Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Loud but Good
Attended the Sixth International overseas Korean business conference. Very good performers, but unfortunately a lot of the guests walked out for other evening events before it was done.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Local Government Conference
Whip-cold outdoor dxinner during the United Cities and Local Governments conference. We dined with the Cameroon delegation.
Jeju Island
Went to a conference in Jeju Island; these traditional statues are mysterious and everywhere
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Sunset in Vung Tau
During my recent trip to Saigon, I went up the coast to VT.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
I'm not crazy after all
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/dining/17mini.html?ex=1193371200&en=98ad09e7ca6f4abd&ei=5070&emc=eta1
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Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Position - Macalester College (US)
United States) http://www.h-net.org/jobs/display_job.php?jobID=34860
Macalester College invites applications for a tenure track
assistant/associate professor position in Asian Religions East Asia or
Southeast Asia) in the Department of Religious Studies beginning Fall
2008.
Vietnam Travel
My good friend William and family in front of their hotel in district five, Saigon...
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Central Vietnam still submerged in water
Central Vietnam still submerged in water16:55' 16/10/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - As of this morning, October 16, many roads in the
ancient capital city of Hue were still flooded. The situation was the
same in Quang Tri province, where thousands of houses were still
submerged.
This morning, the water levels of the Huong and O Lau rivers were at the
third alert level. In Hue city, heavy rain submerged many roads in the
hub like Huong Vuong, Nguyen Tri Phuong, Dong Da, Ly Thuong Kiet, at
nearly 1m deep in some places. Hundreds of houses were flooded.
According to Nguyen Viet, Director of the Thua Thien-Hue
Hydrometeorology Forecasting Centre, flooding of the Huong River is
possible.
Heavy rain has damaged a 5km section of national highway 49 crossing Phu
Duong commune, Phu Vang district, causing serious traffic jams.
Meanwhile, A Roang tunnel has collapsed in some places causing traffic
jams on Ho Chi Minh Highway.
Heavy rains have also made the water levels of the Thach Han and O Lau
rivers in Quang Tri province and Kien Giang River in Quang Binh province
increase very quickly, inundating many houses and hundreds of hectares
of cultivated land.
The authorities of these provinces are taking measures to protect assets
and human life.
(Source: Dan Tri)
In the Office
October 16, 2007
First full day in the office. Our office manager Mrs. C. has really taken charge here, and the Embassy staff who have come down over the past few months have made this a very nice place to work.
Although we rely on Seoul to issue visas or provide American Citizen Services (you can check www.AskTheConsul.org for more details), I think we will be plenty busy getting out and meeting the people of Busan—not only American business folks, teachers and students, but also the wonderful people who make the city so dynamic, the teachers and school kids, the newsmakers and the news gatherers, the people who keep the government running and those who enchant us with their artistries.
I hope to learn from them more about Busan and the surrounding areas, and I also hope that I can share some experiences about living in
But for today…I need to figure out the best way to set up my filing system, order bottles of water, all kinds of administrative matters that go into making an office successful.
First Day in Busan
October 15
First day in Busan. Flew down from
Took deep breaths of wonderfully fresh air at Gimhae, then went immediately with my friend and colleague Mr. B. to the
Nice conversation with three art professors from
After the exhibit opening, I saw a sign for the President’s birthplace, so we stopped by to see the humble home where he spent the first few years of his life. I admired the persimmon tree in the front yard and wondered if perhaps many years ago the President had some of the delicious fruit from the same tree.
Drove back to Busan, past the beautiful apartment buildings and the very modern City Hall. So much has changed since I first visited Busan in 1990.
Long day, had a quick bite of fried rice at a great open-grill place in the Seo-myun area.
Coming back to my temporary residence, where I will be until the Consulate is up and hopefully running well, I thought over the day, and how the trip that day captured so much of how far
Thursday, October 11, 2007
4 signs of wrongdoings at Vietnam's bridge collapse
signs of wrongdoings that led to the collapse of an approach ramp
leading to Vietnam's Can Tho bridge, according to local media on
Tuesday.
The 90-meter section of the approach ramp in southern Vinh Long
province, which is 30 meters above the ground, collapsed on Sept. 26,
killing 53 people, leaving one missing and 80 others injured.
The first sign of wrongdoing is about execution method, in which
technical requirements for casting concrete was not fully met, said
Saigon Liberation newspaper.
The second sign of wrongdoing is that the execution's surveillance work
was not done perfectly.
The third involves in the use of scaffold systems of poor quality, and
the fourth is the untimely action of relevant organizations and
individuals who received warnings about the presence of cracks on one
side of the approach ramp.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has ordered a temporary suspension of the
rebuilding of the collapsed ramp to ensure working safety, and asked
rescue work to continue to recover the single worker believed still
trapped in the debris, said Vietnam News newspaper.
Dung told the major contractor -- a partnership of three Japanese firms
Taisei, Kajima and Nippon Steel -- that their cooperation would help the
national investigation committee's work. This was to identify the cause
of the accident and assess the responsibilities of those involved in its
construction. He has ordered the committee to report to him within a
month.
Construction of approach ramps and the cable-braced bridge's main span
over the Hau River, linking Can Tho city and Vinh Long, with total
length of nearly 16 km, began in September 2004.
The investment of 295 million U.S. dollars came from official
development assistance of Japan and the Vietnamese government's
reciprocal capital. It is scheduled to be complete in December 2008.
Editor: Wang Hongjiang
Friend's book review...
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Queen Bee, War Remnants Museum - Art Basel Miami - December 2007
I have been invited to present my new project - Queen Bee, War Remnants Museum - at Art Basel Miami, Special Projects section, during December 2007.
http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com/go/id/ss/lang/eng/
I am currently fundraising for this and offering to you this painting which is valued at $2,000. My starting price for this auction is only $500 so you may get a bargain by placing a bid, at the same time you will be enabling the realisation of this project at the world's biggest annual art exhibition. The winning bidder will be credited on all publicity we produce for the show.
Please visit the Ebay auction web page to view the painting and place a bid by clicking on the following link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=140165207095&Category=20135&_trksid=p3907.m29
Thank You & Best Wishes.
Rodney.
Position in S. or SEA Art History - U Hawaii
Assistant Professor of Art History: South or
UHM College of Arts and Humanities, Department of Art and Art History, (Manoa), tenure track, full-time, 9-month, to begin August 2008, pending position clearance and availability of funds.
Duties:
Teach courses in South and Southeast Asian Art History at the undergraduate and graduate level; conduct and publish research; participate in the teaching of global survey of art; supervise graduate students; advise undergraduate students and develop curriculum; participate in the governance of the department; and other duties as assigned by the Chair.
Minimum Qualifications:
PhD in art history or the equivalent, with a specialization in South or Southeast Asian Art or Visual Culture; college teaching experience in art history; ABDs will be considered if all requirements for the PhD are completed by date of hire.
Desirable Qualifications:
Secondary specialization in global Islam, Art of the
Pay range: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
To apply: Submit Cover letter indicating how you satisfy the minimum and/or desirable qualifications, C.V., statement of teaching philosophy, writing/publication sample(s), official transcripts (copies are acceptable, however, official transcripts will be required at the time of hire), names and contact information of 3 professional references, and a self-addressed and stamped envelope for the return of application material. Application address: Chair, Art History Search Committee, Department of Art and Art History, 2535 McCarthy Mall, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822. Inquiries: Kate Lingley (lingley@hawaii.edu) or 808-956-8291. Continuous recruitment: Review of applications will begin on
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
2008-2009 postdoc fellowship
Modern Southeast Asian Studies
The Weatherhead East Asian Institute invites applications for its
2008-2009 Postdoctoral Fellowship in Modern Southeast Asian Studies.
Candidates from all social science disciplines, including history, are
welcome to apply. The fellowship will cover a 10 or 12-month period
beginning July 1, 2008 or September 1, 2008. The Fellow will devote half
time to his or her own research and will teach one graduate-level course
on Southeast Asia per semester. The stipend for 2008-2009 is $43,000,
plus benefits.
Eligibility
Applicants must have completed all Ph.D. degree requirements (completed
and filed the dissertation) between July 2004 and July 2008. Applicants
must have completed their Ph.D. in a social science discipline,
including history, working on modern Southeast Asia. Applications from
individuals who hold or have held regular faculty positions will not be
considered.
Application Procedure
Applicants should submit the following:
* Application Cover Sheet (available at
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/weai/postdoctoral-fellowship.html)
* Curriculum Vitae
* Research Proposal (2-3 pages)
* Graduate-Level Southeast Asia Course Proposal (1-2 pages)
* Three Letters of Reference (signed and sealed)*
*Letters of reference may be those included in a placement dossier and
may be enclosed with the application (if signed and sealed) or sent
directly by the referee.
All application materials (including letters of reference) should be
submitted on or before January 11, 2008. Faxed or e-mailed applications
will not be accepted. Candidates may be invited for a phone interview.
All evaluations of applications are confidential. The results will be
announced no later than February 29, 2008.
Return completed applications to:
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Modern Southeast Asian Studies Weatherhead
East Asian Institute Columbia University Mail Code 3333 420 West 118th
Street, 9th Floor New York, NY 10027
For more information about the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Modern
Southeast Asian Studies, contact Celia Bhattacharya, Program Officer, by
phone at
212-854-9206 or by e-mail at cb2462@columbia.edu.
Complete information and an application form are available at
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/weai/postdoctoral-fellowship.html
Friday, October 05, 2007
Rice cookers Coming to Town
| I have noticed more people wearing helmets in saigon--gov't workers are required to... Vietnam enacts motorbike helmet law as road toll hits over 13,000 05-OCT-2007 Intellasia | AP Oct 5, 2007 - 7:00:00 AM |
 |
But few people bother with helmets, saying they are hot, bulky and unfashionable. But as of December 15, everyone will be required to don the so-called "rice cookers" as the government enforces a new law intended to save lives.
The health ministry kicked off a traffic safety campaign Wednesday October 3 to raise awareness before the new rules take effect.
"It's not only the deaths, it's the tens of thousands of injuries. Some people become like vegetables," said Jean-Marc Olive, World Health Organisation representative in Vietnam. "Also what is quite sad is that the major proportion of accidents occur in young adults."
More than 20 million motorbikes cram Vietnam's busy streets on an average day, and their numbers are growing as the country becomes wealthier. The roads are also some of the most hazardous on earth. Few drivers look before pulling into traffic. Speeding, weaving, underage driving and drunk driving are common.
Vietnam's traffic fatality rate is about 27 per 100,000—nearly double that of the United States and among the highest in the world, according to WHO.
But those statistics mean little to most motorbike commuters in Hanoi.
"It is an unenforceable law. Wearing helmets in cities is ridiculous," said Nguyen Tung Anh, 21, a student in Hanoi. "It will reduce drivers' vision, hearing and it is not suitable for the weather conditions here."
For those who need more convincing, Dr Vu Hong Phong says perhaps a visit to Viet Duc Hospital would work. As the chief neurosurgeon there, he races in and out of surgery every day trying to salvage what's left of motorcyclists who slam their heads onto the pavement without helmets.
"The problem is getting worse and worse," Phong said. "The number of deaths I've seen over the past several years has increased too much and I feel very sad about that."
He lectures surviving patients and their families about the importance of wearing helmets but said his advice is heeded only about half the time, even among those who narrowly escape death.
In the head trauma ward, blood fills cotton stuffed into patients' ears as loved ones massage limp arms and legs. Some victims thrash in pain, their arms and legs tied to bed rails. Others lie still, their heads swollen and bruised. Tubes and machines keep them alive.
"He is in a coma and there is blood on his brain," said Dang Thi Tu, standing over her 21-year-old son, Cong. He was driving home from a wedding when he hit a rock in the road and lost control of his bike. She wishes now that his head had been protected.
"He was only a few kilometres from home, and he didn't wear a helmet."
Currently, helmets are only required on highways outside cities where fines the equivalent of US$1.25 are levied on violators. All government employees have also been required to wear helmets since last month.
Government officials are discussing whether to raise the fine when the new law kicks in. Helmets must also be certified with a stamp verifying they meet Vietnamese safety standards.
But enforcement will be tough. When Vietnam tried to impose a helmet law in 2001, angry drivers protested and the government backed down. Some say they will only abide this time if forced.
"I cannot imagine myself wearing trendy clothes together with a helmet," said Le Tra My, 18, who was shopping for hats at an upscale store in Hanoi. "It will look awful."
Peek-a-boo FREE Tricks & Treats for You! Get 'em!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Iggy's Squid Shack Is Now Open
Arrived through a beautiful new terminal at Tan Son Nhat Airport, designed a bit like the terminal in Bangkok. Clean, shiny, plenty of room for travelers.
Going for pho for breakfast.
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Going to Saigon
At the Seoul airport lounge, going to Saigon for a few quick days so Cal can take his SAT.
Climb to the top of the charts! Play Star Shuffle: the word scramble challenge with star power. Play Now!
Going to Saigon
At the Seoul airport lounge, going to Saigon for a few quick days so Cal can take his SAT.
Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live OneCare! Try now!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Best Album Marketing I've Seen Since That Roxy Music Cover...
From Billboard’s on-line magazine…
Fans flocking to Radiohead.com to order the band's new album, "In Rainbows," have slowed the site to a crawl in the past 24 hours. As reported yesterday, the album can be downloaded beginning Oct. 10 for any price the purchaser desires. It will also be available in early December as a "discbox" with both CD and vinyl versions.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Vietnam's composers have a long way to go
Vietnam's composers have a long way to go 10:36' 28/09/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - Serious musical composition in Viet Nam is fifty
years behind the times, an American academic told a seminar at the Ho
Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music on September 26.
Professor Dirk Johan Stromberg was referring to both the techniques
employed by Vietnamese composers and the sound coordination in their
work.
Criticism aside, he said many Vietnamese composers were genuinely
talented and knew how to blend traditional elements into contemporary
music and create their own unique styles.
As evidence of this, he said the performances in the conservatory's
music exchange program presented an exciting challenge and showed the
potential of Vietnamese composers.
Another American music professor, Gary Powell Nash, told the audience of
academics, students and musicians how impressed he was with the devotion
of Vietnamese performers and composers and said he hoped to work with
the conservatory to train promising youngsters.
The theme of the seminar was "contemporary music in Vietnam and the
world"
and was held to share experiences in performing, teaching and composing
in a modern style without giving up the traditional touch.
Many of the speakers agreed that music students in other countries had
more advantages than those in Vietnam. Besides theory, they had more
opportunities to develop their creativity and join actual performances
on stage.
Still, the conservatory is on its way to integration into the world of
diverse cultures and styles of music while preserving the country's
traditional musical elements, according to the school's principal, Van
Thi Minh Huong.
It is also committed to helping students develop by organizing more
musical events to improve their skills and attract more classical music
lovers.
Moreover, classical music pieces will be performed in a fresh, modern
style with simpler content to attract a wider audience, Mr. Huong said.
The seminar, which was sponsored by Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper and the
International Media Company, is being followed by concerts over three
nights from Wednesday to Friday at the conservatory.
They are being held under the banner "Contemporary Music Exchange
between Vietnam and the World".
(Source: SGGP)
