson Cooper, Kiran Chetry and British broadcaster and fashion expert Cat Deeley anchor CNN's coverage from London.
2011年4月28日 星期四
Bungling robber jailed for Headington bookies' raid
AN ARMED robber who raided a city betting shop was caught after his swag bag snagged on a phone box and spilt its contents.
Robert Kelly, who claimed he was kidnapped and forced to commit the crime, thrust an imitation revolver at staff at Betfred in London Road, Headington, before demanding they put £1 coins in a bin bag.
As the 25-year-old ran away from the shop, the plastic sack caught on a phone box and ripped open, sending the money scattering.
Kelly, of Green Road, Headington, was jailed for five years at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent.
Roger Coventry, prosecuting, said Kelly and another man went into the bookmaker’s just after 8pm on February 15 this year.
He said: “One stood by the door and was clearly armed, and the second approached staff.
“His face was masked, he had what is described as a silver long-barrelled revolver and was saying words to the effect of ‘give me the money’.”
Mr Coventry said the man, who he said was Kelly, “banged on the counter and leapt on the counter” before taking about £150 in a bag.
He added: “The bag got snagged on a nearby phone box. It is from that the forensic evidence is linked.”
A second man, 25-year-old Aaron Gardner, of no fixed address, had also been charged with the robbery, but the case against him was dropped due to lack of evidence.
Charles Falk, defending Kelly, who has 22 previous convictions, said his client was kidnapped by a gang and pressured into the offence.
He said: “The reason he got involved with these people was he had been growing weed (for them) on a small-scale basis.”
Mr Falk said Kelly’s girlfriend destroyed the cannabis, angering the gang.
He added: “(Kelly was) taken to a shed in Green Road and once inside he was punched and kicked, tied with cable ties and made to kneel, and left in the shed for a day.”
After temporarily freeing himself he was then tied up again and left for another day, Mr Falk said.
He added: “He was ordered to commit this offence in this betting shop. He was not to profit. Anything he received was to be given to these men.”
Mr Falk, who said his client did not use duress as a formal excuse for the crime due to his growing of the cannabis, said police were continuing to investigate the alleged kidnap.
Judge Anthony King called the robbery an “extremely serious offence”.
Robert Kelly, who claimed he was kidnapped and forced to commit the crime, thrust an imitation revolver at staff at Betfred in London Road, Headington, before demanding they put £1 coins in a bin bag.
As the 25-year-old ran away from the shop, the plastic sack caught on a phone box and ripped open, sending the money scattering.
Kelly, of Green Road, Headington, was jailed for five years at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent.
Roger Coventry, prosecuting, said Kelly and another man went into the bookmaker’s just after 8pm on February 15 this year.
He said: “One stood by the door and was clearly armed, and the second approached staff.
“His face was masked, he had what is described as a silver long-barrelled revolver and was saying words to the effect of ‘give me the money’.”
Mr Coventry said the man, who he said was Kelly, “banged on the counter and leapt on the counter” before taking about £150 in a bag.
He added: “The bag got snagged on a nearby phone box. It is from that the forensic evidence is linked.”
A second man, 25-year-old Aaron Gardner, of no fixed address, had also been charged with the robbery, but the case against him was dropped due to lack of evidence.
Charles Falk, defending Kelly, who has 22 previous convictions, said his client was kidnapped by a gang and pressured into the offence.
He said: “The reason he got involved with these people was he had been growing weed (for them) on a small-scale basis.”
Mr Falk said Kelly’s girlfriend destroyed the cannabis, angering the gang.
He added: “(Kelly was) taken to a shed in Green Road and once inside he was punched and kicked, tied with cable ties and made to kneel, and left in the shed for a day.”
After temporarily freeing himself he was then tied up again and left for another day, Mr Falk said.
He added: “He was ordered to commit this offence in this betting shop. He was not to profit. Anything he received was to be given to these men.”
Mr Falk, who said his client did not use duress as a formal excuse for the crime due to his growing of the cannabis, said police were continuing to investigate the alleged kidnap.
Judge Anthony King called the robbery an “extremely serious offence”.
US, Turkey split over views on Syria, cables say
The United States administration expressed skepticism toward Turkish government attempts to mend ties with Syria to encourage the Arab country to enact reforms and showed no interest in entering tripartite dialogue, according to leaked U.S. cables from 2005.
“Our correspondents within the Turkish government say that Bashar al-Assad’s stranglehold on the regime is too weak to sustain anything beyond economic reforms,” read the cable link from Robert Deutsch, a U.S. diplomat in Ankara, published by the Turkish partner of WikiLeaks, daily Taraf.
The cable went further to say that the leaders of the Turkish government were trying to position Turkey in the role of a liaison between the United States, Israel and Syria, while encouraging economic reforms that could later lead to political reforms.
Calling the renewal of ties between Syria and Turkey a “lovefest,” the U.S. diplomat interpreted the Turkish government’s views on Syria as a combination of “wishful thinking and neo-Ottoman nostalgia.”
According to the cable, Deutsch also reminded an official from the Turkish Foreign Ministry that Turkey’s military threats against Syria in 1998 to expel Abdullah Öcalan, the now imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, had worked. Such concrete messages would be more effective against Syria, said Deutsch, according to the cable.
Another cable sent by the U.S. acting ambassador in Ankara, Nancy McEldowney, also revealed American reservations about the Turkish government’s belief in encouraging reforms in Syria by strengthening al-Assad’s hand. According to the cable, the U.S. diplomat expressed the American administration’s anxiety over a seeming lack of consensus in the international community regarding Syria’s behavior. McEldowney said rapprochement between Turkey and Syria could be used by the Syrian regime as a tool to gain further legitimacy.
McEldowney also said Turkish President Abdullah Gül felt “used” by the Syrian regime and was looking for ways to turn down a visit by al-Assad and his wife to Turkey, according to the cable.
“Our correspondents within the Turkish government say that Bashar al-Assad’s stranglehold on the regime is too weak to sustain anything beyond economic reforms,” read the cable link from Robert Deutsch, a U.S. diplomat in Ankara, published by the Turkish partner of WikiLeaks, daily Taraf.
The cable went further to say that the leaders of the Turkish government were trying to position Turkey in the role of a liaison between the United States, Israel and Syria, while encouraging economic reforms that could later lead to political reforms.
Calling the renewal of ties between Syria and Turkey a “lovefest,” the U.S. diplomat interpreted the Turkish government’s views on Syria as a combination of “wishful thinking and neo-Ottoman nostalgia.”
According to the cable, Deutsch also reminded an official from the Turkish Foreign Ministry that Turkey’s military threats against Syria in 1998 to expel Abdullah Öcalan, the now imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, had worked. Such concrete messages would be more effective against Syria, said Deutsch, according to the cable.
Another cable sent by the U.S. acting ambassador in Ankara, Nancy McEldowney, also revealed American reservations about the Turkish government’s belief in encouraging reforms in Syria by strengthening al-Assad’s hand. According to the cable, the U.S. diplomat expressed the American administration’s anxiety over a seeming lack of consensus in the international community regarding Syria’s behavior. McEldowney said rapprochement between Turkey and Syria could be used by the Syrian regime as a tool to gain further legitimacy.
McEldowney also said Turkish President Abdullah Gül felt “used” by the Syrian regime and was looking for ways to turn down a visit by al-Assad and his wife to Turkey, according to the cable.
2011年4月26日 星期二
Biden invites Putin to Washington
Vice President Joseph Biden invited Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to visit Washington during a phone call between the two leaders on April 21.
A White House official confirmed to The Cable that "the vice president said he would welcome seeing Prime Minister Putin in the U.S." The Russian press reported that Biden said President Barack Obama is also interested in seeing Putin if he visits. Biden saw Putin during his visit to Moscow last month.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin neither accepted nor rejected the offer due to "complex scheduling issues." The visit would be the first by Putin to the United States since Obama took office. The White House didn't provide any other details -- such as whether Biden would take Putin to Ray's Hell-Burger, where Obama took President Dmitry Medvedev for lunch last year.
Last year, during the debate over New START, Biden suggested that the U.S.-Russia reset was being pushed by Medvedev and that Putin was less enthusiastic about mending U.S.-Russia relations.
"Medvedev has rested everything on this notion of a reset. Who knows what Putin would do? My guess is he would not have gone there [in terms of committing to the reset], but maybe," Biden said.
For Putin's critics, who believe that the prime minister is an autocrat and is vastly overstepping his position in preparation for a return to the presidency in 2012, an official visit to Washington and meetings with Obama and Biden would send the wrong message.
"It's very puzzling that Mr. Putin is being invited to Washington, because in Russia the prime minister does not have any foreign policy role whatsoever," said Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., a member of the federal political council of the Russian opposition party Solidarity.
"It's the wrong signal, especially given the speculation that Mr. Putin wants to run in next year's election. It could be misinterpreted as support for Putin's plans," he said. "Everybody understands that Putin is the puppet master behind the puppet Medvedev, but I don't think that Washington should be playing Putin's games."
If and when Putin comes to town, the top issues will be Russian accession to the World Trade Organization, Russia's drive for visa waiver status, and the Obama administration's desire to pursue missile defense cooperation with Russia. Only one of those agenda items, WTO accession, seems even remotely likely. However, the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a U.S. law meant to punish Russia for its treatment of Jewish emigrants in the 1970s, stands in the way.
An official read out of the April 21 Biden-Putin phone call stated that the two leaders discussed "the Obama Administration's commitment to terminate Jackson-Vanik's application to Russia."
But the administration needs Congress to actually change the law, and it will be a tough slog to convince Russia skeptics that the deal is a net gain for U.S. interests. Russia hawks on Capitol Hill may also oppose the repeal of Jackson-Vanick due to their view that there has been a negative trend in Russia regarding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Last week, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) reintroduced The Magnitsky Act, which "imposes visa and economic sanctions on Russian state officials who are responsible for human rights abuses, torture and the death in custody of Sergei Magnitsky in November 2009." Congressional Republicans are preparing their own version of legislation to impose sanctions on specific Russian officials accused of human rights violations.
Meanwhile, allies of the Russian Federation are looking for ways around Congress to repeal Jackson-Vanik. Last week, President of the American University in Moscow Edward Lozansky filed a lawsuit against Obama in U.S. District Court attempting to force the administration to repeal Jackson-Vanik without Congressional action. The complaint can be found here (PDF).
"Lozansky's business interests are directly affected by the trade relationship between the United States and the Russian Federation," the lawsuit states. "The continued treatment of the Russian Federation as being subject to Jackson-Vanik stifles trade between the United States and the Russian Federation."
Unfortunately for Russia and Lozansky, a 2010 report by the Congressional Research Service stated that granting Russia "Normal Trade Relations" status, which includes repealing Jackson-Vanik, will have little direct impact on U.S.-Russian trade.
"In a possible debate on [Permanent Normal Trade Relations] for Russia, members of Congress may very well consider whether their concerns regarding Russian regulations on agricultural imports, intellectual property rights protection, or limitations on foreign investment have been sufficiently addressed in the bilateral agreement," the report stated. "Other issues regarding overall Russian economic or foreign policies, such as Russia's economic ties to Iran, could also emerge."
Of course, Russia would also need Georgia to agree to its WTO accession, but that's a whole other story.
A White House official confirmed to The Cable that "the vice president said he would welcome seeing Prime Minister Putin in the U.S." The Russian press reported that Biden said President Barack Obama is also interested in seeing Putin if he visits. Biden saw Putin during his visit to Moscow last month.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin neither accepted nor rejected the offer due to "complex scheduling issues." The visit would be the first by Putin to the United States since Obama took office. The White House didn't provide any other details -- such as whether Biden would take Putin to Ray's Hell-Burger, where Obama took President Dmitry Medvedev for lunch last year.
Last year, during the debate over New START, Biden suggested that the U.S.-Russia reset was being pushed by Medvedev and that Putin was less enthusiastic about mending U.S.-Russia relations.
"Medvedev has rested everything on this notion of a reset. Who knows what Putin would do? My guess is he would not have gone there [in terms of committing to the reset], but maybe," Biden said.
For Putin's critics, who believe that the prime minister is an autocrat and is vastly overstepping his position in preparation for a return to the presidency in 2012, an official visit to Washington and meetings with Obama and Biden would send the wrong message.
"It's very puzzling that Mr. Putin is being invited to Washington, because in Russia the prime minister does not have any foreign policy role whatsoever," said Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., a member of the federal political council of the Russian opposition party Solidarity.
"It's the wrong signal, especially given the speculation that Mr. Putin wants to run in next year's election. It could be misinterpreted as support for Putin's plans," he said. "Everybody understands that Putin is the puppet master behind the puppet Medvedev, but I don't think that Washington should be playing Putin's games."
If and when Putin comes to town, the top issues will be Russian accession to the World Trade Organization, Russia's drive for visa waiver status, and the Obama administration's desire to pursue missile defense cooperation with Russia. Only one of those agenda items, WTO accession, seems even remotely likely. However, the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a U.S. law meant to punish Russia for its treatment of Jewish emigrants in the 1970s, stands in the way.
An official read out of the April 21 Biden-Putin phone call stated that the two leaders discussed "the Obama Administration's commitment to terminate Jackson-Vanik's application to Russia."
But the administration needs Congress to actually change the law, and it will be a tough slog to convince Russia skeptics that the deal is a net gain for U.S. interests. Russia hawks on Capitol Hill may also oppose the repeal of Jackson-Vanick due to their view that there has been a negative trend in Russia regarding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Last week, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) reintroduced The Magnitsky Act, which "imposes visa and economic sanctions on Russian state officials who are responsible for human rights abuses, torture and the death in custody of Sergei Magnitsky in November 2009." Congressional Republicans are preparing their own version of legislation to impose sanctions on specific Russian officials accused of human rights violations.
Meanwhile, allies of the Russian Federation are looking for ways around Congress to repeal Jackson-Vanik. Last week, President of the American University in Moscow Edward Lozansky filed a lawsuit against Obama in U.S. District Court attempting to force the administration to repeal Jackson-Vanik without Congressional action. The complaint can be found here (PDF).
"Lozansky's business interests are directly affected by the trade relationship between the United States and the Russian Federation," the lawsuit states. "The continued treatment of the Russian Federation as being subject to Jackson-Vanik stifles trade between the United States and the Russian Federation."
Unfortunately for Russia and Lozansky, a 2010 report by the Congressional Research Service stated that granting Russia "Normal Trade Relations" status, which includes repealing Jackson-Vanik, will have little direct impact on U.S.-Russian trade.
"In a possible debate on [Permanent Normal Trade Relations] for Russia, members of Congress may very well consider whether their concerns regarding Russian regulations on agricultural imports, intellectual property rights protection, or limitations on foreign investment have been sufficiently addressed in the bilateral agreement," the report stated. "Other issues regarding overall Russian economic or foreign policies, such as Russia's economic ties to Iran, could also emerge."
Of course, Russia would also need Georgia to agree to its WTO accession, but that's a whole other story.
X-POSITION: Nick Lowe on "Schism," "X-Cutioner's Song" & "Vengeance"
The X-Men have always been a team that's remained busy, but looking at events on their horizon (according to upcoming solicitations), I'd recommend that the team stock up on Red Bull! Currently, they are embroiled in "Age of X," but in the coming year they'll have to deal with "Fear Itself," fallout from "Avengers: Children Crusade" and a split among the team in "X-Men: Schism." And all this doesn't even take the X-members' individual adventures and crossovers into account!
With such a full calendar, the editors of the X-books keep extremely busy. Still, they manage to find the time to come and share the love here at X-POSITION and answer all of your well-worded questions. Today, Senior Editor Nick Lowe joins us to tackle all your adoring emails. He's got his shoulder pads on and is ready to go!
Well, we're right in at the climax of "Age of X" and in the middle of "Collision" (Daken and X-23), so we'll probably give small crossovers a little breather right now.
That's fine with Kellen, who just needs to know where their favorite character ends up during the big event.
Is Storm going to be caught in the middle of the Cyclops/Wolverine break-up in "Schism" given that she knows both men so well? What direction will she be taking within the X-Men in the upcoming year?
Storm is going to have a lot of tough decisions to make in the next year, but I promise Storm fans (especially X-Editor Daniel Ketchum, #1 Storm fan) that she's going to be a huge part of X-Plans.
Marcus was also curious about another mutant's opinion of the upcoming split, and had a few questions about other Marvel heroes too:
With such a full calendar, the editors of the X-books keep extremely busy. Still, they manage to find the time to come and share the love here at X-POSITION and answer all of your well-worded questions. Today, Senior Editor Nick Lowe joins us to tackle all your adoring emails. He's got his shoulder pads on and is ready to go!
Well, we're right in at the climax of "Age of X" and in the middle of "Collision" (Daken and X-23), so we'll probably give small crossovers a little breather right now.
That's fine with Kellen, who just needs to know where their favorite character ends up during the big event.
Is Storm going to be caught in the middle of the Cyclops/Wolverine break-up in "Schism" given that she knows both men so well? What direction will she be taking within the X-Men in the upcoming year?
Storm is going to have a lot of tough decisions to make in the next year, but I promise Storm fans (especially X-Editor Daniel Ketchum, #1 Storm fan) that she's going to be a huge part of X-Plans.
Marcus was also curious about another mutant's opinion of the upcoming split, and had a few questions about other Marvel heroes too:
Get your home office wired for success
Luckily for me, the move she has in mind won't involve lawyers or packing bags. She wants me to move out of the home office we share. She works neatly. I, on the other hand, leave a trail of debris and clutter behind like some especially messy snail.
I do have another office down in the daylight basement. But I often find myself sitting at a desk in the upstairs office Mary uses. She profits from that: I offer witty remarks about things I have found on the Web and sometimes I even turn on a spare ham radio I keep up there to add to the entertainment. So you can see, even if she does not, that I bring a lot of value to the table.
To convince Mary of my good intentions -- and perhaps maintain my seat in the upstairs office -- I have embarked on a decluttering mission to convince her of my worth. I'll take you along with me today as I attack a maze of wires clumped together like especially amorous snakes that trail under desks and along the walls of our home office.
There's value in this for you, since there are reasons beyond neatness for straightening up the growing number of cables and wires in any home office. Computers breed wires like rabbits breed young ones. There will be times when you need to replace one of your home office devices or work on one of them. The worst part of the job often is finding which cable in the tangle goes where.
Unless you've paid close attention to your own growing collection of wires you may be surprised at what you'll find under your desk (not even counting the Coke bottles and candy wrappers I found).
It's not unusual to see, in one room, a couple of computers; a router for networking your home office; a UPS (uninterruptable power supply) to provide back-up power for your computers; a telephone or two; maybe even an old-fashioned fax machine like we own; external hard disks that connect to your computers for making back-ups; a high-speed modem; a paper shredder; cables used to connect a smart phone to the computer; a card reader device to transfer photos to your computer, a table lamp or two; and various wall warts used to power modems, hard disks, telephones and the like.
Making sense of all those wires and cables can let you quickly connect and reconnect your gadgets when something goes haywire. You'll also avoid tripping over one of the wires and hurting both yourself and the devices attached to the wire. And, not so incidentally, the office will look a lot better when you’re done.
Decluttering your wires isn't difficult, although it can be time consuming. So let's get started.
First, we will put a label at both ends of every wire and cable. If you have a label-making machine, you can do an especially neat job of things. If not, I suggest using your printer to create the labels. You can attach them using clear tape; I recommend the extra sturdy clear tape used for taping shipping boxes since it's more likely to stick around. It'll do a better job than the transparent tape you keep on your desk. However you do things, tape the labels on securely and in a way that will let you read them easily.
When you're done, a typical cable might have a label that looks like this. On one end it might say: ROUTER. On the other end of the same cable: BILL'S COMPUTER. Make the same kind of labels for every wire and cable. You'll end up with labels like: iPHONE CHARGER, SPEAKER POWER, TO MODEM, FROM MODEM. You get the idea.
Do all that while the wires and cables are still connected to your devices so you don’t add to the confusion. Then, once everything is labeled, we're going to disconnect almost everything. By doing that, we'll free up the wires so we can untangle the mess beneath your desk or desks. It's almost impossible to straighten out the wires while they are connected.
You'll need several packages of cable ties. They can be found at Home Depot, Lowes or Radio Shack. Cable ties are used to bundle wires together. So, for instance, if you have several power cables that go to a UPS, you can create a neat bundle. Then you can bundle up ethernet cables. Once that's completed you'll have a neat, tangle-free group of wires.
Some of your wires may travel quite a distance. In our home office, there are both ethernet and telephone cables that start beneath Mary's desk and travel along the walls over to my desk. They're an accident waiting to happen. If they eventually creep away from the wall a bit, you can trip over them (I've demonstrated that more than once). Hardware stores sell hollow plastic molding strips specially made to solve the problem. Your wires fit in the hollow section and the molding strips can be tacked between wall and floor. That not only hides the wires, it protects them.
Once all that is done, you will have an easy time reattaching all your wires and cables, since everything is neatly bundled and labeled. And, as you reattach them, you are almost certain to make a nice discovery. I'll bet -- once everything is hooked up -- you'll find wires and cables and wall warts that are no longer used. Remove them (tuck them away in a drawer instead of throwing them away, they may come in handy some day).
Now you're done. Not only does your home office look better but it's also going to be much easier next time you need to replace a router or work on a computer. After all, the last thing you want to do in a repair emergency is to paw through a nest of wires just to find the ones you need.
I did such a good job in the upstairs office that I'm now assigned to repeat the same decluttering process in the downstairs office. At times virtue has unexpected and unpleasant rewards.
I do have another office down in the daylight basement. But I often find myself sitting at a desk in the upstairs office Mary uses. She profits from that: I offer witty remarks about things I have found on the Web and sometimes I even turn on a spare ham radio I keep up there to add to the entertainment. So you can see, even if she does not, that I bring a lot of value to the table.
To convince Mary of my good intentions -- and perhaps maintain my seat in the upstairs office -- I have embarked on a decluttering mission to convince her of my worth. I'll take you along with me today as I attack a maze of wires clumped together like especially amorous snakes that trail under desks and along the walls of our home office.
There's value in this for you, since there are reasons beyond neatness for straightening up the growing number of cables and wires in any home office. Computers breed wires like rabbits breed young ones. There will be times when you need to replace one of your home office devices or work on one of them. The worst part of the job often is finding which cable in the tangle goes where.
Unless you've paid close attention to your own growing collection of wires you may be surprised at what you'll find under your desk (not even counting the Coke bottles and candy wrappers I found).
It's not unusual to see, in one room, a couple of computers; a router for networking your home office; a UPS (uninterruptable power supply) to provide back-up power for your computers; a telephone or two; maybe even an old-fashioned fax machine like we own; external hard disks that connect to your computers for making back-ups; a high-speed modem; a paper shredder; cables used to connect a smart phone to the computer; a card reader device to transfer photos to your computer, a table lamp or two; and various wall warts used to power modems, hard disks, telephones and the like.
Making sense of all those wires and cables can let you quickly connect and reconnect your gadgets when something goes haywire. You'll also avoid tripping over one of the wires and hurting both yourself and the devices attached to the wire. And, not so incidentally, the office will look a lot better when you’re done.
Decluttering your wires isn't difficult, although it can be time consuming. So let's get started.
First, we will put a label at both ends of every wire and cable. If you have a label-making machine, you can do an especially neat job of things. If not, I suggest using your printer to create the labels. You can attach them using clear tape; I recommend the extra sturdy clear tape used for taping shipping boxes since it's more likely to stick around. It'll do a better job than the transparent tape you keep on your desk. However you do things, tape the labels on securely and in a way that will let you read them easily.
When you're done, a typical cable might have a label that looks like this. On one end it might say: ROUTER. On the other end of the same cable: BILL'S COMPUTER. Make the same kind of labels for every wire and cable. You'll end up with labels like: iPHONE CHARGER, SPEAKER POWER, TO MODEM, FROM MODEM. You get the idea.
Do all that while the wires and cables are still connected to your devices so you don’t add to the confusion. Then, once everything is labeled, we're going to disconnect almost everything. By doing that, we'll free up the wires so we can untangle the mess beneath your desk or desks. It's almost impossible to straighten out the wires while they are connected.
You'll need several packages of cable ties. They can be found at Home Depot, Lowes or Radio Shack. Cable ties are used to bundle wires together. So, for instance, if you have several power cables that go to a UPS, you can create a neat bundle. Then you can bundle up ethernet cables. Once that's completed you'll have a neat, tangle-free group of wires.
Some of your wires may travel quite a distance. In our home office, there are both ethernet and telephone cables that start beneath Mary's desk and travel along the walls over to my desk. They're an accident waiting to happen. If they eventually creep away from the wall a bit, you can trip over them (I've demonstrated that more than once). Hardware stores sell hollow plastic molding strips specially made to solve the problem. Your wires fit in the hollow section and the molding strips can be tacked between wall and floor. That not only hides the wires, it protects them.
Once all that is done, you will have an easy time reattaching all your wires and cables, since everything is neatly bundled and labeled. And, as you reattach them, you are almost certain to make a nice discovery. I'll bet -- once everything is hooked up -- you'll find wires and cables and wall warts that are no longer used. Remove them (tuck them away in a drawer instead of throwing them away, they may come in handy some day).
Now you're done. Not only does your home office look better but it's also going to be much easier next time you need to replace a router or work on a computer. After all, the last thing you want to do in a repair emergency is to paw through a nest of wires just to find the ones you need.
I did such a good job in the upstairs office that I'm now assigned to repeat the same decluttering process in the downstairs office. At times virtue has unexpected and unpleasant rewards.
2011年4月24日 星期日
Windsor Hotel one of buildings lost in Bangor’s Great Fire of 1911
One of the downtown buildings lost to the fire was the Windsor Hotel, which the
1901 Bangor City Directory lists as being located at 100-120 Harlow St. Not
having the 1911 city directory at hand, I decided to see what the 1910 U.S.
Census might tell us about who lived at the Windsor. The area was enumerated in
1910 by Martin Goode as part of Bangor’s Ward 6.
The Windsor was run by New Hampshire native Frank W. Durgin, 56, hotel keeper,
and his wife, Maine-born Martha J. Durgin, 57, landlady. The Durgins had been
married 38 years — his first marriage, her second.
Daughter Lottie M. Durgin was 22. Daughter Ethel Young, 37, was married to Frank
O. Young, 37, hotel manager, and they had a daughter, Louise, 11. Also living
with the Durgins was Frank’s mother-in-law, Rose A. Kimball, 86, widowed. That’
s four generations in one census household.
Servants at the hotel in 1910 included Walter Crawford, 20; Charles Saulniel, 25,
Canadian French; Mable Allen, 27, Canadian English; Joseph Gaudette, 25, Canadian
French; Charles Bridges, 23, Canadian “Scotch”; Lucie Goldsmith, 25; Agusta
Moody, 52; and of course, many “roomers.”
The Cole Land Transportation Museum at 405 Perry Road always opens for the season
on May 1 — except this year. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great
Fire of 1911, the museum will open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 30, in Bangor.
Visitors will be interested in seeing the 1908 Amoskeag pumper, once owned by
Portland Fire Department and assigned to Engine Co. 3 on Brackett Street. It was
pulled by two horses until 1924 when a two-wheel 48-hp Christie tractor was
attached and the equipment was used to fight many Portland area fires.
The pumper is of special interest because it is very similar to the Amoskeag that
Portland Fire Department actually sent by train to help fight the Great Fire of
1911 in Bangor. The one at the museum was purchased by Cameron Bradley in 1946
and donated to the museum in 1989.
The Cole Museum’s special guest 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday will be Michael Daicy, a
member of Portland Fire Department for 31 years and its historian. He is very
knowledgeable about the equipment that Portland sent to help Bangor in 1911 and
will share a historic film showing scenes of horse-drawn firefighting apparatus
leaving and returning to the station in 1912.
Admission to the museum is $6 adults, $4 senior citizens, free to those age 18
and under.
BDN reporter Diana Bowley wrote a nice article about Bill Sawtell Day in the
April 12 edition of the paper. Sawtell for 29 years donated time and resources to
share local history, to arrange tours and to bring in speakers for Brownville
Elementary School.
As readers of Family Ties know, I appreciate the many books Sawtell has written
about small towns in the Piscataquis County area, towns that often are overlooked
because of their size. Sawtell’s most recent book, co-written with Ruth Cyr, is
“History and Stories of Milo Junction/Derby, Maine.”
Among his other books are “Schoodic Lake Revisited,” “Katahdin Iron Works and
Gulf Hagas,” “Glimpses of Greenville,” “Onawa Revisited,” “The Ron Marks
Story” and “The Wall.”
You may see some of these books in local libraries, or you can find out which
ones are still available for purchase by writing Bill Sawtell, P.O. Box 272,
Brownville, ME 04414.
1901 Bangor City Directory lists as being located at 100-120 Harlow St. Not
having the 1911 city directory at hand, I decided to see what the 1910 U.S.
Census might tell us about who lived at the Windsor. The area was enumerated in
1910 by Martin Goode as part of Bangor’s Ward 6.
The Windsor was run by New Hampshire native Frank W. Durgin, 56, hotel keeper,
and his wife, Maine-born Martha J. Durgin, 57, landlady. The Durgins had been
married 38 years — his first marriage, her second.
Daughter Lottie M. Durgin was 22. Daughter Ethel Young, 37, was married to Frank
O. Young, 37, hotel manager, and they had a daughter, Louise, 11. Also living
with the Durgins was Frank’s mother-in-law, Rose A. Kimball, 86, widowed. That’
s four generations in one census household.
Servants at the hotel in 1910 included Walter Crawford, 20; Charles Saulniel, 25,
Canadian French; Mable Allen, 27, Canadian English; Joseph Gaudette, 25, Canadian
French; Charles Bridges, 23, Canadian “Scotch”; Lucie Goldsmith, 25; Agusta
Moody, 52; and of course, many “roomers.”
The Cole Land Transportation Museum at 405 Perry Road always opens for the season
on May 1 — except this year. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great
Fire of 1911, the museum will open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 30, in Bangor.
Visitors will be interested in seeing the 1908 Amoskeag pumper, once owned by
Portland Fire Department and assigned to Engine Co. 3 on Brackett Street. It was
pulled by two horses until 1924 when a two-wheel 48-hp Christie tractor was
attached and the equipment was used to fight many Portland area fires.
The pumper is of special interest because it is very similar to the Amoskeag that
Portland Fire Department actually sent by train to help fight the Great Fire of
1911 in Bangor. The one at the museum was purchased by Cameron Bradley in 1946
and donated to the museum in 1989.
The Cole Museum’s special guest 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday will be Michael Daicy, a
member of Portland Fire Department for 31 years and its historian. He is very
knowledgeable about the equipment that Portland sent to help Bangor in 1911 and
will share a historic film showing scenes of horse-drawn firefighting apparatus
leaving and returning to the station in 1912.
Admission to the museum is $6 adults, $4 senior citizens, free to those age 18
and under.
BDN reporter Diana Bowley wrote a nice article about Bill Sawtell Day in the
April 12 edition of the paper. Sawtell for 29 years donated time and resources to
share local history, to arrange tours and to bring in speakers for Brownville
Elementary School.
As readers of Family Ties know, I appreciate the many books Sawtell has written
about small towns in the Piscataquis County area, towns that often are overlooked
because of their size. Sawtell’s most recent book, co-written with Ruth Cyr, is
“History and Stories of Milo Junction/Derby, Maine.”
Among his other books are “Schoodic Lake Revisited,” “Katahdin Iron Works and
Gulf Hagas,” “Glimpses of Greenville,” “Onawa Revisited,” “The Ron Marks
Story” and “The Wall.”
You may see some of these books in local libraries, or you can find out which
ones are still available for purchase by writing Bill Sawtell, P.O. Box 272,
Brownville, ME 04414.
US must promote India to counter the 'Chinese model' - Mulford cable
A December 2006 US diplomatic cable leaked by Wikileaks has given valuable insights into what the Americans, at least the then US ambassador David Mulford, viewed as India’s role in the emerging political scenario in Asia.
Not only did Mulford see India as a counterweight to China, “which it can never match,” but he also felt India would become an unavoidable ally due to its rising economic clout.
India “is the secular home to the world's second largest muslim population, a regional naval power whose interests in maritime security closely match the United States', a growing economic giant, a nuclear power, an educational dynamo, a strategically located land and sea link for all Asia, an oasis of stability in a dysfunctional neighborhood, and a nation that is on its own actively seeking closer ties with Japan and Australia,” Mulford wrote in December 2006, days before the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was to reach Japan on a diplomatic visit.
The primary thrust of Mulford’s advocacy of close relationship with India was geo-political. As China was not a democracy, there was a limit to how friendly the Sino-US relationship can ever be, but the US faced no such limitation on its relationship with India, the so-called world’s ‘largest democracy.’
“India may never have the military might of China, however, it will have significant power projection capabilities. What the U.S. stands to gain by adding India to the U.S.-Japan-Australia mix is essentially squaring the circle in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing a geometric and geopolitical connection for democracy that spans nearly half the globe. Whereas the U.S.-Japan-Australia partnership links the U.S. to the western edge of the Pacific Rim, the addition of India penetrates all the way through to South Asia,” Mulford pointed out.
He is not asking the US to trust India as much as it does Japan and Australia, its traditional allies stretching back half a century, Mulford clarified, but he wants the US not to ‘miss the bus’ on the fast-changing geo-politics of the region.
“Leaders from every country which seeks global influence are beating a path to New Delhi, and if we want the bilateral relationship to have value, it will be in leveraging India's emergence as part of our global strategy. As India and Japan grow closer, the U.S. needs to pounce on this moment of opportunity to shape the direction diplomacy in this region takes in the coming decades,” he warned.
Mulford also dismissed those who felt closer ties to India may anger China into larger and larger spends on its military, making it difficult to ‘contain’ the country after a while. He said the Chinese have already increased their military spend by 10 fold in 15 years and are doing everything they can to project their power throughout Asia.
“The fact is while China is actively seeking to spread its influence through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, its "string of pearls" in the Indian Ocean or other diplomatic initiatives (none of which suggest China defers to American anxieties as it proceeds), a more visible U.S.-Japan-India friendship would signal that free and democratic nations, too, pursue their interests, along with partners who share our values. We will be offering other hopeful emerging nations on the continent a distinctly alternative model to China's,” he pointed out.
“Ultimately, any threat from China is diminished -- not increased -- with greater U.S.-Japan-India ties,” he added.
Not only did Mulford see India as a counterweight to China, “which it can never match,” but he also felt India would become an unavoidable ally due to its rising economic clout.
India “is the secular home to the world's second largest muslim population, a regional naval power whose interests in maritime security closely match the United States', a growing economic giant, a nuclear power, an educational dynamo, a strategically located land and sea link for all Asia, an oasis of stability in a dysfunctional neighborhood, and a nation that is on its own actively seeking closer ties with Japan and Australia,” Mulford wrote in December 2006, days before the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was to reach Japan on a diplomatic visit.
The primary thrust of Mulford’s advocacy of close relationship with India was geo-political. As China was not a democracy, there was a limit to how friendly the Sino-US relationship can ever be, but the US faced no such limitation on its relationship with India, the so-called world’s ‘largest democracy.’
“India may never have the military might of China, however, it will have significant power projection capabilities. What the U.S. stands to gain by adding India to the U.S.-Japan-Australia mix is essentially squaring the circle in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing a geometric and geopolitical connection for democracy that spans nearly half the globe. Whereas the U.S.-Japan-Australia partnership links the U.S. to the western edge of the Pacific Rim, the addition of India penetrates all the way through to South Asia,” Mulford pointed out.
He is not asking the US to trust India as much as it does Japan and Australia, its traditional allies stretching back half a century, Mulford clarified, but he wants the US not to ‘miss the bus’ on the fast-changing geo-politics of the region.
“Leaders from every country which seeks global influence are beating a path to New Delhi, and if we want the bilateral relationship to have value, it will be in leveraging India's emergence as part of our global strategy. As India and Japan grow closer, the U.S. needs to pounce on this moment of opportunity to shape the direction diplomacy in this region takes in the coming decades,” he warned.
Mulford also dismissed those who felt closer ties to India may anger China into larger and larger spends on its military, making it difficult to ‘contain’ the country after a while. He said the Chinese have already increased their military spend by 10 fold in 15 years and are doing everything they can to project their power throughout Asia.
“The fact is while China is actively seeking to spread its influence through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, its "string of pearls" in the Indian Ocean or other diplomatic initiatives (none of which suggest China defers to American anxieties as it proceeds), a more visible U.S.-Japan-India friendship would signal that free and democratic nations, too, pursue their interests, along with partners who share our values. We will be offering other hopeful emerging nations on the continent a distinctly alternative model to China's,” he pointed out.
“Ultimately, any threat from China is diminished -- not increased -- with greater U.S.-Japan-India ties,” he added.
Viacom's VH1 Gains Traction With Women
VH1's bid to draw young women with a line-up of flashy new reality shows is working—so far.
"Mob Wives," a provocative reality program about a group of women who were born into, or married into, reputed Mafia families, drew 1.4 million viewers when it premiered on the Viacom Inc. cable channel a week ago Sunday. About 68% of those viewers were women.
By comparison, the reality hit "Jersey Shore" drew about 1.38 million viewers when it debuted on VH1's sister channel, MTV, in December 2009.
The new show's audience represented a 32% increase from the average number of women 18- to 49-years-old who watched VH1 at 8 p.m. on Sundays during the first three months of 2011. On the Sunday of its debut, "Mob Wives" ranked No. 3 in Google searches.
After seeing its audience erode in recent years, VH1 recently overhauled its programming to target young women. "Mob Wives" is a cornerstone of the channel's new strategy as its executives turn away from dating-competition shows to programs that focus on more serious subjects, such as family, religion, and the Mafia.
—Lauren A.E. Schuker
CBS Aims to Name New Anchor Soon
The new brass at CBS Corp.'s CBS News hopes to name a new anchor and unveil other changes in the network's evening newscast as early as next week, regardless of whether current anchor Katie Couric has picked her next job, said people familiar with the matter.
Ms. Couric's contract at the network expires in early June, and she is still weighing offers, including one from CBS, to host a daytime talk show. She likely won't finalize her plans before CBS News announces its changes, one of the people familiar with the matter said. But Ms. Couric, who is going to London to cover the royal wedding this week, may publicly acknowledge that she is leaving her anchor seat in coming days, this person added.
CBS News is expected to name "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley as its "CBS Evening News" anchor, and make other behind-the-camera changes at the show, the people familiar with the matter said. CBS is hoping to improve the news broadcast's No. 3 ratings, in part by focusing on traditional news coverage, one of these people added.
—Sam Schechner
WNET Bids to Run New Jersey Network
WNET, the top public-television provider to the New York metropolitan area, has submitted a bid to manage New Jersey Network, one of the country's largest statewide public-broadcasting networks, and is expecting to hear back next week, according to people familiar with the situation.
Last year, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signaled his desire to sever ties with NJN, planning to eliminate its $11 million state subsidy. He is one of several public officials trying to extricate their states from the public-television business, which is undergoing a wave of consolidation in the face of cutbacks.
NJN, which has been on the air for more than 40 years, is a member of the Public Broadcasting Service television network and the National Public Radio network. It also broadcasts its own programming, mostly related to issues in New Jersey.
In addition to WNET, which runs public-television channels WNET13 and WLIW21, potential suitors for NJN are WHYY, a PBS member in Philadelphia, and local organizations such as WBGO, a public-radio station broadcast out of Newark.
—Lauren A. E. Schuker
Self-Publishing Leads to Literary Break-Up
Can literary agents survive in an era of self-publishing? A high-profile author-agent break-up is a cautionary tale.
A few weeks ago, thriller writer Barry Eisler parted ways with agent Dan Conaway, who had represented him since the summer of 2007.
Part of the reason: Mr. Eisler just didn't need him.
The author had recently rejected a $500,000, two-book deal from a leading publisher in favor of self-publishing "The Detachment," a thriller featuring his character John Rain, a Japanese-American assassin. He plans to publish the title this summer as an e-book and a physical book.
"The thing that has enabled agents to take their 15% cut is brokering the deal and managing the relationship that results from the deal," said Mr. Eisler. "In a self-published world, those things don't apply."
To survive, agents need to morph into business managers who also handle the traditional publishing roles such as copy-editing, proof-reading, and jacket design. "That will be their value proposition," he said.
Mr. Conaway declined to comment, except to confirm that he no longer represents Mr. Eisler.
Mr. Eisler may not have slammed the door shut on traditional publishing, however. "If circumstances change, and I decide I'd be better off in the legacy world again, I could always go back," he said. "If there's anything to go back to."
"Mob Wives," a provocative reality program about a group of women who were born into, or married into, reputed Mafia families, drew 1.4 million viewers when it premiered on the Viacom Inc. cable channel a week ago Sunday. About 68% of those viewers were women.
By comparison, the reality hit "Jersey Shore" drew about 1.38 million viewers when it debuted on VH1's sister channel, MTV, in December 2009.
The new show's audience represented a 32% increase from the average number of women 18- to 49-years-old who watched VH1 at 8 p.m. on Sundays during the first three months of 2011. On the Sunday of its debut, "Mob Wives" ranked No. 3 in Google searches.
After seeing its audience erode in recent years, VH1 recently overhauled its programming to target young women. "Mob Wives" is a cornerstone of the channel's new strategy as its executives turn away from dating-competition shows to programs that focus on more serious subjects, such as family, religion, and the Mafia.
—Lauren A.E. Schuker
CBS Aims to Name New Anchor Soon
The new brass at CBS Corp.'s CBS News hopes to name a new anchor and unveil other changes in the network's evening newscast as early as next week, regardless of whether current anchor Katie Couric has picked her next job, said people familiar with the matter.
Ms. Couric's contract at the network expires in early June, and she is still weighing offers, including one from CBS, to host a daytime talk show. She likely won't finalize her plans before CBS News announces its changes, one of the people familiar with the matter said. But Ms. Couric, who is going to London to cover the royal wedding this week, may publicly acknowledge that she is leaving her anchor seat in coming days, this person added.
CBS News is expected to name "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley as its "CBS Evening News" anchor, and make other behind-the-camera changes at the show, the people familiar with the matter said. CBS is hoping to improve the news broadcast's No. 3 ratings, in part by focusing on traditional news coverage, one of these people added.
—Sam Schechner
WNET Bids to Run New Jersey Network
WNET, the top public-television provider to the New York metropolitan area, has submitted a bid to manage New Jersey Network, one of the country's largest statewide public-broadcasting networks, and is expecting to hear back next week, according to people familiar with the situation.
Last year, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signaled his desire to sever ties with NJN, planning to eliminate its $11 million state subsidy. He is one of several public officials trying to extricate their states from the public-television business, which is undergoing a wave of consolidation in the face of cutbacks.
NJN, which has been on the air for more than 40 years, is a member of the Public Broadcasting Service television network and the National Public Radio network. It also broadcasts its own programming, mostly related to issues in New Jersey.
In addition to WNET, which runs public-television channels WNET13 and WLIW21, potential suitors for NJN are WHYY, a PBS member in Philadelphia, and local organizations such as WBGO, a public-radio station broadcast out of Newark.
—Lauren A. E. Schuker
Self-Publishing Leads to Literary Break-Up
Can literary agents survive in an era of self-publishing? A high-profile author-agent break-up is a cautionary tale.
A few weeks ago, thriller writer Barry Eisler parted ways with agent Dan Conaway, who had represented him since the summer of 2007.
Part of the reason: Mr. Eisler just didn't need him.
The author had recently rejected a $500,000, two-book deal from a leading publisher in favor of self-publishing "The Detachment," a thriller featuring his character John Rain, a Japanese-American assassin. He plans to publish the title this summer as an e-book and a physical book.
"The thing that has enabled agents to take their 15% cut is brokering the deal and managing the relationship that results from the deal," said Mr. Eisler. "In a self-published world, those things don't apply."
To survive, agents need to morph into business managers who also handle the traditional publishing roles such as copy-editing, proof-reading, and jacket design. "That will be their value proposition," he said.
Mr. Conaway declined to comment, except to confirm that he no longer represents Mr. Eisler.
Mr. Eisler may not have slammed the door shut on traditional publishing, however. "If circumstances change, and I decide I'd be better off in the legacy world again, I could always go back," he said. "If there's anything to go back to."
2011年4月23日 星期六
Lantana flowers in glass tubes
FLORAL JOURNEY: It's hip to be square, A beautiful flower arrangement you can create for yourself by Sakul Intakul
...For today's composition, out of the essential four principles from FlorESSENCE, I choose to combine "Cubes and Squares" and "The Verticle" together as a simple example to show you of how to put my floral "mathematical secrets" into action. In this refreshing composition, "Cubes and Squares" is the primary design principle and 'The Verticle' secondary.
First, I acquire a square wooden frame. Then, I cut the pieces of twigs to the length that is just a little longer that the height of the inner frame so that when I place it vertically within my wooden frame, it will fit just right and the frame will hold the twig in place without any other support. When all the twigs are in line vertically across the width of the frame, I continue to attach small glass tubes to the twigs with plastic cable-ties. After pouring clean water into the glass tubes, they will act as the water receptacles for the flowers.
I proceed to measure the stem of lantana's aromatic flower clusters and cut it at an appropriate length which is a little longer than the length of the glass tube. I complete the composition by simply placing the stems of lantana flowers in all the glass tubes. What we have now is a Floral Frame that is created by combining the "Cubes and Squares" and "The Verticle" principles together. Looking closely yet, you will find "The Horizontal" line of lantana blossoms quietly and secretly making their way across the composition.
STEP-BY-STEP
1. Cut pieces of twigs to the length that is just a little longer that the height of the inner frame
2. Place the cut twigs vertically across the wooden frame
3. Attach small glass tubes to the twigs with plastic cable-ties
4. Pour clean water into the glass tubes that will then act as the water receptacles for the flowers
5. Measure the stem of lantana’s aromatic flower clusters and cut it at an appropriate length which is a little longer than the length of the glass tube
6. Complete the composition by simply placing the stems of lantana flowers in all the glass tubes
TIPS
1. Rectangular frame when placed horizontally can also be treated as another suitable form of similar floral frame
2. Several floral frames can be continuously placed as the centrepiece of a long dining table.
3. Small form flowers such as orchids or small mass flowers like miniature green spider chrysanthemums are fine floral substitutes
...For today's composition, out of the essential four principles from FlorESSENCE, I choose to combine "Cubes and Squares" and "The Verticle" together as a simple example to show you of how to put my floral "mathematical secrets" into action. In this refreshing composition, "Cubes and Squares" is the primary design principle and 'The Verticle' secondary.
First, I acquire a square wooden frame. Then, I cut the pieces of twigs to the length that is just a little longer that the height of the inner frame so that when I place it vertically within my wooden frame, it will fit just right and the frame will hold the twig in place without any other support. When all the twigs are in line vertically across the width of the frame, I continue to attach small glass tubes to the twigs with plastic cable-ties. After pouring clean water into the glass tubes, they will act as the water receptacles for the flowers.
I proceed to measure the stem of lantana's aromatic flower clusters and cut it at an appropriate length which is a little longer than the length of the glass tube. I complete the composition by simply placing the stems of lantana flowers in all the glass tubes. What we have now is a Floral Frame that is created by combining the "Cubes and Squares" and "The Verticle" principles together. Looking closely yet, you will find "The Horizontal" line of lantana blossoms quietly and secretly making their way across the composition.
STEP-BY-STEP
1. Cut pieces of twigs to the length that is just a little longer that the height of the inner frame
2. Place the cut twigs vertically across the wooden frame
3. Attach small glass tubes to the twigs with plastic cable-ties
4. Pour clean water into the glass tubes that will then act as the water receptacles for the flowers
5. Measure the stem of lantana’s aromatic flower clusters and cut it at an appropriate length which is a little longer than the length of the glass tube
6. Complete the composition by simply placing the stems of lantana flowers in all the glass tubes
TIPS
1. Rectangular frame when placed horizontally can also be treated as another suitable form of similar floral frame
2. Several floral frames can be continuously placed as the centrepiece of a long dining table.
3. Small form flowers such as orchids or small mass flowers like miniature green spider chrysanthemums are fine floral substitutes
'PM Manmohan Singh opened secret talks with Kayani 10 months ago'
LONDON: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had initiated a secret contact with Pakistani army chief Ashfaq Kiyani 10 months ago through an unofficial envoy that helped prepare the ground for the cricket diplomacy at Mohali, according to a report in a leading British newspaper.
"The Times" of London on Saturday reported the back channel exercise was intended to ensure the powerful Pakistani army's backing for the peace process and led to hope in Western capitals about India and Pakistan putting their bilateral process on track.
The report, however, did not receive any endorsement from either the Indian foreign office or the Prime Minister's Office. The PMO spokesperson said he would offer no comment as he had not read the report. The foreign office also did not react to the report when approached by the media.
"Manmohan Singh appointed an unofficial envoy to make contact with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani," the newspaper stated. It did not identify the person.
India-Pakistan ties were in doldrums before Singh decided to inject some momentum and invited Pakistani prime minister Yousuf Gilani to watch the cricket World Cup semi-final between the two nations at Mohali. While the invitation materialized after India won its quarter-final against Australia, Singh's commitment to the peace process is well known.
With the Pakistan army having the final say on India policy, the effort to reach out to Kayani was previously reported by TOI as well. The new claims speak of an unofficial messenger seeking to test waters and see if Kayani's backing could be ensured to boost ties that have never quite recovered since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The cautious response of Indian officials to "The Times" report could be rooted in the apprehension of sparking a political controversy. Alleged contact with the Pakistani army is bound to invite the Opposition's inquiries about the nature of such an outreach and if it was under US pressure.
The view in London certainly seems to be that the peace process is being driven by the US, which has a stake in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan. Settling of the disputed border at Sir Creek and demilitarization of Siachen glacier are reported to have figured in discussions between the envoy and Kayani.
Indian officials, including foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, have repeatedly said in the recent past that their Pakistani counterparts assured them that the re-engagement process has Kayani's backing. In that context, it is perhaps not unrealistic to assume that Kayani might have been approached by the Indian side.
"The Times" report suggests the recent bonhomie might have been a result of efforts to engage Kayani. Without admitting as much India gave in to Pakistan's insistence on resuming full-scale or composite dialogue stalled after the Mumbai attacks. The US and the UK believe competition between the rivals for influence in Afghanistan could be managed better – to the benefit of Western interests -- if a peace process is underway.
As TOI reported earlier, India instructed its envoy in Pakistan to look at the possibility of opening dialogue not just with Kayani but also ISI chief Shuja Pasha. Known to be India-centric and extremely hostile, Kayani does seem to have responded positively to Indian overtures even though it is New Delhi which seems to be making most of the concessions.
A Wikileaks cable from the US embassy in London said Kayani is the "remaining obstacle" to a deal on Kashmir which both Singh and Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari are ready to sign. Kayani, in any case, leads Pakistan in the strategic dialogue process with the US.
If true, this would probably be the first time that India has directly, even if secretly, engaged the Pakistani army chief in a dialogue. Till now, it dealt with army chiefs who became dictators. New Delhi clearly realizes the futility of going ahead with any exercise with Pakistan which does not have the backing of Kayani and the military.
Kayani accompanied by Gen Pasha visited Kabul last week to meet members of the "High Peace Council", a body set up by Afghan president Hamid Karzai. "The Times" commented that in the past India has condemned such visits as meddling in Afghanistan's internal affairs, but remained silent. The interpretation may not be correct as India has no reason to comment on such an interaction.
"The Times", however, admitted that despite Singh's desire for normalization of relations with Pakistan and the US pressure to achieve this, "there remain other substantial obstacles to a lasting thaw". The 26/11 issue is a hurdle as Pakistan has not as yet agreed to Indian investigators interviewing Pakistani suspects, only interrogators of the alleged conspirators and masterminds.
"The Times" of London on Saturday reported the back channel exercise was intended to ensure the powerful Pakistani army's backing for the peace process and led to hope in Western capitals about India and Pakistan putting their bilateral process on track.
The report, however, did not receive any endorsement from either the Indian foreign office or the Prime Minister's Office. The PMO spokesperson said he would offer no comment as he had not read the report. The foreign office also did not react to the report when approached by the media.
"Manmohan Singh appointed an unofficial envoy to make contact with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani," the newspaper stated. It did not identify the person.
India-Pakistan ties were in doldrums before Singh decided to inject some momentum and invited Pakistani prime minister Yousuf Gilani to watch the cricket World Cup semi-final between the two nations at Mohali. While the invitation materialized after India won its quarter-final against Australia, Singh's commitment to the peace process is well known.
With the Pakistan army having the final say on India policy, the effort to reach out to Kayani was previously reported by TOI as well. The new claims speak of an unofficial messenger seeking to test waters and see if Kayani's backing could be ensured to boost ties that have never quite recovered since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The cautious response of Indian officials to "The Times" report could be rooted in the apprehension of sparking a political controversy. Alleged contact with the Pakistani army is bound to invite the Opposition's inquiries about the nature of such an outreach and if it was under US pressure.
The view in London certainly seems to be that the peace process is being driven by the US, which has a stake in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan. Settling of the disputed border at Sir Creek and demilitarization of Siachen glacier are reported to have figured in discussions between the envoy and Kayani.
Indian officials, including foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, have repeatedly said in the recent past that their Pakistani counterparts assured them that the re-engagement process has Kayani's backing. In that context, it is perhaps not unrealistic to assume that Kayani might have been approached by the Indian side.
"The Times" report suggests the recent bonhomie might have been a result of efforts to engage Kayani. Without admitting as much India gave in to Pakistan's insistence on resuming full-scale or composite dialogue stalled after the Mumbai attacks. The US and the UK believe competition between the rivals for influence in Afghanistan could be managed better – to the benefit of Western interests -- if a peace process is underway.
As TOI reported earlier, India instructed its envoy in Pakistan to look at the possibility of opening dialogue not just with Kayani but also ISI chief Shuja Pasha. Known to be India-centric and extremely hostile, Kayani does seem to have responded positively to Indian overtures even though it is New Delhi which seems to be making most of the concessions.
A Wikileaks cable from the US embassy in London said Kayani is the "remaining obstacle" to a deal on Kashmir which both Singh and Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari are ready to sign. Kayani, in any case, leads Pakistan in the strategic dialogue process with the US.
If true, this would probably be the first time that India has directly, even if secretly, engaged the Pakistani army chief in a dialogue. Till now, it dealt with army chiefs who became dictators. New Delhi clearly realizes the futility of going ahead with any exercise with Pakistan which does not have the backing of Kayani and the military.
Kayani accompanied by Gen Pasha visited Kabul last week to meet members of the "High Peace Council", a body set up by Afghan president Hamid Karzai. "The Times" commented that in the past India has condemned such visits as meddling in Afghanistan's internal affairs, but remained silent. The interpretation may not be correct as India has no reason to comment on such an interaction.
"The Times", however, admitted that despite Singh's desire for normalization of relations with Pakistan and the US pressure to achieve this, "there remain other substantial obstacles to a lasting thaw". The 26/11 issue is a hurdle as Pakistan has not as yet agreed to Indian investigators interviewing Pakistani suspects, only interrogators of the alleged conspirators and masterminds.
Why is China spending billions in the Caribbean?
Santo Domingo.– After the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2005, it received a token of appreciation from the mainland Chinese government: a $55 million cricket stadium.
It was part of $132 million China doled out to Caribbean countries in aid and soft loans in the years leading up to the 2007 Cricket World Cup. At the time, the investment was seen as a not-so-subtle reward to countries that had broken off formal relations with Taipei in favor of Beijing.
Ever since, China has made that sum look like pittance.
The Beijing government and private Chinese corporations are spending billions in the Caribbean, building major tourism projects, financing roads and ports and buying companies — all of which are helping open new markets for Chinese products. The onslaught has cash-strapped Caribbean governments simultaneously praising China as a welcome benefactor and questioning what the country wants in exchange.
“Nearly every island in the Caribbean, from the smallest on up, currently has a substantial investment from China,” said David Jessop, managing director of the Caribbean Council, a London-based consultancy that works with Caribbean governments. “It seems that what nobody knows is what is motivating China.”
The total investment is difficult to quantify. China’s Ministry of Commerce reported that foreign direct investment in Caribbean countries by Chinese firms totaled nearly $7 billion in 2009, a more than 300 percent increase from the 2004 foreign direct investment of $1.7 billion. Those figures are somewhat misleading because of Chinese use of Caribbean tax havens — such as the Cayman Islands, which received $5.3 billion in Chinese foreign direct investment in 2009.
That aside, Caribbean islands have clearly been the recipients of investment by both Chinese firms and the government of the People’s Republic of China, which is financing some of the Caribbean's most notable, and largest, projects.
The boldest broke ground last month: The Chinese government's Export-Import Bank is putting $2.4 billion toward the construction of a 3,800-room resort in the Bahamas that will boast the largest casino in the Caribbean. Roughly 5,000 Chinese workers will be brought in to construct the Baha Mar resort on Cable Beach.
It was part of $132 million China doled out to Caribbean countries in aid and soft loans in the years leading up to the 2007 Cricket World Cup. At the time, the investment was seen as a not-so-subtle reward to countries that had broken off formal relations with Taipei in favor of Beijing.
Ever since, China has made that sum look like pittance.
The Beijing government and private Chinese corporations are spending billions in the Caribbean, building major tourism projects, financing roads and ports and buying companies — all of which are helping open new markets for Chinese products. The onslaught has cash-strapped Caribbean governments simultaneously praising China as a welcome benefactor and questioning what the country wants in exchange.
“Nearly every island in the Caribbean, from the smallest on up, currently has a substantial investment from China,” said David Jessop, managing director of the Caribbean Council, a London-based consultancy that works with Caribbean governments. “It seems that what nobody knows is what is motivating China.”
The total investment is difficult to quantify. China’s Ministry of Commerce reported that foreign direct investment in Caribbean countries by Chinese firms totaled nearly $7 billion in 2009, a more than 300 percent increase from the 2004 foreign direct investment of $1.7 billion. Those figures are somewhat misleading because of Chinese use of Caribbean tax havens — such as the Cayman Islands, which received $5.3 billion in Chinese foreign direct investment in 2009.
That aside, Caribbean islands have clearly been the recipients of investment by both Chinese firms and the government of the People’s Republic of China, which is financing some of the Caribbean's most notable, and largest, projects.
The boldest broke ground last month: The Chinese government's Export-Import Bank is putting $2.4 billion toward the construction of a 3,800-room resort in the Bahamas that will boast the largest casino in the Caribbean. Roughly 5,000 Chinese workers will be brought in to construct the Baha Mar resort on Cable Beach.
PLP statement: Prime Minister must explain Cable & Wireless ties with Mark Holowesko
The Government of the Bahamas announced at the closing of the 51% shareholding to Cable & Wireless several new directors including Mr. Mark Holowesko, a director of Franklyn Templeton Investments, which is presently chaired by former US Treasury Secretary Mr. Nicholas Brady.
Confirmation of the status of Mr. Holowesko’s involvement with the Templeton Fund may be accessed by clicking on the link below for the unaudited annual report for Franklyn Templeton Investment Funds for the year ending December 31st, 2010.
This fund is a significant player in the international investment scene with multibillion dollar assets totaling more than $120 Billion Dollars.
Franklyn Templeton are also shareholders in Cable & Wireless Worldwide, the parent company of Cable & Wireless Communications, the parent company of the new privatized Bahamas Telecommunications Company.
Confirmation of the status of Mr. Holowesko’s involvement with the Templeton Fund may be accessed by clicking on the link below for the unaudited annual report for Franklyn Templeton Investment Funds for the year ending December 31st, 2010.
This fund is a significant player in the international investment scene with multibillion dollar assets totaling more than $120 Billion Dollars.
Franklyn Templeton are also shareholders in Cable & Wireless Worldwide, the parent company of Cable & Wireless Communications, the parent company of the new privatized Bahamas Telecommunications Company.
2011年4月21日 星期四
Manmohan Singh's apology for anti-Sikh riots a ‘Gandhian moment of moral clarity,' says 2005 cable
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's public apology for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots is hailed in an American diplomatic cable as a “singular act of political courage'' and an “almost Gandhian moment of moral clarity in India's long march to religious harmony.”
The violence in northern India, primarily in Delhi, targeting members of the Sikh community broke out following Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination on October 31, 1984.
Writing on August 12, 2005 (38469: unclassified), Robert O'Blake, Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in New Delhi, noted that Dr. Singh had done “what no Indian leader in 20 years has been willing to do.”
“The PM's singular act of political courage stands in exquisite contrast to the opportunism and hatred directed by senior GOI officials against Sikhs in 1984. The PM's act of statesmanship will raise his already strong reputation as a representative of the nation's highest Gandhian ideals,” he said, adding that the apology “pre-empted BJP's efforts to capitalize on the (Nanavati Commission) report, which named two high-profile Congress leaders as conspirators in the riots.”
The cable, accessed by The Hindu through WikiLeaks, said the Congress party's “swift action'' against Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar in the wake of the commission's report “raised questions about the fate of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi if a similar commission investigating the 2002 Gujarat riots finds his government at fault.''
In his apology in Parliament on August 12, 2005, Dr. Manmohan Singh said: “I have no hesitation in apologizing to the Sikh community. I apologize not only to the Sikh community, but to the whole Indian nation because what took place in 1984 is the negation of the concept of nationhood enshrined in our Constitution.”
The cable, describing the riots as “one of the saddest and darkest moments in recent Indian history,” said: “The PM apology and forced resignation of a minister with long ties to the Gandhi family has surprised Indians who only expected the worst of their politicians. The PM's singular act of political courage will be long-remembered as a momentous — almost Gandhian — moment of moral clarity in India's long march to religious harmony.”
The violence in northern India, primarily in Delhi, targeting members of the Sikh community broke out following Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination on October 31, 1984.
Writing on August 12, 2005 (38469: unclassified), Robert O'Blake, Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in New Delhi, noted that Dr. Singh had done “what no Indian leader in 20 years has been willing to do.”
“The PM's singular act of political courage stands in exquisite contrast to the opportunism and hatred directed by senior GOI officials against Sikhs in 1984. The PM's act of statesmanship will raise his already strong reputation as a representative of the nation's highest Gandhian ideals,” he said, adding that the apology “pre-empted BJP's efforts to capitalize on the (Nanavati Commission) report, which named two high-profile Congress leaders as conspirators in the riots.”
The cable, accessed by The Hindu through WikiLeaks, said the Congress party's “swift action'' against Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar in the wake of the commission's report “raised questions about the fate of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi if a similar commission investigating the 2002 Gujarat riots finds his government at fault.''
In his apology in Parliament on August 12, 2005, Dr. Manmohan Singh said: “I have no hesitation in apologizing to the Sikh community. I apologize not only to the Sikh community, but to the whole Indian nation because what took place in 1984 is the negation of the concept of nationhood enshrined in our Constitution.”
The cable, describing the riots as “one of the saddest and darkest moments in recent Indian history,” said: “The PM apology and forced resignation of a minister with long ties to the Gandhi family has surprised Indians who only expected the worst of their politicians. The PM's singular act of political courage will be long-remembered as a momentous — almost Gandhian — moment of moral clarity in India's long march to religious harmony.”
2011年4月20日 星期三
Service Graphics launches barrier skin substrate for live events
The reusable Barrier Skin product has been developed to help businesses "maximise" their branding at events. TV channel Sky1 recently became the first company to use the substrate, during the filming of its Got To Dance programme.
Click here to find out more!
Barrier Skin is a fully washable and foldable lightweight Stretchtex polyester fabric. It was printed at Service Graphics' Skelmersdale site on the company's Durst Rhotex 320 textile printer.
According to Sky Creative production manager Charles Colbourne, the barrier skins were used to display Got To Dance branding to the audience as they made their way into Pinewood Studios for the show's semi-finals.
"The product was a good fit for this event and served as an improvement on conventional PVC banners previously used, providing better stand-out by allowing coverage of both sides of the barrier," he added.
The creation of 'barrier skin' could prove to be a step forward from the commonly used system of attaching heavy printed canvas to barriers with cable ties and feedback from Sky has been positive.
"They were relatively simple to install and remove, allowing us to reuse them for each of the four semi-finals filmed," said Colbourne.
Service Graphics sales director Scott King said the launch was the latest example of the company innovating to meet its clients' needs.
"We immediately felt that the Barrier Skin provided a solution to utilising safety barriers in a more high-quality fashion. We are certain our clients will also appreciate its reusable qualities, reducing the amount of waste after an event," he said.
Click here to find out more!
Barrier Skin is a fully washable and foldable lightweight Stretchtex polyester fabric. It was printed at Service Graphics' Skelmersdale site on the company's Durst Rhotex 320 textile printer.
According to Sky Creative production manager Charles Colbourne, the barrier skins were used to display Got To Dance branding to the audience as they made their way into Pinewood Studios for the show's semi-finals.
"The product was a good fit for this event and served as an improvement on conventional PVC banners previously used, providing better stand-out by allowing coverage of both sides of the barrier," he added.
The creation of 'barrier skin' could prove to be a step forward from the commonly used system of attaching heavy printed canvas to barriers with cable ties and feedback from Sky has been positive.
"They were relatively simple to install and remove, allowing us to reuse them for each of the four semi-finals filmed," said Colbourne.
Service Graphics sales director Scott King said the launch was the latest example of the company innovating to meet its clients' needs.
"We immediately felt that the Barrier Skin provided a solution to utilising safety barriers in a more high-quality fashion. We are certain our clients will also appreciate its reusable qualities, reducing the amount of waste after an event," he said.
2011年4月19日 星期二
Clean your PC cable clutter
Even an average PC setup has enough cables to drive you crazy. You have a power cord for the PC itself, plus another for the monitor, and yet another for a printer. Then you need to connect the printer to the PC. You have a cord for the keyboard, and another for the mouse. The speakers require a connection to the audio jack; and if they’re decent speakers, they’ll also have a power cord. That’s at least eight different cables, and we haven’t even gotten into external USB drives, webcams, headsets, and other gadgets.
It doesn’t have to be that way. With only a few simple steps – and perhaps a cable-management aid or two – you can tame the rat’s nest and make your web of cables look pristine.
Step 1: Unravel the Mess
First, you need to untangle the jumble of cables. Start by completely powering down the computer, the monitor, and all attached peripherals. You’re going to be disconnecting and unplugging everything anyway.
Sifting through the mess can be frustrating, and you might be tempted to use the brute-force method and just start yanking. To avoid damaging any cables or breaking any devices, however, I recommend first disconnecting the cables – at least from the PC side, but preferably from both ends if possible.
Lay each cable out neatly next to the device to which it belongs. Now you’re back to square one, and you can begin connecting everything again – the right way.
Step 2: Label the Cables
Now that you’ve untangled the cables so that they no longer resemble some sort of warped Rubik’s puzzle, you need to take the time to label them. Trust me: it will simplify life in the long run. Eventually you’ll need to replace or troubleshoot something, and you’ll be thanking me for prodding you to label your cables.
Attach a label to each cord or cable describing which device or peripheral it connects. I recommend using a label maker to create nice, legible labels. You don’t need to be that fancy, though; writing a label on a piece of paper and using clear tape to attach it, or attaching strips of masking tape and writing directly on them, will do the trick. Just make sure that the labels are easy to read, or you will create a whole different kind of frustration.
Step 3: Connect the Cables
Take your freshly labeled cables and begin the process of reconnecting everything. The difference is that this time you’ll have a system for keeping the cables in line and avoiding the rat’s-nest look.
The idea is to tie the cables together to keep them neat and tidy. Remember, though, that you have different types of devices – audio peripherals such as speakers or headphones, input peripherals like the mouse and keyboard, and so on--and those devices are located in different areas, such as on the desktop, under the desk, or on a shelf. Think about the purpose and location of your devices, and come up with a plan for how to tie the cables together. There is no one right answer, but the solution should make sense to you.
It doesn’t have to be that way. With only a few simple steps – and perhaps a cable-management aid or two – you can tame the rat’s nest and make your web of cables look pristine.
Step 1: Unravel the Mess
First, you need to untangle the jumble of cables. Start by completely powering down the computer, the monitor, and all attached peripherals. You’re going to be disconnecting and unplugging everything anyway.
Sifting through the mess can be frustrating, and you might be tempted to use the brute-force method and just start yanking. To avoid damaging any cables or breaking any devices, however, I recommend first disconnecting the cables – at least from the PC side, but preferably from both ends if possible.
Lay each cable out neatly next to the device to which it belongs. Now you’re back to square one, and you can begin connecting everything again – the right way.
Step 2: Label the Cables
Now that you’ve untangled the cables so that they no longer resemble some sort of warped Rubik’s puzzle, you need to take the time to label them. Trust me: it will simplify life in the long run. Eventually you’ll need to replace or troubleshoot something, and you’ll be thanking me for prodding you to label your cables.
Attach a label to each cord or cable describing which device or peripheral it connects. I recommend using a label maker to create nice, legible labels. You don’t need to be that fancy, though; writing a label on a piece of paper and using clear tape to attach it, or attaching strips of masking tape and writing directly on them, will do the trick. Just make sure that the labels are easy to read, or you will create a whole different kind of frustration.
Step 3: Connect the Cables
Take your freshly labeled cables and begin the process of reconnecting everything. The difference is that this time you’ll have a system for keeping the cables in line and avoiding the rat’s-nest look.
The idea is to tie the cables together to keep them neat and tidy. Remember, though, that you have different types of devices – audio peripherals such as speakers or headphones, input peripherals like the mouse and keyboard, and so on--and those devices are located in different areas, such as on the desktop, under the desk, or on a shelf. Think about the purpose and location of your devices, and come up with a plan for how to tie the cables together. There is no one right answer, but the solution should make sense to you.
2011年4月18日 星期一
Khan's pay-per-view TV KO opens the door for Cobra Froch to cash in with Sky Sports
Carl Froch is likely to be the beneficiary of Amir Khan’s pay-per-view bust up with Sky Sports.
Team Khan’s decision to switch to the fledgling Primetime cable network for Saturday night's contentious world light-welterweight title defence against Paul McCloskey appears to have opened a window for Sky to give Froch his long overdue exposure to their wider audience.
The Nottingham Cobra, who has been overlooked quite scandalously by mainstream television in his own land through a series of thrilling world title fights against many of the world’s other leading super-middleweights, is negotiating the broadcast rights for his Super Six semi-final against veteran Jamaican Glen Johnson in Atlantic City on June 4.
TV talks: Carl Froch could cash in on Amir Khan's pay-per-view bust-up with Sky in time for his forthcoming fight with Glen Johnson
TV talks: Carl Froch could cash in on Amir Khan's pay-per-view bust-up with Sky in time for his forthcoming fight with Glen Johnson
Froch is doing the deals personally now he has severed ties with his long-time promoter Mick Hennessy, the problems with clinching major TV contract having become an issue between them.
Now, with Khan removed from their budget at least for the time being, Sky have freed up funds to engage in talks with Froch.
Both sides will be keen to reach agreement for at least a two-fight deal, the second being the final of the Super Six series assuming Froch goes through.
The fight against Johnson is also for Froch's world super-middleweight title. He is the heavy favourite to beat Johnson, as is America’s Andre Ward in next month’s first semi-final against Arthur Abraham.
Froch versus Ward, in a final which would unify most of the world championship alpha-belts, would have pay-per-view potential here and on the American Showtime network, the sponsors of this prolonged and at times troubled tournament.
That is no more than Froch deserves as he continues to take on the other big names in a talent stacked division.
If Wladimir Klitscho is hoping that the turmoil reportedly afflicting David Haye's personal life will blur his focus for their world heavyweight title unification this summer, he will be seriously disappointed.
Haye's 32-year-old wife Natasha is believed to have departed the marital home in London, taking their two-year-old son Cassius with her, following allegations of an affair in America with 23-year-old former Las Vegas stripper turned personal trainer, Aimie Buck.
Be they true or false, many a sportsman would be distracted by any rumours of scandal. But Haye rides a crisis like Tony McCoy steers winning horses over fences.
Team Khan’s decision to switch to the fledgling Primetime cable network for Saturday night's contentious world light-welterweight title defence against Paul McCloskey appears to have opened a window for Sky to give Froch his long overdue exposure to their wider audience.
The Nottingham Cobra, who has been overlooked quite scandalously by mainstream television in his own land through a series of thrilling world title fights against many of the world’s other leading super-middleweights, is negotiating the broadcast rights for his Super Six semi-final against veteran Jamaican Glen Johnson in Atlantic City on June 4.
TV talks: Carl Froch could cash in on Amir Khan's pay-per-view bust-up with Sky in time for his forthcoming fight with Glen Johnson
TV talks: Carl Froch could cash in on Amir Khan's pay-per-view bust-up with Sky in time for his forthcoming fight with Glen Johnson
Froch is doing the deals personally now he has severed ties with his long-time promoter Mick Hennessy, the problems with clinching major TV contract having become an issue between them.
Now, with Khan removed from their budget at least for the time being, Sky have freed up funds to engage in talks with Froch.
Both sides will be keen to reach agreement for at least a two-fight deal, the second being the final of the Super Six series assuming Froch goes through.
The fight against Johnson is also for Froch's world super-middleweight title. He is the heavy favourite to beat Johnson, as is America’s Andre Ward in next month’s first semi-final against Arthur Abraham.
Froch versus Ward, in a final which would unify most of the world championship alpha-belts, would have pay-per-view potential here and on the American Showtime network, the sponsors of this prolonged and at times troubled tournament.
That is no more than Froch deserves as he continues to take on the other big names in a talent stacked division.
If Wladimir Klitscho is hoping that the turmoil reportedly afflicting David Haye's personal life will blur his focus for their world heavyweight title unification this summer, he will be seriously disappointed.
Haye's 32-year-old wife Natasha is believed to have departed the marital home in London, taking their two-year-old son Cassius with her, following allegations of an affair in America with 23-year-old former Las Vegas stripper turned personal trainer, Aimie Buck.
Be they true or false, many a sportsman would be distracted by any rumours of scandal. But Haye rides a crisis like Tony McCoy steers winning horses over fences.
2011年4月17日 星期日
My job done if India-Pak ties normalize: PM
NEW DELHI: Often described as the sole architect of India's new initiative to re-engage Pakistan, PM Manmohan Singh has said that he would consider his job well done only if ties between the two countries normalized. The government under Singh has taken a series of steps to revive ties with Islamabad, the most recent being the decision to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan.
Asked by journalists on board Air India One on his way back from Kazakhstan about five things he would like to achieve in relations with Pakistan, Singh, said, "Five would be too much. Well, if I can succeed in normalizing relations between India and Pakistan, as they should prevail between two normal states, I will consider my job well done.''
According to a recently released WikiLeaks cable, Singh has led the push for peace with Pakistan despite misgivings from members of his own administration, including the national security adviser.
Last month, Singh had invited his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani to watch the India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final at Mohali, giving a diplomatic boost to normalising ties between the two countries. New Delhi had suspended composite dialogue with Islamabad after the 26/11 Mumbai attack that left 166 people dead. India says militants from Pakistan orchestrated the mayhem and massacre in Mumbai.
In a major confidence-building measure ahead of the match, Islamabad also agreed to let Indian investigators travel to Pakistan to probe the Mumbai assault. Their foreign ministers are due to meet in July. For Singh, the push for peace may be a way of regaining the policy initiative after his government has been battered by months of corruption scandals that could dent Congress's chances this year.
Asked by journalists on board Air India One on his way back from Kazakhstan about five things he would like to achieve in relations with Pakistan, Singh, said, "Five would be too much. Well, if I can succeed in normalizing relations between India and Pakistan, as they should prevail between two normal states, I will consider my job well done.''
According to a recently released WikiLeaks cable, Singh has led the push for peace with Pakistan despite misgivings from members of his own administration, including the national security adviser.
Last month, Singh had invited his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani to watch the India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final at Mohali, giving a diplomatic boost to normalising ties between the two countries. New Delhi had suspended composite dialogue with Islamabad after the 26/11 Mumbai attack that left 166 people dead. India says militants from Pakistan orchestrated the mayhem and massacre in Mumbai.
In a major confidence-building measure ahead of the match, Islamabad also agreed to let Indian investigators travel to Pakistan to probe the Mumbai assault. Their foreign ministers are due to meet in July. For Singh, the push for peace may be a way of regaining the policy initiative after his government has been battered by months of corruption scandals that could dent Congress's chances this year.
2011年4月14日 星期四
FAVORTRON Cable Tie production line adopts ERP system
Since establishment in 1982, Favortron Co., Ltd, professional manufacturer of cable ties, has not only been continually pursuing the excellent performance on production technology, but also has obtained ISO, UL, ROHS international certificates, and even integrated into ERP systems in 2000. This ERP system can integrate the input material volume, merchandises’ sales figure and inventory quantity, which means that it can clarify information then production department can schedule production earlier. Besides, the marketing department is able to predict the future market alternation according to the sales type and quantity. “Control the inventory is control the capital flows. ERP system did help our factory to eliminate waste and increase productivity. ” Ms. Tina Wang, the sales manager of FAVORTRON, said.
NYLON cable tie is the main product of FAVORTRON. NYLON cable tie meets most basic cable tie needs, with selections covering a wide range of requirements for size and strength. It can be classified into 6 different widths (2.5mm~ 12.6mm) according to different tensile strength (18 lbs~250 lbs), and its length ranges from 80mm to 1530mm long. NYLON cable tie can also be arranged in different categories according to its functions, such as General cable tie, Marker tie, Releasable cable tie, Push head mountable cable tie, Screw mountable cable tie. Cable tie can be used for versatile purposes, like cable management, housing repairs, structure consolidation, gardening, electrical wire assembling, Auto industrial and marketplace arrangement.
Beside NYLON cable tie, the other related products such as Screw Set Cable Tie Mount, Adhesive Tie Mount, Cable Clamps, P.C.B. Support Twist Lock, Wire Duct, Fast Spiral Wrapping Band, Cable Marker and Nylon PG/MG Cable Gland are also the popular products and also earned high praise from clients worldwide.
In the coming 4Q 2010, FAVORTRON will focus on their new product - Security Cable Tie. Thanks to the structure specialty of security cable tie, the application will be range from medical facilities, fire-fighting equipment, postal security, to aviation food safety. Besides, FAVORTRON will also proceed to promote it in related exhibitions and conduct market research for this new product. Furthermore, as the launch of security cable tie, FAVORTRON will working on rising its cold resistance and heat resistance ( weather resistant ) at the same time and will still keeping improving the quality of the other products. It is believed that FAVORTRON cable tie will lead to a breakthrough achievement in the short future.
NYLON cable tie is the main product of FAVORTRON. NYLON cable tie meets most basic cable tie needs, with selections covering a wide range of requirements for size and strength. It can be classified into 6 different widths (2.5mm~ 12.6mm) according to different tensile strength (18 lbs~250 lbs), and its length ranges from 80mm to 1530mm long. NYLON cable tie can also be arranged in different categories according to its functions, such as General cable tie, Marker tie, Releasable cable tie, Push head mountable cable tie, Screw mountable cable tie. Cable tie can be used for versatile purposes, like cable management, housing repairs, structure consolidation, gardening, electrical wire assembling, Auto industrial and marketplace arrangement.
Beside NYLON cable tie, the other related products such as Screw Set Cable Tie Mount, Adhesive Tie Mount, Cable Clamps, P.C.B. Support Twist Lock, Wire Duct, Fast Spiral Wrapping Band, Cable Marker and Nylon PG/MG Cable Gland are also the popular products and also earned high praise from clients worldwide.
In the coming 4Q 2010, FAVORTRON will focus on their new product - Security Cable Tie. Thanks to the structure specialty of security cable tie, the application will be range from medical facilities, fire-fighting equipment, postal security, to aviation food safety. Besides, FAVORTRON will also proceed to promote it in related exhibitions and conduct market research for this new product. Furthermore, as the launch of security cable tie, FAVORTRON will working on rising its cold resistance and heat resistance ( weather resistant ) at the same time and will still keeping improving the quality of the other products. It is believed that FAVORTRON cable tie will lead to a breakthrough achievement in the short future.
2011年4月13日 星期三
A beautiful flower arrangement you can create for yourself
In my new publication, FlorESSENCE: Essence of Modern Design, I reveal to you the very essence of modern flower design: how it is created and what makes up its soul. FlorESSENCE unveils the core principles that underlie the flower design of our time. Simple yet so dynamic and versatile are the essential four: The Verticle; The Horizontal; Circles and Spheres; and Cubes and Squares.
Understanding and being able to create fresh new designs following a single principle id first step. One you have mastered each principle, and are able to combine them, an explosion of forms and colours awaits you. By understanding the system presented in FlorESSENCE, you will find that the floral design possibilities are endless. And these are the "mathematical secrets" behind my floral creations.
For today's composition, out of the essential four principles from FlorESSENCE, I choose to combine "Cubes and Squares" and "The Verticle" together as a simple example to show you of how to put my floral "mathematical secrets" into action. In this refreshing composition, "Cubes and Squares" is the primary design principle and 'The Verticle' secondary.
First, I acquire a square wooden frame. Then, I cut the pieces of twigs to the length that is just a little longer that the height of the inner frame so that when I place it vertically within my wooden frame, it will fit just right and the frame will hold the twig in place without any other support. When all the twigs are in line vertically across the width of the frame, I continue to attach small glass tubes to the twigs with plastic cable-ties. After pouring clean water into the glass tubes, they will act as the water receptacles for the flowers.
I proceed to measure the stem of lantana's aromatic flower clusters and cut it at an appropriate length which is a little longer than the length of the glass tube. I complete the composition by simply placing the stems of lantana flowers in all the glass tubes. What we have now is a Floral Frame that is created by combining the "Cubes and Squares" and "The Verticle" principles together. Looking closely yet, you will find "The Horizontal" line of lantana blossoms quietly and secretly making their way across the composition.
Understanding and being able to create fresh new designs following a single principle id first step. One you have mastered each principle, and are able to combine them, an explosion of forms and colours awaits you. By understanding the system presented in FlorESSENCE, you will find that the floral design possibilities are endless. And these are the "mathematical secrets" behind my floral creations.
For today's composition, out of the essential four principles from FlorESSENCE, I choose to combine "Cubes and Squares" and "The Verticle" together as a simple example to show you of how to put my floral "mathematical secrets" into action. In this refreshing composition, "Cubes and Squares" is the primary design principle and 'The Verticle' secondary.
First, I acquire a square wooden frame. Then, I cut the pieces of twigs to the length that is just a little longer that the height of the inner frame so that when I place it vertically within my wooden frame, it will fit just right and the frame will hold the twig in place without any other support. When all the twigs are in line vertically across the width of the frame, I continue to attach small glass tubes to the twigs with plastic cable-ties. After pouring clean water into the glass tubes, they will act as the water receptacles for the flowers.
I proceed to measure the stem of lantana's aromatic flower clusters and cut it at an appropriate length which is a little longer than the length of the glass tube. I complete the composition by simply placing the stems of lantana flowers in all the glass tubes. What we have now is a Floral Frame that is created by combining the "Cubes and Squares" and "The Verticle" principles together. Looking closely yet, you will find "The Horizontal" line of lantana blossoms quietly and secretly making their way across the composition.
2011年4月12日 星期二
Viacom Turns on Time Warner as Customers Cut the Cord
That is the capsule issue of the dispute between Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) and content provider Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA), a media conglomerate that owns Spike, TV Land, Nickelodeon, and many other cable networks.
The battle line was called when Time Warner Cable, which operates in some 28 states, made available to subscribers an iPad app that allows them to view some of the cable operator’s shows -- with serious strings attached. First: You need to have a valid Time Warner account. Second: You need to be connected to the Internet via Time Warner WiFi inside your own dwelling. Meet those criteria and just maybe you can watch episodes of Auction Hunters on your iPad.
Except Viacom now has very loudly cried foul. It has filed suit against Time Warner, seeking to block the streaming to the iPad. In the suit, Viacom claims the app will cause “substantial and irreparable injury” to its business.
Time Warner, for its part, has countered that all it wishes to do is deliver content to its subscribers.
The action is unfolding in a US District Court in New York, where Time Warner has sought a “declaratory judgment.”
”We have steadfastly maintained that we have the rights to allow our customers to view this programming in their homes, over our cable systems, without artificial limits on the screens they can use to do so, and we are asking the court to confirm our view," said Marc Lawrence-Apfelbaum, general counsel of Time Warner, in a statement Thursday.
Viacom, meantime, said Time Warner’s actions were “brazen,” and it added that Time Warner was giving customers more content access "without passing along any additional costs to its customers."
One obvious fact: The iPad is only a stalking horse -- the real targets include all other tablets and, of course, all mobile phones capable of handling video content.
And the other obvious fact is that the fight is not what it seems to be.
Viacom doesn’t give a hoot about another screen. It is trying to slit Time Warner’s throat, simple as that.
At bottom, both Time Warner and Viacom are struggling for relevance in an era likely to be marked by a stampede of “cord-cutting,” as media consumers look to sever ties with the cable economy.
And Viacom apparently is eager to throw Time Warner overboard. Probably its plan is to directly stream content to viewers. The reality: It doesn’t need a cable operator anymore -- it already streams a buffet of full episodes via the Internet.
Viacom seems to be digging in for a brutal fight. It has also threatened Cablevision, another big-time cable operator, with litigation over its iPad app. (The Cablevision app, incidentally, delivers content without requiring the viewer to be on an in-house WiFi -- that is, you can be in a motel room in Bakersfield, Calif., watching an ultimate fighting match on Spike, and that’s cool as far as Cablevision goes.)
Call this that classic movie moment when one bad guy sells his former partners in crime down the river.
Pretty clearly, all the cable operators are in a situation reminiscent of what’s destroyed the business models of landline telephone companies -- and how many customers will they have by 2020? And the question on Viacom's mind seems to be whether it, too, is going down with the cable operators.
Viacom seems determined to find a way to survive, even if that means getting ugly with its longtime partners, the cable operators.
Content owners like Viacom, however, need friends -- companies that will align with them to fight off pirates (“the single biggest threat we face as an industry,” said Chris Dodd in his inaugural speech as head of the Motion Picture Association of America).
Who better for a friend than cable operators that genuinely need strong content owners?
The battle line was called when Time Warner Cable, which operates in some 28 states, made available to subscribers an iPad app that allows them to view some of the cable operator’s shows -- with serious strings attached. First: You need to have a valid Time Warner account. Second: You need to be connected to the Internet via Time Warner WiFi inside your own dwelling. Meet those criteria and just maybe you can watch episodes of Auction Hunters on your iPad.
Except Viacom now has very loudly cried foul. It has filed suit against Time Warner, seeking to block the streaming to the iPad. In the suit, Viacom claims the app will cause “substantial and irreparable injury” to its business.
Time Warner, for its part, has countered that all it wishes to do is deliver content to its subscribers.
The action is unfolding in a US District Court in New York, where Time Warner has sought a “declaratory judgment.”
”We have steadfastly maintained that we have the rights to allow our customers to view this programming in their homes, over our cable systems, without artificial limits on the screens they can use to do so, and we are asking the court to confirm our view," said Marc Lawrence-Apfelbaum, general counsel of Time Warner, in a statement Thursday.
Viacom, meantime, said Time Warner’s actions were “brazen,” and it added that Time Warner was giving customers more content access "without passing along any additional costs to its customers."
One obvious fact: The iPad is only a stalking horse -- the real targets include all other tablets and, of course, all mobile phones capable of handling video content.
And the other obvious fact is that the fight is not what it seems to be.
Viacom doesn’t give a hoot about another screen. It is trying to slit Time Warner’s throat, simple as that.
At bottom, both Time Warner and Viacom are struggling for relevance in an era likely to be marked by a stampede of “cord-cutting,” as media consumers look to sever ties with the cable economy.
And Viacom apparently is eager to throw Time Warner overboard. Probably its plan is to directly stream content to viewers. The reality: It doesn’t need a cable operator anymore -- it already streams a buffet of full episodes via the Internet.
Viacom seems to be digging in for a brutal fight. It has also threatened Cablevision, another big-time cable operator, with litigation over its iPad app. (The Cablevision app, incidentally, delivers content without requiring the viewer to be on an in-house WiFi -- that is, you can be in a motel room in Bakersfield, Calif., watching an ultimate fighting match on Spike, and that’s cool as far as Cablevision goes.)
Call this that classic movie moment when one bad guy sells his former partners in crime down the river.
Pretty clearly, all the cable operators are in a situation reminiscent of what’s destroyed the business models of landline telephone companies -- and how many customers will they have by 2020? And the question on Viacom's mind seems to be whether it, too, is going down with the cable operators.
Viacom seems determined to find a way to survive, even if that means getting ugly with its longtime partners, the cable operators.
Content owners like Viacom, however, need friends -- companies that will align with them to fight off pirates (“the single biggest threat we face as an industry,” said Chris Dodd in his inaugural speech as head of the Motion Picture Association of America).
Who better for a friend than cable operators that genuinely need strong content owners?
6 steps to better data centers
Management of data storage and processing are a part of every business, with a requirement for data centers and IT facilities common across nearly all business types. Data centers provide centralized IT systems, requiring power, cooling, and operational requirements above and beyond typical design parameters. This large density of power and cooling drives the need for continuous improvements; the goal for any system design or redesign should be to optimize performance of existing equipment, and prioritize replacement and reorganization of outdated systems.
This article provides a number of steps to lead the evaluation of an existing facility and proposes targeted improvements for reducing energy use and CO2 emissions into our environment.
Why improve performance of an existing data center? There are several reasons.
Operational enhancement: Improving the performance of data center systems will offer great benefits to the bottom line and allow for greater flexibility in future expansion:
Consider how critical the data center applications and services are to an operation: What will it cost if no one can send e-mail, access an electronic funds transfer system, or use Web applications? How will other aspects of the business be affected if the facility fails?
Greater system dynamics: Assessment of an existing facility will lead to increased integration of all system components. Increasing data processing potential cannot be considered without understanding the implications on cooling and power demand, and the management systems behind the processes. All aspects of the data center system must be looked at holistically to achieve the greatest results.
Compared to similar-sized office spaces, data center facilities typically consume 35 to 50 times the amount of energy in normal operation and contribute CO2 into our environment. Power demand for IT equipment greater than 100W/sq ft is not uncommon, and as we move into the future, the requirement for data storage and transfer capability is only going to rise.
Whether the driver for improvements is overloaded servers, programmed budget, or corporate energy-saving policy, an analysis of the energy use and system management will have benefits for the business. The assessment process should be to first understand where energy is being used and how the system currently operates; then to identify where supply systems, infrastructure, and management of the facility can be optimized.
This article provides a number of steps to lead the evaluation of an existing facility and proposes targeted improvements for reducing energy use and CO2 emissions into our environment.
Why improve performance of an existing data center? There are several reasons.
Operational enhancement: Improving the performance of data center systems will offer great benefits to the bottom line and allow for greater flexibility in future expansion:
Consider how critical the data center applications and services are to an operation: What will it cost if no one can send e-mail, access an electronic funds transfer system, or use Web applications? How will other aspects of the business be affected if the facility fails?
Greater system dynamics: Assessment of an existing facility will lead to increased integration of all system components. Increasing data processing potential cannot be considered without understanding the implications on cooling and power demand, and the management systems behind the processes. All aspects of the data center system must be looked at holistically to achieve the greatest results.
Compared to similar-sized office spaces, data center facilities typically consume 35 to 50 times the amount of energy in normal operation and contribute CO2 into our environment. Power demand for IT equipment greater than 100W/sq ft is not uncommon, and as we move into the future, the requirement for data storage and transfer capability is only going to rise.
Whether the driver for improvements is overloaded servers, programmed budget, or corporate energy-saving policy, an analysis of the energy use and system management will have benefits for the business. The assessment process should be to first understand where energy is being used and how the system currently operates; then to identify where supply systems, infrastructure, and management of the facility can be optimized.
2011年4月10日 星期日
US Overlooks a Sleeper in Yemen
Since unrest began flooding through the Middle East, Western assessments have been
colored by hopes and expectations as much as by the events themselves. Media and
governments alike have waxed near-euphoric in bestowing virtue and righteousness
upon those who break with the incumbent rulers. While great attention is paid to
past infamies, little understanding of successor regimes has been offered. Regarding
Egypt, for instance, a military council was stipulated to hold only the purest of
motives although no proof was forthcoming. Even the denouncement by Mohammed
ElBaradei [the opposition leader with arguably the most prominent international
profile as former head of the UN nuclear watchdog organization] of the council's
proposed constitutional changes as a "dictator's constitution" failed to alter the
tone of coverage – at least until the Muslim Brotherhood had emerged as the clear
winner in that referendum.
Yemen, as a case-in-point is frightening. The formula there for both media and
diplomacy has been "anti-Saleh good" and "pro-Saleh bad," leaving no room for
further due diligence. So when General Ali Muhsin Al-Ahmar defected from the Saleh
camp it was by definition a good thing. But has anyone bothered to examine Al-
Ahmar's past performances and question whether his ties to Al-Qa'ida are still in-
tact? So much so that it raises the specter of a front man for the international
terrorist organization.
Although the US government professes the war against terror to be a priority among
its concerns in the Middle East, apparently no one is paying attention to this very
issue in the controversial poverty burdened Yemen.
What many fail to realize about this general is that his defection may not be
totally related to the call for change advocated by opposition parties and
protestors in the streets. Al-Ahmar has been known to be strongly affiliated with
Al-Qa'ida. According to a 2005 cable by the American ambassador to Yemen Thomas
Krajeski revealed by Wikileaks, Al-Ahmar appears to have amassed a fortune in the
smuggling of arms, food staples, and consumer products.
He is one of what we call in the Arab world a "war prince"-- someone who benefits
from times of conflict.
Signs backing this analysis are already showing in the latest news from the southern
governorate of Abyan where the US had attacked an Al-Qa'ida training camp in 2009.
The camp was allegedly run by Al-Ahmar, yet this point did not seem to resonate with
either US thinkers or Yemeni authority as they dealt with this name.
"It is all about power struggle," cry out activists leading the youth protests in
Change Square as they complain of losing faith in all political parties including
the opposition. They feel that they have been failed by all political entities -
both inside and outside the country.
In fact, the United States was not spared protestors' angst, as bullet shells and
other armament were displayed on television with a sign reading, "Made in USA" and
accompanied by shouts of "the US is killing us."
So what is America's involvement in Yemen? Is it the long standing commitment to
support President Saleh as an ally in the war against terrorism still operative? If
so, is Saleh's friendship and protection of Yemeni leader Abdulmajid Al-Zindani –
frequently on the "Most Wanted Al-Qa'ida" list – problematic? Or need Saleh answer
for Al-Ahmar's use of jihadis to fight Shiite rebels linked to Iran between 2004 and
2008?
There is more to Yemen than is being reported or discussed in the media and behind
closed doors whether in Washington or Sana'a. The US needs to stay focused and
understand the dynamics of Yemeni politics and the various connections in order to
really address the issue of terrorism. As events continue to unfold and foment, who
is on whose team today seems to be of minimal concern. But the message of the street
rejecting such arbitrariness is becoming louder and far less ambiguous than that of
the politicians. It's that voice that needs to be heard.
colored by hopes and expectations as much as by the events themselves. Media and
governments alike have waxed near-euphoric in bestowing virtue and righteousness
upon those who break with the incumbent rulers. While great attention is paid to
past infamies, little understanding of successor regimes has been offered. Regarding
Egypt, for instance, a military council was stipulated to hold only the purest of
motives although no proof was forthcoming. Even the denouncement by Mohammed
ElBaradei [the opposition leader with arguably the most prominent international
profile as former head of the UN nuclear watchdog organization] of the council's
proposed constitutional changes as a "dictator's constitution" failed to alter the
tone of coverage – at least until the Muslim Brotherhood had emerged as the clear
winner in that referendum.
Yemen, as a case-in-point is frightening. The formula there for both media and
diplomacy has been "anti-Saleh good" and "pro-Saleh bad," leaving no room for
further due diligence. So when General Ali Muhsin Al-Ahmar defected from the Saleh
camp it was by definition a good thing. But has anyone bothered to examine Al-
Ahmar's past performances and question whether his ties to Al-Qa'ida are still in-
tact? So much so that it raises the specter of a front man for the international
terrorist organization.
Although the US government professes the war against terror to be a priority among
its concerns in the Middle East, apparently no one is paying attention to this very
issue in the controversial poverty burdened Yemen.
What many fail to realize about this general is that his defection may not be
totally related to the call for change advocated by opposition parties and
protestors in the streets. Al-Ahmar has been known to be strongly affiliated with
Al-Qa'ida. According to a 2005 cable by the American ambassador to Yemen Thomas
Krajeski revealed by Wikileaks, Al-Ahmar appears to have amassed a fortune in the
smuggling of arms, food staples, and consumer products.
He is one of what we call in the Arab world a "war prince"-- someone who benefits
from times of conflict.
Signs backing this analysis are already showing in the latest news from the southern
governorate of Abyan where the US had attacked an Al-Qa'ida training camp in 2009.
The camp was allegedly run by Al-Ahmar, yet this point did not seem to resonate with
either US thinkers or Yemeni authority as they dealt with this name.
"It is all about power struggle," cry out activists leading the youth protests in
Change Square as they complain of losing faith in all political parties including
the opposition. They feel that they have been failed by all political entities -
both inside and outside the country.
In fact, the United States was not spared protestors' angst, as bullet shells and
other armament were displayed on television with a sign reading, "Made in USA" and
accompanied by shouts of "the US is killing us."
So what is America's involvement in Yemen? Is it the long standing commitment to
support President Saleh as an ally in the war against terrorism still operative? If
so, is Saleh's friendship and protection of Yemeni leader Abdulmajid Al-Zindani –
frequently on the "Most Wanted Al-Qa'ida" list – problematic? Or need Saleh answer
for Al-Ahmar's use of jihadis to fight Shiite rebels linked to Iran between 2004 and
2008?
There is more to Yemen than is being reported or discussed in the media and behind
closed doors whether in Washington or Sana'a. The US needs to stay focused and
understand the dynamics of Yemeni politics and the various connections in order to
really address the issue of terrorism. As events continue to unfold and foment, who
is on whose team today seems to be of minimal concern. But the message of the street
rejecting such arbitrariness is becoming louder and far less ambiguous than that of
the politicians. It's that voice that needs to be heard.
2011年4月7日 星期四
Police investigate unusual theft
POLICE are investigating an unusual theft from the grounds of a large house which is
undergoing renovation in a rural village.
A total of 198 plastic tree guards were removed from land behind the detached house
on Leazes Lane, in Wolsingham, sometime between midday on Saturday and 6pm on
Sunday.
The guards are black and about 2ft in height and were being used to protect newly
planted trees and bushes.
Police say they were securely kept in place by bamboo canes and cable ties and could
not have been blown away by the wind.
The items are worth about 50p each and it is thought whoever stole them would try to
sell them as a job lot rather than in small batches.
undergoing renovation in a rural village.
A total of 198 plastic tree guards were removed from land behind the detached house
on Leazes Lane, in Wolsingham, sometime between midday on Saturday and 6pm on
Sunday.
The guards are black and about 2ft in height and were being used to protect newly
planted trees and bushes.
Police say they were securely kept in place by bamboo canes and cable ties and could
not have been blown away by the wind.
The items are worth about 50p each and it is thought whoever stole them would try to
sell them as a job lot rather than in small batches.
2011年4月6日 星期三
Waytek Announces New Push Button Switch With Rubber Boot
Chanhassen, MN, April 6, 2011 – Waytek, Inc., a leading distributor of electrical supplies, has added a new push button electrical switch to the company's wide variety of switches, which including Rocker, Toggle and Battery Disconnect Switches. The new Push Button Switch with Rubber Boot is made by Cole Hersee, and designed to be used to control the opening and closing of doors on trucks, buses and heavy-duty equipment. Cole Hersee has been a pioneer and leader in the development of heavy-duty electrical products for nine decades, and is now a preferred supplier of over 2,000 products and accessories for the vehicle industry.
According to a Waytek spokesperson, the new Push Button Switch with Rubber Boot is a single pole, single throw (SPST) momentary switch with a black rubber boot that covers and protects the face of the switch, making it resistant to dust, dirt, and other particulate matter. This switch is normally in the on position, and turns off momentarily when the plunger is depressed. When the actuating force is removed from the plunger, the switch springs back to the on position. The switch is rated 4 amps at 12 volts DC. The two terminals are nickel-plated brass blades, measuring 2mm by 5mm.
The Push Button Switch with Rubber Boot is International Trucks OEM replacement part 3579984C1. Waytek stock number 44160, Cole Hersee #9006.
Waytek, Inc. is a privately held company which offers quality electrical wiring supplies. With over 6,000 products in stock, Waytek's extensive line includes wire, connectors, electric relays, switches, cable ties, heat shrink and many more wiring accessories.
About Cole Hersee
Cole Hersee is a leading manufacturer of electromechanical, electronic and digital switches and connectors. The company specializes in the Heavy Vehicle industry, fulfilling diversified applications for trucks, off-road, utility, transit, emergency vehicles and boats.
According to a Waytek spokesperson, the new Push Button Switch with Rubber Boot is a single pole, single throw (SPST) momentary switch with a black rubber boot that covers and protects the face of the switch, making it resistant to dust, dirt, and other particulate matter. This switch is normally in the on position, and turns off momentarily when the plunger is depressed. When the actuating force is removed from the plunger, the switch springs back to the on position. The switch is rated 4 amps at 12 volts DC. The two terminals are nickel-plated brass blades, measuring 2mm by 5mm.
The Push Button Switch with Rubber Boot is International Trucks OEM replacement part 3579984C1. Waytek stock number 44160, Cole Hersee #9006.
Waytek, Inc. is a privately held company which offers quality electrical wiring supplies. With over 6,000 products in stock, Waytek's extensive line includes wire, connectors, electric relays, switches, cable ties, heat shrink and many more wiring accessories.
About Cole Hersee
Cole Hersee is a leading manufacturer of electromechanical, electronic and digital switches and connectors. The company specializes in the Heavy Vehicle industry, fulfilling diversified applications for trucks, off-road, utility, transit, emergency vehicles and boats.
2011年4月5日 星期二
Ecuador expels US ambassador after leaked cable
Ecuador ordered the US ambassador out of the country Tuesday in a row over a leaked diplomatic cable which quoted her as saying President Rafael Correa knowingly appointed a corrupt chief of police.
Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino made the announcement a day after summoning Ambassador Heather Hodges to his office for an explanation of the cable, leaked by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks.
Ecuador "has decided to consider the lady persona non grata to the national government, and we have asked that she leave the country," Patino said, adding he hoped "the cordial relations" between the two countries would not be hurt.
In Washington, the State Department said it "deeply" regretted the decision by the South American country.
Hodges is "one of our most experienced and talented diplomats," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
"The Department considers her expulsion unjustified," he added, saying US officials were going to examine what options they had now.
In a 2009 cable released by WikiLeaks, the ambassador was quoted as saying Correa had named as police chief general, Jaime Hurtado, a man she said had a reputation for being corrupt. Correa knew of his activities, she alleged.
Hurtado remained in the post from April 2008 to June 2009.
The foreign minister said he told Hodges his government "was surprised and the president was absolutely indignant, and wanted to know the truth about that information."
Patino said Hodges "simply said that this document had been stolen and she had no observation to make, no comment, no clarification," calling her response "absolutely insufficient and unsatisfactory."
He also expressed his concern to the top US diplomat for Latin America, Arturo Valenzuela, before talking to the ambassador.
But he stressed the matter was "the direct responsibility of a person, of the ambassador, and is not an issue that has to do with the US government.
According to the July 2009 cable, Hodges said the embassy had "multiple reports that indicate (Hurtado) used his positions to extort bribes, facilitate human trafficking, misappropriate public funds, obstruct investigations and prosecutions of corrupt colleagues, and engage in other corrupt acts for personal enrichment."
"Some embassy officials believe that President Correa must have been aware of (his activities) when he made the appointment," she added. "These observers believe that Correa may have wanted to have an ENP (national police) chief whom he could easily manipulate."
Ecuador's "irresponsible" expulsion of Hodges "is both whimsical and impulsive, and comes at a great cost to his own people," said Eliot Engel, a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives.
Engel, a senior member of a House subcommittee that deals with Latin America, said Correa "has seriously undermined the possibility" that trade preferences "will be reinstated in the foreseeable future."
"While I expect the United States will respond in kind, I can only hope that this diplomatic dispute will be short-lived," Engel said in a statement.
The Ecuador case was the second involving a US diplomat in Latin America embarrassed by a leaked cable on WikiLeaks.
On March 19, the US ambassador to Mexico, Carlos Pascual, resigned in what Washington said was a move to avoid damage to bilateral ties.
The classified cables depicted the Mexican military leadership as unprepared when President Felipe Calderon deployed thousands of soldiers in a bloody crackdown on drug trafficking in December 2006.
In one of the cables, Pascual said the Mexican navy captured a top drug trafficker with information supplied by US agents, but the Mexican army had failed to act when earlier given the same information.
The cable's assessments contrasted with Calderon's insistence that Mexico was gaining ground over the drug gangs.
Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino made the announcement a day after summoning Ambassador Heather Hodges to his office for an explanation of the cable, leaked by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks.
Ecuador "has decided to consider the lady persona non grata to the national government, and we have asked that she leave the country," Patino said, adding he hoped "the cordial relations" between the two countries would not be hurt.
In Washington, the State Department said it "deeply" regretted the decision by the South American country.
Hodges is "one of our most experienced and talented diplomats," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
"The Department considers her expulsion unjustified," he added, saying US officials were going to examine what options they had now.
In a 2009 cable released by WikiLeaks, the ambassador was quoted as saying Correa had named as police chief general, Jaime Hurtado, a man she said had a reputation for being corrupt. Correa knew of his activities, she alleged.
Hurtado remained in the post from April 2008 to June 2009.
The foreign minister said he told Hodges his government "was surprised and the president was absolutely indignant, and wanted to know the truth about that information."
Patino said Hodges "simply said that this document had been stolen and she had no observation to make, no comment, no clarification," calling her response "absolutely insufficient and unsatisfactory."
He also expressed his concern to the top US diplomat for Latin America, Arturo Valenzuela, before talking to the ambassador.
But he stressed the matter was "the direct responsibility of a person, of the ambassador, and is not an issue that has to do with the US government.
According to the July 2009 cable, Hodges said the embassy had "multiple reports that indicate (Hurtado) used his positions to extort bribes, facilitate human trafficking, misappropriate public funds, obstruct investigations and prosecutions of corrupt colleagues, and engage in other corrupt acts for personal enrichment."
"Some embassy officials believe that President Correa must have been aware of (his activities) when he made the appointment," she added. "These observers believe that Correa may have wanted to have an ENP (national police) chief whom he could easily manipulate."
Ecuador's "irresponsible" expulsion of Hodges "is both whimsical and impulsive, and comes at a great cost to his own people," said Eliot Engel, a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives.
Engel, a senior member of a House subcommittee that deals with Latin America, said Correa "has seriously undermined the possibility" that trade preferences "will be reinstated in the foreseeable future."
"While I expect the United States will respond in kind, I can only hope that this diplomatic dispute will be short-lived," Engel said in a statement.
The Ecuador case was the second involving a US diplomat in Latin America embarrassed by a leaked cable on WikiLeaks.
On March 19, the US ambassador to Mexico, Carlos Pascual, resigned in what Washington said was a move to avoid damage to bilateral ties.
The classified cables depicted the Mexican military leadership as unprepared when President Felipe Calderon deployed thousands of soldiers in a bloody crackdown on drug trafficking in December 2006.
In one of the cables, Pascual said the Mexican navy captured a top drug trafficker with information supplied by US agents, but the Mexican army had failed to act when earlier given the same information.
The cable's assessments contrasted with Calderon's insistence that Mexico was gaining ground over the drug gangs.
2011年4月1日 星期五
Turkey cites fear of Pakistani isolation in maintaining diplomatic ties with it
Turkey's attempts to maintain diplomatic ties with Pakistan stemmed from concerns that the latter was becoming increasingly "isolated" on a global scale, but the efforts benefited Turkey as well, according to a January, 26, 2004 cable, classified by Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Ankara Robert Deutsch (13493: confidential).
A January 19-22 visit to Turkey by Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf is described as "heavy on ceremony and warm rhetoric," but lacking in substance. Instead, it appeared "designed to cement ties, which had become testy in 2002, and to avoid controversy," according to the cable, accessed by The Hindu through WikiLeaks.
"The Musharraf visit was another step in cementing relations that became testy in 2002," when Turkish Prime Minister Mustafa Bulent Ecevit, upon "visiting India in April, said it would be impossible for Turkey to support a military regime (in Pakistan)." And, "citing health reasons, Ecevit…canceled a scheduled May visit" to Pakistan, the cable says.
However, upon succeeding Mr. Ecevit, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan "visited Pakistan in June 2003," according to the cable.
According to an unnamed Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, the Government of Turkey "sees the Musharraf government as relatively good, considering Pakistan's internal situation, and does not want to see Pakistan further ‘isolated' internationally," the cable says.
However, Turkey benefited from maintaining the diplomatic ties. "The Musharraf visit appealed to two very different currents in Turkish foreign policy," according to the cable. "For the secular establishment, Musharraf gives the image of a secular authority figure who, at least rhetorically, has taken on religious extremism. For PM Erdogan's [conservative Justice and Development (AK) Party] government, cementing ties with Pakistan gives AK's more pious supporters a greater sense of Islamic solidarity."
Though "public rhetoric from Musharraf and his Turkish interlocutors during the visit repeatedly condemned terrorism and religious extremism," and "Turkey and Pakistan signed an anti-terror cooperation agreement," it may have been more symbolic than anything else, according to the cable.
"If we squeeze Pakistan too much we're afraid we may lose them," the cable quotes Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs South Asia Head Ergin Soner as saying.
This attitude may have led to Mr. Deutsch's assertion, according to the cable, that Turkish and Pakistani officials "apparently skipped over key issues."
Nuclear "non-proliferation was a non-issue in the visit," the cable says, and "public statements during the visit avoided any mention of the subject."
Despite "historically close mil-mil [military-military] ties," according to the cable, "interlocutors gave no sign that the two sides discussed further enhancement."
Instead, the cable says, "economic aspects were the most important," at least according to Pakistani Third Secretary Janbaz Khan, "who did the advance work on the visit."
"Pakistan and Turkey signed three economic agreements during Musharraf's visit," which Mr. Soner hoped would "help pave the way for Turkish construction firms to win major contracts in Pakistan." Mr. Soner complained "that Turkish companies have been shut out and Chinese firms have won contracts instead," according to the cable.
Mr. Khan "said Pakistan is interested in Turkish construction firms, but has been reluctant to hire Turkish firms since an incident in which a Turkish construction firm defaulted on its contracted performance and the Turkish bank guaranteeing the project refused to pay damages," the cable says.
A January 19-22 visit to Turkey by Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf is described as "heavy on ceremony and warm rhetoric," but lacking in substance. Instead, it appeared "designed to cement ties, which had become testy in 2002, and to avoid controversy," according to the cable, accessed by The Hindu through WikiLeaks.
"The Musharraf visit was another step in cementing relations that became testy in 2002," when Turkish Prime Minister Mustafa Bulent Ecevit, upon "visiting India in April, said it would be impossible for Turkey to support a military regime (in Pakistan)." And, "citing health reasons, Ecevit…canceled a scheduled May visit" to Pakistan, the cable says.
However, upon succeeding Mr. Ecevit, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan "visited Pakistan in June 2003," according to the cable.
According to an unnamed Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, the Government of Turkey "sees the Musharraf government as relatively good, considering Pakistan's internal situation, and does not want to see Pakistan further ‘isolated' internationally," the cable says.
However, Turkey benefited from maintaining the diplomatic ties. "The Musharraf visit appealed to two very different currents in Turkish foreign policy," according to the cable. "For the secular establishment, Musharraf gives the image of a secular authority figure who, at least rhetorically, has taken on religious extremism. For PM Erdogan's [conservative Justice and Development (AK) Party] government, cementing ties with Pakistan gives AK's more pious supporters a greater sense of Islamic solidarity."
Though "public rhetoric from Musharraf and his Turkish interlocutors during the visit repeatedly condemned terrorism and religious extremism," and "Turkey and Pakistan signed an anti-terror cooperation agreement," it may have been more symbolic than anything else, according to the cable.
"If we squeeze Pakistan too much we're afraid we may lose them," the cable quotes Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs South Asia Head Ergin Soner as saying.
This attitude may have led to Mr. Deutsch's assertion, according to the cable, that Turkish and Pakistani officials "apparently skipped over key issues."
Nuclear "non-proliferation was a non-issue in the visit," the cable says, and "public statements during the visit avoided any mention of the subject."
Despite "historically close mil-mil [military-military] ties," according to the cable, "interlocutors gave no sign that the two sides discussed further enhancement."
Instead, the cable says, "economic aspects were the most important," at least according to Pakistani Third Secretary Janbaz Khan, "who did the advance work on the visit."
"Pakistan and Turkey signed three economic agreements during Musharraf's visit," which Mr. Soner hoped would "help pave the way for Turkish construction firms to win major contracts in Pakistan." Mr. Soner complained "that Turkish companies have been shut out and Chinese firms have won contracts instead," according to the cable.
Mr. Khan "said Pakistan is interested in Turkish construction firms, but has been reluctant to hire Turkish firms since an incident in which a Turkish construction firm defaulted on its contracted performance and the Turkish bank guaranteeing the project refused to pay damages," the cable says.
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