SEOUL TO BECOME THE MARITIME TOURISM HUB

Seoul 'to Become Maritime Tourism Hub'

Starting in 2012, 5000-ton cruise ships will depart from Yeouido linking cities along the eastern coast of China. And in 2016, a 150-room floating hotel will be built on the Han River near an international commercial zone in Yongsan. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the plans at a press conference in Hong Kong on Monday, where he vowed to transform Seoul into a maritime tourism hub.

At the heart of the plan is a cruise ship and passenger line service departing from Yeouido and heading out into the West Sea via the Han River. To make this possible, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to build a 3,600 sq. m passenger terminal in Yeouido in 2011, when redevelopment of the Han River will be completed under the four rivers project and the Yanghwa and Haengju bridges will be modified to allow cruise ships to pass under them.

Starting in 2012, a 5,000-ton international cruise ship will depart from Yeouido capable of carrying 160 passengers in 44 rooms. It will house duty free shops, a performance hall, theater, gym and outdoor swimming pool, departing on three- to six-day tours to Shanghai, Qingdao, Weihai and other Chinese coastal cities and possibly later to Hong Kong, Macau and even Tokyo. A 2,000-3,000-ton domestic passenger ship will also dock at the Yeouido terminal.

Seoul city will hold an open bid next month to invite businesses to operate the cruises and choose one in April of next year.

"If the domestic and international cruises become a reality, Seoul will be reborn as a maritime tourism hub of Northeast Asia," Oh said. "We expect the Han River, which has been neglected as a tourism destination, to become a driving force behind our tourism industry," he said.

THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE INTERNET: ARE YOU READY?

Internationalization of the Internet Takes Center Stage at ICANN Seoul Meeting

Add This Blog This A program that is expected to make the Internet far more accessible to millions of people in regions such as Asia and the Middle East will be one of the central topics of ICANN’s 36th International Public Meeting in Seoul, October 25-30, 2009. ICANN’s Board of Directors is scheduled to review an historic measure that could bring initial limited use of Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) to the Internet before the end of the year. IDNs allow the use of non-Latin based language characters in the entire Internet address, which is expected to vastly increase the number of Internet users in global regions where languages such as Chinese, Korean or Arabic are spoken. “This is an extremely important meeting for ICANN, since the IDN program is moving one step closer to reshaping the global Internet landscape,” said Rod Beckstrom, ICANN’s President and CEO. “In Seoul, we plan to move forward to the next step in the internationalization of the Internet, which means that eventually people from every corner of the globe will be able to navigate much of the online world using their native language scripts.” Some of the other major issues to be raised at the Seoul meeting include: The Affirmation of Commitments: The Seoul meeting occurs only three weeks after ICANN and the U.S. government signed an “Affirmation of Commitments.” The agreement endorses ICANN’s rapid adoption of IDNs. It also supports ICANN’s bottom up global stakeholder model of governance and policy formation and helps guarantee that the organization is globally accountable. The Affirmation succeeds the so-called “Joint Project Agreement” between ICANN and the U.S. Department of Commerce, which called for annual reviews to be submitted to the U.S. government. Those accountability reviews will now go to the global ICANN community. To view a video of Rod Beckstrom’s comments on the Affirmation of Commitments, please click here. You can embed this video on your Web site by clicking the “Get Code” button. Generic top-level Domains: gTLDs are the end portion of an Internet address name, such as “.com” or “.org” and are not associated with any specific country. Under a new developing program, the number of gTLDs will eventually be expanded from its current list of 21 to include almost any word, in almost any language. The third draft of a proposed “Applicant Guidebook,” which spells out the rules and procedures of applying for a new gTLD, has just been published, and the Seoul meeting will afford participants a prime opportunity to discuss the latest draft. Please click here to review the Applicant Guidebook. Internet Security: Cyber-security threats are always evolving and changing and the threat to the domain name system (DNS) is always increasing, as the world saw several months ago with the threat from the Conficker worm. The threat was met with an unprecedented collaboration between ICANN and top security experts from Microsoft, Symantec and dozens of other companies, software vendors and organizations dedicated to preserving the security and stability of the Internet. The Seoul meeting will afford an opportunity for security experts to share updates on DNS Security (DNSSEC). . About ICANN: To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an address into your computer - a name or a number. That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that coordination we wouldn't have one global Internet. ICANN was formed in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on the Internet’s unique identifiers. ICANN doesn’t control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it doesn’t deal with access to the Internet. But through its coordination role of the Internet’s naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet. For more information please visit: www.icann.org.

CREED: UNDERRATED????

It's not easy to find a success story as genuine as Creed's in popular culture these days when considering all of the carefully scripted rises to glory and the falls that inevitably follow careers built on hype. If any band in recent years can claim to have ascended strictly on its own merits, it's Creed. This Florida-based band went from zero to sixty, (or, more accurately, from zero to selling more than twenty million albums) by virtue of a combination of finger-on-the-pulse songs and powerful live performances. Their debut album, My Own Prison, has sold over six million albums to date. Creed's sophomore effort, Human Clay, debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts and has gone on to sell more than 10 Million copies. The band's third release, Weathered, also debuted at #1, selling more copies in its first week than any other rock release in 2001, and tying the record for the longest run at the top following a #1 debut.

"With My Own Prison, I knew we had the talent to get a record deal and I knew we had songs good enough to get played on the radio, but I never had any expectations of reaching this many people," says Creed's front man Scott Stapp.

Nonetheless, the band's success has been truly phenomenal. Creed was the first band in history to have four #1 Rock Radio singles from a debut album. On the strength of their singles, including the crushing title track and the more pensive "What's This Life For," Creed topped countless year-end charts and was recognized as the Rock Artist of the Year at Billboard's 1998 Music Awards. Their debut album was also the #1-selling Hard Music album of 1998 on SoundScan's Hard Music chart.

With the release of their second album, Human Clay, Creed upped the ante yet again. "Higher," the first single from their 10-times platinum sophomore release, broke the Active and Mainstream Rock airplay records for the most consecutive weeks at #1, holding the coveted spot for eighteen weeks. Furthermore, Creed was recognized once again as the Rock Artist of the Year at Billboard's 1999 and 2000 Music Awards. Human Clay 's first three singles ("Higher," "What If" and "With Arms Wide Open") again achieved #1 status, setting a record with a total of seven consecutive #1 Rock Radio singles.

"We're the type of band that functions really well under pressure and the only pressure that we recognize is our own. We definitely wanted to top ourselves [after the My Own Prison album]," says Stapp. "We wanted to make a really great record. The band's goal has always been to make records that are solid from start to finish; records that take you through an entire range of emotions." Guitarist / co-writer Mark Tremonti added, "We always kept in mind that we had to write for ourselves because as long as we are proud of it, our fans will be as well. We try not to set any other goals above and beyond that." While Stapp grants that the band's increased resources had some impact on the structure of Human Clay, it's clear that Creed's evolution is far more than just a matter of dollars and cents.

Once again, Creed has returned with an album of songs that collectively offer the listener a passionate journey of emotive energy. Tremonti and Stapp's collaborations stand among the select few that seem to effortlessly draw the listener in and truly move the spirit through the simple art of expression. The lead single, "My Sacrifice," opens with a signature Mark Tremonti guitar intro and then envelops the listener with the mood and power no other band today commands.

For Weathered, Creed once again turned to longtime friend and producer John Kurzweg to ensure that they captured the anthemic guitars, dramatic vocals and bold lyrics that have made the band's brawny-yet-intimate sound a radio staple for several years. The band also decided to invite Kirk Kelsey, their longtime live sound engineer, to co-produce the new material. Together with Kurzweg and Kelsey, Creed recorded the new album in a home studio just outside of Orlando. Drummer Scott Phillips commented, "We've done our previous two albums in home studios and have felt that this is our best creative environment where we can feel comfortable and creative as a band." Guitarist Mark Tremonti performed all of the bass guitar tracks on Weathered and a few special guests made passionate contributions to the album. On "Don't Stop Dancing," the band was joined by the Tallahassee Boys' Choir and Amie Stapp. Regarding his sister's appearance on the album, Stapp noted, "I had been looking for a female vocalist for awhile and it dawned on me that I didn't need to look any farther than home." On "Who's Got My Back?," vocalist Bo Taylor, an archivist at The Museum of the Cherokee Indian, makes a special appearance on the invitation of Creed. Taylor mentioned, "I really like Creed's music because they are asking questions that all human beings should ask as they look outside of themselves. Music touches people and Scott contacted me to celebrate where he originally came from and to reconnect with his ancestry. It speaks volumes about his character that he reached back and made this statement and it means a lot to me personally that he did this."

"I think my lyrics are very direct and understandable," says Stapp. "People can relate to that, so that's something I didn't want to move away from. At the same time, we're a little bit older and more mature now and we've been through a lot in the past few years, so we are looking to put things across in a way that reflected that." Co-writer Mark Tremonti added, "We wanted to take our sound and expand on it. I think Weathered is the most diverse, dynamic record we have written to date."

Creed's reputation for dynamic and passionate live performances has led to consistently sold-out shows. Over the past four years the band has played to more than four million fans worldwide. "We were out on tour for a long time and wherever we went, there were people telling me how much certain songs meant to them and how they felt so close to them," says Stapp. "That means more to me than any other kind of attention. It's important to feel as if you're doing something worthwhile and in this band, with Mark and Scott, I feel like I am." On a similar note, drummer Scott Phillips added, "Our success has been dictated by the fans. They are the most important thing in the band's life. The three of us feel blessed to have such a great following of people. It's amazing to me when I sit behind the kit during a show and see the passion and emotion displayed by the audience."

In January 2002, Creed embarked on a world tour that will bring them to over one million fans throughout the year. The year began with a trek across North American arenas in January, after which they touched down in Australia and New Zealand in July. The band will then return to the U.S. for a summer / fall stadium tour. When asked before the tour about his feelings on getting back on the road and in front of the band's fans, guitarist Mark Tremonti replied, "Personally, I can't wait to get back on tour. It is something I truly enjoy and can't live without. It has been too long since we played a full blown show." Scott Phillips mentioned, "It's been over a year since we've had a chance to perform in front of a crowd. Our experiences in previous years have been amazing and we can't wait to continue that feeling."

In 2000, Creed's presence on television and their impact on end-of-year award shows were undeniable. The band released their VH1 behind the Music special, taped and released VH1's Storytellers with The Doors and garnered numerous awards. In November, Creed earned two awards at the Radio Music Awards and the fans bestowed four awards on the band at the My VH1 Awards. They also received the award for Rock Artist of the Year, for the third year in a row, at the Billboard Awards in December. The writing team of Mark Tremonti / Scott Stapp kicked off 2001 by winning a Grammy Award for the band's composition, "With Arms Wide Open," a deeply personal song that was inspired when Stapp learned he was going to become a father.

Stapp is also continually besieged with requests to help with a variety of fund-raisers and charities and helps whenever and wherever he can. He has started his own charity, the "With Arms Wide Open Foundation" in an attempt to help underprivileged children and to be able to give something back to the communities that have supported Creed.

STUDIO 54 BLAST THE NIGHT AWAY

 

STUDIO 54
STUDIO 54
STUDIO 54
STUDIO 54
STUDIO 54
STUDIO 54
STUDIO 54
STUDIO 54
STUDIO 54

During the late 1970s Studio 54 in Manhattan was the ultimate destination in hedonistic nightlife, so it only makes sense that the local reincarnation of New York’s famous nightclub is a perfect fit in Vegas. While there may not be cocaine and cash stuffed in the walls, this club certainly knows a thing or two about excess. Sprawling a massive 22,000 square feet with four dance floors to get your groove on, Studio 54 is full of nods to the original. From the signature disco ball still spinning from the ceiling to the huge black and white photographs taken at the NY venue, there is no doubt where the club gets its inspiration. But while the interior features décor synonymous with the original Studio 54, there’s nothing outdated about it. In 2005 the club underwent a complete remodel, and today aerialists contort above your head, hard bodied go-go dancers writhe to the beat and the dance floor literally pulses with energy. Dress to impress for a night out here, after all it is Studio 54. Remember standard beer pricing is $ 7.00 per bottle.

3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas

, 89109 phone 702-891-7254

ELECTRIC CAR COALITION PRESSURE ON THE US GOVT

 

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn with the company's Land Glider electric concept car. Photo / AP

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn with the company's Land Glider electric concept car. Photo / AP

WASHINGTON - A group of businessmen launched a new coalition yesterday to urge the US government to make a major investment in electric transportation, pointing to electric cars as the best way to confront the nation's dependence on imported oil.

Top executives with more than a dozen companies, including Nissan, FedEx, electric utility PG&E and battery developers A123 Systems and Johnson Controls-Saft, announced the formation of the Electrification Coalition to lay the groundwork for millions of electric cars to reach US highways.

Issuing a lengthy plan to electrify the US fleet, the coalition urged Congress to pass a series of tax credits and loan guarantees to bring 14 million electric cars to the road by 2020 and more than 100 million by 2030.

The group envisions a network of electric vehicles in six to eight cities in the short term and an expansion across the US, making 75 per cent of all vehicle kilometers travelled powered by electricity by 2040.

"There's no pie-in-the-sky here," said Frederick W. Smith, FedEx's chairman, president and chief executive. "It's simply a matter of organization, a matter of will and a matter of execution."

Participants, however, acknowledged that the proposals would be expensive and would require a major commitment from Congress. The group's blueprint would cost more than US$120 ($164) billion over eight years and promote tax credits for the installation of advanced batteries, loan guarantees for the retooling of plants, and tax credits for public charging stations and home charging equipment.

"Ultimately the consumer will make the judgment about where this country goes, but from the standpoint of public policy we can set the stage for it," said Sen. Byron Dorgan, a Democrat who joined the group for its announcement.

Nissan President and chief executive Carlos Ghosn said the auto industry was working quickly to develop zero-emissions cars in response to concerns about oil security, tighter emissions requirements in the United States and elsewhere and a public thirst for alternative vehicles not tied to petroleum.

Ghosn said the world market of 600 million vehicles is expected to expand to 2.5 billion vehicles in 2050 with the growth in vehicle purchasing in developing nations such as China and India, making electric cars a must.

Nissan is releasing the Leaf, an all-electric car, in limited numbers next year and plans to put the vehicle into mass-production globally in 2012.

"The time is right for electric cars - in fact the time is critical," Ghosn said.

The New Zealand Herald

- AP

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO MAN: limbo rock

Every limbo boy and girl
All around the limbo world
Gonna do the limbo rock
All around the limbo clock
Jack be limbo, Jack be quick
Jack go unda limbo stick
All around the limbo clock
Hey, let's do the limbo rock

Limbo lower now
Limbo lower now
How low can you go

First you spread your limbo feet
Then you move to limbo beat
Limbo ankolimboneee,
Bend back like a limbo tree
Jack be limbo, Jack be quick
Jack go unda limbo stick
All around the limbo clock
Hey, let's do the limbo rock

Get yourself a limbo girl
Give that chick a limbo whirl
There's a limbo moon above
You will fall in limbo love
Jack be limbo, Jack be quick
Jack go unda limbo stick
All around the limbo clock
Hey, let's do the limbo rock

Don't move that limbo bar
You'll be a limbo star
How low can you go

this is a song sung by Chubby Checker, and it asks how low can you go?

only our apologies president could bow down to every Monarch in the world, every body else behaves normally.

Well what do you expect from a Hussein.
Keep bowing, you wont even know what hits your butt.

POLITICAL CORRRECTNESS GONE AMOK

Political Correctness Gone Amok
Let’s hope that Democrats don’t read the London Times.  If they do, they might learn that the English language is being censored in the rush to be politically correct.  Under this philosophy we must be careful to not offend anybody no matter how ridiculous the effort is in practice.         Dozens of taxpayer-funded organizations have ordered a purge of common words and phrases so as not to cause offence.  Among the everyday sayings that have been quietly dropped in a bid to stamp out racism and sexism are “whiter than white,” “gentleman’s agreement,” “black mark,” and “right-hand man.”         The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has advised its staff to replace the phrase “black day” with “miserable day,” according to documents released under freedom of information rules.  The commission even urges employees to be mindful of the term “ethnic minority” because it can imply “something smaller and less important.”         The National Gallery in London believes that the phrase “gentleman’s agreement” is potentially offensive to women and suggests that its staff should replace it with “unwritten agreement” or “an agreement based on trust” instead.  The term “right-hand man” is also considered taboo by the gallery, with “second in command” being deemed more suitable; after all they wouldn’t want to offend left-handed people, which in the United States include a number of U.S. presidents, including Barack Obama.         Many institutions have urged their workforce to be mindful of “gender bias” in language.  The Learning and Skills Council wants staff members to “perfect” their brief rather than “master” it, while the Newcastle University has singled out the phrase “master bedroom” as being problematic.         “Terms such as ‘black sheep of the family,’ ‘black looks,’ and ‘black mark’ have no direct link to skin color but potentially serve to reinforce a negative view of all things black.  Equally, certain terms imply a negative image of 'black' by reinforcing the positive aspects of white,” according to the South West Regional Development Agency.         “For example, in the context of being above suspicion, the phrase 'whiter than white' is often used. Purer than pure or cleaner than clean are alternatives which do not infer that anything other than white should be regarded with suspicion.”         But not everyone in England is on board with the extension of political correctness.  Anthony Horowitz, author of the Alex Rider children’s spy books, said: “A great deal of our modern language is based on traditions which have now gone but it would be silly--and extremely inconvenient--to replace them all.  A ‘white collar worker,’ for example, probably doesn’t wear one.  An ‘able seaman,’ under new regulations, could well be neither.  ‘Spanish practices’ can happen all over Europe.  We know what these phrases mean and we can find out from where they were derived.  Banning them is just unnecessary.”         I have a suggestion; maybe the Navy should stop calling its non commissioned officers Petty officers; how demeaning is that?  They also overlooked Bing Crosby dreaming of a White Christmas, and how about “green with envy?”         Marie Clair, spokeswoman for the Plain English Campaign, said: “Political correctness has good intentions but things can be taken to an extreme.  What is really needed is a bit of common sense.”         Oh, really?  We certainly can’t expect that from our government.