As a democratic revolution led by tech-empowered young people sweeps the Arab world, Wadah Khanfar, the head of Al Jazeera, shares a profoundly optimistic view of what's happening in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and beyond -- at this powerful moment when people realized they could step out of their houses and ask for change.
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Musician explains volcano's name
Eyjafjallajokull - pronounced roughly ay-uh-fyat-luh-yoe-kuutl – has confused many people and has proven especially testing for newsreaders more accustomed to easier
words, or simply English.
The name is three Icelandic words formed into one by a process linguists call “agglutination”, where separate ideas are put together to form a composite idea.
In this case, Eyjafjallajokull means “island-mountain-glacier”, so some have concluded it may not refer to the volcano at all but, more accurately, “the glacier on the
mountain which looks like an island”.
It is likely the volcano has been called many things that are not its proper name since it threw up vast plumes of ash clouds and forced airspace across Europe to be
closed.
Eliza Geirsdottir Newman, the musician in question, performed her song to the broadcaster Al Jazeera to help people remember the correct pronunciation.
Playing a ukulele, she sang: “Eyjafjallajokull is a long, long name/ For such a small glacier, with such notorious fame/ And Eyjafjallajokull has caused quite a stir/ And no-one can fly anywhere except the birds/ Please stop it Eyjafjallajokull.”
words, or simply English.
The name is three Icelandic words formed into one by a process linguists call “agglutination”, where separate ideas are put together to form a composite idea.
In this case, Eyjafjallajokull means “island-mountain-glacier”, so some have concluded it may not refer to the volcano at all but, more accurately, “the glacier on the
mountain which looks like an island”.
It is likely the volcano has been called many things that are not its proper name since it threw up vast plumes of ash clouds and forced airspace across Europe to be
closed.
Eliza Geirsdottir Newman, the musician in question, performed her song to the broadcaster Al Jazeera to help people remember the correct pronunciation.
Playing a ukulele, she sang: “Eyjafjallajokull is a long, long name/ For such a small glacier, with such notorious fame/ And Eyjafjallajokull has caused quite a stir/ And no-one can fly anywhere except the birds/ Please stop it Eyjafjallajokull.”
Source: The Telegraph
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Michelle Obama soccer mom
Michelle Obama has been showing off her soccer skills as the First Lady promoted her "Let's Move" healthy eating campaign.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Knack - My Sharona
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Is the swine flu a scam?
The Council of Europe is set to decide whether the World Health Organization colluded with drug companies to exaggerate the threat from swine flu.
The WHO declared the disease a "pandemic", allegedly after advice from doctors with close links to pharmaceutical companies.
The Council is looking into whether the threat was blown out of proportion. An estimated US$18 billion was spent worldwide on vaccinations and drugs to fight the flu.
The German doctor behind the accusation says this has been one of the greatest medical scams of the century. An expert from the Russian Academy of Sciences says the H1N1 flu is a non-disease.
“The recent flu has been described as a made-up disease or a non-disease. In other words, the main goal of everything surrounding it is to make money. SARS, bird flu and chronic fatigue are all in that category, along with nearly 200 other illnesses. One can make up anything – a goat flu or a fish flu. And we are easily convinced about the threat of infections,” Pavel Vorobyov says. “One such example is what happened after the Chernobyl catastrophe, when people were persuaded to buy devices to measure radioactivity. So a disease doesn’t even have to be infectious for companies to make money from the panic.”
UK Swine Flu Ad - Catch It, Bin it, Kill It
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
WORD OF THE YEAR 2009: UNFRIEND
“What word best sums up 2009? How about the word ‘unfriend?' That’s the new Oxford American Dictionary’s 2009 word of the year. Unfriend means, of course, to remove someone as a friend on a social networking Web site such as Facebook. Each year, Oxford University Press tracks how the English language is changing and chooses the word that best reflects the mood of the year.” (KCAL)
That was the CBS affiliate in Los Angeles, talking about the Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year, ‘unfriend.' Other terms considered include ‘netbook’ and ‘sexting’. The Oxford University Press’s decision has sparked a conversation in the media about the English language, and how it has changed in response to the Internet’s rising popularity.
We’re looking at perspectives from ABC News, CTV, KPIX and Urban Dictionary to see what they think about unfriending.
CTV News talks to David Stover, the president of Oxford University Press. Stover explains the process of picking the word of the year, and why unfriending deserves the title for 2009.
“Well there’s a number of ways a word gets in contention. We look for things that are topical, things that are coming into use across the board, and to be honest, the lexicographers want something that’s fun as well so this one hit it on all three criteria."
Urban Dictionary, a user-generated online dictionary, has multiple entries defining what it means to unfriend. Here’s one example.
"Compulsive people prune their friend list periodically, removing people that they no longer have contact with. More often though, unfriending is only done when a particular friend's updates and self-promotions become so annoying that you can no longer stand hearing about them."
But some debate that the term is inaccurate. ABC News talks to an assistant editor of a publishing house. She says that the term “defriending” is a better fit for the description.
"Unfriend… implies a complete lack -- that you are absolutely not friends… Defriend implies that you were once friends…Defriend seems to apply more to the action. Unfriend seems to apply more to the state of being."
Finally, San Francisco’s CBS affiliate takes a look at how the Internet, and Web sites such as Facebook, are changing definitions in the English language.
“Dana, I remember when my daughter was in kindergarten she came home after a little disagreement over a jump rope and said Jordana Rock was not her friend anymore, unfriending was just that simple. Now you gotta have a laptop, the Internet, a Facebook account to unfriend someone, of course preceeding that, you have to friend. Unfriend, as the new Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year, gains that distinction simply because there are more than 300 million users of Facebook." (KPIX)
So is it unfriending or defriending? And what do you think of the Internet's impact on the English language?
That was the CBS affiliate in Los Angeles, talking about the Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year, ‘unfriend.' Other terms considered include ‘netbook’ and ‘sexting’. The Oxford University Press’s decision has sparked a conversation in the media about the English language, and how it has changed in response to the Internet’s rising popularity.
We’re looking at perspectives from ABC News, CTV, KPIX and Urban Dictionary to see what they think about unfriending.
CTV News talks to David Stover, the president of Oxford University Press. Stover explains the process of picking the word of the year, and why unfriending deserves the title for 2009.
“Well there’s a number of ways a word gets in contention. We look for things that are topical, things that are coming into use across the board, and to be honest, the lexicographers want something that’s fun as well so this one hit it on all three criteria."
Urban Dictionary, a user-generated online dictionary, has multiple entries defining what it means to unfriend. Here’s one example.
"Compulsive people prune their friend list periodically, removing people that they no longer have contact with. More often though, unfriending is only done when a particular friend's updates and self-promotions become so annoying that you can no longer stand hearing about them."
But some debate that the term is inaccurate. ABC News talks to an assistant editor of a publishing house. She says that the term “defriending” is a better fit for the description.
"Unfriend… implies a complete lack -- that you are absolutely not friends… Defriend implies that you were once friends…Defriend seems to apply more to the action. Unfriend seems to apply more to the state of being."
Finally, San Francisco’s CBS affiliate takes a look at how the Internet, and Web sites such as Facebook, are changing definitions in the English language.
“Dana, I remember when my daughter was in kindergarten she came home after a little disagreement over a jump rope and said Jordana Rock was not her friend anymore, unfriending was just that simple. Now you gotta have a laptop, the Internet, a Facebook account to unfriend someone, of course preceeding that, you have to friend. Unfriend, as the new Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year, gains that distinction simply because there are more than 300 million users of Facebook." (KPIX)
So is it unfriending or defriending? And what do you think of the Internet's impact on the English language?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Bulls Escape Tom Cruise Film Set in Spain
Bulls broke free from a film set in the southern Spanish town of Cadiz Sunday. "Knight&Day" stars Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz hadn't arrived in town yet. Two women were slightly hurt, and filming has been suspended.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
New Zealand hunts accidental millionaires
WELLINGTON (AFP) - New Zealand police said Thursday they had launched an international hunt for a couple who fled after reportedly having millions of dollars mistakenly paid into their bank account.
Reports said an Asian couple who ran a petrol station in the northern city of Rotorua had fled overseas after Westpac bank mistakenly deposited 10 million dollars (six million US) in their account.
Police and the bank refused to say how much money was withdrawn or give any details of the couple, but the bank said it was "pursuing vigorous criminal and civil action."
Rotorua police Detective Senior Sergeant David Harvey said the bank had recovered some of the money.
"The individuals associated with this account are believed to have left New Zealand and police were working through Interpol to locate those individuals," he said.
A Westpac spokesman said human error was responsible for the windfall.
Reports said an Asian couple who ran a petrol station in the northern city of Rotorua had fled overseas after Westpac bank mistakenly deposited 10 million dollars (six million US) in their account.
Police and the bank refused to say how much money was withdrawn or give any details of the couple, but the bank said it was "pursuing vigorous criminal and civil action."
Rotorua police Detective Senior Sergeant David Harvey said the bank had recovered some of the money.
"The individuals associated with this account are believed to have left New Zealand and police were working through Interpol to locate those individuals," he said.
A Westpac spokesman said human error was responsible for the windfall.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The best job in the world
JANUARY 2009
APRIL 2009
The selection process for The Best Job in the World is winding down. 16 candidates remain, but only one of them will become the representative for Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
With beautiful turquoise waters and white sandy beaches, Australias Great Barrier Reef attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Earlier this year The Best Job in the World was launched. The role is to be an island caretaker with a six-figure salary for six months of work.
34-thousand applicants applied for the job via YouTube, and now its down to just 16 lucky finalists. They come from places like Japan, Canada, China and even Australia.
The job received so much interest that the company's website initially crashed.
Officials say "The Best Job in the World" has generated publicity worth over a hundred-million dollars.
Tourism Queensland says it's just as important to get the right person for the job as getting publicity for the area.
[Anthony Hayes, CEO, Tourism QLD]:
"It has been strict all the way through and we have been paranoid about making sure that we have been fare and equitable with everyone who has applied. Thirty-four and a half thousand people sent us a one minute to start with so we needed to be really clean and careful to make sure that we treat everyone equally.
The winner, whoever he or she may be, will be announced in May.
MAY 2009
WONG:
Depressed about the global economy, unemployed, or just looking for adventure? Then look no further because a tiny Australian island is offering a dream job, advertising globally to find the right person.
STORY:
Australian tourism officials are looking for a caretaker for the islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
[Anthony Hayes, CEO Queensland Tourism]:
"This really is the best job in the world. It is a six month contract when you live in this beautiful luxury house, it is probably four or five million dollar house, right on the edge of Hamilton island looking out of the Pacific. We'll pay you 150,000 Australian dollars which is roughly 75,000 Euros for the six month contract and your job in a nutshell is to travel through out the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, experiencing everything that the islands have to offer."
The caretaker will spend six months visiting Hamilton Island promoting tourism through a video blog.
Duties include feeding ocean fish, cleaning a pool and collecting deliveries of mail that arrive by plane.
But the employee is also required to go scuba diving, snorkeling and hiking and to enjoy at least 25 nearby island resorts.
No skills or experience are required for the job that starts in July and there is no age requirement.
Queensland created the job as an antidote to the global economic slump and is advertising in 18 countries including the United States and China.
[Anthony Hayes, CEO Queensland Tourism]:
"I suspect the biggest catch is going to be trying to get rid of them after six months. I suspect somebody will want to stay forever. It is obviously a bit of fun but there is a serious side to it. I think we in the tourism industry are in for a fairly difficult twelve months ahead not just in Australia but worldwide the tourism industry is in for a difficult time. Our role is to try help our industry overcome the difficulties of the next 12 months, protect jobs."
Applicants must submit a one-minute video expressing interest in the Great Barrier Reef, a vast coral reef system that is classed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
The campaign has already drawn more than 200 visitors to its website.
Applications are open until the end of February.
Depressed about the global economy, unemployed, or just looking for adventure? Then look no further because a tiny Australian island is offering a dream job, advertising globally to find the right person.
STORY:
Australian tourism officials are looking for a caretaker for the islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
[Anthony Hayes, CEO Queensland Tourism]:
"This really is the best job in the world. It is a six month contract when you live in this beautiful luxury house, it is probably four or five million dollar house, right on the edge of Hamilton island looking out of the Pacific. We'll pay you 150,000 Australian dollars which is roughly 75,000 Euros for the six month contract and your job in a nutshell is to travel through out the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, experiencing everything that the islands have to offer."
The caretaker will spend six months visiting Hamilton Island promoting tourism through a video blog.
Duties include feeding ocean fish, cleaning a pool and collecting deliveries of mail that arrive by plane.
But the employee is also required to go scuba diving, snorkeling and hiking and to enjoy at least 25 nearby island resorts.
No skills or experience are required for the job that starts in July and there is no age requirement.
Queensland created the job as an antidote to the global economic slump and is advertising in 18 countries including the United States and China.
[Anthony Hayes, CEO Queensland Tourism]:
"I suspect the biggest catch is going to be trying to get rid of them after six months. I suspect somebody will want to stay forever. It is obviously a bit of fun but there is a serious side to it. I think we in the tourism industry are in for a fairly difficult twelve months ahead not just in Australia but worldwide the tourism industry is in for a difficult time. Our role is to try help our industry overcome the difficulties of the next 12 months, protect jobs."
Applicants must submit a one-minute video expressing interest in the Great Barrier Reef, a vast coral reef system that is classed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
The campaign has already drawn more than 200 visitors to its website.
Applications are open until the end of February.
APRIL 2009
The selection process for The Best Job in the World is winding down. 16 candidates remain, but only one of them will become the representative for Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
With beautiful turquoise waters and white sandy beaches, Australias Great Barrier Reef attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Earlier this year The Best Job in the World was launched. The role is to be an island caretaker with a six-figure salary for six months of work.
34-thousand applicants applied for the job via YouTube, and now its down to just 16 lucky finalists. They come from places like Japan, Canada, China and even Australia.
The job received so much interest that the company's website initially crashed.
Officials say "The Best Job in the World" has generated publicity worth over a hundred-million dollars.
Tourism Queensland says it's just as important to get the right person for the job as getting publicity for the area.
[Anthony Hayes, CEO, Tourism QLD]:
"It has been strict all the way through and we have been paranoid about making sure that we have been fare and equitable with everyone who has applied. Thirty-four and a half thousand people sent us a one minute to start with so we needed to be really clean and careful to make sure that we treat everyone equally.
The winner, whoever he or she may be, will be announced in May.
MAY 2009
A winner has been announced in the best job in the world competition. Let's go to Queensland to find out the result.
[Anna Bligh, Queensland Premier]:
"From the United Kingdom, Ben Southall."
After an innovative marketing campaign by Tourism Queensland, 34-year-old Briton, Ben Southall was picked from 16 finalists in a highly publicized contest for 'the best job in the world'.
[Ben Southhall, Best Job in the World Winner]:
"I hope I can fill the boots as much as everybody is expecting, my swimming hopefully is up to standard and I look forward to all of the new roles and the responsibilities that the task involves."
Tourism Queensland hailed the advertising campaign as an enormous success, saying they managed to get $110 million worth of publicity for $1.7 million spent.
The campaign attracted nearly 34,700 video entries from almost 200 countries and surpassed all expectations in promoting tourism in the Australian state.
The job description? To explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef for six months and report back to Tourism Queensland and the world via blogs, a photo diary, video updates and interviews.
Also, if you feel like it, feed the fish, collect the mail and clean the pool - for $110,000.
Southall said he was looking forward to the job and he will be joined by his Canadian girlfriend soon.
The campaign highlighted the marketing potential of websites such as YouTube and Facebook.
Marketing experts say the announcement of the winner, who starts work on July 1, will not end the publicity.
[Anna Bligh, Queensland Premier]:
"From the United Kingdom, Ben Southall."
After an innovative marketing campaign by Tourism Queensland, 34-year-old Briton, Ben Southall was picked from 16 finalists in a highly publicized contest for 'the best job in the world'.
[Ben Southhall, Best Job in the World Winner]:
"I hope I can fill the boots as much as everybody is expecting, my swimming hopefully is up to standard and I look forward to all of the new roles and the responsibilities that the task involves."
Tourism Queensland hailed the advertising campaign as an enormous success, saying they managed to get $110 million worth of publicity for $1.7 million spent.
The campaign attracted nearly 34,700 video entries from almost 200 countries and surpassed all expectations in promoting tourism in the Australian state.
The job description? To explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef for six months and report back to Tourism Queensland and the world via blogs, a photo diary, video updates and interviews.
Also, if you feel like it, feed the fish, collect the mail and clean the pool - for $110,000.
Southall said he was looking forward to the job and he will be joined by his Canadian girlfriend soon.
The campaign highlighted the marketing potential of websites such as YouTube and Facebook.
Marketing experts say the announcement of the winner, who starts work on July 1, will not end the publicity.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Word of the week 11 - 17 May 2009 SWINE FLU
Swine has two meanings:
1. Any of various omnivorous, even-toed ungulates of the family Suidae, including pigs, hogs, and boars, having a stout body with thick skin, a short neck, and a movable snout.
2. A person regarded as brutish or contemptible.
1. Any of various omnivorous, even-toed ungulates of the family Suidae, including pigs, hogs, and boars, having a stout body with thick skin, a short neck, and a movable snout.
2. A person regarded as brutish or contemptible.
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