Sunday, January 31, 2010
Journal of Korean Adoption Studies
http://goal.or.kr/eng/?slms=room&lsms=1&sl=6&ls=55
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Friday, January 15, 2010
Erasing Ezekiel's Jewish identity (Jerusalem Post, 15 Jan)
Erasing Ezekiel's Jewish identity (Jerusalem Post, 15 Jan)
For centuries Jews, Christians and Muslims came to Al-Kifl, a small town south of Baghdad, to visit the tomb of the Prophet Ezekiel and pray.
The distinctive Jewish character of the Al-Kifl shrine, namely the Hebrew inscriptions and the Torah Ark, never bothered the gentile worshipers. In the 14th century a minaret was built next to the shrine, but the interior design remained Jewish. The vast majority of Iraq's Jewish community left some 60 years ago, but
The site of Ezekiel's tomb in Iraq
Shi'ites took good care of the holy site.
Until now.
Recently "Ur," a local Iraqi news agency, reported that a huge mosque will be built on top of the grave by Iraq's Antiquities and Heritage Authority, while Hebrew inscriptions and ornaments are being removed from the site, all as part of renovations.
Prof. Shmuel Moreh of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, winner of the 1999 Israel Prize in Middle Eastern studies and chairman of the Association of Jewish Academics from Iraq, speaking to The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, confirmed the report.
"I first heard the news of tomb desecration from a friend of mine who is a German scholar. After visiting the site he called me and said that some Hebrew inscriptions on the grave were covered by plaster and that a mosque is planned to be built on top of the tomb. He told me that he found the changes at the tomb disturbing and warned me that I'd better act quickly, before any irreversible damage will be inflicted," Moreh said.
"I had contacted Mr. Shelomo Alfassa, US director of Justice for Jews from Arab Countries, and told him about this situation. Then I saw the report from the Ur news agency, mentioning the decision of the Antiquities and Heritage Authority to build a mosque and to erase the Hebrew inscriptions and ornaments," Moreh said.
He asked friends to check out the developments at the site. The most recent to visit the shrine said that some of the inscriptions are now hidden by a layer of plaster.
Iraqi press reports claim that the building must be destroyed because of its poor condition. However, Alfassa believes that Iraq's Antiquities and Heritage Authority "has been pressured by Islamists to historically cleanse all evidence of a Jewish connection to Iraq - a land where Jews had lived for over a thousand years before the advent of Islam."
According to the Baghdad-born Moreh, many of the Muslims who visit the tomb today are unaware Ezekiel was a Jew.
Iraq, the biblical Aram Naharaim, is rich in Jewish religious sites. Not only Ezekiel is buried there, but also Ezra, Daniel, Nehemiah, Nahum and Jonah. (Another tomb attributed to Ezekiel is located in Dezful, in southwestern Iran.)
Soon after the US-led invasion in 2003, Iraqi authorities indicated that they intended to take good care of the Jewish sites, which might become an powerful tourist magnet. In May 2009, the Tourism Ministry declared that it intended to preserve all of Iraq's heritage sites, regardless of creed, and would soon begin the renovation of Ezekiel's tomb.
But the future of Jewish sacred sites looks grim in the intolerant current climate of post-Saddam Iraq, where only eight Jews are left, the Christian minority is severely persecuted by the fundamentalists and ancient Shi'ite mosques are blown up.
"Let's hope that the Jewish sites will be spared, but someone must intervene before it's too late," Moreh warned.
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Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The U.S. and the Lower Mekong: Building Capacity to Manage Natural Resources
Fact Sheets: The U.S. and the Lower Mekong: Building Capacity to Manage Natural Resources
Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:53:09 -0600
The U.S. and the Lower Mekong: Building Capacity to Manage Natural Resources
"The United States is back in Southeast Asia….and we are fully engaged with our….partners on the wide range of challenges confronting us…"— Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
The Lower Mekong Initiativefocuses on:
- Environment
- Health
- Education
- Infrastructure
Strengthening Water Management
The Mississippi River Commission and the Mekong River Commission both play key roles in managing vital waterways in their respective regions. In 2010, the two bodies will launch a "sister-river partnership" to promote cooperation and share best practices in areas such as integrated floodplain management, climate change adaptation, and sustainable basin development.
Cleaning up waterways
Agricultural and mining runoff, sewage and wastewater, and industrial pollution all threaten the safety and productivity of the Mekong's waters. In 2010, the United States will join with the Mekong River Commission and local communities to improve regional coordination in managing pollution.
Protecting Forests
Deforestation, wildlife trafficking and other illicit activities have significantly degraded forest resources in the Lower Mekong. National Park Service staff have developed a dynamic field-level exchange program to provide land management, stewardship, and law enforcement training for rangers in Cambodia's Samlaut Protected Area. The training is part of a vibrant sister-park relationship designed to build local capacity to protect this diverse ecosystem.
Building Science Partnerships
Data-sharing among scientists is key to finding sustainable ways to develop the Lower Mekong Basin. In December, the U.S. Geological Survey and Vietnam's Can Tho University brought together scientists and experts from throughout the region to share information on how climate change and human activities could impact the ecology and food security of the Mekong basin.
Advancing Clean Energy
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will help reduce the negative impacts of climate change. Through the Methane-to-Markets Partnership initiative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is working with the livestock and food processing industries in Thailand and Vietnam to capture methane release from swine farms and convert it into electricity.
U. S. Department of State • Bureau of Public Affairs www.state.gov
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Saturday, January 09, 2010
the biggest show on earth
From my friend Rodney Dickson, who has often done shows in Vietnam…
"It's a Wonderful Tenth" — Opening January 9, 2010, 6-9. Runs through February 20
"It's a Wonderful Life" is "It's a Wonderful 10th." this year, as Rich Timperio, drag racer become art impresario, celebrates the tenth anniversary of his New Year's Extravaganza at Sideshow Gallery, the spiritual nexus of the New York City art world. It's a multi-media show of hundreds of artists, living and dead, veterans and rookies, warriors and adepts, but all hard hitters with great aim and the lightest touch. Timperio chooses the artists based on the seriousness of the endeavor, not on any fixed approach. He asks each one to bring a work that characterizes a unique vision, then orchestrates the whole into a singing symphony. Ken Butler's musical instruments as works of art and the birds that evolve into cutouts flying free of the paintings of the ex-war correspondent Henrietta Mantooth might stand as emblems for the whole, uncaged, but beautifully composed production. The visual music and spirit of camaraderie among artists and art lovers gathering to celebrate the birth of a year that art does make new will sweep you up the instant you pass through the doorway in the graffiti covered wall.
Contributors include Jake Berthot, Rosemarie Castoro, Dan Christensen, Don Christensen, James Clark, Buster Cleveland, Ron Gorchov, Michael Goldberg, Mary Hambleton, Susanna Heller, Sharon Horvath, Bill Jensen, David Kapp, Vincent Longo, Al Loving, Lauren Luloff, Chris Martin, Forrest Myers, Jonas Mekas, Robert Morgan, Larry Poons, Peter Reginato, Willoughby Sharp, Veronica Shear, Tadasky, Richard Van Buren, Thornton Willis, among too many others worthy to be cited to mention here.
It's easy to forget that it's a wonderful life, but "It's a Wonderful Tenth." reminds us that's just how it begins every year. To those who know what counts, Sideshow is the main show.
THE ARTISTS
T. Al-Douri R. Allain M. Allen J. Allmaier L. Anker R. Anteroinen C. Ashley
O. Ayhens N. Baen E. Banks S. Barker J. Barnes K. Batten P. Baumann G. Benson
J. Berens S.Berg E. Berger J. Berthot T. Bevan C. Biagini J. Biederman J. H. Billings
J. Bird R. Bloom C. Boni N. Bornstein K. Borkowska C. Bowdish K. Bradford
L. Braes S. Brant S. Breitsch R. Briggs P. Brown R. Brown T. Buckwalter D. Budnik K. Buhler
P. Bui F. Burton D. Buschell K. Butler G. Calik C. Carone N. Carone T. Casey R. Castoro
S. Chermayeff D. Christensen D. Christensen A. Church A. Churchill H. Citron J. Clark
K. Clementine B. Cleveland M. Cochius M. Colton III C. Cohen E. Cohen T. Colburn
D. Corley G. Corriero W. Corwin E. Crawford L. Cummings D. Curtis M. Dagley L. Daniels
G. Davis D. Delfin P. De Luccia W. Deroo C. Diamond C. Diamond R. Dickson L. DiGusta V. Dion
C. Drake C. Eardley T. Ellerbrock L. Ellison E. Engler T. Evans M. Fabian M. Falfan M. Farrington
M. Filan J. Fintz S. Flaherty M. Foster L. Francis L. Fradkin S. Franks D. Fratkin
J. Freeman B. Friedman S. Fryer A. Frost W. Frost C. Fudge A. Funk B. Gagnier
M. Gagnier R. Gaynes-Bachman S. Gerberich N. Ginzel J. Goldberg M. Goldberg
G. Goldsmith T. Gonzalez R. Gorchov B. Gossen T. Grant J. Greco S. GreeneX. Greenwald
N. Griffin G. Grippo D. Groscost E. Grove F. Gutzeit A. Guerra D. Guida D. Gummer
M. Hambleton J. Hanrahan R. Hardinger T. Hashimoto M. Held N. Heller S. Heller D. Henderson
T. Heneberger M. Henryson P. Herfield M. Herman M. Heron B. Hertel A. Hill S. Hitch
E. Holzman S. Horvath V. Hudson L. Hunt H. Hutchison D. Iammarino B. Ibar P. Ideal
G. Jackson L. Jaffee D. Jenks B. Jensen E. Jensen T. Jessup F. Jetter S. Jo K. Johnson R. jones
S. Ferris Jones J. Juszczyk C. Kahn Y. Kanai D. Kane M. Kanter D. Kapp M. Keller C. Kitty
J. Klein T. Knox O. Kobayashi J. Kogel V. Kord F. Kornfeld A. Koseogulbri S. Kovacs
M. Koval M. Krynski J. Kurnatowski B. La Rocco N. Landfield R. Landfield P. Lawton P. Lay
S. Lederman R. Lerner P. Lethen D. Levine M. Lewczuk A. Limpert J. Little Liz-N-Val
L. Lombard J. Longenecker A. Loving B. Lucas L. Luloff T. Lundsfryd B. Lye M. Macek
D. Mackenzie S. Maine H. Mantooth E. Marciano L. Marcias E. Markell N. Markley
L. Marshall K. Marston C. Martin T. Martin M. Martinez K. Marston S. Mastrangelo S. Mayr
L. McCagg X. McCagg J. McNutt A.W-Mazzavella J. Mekas M. Mellman S. Mendelson
J. Micoff T. Miele R. Milder R. Mock K. Mohammadi M. Moneagle G. Montreuil T. Moore
S. Morey R. Morgan J. Morioka E. Morris C. Mosley M. Motoya J. Mulder J. Mulvaney L. Munk
P. Munson R. Murray F. Myers M. Naves M. Neill L. Newman G. Nichols L. Nicholas
B. Nogosek M. Nowoting L. Olitski J. Ortiz J. Pagano B. Page J. Palacios T. Pappas E. Park
G. Park C. Parlato D. Paulson G. Penn A. Peters K. Peterson K. Petrunak R. Phillips
B. Pilcher H. Piper E. Pizarro J. Pluck L. Poons D. Portella K. Powers N. Provosty K. Rachfal T. Radell
K. Rafoss E. Rand M. Randall L. Rapaport P. Reginato D. Reiser C. Rembert P. Resika
J. Richardson R. Richter E. Riggle E. Riley R. Roberts A. Roch J. Roch J. Rochester S. Romano
R. Rosenthal R. Ross A. Rubino N. Saah C. Saft K. Sakai S. Salamone I. Salander R. Sandler
A. Scarritt D. Schemaria M. Schon J. Sepkowitz E. Shalala M. Shapiro W. Sharp
V. Shear S. Shepard L. Shute S. Silver S. Silverstein A. Simms J. Simonian C. Skoczek N. Slavin
K. Sloane L. Sloane B. Smith R. Snyder E. Soliven K. Spicer M. Spindelman J. Stalling
A. Storey T. Stray B. Sullivan G. Surbone R. Sussman L. Swan D. Swords K. Teale
J. Thomsen J. Thorne C. Timperio W. Timperio F. Tint C. Tisa C. Tish D. Tomkins J. Tremel
L. Tribe L. Trincere L. Umlauf C. Vail R. Valado T. Valla R. Van Buren R. Van Erve M. Vass
L. Viscardi S. Vogwill D. Voisine N. Wada J. Waite J. Walker M. Walker A. Walsh J. Walsh
S. Wanklyn L. Webb E. Weissler E. Weitzman S. White M. Wiener J. Weissglass J. Wilkinson
T. Willis B. Witz J. Wolff E. Yamin R. Youens F. Zambon A. Zinnes
Presley embodied American dream for Vietnamese family
With Elvis’s bir4thday having just passed (January 8), I thought you would like this story from the Houston Chronicle…
Many people who know John Newinn, the sales coordinator at a local TV
station, call him Elvis John.
*By Carol Rust*
Updated: 01.05.10
In December 2008, 36-year-old John Newinn was taking his girlfriend to a
holiday party at his parents’ home to meet them for the first time. Just
before they arrived, he said off-handedly, “By the way, my parents are big
Elvis fans. That OK??”
Mandy Barber, a nurse who’d known Newinn for a month, said she liked Elvis,
too.
But she wasn’t ready--no one could be--for the absolute onslaught of Elvis
posters, busts, statues and household items emblazoned with his famous face,
set among a population of statuary depicting various figures of Buddhist
spiritual leaders and historical characters that were common in their home
in Vietnam.
“I was blown away,” Barber said of her first meeting with Henry and Tania
Newinn in their spacious home in northwest Houston.
A statue of a Chinese warrior said to guard against evil spirits holds up a
cardboard fan in their foyer that proclaims, “I’m an Elvis fan.” The
jailhouse rocker’s face is everywhere -- the door of an old wooden armoire in
the dining room, portraits that are staggered up the staircase, a shower
curtain, an Elvis clock with pendulum hips that swing back and forth, a
skillet hanging on the kitchen wall. Elvis music starts playing in the
laundry room when the overhead light is switched on, and their garage --
where there is no room for cars -- is an oversized Elvis shrine where a
robotic Elvis bust turns his head and says, “Thankyouverymuch,” before
launching into a song.
Barber learned during that visit, too, that her new boyfriend performed
heart-swelling renditions of the big E, occasionally swiveling his hips for
the Presley effect. And he is no stranger to the spotlight. He frequently
performs at fundraisers in the area and has swept Elvis-impersonation
contests, taking second place in 1995 in a national contest sponsored by the
company that operates the tourist complex at Graceland, Elvis’ home in
Memphis where he moved in 1957 after he’d become famous. Many people who
know the sales coordinator at a local TV station call him Elvis John.
During his junior year in high school, he performed “Everybody Loves
Somebody? by Dean Martin at the school’s talent show. “Someone said, ‘Hey,
you sound like Elvis,’ and I thought, ‘OK, well, maybe I can do that,’” John
said. Listening over and over to his songs and watching videos of his
movies, John perfected the Elvis style. His mother found a tailor to make
his rhinestone-studded jumpsuits, and his act was complete.
His rich baritone melts into the chorus of ‘Fools Rush In’ during an
impromptu family concert on a cramped stage that is crammed into the
Newinn’s dining room and faces a row of wooden folding chairs reminiscent of
a country church. Mother Tania’s eyes glow with pride as she watches him,
probably for the thousandth time. His father, Henry, can’t quit smiling.
The Newinns are absolute in their devotion to Elvis as the embodiment of the
American dream and to the United States as their adopted home “where
everyone has a chance, whether they’re black, white or Asian,” Tania said.
(In their back yard, a small version of the Statue of Liberty holds an
outdoor light among statues of Elvis.)
Henry was a teenager in Saigon in 1956 when he first heard the Elvis music
that American GIs brought with them when they were stationed there. He went
wild over “Jailhouse Rock” when he saw the movie and began performing The
King’s songs at his sister’s nightclub in Saigon, heating ivory chopsticks
to curl his hair into the Elvis pompadour in the absence of hairdryers in
his country.
Many Vietnamese in their 60s and older associate Elvis music with a blissful
time in their youth before communists took over South Vietnam. Henry was
working for the U.S. State Department in a small province outside Saigon and
learned that communist soldiers were about 15 miles away from their home.
They grabbed their infant son John and escaped to a U.S. military ship with
the 7th Fleet a few miles off the coast, starting their journey to the United
States.
They landed in Houston, and Henry worked as a busboy at a restaurant while
attending college classes. Money was scarce, and they were lonely in their
new home. One day, Newinn spotted a man along Telephone Road selling black
velvet portraits of Elvis from the back of his pickup. He saved $5 from tips
at his job and returned to buy one.
It now hangs prominently in their garage to remind them, just as Elvis
started with nothing and worked his way to fame, how far they have come.
http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/01/07/greater_houston_weekly/top_of_the_week/0106_elvis_john.txt
Thursday, January 07, 2010
No me moleste mosquito by Jeo Dassin and Henri Salvador
