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Balotelli going nowhere vows Man. City's Mancini AFP - 1 hour 43 minutes ago MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - – Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted Mario Balotelli's long-term future is at Eastlands as the striker himself denied rumours of a move back to Italy with AC Milan. Balotelli, 20, scored a hat-trick as City overcame Aston Villa 4-0 on Tuesday to maintain their bid for the Premier League title. The Italian striker has rarely been out of the headlines since arriving from European champions Inter Milan in a 24 million pounds (37 million dollars) pre-season move. Balotelli has been involved in several on-field spats but Mancini is adamant his compatriot's miserable on-pitch demeanour is just an act and that he is satisfied with life in England. "After the first goal he celebrated, which is a step forward," Mancini joked after Tuesday's comprehensive home victory. "He celebrated after the first goal but it's more important that he scored goals. "Every player has his behaviour but I think he's happy. Mario is a good guy but I think that today he was happy because the supporters supported him throughout the game. "He's a different guy outside the pitch but he likes to give this hard, 'don't like to play' image." Mancini added: "I think maybe he could be homesick because he's 20 and it's his first time away from his family and it's normal to miss your family. "I don't think it's a long-term problem." Balotelli, who has now scored eight times in 11 games for City, said he could not understand all the fuss about his lack of goal celebrations. "I am always happy, even when I don't smile," he told www.mcfc.co.uk. "But I feel a striker has to score. It is my job. That is why I don't smile. "I am still happy and I can score more." And he too dismissed talk of a return to Italy by saying: "I am very happy even if the journalists in Italy say I want to go to Milan. "I am here and I am working hard in training. I want to be an important man for this team and the results are on the pitch." Mancini confirmed star striker Carlos Tevez was left on the bench against Villa with a minor hamstring problem but will be fit to return against Blackpool on Saturday. "Carlos will be OK. He had a little problem with his muscle and he went on the bench. We didn't take any risk with him." City were briefly top of the table before Manchester United's 1-1 draw away to Birmingham in Tuesday's late kick-off saw Sir Alex Ferguson's regain first place on goal difference alone from their cross-town rivals. But Mancini believes City, last crowned champions of England in 1968, are showing they have the quality and depth to mount a sustained title challenge. "In 2011 I hope we can improve like a team who can play football well always and stay always on the top but the most important thing is to improve again. "If we can improve we can stay there (top) for longer than three hours. "I'm proud for my players, I'm very happy for the supporters for the club, for everyone. "But it's important we continue against Blackpool (on Saturday). People think that will be easy but it will be a very tough game." Meanwhile Villa manager Gerard Houllier did his best to remain upbeat after a sixth defeat in seven matches left his faltering side just a point above the relegation zone. The Frenchman, who claimed he did not hear abuse from the visiting fans at Eastlands, said: "We are in a relegation battle, definitely. We were before and we knew we would have a difficult run of games over Christmas with games against Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea. "Confidence is something that we need to address," the former Liverpool manager added. "I think we have the spirit, the players are aware were going through a difficult run."

Man. United's Ferguson issues title warning AFP - 1 hour 39 minutes ago BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP) - – Sir Alex Ferguson did his best to dispel any doubts about Manchester United's challenge for the Premier League title by insisting his side were on course for glory despite dropping points in a 1-1 draw away to Birmingham. United, still unbeaten in the league this season, were set for victory after Dimitar Berbatov's sublime goal gave them the lead just before the hour mark at St Andrew's here on Tuesday. But Lee Bowyer's controversial 89th minute equaliser denied United the full three points and left them top on goal difference alone from Manchester City, although Ferguson's men do have two games in hand over their local rivals. Ferguson is desperate to regain the title from stuttering champions Chelsea and he will enter the New Year with United in the place which he feels sends out danger signals to all those jostling for position behind the Red Devils. "I think we've a chance with the title," United manager Ferguson said ahead of his side's return to the Midlands to play West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. "At this moment in time there are five or six teams who are all contesting that area. "I always say if you get to New Year in first position, Manchester United have a big chance then." Meanwhile Ferguson could not resist a dig at Arsenal -- who are next up at St Andrew's. The Scot has never been one to shy away from confrontation with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger and he could not resist planting a seed of doubt in the minds of a side the Frenchman believes can no longer be bullied, after their impressive 3-1 win over Chelsea on Monday. "Birmingham is a difficult place to come and every team that comes here has a tough game. The ball is in the air a lot and they set their stall out. "It is a tough place to play. It is a tight pitch. A lively pitch and you only have to see the results they have had at St Andrew's over the years." Ferguson made clear his displeasure with referee Lee Mason for costing United a two-point cushion for failing to spot a handball by Birmingham substitute Nikola Zigic in the build up to Bowyer's leveller. "It was handball and a foul," he said. "He went straight through the centre half. If the referee can't see that what chance have you got?" said Ferguson. "You would expect in a game of this importance they (the officials) would see that. If they can't what hope have you got? "I have no complaints with my team. They fought hard and worked hard after only two days' rest." Ferguson mentored Birmingham boss Alex McLeish during the pair's time together at Aberdeen and the pupil believes his former manager's current side remain the team to beat in the Premier League. "Chelsea are a wee bit off at the moment and you would have to say that United are favourites, maybe with Arsenal," McLeish said. "We say that at different stages of the season and then we get some more strange results. "United's recent form has been great and I saw them at Sunderland and they were excellent. So I feared the worst when they were playing us next." Bowyer's goal took Birmingham out of the bottom three but they are just a point above the relegation zone. McLeish has talks planned with the Blues' Hong Kong-based owner Carson Yeung and he wants to clarify whether the Midlands club have the funds to try to persuade Robbie Keane to join their battle against the drop during the January transfer window. The Republic of Ireland forward is available after being told he can leave Tottenham Hotspur and Keane could be the man to boost Birmingham's flagging goal tally. "We are struggling because we do not score enough goals," McLeish admitted. "We have been in trouble because we have not taken care of our own results and that is the problem."

Sentosa Cove drowning ruled a misadventure By Kai Fong – December 29th, 2010 The death of a Chinese national who drowned in a pool at Sentosa Cove on March 24 this year has been ruled a misadventure by State Coroner Victor Yeo. Ms Li Hong Yan, 24, whose naked body was found in the pool of a bungalow at Sentosa Cove, died after an evening of drinking and singing at the Las Vegas KTV lounge with the house owner, Mr Adrian Chua, reported The Straits Times (ST). However, police ruled out foul play at the hearing on Tuesday morning as there was no evidence or visible injuries to suggest an attack or suicide. The inquiry also heard from Ms Li’s colleagues and flatmates that she was cheery and did not seem troubled that night. Ms Li could have gone to the pool deck for a smoke as she had taken Mr Chua’s cigarettes and lighter, heard the court. Said Coroner Yeo, “At the pool deck, the deceased decided to enter the pool on her own, and had taken off her clothes so as not to wet them. She descended the stairs and probably did not know that the depth was 1.5m. The deceased was of petite build, only 1.54m tall, and very probably got into difficulties at the deep end.’ The coroner added that Ms Li could have slipped while walking down the steps of the pool, which explains the 2cm by 1cm bruise on her left knee. Pool lights had not been switched on. According to Channel NewsAsia, Ms Li was paid S$800 by businessman Chua for her company at the nightclub and sex thereafter. Mr Chua, 39, had met Ms Li in 2009 in the KTV lounge along Havelock Road. The chief executive officer of the real estate investment company RoundHill Capital, said he knew her only as Wawa. He had brought her home on two or three occasions and she had been intimate with him. Mr Chua testified on Tuesday morning that he did not use any physical force on Ms Li during sexual intercourse. He had then fallen asleep at around 3am to 4am and was only awoken by two Sentosa rangers who informed him of the discovery of Ms Li’s body. Closed-circuit television recordings captured Ms Li, fully clothed, walking alone towards the bungalow’s sliding doors leading to the swimming pool at about 3.50am. Mr Chua’s maid, Aye Aye Tun, 26, testified that she locked the sliding doors before she went to sleep the previous night. Mr Li Kui You, Ms Li’s father who was in Singapore for the hearing, was clearly distraught over the loss of his daughter. “I’ve cried till my tears dried up. Do you think I am still sad?” lamented Mr Li. Also present was a cousin of Ms Li, who told reporters the family is puzzled why Ms Li, a non-swimmer, would go into the pool.

Absolutely Stunning !!!

Latest issue of Ultramarine No 25. Show your Colours – A closer look at reef fluorescence, Cool Crustaceans – The captive care of reef lobsters, Cucumbers and Apples of the marine variety, Meet Roboshark and HydroBOB, All About Live Rock pt2 – organisms on live rock and much much more!

Waiting anxiously for the latest issue of Marine Aquarist No 58.

MARINE AQUARIST No 57 issue focus on WRASSES !!!

Teena Marie, known as 'Ivory Queen of Soul,' dies By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, Ap Music Writer – 2 hrs 31 mins ago LOS ANGELES – Teena Marie, the "Ivory Queen of Soul" who developed a lasting legacy with her silky soul pipes and with hits like "Lovergirl," "Square Biz," and "Fire and Desire" with mentor Rick James, died on Sunday. She was 54. A statement from Pasadena police said the death appeared to be from natural causes. The police and fire department were called to her home after family members found her unresponsive. In an interview with The Associated Press last year, Teena Marie said she had successfully battled an addiction to prescription drugs; she went on tour last year to support her last album, "Congo Square." Marie certainly wasn't the first white act to sing soul music, but she was arguably among the most gifted and respected, and was thoroughly embraced by the black audience. Even before she started her musical career, she had a strong bond with the black community, which she credited to her godmother. She gravitated to soul music and in her youth decided to make it her career. Marie made her debut on the legendary Motown label back in 1979, becoming one of the very few white acts to break the race barrier of the groundbreaking black-owned record label that had been a haven for black artists like Stevie Wonder, the Jackson Five, the Supremes and Marvin Gaye. Marie was the protege of the masterful funk wizard James, with whom she would have long, turbulent but musically magical relationship. The cover of her debut album, "Wild and Peaceful," did not feature her image, with Motown apparently fearing black audiences might not buy it if they found out the songstress with the dynamic, gospel-inflected voice was white. But Marie notched her first hit, "I'm A Sucker for Your Love," and was on her way to becoming one of R&B's most revered queens. During her tenure with Motown, the singer-songwriter and musician produced passionate love songs and funk jam songs like "Need Your Lovin'," "Behind the Groove." Marie's voice was the main draw of her music: Pitch-perfect, piercing in its clarity and wrought with emotion, whether it was drawing from the highs of romance or the mournful moments of a love lost. But her songs, most of which she had a hand in writing, were the other major component of her success. Tunes like "Cassanova Brown" "Portuguese Love" and "Deja Vu (I've Been Here Before)" featured more than typical platitudes on love and life, but complex thoughts with rich lyricism. And "Fire and Desire," a duet with Rick James that featured the former couple musing about their past love, was considered a musical masterpiece and a staple of the romance block on radio stations across the country. Marie left Motown in 1982 and her split became historic: She sued the label and the legal battle led to a law preventing record labels from holding an artist without releasing any of their music. She went to Epic in the 1980s and had hits like "Lovergirl" and "Ooo La La La" but her lasting musical legacy would be her Motown years. Still, she continued to record music and perform. In 2004 and 2006 she put out two well-received albums on the traditional rap label Cash Money Records, "La Dona" and "Sapphire." In 2008, she talked about her excitement of being honored by the R&B Foundation. "All in all, it's been a wonderful, wonderful ride," she told The Associated Press at the time. "I don't plan on stopping anytime soon."

Crystal Harris: Meet Hugh Hefner's 'Playboy' bride-to-be December 26, 2010 10:33 AM ET By Carina Adly MacKenzie After finally getting a divorce from his second wife, Kimberly Conrad, who has been living separately from him since 1998, Hugh Hefner popped the question to Crystal Harris, who replaced Holly Madison as his "Number One" girlfriend in 2008. After watching "The King's Speech" at the Playboy mansion on Christmas Eve, Hefner proposed. "After the movie tonight, Crystal and I exchanged gifts. I gave Crystal a ring. A truly memorable Christmas Eve. When I gave Crystal the ring, she burst into tears. This is the happiest Christmas weekend in memory," he wrote on his Twitter account. To clear up any confusion, he added, "Yes, the ring I gave Crystal is an engagement ring. I didn't mean to make a mystery out of it. A very merry Christmas to all." Harris, 24, was the December 2009 Playmate of the Month. She grew up in San Diego, and while attending San Diego State University she became Playboy's Co-Ed of the Week for the week of Oct. 30, 2008. She began dating Hefner and starring in "The Girls Next Door" in January 2009, along with identical twins Karissa and Kristina Shannon. When the twins left the mansion in January 2010, Harris stuck around as Hefner's one and only. Congratulations! We can't wait to see what this wedding looks like.

Playboy's Hefner announces Christmas engagement on Twitter Reuters - Monday, December 27 WASHINGTON - Hugh Hefner, the twice-married founder of Playboy, is taking the plunge again. Hefner, 84, said on Saturday in a posting on Twitter that he and his girlfriend Crystal Harris, 24, got engaged on Friday. "When I gave Crystal the ring, she burst into tears. This is the happiest Christmas weekend in memory," Hefner tweeted. Hefner, whose magazine was founded in 1953, was divorced from his second wife, Kimberley Conrad, earlier this year. His first marriage to Mildred Williams ended in divorce in 1959. Harris was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for December 2009. Hefner, known around the world by his nickname, Hef, has championed sexual freedom and civil rights, published stories challenging McCarthyism and the Vietnam War, and backed gay causes and the legalization of marijuana. With a cover featuring a calendar photo of Marilyn Monroe, Hefner put the first issue together on the kitchen table in his flat. It hit the stands in December 1953 and sold 51,000 copies -- enough to finance a second issue -- and led to a multimillion dollar international corporation.

Graduate students in China advertise marriage for money By Alicia Wong – December 27th, 2010 On China’s biggest dating websites, Jiayuan, college student Zhang Yan writes, “No matter who the man is, so long as he is willing to give me 200,000 yuan (S$39,194) I will marry him immediately.” Local television news broadcasts later show footage of her accepting money from a young man, with her mother agreeing to the exchange. A centuries-old tradition is given a new lease of life with the rising phenomenon of “student concubines” in China. Faced with high school fees and poor job prospects, millions of female Chinese students are turning to dating site Jiayuan — which has 25 million members — to search for older, richer men, willing to support their studies and pay for a desirable lifestyle, according to AsiaOne, quoting from news outlet The Australian. These students are openly seeking for men who will provide them with the “four haves” — a prestigious business or job, a house, a car and a high salary. But even meeting these students’ criteria does not guarantee fidelity. A 54-year-old man, identified as Wang, started a relationship with a 24-year-old graduate student, who wanted a man with a house in Shanghai and 1 million yuan (S$195, 970) in the bank. But several months later, his lover ran away with a 60-year-old American-born Chinese man, who promised to take her to the United States, he said. Undeterred, Wang is now dating a science student. Young men are apparently also open to trading love for money, The Australian reported. A male student in Hangzhou, Xiao Louming, admitted, “If a family can give me 10 million yuan (S$1,959,707) investment capital, then I’m ready to marry a woman 10 years older than me.”

Berbatov brace keeps Man United top Man. United's Fergie shrugs off Rooney goal drought AFP - Monday, December 27 MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - – Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists he's unconcerned about Wayne Rooney's goal drought, believing the England striker is close to once again becoming the country's deadliest striker. Rooney has not scored for United in open play since netting against Bayern Munich in March, but Ferguson was delighted with the England forward's overall contribution in Sunday's 2-0 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford. "Wayne had a couple of tries. He was very unlucky with the chip and there were a couple of shots saved by the goalkeeper," Ferguson said. "He is getting there. The important thing is he is playing well. That is refreshing." Meanwhile, Ferguson hopes to welcome back Darren Fletcher and Nani at Birmingham on Tuesday after his team maintained pole position in the Premier League with Sunday's three points. Ferguson was without the pair for the win at Old Trafford that was cemented by two goals from Bulgaria forward Dimitar Berbatov, who now has 13 for the season, and a man of the match performance from Brazilian playmaker Anderson. The Scot, who turns 69 on Friday, was able to take off Anderson and evergreen winger Ryan Giggs early in the second half and, while Ferguson declared himself happy with an unbeaten league run that now extends to 22 games, the return of Fletcher and Nani can only help United consolidate first place when they travel to St Andrew's. "You have to make changes," said Ferguson, noting that Birmingham will have benefited from the postponement of their Boxing Day visit to Everton. "I took Anderson off, took Ryan off. We've got a game in two days' time. Birmingham have not played, they will be nice and fresh. "Darren Fletcher had a bit of a cold, he came down with it this morning, we couldn't take any chances. Nani has been feeling his hip the last few days so we left him out. He should be ready for the Birmingham game. "Birmingham will be fresh. Going down there is always a difficult place, they've always had a strong home record, they're difficult to beat on their own ground." Ever the perfectionist, Ferguson did confess that his team's failure to convert a host of chances they created against Sunderland was a disappointment. "Absolutely," said Ferguson. "We hit the bar, the post, the goalkeeper made a couple of saves, we had some really good football, some exciting stuff. "Once the game went into that part - Dimitar had a couple saved - we just seemed to go into third gear. "The first half was the game, we were fantastic, it could have been any score. "The second half we put the tools away and bit, maybe they were saving their legs. They knew Birmingham's game was off and maybe that gets to their minds. We were very economical second half, put it that way. "But we're coming to good form. The last few weeks we have played some very good stuff and had that consistency, particularly defending. We were solid at the back, these are good signs for us." Sunderland manager Steve Bruce sounded like one rival manager who is ready to concede the title to United. "They've been involved in first or second for the last six years and I can't see any change in that," he said. "They will be there or therabouts. And usually they get better from here on in. "That first half is arguably the best they have played. I hear they haven't played that well and they're unbeaten in - what? - six months; that's not a bad stat. "They're top of the league with a game in hand. History tells you that they get better in the second half of the season. They've got some big games coming up but I wouldn't bet against them."

Great !...juz dun epoxy them together. U can try 1 isle in front & 2 isles behind...or 2 isles front & 1 isle behind in between to create depth.

If ya tank is wide enuff, I suggest having 3 separate 'islands' of LR instead so as to create flow for corals and swim-through for the fishes.

No more liao as I only saw the plain vanilla one.

Japan's Gundam robot crushes Chinese imitator By AFP Monday December 20, 2010 09:00 pm PST TOKYO (AFP) - - Japan's 18 metre (60 foot) tall Gundam combat robot, hero to millions of sci-fi animation fans, emerged victorious Monday after apparently banishing a lookalike rival from a Chinese amusement park. Japanese devotees of the "Mobile Suit Gundam" anime series had been up in arms after television news reports showed a giant golden figure that closely resembled their beloved battle-bot towering over a fun park in China. Japan's Fuji Television showed images of the robot, of similar height and with similar features to a giant Gundam that has been on show and drawn large crowds in Tokyo and then coastal Shizuoka in recent months. Like Gundam, the Chinese figure bears the logos EFSF and WB on its shoulders -- short, as all Gundam fans know, for 'Earth Federation Space Force', which controls space colonies, and 'White Base', Gundam's mothership. A spokesman for China's Floraland park in Chengdu, Sichuan province, was quoted as telling Fuji TV that the design was "completely original", but that the park was "remodelling" it because some people said it looked like Gundam. On a Japanese chatroom, one outraged writer thundered that "they have no shame", another critiqued the Chinese robot's colour scheme, and a third suggested it should be called "Gansaku" -- Japanese for "counterfeit". Gundam's human defence forces were readying for a possible copyright battle. "We have got information that a copied statue of 'Mobile Suit Gundam' is being built at a theme park in Sichuan," said an official of Sotsu Co., which handles trademark and merchandising issues for the TV and movie series. "We are now collecting information as the details are still unclear." Officials at the Chinese theme park denied the existence of the statue on Monday. A witness told AFP the statue had been removed from the premises. The Gundam anime series, first aired in Japan in 1979, and its spin-offs, have won legions of enthusiastic fans in many countries, including China. The copyright battle may not be over yet. Fuji network also showed figures at the park that resembled characters from Japan's "Ultraman" sci-fi series.

'Call of Duty: Black Ops' sales top one billion dollars AFP - Wednesday, December 22 NEW YORK (AFP) - – "Call of Duty: Black Ops," the new videogame from Activision Blizzard, has crossed the one-billion-dollar mark in worldwide sales, the company said Tuesday. Activision, citing internal estimates, said "Call of Duty: Black Ops" reaped more than 650 million dollars worldwide in the first five days after it went on sale in November and has gone on to earn more than one billion dollars. "In all of entertainment, only 'Call of Duty' and 'Avatar' have ever achieved the billion dollar revenue milestone this quickly," Activision Blizzard chief executive Bobby Kotick said in a statement. Activision said more than 600 million hours have been logged playing "Call of Duty: Black Ops" since the launch of the game on November 9. Activision said that according to Microsoft, the average player logs on more than once a day and plays for more than one hour each time. "Even more remarkable than the number of units sold is the number of hours people are playing the game together online which are unprecedented," said Eric Hirshberg, chief executive of Activision Publishing. "Call of Duty: Black Ops" is the seventh title in a franchise that has won a devoted following since the first version was released in 2003. The latest installment takes gamers on a series of Cold War-era military adventures. "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" was last year's biggest grossing console game with more than 20 million units sold around the world.

Temasek Holdings’ Indonesian assets to be seized ? By Kai Fong – December 22nd, 2010 The Indonesian Anti-Monopoly Agency reportedly wants to seize the assets of Temasek Holdings in Indonesia over unpaid fines amounting to over S$17 million. According to Indonesian newspaper Koran Tempo, the Singapore state investment company has failed to pay fines to the Indonesian government after being found guilty of violating the country’s business competition laws in 2007. It added that the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has begun compiling a list of assets owned by Temasek, although KPPU would have to go through the courts to seek the confiscation of any assets or to enforce fines. Temasek reportedly owes fines 15 billion Rupiah (S$2.2 million) for each of its eight subsidiaries — including SingTel and ST Telemedia — that are operating in the country. “We’re working with the central Jakarta district court to gather data for the plan,” said Erwin Syahril, a KPPU commissioner, in a phone interview with Reuters. “If they don’t want to pay, then we have to seize assets worth as much as the fine,” he said, adding the agency had not set a deadline for the recovery. However, Goh Yong Siang, senior managing director, strategic relations at Temasek, told Channel NewsAsia that “Temasek has not received official notification from the supreme court.” The court ruling was first made in November 2007 after KPPU accused Temasek of engaging in monopolistic and anti-competitive behaviour in the country’s cellular market through two Indonesian telecommunication companies — Telkomsel and Indosat. By managing the two telcos through its subsidiaries, Temasek had control of more than 50 per cent of the local cellular market which led to decreased competition and resulted in price leadership by Telkomsel, causing consumer loss, said KPPU. Maintaining that the KPPU’s allegations were “misconceived”, Temasek began filing appeals in December 2007 but lost the final appeal in May this year after the Indonesian Supreme Court upheld the KPPU judgement. Experts CNA spoke to were surprised by report. Anand Srinivasan, Associate Professor of Finance, NUS Business School, said: “I’m not sure if they would actually seize the assets — I’m thinking this is more of a threat than an actual desire to seize the assets. That’s my personal opinion.” Bernard Lee, deputy director, Sim Kee Boon Institute for Financial Economics, SMU, meanwhile, says the case will be closely watched by the business and investment community. He said: “If this particular action is actually being taken, you’re probably going to hear uproar from the institutional investment community… First, they’re probably going to ask for clarification on the rules and secondly, people are going to worry about the political risk involved in investing in any particular country.”

Fears grow of euro-style debt crisis in US states AFP - Wednesday, December 22 WASHINGTON (AFP) - – No sooner has the last crisis ended, than warnings about the next one begin. In the dying days of the year, with the sub-prime mortgage debacle entering the rear-view mirror, economy-watchers are warning 2011 could see US states and municipalities plunge into a debt crisis of that type that has wrought chaos in Europe. Although the US economy is slowly getting to its feet after a brutal recession, state and local budgets are still prostrate. To the west, California faces a budget shortfall of over 25 billion dollars. To the east, New York faces a nine-billion-dollar deficit. The north, south and center of the country are not faring much better. Only four of the fifty US states are currently keeping their heads above water; Arkansas, Montana, North Dakota and -- thanks to oil revenues -- Alaska, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). Across the country the shortfall is expected to be at least 130 billion this fiscal year. The crisis has its roots in the recession, when all important tax revenues fell off a cliff as businesses went to the wall, one in ten American workers needed a job and high spending continued apace. Now, with the recovery grinding onward and somewhat upward, tax revenues are again rising, but not fast enough to put the books back in order. Revenues are still 12 percent below pre-recession levels according to the CBPP. Analysts at the Rockefeller Institute, a think tank, warn "states will face continued, significant budget challenges in fiscal 2011 and beyond." "The immediate outlook is for revenue collections significantly below pre-recession levels, and growing spending pressures." Financial soothsayer Meredith Whitney thinks the day of reckoning is at hand, predicting as many as 100 cities could go bust in 2011. That is, in part, because one important crutch that has prevented financial collapse will be kicked away later this year. Washington's massive 787 billion dollar stimulus package, which helped states greatly, will continue to fade out in fiscal 2011 and 2012. The prospects for a further bailout are slim, as leaders in Congress and the White House seek to firm up their deficit cutting creds. That spells government job cuts, program freezes or increased taxes. While only the brave or foolish would predict anything but considerable pain ahead, some key players believe a fully-blown debt crisis can be avoided. The most likely trigger for a crisis would be a major credit rating downgrade that prompts worried lenders to charge states and municipalities more for loans, putting the authorities further in debt. One ratings agency, Moody's, has already had a negative credit watch for US state governments since February 2008. But Robert Kurtter, managing director of US state and local government ratings with Moody's told AFP there was little prospect of a widespread default. "We don't think that there will be any state level defaults," he said. "At the municipal level we saw only three in the last 39 years." But, "these are very difficult times," he admitted. "We are looking at in 2011 the continued weak revenue... and having to back-fill the loss of federal aid." "We think the likelihood in the coming years is that... the default level will be higher than it has been in the last 39 years, but it will be way lower than the corporate sector or elsewhere." Still, Kurtter and others argue that most authorities appear willing to take tough steps to close the gap and avoid default, while political opposition remains much more manageable than on the other side of the Atlantic. "There is a broad consensus in this country that the government sector has become too large and that public sector compensation has become too high," he said. But critics worry those spending cuts, if they come, will just slow the economy further, as jobs are lost and taxes increase. "Spending cuts are problematic during an economic downturn because they reduce overall demand and can make the downturn deeper," warned the CBPP. "State shortfalls could cost the economy 850,000 jobs next year." Crisis or no crisis, more austerity is almost certainly on the way for 2011.

Penang named city with best street food Fatty Loh vs Fatty Loh ANN - Sunday, December 19 Kuala Lumpur (The Star/ANN) - TIME magazine has acknowledged what food connoisseurs in the region already know -- that Malaysian state of Penang is home to the Best Street Food in Asia. Although the honour was made six years ago, no other place has since come close to knocking it off the coveted spot. With a reputation to live up to, food is serious business in Penang. Over the years, some establishments have resorted to legal action to protect their trademark or gone to court over partnership dispute. In a few cases, it has resulted in simmering family feuds, especially when relatives or siblings set up branches to continue the family legacy. Mention Fatty Loh and chances are most chicken rice lovers would have heard the moniker. While debate continues over whether the dish originates from Malaysia or Singapore, it matters little to Loh Seng Hooi who has been selling chicken rice in Penang's Fettes Park for over 30 years. Seng Hooi, 45, is more concerned with preserving his grandfather's nickname Fatty Loh for his business. His business card says "Fatty Loh only at Fettes Park" and he believes the location where it all started is enough to set him apart from others trying to take advantage of the "Fatty Loh" name. His shop, voted "King of Chicken Rice" by a local Chinese daily, offers more than 10 side dishes to the main attraction. As the eldest of three siblings, Seng Hooi helped his late father, Kok Keong, run his chicken rice stall as a child and claims to be the only one who learned his secret recipe. The elder Loh started the business at a coffeeshop stall in 1969, operating over a covered monsoon drain. The old shop in Jalan Fettes has since made way for development. "Now we have a restaurant near the original location that can accommodate up to 240 diners. Until today, the chicken rice is prepared by me and my wife Mei Mei as I want the quality to be consistent. Believe me, the art of boiling and roasting the chicken is tricky," says the jovial towkay. His younger brother, Seng Lee, 44, has an outlet in Nagore Road, less than 3km away. In 1998, Seng Lee, took their uncle to court over the use of the trade name and won the case. He regrets resorting to legal action to solve the dispute. "At the end of the day, we are family. But if an outsider tries to use the Fatty Loh Chicken Rice name, I will definitely sue," he warns. While Seng Hooi takes pride in his skilful preparation of the chicken, Seng Lee says it's his thick, spicy and tangy sauces that distinguish his chicken rice from competitors. His customers include those from Japan, Hong Kong and Britain and his outlet's Facebook page is filled with reviews from both locals and foreigners. On sibling rivalry, Seng Lee says they are both their father's children and each has a right to the famous moniker. "Our mother is 76 now and she won't want to see her children fighting. Family squabbles will only make us a laughing stock." Another iconic street food is the Penang tau sar pneah and Him Heang, which was established in 1948, is considered the Gucci of traditional biscuits. Fans wax lyrical over its traditional authenticity and fragrant golden brown filling. Him Heang's popularity is largely due to its exclusivity as it does not have any agents or outlets elsewhere other than its flagship store and bakery along Burma Road. "My grandfather Seow Oh Thor founded Him Heang. He was very creative and came up with the original Tambun biscuit which is smaller than the tau sar pneah. "Some say the biscuits originate from Tambun on the mainland but it's rubbish. My grandfather just decided to call it that," a third generation family member, who only wanted to be known as Seow, says. Him Heang's operation, which began in a pre-war house in inner George Town, moved into its current double-storey building along Burma Road in 1993. "We are still a family-run business and all biscuits are made by hand. If you didn't get it from here, it's not an original Him Heang," she tells, adding that the company does not have aggressive marketing strategies, confident that it would thrive entirely on the strength and freshness of its products. Indeed, the regular traffic jams outside the building attests to its popularity. No doubt, its main business competitor is Ghee Hiang -- Penang's oldest tau sar pneah maker. Opened in 1856 by the Teng family, Ghee Hiang has grown into a household name. The founder invited a Fujian pastry chef to Penang and adopted the name Ghee Hiang. Then in the 1900s, Ghee Hiang Baby Brand Pure Sesame Oil was introduced, using methods and techniques learned from Fujian, China. In 1926, it was bought over by three friends (remembered today as Ch'ng, Ooi and Yeoh). In the past, Ghee Hiang had a reputation of having bad customer relations but many felt it was a small price to pay for the tasty traditional treats. Frustrated customers used to leave the shop empty-handed, after being chided for not making their orders early. In the late 1990s, machines were brought in to cope with increasing demand. Harder pastries resulted and customers shunned the brand. That was in the past. Workers went back to kneading dough by hand and spearheaded by one of its directors, Ch'ng Huck Theng, the company embarked on an ambitious marketing campaign. Today, while its old shophouse remains standing near the island's old ferry terminal, modern outlets with adorable baby mascots (inspired by its logo) have mushroomed around town. One is located just a short walk away from Him Heang. Singaporean Joanna Qua, 44, spent two days hunting for Penang's famous tau sar pneah. "I knew it was a 'must-buy' product but I didn't know which was the best since both Ghee Hiang and Him Heang popped up in an online search. I asked a local and she told me Penangites preferred the latter, so I went on my quest. "Because we weren't familiar with the roads, we went around in circles before ending up at the Ghee Hiang outlet, thinking it was Him Heang!" the housewife laughs. Retiree Lee Hong Chuan, who lives in Petaling Jaya, says Ghee Hiang's history makes it his top choice. "When I visit Penang, I usually get 'orders' from friends for biscuits from both Ghee Hiang and Him Heang." Penang-born Lee also speaks of his love for the Nyonya apong across the road, outside the Union Primary School. There are two stalls there -- Apong Guan and Apom Chooi -- run by the Uan brothers. Both brothers, according to their customers, are not on speaking terms. But they are not short of fans -- their rich and creamy apong attracts crowds like bees to a flower. Refusing to reveal much about his elder brother, Cheng Guan, 61, says he has been there for more than four decades. From the moment Cheng Guan starts pouring the batter into the nine-hole apong pan griddle at 9.30am, the orders start to pile up. The friendly Penang Free School old boy is busy cracking jokes even as he tells his customers of the wait ahead. Local and outstation cars pulling up beside the road is a usual sight. "My customers include those from Britain and Australia. They always come for my apong whenever they are here on holiday. For a fee, I teach others my skill but classes are not for locals -- otherwise I will have too much competition," he says only half in jest. Cheng Chooi, who says he has been selling there since the 1960s, is less chatty but similarly, a nice chap. "Please don't ask me about our relationship because I don't want any more squabbles. I am already 68 and have been selling apong for more than 50 years now. I will retire soon and pass on the trade to someone else," he says. Cheng Chooi believes that all Nyonya apong are the same. There is no secret recipe and the only thing that makes one better than the other is how generous the seller is with the ingredients. Post-graduate student Karen Lai, 29, who is back from Japan for a break, is full of praises for Apom Chooi. "My mother studied at the primary school here and she used to eat Chooi's apong. Now I'm hooked," she grins. Cheng Guan's kuih is 40sen each while his brother's is 5sen cheaper. Orders of hundreds of pieces per customer is quite normal. Like the Lohs and Uan brothers, keen competition among hawkers selling similar items are a norm rather than the exception on the island. And each rival trader can have his or her own strong following from as far as New York to Kuala Lumpur. These foodies will always return to their favourite haunts like a homing pigeon every time they make a stop on the island.

Ex-MOE scholar escapes jail time for Child P.O.R.N. Charges By Faris – December 21st, 2010 Singaporean undergraduate, Jonathan Wong, who was arrested and charged with 17 counts of being in possession of child pornography videos, was given a suspended sentence for his offences in a York Crown Court hearing on Monday. The 23-year-old received a six-month sentence suspended for two years. The suspended sentence means that if he commits offences again withing the next two years, he will put be put in jail for six months. Ms Elizabeth Ogborn, communications manager for the Crown Prosecution Service said that Wong’s sentence is a typical sentence for the nature of such offence. She added that the maximum would have been five years. “He has also been given an eight-month supervision order, which means he has to work with the probation service to address his behaviour during that time,” she told The Straits Times. In addition, the ex-scholar has to forfeit his computer and sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years. This will ensure that he is known to police as a sex offender. Wong also has to notify them if he changes his name or address, or spends more than a week away from home. He will also not be allowed to work with children. A few hours after the hearing, his university, the University of York, said it was expelling him. However, it is unclear whether Wong, 23, will have to leave the country, as he could potentially lose his student visa. Ms Ogborn could not explain how the arrangements would be affected if Wong has to leave Britain as a result of expulsion from his school. She added, that will be a matter for the probation service and the immigration authorities to decide. Shortly after the hearing, the University of York issued a statement saying it was “a matter of great regret that a member of the university has been convicted of these criminal offences”. “On the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor, University Council has permanently excluded Jonathan Wong on grounds of gross misconduct,” it added. The university had earlier suspended Wong, a third-year history student, after he pleaded guilty in October to 17 charges of downloading child pornography between July 15, 2008 and March 19 this year. After a police raid in March, Wong was arrested for being in possession of about 50 video clips of child pornography in which 25 were rated in some of the highest categories of hardcore pornography. Some of the videos also featured girls as young as 6-years-old. A former gifted education programme student at Hwa Chong Institution, Wong had secured a Ministry of Education (MOE) overseas teaching scholarship to study in York. The Ministry revoked his scholarship last month and promised to tighten selection procedures for potential scholars in the future. In 2002, it was revealed that Wong was publicly caned when he was a student in the then-Chinese High School for peeping in a primary school girl’s toilet, but the incident had not been included in his testimonials. According toThe New Paper, Wong’s parents also plan to sell their house in order to pay the scholarship bond fee of $S175,000 to MOE. It is not known where the Wongs live in Singapore and the type of property they own. Reaction to news of Wong’s suspended sentence has been mixed. A 23-year-old former schoolmate of Wong’s, who only wanted to be known as Mr Lim, told TNP, “It’s ridiculous. It’s as good as not punishing him. People like him with past offences should be dealt with more severely.” Mr Balint Ovari, 22, a Hungarian student in York University, felt that Wong should be “watched closely” for more than the two years in the sentence. He added, “Wong had a very large number of child p.o.r.n videos, so it seems to me he has serious issues. I think he should be made to seek psychiatric help.” On the other hand, there are those who said the sentence was fair. Some of Wong’s friends continue to reaffirm their support for him. Ms Catriona Chau, a 21-year-old Singapore student at Durham University and a close friend of Wong, said, “He has always been a good friend to me and a genuinely helpful and friendly person. Maybe that’s why people are more ready to support him.” Singaporean Leslie Tay, 22, who lived in the same college campus as Wong, felt that the sentence was fair. “I believe the greatest punishment for Wong was having his scholarship revoked and having brought shame to himself,” he said.

China bars English words in all publications On Wednesday 22 December 2010, 16:43 SGT Chinese newspapers, books and websites will no longer be allowed to use English words and phrases, the country's publishing body has announced, saying the "purity" of the Chinese language is in peril. The General Administration of Press and Publication, which announced the new rule on Monday, said the increasing use of English words and abbreviations in Chinese texts had caused confusion and was a means of "abusing the language". Such practices "severely damaged the standard and purity of the Chinese language and disrupted the harmonious and healthy language and cultural environment, causing negative social impacts," the body said on its website. "It is banned to mix at will foreign language phrases such as English words or abbreviations with Chinese publications, creating words of vague meaning that are not exactly Chinese or of any foreign language," it said. "Publishing houses and the media must further strengthen the regulated use of foreign languages and respect the structure, glossary and grammar of the Chinese and foreign languages." GAPP said companies which violated the regulation would face "administrative punishment" without offering specifics. English abbreviations such as NBA (National Basketball Association), GDP (gross domestic product), CPI (consumer price index) and WTO (World Trade Organization) are commonly used in Chinese publications. They are also often used in everyday conversation, and government officials routinely use the abbreviations at press conferences. The body left a small loophole, stipulating in the regulation that "if necessary", English terms could be used but must be followed by a direct translation of the abbreviation or an explanation in Chinese. The names of people or places in English also must be translated. One editor at a Beijing publishing house told the China Daily that the new GAPP regulation could actually result in reduced understanding. "The intention of protecting the Chinese language is good. But in an age of globalisation, when some English acronyms like WTO have been widely accepted by readers, it might be too absolute to eliminate them," the editor said. "Conversationally, people also use these words all the time, so the regulation could create discord between the ###### and written uses of language." China has launched several campaigns in recent years to try to root out poor grammar and misused vocabulary in official usage. Sometimes those campaigns go awry, resulting in awkward Chinglish. In the run-up to last month's Asian Games in Guangzhou, signs were posted in the metro that read "Towards Jichang". "Jichang" means airport. Earlier this year, China Central Television and Beijing Television told the China Daily that they had received notification from the government to avoid using certain English abbreviations on Chinese programmes. But English abbreviations are still commonly heard on regular news and sports broadcasts. The Global Times quoted an editor at a Beijing publishing house as saying finding translations for globally used acronyms would be time-consuming and confusing. "I wonder how many people understand 'guoji shangye jiqi gongsi', when IBM is instantly recognisable," the editor said.

Dilemma over Singapore’s national identity By Ewen Boey – December 21st, 2010 By Seah Chiang Nee In the midst of a historical demographic change, Singapore’s hard-headed government seems less inclined nowadays to talk about national identity than it once was. This is a departure from the earlier post-independence years, when promoting values like patriotism and nation-bonding were top priorities. Today, they remain important goals but are more discussed among citizens than the policy-makers. Many Singaporeans are worried about the erosion of national fervour in an island state bloated by the recent arrivals of hundreds of thousands of foreigners. On the government’s part, priority seems to have shifted – at least for now – from promoting nationalism to persuading Singaporeans “to embrace foreigners”. I suppose there’s a time for everything. It probably seems untimely for the authorities to preach an intensification of national feelings at a time when so many foreigners – and new migrants – are settling here. “They are caught in a bind. Harping on national sentiments now could be seen as isolating the new arrivals,” said a neighbourhood doctor. With its short history, Singapore still needs to continue to build a national identity among Singaporean citizens or risk losing its economic achievements, he said. The question is: How, when citizens may soon become a minority? Recent conflicting remarks by ministers have not helped to clarify to citizens where they are heading – or indeed if Singapore is a country or merely a global city. Law (and Home Affairs) Minister K. Shanmugam surprised everyone when he told visiting American lawyers that Singapore was not a country. He was defending the government’s human rights records. The minister said Singapore was viewed as a deviation from the democratic norm because it was seen primarily as a country. “This is where most people make a mistake. I have tried to explain that we are different. We are a city. We are not a country,” he said. It sparked off a public debate, especially among young national servicemen sworn to defend the nation. Baffled party members sought an explanation. In an indirect effort to control damage, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said Singapore could not afford to have a ratio of more than 40% foreign workers. “We felt we are more comfortable with that than thinking we are nothing but a global city. We are also a country,” he said. In an earlier unrelated event, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said that despite its achievements, Singapore was not yet a nation. “Are we a nation yet? I will not say we are. We’re in transition. Please remember this is an ideal which we may not completely reach, but because we have this ideal, we’ll continue to make progress,” he said. All this talk has not gone down well with Singaporeans, who find it incomprehensible and reflective of government uncertainty. Songshus blogged: “From my observation over the last two or three decades, it seems to me that our government is only trying to succeed economically. “We should also develop on other fronts that would bind our people together, and promote cultural and identity awareness. The average Singaporean really does not know what future direction we are heading towards.” Critics of the government, however, are less surprised. For years, they have accused the People’s Action Party (PAP) of governing Singapore like a profitable corporation, even paying themselves as Board members. Increasingly during the past decade, the political leaders had been talking more of Singapore as a global city. During his recent visit to Moscow, MM Lee said his vision of Singapore was that it would no longer be seen as just an Asian city one day – but as cosmopolitan and connected to the world. In view of this line of thinking, Shanmugam’s description of his country as a city – not a country – should not be surprising. The question is: what will happen to the national identity that the PAP had wanted to forge from day one of independence? Can it work with so many foreigners coming and going as though it were a hotel? Some analysts noticed that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who faces a tough general election soon, recently talked of wanting to build – not nationalism – but “The Singapore Spirit”. Not many people remember now, but in 1989, Singapore’s leaders called for a “national ideology” to prevent a “harmful drift towards Westernisation” and promote a national identity. No one bets it will be revived anytime soon. While moulding a national identity has not been a popular leadership topic these days, the same cannot be said of Singaporeans. Many are pushing for a stronger rallying effort. During National Day, another popular discussion centred on the question: “Will the rally make us feel for Singapore again?” Some Singaporeans believe the country now has an identity crisis as a result of foreign arrivals now making up one third of the population. Others agree that while it is causing some social dislocation, “we should not blame the whole problem on the government”. Muhamad Nur appealed to all to treat Singapore as a nation – not just a city. “This is our only solution.” A visiting student from Switzerland, Christabel, disagreed with those who declared that Singapore has no identity or is a sanitised corporate state. “Remember as a country, you are only around 40 years old. Identity will come naturally, given more time.” A former Reuters correspondent and newpaper editor, the writer is now a freelance columnist writing on general trends in Singapore. This post first appeared on his blog, www.littlespeck.com on Dec 5, 2010.

Confidence in public sector shaken this year: experts By Alicia Wong – December 20th, 2010 From the bumpy hosting of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to the Orchard Road floods, confidence in the public sector may have been shaken this year, according to some political observers. And in the year ahead, Singaporean residents will continue watching the government closely, in particular its measures toward housing and immigration. Yahoo! Singapore spoke to several political observers, as they took stock of this year’s significant events and shared their expectations for 2011. One highlight was the inaugural YOG hosted in Singapore in August. While it was a celebrated event for some, the event was marred by a string of issues ranging from food poisoning to an over-blown budget. Senior Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Dr Terence Chong, termed the YOG a “bittersweet event”. It celebrated youth and sports but triggered doubt over the government’s strategy of using“mega events” to distinguish Singapore as a global city when the YOG received poor international attention. “I don’t think (the YOG) turned out the way the Government had hoped for it to be,” commented another political watcher and law lecturer Eugene Tan. He questioned if the plan to showcase Singapore to the world and excite young Singaporeans “backfired”. “It was a tremendous success to all those involved but to the average Singaporean, the price tag of close to half a billion SGD was perhaps a bit too much for most Singaporeans,” he pointed out. Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Viswa Sadasivan also highlighted events that collectively ”jolted public confidence” in the public sector usually touted for its efficiency. He cited, the floods, SMRT’s train graffiti, the S$12m Singapore Land Authority fraud saga, gang violence and the revelation of Mas Selamat Kastari’s escape. Mr Tan also felt public confidence has been “dented but not severely affected”. Since the government prides itself in being effective and efficient, this dent is “of course a significant setback”, he said. He acknowledged, Singaporeans could have unrealistically high expectations that will have to be managed going forward. But former NMP Zulkifli Baharudin disagreed public confidence was affected this year. “All these events, to me, reinforces the fact that Singapore is vulnerable,” said Mr Zulkifli, citing vulnerability in the country’s physical and social make-up. He said, Singapore must do things well because it lacks natural resources, but mistakes are inevitable. “The key is to learn from mistakes and not repeat them.” He urged Singaporeans not to be “armchair critics” but to “do something about it”. On the bright side, 2010 was also a year of highs in other areas. The Republic’s economic growth surged an estimated record-breaking 15 per cent. The land swap deal between Malaysia and Singapore provided closure to a “decades long thorny issue” and paved the way for “deeper trust and substantive cooperation”, said Mr Viswa. Watchers highlighted the launch of the integrated resorts (IRs), Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, as significant in boosting tourist arrivals and tourist dollars. Yet, the IRs have also given cause for concern for social ills such as problem gambling, they cautioned. Dr Chong also pointed to the public censure of Christian pastor Rony Tan’s insensitive remarks about Buddhism in February indicating a “self-regulatory mechanism at work in society”. Going forward, observers predicted immigration, housing and cost of living will continue to be hot topics in 2011 and key issues in the General Election, due by February 2012. This year, escalating property prices and immigration policy drew some of the hottest debates, prompting the government to introduce property cooling measures. In 2009, the government signalled a slower intake of immigrants. Mr Viswa cautioned, it would be difficult for the government to “adequately satisfy the ground” even if HDB prices rise at a slower pace as this is an emotional issue. He added, top civil servants’ salary is likely to be “a hot-button issue” linked to many other concerns as there appears to be a “diminishing tolerance for mistakes by (the) government.” It is a case of being a victim of its own success, he noted. Mr Zulkifli also predicted some structural adjustments in the economy, for instance, as Singapore looks toward exporting to China, rather than selling mainly to the West. “We saw terrorism of a different kind (this year),” he said, referring to WikiLeaks. “That is something that may also occupy our time.” Mr Tan, who expects the GE to be in the 2nd quarter of 2011, and the Presidential Election to be in August, said next year should see “new levels of political excitement”. “Immigration and the associated issues of high property prices, sense of over-crowdedness and increased competition in schools and at work will feature in the GE,” he said. Added Mr Tan, “The PAP (People’s Action Party) government has sought to assure that Singaporeans do come first but a deep sense of unease persists. If that unease gets heightened in the GE, we could expect the PAP to pay a price.”