kueytoc

Dun Stop till U Buy Enuff !!!

Soldier TEE...were U in ya Smart 4 tis afternoon ???

Soldier TEE...were U in ya Smart 4 tis afternoon ???

I 'smell' some ultra exotic LEATHER in ya tanky...

Wat about revealing a sexy pic of ya exotic WAR gem mate ???

Where's ya exotic WARTYS pics mate ???

China premier: 2010 'most complicated' for economy By CARA ANNA, Associated Press Writer - Sunday, February 28 BEIJING – Premier Wen Jiabao promised Saturday to control inflation and keep China's economic recovery on track and expressed hope for an end to tensions with Washington over trade and currencies. China's top economic official said 2010 will be the "most complicated" year for the country's economy and indicated easy credit will continue despite a recent tightening in lending controls. He gave no indication Beijing is ready to raise interest rates, which might slow growth and affect the global economy by cutting China's demand for foreign oil and other goods. China's leaders have been carefully reaching out to the world's largest online population with online chats. This one comes just days before the country's annual meeting of the National People's Congress. "Two things can hurt social stability. One is corruption. The other is the price of products," Wen said, adding that the government should be able to regulate both. "We can keep economic development stable and fast and still manage inflation," he said. China's economic growth rebounded last year to 10.7 percent with the help of a massive stimulus package and easy bank lending, but the country's leaders worry the money is fueling inflation and a dangerous bubble in real estate prices. Inflation eased in January to 1.5 percent over a year earlier, down from December's 1.9 percent. But China's leaders are sensitive to price rises that erode families' economic gains and could fuel social tensions. Housing costs have soared, jumping 9.5 percent in January from a year earlier, according to the government. The government has issued directives to banks in recent weeks to fine-tune lending by cutting back credit to projects deemed polluting or unneeded while expanding support to private entrepreneurs. If last year was the most difficult for China's economy in the new century, this one is the "most complicated," Wen said. The chat, with video, was carried on the Web sites of China's central government and the state-run Xinhua News Agency. Wen didn't go into political issues such as the current strained relations between China and the United States over arms sales to Taiwan and President Barack Obama's recent meeting with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. But he briefly mentioned recent economic disputes with the U.S. over higher duties on imports of Chinese-made tires, and access to each other's markets for steel pipes. "The friction ought to be solved through negotiation on an equal basis," not through quickly imposed sanctions, he said. "We hope the friction will calm," he added. Chinese citizens posted hundreds of thousands of questions online for Wen, who is well-known for his sympathetic public appearances, especially in times of crisis. Wen stuck to topics of widespread public outrage, such as what one netizen called the "wild horse" of rising property prices. He said the government will build 5 million affordable housing units this year. He also spoke out sharply about China's latest food safety problem _ the recent reappearance on the market of some tainted milk products that sickened at least 300,000 children in 2008. "If counterfeit and substandard products appear again, we will punish without mercy," he said. Associated Press writer Joe McDonald and researcher Henry Hou contributed to this report.

US insurer suffers $8.9 bln fourth quarter loss AFP - Saturday, February 27 NEW YORK (AFP) – US insurance giant AIG reported Friday a fourth quarter net loss of 8.9 billion dollars, better than the worst of market fears, as it strove to repay a multi-billion dollar taxpayer bailout. Net loss for the year hit 10.9 billion dollars but was much lower than the 99.2 billion dollars chalked up by the insurer in 2008 as it was saved from collapse by a government bailout. On a per share basis, AIG reported a quarterly loss of 65.51 dollars. This compares to a loss of 61.7 billion dollars or 458.99 dollars per share in the fourth quarter of 2008, the biggest loss in US corporate history. AIG said the loss stemmed mainly on charges tied to paying down its debt from the bailout, that eventually ran into a staggering 180 billion dollars, and boosting commercial insurance reserves. AIG chief executive and president Robert Benmosche said the company made "great progress" in executing its strategic restructuring plan as it stabilized and strengthened insurance businesses, reduced financial product exposures and positioning certain businesses for sale. "We are increasingly confident in how we see the mix of AIG's businesses over the long term. We are taking the right steps to regain our stature as one of the most respected and diverse property-casualty operations in the world," he said. Analysts at Briefing.com said the net result looked "a bit better than the worst fears," pointing out that it included multiple items making it incomparable with the Street's expectations. The improvements in the global financial markets is helping AIG amend the losses, they said. "The improved results are relative but still spectacularly poor," said Douglas McIntyre of 24/7Wall Street. In addition to the poor earnings, McIntyre noted AIG plans not to use securitized US life insurance policies to repay the government. Reports said AIG had abandoned plans to give the Federal Reserve Bank of New York securitization notes of up to 8.5 billion dollars representing embedded value of certain of its US life insurance businesses to pay down its loan. "This may help the firm's balance sheet but it is a slap at taxpayers," McIntyre said.

Florida killer whale to stay in park after deadly attack AFP - Friday, February 26 ORLANDO, Florida (AFP) - – A killer whale that killed its trainer in front of horrified onlookers will stay in its marine park, officials said, amid a raging debate on keeping such animals in captivity. Tilikum -- the five-tonne orca already linked to two other human deaths since 1991 -- grabbed its veteran trainer by her ponytail and dragged her down into its tank at the end of Wednesday's show in SeaWorld Orlando, Florida. The male whale was so aggressive rescuers could not immediately jump in and assist the experienced trainer Dawn Brancheau, officials said. Instead, trainers guided the massive black-and-white whale toward a smaller pool and lifted him out of the water by a large scale or platform to free Brancheau's dead body from its jaws. Witness Sue Nichols, 67, said the crowd had had no warning that anything was brewing as the show was already ending with most of the 50-strong audience having left their seats. The trainer would "pet him, and she would get very close to him. She'd throw fish in his mouth and throw buckets of water in his mouth, which he seemed to enjoy. There was nothing aggravating or anything about it," Nichols told AFP. But then, "she was petting the whale and talking to him, and then all of a sudden he just reached up. He got her in the water, and he took her underwater, and he had her under for quite a while," she said. "He came up out of the water, and he had her in his mouth." Nichols said an alarm sounded while park employees scattered around the pool with a net as audience members were rushed away. Animal rights groups and activists pressed for Tilikum to be released in a controlled area, while some suggested putting him down. But both ideas were ruled out by SeaWorld staff. "He's still going part of this family group here in Seaworld," SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment corporate curator Chuck Tompkins told AFP. "He's got seven other killer whales that he lives with and we'll make sure he stays with his family ... We are going be very careful how the trainers interact with him. The number one focus is still the safety of the trainers," he added. But SeaWorld did not say if it was considering more live shows with the 22-foot (6.7-meter) long, 12,000-pound (5.4-tonne) animal. Even before the latest deadly attack, trainers were barred from swimming in the water with Tilikum, standing on platforms instead. In a grim twist, the smaller pool was apparently the same spot where the naked body of Daniel Dukes was found draped over Tilikum's back in July 1999 after he sneaked into SeaWorld after hours to swim with the animals. The Orange County Medical Examiner's office said Brancheau, who had 16 years of experience working with orcas, likely died from multiple traumatic injuries and drowning. Brancheau, 40, died doing something she loved, her mother said. "It was her dream to do it," Marion Loverde told the Orlando Sentinel. "She loved her job." In an prescient 2006 interview, Brancheau told the newspaper: "You can't put yourself in the water unless you trust them and they trust you." Russ Rector, a former dolphin trainer, said keeping killer whales -- the largest species of the dolphin family -- in captivity can make them become violent. "They are going to keep Tilikum and he is going to kill someone else," said Rector, who warned SeaWorld in November 2007 that continued captivity could cause the marine mammals to attack their trainers. "He is a monster, he is a product of captivity. He hates people. All he wants to do is kill you," Rector told AFP. "If this was a big cat or a bear, it would have been put down after its first kill." Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist with The Humane Society, suggested Tilikum, known simply as "Tilly," be released in an open ocean sea-pen the size of a football field. "He could be trained to adjust to going out into the open ocean to exercise and get more choices and then maybe his stress would be reduced," she said. A full release might be complicated for Tilikum, who has been captive for nearly 27 years and whose name means "friend" in the Chinook Jargon language spoken among native Americans in the Pacific Northwest. "You can't just put Tilly back out into the wild," renowned animal expert Jack Hanna told AFP. "It takes months and years of planning to do that."

MFA finds Ionescu’s comments "puzzling" Channel NewsAsia - Saturday, February 27 SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said it is puzzled by comments made to the media by the former Romanian Charge d’Affaires linked to a hit—and—run case here. Dr Silviu Ionescu had said that prosecutors in Singapore were accusing him long before they had the right to do so. The Ministry said this in response to Dr Ionescu’s remark that there should be a preliminary inquiry first and that this was clearly a sign that he should not return to the island—state. In a statement released Friday, MFA said no charges have been made and no judgement has been passed on Dr Ionescu. "As Singapore has made clear, the Coroner’s Inquiry to be held from 3 to 10 March 2010 into the death of Mr Tong Kok Wai is not a criminal trial. The Coroner’s Inquiry is simply to ascertain the facts and circumstances of the death," MFA said. It reiterated that police investigations have revealed that the driver of the vehicle at the time of the two accidents was Dr Silviu Ionescu. It noted that Dr Ionescu has denied this. "As we have said many times, if Dr Ionescu was not the driver as he claims, then he should take the opportunity to attend the Inquiry to give his account of the events and pose questions to the witnesses, in order that the true circumstances surrounding the accidents may be determined," MFA said. "Singapore’s legal system is well—known internationally for its integrity and transparency. The Coroner will make a finding based on the evidence presented before him." There is a Coroner’s Inquiry next Wednesday into the death of Tong Kok Wai. MFA has sought the assistance of the Romanian Embassy to request Dr Ionescu to return to Singapore to attend the Coroner’s Inquiry as an "interested person" and not as a potential defendant. It said that the Public Prosecutor has not decided whether it is appropriate to charge Dr Ionescu for any offences. It added that the decision will be taken only after all the facts have been clarified at the Coroner’s Inquiry. "If the Coroner rules that Dr Ionescu was not the driver, no charges against him will be made. For this reason, it is in Dr Ionescu’s interest to return to Singapore to put his version before the Coroner or to appoint a lawyer in Singapore to do so on his behalf," MFA said. It also said found another comment made by Dr Ionescu "shocking". Dr Ionescu had reportedly said: "Someone died. It’s not something solitary, but happens all over the world. There are bigger stories out there". "We trust the Romanian authorities do not share Dr Ionescu’s irresponsible and callous attitude," MFA said. CNA/yb

WAH !...ya CNY harve$t has certainly 'inflated' this year.

A more nuanced, fairer property tax Channel NewsAsia - Tuesday, February 23 SINGAPORE: From next year, if the flat or private property you live in and own has an annual value of $65,000, you will pay up to $240 less in property taxes. The new progressive property tax system, announced on Monday to the surprise of many, will see owner—occupiers exempted from tax on the first $6,000 of the annual value — that is, the estimated rent — of their homes. The trade—off? The $25—to—$150 in GST rebates, which owners of properties with lower annual values have been enjoying since 1994, will be scrapped. The more nuanced tax system for owner—occupied residential properties will benefit all Singaporeans except the ultra—rich — those living in properties with over $77,000 annual value. They comprise only 0.4 per cent of all owner—occupied homes in Singapore, and only 3 per cent of private owner—occupied homes here, said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who also noted that the change would cost the Government $230 million initially. Currently, all owner—occupied residences are taxed a flat rate of 4 per cent, while investment residential properties are taxed at 10 per cent. This "does tax the wealthy more than others", said Mr Shanmugaratnam, but there was "scope" for a more progressive system. One reason for the rethink: HDB homes have been appreciating in value over the years, meaning a growing tax bill for flat—owners, and while rebates over the years — the latest being in January — have helped mitigate this increase, "we need a longer—term solution that provides a fair and balanced system for all property owners", said the Finance Minister. Homes with an annual value of about $80,000, therefore, will see a tax increase of "slightly less than $100" a year. "However, our property tax rates, even for the high—end, will remain lower than in most international cities," Mr Shanmugaratnam stressed. "That is as it should be, so that we remain a vibrant and attractive place for businesses and individuals alike." Binjai Park resident Mr Philip Goh, 61, said that as a retiree, "anything helps". His semi—detached house’s annual value is about $31,000, and he forked out $1,250 in property tax last year. The change in tax structure will have minimal impact on the property market, analysts believe, given the tiny minority that will be negatively affected. Those likely to be taxed "slightly more" were the luxury properties priced above $4 million in prime districts, said real estate lecturer Nicholas Mak of Ngee Ann Polytechnic. And as taxes for non—owner—occupied residential properties remain at 10 per cent, he added, there should be no impact on those who buy for investment. Nonetheless, as annual values continue to go up, "the question is whether the Government will increase the upper limit of the annual value bracket where the property tax is 4 per cent", said Mr Mak. Does this signal that the Government might go further down the path of taxing the rich more, something it has argued against overdoing? NUS Business School Associate Professor Ho Yew Kee: "What the Government probably thinks is that the extremely asset—rich ... have to carry a little bit of burden, and contribute a bit more. 0, 4, 6 per cent is trivial — if I have an $8—million house, I’d pay $2,000 more in property tax a year. It’s not a lot." — TODAY

Killer Whale kills Trainer as horrified Spectators watch By MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press Writer – 26 mins ago ORLANDO, Fla. – A SeaWorld killer whale snatched a trainer off a poolside platform in its jaws Wednesday and thrashed the woman around underwater, killing her in front of a horrified audience. It marked the third time the animal had been involved in a human death. Distraught audience members were hustled out of the stadium immediately, and the park was closed. Trainer Dawn Brancheau, 40, was one of the park's most experienced. Her sister said Brancheau wouldn't want anything done to the whale that killed her because she loved the animals like children. Brancheau was rubbing Tilikum after a noontime show when the 12,000-pound whale grabbed her and pulled her in, said Chuck Tompkins, head of animal training at all SeaWorld parks. It was not clear if she drowned or died from the thrashing. Because of his size and the previous deaths, trainers were not supposed to get into the water with Tilikum, and only about a dozen of the park's 29 trainers worked with him. Brancheau had more experience with the 30-year-old whale than most. "We recognized he was different," Tompkins said. He said no decision has been made yet about what will happen to Tilikum, such as transfering him to another facility. A retired couple from Michigan told The Associated Press that they were some stragglers in the audience who had stayed to watch the animals and trainers. Eldon Skaggs, 72, saw Brancheau on platform massaging the whale. He said the interaction appeared leisurely and informal. Skaggs that the whale "pulled her under and started swimming around with her." Skaggs said an alarm sounded and staff rushed the audience out of the stadium as workers scrambled around with nets. Skaggs said he heard that during an earlier show the whale was not responding to directions. Others who attended the earlier show said the whale was behaving like an ornery child. The couple left and didn't find out until later that the trainer had died. "We were just a little bit stunned," said Skaggs' wife, Sue Nichols, 67. Another audience member, Victoria Biniak, told WKMG-TV the whale "took off really fast in the tank, and then he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing around, and one of her shoes flew off." Two other witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that the whale grabbed the woman by the upper arm and tossed her around in its mouth while swimming rapidly around the tank. Brazilian tourist Joao Lucio DeCosta Sobrinho and his girlfriend were at an underwater viewing area when they suddenly saw a whale with a person in its mouth. The couple said they watched the whale show at the park two days earlier and came back to take pictures. But on Wednesday the whales appeared agitated. "It was terrible. It's very difficult to see the image," Sobrinho said. A SeaWorld spokesman said Tilikum was one of three orcas blamed for killing a trainer in 1991 after the woman lost her balance and fell in the pool at Sealand of the Pacific near Victoria, British Columbia. Steve Huxter, who was head of Sealand's animal care and training department then, said Wednesday he's surprised it happened again. He says Tilikum was a well-behaved, balanced animal. Tilikum was also involved in a 1999 death, when the body of a man who had sneaked by SeaWorld security was found draped over him. The man either jumped, fell or was pulled into the frigid water and died of hypothermia, though he was also bruised and scratched by Tilikum. At the stadium, what appeared to be a body covered with a black shroud could be seen lying on the concrete near the water as the animals swam just a few feet away. Later Wednesday, SeaWorld in San Diego also suspended its killer whale show. It was not clear if the killer whale show has been suspended at SeaWorld's San Antonio location, which is closed until the weekend. According to a profile of Brancheau in the Sentinel in 2006, she was one of SeaWorld Orlando's leading trainers. It was apparently a trip to SeaWorld at age 9 that made her want to follow that career path. "I remember walking down the aisle (of Shamu Stadium) and telling my mom, 'This is what I want to do,'" she said in the article. Brancheau worked her way into a leadership role at Shamu Stadium during her career with SeaWorld, starting at the Sea Lion & Otter Stadium before spending 10 years working with killer whales, the newspaper said. She also addressed the dangers of the job. "You can't put yourself in the water unless you trust them and they trust you," Brancheau said. Steve McCulloch, founder and program manager at the Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program at Harbor Branch/Florida Atlantic University, said the whale may have been playing, but it is too early to tell. "I wouldn't jump to conclusions," he said. "These are very large powerful marine mammals. They exhibit this type of behavior in the wild. "Nobody cares more about the animal than the trainer. It's just hard to fathom that this has happened." Brancheau's older sister Diane Gross, of Indiana, said the trainer "would not want anything done to that whale." Gross said her sister loved working at the park and thought of the animals like she would her own children. Gross tells the Associated Press that news of her sister's death "hasn't sunk in yet." Mike Wald, a spokesman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration office in Atlanta, said his agency had dispatched an investigator from Tampa. Wednesday's death was not the first attack on whale trainers at SeaWorld parks. In November 2006, a trainer was bitten and held underwater several times by a killer whale during a show at SeaWorld's San Diego park. The trainer, Kenneth Peters, escaped with a broken foot. The 17-foot orca that attacked him was the dominant female of SeaWorld San Diego's seven killer whales. She had attacked Peters two other times, in 1993 and 1999. In 2004, another whale at the company's San Antonio park tried to hit one of the trainers and attempted to bite him. He also escaped. Wednesday's attack was the second time in two months that an orca trainer was killed at a marine park. On Dec. 24, 29-year-old Alexis Martinez Hernandez fell from a whale and crushed his ribcage at Loro Parque on the Spanish island of Tenerife. Park officials said the whale, a 14-year-old named Keto, made an unusual move as the two practiced a trick in which the whale lifts the trainer and leaps into the air. Associated Press writers Lisa Orkin Emmanuel, Laura Wides-Munoz and David Fischer in Miami, Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg and Jeremy Hainsworth in Vancouver, British Columbia, contributed to this report.

I see that the sweet LEMON will bloom well when it is positioned under medium lighting & flow. for ya recommendation mate.

Aiyah...next time remember to 'activate' Moi-Moi lah.

I wonder how I wonder why Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky And all that I can see is just a YELLOW Lemon-Tree I'm turning my head up and down I'm turning turning turning turning turning around And all that I can see is just another Lemon-Tree Lemon Tree Coral (Stereonepthya sp.) is sometimes referred to as Broccoli Coral, Branch, or Cauliflower Coral. They are Gold to Yellow slender branching tree-like Soft corals that are ideal for the beginner reef aquarists. The parent colony of these coral frags were originally collected in Indonesia, and were maintained in-house, and then quarantined and given a health inspection before being propagated. The Lemon Tree Coral relies on the symbiotic algae within it for food, but will benefit from the addition of microplankton, marine snow, and dissolved organic materials to round out its diet in the home reef aquarium. QUICK STATS Care Level: Moderate Temperament: Peaceful Lighting: Moderate Waterflow: Medium to Strong Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025 Color Form: Tan, Yellow Supplements: Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements Family: Nephtheidae Stereonephthya, the ‘Photosynthetic Carnation Coral’ The dazzling colors of non-photosynthetic “carnation†corals have for the most part alluded aquarists. There is no doubt that these azooxanthellate corals are the future, but much still needs to be understood about the dietary needs of these species such as Dendronephthya, Stereonephthya and Umbellulifera. For a long time aquarists have joked how great it would be to find a coral with the color and shape of Dendronephthya, with the photosynthetic abilities of the much hardier Capenalla. While they may not be as easy to grow as Kenya Trees, the striking Stereonephthya nearly fits this criteria. Stereonepthya is a widespread coral that has been available for years, without much recognition by collectors, retailers and hobbyists. This is likely because it was thought to be azooxanthellate or non-photosynthetic. Many sources state this including Fabricius and Alderslade’s book Soft Corals and Sea Fans. However, Fabricius updated this finding in 2005, with the paper Diversity of algal endosymbionts (zooxanthellae) in octocorals: the roles of geography and host relationships. In this study Fabricius et. al provide evidence of symbiosis with clade C zooxanthellae in specimens collected from the Red Sea and Great Barrier reef and further suggest that Stereonepthya seems to be facultative in its photosynthetic reliance. See the full study here PDF. Interestingly I received the rock shown above which includes 4 different color morphs of Stereonepthya sp.. Of the four, two appear to be photosynthetic. I thought this was odd. Assuming the four lived among one another in the same conditions, I would expect them to share the same photosynthetic ability. After examining the rock more closely it turns out it was actually two rocks that the collectors carefully glued together! As expected the two photosynthetic morphs are on one rock, while the two non-photosynthetic morphs are on another. The suspected azoox morphs are the pink and purple with white polyp specimens seen in the upper right hand photo. They are holding on, but have not fared nearly as well as the yellow and purple with golden polyp morphs. Note that these are simply my suspicions and would require some lab work to confirm. Some aquarists have found photosynthetic morphs of Stereonephthya to be extremely hardy and grow rapidly. In my limited experience with this coral so far, it is more challenging than photosynethetic species within the Neptheidae family and does not appear to be reliant on just light alone to survive. The coral responds well to specialty azoox feeds as well as normal aquarium fare and detritus stirrings. If you’re an advanced aquarists looking for a new coral to try, or are potentially interested in trying azooxanthellate species, I would suggest looking into Stereonepthya. It offers a color and growth form that is not often found in aquaria.

NICEeeez !...where did U buy ya RICsters mate ?

Dun Give Up mate...With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable. Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines. ~ Robert Schuller

NEWSFLASH !!! : from REEFBUILDERS We are getting reports that a chemical tanker carrying 10,000 tons of Xylene has run aground on Clipperton Island. The Tahiti Press reported the story almost 10 days ago but at the time it was believed that the hull was intact and the contents were safe. However, we have just received word that the High Commisioner of French Polynesia has canceled an application to collect fish at the Isle of Passion because the Xylene and other toxic substances are leaking out. Now the island territory is being cordoned off and all ships are banned from approaching. We can only hope that the chemical spill is not as bad as it sounds and that the French Polynesian government is taking extreme precautionary action to prevent this ship-grounding from causing a massive natural disaster which threatens many endemic species, not the least of which is the famous Clipperton Island Angelfish. This is a very serious situation and we can only wait to hear more on what develops. Chemical tanker runs aground on Clipperton Island Events : 02/11/2010 at 5:07PM (Tahitipresse) - The Maltese chemical tanker "Sichem Osprey" ran aground on the uninhabited tiny atoll of Clipperton, the French High Commissioner's reported in Papeete. The ship's British agent alerted the MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Center) Papeete Wednesday. The 170 meters-long ship was going from the Panama Canal to South Korea. The tanker contains xylene but there is reportedly no links on the hull. The crew of 19 is safe. French authorities have asked the ship's owner to tow the "Sichem Osprey" in the next 48 hours. A French Navy ship should also soon leave Papeete and go to Clipperton. Clipperton Island is a French possession with an economic ocean zone of 425,000 square kilometers (164,093 square miles) that is rich in tuna. It is located above the equator 1,120 km (700 miles) southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, and 2,623 km (1,630 miles) south-southeast of San Diego, Calif. It is a circular coral atoll, the only atoll in the East Pacific, spread over six square km (2.3 sq. miles). There is no pass through the coral reef into the lagoon. The only structure on the atoll is the ruins of a 19th Century lighthouse. The High Commissioner in Papeete is responsible for Clipperton, although the island is located than 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles) northeast of Tahiti.

Superman comic fetches record $1 million Reuters - Tuesday, February 23 LOS ANGELES, Feb 22 - A very rare, first edition Superman comic book in top condition sold on Monday for a record $1 million in a public sale held by website ComicConnect.com. Owners of the website said the book, Action Comics #1, was first published in June 1938 and introduced the crime-fighting superhero to fans, describing how he was born on a different planet and came to Earth. It also introduces his alter ego Clark Kent's love interest, Lois Lane. Stephen Fishler, ComicConnect.com founder, said the comic is one of only around 100 in existence and that a scant two or three are in a similar unrestored, high-grade condition. "If not this book, it may be 10 or 20 years before another one like it would be offered," Fishler said. Fishler said the book was last on the market 15 years ago when it fetched $150,000. The current buyer remained anonymous. The $1 million is more than three times the previous record of $317,000 that ComicConnect fetched for a lower-grade Action Comics #1 book last year. Back in 1938, the comic sold for 10 cents.

MOM releases details on foreign worker levy changes Channel NewsAsia - Wednesday, February 24 SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has released details on the planned increases in S Pass and Work Permit worker levy rates announced in the 2010 Budget on Monday. The key changes are the introduction of new tiers and an adjustment of the rates every six months. The construction sector will see the most changes. Singapore currently has 1.05 million foreign workers. Of these, 856,000 are Work Permit holders — with 245,000 in the construction industry. Between July this year and July 2012, the sector will see a 25 per cent reduction in man—year entitlements — meaning the number of foreign workers employed according to project value. In addition, come 1 July 2011, the government will phase out the unskilled Work Permit holders category in the construction industry and reclassify the remaining ones as "basic skilled". The ministry will also introduce a new tier for "higher skilled" workers who have relevant experience. With these refinements, the levy for each "higher skilled" worker will be increased. Come 2012, it will be S$200 — up from S$160 in July this year. For those holding basic skills, it will be S$300 in 2012. Andrew Khng, president of Singapore Contractors Association, said: "There will be an impact on business costs. But if it is progressively done, the impact will be marginal for the first few months. Then later, we will have to ... modify our work methods. "We should be looking at more mechanisation and more innovative ways of construction, which I think now is a wake—up call for those contractors who have not been pursuing this because of too much work in the last few years. "The association will help members to grow in tandem with our call to move towards mechanisation and also to upgrade the skills of the manpower or foreign workers in Singapore." In manufacturing, the the basic tier will also increase from S$160 in July this year to S$200 in July 2012. For those in the second tier category, the levy will rise from S$180 this year to S$300 in 2012. Stephen Lee, president of Singapore National Employers’ Federation, said: "They worry that although it is only S$10 per step ... the sheer number they employ is very large, so this will add to the costs. "Then some companies are a bit at a loss as to how they can increase productivity. So there is a job here for the tripartite partners to work together and work at industry level, especially for those which don’t have in—house capability, to hold their hands to increase productivity." The ministry said the levy changes will be gradual over the next three years to give businesses time to adjust, and there will be no changes to the levy for foreign domestic workers. CNA/ir

Goal machine Rooney leads United to victory Reuters - 2 hours 8 minutes ago LONDON - Two Wayne Rooney headers led Manchester United to a 3-0 win over West Ham United at Old Trafford on Tuesday, taking the champions within a point of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League. Striker Rooney, who also scored two headers when his side beat AC Milan in the Champions League last week, took his tally for the season to 27 -- with 19 of those goals coming in his last 19 matches. Substitute Michael Owen added the third in the 80th minute, two minutes after replacing goal machine Rooney who executed both headers with real power from crosses by Antonio Valencia after 38 and 55 minutes. Manchester United are second with 60 points from 28 matches, one behind leaders Chelsea who have a game in hand. The only blemish for United was revealed when manager Alex Ferguson said afterwards that defender Rio Ferdinand, who missed the game with a twinge in his back, was also out of Sunday's League Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley. The centre back is also now a doubt for England's friendly against Egypt at the same stadium three days later. "He felt a twinge in his back this morning... and we couldn't risk it," Ferguson told Sky Sports. "He won't be playing on Sunday." GOOD ATTITUDE Ferguson, though, was pleased with United's win which ended 13th-placed West Ham's recent revival. Gianfranco Zola's men had lost once in six matches but were always second best on Tuesday. "It was a good attitude from the players, they were hungry for the victory and did very well. West Ham have been doing very well recently so it was a good result for us," Ferguson added. He reshuffled his side after Saturday's 3-1 league defeat at Everton, making five changes including bringing back defender Nemanja Vidic and goalkeeper Ben Foster. United gradually took control of the game and deservedly went ahead seven minutes before halftime with a brilliantly-executed goal, Valencia providing a cushioned volley cross for Rooney to score. The hosts went close again 20 seconds into the second half when Park Ji-Sung smashed the ball against the bar. Nine minutes later Rooney doubled the lead with another fine header and Owen made sure of victory when he opened his body and found the far corner of the net after a through pass from Paul Scholes.

Dun worry lah...such shipment do come occasionally.

Arghhh...when did they arrive ???

Scolymia Australis...Ultra Australian Scolymia ! Australian Scolymias come in a variety of mixed colors. It is important that adequate calcium and alkalinity levels are maintained to ensure proper skeletal growth. Use of Kalkwasser Mix or a calcium reactor will be of great benefit. Place the Australian Scoylmia in the sand bed or on an exposed rock along the bottom two-thirds of the aquarium where currents will be able to supply it with necessary nutrients and trace elements. It can expand to twice its normal size during the day, so leave 2"-3" between it and other corals. Supplementing its diet with the addition of trace elements, marine snow, phytoplankton, and food for filter feeders will help to insure its continued good health. Try feeding it small pieces of squid or shrimp once a week by placing the food on the mouth located in the center of the polyp. Do this during the evening once the tentacles are extended. Do not keep with large angelfish or butterflyfish as they cannot seem to resist picking at its fleshy polyp. Stats Care Level: Easy Lighting Requirements: Moderate Water Flow: Low Aggressiveness: Peaceful Range: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea Family: Mussidae Water Conditions: 74-80 F; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4; dKH 8-12