text:
gabriel garcia marquez
c. 1985
386 pages
*may contain spoilers*
c. 1985
386 pages
*may contain spoilers*
This was read for the Expanding Horizons Challenge (see sidebar).
First off, I was incredibly impressed with the writing style. The author's flow is so incredibly unique, transitioning from one anecdote to the next with such ease and grace, and documenting every thought, action, and character with such bizarre detail, detail (such as bowel movement problems and descriptions) that generally would have been left out of another novel, but instead give such insight into the lives of these characters. The author has such a unique voice, one that adds so much humor and life to his story.
With every page, I fell more and more in love with Florentino Ariza. His passion for life and love is both beautiful and heartbreakingly sad.
I was often confused with Fermina Daza's choices. She seems so often to be such a strong woman, so sure of hersel and her opinions, but I was thrown by the rapidness in which she could change her mind regarding the men in her life. She spent years pledging her enternal love and devotion to one man, and with one glance her mind is turned and she is done with him. She spends so much of her energy avoiding a despising one man, and in an instant she is accepting his proposals of marraige. I wish I could understand her thought process a little more.
I was glad that when they finally came together, it was not all of a sudden like another blaze of passion. It came about through months of constant friendship. It was only after they had spent time actually with each other that Fermina Daza knew that she was in love.
In comparison to the other three books I have read so far for the Expanding Horizons Challenge, there was one thing in particular that I noticed to be very different about this book. In the other three I read (Half of a Yellow Sun, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, and The Saffron Kitchen), I found that the county in which the book place was so incredibly important to the story. Whether it was Nigeria, China, or Iran, the reader was so immersed in the history and the culture of that particular country. You never forgot what country you were reading about. You were always learning something new about the culture, something that made it unique. However, in Love in the Time of Cholera, I can't even tell you in which country this story took place. I'm guessing Columbia, seeing as that is where the author is from, but it never mentions it for sure. You know from names of people and descriptions of places that the setting is a Latin American country, but it's never really discussed. I just found it interesting that location was so central to the first three books I read, and then was not important at all to the progression of the story in this last book.
Two things I did not like about the book.......
I did not like the ending. I mean, I was so happy that they finally realized the love they shared, but I did not like the last page or so when they decided to spend the rest of their lives sailing up and down the river on the boat. it had such an element of un-reality that wasn't present in the rest of the book.
Also, I didn't like that the beginning had nothing to do with the rest of the book. And by that, I mean we spent so much time and energy discussing the suicide of Jeremiah and the betrayal Juvenal Urbino felt at his confessional letter, but then there's nothing more about their friendship. Urbino dies before a third of the book is over. I felt like (even though if you read the back of the book you know what the book is supposed to be about) one story was set up and then all of a sudden the author decided he wanted to tell a different story.


text:
Friday, 3 April 2009
Another instalment of Castoriadis and the Greek riots
In commenting on the post David Ames Curtis tells me off over Castoriadis and the Greek riots, Troy asks:
Why is 'cops, pigs, murderers' not a proper rallying slogan? By what measure can this argument be made? Because it does not conform to some ready-made notion of what proper 'activism' consists?
Also, on what grounds can the comparison be made between a) physical battles with the cops and property destruction and b) bloodshed and gunplay? The authority of the police is one of the most restricting heteronomies currently plaguing the economic North. Although you personally disapprove of the actions taken by the Greek anarchists in challenging this heteronomy, I think you would find an unwilling ally in Castoriadis if he were alive to offer his own opinion. If he were opposed to street battles, why did he support the actions of May '68?
My brief response:
'Cops, pigs, murderers' is not a proper rallying slogan because the Greek police are not pigs or murderers; they are human beings and creations, as individuals and as an institution, of society. If your aim is an autonomous society, then your slogan should be freedom, truth, justice, community – which is what Castoriadis says defined the '68 movements and why he supported them.
And I continue to refute the idea that Greek 'anarchists' by throwing petrol bombs at the police, ransacking Athens university and so on, were challenging heteronomy. Radical social change does not mean 'street battles'; it means changing institutions and the collective rewriting of the social imaginary significations behind institutions. If anything, the pointless, self-indulgent, anti-social actions of the Greek 'anarchists' did the oligarchy ruling Greece a big favour.
Consider this:
In the immediate aftermath of the killing of Alexis Grigoropoulos, Greeks were asking themselves what kind of society is it we live in, what kind of state do we have, in which a 15-year-old schoolboy out with his friends can end up shot dead by a policeman who revels in the nickname 'Rambo'?
With the riots, Greeks started asking themselves a different question. What kind of society do we live in, what kind of state do we have, that allows the trashing of private and public property, that cannot defend itself or us, its citizens?
The first question contains the possibility of democratic interrogation and the creation of new forms; the second question, shaped by fear and cynicism, leads to a retreat from society, into private spheres and solutions, the every-man-for-himself mentality that Thucydides describes as existing during the Plague of Athens.
9 comments:
Our society is sick, our government structures are dysfunctional, our elite class is degenerate. A society which allows in the first place paramilitary groups like the anarchists to rule and control the streets is indeed a terminally ill society waiting for a death blow. The forces of law and order have abdicated their role and handed the violent and anarchic elements the final say. A defanged military confined to its barracks, a police force incapable of establishing order and guaranteeing security for its nationals, a government which resembles a bevy of charlatans and inebriated drunkards having a party in a sea side tavern.
- 3 April 2009 at 20:24
I have seen the same dimwitted comparison made between May '68 and the December 2008 riots before but the rioters of May '68 hardly wore koukoulas. And how can a bunch of koukoulafore be considered autonomous? i.e. we do not know their agenda, we do not know who finances them, we cannot have a dialogue with them, we do not know their faces - a pure heteronomy if ever I have seen one!
- 5 April 2009 at 08:37
The kukoloforos, the anarchists, whatever one would like to call them, are an appendix of the governmental apparatus. Why is it that no government ( the ares to sort them out ? Why is it that even political swines like the putrid alavanos and the effeminate dandy tsipras and their political arms defend them ? Why is it that the police force does not act against them? Why is it that no instructions or orders from "äbove" are issued to rid this pestilential scourge once and for all ? To deal with these street criminals is the simplest and easiest of manners; provided there is the political will of course. Democracy and its lugubrious trappings spawned the kukos. It stands to logic that the sclerotic establishment can not and will not deal with a step child of its own.
- 6 April 2009 at 07:38
- john akritas said...
For some reason, Castoriadis has been picked up by 'anarchists' as a theorist of their 'movement'. While it is true that Castoriadis is a theorist of (workers) self-managment/autogestion and autogestion is something found in anarchist thought too, Castoriadis is far too serious a thinker to be reduced to that level. Castoriadis is a theorist of the Athenian polis, not Spanish anarcho-syndicalism. The Athenian polis is his model, not the Catalonian communes. And, of course, the koukoulophori are not 'anarchists', they are thugs and nihilists. In fact, calling them nihilists is to attach some form of philosophical motives to their actions and gives them too much credit.
- 6 April 2009 at 14:31
@Hermes: In what way is it 'dimwitted' to suggest a comparison between two actions that have undeniable commonalities? In what way is it constructive to label this comparison 'dimwitted'? How does that contribute to the dialogue and any attempt to create an autonomous society? I'm sorry you feel the need to resort to slander rather than offer substantive reasons why this comparison is invalid, which is a fair enough, but will leave me with room to respond. It is difficult to respond to 'dimwit.'
@john: I thank you for dealing more substantively with my comments. I'll begin with your final comment, more for clarification than disagreement. Castoriadis says many times that the Athenian polis is not a model. If we take it as something to be emulated, a sort of 'Golden Age,' then it becomes a heteronomy. He refers to it as a 'germ.' It is as a moment of autonomy - imperfect and incomplete - that it inspires.
I do not think that creating new institutions is incompatible with street battles. In fact, I don't think we will have radical change without struggle, including physical struggle. In essence, we need a foundational 'Creative Destruction.'
Although I prefer people not insult others by comparing them to other animals, I don't think calling the police 'murderers' is an insult when it's true. We need not think of it as directed at an individual, or the police as individuals, but the police as an institution that maintains the capitalist heteronomy. An important part of their function is sanctioned murder - Jean Charles de Menezes, Amadou Diallo, Oscar Grant - a reminder of the underlying threat of violence that founds all heteronomies.
Where were these questions being asked? In the cafes, the workplaces, the homes or in the media? If the changing dialogue around the actions did indeed change, then it's the subjects of the questions, not the objects that need to be challenged. That said, if the meaning of their actions became the lack of police response to return the society to its comfortable heteronomy then the demonstrators do need to question their tactics. However, I think we would do well to impute the best of intentions and then critique the results and therefore the actions on the basis of those results rather than the actions themselves.
What if the anarchist actions had inspired hundreds of thousands of others to also take to the streets, declaring the authority of the police to be illegitimate? Its at that point that the community decides what functions of the police are valid and how they will be performed absent the police.
- 8 April 2009 at 01:16
Sorry the above is a tad disjointed. It posted before I got a chance to read and edit it.
I'll leave it as it stands.
- 8 April 2009 at 01:16
The political truth resides in identifying the enemy and naming it. Unless an enemy is isolated the state can not deal with it, nor can stat institutions. Snactioned murder, a la Menezes is no excuse to restrict and restrain the forces of law and order. The menezes affair and countless others are mistakes, the americans call it collateral damage. The anrchists should be wiped out, root and branch. They are un greek, and it is an import from other hyper decaying societies, like the French. When the system allowes the mushrooming of anti social social elements and their growth and demonstrates its incapacity or unwillingness to protect its " nationals" ( not some darned refugee) that system is ready for the coffin. The sooner it disappears the better
- 8 April 2009 at 06:15
- john akritas said...
I meant the Athenian polis as a model worthy of investigation, not emulation; although since Castoriadis does define Athens as the city par excellence capable of revealing itself to itself, of endlessly changing and instituting itself and since self-institution defines autonomy for individuals and society, then we appreciate why he gives so much thought to what the Athenian polis consists of and not to other political forms.
As for 'street battles', 'creative destruction', the police as 'murderers' and imputing the 'best of intentions' to the Greek rioters; I have to admit I've always been allergic to anarchist outpourings and I've already said that not only were the rioters puerile, self-indulgent thugs but much much worse than this; through their despicable, fascist behaviour, they also closed down the debate about the radical changes Greek society needs at every level and which could have been had following Grigoropoulos' death.
'Historically [Castoriadis writes], it is revolution that permits the world of reaction to survive as it transforms and adapts itself – and today we risk experiencing a fresh demonstration of this truth. These explosions shatter the imaginary or unreal setting in which alienated society, by its very nature, tends to enclose itself -- and they oblige alienated society to seek out new forms of oppression better adapted to today's conditions, even if it finds them through the elimination of yesterday's oppressors.'
- 8 April 2009 at 17:40
Troy, can you please explain how does throwing molotovs, smashing shop windows, burning universities with hoods contribute to the dialogue and any attempt to create an autonomous society?
So far your feeble responses, first year university rhetoric, have left me no room to respond either. Provide more grown up responses and you get something better than dimwit.
- 9 April 2009 at 06:32

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The book follows the usual Osprey MEN-AT-ARMS layout (48 pages in length of which 8 are colour plates) and provides a background history to the war, a description of the actual battle, and information about the Italian and Ethiopian troops that fought at Adowa. Looking through it made me realise that it has the potential to be yet another war that I could refight using either my PORTABLE WARGAME or MEMOIR OF BATTLE rules ... or both.
And then the 'Oops!' When I went to put the book on my bookshelves I discovered that I had already bought a copy ... back in September 2011! I am going to give some thought as to what to do with my 'spare' copy ... but whatever I do, I intend it to go to someone who will appreciate it.


text:
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Dahi bada
This recipe may sound a little complicated to some of you, but if you like yogurt and spices you would love this. Dal is the base for this recipe, which is a good source of protein.
Dahi vada (my mom's favorite) is an Indian side dish, prepared by soaking vadas in thick yogurt(dahi). The hot deep fried vadas are first put in water and then transferred to thick beaten yogurt. For best results, the vadas have to soak for at least a couple of hours before serving. It is served topped with cilantro and mint leaves chutney, chili powder, and roasted cumin seeds powder.
A sweeter yogurt is preferred in some places in India, especially in Maharastra and Gujrat, although the garnishing remains the same.
• 1 Cup Moong
• 1/4 Cup Urad dal
• 1 Green Chili
• ½ inch piece of ginger
• ½ teaspoon of baking soda
• One small onion chopped
• Oil to fry
• 4 Cups plain yogurt
• 3 teaspoon oil
• ½ teaspoon of mustard seeds
• ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds
• Pinch of asafetida
• 1 dry red chili pod
• 4-5 curry leave if available
• Tamarind Chutney (recipe on blog)
• Coriander/Mint chutney (recipe on blog)
• 1 small red onion
• ¼ cup Coriander leaves (chopped)
• Salt to taste
• Cayenne pepper powder
• Roasted cumin seeds crushed and coarsely powdered
• Fine sev (fine noodles available at local Indian grocers) Optional
How to make Bada (balls):
• Wash and soak the two dals overnight in water.
• Drain out all water.
• Add Ginger, salt and green chili.
• Grind above in food processor to make a thick batter, beat till fluffy.
• Add chopped onion and run the food processor one more time to mix and finely chop onion in above mix.
• Add baking soda.
• Mix the dal batter well to aerate it for soft balls.
• Heat oil in a large frying pan or deep fryer.
• Add spoonful of dal batter in oil and fry until turned golden brown, turning them in between.
• Remove balls from oil and place them on paper towel.
• Drop the hot badas in a lukewarm water in a bowl and leave for about 3-5 minutes.
• Take each bada/ball out of water and squeez them with palms of your hands till all water and oil comes out and set aside.
Prepare yogurt:
• Take plain yogurt in a bowl and beat it with hand blender until smooth.
• Heat 3 teaspoons of oil.
• Add ½ teaspoon of mustard seeds and cumin seeds in heated oil, when they crackle
add asafedita, chili pod and curry leaves if available.
• Remove oil from stove and add this to yogurt, mix well.
• In a serving dish arrange the squeezed vadas and pour a layer of yogurt on it 30 min before serving.
Serving instructions:
• Place squeezed vadas in deep bottomed serving plate.
• Pour additional yogurt mixture over vadas.
• Pour desired amount of tamarind chutney and mint chutney on top.
• Sprinkle with salt, cayenenn pepper poweder, and roasted cumin powder.
• Garnish with chopped onion/coriander leaves.
• You may sprinkle fine sev for garnish, if desired to give a little crunch to the recipe.
This recipe makes about 10-12 vadas
You may change/reverse the proportion of dal to 1 cups of Urad dal and ¼ cup of of Moong dal for variety.
If you make the plain yogurt mix ahead of time, be sure to refrigerate it, as the yogurt becomes sour very quickly if left at room temp and this process is accelerated if you add salt to yogurt and let it sit outside.
Recipe by my dearest mom Mrs. Kasturben
Photographs by Surekha
Description of Dahi bada source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahi_vada
Posted by Suri S at 10:41 PM
Labels: Indian Snacks
Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )


text:
Rachel just posted on Facebook the dates and registration link for the next Handmade U!
I've been to two semesters of Handmade U here in my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.
I met lots of lovely crafty friends and I saw some of them again for the spring semester last April.
The sixth semester will be May 15th-17th. It begins with dinner on a Thursday evening and ends Saturday at 5pm--but the party usually continues with dinner out that night.
I hope to see you there!


text:
Museum as Gallery, Gallery as Museum
Roughly three years ago, New York City gallerist Jeffery Deitch was tapped to serve as director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (MoCA). It was an interesting selection given Deitch's prior for-profit, commercial sector experience. What has followed are a series of eyebrow raising exhibitions, such as Dennis Hopper (curated by Julian Schnabel) and James Dean (curated by James Franco). Deitch, while largely lampooned by the press, has also had his supporters, who note that since his tenure at MoCA, attendance has skyrocketed, gala events have been spectacles befitting the film industry (think Marina Abramovic using live performers' heads as centerpieces) and several big names have been added to the museum's board. His detractors often call attention to the mysterious departure of MoCA's Chief Curator Paul Schimmel (notorious for butting heads with Deitch), and the members of the board the museum lost as a result, including John Baldessari, Barbara Kruger, Catherine Opie and Ed Ruscha—effectively all of the museum's prominent artist members it had so prided itself on.
Just last week it was announced that Schimmel will be doing the exact opposite of his former boss Deitch, and shifting from a celebrated decades-long career at MoCA (an institution he had worked for since 1990) to act as a partner for the Zurich/London/New York-gallery Hauser Wirth, now opening an LA outpost due 2015, to be named Hauser Wirth & Schimmel. Schimmel made it clear however, that although this is a commercial gallery, he will be reorganizing its exhibition schedule so that shows run longer, are more thoroughly researched and elucidated, and that they are dressed with many other museum-style fixings, including educational programming, scholarly publications and auxiliary programming.
With museum funding constantly in the crosshairs during the recession, it has suffered the fate of many other taxpayer dollar assisted institutions and services—there have been budget reductions and loss of income and they have had to do a lot more with a lot less, constantly imagining new ways to engage visitors and reinvent themselves and their "brand." It's also lead to a strange phenomenon of museums essentially being privatized, which might include everything from single collector vanity museums popping up all over—most recently with Eli Broad's museum in East Lansing, Michigan— to privately funded and held museums, such as Crystal Bridges, Walmart heiress Alice Walton's museum located in Bentonville, Arkansas. And while museums may be under scrutiny to deliver on the public's investment, they have also found themselves recognized for their full worth—in dollars and cents at least, as more and more museums look at ways to de-accession works in their collection to stay afloat; as Fisk University notoriously did with the sale of their Georgia O'Keefe collection to the aforementioned Crystal Bridges, and the salacious rumors recently abounding about the Detroit Institute of Art's entire collection set for liquidation in a move to save the city from bankruptcy (fortunately, this prompted a Senate committee bill that just passed protecting against just such a thing).
So if fiscal solvency is the Achilles heel of these institutions, maybe the appearance of gallery-museums is the answer. By combining sustainable business practices with museum quality exhibitions, it's a trend that could catch on, right?
Arturo Herrera, installation view at Corbett vs. Dempsy from 2012; Courtesy of the gallery.
A highly successful (albeit unofficial) version of the gallery-museum is Chicago's own Corbett vs. Dempsy, a local commercial gallery specializing in Chicago and regional art—although within the past few years their program has expanded considerably to include artists such as Arturo Herrera, Albert Oehlen and Christopher Wool. Along with attending art fairs and holding openings, they've also published roughly sixty-five catalogs to accompany their many exhibitions; they regularly host an outstanding array of avant-garde musical performances (including, most recently, Ab Baars, Ken Vandermark and Jaap Blonk, respectively); and have curated several exhibitions for local museums and university art galleries (including Big Picture: A New View of Painting in Chicago for the Chicago History Museum in 2007 and Touch and Go: Ray Yoshida and his Spheres of Influence for The School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Sullivan Galleries in 2010).
While the contemporary art world buzzes with examples of "socially engaged art" made by artists who are oftentimes equal-part entrepreneur, social worker, ecologist, archivists, activist, chef and landscape architect, their arts administrative counterparts, in the form of gallerists who have also, in some ersatz sense, become museum directors, fundraise, publish and educate. Moreover, they are similarly engaged with making project-based work that is innovative, experimental and pioneering, but instead of "creative place making" like their socially engaged artistic counterparts call it, they are creative marketplace making. And that's where the "gallery" part of gallery-museums comes in.
Whereas museums are stewards of their collections, galleries are stewards of their collectors. The question that socially engaged art often begs is, should artists (as opposed to government, social services, not-for-profits, etc.) be made responsible for the big bite their work attempts to chew? Economic revitalization, architectural redevelopment, resource allocation and pedagogical instruction are all tacit responsibilities of the role of the artist as we know it. The same may be asked of gallery-museums—plainly, should they be held responsible for the work museums are charged with carrying out? Although museums are far from neutral authorities, there's the very sticky issue of conflict of interest; a gallerist with a financial stake in an artist's success behaving like a disinterested third party (ostensibly like museums do) is problematic. And even if they profess to want to do many of the things that museums do, they face a similar challenge—namely, funding. Whereas museums have to scramble for municipal monies, grant funding and donor and board gifts, the bottom line is the name of the gallery game.
I would be saddened if the experience and expertise of curators like Paul Schimmel went quiet after such an unceremonious departure from the museum world, but I'm curious how his transition into the gallery world will work in practice. Will the "museum" aspects of the gallery be dumbed down and adopt the patois of the market place (as Deitch is often accused of in his running of MoCA), or will the "gallery" aspects of the enterprise be elevated to the level of reasoned, seasoned, curated museum-quality work (as Schimmel promises to do)? At best, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel may mark the beginning of a trend. At worst, they may just end up representing an intrepid exception to the rule.
(Image on top: Marina Abramovic's MoCA Gala, 2011; photo from AnimalNewYork)


text:
To take to a bake sale, package separately or 6 in a package. Gift boxes from the Dollar Store make attractive packaging or place on paper plates and wrap with plastic wrap or cellophane.
I did a few with just powdered sugar on the top, for those who are not chocolate lovers and used milk chocolate instead of semi-sweet. Either way, they are good and quick.
Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes
1 ½ cups Semi-Sweet chocolate chips, divided
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
12 teaspoon salt
½ cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water
2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese softened
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon salt
Make filling first. Beat all filling ingredients in a small mixer bowl until creamy. You could stir in some chocolate chips or coconut is desired. *(I put this back in the refrigerator to set back up while I made the cake batter.)
Next, melt ½ cup of the chocolate in small bowl in microwave at medium power for about 45 seconds to one minute. Stir and let cool while getting the cake batter together. It will be cool enough when you are ready to add it.
Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat sugar, oil, egg and vanilla in large mixer bowl until blended. Beat in milted chocolate; gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with water. (batter will be quite thin.)
Spoon cupcake batter into 16 paper cupcake lined muffin pans filling half full. Drop in a tablespoon of the filling, Spoon remaining batter over the cupcakes filling about ⅔ full.
Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and sprinkle with rest of the chocolate chips. Let set till they melt and spread with a knife to frost or sprinkle with powdered sugar. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack.


text:
Download Search Duplicate File v4.41 | androiddb.net – On this chance we should doing our tasks as admin to post this articles apk android category which including download mod apk with quality of apps and its steady in the website of androiddb.net you're still Download APK Custom Search Duplicate File v4.41 for free.
i suggest you to try this apk Search Duplicate File v4.41 mod, if you very curious with that this game, you can direct download.
Search Duplicate File v4.41
Requirements: 2.2.3+
Overview: When you repeat download a photo/image/picture from network, or repeat receive a song using Bluetooth, or copy a file to another folder but forget to delete the original, duplicate/dupe is produced. The duplicates occupy a lot of Android storage space, it will slow down your file searching speed and prevent you from downloading more music, photo, video or Android apps, it's difficult to distinguish them one by one.
>>> Features:
● Smart selector(Includes Keep the oldest, Keep the newest, Keep the shortest name) helps you to distinguish duplicates and original.
● Smart selector helps you to select the duplicates which have the same folder.
● Support Android 5.0 Lollipop external SD card.
● Support internal/external SD card/OTG storage.
● Support switching languages.
● Support sharing files.
● Support landscape mode.
● Support filtering search results, image/audio/video/document/apk.
● Support filtering file name/file path with regular expression.
● Support excluding search results.
● Support saving and restoring folder selections.
● Support saving and restoring search results.
● Support searching photo/image/picture/audio/music/ring/video/document/apk, media files and all files.
● Support searching photo/image/picture without file extension(hidden/cached image).
● Support searching hidden files/folders.
● Support previewing photo/image/picture/video/apk.
● Support previewing photo/image/picture(png, jpg, gif, bmp, webp) without file extension(hidden/cached image).
● Support path/size limit.
● Support physical keyboard.
● Notification will be displayed when search complete.
● Search results are grouped by file size.
● View file content before deleting it.
● Batch select/deselect files/groups.
● Batch delete/exclude files/groups.
● Batch expand/collapse groups.
● Save search result to text file. (Hidden feature, create /sdcard/duplicates.txt firstly)
● Copy file name/file path/MD5 to clipboard. (Hidden feature, on file details view)
● Support * in custom include field. (Hidden feature)
>>> Usage Tips:
● Each result group contains both original file and duplicate files, deselect at least one file as original file.
● Long click folder chooser/result list to get more operations.
What's New
50% Off, 01.26-02.11, Happy Chinese New Year
Hidden image/Lock folder
Greek(Enthusiastic user)
5.0 SD card fix, thanks Omran Aldhanhani
New UI
Russian(Eugene Sazonov)
This app has no advertisements
More Info:
Download Instructions:
Download via Dailyuploads
Download via Dropapk
Maybe it was just our articles of Download Search Duplicate File v4.41 hopefully useful.


text:
|I'm Sarah Ann Harris, but, mainly due to having a bunch of friends also called Sarah, most people call me Harris. Original right?
I started from absolutely ZERO fitness - I got out of breath even running for a minute. I was actually kind of ashamed to walk up the stairs with anyone because I got a bit out of puff. I used to get soo mad when people were like "Oh yeah my fitness is like sooo bad" and then they'd go for a casual half hour run and return looking fresh as daisy. I was SERIOUSLY UNFIT. Like beetroot-faced, tshirt-soaked, dropping-your-iPhone-because-even-your-hands-are-sweaty unfit.
But in the end I had enough and after a couple of false starts I decided I really did want to run.
|And now I look like this. In my dreams.
I am in no way whatsoever an authority on running, exercise or nutrition, but I have tried to educate myself as I go. I still very much consider myself a beginner, but hopefully you'll be able to see my progress as I learn to run!
Any advice or comments will be very much appreciated!
Harris x


text:
Posted in a discussion forum, where we are asked once weekly to share what we are learning from God. I wanted to be able to find this again.
(Most Thursdays, I have all day meetings, and cannot respond, much less think clearly enough to write something thoughtful about lessons God is teaching me. I'm sure you know... that when folks are commenting during the day, they may be reading/catching up after hours. Thanks to all for giving me great things to read!)
I'll break from lurking with a couple of stories about how we see ourselves and how God does--both from recent Sundays:
1. Several Sundays ago, we had a visiting priest (ours is in Poland visiting family and going to EuroCup games). His was a very deliberate cadence which, combined with my unfamiliarity with his voice, caused me to hear more closely some parts of the Mass that I might otherwise have overlooked.
Our small chapel was packed, to the point that the choir area was filled with latecomer families, most of whom had small children. I, as the soloist at 9 AM, usually have the whole area to myself, so I'm not used to excluding noises from kids from my mind as I try to be a full, conscious and active participant.
Toward the end of the Mass, visiting Father prayed these words: "Make us to be more like your apostles..."
At the exact same moment, the two boys behind me began to argue over positions on the pews, whispering loudly "That's my seat! No, that MYYY seat!"
Some of you may already be smiling, as I was, immediately. We ARE so often, very much like the Apostles--James and John in Mark 10, to be specific.
God loved and chose those men, and He has chosen me, despite my tendency to be more like disciples arguing over seats in the Kingdom, than like anyone in Hebrews 11.
2. Last Sunday, the Responsorial Psalm was #139. It's been a favorite of mine since back in high school, when our youth director made us memorize it as a prerequisite to going on a hiking trip. I've spent years pondering the depth of intimate knowledge and love God has for us, and how there is nowhere we can go to get away from Him.
I'd spent some time thinking about the "fearfully and wonderfully made" part, but less on the "for *I* am..." part of verse 14.
In the Responsorial Psalm, for those unfamiliar with the tradition, the Cantor sings a line or two from the Psalm, which the congregation then repeats. After singing 1-2 verses, everyone again repeats the initial verse/phrase. For last Sunday, I stood in front of the congregation and sang, 6 times, the phrase "I praise You, for I am wonderfully made." The musical setting really emphasized "praaaaaaise" and "WONNNNderfully".
After the first time I sang it, I briefly wondered about the irony of singing those lines. I'd just had another post-50 birthday, had spent the week dealing with blood sugar issues and migraines, and just didn't feel anything like someone who is/was "wonderfully made." God granted me the grace, as the song continued, to realize that I was praying the insight He'd given the Psalmist--who am I to argue with "Marvelous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well"?
God, who knows my "downsitting and mine uprising", causes me to sing: "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!"
Sticky Top Post
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Seeing Myself as God Does
Posted in a discussion forum, where we are asked once weekly to share what we are learning from God. I wanted to be able to find this again.
Posted by St. Elizabeth of Cayce at 11:16 PM


text:
Brand identity Poster Template
We have created an A3 Brand Identity poster in Indesign. Tweak to fit your brand.
This product includes
- Indesign Document
- A3 (420 x 297mm)
- Compatible: Adobe Indesign CS4, CS5, CS5.5 & CS6
- Includes .IDML file
- Vector Infographics + Links
- Temply placeholder logo
- Edit brand colors through palette
- Aligned to a 12 Column Grid
- layered
- Uses free fonts (included)
- EPS Stationery files


text:
Jason Giambi Patch-Jersey-Hat (12/35)
Know any Giambi collectors who might want this? Tell them to pull the trigger on this lot for $60.
2005 Bowman Sterling Andrew McCutchen AUTO/Jersey Rookie
1971 Topps Rod Carew
2007 Triple Threads Don Mattingly Emerald Parallel (011/239)
Monday, June 26, 2017
Pull the Trigger 19.4 ($60)
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Romanian Cultural Institute London <email@example.com>
Date: 20 May 2014 12:59:16 BST
To: <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Subject: Theatre and Poetry: Dorel Vişan on Eminescu within the "Poets to the Bone" Series | Thu 29 May, 7pm @ ICR London
Reply-To: Romanian Cultural Institute London <email@example.com>
Theatre and Poetry: Dorel Vişan on Eminescu within the "Poets to the Bone" Series | Thu 29 May, 7pm @ ICR London
Legendary actor Dorel Vișan in London
The Opening of Our New Performance Series
'Poets to the Bone'
with Great Dorel Vișan
Thursday 29 May, 7pm
The Romanian Cultural Institute in London
free entry
Thespian Dorel Vișan, a giant of Romanian stage and film, will open our newest programme with a homage event dedicated to the greatest Romanian poet, Mihai Eminescu. 'Poets to the Bone' is a series of small-scale yet dazzling performances, based on the great Romanian poetical and theatrical tradition and starring some of the most famous names in Romanian theatre.
Dorel Vişan will offer his audience a seamless journey through the timeless universe of Mihai Eminescu's poetry, accompanied by a subtle, but powerful performance by cellist George Pașca, in a vibrant encounter between stories, poetry, theatre and music.
The recital will be presented in Romanian with English surtitles.
Romanian Cultural Institute 1 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X8PH RSVP: 02077520134 firstname.lastname@example.com (mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com) www.icr-london.co.uk (http://www.icr-london.co.uk/)
Copyright © 2014 Romanian Cultural Institute in London, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this newsletter because you, or someone using this email address, subscribed to the ICR London calendar of events. To unsubscribe from this email, please reply with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line to discontinue receiving emails from us.
Our mailing address is:
Romanian Cultural Institute in London1 Belgrave SquareLondon, SW1X 8PHUnited Kingdom
Add us to your address book
unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences


text:
"High-Performance 1RU Xtreme Media PC
The XMPC is the perfect PC for digital signage and AV system integration. Designed and optimized for today's high performance multimedia applications in public display, training centers, NOC's, boardrooms, and classrooms. Integrate in your AV equipment rack for head end distribution and management.
High-Performance 1RU Xtreme Media PC Features:
- Ability to completely customize configuration based on performance and environmental requirements.
- Solid state hard disk option for speed and reliability
- 1RU form factor with rack ears included
- Front panel USB port
High-Performance 1RU Xtreme Media PC Specifications
- Motherboard
- Processor:1.6GHz Intel Dual-Core Atom N330 processor
- North Bridge:NVIDIA ION
- Graphics Chipset:NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
- Memory:2GB DDR2 800 RAM, expandable to 4GB
- Video Output:HDMI/DVI/VGA outputs (any 2 can be simultaneously active)
- Storage Hard Drive:160GB SATA hard drive (expandable up to 640GBs)
- RAID Support:RAID 0, 1, 0+1
- Multi-channel audio:Analog and digital
- Communications
- LAN:Gigabit (10/100/1000) Ethernet
- WiFi:Integrated WiFi IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n
- Hi-Speed Digital:10 total (internal/external) USB 2.0 ports
- Operating system
- Windows 7:Standard
- Windows XP:Optional - Additional charge may apply
- Other:Other operating systems available
- Enclosure
- Power Input:100-240V AC, 50-60Hz
- Internal Power Supply:80 PLUS Certified V 2.2 Flex ATX 250W Active PFC
- Dimensions (WxDxH):19"" x 9.84"" x 1.75""
Why not buy this High-Performance 1RU Xtreme Media PC today?"
Questions & Answers
Ask a question about the High-Performance 1RU Xtreme Media PC or Call 800-841-9238
High-Performance 1RU Xtreme Media PC
Recently Viewed Items


text:
Again, this is one of those books that I was supposed to post a review last March 1st but was not able to because I was feeling a bit under the weather.
I signed up to review this book because the title made me curious. It appeared to me that this might be a rom-com. But to my surprise, it was but not just all that.
This book really surprised me. I didn't expect that this has a paranormal aspect to it. The story made me want to be cautious in taking my next selfies. I'm afraid something else or someone I don't want to see may be in it. Am I scaring you? Don't worry, this story was not scary at all. Like Gwen, I wouldn't mind meeting a handsome highlander, even if he may be from another time.
I think this story was nicely written that the presence of two different times--contemporary and the past combined with the paranormal aspect worked together really well. It seemed that it could be plausible that this can happen in real life. Oh, what very lucky girl to inherit a mansion in Scotland and meeting your soulmate! Yes, this tale makes for a good wishful thinking. It's like inheriting a rich estate and then winning the lottery.
I give the book 4/5 hot guys wearing kilts. Phew! After reading this story, you will wish you have the same luck as Gwen. You will wish that you too will meet a hot guy in a kilt. Or even without the kilt, just a hot guy.
...like a ship you determine your fate, and not some evil wind.
- Jo Noelle, All By My Selfie -


text:
ATLANTA — Former Mayor Roy LeCraw, who left his political office to join the military in World War II, died Thursday after suffering a stroke. He was 88.
Mr. LeCraw was admitted to West Paces Ferry Hospital Wednesday night after suffering the stroke, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The son of an insurance manager, Mr. LeCraw was elected mayor of Atlanta in 1940, unseating incumbent William B. Hartsfield by an 83-vote margin. Mr. LeCraw was the only person to defeat Hartsfield in a mayoral election, said Atlanta historian Franklin Garrett.
Mr. LeCraw, a reserve military officer, left the mayor`s office in the spring of 1942 to join American forces in World War II. Hartsfield won a special election in May 1942 to replace Mr. LeCraw as mayor and held that position until 1961, despite Mr. LeCraw`s bid to regain the mayor`s office upon his return from the war.


text:
4x4 Evo 2 pdf ebook download free
Download 4x4 Evo 2 pdf ebooks, epub books online for free. and more hot ebooks, epub books, pdf ebooks from the top stores. Check the download link and read description for 4x4 Evo 2 before download today on our site.
Buy 4x4 Evo 2 Details Review


text:
Coffee - Philosophy for Everyone: Grounds for Debate
Coffee - Philosophy for Everyone: Grounds for Debate
Mar 2011, Wiley-Blackwell
264 pages
In Stock
DescriptionOffering philosophical insights into the popular morning brew, Coffee -- Philosophy for Everyone kick starts the day with an entertaining but critical discussion of the ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and culture of coffee.
- Matt Lounsbury of pioneering business Stumptown Coffee discusses just how good coffee can be
- Caffeine-related chapters cover the ethics of the coffee trade, the metaphysics of coffee and the centrality of the coffee house to the public sphere
- Includes a foreword by Donald Schoenholt, President at Gillies Coffee Company
Buy Both and Save 25%!
This item: Coffee - Philosophy for Everyone: Grounds for Debate
Food and Philosophy: Eat, Think, and Be Merry (Paperback $26.95)
Original Price:$48.90
Purchased together:$36.68
save $12.22
Cannot be combined with any other offers.
Editors' Introduction (Scott F. Parker and Michael W. Austin).
1 Coffee: Black Puddle Water or Panacea? (Mark Pendergrast).
2 The Necessary Ground of Being (Michael W. Austin).
3 The Unexamined Cup Is Not Worth Drinking (Kristopher G. Phillips).
4 Sam. sara in a Coffee Cup: Self, Suffering, and the Karma of Waking Up (Steven Geisz).
5 The Existential Ground of True Community: Coffee and Otherness (Jill Hernandez).
6 Sage Advice from Ben's Mom, or: The Value of the Coffeehouse (Scott F. Parker).
7 The Coffeehouse as a Public Sphere: Brewing Social Change (Asaf Bar-Tura).
8 Café Noir: Anxiety, Existence, and the Coffeehouse (Brook J. Sadler).
9 The Philosopher's Brew (Bassam Romaya).
10 Three Cups: The Anatomy of a Wasted Afternoon (Will Buckingham).
11 Is Starbucks Really Better than Red Brand X? (Kenneth Davids).
12 The Flavor of Choice: Neoliberalism and the Espresso Aesthetic (Andrew Wear).
13 Starbucks and the Third Wave (John Hartmann).
14 How Good the Coffee Can Be: An Interview with Stumptown's Matt Lounsbury (Scott F. Parker).
15 More than 27 Cents a Day: The Direct Trade (R)evolution (Gina Bramucci and Shannon Mulholland).
16 Higher, Faster, Stronger, Buzzed: Caffeine as a Performance-Enhancing Drug (Kenneth W. Kirkwood).
17 Green Coffee, Green Consumers – Green Philosophy? (Stephanie W. Aleman).
18 Coffee and the Good Life: The Bean and the Golden Mean (Lori Keleher).
How to Make it in Hollywood by Writing an Afterword! (The Coffee Bean Guys).
Notes on Contributors.
"This is not going to be an impulse buy or something to necessarily give to that special coffee-lover in your life, but if you take the time to examine the book with an open, curious mind it might be something that can keep you company with, of course, a good cup of something during a long journey." (Yum.fi, 2012)
"A delightful book for philosophically minded coffee drinkers ... Philosophically minded coffee drinkers will find the contents of their cup enhanced by the contents of the book." (Network Review, 1 June 2011)
"And so, the book devotes itself to coffee and philosophy from varied perspectives, some seemingly frivolous, and others deeply analytical . . . I suspect that the book will appeal most to coffee devotees who enjoy lively conversation and see the world, as well as that black liquid in their cups, from a dialectical point of view." (Metapsychology, 9 August 2011)
"Grounds for Debate is a fantastic read-providing insights into the coffee culture that even a tea drinker can appreciate. The collection encourages readers to consider their relationship to larger social practices that have resounding effects on daily life." (Anthropology in Practice, 30 June 2011)
"This may possibly be the most unusual coffee book you will read. Instead of just the usual history of
it, this is the latest in a long series of titles written by philosophicalheavyweights, discussing subjects
from Christmas to cycling." (Boughton's Coffee House magazine, 1 March 2011)
"In interesting, educational, and often funny selections, we learn facts both surprising (most coffee farmers and people living in coffee-growing regions have no idea why anyone would want to drink the stuff) and rudimentary. . . this is more sociology than philosophy, but a smattering of deep (enough) thoughts from the likes of Hume, Bourdieu, Kant, and others will keep true addicts--of both coffee and philosophy--stimulated". (Publishers Weekly, 18 April 2011)
"The book - a part of the Philosophy for Everyone series - takes on all sides of the debate, historical and contemporary, over coffee's meritstates." (Jezebel, ,14 April 2011)
"The book will also stimulate those seeking to understand the aesthetics and ethics of coffee." (The Guardian, 14 April 2011)
"A varied compilation of musings on the beverage that has hooked countless people since its discovery in the 15th century by Ethiopian Sufi monks. The authors ... take on the history, taste and ethics of coffee in 18 essays likely to elicit much dialogue and debate. The book also includes engaging discussions of caffeine's classification as a drug, the emergence of green coffee and the evolution of the coffehouse into a public forum. A blend of humor and thought-provoking content guaranteed to stimulate readers' intellect." (Kirkus Reviews, March 2011)
"In this addition to an accessible and substantive series, 18 new essays, with coffee and coffee culture as their shared theme, relay the relationship between the coffee-related contemporary and everyday and the ideas and ideals on which the history of formal philosophy has been built. Recommended for coffee and philosophy aficionados. This entry in the series may well also be of interest for book discussion groups." (Library Journal, March 2011)


text:
3 hours ago
Thursday, December 30, 2010
The New York Ranger prospect pool has been hit hard by the injury bug since Traverse City and the injuries have not stopped coming. It is doing some serious damage to the development of the prospects especially a key prospect like Ethan Werek (2009 2nd)
Werek missed his 5th game on Wednesday with an injured injured wrist that originally was hurt on December 10th. Werek is expected to miss at least 2 more games as he awaits a wrist brace being sent to him by the New York Ranger's training staff.
The Rangers should sign him but do not be shocked if Werek is sent back to Kingston next season for an overage season. Werek is 15-15-30 in 27 games this season but also a -5.
That is 12 games prior to the surgery, 2 more games now that the holiday break is over and if we do the math it could be as many as 16 more games before Stajcer returns. That leaves 16 games plus the OHL playoffs for Stajcer to earn a contract from the Rangers.
Randy McNaught (2010 7th) has now been ruled done for the season by the Vancouver Giants which ends his WHL career as McNaught was in his overage season. What started out as a sprained ankle back on October 11th led to a setback during rehab and finally surgery.
8 games was his entire season and it puts the Rangers in a very tough spot as they now have to decide whether to offer McNaught a contract. Not a chance he gets an NHL contract but the road for McNaught if he decides to play professional hockey is most likely going to start in the ECHL or more likely the Central Hockey League.
One thing that the Rangers deserve some kudos for is that they have taken care of any of the prospects who have been injured at Ranger expense. It is something that they did not have to do but the Rangers have over the years done regardless of how high or low a prospect has been drafted.
Brock Nelson (2010 1st) who also plays for North Dakota was injured (upper body) playing for Team USA against Finland, missed the game against Slovakia and is listed as "day to day" but we expect him to miss both games the US has left in the preliminary round.
Calvin De Haan (2009 1st) sustained some sort of leg injury (believed to be left knee) during Canada's game against the Czech Republic and missed the game against Norway. His status is listed as "day to day" but Canada is off until Friday.
Prospect Action
Anders Lee (NYI 2009 6th) returned from his holiday break as his 12th ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish squashed Canisius College 10-2 as Lee had his 11th goal of the season and 9th assist to give the freshman 20 points on the season.
Carl Hagelin (NYR 2007 7th) earned his 11th assist of the season as 10th ranked Michigan defeated in-state rival Michigan Tech 4-2 to earn a spot in the finals of the Great Lakes Invitational. For Hagelin it gives him his 20th point of the season (9-11-20).
Wilson had his 10th assist for his 16th point of the season in a losing effort for the IceDogs. Tony DeHart (NYI 2010 5th) was scoreless for the Generals while Dan Maggio (NYR 2009 6th) was a scratch for the Generals.
Maggio is part of the Ranger prospect injury crew as he has been limited to just 12 games due to 2 different injuries and a 2 game suspension while a member of the Guelph Storm.
(Werek, Cizikas, Yogan, Stajcer, Thomas/Aaron Bell + Terry Wilson/OHL Images, Gregoire/FightingSioux.com)
Posted by Jess Rubenstein at 2:19 AM
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Blogging the Prospects
3 days ago
3 weeks ago
5 months ago
6 months ago
8 months ago
9 months ago
10 months ago
11 months ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago


text:
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
[Link] 5 Lies Unpublished Writers Tell Themselves (and the Truths That Can Get Them Published)
Writers tend to be creative in many areas of life, so it's no surprise that we can get creative with the truth. Or, as my mother said, "You lie a lot." This is especially tempting when we are debating why we aren't published. Before I was a published author, I embraced a few cherished lies because they blunted the pain of rejection. But the road to publication required discarding these lies and facing reality. Here are five lies I believed before I was published:
I write amazing first drafts. If there were a contest for first drafts, mine would win every time. So I told myself, "Writing is not rewriting." Other people might have to do multiple drafts, but my first drafts are so solid I could publish them as-is. For years I believed this.
One day I did three drafts of an article, and it became my first published article. A solid first draft is not good enough to be published. All those "rules of writing" that you read in Writer's Digest, on blogs, and in creative writings classes are rules because they are true most of the time. So if there are some rules that you think don't apply to you, think again. It might be the rule preventing you from getting published.
Ah, those blood-sucking agents and editors. I'm pretty sure they have meetings in a secret underground lair where they talk about how jealous they are of my writing skills and how they should team up to keep me from being published.
This is a lie that is so prevalent among unpublished writers that editors and agents have to go to psychologists so they can feel good about themselves again. I know one editor who calls herself "Dream Crusher" to assuage her pain. Here's the truth: Editors and agents desperately want you to be good enough. They make a living by writers being publishable. If you're getting rejected it's because you still have work to do. either as a writer or as a marketer.
Continue reading: http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/5-lies-unpublished-writers-tell-themselves-and-the-truths-that-can-get-them-published?et_mid=617739&rid=232422756
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
31 March 2009
OMLT Patrol
U.S. Army Maj. Jim Hickman and Latvian Army Maj. Juris Abolins, patrol alongside members of the Afghan National Army through the village of Nishagam, Konar province, Afghanistan, March 18, 2009. Hickman is assigned to the Observer, Mentor, Liaison Team in Regional Command - East. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew C. Moeller.
Posted by
Email This
Share to Twitter
Share to Facebook
Share to Pinterest
No comments:
Post a Comment
Newer Post
Older Post
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Maryland and six other states still have articles in their constitutions saying people who do not believe in God are not eligible to hold public office. Maryland's Constitution still says belief in God is a requirement even for jurors and witnesses.
Now a coalition of nonbelievers says it is time to get rid of the atheist bans because they are discriminatory, offensive and unconstitutional. The bans are unenforceable dead letters, legal experts say, and state and local governments have rarely invoked them in recent years. But for some secular Americans, who are increasingly visible and organized, removing the bans is not only a just cause, but a test of their growing movement's political clout.


text:
Food & Flower PaintingsPosted by Maggie
I serve on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Art League, and for the past few months we've been working on plans for this summer's Food & Flower Festival. There will be a month-long exhibition, but to kick things off, there will be a number of events on June 3 at the League.
In addition to working on some organizational things, I've been painting small pieces for the silent auction. The work, donated by instructors, members and friends of the League, will hang unframed and be auctioned off. My usual subject is landscape (with buildings occasionally appearing in paintings done in or inspired by European workshops) but I thought it would be fun to do some food and flowers. Here are the results.
|Oranges and Blue Bowl, 8x10, oil on panel, ©Maggie Price
|Tea Roses, 8x10, oil on panel, ©Maggie Price
|Lilies & Bluebells, 10x8, oil on panel, ©Maggie Price
|Hollyhocks, 8x10, pastel, ©Maggie Price
|Peppers on a Glass Tray, 8x10, pastel, ©Maggie Price
I'm going to donate three of the above to the League for the auction. If you're in New Mexico, join us on June 3 and maybe one will go home with you!
It's been so much fun painting these, I think I'm going to add still life and/or florals to some of my upcoming workshops, or maybe teach a workshop now and then focusing on those subjects rather than landscape. So I've not only avoided getting in a rut, I have new and fascinating subjects now!


text:
Earlier this year, Beyoncé once again caused commotion by dropping her album Lemonade. This album went above and beyond my expectations and completely blew my mind. For this review I'm focusing on one of the more melancholy songs, "Pray You Catch Me". This song is one of my absolute favorites. It has so much emotion behind it and hauntingly beautiful yet simplistic background instrumentals and music.
Acting as the sort of "introduction" to the album, the song is placed at the top of the list and is the first song in the visual album as well. It begins with a strange instruments and vocals, but as the sound develops it becomes beautiful and pieces together. The lyrics begin backed up by slow piano music. As the song goes on, more instruments and
sounds are added creating a marvelous tone for the song. The breathtaking instrumentals are paired with stunning and heavy lyrics such as "Nothing else ever seems to hurt like the smile on your face/ When it's only in my memories it don't hit me quite the same". The song goes on, telling the story of two lovers who have drifted apart. With a slow ending the final words spoken are a spine chilling, whispered"What are you doing my love?" leaving the listener speechless with only 22 lines of lyrics. This song to me is beautifully composed and is portrayed not only as a song, but divine art.


text:
Ferrofluid globules suspended by magnets on glass.. Ferrofluid is magnetic oil, small particles of iron floating in a surfactant. It was developed by nasa to prevent fuel from escaping shuttles in space. The fluid spikes in contact with a magnet to show its field. The iron sinks to the magnet and the fluid evaporates as it is exposed to air in time. After the fluid dries the remains continue in spike form. The magnetic suspension, attraction, tension, and order seem constantly on the verge of chaos and unpredictability. This natural order inspired me to create a series of sculptures called Verge, where I explored tension, growth ratios, order, movement.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
3 comments:
hey, beautiful work... didn't see any comments on your page thought Id leave one... like i said your work looks gr8... keep it up...ReplyDelete
God bless,
Thank you very much Shiva. Where can I see your work?
Your work is brilliant. Here is some speakers that I think may be of interest. Similar in function to this project. http://www.mightydwarf.com/product/5w-mighty-dwarfReplyDelete
Video Reveiw: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YvQzxcYZuss
NO AD. Found this and thought of you :)
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Latest news:
100% electric at ABBIT
After driving one pure electric car since 2011, ABBIT decided to buy no more oil consuming cars. From now on anyone that needs their car replaced can choose from a list of a reasonably priced electric cars. At the same time we will maximize our solar electricity production and minimize heating on gas or oil. We do this for health, energy independence, the environment and to stop oil based wars.
Maarten Vanneste, August 2015.
INNOVATE: Multi-Hub Meetings
An emerging meeting format
INNOVATE: Dynamite for Q&A :
Now SIX flying microphones available
WOW! Remote speaker on wheels
NEW: Your Robot Speaker on stage
We did it again:
'The best contrast and
detail ever for our participants'
user group organizer
medical imaging company
user group organizer
medical imaging company
'The Best WiFi ever!'
Connected automotive conference in Germany
American independent planner
'The most innovative conference ever.'
strategy and consultant advisor Top 5 Agency
Sample FRESH innovations
Robot participant interview
ABBIT Corporate Video
Innovation for Success
When people meet, they change the world. We believe that Innovation, progress or any other kind of change comes from people meeting other people. People change and so do meetings. We help designing objective based meetings Since 1982, anywhere in Europe.
A presentation can be more than just a set of slides on a screen. Discover ho content flies of the screen onto the set and creates a lasting impact around the key messages.
Outside projection on a facade for a welcome message, a festive atmosphere, a public message, ... It can't be missed and looks magic. It costs less than a big banner and it has Zero waste.


text:
The weather here as been wet, wet ,wet, however on Saturday we had our first really good day. A walk was planned and we set off for the Fannichs, near Ullapool on Saturday morning. The day looked really hopeful for 'Cloud free Munros' but once we clinbed to 600m the mist came down, still a lovely walk was had and we made our vehicles at 5pm as it was getting dark.
2 munros and a top Sgurr Breac 999m, Tomain Coinich 935m and A'Chailleach
See the pics on flickr, click on link below
Sunday, 15 January 2012
1 comment:
- Bogdan Yanov said...
I also enjoy reading the comments, but notice that a lot of people should stay on topic to try and add value to the original blog post. I would also encourage everyone to bookmark this essay writer page to your favorite service to help spread the word. I'll use this information for my essay topics.
- 09 May, 2016 07:24
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Missing Out
That's the trouble with compilation lists. You feel bad that you left out a few which maybe deserve a place as your favourites. Here is a list of those albums that just missed out:
16 Lovers Lane by The Go-Betweens
A New World Record by ELO
Soul Deep by Jimmy Barnes
The Nightfly by Donald Fagen
Hotel California by The Eagles
Surfing With The Alien by Joe Satriani
Very Best Roll Over by Chage & Aska
A Decade of Steely Dan by Steely Dan
Btw, aren't those album covers wonderful art pieces, certainly stood the test of time.
Barcelona 0
Nail biting stuff... now what did Deco say before the match?!
p/s photo: Barbie Xu
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
All Time Fav Albums
Since I have nothing bullish or non-depressing to post, I shall post about my all time fav albums. When we were younger, the list would change every few months, but the list kinda stop when you turn 30. See if you
have similar taste in music, or else you can post your fav in the comments section and reasons why. A better headline would be the top albums that I would take with me if I was LOST on an island with a CD player. While redoing the list, I found that I could not keep it to ten, it had to be twelve, hence Countdown from number twelve:
12) Tanto Tempo by Bebel Gilberto - Daughter of the brilliant Joao Gilberto. This is Brazilian music jazzed up and highly seductive and hypnotic. Best album from Latin America for the last 10 years, if not longer.
11) Tapestry by Carole King - If I did not have balls, this would easily rated higher. So many songs from this album became timeless classics, such as You've Got A Friend and Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow. Its a great snapshot of a singer-songwriter right at the very peak of musical genius.
10) The Grand Illusion by The Styx - Loud, commercial but melodic band with loud hairstyles. Their best album by far. Every song has its own merit and weave into a proper album. Derided by many but this album can stand the test of time. Check out The 70s Show parody of The Styx.
9) December by George Winston - Takes a lot to listen to one fella playing one piano with no additional instrumentation. Feeling wistful, philosophical, or just a quiet night to reflect. His notes lift you up and touches your soul literally. The title track, though instrumental may make your tears well up. Really.
8) Winelight by Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers - Best romantic jazz ever. Enough said.
7) Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs - This man has a weakish voice but his songs were brilliant. Again, this album captures him at his musical genius peak. Songs like We Are All Alone, Harbour Lights and my favourite Love Look What You've Done To Me. Highly under-rated.
6) Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf - Another album that needed to be heard in its entirety. May be too melodic and commercial to rock fans but its the anthem 70s album for good reasons. Songs like Heaven Can Wait, Two out of Three Ain't Bad and the title track - how not to be a top favourite.
5) Night At The Opera by Queen - Considered by many to be Queen's best album, but not to me, its the second best.
4) Rumours by Fleetwood Mac - Too much grass and alcohol can turn out really good music. This dysfunctional group at its best. Every song is a gem. This album is one of the reason why the 60s and 70s were considered to be the best periods for popular music.
3) How Dare You by 10cc - Not many would select this album but its pure genius. You have to listen more than a few times to love it and then you are hooked for life. Its whimsical, very melodic and adventurous.
2) Year of The Cat by Al Stewart - Absolutely fantastic folk rock album by an Englishman, very under-rated.
1) Sheer Heart Attack by Queen - This will always be my top album. Its their raw talent at their finest. If you have a relative 35 and above buy him this for Christmas, if its an over 35 lady, cannot go wrong with Winelight or December.
Things To Come From Food Crisis
More rushed conferences and summits among regional players. DOHA antagonistic buggers to meet again and again only with a more conciliatory attitude this time. Hoarding will not just be by private sector but some governments will be doing that as well. Countries importing food will reduce import tariffs substantially - hmmm, I wonder why! Countries exporting may be raising export tax. Partly oil in 3 figures is to be blamed as they contribute to more expensive transportation and fertilizer costs. Biofuels now viable with fuel at staggering levels caused diversion of edible products into biofuels - not such a good idea now. Higher food prices have caused feedling livestock to be a huge burden, thus forcing many farmers to sell much of the livestock younger and cheaper - but the flip side a few months down the road is the lack of livestock. Governments to increase subsidy to farmers to keep farming, and keep the lid on controlled necessities - just more money to chase after a fixed amount of goods. Aid agencies will be begging for free food supply to poor nations. Riots over lack of food supply or excessive price increases will be daily news. Is this food crisis a fad? Egypt and Cambodia already banned rice exports. Any sign of bad weather will only heighten the crisis. Social unrest is already reported in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Senegal and Pakistan - expect more to join the list.
A looming food crisis = spiraling inflation = restrictive market policies = higher interest rates to curb spending = not so good for equities.
A looming food crisis = Mounting government subsidy = Controlled prices break loose = Social unrest & riots = not good for equities.
Friday, April 25, 2008
The Food Train Wreck
Comments in PURPLE.
- Encik Wan said...
What do you suggest? Cut liquidity to curtail demands? Speed of production of commodities cannot match rate of increase in demands. You cannot ask emerging countries to go back to old days, right?
The biggest problem, which many are still not aware, is that unlike the subprime crisis and the credit implosion, a food crisis cannot be solved or minimised by pumping liquidity or having more bailouts. You cannot just plant more rice or coffee overnight. Hence the headline: its a train wreck waiting to happen. It will happen. There is nothing much we can do to stop it. How's that for being optimistic?
- Wai Kit said...
question is, what's the best way to position our portfolio during inflation environment? invest in gold, palm oil, stocks related to food production, O&G etc?
- Smart Money said...
What's your thoughts on the effects of inflation on property prices? Are they sure to increase in value? What's the effect of restrictive monetary policy on the property values? Do rentals go up during inflation? The effects on equities are quite predictable. But real estate?
Inflation = Higher interest rates = Lower affordability. Hence spiraling food inflation does not necessarily equate to corresponding property price jumps. Even in those supposedly good sectors with positive black swans (food manufacturers, plantations), their earnings jump will be regarded as an anomaly and would not get a long term hike in PER valuation. What can the governments do? Put more funds into subsidy. This is a case of people getting richer but clamouring for reduced supply. Prices get bidded higher. Unlike oil which affects companies a lot more, food prices affects a much larger crowd. We all will have to live with much higher food prices, not to mention fuel prices. Governments will have to pay higher salaries for civil servants. Countries like Malaysia will be net beneficiaries as we have oil royalties and plantations to help cushion the blows. It will hit resource poor nations a lot harder. Developing economies with high poverty levels will be hit especially hard. Even the aid in USD have depleted in value and can only buy a lot less of things costing a lot more.
A looming food crisis = spiraling inflation = restrictive market policies = higher interest rates to curb spending = not so good for equities.
A looming food crisis = Mounting government subsidy = Controlled prices break loose = Social unrest & riots = not good for equities.
- p/s photo: Niki Chow
Golf Balls, Pebbles, Sand & 2 Cups of Coffee
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are th e other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else---the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'
The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'
p/s photo: Rene Liu Ruo Ying
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Authority Says Buy
China markets is still run like a strict traditional family. After watching the markets fall on inflationary worries for a prolonged period, the authorities know that without "guidance" the markets will remain in a funk for the longest time.
The China Securities Regulatory Commission announced that all major shareholders could only sell large tranches of shares through a block trade or over the counter. And shareholders need to announce placement plans one month in advance if they want to sell more than 1 percent of a company's total stock. People expect there will be more measures to come. It is very obvious that if the first move is insufficient to restore confidence, there could very well be a stamp duties reduction in the coming future.
Market watchers said investors are still watching for blue-chip tradable shares worth 1.7 trillion yuan (HK$1.89 trillion) and 12 trillion yuan to come on to the market, this year and in 2009. During past days, it's only those small caps dumping shares that have caused panic, people will be more skeptical for larger caps' similar moves.
p/s photo: Donita Rose
WSJ: The Monetary Authority of Singapore is investigating why Jade Technologies Ltd., a takeover target, delayed disclosing that Merrill Lynch & Co. had seized a large block of its shares, causing investors to lose millions of dollars.
The circumstances of the takeover offer for Jade were already under investigation by Singapore's white-collar crime unit and the council that oversees mergers and acquisitions.
Jade is listed on Catalist, Singapore's secondary board. The takeover offer, if it had gone through, would have valued the company at S$218 million (US$160.8 million). Now the aborted offer, by Jade President Anthony Soh, is threatening to undermine investor confidence in the Singapore market, among the most developed in Asia. The controversy has become a test case for regulators, with institutional and individual investors complaining that the system has wronged them.
OCBC, Mr. Soh's adviser, had vouched for his ability to fund the deal. OCBC subsequently withdrew from its role and filed a complaint against Mr. Soh with the Commercial Affairs Department, which fights white-collar crimes, for allegedly misleading the bank.
The saga began in February, when Mr. Soh said he wanted to take over the company, which has interests in microchip engineering and mining. The sole requirement of the offer of 22.5 Singapore cents a share was an acceptance level of 50%, meaning Mr. Soh needed to secure just a small addition to his own 46% stake to succeed. On April 5, he withdrew the offer after getting permission from the local regulator. He said he no longer had enough funds to continue with the bid. The stock went into a freefall when the market opened on April 7, sinking to seven Singapore cents from 22 Singapore cents before trading was halted on April 1. The shares have remained near seven Singapore cents over the past two weeks.
What many investors didn't know was that Mr. Soh had pledged a 30.5% stake in Jade, or 295 million shares, as collateral for a loan from Australian broker Opes Prime Group Ltd. to fund the takeover. Opes collapsed and went into receivership in the last week of March.
On April 1, before shareholders got details about the deal's financing, Opes creditor Merrill liquidated 95 million of the shares Mr. Soh had pledged. Merrill had received 256 million Jade shares from Opes on March 27. While Merrill sold out at 22 Singapore cents a share, other investors held or even accumulated new positions under the assumption the takeover would proceed.
Angry investors, who watched helplessly as Jade lost S$145 million in market capitalization in the first minute of trade on April 7, want to know why they weren't told Merrill had seized Mr. Soh's shares. "If public notice had been made, there's absolutely no way we would have bought any stock at all," said an investor who increased his stake in Jade to almost 5% on April 1. "Until recently we had an extremely high degree of confidence in the integrity of the Singapore system in relation to takeovers. Things just didn't go wrong," he said.
An MAS representative declined to elaborate on its investigation.
Merrill spokesman Rob Stewart, based in Hong Kong, said the bank "made the required shareholder notification as required by the regulations." Merrill was required to notify both Jade and the Singapore Exchange of its holding in Jade by March 31, two business days after it took possession of the shares.
The Singapore Exchange doesn't announce changes in shareholdings until it is notified by a company. It declined to comment on the Jade issue. Jade Chief Financial Officer Vera Lim said Jade received some information from Merrill in the days leading up to April 8, before it announced the change in Merrill's holding, but declined to elaborate. "On April 8, we received all the information from Merrill Lynch," Ms. Lim said.
OCBC, which had vouched for Mr. Soh's ability to fund the deal, said it had begun to doubt "the integrity of the representations" given by Mr. Soh. Singapore law prohibits withdrawal of a takeover offer without approval from the Securities Industry Council, which has oversight for mergers and acquisitions. The SIC declined to explain why it allowed Mr. Soh to drop the offer or if OCBC was bound to back it. The SIC "has commenced investigation into the circumstances that led to the withdrawal of the offer," an SIC representative said. "However, it is premature and inappropriate to give further details at this point."
A second investor said he bought shares expecting OCBC to stand by the deal. "I placed confidence in the fact that OCBC was involved in the process, and it stated clearly that financing was in place," he said.
OCBC declined to comment when asked if it was under obligation to back the financing.
Comments: The Bursa and SC should take note on the Jade saga because it could very well happen anywhere. There are numerous companies offering "margin facilities" out of Singapore and Malaysia. As these companies are not under the jurisdiction of the companies where it is listed, when things go wrong, the domino effect is at the expense of minority shareholders and investors who relied on available information.
To prevent such incidents, there should be new disclosure rules when the controlling shareholder or even substantial shareholders pledges their shares to a third party.
OCBC should be quizzed further on whether their grounds for withdrawing their funding was legal and in the best interest of the market's integrity. Merrill Lynch, which seized the shares from Opes is in the clear and they absolutely have the right to sell the shares, and they played by the rules in terms of informing the exchange and company. Maybe new rules should be put in place in the "delay allowed" when reporting sales by significant shareholders - one week may be too long. All exchanges and regulators, please take note.
SIC should be in a lot of hot water for allowing Soh to drop his offer - heads will roll. It seems that the only people not being considered or catered for in this saga were the minority shareholders and investors - they were basically hung out to dry, left to make decisions based on available information which were "outdated", materially different from reality, and left holding the bag. Tsk tsk!
p/s: photo: Fiona Xie
Sunday, April 13, 2008
General Electrocution
Why is GE so important? Missing a quarter can bring the entire market down triple digits. Well, not counting the slide in Asian markets come Monday morning as well. GE is important because:
1) It is supposedly the best managed company globally
2) Its ability to beat quarterly estimates are legendary, which translates to having a great hold on business analytics, management execution and forecasting
3) It is a diversified global industrial giant, and as such should be able to weather the supposedly "localised banking correction in the US"
4) If the going gets tough for GE, can you imagine the situation for lesser companies
The company reported a 12 percent decline in first-quarter profit — its first in five years — and dim prospects for the rest of the year. GE is one of only five AAA-rated corporations worldwide, and its troubles accessing the credit markets underscore how seriously broken the credit system has become. If the weakness was solely concentrated in their financial subsidiary, it would not have reverberated as much. However, the weakness was caused not only by credit difficulties but the conglomerate's far-flung businesses on nearly every continent, spanning such industries as entertainment, health care, consumer goods and industrial manufacturing.
This lends weight to my feeling that there is another shoe to drop, one more whack down before genuine recovery can begin. Though prices are attractive, the upside is not sparkling and any attempt to rally from here will not be able to generate sufficient momentum or encourage the sidelined to jump in. The plunge saw GE losing US$55bn in market cap, what was interesting as well was UPS coming in below estimates for its quarterly results, particularly since UPS is such a good benchmark on "business velocity".
This week will be very volatile: Anwar's April 14 date with destiny; quarterly results from JPMorgan, Merrill Lynch and Citigroup. Good day!
p/s photo: Sammi Cheng
Saturday, April 12, 2008
HK Film Awards
Best Film
- The Warlords
Produced by : Andre Morgan, Huang Jian Xin, Peter Chan Ho Sun
- Protege
Produced by : Peter Chan Ho Sun
- The Postmodern Life Of My Aunt
Produced by : Yuan Mei, Yu Dong & Cui Yong
- Mad Detective
Produced by : Johnnie To Kei Fung & Wai Ka Fai
- Eye In The Sky
Produced by : Johnnie To Kei Fung & Tsui Siu Ming
Best Director
- Peter Chan Ho Sun (The Warlords)
- Derek Yee Tung Sing (Protege)
- Ann Hui On Wah (The Postmodern Life Of My Aunt)
- Johnnie To Kei Fung & Wai Ka Fai (Mad Detective)
- Yau Nai Hoi (Eye In The Sky)
Best Screenplay
- Xu Lan, Chun Tin Nam, Aubrey Lam, Huang Jian Xin, Jojo Hui, Ho Kei Ping, Guo Jun Li, James Yuen Sai Sang (The Warlords)
- Derek Yee Tung Sing, Chun Tin Nam, Loong Man Hong, Go Sun (Protege)
- Li Qiang (The Postmodern Life Of My Aunt)
- Wai Ka Fai & Au Kin Yee (Mad Detective)
- Yau Nai Hoi & Au Kin Yee (Eye In The Sky)
Best Actor
- Aaron Kwok (The Detective)
- Jet Li (The Warlords)
- Andy Lau Tak Wah (The Warlords)
- Lau Ching Wan (Mad Detective)
- Simon Yam (Eye In The Sky)
Best Actress
- Teresa Mo Shun Kwan (Mr. Cinema)
- Zhang Jing Chu (Protege)
- Si Qin Gao Wa (The Postmodern Life Of My Aunt)
- Rene Liu (Kidnap)
- Charlene Choi (Simply Actors)
Best Supporting Actor
- Nick Cheung Ka Fai (Exodus)
- Ronald Cheng (Mr. Cinema)
- Louis Koo (Protege)
- Andy Lau Tak Wah (Protege)
- Chow Yun Fat (The Postmodern Life Of My Aunt)
Best Supporting Actress
- Karen Mok (Mr. Cinema)
- Anita Yuen (Protege)
- Zhao Wei (The Postmodern Life Of My Aunt)
- Susan Shaw (The Pye-Dog)
- Maggie Shiu (Eye In The Sky)
Best Newcomer
- Linda Chung (Love Is Not All Around)
- Tsei Tsz Tung (Protege)
- Wen Jun Hui (The Pye-Dog)
- Wong Hau Yun (Besieged City)
- Kate Tsui (Eye In The Sky)
p/s photo: Kate Tsui
Friday, April 11, 2008
Fed's Portfolio Similar To Ah-Long's
The Fed's portfolio now looks a lot like an Ah-Long's (unlicensed loan sharks). The spate of lendings by the Fed means it has to borrow from someplace to lend to the distressed parties. In exchange for the loans to these "privileged children of the corn", the Fed now has car loans, credit card loan, auto loans and housing loans on their books. This literally means that there could come a time when Bernanke may be knocking on doors and asking why you have not kept up with your credit card minimum payments.
The Fed's portfolio is not a bottomless thing. As you can see, in exchange for lending to the distressed parties, the Fed now have the distressing loans in their books, what a wonderful exchange rate. Its like exchanging one ringgit for one Euro, why not?!
The debt is issued under the Fed's name rather than the Treasury's, hence they have to ask Congress for immediate authority for the Fed to pay interest on commercial-bank reserves instead of waiting until a previously enacted law permits it in 2011. The Fed holds assets to manage the nation's money supply and influence the federal-funds rate, which banks charge each other on overnight loans. When the Fed buys Treasuries or makes loans directly to banks, it supplies financial institutions with cash; in effect, it prints money. The cash ends up as currency in circulation or in banks' reserve accounts at the Fed.
Fed officials also are investigating the feasibility of the Fed issuing its own debt and using the proceeds to purchase other assets or make loans. The Fed has never done such a thing but may consider to do so. There is a precedent here in that the Bank of Japan also did something similar. More writedowns on commercial real estate, auto loans, credit card debt, Alt-A mortgages, and pay option arms are coming. Does that mean we will see the Fed end up holding these papers??? The Fed now has to buy risky paper from the banks or lend the banks the Fed's own assets against risky assets. What if the banks fold, does that mean the Fed take up the loans and start calling up the car loan, housing loan and credit card defaulters in order to get Fed's money back?
Yuan & Ringgit
The Singapore dollar and the Malaysian ringgit gained, while China's yuan strengthened beyond 7 to the dollar. The decision probably stem from the belief that Asian central banks will seek stronger currencies to reduce the cost of importing rice and fuel. The Singapore dollar climbed to a record S$1.3553 per dollar, from $1.377 yesterday, bringing its gain this year to 6.1 percent. The Malaysian ringgit rose 0.8 percent to 3.1532 per dollar and Taiwan's currency gained 0.5 percent to NT$30.298. China's yuan rose as high as 6.9904 per dollar from 7.0017, the strongest since the end of a fixed-exchange rate in July 2005.
The Hong Kong dollar, allowed to trade 5 cents either side of HK$7.8, was little changed at HK$7.7876. Soros who made $1 billion in 1992 by selling the British pound and knocking it out of the European exchange-rate mechanism, the precursor to the euro, said he expects the Hong Kong government to keep the city's currency peg to the dollar. That is where I differ in opinion to Soros. While the HKMA would definitely try with all their might to defend the peg, they will eventually fail. Even as we speak, many HKers are still rushing over to Shenzhen to open yuan currency accounts. How long can you do zero interest rate? The essence of HK's economy has evolved substantially over the last 5 years to be more correlated and dependent on mainland China - how in hell can you have monetary policy being dictated by what happens a few thousand miles away?
China's yuan has accelerated upward in recent months, gaining 4.5% so far this year against the U.S. dollar after pushing 7% higher in 2007. In July 2005, Beijing bowed to economic pressures at home and global calls to loosen its grip on the currency, ending a decade of locking the exchange rate around 8.28 yuan. It took until May 2006 for the yuan to break the barrier of eight to the dollar. While the U.S. has continued to pressure Beijing to allow the yuan to rise, Washington is also concerned that the falling dollar might discourage China from accumulating Treasury bonds at a critical time for the U.S. economy.
An interesting fact which is rarely known is that the China's central bank's first phone call every time they "allow the yuan to move" is not to the Fed or Paulson or even the BOJ. Its to the Bank Negara! As unbelievable as that may sound, this has been shared to me three times by three different economists who have visited China's central bank's top management. Hence no collusion there. That's why I have mentioned a couple of times before that the ringgit will keep in step with the yuan's gains. Now why would the situation be so. Bank Negara is not a big boy by any means. Mind you, this has basically happened following the removal of the ringgit from its debilitating and inappropriate peg of 3.8 to the USD. Even the economists I spoke to could not fathom a plausible reason. Is Zeti so close to the China central bank? My best educated guess would be that Bank Negara has helped Malaysia to accumulate one of the highest foreign reserves per capita, and China's central bank also knows that the yuan and the ringgit are speculated as having the most upside to most currency players. To have some form of cooperation would be healthy. Bottom line, I do expect Zeti's phone to ring a few more times before the year is over. I am looking at 2.90 for the ringgit by year end.
p/s photo: Fala Chen
Thursday, April 10, 2008
There Has To Be A God
The above headline could be a cry for help. It could also be a yearning. It could also be a cry of exasperation. Or it could be sobering commentary following a philosophical debate that if God did not exists, we would have had to invent Him. And after viewing the clip below, you would say the same statement in the voice of assurance and conviction, because there couldn't be any other possible explanation.
A couple who could not conceive adopts a baby. The baby is blind. The mother always sings in her kitchen. One day when she was 3, she played the song her mum sang on the piano. No one taught her, its impossible to teach a blind child to play at 3. She hears a song and she can immediately play it on the piano. I mean her tiny fingers can barely stretch to play the notes.
In a world where we are surrounded by temporary cares and woes, it is good to take care of your soul. She reminds us all that there are greater things in life, that He is around.
p/s photo: Ruby Lin
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Who Is Jim Rogers?
With a name like that, you'd think he was a country and western movie star. Well, in his own way, he is definitely a swashbuckler. Jim is not shy and is very vocal on many investing issues. Unlike the other Jim (Cramer), this Jim has substance and intelligence. Cramer has very little of either.
On the recent bailouts by the Fed and applying "band-aids" to the US economy, the Federal Reserve may well be causing its own downfall - even as it hastens the demise of the greenback as a viable global currency, according to Jim Rogers.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
80s Greatest Hits Compilation From Election 2008 Kayu-stock!
I Feel The Earth Move Under My Feet - AAB (Carole King)
Don't Get Around Much Anymore - CSL (Duke Ellington / Ink Spots / Nat king Cole / McCartney / BB King)
With or Without You - NR (U2)
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - KJ (U2)
Don' Dream Its Over - KTKoon (Crowded House)
Waiting For A Girl Like You - Nurul-Hannah (Foreigner)
(I've Had) The Time of My Life - SVellu (Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes)
If I Could Turn Back Time - AAB (Cher)
Don't You Want Me - RAziz (Human League)
Luka - SVellu (Suzanne Vega)
I Think We're Alone Now - AAB & KJ (Tiffany)
p/s feel free to add your ideas ...
Catch These Movies: THE LEAKERS & BROTHER OF THE YEAR
The Leakers - Helmed by the often brilliant Herman Yau Nai Hoi (whom I believe was from Malaysia who became a great success in HK films). 7...
Nobody is spooking anyone by revealing the level of debt the country is facing. Before we can properly address the debt, we have to be hone...
(Farah Ann Abdul Hadi) There are tons of financial newsletters but the only one I read religiously is Maudlin Economics. ...


text:
Retro Movie Posters by Tavis Coburn
Tavis Coburn of the British design firm Dutch Uncle created some nify old-timey movie posters for movies nominated for the British Academy Film Awards. As you can probably guess, the one on the right is Avatar. The one on the left is Hurt Locker.
http://www.dutchuncle.co.uk/illustrators/du/tavis-coburn/portfolios/bafta-2010 - via The Litter Box (Happy Birthday, Johnny Cat!)
Newest 2 Comments
I thought socialist realism died in 1990...
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
That is extremely cool. I love looking at this kind of stuff.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)


text:
The Autumn Palace (Ondine)
First of all , i want to thank Ebony McKenna for writing another amazing book!From the first book, Hamish got given a job to spy for the Duke, and Ondine doesn't like it, so she goes with him to the Dukes palace, and starts a job and goes to school.Ondine thinks Hamish is spending to much time working then being with her, and Hamish is actually enjoying working for the duke.They have to find out who is trying to kill the duke, and its hard because there is 3 suspects, The Duchess, The Dukes sister and Lord Vincent. So Aunt Col, Ondine and Hamish has to be spy's and try and figure out who is behind it.When Hamish is being Shambles in ferret form he is quite the funny one, and brought some laughter to me, especially the Dog incident. Ondine doesn't like when he is ferret form because she just wants kisses with the hot guy Hamish.There is new Characters as well as the same old ones, and one of them is the Infanta, Anathea who is the Dukes sister, at first i hated her, because she was bossy and childish when it come to the part she complained they started without her. She got on my nerves but then she started to change and done things for herself and it wasn't until the end where i loved her.There isn't much to say apart from READ IT! and please do it in a private place and not in public because you may get looked at funny when you burst out laughing on a bus or something. Please for Ebony, read this book!!