News and Views

Lovers Infiniteness By John Donne

Maggi Carstairs — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:10:39 GMT

IF yet I have not all thy love, Dear, I shall never have it all ; I cannot breathe one other sigh, to move, Nor can intreat one other tear to fall ; And all my treasure, which should purchase thee, Sighs, tears, and oaths, and letters I have spent ; Yet no more can be due to me, Than at the bargain made was meant. If then thy gift of love were partial, That some to me, some should to others fall, Dear, I shall never have thee all. Or if then thou gavest me all, All was but all, which thou hadst then ; But if in thy heart since there be or shall New love created be by other men, Which have their stocks entire, and can in tears, In sighs, in oaths, and letters, outbid me, This new love may beget new fears, For this love was not vow'd by thee. And yet it was, thy gift being general ; The ground, thy heart, is mine ; what ever shall Grow there, dear, I should have it all. Yet I would not have all yet. He that hath all can have no more ; And since my love doth every day admit New growth, thou shouldst have new rewards in store ; Thou canst not every day give me thy heart, If thou canst give it, then thou never gavest it ; Love's riddles are, that though thy heart depart, It stays at home, and thou with losing savest it ; But we will have a way more liberal, Than changing hearts, to join them ; so we shall Be one, and one another's all. http://activeenglish.biz/moodle/mod/glossary/view.php?id=1048&mode=letter&hook=L&sortkey=&sortorder=&fullsearch=0&page=1

Floods hit cyclone ravaged Mayanmar

Maggi Carstairs — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:51:45 GMT

Floods Hit Cyclone Ravaged Myanmar August 21 2008 http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/08/16/myanmar.floods.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText Severe flooding triggered by torrential rains has struck areas of Myanmar still recovering from a cyclone that killed more than 84,000 people, a state-run newspaper said Saturday. Flooding has also hit parts of Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. In Laos, at least four people died from their injuries in landslides triggered by flooding after levels in the Mekong River reached record highs. In Myanmar, the floods hit areas of Yangon and the Irrawaddy delta, where Cyclone Nargis left a swath of devastation early May, as well as other regions of the country, the Myanmar Ahlin newspaper said. No casualties were reported. Residents fled from their homes, schools were closed and rice fields submerged in regions ranging from Karen and Mon states in the southeast to Mandalay in central Myanmar. The water quickly receded and damage to rice fields was not reported, the newspaper said. In Laos, Foreign Ministry spokesman Yong Chanthalansy said Friday that four people died outside the capital, Vientiane, after being injured in landslides triggered by the flooding. The state news agency KPL said one of the dead was a child. Speaking by telephone from Vientiane, Yong said that there were reports that the flooding was receding Friday after water levels in the Mekong had reached 44.8 feet, beating the previous record high of 40.61 feet in 1966. The flooding also cut electricity in some parts of the old royal capital of Luang Prabang, a popular tourist destination, the Web site reported. It added that the main road between Vientiane and Luang Prabang had been cut off by a landslide. Thailand's national news agency said areas of three northeastern provinces bordering the Mekong River and Laos were badly affected, with flooding causing damage to dikes and thousands of acres of farmland. In Nong Khai province, more than 1,000 houses were flooded, with some villagers evacuating. Two hospitals were hit and patients and medical supplies were moved to higher ground, the Thai News Agency said. Some 128,000 people in Nakhon Phanom province were also affected Http://Activeenglish.biz

Phenomenal Woman Maya Angelou

Maggi Carstairs — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:33:57 GMT

PHENOMENAL WOMAN http://activeenglish.biz/moodle/mod/glossary/view.php Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies. I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. I walk into a room Just as cool as you please, And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees. I say, It's the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they can't touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them They say they still can't see. I say, It's the arch of my back, The sun of my smile, The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. Now you understand Just why my head's not bowed. I don't shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing It ought to make you proud. I say, It's in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need of my care. 'Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. M. Angelou

41 Milion Credit cards Hacked by Wireless

Maggi Carstairs — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:20:02 GMT

41 Million Credit Cards Hackers uses wireless Hacking See the video http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/indexFP.php?rn=3906861&cl=9141470&ch=4226721&src=news Eleven people were indicted and accused of stealing more than 41 Million credit cards. Top stores in America were attacked by Hackers who took advantage of the wireless Network System used by the Department stores.

The Road less Travelled by Robert Frost

Maggi Carstairs — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:40:04 GMT

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I marked the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost

Cloned Dog Claimed as First by Korean Firm

Maggi Carstairs — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:27:24 GMT

Cloned Dog Claimed a First by Korean Firm 6 August 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7542338.stm Scientists in South Korea say they have successfully completed the world's first commercial cloning of a pet dog. Bernann McKinney, from the US state of California, stumped up $50,000 (£25,000) for five identical copies of Booger, her beloved pit bull terrier. The puppy clones were unveiled at a press conference in the South Korean capital, Seoul, on Tuesday. "Booger was my partner and my friend," Ms McKinney said, as she appeared with the five identical copies of her pet. Scientists at Seoul National University created a number of embryos from preserved skin cells taken from Booger's ear tissue before he died. The embryos were then implanted into two surrogate mother dogs and, three months later, the puppies were born. Among the scientists involved in the project was Professor Lee Byeong-chun, who was part of the team that created the world's first cloned dog - Snuppy the Afghan hound - in 2005. Difficult Process "They are perfectly the same as their daddy. I am in heaven here. I am a happy person," The former beauty queen, from Hollywood, recalled how Booger once saved her life by chasing off another dog that had attacked her, leaving her with serious wounds. She said: "Booger had a kindness in his heart and I believe that kindness is something that can be, I don't want to use the word reproduced, but the best way Dr Lee explained it is we can give him his body, you are going to give him the love and environment to recreate the original Booger's personality." She said she was considering training some of the puppies to help the handicapped or elderly after they are delivered to her in the US in September. It is not the first time that scientists have cloned a dog, but the process is notoriously difficult and the Korean team say this is the first commercial success, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul. The company which arranged the cloning, RNL Bio, says it is now open for future bookings. As the technology improves, the price is expected to drop. Chief executive Ra Jeong-Chan told AFP news agency that RNL Bio could clone up to 300 dogs next year for wealthy pet lovers. He added: "For my next project, I will consider cloning camels for rich people in the Middle East." Ms McKinney said at a televised press conference, with tears in her eyes. http://Activeenglish.biz

Andys Gone with Cattle Now: Henry Lawson Poetry

Maggi Carstairs — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:04:30 GMT

Andy's Gone With Cattle Henry Lawson 1888 Our Andy's gone to battle now 'Gainst Drought, the red marauder; Our Andy's gone with cattle now Across the Queensland border. He's left us in dejection now; Our hearts with him are roving. It's dull on this selection now, Since Andy went a-droving. Who now shall wear the cheerful face In times when things are slackest? And who shall whistle round the place When Fortune frowns her blackest? Oh, who shall cheek the squatter now When he comes round us snarling? His tongue is growing hotter now Since Andy cross'd the Darling. The gates are out of order now, In storms the "riders" rattle; For far across the border now Our Andy's gone with cattle. Poor Aunty's looking thin and white; And Uncle's cross with worry; And poor old Blucher howls all night Since Andy left Macquarie. Oh, may the showers in torrents fall, And all the tanks run over; And may the grass grow green and tall In pathways of the drover; And may good angels send the rain On desert stretches sandy; And when the summer comes again God grant 'twill bring us Andy.

Wear Ox Pendant to Avoid rat Clashes 2 August 2008

Maggi Carstairs — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:46:58 GMT

Wear Ox Pendant to avoid Rat Clashes…2 August 2008 http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080802/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_olympics_astrology Astrology expert Raymond Lo has a word of warning for China's Olympic leaders -- they should wear an ox pendant to ward off bad karma at the Olympics. The Beijing Games open at eight minutes past eight o'clock in the evening on the 8th day of the 8th month in 2008, a time that traditionally offers the perfect combination of good luck and prosperity. The Olympics are being staged in the Year of the Rat but, according to Chinese animal astrology, that could spell trouble for anyone born in the Year of the Horse. Lo, a noted exponent in Hong Kong of the ancient art of feng shui, said "The clash between the Rat and the Horse is a serious clash between water and fire. "For people born in the Year of the Horse, it is recommended that they wear a pendant of an ox which will help to attract away the Rat so as to minimise the influence of the clash." He pinpointed the birthdays of China's leaders -- President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao were both born in 1942, the Year of the Rat in the 12-year cycle of Chinese animal astrology. In a telephone interview from Hong Kong, Lo explained: "The traditional belief is that you need an animal to attract away the rat." AUSPICIOUS DAY But he was full of optimism for China's big day on the world stage on 8/08/2008. For the number eight is lucky in Chinese as it is pronounced like the word "Fa" which is part of the expression meaning "to get wealthy". "According to the calendar it is an auspicious day. There is nothing wrong with choosing this date, it still represents a positive energy." Marriage registration offices in Beijing are predicting that more than 9,000 couples will tie the knot on August 8. "If you pick a good day, this indicates a smooth beginning to the marriage," Lo said. But, as China has learnt to its cost in a turbulent 2008, not all is positive energy in the Year of the Rat, which also symbolises the turbulent relationship between earth and water. China was hit by crippling blizzards at the start of the year, rioting erupted in Tibet which prompted worldwide protests surrounding the Olympic torch relay and then the Sichuan earthquake struck. Those grim milestones for China had an intriguing symmetry. The snowstorms struck on 25/01. 2+5+1=8. The Tibet riots erupted on 14/03. 1+4+3=8. The earthquake struck on 12/05. 1+2+5=8. That was also 88 days before the start of the Olympics. "The number eight can be negative as well," Lo warned -- and the worst may not be over. "You can see water trouble will be stronger in the second half of the year because of these seasonal elements," he said. "For example the Tsunami took place in December in 2004. Usually water is more powerful in the months after August."

The Ghost by Henry lawson : Poetry

Maggi Carstairs — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:44:34 GMT

The Ghost by Henry Lawson Down the street as I was drifting with the city's human tide, Came a ghost, and for a moment walked in silence by my side -- Now my heart was hard and bitter, and a bitter spirit he, So I felt no great aversion to his ghostly company. Said the Shade: `At finer feelings let your lip in scorn be curled, `Self and Pelf', my friend, has ever been the motto for the world.' And he said: `If you'd be happy, you must clip your fancy's wings, Stretch your conscience at the edges to the size of earthly things; Never fight another's battle, for a friend can never know When he'll gladly fly for succour to the bosom of the foe. At the power of truth and friendship let your lip in scorn be curled -- `Self and Pelf', my friend, remember, is the motto of the world. `Where Society is mighty, always truckle to her rule; Never send an `i' undotted to the teacher of a school; Only fight a wrong or falsehood when the crowd is at your back, And, till Charity repay you, shut the purse, and let her pack; At the fools who would do other let your lip in scorn be curled, `Self and Pelf', my friend, remember, that's the motto of the world. `Ne'er assail the shaky ladders Fame has from her niches hung, Lest unfriendly heels above you grind your fingers from the rung; Or the fools who idle under, envious of your fair renown, Heedless of the pain you suffer, do their worst to shake you down. At the praise of men, or censure, let your lip in scorn be curled, `Self and Pelf', my friend, remember, is the motto of the world. `Flowing founts of inspiration leave their sources parched and dry, Scalding tears of indignation sear the hearts that beat too high; Chilly waters thrown upon it drown the fire that's in the bard; And the banter of the critic hurts his heart till it grows hard. At the fame your muse may offer let your lip in scorn be curled, `Self and Pelf', my friend, remember, that's the motto of the world. `Shun the fields of love, where lightly, to a low and mocking tune, Strong and useful lives are ruined, and the broken hearts are strewn. Not a farthing is the value of the honest love you hold; Call it lust, and make it serve you! Set your heart on nought but gold. At the bliss of purer passions let your lip in scorn be curled -- `Self and Pelf', my friend, shall ever be the motto of the world.' Then he ceased and looked intently in my face, and nearer drew; But a sudden deep repugnance to his presence thrilled me through; Then I saw his face was cruel, by the look that o'er it stole, Then I felt his breath was poison, by the shuddering of my soul, Then I guessed his purpose evil, by his lip in sneering curled, And I knew he slandered mankind, by my knowledge of the world. But he vanished as a purer brighter presence gained my side -- `Heed him not! there's truth and friendship in this wondrous world,' she cried, And of those who cleave to virtue in their climbing for renown, Only they who faint or falter from the height are shaken down. At a cynic's baneful teaching let your lip in scorn be curled! `Brotherhood and Love and Honour!' is the motto for the world.'

Worlds Most Expensive Cities July 30 2008

Maggi Carstairs — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:26:52 GMT

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/105443/World%27s-Most-Expensive-Cities In 1998, Moscow was in crisis. More than 100,000 Russians took to the streets as a slew of banks--and the life savings of millions of citizens--went bust. But just a decade later, the global commodities boom has made Russia flush with cash, and Moscow has become a pricey place to live. http://Activeenglish.biz http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/105443/World%27s-Most-Expensive-Cities That's the finding in Mercer's 2008 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey. Moscow tops the list with a score of 142.4, up 6% from last year--and 42% higher than New York, the most expensive city in the U.S. The Russian capital is followed by Tokyo; London; Oslo, Norway; and Seoul, South Korea. New York fell from No. 15 to No. 22, thanks to the dollar's protracted woes. Los Angeles is the second-priciest city in the U.S., but Hollywood's denizens can't cry poverty just yet: At No. 55, Los Angeles is cheaper than the best neighborhoods of Lagos, Nigeria (No. 30); Almaty, Kazakhstan (No. 44); and Zagreb, Croatia (No. 49). The survey covers 143 cities across six continents and measures the relative cost of over 200 items in each place, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. The survey is used to help American government agencies and multinational companies determine living costs for their expatriate employees, who usually demand a relatively high quality of life. As for Moscow, prices in the Russian capital show no signs of dropping. The global commodity boom continues to fatten the pockets of local tycoons, and the ruble has appreciated 8% against the dollar since January. Moscow is home to 74 billionaires, the most of any city in the world. Its three wealthiest citizens (Oleg Deripaska, Vladimir Lisin and Roman Abramovich) each possess fortunes in excess of $25 billion. And Russia's super-wealthy are just getting started: 13 of the country's billionaires are under the age of 40. Founded by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago, No. 3 London is an ancient stalwart when it comes to pricey cities. Though it slipped from last year's No. 2 spot, it remains extremely expensive--even a ride on one of the city's vaunted double-decker buses costs $5.89. And while Japan's economy is stagnating, Tokyo is as expensive as ever. For American travelers, the city's real estate prices are the highest in the world--a two-bedroom luxury apartment costs over $5,100 per month, about $600 more than a comparable pad in Moscow or New York.