It was the year of Golden Pig, which comes only once in 60 years according to the lunar calendar. Tradition says that people born in that year are destined to have good luck and fortune throughout their lifetime.
Now moms who gave birth that year might be having some regrets.
As kindergartens start receiving applications for next year, parents are struggling to snag a spot on the enrollment list. Some famous kindergartens have hundreds on the waiting list.
Daejin Kindergarten in Seoul says it has more than 200 kids who are waiting to be admitted.
'I think we have 30 percent more kids than usual,' said Kim Ki-jeong, who is in charge of the preschool.
According to the National Statistical Office, there were 493,189 babies or 1.25 births per woman in 2007, up 10 percent from a year earlier, a spike in Korea's steadily declining birthrate.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
With retail-sales growth in the double digits every month of 2010 so far
Hong Kong retailers are looking forward to a very merry Christmas: This December is poised to draw the largest retail sales in years.
Christmas sales typically make December the highest-grossing month of the year for Hong Kong retailers, outselling Chinese New Year and Golden Weeks. Last year, December sales totaled 29.4 billion Hong Kong dollars, or $US3.8 billion, according to the Census and Statistics Department, growing 28% from November that year, and 16% from the year earlier.
January-to-September sales this year are up 17.9% from the same period in 2009.
In December, 'our tenants usually do twice the number in sales of an average month,' said Karim Azar, assistant general manager of retail leasing for the IFC mall in Central.
IFC is expecting a 20% or more increase in traffic in December over last year, with expected total spending in the mall to be up 30%.
Other malls are setting similar forecasts. Maureen Fung, general leasing manager for Sun Hung Kai Properties, said that its 33 shopping centers are all expecting about a 10% sales increase from a record season last December. By contrast, the United States saw a 0.3% drop in retail sales last December from the month before. Market research group eMarketer is forecasting a modest 2% to 3.5% growth for U.S. holiday sales from the year before.
A traffic increase in Hong Kong stores is helped by an influx of mainland shoppers in December, one of the most popular months for mainland tourists. This year's mainland visitors are expected to break the 20 million mark for the first time, according to chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board James Tien. As of September, total mainland visitor arrivals reached 16.5 million, a 28.1% increase from the same period a year earlier.
Although China doesn't traditionally celebrate Christmasâ 'few mainland companies give time off for the holidayâ 'Hong Kong retailers are instilling a cheer that they hope will translate to more shopping. Malls are spending more than HK$10 million on their Christmas programs, which include giveaways, performances and extravagant decorations.
Christmas sales typically make December the highest-grossing month of the year for Hong Kong retailers, outselling Chinese New Year and Golden Weeks. Last year, December sales totaled 29.4 billion Hong Kong dollars, or $US3.8 billion, according to the Census and Statistics Department, growing 28% from November that year, and 16% from the year earlier.
January-to-September sales this year are up 17.9% from the same period in 2009.
In December, 'our tenants usually do twice the number in sales of an average month,' said Karim Azar, assistant general manager of retail leasing for the IFC mall in Central.
IFC is expecting a 20% or more increase in traffic in December over last year, with expected total spending in the mall to be up 30%.
Other malls are setting similar forecasts. Maureen Fung, general leasing manager for Sun Hung Kai Properties, said that its 33 shopping centers are all expecting about a 10% sales increase from a record season last December. By contrast, the United States saw a 0.3% drop in retail sales last December from the month before. Market research group eMarketer is forecasting a modest 2% to 3.5% growth for U.S. holiday sales from the year before.
A traffic increase in Hong Kong stores is helped by an influx of mainland shoppers in December, one of the most popular months for mainland tourists. This year's mainland visitors are expected to break the 20 million mark for the first time, according to chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board James Tien. As of September, total mainland visitor arrivals reached 16.5 million, a 28.1% increase from the same period a year earlier.
Although China doesn't traditionally celebrate Christmasâ 'few mainland companies give time off for the holidayâ 'Hong Kong retailers are instilling a cheer that they hope will translate to more shopping. Malls are spending more than HK$10 million on their Christmas programs, which include giveaways, performances and extravagant decorations.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Eiji Hosoya is the man who masterminded the massive privatization of Japan's sprawling national rail network 23 years ago
He still speaks of shinkansen â ' Japan's ultra-cool and ultra-fast bullet trains â ' with a passion. Today, nimble and a youthful-looking 65, he's the chairman of Resona Holdings, the country's fourth-largest bank that suffered the ignominy of nationalization in 2003.
Banking may seem an odd choice for a man who's worked for Japan National Railways and East Japan Railway for over 30 years, but government insiders thought Mr. Hosoya had what it took to turn around a failed and decaying bank.
But Mr. Hosoya, one of Japan's most respected business leaders, says more broadly that Japan may also fail and continue to stagnate if the country doesn't take urgent action to turn its fortunes around. The problem with Japan is that 'we have weak leaders,' said Mr. Hosoya bluntly, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. 'Unless Japan changes, in five years from now, the country will become so weak.'
Mr. Hosoya says Japan needs to aggressively capitalize on its three biggest strengths: its strong service culture; technology; and, more broadly, Japanese culture. 'We have to appeal to South Korea, China and Taiwan â ' this is the volume zone for Japan and its services,' he said.
Banking may seem an odd choice for a man who's worked for Japan National Railways and East Japan Railway for over 30 years, but government insiders thought Mr. Hosoya had what it took to turn around a failed and decaying bank.
But Mr. Hosoya, one of Japan's most respected business leaders, says more broadly that Japan may also fail and continue to stagnate if the country doesn't take urgent action to turn its fortunes around. The problem with Japan is that 'we have weak leaders,' said Mr. Hosoya bluntly, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. 'Unless Japan changes, in five years from now, the country will become so weak.'
Mr. Hosoya says Japan needs to aggressively capitalize on its three biggest strengths: its strong service culture; technology; and, more broadly, Japanese culture. 'We have to appeal to South Korea, China and Taiwan â ' this is the volume zone for Japan and its services,' he said.
Monday, November 22, 2010
As if Tuesday's sell-off on the stock market weren't enough to be worried about
Global money managers have just turned dangerously optimistic. The booming market rally of September and October, and the Fed's new promise of easy money for all, proved too much for their self-control. They bounded into this month like eager puppies, their ears perked up and their tails a-wagging, eager to play.
Like I said: Oh, brother.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch says its latest survey of big fund managers, conducted between November 5 and 11, found 'market sentiment at its most bullish since April 2010.'
April? Hmmmm. Say, wasn't that just before the market slumped again?
Money managers have just dramatically raised their forecasts of economic growth (and inflation). And they have thrown as much money into stocks as they possibly could. Average cash holdings are down to just 3.5% one of the lowest readings on record.
Even hedge fund managers, those skeptical souls, have cautiously joined in. The survey shows their bets on rising shares, minus their bets on falling shares, have surged alarmingly since the summer. The most popular assets? Commodities, where institutions have become heavily over-invested, and emerging markets where they appear to have gone 'all in.'
This is ominous news. Big institutional investors move the market. If they have already invested most of their cash, it means there are fewer investors on the sidelines waiting to come in. Bank of America's survey polls around 200 big institutional investors around the world, with about $630 billion under management.
Among the other highlights from the survey: Money managers continue to shun gold, which they deem 'overvalued.' Relevant note: They have been saying that all the way up. The equities they like the least: Utilities, banks and Japan. (This columnist, who does not like crowds, has some money invested in the iShares Japan exchange-traded fund, EWJ.).
The Bank of America survey can be a great contrarian indicator although, as always in markets, it is far from infallible. In June/July 2007 it showed money managers were hugely bullish of European equities Merrill Lynch, as it then was, coined the term 'EU-phoria.' That proved the best possible moment to sell European equities, just before they went into freefall. And in April 2003 the survey was deeply bearish of Japanese equities. That proved an extremely good moment in which to buy…Japanese equities.
In isolation, the latest survey might be reason enough for caution.
And it is not in isolation.
Look at the valuations. Stocks are already trading at rich prices according to several long term measures. A lot of smart people have been increasingly pessimistic. Any investor looking to invest fresh money has for some weeks been struggling to find anything worth buying. Even blue chip equities with good dividend yields, one of the last assets that were offering some value, have been playing catch-up.
Now look at the broader picture. The latest debt panic in Europe is among a number of reminders that the financial crisis is not entirely in the rearview mirror. And now, maybe most ominously of all, come signs that the bond market mania is finally cracking. Treasury and corporate bonds have tumbled in the past couple of weeks, after hitting giddy and absurd heights. That suggests Ben Bernanke's confidence game may be coming to an end. Mr. Bernanke is promising to print money to buy up bonds. If investors had total confidence in his legerdemain, that would send bond prices higher, or at least keep them high. Apparently they may not have quite that degree of confidence after all.
Like I said: Oh, brother.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch says its latest survey of big fund managers, conducted between November 5 and 11, found 'market sentiment at its most bullish since April 2010.'
April? Hmmmm. Say, wasn't that just before the market slumped again?
Money managers have just dramatically raised their forecasts of economic growth (and inflation). And they have thrown as much money into stocks as they possibly could. Average cash holdings are down to just 3.5% one of the lowest readings on record.
Even hedge fund managers, those skeptical souls, have cautiously joined in. The survey shows their bets on rising shares, minus their bets on falling shares, have surged alarmingly since the summer. The most popular assets? Commodities, where institutions have become heavily over-invested, and emerging markets where they appear to have gone 'all in.'
This is ominous news. Big institutional investors move the market. If they have already invested most of their cash, it means there are fewer investors on the sidelines waiting to come in. Bank of America's survey polls around 200 big institutional investors around the world, with about $630 billion under management.
Among the other highlights from the survey: Money managers continue to shun gold, which they deem 'overvalued.' Relevant note: They have been saying that all the way up. The equities they like the least: Utilities, banks and Japan. (This columnist, who does not like crowds, has some money invested in the iShares Japan exchange-traded fund, EWJ.).
The Bank of America survey can be a great contrarian indicator although, as always in markets, it is far from infallible. In June/July 2007 it showed money managers were hugely bullish of European equities Merrill Lynch, as it then was, coined the term 'EU-phoria.' That proved the best possible moment to sell European equities, just before they went into freefall. And in April 2003 the survey was deeply bearish of Japanese equities. That proved an extremely good moment in which to buy…Japanese equities.
In isolation, the latest survey might be reason enough for caution.
And it is not in isolation.
Look at the valuations. Stocks are already trading at rich prices according to several long term measures. A lot of smart people have been increasingly pessimistic. Any investor looking to invest fresh money has for some weeks been struggling to find anything worth buying. Even blue chip equities with good dividend yields, one of the last assets that were offering some value, have been playing catch-up.
Now look at the broader picture. The latest debt panic in Europe is among a number of reminders that the financial crisis is not entirely in the rearview mirror. And now, maybe most ominously of all, come signs that the bond market mania is finally cracking. Treasury and corporate bonds have tumbled in the past couple of weeks, after hitting giddy and absurd heights. That suggests Ben Bernanke's confidence game may be coming to an end. Mr. Bernanke is promising to print money to buy up bonds. If investors had total confidence in his legerdemain, that would send bond prices higher, or at least keep them high. Apparently they may not have quite that degree of confidence after all.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
General Motors Co.'s shares rose a modest 3.6% Thursday
The stock opened at $35, a 6% rise on the IPO price, climbing to an intraday high of $35.99, up 9%, before settling at $34.19 in 4 p.m. composite trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
'The GM IPO is a feather in the government's cap,' said Todd Colvin, vice president at MF Global, alluding to the U.S. Treasury's bailout of the auto maker last year. 'There's a bit of elation out there surrounding the stock. But now we're at a realization stage: can the auto maker sell cars and turn a profit? Those have to be the two questions on every investor's mind right now.'
Meanwhile, in Washington, President Barack Obama hailed the resurgence of GM and its return to the stock market, saying one of the 'toughest tales of the recession took another big step toward becoming a success story.'
'Two years ago this seemed impossible,' the president said. 'In fact there were plenty of doubters and naysayers who said it couldn't be done, who were ready to throw in the towel and read the American auto industry last rites.'
GM in its Wednesday IPO sold more shares than expected at a higher price than originally planned. While the move underscored how much more favorably investors view the company after its dramatic, U.S.-financed bankruptcy reorganization last year, it caused some concern that any first-day gains might be sucked out of the stock sale. That could indicate the company overreached in its pricing.
Earlier this week, GM raised the number of common shares in the offering to 478 million from 365 million, and boosted its price range to $32 to $33 from $26 to $29, ultimately raising $15.8 billion through the common shares in its offering, or 50% more than it had hoped for.
Underwriters aimed to keep GM's first-day 'pop' at 10%, give or take two percentage points. Though investors have come to expect bigger pops─in recent months stock sales have gone as high as 40% to 50% on their first trading day─bankers were dealing with a most unusual seller, the U.S. government.
Unlike private-company IPOs, where the selling company often is willing to sell at a deeper discount to ensure a good first-day send-off for the shares, the U.S. Treasury, the biggest owner of GM, wanted the maximum amount possible for its investment, which was financed with taxpayer dollars. There was concern that politicians and Wall Street would be criticized for leaving money on the table if the stock soared too high.
None of the money from the common-stock portion of the sale will flow to the car maker. The majority of the shares─358 million, or 412 million with an 'overallotment' option that allows the banks to sell additional shares─came from the U.S. Treasury, which took a controlling stake in GM as part of a taxpayer-financed bailout last year.
Through the sale, the Treasury reduced its stake to 37% from 66%, and it could go as low as 26% if the overallotment shares and warrants are exercised. It expects to further cut its ownership in future follow-on sales after a six-month 'lockup' period.
Along with the common stock offering, GM raised $4.35 billion in a preferred-stock sale that will go into the Detroit auto maker's own coffers. But that amount will quickly flow out again: GM plans to use the proceeds to buy back a separate tranche of preferred stock from the Treasury and to make a cash contribution to its union's pension plan.
If underwriters exercise their right to sell an additional 71.7 million shares in the overallotment, the total common stock sale could hit $18.1 billion, making it the second-largest U.S. IPO in history, after Visa Inc.'s $19.7 billion sale in 2008, according to Dealogic. Globally, GM's sale would be the fifth-largest IPO.
'The GM IPO is a feather in the government's cap,' said Todd Colvin, vice president at MF Global, alluding to the U.S. Treasury's bailout of the auto maker last year. 'There's a bit of elation out there surrounding the stock. But now we're at a realization stage: can the auto maker sell cars and turn a profit? Those have to be the two questions on every investor's mind right now.'
Meanwhile, in Washington, President Barack Obama hailed the resurgence of GM and its return to the stock market, saying one of the 'toughest tales of the recession took another big step toward becoming a success story.'
'Two years ago this seemed impossible,' the president said. 'In fact there were plenty of doubters and naysayers who said it couldn't be done, who were ready to throw in the towel and read the American auto industry last rites.'
GM in its Wednesday IPO sold more shares than expected at a higher price than originally planned. While the move underscored how much more favorably investors view the company after its dramatic, U.S.-financed bankruptcy reorganization last year, it caused some concern that any first-day gains might be sucked out of the stock sale. That could indicate the company overreached in its pricing.
Earlier this week, GM raised the number of common shares in the offering to 478 million from 365 million, and boosted its price range to $32 to $33 from $26 to $29, ultimately raising $15.8 billion through the common shares in its offering, or 50% more than it had hoped for.
Underwriters aimed to keep GM's first-day 'pop' at 10%, give or take two percentage points. Though investors have come to expect bigger pops─in recent months stock sales have gone as high as 40% to 50% on their first trading day─bankers were dealing with a most unusual seller, the U.S. government.
Unlike private-company IPOs, where the selling company often is willing to sell at a deeper discount to ensure a good first-day send-off for the shares, the U.S. Treasury, the biggest owner of GM, wanted the maximum amount possible for its investment, which was financed with taxpayer dollars. There was concern that politicians and Wall Street would be criticized for leaving money on the table if the stock soared too high.
None of the money from the common-stock portion of the sale will flow to the car maker. The majority of the shares─358 million, or 412 million with an 'overallotment' option that allows the banks to sell additional shares─came from the U.S. Treasury, which took a controlling stake in GM as part of a taxpayer-financed bailout last year.
Through the sale, the Treasury reduced its stake to 37% from 66%, and it could go as low as 26% if the overallotment shares and warrants are exercised. It expects to further cut its ownership in future follow-on sales after a six-month 'lockup' period.
Along with the common stock offering, GM raised $4.35 billion in a preferred-stock sale that will go into the Detroit auto maker's own coffers. But that amount will quickly flow out again: GM plans to use the proceeds to buy back a separate tranche of preferred stock from the Treasury and to make a cash contribution to its union's pension plan.
If underwriters exercise their right to sell an additional 71.7 million shares in the overallotment, the total common stock sale could hit $18.1 billion, making it the second-largest U.S. IPO in history, after Visa Inc.'s $19.7 billion sale in 2008, according to Dealogic. Globally, GM's sale would be the fifth-largest IPO.
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Aussie grape, Shiraz, is the same as the French grape from the Northern Rhône valley
This sun-loving grape flourishes in warm climes, and the ripe fruits produce wines powerful in taste, but soft in texture. The signature spiced flavor makes it easily distinguished from other reds.
The taste. Think of flavors you'd find in a pie. Jammy fruits and scents from the spice rack - sweet (cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg) and savory (cumin, black pepper, and chili). In addition to these hearty winter flavors, you may also detect a rich, tropical fruit note - pineapples, coconut, mangos, or even banana.
The pairing. Less serious and composed than a Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir, Shiraz is nevertheless not crass. It's a fine choice with a plate of foie gras, but also works just as well with a juicy burger on a picnic blanket.
The bargain. Shiraz has become a beloved up-and-comer grape in recent years. Fortunately, it has remained relatively affordable. It has yet to enjoy the fanfare given to Bordeaux or Burgundies that can generate record-breaking prices. Chances are, if you are buying a bottle of Shiraz, it's to drink.
The taste. Think of flavors you'd find in a pie. Jammy fruits and scents from the spice rack - sweet (cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg) and savory (cumin, black pepper, and chili). In addition to these hearty winter flavors, you may also detect a rich, tropical fruit note - pineapples, coconut, mangos, or even banana.
The pairing. Less serious and composed than a Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir, Shiraz is nevertheless not crass. It's a fine choice with a plate of foie gras, but also works just as well with a juicy burger on a picnic blanket.
The bargain. Shiraz has become a beloved up-and-comer grape in recent years. Fortunately, it has remained relatively affordable. It has yet to enjoy the fanfare given to Bordeaux or Burgundies that can generate record-breaking prices. Chances are, if you are buying a bottle of Shiraz, it's to drink.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Chinese watch collectors have begun to shift their focus toward vintage pieces
It boils down to heritage and nostalgia: 'As the Chinese buyers grow older, antique styles remind them of their fathers and grandfathers,' says Pansy Ku, a watch specialist at Christie's. 'Vintage watches can be quite regal. After all timepieces were a pastime of some Chinese emperors.'
Indeed. Each season, Christie's presents a range of 19th-century timepieces made especially for the Chinese market. Not surprisingly, these tend to be popular with Chinese buyers. In 2005, Christies brought to auction a circa-1820 18-karat gold, enamel and pearl Piguet & Meylan watch. Stamped FO for its Geneva maker, Frères Oltramare, the watch carried a top estimate of 550,000 Hong Kong dollars (US$70,700). It sold for just over HK$3 million. Three years later, a pair of circa-1820 gold, enamel and seed pearl Piguet & Meylan pocket watches went on the block at Christie's. They reputedly were a gift from the English royal family to the Emperor Qianlong. The estimate: HK$1.2 million to HK$2 million. The sales price: HK$2,900,000.
This year, at the auction house's Dec. 2 auction of watches, five 19th-century timepieces made especially for the Chinese market are coming up for sale. One, a circa-1877 gold-and-enamel pocket watch depicting three angels, is estimated to sell for between HK$320,000 and HK$480,000.
Indeed. Each season, Christie's presents a range of 19th-century timepieces made especially for the Chinese market. Not surprisingly, these tend to be popular with Chinese buyers. In 2005, Christies brought to auction a circa-1820 18-karat gold, enamel and pearl Piguet & Meylan watch. Stamped FO for its Geneva maker, Frères Oltramare, the watch carried a top estimate of 550,000 Hong Kong dollars (US$70,700). It sold for just over HK$3 million. Three years later, a pair of circa-1820 gold, enamel and seed pearl Piguet & Meylan pocket watches went on the block at Christie's. They reputedly were a gift from the English royal family to the Emperor Qianlong. The estimate: HK$1.2 million to HK$2 million. The sales price: HK$2,900,000.
This year, at the auction house's Dec. 2 auction of watches, five 19th-century timepieces made especially for the Chinese market are coming up for sale. One, a circa-1877 gold-and-enamel pocket watch depicting three angels, is estimated to sell for between HK$320,000 and HK$480,000.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The U.S. relationship with China will be the 'central American challenge going forward,'
'A reading of the long sweep of history suggests that rapidly transforming economies in a rapidly transforming global system produce histories that are not always happy ones,' Mr. Summers said at The Wall Street Journal CEO Council. 'Our wisdom, their wisdom, the way in which we interact is going to be of the utmost importance.'
Mr. Summers, who will leave the White House at the end of the year, said China's rising economic and political might presents the central challenge facing the world.
The history of the early 21st century 'will be about how the world adjusted to the movement of the theater of history toward China,' Mr. Summers said.
Underscoring the tension between the countries, Min Zhu, special advisor for the International Monetary Fund in Washington and former deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, told the same forum that the weight of global GDP is shifting toward China and other fast-growing emerging economies while richer nations still face high debt and weak growth.
Given current trends, emerging markets and developing countries will account for 60% of global gross domestic product in six years, he said. 'It is a different world,' Mr. Zhu said.
Robert Diamond, head of Barclays PLC, said U.S. businesses could pick up the mantle but lack the confidence to start hiring because of concerns the country isn't on the right path with spending, deficits and taxes.
Meanwhile, China is moving up the value chain into high-tech capital goods and is poised to account for about a third of global manufacturing of advanced machinery and equipment within a decade, from about 8% today, Mr. Zhu said. 'China will probably lead a global manufacturing restructuring. That will be a big impact for advanced economies, particularly for economies that want to export tech goods.'
Mr. Summers, facing a group of American executives, many of whom are looking to capitalize on overseas growth, ended his remarks with an appeal to think about their role as 'citizens.'
The last election was partly a reaction against President Barack Obama's policies, Mr. Summers said, but it was also a 'an important rejection of elites . . . that were seen as more citizens of Davos than of their countries.'
Mr. Summers, who will leave the White House at the end of the year, said China's rising economic and political might presents the central challenge facing the world.
The history of the early 21st century 'will be about how the world adjusted to the movement of the theater of history toward China,' Mr. Summers said.
Underscoring the tension between the countries, Min Zhu, special advisor for the International Monetary Fund in Washington and former deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, told the same forum that the weight of global GDP is shifting toward China and other fast-growing emerging economies while richer nations still face high debt and weak growth.
Given current trends, emerging markets and developing countries will account for 60% of global gross domestic product in six years, he said. 'It is a different world,' Mr. Zhu said.
Robert Diamond, head of Barclays PLC, said U.S. businesses could pick up the mantle but lack the confidence to start hiring because of concerns the country isn't on the right path with spending, deficits and taxes.
Meanwhile, China is moving up the value chain into high-tech capital goods and is poised to account for about a third of global manufacturing of advanced machinery and equipment within a decade, from about 8% today, Mr. Zhu said. 'China will probably lead a global manufacturing restructuring. That will be a big impact for advanced economies, particularly for economies that want to export tech goods.'
Mr. Summers, facing a group of American executives, many of whom are looking to capitalize on overseas growth, ended his remarks with an appeal to think about their role as 'citizens.'
The last election was partly a reaction against President Barack Obama's policies, Mr. Summers said, but it was also a 'an important rejection of elites . . . that were seen as more citizens of Davos than of their countries.'
Monday, November 15, 2010
Urban-dwellers more likely to develop mental illnesses, research suggests
Country-dwellers often say the constant noise, traffic and crowds of the city would drive them mad.
Well, they might be right, according to the latest research.
City residents are more likely to develop mental illnesses such as schizophrenia than those who live in rural areas, a study has found.
Researchers from Cardiff University examined the lifestyles of more than 200,000 people in Sweden and found that those who lived in urban areas were more at risk from psychosis than people who lived in villages.
The experts don't know exactly why this is but they suggest that town and city residents are more likely to be ostracised by those around them.
They are more likely to experience discrimination if they do not fit in, which can lead to them feeling anxious and even developing mental illnesses.
Dr Stanley Zammit, who lead the research published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, said: 'The clearest geographic pattern within this distribution of rates is that urban areas have a higher incidence of schizophrenia than rural areas.'
He also added that people living in towns and cities were more likely to develop other mental illnesses that result in personality changes - a condition known as non-affective psychosis. It is not the first time statistics have shown that country life is healthier.
Earlier this year an official report found that village dwellers lived an average of two years longer than those living in towns and cities.
According to figures from the Office of National Statistics, men who live in the country are likely to live for between 78 and 79 years, while those in towns can expect to survive to an age of 76.
Women on average survive to their 81st birthday in towns, but live to between 82 and 83 in the country.
The small market town of Wimborne Minster in rural Dorset was named the healthiest place to live.
Well, they might be right, according to the latest research.
City residents are more likely to develop mental illnesses such as schizophrenia than those who live in rural areas, a study has found.
Researchers from Cardiff University examined the lifestyles of more than 200,000 people in Sweden and found that those who lived in urban areas were more at risk from psychosis than people who lived in villages.
The experts don't know exactly why this is but they suggest that town and city residents are more likely to be ostracised by those around them.
They are more likely to experience discrimination if they do not fit in, which can lead to them feeling anxious and even developing mental illnesses.
Dr Stanley Zammit, who lead the research published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, said: 'The clearest geographic pattern within this distribution of rates is that urban areas have a higher incidence of schizophrenia than rural areas.'
He also added that people living in towns and cities were more likely to develop other mental illnesses that result in personality changes - a condition known as non-affective psychosis. It is not the first time statistics have shown that country life is healthier.
Earlier this year an official report found that village dwellers lived an average of two years longer than those living in towns and cities.
According to figures from the Office of National Statistics, men who live in the country are likely to live for between 78 and 79 years, while those in towns can expect to survive to an age of 76.
Women on average survive to their 81st birthday in towns, but live to between 82 and 83 in the country.
The small market town of Wimborne Minster in rural Dorset was named the healthiest place to live.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Whales getting sunburnt 'because of holes in the ozone layer'
It's not just holidaymakers who need to keep covered up in the sun.
Scientists have discovered that a growing number of whales are suffering from sunburn - and that the hole in the ozone layer could be to blame.
The findings come from a study of 156 blue, fin and sperm whales swimming in the Gulf of California.
Researchers have long known that whales suffer blisters on their backs. However the reason why they have lesions has been a mystery - until now.
After analysing the sores on high resolution photographs and studying whale skin samples in the laboratory, a team of British and Mexican researchers now believe they are caused by acute sunburn.
Dr Laura Martinez–Levasseur, of the Zoological Society of London, said: 'Whales need to come to the surface to breathe air, to socialise and to feed their young, meaning that they are frequently exposed to the full force of the sun.'
Blue whales, who have fairer skin than most whales, suffered more than the darker fin whales, she reports in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Sperm whales, which spend more time than other species at the surface, were also vulnerable.
The increase in sunburn appears to be worst for blue whales, the study found. In 2007, just six out of 48 blue whales had sunburn. By 2009, 15 out of 22 whales studied were suffering.
'The increase in skin damage seen in blue whales is a matter of concern, but at this stage it is not clear what is causing this increase,' Dr Martinez-Levasseur said.
'A likely candidate is rising ultraviolet radiation as a result of either ozone depletion, or a change in the level of cloud cover.'
Her co-author Professor Edel O'Toole, from Queen Mary, said: “As we would expect to see in humans, the whale species that spent more ‘time in the sun’ suffered greater sun damage.
'We predict that whales will experience more severe sun damage if ultraviolet radiation continues to increase.”
The researchers are unsure whether the lesions are painful - and whether sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer in whales.
One reason for the rise in sunburn could be the hole in the ozone layer - the protective layer that shields the Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
Since the 1970s, scientists have known that the protective layer is being depleted by manmade gases, in particularly the CFCs once used in aerosols.
Although CFCs have been banned, the ozone layer is still being depleted from gases released many years ago, and holes exist above both poles.
Scientists have discovered that a growing number of whales are suffering from sunburn - and that the hole in the ozone layer could be to blame.
The findings come from a study of 156 blue, fin and sperm whales swimming in the Gulf of California.
Researchers have long known that whales suffer blisters on their backs. However the reason why they have lesions has been a mystery - until now.
After analysing the sores on high resolution photographs and studying whale skin samples in the laboratory, a team of British and Mexican researchers now believe they are caused by acute sunburn.
Dr Laura Martinez–Levasseur, of the Zoological Society of London, said: 'Whales need to come to the surface to breathe air, to socialise and to feed their young, meaning that they are frequently exposed to the full force of the sun.'
Blue whales, who have fairer skin than most whales, suffered more than the darker fin whales, she reports in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Sperm whales, which spend more time than other species at the surface, were also vulnerable.
The increase in sunburn appears to be worst for blue whales, the study found. In 2007, just six out of 48 blue whales had sunburn. By 2009, 15 out of 22 whales studied were suffering.
'The increase in skin damage seen in blue whales is a matter of concern, but at this stage it is not clear what is causing this increase,' Dr Martinez-Levasseur said.
'A likely candidate is rising ultraviolet radiation as a result of either ozone depletion, or a change in the level of cloud cover.'
Her co-author Professor Edel O'Toole, from Queen Mary, said: “As we would expect to see in humans, the whale species that spent more ‘time in the sun’ suffered greater sun damage.
'We predict that whales will experience more severe sun damage if ultraviolet radiation continues to increase.”
The researchers are unsure whether the lesions are painful - and whether sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer in whales.
One reason for the rise in sunburn could be the hole in the ozone layer - the protective layer that shields the Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
Since the 1970s, scientists have known that the protective layer is being depleted by manmade gases, in particularly the CFCs once used in aerosols.
Although CFCs have been banned, the ozone layer is still being depleted from gases released many years ago, and holes exist above both poles.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Akihabara, a neighborhood in eastern Tokyo best known as a gadget mecca
Just outside the eastern city gate of old Tokyo, Akihabara emerged after World War II as a black market for rare and high-quality electronics. From the 1950s to 1980s, its shops rode the huge demand for televisions and refrigerators, then VCRs and videogame consoles. Today, electronics stores, hobby shops and anime-paraphernalia stores rub shoulders with the themed cafes, and new office and retail complexes that were built in the hopes of attracting greater business interest.
Adrian Lozano, a Southern California native who helps run an English language otaku blog and conducts tours of Akihabara, took me on a visit. Until a few years ago, otaku hangouts'and the geeks themselves'had a seedy reputation. But the widespread popularity five years ago of an ostensibly true love story called 'Train Man,' about a geek and a beautiful girl he meets on a train that was turned into a book and television series, improved their image. Akihabara got fresh attention.
Robots and a Shrine
Gundam Café is a popular coffee shop decorated in the theme of an iconic animation series about giant robots'the Star Wars of anime,' as Mr. Lozano described it. Young women dressed in a space outfit greeted us as I ordered an iced Jabro coffee, named after a place in a Gundam story, for about ¥320 ($4). We sat down at a table and watched as other customers came up to a large Gundam robot and took photos. From there, we went to the component market, a warren of tiny stalls known that sell everything from vacuum tubes to LED lights and radio parts. On the second floor, in a discreet corner by the stairs, lay what remains of the area's namesake, the Akiba Shrine, in a box. Mr. Lozano explained that the actual shrine was moved to a different location in the late 1800s when the railroad was built.
Radio Kaikan
Our next stop was Radio Kaikan, Akihabara's first high-rise, which now sells figurines, customizable dolls and amateur comic books based on popular anime. We went up to the lesser-known sixth and seventh floors, where private sellers can rent transparent lockers to display their goods, which include everything from Power Rangers and Star Trek paraphernalia to Korean Gundam figures.
The same items can cost as much as 50% more on the first floor, a premium for the convenience of access, said Mr. Lozano. Some items were racy, but Mr. Lozano says he tells people to look away if they don't like something. Rule No. 6 in his guidebook requests that visitors 'refrain from taking Akiba too seriously.'
Weapons
After stopping briefly at the Asobit City hobby shop, notable for its shooting range where otaku can play with soft-pellet guns. In the back streets, up a narrow staircase in a tiny building, weapons-props store Bukiya sells fake Japanese and Western swords and armor that can cost up to hundreds of dollars. On the way out, I noticed a photo studio where people can dress up in rental costumes and get their photo taken for a taste of 'cosplay,' or costume play.
Electronics, Old and New
Retro gaming center Super Potato has every video game ever sold. For about $40, one could buy an original Nintendo console in reasonably good shape. If one was willing to fix broken items, there are good deals to be had on electronics and computers. As we passed by huge electronics stores on Chuo Dori, the main Akihabara drag, Mr. Lozano said last month he paid ¥5,000 ($60) for a broken 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro that ended up requiring only a new hard-drive cable and power adapter for it to work again. 'It was a gamble,' he said.
Imitation Noodles
Japan is well known for its vending machines, which sell rice, beer and hot soups in a can, in addition to the usual soft drinks. So it shouldn't have been a surprise when Mr. Lozano led me to a vending machine only found in Akihabara that sells ramen and a fishcake stew called 'oden' in cans for ¥300 ($3.70). It was only after I bought one that he told me the noodles were imitation and made out of konnyaku, a gelatin made out of potato starch. It's translation in English is devil's tongue.
Maid Cafes
On the following day, I went back to explore Akihabara, this time with my 65-year old mother. We headed first to a maid café where waitresses dressed in pseudo-kimono wear pretended to be our servants, addressed us as 'Mistress' (yes, my mother too) and welcomed us home.
These cafes were initially places meant for otaku to have a cup of coffee in between shopping, but about six years ago, some of them hit upon the idea of introducing a role-playing element. Cafes now court families, women and even foreigners. (A sign at one location provided information on when an English-speaking maid would be present.)
For a mere ¥1,400 ($16), tourists can get a taste of the maid café experience at @Home Hana, a traditional Japanese-themed establishment. When I ordered an iced coffee, our cute 'eternally 17-year old' maid Mizuki poured the cream and stirred it for me until I asked her to stop, using the magic word 'moe,' which is used by the otaku to express burning passion.
The price also included the option to play a game or have an instant photo taken with the maid of my choice. Props were optional, so I put on giraffe ears and posed with Mizuki, who handed me the photo later with her name and lots of hearts drawn all over it in bright pink. As we were leaving, they handed us pink candy and American Express-like plastic loyalty cards that proclaimed us as having a 'license of your majesty.'
Akihabara Girls
The highlight of my Akihabara tour was a concert later that evening by a teenage all-girl pop idol group called AKB 48 , which splits into three 16-member teams to hold daily concerts in a small theater on the top floor of a popular discount store. Under the theme 'idols you can meet every day,' they sing, dance and woo their mostly otaku male fans.
The two hours flew by as we analyzed the psychology behind songs with lyrics such as 'Can I be your girlfriend?' and 'Come, come, lonely people' and watched with interest as the audience feverishly called out to the girls and danced in their seats in unison.
Adrian Lozano, a Southern California native who helps run an English language otaku blog and conducts tours of Akihabara, took me on a visit. Until a few years ago, otaku hangouts'and the geeks themselves'had a seedy reputation. But the widespread popularity five years ago of an ostensibly true love story called 'Train Man,' about a geek and a beautiful girl he meets on a train that was turned into a book and television series, improved their image. Akihabara got fresh attention.
Robots and a Shrine
Gundam Café is a popular coffee shop decorated in the theme of an iconic animation series about giant robots'the Star Wars of anime,' as Mr. Lozano described it. Young women dressed in a space outfit greeted us as I ordered an iced Jabro coffee, named after a place in a Gundam story, for about ¥320 ($4). We sat down at a table and watched as other customers came up to a large Gundam robot and took photos. From there, we went to the component market, a warren of tiny stalls known that sell everything from vacuum tubes to LED lights and radio parts. On the second floor, in a discreet corner by the stairs, lay what remains of the area's namesake, the Akiba Shrine, in a box. Mr. Lozano explained that the actual shrine was moved to a different location in the late 1800s when the railroad was built.
Radio Kaikan
Our next stop was Radio Kaikan, Akihabara's first high-rise, which now sells figurines, customizable dolls and amateur comic books based on popular anime. We went up to the lesser-known sixth and seventh floors, where private sellers can rent transparent lockers to display their goods, which include everything from Power Rangers and Star Trek paraphernalia to Korean Gundam figures.
The same items can cost as much as 50% more on the first floor, a premium for the convenience of access, said Mr. Lozano. Some items were racy, but Mr. Lozano says he tells people to look away if they don't like something. Rule No. 6 in his guidebook requests that visitors 'refrain from taking Akiba too seriously.'
Weapons
After stopping briefly at the Asobit City hobby shop, notable for its shooting range where otaku can play with soft-pellet guns. In the back streets, up a narrow staircase in a tiny building, weapons-props store Bukiya sells fake Japanese and Western swords and armor that can cost up to hundreds of dollars. On the way out, I noticed a photo studio where people can dress up in rental costumes and get their photo taken for a taste of 'cosplay,' or costume play.
Electronics, Old and New
Retro gaming center Super Potato has every video game ever sold. For about $40, one could buy an original Nintendo console in reasonably good shape. If one was willing to fix broken items, there are good deals to be had on electronics and computers. As we passed by huge electronics stores on Chuo Dori, the main Akihabara drag, Mr. Lozano said last month he paid ¥5,000 ($60) for a broken 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro that ended up requiring only a new hard-drive cable and power adapter for it to work again. 'It was a gamble,' he said.
Imitation Noodles
Japan is well known for its vending machines, which sell rice, beer and hot soups in a can, in addition to the usual soft drinks. So it shouldn't have been a surprise when Mr. Lozano led me to a vending machine only found in Akihabara that sells ramen and a fishcake stew called 'oden' in cans for ¥300 ($3.70). It was only after I bought one that he told me the noodles were imitation and made out of konnyaku, a gelatin made out of potato starch. It's translation in English is devil's tongue.
Maid Cafes
On the following day, I went back to explore Akihabara, this time with my 65-year old mother. We headed first to a maid café where waitresses dressed in pseudo-kimono wear pretended to be our servants, addressed us as 'Mistress' (yes, my mother too) and welcomed us home.
These cafes were initially places meant for otaku to have a cup of coffee in between shopping, but about six years ago, some of them hit upon the idea of introducing a role-playing element. Cafes now court families, women and even foreigners. (A sign at one location provided information on when an English-speaking maid would be present.)
For a mere ¥1,400 ($16), tourists can get a taste of the maid café experience at @Home Hana, a traditional Japanese-themed establishment. When I ordered an iced coffee, our cute 'eternally 17-year old' maid Mizuki poured the cream and stirred it for me until I asked her to stop, using the magic word 'moe,' which is used by the otaku to express burning passion.
The price also included the option to play a game or have an instant photo taken with the maid of my choice. Props were optional, so I put on giraffe ears and posed with Mizuki, who handed me the photo later with her name and lots of hearts drawn all over it in bright pink. As we were leaving, they handed us pink candy and American Express-like plastic loyalty cards that proclaimed us as having a 'license of your majesty.'
Akihabara Girls
The highlight of my Akihabara tour was a concert later that evening by a teenage all-girl pop idol group called AKB 48 , which splits into three 16-member teams to hold daily concerts in a small theater on the top floor of a popular discount store. Under the theme 'idols you can meet every day,' they sing, dance and woo their mostly otaku male fans.
The two hours flew by as we analyzed the psychology behind songs with lyrics such as 'Can I be your girlfriend?' and 'Come, come, lonely people' and watched with interest as the audience feverishly called out to the girls and danced in their seats in unison.
Obama Likely to Change US Leadership Style
President-elect Barack Obama has indicated his administration is likely to be less reliant on the threat of military force to persuade and influence other countries, and more likely to use so-called "soft power," the attractiveness of a nation's ideals, culture and way of life.
The sheer military might of the United States is unquestioned - U.S. troops are among the best trained and equipped in the world and they are stationed in some 130 countries. But as American military superiority has increased, its reputation and ability to persuade others appear to have taken a hit.
A recent Pew Global Attitudes survey shows that positive views of the United States declined in 26 of the 33 countries where the question was posed in 2002 and 2007, with even close U.S. allies critical of American foreign policy. Recent surveys show majorities in nearly all countries think it is time for U.S. troops to leave Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nancy Snow is associate professor of public diplomacy at Syracuse University in New York. She says the election of Barack Obama itself is likely to boost America's standing in the world, before he even sets foot in the White House.
"The world was holding its collective breath, hoping that the outcome would favor Obama-Biden," said Snow. "And it did. And I think there was an immediate downtick of the anti-American sentiment. Now how long that will last is another thing. Because now he has to govern. But just as candidate, a candidate of change, to use his words, really symbolically represented a release from a very unpopular president worldwide."
During his victory speech on election night in Chicago, President-elect Obama promised "a new dawn" of American leadership in the world.
"And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope," he said.
Mr. Obama has promised to take the nation in a different direction than the Bush administration. He has said he will close down the prison at Guantanamo Bay as one of his first acts in office, and declared the United States will not use techniques such as water-boarding to obtain.
Nancy Snow say Mr. Obama knows that restoring trust is key.
"He said he wants to restore trust in government. He wants to restore trust in American leadership, both abroad, and at also here at home," she said. "I think what is required now through soft power, it includes non-violent practices of attracting people, through what you represent, and what you do, and that is the type of president he has said he would be."
Snow says Mr. Obama can make use of his excellent communication skills and his multi-cultural background to restore America's ability to wield soft power through diplomacy and development programs.
Kristen Lord is an expert on U.S. relations with the Islamic world at the Brookings Institution in Washington. She says she is optimistic Mr. Obama will immediately change the tone of dialogue with other countries, from a "go it alone" approach, to one of mutual respect and cooperation.
"When Americans show that they are willing to listen, when they are willing to engage, when they are willing to address some of the underlying challenges that Muslim societies are facing, perhaps paradoxically to some, that actually makes the United States more secure," said Lord.
At her Senate confirmation hearing, Mr. Obama's choice to be Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, vowed to move away from what she called the "rigid ideology" that many analysts have associated with President Bush's foreign policy.
"I believe that American leadership has been wanting, but is still wanted. We must use what has been called smart power, the full range of tools at our disposal - diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal, and cultural - picking the right tool or combination of tools for each situation. With smart power, diplomacy will be the vanguard of our foreign policy," she said.
Clinton said she and Mr. Obama would always try persuasion first, and would rely on military force only as a last resort. Mrs. Clinton said the United States needs to make more friends and fewer enemies, and called for the State Department to be fully empowered and funded to seize the many opportunities for leadership.
President Bush's former defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, was a well known skeptic of the notion of soft power, saying popularity is fleeting and should not guide U.S. foreign policy. Rumsfeld maintained the U.S. is strong enough to pursue its interests as it sees fit, and must accept that others will sometimes resent it.
Others caution that many people in the United States and abroad have such high expectations for Mr. Obama to resolve the world's many problems, that some measure of disappointment is inevitable.
But millions of people across the world are expected to watch the inauguration of the new president with a sense of pride and hope for a better future, and will look to Mr. Obama's administration for a new kind of American leadership.
The sheer military might of the United States is unquestioned - U.S. troops are among the best trained and equipped in the world and they are stationed in some 130 countries. But as American military superiority has increased, its reputation and ability to persuade others appear to have taken a hit.
A recent Pew Global Attitudes survey shows that positive views of the United States declined in 26 of the 33 countries where the question was posed in 2002 and 2007, with even close U.S. allies critical of American foreign policy. Recent surveys show majorities in nearly all countries think it is time for U.S. troops to leave Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nancy Snow is associate professor of public diplomacy at Syracuse University in New York. She says the election of Barack Obama itself is likely to boost America's standing in the world, before he even sets foot in the White House.
"The world was holding its collective breath, hoping that the outcome would favor Obama-Biden," said Snow. "And it did. And I think there was an immediate downtick of the anti-American sentiment. Now how long that will last is another thing. Because now he has to govern. But just as candidate, a candidate of change, to use his words, really symbolically represented a release from a very unpopular president worldwide."
During his victory speech on election night in Chicago, President-elect Obama promised "a new dawn" of American leadership in the world.
"And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope," he said.
Mr. Obama has promised to take the nation in a different direction than the Bush administration. He has said he will close down the prison at Guantanamo Bay as one of his first acts in office, and declared the United States will not use techniques such as water-boarding to obtain.
Nancy Snow say Mr. Obama knows that restoring trust is key.
"He said he wants to restore trust in government. He wants to restore trust in American leadership, both abroad, and at also here at home," she said. "I think what is required now through soft power, it includes non-violent practices of attracting people, through what you represent, and what you do, and that is the type of president he has said he would be."
Snow says Mr. Obama can make use of his excellent communication skills and his multi-cultural background to restore America's ability to wield soft power through diplomacy and development programs.
Kristen Lord is an expert on U.S. relations with the Islamic world at the Brookings Institution in Washington. She says she is optimistic Mr. Obama will immediately change the tone of dialogue with other countries, from a "go it alone" approach, to one of mutual respect and cooperation.
"When Americans show that they are willing to listen, when they are willing to engage, when they are willing to address some of the underlying challenges that Muslim societies are facing, perhaps paradoxically to some, that actually makes the United States more secure," said Lord.
At her Senate confirmation hearing, Mr. Obama's choice to be Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, vowed to move away from what she called the "rigid ideology" that many analysts have associated with President Bush's foreign policy.
"I believe that American leadership has been wanting, but is still wanted. We must use what has been called smart power, the full range of tools at our disposal - diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal, and cultural - picking the right tool or combination of tools for each situation. With smart power, diplomacy will be the vanguard of our foreign policy," she said.
Clinton said she and Mr. Obama would always try persuasion first, and would rely on military force only as a last resort. Mrs. Clinton said the United States needs to make more friends and fewer enemies, and called for the State Department to be fully empowered and funded to seize the many opportunities for leadership.
President Bush's former defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, was a well known skeptic of the notion of soft power, saying popularity is fleeting and should not guide U.S. foreign policy. Rumsfeld maintained the U.S. is strong enough to pursue its interests as it sees fit, and must accept that others will sometimes resent it.
Others caution that many people in the United States and abroad have such high expectations for Mr. Obama to resolve the world's many problems, that some measure of disappointment is inevitable.
But millions of people across the world are expected to watch the inauguration of the new president with a sense of pride and hope for a better future, and will look to Mr. Obama's administration for a new kind of American leadership.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)