Padang Sumatra Quake Sept. 2009

More terrible news for the hapless citizens of Sumatra as yet another destructive earthquake rattles through the Ring of Fire. Several hundred bodies have been recovered, but officials estimate the final toll could top 1000 as more corpses are taken from the collapsed concrete buildingss in the center of Padang.

The death toll in a quake that struck the Indonesia island of Sumatra could number in the "thousands", a health ministry official said on Thursday. Rustam Pakaya, the head of the health ministry's disaster centre, made the forecast to Reuters at Jakarta's Halim airport.

The quake toppled hundreds of buildings in the city of Padang on Sumatra on Thursday. Officials had earlier put the death toll at between 100 and 200 people, but warned that many others remained buried under rubble.

So Long Jasmine, Hello Jazzman

Farmer Women by Carl Parkes

The Bangkok Post has an opinion piece about the introduction of a new American strain of rice called Jazzman which threatens the traditional jasmine rice industry of Thailand. For the few Americans who regularly buy jasmine rice (such as myself), this marks the end of jasmine rice as a Thai monopoly, to be replaced by a far less expensive yet similar product. Be sure to read the comments for some amusing remarks from readers.

The aromatic Thai Jasmine rice, or Hom Mali as it is locally known, has for decades been recognised as the world's premium grade rice and the gem of Thai exports, with its long grain, unique aroma and gummy white texture after cooking. Dominating the world's premium-grade rice market for many years running, the famous Thai rice may be bracing for competition in the United States from a potentially serious rival.

Named commercially as "Jazzman", which might easily be confused with the Thai Jasmine rice, the US-bred aromatic variety is the latest product of 12 years of painstaking research and development by the rice research station of Louisiana State University's (LSU) Agriculture Centre. It was developed through cross and pedigree selection from a cross made in 1996 between the Arkansas variety Ahrent and the unreleased Chinese aromatic rice line 96a-8. The US grain has qualities similar to Thai Jasmine, but its real advantage is that it has a high yield potential, about 1.26 tonnes per rai compared to 400 kg per rai for the Thai Hom Mali.

Jazzman rice was approved by LSU AgCentre in January this year and has been grown in test plots with the produce already available in limited amounts in some grocery stores. The new rice variety has been touted as an alternative to the Thai Jasmine rice in the US market, which consumes between 350,000-400,000 tonnes of the Thai variety each year.

The Thai trade commissioner in Chicago, Samornrat Snidvongs na Ayutthaya, was the first to sound the alarm. She said Jazzman rice was expected to be available on supermarket shelves around next year and the US variety could snatch away the market share of Thai premium rice in the US with its similar taste and quality. Her concern was echoed by the honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, Vichai Sriprasert.

But the official view has been rather disappointing and unconvincing.

Rice Department chief Prasert Goslvitra sounded unperturbed when he said Jazzman rice would never match the Thai Hom Mali, citing the failed efforts of both China and Vietnam to breed their own aromatic rice varieties even with Thai seeds, because of the unique weather and soil conditions. He also denied that the low productivity of Hom Mali was due to a lack of research and development.

It may be true that for the time being Jazzman rice does not pose an immediate threat to the Thai Jasmine rice market in the US because the new rice strain is not as yet widely cultivated there. However, once it has been tasted and accepted by the market, American farmers will most likely jump on the bandwagon to wrestle a share of the profits away from Thai rice. With proven high productivity, the Jazzman's advantage will be a relatively lower price, which would be more competitive and attractive than Thai Jasmine.

Certainly there is real cause for concern here, if not alarm. The first group of people to be hit hard if Jazzman rice proves a success will be our farmers, who will see revenues from their premium-grade produce slashed. The next will be the rice exporters, whose market share in the US as well as other countries might steadily shrink. Indulging in complacency or in the notion that Jazz-man rice will never match the special quality of Thai Hom Mali will not do. Thai authorities concerned must plan a comprehensive marketing and production strategy to deal with the threat posed by this new US aromatic strain, and to save our own variety which for decades has been not only a staple, but also a source of national pride.

The Five Worst Pizzas in the World

The Five Worst Pizzas in the World at Matador by Tom Gates includes the sickening pizza with french fries and a decent looking number on Ko Chang. Funny stuff!

The Sounds of Thailand

Photo by Carl Parkes

Stephan Greenwood at Gadling wraps up his first ever visit to Thailand with a post of the sounds of Thailand, from the silence of Wat Phra Keo to the disco thumps of the full moon party on Ko Phanghan.

One of my favorite ways to remember a place when I'm traveling is to record audio. Then, thousands of miles away from the point of capture, to sit with headphones on and let my mind recreate in the rest. So, to end this series, I though that I'd share that experience with you. Below you'll find pictures and their accompanying ambient sounds, with a brief description for context. If you have headphones, please use them to get the full experience.

Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand -- Episode 4

Typhoon Ketsana Images

Boston Globe's Big Picture features outstanding photos from the aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana, mostly in Manila with a handful from Vietnam.

About a week ago, Typhoon Ketsana (known in the Phillippines as "Ondoy") made landfall, and according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Ketsana dropped 455 mm (17.9 in) of rain on Metro Manila in a span of 24 hours on Saturday - the most in 42 years. A month's worth of rainfall in a single day washed away homes and flooded large areas, stranding thousands on rooftops in the city and elsewhere. Ketsana later crossed over to Vietnam and Cambodia, where it is still active. Over 360 people are known to have been killed, and damage estimates are reaching $100 million. Unfortunately, another tropical storm may be headed toward the southern Philippines on Wednesday but is still 1,000 km (600 mi) off the coast. Here is a selection of photographs from the affected areas over the past week.

Migrant Worker's Living Quarters in Singapore

Who is responsible for this mess? Shouldn't the workers themselves take some responsibility and clean up their living quarters? Shouldn't their wealthy employer be forced to spend money and upgrade the facilities? Shouldn't the Singapore government get involved and force the employer to improve conditions? All of the above IMHO.

Burning Man 2009 in Time Lapse

Evolution (Burning Man time lapses) from Delrious on Vimeo.

Very cool time lapse video of this year's Burning Man. The last Burning Man event I attended was at Baker Beach in 1986 when the SF fire marshalls showed up to stop the burn due to high fire danger. Looks like things have evolved since then

NFL Thoughts - Lions have a stud at QB

Here are my thoughts after three weeks into the NFL season:

- DeAngelo Williams was my first round fantasy football pick...he blows!!!...this guy is literally killing me each week...the first week it was my liver, the second week my spleen, now it is my gall bladder...

- The Detroit Lions have a bright future in Matthew Stafford...I watched that entire game on Sunday and you can see the talent and maturity this kid has...

- The Browns went through the entire training camp with a question at quarterback...three games into the season and they are back to where they were in July...

- Why did Buffalo sign Terrell Owens if they are not going to throw him the ball...they had to know that if he does not get the ball he will be a problem...the Bills should not complain if T.O. starts going off - buyer beware!...

- I love Faith Hill's opening on Sunday Night Football...

- Jim Zorn has to be dying...after losing to Detroit last week, the Redskins host Tampa Bay who is one of the two worst teams in the NFL (the Browns being the other)...if Zorn loses at home to Tampa Bay, he will be fired...

- LaDainian Tomlinson is done...sure he will have a good game every so often, but his best days are definetly behind him...

- I hope Aaron Rodgers tears the Vikings to shreds while Brett Favre throws 4 interceptions and loses...

- Mark "Dirty" Sanchez has been a big surprise...I thought he would do well with the Jets, but not this well...I could understand why Pete Carroll was peeved to see Sanchez leave USC...that cost Carroll a sure fire national title this year...

- Those key lime pie green jerseys that Seattle wore were awful...

- Who would have thunk it - after 3 games, the Bengals would be 2-1 and the Steelers 1-2...

- Is Michael Crabtree that stupid?...why doesn't he fire his agent and just sign already!!!...

- When I look up the word "intense," I see a photo of Mike Singletary...

Whatever happened to the Coors Light Twins?

22 साल के जीसस से विवाह करने जा रही है मडोना

पॉप सिंगर मडोना का कहना है कि उनकी व्यस्तताओं के बावजूद उनके पुरूष मित्र जीसस लुज उन्हें पसंद करते है और वह अपने इस 22 साल के पुरूष मित्र से विवाह के लिए तैयार है।
वेबसाइट कांटेक्ट म्युजिक डॉट कॉम के अनुसार 51 साल की मडोना का कहना है कि मैं उनसे विवाह करने जा रही हूं। वह बहुत अच्छे है। मडोना इससे पहले दो बार विवाह कर चुकी है। उनके पहले पति अभिनेता सीन पेन और दूसरे पति निर्देशक गाय रिची थे।

अंधेरे से डर लगता है: मेगन फॉक्स

हॉलीवुड अभिनेत्री मेगन फॉक्स अंघेरे से घबराती है। फिल्म "ट्रांस्फार्मर्स" की यह अभिनेत्री चाहती है कि उनके घर की सभी बत्तियां जलती रहे ताकि अंघेरा उन्हें परेशान न करें।

वेबसाइट "कांटेक्ट म्यूजिक डॉट कॉम" के अनुसार फॉक्स कहती है कि मुझे अंघेरे से डर लगता है। यदि मैं घर पहुंची और बत्तियां बंद हो तो मैं सीघे दरवाजे से स्विच बोर्ड की ओर दौ़ड लगा देती हूं, ताकि जल्दी से जाकर बत्तियां जलाई जाएं। मुझे कुछ न देख सकने का डर लगता है।

40 के बाद कप़डें उतारूंगी: नेली फर्ताडो

पुरूषों की मैग्जीन "प्लेब्वॉय" का पांच लाख डॉलर का ऑफर पॉपस्टार नेली फर्ताडो ने ठुकरा दिया और कहा कि वह मैग्जीन के लिए कप़डे उतारेंगी भी तो केवल 40 साल का हो जाने के बाद।
नेली ने कहा कि प्लेब्वॉय उन्हें अपने मैग्जीन के कवर पर लेने के लिए इतना बेताब था कि उसे कप़डों में ही फोटो देने की छूट दी गई लेकिन नेली ने कहा, ना तो ना। नेली ने कहा मैंने प्लेब्वॉय के पांच लाख अमेरिकी डॉलर के प्रस्ताव को ना कह दिया है। मैं नही चाहती कि 22 साल की उम्र में मैं मैग्जीन के कवर पर दिखूं। अगर वह 40 की उम्र में कहें तो मैं जरूर हां कह दूंगी।

Manila Floods and Social Networking

The New York Times has an interesting story on how Filipinos are using Twitter, Facebook and other social networking tools to help out during the disastrous floods.

In the immediate aftermath of the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana, which hit the Philippines in force on Saturday, the country’s government blamed victims for not heeding its warnings and suggested that its disaster relief efforts were not as bad as those of the American government during Hurricane Katrina. The storm, also called Ondoy in the Philippines, has killed at least 140 people and displaced about 150,000, according to the latest report.

The American disaster was invoked by critics of the government response as soon as images of Filipinos stranded on rooftops started circulating on Saturday — on television, on YouTube, in slide shows, on newly-created blogs and through social networks like Twitter and Facebook.

On Sunday The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Prisco Nilo, who runs the national weather agency, told President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a briefing that the storm had dropped nearly 17 inches of rain on the country, “compared to the [10 inches] of rain that Hurricane Katrina brought to New Orleans in Louisiana in the United States in 2005.” In a subsequent interview with the newspaper, Mr. Nilo said of citizens who did not heed his agency’s warning about the storm: “Instead of just watching the soap operas on TV, they should also watch the news.”

According to another report from the Inquirer, another government official claimed the authorities had cleared the low bar set by American officials four years ago:

Jenny Slate drops the F-bomb on Saturday Night Live

Michigan has no defense

Before I give my thoughts on college football, I want to vent about people who talk on their cellphone or text while at the gym...yesterday, this one woman, who I call Salami because one time I was standing next to her and she smelled like salami, was on the treadmill talking on her cellphone...after hanging up, she started to quicken her pace into a steady jog...that lasted about 40 seconds then she slowed down to text someone...this kept going on for over five minutes - jog, slowdown, text, then jog again...that was so freakin annoying...the only exception to communicating on the cellphone while at the gym is if you are setting up a "hook up"...however, if there is no sex involved in the communication, cellphones should be banned from all gyms...by the way, this chick still smelled like a salami even though she is kinda hot...

Michigan has improved since last season -- offensively that is...the Wolverines defense has not showed any improvement from last year's abysmal season...Michigan brought in former NFL defensive coordinator Greg Robinson to amp up the defense...just like last year, the Wolverines are giving up the big plays and are unable to shutdown an inferior team and put the game away...

Michigan has been very fortunate to finish the month of September 4-0...unless there is improvement on the defensive side of the ball, they will not finish the month of October with a perfect mark...

Penn State looked ordinary on Saturday...the way to beat the Nittany Lions is to put pressure on Daryll Clark...the Nittany Lions ran a vanilla offense and Clark was unable to make any plays because of the Iowa defense...

Virginia Tech dominated The U...I watched most of that game and was impressed with the Gobblers defense...The U has improved, but Virginia Tech is still the elite team of the ACC...

What was Purdue head coach Danny Hope thinking????...Notre Dame was on the 5-yard-line and got stuffed on a 2nd down running play...the Irish had no timeouts and the clock was on 35 seconds and running...the Irish were completely unorganized as Jimmy Clausen was trying to settle a team that was clearly panicking...the announcers even stated the Irish coaching staff were instructing Clausen to clock the ball which would have left Notre Dame with 4th down...then out of no where, Hope called a timeout...WHAT!?!?!?!?...he wanted to set his defense, but that allowed Notre Dame to calm down and design not 1, but 2 plays...in the end, Notre Dame won on a fourth down touchdown pass by Clausen...

Can someone explain to me how Florida State can go up to Brigham Young and take them behind the woodshed, then the very next week lose at home to South Florida...the worst part is that the Seminoles scored only 7 points!!!!...

The team that has impressed me the most is Boise State...I have seen portions of three of their games...we all know they are dominant at home, but they have also proven themselves on the road...

(Just a note - I will be a conference on Thursday and Friday, so there will be no postings those days)

सोफी हाई क्लास वेश्या,1 घंटे के 11 लाख रूपए

सुपरमॉडल सोफी एंडर्टन ने एक सनसनीखेज खुलासा करते हुए कहा है कि वह एक हाई क्लास वेश्या रही है। एक घंटे के लिए वह 23 हजार अमरीकी डॉलर (यानी करीब 11 लाख रूपए) तक लेती थी।

"वंडर ब्रा" विज्ञापन के जरिए पहचान बनाने वाली 32 वर्षीय एंडर्टन ने बताया कि नशे की लत के कारण उसे वेश्यावृति जैसा काम करना प़डा।

ब्रिटिश समाचार पत्र सन के साथ एक इंटरव्यू में उसने कहा कि कोकीन की लत के कारण मेरे पैसे काफी तेजी से खर्च होने लगे, मेरा कैश कार्ड रिजैक्ट हो गया। मै कर्ज में डूबती चली गई। पैसों के लिए लोगों के कॉल आने लगे। मैं काफी परेशान रहने लगी। एक दिन जब परेशानी में मैं सोच रही थी तो मुझे पता चला कि कॉल गर्ल बनने के बाद मुझे एक घंटे के कम से कम 15 हजार डॉलर (7.19 लाख रूपए)मिल सकते है। अपने पहले ग्राहक को याद करते हुए एंडर्टन ने कहा कि मुझे एक होटल में जाने के लिए कहा गया था। जब मैं होटल रूम के दरवाजे तक पहुंची तो यही सोच रही थी कि पता नही वह कैसा आदमी होगा। लेकिन वह एक स्मार्ट शेख था। पहले तो मैं शर्म महसूस कर रही थी लेकिन बाद में सब ठीक हो गया। एक घंटे बाद मैं रूपए लेकर चली आई।
शुरूआत में एंडर्टन पांच लोगों के साथ सोई और 50 हजार पौंड (करीब 38.27 लाख रूपए) कमाए। इससे उसने उघार खत्म किए और एक फ्लैट की डिपॉजिट भी दी। मॉडलिंग करियर पर इल्जाम लगाते हुए एंडर्टन ने कहा कि इसके कारण ही वह नशे की आदी हुई और कॉल गर्ल बनी। उसने कहा इस रास्ते पर वह अकेली नही है। मॉडलिंग की दुनिया का यह एक दूसरा पहलू है। अघेंरे के इस खेल में कम से कम दो सुपरमॉडल भी शामिल है।

बिपाशा के साथ छे़डछ़ाड

बॉलीवुड की हॉट एंड सेक्सी अभिनेत्री बिपाशा बसु के साथ मुंबई के एक दुर्गा पूजा के पंडाल में एक मनचले ने छे़डछ़ाड की।

इस घटना के बाद बिपाशा का पारा चढ़ गया। उनके साथ मौजूद अभिनेता जॉन अब्राहम और लोगों ने किसी तरह उन्हें शांत किया। सूत्रों से मिली जानकारी के अनुसार बिपाशा बसु अपने ब्यॉवफे्रड जॉन अब्राहम के साथ सांताकू्रज में दुर्गा पूजा के पंडाल में गई थी। पंडाल में भी़ड काफी थी। इसी का फायदा उठाकर एक मनचले ने उनके साथ छे़डछ़ाड की। मौके पर मौजूद एक शख्स ने बताया कि जॉन और बिपाशा शनिवार शाम को दुर्गा पूजा के लिए आए थे। बिपाशा काफी खुश नजर आ रही थी। दर्शन के बाद जैसे ही वह स्टेज के पास पहुंची, एक मनचले ने उनके बे्रस्ट पर हाथ फेर दिया।

इस वाकये से बिपाशा हक्की-बक्की रह गई और उनका पारा चढ़ गया उनके आसपास मौजूद लोगों ने उनका गुस्सा शांत किया। जॉन ने भी उन्हें किसी तरह शांत किया। इस घटना से बिपाशा इतनी आहत थी कि वह पुलिस में शिकायत भी दर्ज कराने का मन बना चुकी थी। दिलचस्प बात यह है कि इस पंडाल को रानी मुखर्जी की फैमिली मैनिज करती है। उघर, इस पर कॉमेंट के लिए जॉन और बिपाशा उपलब्घ नही थे।

कर्ज में डूबी पामेला एंडरसन

अमेरिकी टेलीविजन सीरीज "बेवॉच" स्टार व पामेला एंडरसन लाखों डॉलर के कर्ज में डुबी हुई है। स्टार मैंग्जीन की खबर के अनुसार 42 वर्षीय पामेला को एक कंस्ट्रक्शन कंपनी ने अदालत में घसीट लिया है।

कंपनी ने पामेला के मालिबू स्थित घर को दोबारा बनाया था, जिसका उन्होंने बिल नही चुकाया है। बूडर कंस्ट्रक्शन ने कोर्ट में पामेला द्वारा लगभग पौने सात लाख डॉलर (32,696,000 रूपये)नही चुकाने पर याचिका दायर की है। साथ ही पामेला को भारी मात्रा में इनकम टैक्स भी चुकाना है।

खबर में कहा गया है कि पामेला को कथित तौर पर अमेरिकी सरकार को 2,52,360 डॉलर यानी लगभग 12,224,000 रूपये का टैक्स चुकाना है।

"वेक अप सिड" में रानी मुखर्जी की जगह कोंकणा सेन

निर्देशक अयान मुखर्जी की आगामी फिल्म "वेक अप सिड" में आयशा बनर्जी की भूमिका के लिए पहले रानी मुखर्जी को ही लिया जा रहा था, लेकिन बाद में उनके स्थान पर कोंकणा सेन शर्मा आ गई।

इस बात का खुलासा खुद पिछले दिनों अयान मुखर्जी ने एक मुलाकात में किया। अयान ने कहा कि संजय लीला भंसाली ने अपनी फिल्म "सांवरिया" में रणबीर कपूर और रानी मुखर्जी की जो़डी को पेश किया था, जबकि "वेक अप सिड" में हम एक नई जो़डी को दर्शकों के समक्ष लाना चाहते थे। आयशा बनर्जी की भूमिका के लिए रानी परफेक्ट थी। इस भूमिका के लिए मेरे मन में सबसे पहले उन्ही का ख्याल आया था।

दरअसल रानी से मेरे घरेलू संबंघ है। मैं उनके साथ काम करना चाहता था। यदि "सांवरिया" में रणबीर और रानी साथ नही दिखे होते, तो मेरी फिल्म में इन दोनों की ही जो़डी नजर आती। बाद में हमने आयशा के रोल के लिए कोंकणा को साइन किया। यकीन मानिए, कोंकणा ने आयशा की भूमिका को बहुत अच्छी तरह निभाया है। उनकी और रणबीर की जो़डी दर्शकों को पसंद आएगी। यह फिल्म 2 अक्टूबर को रिलीज होगी।

Big Russ - Tim Russert's father dies

With all the sports going on this weekend, many may have missed the news that the late-Tim Russert's dad, Big Russ, died on Friday...Big Russ was 85-years-old...

Big Russ

Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand -- Episode 3

Here's the third episode of Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand. This one mainly takes place in Pattaya and centers around the volunteer farang tourist police, who deal with the standard collection of drunks and rowdy foreigners.

Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand -- Episode 2

The second episode of Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand might be called the drug episode, since it covers the full moon party on Ko Phanghan and a young female tourist who finds herself busted for possession of a small amount of pot.

Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand -- Episode 1

The first episode of Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand has garnered the most attention, due to its controversial coverage of an incident on Phuket between a British military member and a jet ski rental operator who intimidates his victim with a modified air pump shotgun.

Who is 0-8 now?

Remember earlier this season when Boston was 8-0 against the Yankees?...there was talk that the Yankees dominance against Boston was over...well, they ended up splitting the season series 9-9 and on Sunday, the Yankees won their 100th game and clinched the A.L. East title over Boston...

Issan Thais as Hunter Gatherers

Andrew Hicks, author of Thai Girl, posts a very interesting story about his Issan wife as Hunter Gatherer rather than tranditional rice farmer. With photos of frogs and insects!

I’ve written before about how the forest in the Surin countryside where my wife, Cat and I now live used to be bountiful and how it abundantly yielded birds and animals to eat, roots, leaves, nuts and fruits. Her childhood was spent gathering food in the countryside and her memories of that time seem to be happy ones.

The trouble is now that every available scrap of land has been made productive and almost all the forest has gone. With increasing population, farming cannot support the population and this unlimited resource of free food for the landless is no longer there. Thus the young and fit have to move away to the cities to find low paid work, often leaving their small children with Mama Papa in the village.

I’d never before thought of Thais as hunter gatherers but rather as prosperous growers of rice, so this is a new insight for me. Farmers and pastoralists wandering the world with their cows are the wealthy ones and the hunter gatherers are all but gone. One thinks only of the pygmies in the Congo, of the Punan in Borneo and the Orang Asli or Sakai in the mountainous jungles down the spine of Malaysia

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The Muslim Transsexuals of Malaysia

It's tough being a transsexual anywhere in the world, but especially difficult in a conservative Muslim country such as Malaysia, which no longer recognizes the third sex as a legitimate choice. Yahoo News has an interesting if somewhat depressing article on the subject.

With her tight jeans, elaborate make-up and flowing hair, Tasha looks for all the world like a striking young woman. But her all-important Malaysian ID card declares she is a Muslim man.

"In Islam, there are only men and women, there are no transsexuals, and this is an Islamic country so that makes life very difficult for us," says the 28-year-old who has been cross-dressing since she was a child. Like many transsexuals in Malaysia, a conservative and mostly Muslim country, the clash between ID card and appearance means Tasha is shunned by employers, and forced to make her living as a sex worker.

"It's a hard life, people don't like us, they're always making fun of us," she says as she prepares for another night in the grimy alleyways of Chow Kit, the red light district of the capital Kuala Lumpur. Tasha endures drunken clients, violent pimps, and aggressive competition from other transsexual prostitutes, but what really frightens her are the raids mounted by police and religious authorities.

Enforcement officials from the Islamic Affairs Department (JAWI) -- notorious for swooping on nightclubs and motels in search of Muslims drinking or having extramarital sex -- regularly descend on the streets of Chow Kit. Sex workers are sent scattering on their high heels, and those who are caught and hauled off face jail or intensive "counselling" sessions like a two-week interrogation Tasha once endured.

"They asked me why I didn't want to be a man, how I became like this and why I behave like this. But it didn't change my mind!" she says as she layers on make-up before hitting the streets where she has worked since she was 15. Tasha puts on a brave face, but the the pain is clear when she relates how she has struggled for acceptance from her family, her religion and her country.

Although she is on the margins of society, she continues to perform the Muslim prayers, fasts during the holy month of Ramadan, and respected her mother's wish that she not undergo sex-change surgery. "Of course I still believe I'm a Muslim, it's just that the religion cannot accept us transsexuals," she says. "Why can't Islam accept us? We are human beings as well. I am also one of God's creations."

It was not always this way for transsexuals in Malaysia, where they are known as "mak nyah". "Until the early 1980s transsexuals were usually accepted in Malaysia, they could go for a sex change and amend their identity card," says Teh Yik Koon from the National Defence University who has written a book on mak nyahs.

"At that time quite a few had sex changes, some became happily married and even adopted children." But in 1983 a "fatwa", or Islamic ruling, that prohibited gender-reassignment surgery as well as cross-dressing was imposed on all Malaysian Muslims, who make up 60 percent of the multicultural population. "So now they're not accepted, there's no such thing as transsexuals according to Islam in Malaysia," says Teh, who estimates there are in fact at least 20,000 in the country.

"The biggest dilemma for a Muslim transsexual is the ID card, because it states they are a Muslim man but when you look at them they look like a woman," she says. Some do manage to find regular work, typically as hairdressers, make-up artists, and boutique sales assistants, but advocates say that at least 70 percent resort to prostitution. "At 15 I ran away from home and to Chow Kit. I cried at first, but luckily I had other transsexuals who helped me find a place to stay," says Tasha.

On a good night she can earn 500 ringgit (142 dollars), a huge sum by Malaysian standards, but since the economic downturn she now gets only two or three clients a night who may pay as little 50 ringgit a time. Now that her mother has died, she plans to go to Thailand later this year and have sex-change and breast augmentation surgery. "If you want to become pretty quickly, then you can't be afraid," she says. "Only then will I feel like a complete woman."

Transsexuals do not need to be selling their bodies in order to attract attention from authorities. Last year, Islamic religious police arrested 16 for taking part in a beauty pageant at a beachside resort.

Influential Islamic cleric Harussani Zakaria, who helped establish the 1983 fatwa, defended the strict approach and said that transsexuals should use their "willpower" and adopt a traditional lifestyle. "Of course they won't get a job if they turn up wearing a woman's dress. All religions are opposed to this," he said.

"You cannot be transsexual, you are either a woman or a man. Why do they want to go against Allah?" he asked. "If God has created you as a boy, then act like a boy."

Send Darunee (Da Torpedo) a Royal Postcard

I thought this was very cool. Darunee (Da Torpedo) is a female political activist convicted of lese majeste and now serving a lenghty sentence in prison. Well, you can now send her a royal postcard with a message of 140 characters. Guess Twitter influence is growing. Go ahead give it a try, as noted on Freedom Against Censorship in Thailand.

The royal link is Here. Go to the bottom left of the page, pick a heart image, then post a short message of love and support. Here's the message from FACT:

Princess Bajrakitiyabha, daughter of the crown prince, is director of the Kamlangjai (Inspire) Foundation, a project to reach out to Thailand’s women prisoners, helping their return to society, medical and childcare during their incarceration.

The princess in her role as a Thai public prosecutor is regularly confronted by the reality of women prisoners.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha received an award of recognition from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime for her Enhancing Lives of Female Inmates (ELFI) Project. ELFI proposes new rules on prison reform and the humane the treatment of women prisoners as well as non-custodial measures for women offenders. The ELFI proposals are intended to supplement the 1955 Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (of which UNODC is the custodian).

The princess was also a participant in writing the UN’s Kyiv Declaration on Women’s Health in Prison.

The Asian Human Rights Commission has recently asked Princess Bajrakitiyabha, to review the harsh treatment of lèse majesté prisoner Darunee Charnchoensilpakul in gaol. Princess Bajrakitiyabha helps women prisoners to receive proper medical care; it only follows that the princess must seek full medical treatment for Darunee’s jaw cancer simply out of human decency and metta.

On Kamlangjai’s main page on left bottom is a box for “Kamlangjai e-cards” in which one can send messages to women prisoners. Choose a picture and then enter text.

We know Da would enjoy receiving a card from you via the princess!

Thai: http://www.kamlangjai.or.th/eng/index.php

English: http://www.kamlangjai.or.th/eng/index.php

Gentleman Jim Tressel does not want to ruin his image

Jim Tressel has a line of shit...with Ohio State up 23-0 and about a minute to go, Ohio State faced a 4th and goal...the Buckeyes decided to go for it and scored on a pass play...afterward, Tressel went into his "Gentleman Jim" mode...

This is what Plain Dealer reporter Doug Lesmerises wrote...
Tressel calls time out. Ahead, 23-0, the Buckeyes face a fourth-and-goal from the 3 with 1:22 to play. Starting this drive with 5:08 to play after a Jermale Hines interception and return to the Illinois 42, Ohio State has marched down the field in seven plays, including two passes. Now Tressel has a decision, and he says he was mostly fearing a blocked field goal and Illinois return with only a three-score lead. So he goes for it and turns down the field goal try.

"We thought there was less risk going for it," Tressel said. "So that was the decision we made. No, I don't think it was to send any message."

Who the hell is Gentleman Jim kidding...if he was fearing that Illinois could block a field goal and return it for a touchdown, then why in the hell did he decide to throw the ball...couldn't Illinois have intercepted the pass and return it for a touchdown????...the safest play would be to run the ball...

The fact is Gentleman Jim wanted to stick it to Illinois because they beat Ohio State two years ago in Columbus...but the ever image conscious Tressel did not want to ruin that pristine "gentleman" image that he fools people with...like I have said many many time, Tressel is a football coach even though he tries to portray an image that he is a "gentleman" and an honest, good guy, flag wearing American who drinks milk and never swears...

Back in 1968, Woody Hayes stuck it to Michigan real good by going for a two point conversion late in the game even though the Buckeyes were way ahead...when the game was over, the media asked Hayes why he went for the two points, Hayes responded, "I couldn't go for three"...Hayes may have hated Michigan, but at least he was honest...what you saw is what you got from Hayes...that cannot be said about Tressel...

China Preps for 60th Anniversary

The Boston Globe's Big Picture features a stunning collection of photos of preparations for Oct. 1st celebration of 60 years of the People's Republic of China.

Stop Motion Animation by Blu and David Ellis

MUTO by Blu and David Ellis

Bonus: It's Dead Pigeon Day in Afghanistan:

Giant Baby Born in Sumatra

(Kisaran, Indonesia) - A newborn baby boy thought to be Indonesia's heaviest captured the country's attention on Friday, only five days after his birth.

Doctors said the newborn came into the world via Caesarean section at a record 19.2 pounds. Baby Muhammad Akbar Risuddin -- which means "Great" in Arabic -- was born to a diabetic mother in a 40-minute caesarean delivery that was complicated because of his unusual weight and size, according to doctors at the hospital in Kisaran.

The newborn measured 24 inches when he was born on Monday at the Abdul Manan hospital in the northern town on the strictly Islamic island of Sumatra. Doctors said the baby's extreme weight was the result of receiving excessive glucose from his mother during pregnancy.

The boy was the third child of proud parents Muhammad Hasanuddin, 50, and mother Ani, 41, who like many Indonesians goes by a single name. Ani said she was enjoying all the attention. "I feel happy to have this baby, and I am also happy to be shown on television," she said. His two "little" brothers weighed a mere 11.6 pounds and 9 .9 pounds at birth. The former Indonesian record holder was a 14.7-pound baby boy born on the outskirts of the capital, Jakarta, in 2007.

Guinness World Records cites the heaviest baby as being born in the United States in 1879, weighing 23.75 pounds; however, it died 11 hours after birth. The book also cites 22.5-pounds.

Latest Hot Jojo Wallpapers

पहली बार सलमान ने शाहरूख की तारीफ की

बॉलीवुड अभिनेता सलमान खान ने करीब एक साल बाद पहली बार अभिनेता शाहरूख खान की तारीफ की है। सलमान ने रियल्टी शो "दस का दम" के दौरान कहा कि रोमांटिक सीन करने में शाहरूख का कोई सानी नही है।
पिछले वर्ष 16 जुलाई को कैटरीना कैफ की बर्थडे पार्टी के दौरान सलमान व शाहरूख के बीच जमकर बहस हुई थी। इसके बाद वे पार्टी छो़डकर चले गए थे। उसके बाद यह पहली बार है जब सलमान ने शाहरूख की तारीफ की है। सलमान को शाहरूख की तारीफ करते हुए रियल्टी शो "दस का दम" की अगली क़डी में देखा जा सकता है। इस क़डी में सलमान के साथ रितेश देशमुख और गोविंदा दिखाई देंगे जो अपनी फिल्म "डू नॉट डिस्टर्ब" के प्रमोशन के लिए इस शो में आ रहे है।

"ब्लू" में काम करने के बाद अब पानी से डर नही लगता: लारा दत्ता

बॉलीवुड अभिनेत्री लारा दत्ता का कहना है कि आगामी फिल्म "ब्लू" में पानी के अंदर शूटिंग करने के बाद उनका पानी से डर खत्म हुआ और अब उन्हें पानी से डर नही लगता।
31 वर्षीय लारा को इस फिल्म में अक्षय कुमार और संजय दत्त के साथ पानी के अंदर स्टंट करते दिखाया जाएगा। जल में गोताखोरी सीखने के लिए ये लोग थाइलैंड के को समुई गये थे। लारा ने राष्ट्रीय राजघानी में एमएमटीसी फेस्टिवल ऑफ गोल्ड 2009 से इतर प्रेस ट्रस्ट से कहा कि आपको यकीन नही होगा लेकिन मैं पहले पानी से डरती थी, लेकिन "ब्लू" के बाद मैं गर्व से कह सकती हूं कि मैं अब प्रमाणित गोताखोर हूं, जो मेरे लिए बडी उपलब्घि है। लारा ने फिल्म के लिए तैराकी और स्कूबा डाइविंग सीखी है। एंथनी डिसूजा निर्देशित इस फिल्म में अक्षय कुमार, संजय दत्त के साथ कैटरीना भी है, और एक गाने में हॉलीवुड अभिनेत्री केली मिनॉग भी दिखाई देंगी।