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MDTimes Number 950 Weekend Times No. 29 February 27 2010
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27 February 2010
®
Vanessa-Mae:
The Long Journey
of a Wunderkind
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27 February 2010
Cover story
16
Mouse Click
by António Espadinha Soares
28
Law & People
Smoke signals
by Nuno Sardinha da Mata
4
Vanessa-Mae:
The Long Journey
of a Wunderkind
by Thomas Schmid (Dukas)
20
Cooking Times
Fresh cod sauté
with potato salad
and spinach sauce
30
Hong Kong ‘love hotel’
becomes Bruce Lee
memorial
by Carlos Balona Gomes
by Peter Brieger
14
10
Food for Health
Nutrition-related
chronic disease
Do you know Macau?
Loyal Residents
of Mong Há Village
by Eugénia Santos Silva
by Chris W.C. Sam
18 World of Wonder
24 Offbeat
25 This Day in History
26 Infotainment
34 Zoom
by Tiffany Yew
22
32
Press Play
by MC LA
Ask the Vet
Aggression
with other dogs
by Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester
www.macaudailytimes.com.mo
New website, full version everyday
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Vanessa-Mae:
The Lo
of a W
by Thomas Schmid (Dukas)
S
trolling into our private interviewing room
at Bangkok’s prestigious
Dusit Thani Hotel, worldrenowned violinist Vanessa-Mae brandished an enchanting
smile devoid of any star allures so
common these days amongst celebrities. She duly apologized for being
an hour late.
“Everyone’s just so tired, because
we’ve only arrived from Taiwan very
late last night,” she chirped before
settling down, wearing a tasteful,
short summer dress with sexily revealing shoulder straps.
Some music critics have called her
a “wunderkind” or a “child prodigy”,
something which has stopped bothering her.
“Sure, I was probably more mature
at age 12 than many of my peers, but
I never saw myself as the reincarnation of a certain genius violinist,” she
explained.
Some writers have implied as much,
because she shares her birthday with
18th century Italian “devil’s violinist”, Niccolo Paganini. But for her it
was simply a personal challenge to
start playing the violin when she was
aged four; and she’s tried to “do my
thing as well as I could ever since.”
Displaying her trademark dimples,
she recalled that it was only at about
age 14, as she began to develop her
own style, that the press came up
with the “child prodigy” notion. Performing music was not ingrained in
her genes since birth, she insisted,
although her mother is a trained
musician.
“It was purely a hobby. In fact, I
4
ong Journey
Wunderkind
27 February 2010
started playing the piano and only
took up the violin when my mother
re-married and we moved to London,” she said.
Initially pursuing both instruments,
she soon abandoned the piano in favour of the violin.
“My piano teacher was stricter than
my violin teacher, and you know
how you are as a child when someone’s constantly breathing down
your neck. I wanted to capture the
attention of that more relaxed violin
tutor, because he inspired me in a
‘perverse’ kind of way, even though I
was only six years old,” she said, giggling.
It was obviously a marvelous decision, because since then VanessaMae has left a mighty imprint on the
music world. Not only has she successfully covered and rendered a lot
of classical pieces, but she even went
a step further by marrying classical
music with pop and rock elements,
like in her first best-selling album,
“The Violin Player”. With this bold
and unprecedented move, VanessaMae created an entirely new genre of
“fusion music”, a style that has become practically synonymous with
her name and helped her sell millions of albums around the globe.
But she readily admitted that her
energy-laden concerts, during which
she routinely whirls across the stage
and lets her enthusiastic nature spill
over into the audience, impart “a
good deal of showmanship.”
“I am coming from a quite pure
classical background, which often
adheres to hard and fast rules. Still
I find music is there for the taking.
It should inspire and entertain at the
same time. In order to achieve that,
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these rules can sometimes be broken or
amended, hence my on-stage attitude,” she
elaborated.
In 2001, she was voted by FHM readers
into the magazine’s annual “100 Sexiest
Women in the World” list, an honor which
she dismisses with a wink to this day.
“I was not very convinced about the relevance of that poll. There were some people
who were more beautiful and had larger
boobs (giggles), but placed after me. Other
more ‘undesirable’ people were in front of
me. So, I found those poll results a bit of a
joke,” she asserted.
Asked about her three most positive character traits, Vanessa-Mae replied somewhat
hesitantly that she was “faithful” and a “perfectionist”, but, giggling once again, bailed
out on the third, “because there isn’t really
one.”
Positive character traits are generally bound
to be counterbalanced by negative ones, and
Vanessa-Mae didn’t have to think long to
come up with those.
“I’m impatient and extremely ‘anally retentive’. Is that the right word (giggles)? I mean,
it sometimes bothers me if things don’t go
as planned. I don’t want to let go, although I
know that there occasionally must be a notso-ideal compromise. You only learn that as
you get older,” she confided.
27 February 2010
During the course of that learning process, Vanessa-Mae has
always had the support of her family. While mother is managing her only child’s career with careful consideration, even
grandmother takes an active role.
“She’s a true ‘rock ’n roll grandma’, you know. When we’re
touring in our own bus, she’s got no problem sleeping in a
bunk bed,” Vanessa-Mae declared with genuine affection.
Mother apparently also had a successful hand in keeping her
daughter away from vices, because Vanessa-Mae “absolutely
abhors smoking” and drinks “only two or three units of alcohol a week.”
“My mom put a cigarette in my mouth when I was four. I
guess that has put me off for life,” she smirked.
But her eyes turned a little sad when I asked her about her
father, a Thai national, with whom her Singaporean-Chinese
mother split up when Vanessa-Made was still a toddler.
“I met him at least once a year until I was about 10 years old.
Then he suddenly moved away from Singapore without telling anyone and we have lost contact. I think he’s just not very
interested in being a father. To be truthful, a daughter needs
her father.”
Nevertheless, it seems that Vanessa-Mae’s four favourite
hobbies – her music, her family, her boyfriend, and alpine skiing (“I’m trying to spend two months skiing every year!”) – are
keeping her fairly busy to get over this most regrettable loss.
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Has she ever jammed with another
musician?
“Yes,” she replied.
“Prince called me once, and it was
the most frightening moment of
my life! He asked me to come and
jam with him without faxing me the
music scores first. I had never done
that before, but I accepted the challenge. It turned out to be a rather
jazzy session and despite my initial
concerns I enjoyed it greatly,” she
beamed.
Her latest album, “Choreography”,
once again broke new grounds by
presenting yet another ingenious
and creative approach to music. It
features “some really experimental
yet chilled-out pop and dance tunes
incorporating different music styles
ranging from tango to afro dance”.
While the album contains a couple
of classical renditions, a further eight
tracks are original compositions,
some of which were either written or
co-written by Vanessa-Mae, proving
her extraordinary versatility.
“‘Choreography’ is like a journey. I
wanted to show that the violin really
can be the leading instrument in a
broad variety of music styles, not just
classical music. Still, the album is not
simply dance music. It’s rather more
organic, and with that classical touch
to it. I want listeners to accompany
me on that journey,” she explained,
showing off her loveable dimples for
a final time.
A long and interesting journey, indeed, and the reluctant wunderkind
has so far mastered it beautifully,
with an astonishing career, boundless love for music and an unshakable zest for life. W
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Loyal Residents o
T
by Chris W.C. Sam,
Institute For Tourism Studies (IFT)
he temple of Seng Vong
and the old temple of Kun
Iam nestled to the rear of
Mong Há Hill stand adjacent just a wall apart. The
two temples were founded in different
years and have different backgrounds.
Prior to 1849, the Ming and Qing governments stationed anti-flood troops
in Mong Há Village. Following the assassination of Governor João Maria
Ferreira do Amaral, the Qing government withdrew the Xiangshan county
troops stationed on Mong Há Hill, after which the invasive acts of the Portuguese - who began to levy taxes from
seven villages outside the city – grew
worse.
Located outside the walls of the ‘City
of the Holy Name of God’, Mong Há
Village was the largest village in Macao during that period. Despite the
adverse circumstances, none of the
Mong Há villagers paid taxes to the
Portuguese. At that time, the Qing
government was unable to fend for
itself, let alone protect Mong Há Village in Macao, which was far across
the shores of the South China Sea. In
view of the harsh circumstances, the
villagers organised a militia to defend
their homes. However, they were not
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strong enough to defend themselves against the ruthless
imposition of taxes by the Portuguese. Under such harrowing circumstances, the villagers could only pray for divine intervention. Hence, the villagers hoped to harness
the power of Seng Vong - a deity who protects a city - to
pacify the minds of the people and rectify the situation,
in addition to defending the population against the acts
27 February 2010
f Mong Há Village
of power expansion by the Portuguese. Thus, Seng
Vong Temple was built in the 34th year of the reign
of Emperor Guangxu (1908). The founding of Seng
Vong Temple is evidenced on the Stone Inscription
of the Proposal to Build Seng Vong Temple. The
preface of the Inscription was composed by Shum
Hung Man, a country gentleman from Mong Há
Village, during the 34th year of the reign of Emperor
Guangxu.
Seng Vong, also known as Cheng Huang, is enshrined
in the main sacrificial altar of the temple. On the right
hand side of the altar stands a statue of Zhang Zhidong,
a Viceroy of Liangguang in the Qing Dynasty. Why does a
small temple in Macao worship an official of the late Qing?
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The answer dates back to the incident in the 13th year of the reign of
Guangxu (1887) when none of the
four hundred families of Mong Há
Village yielded to Portuguese taxation. Zhang Zhidong, who greatly
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appreciated such patriotic acts, presented a memorial to the throne to
compliment the faithful and loyal act
of the Mong Há villagers. In building the temple, therefore, the villagers set up a spirit tablet for Zhang in
gratitude for his support of their resistance to the Portuguese invasion.
For this reason, one often recalls the
deeds of the loyal and devoted Mong
Há villagers in passing by Seng Vong
Temple in Mong Há Village. W
27 February 2010
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Food for Health
Nutrition-related
chronic disease
by Eugénia Santos Silva
N
owadays, we know there is a
strong association between certain
dietary patterns and some chronic
non-communicable diseases such
as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Currently, cardiovascular disease and cancer are the major causes
of mortality and disability worldwide. The problem affects mainly the populations of developed
countries. This is a consequence of major changes in lifestyle, especially eating habits and physical
activity levels of modern societies. In association
with the industrialisation, urbanisation, economic
development and increasing globalisation, dietary
pattern changed rapidly.
Research shows that excessive consumption of
saturated fats, high salt intake, excessive energy
intake, decreased intake of foods rich in starch
and fibre, high intake of refined sugars and selective deficiency of some vitamins and minerals,
together with the over-consumption of sweetened and alcoholic beverages associated with a
more sedentary lifestyle has contributed to the
increased prevalence of overweight and obesity,
cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer
all over the world.
The problem of overweight/obesity is of particular concern in very young children. The highest
prevalence occurs in Western countries. Now, the
problem is also emerging in several Asian nations
where traditional customary diets associated with
low rate of chronic disease have changed considerably during the last two decades.
In China the social and economic transformation in the last twenty-five years has affected
people’s dietary patterns and lifestyles, resulting
in changes to traditional Chinese diets. Data from
a prospective study (China Health and Nutrition Survey) shows an increased consumption of
animal source foods, except milk and eggs, and
a decreased intake of cereals which is in opposition to the traditional Asian diet which has a high
consumption of plant foods, including vegetables,
fruits, beans, legumes, nuts, and vegetable oil.
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According to the Institute of Reproductive and
Child Health and National Centre for Maternal
and Infant Health, Peking University Health Science Centre, Beijing, childhood overweight/obesity in Chinese children in 2000 was similar to
the conditions of Great Britain or the U.S. in the
1980s or earlier.
China is at an early stage of epidemic obesity.
The increasing trend has been rapid since early
1990s. The prevalence of obesity among Beijing
students aged 7-18 were 0.65 percent, 3.40 percent, 5.23 percent and 8.53 percent respectively in
the four surveillance programs (from 1985-2005).
In 2002, 22.8 percent of adults were overweight
and 7.1 percent obese in Mainland China (C.M.
Chen, 2008).
In Macau, data from the Macao Health Survey
2006, shows the overall prevalence of obesity was
27 percent, almost the average level of U.S and
some European countries (32 percent and 31 percent respectively).
In young people under twenty years of age,
the prevalence of obesity was 4.55 percent for
girls and 13.79 percent for boys. Only 22 percent of individuals under the age of 35 had
regular physical activity more than 3 times a
week.
It is worth pointing out that the number of adults
suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels is becoming a major public health
concern.
Obesity and its associated illnesses have a direct
impact on lost productivity and increased health
care costs.
On the other hand, in developing countries
thousands of people die every day from malnutrition caused by deficiency of calories and nutrients, despite the efforts made by organizations
like WHO and FAO and governments to reduce
malnutrition and provide access to healthy food
in a more egalitarian way.
Local, national and international strategies addressing the inadequacies in diets are needed to
improve nutritional situation worldwide.
27 February 2010
Projected prevalence of overweight (BMI*≥ 25kg/m2),
* Body mass Index
< 9,9%
10-24.9%
25- 49.9%
50-94.9%
> 75%
Projected prevalence of overweight (BMI*≥ 25kg/m2),
women aged 30 and above, 2015
* Body mass Index
< 9,9%
10-24.9%
25- 49.9%
50-94.9%
> 75%
World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/English%20compressed.ppt#270,5,Risks are increasing
women aged 30 and above, 2005
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Mouse Click
Video of the Week
by António Espadinha Soares
Questia
The Placebo Effect
http://tinyurl.com/mdtplacebo
http://www.questia.com/
There’s a lot of information on the Internet but if you’re seriously committed to doing quality research you have to watch
your sources. Universities pay a lot of money for online access
to journals and other types of specialized publications, paying
prices which are often out of reach of individuals and only viable for financially well off institutions and organizations. Questia provides several types of payment plans for access to numerous full books and articles on a host of academic subjects.
The site also has links to some free sources, and research tools
integrated with Facebook.
Software of the Week
Dropbox
https://www.dropbox.com/
The placebo effect is an often misunderstood
concept but a very important one to grasp in order
to understand modern medicine, its strengths, and
quite often the criticisms made of it by practitioners of sham doctrines of pseudo-scientific alternative medical practices. In this video the author
of the book Bad Science, doctor Ben Goldacre,
describes what the placebo effect is and its role in
scientific medical and pharmacological research.
He also addresses the important and controversial
issue of doctors using the placebo effect as a treatment and the implications such use would have on
medical practice.
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It seems that all of the failed promises of computing
for the last decades of the past century have finally
come true in these last few years with several rapid
developments in mobile computing. More than ever
we create and store files across a broad array of devices, each using their own operating system and workflow. This particular app, Dropbox, uses a web server
to share important files that you need to have access
across your several computing devices by storing
them online and automatically updating each device
with access to these crucial files. The service is free
up to 2GB of storage with 50 and 100 GB paid plans
on offer. It’s available for use across Windows, Mac,
Linux and iPhone platforms. Check out the video on
the website for a clear explanation of the service.
27 February 2010
ETP – Experience the Planets
http://experiencetheplanets.com/
Images from instruments such as the Hubble space telescope and other such types of space exploration devices
have provided us with stunning imagery of some of the
Universe’s most gorgeous natural events, so it’s no surprise that many artists have been deeply inspired by some
of these images taken for scientific purposes and created
their own personal renditions of our Universe. ETP focuses on those artist impressions of the planets of our
solar system, with gorgeous elaborate paintings of whole
planets or of particular imagined vistas of these celestial
bodies. The site is a work in progress so check back often
for new additions which can be enjoyed on site or downloaded to serve as your next wallpaper.
Blog of the Week
Weird Worm
http://www.weirdworm.com/
This week we have one more blog that’s merely
focused on oddities this week. Weird Worm is a
little time filler with little numbered lists of funny
and interesting facts. If you need to appease your
subconscious about wasting your time reading
funny lists then worry not as not all of the material on the blog consists of time wasting trivia. After
all, why do cats knead?!
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Cooking Times
Times
Fresh cod sauté
with potato salad an
YOU WILL NEED
(serves 4)
COD FILETS:
600 gr / 1 lb and 5 ¼ oz of
fresh cod filet (or similar fish);
Sea salt;
Rose pepper freshly
grounded;
2 lemons;
50 gr / 1 ¾ oz of butter;
50 ml / 1 ¾ fl oz extra virgin
olive oil;
POTATO SALAD:
500 gr / 1 lb and 1 ½ oz of
baby potatoes;
1 small cucumber, peeled and
deseeded;
1 garlic clove, diced;
½ onion, diced;
Extra virgin olive oil;
Vinegar;
1 teaspoon of dried oregano;
Salt;
Pepper.
SPINACH SAUCE:
300 gr / 10 ½ oz of fresh
spinach leaves;
1 garlic clove, diced;
Drizzle of olive oil;
Salt;
Grated nutmeg;
1 ½ tablespoons of allpurpose flour;
100 ml / 3 ½ fl oz of milk.
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27 February 2010
Questions and comments to
[email protected]
nd spinach sauce
by Carlos Balona Gomes
Photo by Fabrizio Croce
METHOD:
MARINATION:
Cut fresh cod filets into 4 serving pieces
and season it with salt, freshly grounded
rose pepper and freshly squeezed juice of
2 lemons;
Leave it to marinate at least 2 hours;
COOKING:
COD FILETS:
In a skillet, on medium heat, heat olive
oil and butter and sauté cod filets, equally,
until browned, turning it over very gently
with a spatula (around 10 minutes
cooking time per inch of thickness);
Reserve cod filets in a warm place;
POTATO SALAD:
Boil potatoes with skin in salty water;
Drain potatoes and let it cool in the
refrigerator;
Peel potatoes and laminate it;
Slice cucumber very thinly and add to
the potatoes;
Add garlic clove and onion thinly
sliced;
Season this salad with olive oil, vinegar,
oregano, salt and pepper. Involve very
gently;
SPINACH SAUCE:
In a skillet heat olive oil and sauté garlic
until clear;
Add spinach leaves, washed and
drained;
Season with salt and grated nutmeg. Stir
and let it smooth;
Wisk flour and milk very well and
incorporate in the spinach;
Process in a blender to obtain a smooth
texture sauce.
SERVING:
To serve individually, place a circular
amount of potato salad in the center of
the plate, place a cod filet over the salad
and make a decoration with spinach
sauce.
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-All about Dogs.
-All about Cats.
-All about Exotics.
-All about pet
ownership.
-All about nutrition.
We will be focusing on
the following;
Allergies
Avian/Exotics
Behavior
Boarding
Dental
Digestive System
Diseases
Ears
General
Heart
Hormones
Husbandry
Medications
Musculoskeletal
Neoplasia
Nervous System
Nutrition
Reproductive System
Respiratory
Skin
Surgery
Travel
Urinary
Vaccinations
Ask The Vet
Question Categories
to be covered are:
by Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester
Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester
Rua, D.R, L, P, Marquest 2/F,
Flat B, Ponte 6A, Macau SAR.
Macau: +853 66962666
Hong Kong: +852 66706906
Fax: +852 24142727
Ask the Vet - is a service that allows you to ask questions about your pets’ health and
behavior. My goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve the knowledge of your pet’s
everyday needs and health care in Macau through a variety of pet services and veterinary
resources that where never available to pet owners before.
Pets have become a very important part of our families. In many cases they have become as much a part of our lives as children or grandchildren. And, in certain ways, just
as complicated. Think of all the questions raised by wanting a pet. Pet ownership has
definitely become more complex. Everybody seems to have an opinion on what pet you
should get and what being a good pet owner means. My goal is to answer your questions
and try making things simpler for you. I want to give some of the basic information that
will help you to raise a healthy, happy and family compatible pet. And, of course, have
fun while you are doing it.
The ideas listed in this column come from many years of studying and practicing veterinary medicine in South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong and Macau. And they are just that,
my ideas and opinions. They are not meant to be all-encompassing or correct for every
situation. Use this information as a tool, along with the advice from your veterinarian, to
help you make the interaction between you and your pet a wonderful experience.
As far as I am concerned, there are two kinds of people; those who really love animals,
and those who have never owned any. People who say they do not love pets have usually
never owned one. And for those who say they hate them, well, let’s just not talk about
them! The picture above is of a 150kg sea turtle at Australia Zoo that I did abdominal
surgery on after it ingested a ball of fishing line. Indiscriminate and over fishing causes
this to happen too often.
I hope this section helps you enjoy that perfect life with your pet. And I would love to
hear the stories of how you came to own your particular pet and any interesting experiences you have had.
22
Aggress
with oth
T
hank you for the questions
sent. I am still dealing with
all the questions related to
your pets’ (mainly dogs)
aggressive behaviour, and
will continue to do so for the next weeks.
Here you go.
Question:
Dear Dr. Ruan:
I am a new reader to Macau Daily Times
and thank you for your articles.
I have a question about my dog’s behavior. Is there any way to successfully socialize a dog
that is proven to be “dog aggressive?”
Lucy is a small German Shepherd mix, 38
lbs, and approximately 2-years-old.
She has been spayed. I adopted her from a
shelter last September.
Unfortunately, I know little about her background since she was a stray. She “play bites” me at home sometimes, but is
submissive with visitors and very good with kids.
My problem is that Lucy is very “dog aggressive” or perhaps fearful of other dogs. We live
in Coloane where many dogs are off leash and
run up to my dog and I (on leash). When one
approaches us, Lucy will nip the smaller dogs or
wrap her mouth around the neck of bigger dogs. She never draws blood, but the snarling always
is scary for myself and the other owner. Today she fought a Doberman twice her size...
two months ago it was a much larger Pit-bull. Both ran up to her.
She has been through beginning and intermediate obedience in Australia before we came
to Macau. Her trainer told me not to be concerned about her defensive behavior since she is
not seeking out these fights and is “doing what
is natural” for her.
27 February 2010
sion
her dogs
Do you have any suggestions? I doubt that we will be able
to totally avoid this situation.
I currently have no friends or family nearby with dogs who
would be willing to help “adjust” to friendly dogs... I would
also hesitate to experiment with someone else’s pet, for obvious
reasons.
Eugenia, Coloane.
Answer:
Hi Eugenia:
The simplest solution to this problem might be to find
a comfortable muzzle that Lucy can wear when out in
public, just to ensure that no one else’s dog might be
hurt. Sometimes, this seems to cut down on aggressive behavior and allow a dog to adjust to dealing with
other dogs, but that would be a lot to hope for.
Medication might help, if she is primarily driven by fear. Both anti-anxiety medications, such
as buspirone, and seritonin sparing medications
such as fluoxetine (Prozac Rx) help some dogs with
fear aggression, especially if these can be com-
bined with a desensitization program. The problem with desensitization is that you have to control
the whole scenario and since your problem is dogs
that should be on a leash and are not, you can’t
control her encounters with other dogs effectively.
A veterinary behaviorist may be able to help
you. It is often possible to work with a behaviorist through telephone or email exchanges once
the initial visit or two have been made for evaluation purposes. This makes it practical to seek the
help of a behaviorist who practices a long way from
your home, in some cases.
I wish that I had a program that would work for
any dog, but this type of problem varies enough
from dog to dog that it really does take an individualized approach, which means that someone
who can give you good behavioral advice needs
to evaluate Lucy and figure out the best plan for
helping her overcome her aggressive tendencies.
I am not sure about the actual legalities of the situation but it seems to me that you are correct in the
assumption that it isn’t a good idea just to ignore this
situation because the dogs that are involved are not
under their owner’s proper control! W
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Offbeat
Mayor’s booklet on honesty
Bulgaria’s prime minister has issued graft-prone town
mayors with a special instruction manual on how not to
embezzle funds.
Officials would from now on be “banned” from making
bribes, inflating quotations, and drawing up fictional
contracts with non-existent suppliers, according to the
booklet, which was drawn up especially for them.
“Don’t forget that eight million Bulgarians are waiting and
have nothing to eat, while 13 billion leva [6.4 million euros]
are placed at your disposal by the European Union,”
said Prime Minister Boiko Borissov, quoted by the Troud
newspaper.
Borissov told mayors they must adhere strictly to the
manual’s guidance.
“Each of these instructions must be respected. Those who
do not respect them will not deal with money,” he warned
last week, adding that he was hardening his tone because
some mayors “still think they can go on as before.”
A Bulgarian parliament committee earlier this month said
Sofia risked losing billions of euros of EU development
funds because of a failure to submit well-budgeted,
corruption-free projects for financing.
The European Union has allocated 15 billion euros in postaccession funds to new member Bulgaria for 2007-2013.
Spanish TV sparks feuds
Producers of a Spanish reality TV show aimed at encouraging reconciliation have thrown out two
contestants for aggressive behaviour following angry bust ups and even allegations of death threats.
The show, “Big Brother: The Re-encounter”, puts pairs of participants from past editions of “Big Brother”
– where a group of people are confined to a house under the constant gaze of cameras – who had a
tense relationship under the same roof once again.
Viewers are asked to vote for the pair who appears to have best overcome their differences, with a
100,000 euro (136,000 US dollar) prize for the winning couple.
But since it started airing on Telecinco, which is controlled by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s
Mediaset, on February 3, producers have had to remove two contestants from the house because of
their aggressive behaviour.
A third faces charges of making death threats against a fellow participant of the show who is also her
former girlfriend.
The most recent bust-up involved Bea Gonzalez, a 28-year-old former legionnaire, who was kicked out
of the house over the weekend
after she threatened to “break
apart” fellow contestant Melania
Querol.
In the most serious incident,
Raquel Morillas, 33, pulled the
hair of her former long-time
romantic partner Noemi Ungria,
37, after the two had already left
the show.
Ungria says Morillas also
threatened to kill her and has said
she will press charges. Morillas
admits to the hair pulling but
denies making death threats.
“Big Brother” made its Spanish
debut in 2000 and has so far gone
through 11 editions and it remains
a national talking point, drawing
millions of viewers each week,
unlike in other nations where
interest in the format has waned.
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27 February 2010
This Day in History
Leaning Tower needs help
On February 27, 1964, the Italian government
announces that it is accepting suggestions on how
to save the renowned Leaning Tower of Pisa from
collapse. The top of the 180-foot tower was hanging
17 feet south of the base, and studies showed that the
tilt was increasing by a fraction every year. Experts
warned that the medieval building – one of Italy’s top
tourist attractions – was in serious danger of toppling in
an earthquake or storm. Proposals to save the Leaning
Tower arrived in Pisa from all over the world, but it was
not until 1999 that successful restorative work began.
On August 9, 1173, construction began on the
Leaning Tower, which was to house the bells of the
vast cathedral of the Piazza dei Miracoli, the “Place of
Miracles.” Pisa at the time was a major trading power
and one of the richest cities in the world, and the bell
tower was to be the most magnificent Europe had ever
seen. However, when the tower was just over three
stories tall, construction stopped for an unknown
reason. It may have been because of economic or
political strife, or the engineers may have noticed that
even then, the tower had begun to sink down into the
ground on one side.
In recent years, it has been
determined that the tower’s lean
is caused by the remains of an
ancient river estuary located under
the building. The ground is made
up in large part of water and silty
sand, and one side of the heavy
marble building began gradually
sinking into the ground as soon as
the foundation was laid.
The 95-year pause in construction
allowed the building to settle
somewhat, and the new chief
engineer sought to compensate for
the tower’s visible lean by making
the new stories slightly taller on
the short side. In 1278, workers
reached the top of the seventh
story, and construction was halted
again. By that time, the southward
tilt was nearly three feet.
In 1360, work began on the bell
chamber, the eighth and final
story, and workers attempted to
compensate for the lean by building
the chamber at a slight slant with
the rest of the tower. The tower was
officially completed about 1370.
Despite its growing lean, the building
was acclaimed as an architectural
wonder, and people came from far
and wide to admire its 200 columns
and six external arcades.
The lean grew a little every year,
but this only increased interest in
the tower. A measuring from 1550
showed the top was 12 feet south of
the base. In 1838, an architect was
given permission to excavate the base of the tower, a
portion of which had sunk into the ground. As he dug,
water came sprouting out of the ground, and the tower
tilted another few inches south.
In 1934, Benito Mussolini, the dictator of Italy, decided
that the Leaning Tower was an inappropriate symbol
for masculine Fascist Italy. In an attempt to reverse the
tilt, engineers drilled holes into the foundation of the
tower, and some 200 tons of concrete was poured in.
The tower abruptly lurched another few inches south.
Attempts to stabilize the building or stop it from leaning
continued over the years.
Finally, in 1999, engineers began a process of soil
extraction under the north side that within a few months
was showing positive effects. The soil was removed at a
very slow pace, no more than a gallon or two a day, and
a massive cable harness held the tower in the event of
a sudden destabilization. Within six months, the tilt had
been reduced by over an inch, and by the end of 2000,
nearly a foot. The tower was reopened to the public in
December 2001, after a foot-and-a-half reduction had
been achieved. Eighteen inches to give another 300
years of life to the Leaning Tower.
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The Born Loser by Chip Sansom
Sudoku
Easy
Easy +
Medium
Cinema
The Wolfman
In 1891, Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt)
writes to Lawrence Talbot (Benicio del
Toro) to tell him that his brother, Ben, has
disappeared. Lawrence, a renowned
Shakespearean actor, is touring London
and races to the family’s estate in
Blackmoor. He has been estranged
from his family for many years, since
his father, Sir John Talbot (Anthony
Hopkins) sent him to an insane asylum
after witnessing his mother’s mysterious
death. When Lawrence arrives, Talbot
Hall is in disrepair. John tells him that
Ben’s mauled body had been found the
day before.
Lawrence goes into town to see the body,
which is kept at the local slaughterhouse.
The butcher gives Ben’s personal effects
to Lawrence. Later, in the local tavern,
Lawrence overhears the locals debate
about who was responsible. Many blame a band of gypsies who are camped outside of town. Another
claims that several decades earlier a similar murder had happened and that his father suspected a
werewolf. Among Ben’s belongings was a medallion that had been purchased from the gypsies.
Hard
Macau Tower
2:30/7:15 pm
4:45/9:30 pm
Starring: Ashton Kutcher, The Wolfman
Starring: Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt
Director: Joe Johnston
Language: English (Chinese subtitles)
Duration: 102 min
Cineteatro
72 Tenants of Prosperity
Starring: Eric Tsang, Jacky Cheung
Director: Eric Tsang
Language: Chinese (Chinese subtitles)
Duration:128 min
Canal Macau
Saturday
26
Jamie Foxx, Jessica Alba
Director: Garry Marshall
Language: English (Chinese subtitles)
Duration: 125 min
Room 1
2:30/4:30/7:30/9:30 pm
TV
11:30
11:45
12:15
12:40
13:00
13:30
14:30
18:45
19:30
20:00
20:30
21:20
22:10
23:00
23:30
01:00
03:00
Valentine’s Day
Sunday
RTP-i (Live)
PETER PAN AND THE PIRATES
THE TURTLE ISLAND
THE NEW GULLIVER´S TRAVELS
YOUNG ADULT
TDM NEWS ( REP. )
NEWS AT 24H (RTP - i) (Delayed Broadcast)
SOAP OPERA - COMPACT
DOCUMENTARY SERIES IN PORTUGUESE
DOCUMENTARY IN PORTUGUESE
TDM TALK SHOW
MAIN NEWS, FINANCIAL & WEATHER
REPORT
COMEDY
DRAMA
TDM NEWS
VARIETY
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE: ( Rep )
SPORTING VS EVERTON
BBVA LEAGUE: ( Live )
TENERIFE VS REAL MADRID
RTP-i (Live)
11:00
12:00
12:30
13:00
13:30
14:30
14:50
15:00
17:45
18:30
20:00
20:30
21:00
21:30
22:00
22:20
23:00
23:30
00:00
02:00
03:45
RTP-i (Live)
SUNDAY MASS
DOCUMENTARY IN PORTUGUESE
COOKING
TDM NEWS ( REP. )
NEWS AT 24H (RTP - i) (Delayed Broadcast)
DOUGIE IN DISGUISE
TAO SHU - THE WARRIOR BOY
SOAP OPERA
CULTURAL CONTEST
BBVA LEAGUE: ( Rep )
TENERIFE VS REAL MADRID
MUSICALS
MAIN NEWS, FINANCIAL & WEATHER
REPORT
TDM INTERVIEW
THAT 70´S SHOW
LANDMARKS
CRIMINAL MINDS
TDM NEWS
TDM TALK SHOW ( Rep )
BBVA LEAGUE: (Live)
VILLAREAL VS DEPORTIVO
BBVA LEAGUE: (Live)
SEVILLA VS ATHLETIC
ITALIAN SOCCER: ( Live )
JUVENTUS VS PALERMO
RTP-i (Live)
Room 2
2:30/4:30/9:30 pm
Percy Jackson
& Olympians the Lightning Thief
Starring: Logan Lerman, Uma Thurman
Director: Chris Columbus
Language: English (Chinese subtitles)
Duration: 119 min
Room 2
7:30 pm
True Legend
Starring: Man Cheuk Chiu, Xun Zhou
Director: Woo-ping Yuen
Language: Mandarin
(English and Chinese subtitles)
Duration: 120 min
Room 3
2:30/4:30/7:30/9:30 pm
Up in the Air
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga
Director: Jason Reitman
Language: English (Chinese subtitles)
Duration: 109 min
27 February 2010
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Law &People
Smoke signals
by Nuno Sardinha da Mata
C&C Lawyers
O
nce upon a time Indians from
the old west used smoke signals
to transmit messages from one location to another. That time has
long gone; however, the discussion
and approval of the smoking law by the legislative assembly of Macau created the opportunity
for smokers and non smokers sending each other
smoke signals.
It’s important to stress that one thing is the law,
while the other thing is the reason behind the law,
and finally the passionate reasons from smokers
and non smokers. These do not necessarily match.
The modern tendency has been to base the ban
of smoking in various places on reasons of public
health.
The law presently under discussion is no exception. There are both public health and security
reasons behind the law.
When public health reasons are invoked, what
is at stake is the health of the public in general –
including the health of smokers. If that was not
evident in itself, the justificatory note from the
Legislative Assembly refers to concerns for the
health of non smokers, smokers and potential future smokers.
The public health reasons are strong and primary enough to supersede the egoistic reasons of
individual freedom waived by many smokers.
One must understand that when two main principles of our system are at stake (freedom and protection of health and safety), one of them has to
be sacrificed for the benefit of the other. Limiting the locations where people can smoke is similar to asking drivers to abide by a one way street
sign. Drivers understand that for the public health
and safety they must abide by the road rule even
though they may want to go the other direction.
I myself am an ex smoker (“the worst kind of anti
smoke fundamentalist” - smokers often say) and
nevertheless that gives me the sufficient parting to
understand that, although burdensome for smokers, the present law is an acceptable and good law.
Everybody will understand that the ban on
smoking in health care establishments, schools,
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workplaces, health clubs, elderly homes, disabled
homes, rehabilitation centers, and sports facilities, is based on common sense and reasons of
public health. The same way it will be accepted
by all that, for reasons of security, people will not
be allowed to smoke at gas pumps, and factories,
and shops that deal with inflammable products.
The prevention of smoking at public services, hotels, restaurants, bars, karaokes, theatres, cinemas,
ports, airports, shops, supermarkets, department
stores, museums, cultural centers, lifts, covered
parking lots, cars, ambulances and vehicles for
transport of patients, and any other closed space
for collective use will also be widely accepted, either because it was already in force or because it is
easily understandable to protect non smokers and
smokers from foul air in closed spaces. At amusement places like bars I believe even smokers will
end up appreciating the improvement in air quality resulting from the ban.
Maybe more difficult to understand will be the
prohibition of smoking in public parks, gardens,
beaches, and by counterpoint the admissibility of
smoking in casinos.
I believe different reasons justify this proposed
solution, the ban from smoking on those public
open spaces is preventive, trying to avoid the imitation effect from youngsters that usually populate those places, and at the same time fulfill an
urge for cleanliness at those spots.
The casinos free smoking zone is justified by
the fear of causing a loss of business to that very
important part of Macau’s economy. We do not
know how justified that fear is. I still remember
Casino Lisboa having a floor for smokers and one
for non smokers and both were very well attended.
Among gamblers there are also non smokers who
probably will be happy to have a better gaming
environment.
However, the casinos free smoking zone is good
news for all smokers, if they cannot smoke elsewhere, they can always smoke in the nearest casino. With the number of casinos in Macau it will
not be a problem to find a place to smoke.
To smoke is really an individual option, and having been on both sides of the barrier, I feel better
on this side and I sure agree with the slogan “For
Health sake Do Not Smoke”. W
Photo: Manuel Cardoso
27 February 2010
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Hong Kong ‘love
becomes Bru
The exterior of the former
residence of kung fu star
Bruce Lee, a present-day
love hotel. (File photo)
by Peter Brieger
T
he rundown house at
41 Cumberland Road
in Hong Kong’s quiet
Kowloon Tong district
might escape the notice
of passers-by if it weren’t for a sign signalling that it is a “love hotel”.
Rooms are offered for rent by the
hour, with a discount rate of 205 Hong
Kong dollars (25 US) buying amorous
couples three hours in a tatty room
off a narrow hallway decorated with a
poster of a topless blonde.
It is a far cry from when the building
was the home of kung fu icon Bruce
Lee in the years before his untimely
death in 1973 at the age of 32.
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“The house has definitely been altered,” said Shannon Lee, the actor’s
daughter, who recalled snickering
when she learned about the home’s
love hotel status in her mid-teens.
In glaring contrast to its current
appearance, the now 40-year-old
Lee remembers a Japanese-style
pond out front, pets running around
and plenty of exercise space for her
father.
“I have very fond memories of it – my
father definitely valued his privacy and
there was space for him to work out
and the kids to run around.”
The fact that guests walk in the footsteps of the kung fu star might have
faded into the mists of time had it not
been for fans who rallied behind a plan
to turn the hotel into a Lee memorial.
Following a public uproar, billionaire
owner Yu Pang-lin agreed to cancel
plans to sell the property, which he
says is worth 100 million Hong Kong
dollars, and instead donate it to honour Lee’s legacy.
Yu has said the home should be renovated to include a museum, library, a
cinema and martial arts area.
Others, including Bruce Lee Club
chairman Wong Yiu-keung, want the
original floor plan preserved so visitors
can imagine how it looked when the
actor lived there.
“It should be a memorial house. After all it’s his former residence,” Wong
said.
Lee – who was credited with catapult-
27 February 2010
hotel’
uce Lee memorial
The former residence of
kung fu star Bruce Lee in
Hong Kong. (File photo:
24 December, 2009)
ing the martial arts film genre into the
mainstream with films including Fists
of Fury and the posthumously released
Enter the Dragon – died after a severe
reaction to pain medication.
His widow, now living in the US,
has provided a rough blueprint of the
home’s original layout to help restoration efforts.
“My mom is definitely behind it,”
Shannon Lee said.
“I’m really in favour [of the memorial]. It could be great for Hong Kong
and great for my father and his legacy.
I think the primary goal should be to
preserve the house as much as possible
to its original condition.
“The draw of this space was that
it was his home,” she added. “That
makes it very unique.”
A local design contest ended last
month, but the memorial’s final
look, building costs, who will pay
them and when it opens remain
unclear.
The tourism board is hoping the attraction can draw
visitors from inside and
outside the city, and boost
Hong Kong’s hard-hit
film industry.
A statue of Lee sits
on Hong Kong’s Avenue
of Stars, but the daily South
China Morning Post has described
the lack of a more significant memorial to the Hong Kong-raised
hero as a “travesty.” AFP W
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Press Play
by MC LA
OST:
Almost Alice
Soundtrack (2010)
Headlining the top of my must-see films this season is
Tim Burton’s version of Alice in Wonderland. The movie
soundtrack captures the musical landscape Danny Elfman masterfully created for the highly anticipated Tim
Burton film starring Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway and
Helena Bonham Carter. Elfman has established himself as one of Hollywood’s leading film composers and
has written close to 50 film scores featuring his unique
sound, including “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”,
“Milk”, “Chicago”, “Batman”, “Spiderman”, “Men in
Black”, “Edward Scissorhands” and “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”.
“Almost Alice” lineup has just been announced, and
the mix of artists on the soundtrack is eclectic, including Avril Lavigne, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, All
American Rejects, and Franz Ferdinand. There’s even a
cover of “Very Good Advice” by Robert Smith, which
is the only song that also featured in the original Disney
animated film back in 1951.
But don´t just take my word for it, check out the streaming versions of the songs at: http://bit.ly/AlmAlcOST
“Almost Alice”, soundtrack will appear in stores on
March 2, and Tim Burton’s version of Alice in Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, will hit the
big screen in Disney Digital 3D™ on March 5 (U.S.).
Electronica:
Lali Puna -
Our Inventions (2010, Morr)
“Our Inventions” is the first album in six years (since
the release of “Faking the Books” back in 2004) from
this Munich experimental pop group, which includes
members of The Notwist (Markus Acher) and Tied &
Tickled Trio. Yellow Magic Orchestra’s Yukihiro Takahashi appears as a guest. With the announcement of
“Our Inventions” (which will also feature The Notwist
frontman once again), came a lovely track called “Remember” which plays like a breezy haze of electro-bliss
as Valerie Trebeljahr’s soft-spoken vocals ask “Will you
remember me?” You can expect the forthcoming album to hit on April 6 via Morr.
Hip-hop: Rob Swift – The Archite
Rob Swift, one of the more innovative (and ultimately
celebrated) turntablists of the past decade, has waited
four years to release “The Architect”, his first album
since gaining national attention with Mike Patton in
the band Peeping Tom. “The Architect” is Swift’s first
album since 2005’s “War Games”. On this album, the
member of the X-ecutioners, marries classical and turntablism for what sounds like an insane combination.
Though only two tracks contain vocals, “The Architect”
is ripe with emotion and abstract narrative. Orchestral
strings and organs mingle with fierce breakbeats and
expert scratching. Swift’s exploration of manipulating
pitch and tempo are executed and organized with the
mindset of a virtuosic composer. The first leak from the
project is “Rabia – 2nd Movement” and it’s a haunting
piece that deserves repeat listens. The innovative album
has found a perfect home on fellow experimental musician Mike Patton’s label, Ipecac Recordings.
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27 February 2010
Rock:
The Idyllists The Idyllists (2010)
Folk:
Joana Newson Have One On Me (2010)
“Have One On Me”, the third studio album by
American harpist, pianist, and singer-songwriter
Joanna Newson from Nevada City, California,
was just released this week via Drag City. The
triple-CD is eighteen tracks in length, over two
hours in duration and features a host of songs
hitting the nine-minute mark and above. The
new CD kicked up unexpectedly in the form of a
cartoon published in the Drag City website news
section. “Have One On Me”, is the follow-up to
her critically acclaimed 2006 album Ys.
ect (2010)
The Idyllists describe their music as “the sound of Johnny Cash
meeting Morrissey for a drink at a Buddy Holly show”. Three
charming Americans and a vocalist from England team up to form
a rock ‘n’ roll band that puts a modern twist on 60s Britpop.
The indie rock quartet consists of British frontman Ian Webber,
guitarist Matthew Barge, bassist George Mohler, and drummer Sam Gallagher. The group is currently performing live
and recording new material with 3 additional members. These
new additions include Colin Ritchie (lead guitar), Nick Light
(rhythm guitar), and Daniel Dempsey (Hammond organ). This
young band has already shared stages with the Smiths, and the
New York Dolls, and many others.
Country:
Johnny Cash –
American VI: Ain’t No Grave (2010)
The final recordings “The Man in Black”
ever made before his death in September
2003, will be released via American Recordings and Lost Highway, today February 26, the day that would have marked
Cash’s 78th birthday. Like the previous
LPs in the American series, Rick Rubin
produced the sixth installment. Cash began recording American VI in 2002 and
worked up until his death on September
12, 2003. Cash stuck with the project even
after the death his wife June Carter earlier that year in May. The album includes
Sheryl Crow’s “Redemption Day”, Kris
Kristofferson’s “For the Good Times”, Ed
McCurdy’s “Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream” and Bob Nolan’s “Cool Water”. American VI will also feature the
never-before-heard Cash original which
he wrote during the last three years of his
life “I Corinthians: 15:55,” from the Bible’s
New Testament passage about the spirit
ultimately triumphing over the physical
body: “O death, where is thy sting? O
grave, where is thy victory?”.
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Zoom
Photo by Manuel Cardoso
“Lap Mei” Stall
Waxed delicacies known as “Lap Mei” still remain a must-have food item for Chinese New Year. It is the
category of hams and other dried meats preserved in similar fashion to the Chinese sausages. This “Lap
Mei” stall owner looking proud and happy to be standing behind all the assorted meat.
Tiffany Yew
Journalist
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27 February 2010
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