Category: News

  • [Especial Estadão SP] – O transporte e as cidades

    Desafio na cidade que se espalha

    in -http://www.estadao.com.br/estadaodehoje/20100117/not_imp496996,0.php

    Bairros distantes ainda carecem de infraestrutura, enquanto a rede de transportes não comporta a superpopulação

    ESPERA – Fila em terminal do Expresso Tiradentes

    Renata Santiago mora no Campo Limpo, na zona sul de São Paulo, e trabalha numa empresa de telemarketing perto da Estação da Luz, no centro da cidade. Todos os dias, Renata sai de casa às 9 horas, embora só entre no trabalho ao meio-dia. O ônibus leva entre uma hora e uma hora e meia de sua casa até o Terminal Capelinha, ainda na zona sul. Lá, ela pega outro ônibus, que vem pelo corredor da Santo Amaro e da 9 de Julho, e leva entre uma hora e 15 minutos e duas horas para chegar ao Terminal das Bandeiras, no centro.

    Renata sai do trabalho às 20 horas. O caminho de volta para casa lhe toma outras duas horas. No total, ela passa cerca de cinco horas por dia dentro do ônibus. Aos 22 anos, com o ensino médio completo e um salário que lhe permitiria pagar faculdade, Renata sabe exatamente o que faria com esse tempo, se ele não lhe fosse roubado: um curso de Recursos Humanos, de dois anos de duração, que a faria progredir no trabalho. Mas isso é fisicamente impossível: "Não tenho como conciliar faculdade e serviço", resigna-se a moça. "Espero a expansão do Metrô."

    Vanessa Berise demora apenas meia hora no metrô de sua casa, na Penha, até o consultório onde trabalha, na Avenida Paulista. Mas isso é porque ela entra às 13 horas. Na volta, às 19 horas, ela é obrigada a pegar ônibus. Da Avenida Brigadeiro Luís Antônio até o Terminal Dom Pedro, leva de meia hora a 50 minutos. Daí pega outro ônibus até sua casa, que demora de 35 a 50 minutos. Ou seja, a volta consome quase uma hora a mais que a ida. "Eu gostaria de voltar de metrô, mas ele fica superlotado no início da noite", explica Vanessa, também de 22 anos. "O problema não é o ônibus, mas o trânsito."

    José Luís dos Santos, de 30 anos, mora no Jardim Damasceno, zona norte, e trabalha como estoquista na Rua Barão de Duprat, no centro, das 8 às 18 horas. Ele sai de casa às 6h30, pega um micro-ônibus até o Terminal Vila Nova Cachoeirinha e, de lá, um ônibus até o Largo do Paiçandu, aonde chega às 7h45. Mas dramática é a volta. "Os ônibus lotam demais. Na Lapa entra muita gente", descreve. "Às vezes, fico esperando o horário de pico passar. Chego em casa 20h30, 21 horas."

    Nos corredores pelos quais Renata atravessa a cidade, assim como no Largo do Paiçandu, os ônibus formam filas. O problema não é sua frequência, mas a quantidade de gente, o trânsito e a simples distância. Os trens do metrô da Linha 3, que serve à zona leste, já atingiram, no horário de pico, o intervalo mínimo permitido pelo sistema: 101 segundos, o terceiro menor do mundo.

    É evidente que em muitas situações o transporte público precisa ser melhorado – principalmente até os terminais, e entre bairros vizinhos. Mas o que as histórias de Renata, José Luís e Vanessa mostram é que a solução para o problema da circulação em São Paulo não está apenas na melhora do transporte público ou na expansão do Metrô – ambas obviamente desejáveis. Não há transporte público nem sistema viário que comportem uma população de 11 milhões de habitantes – para não falar dos outros 9 milhões da Região Metropolitana – cruzando a cidade em busca de trabalho, ensino, saúde, consumo e lazer. É preciso que as pessoas encontrem isso mais perto de casa.

    Na região da Sé, no centro de São Paulo, moram 20.115 pessoas e trabalham 257.385. São 12,8 empregos por morador. Já em Itaquera, populoso bairro da zona leste, há 201.512 habitantes e 17.495 empregados – 11,5 moradores por vaga. Mais ao fundo da zona leste, em Cidade Tiradentes, a equação piora: para uma população de 190.657 pessoas, há apenas 2.889 empregos – 66 moradores por vaga. No Jardim Ângela, bairro pobre da zona sul, moram 245.805 pessoas, mas só há 5.171 empregos – 42,5 habitantes por vaga (veja o mapa).

    "Fala-se do problema da circulação como se o uso e ocupação do solo não tivesse importância", observa Raquel Rolnik, professora de Urbanismo da USP e diretora de Planejamento da Secretaria Municipal de Planejamento entre 1989 e 1992, na gestão de Luiza Erundina. "Os deslocamentos são definidos pelo modo de ocupação do solo. O modelo seguido no Brasil em geral e em São Paulo em particular contribui para a insustentabilidade da circulação, porque o desenvolvimento é ditado pela lógica do mercado."

    A começar pelos conjuntos habitacionais populares. Os governos oferecem aos empreendedores valor fixo por unidade habitacional – que no programa federal Minha Casa Minha Vida são R$ 52 mil nas regiões metropolitanas e R$ 48 mil nas cidades menores. Em geral mais fortes que as prefeituras, os empresários compram terrenos baratos em locais longínquos, formando "guetos" puramente residenciais, que obrigam os moradores a percorrer longas distâncias atrás de trabalho e o Poder Público a estender infraestrutura até lá, deixando vazios nas regiões mais centrais e no meio desses percursos.

    Áreas puramente residenciais também são vendidas com sucesso às classes média e alta, por meio de condomínios de casas e edifícios cercados de "bosques" que representam o sonho de uma vida tranquila e segura. "Esses condomínios fechados são um atraso de vida", critica o urbanista Jorge Wilheim, duas vezes secretário municipal de Planejamento e mentor do célebre Plano Diretor de Curitiba dos anos 60. "Criam-se guetos. Não há nada melhor que o espaço público, onde há convívio."

    Para Wilheim, essa é uma resposta errada não só do ponto de vista urbanístico, mas também da segurança. "Ninguém tem coragem de entrar numa rua deserta, mas numa cheia de gente não tem medo", explica. "A salvaguarda de cada um de nós está nos outros." Numa rua movimentada, em que as classes se misturam, o problema de segurança se resume a trombadinhas; já os condomínios fechados concentram a riqueza, sublinham a disparidade social e se transformam em alvos de invasões a mão armada, apontam vários urbanistas.

    Por outro lado, a concentração do trabalho em determinadas áreas faz com que elas fiquem vazias de noite – um desperdício de infraestrutura e, em alguns casos, cenário de degradação.

  • Male Pattern Baldness –Treatment options and Propecia

    It’s important to have as much knowledge of male pattern baldness as possible, in order to understand it better, which in turn will help you make better decisions in terms of its treatment. It is estimated that close to 95% of all cases of hair loss can be categorized as male pattern baldness. By the age of 50, most males have experienced male pattern baldness or male pattern hair loss (MPHL). Early identification of this problem will help you control it before you lose most of your hair.

    Male pattern baldness

    Typically, male pattern baldness is an inherited condition and either side of your family could be responsible for it. The primary reason behind male pattern baldness is a chemical called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This progressive condition begins with a receding hairline and also a balding at the crown. Many a times, hair loss on top of the head and the receding hair line occurs at the same time. The amount of hair loss suffered as a result of male pattern baldness differs from person to person. The result of a particular treatment option for male pattern baldness also differs from one person to another.

    Treatment options

    There is a range of male pattern baldness treatment options that you can use to manage your hair loss. Some of these treatment options like Propecia come highly regarded; they have undergone extensive clinical trials and therefore have proven results of efficacy. You can also choose from topical treatment options that are available in the form of lotions and shampoos. One such topical solution is Rogaine. Propecia, an oral tablet, offers a hair loss treatment solution in the form of a pill. You can only use it if you have been prescribed this medication by your doctor. You can also make your way to a hair restoration facility to get laser treatment to prevent hair loss. There are people who also choose to go for hair transplant surgeries in order to restore lost hair.

    Propecia – Helping treat baldness the right way

    Clinical studies have shown that Propecia is very effective when it comes to treating hair loss. This is a result of the action of its active ingredient, finasteride. Finasteride targets the primary factor responsible for baldness, dihydrotestosterone or DHT. It decreases the levels of DHT, interrupting the development of male pattern baldness. Propecia shows results in as little as three months. You need to take one Propecia tablet daily over a period of 1year to experience its benefits.

    Buying Propecia

    You will need a doctor’s prescription to buy Propecia. A doctor will only prescribe this medication if he/she thinks it best suits your needs and requirements and that it will work positively for you.  The medication is easily available at online, as well as, traditional pharmacies. When it comes to popular drugs like Propecia, there are always people who will try to sell you a copy of the real drug. Such fake drugs are cheaper and many-a-times people are taken in by their affordability. Buy only genuine Propecia and experience the best results. Buying fake medications will only result in unnecessary health problems.

    Propecia is an effective treatment for male pattern Hair loss. Buy Propecia UK online at propeciafinasteride.co.uk for best Hair loss treatment. Do your free consultation, before buying Propecia Finasteride online.

  • What you Need to Know About Female Hair Loss

    There is no need to be ashamed if you are a lady who is currently experiencing some hair loss. You are not alone. More women than we actually think are suffering from female hair loss. This and many other facts of female hair loss should be properly understood.

    Social Stereotype

    The reason why we rarely hear of hair loss in women is because of social stereotypes among women regarding the condition. Of course, short hairstyles are now socially acceptable for females. Baldness however is not. It is quite common for us to think that women should have thick, luxurious hair regardless of age and hairstyle. This is probably why those with female hair loss simply prefer to keep mum about their conditions. The truth is however, 1 in 4 women suffer from baldness. Female hair loss may therefore be as common as male hair loss.

    Hair Loss Myths

    One common belief about hair loss in women is that the condition is caused by frequent hair styling, hair coloring and treatments. Frequent handling of hair in these ways may really result in hair breakage near the scalp. Female hair loss of this kind however is not permanent. Hair will eventually grow back and the worst that may result in over treating hair would be hair dryness and probably split ends.

    Other Causes

    There may be several reasons why women experience loss of hair. The most commonly believed causes of female hair loss however may actually be responsible for only 5% of hair loss cases. These causes include alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, traction alopecia and trichotillomania.

    One autoimmune disorder is the Alopecia areata which results to bald patches and/or diffused thinning. Telogen effluvium is another condition in which numerous hair strands shift from the growing phase into the falling phase. Traction alopecia is the result of tight hairstyles like ponytails, buns and braids in which large amounts of hair are pulled off. This may eventually lead to scarring alopecia in which areas of the scalp become scarred. Trichotillomania is a serious psychological condition which is characterized by chronic hair pulling which can lead to bald areas.

    Most Common Cause

    It is believed that 95% of female hair loss cases can be linked to hormonal causes. Estrogen level imbalances, an over or under active thyroid gland, child birth, menopause and hormonal therapies may be the culprits in female hair loss.

    Difference with Male Hair Loss

    Although female hair loss caused by hormonal factors may be a common condition in women, it should be understood that the time and age of hair loss for women is different than in men. Women may suffer from hair loss as soon as they hit their early twenties. Most women who suffer from hair loss also do not frequently develop bald patches.

    In women, balding is usually diffused and with obvious thinning only on certain areas of the head such as the back or the top of the scalp or on the front hairline. Having severe and wide bald spots may be a sign that you need to see your doctor.

    Is there a link between your diet and hair loss? Find more information about baldness and female hair loss.

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  • HTC Espresso Hitting T-Mobile USA Via My Touch 2?

    T-Mobile USA sure seems to be getting 2010 started on the right foot. Both TmoNews and Boy Genius Report are reporting that the My Touch 2 will be launching on T-Mobile in 2010.  Code named the My Touch Slide, the device is to feature the newest version of HTC’s Sense UI, sport a 528MHz processor, and feature a QWERTY keyboard and 320×480 display. This would be potential successor to the My Touch 3G and will launch possibly  on May 17th.

    Source: TmoNews via Boy Genius Report

    Other Great AndroidGuys Posts

  • Hair Loss in Women and Prevention

    Female pattern baldness can start-off at the age of 30; it is even possible in the early 20’s as well as in the late age of 40. Has one or both of your parents experienced balding or thinning more severe than normal? If the response is yes for you, there at least a 50 percent likelihood that you may have a hereditary condition known as Androgenetic Alopecia or female pattern baldness and this variety of inherited balding is seen in 1 out of every 4 women.

    This is triggered off by a hormone called Dihydrotestosterone (5a-DHT) being released into your bloodstream. DHT prevents the blood flowing to the hair follicles. This causes hair to become fragile and frail, sooner or later they die – leaving you with those patches of missing hair.


    With women hair loss and baldness can be more complicated and caused by a array of factors such as; hormonal imbalance, pregnancy, poor diet, anxiety/stress, Anaemia, hydration and lack of exercise, menopause, scalp and skin infections and in my case prolonged illness Chronic Ulcerative Colitis.


    The two uncommon herbs that I support are Saw Palmetto and Horsetail Silica. For women, I propose that they look for a product that has Horsetail Silica, because Saw Palmetto has a negative side effect for women who are pregnant or who are thinking about becoming pregnant.


    Next, I would like to cover what vitamins and minerals a product should contain in order to be considered for effective hair loss treatment. I suggest that the product should contain B-vitamins (preferably vitamin B-6 and biotin), zinc, and Magnesium. These vitamins are fundamantal because they promote healthy hair and skin.

    Click Here to try Provillus Now

    Product review


    When you read product descriptions you are always doubtful about their reviews as your natural instinct say’s this is PR & marketing hype, and too good to be true.


    But, just say if there was a product readily available that would restore and rebuild both insecurity and conviction issues, would you use it? Off course you would and if you are serious about curing your hair loss or pattern baldness, the first thing you should research is a product that is approved by the FDA – Minoxidil. I’m going to explain this in a way I hope everyone can appreciate.


    When I did my research, I found how Minoxidil performed, it impedes the production of DHT, now I was truly excited! The Minoxidil doses are extremely important because women don’t need more than 2% because to much of it can cause a negative effect. Alternatively, for men the recommended doses are 5% Minoxidil which I believe is too high for women. Men and women’s bodies are like chalk and cheese, so I recap their treatment should be atypical as well.


    What’s the next for you?


    The sources for female hair loss are unquestionably very wide ranging, however there are a not many hair re-growth products on the market which have been proven to be effective in both in blocking unsafe hormones and bringing the all important dead hair follicles back to life.


    I have discovered a natural product Provillus that meets these desires, not only has it a 90 day money back guarantee, shipped right to my address in less than 4 days,  but contains the FDA approved ingredient Minoxidil.


    To date, I have not experienced any harmful side effects apart from my forehead which got a little  when I first started, but I cured that by using a lubricating shampoo, and have had no other innconvenience.It can be used both as a caring means, starting before hair loss becomes acute, or after loss of hair has become obvious. Whatever the level of balding or thinning you are experiencing, Provillus could be just what is needed to overcome this latest challenge in your life.

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    Paris De Burgh has written articles on a number of health issues, Hair Loss being one of them.Hair Loss Treatments For Women

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  • Hetros and lesbians, what type of women do you generally find most attractive?

    For me it’s mostly Asian / Chinese Brazilian type women, Mylene Klass is a famous example of they type I find most attractive, it’s the exoticness, cute features, femininity, and intriguing innocent look with an alluring smile and walk which Asian women have why I find them most attractive,

    although once went to Stockholm and could not believe how many good looking women you see in a city.

    Anyhow, what type of women do yourselves find most attractive……….?.

  • Google’s Troubles in Foreign Markets: First China, Now France?

    From the Economist:

    FRENCH internet executives, bloggers and web users cringed in early January when an independent report for the ministry of culture proposed a tax on online advertising revenues, aimed at American firms such as Google, Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo! and Facebook, to pay for new subsidies for the music, film and publishing industries. …

    To cover the cost the authors of the report recommended a tax aimed at the handful of American firms which dominate France’s internet-advertising market, notably Google, even though these bear no responsibility for the music industry’s woes. …

    But many French internet firms fear a new tax. It may be impossible to set a minimum threshold for taxable revenue that penalises foreign firms but exempts domestic ones, especially as the latter grow. If the limit is set low enough to ensnare Facebook, for instance, which earns comparatively little in France, some French firms could also be hit. …

    I'm not sure what GATS commitments the EU made for the relevant services, but if there were National Treatment commitments, this would make a great de facto discrimination case.  If the article is describing the situation accurately, the law would involve a tax that is set at a level which catches "the handful of American firms which dominate France’s internet-advertising market."  So, the measure itself does not identify American firms, but it sounds like there would be some good evidence, from both the effect and intent of the measure, indicating that this was what was going on.

  • Switch to gas helps NSW cut carbon output temporarily – Sydney Morning Herald

    Switch to gas helps NSW cut carbon output temporarily
    Sydney Morning Herald
    As last year was the second-warmest on record in Australia, there was increased demand for air-conditioning in the summer, but this was offset by lower

    and more »


  • Lotus Appoints New Directors

    The Lotus Engineering division of British manufacturer Lotus announced the appointment of Robert Hentschel as director, to oversee the expansion of Lotus Engineering’s third party consultancy work and to further develop its position of in lightweight architectures, driving dynamics, efficient performance and electrical/electronics.

    "This is a fantastic opportunity for me to contribute to the continued success of this outstanding business which boasts talented engineers and an iconic bran… (read more)

  • Auto Theft Ring Destroyed in the US

    A huge coordinated effort made by the US Secret Service and the Indiana State Police, assisted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, US Postal Inspection Service and 12 other local police departments, including the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, ended with the capturing of five people in relation to an auto theft ring that allegedly stole more than 80 vehicles valued in excess of $1 million.

    The five, Tommy Thompson, Jr., Christopher Wells, Francis W. Coleman, Car… (read more)

  • the Longest bridge

    Maybe some one had mentioned it,but a stunning construction would not be ignored.The longest sea channel bridge in the world,36km long, A communist country made it.




  • This week on Thrive: Jan. 11 – 15

    Children’s research made the Huffington Post’s Top 10 Medical Research Trends to Watch in 2010. We find out exactly how dangerous secondhand smoke is to children. Are American destined to be obese? Two studies show how important a good night’s sleep for your children is. A gene for a devastating kidney disease is discovered. Do you know the dangers of leaving your child in the car alone? Dr. Rich responds to comments on his Call of Duty post. Have Americans finally hit an obesity plateau? The Flu Fighters invade Facebook. Children’s sends a team into Haiti and we offer advice on how to talk to your children about this devastating event.

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  • Provillus Hair Loss Treatment for Men – 1 Month Supply

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  • Britain is the biggest Al-Qaeda hub in the west – are we really a threat?

    According to a statement by the US Government, Britain has the greatest number of Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaeda of any Western country and therefore poses a big threat to international security.
    Are we really that dangerous, and what can be done about it?
  • How to Get Natural Hair Loss Treatment?

    Hair loss is also a disease which deserves the natural hair loss treatment like treating the other diseases in the body.

    In this modern world Science and technology attain the rapid improvements. The invention of advanced version had become a daily process in all the industries and business fields. In considering the medical field advance drug formulation, indulging new chemicals as a replacement for existing chemical and medicines.

    Hence these developments brought the human life to some great extent of status and comfort there are few black spots because of this tremendous development. This development made man to act against the natural is open truth. These have an impact in existing treatments procedures for diseases.

    The advanced treatment mostly cures the problems and diseases of humans but some methods burdening the person who are under the particular treatments and possibilities for aide effects also high. Some people may not afford to get the treatments.

    In order of these drawbacks with the advanced and chemical based treatments, many people preferring natural treatments for the all type of diseases to get permanent cure with out the side effects and it is cost effective. Hair loss problem is common among all age group of peoples.

    So many advanced treatments and surgery for hair loss are in practice now which really producing well result, but is that completely satisfying the individual? Is that made him to feel good? Till it’s a question mark. Artificial surgery and transplantation make a person to look good but fails to make him to feel good.

    The natural hair loss treatment made affected person to feel good with the result of the treatments. The natural products are used in natural hair loss treatment so no side effects problem will arise. The procedure of the treatment is such a way that should be followed as routine work in the daily life.

    It’s proved that heavy dosage of tablets and medicines is also one of the reasons for loss of hair. Instead of taking the chemical products and synthetic tablets, the natural hair loss treatment is the best way to get harmless cure. The other treatments cures the problem very than this treatments.

    Some natural hair loss treatment can be followed to prevent the hair loss. Starting the treatments in the initial stage of the problems cures it in very less days. But unfortunately, hair problems can be realized by the person after the worse stage of the problem.

    The ayurvedic medicine elements like Bhringaraj and brahmi oils are vital ingredients in natural treatments. Triphala is the herbal powder used for the regrowth of the hair. The excessive pitta dosha in the body is the major reason for hair loss.

    Avoiding the drinks like tea, coffee, smoke and alcohol is the first step in natural hair loss treatment to reduce the level of pitta dosha in the body. Sebaceous glands activation is very essential for hair growth like a blood circulation. The massaging treatments activate the glands by following it regularly.

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  • Racism: 10 things you might not know

    With the election of an African-American president, some people thought this country had suddenly become “post-racial.” Well, hardly. A new book quotes Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as saying that America was ready for a president like Barack Obama who is black but “light-skinned” and speaks “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.” Disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said in an interview that he was “blacker than Obama” — a comment that Blago later called “stupid, stupid, stupid.” Here are 10 facts about racism and its close cousin, ethnic intolerance:

    1 “Honky,” a slur against white people, probably originated in Chicago. Experts trace it to “bohunk,” used to describe Bohemians, Hungarians and other Eastern European immigrants. Black workers in Chicago’s South Side meatpacking plants are believed to have referred to their white co-workers as “hunkies,” which later became “honkies” to refer to all whites.

    2 A 1906 newspaper article in the Atlanta Constitution described how a white girl suffered a fatal heart attack after dreaming that a “big negro” with a knife was trying to kill her. The Constitution seemed to blame the fictional black man, headlining the story: “Negro, Seen in Dream, Causes Death of Girl.” Such newspaper transgressions are easy to find. In 1921, The New York Times reported that South Africa’s black population, which outnumbered whites 5-to-1, was pushing for political power. Some would view that as democracy in action. The Times saw it differently with this headline: “Negroes a Problem in South Africa.”

    3 The Tribune has its own embarrassing archives regarding race. About 40,000 people viewed the body of lynching victim Emmett Till when it was returned from Mississippi to Chicago in 1955, but the Tribune’s article suggested that the key civil rights event might be a Marxist hoax. The article’s third and fourth paragraphs described communists distributing “inflammatory literature” outside the church. The fifth and sixth paragraphs quoted a Mississippi sheriff who questioned whether the body was even Till’s and said that “the whole thing looks like a deal made up by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.”

    4 There’s nothing like a Disney movie to make some people whistle a happy tune and other people simply scream. The 1946 feature film “Song of the South” remains out of circulation because of the perceived offense it would give to African-Americans. The 1933 cartoon short “Three Little Pigs” featured the big, bad wolf dressed as a Jewish peddler. After complaints, the cartoon was revised so that the wolf posed as a Fuller Brush salesman. More recently, Arabs objected to a lyric in the 1992 film “Aladdin.” It originally described Arabia as a place “where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face / It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.” That was changed to “Where it’s flat and immense, and the heat is intense / It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.” A Disney spokesman emphasized that the new lyric meant that Arabian weather patterns, not people, were “barbaric.”

    5 It’s now a slur, but it once was the official name of a federal program. “Operation Wetback” was conducted in 1954 to drive illegal immigrants from the American Southwest. Federal officials claimed that 1.3 million people were deported or compelled to flee. The offensive name for the operation came from Gen. Joseph “Jumpin’ Joe” Swing, a former West Point classmate of then-President Dwight Eisenhower who headed the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

    6 A few weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Life magazine published an article headlined “How to tell Japs from the Chinese.” The Chinese, who were U.S. allies, found themselves mistaken for Japanese on American streets and treated rudely by angry Americans. Then Life came to the rescue, with annotated photos. The Chinese had “parchment yellow complexion.” The Japanese had “earthy yellow complexion.” The Chinese were “tall and slender.” The Japanese were “short and squat.” In their facial expressions, the Chinese “wear the rational calm of tolerant realists,” while Japanese show the “humorless intensity of ruthless mystics.” A person from China “never has rosy cheeks.” A Japanese person has “sometimes rosy cheeks.” The apparent message: If you feel compelled to angrily confront an Asian stranger, harass the one with the rosy cheeks.

    7 Ethnic prejudice can look a lot like racism. In 1855, Chicago’s lily-white rulers clashed with new German and Irish immigrants. The battleground: booze. Mayor Levi Boone tried to shut down Irish and German beer halls while leaving open the taverns that served the whiskey preferred by his kind of people. An immigrant mob protested the crackdown, and the Lager Beer Riot ensued, leading to one death and 60 arrests.

    8 Two of Chicago’s best-known roads — Sheridan and Roosevelt — are named after national icons who disparaged American Indians. The phrase “The only good Indian is a dead Indian” is often attributed to Gen. Philip Sheridan. He denied saying it, but there’s no question he viewed Indians as inferior savages and that he imposed hard-line policies leading to the deaths of many innocent Indians. Future President Theodore Roosevelt addressed the “only good Indian” expression in an 1886 speech: “I don’t go so far as to think that the only good Indians are dead Indians, but I believe nine out of every 10 are, and I shouldn’t like to inquire too closely into the case of the 10th.”

    9 Marcus Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and standard-bearer of the “Back to Africa” movement, met with the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1920s. Garvey said the two groups’ attitudes were “similar,” explaining: “Whilst the Ku Klux Klan desires to make America absolutely a white man’s country, the Universal Negro Improvement Association wants to make Africa absolutely a black man’s country.” Four decades later, Malcolm X also met with the Klan. According to accounts by Malcolm X and an FBI informant, the black Muslim and the Klan shared their distaste for integration. But unlike Garvey, Malcolm X later expressed regret for consorting with Klansmen.

    10 No matter how bad race relations are today, they are better than they used to be. In 1983, only 43 percent of Americans approved of marriage between blacks and whites. In recent surveys, 79 percent did. When blacks and whites were asked in 1997 whether they had “a fairly close personal friend” of the other race, 74 percent said yes. In 2008, 81 percent did. Will we be anywhere near 100 percent by 2042, when America is projected to become a “majority minority” nation?

    [email protected]

    Mark Jacob is a deputy metro editor for the Tribune.

    SOURCES: “An Original Man: The Life and Times of Elijah Muhammad” by Claude Andrew Clegg; “The End of Racism” by Dinesh D’Souza; “Whitewash: Racialized Politics and the Media” by John Gabriel; “The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins,” edited by Robert Hendrickson; “In Our Own Words: Extraordinary Speeches of the American Century,” edited by Robert G. Torricelli and Andrew Carroll; “Phil Sheridan and His Army” by Paul Andrew Hutton; “Proverbs: A Handbook” by Wolfgang Mieder; ” Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination” by Neal Gabler; “English with an Accent: Language, Ideology and Discrimination in the United States” by Rosina Lippi-Green; USA Today; Toronto Star; snopes.com; Tribune editor Jim Haglund; and Tribune news services.

    Read the original article from WGN Chicago.


  • A new look for Wrigley Field?

    In conjunction with the 100-year anniversary of Wrigley Field in 2014, the Cubs are planning “a complete renovation of the ballpark.”

    The project will be called “Wrigley 20-14″ and include construction projects during the season so the Cubs can use it “for another 100 years,” according to President Crane Kenney.

    The focal point of the massive restructuring will be the long-talked-about “triangle building” to the west, a project that will include knocking down the outer wall on the third-base side to form a large open-air courtyard that would include concession areas and shops.

    In the end, all of the concourse will be widened and include expanded restrooms, some of which will be completed for this season. It also means construction will be ongoing during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

    Although plans still are sketchy, there also could be a restaurant below the third-base terrace “suites.”

    The only parts of the park that will not be reconfigured are the bleachers, which already have been altered by more seats and a restaurant.

    “A lot of spots in the ballpark haven’t been touched in years,” Kenney said. “We put millions (of dollars) in every offseason just to keep it moving forward without really changing much.

    “We have to be re-thinking long term.”

    During a Cubs Convention panel discussion about the business of baseball, Kenney told the audience:

    –”I can’t imagine the ballpark not being called Wrigley Field,” when asked about naming rights, even though former Tribune Co. ownership seemed amenable to it.

    –The “L” flag will continue to fly for the time being, although there is internal debate about it. Kenney took a show-of-hands survey during the discussion that showed “4- or 5-to-1″ against changing the tradition.

    –No Friday night games and no Jumbotron screen will be added soon, if ever, and the Cubs don’t envision going to personal seat licenses for ticket-holders.

    [email protected]

    Read the original article from WGN Chicago.


  • nanoGroove – Windows Mobile Grooveshark client with Playlist support

    BestWMApps have reviewed nanoGroove, a Grooveshark client for for Windows Mobile. The application, which costs $5 (free trail available), has a great user interface, as can be seen from the video above. Unfortunately the all important Playlist feature is only available to GrooveShark VIP members, which costs $3 per month or $30 per year.

    Read BestWMApps’s full review here and purchase the application at nanoGroove here.

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  • ‘Left, Right & Center’: Tragedy in Haiti; the Evils of Wall Street

    ‘Left, Right & Center’: Tragedy in Haiti; the Evils of Wall Street
    Is the tragic story of the Haiti earthquake as much about poverty and failed governance as it is about a natural disaster? Is the Banking Commission a kangaroo court? And what does the Massachusetts special election have to do with the future of the health care plan in Congress? All this and more on this week’s episode of “Left, Right & Center.”

    Left, Right & Center

    Is the tragic story of the Haiti earthquake as much about poverty and failed governance as it is about a natural disaster? Is the Banking Commission a kangaroo court? And what does the Massachusetts special election have to do with the future of the health care plan in Congress? All this and more on this week’s episode of “Left, Right & Center.”

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