NIN fans could have gone to any file sharing network to download the entire CC-BY-NC-SA album legally. Many did, and thousands will continue to do so. So why would fans bother buying files that were identical to the ones on the file sharing networks? One explanation is the convenience and ease of use of NIN and Amazon’s MP3 stores. But another is that fans understood that purchasing MP3s would directly support the music and career of a musician they liked.
The next time someone tries to convince you that releasing music under CC will cannibalize digital sales, remember that Ghosts I-IV broke that rule, and point them here.
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The next time someone tries to convince you that releasing music under CC will cannibalize digital sales, remember that Ghosts I-IV broke that rule, and point them here.
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Matahari: Referring to themselves as Pan-Asian and Thai, Matahari is a gorgeous downtown restaurant, complete with Koi pond and a ship that you can sit in. Although the options are not huge in quantity, the sheer quality of the food will keep you going back for more. Specializing in things like green and red curries and mango chicken, the staff at Matahari are open to finding solutions for making dishes vegan. In addition, many of their dishes are already vegan, which makes ordering easy and worry-free. Try the vegetables and tofu in coconut sauce, with mango spring rolls in tapioca for dessert. Delectable.
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Why buy a calendar for $10 or more if you can get free calendars to print out online? A search for free calendars to print displays lots of websites that offer free printable calendars. Microsoft Office users can download dozens of calendar templates at Microsofts Office Online website. All calendars can be downloaded if the user has a genuine version of Microsoft Office installed on his computer.
The calendar templates are quite diverse from Asian style calendars to photographic calendars and classic ones. Some calendar templates are good for the whole year while some only display a month which would mean to download twelve different templates for the whole year. There are also some calendars that do not fit into the usual scheme, a lunar calendar but also customizable ones like the family calendar which can be customized with family pictures and text.
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The calendar templates are quite diverse from Asian style calendars to photographic calendars and classic ones. Some calendar templates are good for the whole year while some only display a month which would mean to download twelve different templates for the whole year. There are also some calendars that do not fit into the usual scheme, a lunar calendar but also customizable ones like the family calendar which can be customized with family pictures and text.
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The Jan+Feb 2009 VegNews issue has a section about how free vegan products are, when human enslaved labor is being used. They look at Rice, Bananas, and chocolate.
I know I have brought this topic up for about a year or two now. Interesting that it has finally entered the pages of VegNews. The article is called, Food, Inc. Its on page 40.
For those not familiar with how to buy fair trade grains, check out a company Ive ben using called Alter Eco.
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I know I have brought this topic up for about a year or two now. Interesting that it has finally entered the pages of VegNews. The article is called, Food, Inc. Its on page 40.
For those not familiar with how to buy fair trade grains, check out a company Ive ben using called Alter Eco.
More info about Free Asian
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The United Nations has offered the Burmese military government a financial incentive to release the more than 2,000 political prisoners who languish in Burmese jails and initiate democratic change in the country, according to a Washington Post report on Sunday.
Regarded by many as the leading political broadsheet in the US, the Washington Post said that the UN is “trying to entice” the Burmese generals who rule the country “with fresh promises of development money.”
According to the report, UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari presented the outline of his strategy in a confidential paper to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last month.
In the paper, Gambari reportedly endorses building on the relations Burma established with the international community after the Cyclone Nargis disaster in May, as well as urging an increase in development assistance to Burma and recommending that wealthy countries allow Burma access to foreign investment.
“In the months ahead, the UN leadership will press the Obama administration to relax the US [sanctions] policy on Burma and to open the door to a return of international financial institutions, including the World Bank,” The Post said.
The report noted that the US and Britain have always resisted offering the Burmese regime financial perks, arguing that the junta should not be rewarded for bad behavior.
However, this would not be the first time that financial carrots have been offered to the Burmese junta in exchange for political development in the country.
In 1998, the UN and the World Bank offered the ruling military regime US $1 billion in financial and humanitarian aid in exchange for opening a dialogue with the opposition.
And in 2000, the UN offered the generals $1 billion again, this time to hand over control of the government to the UN.
Both times the junta turned down the offers, condemning them in state media as “bananas for monkeys.”
According to the Washington Post report, the UN had also opened discussions with Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands and Norway to find a way of preventing misuse of development assistance and ensuring that aid gets into the hands of the neediest Burmese.
Although economically one of the world’s poorest nations, military-ruled Burma last year exported some $2.7 billion in natural gas to Thailand. The junta also recently signed a 30-year deal to supply natural gas to China, which will build oil and gas pipelines from Burma’s Kyauk Pyu Port on the Bay of Bengal to its southwest Yunnan Province. The pipeline deal is reportedly worth $2.5 billion to the junta. Nevertheless, the Economist Intelligence Unit estimated Burma’s gross fixed investment to be no more than $10 billion this year.
Top UN officials, including Gambari, have urged China and India to lean on the Burmese military regime to release political prisoners and to provide a political opening for the opposition in the 2010 elections, The Post said.
The Washington Post also said that if the junta acts on Gambari’s new initiative positively, Ban Ki-moon would visit Burma again.
However, Gambari has also stated that he himself would not return to Burma until there were signs of political progress in the country.
He said that before returning to Burma there would have to be concrete results, such as the release of political prisoners and moves toward holding the 2010 elections in a free and fair manner.
According to diplomatic sources, Gambari has been criticized by Western countries for his ineffectiveness in Burma. Recently, Burma’s representative to the UN, Kyaw Tint Swe—writing in a confidential report that was leaked by the Burmese Ministry of Foreign Affairs—said that some Western countries have attempted to replace Gambari with someone who is “influenced by the West.”
But Gambari is still secure in his job, with support from Russia and Asian countries, Kyaw Tint Swe said.
There was no immediate response from the Burmese regime to the reported UN offer. However, Burmese state media constantly reprints messages urging Burmese citizens to “oppose foreign nationals interfering in the internal affairs of the State.
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Regarded by many as the leading political broadsheet in the US, the Washington Post said that the UN is “trying to entice” the Burmese generals who rule the country “with fresh promises of development money.”
According to the report, UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari presented the outline of his strategy in a confidential paper to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last month.
In the paper, Gambari reportedly endorses building on the relations Burma established with the international community after the Cyclone Nargis disaster in May, as well as urging an increase in development assistance to Burma and recommending that wealthy countries allow Burma access to foreign investment.
“In the months ahead, the UN leadership will press the Obama administration to relax the US [sanctions] policy on Burma and to open the door to a return of international financial institutions, including the World Bank,” The Post said.
The report noted that the US and Britain have always resisted offering the Burmese regime financial perks, arguing that the junta should not be rewarded for bad behavior.
However, this would not be the first time that financial carrots have been offered to the Burmese junta in exchange for political development in the country.
In 1998, the UN and the World Bank offered the ruling military regime US $1 billion in financial and humanitarian aid in exchange for opening a dialogue with the opposition.
And in 2000, the UN offered the generals $1 billion again, this time to hand over control of the government to the UN.
Both times the junta turned down the offers, condemning them in state media as “bananas for monkeys.”
According to the Washington Post report, the UN had also opened discussions with Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands and Norway to find a way of preventing misuse of development assistance and ensuring that aid gets into the hands of the neediest Burmese.
Although economically one of the world’s poorest nations, military-ruled Burma last year exported some $2.7 billion in natural gas to Thailand. The junta also recently signed a 30-year deal to supply natural gas to China, which will build oil and gas pipelines from Burma’s Kyauk Pyu Port on the Bay of Bengal to its southwest Yunnan Province. The pipeline deal is reportedly worth $2.5 billion to the junta. Nevertheless, the Economist Intelligence Unit estimated Burma’s gross fixed investment to be no more than $10 billion this year.
Top UN officials, including Gambari, have urged China and India to lean on the Burmese military regime to release political prisoners and to provide a political opening for the opposition in the 2010 elections, The Post said.
The Washington Post also said that if the junta acts on Gambari’s new initiative positively, Ban Ki-moon would visit Burma again.
However, Gambari has also stated that he himself would not return to Burma until there were signs of political progress in the country.
He said that before returning to Burma there would have to be concrete results, such as the release of political prisoners and moves toward holding the 2010 elections in a free and fair manner.
According to diplomatic sources, Gambari has been criticized by Western countries for his ineffectiveness in Burma. Recently, Burma’s representative to the UN, Kyaw Tint Swe—writing in a confidential report that was leaked by the Burmese Ministry of Foreign Affairs—said that some Western countries have attempted to replace Gambari with someone who is “influenced by the West.”
But Gambari is still secure in his job, with support from Russia and Asian countries, Kyaw Tint Swe said.
There was no immediate response from the Burmese regime to the reported UN offer. However, Burmese state media constantly reprints messages urging Burmese citizens to “oppose foreign nationals interfering in the internal affairs of the State.
More info about Free Asian
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Asia Electronics Industry Magazine, published by Dempa Publication focused to delivers reports on the latest parts and component on electronic industry including material, production equipment and test measuring instruments. Asia Electronics Industry is a monthly magazine that offers reviews of hot technologies affecting the electronics industry in Asian countries as well as how these companies are improving productivity and quality. Free subscription for Selected International country.
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rnAfter acquiring a BA in English from a western university of middling academic reputation, Wilkinson was unprepared for real work ... so she became a reporter, stringing for the West Chester (PA) Daily Local News. She also worked for the Quakers, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and with a housing project in Cyprus, a job that ended with a bang when a coup d'etat was followed by a military invasion from Turkey. Back in the newsroom, Wilkinson began drawing the people she was supposed to be reporting on. She realized cartooning combined her interests in art and politics without taxing her interest in spelling. After a year of remedial art school, including a stint at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, she began freelancing at several Philadelphia and New York publications, finally landing a full-time job at the San Jose Mercury News in 1982. After 3 1/2 years on a steep learning curve, Wilkinson repaid her long-suffering Mercury News editor by taking a job at the Philadelphia Daily News.
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Dec 26th, 2008 | SEOUL, South Korea -- Call it the free trade follies.
South Korean opposition politicians last week used a sledgehammer to try and force their way into a barricaded committee room to stop the ruling party from introducing debate on a tariff-slashing free trade agreement with the United States.
Fire extinguishers were used amid the melee -- it's not entirely clear by whom -- that threw South Korea's National Assembly into chaos.
The brouhaha highlights the emotional intensity such pacts can trigger -- as well as this one's murky outlook.
The South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement has languished in political limbo since being signed nearly 18 months ago.
It still needs approval from legislatures in both countries, but two major developments since then have raised questions about its passage: Major political changes in both South Korea and the United States and the global financial crisis.
Conservative South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who took office in February, is a firm supporter of the deal, negotiated and signed by the previous liberal Roh Moo-hyun administration.
Lee's Grand National Party wants South Korea to ratify the pact first -- as early as by the end of this year -- potentially making it harder for the incoming U.S. administration of President-elect Barack Obama, seen as taking a harder line on free trade, to call for a renegotiation of the free trade agreement.
Fears of such a scenario intensified during the final presidential debate in October, when Obama singled out South Korea by noting a wide imbalance in auto trade between the two nations.
"That is not free trade," he said in the debate. "We've got to have a president who is going to be advocating on behalf of American businesses and American workers and I make no apology for that."
South Korean automakers including Hyundai Motor Co. sold 772,482 vehicles in the United States in 2007, while Detroit sold 6,235 in South Korea, according to statistics compiled by South Korean auto industry groups.
Members of Roh's former party, now in opposition under a new name, the Democratic Party, say they still favor the deal -- but want to ensure measures are in place to help farmers and others seen as vulnerable to more U.S. imports. They warn against being too hasty in ratifying the agreement.
So on Dec. 18, when the ruling GNP introduced legislation to a National Assembly trade committee without the Democrats, the opposition politicians used a sledgehammer and other construction tools to tear open the committee room's wooden doors, only to find GNP lawmakers had set up barricades of furniture inside.
The attempt to storm the room failed, and the GNP introduced the bill -- a move the Democratic Party called illegal.
The GNP has a majority in both the committee and the entire National Assembly and could try to ram the legislation through. Given the opposition's anger, however, and a slew of other, arguably more urgent bills pending approval, it is unclear when the full legislature will vote on the pact.
"That so much commotion was caused merely to put the issue of ratification onto the agenda for the committee, makes us wonder how much more disorder will ensue," the mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial.
The trade deal is significant for both the U.S. and South Korea. It is the largest for the U.S. since the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico and the biggest ever for South Korea. NAFTA, signed in 1993, took effect the following year.
Myron Brilliant, vice president for Asian affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, calls the agreement a potential catalyst for U.S. "economic expansion in East Asia."
Despite the upheaval in South Korean politics, the global economic crisis appears a bigger stumbling block for now and will affect ratification efforts differently in each country.
Cheong In-kyo, an expert on free trade at Inha University in Incheon, South Korea, says the drying up of demand for South Korean exports will likely increase support for the agreement at home.
Not so, though, in the United States, where skepticism about free trade increases in times of stress, he said.
"Next year the U.S. will experience one of the most severe economic recessions," Cheong said. "It's not a good time."
Brilliant, who also serves as president of the U.S.-Korea Business Council, is optimistic Congress will eventually approve the agreement, despite hardline campaign rhetoric on trade by Obama and other Democrats.
Still, he says passage will take time, with the deal not likely even to be taken up for consideration until the summer or fall of next year at the earliest, and probably later.
Obama, who takes office Jan. 20, will initially have other, more pressing, priorities.
"The reality is that President-elect Obama will be focusing on getting our financial house in order," Brilliant said.
Associated Press Writer Shinwoo Kang contributed to this report.
See more: Free Asian
South Korean opposition politicians last week used a sledgehammer to try and force their way into a barricaded committee room to stop the ruling party from introducing debate on a tariff-slashing free trade agreement with the United States.
Fire extinguishers were used amid the melee -- it's not entirely clear by whom -- that threw South Korea's National Assembly into chaos.
The brouhaha highlights the emotional intensity such pacts can trigger -- as well as this one's murky outlook.
The South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement has languished in political limbo since being signed nearly 18 months ago.
It still needs approval from legislatures in both countries, but two major developments since then have raised questions about its passage: Major political changes in both South Korea and the United States and the global financial crisis.
Conservative South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who took office in February, is a firm supporter of the deal, negotiated and signed by the previous liberal Roh Moo-hyun administration.
Lee's Grand National Party wants South Korea to ratify the pact first -- as early as by the end of this year -- potentially making it harder for the incoming U.S. administration of President-elect Barack Obama, seen as taking a harder line on free trade, to call for a renegotiation of the free trade agreement.
Fears of such a scenario intensified during the final presidential debate in October, when Obama singled out South Korea by noting a wide imbalance in auto trade between the two nations.
"That is not free trade," he said in the debate. "We've got to have a president who is going to be advocating on behalf of American businesses and American workers and I make no apology for that."
South Korean automakers including Hyundai Motor Co. sold 772,482 vehicles in the United States in 2007, while Detroit sold 6,235 in South Korea, according to statistics compiled by South Korean auto industry groups.
Members of Roh's former party, now in opposition under a new name, the Democratic Party, say they still favor the deal -- but want to ensure measures are in place to help farmers and others seen as vulnerable to more U.S. imports. They warn against being too hasty in ratifying the agreement.
So on Dec. 18, when the ruling GNP introduced legislation to a National Assembly trade committee without the Democrats, the opposition politicians used a sledgehammer and other construction tools to tear open the committee room's wooden doors, only to find GNP lawmakers had set up barricades of furniture inside.
The attempt to storm the room failed, and the GNP introduced the bill -- a move the Democratic Party called illegal.
The GNP has a majority in both the committee and the entire National Assembly and could try to ram the legislation through. Given the opposition's anger, however, and a slew of other, arguably more urgent bills pending approval, it is unclear when the full legislature will vote on the pact.
"That so much commotion was caused merely to put the issue of ratification onto the agenda for the committee, makes us wonder how much more disorder will ensue," the mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial.
The trade deal is significant for both the U.S. and South Korea. It is the largest for the U.S. since the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico and the biggest ever for South Korea. NAFTA, signed in 1993, took effect the following year.
Myron Brilliant, vice president for Asian affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, calls the agreement a potential catalyst for U.S. "economic expansion in East Asia."
Despite the upheaval in South Korean politics, the global economic crisis appears a bigger stumbling block for now and will affect ratification efforts differently in each country.
Cheong In-kyo, an expert on free trade at Inha University in Incheon, South Korea, says the drying up of demand for South Korean exports will likely increase support for the agreement at home.
Not so, though, in the United States, where skepticism about free trade increases in times of stress, he said.
"Next year the U.S. will experience one of the most severe economic recessions," Cheong said. "It's not a good time."
Brilliant, who also serves as president of the U.S.-Korea Business Council, is optimistic Congress will eventually approve the agreement, despite hardline campaign rhetoric on trade by Obama and other Democrats.
Still, he says passage will take time, with the deal not likely even to be taken up for consideration until the summer or fall of next year at the earliest, and probably later.
Obama, who takes office Jan. 20, will initially have other, more pressing, priorities.
"The reality is that President-elect Obama will be focusing on getting our financial house in order," Brilliant said.
Associated Press Writer Shinwoo Kang contributed to this report.
See more: Free Asian
Starting a conversation with an unknown person can be nerve wracking, but with a few good flirting tips, it doesnt have to look that way. At ProfileHelper, I’ve worked with thousands of men and women to create their dating profiles or make over the ones they’ve already got. It seems that no matter what condition their profile is in when they come to me, they almost always have some problems with their photos as well. In fact it has become such a big deal that we started offering free photo assessments with out profile writing services.
In the battle of who has worse photos: men or women, there is no winner. Both sides have their own unique problems that can cause a perfectly good match to turn up their nose and go looking for romance elsewhere. Today, I want to focus on the guys.
Here’s five big mistakes that men make with their online dating photos.
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In the battle of who has worse photos: men or women, there is no winner. Both sides have their own unique problems that can cause a perfectly good match to turn up their nose and go looking for romance elsewhere. Today, I want to focus on the guys.
Here’s five big mistakes that men make with their online dating photos.
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The financial sectors in South Asia Region (SAR) are dominated by commercial banks, which account for the vast majority of the financial system s assets. The domestic debt markets including the government bond and corporate bond markets are at an early stage of development and there are few institutional investors. In recent years, countries in SAR have attempted to develop local debt markets, although the pace of development remains uneven and slow due to many regulatory and institutional impediments. With the notable exception of India, governments in SAR have yet to implement measures required for the proper development of the domestic bond markets. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the major bond markets in SAR (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) highlighting the areas which need further reforms and contributes to our knowledge of bond markets in South Asian countries.
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Site Agreement (Updated 8/22/2008): By reading this blog you understand and agree that Slant Eye For The Round Eye is not responsible for any third party site content linked or referenced, as well as comments made by readers. While Slant Eye For The Round Eye does its best to maintain a well functioning site and only link to well maintained third party sites, you agree that Slant Eye For The Round Eye is not liable for any outages, or computer malfunctions that may be incurred while visiting this site or by viewing sites linked to from this site. Images and videos posted either for promotional use or within Fair Use guidelines from public services and sites (for commentary and educational use), however if you feel that an image or video (hosted on this blog) infringes on a copyright or trademark not within Fair Use guidelines and should be taken down from this site, please send an e-mail with the url, name of video or image, reason for request, verifiable information of ownership, as well as documentation allowing you to communicate on the owner's, company's, or organizaion's behalf. All requests will be handled within 30-90 days from time of original request.
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