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Wang Gungwu (THES, December 8) confuses two different arguments. One is that Asian countries must develop an intellectual orientation, possibly through changes in the educational system, which releases them from the thrall of Western (American) domination. This is a laudable aim, but beside the point. Since the initial problem, according to him, is the unjustifiable American attitude that these countries are provincial, surely what is needed is a change in the content and value of American rather than Asian education.
The second argument is that it should be possible eventually to develop a coherent notion of Asian values. But this is not an edifying response. On the one hand, it is impossible to isolate and identify values which are Asian, no more no less. On the other hand, there is the question of whether in any case this is the way to escape a real or imaginary provincialism.
In the end, this seems nothing more than a reworking of the standard Asian values rhetoric, nuanced though it is. Its novel point of departure only makes the journey more problematic.
Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad Trinity College, Oxford


text: Traditional divan beds and mattresses are another core business for us as we have a massive selection in store and online. We cover the entire range from a double at budget price to our top end Somnus range.The beds and mattresses come in the usual sizes single, small double, double, kingsize and super kingsize . It is very important to choose the right bed or mattress and our staff will make every effort to ensure that the right choice is made.

subset: commoncrawl


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Proton Inspira
Table of content …………………………………………………………………………………. 2 1.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………...…3 1.1 History ……………………………………………………………………………….. 3 1.2 Proton | INSPIRA …………………………………………………………………... 3 1.3 Product Life Cycle [PLC] …………………………………………………………... 4 Introduction Level ………………………………………………………………….. 4 Growth Level ………………………………………………………………………... 5 Maturity Level ……………………………………………………………………..... 5 Decline Level ……………………………………………………………………….. 6 2.0 Analysis ……………………………………………………………………………………... 6 2.1 Proton | SWOT Analysis …………………………………………………………... 6 Strength ……………………………………………………………………………....6 Weaknesses ………………………………………………………………………….. 7 Opportunities ……………………………………………………………………….. 7 Threats ……………………………………………………………………………..... 8 2.2 Pest Analysis . ……………………………………………………………………….. 8 Political …………………………………………………………………………….... 8 Economic …………………………………………………………………………….. 8 Social ……………………………………………………………………………….... 9 Technological ………………………………………………………………………... 9 2.3 Proton | Platform-sharing Approach …………………………………………….... 9 2.4 Proton Inspira Vs Mitsubishi Lancer ………………………………………….... 11 3.0 Proton | Future …………………………………………………………………………….. 12 4.0 Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………….. 13
1.0 Introduction…
1.1 History
PROTON was integrated in 7th May 1983 to produce, accumulate and sell vehicles and associated products as well as garnishing, spare parts and other machinery (History of proton). PROTON formed Malaysia's first car, the Proton Saga commercially launched in 9th July 1985 by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Mahathir Mohamed who had firstly envisioned the idea of a Malaysian car. PROTON is a global company that is Malaysian. It is thus Malaysian that citizens can get its stock, own part of the company and share in its success. It has been overtly listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange [KLSE] since 1992 (financial company background). PROTON automobiles are making their mark globally as competitive and innovative cars. They are now being exported to more than 45 countries including the vastly competitive United Kingdom and continental European markets. Through determined and unswerving loyalty from customers, business connections, shareholders, government agencies, and employees. PROTON is realising its aim of being a worldwide successful Malaysian automotive manufacturer. It is achieving this by being customer familiarized and by producing competitively priced and innovative products. Therefore, it is causative to Malaysia's achievement of Vision 2020.
1.2 Proton | INSPIRA
There has been much argue whether Proton did it correct or incorrect in producing the term of a [technological partnership] with Mitsubishi Motors on Proton Inspira. Whereas I agree a bit that later than 25 years Proton has to be able to turn up with its own design for an alternative model, there are other factors that must be measured. If you consider that paying between RM79, 000 and RM92, 000 for what is basically a Mitsubishi Lancer with faintly different looks and a few changes to handling, in that case you should be so conducted. Whereas Mitsubishi Lancer offers only one alternative with two faintly different body. The new Inspira offers three different variations from
1.8 litre manual to a 1.8 litre CVT, and a 2.0 litre CVT, which definitely caters to a wider range of potential users than just one engine transmission option. From inside the quality of the materials is the similar as it is in the Lancer. In addition, the inside instrumentation were all initially developed for the Lancer, and it is an effortless case of transferring them all over to the Inspira (mybiebie, 2010).
1.3 Product Life Cycle [PLC]
Producing the Proton Inspira will not be quite easy, because no one knows about the new product yet. That is why managers of the company should apply some marketing strategies in order to attract customer.
Introduction Level
When the Proton Inspira will be introduced, sales will be low down until...
History of Proton, 2011 : http://www.proton.com/Corporate/AboutProton/Corporate-Information/History-of-PROTON.aspx#story | accessed on 20th Mar
Frost & Sullivan (2002), the Impact of AFTA on the ASEAN Automotive Industry : http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/market-insighttop.pag?docid=IMAY-58VK85 | accessed on 6th Apr
AseanOneMonitoring, 2009
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Archive for July, 2012|Monthly archive page
A whisper
A young preacher reminded me this morning that God spoke to Elijah in a whisper at Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19). Why?
Perhaps because a whisper can be just as compelling in the right circumstances as a thunder clap.
In our Western world, we tend to increase noise if we want to catch someone's attention. But we often miss beautiful things in the midst of the clatter and crashing. A bird's song can be lost in the middle of rush hour in a large city.
God does grab our attention by dramatic demonstrations of his power and majesty. We know that Jesus will return with a shout and a trumpet blast (1 Thessalonians 5:16) that will be heard throughout the world.
But, most of the time, the Holy Spirit works more quietly.
In Psalm 46:10, David quoted God as saying: "Be still and know that I am God." In effect, God was saying: "I want you to stop what you are doing and listen."
This is not an easy thing for us moderns to do. We are restless beings.
But those who have chosen this path have found it rewarding.
Jesus went off by himself to pray and listen to his Father – away from his friends and their demands. Moses went up Mount Sinai alone to commune with his Lord.
And over the centuries, there have been many who have cultivated silence and contemplative prayer to draw nearer to God.
It is something that has attracted me over several decades.
In this as in much else, I am still a beginner. I realize that I must start by being ready to hear from God, as Elijah was.
That means putting other things aside, quieting down, and waiting for God to whisper.
It's tough to be different.
We are always under pressure to conform to the dominant culture around us.
At one time, Christians dominated society in Europe and North America. Sometimes, Christians persecuted non-believers, a sorry chapter in the history of the faith.
Now, the shoe is on the other foot. Christian values are often derided and attacked today – in our schools and in newspapers, television shows, books and films.
In this atmosphere, it is hard to stand out, to take a different stand. We don't want to lose friendships or prompt laughter.
But, as I wrote in an earlier post, Christians in other parts of the world are willing to be different, even if it costs them their lives.
Our best example, of course, is Christ himself. He went against the religious establishment simply by speaking the word of God. His parables and sayings were subversive in the eyes of the Pharisees and Sadducees and the Roman authorities.
Christianity is still subversive. Many people refuse to accept that there is an absolute standard of good and evil. They reject the idea that there is a God and that we are called to worship him.
Christ knew that there would always be opposition to his message – a message of love and hope to those who believe, but an offence to those who don't.
His immediate followers knew that, too. The apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 1:17 that we are "foreigners in the land". Paul said that "we are citizens of heaven" (Philippians 3:20). The idea is that we are different because we belong to Jesus.
The question, of course, is how are we to be different?
Sometimes, it means speaking truth as Christ did when the Pharisees tried to trap him.
Sometimes, it means loving people that others despise – as Jesus did.
Sometimes, it means speaking boldly about the good news that Jesus brought.
Sometimes, it means accepting hurts without fighting back – as Jesus did on the night of his crucifixion.
All of these are big challenges for me – a person who hates conflict.
But if Christ had taken the easy way out, I would not have the great gift he has given me. Nor would billions of other believers.
Go for gold
This week, I read about an excellent athlete in several sports who decided to concentrate on running in hopes of going to the London Olympics.
Happily, she was chosen for the Canadian track team at the Olympics. Now, she hopes to win a medal – maybe even a gold.
She made a choice. She would abandon her other sports loves – and everything else – to focus on one great goal.
Naturally, it takes discipline and hard work to do that. It's a point the apostle Paul makes in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, using the picture of a runner training for a race. He says:
"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."
I am not naturally disciplined. I float from one thing to another. I am also a procrastinator, putting off doing things until I absolutely have to.
Over the years, I have pounced on different methods or ideas to bring me closer to God and his power. This has been good because I have grown in my understanding of God and myself. Yet I have not been consistent – disciplined – in following through.
Paul is saying that there is no shortcut to growing close to God. I must seek him with all my heart – and I must be disciplined as I seek him.
Is worshiping Christ my main preoccupation? Do I want to please him above all? Or, will I allow myself to be drawn away by other pleasant things?
Paul's words call me: "Run to win!" Go for gold!
How do I deal with regrets?
How do I deal with regrets?
A friend of mine told me this week that he said something years ago that he still regrets. He spoke to a pastor who told him that Jesus forgave him for all he did – including speaking those words. But my friend still felt burdened by what he had done.
Glibly, I told him that everyone has regrets. Even Peter must have regretted denying Christ for the rest of his life.
I was too quick in my response. It is true that you cannot undo what you have done. But does that mean you will forever stagger under the burden of these mistakes – deliberate or not?
This is a real issue for me. I have said and done – or not done – things that I regret. I often turn these over in my mind.
I believe Christ would say that I must not let my past shackle my future. By that I mean, I must not allow past misdeeds steal my joy in the Lord.
That doesn't mean I must ignore what I have done wrong. If I have hurt someone, I should seek that person's forgiveness. I will have done what I could, even if I am not forgiven.
For other sins, the general rule is clear in 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins to him (God), he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (New Living Testament)
Who am I to dwell on these things if Christ has forgiven me and I have done what I could to be reconciled to others?
A young student pastor gave a good sermon in our church this morning about God's mercy and grace, using Jesus' story of the Prodigal Son. In that story the father runs out and hugs his wayward son who is returning home repentant after wasting his inheritance (Luke 15:11-32).
That is a picture of God loving us even when we wander away from him and eagerly embracing us when we come back to him.
The apostle Paul says in Philippians 3 that he has not reached perfection.
"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
Paul has put behind him all his victories and defeats. Instead, he is focused on what Christ is calling him to do.
That is good counsel for me and for anyone struggling with regrets.
The 20-80 rule
Years ago, I heard someone offer a rule of thumb: "20 per cent of the people do 80 per cent of the work."
It's a catchy phrase, but it seems to reflect reality in many places, churches included.
Churches seem to have a hard time recruiting volunteers. Why is that?
Probably various reasons. One reason may be that families are extra busy these days – parents working, children in sports and music lessons and so on.
But the question of priorities comes to mind. What were Jesus' priorities? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and your neighbour as yourself.
As parents, my wife and I were involved in toting children to lessons and sports. I realize that lessons and sports are important in a child's development. But they can become all-consuming.
Parents, too, can be swallowed up in their jobs. I recognize that I was chained to my desk for longer hours than I should have been.
In the end, though, we have to think about what is eternally important. Eternity wasn't top of mind for me in my peak working years. It is now.
I believe it is possible to work, help your children grow and develop, and serve the Lord. But God should be at the centre of life.
Jesus was very direct about this. In Matthew 6:20-21, he says:
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Jesus is saying we will be rewarded for loving God and loving others, rewarded in heaven if not in this world. That is hard to grasp for us earthlings, but it is truth.
Of course, we can serve God wherever we are, not only in a church. God asks us to do everything as if we were doing it for him.
But I suspect the volunteer problem in churches is due, in part, to people focusing more on earthly treasures than heavenly ones. Many of these treasures are good in themselves, but they are less than what God wants for us.
It's a truth that is, at last, sinking into my mind and heart.


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February 2018
I got the unfortunate call that Bill was selling out and this layout was being dismantled. Yet another long time place of trains, fun and friends that will be no more.
This is a private layout that is within a 15 minute ride from my house. With tongue firmly planted in cheek, we occasionally call ourselves the Black Sheep S Scalers. The layout owner, a few regular attendees and myself all met years ago in the South Jersey S Scalers club in the early 90s which is now the South Jersey S Gaugers. SJSG remained in a more decidedly Hi Rail interest then the few of us who became interested in an S Scale only direction.
If you would like to see this layout and run with us, please contact me. It is just off RT 295 in Gibbstown NJ. He runs on an alternating schedule every other Monday night from about 7:00 to about 10:00 P.M. I don't go there as much as I used to in the name of marital preservation, and have my own layout.
The layout is very loosely based on the PRR Elmira branch to run NYC and PRR equipment. We use Wangro/NCE DCC. We run mostly steam engines, and most of them have sound units. The track work started out as being handlaid, but switched to some flex track near the completion of the plan.
This is a "slightly retouched" photo of my B&O EM-1 and the then new
S Helper Service B&O 2-8-0 on Bill's layout on 10-25-06. I call the
photo Poppa Bear & Baby Bear. (:->) I added the sky in Photoshop.
Bill's Layout
You didn't think I would go to all this effort working on my trains to let them sit on a shelf or worse, just sit in the box, did you? Of course not! Before I had my house and layout, I was lucky enough to be able to run my trains at a good friend's house. I say lucky, because there are not many S Scale layouts in my area.
Here are a few photos that were taken on 12-7-05. I jokingly called it the "Headend Train that ate Cleveland". It was an A B A Set of E7 units, 2 R50b, 6 B60b, 4 REA X29, and 1 coach. Everything is brass except for the coach. I realize that it is actually a short to average mail/express train.
As much as I liked this E7 set I sold it on 4-25-12. I had too many brass E Units for the size of my layout.
Updated 2-18-18
All photos and content © Lanes Trains 2005-2018


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Good drinkers and good thinkers: Dr. Cocktail takes a barstool
I don't blog, I don't blog, I don't blog. Oh look, I'm blogging.
I was an early web adopter. Then it was like, ok, I get that we have all this cyber real estate, but what do you DO with it? Write about yourself? Write a poem? Put up a pretty picture? It all seemed so self indulgent before the big corporations stepped in. And that's how blogging struck me so many years later…a resurrection of the Web's proud roots….directionless, self-indulgent crap. Ooh, my private diary…. but if you find it you can read about my every puerile whim!
So what happened? Good writers and good thinkers, that's what. Day laborers who would never make their money with a pen turned out to have a point of view, but, again, so what? Well, so if they end up writing with articulate humor or passion that is enough. As Joseph Mailander, the host of my first blogging indulgence once said to me, "a good blog is the reader's dirty secret, it's his or her secret indulgence." A first-person narrative soap opera is what it is, but again, the writing and the smarts in the blogs we've come to know make them persuasive, and having laid down that foundation, we cycle back around to the individual points of view, and then we're hooked.
Cocktails and politics, or to roll it all up and express it daintily, "cultural issues," have snuggled up before, symbiotic, less as a matter of drawing lines of correspondence than "I like Martinis. I like the ACLU. I will write of these two lovers and my menage e trois with them. Surely, it all preceded blogs and the web, but looking at those venues alone we see cocktails and politics again and again, alone and together. The bulletin boards, of course, now take on the aspect of blogs as well - and vice versa via peanut gallery mutterings from the blog comment forms.
Ever since I became notorious in my little corner of whimsy, (cultural cocktail anthropology,) the blogs have seemed like strangers overheard complimenting me without knowing I was there to hear. It was and had to be a fait accompli that I would one day be among them.
I met up with MartiniRepublic.com doing a Google search on Laird's Applejack. It's one of those searches I repeat on some kind of a schedule. Partially because applejack was the first spirit distilled in this country — and Laird's was early to do so commercially (having assented to provide George Washington with their formula just to be nice) — and partially because I look for physical and informational artifacts of that history.
Among the Google results was the website MartiniRepublic.com. My inspection was consequential for the Laird piece, and cursory for the rest of the site… except for ONE OTHER POINT. They were Los Angeles-based. I was Los Angeles-based. This was important. It meant someone new to have Martinis with. I suggested as much. The depth of the whole political discourse aspect only sunk in after Joseph assented to the cocktail and suggested I contribute to the site.
Mulling that over, I proceeded to follow the various trails of bread crumbs left by MartiniRepublic leading hither and thither, and I learned. I learned that LA-affairs blogs are like a pit of vipers. They're like a pond of piranhas. They're like apples with razor blades in them. Am I putting too fine a point on it? Brother, walk a mile on my freeway. We have the obligatory national politics, liberal and conservative, but when it dips into the cesspool of local LA "cultural issues" jeez, hose me off. Right now we are readying ourselves for a mayoral election, mercifully now narrowed to two, even though all three still want to win. And all three of these gameshow contestants are putzes. We have the incumbent do-nothing putz, the talk big but don't have a clue putz, and the golden boy who sold out to win putz. Oh, and the blogs get ALL whupped up over these guys and other nuances of the LA scene dealing with, among other items,… immigration, rights of one sort of another, and, oh yes, themselves. I really learned a thing or two when I saw the degree to which these blogs, mosquito-like, feed off each other. You know what it is? It's love. They couldn't live without one another, and for that reason I embrace them in all their nutty confrontational passion. Awwwww.
I met Joseph at the Tiki Ti bar, a clear indication we both knew our LA joints. My Navy Grog (with my special Pimento Dram additive) was already in hand when he walked in, and I knew him immediately. A strange combo of Hector Elizondo with the wry, dry humor only Satan himself could muster, and perhaps just a dash of antimatter Dennis Miller. We drank and I basically agreed to write for Martini Republic. Why? Didn't I mention I could drink with him? Also, MartiniRepublic and the other rabid LA blogs out there are genuinely smart. I enjoy reading the ones that I by no means agree with, too. Why not? They too are smart. witty, and acerbic, and I embrace a lively divergency of points of view. But MartiniRepublic offered me a gig, they'll let me write whatever my suspect brain tells me to, and did I mention we can meet for the occasional LA libation?
I'm Dr. Cocktail and I approved this column.


text: Mike was introduced to our club by former member Don Evans in 1975 and is a 30-year member of our Legion of Honour. He has participated on many of our committees ranging from our Music Committee to our previous Benefit Dinner Committee, then on to our Golf Tournament Committee. Mike was an excellent chairperson and set the stage with a strong team and a template for future chairs to emulate. Over the last few years, the golf tournament has become the Club's largest fundraiser raising over $60,000 every year to support our ongoing projects. Mike's guidance and ongoing personal commitment to attracting both sponsors and participants, ensures that the golf tournament consistently maintains the high standard of effectiveness which we all now take for granted. Thanks for Making a Difference Mike!


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Changing Ontario: South Asian Women Step Up to Empower the Community
By: Joyeeta Dutta Ray in Toronto, ON
As Toronto evolves into the world's most multicultural city, so does its colourful communities, rising as a collective force to overcome challenges. This time, it's the women who are initiating change. Meet a few dynamic South Asian immigrants who have stepped forward to pull up others in the community in various ways.
If Women Move Forward, the Whole Community Moves Forward
Shiuli Akhtar* (*name changed) stands as a symbol of pride for Sultana Jahangir, Executive Director at South Asian Women's Rights Org. (SAWRO). She defines what Toronto's grassroots member-led non-profit organization stands for: helping South Asian women, Bangladeshis in her case, come into their own in Canada.
Shiuli migrated to Toronto from Chittagong, Bangladesh in 2013, two small kids in tow. She had a degree in Chemistry but no work experience to talk of and little English skills. When she approached SAWRO for help, she was first enrolled in an English learning class, followed by a computer course. When her skills grew, so did her confidence. She got a break in a cosmetics firm in December 2014, only to be laid off 8 months later.
Not one to leave anyone stranded in the middle of the road, SAWRO pulled her into COSTI to switch lanes as a medical lab technician. Shiuli rose to the challenge, volunteered in a clinic for 3 months before she was absorbed into a full-time role. 4 years later, she lives her dreams in the same clinic with pride.
Sultana Jahangir, originally from Bangladesh, moved to Toronto from the USA in 2005, where she lived for about 7 years. Having faced injustices as a new immigrant under the Bush Administration, she understood the plight of her people in Canada.
"(Low-Income) women in the Bangladeshi community are very isolated. They are not familiar with writing resumes or Ontario's employment process. It is hard for them to sustain precarious jobs as they are not protected by working rights. We have policies from the 1930s which do not apply in today's environment."
The work environment in Canada is going through drastic change. Full-time employment supported by good wages is giving way to temporary contracts that pay pittance. Women at the lower end of the job spectrum are hit hardest with little benefits and lesser job security. SAWRO helps them by working with labour rights and employment organizations for "systematic change". Once these women sustain themselves, there is a profound difference. "They first get their voice and recognition in their own families," says Sultana.
Today, after 5 years of service, SAWRO supports over 2000 Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Afghani and Indian women. About 346 were assisted with jobs. Plans are on to reach other marginalized groups now. "Every ethnic group has their own characteristics," Sultana says. There is no one solution for all.
Driving Change by Giving Back
When Harpreet Sodhi migrated to Canada from India in 2001 to seek better opportunities for her family, little did she know that she would end up offering greater opportunities to others in the process.
A computer teacher for seniors back in India, Harpreet was used to training the mentally and physically challenged. Since she was "lucky to be gainfully employed", she set about helping others through "Women That Give" - a non-profit group founded in 2016 by Fawzia Khan jointly with like-minded South Asian volunteers. The mission was to offer weekly workshops to help financially distressed and mentally disturbed women stand on their feet.
One of their greatest victories was Carol Mckeon, a mentally disabled woman under their care, who rose to take part in the 2017 International Paralympics Softball team, held in Toronto.
"Social isolation is a big factor that leads the disabled, abandoned and physically abused to depression and financial distress", says Fawzia. "WTG uplifts these women by building their capacity and helping with job placements."
"This land gave us the opportunity to grow so it's important for us to give back," says Harpreet. "We wanted to combine efforts to make a stronger impact as a unified force", adds Fawzia.
Helping Women Professionals Fly Higher
For Bhuvneet Thakur, life changed with WINGS (Women's Initiatives to Nurture, Grow and Support), a Mississauga-based non-profit organization. A student who arrived in 2016 to study at Humber College for a Business Accounting Diploma, Bhuvneet faced a roadblock once she finished her term. It was hard to find entry level jobs in her specialization.
"I realized the importance of connecting with professionals and carrying credible references," she says. But for newcomers like her, networking is a challenge. "It's hard to know who to talk with and how to start." That is where WINGS steps in.
Started by Sanjukta Das, a Humber College Business Placement Advisor and Social Activist, who came to Canada less than a decade back from India, WINGS took flight with an enterprising board of women directors in 2014, to provide networking opportunities to empower women.
Bhuvneet secured a co-op placement with WINGS, and connected with other professionals, "magnifying her self confidence." Shortly after, she got the much-needed break at Humber College itself. "I will continue volunteering at WINGS to help others reach their goals," she states.
WINGS now plans its first Trade Expo on March 18th, 2018 as a tribute to International Women's Day. It aims to bring together the rising number of South Asian women entrepreneurs and professionals at the Grand Convention Centre in Brampton. Funds from the proceeds will go towards a homeless youth shelter.
"Volunteering gives the chance to not just change one's own life but also someone else's", says Bhuvneet. Good to see the baton pass on to younger hands.
This piece is part of the "Ethnic Women as Active Participants in Ontario" series. Writers interested in participating are encouraged to join the NCM Collective for an opportunity.
The Great Canadian Resumé
By: Joyeeta Dutta Ray in Toronto, ON
Toronto has always been a magnet for new immigrants. Some come here to escape bullets. Some come to fill up their wallets. Some are here to breathe in unpolluted air.
Over the last few years however, more and more skilled immigrants have traded their Permanent Resident garlands for a rosy life elsewhere.
The Toronto Star reports that every province and territory except for Ontario, saw immigration numbers rise drastically. Whereas in Ontario, the numbers dropped from 133,600 to 99,500.
The reason is almost always one of the two: Unemployment or underemployment!
This was seldom the case even a couple of decades back.
When Mila Lebuda fled to Toronto from communist Poland in 1991 at the age of 21, the country embraced her with open arms. It did not matter that she did not speak English or that she didn't have much work experience. The grounds for adopting her were purely humanitarian.
"Canada gave me a new lease of life" she says. This is where she met her future husband, Vlad Lebuda another Polish immigrant like her. She made money as a caregiver. He drove a truck. As finances improved, their lifestyle did too. For Mila, the biggest barrier was language. Once that hurdle was crossed, life was sunshine and tulips.
However, not everyone finds the same success in Canada!
Mila's tech-savvy Polish friend, Aron* (named changed for privacy) had higher ambitions. He went back to Poland as soon as conditions improved. "There are better opportunities there now. Despite living here for 10 years, he never got his due," says Mila.
Not surprising! Statistics Canada reports that even after being in Canada for 15 years, immigrants with a university degree are more likely than the native-born to be in low-skilled jobs.
New Immigration Policies; New People
There's a shift in trends. As new policies replace older ones, immigrants flying in to Canada now, are visibly different than those who came in earlier. They are better educated, better versed in English and better positioned professionally.
There's a reason behind that. Earlier Canada took in more unskilled workers to meet economic needs. But recruitment efforts for skilled workers, entrepreneurs and investors are the need of the hour now. "Since 2006, the government has made dramatic changes to the federal skilled workers program by raising language requirements, restricting eligibility to specific professions and pre-screening applicants' foreign credentials", says the Toronto Star.
Yet, these very skilled immigrants are the ones who are having it rough.
For Roopa Rakshit who moved with her husband and 12 year old son to Thunder Bay (Ontario) from Thailand in 2012, migration was a decision based on being located closer to their daughter who was studying in UBC, Vancouver.
It was an intimidating prospect at a stage in their lives when they were well-settled professionally. But they were confident that their international resumes would open doors. They were in for a surprise!
It took Roopa 4 years to find a job suited to her skills. "I was an environmentalist in a United Nations affiliated organization in my previous life (Bangkok). While my International experience was appreciated, I was made to realize that I fell short of the "Canadian experience."
In the race to build her "Canadianess", Roopa sprinted on the volunteering path, networked along the way and picked up a scholarship for PHD at Lakehead University. That was the trophy that gave her the much needed break. "It was my research topic on energy planning with the First Nations people that led me to my current job in a First Nations Technical Services Organization."
Malak Ahmed, who moved from Egypt in August 2016 with her husband and three daughters, has a similar story. She was a Business Unit Director in a leading advertising agency in Cairo. Despite her fancy title and a McGill Graduate Certificate, no employer was ready to lay out the red carpet for her.
"While I did expect to work my way up, I didn't expect to stumble so many steps down the ladder in the process. I was surprised that a city that boasted of a high rate of immigration would put so much emphasis on 'Canadian experience'!"
To cross the barrier, her next step was to get an employment agency to rewrite her CV. That's quite another story.
The Great Canadian Resume
Few countries have elevated the resume to such heights. It's almost an art form here, based not on jotting down your skills but how strategically you phrase them. No matter how clipped your English, how impressive your name card or how many reference letters you come armed with, it's hard for foreigners to master this skill.
Only Canadians know the trick! They have ingeniously made a business out of it, creating employment for themselves to help clueless newcomers like Malak.
When the planets finally aligned to bless her with a job, the pay didn't match up to her qualifications. But despite it all, Malak chooses to stay on. "After the revolution in Cairo, the economy struggled and so did we. But it's all been worthwhile. We like the cultural diversity here. The kids love their schools."
Easy to see how soaring cost of living, rising crime and jobs with unscrupulous hours in Cairo make Canada seem like Disneyland.
For Alexa, who came from Honduras (Central America) to North York, the road was as rough. She arrived armed with a Bachelor's degree in Business, a Masters in Marketing, 5 years at an International Telecommunications company and dreams to make it big. None of these made things any easier!
"I was a Marketing and Sales Manager at Huawei Technologies in Honduras. The biggest challenge for me was to start my career from the bottom up." But she wouldn't head back either. "Honduras is a small country where 50% of people live in poverty. There is a high rate of homicides and corruption." In contrast, Canada offers commuting safety, free education and healthcare. The choice is clear!
Escaping corruption was high on the list for Marcia to move from Brazil as well. She arrived with her husband in Toronto in 2016. "The social discrepancy of wealth makes for very dangerous streets, with thefts happening everywhere" she says. While it's a dream to stroll around North America's safest metropolitan "without fear of getting mugged", the Marketing professional who worked for 9 years in a leading multinational company, found it hard to find a job. It took her 3 months to find full-time employment and when she did, the job was an entry level position in Customer Service that paid less than she expected because of her lack of "Canadian Experience".
"You feel like your experience in a foreign country is devalued because you haven't applied it in Canada. Recruiters tend to disqualify you too", she says.
Canada: More dependent on new immigrants than ever
Canada thrives on new immigrants to bring in the bucks. Estimates from the Conference Board of Canada reveal that if Canadian employers recognized and rewarded immigrant skills, the country would earn an additional $10 million annually.
Instead, every year, Canada loses valuable doctors, engineers, accountants and marketing professionals to the USA, where "American Experience" is an unheard of criterion! While others take up blue collar jobs that don't do justice to their skills.
Local employers argue that "Canadian Experience" assures understanding of the soft skills essential for success here.
However, it pays for them to remember that the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) has laid down a strict declaration that "Canadian Experience" is discrimination and can only be used in very limited circumstances.
Interestingly enough, smaller cities and rural areas in Canada have set a better example. In 2013, Moncton, New Brunswick ran career fairs that encouraged employers to hire immigrants. In Manitoba the tiny cities of Winkler and Morden have not just drawn newcomers in large numbers with their successful immigration programs, but also helped them settle in to a quality lifestyle.
How can Ontario follow suit?
Roopa suggests, "Employers should be encouraged to accept professional immigrants to maximize on their experience. The integration can include in-house orientation." Marcia agrees. "There should be more incentives from the government to encourage companies to hire qualified foreigners in appropriate positions. The success of the immigration policy should be measured not by the number of people who come in but by the number of people who stay on successfully in the country."
For a country that prides itself on being humanitarian, learning from the smaller towns and listening to the less heard voices could be the key to turning things around before an ageing population and shrinking birth rate get the better of the nation.
How Newcomer Parents Adjust to Canadian Schools
by Sukaina Jaffer in Toronto
With schools back in full swing this week, many parents are breathing a sigh of relief as their children head back to learning. However, for new immigrants to Canada, adjusting to a new education system can bring about a myriad of unique challenges and worries.
For Zohra Mawji, a homemaker who emigrated from Mozambique about two years ago, this is the first year she is sending her two daughters – ages seven and 11 – to public school versus a private Islamic one.
"[Alisha and Nidah were] a little nervous about going to a new school," explains Mawji, "but on the whole they were looking forward to it as they love Canada."
Adapting to Canadian education
Mawji has mixed feelings about the new school. On one hand, she praises the principal and teachers at the Richmond Hill school as being very helpful, and states "the exposure will be good for my daughters as it is not good to live in a bubble."
On the other, Mawji is concerned about Ontario's new sex-ed curriculum and that her kids will be exposed to particular subject matter too soon.
"Don't put things into their mind that they don't need to know," she says. "Parents know when their kids need to know these things."
Mawji is considering pulling her younger daughter out of the Grade 2 classes during these particular lessons.
[quote align="center" color="#999999"]"The only thing we considered was to protect our kid from the negativities of 'English' culture."[/quote]
She is not alone in her concerns.
Asgar Daya, who moved his family from France to Canada a year ago, says he would pull his seven-year-old daughter Misbah Fatema out of public school and send her to private Islamic school if it was financially feasible.
"[I am] highly concerned and worried about the impact on my daughter," he explains, of the sex-ed curriculum.
The decision to switch from public school to faith-based school is one that Brampton resident Zaffar Bhayani and his wife also made.
Bhayani left Pakistan two years ago with his wife and son due to sectarian and religious violence. When his four-year-old son started public school here, he says the family did not face any difficulties and the teachers were very helpful.
"The only thing we considered was to protect our kid from the negativities of 'English' culture," he says.
He recalls that his son would question his mother about why she covered herself with the veil while other children's mothers who came to school did not and would be dressed in shorts.
To preserve the values of their Islamic faith, the Bhayanis decided to enroll their son in an Islamic school when he turned five years old.
English as a second language
Another main concern many newcomer parents have for their children heading back to school has to do with language.
While Daya's daughter attends a French school and has been able to fit in well as French is her first language, he still worries that she is not fluent in English and, as such, is not able to converse well in it. His wife also only speaks basic English, while being fluent in French.
Bhayani, who speaks fluent English, says sometimes there is another issue. He finds that having a foreign accent is a big challenge and a lot of time and practice is needed to adopt a Canadian accent.
Fortunately several school boards have different programs in place to help students improve language skills and feel more comfortable in their new setting.
For instance, the York Region School Board offers LINC – Language Instruction For Newcomers to Canada programs and the Peel District School Board has set up a Welcome Centre for newcomer students and families.
The Canadian government also provides assistance through various services, one of which is the Welcome Centre Immigrant Services, which offers English language classes for newcomers as well as a host of different services.
[quote align="center" color="#999999"]"Get your kids involved in extracurricular activities so they can gain their language skills faster through interaction with other kids."[/quote]
Mary Fowley (who asked her name be changed for privacy) has been a public school teacher for over 20 years and teaches English as a Second Language (ESL). She says that when it comes to students new to Canada, "the younger kids aged four to seven years (old) are able to learn English faster and it is less of a challenge for them to fit in with their peers."
According to Fowley, older children nine to 12 years old face more difficulty learning English and forming friendships because of cultural barriers.
Sameena Bhimani, an elementary teacher with the York Region District School Board, says she partners up newcomer kids in her class with a buddy who helps them to get acquainted with things like class routines and where to go for recess.
From an academic perspective, Bhimani works one-on-one with newcomer kids and teaches them different concepts related to the subject at hand.
Bhimani advises new immigrant parents to, "Get your kids involved in extracurricular activities so they can gain their language skills faster through interaction with other kids."
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Immigrant Youth Struggle to 'Fit In' at School
by Joyeeta Dutta Ray (@joeyday20) in Etobicoke, Ontario
Diana Nayel immigrated to Toronto from Sweden with her sister in June 2012, leaving behind all things familiar. She started her first day of Grade 5 at Toronto's Westway Junior School in the city's west end feeling a bit lost. No one spoke Swedish in her class. She was unsure of her English skills. How long would it take to fit in, she wondered.
Muntasir Mohammed arrived from Dacca, Bangladesh in 2011. Although his English fluency helped him adapt faster to his Grade 5 classmates in Etobicoke, Ont., he was uncomfortable carrying homemade curries to school. His lunchbox always contained cookies or chicken nuggets, compromising nutrition for the need to fit in.
Salma Syed (whose has been name changed for privacy) wears her hijab with pride, like many of her Grade 7 classmates at Toronto's Islington Junior Middle School, but is quick to take it off when she's out with her friends in an effort to blend in with society at large. Her parents migrated from Dacca, Bangladesh in 1999.
For 12-year-old Aneeka Ray (full disclosure: she is my daughter), she arrived in Toronto in 2013 from Bangkok, Thailand and being a newcomer made her the easy target of a cyber bully. She was not the first one, either. According to her friend, other shy newcomers had faced similar experiences at school.
Finding ways to assimilate
Each year, over 50,000 children arrive in Canada, and like Nayel, Mohammed, Syed and Ray, they are unsure of how they will fit in.
Some are war refugees; some are typhoon victims. Some have parents with low literacy levels. Others are financially challenged. And the education system itself is unfamiliar.
Their parents or guardians often get sucked into their new world of struggle, leaving children to fend for themselves. Kids are whisked off to a neighbourhood school, expected to take to it like fish to water, even though it is difficult to find their bearings.
[quote align="center" color="#999999"]"Once a new child sees a peer group of the same ethnicity, they are quicker to form a bond."[/quote]
Canadian schools offer free education and equal opportunities. But is the system doing enough to ensure newcomer children a chance at educational success?
"In many schools a sizeable number of students are naturalized Canadians from various ethnic backgrounds," explains Manoshi Chatterjee, who teaches in an elementary school in York region. "Once a new child sees a peer group of the same ethnicity, they are quicker to form a bond. Group activities help them participate and assimilate."
This was true for Nayel. Even though she isn't of Somali descent herself, when she started a new school her second year of being in Canada where there were many Somali Canadians, the setting felt more familiar.
"My school in Sweden was in a Somali neighbourhood," explains Nayel. "My new friends made me feel much more at home (in Canada)."
For Nayel, English as Second Language (ESL) classes helped polish her linguistic skills, which she initially felt insecure about.
"ESL programs play a pivotal role for immigrant students who struggle with reading, writing or communicating in the language," explains Chatterjee whose school (she didn't want to disclose the name for privacy), like most others, champions the program.
Supporting newcomer students
Jane Chandler, an elementary school teacher with the Peel Board District Board in Mississauga says that schools play a vital role in helping students adjust. She highlights the Peel board's parenting centres, where adults are encouraged to participate with their children, as a prime example of this.
"This acts as a wonderful platform," Chandler says. "The family gets to know the culture of Canadian schools. Parents get opportunities to share stories about their own culture and learn from others. We encourage students to speak their own language at home. This may slow down the English learning process, but in the long run, it (multi-lingualism) has several benefits."
[quote align="center" color="#999999"]"[Students] are taught to value the richness of their own culture and at the same time develop respect for others."[/quote]
Keya Ghosh, an elementary school supply teacher for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) hones in on diversity.
"Our schools play a critical role in making students appreciate their differences," Ghosh says. "[Students] are taught to value the richness of their own culture and at the same time develop respect for others."
Ghosh points to special events celebrated across TDSB schools like African Heritage Month and 'multicultural day' as examples of this.
Outside of the Greater Toronto Area, initiatives like Newcomers' Orientation Week, which was held by one Windsor, Ont. high school, help to put anxious newcomers at ease.
Canadian schools amongst top in the world
The efforts Canadian schools make to support newcomer and culturally diverse students is perhaps a reflection of an education system in fairly good shape.
[quote align="center" color="#999999"]"A quality and free education helps every new immigrant family get equal opportunity in one of the best school systems in the world."[/quote]
According to an international education survey reported by CBC, Canadian schools are among the top globally, right after China (Shanghai province), Korea, Finland, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The report states, "Students in Canada tend to perform well regardless of their socio-economic background or the school they attend."
On a regional level, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia rank highest in reading skills.
"A quality and free education helps every new immigrant family get equal opportunity in one of the best school systems in the world," says Chatterjee. "It is one of the major factors that have helped newcomers integrate into Canadian society."
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Why Some Immigrants Make it in Canada While Others Leave
by Joyeeta Dutta Ray (@joeyday20) in Toronto
They came, they saw, they conquered against all odds. Others went back, defeated.
Don't be quick to cheer the former and sneer at the latter; more often than not, immigrants to Canada who head back end up making millions elsewhere.
So what's to blame for their departure? Is it malfunctioning planets, miserable resumes, sub-zero Martian temperatures that take the fun out of job hunting or all of the above?
Statistics Canada says that one in three Canadians leave the country within 20 years of arrival. Yet, close to 50 per cent of the country's millionaires are reportedly new immigrants or first-generation whiz kids with at least one parent born across the border.
You have to raise your tuque to them. Only a fraction of this envious lot is partying on inherited wealth. Most of them are self-made successes. How did they do it?
New Canadian Media spoke to five immigrants to Canada to explore the differences between those who stayed, and those who chose to leave.
Does Higher Education Pay Off Better?
Pranay Sen* says no. A microbiologist who studied at two premier Canadian universities, he followed his parents to Mississauga from South East in 2002. He started off as a junior scientist in a reputable firm. However, within two years he realized there was not much scope for growth.
"Canada could not offer my son better opportunities (in the pharmaceutical industry) whereas [a country in Europe] gave him the break he needed," explains Pranay's mother. "Most of his friends remained unemployed, which further discouraged him to linger on here." Pranay moved to the European country where he continues to make major strides in his career.
[quote align="center" color="#999999"]They migrated to Canada from Jakarta in 2005 in search of 'clean air, structured society and affordable international education for our children.' Within a year and a half of puffing oxygen, they returned to Jakarta's fumes.[/quote]
Many disillusioned souls leave within the first year of arrival. Jay and Christina D'Souza have a similar story. They migrated to Canada from Jakarta in 2005 in search of "clean air, structured society and affordable international education for our children." Within a year and a half of puffing oxygen, they returned to Jakarta's fumes.
The first few days in Canada were decisive. The security guard at their serviced apartment (fully furnished with hotel-like amenities) had more weight in his brains than biceps. He had a PhD in microbiology, but in his three years in Toronto, he never got a break that did justice to his degree. Jay got a job that paid his bills, but it could not give him the lifestyle he left behind.
"It did not appear that people who lived here longer were better off than me. There are exceptions, but our struggle was not worth the effort," he explains.
When Mags Mano moved to Brampton from Indonesia, Asia was booming, while Canada was hit with the recession. She settled down with her Canadian husband, an immigrant from Iran.
They had every reason to stay on. Mags did well for herself working for the Canadian government, moving on to jointly own an automotive business with her husband. But, in 2014, they gave it all up and headed back to Jakarta.
"The Canadian economy was slowing down in 1990 to '91, while the other side of the world was booming," Mano reasons. "We thought it was time to look into more lucrative investment opportunities where the going was good." For her, the harsh Canadian winter also played villain.
It took her no time to settle down as a senior manager in a relocation company back in her home country.
Can Better Timing Lead to Greater Wealth?
Those who arrived when labour market conditions were favourable seem to have the best reasons to celebrate now. Many own assets worth millions, gained through business enterprises and real estate investment.
For Neerav and Preeti Sharma who migrated from India in 2001, pre-planning did the trick. High levels of pollution wreaked havoc on their daughter's health. It was time to look for greener pastures.
[quote align="center" color="#999999"]"You may not start at the top, but hard work rewards well with many opportunities." - Neerav Sharma[/quote]
Neerav was reluctant to leave his prestigious job in Delhi, so his wife went ahead first. Luckily for her, she found a job, home and enough greenery to have her husband join her soon after.
"I tapped into the employment resource centres for new immigrants and found my first job in Seneca College (in Toronto)," she says. Preeti continued to build her skills and moved up rapidly. Today, she is Operations & Student Retention Manager in the School of Communications, Media & Design.
Neerav arrived in 2003 through a company transfer. He was the only non-white employee in his company then and says he believes it is imperative to have good interpersonal skills and networking abilities to succeed in Canada. "You may not start at the top, but hard work rewards well with many opportunities," he promises.
[quote align="center" color="#999999"]Whatever their story, all achievers agree that there is no escaping the struggle in the initial years.[/quote]
For Paul Yee, an executive producer of TV commercials from Hong Kong, investing in real estate was his key to success. He came to Canada for a family reunion and never went back. He worked hard, owned a company, built assets through real estate investment and encourages newcomers to do the same.
Whatever their story, all achievers agree that there is no escaping the struggle in the initial years.
Can We Enrich the Economy by Letting Skilled Immigrants Go?
Canada has the largest number of immigrants per capita in the world. But are they given equal career opportunities as those born here?
Statistics Canada says that the first four years of the new millennium recorded more out-migrants from Canada than immigrants.
"For the United Kingdom, the emigrant-to-immigrant ratio was 1.6 Canadians leaving for every Briton entering Canada," the study says. However, the largest ratio was between the United States and Canada, with Canada sending 11.3 emigrants for every U.S. immigrant.
According to a 2012 news report in The Globe and Mail, there is severe lack of skills in the secondary cities of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Atlantic Canada. "This shortage (of people power) is a drag on Canada's potential to innovate and compete into the future," says the article.
For a stronger economy and uniform development countrywide, can the federal government afford to lose skilled immigrants to other countries? That remains the million-dollar question.
* Publisher's note: some names in this reporting have been changed to respect the privacy and career prospects of the subjects.
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Tekko 2018
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For information on the tea party and how to apply to model in the fashion show, visit here.


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Meet The Man Saving Belize's Manatees, One Baby At A Time
At 11 years old, Jamal Galves knew that manatees would be his life. As a child playing the lawn of his grandparents house, he would watch their hulking figures float by, imitating the researchers who trailed behind them. He saw them tagging the massive gray animals, drawing blood samples and even recording their every exhale. Since then, Galves, now aptly known as "the manatee man," has made manatees his life.
Read more: http://www.thedodo.com/
1 Comment
Rare Belize Manatee Sighting Caught on Video at Blackbird Resort | Belize Tourism & Travel GuideDecember 19, 2014 at 2:24 pm
[…] See also: Meet The Man Saving Belize's Manatees, One Baby At A Time […]


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Fun Fest teaches teamwork, cooperation and more to detained youth
As part of King County Juneteenth celebrations, King County Juvenile Detention threw a Fun Fest for youth detained in the facility. For the youth, it was an opportunity to expand their learning during the break between school sessions. For those volunteering, it was opportunity to teach young people different life lessons.
Spanning three days, Fun Fest offered three different programs for youth to participate in, picking one that interested them. The most popular was the Football Camp, which taught the youth the importance of teamwork and trust as well as football fundamentals. Another program, Mind, Body & Soul Workshop, included a range of activities from crafting signs reflecting positive, inspiring thoughts challenged participants to making smoothies from fruits and vegetables and learning about nutrition and healthy lifestyles. The final program, Play to Win, had the young participants learning to play games such as Monopoly, Bunco, Bingo, and Charades. Like the Football Camp, Play to Win stressed cooperation and teamwork.
"We wanted to give the youth the opportunity to engage in learning during the school break," Lisa Hymes-Davis, Juvenile Detention Supervisor, said. "We wanted them to have fun, but learn valuable lessons at the same time. Some of them don't have the opportunity to learn about nutrition or positive teamwork."
Fun Fest was about building relationships, Hymes-Davis said. A survey of participants after Fun Fest found that many of the youth enjoyed being able to meet new people and wanted more similar activities in the future.
"We hope to be able to add more programs and activities in the future," Hymes-Davis said.


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MACJR'S Pixel Art & Poetry
Update Notes ‐ Archives
— From newest to oldest —
Page 3 of 4 4 3 2 1
January 20, 2009
Oops, looks like I have not taken the time to update my website notes in a long time.
I am currently dusting off my html skills and doing some minor updates to my copyright information. I have in mind to make some major site changes soon, but I do not always get around to doing what I plan, so it is anyone's guess as to when I will actually do any major site updates here.
Last year I spent most of my time doing family history research and completely failed to do any significant work on any of my web sites. I do hope to get more website work done this year but there is still a lot of family history research to do as well. Not to mention scanning mass numbers of family pictures to digitize as many of them as I can. Once that is done then I can share the family pictures, with any family members interested, in CD or DVD format.
So, anyway, I may have many excuses as to why I have not done any significant web site updates in ages, but at least I am keeping busy with one thing or another. I also do still work on art from time to time so when I finally do make the time to post it, at least there will be something to show. ;)
Michael A. Crane, Jr.
January 01, 2007
This is it; I have this site's first set of pages, for this year, updated and online. In this first site update of 2007 I converted 20 pages from outdated HTML up to XHTML and CSS, added 2 new pages, renamed 1 page, and deleted 3 obsolete pages. Although the markup/code I write is still in a transitional form, it is much closer to the W3C standards than previously.
As I stated in previous update notes, this was mostly an under the hood update. There have been some minor cosmetic changes but mostly the look and feel of the pages is much the same. The pages I focused my attention on for this update were the main administration pages and the Links to Elsewhere pages. I plant to start work on the gallery pages next.
In my next updates I will be adding some new content to my gallery pages. I am not sure how long it will take to get the first gallery updated. The Garden Gallery, for example, is a complex HTML table design that is going to be a nightmare to convert to XHTML and CSS.
For those who are interested, I have a message board where I sometimes talk about what I am doing, or planning to do, concerning my web sites and other projects. Feel free to become a member and join in on the conversations. We talk about a lot of different things there, not just about my work and web sites. All friendly people are welcome, even if you just want to read the board from time to time rather than become a member.
Best regards to all and Happy New Years,
Michael A. Crane, Jr.
Update: I have updated the copyright information on all my www.macjr.com pages and converted all, or most, navigational file and folder names to lower case. This took a few hours. I am now done with today's site update. Next, I begin converting the markup for my gallery pages up to XHTML and CSS and see about getting some new content online.
Michael A. Crane, Jr.
December 23, 2006
Today I did a minor update of the Links To Elsewhere pages. I removed a few dead links, noted a few more links to watch for a while to see if they are indeed dead or is it that their server is down for maintenance, and I redirected a link to a new URL (web address) because Anne McCaffrey changed her official site URL again. This was just prep work for the link pages, I have yet to start the real update of those pages.
My site-wide update, scheduled to be uploaded in the early hours of January 1, 2007, is progressing along well. As I finalize the updated pages, that I have worked on so far, I am already thinking of things I want to work on for future website enhancements. I did not have time to finish the two books I am reading on XHTML and CSS but I did get far enough along in them to improve my page markup and styles a bit and fuel ideas for creative web designs to come.
Most of the work I am doing for this site now is under the hood stuff, and thus, not visible on the surface of the web pages. Still, the look and functionality of my pages are being modified enough that a regular visitor to this site might notice some of the changes when I upload them.
I really wish I had started working on this site update a few months sooner so I could have worked in a few of my newer art pieces to my gallery pages. Unfortunately, there just isn't enough time to get to that for this upcoming site update. However, I do plan to continue working on these pages over the next few months, so, perhaps, I will get some fresh stuff online before the end of 2007.
Well, I better get back to work rather than just sit here talking about doing it. ;)
Michael A. Crane, Jr.
December 07, 2006
It has been way too long since I updated this Update Notes page! Even worse, I have not updated this site since late 2005.
The good news is that I am working on the next website update now. The bad news is that, right now, I am mostly working on converting the old, tired, HTML to new, classy, XHTML and CSS. This means that the first updates will not include much in the way of new content, if you are a mechanic, you might say that all the work is being done "under the hood." I am beefing up the engine now but most of the body work will have to wait a while longer.
Stay tuned, I will be posting more about what I have been doing, what is to come, and getting new stuff online as soon as I can.
Best regards,
Michael A. Crane, Jr.
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As I've mentioned in previous posts, I am new this school year to my church and its Youth Ministry. In the past years, Axiom (Student Ministry) has had "Grad Nights" to honor the Seniors, where all Seniors come dressed in caps and gowns, and some of the core leaders go through each student and affirm/challenge them in their future endeavors. Each Senior gets a going away present from the staff, like a Bible or inspiring book. I really like it, I think its great!
But as for this school year, I wanted to take a little bit of a different approach. Not a huge change, just a few small & subtle differences that I think can make this night a huge hit:
- We are letting go of the ownership: I had this idea to let the Seniors "own" this night. It's a night for them, by them. It will be a Senior led band, Senior led game/announcements/host, a video that features all of the Seniors and edited by a Senior, as well as a Senior led message & testimony time. If it ends up going smoothly and there's a huge impact, this may end up being something I do periodically in the future! The only part I'm holding onto is a little bit of administrative work, as well as closing remarks to all of the Seniors with encouragement.
- We are redirecting the focus: In the past, this night has been a night FOR the Seniors. What I'm trying to leverage this year is the current Seniors' experience that they can pour back into the younger kids. So, the message we're doing is going to be called, "Let Me Tell You One Thing", where we're having 4 of our Seniors (chosen) share something they've learned that they'd love to share with everyone else! So, if they could tell a current 9th grader ONE thing, what would it be? When I cast this vision to our Seniors, they were stoked about this opportunity!
- We are broadening the "crowd:" Usually this night is a "normal" Axiom on Wednesday night where students come at the same time as usual and get the chance to honor the Seniors. What I'm doing this year is to leverage this important benchmark night by encouraging any or all of our parents (or Axiom supporters) to come out that night in support of the Seniors. So, if a 9th grader's parent comes out to check it out and sees the importance of being involved in a group like this, that's a WIN! Or, if a church member who has no kids comes out to check out Axiom, and then becomes a huge supporter of Axiom in their words to others, that's a WIN!
That's what we're doing this year for our 2013 Grads… What are you guys doing?
photo credit: via


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If you're like some people, you don't pay much attention to your plumbing system until a serious issue occurs. You may wake up one morning to find standing water in your sinks, or be horrified when you attempt to flush the toilet, only to have the water bubble up over the surface of the toilet bowl. However, there are things you can do to prevent the chance that these things will happen. Use this information to learn more about some of the preventative maintenance techniques that can help keep your plumbing system in good condition.
Make The Switch to 1-Ply Toilet Tissue
One of the first things you can do to prevent plumbing issues involves the type of toilet tissue that you choose to use. Although your current toilet tissue may be the thick 2-ply version, making the switch to 1-play may be a better choice.
The reason why you should use 1-ply tissue is because it is highly biodegradable. The tissue is so thin that it readily dissolves when it comes into contact with water. This is helpful because it decreases the chances that the tissue will gradually clump up in the pipes beneath your toilet. When you use a thicker version of tissue, it may not completely break down, possibly causing a plumbing issue down the line.
An added benefit of switching to 1-ply tissue is that it may also be good for your pockets, since thinner tissue typically costs less than the thicker counterparts.
Put Drain Strainers In Your Sinks
Drain strainers are small, inexpensive, and highly effective. It won't break the bank to purchase them, but failing to do so could result in an additional plumbing expense.
A drain strainer is a small, net-like device that has tiny holes all over it. The holes are large enough to allow water to pass through, but small enough to keep those pesky pieces of debris that line your sinks from getting into your plumbing system. To use them, simply affix them to the drain covers on the sinks in your house. They could be the key to keeping hair and soap chips from causing a nasty clog.
Keeping your plumbing system in good shape doesn't have to be a difficult, time-consuming activity if you know what to do. Start following these measures right away so you can enjoy a plumbing system that works as it should for as long as possible.
For more information, contact professionals like Bishop Plumbing, Heating and Cooling.Share


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A chance to explore the geology, scenery and wildlife of the East Midlands. First session at The Mill, outdoor meetings thereafter. It is hoped to arrange shared transport and lifts. Walks will involve distances of 3-4 miles, usually starting at 10.30am and finishing at 3pm. Visit locations to be confirmed after consultation with students.
Tutor – Gerry Shaw & Debbie Alston
Fee – £53.90 or Free
Venue – WEA, The Mill, Lodge Lane, Derby DE1 3HB
Date – Wednesday 10:15am – 12:15pm, 5 meetings from 13 April 2016
Course Ref – C2335605
Online enrolment is available from 1 December – go to https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/online


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We are just days away from, what is typically, our greatest opportunity all year for people that are far from God to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ shared with them.
CCA has made it it's mission to help the hopeless find hope and the lost to find peace through Christ. God promised to bless those efforts and He is. We have already seen 65 people experience new life in Christ already this year and over 20 people are going public with their faith through baptism on Easter Sunday. We are humbled by all God is doing and to him be all the glory.
I'm asking every CCA'er to live out and embrace 4 things with me this week as we approach Easter Sunday
1. Lost people matter to Jesus, and because they matter to Jesus, they matter to us
It's impossible to have a true relationship with someone and not care about the things that they care about. May we never forget what it was like to be lost ourselves. That remembrance creates the passion and love we need to do all we can to share this joy we have with others.
2. Every single one of us can make a real difference
God has strategically placed you and given you a specific circle of influence so that you can leverage that influence to help introduce people to a God who is absolutely crazy about them. You may not consider yourself to be a leader, but YOU ARE! Leadership is simply influence and there are people with whom you have particular influence. We have the chance to LEAD them to something ETERNAL!!!
3. Our love, passion and excitement attracts others to "Come and See"
In John 4, it was a woman with a sketchy past and a terrible reputation who convinced an entire city to come and see Jesus. Her passion that resulted from her personal encounter with Jesus, attracted others to check it out for themselves. This is still how it works. When we are passionate about our personal encounter with Christ and excited about what God is doing in and through CCA, it creates a desire in others to "come and see" for themselves.
4. If we will DARE, God will DELIVER
This is the week to overcome your fear, seize the moment and make the ask. Trust me, they are waiting for someone to invite them. They aren't sure where to go but they are thinking about it right now. The first person who is willing to step up and extend the invitation will generally be the one who gets the "yes."
With the grand opening and public launch of our University campus, as well as all that God is currently doing at CCA, we are expecting our largest Easter ever. Let's believe together for many lives to be changed.
Thank you CCA, you make leading a joy and I am so honored to be on this journey with you.
All for Christ!


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Reviewer 3 - Conveyances and Transfers
We quote TLS in full. This is another legal point that all our readers should be familiar with. YGC can keep spending on full page ads and other PR gimmicks but they have to face up to the fact that all their efforts are backfiring because it is making us look and think harder. Regrttably, the word FRAUD is joining the word DISHONOR in terms of what items that may come to mind when we are asked to think about YGC.
TLS said...
To All:
I wanted to wait for the moderator to put in a new topic because I don't want my post to go to waste since in the latest posts, everyone has become distracted by what I see is a non-issue/possibly detractor-supplied info. We should focus energies on moving forward.
Anyway, I couldn't wait to post this because we need all the inputs and analysis we can get, especially in propping up our opposition paper whose deadline is a week away. If the moderators see it as useful, I'll just post it again when another topic comes up so that the right/concerned parties can read it again.
I believe that because PPI/Yuchengco established Lifetime to be able to continue on with its money-making in spite of its anticipated or manufactured problem with PPI, we should seriously look into the servicing of our contractual obligations by Lifetime Plans. There are two legal doctrines by which Lifetime Plans may be proven to be liable: the fraudulent transfer doctrine and the successor liability doctrine.
Under U.S. laws, a Fraudulent Transfer or Fraudulent Conveyance" is a transfer which a debtor makes for the purpose of defeating a creditor's collection efforts against the debtor. In a Fraudulent Transfer, a corporate action which impairs the rights of unsecured creditors, the courts must ignore what was done (the Fraudulent Transfer). This is whether the creditor's claim arose before or after the transfer was made. Transferring assets is a fraudulent act if you transfer them with actual intent to hinder, delay, or defraud any creditor or especially if it is done prior to filing bankruptcy. Such transfers should be considered fraudulent and voided by the courts.
Factors determining actual intent (of Fraud), if Original Owner / Entity:
1. Retained possession or control of the asset / property transferred after the transfer (may not be direct ownership; normally parties that commit fraudulent transfer will restructure to show no current ownership)
2. Disclosed or concealed the transfer;
3. Was sued or threatened with suit before the transfer;
4. Transferred all of its substantial assets;
5. Absconded (departed secretly);
6. Removed or concealed assets;
7. Did not receive value reasonably equivalent to the value of the asset transferred;
8. Was insolvent or became insolvent shortly after the transfer was made;
9. Transferred the asset shortly before or shortly after a substantial debt was incurred; and
10. Transferred the essential assets of the business to a lienor who transferred the assets to an insider of the debtor.
From the above, I believe the actions taken by PPI/Yuchengco constitute a fraudulent transfer which would leave Lifetime Plans as liable for the contractual obligations of PPI as well.
By taking over the earnings assets or fixed-value contracts, Lifetime Plans became entitled to future installment payments on these plans – installment payments which would provide profit margins from which PPI could have possibly satisfied its contractual obligations or ensured adequacy of its ARL / Trust Funds had PPI continued with these fixed-value contracts. Indeed, as a result of Lifetime's taking over the fixed-value contracts, PPI lost the right to share in the profit margins of the future installment payments and potential future profits deriving from the sale of additional fixed-value contracts. In addition, Lifetime Plans benefited and continues to benefit from PPI's Goodwill, most likely also without fully paying for this. The transfer eventually left PPI with a questionable asset, the Napocor Bonds.
So, where the transfer of assets strips a debtor corporation (PPI) of all its assets, and disables the corporation from earning money to pay its debts, thus leaving creditors and holders of claims no resources to which they may look for the payment of their due, the net result is in legal effect a fraud; and the courts must subject the transferee (Lifetime Plans) to liability for the satisfaction of claims against the corporation (PPI) whose assets it has absorbed.
Based on the second doctrine, I believe we can assert our basis to collect legal contractual benefits from Lifetime as a successor corporation to PPI. We assert that Lifetime is liable and is a successor because of two reasons: (1) there was insufficiency of consideration and, (2) it is merely a continuation of PPI.
We assume that the transfer of the earning assets of PPI into Lifetime was done through an "acquisition", meaning Lifetime Plans purchased the earning assets of PPI, although liability may be imposed regardless of the exact form of transfer of assets between the corporations. But let's assume a sale/purchase transaction between PPI and Lifetime Plans. We assert that PPI's sale/purchase or transfer of earning assets to Lifetime Plans lacked sufficient consideration and was designed to avoid the reach of creditors.
Adequate consideration for a transfer of assets between a buying (Lifetime) and selling (PPI) corporation is an important element when determining whether to impose successor liability. If the buying (Lifetime) corporation pays sufficient consideration for the seller's (PPI) assets, the selling (PPI) corporation's creditors can then seek to satisfy their Judgements from the sale proceeds. If the sale proceeds are equivalent in value to the transferred assets, then, assumedly, but not necessarily, no harm has been done to the creditors of the selling corporation. But from the financial statements available, it seems that PPI received no value for the earning assets it transferred into Lifetime Plans, therefore making the transaction questionable and a probable basis for the successor liability theory.
The other basis for the successor liability doctrine is that Lifetime is a mere continuation of PPI. Normally, when a corporation sells its assets to another corporation, the purchasing corporation does not become liable for the debts of the selling corporation. The rationale for this rule is that a "bona fide purchaser who gives adequate consideration and who lacks notice of prior claims against the property acquires no liability for those claims." However, four exceptions to this rule of non-liability exist. Successor liability is imposed if: (1) the purchaser expressly or impliedly agrees to assume liability; (2) the purchase is a de facto merger or consolidation; (3) the purchaser is a mere continuation of the seller; or (4) the transfer of assets is for the fraudulent purpose of escaping liability.
Now, Lifetime is practically PPI. Lifetime, despite being the new corporation established only in 2004, has or had substantially identical ownership (prior to its immediate transfer to Exemplar to enhance the layering), is operating the identical business (sales of pre-need plans) with identical employees (all of whom resigned en masse and transferred) at an identical location to PPI (prior to PPI's transfer to Kamagong and its now floating address status). It received practically all of PPI's assets, at least the good ones, including PPI's intangible goodwill. If that is not mere continuation, I don't know how it can NOT be defined as such.
Lastly, I believe we should take a serious look at going after the perpetrators as well. Although individual shareholders of a corporation can never avoid liability for their own wrongful or tortuous acts, or for their own contractual defaults, doing business in the corporate form will, in many cases, limit the liability of shareholders to the amount of their investment in the corporation. For example, if a corporation is held liable for a wrong committed by one of its agents, or for a breach of contract, the corporate form will act as a shield to protect the individual shareholders from personal liability (unless the individual shareholder(s) personally guaranteed a corporate obligation or is(are) in some manner responsible for the damages to the injured party). But protection from personal liability is lost if there is a basis for invoking the "Alter Ego" doctrine. Under this doctrine, the law will disregard the legal fiction of a corporation's separate existence and "pierce the corporate veil", thus exposing shareholders to personal liability for corporate debts and obligations arising from tortuous or other acts if the court finds that it would be inequitable not to pierce the corporate veil.
There are two basic requirements for application of the alter ego doctrine: ..."(1) that there be such unity of interest and ownership that the separate personalities of the corporation and the individual no longer exist and (2) that, if the acts are treated as those of the corporation alone, an inequitable result will follow." Other patterns that determine whether the alter ego doctrine might be applicable:
[1] Commingling of funds and other assets, failure to segregate funds of the separate entities, and the unauthorized diversion of corporate funds or assets to other than corporate uses;
[2] The treatment by an individual of the assets of the corporation as his own;
[3] The failure to obtain authority to issue stock or to subscribe or to issue the same;
[4] The holding out by an individual that he is personally liable for the debts of the corporation;
[5] The failure to maintain minutes or adequate corporate records, and the confusion of the records of separate entities;
[6] The identical equitable ownership in two or more entities; the identification of the equitable owners of multiple entities with the domination and control of the entities; identification of the directors and officers of multiple entities in the responsible supervision and management of all; sole ownership of all of the stock in a corporation by one individual or the members of a family;
[7] The use of the same office or business location by multiple entities; the employment of the same employees;
[8] The failure to adequately capitalize a corporation; the absence of sufficient corporate assets;
[9] The use of a corporation as a mere shell, instrumentality, or conduit for a single venture or for the business of an individual or another corporation;
[10] The concealment or misrepresentation of the identity of the responsible ownership, management and financial interests; concealment of personal business activities;
[11] The disregard of legal formalities and the failure to maintain arm's length relationships among related entities or individuals;
[12] The diversion of assets from a corporation by or to a stockholder or other person or entity, to the detriment of creditors, or the manipulation of assets and liabilities between entities so as to concentrate the assets in one and the liabilities in another;
[13] The contracting with another with intent to avoid performance by use of a corporate entity as a shield against personal liability, or the use of a corporation as subterfuge of illegal transactions; and
[14] The formation and use of a corporation to transfer to it the existing liability of another person or entity.
I believe several of the reasons above apply in PPI/Yuchengco/Lifetime's case.
Calling all legal beagles on our side and the legal team of the Coalition! I don't know if RP laws are as robust as this but I believe we should and can use this as a basis. (Also our financial wizards - since this involves evaluation of the financials of PPI and Lifetime). Thanks to the posters who are moving our cause forward. Mabuhay kayo!
What we can add to this well written piece is the fact that the Philippines follows US legal juris prudens. In our previous posting, we had already talked about related party transactions and the fact that one has to be "whiter than white" when executing deals between companies owned by the same entity because of the problems of possibly defrauding creditors and minority shareholders.
If our information is current, the United States courts allows a clawback of all illegal transfers of assets of up to two years of the date of a company's filing for rehabilitation in the event of fraudulent transfers.
We will need to tie up TLS's article with the fact that thePPI assets under management were of a commingled nature. This has created very nasty conflicts of interest as well as non arms-length transactions among and between YGC entities entrusted to manage these assets on behalf of the planholder / creditor of PPI.
We wish to call on Commission Fe Barin to ensure that the SEC also follows US juris prudens on thsi issue. Comm. Barin had also better worry about the antics of large and listed Philippine companies with respect to misleading statements to regulators and to the investing public alike. Enron and Worldcom anyone?


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WASHINGTON – In an unrelenting opioid epidemic, hepatitis C is infecting tens of thousands of mostly young, white injection drug users, with the highest prevalence in the same Appalachian, Midwestern and New England states that are seeing the steepest overdose death rates.
Like the opioid epidemic that is driving it, the rate of new hepatitis C cases has spiked in the last five years. After declining for two decades, new hepatitis C cases shot to an estimated 34,000 in 2015, nearly triple the number in 2010, according to a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With better screening for the bloodborne disease and more treatment using costly but highly effective new drugs, hepatitis C could be eradicated, according to a new study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
But epidemiologists agree that without quelling the opioid epidemic, or ensuring that nearly all injection drug users have access to sterile needles, hepatitis C will continue to spread. It already affects 3.5 million Americans who, if not treated, could die of liver cirrhosis or cancer.
"We have two public health problems that are related — it's called a syndemic — and we can't address one without addressing the other," said James Galbraith, an emergency room physician at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital.
To reduce new hepatitis C infections, he said, states need to provide clean syringes for injection drug users who otherwise have no other contact with the health care system than emergency departments and jails.
But advocates for syringe exchanges say the prospect of standing up enough clean needle programs in the nation's hardest hit communities to stem the spread of hepatitis C is daunting.
Unlike the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and previous drug epidemics, which were spawned and defeated in urban settings, this opioid epidemic is ensnaring people who live in far-flung small cities and rural communities with few public health resources and scant political will to provide sterile needles to illicit drug users.
Compounding the problem is a lack of perceived urgency. Hepatitis C doesn't kill children or adults in the prime of life. Most people infected with the virus experience no symptoms and the serious liver damage it can cause doesn't show up for 20 to 40 years after someone is infected.
"HIV is a dreaded disease," said Brian Strom, who chaired the committee that wrote the National Academies of Sciences study. "Hepatitis isn't and it should be."
"It is ignored largely because of a perception that it is tied to drug use and not a threat to the general public," he said. "The irony is that now that people are starting to worry about drug users because they're entering the mainstream population, it's going to help hepatitis get the attention it deserves."
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