Japan arrests Chinese on disputed isle as friction rises

HONG KONG/TOKYO (Reuters) - Chinese activists landed on an island claimed by Japan and China on Wednesday and five were arrested as tension between Japan and its Asian neighbors escalated on the 67th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

South Korea prompted an official protest from Japan after comments by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak which some saw as going too far by insulting Japanese Emperor Akihito.

And adding to a day of drama and underscoring how history haunts Tokyo's ties with Beijing and Seoul, two Japanese cabinet ministers paid homage at a controversial Tokyo shrine for the war dead.

Memories of Japan's wartime occupation of much of China and colonization of South Korea run deep in the two countries despite close economic ties in one of the world's wealthiest regions.

Japan arrested five members of a group of activists from China, Hong Kong and Macau who landed on the disputed island chain in the East China Sea, Japan's coastguard said. It also swiftly protested over the landing, Kyodo news agency said.

Friction over the disputed chain of uninhabited isles, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China and near potentially rich gas deposits, had already been heating up.

"This is the most successful attempt in a decade" to reach the Diaoyus, the activist group said. Several of the men jumped into the water, swam and then waded ashore. The group said its boat had been rammed by the coastguard and hit with water cannon.

A separate feud over rival claims by Seoul and Tokyo to other rocky islands has also intensified, signaling how the region has failed to resolve differences over its past nearly seven decades after its defeat.

The rows in part reflect skepticism over the sincerity of Japan's apologies for wartime and colonial excesses.

On Tuesday, South Korea's Lee told a group of teachers that Emperor Akihito should apologize sincerely if he wants to visit South Korea, saying a repeat of his 1990 expression of "deepest regrets" would not suffice.

TANGLED HISTORY

Japan's foreign ministry said it had lodged a protest with Seoul over the remarks. Akihito has spent much of the past two decades trying to heal the wounds of a war waged in his father's name.

Lee, whose Friday visit to a disputed island frayed ties between the two U.S. allies, called Japan an "important partner that we should work with to open the future".

But in remarks commemorating Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-1945 rule, he also said the countries' tangled history was "hampering the common march toward a better tomorrow".

He urged Tokyo to do more to resolve a dispute over compensation for Korean women abducted to serve as sex slaves for wartime Japanese soldiers, known by the euphemism "comfort women" in Japan and long a source of friction.

"It was a breach of women's rights committed during wartime as well as a violation of universal human rights and historic justice. We urge the Japanese Government to take responsible measures in this regard," Lee said.

Japan says the matter was closed under a 1965 treaty establishing diplomatic ties. In 1993, Tokyo issued a statement in the name of its then-chief cabinet secretary and two years later set up a fund to make payments to the women, but South Korea say those moves were not official and so not enough.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the war's end on Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda acknowledged the "enormous damage and suffering" caused by Japan to other countries, especially in Asia.

"We deeply reflect upon (that) and express our deepest condolences to the victims and their families," he said, vowing that Japan would never go to war again.

Tapping into anti-Japanese sentiment remains a way to seek public support in South Korea and China, which face leadership changes in coming months. And some experts see a new strain of nationalism is surfacing in Japan amid gloom about the future.

In a sign of the domestic pressures in Japan, National Public Safety Commission Chairman Jin Matsubara and Transport Minister Yuichiro Hata visited the Yasukuni shrine for war dead, defying Noda's urgings to stay away.

Many see the shrine as a symbol of Japan's past militarism because 14 Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal are honored there with Japan's war dead.

(Additional reporting by Kaori Kaneko in Tokyo and Ben Blanchard in Beijing, Editing by Nick Macfie)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-activists-land-isles-disputed-japan-093034110.html

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Twelve Tips for Spoken Word Performers (beat: James Burt's weblog)

(Another post that was originally posted on the Literature Network site, this one from July 2010.)?

One of the most exciting developments in creative writing is the growth in prose spoken word nights. There are events across the country, such as Short Fuse in Leicester and Brighton and nights organised by groups like Hello Hubmarine. My personal interest in spoken word was sparked by Jay Clifton and Sam Collins? night Tight Lip, which inspired a boom in prose nights in Brighton. I?ve since read at a number of events. The first few times were terrifying, but I?ve come to enjoy reading in public.

Some writers don?t want to read aloud and I think they?re missing a great opportunity. Giving readings can build your confidence while honing and proving the work in question. I still get nervous whenever I read, but I now know I can overcome those nerves and give a good performance.

Here are some tips, both from my own experience and collected from other performers:

1. The audience are on your side. They?ve given up time to watch and they want to enjoy themselves ? you only need to help them do this.
2. It?s easier to read funny pieces than serious ones. You can tell when people are enjoying a funny story because they laugh; an audience spellbound by a serious story is very quiet, which can be unsettling.
3. Practise! You should read the piece again and again, until you feel bored with it. Make sure you can read it without stumbling and remove anything that sounds clumsy or is difficult to say ? if the piece is easy to read aloud, it will also work well in print. If possible, read the story to a friend and get their feedback.
4. Many nights ask for a bio to use for introductions. I could do an entire post on writing biographies. Keep it short ? nobody needs a long list of plaudits and prizes, since they?re about to listen to you anyway. Make sure to mention any books or other appearances you are promoting. Most of the time, if I?m not promoting anything, I?ll try and work a story into the space available for the biography.
5. Arrive early at the venue and ask to do a sound-check. It?s useful to stand on the stage and get comfortable with the environment where you?ll be performing. Check that you can be heard clearly and make sure you know how to adjust the microphone if you might need to.
6. Nervousness is good ? it?s a normal part of preparing to perform. The only time I?ve not been nervous my reading was less focussed. Welcome your nerves as your body gearing up to do a good job.
7. Keep any introduction brief ? trust the audience to work out what your piece is about. If there?s any risk of being misunderstood then revisit the writing and improve it. It?s not a bad idea to ask if people can hear when you start ? it avoids people asking you to speak up during the reading.
8. When performing, read the piece as slowly as you can bear (within reason!). Remember that the audience haven?t heard your story before and need a little time to digest each bit.
9. Make frequent eye-contact with your audience ? don?t spend the reading looking down at your text. This makes you seem more confident and engaging, as well as being easier to hear. Looking up is much easier if you know the piece well ? see above.
10. Some people find their hands shaking the first time they read. The best way to stop this is to read from something heavy. A thick folder will weigh your hands down, whereas a couple of sheets of A4 makes any movement obvious. You?ll still be nervous, of course, but only you will know.
11. Don?t worry too much about audience reaction ? responses can differ to the same piece. One story I?ve read a lot, A Bad Place to Stick Your Hand, has had reactions varying from faint amusement through to loud laughter.
12. Make sure to thank the people who have organised the night. Running an event is very hard work and often unappreciated.

These tips are almost certainly not complete. There are some good guides to spoken word performance on the web, such as Tim Clare?s guide to performance poetry. Do you have any hints of your own? And, if you don?t want to read aloud, what is stopping you?

Source: http://www.orbific.com/weblog/2012/08/twelve-tips-for-spoken-word-performers.html

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Internet Based Retail Store - Consumer Electronics Blog

Everyday men and women like you and I will be seen turning to the Online in hopes of starting a web based companies. I have owned several companies previously. I cannot think how cheap it?s to obtain you incredibly own on the internet retail organization up and operating. Not just could be the expense minimal, but just thinking about not have all the typical overhead expense related to typical business enterprise is wonderful.

I see searches getting made utilizing the search engines like google like Google, Msn, Yahoo and much more for these retail shops. You see searches for phrases like on the internet retailer, dollar shop, retail retailer and retail organization on the net.

When undertaking my investigation for on line companies I located various On the net dollar retailers and jewelry shops which are pretty well known with men and women who frequent my internet site. I found numerous extra, but these appear to be essentially the most well-known of all of the individuals getting good results on line.

Here are several items that you simply may well anticipate to see when researching these distinct on the internet businesses:

You receive an On the web site, instant setup, access to hundreds of name brand merchandise, advertising and marketing tools and step-by-step guidance, coaching plus an absolutely free marketing and advertising consultation.

You?ll need no prior expertise. You?ll not have the typical expenditures of a brick and mortar business. You?ll not have the expenditures of a storefront, inventory, insurance and employee?s. It really is all carried out on the web so you may have your personal On the web retail Shop in no time at all.

I generally advise that you either use a web page like mine, but it does not have to be mine, that has accomplished analysis on the opportunities available on-line. When you pick not to work with a web site then you?ll need to accomplish the required study yourself. It might be performed and you may be prosperous, nevertheless it takes a terrific deal of time. You?ll find a lot of programs to select from and several of them will only take your dollars so please be sure to do your investigation. It is going to save you time and cash!

You?ll need to complete the following to get your retail retailer began:

1. Pick On line retailers that you feel will meet your on line targets.
two. You will need a laptop, printer and access to the Net.
three. Set up separate e-mail address if and when doable.
four. Narrow down your alternatives to one, join the system, and get began.
five. Put forth the necessary time necessary and have patience.
6. Be inventive within the techniques you bring folks for your On the net Business enterprise

Several folks prefer to operate at household doing rebate processing, information entry, typing at dwelling or on-line paid surveys rather then owning a web-based organization.

Plenty of people today do not have the patience required to build an online business enterprise. It?s going to not produce revenue as promptly as carrying out some of the other work at house programs, but in the end you might make far more funds and devote less time. Usually instances I recommend that my visitors do each inside the beginning. It creates some earnings to assist fund their on-line organization and keeps their spirits up. It is easy to possess patience when you are producing revenue.

Many people currently have the necessary equipment needed. Should you are reading this short article you most likely have what you will need.

It is now wonder this really is so preferred after you think of the earning prospective utilizing the web. The revenue potential is basically unbelievable, however men and women are doing it every single day. Now would be the fantastic time to start this type of on the internet enterprise. Please feel cost-free to read each this article or one of my quite a few others by visiting my link within the resource box below. I often appreciate receiving emails pertaining to my articles or my site. Your feedback is vital to me.

So what do you?ll want to do next Just comply with the actions in this article, take the very first step and start off developing income for you personally as well as your family. Typically instances people today are afraid to provide themselves a likelihood. Don?t let that be You!

Seek affordable Beats By Dre from authorised cheap Beats By Dre Store right away with Prompt Delivery service, Score Payment & Incredible Customer Care from us.

Source: http://blog.ilove3c.com/2012/08/14/internet-based-retail-store/

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PlayStation Mobile detailed: different screens, same games

Sony's decided to spill the beans on PlayStation Mobile, it's upcoming cross-platform gaming service. It will connect to your own PSN ID, linking into its software store, which aims to offer up a "wide range of portable experiences." We're still looking at PlayStation-certified devices here, but Sony's also announced that ASUS and Wikipad hardware will join the (pretty Sony-centric) line-up. We can already recognize a handful of Xperia phones alongside the Tablet S and, of course, Sony's premier handheld, which will be able to play these titles.

Gallery: PlayStation Mobile from Gamescom 2012

Continue reading PlayStation Mobile detailed: different screens, same games

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Tablet PCs

PlayStation Mobile detailed: different screens, same games originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/14/playstation-mobile-announced-different-screens-same-games/

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New book explores 'Noah's flood': Says Bible and science can get along

ScienceDaily (Aug. 14, 2012) ? David Montgomery is a geomorphologist, a geologist who studies changes to topography over time and how geological processes shape landscapes. He has seen firsthand evidence of how the forces that have shaped Earth run counter to some significant religious beliefs.

But the idea that scientific reason and religious faith are somehow at odds with each other, he said, "is, in my view, a false dichotomy."

In a new book, "The Rocks Don't Lie: A Geologist Investigates Noah's Flood" (Aug. 27, 2012, W.W. Norton), Montgomery explores the long history of religious thinking -- particularly among Christians -- on matters of geological discovery, from the writings of St. Augustine 1,700 years ago to the rise in the mid-20th century of the most recent rendering of creationism.

"The purpose is not to tweak people of faith but to remind everyone about the long history in the faith community of respecting what we can learn from observing the world," he said.

Many of the earliest geologists were clergy, he said. Nicolas Steno, considered the founder of modern geology, was a 17th century Roman Catholic priest who has achieved three of the four steps to being declared a saint in the church.

"Though there are notable conflicts between religion and science -- the famous case of Galileo Galilei, for example -- there also is a church tradition of working to reconcile biblical stories with known scientific fact," Montgomery said.

"What we hear today as the 'Christian' positions are really just one slice of a really rich pie," he said.

For nearly two centuries there has been overwhelming geological evidence that a global flood, as depicted in the story of Noah in the biblical book of Genesis, could not have happened. Not only is there not enough water in the Earth system to account for water levels above the highest mountaintop, but uniformly rising levels would not allow the water to have the erosive capabilities attributed to Noah's Flood, Montgomery said.

Some rock formations millions of years old show no evidence of such large-scale water erosion. Montgomery is convinced any such flood must have been, at best, a regional event, perhaps a catastrophic deluge in Mesopotamia. There are, in fact, Mesopotamian stories with details very similar, but predating, the biblical story of Noah's Flood.

"If your world is small enough, all floods are global," he said.

Perhaps the greatest influence in prompting him to write "The Rocks Don't Lie" was a 2002 expedition to the Tsangpo River on the Tibetan Plateau. In the fertile river valley he found evidence in sediment layers that a great lake had formed in the valley many centuries ago, not once but numerous times. Downstream he found evidence that a glacier on several occasions advanced far enough to block the river, creating the huge lake.

But ice makes an unstable dam, and over time the ice thinned and finally give way, unleashing a tremendous torrent of water down the deepest gorge in the world. It was only after piecing the story together from geological evidence that Montgomery learned that local oral traditions told of exactly this kind of great flood.

"To learn that the locals knew about it and talked about it for the last thousand years really jolted my thinking. Here was evidence that a folk tale might be reality based," he said.

He has seen evidence of huge regional floods in the scablands of Eastern Washington, carved by torrents when glacial Lake Missoula breached its ice dam in Montana and raced across the landscape, and he found Native American stories that seem to tell of this catastrophic flood.

Other flood stories dating back to the early inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest and from various islands in the Pacific Ocean, for example, likely tell of inundation by tsunamis after large earthquakes.

But he noted that in some regions of the world -- in Africa, for example -- there are no flood stories in the oral traditions because there the annual floods help sustain life rather than bring destruction.

Floods are not always responsible for major geological features. Hiking a trail from the floor of the Grand Canyon to its rim, Montgomery saw unmistakable evidence of the canyon being carved over millions of years by the flow of the Colorado River, not by a global flood several thousand years ago as some people still believe.

He describes that hike in detail in "The Rocks Don't Lie." He also explores changes in the understanding of where fossils came from, how geologists read Earth history in layers of rock, and the writings of geologists and religious authorities through the centuries.

Montgomery hopes the book might increase science literacy. He noted that a 2001 National Science Foundation survey found that more than half of American adults didn't realize that dinosaurs were extinct long before humans came along.

But he also would like to coax readers to make sense of the world through both what they believe and through what they can see for themselves, and to keep an open mind to new ideas.

"If you think you know everything, you'll never learn anything," he said.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T5gN4v5NBzs/120814135153.htm

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Justice: UT affirmative action policy legal

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Obama administration on Monday threw its support behind the University of Texas' use of race as a standard in its admissions policies, asking the Supreme Court not to interfere with the consideration of racial preferences in college admissions.

The Justice Department, in a court brief co-signed by several other government agencies, told the high court that a diverse college population was in the university's ? and the government's ? best interests. "The armed services and numerous federal agencies have concluded that well-qualified and diverse graduates are crucial to the fulfillment of their missions," Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli said.

The court brief was cosigned by lawyers from the departments of Defense, Education, Commerce, Labor and Health and Human Services.

The Supreme Court's ruling on the University of Texas' admission program will be its first ruling on affirmative action in higher education since 2003. Arguments will be October 10.

Abigail Fisher, a white student who was not admitted to the school in 2008, filed a lawsuit challenged the policy as violation of her civil and constitutional rights.

Texas admits most of its students because they rank among the top 10 percent in their high school classes. Fisher's grades did not put her in that category. For other students, Texas officials say that race is considered among many factors, including academic record, personal essays, leadership potential, extracurricular activities, and honors and awards. The school says race is not used to set quotas, which the high court has previously rejected.

"Race is not considered on its own, and it is never determinative of an applicant's admission by itself," Verrilli said. "Rather, race is one of a number of contextual factors that provide a more complete understanding of the applicant's record and experiences. That is a far cry from impermissible racial balancing."

The Texas policy has been upheld by federal appeals courts, which said it was allowed under the high court's decision in Grutter vs. Bollinger in 2003 that upheld racial considerations in university admissions at the University of Michigan Law School. But Fisher appealed to the current Supreme Court, which is considered to be more conservative than the one that ruled in 2003 and more likely to jettison that decision or at least limit when colleges may take account of race in admissions.

Before adopting race as part of its admission policy, Texas' student body was 21 percent African-American and Hispanic. By 2007, the year before Fisher filed her lawsuit, African-Americans and Hispanics accounted for more than a quarter of the entering freshman class.

"Race is considered not on its own, but as a piece of information that provides valuable context in understanding an applicant's achievements and his likely contributions to the university," Verrilli said. "That individualized consideration is designed to work in conjunction with the Top 10 plan to enable the university to construct a class that is diverse in all ways valued by the institution."

The case is Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, 11-345.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-08-13-Supreme%20Court-Affirmative%20Action/id-f72f4991ad214ee7bc2c7abed71b8bed

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Last-minute fabulous: quick tips for summer celebrations | My Paper ...

The weather?s warming up, and people everywhere are gearing up for the summer season. For many, with it comes the opportunity to enjoy outdoor parties and share great meals with friends and family.

Preparing your home for summer entertaining doesn?t need to be a lot of work; in fact, with a few quick tips, it can be downright easy. To make your summer soirees a breeze, read on and get ready to greet your guests.

Start prepping for summer fun with these simple tips:

* The sun keeps the sky lit up fairly late throughout the summer, but it?s important to provide lighting once dark sets in. Make sure that entry lights are working and your driveway is well lit. Try adding small, solar-powered lights along the footpaths. For additional lighting, colored lanterns or Tiki torches add decorative flair to decks and patios, perfect for setting the mood.

* Even though summer festivities may be on the patio, it?s important to keep your home?s interior guest-ready too. Encourage everyone in the family to keep clutter confined, and take a few minutes each week to tidy up. Lightly scented candles, potpourri and even an open window can make a world of difference in keeping things fresh and summery. Most importantly, make sure any bathrooms guests might use are tidy and stocked with hand soap and paper products.

* Both indoors and out, touches of cheerful summer decor are easy to achieve with accessories. Colorful glass hurricane lamps and boldly printed outdoor furniture cushions feel fun and summery, while the simple addition of bright pillows, light cotton throws and linen drapes bring a beachy feel to your home?s interior. Keep them in place throughout the season and you?ll have the perfect backdrop for hosting a summer party.

* Having cold beverages on hand is essential in the summer ? whatever the temperature. For those last-minute gatherings, the newest French-door refrigerators from LG come equipped with a Blast Chiller compartment, which can chill a bottle of wine in eight minutes or a can of soda or beer in five minutes ? perfect if you?ve forgotten to refrigerate those drinks ahead of time or are looking to chill a gifted bottle from a guest. Keeping your pantry stocked with beverages for both adults and kids ? from juices to sodas and beyond ? is always a good idea.

* Summer?s bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables makes picking a menu easy. Choose your in-season favorites at the local farmers market ? from tomatoes to corn on the cob ? which makes a simple and delicious evening meal. Sweet nectarines and blueberries are always a guaranteed hit, so make sure they?re easily for family and guests to grab on the go. And, whether it?s the festive party cocktail, more of that delicious spread, or even a touch more dessert, an excellent hostess always offers seconds.

Keep your house ready to welcome guests at all times and you?ll be making the most of the season. Not sure what to serve? Fun, tropical drinks ? that can be modified for the kids to enjoy, too ? are always popular. When the temperature heats up, light bites ? like summer salads ? are refreshing. Try these recipes from LG?s Executive Chef for your next party, and find more entertaining solutions at www.lg.com.

White Wine Sangria

Ingredients:

2 bottles of dry white wine, preferably Torrontes

1 1/2 cups white cranberry juice

3/4 cup brandy

1/2 cup sugar

1 mango, diced

8 strawberries cut into 1/4-inch slices

1/2 lemon, cut into half pinwheels

Ginger ale

Directions:

1. In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine the wine, cranberry juice, brandy, sugar and fruits. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Refrigerate until ready to serve, at least 4 hours.

2. To serve, fill a 12 ounce glass with ice and add 1/4 cup (2 ounces) of ginger ale. Top off with wine mixture, making sure to get some of the fruit into every glass.

Makes enough Sangria for about 10 to 12 servings. To make the drink family friendly, substitute white grape juice for wine and exclude brandy.

Asparagus Salad

Ingredients:

For the dressing:

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons sherry vinegar (if you cannot find sherry vinegar, substitute balsamic vinegar)

1/4 teaspoon garlic, minced

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 cup olive oil

Salt and pepper

For the salad:

1 bunch thin, pencil asparagus

8 to 10 ounces of mache or mesclun greens

1/2 pint of grape tomatoes, halved

1 medium shallot

Salt and pepper

Parmesan or Pecorino cheese

Directions:

To make the dressing:

1. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the vinegars, garlic, Dijon mustard and honey.

2. While whisking vigorously, slowly add the oil to the bowl in a slow steady stream to emulsify.

3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Use immediately or refrigerate until ready to use. If refrigerating, whisk again right before serving to re-mix the dressing.

For the salad:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season with salt.

2. Remove the woody ends from the asparagus and cut into 1-inch lengths.

3. Blanch the asparagus for about 1 to 2 minutes in the boiling water until stalks are bright green and slightly softened, but still crunchy.

4. Strain asparagus and run cold water over stems to stop cooking and preserve their bright green color. Alternately, stalks can be dropped into an ice water bath.

5. Once cooled, drain and refrigerate the asparagus.

6. Slice the shallot as thinly as possible, using a mandolin if available.

7. Add the mache or greens, chilled asparagus, tomatoes, and shallot to a salad bowl along with a pinch of salt and some freshly ground pepper. Add about 1/2 to 3/4 of the dressing and toss to mix everything together. Check the amount of dressing and add more if necessary.

8. Using a vegetable peeler, peel thin slices of the parmesan or pecorino cheese over the salad. Serve immediately.

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Source: http://www.mypaperonline.com/home-repair/last-minute-fabulous-quick-tips-for-summer-celebrations.html

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