I heard an interview yesterday on NPR with Stewart Brand, the creator of the Whole Earth Catalog and an icon of the environmental movement. He's now taking a stand on returning back to big cities, supporting nuclear power and encouraging genetic engineering as a way of reclaiming our planet and solving the global warming issue -- and he made a lot of sense.
From the Huffington Post: "In these pages, Stewart Brand lays out a mind-blowing vision for the planet's salvation: migration to the cities, power generated by mini-nuclear reactors, healthier crops through genetic engineering. This may well be the most important book I'll read this year. Certainly, it's the most aggressively optimistic book that's also closely reported. To read the full story click here.
An expert from the Amazon review says "Whole Earth Discipline shatters a number of myths and presents counterintuitive observations on why cities are actually greener than countryside, how nuclear power is the future of energy, and why genetic engineering is the key to crop and land management.
One thing most pro-nuke and anti-nuke folks share in common is a lack of understanding of how the technology is used in the real world. It's not The Simpsons and it's not Star Trek. I've worked in US plants over 20 years and have written a novel aimed at the general reader that covers the people, politics and technology of this energy source. I look at both the good and the bad. See the homepage for reader comments - they seem to like it for both its story and information. I think there are many possibilities for our future, both with and without nuclear power, but I also believe we'll make better decisions about our energy future if we first understand our energy present.


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Kids Play Inspiration
Posts Tagged 'Most Popular Toys'
15 Most Popular Toys of the 2000's
By admin | September 4, 2018 | 50
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10 Coolest Strongest Toys Which Actually Exist ! 10 Coolest Powerful Toys In The World 10 strongest toys which are best best toy for kids smart robo toys, remote control toys https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy special credit and links "Optimus Overkill 6×6 Smoking Truck" Filmed by RCSparks Studio http://www.YouTube.com/djmedic2008 thanks for helping us to make this video possible…
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This heartwarming ad offers a very clever solution for loneliness this Christmas.
Maggie Kelly
Video via Medibank
Many of us have spent a Christmas alone for some reason or another.
Maybe you were living or travelling overseas. Maybe you couldn't afford flights back home. Maybe you missed your flight back home.
Whatever the reason, you would know how much spending the festive season by yourself sucks – it's just you, a Christmas Pudding For One, and the Joni Mitchell scene in Love Actually that makes you howl with self-pitying tears every single time.
Yup, there's not a lot in this world sadder than a Christmas spent alone. (Except for maybe a Christmas spent working in retail – that's downright terrifying.) But imagine if you were spending Christmas alone because you were in hospital – that would be the worst.
So one Australian company have come up with a pretty awesome way to solve that problem, and we can't get enough. #happytears.
Spending Christmas alone in a hospital bed can be extremely depressing for patients.
Medibank have bucked the trend for lame Christmas advertising this year to zoom in on lonely Aussies and figuring out a way to cheer them up this festive season.
And forget colouring-in books or dodgy Santa actors, they are bringing the smiles with a seriously cool solution: virtual reality.
The health insurance giant will be delivering virtual reality headsets to long-stay hospital patients over Christmas to give them a much-needed break from the four walls of their ward, and a bit of fun to put a smile on their faces.
Because like it or lump it, illness marches on whether it's Christmas or not.
I remember when we were little and my younger brother fell off a coffee table (???) and broke his arm (???) and my parents spent most of our Christmas break at the beach up the hospital getting him a cast. I still don't understand the situation fully (like, a coffee table? Really?) but I do remember that the whole thing was a shambles. We sort of missed Christmas that year.
So imagine being stuck in a hospital bed with the full knowledge that your family is elsewhere scoffing down some prawns and getting stuck into a game of backyard cricket. No fair.
This patient couldn't believe her eyes when she tried the virtual reality experience.
From people who are living away from family, to our elderly population, there are 2.5 million Aussies who are predicted to spend this Christmas alone. And of them, many will be in hospital - and not all of them will be lucky enough to have people visiting.
Pop Up: The Perfect Jeans. You're Welcome
Overshare
Liminal Clinical Neuroscientist and Neuropsychologist, Sami Yamin, reckons that hospital patients fall into a deep sense of loneliness over the holiday season, but are helpless to do much about it.
"Hospital patients suffer from loneliness, but feel too unwell to do something about it," says Sami.
In fact, 96% of patients interviewed said that loneliness in hospital is likely to peak at Christmas time.
"Knowing this, we've helped create an experience which transports patients from their current situation," says Sami, "and allows them to feel unencumbered by their physical constraints for a while."
So, working with the Medibank team, they created a unique VR experience to address some well known solutions to loneliness, including cute animals and nature scenes. They've called the program, 'Joy'.
Here's a teaser:
The responses from patients have been pretty incredible, with the oldies - many of whom will be bedridden for months on end - lighting up with amazement at the experience.
Giggling and pointing as they explore the 'virtual world' of Joy, it's impossible not to get carried away with their delight.
"Oh, there's the sunshine!" says one woman as she holds her granddaughter's hand.
"It looks like the Australian outback," says another elderly patient.
But best of all is one mum who takes off the headset with wide eyes and says incredulously - "That was amazing!"
Hnnghhh. All of the feels.
So if you know of someone spending Christmas alone - especially if they're unwell - do the right thing and extend the hand of friendship. Go visit. Give them a call. Heck, if you can get your hands on one, set them up with a cool VR headset like Medibank.
No one should have to spend Christmas alone.
christmas-ideas
medibank
technology-2


The world was a very different place in 1995: Bill Clinton was president; Seinfeld was still in first runs on television; only a few people had cell phones (and they were quite large); we were just getting used to e-mail and the Internet; and the Twin Towers were still standing proudly in lower Manhattan.
In the years that followed, rapid change became the norm, terrorism came to our doorstep on September 11, and smart phones and social media came to redefine modern communication. In the midst of everything, there were fewer and fewer aspects of life that remained constant but throughout it all, Derek Jeter played shortstop for the New York Yankees.
Jeter's arrival on the scene came as baseball was still suffering the effects of the longest work stoppage in its history that canceled the World Series in 1994. Sports writers attempted to predict what would save the sport and re-establish the fan base. In 1998, they thought they'd found salvation as St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman, Mark McGwire and Chicago Cubs right fielder, Sammy Sosa battled it out to beat Roger Maris' long-standing single season home run record of 61. Every televised sports report or printed newspaper coverage featured a regular home run count from the two sluggers and by season's end, Maris' record was shattered as McGwire finished with 70 over Sosa's 66.
For a brief time, interest in baseball spiked, but the home run race opened the door to allegations of steroid and performance enhancing drug use by McGwire, Sosa and several other Major League players, plunging the sport into the darkness of scandal for several years. It seemed that no one was immune from the investigations that followed, the testimonies and convictions that resulted, and the tainted reputations of the players involved. Were there any "good guys" left in baseball, or had competition and greed superceded honor and work ethic?
Baseball, like most professional sports, has become a spectacle of overblown egos. Not only are there examples found in large scale scandals like the PED era in Baseball or the current domestic violence fiasco in the NFL, little things like extramarital affairs, insensitive statements, and arrogant or self-glorifying post-game interviews also demonstrate the mettle of the modern professional athlete.
This is where the essence of Derek Jeter's greatness lies. Sure, he was selected to the All-Star team 14 times in 20 seasons. Yes, he won five World Series with the Yankees along with five Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards. Of course, his career batting average (as of a few games before the end of the 2014 season) is .309, he's racked up 3,461 hits, belted out 260 home runs, and has 1,307 runs batted in (including a game-winning, walk off RBI in his last at bat in Yankee Stadium). These numbers will surely land him in Cooperstown, but it was his character that endeared him to sports fans across the globe, even to those who otherwise hate the Yankees (Boston Red Sox and New York Mets fans in particular).
Under the close scrutiny of the New York media, nothing controversial was attached to him in the midst of the PED scandals around him and his off the field behavior never overshadowed his professional accomplishments. Granted, while he took great strides to keep his private life private, had he behaved badly, even he would not have been given a free pass by the New York press. If there's dirt on someone, they find it and report on it.
In post-game interviews, he tended to credit any of his great plays or key hits to him merely "doing his job," and was quick to draw attention to the contributions of his teammates and his manager. His work ethic was readily apparent not only in what he did on the field, but how he approached the game he loved. It was his job, and as such, he did it to the best of his ability, avoiding behavior that would negatively affect his performance or distract from it.
As his career comes to a close, baseball fans will continue to debate his numbers in light of the players who came before him. Was he the greatest player the game has ever seen? Maybe; maybe not. But apart from baseball, character stands out above all else. By that measure, the greatness of Derek Jeter goes without question.
Good job, Captain, and thank you.


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(directors: Justin Benson/Aaron Moorhead; screenwriter: Justin Benson; cinematographer: Aaron Moorhead; editors: Michael Felker/Justin Benson/Aaron Moorhead; music: Jimmy LaValle; cast: Anthony Mackie (Steve), Jamie Dornan (Dennis), Katie Aselton (Tara), Ally Ioannides (Brianna Dannelly), Ramiz Monsef (Dr. Kermani ), Bill Oberst Jr. (The Looter), Betsy Holt (Leah), Shane Brady (Travis), Matthew Underwood (Officer Beaumont), Carl Palmer (Officer Jacobs), Jean-Pierre Vertus (Skeleton Man); Runtime: 96; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Michael Mendelsohn, David Lawson Jr., Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead; Rustic Films/Well Go USA; 2019)
"Superficial."
An oddball time-travel thriller co-directed by Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead ("The Endless"), with Benson writing the clever script that unfortunately gets too silly to be believable. It might play better for the home viewer than the theater goer, who is more demanding.
The black bachelor loner and ladies man Steve (Anthony Mackie) and his white married friend Dennis (Jamie Dornan), who has an infant and a teenage daughter and a wife Tara (Katie Aselton) he's not in love with, work together as New Orleans ambulance paramedics. They're alarmed after called to a gruesome crime scene where all those involved used a new designer drug called Synchronic. It seems this deadly pill has hit the streets of New Orleans, with users dying or disappearing.
One day, Dennis's rebellious 18-year-old daughter Brianna (Ally Ioannides) disappears after attending a party where the strange drug was taken. Dennis's buddy reacts by running around the city buying up all that's left of Synchronic in the hopes no one else can take the deadly pill. He finds the creator of the pill, Dr. Kermani (Ramiz Monsef), in the drug shop he owns, and finds out that the drug is a "time-travel pill." Thinking the pill might help his medical condition, Steve takes it and it connects with his pineal gland. He finds it might not only help him but give him the ability to find Brianna. Steve believe she's stuck in a hostile time warp in the past and that he's willing to risk his life to save hers.
It might be fine for some if they believe this horsesh-t. I couldn't. I just found it superficial, being positive on only a few occasions–like when promoting sacrificing your self for another. The characters were poorly developed (though the acting was good). But the time-travel scenes were senseless, dark and too short to make any lasting impressions.
REVIEWED ON 10/29/2020 GRADE: C+


Salads are quickly becoming some of my favorite types of meals. In general, Laura and I eat a salad every night. She's the one who got me into them and if it wasn't for her, I would never have been introduced to the splendor of it all. The thing is, the salads she enjoys are side salads. You know – the regular ones with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, etc. They're good, but they're not meals.
I've been doing some reading and searching for the types of salads that can actually substitute what someone might normally eat for dinner. In the days of high fat, high salt, high sugar and high everything, it's up to ourselves to eat correctly. If we do, we may be able to reach old age with fewer issues than we might have otherwise. That's just my guess. Who knows if it's true. I'm inspired by Jack LaLanne, who lived until he was 96 years old. He was a maven for diet, exercise and nutrition, so if said it and did it, I don't find his advice difficult to follow.
I had no idea that salads could be so filling. The recipe I'm going to share below is quite deceiving, in that after eating it, you'll be stuffed to the gills. I'm not sure yet if it's from the quinoa or the chickpeas, but one thing's for sure – it's surprising what one dish can do for you.
This recipe is fresh and tasty. It's got a great vinaigrette that adds to the flavor. The quinoa is cooked in broth, so that adds some complexity to the profile and all the veggies offer some interesting texture. I can't say anything bad about this recipe. Quinoa is extremely healthy to consume, chickpeas support weight loss with nutrition and fiber and all the vegetables have held their own throughout history. If you want to make this a truly healthy meal, skip the salt. That's about it. Otherwise, have at it because it's all good.
I'd like to thank Curtis Stone for this recipe. I found it in his What's For Dinner cookbook, which has turned out to be one of my favorite sources for recipes. I didn't know much about Curtis before reading through his cookbook, but now I think we may be twins. We've got almost identical tastes in food. I'm not sure how to explain it – rugged, yet elegant, I suppose.
Place a medium sized saucepan over medium-high heat on your stove top. When warm, add the 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil and 1 of the chopped shallots and cook for a few minutes. Stir until shallot pieces become soft. Then, if you decide to use the garlic, go ahead and add that to the saucepan, cooking and stirring for about 1 more minute.
When finished, add the 2 cups of quinoa and the 3 cups of vegetable broth to the saucepan as well.
Turn the heat to high and bring the liquid to a boil. Then, when boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and let cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring every so often. You'll know when it's ready when the quinoa is tender.
When finished, remove saucepan from heat and let cool. Better yet, scoop the quinoa into a medium sized bowl and place in refrigerator for about 15 minutes, or until cool.
In a medium sized bowl, add the 1 medium size chopped shallot, the 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, the 1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil and the 2 tablespoons of chopped curly parsley (stems included).
Then, when everything is in the bowl, whisk the ingredients together until they're combined well. At this point, you can season to taste with salt and pepper.
In a large bowl, add the 1 15-ounce can of rinsed chickpeas, the 2 cups of coarsely chopped baby spinach, the 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes, the chopped 1/2 cucumber and the 1/2 chopped red bell pepper. If you wish, add some salt and pepper.
When the above ingredients are in the bowl, go ahead and add the vinaigrette and mix well. The goal here is to coat the spinach leaves with vinaigrette.
Next, add in the cooled quinoa and mix that into the salad.
As you can see from the photos above, this dish is attractive, bright and healthy. There's nothing to complain about with this one, so enjoy for a weeknight meal or a weekend BBQ.


If you have any questions about CCHS or the admissions process, please do not hesitate to contact us. Call us at 978-682-0260 ext. 612 or email us at: admissions@centralcatholic.net.
Admission to Central Catholic is selective.
Candidates for grade nine may apply to Central Catholic by using the CCHS Application Portal. We also will accept the Standard Application Online (SAO) in lieu of Central's application.
Transfer students interested in applying , please visit the Transfer Students page.
Catholic High School Placement Test (HSPT) and/or SSAT score.
If you are using the CCHS Application Portal, you will be able to access your electronic recommendation and school records forms once you submit your Application for Admission.
The best way to experience Central Catholic is to visit campus. Those who missed Open House are invited to come to a Walk-In Wednesday to see what makes the Raider Family so special. No RSVP required.
Information sessions will be held at 6:30 PM, 7:00 PM, and 7:30 PM.
Each session is followed by a personalized tour of the CCHS campus.
Applications for transfer into Grades 10 and 11 are due.
Why will YOU choose Central Catholic?


Last week, we wrote about TIME Magazine including Beyond Meat's Beyond Sausage as one of the best inventions of 2018.
Yesterday the publication released its 10 Smartest Sustainable Products of 2018 list, and another familiar (and vegan!) food product made the cut.


In the beginning God created the bicycle, saw that it was good, then went for a nice Sunday ride on the bike lanes He'd made the day before, and they were good, too, because they were new and He had the angels keep them clear of debris. Later, of course, God would get cross and have the flood wash all the good ones away.
And God said to Himself, Let us create man, because cycling is too much fun to keep to Myself, and so He created man, him did He create, create did He him do. And God put man in paradise, and commanded him, Glideth upon the earth anywhere thou wisheth, except for that big hill over there. For on the day thou goeth down that hill, thou shalt surely die.
And God said, Man needs a companion to keep him from spending too much money on new bicycles. So God caused man to fall into a deep sleep by asking him if he wanted to go clothes shopping at the mall, then took a rib from him. Then God said to Himself, Who am I kidding, I'll never hear the end of it when she finds out she was just a rib, so He created woman from frankincense and myrrh and a certain je ne sais quoi.
And God said, Let man have dominion over lathe drills and Philips head screwdrivers, and let woman have dominion over everything else, and as long as thou art naked and unashamed, thou might as well be fruitful and multiply.
Now the serpent, he was a wily one, and he said to woman, Yea, hath God said you may cycle anywhere but down that hill? And the woman said unto the serpent, That's about the size of it: go downhill and die. And the serpent said, Ye shall not surely die, you probably won't even fall off. For God doth know that on the day you go downhill, you will not need to pedal for a long time. Go on, give it a try.
And they heard the voice of God as He was offroad, fully suspended of course, and they hid their bicycles at the bottom of the hill and started whistling nervously. And God called unto the man, and said, Where art thou? And the man said, We art down here. And God said, Hast thou cycled downhill, whereoff I commanded thee that thou shouldest not? And man said, It was her idea.
And God said unto the woman, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow whilst climbing hills; in pain shalt thou perch upon thy saddle.
And God said unto the man, Because thou hast harkened unto the voice of thy wife, cursed is regular bike maintenance. The inner workings of the hub gear will be beyond thou to repair. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou service thy freewheel.
And God said, Behold, the man doesn't listen very well, so he kicked him out of paradise and guarded the entrance with a sign of a picture of a bicycle in the middle of a red circle. And He had a Cherubim with a flaming sword stop by a few times a week for good measure.
And God remembered Noah and asswaged the waters, and Noah opened a door on the ark and set loose Japheth on a unicycle, and God said This is a covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature: that a man on a unicycle is a hilarious sight. The waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
V. Honour the Zebra Crossing and those walking upon the face of it.
VIII. Thou shalt not kill, except bicycle thieves.
X. Thou shalt not covet they neighbour's new Cannondale, nor his groupset, nor his £3000 mtb, nor even his stylish shades.


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A Universidade de Cabo Verde (Uni-CV) é uma instituição de ensino superior de Cabo Verde, com a sua reitoria instalada na cidade da Praia . É a única instituição pública com o carácter de universidade no país, sendo portanto referência para o ensino superior cabo-verdiano.

Sua composição orgânica é constituída por duas faculdades e três escolas superiores; possui seis campi espalhados por diversas localidades, sendo a maior universidade em estrutura física de Cabo Verde.

Sua história pode ser remontada ao período imediato da pós-independência, quando, no ano de 1979, foi fundada a primeira escola superior do país. Em 2006, após a reunião de três escolas superiores públicas independentes, criou-se a Uni-CV.

Em 2016, a universidade foi classificada pelo ranking Webometrics Ranking of World Universities como a quinta melhor universidade dos Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa, sendo de longe a melhor universidade do seu país.

Histórico
A base do ensino superior cabo-verdiano iniciou a sua caminhada a 28 de julho de 1979, através do decreto presidencial n.º 70, criando a Escola de Formação de Professores e Educadores do Ensino Secundário (EFPES), vocacionada a formar docentes para lecionar no ensino secundário, e a partir de 1982 formou docentes do ensino básico também. A 2 de outubro de 1995 a EFPES deu lugar ao Instituto Superior de Educação (ISE).

No entanto, a institucionalização que permitiu a criação da Uni-CV, veio com o estabelecimento das três instituições públicas dedicadas ao ensino superior no país, a saber:

 o Instituto Superior de Educação (ISE), criado pelo decreto-lei n.º 54/95, de 2 de outubro de 1995;
 o Instituto Superior de Engenharia e Ciências do Mar (ISECMAR), criado pelo decreto-lei n.º 40/96, de 21 de outubro de 1996;
 o Instituto Nacional de Administração e Gestão (INAG), criado pela resolução n.º 24/98 (de 1998), obedecendo ao decreto-lei 40/96, de 21 de outubro de 1996.

A 20 de novembro de 2006, o Conselho de Ministros criou por meio do decreto-lei n.º 53/2006, a Universidade de Cabo Verde, integrando primeiramente o ISE e o INAG, localizados na Praia, e o ISECMAR, localizado no Mindelo. Em 2007, uma quarta escola juntou-se oficialmente à universidade: o Instituto Nacional de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Agrário (INIDA), localizado em São Jorge dos Órgãos. Nos primeiros anos de existência, a Uni-CV contou com o forte apoio das universidades brasileiras na matéria da formação dos docentes e intercâmbio das experiências administrativas. A 29 de janeiro de 2007, a Universidade de Cabo Verde aderiu à Associação das Universidades de Língua Portuguesa como membro titular.

As instituições mantiveram-se como unidades associadas à Uni-CV, com um figurino jurídico específico nos dois primeiros anos de funcionamento da universidade. Então, por meio do decreto-lei n.º 29/2008 de 9 de outubro, o ISE, o ISECMAR e o INAG foram extintos, e as suas estruturas foram totalmente integradas a Uni-CV.

A 31 janeiro de 2014 a Uni-CV passou por um processo inédito, com a primeira eleição livre e direta para reitor. Nesta eleição foi eleita, com 50,9% dos votos, a professora doutora Judite Nascimento como nova reitora da universidade, que tomou posse a 24 de fevereiro do mesmo ano.

Estrutura orgânica
A Uni-CV é composta pelas seguintes estruturas orgânicas:

Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Uma das herdeiras do EFPES, oferta os seguintes cursos:
 Ciências Biológicas
 Complemento de Licenciatura em Enfermagem
 Enfermagem
 Engenharia Alimentar
 Engenharia Civil
 Engenharia Eletrotécnica
 Engenharia Informática e de Computadores (Programação e Sistemas de Informação)
 Engenharia Mecânica
 Engenharia Química e Biológica
 Ensino da Física
 Ensino da Química
 Estatística e Gestão de Informação
 Geografia e Ordenamento de Território
 Geologia (Geologia Aplicada e do Meio Ambiente; Geologia e Recursos Naturais)
 Matemática (Ensino; Matemática Aplicada)
 Tecnologias Multimédia e Comunicação (Multimédia e Audiovisual)

Faculdade de Ciências Sociais, Humanas e Artes
Herdeira da EFPES, fundada em 1979, e em 1995 convertido em ISE, esta faculdade (desde 2008) oferta os seguintes cursos:
 Ciências da Educação
 Ciências de Comunicação (Jornalismo; Assessoria de comunicação e Multimédia)
 Ciências Sociais (Ciência Política; Sociologia; Antropologia)
 Complemento de Licenciatura em Educação Física
 Complemento em Educação Especial
 Complemento Pedagógico
 Educação Física e Desporto
 Estudos Cabo-Verdianos e Portugueses (Comunicação; Ensino)
 Estudos Franceses (Tradução; Ensino)
 Estudos Ingleses (Tradução; Ensino)
 Filosofia Política e Relações Internacionais
 Gestão do Património Cultural
 História (Ensino; Museologia, Bibliotecas e Arquivos)
 Psicologia
 Relações Internacionais e Diplomacia
 Turismo e Cultura

Faculdade de Engenharias e Ciências do Mar
A 19 de junho de 1982 surgiu o Centro de Formação Náutica (CFN), localizado no Mindelo. Em 1996 é substituído pelo ISECMAR. Após ser integrado na Uni-CV, a Escola do Mar veio a substituir finalmente o ISECMAR. Em 2016, a instituição passou a designá-lo por Faculdade de Engenharias e Ciências do Mar, ofertando os seguintes cursos:

 Ciências Biológicas
 Ciências Náuticas – Pilotagem
 Enfermagem
 Engenharia Civil
 Engenharia de Informática e de Telecomunicações
 Engenharia de Máquinas Marítimas
 Engenharia Eletrotécnica (Energia)
 Engenharia Eletrotécnica Marítima
 Engenharia Informática e de Computadores
 Engenharia Mecânica
 Gestão dos Transportes Marítimos e Logística

Escola de Negócios e Governação
A 11 de fevereiro de 1981 foi instituído o Centro de Formação e Aperfeiçoamento Administrativo (CENFA), que passou a Instituto Nacional de Administração e Gestão (INAG), a 8 de junho de 1998; substituto do INAG, a Escola de Negócios e Governação oferta os seguintes cursos:

 Ciências Empresariais e Organizacionais (Contabilidade; Gestão; Administração)
 Economia
 Gestão Comercial e Marketing
 Relações Públicas e Secretariado Executivo (Relações Públicas; Secretariado Executivo)

Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais
Viria a ser fundado a 27 de março de 1980 o Instituto Nacional de Investigação Tecnológica (INIT), que em 1997 foi convertido no INIDA. Localizada em São Jorge dos Órgãos, a Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais é a substituta do INIDA; oferta os seguintes cursos:

 Agronomia Socioambiental (Regime presencial)
 Agronomia Socioambiental (Regime semi-presencial)

Pesquisa e pós-graduação
No aspecto da pesquisa, a Uni-CV dispõe de dois periódicos de divulgação acadêmica, a Revista Ciência & Tecnologia e a Revista de Estudos Caboverdianos, além de 3 centros de investigação, 7 núcleos de pesquisa, 2 cátedras e vários projetos de investigação.

A nível de pós-graduação, a Uni-CV possui 13 cursos de mestrado e 3 de doutorado, somando 16 ofertas; de suas instituições orgânicas, somente a Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia não lista nenhum curso dessa natureza.

A maioria está voltada para o estudo das línguas e processos de ensino, havendo também oferta relativa para a área de economia, política e negócios.

Infraestrutura
Por seu uma instituição jovem, a Uni-CV ainda não dispõe de uma unidade central e um aparato físico razoável para uma universidade. Seus campi estão espalhados de maneira irregular pelo território do país, atendendo basicamente à Praia e ao Mindelo. Seus campi e prédios são
Sede da Reitoria da Uni-CV: Praça António Lereno, CP 379C - Praia, Santiago - Cabo Verde
Campus Liceu Velho "Gil Eanes": Rua Franz Fanon, Edifício do Antigo Liceu Gil Eanes, CP 299 - Mindelo,  S. Vicente - Cabo Verde
Campus São Jorge dos Órgãos: S. Jorge dos Órgãos, Cabo Verde
Campus do Palmarejo: Palmarejo, CP 279 - Praia, Cabo Verde
Campus da Achada de Santo António: Avenida OUA nº 27, Achada de Santo António, CP 24 - Praia, Cabo Verde
Campus da Ribeira de Julião: Ribeira de Julião CP 163 - S. Vicente, Cabo Verde

O governo da República Popular da China está doando a construção de uma Cidade Universitária, na cidade de Praia, à Uni-CV. A pedra fundamental foi lançada em junho de 2017, na zona do Palmarejo Grande; a Cidade Universitária terá capacidade para 4.890 estudantes e 476 professores em 61 salas de aulas, 5 auditórios com capacidade de 150 lugares, oito salas de informática, oito salas de leitura, 34 laboratórios, salão multiúsos com capacidade de 654 lugares, refeitórios, biblioteca, dormitórios e um pavilhão desportivo.

Reitores

Pessoas notáveis
 Silvino Lopes Évora (professor universitário) - jornalista, escritor e poeta;
 Manuel Veiga (professor universitário) - linguista;
 João Lopes Filho (professor universitário) - antropólogo;
 Georgina Mello (alumnus) - economista e presidente da Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa.

Ligações externas

Universidade de Cabo Verde

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Converting a dplyr transformation command into a base R function I have a dplyr command that works great on its own:
XOR1 <- XOR1 %>%
  mutate(XOR_inter = case_when(
    chr18.27348077_G == 0 & chr18.32316331_A == 0 ~ 0,
    chr18.27348077_G == 0 & chr18.32316331_A == 1 ~ 1,
    chr18.27348077_G == 0 & chr18.32316331_A == 2 ~ 0,
    chr18.27348077_G == 1 & chr18.32316331_A == 0 ~ 1,
    chr18.27348077_G == 1 & chr18.32316331_A == 1 ~ 0,
    chr18.27348077_G == 1 & chr18.32316331_A == 2 ~ 1,
    chr18.27348077_G == 2 & chr18.32316331_A == 0 ~ 0,
    chr18.27348077_G == 2 & chr18.32316331_A == 1 ~ 1,
    chr18.27348077_G == 2 & chr18.32316331_A == 2 ~ 0
  ))

Basically, it checks for two conditionals in the column names (chr18.27348077_G & chr18.32316331_A) and outputs a desired value into a new column based on the combination of these columns' values. It works perfectly but I want to convert this heavy code into a function I can call within a loop. I tried to convert it as follows:
FunXOR <- function(df, X1, X2) {
  df <- df %>%
    mutate(XOR_inter = case_when(
      X1 == 0 & X2 == 0 ~ 0,
      X1 == 0 & X2 == 1 ~ 1,
      X1 == 0 & X2 == 2 ~ 0,
      X1 == 1 & X2 == 0 ~ 1,
      X1 == 1 & X2 == 1 ~ 0,
      X1 == 1 & X2 == 2 ~ 1,
      X1 == 2 & X2 == 0 ~ 0,
      X1 == 2 & X2 == 1 ~ 1,
      X1 == 2 & X2 == 2 ~ 0
    ))
}

FunXOR(XOR1, "chr18.27348077_G", "chr18.32316331_A")

It runs without an error but nothing happens (i.e. no new column in generated). I've read that dplyr syntax doesn't work great with normal R function syntax. I was hoping to get help in converting this to a function for ease of use later

A: You can use {{var}} to pass unquoted variable names.
Additionally, if you want to update your data.frame instead of outputting to the console, you can assign to the current data.frame.
library(dplyr)

XOR1 <- data.frame(
  chr18.27348077_G = c(0,1,2),
  chr18.32316331_A = c(0,1,2)
)

FunXOR <- function(df, X1, X2) {
  df <- df %>%
    mutate(XOR_inter = case_when(
      {{X1}} == 0 & {{X2}} == 0 ~ 0,
      {{X1}} == 0 & {{X2}} == 1 ~ 1,
      {{X1}} == 0 & {{X2}} == 2 ~ 0,
      {{X1}} == 1 & {{X2}} == 0 ~ 1,
      {{X1}} == 1 & {{X2}} == 1 ~ 0,
      {{X1}} == 1 & {{X2}} == 2 ~ 1,
      {{X1}} == 2 & {{X2}} == 0 ~ 0,
      {{X1}} == 2 & {{X2}} == 1 ~ 1,
      {{X1}} == 2 & {{X2}} == 2 ~ 0
    ))
  return(df)
}

FunXOR <- FunXOR(XOR1, chr18.27348077_G, chr18.32316331_A)

The returned value with this sample data is:
> FunXOR(XOR1, chr18.27348077_G, chr18.32316331_A)
  chr18.27348077_G chr18.32316331_A XOR_inter
1                0                0         0
2                1                1         0
3                2                2         0

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Strasbourg came from behind to beat Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul 66-62 Friday in Game 1 of the Eurocup Finals, but must protect the slim margin in the return leg in Turkey to complete its mission. Galatasaray hosts Game 2 of the two-game total-points series on Wednesday in Istanbul. The visitors led much of the way, but a Louis Campbell triple pushed Strasbourg ahead three minutes into the fourth quarter and Matt Howard scored 8 points in the final five-and-a-half minutes, including 4 in a key 8-1 run as Strasbourg built an 8-point cushion. Galatasaray halved the margin in the final minute. Campbell recoded 5 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in the fourth quarter and finished a brilliant night with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Howard and Jeremy Leloup added 11 points each for Strasbourg. Vladimir Micov paced Galatasray with 17 points, Blake Schilb posted 12 points and 8 rebounds and Chuck Davis came off the bench for 11 points, including the basket that sent him into second place on the Eurocup's career scoring charts. Stephane Lasme provided defensive muscle with 7 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals.
Both teams struggled to score early until Kyle Weems got Strasbourg going with a three-pointer from the top of the key. Lasme quickly answered with a five-meter jumper that Weems matched at the other end. Micov stepped up with a driving layup, but didn't find much help around. Meanwhile, a backdoor layup by Rodrigue Beaubois boosted Strasbourg's lead to 7-4. The visitors missed 7 shots and committed 4 turnovers in the first seven minutes, so head coach Ergin Ataman tried a taller lineup with Davis and Lasme together on court. Davis immediately delivered with a mid-range jumper. Strasbourg could not find the way to the basket and a layup by Micov gave Galatasaray its first lead, 7-8, at the end of a low-scoring, but very intense first quarter.
Matt Howard finished a three-chance Strasbourg offense with a put-back layup early in the quarter. Davis kept pushing Galatasaray with a fadeaway jumper, which Micov followed with an uncontested layup for a 9-12 Galatasaray margin. Howard split free throws and Davis hit 2 attempts to make it a 4-point game. Collins got the crowd involved with a wild driving layup that Curtis Jerrells erased with a stop-and-pop jumper. Lasme took over with an off-balance three-point play, prompting the hosts to call timeout at 12-19. Weems stepped up with a driving layup, which Bangaly Fofana followed with an alley-oop slam for a 16-19 score. Caleb Green and Davis split foul shots, but Campbell brought Strasbourg within 2. Collins shined with a fast break layup and matched Micov's mid-range jumper with a driving basket that tied it at 23-23. A free throw by Micov fixed the halftime score at 23-24.
Lasme made free throws immediately after the break and a coast-to-coast layup by Micov made it a 5-point game. Beaubois rescued Strasbourg with a step-back corner triple, but Errick McCollum buried a baseline jumper and Schilb added a layup for a 26-32 Galatasaray lead. Micov nailed an acrobatic jumper, which Campbell bettered with a three-pointer. Davis hit a fallaway jumper – and moved into second place on the Eurocup's all-time scoring charts - before McCollum and Campbell exchanged layups. A dunk by Fofana got Strasbourg within 33-38. Schilb struck from downtown, but Weems shined with an outstanding slam and Collins added a running jumper that caused Galatasaray to stop the game at 37-41. Jerrells scored in penetration and Micov added free throws, but Campbell and Leloup buried back-to-back three-pointers to bring the crowd to its feet at 43-45.
Schilb buried another three-pointer early in the quarter, but Leloup answered from downtown. Sinan Guler took over with his trademark one-handed floater, as Lasme headed back to the bench with 4 fouls. Fofana made free throws, but Davis matched those with a big basket in the low post. Leloup fired in yet another one from beyond the arc and Campbell joined the three-point shootout to put Strasbourg ahead, 54-52, with seven minutes left. Schilb made free throws, but Beaubois found Howard for a two-handed slam. After a Galatasaray timeout, Schilb missed from outside and Campbell set up Howard for another score. McCollum stepped up with his first three to make it 58-57 with less than three minutes to go. Howard attacked the offensive glass, drew a foul and sank free throws to keep Strasbourg in front. After McCollum split free throws, Leloup sank a pair. Davis committed his fifth foul on an offensive foul and Howard scored via goaltending. The fans broke into La Marselleise as Campbell free throws capped an 8-1 run to make it 66-58 with a minute to go. Micov sank free throws with a minute remaining. After each team missed, Schilb shined with a basket-plus-foul with 27 seconds left that set the final score at 66-62.
"We started to drive and kick, and that hurt them because they were closing the paint very well with Lasme, especially, because he has the ability to defend the driving lane and mist big men. And we insisted too much to find the big instead of playing wide and being more patient to reattack a second time in the possession. We started to do it and we played much better as we defended good. Unfortunately we didn't grab the last 2 rebounds that could have given us plus-7 or plus-8, but plus-4 is better than minus-something. We will go there with the same spirit we showed tonight. We have to play smarter, longer. Too many minutes we did not play the right way against their defense we need to do some adjustment, we must find a better offense obviously if we want to have a chance in Istanbul. "
It was not like a basketball game, but like a handball game, especially in the first half. We were successful with our defensive strategy to stop Strasbourg's offense, mostly by switching on man-to-man, but on offense tonight we played terrible for us, 24 points especially in the first half. It's the first time that happened for us in the Eurocup. In the second half also we started much better in the third quarter. When I saw that our guards were terrible tonight, we put the ball inside, especially we used Chuck Davis's low post game and we got 8 or 9 points with it. But after we had foul problems with our two bigs and I had to take out one of them and return to our regular offense. And I think tonight for Strasbourg it was also a strange game because their scorers didn't find their regular score, but different players like Leloup, like Matt Howard and Campbell found extra points for Strasbourg. Mardy Collins didn't find points, Fofana, Beaubois. So it was a strange game. Also for us, our best players, McCollum, MVP of the Eurocup, terrible game. Captain of the national team, Sinan Guler, one more terrible game. And now finally Strasbourg played with more emotion on their court and won by 4 points.
"We were down, but kept playing good defense and reached halftime just down by 1 point. We knew that if we continued playing the same defense, offense would come to us. We started to score from the outside and this is a good win for us. We need to keep playing defense at the same level, because they will want to take revenge. We have to keep the same defense, because we will find answers on offense."
"We stuck with out gameplan. I think we played terrific on defense. We did everything, minus a few mistakes, we did everything we practiced to defend their players and their plays. I think once they got the 8-point lead, we just buckled down and step by step we were able to come back and get a lead. "
"We never gave up on defense and that allowed us to stay in the game and do what we have been doing. Our fans gave us a great push, just as I expect Galatasaray fans to give their team a big push. It will take poise and concentration to defend this lead in Istanbul. Hopefully we can play the same defense over there and hit some more shots. If we do that, we will definitely give ourselves a chance."
"Obviously on the road we played bad. We didn't win on the road in the eighthfinals against Karsiyaka, and at home we managed to recover the point difference. Anyway, we lost this game and are not really happy. It was a low-scoring game in the first half; it was I think terrible basketball, especially in the first quarter. The result was incredibly low. We have to find the strength to play against their aggressive defense, and switching defense on pick-and-roll. They forced us to go out of rhythm. That's it. "
"It's a tough loss. We expected to win here tonight. We came here with the mentality that we wanted to win, but still 4 points is very narrow. I think we are going to go back to Istanbul and refocus and I think we'll be ready for the next game. We went on a little drought and they made some shots. They had some guys come from the bench and hit a couple three pointers and it brought them closer in the second half. We had some foul trouble and some of our main offensive contributors didn't contribute today, so we'll hope that we'll get those points in the second game. "
"We played bad. The first half, I think it was just jitters, so I excuse that; both teams didn't play well, but we did some unnecessary helping in the fourth quarter and gave their shooters some open threes. That is kind of what turned the game around. We have been a great home team all year, but with the way we played here, I am glad we got that result. We could have lost by 12, 13, 15, but we have a chance. Four points is really nothing in basketball and we always play well at home."


Information systems and business technology have become strategic points in a world based on the power and agility of information. Therefore, it is not surprising that it has become a sector of work that moves new business opportunities and is coveted by companies and institutions.
According to a recent article in the Spanish daily Expansión, approximately 860,000 jobs in this sector will be generated in Europe in the coming years, due to the lack of qualified professionals. This explains the employability rate of ICT professionals to be 94% according to a study published by Ideada.
Society is evolving faster than the emergence of new risks and threats to information, which is so essential to organizations today. For this reason, there is a growing and unstoppable demand for qualified personnel in information security, who knows in detail the most strategic aspects in this area.
The course of study presented aims to prepare students with profiles characterized by an enormous versatility in the Information Technology markets.The curriculum provides students with two areas of specific training specialization. These two specializations serve the interests of candidates at the Software Engineering (managers dedicated to developing computer applications and multimedia) and Information Systems (dedicated to managers of information systems departments and consultants). During the course, students are constantly challenged to work with realpractice scenarios in order to cope with different professional profiles.
In a context where the Systems and Information Technologies are a key factor in the competitiveness and success of organizations, having the skills to understand these resources and know how to manage them is critical. The Master's main objectives are to train technicians and managers with high competence in the areas of planning, analysis, development and security of organizational information systems. It is a master's professional nature in order to expand their career prospects to the participants by developing their scientific and technical potential in management of information systems.
The MSc in Information Systems for Management Has an identity based on the acquisition of knowledge for the training of Information Systems Analysts in business contexts.
Organizations' information systems have undergone many significant changes. This course exposes students to the latest trends in the industry, enabling them to acquire the knowledge and develop the skills necessary for the success of their professional career.
The Master in Management of Services and Technology (MMST) is a unique advanced educational programme in Technology and Operations Management (TOM) that focuses on both industry and service domains. This programme aims at developing modern, updated, proactive, accountable and socially responsible managers, specifically focused on business operations. Graduates are prepared to excel, to lead, to learn and to become ethical (intra/)entrepreneurs in any international arena. They might also pursue a career in research by attending the PhD of this line of studies in TOM, where three independent cycles of studies interact and are integrated to extend the previous one.
This master program is fully lectured in English and seeks to provide technological training for professional purposes in the several fields covered by Informatics, including: planning, operation and maintenance of information systems and technologies; audit, control, and management of information technology projects; drawing up contingency plans and security in information systems; development of processes of innovation, quality and entrepreneurship in information systems; database management and administration of web technologies and services; development of multimedia applications.
It aims to train postgraduate professionals who demonstrate technical and professional leadership skills and the adaptability needed in an ever-changing society.


Until about two hundred years ago, no gemological distinction was made between ruby and spinel. Red spinel and red ruby are not infrequently found together and though gem cutters and engravers noticed and commented on the difference in hardness, the assumption was that spinel was simply an "unripe" version of ruby. Additionally, ruby and sapphire are both versions of the mineral corundum, distinguished only by color and minute traces of the metal oxides that caused these different colors. Sapphires may be pink, yellow, and green as well as blue, while rubies come in many shades of red which, inevitably causes confusion as one person's pale red ruby is another's pink sapphire – there are no absolutes. Consequently, the nomenclature is confused, both within early texts, and also in later translations of those texts. The ancient authors could only report on the basis of the information available to them at the time, while those writing the later translations were fine textual scholars or epigraphers, but not infrequently poor gemologists, not familiar with the mineralogical distinctions between the gems. It has often been difficult to get an overarching view of the many different factors that all played a part in the spread of precious gems and of the dissemination of knowledge about them. Given the paucity of available information concentrating exclusively on the use of ancient precious gemstones, the author combed the literature for relevant references. A surprising amount of descriptive and factual information was found, mostly scattered throughout early texts. The most interesting passages were selected and wherever possible the original authors' words were quoted rather than paraphrased. The early translations in the languages used by 17th–19th century scholars are given, names of people, places or objects that otherwise might have remained obscure are explained. Gems travel. They follow wealth and because of their natural immutability, the only way they can be identified by culture is by the way man has affected their appearance, deliberately or accidentally. The dating of gems that are still in original period settings is easier because the dated typology of rings and jewelry settings generally, is more secure than the study of gem shapes, while the study and dating of specific faceting styles of unmounted stones is still in its infancy.


text:
Mac Games > Hidden Object Games > Myths of the World: Black Rose Collector's Edition
Myths of the World: Black Rose Collector's Edition
Buy Now Get the full version
$ 13.99 USD or 2 credits
From Eipix Entertainment, the studio that brought you the Final Cut and Myths of the World series, comes another exciting myth to discover!
Vampire hunting is a full-time job, and your latest lead has brought you and your partner to Louisiana. Hop aboard a Mississippi River cruise, and get to work! You must investigate the riverboat passengers to expose a vampire who's carrying an ancient artifact that could spell disaster in the wrong hands. Just be wary of who you trust... Even a seemingly normal person might be under the spell of the cunning vampire, luring you into a trap. Uncover the clues and unmask the true villain in this heart-pounding Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
This is a special Collector's Edition release full of exclusive extras you won't find in the standard version. As a bonus, Collector's Edition purchases count toward three stamps on your Monthly Game Club Punch Card!
The Collector's Edition includes:
Play the bonus game to save Eastmire from a new threat!
Get soundtracks, wallpapers, screensavers, and concept art
See behind-the-scenes images that inspired the game art!
An available Strategy Guide
Buy this game, Get 3 Punches!
Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide
Hidden Expedition: Smithsonian Castle
Lost Lands: The Four Horsemen
Haunted Hotel: Death Sentence
Christmas Stories: Hans Christian Andersen's Tin Soldier
Surface: Game of Gods
Mystery of the Ancients: Deadly Cold
Myths of the World: Black Rose Collector's Edition is rated 4.3 out of 5 by 56.
Rated 5 out of 5 by JocastaSilver from Track Down the Evil Vampire Let me start off by saying that this is not a cliché game about vampires. The storyline featured some shocking twists, and there were some interesting HOPs and puzzles. There's even an extra set of collectibles in addition to finding "Black Roses". The VA was excellent all around, as is usual for Eipix. I would recommend buying the Collector's Edition as the bonus chapter features a very sinister villain and ties up loose ends from the main game.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Majestyx12 from Gotta Love those Morphs I loved collecting 43 Roses,10 Pumpkins and 14 Morphs. I really enjoyed the bonus game which brought back Benjamin and Pearl. Had a Souvenir box where you revisit every scene to collect a item after your done with the bonus game. 5 Chapters + Bonus. Will replay Halloween.
Rated 5 out of 5 by upsysydaisy from Good Vampire Tale This is a great game without all the blood and gore always associated with vampire stories. The storyline was interesting and easy to follow. Every scene was beautiful, clear and colorful. Lots of things to just enjoy, I love playing slowly so I can take it all in. The black roses were easy to spot, but the morphs in the HOS not as easy. It was a long game, the bonus chapter was excellent. Loved the challenge of all the puzzles, but skipped a couple because they were becoming tedious. The HOS were lengthy, involved several steps to find an item, and lots of interaction in each HOS. The artwork was just beautiful and really made the scenes a feast for my eyes. I enjoyed this game very much. Always waiting and hoping for more vampire games. How about an alien vampire?!
Rated 5 out of 5 by LadyJez from Love Eipix games Everyone else has told the plot of the game so I won't do that again. I just loved playing this game. The hidden objects scenes were so different from the usual games. I am never disappointed from Eipix and when you finish the game make sure you view the people who created the game and their quotes associated with them--very entertaining.
Rated 5 out of 5 by GordanaG from Vampiric and Gothic game This is so awesome! I've enjoyed the most while playing this game. It was full of adventure, hidden object and mini games were so great. I can say whit proud that this is my favourite HOPA game! Keep making these awesome games, Eipix!
Rated 5 out of 5 by scamp69 from Finished Bonus Game, thoroughly enjoyed! Most other reviewers have covered everything. After you finish the Bonus you can go back and find the black roses that you missed. Also, there are Souvenirs that you can go back and find - random objects and NOT the morphs in HOs. You can also replay stuff and shoot bubbles.
Rated 5 out of 5 by aljora from Well worth having! This game was really fun. It had a good storyline, was of long length, and can be played on many levels. Strategy guide is included. HOP's included items to be assembled, morphing objects, word find objects, and also silhouettes. A fun part of finding the objects, included riddles to find some of them. You had to think your way through them. The puzzles had a good range of difficulty. Also hidden in all of the frames, was a Black Rose to be found, and some frames also included a pumpkin in them, that you have to click on to be carved into a jack-o'lantern. This is one of the newer genre of HO games, that isn't the same old, same old! Thoroughly enjoyable, and the music was nice, and not annoying to distraction.
Rated 5 out of 5 by rbickel6 from First Time with this Series And I was impressed. There is a LOT I like about this game. 1. It FLOWS. There's not all this running back and forth trying to remember things from way back. There's a little back and forth but not bothersome at all. 2. Beautiful and easy graphics. By easy I mean light and pleasant. 3. Lots of fun puzzles and HOGs. 4. Charming storyline. 5. LOTS of fun challenges, which is always my favorite. Three different extra object searches include morphing ones. My one criticism is that overall it is too easy. I would put it at easy-medium challenge and would have preferred it to be much harder. But it is so pleasant to play I didn't mind.
Rated 5 out of 5 by skullfun from A Fang-tastic thriller from the experts!!! For those of you who play a lot of HOPA games you already know that EIPIX is one of the top developers in the genre and their graphics are hard to beat. In Black Rose we have those wonderful, albeit sometimes dark, crisp and colorful graphics. Coupled with the excellent lip-synced voiceovers and soundtrack we have a game that is sure to please many of you out there in BFG game land. The tools in the game consist of an integrated map, a Vampire Hunters Guide and a Vial of Light that we acquire shortly into the game. It looks like some of the game developers seem to have heard you shout, loud and clear, that you are tired of the cute and furry pet helpers or helpers in general because I don't see one lurking around in Black Rose. What I love about this developer are the great interactive various types of HOPs and for some reason IMHO, they seem better than ever in Black Rose. Questions are asked in order to find hidden objects too. At some point I generally groan when I encounter too many interactive HOPs but EIPIX knows how to do them just right since many of them contain puzzles as well as the items to find. I really enjoy the puzzles I have encountered which seem to be multi-tiered and contain a bit more challenge that has been present in recent games. As of late, puzzles have been laughably easy and almost mindless in their presentation but finally I can put my brain to work. Myths of the World 5 is loaded with extras and, IMHO, worthy of being labeled as a CE. Throughout the game we will find morphing objects and two different types of collectibles and not all of them easy to find. Among the extras we will find a bubble-shooter game, puzzles, souvenir box, HOPs, the bonus game, strategy guide, pictures, movies and something I like – the making of section. All in all we have a game that deserves the CE label. Most Vampire themed adventures are sometimes flawed, but this is one of the few that I think is extremely good. I found that when the demo ended I wanted to continue playing and have not been disappointed that I purchased the CE version. In fact, I had to tear myself away from the game to write this review so that I could get back to playing. I know that I have several hours of fun and challenge ahead with Black Rose. However, I recommend that you demo the game before purchase.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Penhip from EIPEX IS AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME!!!!! When I saw that the "GAME FOR TOMORROW" was a new installment of Myths of the World, I bought it immediately, demo unseen and no reviews available (as yet). Honestly.... I just thought I'd save myself some time because EIPEX releases are outrageously amazing.... and Black Rose was no exception. Although my favorite installment of MOTW is Fiends and Friends for so many reasons (just play it and see for yourself) BR has the innovation and creativity that is synonymous with an EIPEX production. And quite possibly, the best "Halloween" game released this year. The HOS which contains the ever popular morphing objects, are varied and fluid, literally moving you through the scene and changing your perspective which is not only interesting visually but also challenging. The same principle is applied to the mini-games taking the tried and true games that we all know and love and giving them a different and creative spin. Some of them were quite challenging and I had a blast trying to figure them out. There are souvenir objects and of course, a rose in every scene some of which are obscured by other objects so don't despair if you can't see it immediately. In the spirit of Halloween, there are also some pumpkins to find and carve although these are interspersed within the game. But perhaps the biggest homage to Halloween lies within the games storyline and title character; Black Rose a love spurned vampire who has made it her mission to torture Benjamin; our trustworthy vampire, Benjamin whose mission it is to reverse the curse of vampirism and release his beloved from the thralls of Rose who has enslaved her as her minion. While the storyline is a variation of the good vs evil paradigm inherent in most adventure games, EIPEX does give you an unexpected surprise which adds another layer to the role of the "Hunter" and yet another spin on a classic adding yet another twist to an old classic. Thank you EIPEX for giving us "THE" Halloween game of season and another exceptional adventure game worthy of praise and merit. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU FOR A JOB MOST INCREDIBLY DONE!... you are very much appreciated.
Myths of the World: Black Rose Collector's Edition Reviews - page 2
Track down a vampire hiding on a Mississippi riverboat cruise.


About a year-and-a-half ago I was having dinner with a group of friends in India, at the home of a Tibetan friend. The topic of the sad state of affairs in the Tibetan community in India (loss of morale, corruption, etc.) came up and I rhetorically asked when it had all gone bad. Mind you, I have strong memories of the early days, of the time when the sense of unwavering commitment to Tibet was palpable, when the stand for Tibetan independence was not controversial (to the contrary!), when getting to the West was not the first thing on people's minds. It was in that atmosphere that a good number of us non-Tibetans first encountered Tibet and the Tibet struggle and it indeed colored our attitudes (the attitudes of some of us at least) throughout the subsequent decades.
Well, in response to my question, my friend replied that it was the Middle Way. Everything had changed with that. We didn't discuss it further, and moved on to other topics and a warm, convivial (and delicious) dinner.
But I thought about the remark. I don't know if my friend meant the comment in the way I've taken it, but it seemed to me (and still does) to be much more insightful than its brevity might suggest. For when the Middle Way became official policy—with the Strasbourg Statement in the summer of 1988, though, truth be told, Tibetan Government-in-Exile officials were already operating on the basis of the policy years before it became public—it wrought a stunning reversal. Over the course of days anyone with a stake in the governing status quo, anyone with something to lose should they not remain in good standing with the Tibetan establishment, was faced with the fear of possibly losing a position, prestige, even a job, should he or she not remain in step with the policy decreed by the Dalai Lama. And so, one saw many, many, split-second turnarounds. People who had one day touted their commitment to the independence of Tibet were the next day touting that they were not for independence, but for Tibet being a democratic "entity" within China. Or minimally they learned to keep quiet. All of this happened in the absence of reasoned discussion and the formulation of a logical conclusion. It happened for reasons of expedient self-interest. People didn't want to be on the opposite side of the divide from those who held power.
The victory of the Middle Way and the degeneration of ideals that followed in its wake should not be seen in isolation from the distorted understanding of civil society among Tibetans in exile that enabled it; i.e., the understanding among a substantial number of Tibetans that the policies, pronouncements, and wishes of the leader—the Dalai Lama—must not be subjected to serious critical objections and dissent. This atmosphere has led to the use of the Dalai Lama as a prop by some, and to mention of his name as the crux of an argument's merits by others. This warped sense of civil society has become one of the obvious characteristics of significant portions of the exile community. It is reflected in the dismissal of Jigme Ngapo from his position at the Tibetan Service of Radio Free Asia late last year; allegations of the exile leadership's political machinations to exert influence over RFA have been asserted by several parties as the primary cause of his dismissal. Reliable reports have made it clear that this dismissal was very much in line with the wishes of the leadership in Dharamsala. Even if short-sighted officials in Dharamsala may consider the termination of Jigme Ngapo's employment opportune, the whole affair is deplorable. For one thing, given the questions about Lobsang Sangay's behavior (financial and otherwise) that have been popping up, it is no credit to exile efforts at civil society for its leadership to move to influence reporting and personnel issues at RFA. RFA is, after all, mandated by the U.S. government to retain objectivity in its reporting—reporting that must sometimes take in the doings of these self-same Tibetan exile political figures. Some of the complaints about Jigme Ngapo actually speak favorably to his understanding of the need for distance and objectivity, i.e., complaints that he never visited Dharamsala as head of RFA's Tibetan Service or requested a personal audience with the Dalai Lama during his tenure. And more recently there has come very reliable word of a particularly embarrassing incident, indicative of Dharamsala's adamant intention to involve itself in RFA matters. Since many of the principle players in Jigme Ngapo's dismissal were caught off guard by the furor that followed it, the Dalai Lama—ostensibly retired from political activity—decided to lend his authority and influence to the cause of quieting dissent on the issue. In a closed talk to Tibetan journalists at the 26th Mind and Life Conference in Mundgod in January, well after Jigme Ngapo had been dismissed from his post, he made it clear that he agreed with the complaints that the Tibetan exile leadership had been making about Jigme Ngapo's independence (e.g., complaints about Jamyang Norbu being allowed to give commentary on RFA) and supported his dismissal. Most mind-boggling, though, was his statement that Libby Liu, the controversial (to say the least) head of RFA and the one who terminated Jigme Ngapo's tenure there, had done much more for Tibet than Jigme Ngapo had ever done. Given the machinations to oust Jigme Ngapo that preceded this, having the Dalai Lama—who is seemingly unconcerned about any questionable behavior on the part of Libby Liu or Lobsang Sangay (the latter, after all, being an ardent supporter of his policy of retaining Tibet as a part of China)—pronounce favorably on the merits of one RFA official over another simply solidifies the perception that the wall that ought normally to keep exile political influence out of RFA's affairs has been toxically eroded.
To bemoan the state of civil society in exile is not—please be assured, dear reader—to propose any sort of equivalence, moral or actual, between the PRC and the Tibetan exile political structure, such as it is. Whatever valid criticisms of exile society and the exile community one might make, arrests, executions, and torture are in no way part of it; on the most obvious level there is simply no meaningful or honest comparison to be made between what transpires inside Tibet and what transpires in exile. But that should not deter anyone from being blunt about the ills of exile society, including the less than complete grasp on the part of many exiles as to what makes up a functional civil society. This state of affairs may also be responsible for the often skewed view of Chinese society that periodically manifests itself among exiles. In some quarters the growing interest in Tibetan Buddhism on the part of some Chinese within the PRC has been translated into notions about support for the Tibetan cause within China, ignoring the fact that many of the people in China who take an interest in Tibetan Buddhism do so with little or no awareness of the Tibet Issue and its implications (not unlike some of their counterparts in the West, actually). Indeed, to the question that is frequently asked—what do Chinese think about Tibet?—the answer is quite simple: Tibet does not occupy the thoughts of the vast majority of Chinese. And when it does come to mind, it is likely to be as a region whose people were liberated from a particularly horrendous form of feudal oppression, or as a land of apolitical mysticism. The fact is most Chinese don't spend time thinking or caring about Tibet. Indeed, when Tibet comes into broader view, as during the protests of 2008, this lack of serious reflection results in bafflement or, more commonly, resentment—resentment at the patent ingratitude of Tibetans for the liberation from slave-like servitude that China granted them. This is not to ignore those Chinese who do dare to reject what the official media and Chinese ultra-nationalism prompts them to think about the issue. But they are a terribly small part of the population and to see them as having a role to play in pushing popular sentiment (let alone official policy) in a certain direction is, at least at this moment in time, to misread the nature of civil society in China, as many in the exile community are indeed wont to do.
It is for this reason that the projection of Tibetan hopes onto the phenomena of visible Chinese protests—the perception that these protests are opening up a space for greater Tibetan freedom—has serious failings. Protests within the PRC—and there are many—are indeed striking. But Tibetans who think that they may foreshadow the growth of a Chinese society predicated on broad notions of justice and human rights that will work towards addressing the aspirations of Tibetans are misjudging much of their context.
And this brings us briefly back to RFA, where a March 11 news story headlined "Many Chinese Sympathetic to Tibet: RFA Poll" started off with the statement that "Mainland Chinese are largely sympathetic to the cause of Tibet…" The headline and opening phrase certainly express sentiments that feed into the exile establishment's view that the Middle Way is an effective policy, one that is winning popular Chinese support because of its "conciliatory" nature. Yet when one reads the story closely one discovers that it is based on telephone questioning of… 30 Chinese respondents! 30 people (not all of whom, by the way, are wholly sympathetic to Tibetan expressions of discontent) out of, say, 1.3 billion! One may rightly wonder: what agenda—or, more aptly, who's agenda—would get such a headline and story posted on the RFA website on the basis of a statistically less-than-inconsequential phone survey of RFA listeners? Only a disregard for minimal journalistic standards for research and reporting could produce such a story. What next? Will RFA be breathlessly telling its listeners in China that most Americans have sighted Elvis Presley, alive and well, at their local McDonalds?
It should be understood, when trying to read potential Chinese thinking about Tibet from the larger phenomenon of Chinese protests, that local protests in China are most commonly rooted in specific local issues; they are fundamentally different from protests that involve nationality issues and nationality discontents. These latter are inherently imbued with—tainted with, as many would see it—the potential for undermining crucial elements in the modern construction of the Chinese nation. The introduction of the national question into a protest automatically places it in a much more sinister category (as far as the authorities and many Chinese citizens are concerned) than that of protests caused by limited local grievances. And here the crippled nature of Chinese civil society becomes clearer. Setting aside those few, brave souls who do look beyond their own group's interests and raise their voices in support of broad human rights issues (and of course there are such people in China, let's not forget), the sort of civil society backing for issues that transcend the personal interests of particular protestors is still quite weak. It does exist, of course, and when one sees manifestations of it, it is striking. But China is far from producing a civil society in which significant numbers of people will take a strong, public, dissenting stand on an issue removed from their own perceived interests. Consider that the civil rights movement in the United States during the 1960s only achieved the level of success that it did when a majority of the population—the non-Black population—was no longer able to avoid a gut-level sense of shame and anger over the bigotry, discrimination and worse that was visited upon one sector of society. That the majority did not suffer the same outrages inflicted on the Black population was beside the point. The situation was repugnant; it offended the sense of justice of the majority, which ultimately supported measures and actions to end it. And this, out of a sense of civil society; an awareness that it is largely the citizenry, not the government, that must ultimately set the agenda for social justice.
This is what makes Tibetan expectations about Chinese society so misleading. Contrary to what RFA claims to have adduced, it is nowhere near being a society in which visceral opposition to injustice visited upon someone else can be sufficient grounds for outcries and broad social action over conditions in Tibet. Although there is sympathy for Tibetan grievances to be found on some social media sites, it is dwarfed by a larger public sentiment that either accepts official positions or is uninterested. Given the deterministic ideological arguments that dominated Chinese thinking on a host of subjects (history, religion, society, etc.) for decades, derisory attitudes to international sensitivities about injustice in Tibet are hardly unexpected. In most Chinese conceptions of the factors that produced an international movement in support of Tibet there is little room for consideration of the workings of civil society. Rather, certain forces whose objective effect is anti-China are at work underneath the veneer of civil society humanitarianism; forces that are deterministic: rooted, above all in group social and historical dynamics divorced from individualistic sensibilities and direction. Agitation over Tibet in the West and elsewhere (almost always characterized as anti-China) is presented as something easily understood once one comprehends the determining dynamics of the society or people in question.
Of the 200 cultural figures with the most influence among Americans, half of them are Jews. Up to the early 1980s, of the more than 100 American Nobel Prize winners, close to half were Jews and their descendants. As a result, some people say America controls the world and the Jews control America. For reasons of religion, culture, politics, etc., there is an indissoluble link binding American Jews and the Tibet Issue.
From that point on one has a pretty good idea as to where all this is going. And the author doesn't disappoint, providing sections on Jewish officials in the U.S. government (shades of Richard Nixon!), on the emotional tie of Jewish officials to the Tibet Issue, on Jewish academics, on Jews in Tibetan Studies (including yours truly, of course), etc. He ends with a delineation of political, emotional and cultural factors linking American Jews to the Tibet Issue: American Jews identify with the diasporic circumstances of Tibetan exiles; both Jews and Tibetans are religious peoples facing questions of modernization, secularization and cultural preservation; the realization of Zionism is considered a model for achieving Tibetan Independence, etc. But before this point, there is, as I guess is to be expected in such a piece of drivel, a short disquisition on the "Jewish media's" support for Tibetan independence, noting ominously that "Within these world-famous media companies, not only are the owners Jewish, but many of their important posts are filled by Jews. Although there are many newspapers and magazines owned by non-Jews, their advertising income depends, to a very large degree, on Jews." Whew! One hopes Du Yongbin has been properly thanked for sounding the alarm on Jewish control of the media! And where has the author found such spectacular insights? Well, fortunately this bit is footnoted. His source is a one-stop go-to website for all things Jewish-Conspiratorial: www.jewwatch.com…! Du Yongbin's embrace of the assertions of anti-Semitic cranks (the website's homepage features a lovely graphic of "Zionist Leon Trotsky of the Zionist USSR") can hardly be an error of ignorance. Yes, some may argue that such idiocy has wide currency in China. But in this instance it's being aired in a journal that presents itself as a vehicle for scholarship. Its publication in Zhongguo Zangxue illustrates the ease with which, in the broad absence of liberal, civil society modes of thought, deterministic, essentialist beliefs are taken up to explain foreign attitudes concerning China's treatment of Tibet. A pity Du Yongbin wasn't around in Stalin's waning years. He might then have been able to combine his belief in an overarching Jewish-American position on Tibet with a Stalinist/Marxist disquisition on Jewish… uh, make that "rootless cosmopolitan," art, capitalism, etc.
And there's more than a small grain of truth in this: people do stereotype the "Other." It happens between cultures, between nations, between regions, between peoples and ethnie, etc., and within them as well. And people are influenced and shaped by their environments. But these are commonplaces, not great revelations; and elevating them to the overriding determining factor in the development of an individual's views means subordinating the content of said views—and the facts that shape and gain expression in them—to the identity of the observer. It makes people first and foremost functions of their identities (as described by the many academic fans of Orientalism, of course); and as such it is ideology. It is ideology as much as if the identity in question were class or race.
Much ink has already been spilled pointing out the holes in Said's work, not least his poor grasp of academic Orientalism in the West, as evidenced, for instance, in his seemingly near-total ignorance of the German Indological tradition, a tradition bereft, during its development, of an accompanying German imperialist stake in India of any sort. What Orientalism ignores in the motivation of so many scholars such as these is amply summed up in the very title of Robert Irwin's critique: For Lust of Knowing. Rather trenchantly Simon Leys (Pierre Ryckmans) noted, apropos of Said's portrait of Orientalism as a colonialist-imperialist conspiracy: "Who knows? One day it will perhaps be discovered that the best studies of Tang poetry and Song painting have all been financed by the CIA—a fact that should somehow improve the public image of this much-maligned organization." His critique ("Orientalism and Sinology")—which was specifically concerned with what Orientalism meant for Sinology—ought to be read in full; it can be found in the most recent collection of his essays.
In truth, it's necessary to point out that Orientalism's assertions about the manner in which the power interests of the West shape scholarship, literature, media, etc., creating in all of them an image of the Orient as violent, brutal, craven, etc., etc.; i.e., an image "tinged and impressed with, violated by," the political needs of the West, were hardly new when the book first appeared. If one were on a major American university campus such as… well, why not say Said's very own Columbia University in, say, the early 1970s, well before Orientalism saw the light of print… If one were in that particular place at that particular time one could hardly have been unaware of any number of lectures or presentations demonstrating how the imperialist culture and interests of the United States determined the popular and academic representation of China: Fu Manchu, Anna May Wong, et al, were all part of the inevitable imagery that an imperialist power required in order to represent China as a violent, brutal place when in fact the China of the day was a place of broad harmony, committed altruism and—above all—revolutionary solidarity; a place where intellectuals and students happily went out to the countryside to live in communes and learn from the peasantry. Violence, torture, and oppression in the China of the Cultural Revolution? It was only the United States, abetted by an academic establishment which was, shall we say, "violated by gross political fact," that propagated such an image for its own imperialist purposes. Thankfully audiences could learn the revolutionary truth about such colonialist misrepresentations from the roving bands of lecturers from the Committee of Concerned Asian Scholars or, a little later, from the U.S.-China People's Friendship Association… Alas, by the early 1980s that had all became a huge embarrassment to a host of newly-minted China experts (think Shirley MacLaine, et al.). Unfortunately, it turned out that there had been violence and brutality attached to the Cultural Revolution… violence and brutality aplenty.
And even in the realm of scholarship the shadow of Orientalism has never disappeared… The Shangri-La story is derived from the myths of Blavatsky: the story of a bunch of white people living in the Buddhist society of Shangri-La. In this story, Tibet serves as the background. The author and the actors were all Westerners dreaming of Shambhala or Shangri-La. Hollywood movies and all manner of mass culture incessantly reproduce stories about Shambhala or Shangri-La. But all that they express is what they are dreaming of within the world of the West. In the aftermath of war, industrialization and all sorts of disaster, Tibet—to put it more precisely—is Shambhala or Shangri-La. It has become a fantasy world for many Westerners: a world that is mysterious, spiritual, filled with revelations, non-technological, peace-loving, virtuous, and imbued with psychic capabilities.
The tenor of Wang Hui's comments is clear. And from them too one can understand the generally positive view that is given another work, one which focuses on the fantasy element, the Western view of Tibet as Shangri-La. Grounded in Orientalism, Wang Hui makes use of the Shangri-La meme, proposing that one aspect of Western hostility to China is rooted in the notion that China has destroyed the West's cherished fantasy land. And so we find Don Lopez's Prisoners of Shangri-La invoked by some writers in support of that position. Indeed, when the book was published at least one critic was angered that it would provide fodder for China's overall position on Tibet. And one might surmise that that has been the case, given the references to it that can be found in Chinese writings. But there's a significant difference between Prisoners of Shangri-La, as read in China, and Orientalism. To start off, Orientalism as used by Chinese writers is not a distortion of its author's main thesis. This is what makes it so handy. But Prisoners of Shangri-La is something else altogether. Don Lopez does delve—in detail—into the fantasizing about Tibet that has become so markedly associated with the country. But in this he does not tie sympathy with the plight of contemporary Tibet uniquely to Western needs for a pure realm somewhere far away, nor does he deny the reality of what has happened in Tibet under Chinese rule. Indeed, he is quite categorical in describing China's presence in Tibet with the terms "occupation" and "colonization." Broadly speaking, recent Chinese writing on the subject doesn't really represent a new development, save perhaps as regards its particularly skewed slant. Western scholarship has long been addressing the issue of a fantasy Tibet without in any way ignoring the horrors that have transpired there under Chinese rule. Already in 1996 a major symposium devoted to the subject, Mythos Tibet, was convened in Bonn, bringing together many of the major Western academics (including Don Lopez) who have dealt with the subject in one way or another. Even before that, Agehananda Bharati (Leopold Fischer) authored a much-discussed piece on the subject in the mid-1970s.
There's something else that is quite telling about the position of Prisoners of Shangri-La in Chinese academic writing. While it is cited by some writers in China, many (if not most) of whom read it in translation, the actual translation is not accessible to the general public. It is not to be found, so far as I can tell, in any publicly accessible bookstore, nor is it possible for ordinary students and members of the public to read it. That, in and of itself, ought to make clear that its contents are not wholly or honestly represented by many of the Chinese writers who make use of it. As for Orientalism, that book is easily available in Chinese translation, a translation which includes a key to the pagination of the original English edition (so that, anyone, when citing it, can give the appearance of having used the original English-language version). Of course there's no need in China to misrepresent Orientalism; it's the perfect conversation-changer (when talk turns to the unpleasant subjects of political imprisonment, torture, etc., in Tibet) exactly as is. Its core idea makes it well-suited for use as an antidote against the insistence that specific grievances, facts, accounts of atrocities should be—must be—spoken of, written about and exposed before an international public, regardless of whatever identity one fixes on the speaker or writer. It is pressed into service to pronounce the content of what is said to be the mere, inevitable narratives of a certain identity.
The need for the free and open airing of arguments, assertions, and positions is an essential element of a functioning civil society in both the PRC and Tibetan exile society, though the dynamics and types of damage done in the two cases are indeed exponentially very different. Still, the fact that there is such a lack in exile was made obvious just late last month. The Tibetan Youth Congress had scheduled an international symposium on the Rangzen issue for May 23-25 in Dharamsala. With such a gathering at hand (full disclosure: I was one of the invitees) the powers that be apparently exerted pressure (some direct, much of it indirect) on the TYC. Bearing in mind that there is no moral comparison between what transpires inside Tibet and what happens in exile, the result was nevertheless disturbing. In addition to the pressure aimed at halting the meeting, it is a curious fact that, for various reasons, none of the possible venues in Dharamsala that TYC tried to reserve for it could be made available. For those who worry about the state of Tibetan civil society, the fact that the TYC then simply scrubbed the meeting furthers the vexation. The machinations and tactics that were brought to bear effectively deprived those whose views are at odds with official policy of an opportunity to meet and express dissenting opinions. This is rather ironic: only two weeks earlier Tibetans and Tibetan supporters had been vociferously condemning the University of Sydney for withdrawing permission for the Dalai Lama to speak at a venue on its campus, claiming, among other things, that this was an assault on the right of free speech. But now the inescapable impression is that many in Tibetan exile society, not excluding people in the leadership, see that right as something they do indeed support… but for themselves, and not necessarily (or fully) for those with dissenting ideas. It is a depressing pattern which has occurred with some regularity in many of the freedom struggles that have marked the post-War and post-Cold War world. In the Tibetan case it is not possible to separate such actions from the cult-of-personality attached to the Dalai Lama and the resulting special sanctity accorded his political views. Indeed, given the fact that exile society exists within the legal structures of India, the mechanics and pressure applied to hindering dissent are of necessity very much attached to the cult-of-personality.
Given the situation, the existence of an independent media remains crucially important. And this brings us back, yet again, to RFA, which did cover the Sydney incident and which does continue to broadcast important news from Tibet. But spreading palpably unsupportable and unsubstantiated stories such as the one mentioned earlier ("Many Chinese Sympathetic to Tibet: RFA Poll") can only work to dilute RFA's credibility. Under Jigme Ngapo RFA had a reputation (and earned respect) for providing a diversity of opinion. But the forces that sought to end the laudable work that Jigme Ngapo did now seem intent on seeing that RFA functions in accord with their political views. When RFA got around to finding a replacement for Jigme Ngapo a show was made of finding a Tibetan Service director who would undo the damage caused by Jigme Ngapo's dismissal and bring the highest standards to the post. The job announcement that was circulated called for a candidate with a background related to journalism, someone with contacts and ties inside Tibet, and, ideally, fluency in Chinese. And who was finally chosen? Tenzin Tethong. He is a pleasant enough person, perhaps, but he is someone without a background in journalism, without contacts in Tibet or China, and with no facility at all in Chinese. Oh, but he did bring one thing to the table: the experience of having previously served as Kalon Tripa, the position to which Lobsang Sangay was elected. In other words, someone with ties and contacts not inside Tibet but inside the Dharamsala establishment. Following Tenzin Tethong's appointment, Libby Liu, RFA's president, expressed the hope that his hire "will go a long way towards healing," by which one can only understand that she hopes this will help put the embarrassment of the sacking of Jigme Ngapo (and the disgraceful way in which it was done) behind her.
One ought to give Tenzin Tethong a chance. Perhaps he will decide to continue some of those things that won Jigme Ngapo much appreciation and admiration from listeners and staff: a commitment to presenting diverse opinions and a studied non-partisanship; perhaps one will begin hearing again the voices of those whose presence so annoyed Libby Liu and the authorities in Dharamsala. That would require a real understanding of and commitment to the essential worth of civil society. It would require that the new director of the Tibetan Service be prepared to stand up to the demands of Libby Liu, authorities in Dharamsala, and the thralldom of the cult-of-personality. Given the Dalai Lama's involvement in this whole business, it would require a gut-level understanding that he is human and that his political opinion is the opinion of a man, an opinion that cannot be accorded divine weight. This is essential if one wishes to make a stab at supporting the institutions of civil society.
If this does not happen; if the Tibetan Service of RFA continues further down the road of functioning as the house organ of the Tibetan exile leadership, one would hope that there would be protest or pushback from within the Tibetan community in exile, protest rooted in a commitment to civil society. But the outlook for this is bleak; when even the TYC (which China ludicrously brands a "terrorist organization") appears to be capable of little more than an ineffectual, muffled protest at moves that stifle its right to free assembly and free speech, there seems precious little basis for hope. Nevertheless, when the circle of world leaders willing to meet the Dalai Lama is starting to shrink, when various industries (notably, but not uniquely, Hollywood, the place where popular images are made) are increasingly concerned about not offending China, when China has no hesitation about aggressively pressing truly irredentist territorial demands, perhaps a good dose of civil society debate in Dharamsala is needed before the next round of echo-chamber praise for the ostensible success of the Middle Way Approach begins.
Readers who have made it to the end of this admittedly long blog post have, I hope, grasped the central point: that the civil society deficit within China and within Tibetan exile society is deep and damaging. As regards exile society, there was a stunning display of what this means only a few days after this post was put up. At an event at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington D.C. on May 8, Lobsang Sangay was discussing the position that he and the exile administration take towards China. The event was presided over by Prof. Jerome Cohen of New York University, perhaps best known at the moment for the help he extended to human rights activist Chen Guangcheng. The proceedings were recorded and the video is available online.
So this is what it has come down to, fifty-plus years after the beginning of an exile struggle rooted in the idea and idealism of Tibet as a nation, and 25 years after the Middle Way Approach scuttled that idealism (but still asserted that the goal was to achieve a Tibet that was "a democratic political entity… in association with the People's Republic of China). The goal now is not any sort of democratic system in Tibet; it is rule by the Communist Party, albeit with Tibetan party members staffing the leadership positions. The idea of civil society rights and norms has no part in this. And the reaction in the exile community? A comment here and there, but otherwise mostly silent acquiescence so far to the exile leader's endorsement of party dictatorship with a Tibetan face as the solution to the Tibet Issue. Not that this will make any difference to the Chinese authorities. Surely it only confirms their assumptions about the inherent weakness of the exile political structure. To the list of strengths that it lacks (political, military, financial, etc.) they can now add moral.
* I use the term "Oriental Studies" here to reflect the fact that "Orientalism" is translated two different ways in Chinese. Said uses one single term to cover representations of the Orient (essentially the Islamic Orient) in areas such as art and literature but also in academic writing as well. With regard to the former (and in the general sense of the word) it is often rendered in Chinese as Dongfangzhuyi 东方主义, with the import of "ism" reflected in zhuyi 主义. But with regard to Orientalism in academic writing the term used is Dongfangxue 东方学, which ought to be properly translated as "Orientology," "Orientalistics," or, as I've chosen to do here, for reading fluidity, "Oriental Studies." In the title of his article Wang Hui uses the term Dongfangzhuyi but, as can be seen here, he also uses Dongfangxue in referring to academic writings and studies. The reader may also note from the photograph of the cover of the Chinese translation of the book that the title, Orientalism, is given as Dongfangxue.