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Annapolis Symphony Orchestra Summer Pops in the Park
Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis
Saturday, August 30 (Rain date August 31); 6 p.m.
Admission: Free

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Though the article seemed to downplay the chances of finding any, we decided to make the trip up into the highlands to the museum anyway, as it lies at the foot of Mount Aso, which is always worth trip, bees or no bees.

Dotted around the museum's garden, there were patches of flowering basil, and busily buzzing around these bushes were hundreds of insects - including some blue and black striped bees.

As I crouched next to the plant, waiting for an opportune moment to take a snap, with the bees buzzing around my head, it struck how quiet they were. In fact they were barely buzzing at all. Occasionally one would stop and hover in front of my face, as if it were checking me out.  This made them seem very friendly, though I may just have been caught up in the moment.

More photos of the unmistakeable blueness can be seen here.

I personally like picture #14 of the pack of riders cycles in the Alps mountains during the fifteenth stage of the Tour de France between Embrun and Prato Nevoso on July 20, 2008.

When you get a spare moment, go take a look. Well worth it.

Well about damn time too! According to news reports coming in today, the UCI has struck a deal with Tour organisers, ASO, to settle a year long dispute that has led to a string of court cases.

According to a report on the Associated Press:

Pat McQuaid, president of the International Cycling Union, said Monday there will be a new ranking system for riders, teams and nations starting in 2011. That system will determine which teams must be invited to compete in the Tour, the world's most prestigious cycle race.

The Tour de France will become a UCI event again. The UCI's ProTour competition will continue.

The discussions were held under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee and were mediated by IOC member Jean-Claude Killy.

The Amaury Group, owner of the Tour de France organizer, was not immediately available to comment.

All in all, good news for the world of cycling.

The SBP notes that UPC will feature an ad is based around the company’s new ‘digital value’ pack – which includes 35 TV channels including Film4 and BBC4 plus additional radio channels for €20 per month. See: http://www.upc.ie/television/digitaltv/value/

ver a year, UPC would provide a €132 saving over Sky Digital. The ad will be being broadcast on RTE, TV3 and TG4 according to the article.

The BCI will also have its Conference soon for the media, exploring DTT, Radio, and UK Analogue Switchover with someone from Digital UK, the industry ASO organistion. See: http://www.thepost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=THE+INSIDE+TRACK-qqqs=mediaandmarketing-qqqid=35012-qqqx=1.asp

Digital UK and also Boxer DTT should be interesting to hear their ideas. No indications yet whether DTT will just be the conventional DTT elsewhere or whether Irish DTT will give it sparkle with such convergence of Internet and DTV by incorporating Amigo TV Suite headsets and Social DTV communities. If they do not, a chance missed for broadcasters, advertisers alike. See: http://www1.alcatel-lucent.com/com/en/appcontent/apl/T0205-Amigo_TV-EN_tcm172-195461635.pdf and http://www.ist-ipmedianet.org/Alcatel_EuroiTV2004_AmigoTV_short_paper_S4-2.pdf

Preparem-se para outra guerra: a Vuelta faz parte da UCI ProTour (a única das 3 grandes) e a Scott-American Beef, idem. Tenho certeza que a UCI vai tentar forçar sua participação.

E além disso, lembram-se da transação envolvendo a ASO e a UNIPUBLIC que divulguei nesse post do Maglia Rosa?

The other day I logged on to the Internet and Yahoo's Home Page came up.

An article put out by ARA Lifestyle turned out to be an ad about computers that were running slow.

It directed me to a website called Sammsoft offering Advanced Registry Optimizer 5 or ARO 5.  They stated that you could try the program  for free in the hopes that you would buy it.  They also claimed that CNET had  awarded four stars in 2007 for their software.

I downloaded the free version.  It "found" over 1100 "errors" on my computer.  Using DSL, it took 4 1/2 hours to scan my entire PC.

It turns out to be that that scan captured all of my personal information including all of my bank accounts, the bank with whom I do business, credit and debit card numbers used for prior history on supposedly secure servers, back up and emergency support numbers for my company, all of my address information, access to my email account and more.

All company and personal information about me had been captured or in my words, stolen.

My email this morning came from Sonic Solutions.  It contained information about me that only two people have access to - my bank and myself.  But it is on my computer and in my files.

I was asked to pay an invoice for software called Photo Show 5.  I am in advertising and have a lot of creative software.  This was not something I ordered.  I clicked on a link to find out more information about this "order" I placed and was directed to a site asking for my reference number and my credit card number.

Red flags went up every where.

And today, the results came crashing in when I got an email from a company called Sonic Solutions also listed as Digital River and Sonic Solutions CS.  They asked me to pay a third party, Global Collect BV with offices in San Francisco.

I called Global Collect and they immediately said, "obviously sir, you are a victim of internet fraud but we need more information about you".  I realized that they were phishing for more information to try and do further damage.

I asked to be transferred to their corporate offices or legal division.  I was told that those offices are in the Netherlands and don't handle US Affairs.

It turns out to be that they billed my credit cards under the following name:

Zoombli aka Xeriton

and those charges are all tied to the following companies and or names, all of whom have my personal information (this doesn't mean they are all guilty of fraud but they are all tied to one another for information retrieval and billing and all can be found by searching their name and the word fraud (to see what they have done to others):

ARA Lifestyle

ARA Lifestyle dot com

Advanced System Optimizer

Advanced Registry Optimizer

Yahoo (they placed their advertising link there - it looked like a Yahoo article)

Sonic Solutions

Global Collect BV

(Global Collect advertises that they help prevent fraud - do not be fooled - they will gain access to all of your information, play dumb and ask you to provide more personal information to "resolve" the problem.)

Digital River

Sonic Store

Sonic Store CS

Digital River Customer Service

Zoombli

Xeriton

ARAnet.inc

ARA

ARAlifestyle

ARO

ASO

Additionally beware of Wilco Publishing and Voice Buddy - I was taken for a financial ride by both of them and since they are not US based, have had no luck recovering my money.  I had purchased Tower Simulator which never properly worked after six download attempts then sent a letter telling me I was not entitled to recover my money as they have an "all sales are final" statement and their billing company doesn't issue refunds.  They also refused to send me the software on CD and told me to write to the publisher for a solution.  The publisher to whom they told me to write was Wilco Publishing - the same people that sent me the letter.

I will add this statement:

Not all of these companies are fraudulent but they do claim affiliations with trusted and reputable companies like CNET, The Better Business Bureau, Yahoo, etc.

I will tell you that I have spent FOUR HOURS dealing with all the damage done to my account and private information.  And no one at any of these companies cares.  Either they claim International offices with no phone numbers, play dumb or just refuse to hand out information until you give more information about yourself.

I have never been asked to give a credit card number in order to discuss an account unless it was with the company that issued the credit card to me.

This was hastily written to warn others -  as the more I googled these named and the word fraud, the more people I found out had been ripped off.

As for me, so far my total lost exceeds $2,000.00.  About $65.00 of that amount can be recovered.  And I have had to cancel all bank accounts, credit cards, debit cards, change phone numbers, etc as they can take all of this information and sell it to third parties who will begin soliciting to you via the phone.

I now have to pay rush fees, purchase new checks, pay for phone number changes, deal with excessive phone calls on lines reserved for priority calls, etc.   I one morning, my financial and functional life has become a nightmare.

And yes, they have all of my non published back up phone numbers and I have been slammed with phone solicitors on phone lines that are restricted to important calls, not published in any manner.

What legal recourse do I have?  NONE.

Beware - It is sad to say that some of these companies have apparently illegally used the names of other reputable companies in order to take advantage of comsumers.

Again, I want to make it clear that not all of these companies are out to take advantage of people but they are all linked together in either billing, advertising, or alleged "fraudulent debt resolution".

The 2008 TdF [finally] brought the UCI, the governing body of world-wide cycling, into head-to-head battle with ASO, the race promoter for the Tour de France and several other major races. The two have been bickering for years with arguments festering into a full-on war last year when the UCI withheld information from from ASO regarding Michael Rasmussen--the chicken; the only man to be plucked from the yellow jersey; the dying breed of genetically altered white meat. The withheld information would have resulted in Rasmussen being banned from the race, thus saving the TdF and ASO the embarrassment and troubles associated with the situation.

Many believe that the UCI does not effectively deal with doping because they represent the teams and riders. They are the Union of the cycling world and, as such, they are weak and useless in dealing with doping. Yes, they will pick on a rider here and there, but overall, the UCI has not implemented any harsh penelties for the riders or teams or managers for violations. That Rasmussen started the '07 tour after missing several out-of-competition tests is witness to these claims.

ASO laid down the law before the tour even started by banning Team Astana from the 2008 TdF and several other races, despite the fact that the 2008 team was completely new--new riders, new management, only the name remained the same. The team was torn down and rebuilt because in 2007 several Astana riders were involved in doping scandals. Despite the doping, enhancements and overall embarrassment that Astana brought to the pro peloton, the UCI still granted the team a pro tour license. ASO stepped up with a resounding, "No!" and banned the team. (I still question why ASO singled out Astana and didn't impose similar rules to Cofidis and Rabobank.)

ASO proved this year that it can self-govern its races. Doping controls run by the French national anti-doping agency (AFLD) were precise and apparently accurate, resulting in four positive tests. From reports, the testers were crafty and more diligent in implement tests when compared to previous years, i.e. UCI and WADA. Any bursts of power or questionable abilities landed riders in line for testing at the end of a stage. From all indications, this was the deepest, most vigorous testing the tour has ever seen.

While the battle rages on, it seems the 95th running of the Tour de France could spell the end of the International Cycling Union (UCI). ASO has proven that a race organizer is capable of coordinating and then governing a race. It seems the biggest question right now is how badly will UCI loose and what steps will they take to save face?

More importantly, the pro peloton may finally be cleaned and drug free. Viva Clean Racing!

Well so it has been alleged today from the BBC. The news broadcaster claims it has received documents that suggest the world cycling body was paid £1.5m by organisers of a Japanese cycling event to help get track cycling's keirin event on the Olympic program in 1996.

The payments were allegedly made in the 1990s. The event was supported for inclusion into the Games by the UCI and admitted in 1996.

The UCI says it has found no evidence of the bribery.

"UCI looked into this matter when questions were first raised by the BBC in early June," the organisation's press office said in a statement today. "A thorough examination of our records and interviews with those involved has turned up no evidence that this was anything other than a straightforward, completely proper arrangement to promote track cycling."

However a former top official with the UCI, Denmark's Henrik Elmgreen, said it was widely known that the keirin, which in 1992 was in danger of being dropped from the UCI's world championship program, was pushed through thanks to money.

The payments total some $3m (£1.5m) - that is about a fifth of the UCI's annual budget - paid as reimbursements for things like the routine travel expenses of top UCI officials including Hein Verbruggen, the man who is now in charge of the organising committee for the Beijing Olympic Games.  In one six-month period in 1999, the Keirin Association paid for no fewer than five separate return flights on UCI business taken by Verbruggen to the Netherlands, his home country.

A source who was within the UCI at the time told the BBC that the payments were explicitly a payback for getting the keirin into the Games.

After being confronted with the revelations, Verbruggen himself who denied that anything improper had taken place. "It's been done in total transparency", he said. "This was done for the development of track cycling around the world."

However he did not directly explain how come routine air fares and other UCI expenses were being covered by the Japanese.

This is a sorry state of affairs for the UCI. These kinds of allegations will not do its image any justice as it fights to keep control of cycling on a global level. First the TdF organiser, Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), dismisses the authority of the UCI.  Then 17 of 18 teams pull out of the ProTour series, sanctioned by the UCI. And now these damning allegations.

Come, come UCI! It's time to get your house in order!

Kinikilabutan ako sa nakita kong ito. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko sa taong mag mamaltrato sa aso ko. Sa dami dami ng gulay, baboy, manok, at "laman" na maaring kainin bakit kailangan pang-isali ang mga aso sa mga katayin at panghapunan?

Ikailangan mabago ang pag-iisip ng ibang Pinoy. At kailangan na rin maituwid ang kulturang ito.

Ikaw, nakakain ka na ba ng aso?

BBC Sport: Cycling teams quit ProTour series

The International Cycling Union's (UCI) control of the sport has been dealt a blow as all 17 teams decided to leave the elite ProTour series.

The ProTour, which started in 2005, guaranteed the top teams a place in the leading races.

"It has been decided unanimously not to renew the ProTour licences for the 2009 season," the teams said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

An interesting move from 17 of the 18 teams in the ProTour series. According to other news sources, the teams will be seeking a "new system of organisation for professional cycling."

Watch this space as this story develops.

]]> http://sweatngears.wordpress.com/?p=49 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:33:41 +0000 Craig http://sweatngears.wordpress.com/?p=49 [/caption]

I have to say, I've been watching the cycling press of late and it seems that Greg Lemond has definitely switched his PR machine ON. A good few months ago you practically heard not a word from the guy. Then news came out about a month ago, that following some comments he made about Lance Armstrong, Trek Bicycle Corporation was terminating the contract they had with him to produce his own-named range of bicycles.

Lemond, who has always been very outspoken on the subject of doping, seems to have got his PR team into gear and is now going full throttle with them. Their timing couldn't be better, especially with the TdF now entering its second week.

First there was noise about Lemond saying that cycling no longer needs the UCI.  At the start of the second stage of the Tour, he told journalists, "Cycling no longer needs the UCI." He also added, "The UCI is just there to stamp licences and make the regulations. The solution for cycling is very simple: organisers and riders should create their own federation and take over the sport." The American's comments sounded like strong support for Tour de France organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), who are embroiled in a long feud with the UCI over the organisation of the sport.

Notice though that he made these comments at this year's Tour. This is the first time since 1990 that Lemond is making an extended visit to the event. According to news sources, he attributes his long absence to several factors — post-cycling health problems, for one, and more recently, the prevalence of doping that has turned many fans sour on the sport.

It seems to me that Lemond is trying make his way back into the world of cycling, although not on the bicycle, but as an outspoken past Tour winner against doping in this beautiful sport.

Who know's what his end objectives are, only time will tell what they are. But you have to hand it to his PR team. They are doing a great job at getting their man back into the lime light.

10 - Riccardo Riccò. Verdaderamente hoy se ha visto claro que esta etapa estaba marcada con rojo en su calendario del año. Casi nadie podía pensar que "Il Cobra di Formigine" podría valerse sólo de su infinita clase y poderosa llegada, sin una forma excesivamente buena tras el desgaste del Giro y la falta de competición antes de este Tour, para ganar hoy en Super-Besse. De por sí, Saunier Duval ha planteado la etapa como mejor podían hacerlo, dados sus limitados efectivos: han lanzado a Piepoli por delante si el de la Emilia pudiese necesitar ayuda, han dejado hacer al onmipresente Caisse d'Epargne y ha sido el jovencísimo atleta transalpino quien ha encendido la mecha final. Valverde, al contrario que en la Cöte du Cadoudal, sólo le ha quedado "sentarse y apluadir" (incluso picó 1 segundo, en pleno alarde de fogosidad). Como decía un curioso cartel situado en uno de los numerosos lagos del Auberne, por donde ha transitado la carrera, "maintenant...?". ¿Y ahora...? Sólo el tiempo nos dirá si este Riccò puede asumir los rigores de una segunda vuelta por etapas a gran ritmo.

9 - Caisse d'Epargne. Los chicos de Unzúe se hubiesen llevado el 10 si su jefe de filas hubiese tenido el reprís que le sobró en Plumelec. Da gusto ver a un bloque organizado con tantos hombres, con poderpara llevar carreras tantas veces sin dueño, desde que sobre las grandes vueltas no se cierne la sombra del dominador de turno. Merecen mención especial la labor de Portal en la bajada de la Croix Morand y el ES-PLÉN-DI-DO trabajo de Óscar Pereiro, hasta la extenuación, en los compases final de la ascensión a Sancy. Si las piernas le responden a Valverde, puede estar tranquilo: no se verá solo. Paso por alto las excusas sobre el estado de forma que se había apuntado por parte de la prensa: se deben pensar que uno es tonto.

8 - Cadel Evans. Es impresionante el compromiso con la competición del capitán de Silence - Lotto. Nos hemos hartado, nos hartamos y nos hartaremos de hablar de su ultra-conservadurismo, de sus "ataques de peseta"; sin embargo, no se puede negar que su moral y sacrificio son insuperables en el ciclismo de hoy. Siempre está ahí, incluso aunque no sea certeramente explosivo, lo que le hace pegarse a la rueda de Valverde a base de casta y fuerza. Deberá hacer algo más si quiere sacar de la primera posición a un, hasta hoy, insaciable Kirchen, pero ya está poniendo las "primeras piedras" para construir la carrera de sus sueños.

7 - Roman Kreuziger. ¿Está el joven checo, classe 1986, alargando su pico de forma en esta primera semana del Tour? De momento, ya asoma la cabeza entre los más grandes, en una etapa que no le convenía en exceso, puesto que los puertos largos, de porcentajes no tan serios, son los que más le satisfacen. Está a dos minutos en la general, peor si se muestra tan regular como en las etapas de montaña de Suiza puede dar más de un susto a los jerifales de la Grande Boucle.

6 - Moisés Dueñas. Absolutamente NADIE contaba con que el bejarano pudiese descargarse con una actuación tan brillante como la de hoy en el final de etapa. No es un escalador de primerísimo nivel ni tampoco tiene la chispa de los verdaderos "killers", pero parece que hoy olió las mismas tierras que le llevaron a ganar el Tour del Porvenir en 2006, y ha querido mandar un mensaje de tranquilidad al desmoralizado Barloworld: falta Soler, pero aquí estoy yo para suplirlo. Si no es "flor de un día" (cómo aborrezco hablar en condicional), ojo a este hombre que abandonó Agritubel para buscar aires latinos: no decepcionará.

5 - Freddy Bichot. A veces este mundo de cuerdos pide un loco que no se arredre ante la adversidad de un pelotón caníbal como el comandado hoy por Caisse d'Epargne. El hombre que ya animase como nadie la llegada de los Campos Elíseos el año pasado, el que estuvo a punto de robarle el premio de Brandt al vasco Amets Txurruka, se ha marcado hoy una bajada de la Croix Morand de gran valentía. Él es el reflejo de un Agritubel a todas luces soberbio en lo que llevamos de Tour; sólo falla el que no debía fallar: Moreau, con 41 segundos perdidos hoy.

4 - Kim Kirchen. ¿Hasta dónde puede llegar el luxemburgués? Sólo coloco esta nota de "no llega al aprobado" al líder del Team Columbia por dos aspectos: por haber sido el causante, intencionado o no, de la caída del hombre a quien ha "birlado" el maillot amarillo, y por la extraña implicación de su equipo en ciertos aspectos de liderazgo de la carrera. Se enfunda ahora en dos maillots que son fruto de su extrema tenacidad, una tozudez que le ha llevado a equipararse a los Hushovd o Ciolek en los sprints, mejorar casi a todos los candidatos a la generla en contrarreloj y aguantar son facilidad el primer envite serio de la montaña. No se podrá definir aún si tiene marchamo de corredor de tres semanas, pero, de momento, a él le vale con seguid como hasta ahora.

3 - Samuel Sánchez. Daba toda la impresión de que al corredor asturiano no podía escapársele una opción tan clara de llevarse una etapa en el Tour, pero el enorme apoyo de su equipo, en ocasiones tirando del grupo y también con ataques en la subida final a cargo de corredores como Gorka Verdugo, no tuvo respuesta por parte del aparente jefe de ruta en estas jornadas para los de Miguel Madariaga. En cualquier caso, su actuación no es del todo exasperante: los tres capitanes de Euskaltel han estado entre los mejores, y ninguno de ellos ha pasado dificultades en este Tour; están cuajando una carrera más que aceptable.

2 - Andy Schleck. Al menos sabemos que este Schleck es el mismo del Giro 2007. De nuevo entre los más solventes subiendo, asomando la oreja de vez en cuando, pero una vez más encasquillado en la misma marcha, sin tener esa 2segunda velocidad" que le va a impedir compensar los "errores" de su hermano en finales igualados. Sólo esa falta de potencia le ha hecho perder 45 preciosos segundos, los cuales puede llegar a echar de menos si la carrera se le pone de cara. Es joven, en cualquier caso; la consistencia que le falta es la que hoy le sobró a Carlos Sastre, octavo incluso aunque el final no le favoreciese, llegando a lanzar al mayor de los Schleck, Fränk, también muy sólido.

1 - Damiano Cunego. Cada vez entiendo menos de este deporte. El veronese, después de marcarse la que casi seguramente "contrarreloj de su vida" hace 48 horas en Cholet, ha pegado un "petardazo" hoy en Sancy de los de aúpa. Difícilmente se puede concebir un final de etapa que mejor se ajuste a sus características, tan próximas estas a las de corredores como los dos primeros clasificados de hoy, a los cuales ya ha superado en alguna ocasión el ganador del Giro 2004. Deberemos pensar que este ha sido el "día malo" del capitán de la Lampre, pero la cosa no pinta nada bien para "Il Piccolo Principe".

0 - ASO. A esta llegada sólo le hubiese hecho falta algo más de terreno de entidad para convertirse en la primera gran jornada de montaña de este Tour, habida cuenta de los numerosos cortes de la recta final de Super-Besse. El Macizo Central ofrece opciones infinitas, a la par que bellas; en lo que llevamos de siglo, nos hartamos de ver jornadas de calidad en la París - Niza, carrera que ellos también gestionan. Sólo se puede entender esta falta de terreno para hacer daño (hasta los últimos 2 kilómetros de "puerto" real quedaban más de 70 corredores) mediante dos actitiudes: compensación entre montaña y contrarrleoj, y complicaciones institucionales. Por lo demás, ya que se animaban a disponer etapas de media montaña, podrían haberlo hecho mejor.

Post-scriptum: repasando el vídeo de la llegada, he visto que Andy Schleck también se vio afectado por la caída. Obvien lo dicho, por supuesto.

Martin Luther had a dream

Ghandi had a message

Jesus had a question

Hitler had a plan

.

They all shared the same thing: ambition.

I have a wish. I have ambition, but also a huge problem. It's clear that this isn't working, for non of us all,  the way we are using the earth, the way in which we are teached how and what to believe. Let's be honest; if this is going on much longer, there will be no way out for you, for us. there will be left no trust or believe in a better future. If we don't stop. think. and then act again, in a better way.

So, I dare anyone: I think I no a better way..

¿quién Asó La Manteca?

La noche está empañada
habrá que tapar el agujero
el día se fue en un coche blanco
mañana vendrá un día nuevo.

A ver, qué voy a hacer?
para sacar adelante este funk
voy a empezar a vivir
(porque tengo) muy poco que decir.

Hoy leí las noticias de hoy
eran iguales a las de ayer
un puño y una barba
(eran) nada más que papel.

Tengo adentro del pecho
un solo presentimiento
como de haberme tragado
una bolsa de cemento.

Quién asó la manteca?
alguien me puso en venta
¿quién puso algo en mi vaso?
el que hable que mienta.

En el circo
sólo queda
un león hambriento
a los viejos tigres de bengala
se los llevó el viento.

Tengo adentro del pecho
un solo presentimiento
como de haberme tragado
una bolsa de cemento.

A ver, qué voy a hacer?
para sacar adelante este funk.

Much thinking outside Japan about Japanese foreign policy posture assumes that a cornerstone in mainstream Japanese foreign policy is containment strategies towards China, which deviates from Japan’s traditional China policy. Former Prime Minister Abe and his Cabinet (read Abe and Aso) were indeed proponents of this posture swimming against Japan’s foreign policy tradition, though even he committed early to patching up relations with China.

While Abe and his faction pushed for values-based diplomacy such as democracy (read exclude and surround China), the Fukuda Cabinet’s line once more reflects core Japanese foreign policy thinking more faithfully, anchored in the economic realities and geo-political realities the country faces.

Abe and Aso are clearly different from Fukuda in their flirtation with 'values-based diplomacy', 'the arc of freedom and prosperity' and the quadrilateral initiative with the Howard Government in Australia, the United States, and India. Japan’s (and perhaps Australia’s) deep economic relations with China made that an unrealistic diplomatic play for Japan. A core stream in the foreign policy establishment was never comfortable with the posturing against Japan and Fukuda was quick to withdraw the idea when he came to power. The Howard Government appears to have misread this underlying element in Japan’ strategic positioning, although clearly it is not alone in that.

In Australia some still over-emphasise the difference between Japan and Australia on China. Yet both countries are the same boat in that they welcome a peaceful rise of China as a ‘responsible stake holder’ in international society. A core stream in thinking in Australia and Japan is very different from a dominant stream in thinking in the United States about the rise of China and no one should be confused by the exception of the Abe-Aso camp.

A decisão põe fim a um discussão que iniciou em março deste ano, quando a ASO (organizadora do Tour e da Paris-Nice) conseguiu realizar a prova sob a legislação da federação em questão.

A declaração divulgada pela UCI informa que a suspensão inicia imediatamente, por ter violado os estatutos e regulamentos da UCI, dado apoio a ASO que organizava prova fora do calendário UCI. A entidade ainda aplicou uma multa de 10.000 francos suíços.

Já os corredores franceses não serão prejudicados nem impedidos de participar de provas internacionais.

Vamos ver se voltam as ameaças aos corredores que participarem do Tour, do mesmo modo que ocorreu durante a Paris-Nice.

Grabe na po tlaga ang global warming. Lahat ng bagay, may buhay o wala ay naaapektuhan. Pati nga po hair ko sobra ng dry.

I think kailangan ko ng mag-care because I believe hindi lamang po kalat o dumi, ang mare-resolve kapag naging mapanuri tayo sa ating ginagawa at ginagamit. Ako, aminado ako na hindi ako dugyot at burara, makakalimutin lang at saka makalat.

May maibibigay po ba kayong tips na tipong kahit simple ay makakatulong ako para wag dumumi at magkaroon ng basura?

Bebong Pinlat

Dear Bebong,

Mbuti nmn at may k2lad mo n cncern n rin s atng mother earth. Nawa’y may 2mulad sau. Nri2 ang few smple tip q n kering gawin pra mpakinabangan ang mga old things na itinatambak lang.

Para hindi na sila maging kalat, gawan na natin ng paraan.

Ate Jevz

old damit. Maraming pakinabang sa mga lumang damit. Pwede itong ipamigay, i-donate at kung pangit na ay gawing basahan. Kung puting shirt, aba’y mas lalong maraming gamit diyan. Pwedeng panala sa gripo o posong makalawang, ulong kinukuto, at pampatong sa noong nilalagnat.

ice cream containers. Maraming mahilig sa ice cream ( mabuti na lang hindi ako mahilig rito) pero kapag ubos na ay kung saan-saan itinatambak ang galon, cup o anumang lalagyan nito, plastic man o lata. Pwede ang mga itong lalagyan ng mga pantahi (sinulid o karayom), krayola, pantali, panty & brief etc. Papasa rin ang mga itong paso para sa mga halaman at arenola sa gabi. Ang cup nito ay pwede ring lalagyan ng ebs or wewe kapag papa-medical check-up.

Old magazines and newspapers. Punit-punit na ang linyang pagbebenta sa mga ito pero iilan lang ang gumagawa. Hindi ba’t masaya ang kumita kaysa matambakan ng basura. Hanap ka na lang ng mahal bumili ng mga ito. Pwede mo rin itong ipangsapin sa iyong cabinet, cover sa iyong notebooks or books, panlingas sa kalan, pambalot sa tinapa o di kaya sa sanitary napkin na bibilin o itatapon na. May mas luma pang gamit diyan,’wag mo na lang ipa-elaborate kasi may CR naman siguro kayo.

Cellophane, paper bags or plastics. Itago mo ‘yong mga pinaglagyan ng mga pinamili mo sa grocery o talipapa. Para pag nakapamili ka hindi ka na kakalabitin ng mga bata o aleng nagbebenta ng plastic. Baka nga makapagbenta ka pa?

Pringles, ricoa, or boxes. Well tulad din ito ng ice cream containers mas maliliit na bagay lang ang mailalagay mo. Pwedeng ilagay sa mga ito ang mga nalaglag na botones, nahanap na pardible, o mga tali. Yong mga barya na hindi mo pinapansin dito mo na lang ihulog para dumami. Kapag may reregaluhan maigi rin ang naka-box.

Itlog. Dahil may kanya-kanyang expertise ang 2 parte ng itlog, may isa rito ang natatapon. Kapag ang egg white ang ginamit, ilagay ang egg yolk sa sinaing para maluto maipakain pa sa mga bata. Kapag ang egg white naman ang natira, lagay mo sa mukha mo, maigi raw yang facial mask. Tas yung egg shell lagay mo sa mga orchids… ginagawa yan ng maderaka ko kaysa sa ihi..hahaha.

Lumang kalendaryo and political paraphernalias. Ito gamit na gamit ko ang taktikang ito noong high school at college. Instead of cartolina and manila paper (na gingamit ko lang pag may pera ako), why don’t you try likod ng mga malalaking calendars or yung mga likod ng mga posters na ginamit mga politico. Hindi mo dapat ikahiya yon, dahil part ng buwis ng parents mo ginagamit lang mga pulitiko sa mga ‘yan. (naks mag-ala aktibista ba?) pwede mo rin silang pamaypay, panggatong at sapin para sa maduming sementong uupuan mo.

retaso, tickets, negatives etc. Well pwede na rin ito sa last kong letter sender. Yong mga magagandang gamit-gamit, pwedeng pagtiyagaan para magamit sa scrapbook like ng retaso ng tela, ticket sa bus, film negatives, balahibo ng ibon, natuyong rosas etc. (pwede rin kaya ang hibla ng buhok, ingrown, naipit na lamok sa libro etc. hehehe)

Mag-alaga ng Hayop. Kung laging may nasasayang na food, mag-alaga ng aso, pusa o baboy. Nakatulong kana sa kanila wala pang naaksayang food. Pero wag mo namang tratuhing hayop ang mga hayop na sobrang panis na ang ipinapakain mo. Redundant na yan!

Napkin. Every time na kakain tayo siempre di pwedeng walang tissue. Kunin mo ang matitirang tissue mo kaysa itapon lang. Magagamit yang sa emergency.

A empresa que organiza o Tour de France converte-se em sócio do grupo Antena 3 e irá colaborar na organização da Vuelta a España. O Grupo Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) firmou hoje acordo com o Grupo Antena 3 para adquirir uma participação minoritária (49%) da Unipublic S.A.U., empresa responsável pela gestão e organização da Vuelta.

Com este acordo, a Unipublic "incorpora a ampla experiência que possui a ASO na gestão dos grandes acontecimentos ciclistas e garante uma presença maioritária de capital espanhol (51%)". A partir de agora, após o acordo, a ASO e Unipublic "trabalharão de forma conjunta com o objetivo de acelerar e aumentar a presença da Vuelta a España em âmbito internacional, assim como em contribuir para o fortalecimento do ciclismo".

Um duro golpe para a UCI, McQuaid e sua patota, lembrando que a Vuelta ainda faz parte das provas UCI ProTour.

E a Astana? A ASO vai querer meter o bedelho no convite? Vão querer deixar o Contador de fora?