Scary movies

Can you interpret the pictures in the picture above as movie titles in M&M’s name the scary movie game?

The entire month of October is loaded with scary movies in the USA. There are old black and white classics like the Phantom of the Opera, gory ones like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, ridiculous ones like Frankenstein General Hospital, cute ones like Halloweentown, and scary series like Halloween. We get a veritable heap of vampires, ghosts, witches, spooks, thrills and chills. We love to be scared, love to laugh at scary things that are not very scary, love to jump out and yell ‘Boo!’. It’s just fun.
My scariest movie moments: The Mummy- which I stayed up late to watch as a youngster. My brother got bored and went to bed, leaving me to watch it alone. I don’t think I slept any that night. Alien- the special effects, the mounting tension, the darkness all combined to give me the willies for weeks. Guilty as Sin- another that I watched alone, late at night. During the stalking scene near the end, I was peeking out at the TV screen from behind my chair.

How about you? Do you like scary movies?

WOW! One thousand Posts!

Let's celebrate 1.000 posts.

Congratulations to shinji@tokyo ! Congratulations to all the people who have been contributing to this project!

Famous Video Game goes to the beverage market

FINAL FANTASY is one of the most famous video game in Japan.
Its sales is more than 5 million in total.
A player in the game have many adventures.
He fights with monsters and is sometimes injured.
On such an occasion,a potion heals and repairs his body.

One of the biggest beverage manufacturer SUNTORY has released
a potion as a real drink.

My friend says it's not tasty at all...

84th Anniversary Founding Turkish Republic

Turkey is commemorating the 84th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic, with ceremonies being held in cities, towns and villages across the country. The focus of the ceremonies is the capital Ankara, where on October 29, 1923, Mustafa Kemal, later Ataturk, formally declared the founding of the Republic of Turkey. The first ceremony held the capital was at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk, with thousands of state officials, led by President in attendance. Other major ceremonies will be held in Istanbul, and parades of both students and military personnel will be staged across the country.

PORTUGAL - money matters

The euro is the currency of the Economic and Monetary Union and was adopted by 11 State-members from the European Union on the 1st of January 1999: Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Austria and Finland. In 2001, Greece also adopted the euro.

The symbol of the euro currency is an "E" crossed by two parallel and diagonal lines. It is inspired on the representation of the Greek letter epsilon, calling up the birth of the European civilization and the first letter of the word Europe. The two parallel lines represent the internal stability of the euro.

The circulation of the euro started on the 1st of January 2002 with 7 different bank notes and 8 different coins: bank notes of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros, and coins of 2 and 1 euros and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 centimes. Although the coins have both a European common side and a specific national side, they are accepted in all the countries that joined the euro currency, and the same is applied to bank notes.

Both bank notes and coins were also conceived for people with visual disabilities. Therefore, the bank notes - besides having different sizes - count on elements that allow the identification of the different notes through touch.The different configurations of the coins' circumference, together with the different sizes, allow blind and partially blind people to identify the several coins.

29th Marathon between Europen and Asian Continent

There was a marathon in Istanbul today. More than 100,000 people joined and run from Asia to Europe. Main purpose is get the people participate and enjoy during this running. If you wonder.........I did not participate this event.

Call for solidarity

as it appeared here


"Dear friends,
Recently attacks towards me coming from racist and fascistic circles in the Northern part of Cyprus took a different dimension and started heading towards a social lynch.
Until today, I did not show any reaction towards these attacks. There was no need to take these political attacks seriously. Although I was shown as a target and threatened through these attacks I believed in the support of the democratic forces in our community and I was thinking that the most beautiful response to them which were forwarded not only towards me but also towards my friends, was our life style and our writing. The last three years these attacks took a new course and they turned into a very open and vulgar sexual harassment. I kept silent even then, as many women would do on such occasions. Knowing that talking about them and objecting to them could even increase the victimisation of my gender. But recently things turned into a serious and unacceptable level. Extracts from my novel, of which the first edition was published in 2002 by Iletisim publications, were selected out of context, distorted and were presented as my own biography and transformed into instruments of sexual harassment against me. These attacks are both trying to degrade me in the eyes of the society through humiliation and “assassinate” me psychologically. These newspapers are read out every morning on TV programs, some of which are via satellite. In our small society in the Northern part of Cyprus, whoever I meet is talking about them. The Newspapers are in the hands of my students at the University.
I finally decided to take action. First, I will start a legal struggle and ask for a good amount of money. I wish that this case be primarily viewed as a case for the defence of literature and so be transformed into a platform for discussion of freedom of expression and creation. I want to turn this trial process into a festival on literature and the freedom to create and so refrain from presenting it merely as a court case about sexual harassment in which I will be placed as the centre. I know that I can do this only with your support, all of you my friends, the writers, the feminist and human rights activists. I wish that with the speeches we will make during the process of the court hearingsd and with the conferences we will organize outside we shall be defending literature and our right to creatively imagine. I also I dream that with the compensation money we will win we can organize a literary festival. At this stage what I need urgently is your psychological support.
I know that I am part of this beautiful family and I am sure that you will honor me with your support.
I embrace you with love.
Neşe Yaşın"

South African Cakes

In the begining I said I was going to look at the contrasts in SA, but haven't really done that yet. Here is one that I saw the other day!

Returning from Johannesburg, I stopped at a "cafe /trading store /spaza" between Sandton and Diepsloot for something to drink. Seeing this cake, made in the cafe's bakery for R4.95, I bought it for its amazing colours - almost a Rainbow Nation cake.

The taste in no way matches the looks - tasteless and bland, not even sweet! Odourless, Coulourful and Tasteless!

The second cake, from the country's quality supermarket chain (Woolworths), was quite different, looking rather dull but a delicious flavor and a range of textures.


The interesting thing is that even though it contains more expensive ingredients, expensive packaging, is distributed in the cold chain and is sold through a quality supermarket, the cost of the slice shown is a bit less than the coloured cake. Obviously this slice is the smaller, but value for money in terms of quality is much better. I and my family would never even consider the coloured cake from a health, taste and quality viewpoint, but there are obviously many who do and if the baker is good the cake is what his consumers want.

Its obviously partly about access, the people who use the cafe are unable to visit the supermarket which are located in more prosperous area and the person who uses the supermarket seldom travels in the area and would not buy anything from the rundown and unattractive cafe.

On the price the supermarket has its markup which is probably 30%, but the cafe owner of Portuguese origin serving a black market, is surely looking at higher margins - therefore the high price for little quality.

ROSSIO STATION, LISBON

In neo-manueline style, the Rossio railway station is an outstanding building set between Rossio Square and Restauradores Square and was designed by the architect José Luís Monteiro.

The eight doors match the nine palatial windows and the incredibly decorated clock tower located on the top of the facade.

Rossio station is a curiosity in that the platforms are some 30 metres above the main entrance. Services from here are all suburban trains to the tourist sights of Sintra via Queluz.

Built in 1886/87, this station has been recently renovated.

The boarding platform is now connected to the Metro Station, though this is with the nearest Metro station at Restauradores, (not with Rossio Metro) and the work done on the ceiling is simply breathtaking.

Make sure you pay a visit to the Rossio Station, I'm sure you'll find it worth it.

From takeover target to white knight to create a new Banco Millennium BPI

Banco BPI is coming to the defense of the enbattled Banco Millennium BCP with a proposal to create a large new bank which can dominate the small Portuguese market and have a significant profile in Europe and elsewhere.

On 25-Oct-2007, a new attempt at a merger in Portuguese banking comes with Banco BPI proposing a share-swap and merger with Banco Millennium BCP which is valid until 15-Nov-07.

Banco BPI resisted successfully as target in a failed hostile takeover attempt by Millennium BCP, and now becomes white knight in defense of its bidder.

Driving this potential merger is the potential threat of another hostile takeover from Spanish banks. With the merger, that threat would be reduced. In fact, the Spanish bank La Caixa, which currently owns 25% of Banco BPI, would be diluted to less than 10% in the new Banco Millennium BPI.

Costa Rican president visits China

BEIJING (AFP) - Costa Rican president Oscar Arias on Wednesday signed several accords with his Chinese counterpart, months after the Central American nation established diplomatic relations with the Asian giant.

Arias and Chinese president Hu Jintao signed 11 contracts relating to trade, the economy, banking, technology and culture.

Arias, who is making a week-long landmark trip to China, broke off ties with Taiwan in June after 60 years of diplomatic relations.

"I am very honoured that we're the first Central American country to establish a formal relationship with the great country of the People's Republic of China," said Arias, the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Taiwan has seen its number of allies dwindle over the years as competition for supporters with rival China heats up. The two have been accused of using so-called "dollar diplomacy" to get nations to ally with them.

China is Costa Rica's number-two export market after the United States. In 2006, the Central American nation sold more than 1.08 billion dollars in goods and services to Beijing.

Meet Azerbaijan - The Land of Fire

Hello, everyone. Today I, Ayten Giyasova, am introducing on this blog my country, Azerbaijan. Dear, Shinji, thank you very much for inviting me to write in your blog.

They say that centuries ago when zoroastrians were passing the territory of Azerbaijan they saw that land was burning and they decided to settle there as they worshiped fire. Today we know that it was oil, the main natural resource that Azerbaijan has. I will not go into detailed description of Azerbaijan now as you can read a lot on dedicated websites that are available on internet.

My today's aim is that you know where Azerbaijan is located (in case you don't know :). Our neighbouring countries are Turkey, Iran, Russia, Georgia and Armenia. The country is located at the shore of the Caspian Sea, the biggest lake in the world. I am posting today two maps, both to show where Azerbaijan is located. Sorry, Shinji, for violating the rules...

See you soon on the blog again. In the mean time you can have a look at my blog on the region of Azerbaijan, Sheki.

All the best,

Ayten

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival at Inle Lake

The Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is one of the most famous pagoda festival in Myanmar and well known all over the world. The festival is held every year during the month of October and lasts for more than 20 days as the 4 Buddha Images are taken around the lake in a gilded barge pulled by hundrerds of leg-rowers in long canoes in front.These images sometimes stay over night at some villages and sometimes just stop over for a short while. Rowing competitions are also held. Pilgrims from all over the country come to this festival to pay homage to the Buddha Images. Many are from the plains, some from the mountains, while others are from small remote villages but everybody is here to gain merit and enjoy the festive air of the event. Foreign tourists are also fascinated not only by the religiouness of the festival goers but also with the generosity of the pilgrims as they pray in front of the Images and offer tissue thin gold leaves to put on the Images. This sense of true generosity and the religiousness of the people is evidenced by the Images itself for after decades of being gilded by countless number of gold foils they had become huge globes of gold.

This year's festival had also begun. The Phaung Daw Oo Images arrived yesterday at Nyaung Shwe and will stay there for three nights. After that they will continue their tour around the lake. As usual the welcoming ceremony at Nyaung Shwe was thronged with local pilgrims and foreign tourists alike. Everybody is invited to come visit the festival and see the real nature of the Myanmar people.


Coming Festivals
Myanmar is a land of festivals. Every month there is a pagoda festival, even during the monsoon season. But with the cessation of the monsoon rains the country comes alive with pagoda festivals, religious festivals etc.
On the Full-moon day of November there are some notable pagoda and religious festivals coming up.
-Kekku Pagoda Festival(Shan)
-Taunggyi Hot-air Balloon Competition
-Taunggyi Kahtein(Offering of Holy Robes to the Monks) Ceremony.
-Taunggyi Parade of Lights Festival
RUSH AND CONTACT YOUR TRAVEL AGENT NOW!!!!!!

Mugen (limitless) Puchi Puchi

Unique toy has a success now in Japan.

Have you ever seen the buffer material like this photo?
Most people here in Japan has enjoyed crushing in cushions.
We feel good crushing in,and it does good for stress-relieving.

One of the largest toy maker BANDAI made this toy.
We can crush in cushions endlessly,because it's made of some kind of gel.
The sound "Puchi Puchi" is implemented by electronic sound.

Thadingyut Festival(Festival of Lights)

Lord Buddha spent the whole Buddhist Lent in Tavatimsa(Abode of the Celestials) and came down to the Abode of Humans on the Fullmoon Day of Thadingyut(October). Legend says when He returned to the Abode of Humans, surrounded by Celestial Beings, the people greeted him by lighting up their homes. This tradition is still being carried on to this day. The whole country, from big cosmopolitan cities to remote villages are lit up. People hang brightly coloured lights on their homes. Pagodas are lit up with countless candles. The monks are offered soon (food) by the lay people to gain merit. Young children visit their elders to pay homage with cakes and fruits. This is indeed a joyous time for the Myanmar people. And we invite you all to celebrate this auspicious occasion together with the Myanmar people.

CURFEW LIFTED

The authorities had announced that the curfew restrictions imposed in Yangon and Mandalay has been lifted effective 20-10-07 (Saturday).

This is the result of improved security situation in both cities and the return to normalcy in the whole country.

Fresh Apple Cider

Fall is here with the leaves turning colors, the cotton looking like snow across the fields, and apples. I lived in Michigan as a child and I remember going to the cider mill at the local apple orchard. We would get to watch the cider press smoosh the burlap wrapped apple pieces and smell the aroma of the juice as it flowed into the collecting barrel. We would take our glass gallon jug to be refilled with the murky brown liquid that was so very sweet, and ride home in happy anticipation of a cup of cider later that evening. We always drank it within a week or so, never having it stay around long enough to ferment into ‘hard’ cider.
Cider is mass marketed in plastic jugs now, but it just doesn’t taste the same as the cider I watched being made as a child. If you are lucky, you live near an ‘old-fashioned’ cider mill like the Woods Cider Mill (video), or know someone that makes their own, like this family.

photo source

Mud avalanche kills 14 people in Costa Rica

A rescue worker search for bodies with the help of his search dog after a mudslide in Atenas, Costa Rica, 40 miles northwest of of San Jose, October 12, 2007. Rescue teams pulled eight bodies of 14 victims from a mudslide at a small mountain in rural Atenas after days of heavy rain, authorities said. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA)

Note: The avalanche took place on October 11 and has become one of the worst weather disasters of Costa Rica. October has been a very rainy month with heavy rains causing floods all over the country and forcing the government to declare a national emergency.

Dirty boxer was punished

One Japanese boxer was punished by his dirty fight in his title match.

He,his brothers,and father are famous for their arrogance.
He said that he'll commit seppuku in the press conference the day before the match,although he was a challenger for the belt.

He was beated by the champion,and viewed as an underdog in last half of the match.
He repeated the foul by head butt,elbow butt,and wrestling flip.It was not a boxing..
Of course he was defeated completely.

He was accused heavily by his dirty fight.

Today,Japan Boxing Comision announced that his boxing license is suspended for one year.
His father who supported him by second was expelled from the second forever.

Lebanon: Wetmayali = Sway

Shy seduction radiates from the beautiful girl as she sways to the melody of this enjoyable music and fine lyrics by Nadim Mohsen.
The setting for the video clip is the majestic temple of Baalbeck looking over the Bekaa plain (valley) of Lebanon.
Six elegantly mature dancers with their traditional robes and headdresses dance the dabke by the six towering columns of the temple. Their calm and pleasant countenances proudly portray the marks of age-old hard work and experience.
Young men, descendents of the architects and builders of this temple, dance joyfully around them in harmony with the rhythms and the beats.
The beautiful girl sways as the song tells of “a world that awakes upon his laughter…”

Enjoy.

Kurdish Separatist Guerillas Kill 13 Turkish Soldiers

Kurdish guerrillas ( PKK) killed 13 Turkish soldiers last Sunday. These are the pictures of our soldiers. Turkey cry these soldiers. We have been struggling with Kurdish guerrillas since 1984. They require a land from Turkey. They have killed about 40000 people. Unfortunetely they still not understand that TURKEY NEVER EVER GIVE EVEN 1 cm2 LAND. Our government finally decided to get OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE in the parliament next week. So that Turkey will be able to enter when necessary Northern Iraq (where Kurdish terrorists base in) in order to chase Kurdish terrorists and destroy them.

Costa Rica said Si to CAFTA

Voters in Costa Rica, Central America’s second biggest economy, backed a free trade agreement with the United States in a referendum Sunday. With 96.3 percent of the vote counted, 51.6 percent of voters backed the agreement, the independent Supreme Electoral Tribunal said on its Web site. President Oscar Arias the winner of the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize, has staked much of his political agenda on passage of the agreement. A rejection would have been the first time a free trade deal with the United States was refused by any country.

Leila angrily battles injustice and cancer

It's time for me to be honest and quit keeping silent in the face of the world's miseries.

I am very angry.

I am angry at what my government has done in my name; I am angry at the State of Israel; I am angry at right-wing Lebanese who call themselves Christians and yet flout the teachings of Jesus; I am angry at anybody who uses violence: suicide bombers, fighter jet bombers, cluster bombs, suitcase bombs.

I am angry at what Republicans and Democrats have done to democracy in this country. I am angry at what we are all doing to the natural world for our own selfish greediness.

I am angry that I got cancer and I am angry that many women in my country can't get treated properly for their illnesses because our health care delivery system is so screwed up.

I am angry at what happened in Nahr-al-Bared this summer, and I am angry at all the militaristic jingoistic people in America and Lebanon who think that their soldiers do anything to "protect" them.

This list could go on and on.

I am not going to be polite and hold it in any longer.
I am not going to let my anger kill me.
And I am not going to die of cancer because Lebanon is in agony.
Lebanon has been in agony for much of my life.
I have taken it too much to heart

Is cancer a disease of anger?

...part of what my blogger friend Leila Abu-Saba said in her post about her recurring case of cancer. She beat it the last time. She will beat it this time. She has the support of her family, friends and of her optimistic doctors.

Leila, force that cancerous anger out of the dove.

Lilongwe Capital City

I recently moved from Blantyre, Malawi commercial City to Lilongwe, capital city. Lilongwe is a more beautifully designed town than Blantyre.

I'm working at the City Centre, with modern buildings housing embassies, Government headquarters, Capital Hotel, and many banks. The place is well looked after. One might be tempted to think Lilongwe population is sparse. Get into old town and see how higly populated it is.

The Genius Awards

Each fall, the MacArthur Foundation awards Fellowships, commonly referred to as the ‘Genius Awards’, to a group of outstanding individuals who live in the USA. They are selected for their “ability and promise to make a difference in shaping and improving our future.” They each receive a $500,000 stipend over the next 5 years to use as they wish. You can read about this year’s recipients here.
The awards were the idea of John D. and Catherine T. Macarthur. Born to humble beginnings, John became one of the richest men in America, owning the Bankers Life and Casualty company, developing real estate in Florida, and investing in several other successful companies. Catherine was a daughter of Irish immigrants who worked closely with John in his companies.
Before their deaths in 1978 and 1981, they set up the Macarthur Foundation, which awards grants of more than $200 million annually in four program areas: Global security and Sustainability, Human and Community Development; General (media and local); and the MacArthur Fellows program.
These people did not apply for the awards but were nominated by people who knew of their work and wanted them to receive recognition. A committee made the final decisions.

Lebanon: Terrorism does not discriminate

Ayn el Hayat (meaning spring of life) was born 27 years ago in Germany where she spent most of her life with her Lebanese father and German mother. Ayn el Hayat returned to Lebanon about two years ago after finishing her university studies. She was four month pregnant and returning from work when the car bomb that killed MP A. Ghanem exploded. The bomb caused her severe burns and suffering. Thirteen days later, she gave up and passed away.

Ayn el Hayat had recently started working at a translation firm in Sin el Fil (outskirts of Beirut). It was her first day of work after a two-week break.

Ayn el Hayat, the daughter of Farid Abdel Karim, the son of Kafra (my hometown), Qada Bint Jbeil, was full of life. She and her family escaped death during the July 2006 war while they were in Kafra. They left the South of Lebanon at the request of the German Embassy.

Ayn el Hayat was buried two days ago in Kafra, a town she just started to know.

A couple of days ago we lit candles in memory of Charles Chikhani.
Charles, who was 29, studied outside Lebanon and like Ayn el Hayat, decided to return to Lebanon. He became a director in a Lebanese communication company. The same bomb that deprived Lebanon of Ayn el Hayat also took Charles life away.

A couple of days ago we lit candles to remember Charles and other innocent lives lost to terrorism.

A couple of days ago we payed our respect to the memory of Ayn el Hayat.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow we shun terrorism.

Ayn el Hayat facebook group
Charles facebook group

1st image: Ayn el Hayat's mother holding her photo
2nd image: Charles Chikhani

Metro de Barcelona

Yes! This is Barcelona Subway. As many people here, I spend almost two hours a day in it. A so common place in my city deserves its own post, doesn't it?

First train went from Plaça de Catalunya to Plaça Lesseps in 1924, and nowadays 115km of lines connect 150 stations.
My route, every morning, begins in "Sagrera" (red line) and goes to "Arc de Trionf", which is the nearest station to my Museum. In the afternoon, I take red line again to "Espanya", and then, green line to "Palau Reial", where I drop to the Biology Faculty Building, in which I am attending a Biodiversity Master. Late in the evening, my poor tired body creeps again to subway, trying to go back home by the shortest way.

When you arrive to Barcelona, first thing to do is to get a subway map. It is a great tool to be able to move easily in the city. Another great tool is this one, which will help you to find the best way to reach your destiny.

In a few weeks, my classes in University will end, so I'll be able to use my bike instead subway. So soon I will talk you about the quest of ridding a bike in the city...
See you!

Fernando.

Japanese Journalist was shot in Myanmer

Kenji Nagai was shot in Yangon during his news gathering activity.
We know there is a danger in his job.
But we are sorry for his death.

Philippines Celebrates Pacquiao's Triumph

Early this morning, many Filipinos were glued to the television, including myself as we watched Philippines’ boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, triumphed against Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera. The boxing match was held at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

"Judges Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge had Pacquiao winner by a wide 118-109 margin but the third judge, Tom Schreck surprisingly saw it much closer but still had Pacquiao the winner 115-112. " ~ quoted from Ronnie Nathanielsz

The whole country celebrates another great Filipino achievement in the world of sports.

Blessing of Pets

Bless All Creation

Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. —Franciscan Pet Blessing

Today, Filipino animal lovers brought their beloved pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters and reptiles) to church to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Blessing of pets is a tradition held in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology.

Image source

SHORT TRIP ON BOSPHORUS BRIDGE

I recorded it Sunday afternoon on Bosphorus Bridge passing from Europen to Anatolian side by car with the Turkish music.

Plovdiv Fair 2007

Last week the Autumn Tech Fair was held in Plovdiv (as usual). I wrote about it last year here. I was most impressed by this huge Euclid truck that can carry nearly 100 tonnes of rock. Apart from construction machines many expensive cars were on display as well: BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, Audi, etc.

It was crowded! There were so many cars parked along the streets around the fair town even across the river (the fair town is near the Maritsa river that flows through Plovdiv). During the Autumn Fair traffic in Plovdiv is worst, but it's like that only for a week.

By the way, soon local elections will be held. Next Sunday we're voting for Mayor, hopefully I'll write about that.

Six year old Ali killed by a left-over cluster bomblet

When Ali Daqdouq returned home after school, in his Southern village of Sultaniyyeh, he was so excited about the adventures of his first day of school this year that he could barely catch his breath while telling his mother about them. He threw his old school bag aside and took off his used school uniform. He had his lunch and went to his neighbor and friend, Amal, to play videogames, just as he used to do in the afternoons of the summer break.

Little did the six-year-old Ali know that this would be his first and last day of school. Little did he know that he would not make it to his date with Amal.

One of the couple of millions unexploded cluster bomblets (the ones Bush & Co supplied to Israel and the IDF in turn salted the South with during summer 2006) took Ali’s life. Ali wasn’t the first casualty of leftover bomblets in Sultaniyyeh. Less than a year ago, young Hussein Daqdouq died because another unexploded bomblet decided to go off. The lives and livelihoods of more than a couple of hundreds has been taken away by these cluster bomblets since the war “ended”.

The area around Ali’s home was checked and cleared by organizations ridding the South of the unexploded ordnance. The area was declared safe after two bombs were found and secured. It turned out that they missed at least a third.

Yesterday the village of Sultaniyyeh buried the six-year-old Ali. His father Hussein is speechless, his two sisters Sarah and Zeinab cry and pray for his soul. The village of Sultaniyyeh is mourning.

Costa Rica will decide CAFTA's fate on October 7

Costa Ricans will vote On October 7 to decide whether the country approves or rejects a free trade agreement with the United States, the rest of Central America and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR).

Although support for the free trade pact was strong and was the favorite choice in the polls as recently as a month ago, now with three days left, those rejecting the agreement have a 12% advantage.

Probably the change took place after a controversial memorandum written by government officials was made public on September 6.

The memorandum was written by Kevin Casas (in the picture), Costa Rica's second Vice President, and Fernando Sanchez, a legislator that happens to be the cousin of Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias.

In the memorandum Casas and Sanchez recommended to Arias several illegal tactics in the government's campaign for the approval of the agreement. Although the tactics were never implemented the document suggested, among other things, that the government manipulate voters, blackmail mayors, and improperly use public resources to boost its CAFTA campaign.

This event apparently was the turning point for a lot of people who had not made up their mind about which way to vote. Despite the resignation of Casas, Costa Ricans will head to vote on Sunday apparently now decided to reject the agreement.

Dung Beatles Again

I spoke about dung beetles earlier, but we in South Africa have nothing like this!


According to Andrew Steeleuk on his Flickr site, this statue can be found at the London Zoo.

Back to South Africa housing next time!

The Jenna Six

The story in a nut-shell: last December, six high school students, aged 15-17, were arrested and charged with conspiracy and attempted second degree murder. They were black males and the victim was a white male.
There are a lot of stories in the news, most with conflicting details. One of the better write-ups I’ve seen is here, with a lot of comments.
The problems:
Prejudice: mostly black/white in this country, but there are many variations since we have many racial, ethnic, and religious groups. While the people who are openly and/or viscously racists are the exception, there are many who lean toward keeping things as they were. The attitude can be summed up: “I have no trouble with (insert group here), just as long as they don’t try to (insert favorite privilege here).”
Poor people: people with less are at a disadvantage when dealing with the justice system, especially when it comes to raising bail money or hiring good lawyers. A greater percentage of minorities fall into this category.
Rural justice systems: in small communities, local judges, prosecutors, and even sheriffs are often good friends with family ties going back several generations. Since most of these posts are elected, they also are sensitive to the community’s racial attitudes, which can lean toward maintaining the status quo, in fact, segregation.

The solutions:
Appeals courts: as you move from the small, local courts, you find judges who have more legal background and answer to a wider constituency.
Attention: the media (TV, radio, and the internet) are able to bring national attention and pressure to bear.
Rights groups: the ACLU, NAACP and others are watching and contributing to the efforts to bring balance to the justice system.

Residual effects:
Awareness: people will examine their own actions and that of their local courts
Education: teachers will use this case to teach their students about abuse of power and inequality.
Carefulness: judges and prosecutors will be more careful of their actions
Backlash: small towns feel they can be intruded upon, villainized, and put under continued scrutiny by ‘outsiders’. Hate groups will use these feelings to try to enlist support.

Rain!

Image of Zimbabwe :) courtesy of Rob Wood

IT’S RAINING!

Absolute bliss. We have had at least two days of rain as I write this, and not just your little bit of drizzle, or summer shower- we have had proper rain. And in Bulawayo, which is amazing, as this is one of the driest places in Zimbabwe. We even had rain overnight! I am so excited. I hope this is the start of the rainy season (even if it does get a bit annoying, with rain at lunchtime, and rain when people are
trying to go home after work), because we really really need the rain. Zimbabwe has an agriculture-based economy (or used to), but we also need to be able to start growing our own food again. A great rainy season would go a long way towards relieving the food shortages, and the water shortages I mentioned in my last post.

Even starting to get food back in the shops.. Things are looking up, I'd say.

New Prime Minister of Japan

Last month, former prime minister Shinzo Abe resigned abruptly after devastating defeat of the Upper House election.
We are very disappointeded at him,there were much to say about him.
We learned from him that the prime minister must be very strong and tough not only with body but in mind.

We now have our new prime minister Takeo Fukuda,
He seems to be much stronger person than Abe.

PS: sorry for the absense. I had a vacation for ten days.