Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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I just read a post at Tobus Blog and saw a fantastic Picture.
I think he should be going for some good Picture competition.
http://blogger.xs4all.nl/tobyl/archive/2009/05/26/481735.aspx
il direttore di Die Zeit, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, ha detto che insultare un quotidiano "in Germania provocherebbe l'immediata solidarietà di tutti gli altri media, indipendentemente dal loro orientamento politico"
Ecco svariati articoli dei giornali online e non dei vari paesi Europei.
"Public Duty and Private Vendetta", The Times, 18 maggio 2009. Le lamentele di Silvio Berlusconi, che si ritiene vittima di diffamazione, non hanno alcun senso, si legge nell'editoriale non firmato del Times, che, secondo la tradizione anglosassone, riflette l'opinione della direzione del giornale. Le domande di Repubblica, continua il Times, non sono un'intrusione nella vita privata, ma sono legate al suo ruolo di politico e magnate dei media. E l'attacco di Berlusconi al giornale è un tentativo di intimidire il dissenso. (L'ARTICOLO)
"Mr. Berlusconi, why don't you answer the press?", The Huffington Post, 20 maggio 2009. Il caso approda anche sull'influente sito di informazione online di Arianna Huffington. (L'ARTICOLO)
"In praise of La Repubblica", The Guardian, 23 maggio 2009. Anche il Guardian dedica un editoriale al caso, intitolato, semplicemente, "Elogio a La Repubblica". "Nonostante rumori minacciosi da parte di Silvio Berlusconi, il principale quotidiano di centro-sinistra si è rifiutato di smettere di chiedere risposte alle 10 domande poste al premier circa la sua relazione con una adolescente napoletana, Noemi Letizia", si legge nel testo, che insiste sul diritto della stampa in una società democratica a fare domande e conclude: "Repubblica sta facendo una battaglia solitaria e merita sostegno". http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/may/23/silvio-berlusconi-la-repubblica-letizia (L'ARTICOLO)
"Papi, en la encrucijada", El Pais, 20 maggio 2009. "Papi, al crocevia" titola il commento del quotidiano spagnolo, che ripercorre l'origine della crisi, dalle dichiarazioni di Veronica Lario, sottolineando l'anomalia di Berlusconi, capo del governo, "editore del maggior gruppo mediatico del Paese", il suo controllo quasi totale della informazione televisiva, fino alle domande di Repubblica, seguite da ira e silenzio. Sarebbe salutare per la democrazia italiana, argomenta El Pais, "che Berlusconi prendesse carta e penna e spiegasse al mondo perché lo chiamano papi". (L'ARTICOLO)
"How one newspaper's shameful questions have rattled Silvio Berlusconi", The Observer, 24 maggio 2009. Il giornale inglese ripercorre in un lungo articolo l'intera vicenda Noemi, le domande "vergognose" di Repubblica che hanno innervosito il presidente del Consiglio, provocato una dura reazione da parte della stampa di destra, e innescato gli insulti del premier al cronista di Repubblica. (L'ARTICOLO)
"Les questions sur les starlettes font enrager Silvio Berlusconi", La Tribune de Geneve, 16 maggio 2009. E' un Silvio Berlusconi "sull'orlo di una crisi di nervi" quello che se la prende con il principale quotidiano di Roma, secondo il quotidiano svizzero. Le domande di Repubblica, per far luce sulle molte zone d'ombra sono rimaste senza risposta perché il Cavaliere ha invocato il complotto, si legge sul quotidiano. (L'ARTICOLO)
"L'origine des liens entre Berlusconi et la jeune Noémie", Le soir, 24 maggio 2009. Il giornale belga riprende il caso usando un servizio della France Presse. (L'ARTICOLO)
"L'affaire Noemi poursuit Berlusconi", Le Figaro, 25 maggio 2009. Anche il quotidiano francese conservatore, che ieri sul caso titolava "La Repubblica mette in imbarazzo Berlusconi" continua a dare spazio alla vicenda Noemi, che "sta perseguitando il presidente del Consiglio", dando conto della campagna di Repubblica, delle incongruità rivelate dall'inchiesta sul rapporto fra la ragazza ed il presidente del Consiglio e della richiesta di spiegazioni in Parlamento da parte dell'opposizione. (L'ARTICOLO)
"L'insubmersible", Slate.fr, 25 maggio 2009. Sul sito di informazione online diretto da Jean Marie Colombani, un lungo articolo di Marc Lazar riflette sull'enigma Berlusconi: accerchiato dai guai, dalla "strana relazione con la ragazza napoletana", incalzato dalla stampa d'opposizione, "accusata di aver rivelato informazioni su di lui e di chiederne conto, come è normale in democrazia", e ancora dal caso Mills e dall'economia in rosso. Eppure inaffondabile. (L'ARTICOLO)
"Italie: la vie privée de Silvio Berlusconi continue de troubler la campagne", Le Monde, 25 maggio 2009. Aumentano i guai per Silvio Berlusconi, si legge sul quotidiano francese. "Le spiegazioni contraddittorie date dal presidente del Consiglio" su Noemi Letizia "sono state smentite da un ex fidanzato della ragazza". (L'ARTICOLO)
"Sa liaison dangereuse", La dernière heure, 25 maggio 2009. Berlusconi non ha finito di spiegare la sua relazione con un'adolescente, si legge sul quotidiano belga. (L'ARTICOLO)
"Berlusconi e la 18enne: Cos'è successo veramente?", Die Welt, 25 maggio 2009. Il quotidiano tedesco riprende le rivelazioni di Repubblica e rileva come la crisi "privata" in casa Berlusconi sia diventata ormai affare di stato. (L'ARTICOLO) .
Sulla stessa linea la Suddeutsche Zeitung, "Berlusconi, das model und die "lüge", Berlusconi, la modella e la "bugia". (L'ARTICOLO)
E Bild:"So lernte Berlusconi die 18-Jährige wirklich kennen", Così Berlusconi conobbe davvero la diciottenne. (L'ARTICOLO) .
"Ex Noemi klapt uit school over Berlusconi", De Telegraaf, 25 maggio 2009. "L'ex di Noemi rivela", si legge sul quotidiano olandese, che riprende l'intervista a Repubblica di Gino Flaminio. (L'ARTICOLO)
Anche De Volkskrant parla delle rivelazioni dell'ex fidanzato di Noemi: "'Berlusconi loog over relatie met minderjarige"', "'Berlusconi ha mentito sulla sua relazione con la minorenne'" è il titolo del pezzo. (L'ARTICOLO)
Thursday, March 20, 2008
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Untitled Document
Last Updated: Thursday, 20 March 2008, 16:40 GMT
Police 'shot at Tibet protesters'
Chinese police opened fire and wounded four protesters "in self-defence" last Sunday in a Tibetan area of Sichuan province, the Xinhua news agency says.
The report is the first time Chinese authorities have admitted hurting anyone since demonstrations against Chinese rule in Tibet began last week.
China's government had previously said 13 "innocent people" were stabbed or burnt to death by "rioters" in Lhasa.
Exiled Tibetan leaders say at least 99 people have been killed in the unrest.
Earlier on Thursday, China admitted for the first time that the protests had spread outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region to nearby provinces where large numbers of ethnic Tibetans live.
Xinhua said Sunday's police shootings took place in Aba county, close to Sichuan's border with Qinghai province. An earlier report had said the police had shot dead four rioters, but it was quickly corrected.
The state-owned news agency had previously said only that "mobsters" had caused "great damage" to shops and government offices in the area.
Crackdown
The BBC's China editor, Shirong Chen, says the situation in parts of western China is now extremely tense, with security being ratcheted up and many arrests.
Hundreds of troops have been seen pouring into Tibetan areas. On Wednesday alone, BBC reporters saw more than 400 troop carriers and other vehicles on the main road - the largest mobilisation witnessed since the unrest began.
The authorities have also placed strict limits on Western journalists trying to report on the unrest. A German journalist who was forced out of Lhasa on Thursday said security forces had told him he was the last foreign journalist in the city.
And officials said 24 people had been arrested after demonstrations in the Tibetan city of Lhasa, and 170 protesters had surrendered to authorities. The authorities had threatened "harsh punishments" for those who failed to meet a Monday deadline.
Earlier, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, reiterated his willingness to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao if he received "concrete indications" of what the Chinese government can offer.
But senior Chinese officials have repeatedly accused him of orchestrating the protests from his base in the Indian town of Dharamsala, and the foreign ministry once again labelled him a "splittist" on Thursday.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
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More than 100 people have turned themselves in to police following anti-China riots in Tibet's main city, Lhasa, Chinese state media has said.
The authorities had threatened to punish harshly protesters who failed to surrender by a Monday night deadline.
Lhasa police have been searching homes and making arrests, activists say.
Meanwhile, footage has emerged from nearby Gansu province, where Tibetans tore down a Chinese flag and replaced it with a Tibetan flag on Tuesday.
Hundreds of protesters can be seen on foot and horseback in the incident at a school near Hezuo, captured on camera by a Canadian film crew.
The demonstrators attempted to march on a government building before security forces used tear gas to stop them, reports from the scene said.
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We must not develop anti-Chinese feelings. Whether we like it or not we have to live side-by-side
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The Chinese government and rights groups have provided radically different accounts of the past week.
Activists say dozens of people have been killed by security forces after protests, but Chinese officials say 13 people were killed by mobs during riots by Dalai Lama supporters.
Foreign journalists have not been allowed into Lhasa and the flow of information is tightly controlled, making it difficult to verify either of these claims.
'Life and death struggle'
Tibet's Communist Party secretary Zhang Qingli has warned of a "long-term" struggle against the Tibetan exile movement, labelling the Dalai Lama a "wolf in monk's robes".
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TIBET DIVIDE
China says Tibet was always part of its territory
Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century
1950: China launched a military assault
Opposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959
Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India
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"We are in the midst of a fierce struggle involving blood and fire, a life and death struggle with the Dalai clique," he told a meeting of regional leaders on Wednesday.
"Leaders of the whole country must deeply understand the arduousness, complexity and long-term nature of the struggle," he said in remarks carried online by the China Tibet News.
The Dalai Lama - who in 1989 won a Nobel Peace Prize for his commitment to non-violent protest - has strongly rejected Chinese claims of involvement and called for calm.
"Violence is against human nature," the Dalai Lama said. "We must not develop anti-Chinese feelings. Whether we like it or not we have to live side-by-side."
He has called for an international inquiry into why the riots took place.
'Looting and arson'
The protests began on 10 March, on the anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, and gradually escalated.
The Tibet regional government said 105 protesters had handed themselves over to police by 2300 (1500GMT) on Tuesday, Xinhua reported.
All had been involved in "beating, smashing, looting and arson", the agency quoted Baema Chilain, vice-chairman of the regional government, as saying.
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Tibetan activists say Chinese troops shot indiscriminately(Warning: Graphic content)
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On Tuesday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the situation was under control - but more violence was reported by rights groups and witnesses.
As well as the protest in Gansu, the India-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy say three people were killed by security forces in Kardze, Sichuan Province.
The group said hundreds of people took to the streets with banners calling for Tibetan independence.
Rights groups say hundreds of people have been arrested in Lhasa in an ongoing crackdown on dissent.
They have released images they say show people who have been shot dead by security forces in other provinces.
Military build-up
BBC correspondents have described seeing military convoys heading into Tibet from neighbouring regions.
An eyewitness has told the BBC there has been a military build-up in the city of Aba, which has seen large-scale protests in recent days. The witness said it was in a "curfew-like" situation.
Chinese officials have denied any violence has been used against protesters.
The US-based group Human Rights Watch has called for access to those who have been arrested to ensure they are not being tortured.
China's handling of the Tibet issue is being watched closely by world leaders in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.
Officials said on Wednesday that the Olympic torch - which will be carried across China ahead of the Games - will still go through Tibet despite the current troubles.
It is due to be carried to the top of Mount Everest in May, and to pass through Lhasa in June.
China says Tibet has always been part of its territory but Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before the 20th Century and many Tibetans remain loyal to the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in India in 1959.
VoipBuster
Forget about all the other VoIP online (not the sip yet!!)
A friend of mine set me a link once. He said:"check this out, look better than Skype or Jajah... After having seen many online voip, I was a bit sceptic of the beauty of an other voip program.
2 days later I do look at it.
I got really surprised!!!
This VoipBuster, busted Skype and Jajah at once!
It put together the best of both and uses lower rates in all ways!!
Here is a brief description:
Go to the http://www.voipbuster.com/ and download the application. Its small and fast.
Once installed it, you have a quick and neat registration to make.
As soon as you did it, you get a nice confirmation messagge and you are up and running.
At this moment already, you are able to test the system.
You are able to call for free MANY countries in Europe and elsewere.
Only 5 minutes!!!
However, when you put a credit on it (I am trying with 10 Euro) you get 300 minutes a month of free calls to landlines (see the free countries available for the offer, US is free on mobile as well) for a period of 120 days (so I understood).
This makes 5 hours a month!! Should be enough!!
After the time is up, you still can use your credits to call at a lower rates than Skype does.
If you than add more credits, you re-gain the free calls capability.
All I wrote above is true using an application on your computer.
HOWEVER, they also have a service called Direct Call that will call your own home phone and connect you to your destination phone. And this for Euro 0.05 connection fee only!! than you call for free (as long as the country is in the free call list!!)
AND... they also have an access number that you can use via your mobile phone!
You call a local number at local rates, than you enter the desired phone number (internetional) and than VoipBuster connects you to your party!
And it cost the normal VoipBuster rates!!
So, I am glad to say that Skype has a good competitor!!
Here are the NORMAL rates from the Netherlands and in Euro. NOT THE FREE CALL. (check the links above for the free countries)
| Destination |
EUR/min |
Incl. |
| VAT |
| andorra (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| australia (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| austria (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| belgium (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| canada (Landline & Mobile) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| chile (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| cyprus (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| czech republic (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| denmark (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| estonia (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| finland (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| france (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| guam (Landline & Mobile) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| hong kong (Landline & Mobile) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| hungary (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| iceland (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| ireland (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| israel (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| italy (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| japan (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| liechtenstein (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| luxembourg (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| malaysia (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| monaco (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| netherlands (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| new zealand (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| norway (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| panama (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| portugal (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| puerto rico (Landline & Mobile) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| singapore (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| south korea (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| spain (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| switzerland (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| taiwan (Landline) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
| united states (Landline & Mobile) |
0.01 |
0.012 |
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Rates are charged in Eurocents per minute and calls are rounded up to
next minute.
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It Starts with: 
XS4ALL ONLY
How many of you using BASIC XS4ALL ONLY have connection and speed isues?
And how many of you using XS4ALL BASIC connection have connection and speed issues?
Please post your feedback, it is important!
Since no less than 6 months I experiment serious connection and speed issue!
When I was NOT on XS4ALL ONLY, I called XS4ALL and they told me that it was a KPN issue.
So I called KPN, and you can only imagine how difficult it was to bypass the 1st line support!!
Finally they assumed a problem and sent a technician to check my end point!
They figure out that the issue was that there are too many people on the same KPN end point and when my modem request the connection, I overloaded their 'box'!!
So I asked:"what can you do about it?" they simply answered me "NOTHING" and suggested me to slow down my connection!!
When I go to the XS4ALL web site at the DSL post code check page (http://www.XS4ALL.nl/uk/allediensten/toegang/adsl/) I have a great smily face and says I can have ANY connection I want!! COOOOOL... NOT :-(
The people fem KPN and XS4ALL told me that I will not be able to get more than I asked for!!
So, let me get it... I am a customer for MANY years.
Never had an issue.
Suddenly I have a big issue and NO ONE wants to fix it (I dont really care how as is not my issue!!).
Than I double check the XS4ALL web site and I keep seeing that I CAN GET ALL THE SPEED I WANT!!!
So where is the issue here???
I suppose that someone is not telling me the truth!!
I sent emails to the support... no answer up to today (few days so far)
I called them, waited exactly 59 minutes. Got someone on the phone that agreed with my issue and told me that the day after a technician would call me to fix an appointment or to fix the issue!!
I still got no calls.
As I am writing, I am waiting on the support phone line for precisely 47m and 50 seconds.
All they have to do is to put me in a different CARD in their end point (this is what KPN told me).
If it is the physical line issue... well... I guess they have to dig and fix!! But of course..
My modem gives me a speed acquired from XS4ALL of 1mbps-up and 6.5mbps-down (it should have been 8 but they told me that my line can only support 6!! fear enough if I would get it).
I made a speedtest on a site suggested by XS4ALL (http://www.speedtest.net/) I am lucky to get 2 mbps/down and 320 Kb/up on an Amsterdam server less than 50Km from my location!!
So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, post me messages about your experiences.
Maybe someone will read this posts and ... well... lets hope for the best!
02 MARCH 2007 at 16:13; My Speed :-(
03 March 2007 at 15:05 (after endless disconnections); My Speed :-(
05 March 2007 at 00:05; My Speed :-(
05 March 2007 at 09:25; My Speed :-(
07 March 2007 at 16:08; My Speed I FEEL LUCKY TODAY!!
08 March 2007 at 16:08; My Speed; Looks better but far from 8/1mbps down/up
Down: 1542 kbps, Up 148 kbps
10 March 2007 at 18:45; My Speed; is going up but far from reality!
12 March 2007 at 01:36; Not even in the night I get some good results!
12 March 2007,
Since I did not have any sort of communication with xs4all for my problem as they ensured me, I called them again to find out how far was the fix of my internet connection.
I found out that they closed my ticket for the second time without letting me know about it AND without solving my connection and speed issue!!
Now,a technician on their second line, have created me a new issue and beatstream is supposed working on it and give me a feedback within 2 days.
I actually was told the same all other times too and never happened. Lets see whats happening this time!
As for now, I still see my modem nor being able to connect to the ATM.
So far, Voip, and all other services running on my PC are basically useless!
13 March 2007, my speed at 10:21 :-(
a week as passed and no one (as expected by me) called me to update me on the situation!
Look at the speed Test results I have today:
19 March 2007 WOW... I have more than expected but a little more than 1/4 of what I am supposed to have!!
Think again: 
Since Skype has taken over the cyber world, many more VoIP sort of services have come out.
Among them, I found one that seems quite interesting.
The name is JaJAH.
After a very quick and simple registration, you have 5 minutes free to test. You simly have to tell them your home phone number and and thats it.
The difference is that you can Iniciate a call by choosing your recipient number while being on their pages, than your home phone will call you.
You will hear a voice saying that Jajah is connectiong you.
Than you hear the normal ringing tone and the other party will answer.
The majos benefit I see on it, it is that you will be using your own home phone to call over the internet.
Its true that today, you can do similar things using many different type of VoIP providers, but this one will not request you millions of info...
Once you like it, you pay an amount (I am testing with 10 euro) and you start calling.
the rates are a little bit more expensive than Skype but, since I am using my home phone, its acceptable. Most of the skype rates are about 2 euro cents per minute when jajah is variate and so far below the 2.9 euro cents.
On top of that, for those with a phone where you can install applications (Symbian, Pocket PC...) Jajah provides you with an application that will be idle on your phone.
When ever you call a number that does not have the country code as the one you are from, it will take over your calling and use the Jajah system.
If you do not have a phone that is WiFi, than it will start a GPRS connection and than call over the internet.
Naturally, you will have to add the costs of a Mobile to Landline or mobile to mobile, to the cost of your GPRS connection.
As a conclusion, I find this last part the most interesting part!
When you are in an other country, calling with your mobile becoimes expensive due to roaming issues.
When using Jajah, it will be cheaper to call!
In your own country... well... today there are operators that let you call for a lot less money than Jajah or Skype. But when you are on the move, it is probably the most practical and cheaper wahy to call.
References:
JAJAH site
http://www.jajah.com/
JAJAH Rates
http://www.jajah.com/info/rates/
JAJAH Tools and addons
http://www.jajah.com/info/tools/
KLM
Can you believe this?
in a world where Low Cost airlines are giving us cheap flights...
and when since the joint de-aventure with Air France happen..
Once again, those with less money will pay the highest price!
If you want to book an economy ticket with KLM and you want to pay with Credit Card, than you pay extra money for the use of the Credit card!!
WHY??
Well... just because too many people use Credit Card!
But I think to remember that we have been pushed by all public and private entities to use plastic money Vs real money.. now that we do, we pay extra for doing it!
This world is going in a funny direction!
Here is part of the mail that KLM is writing to (I guess) everyone:
"Starting 1 August 2006: Credit card surcharge to compensate for rising costs
More and more air travellers are using a credit card to pay for their tickets. This increasing credit card usage has resulted in rising costs for KLM. To compensate for these costs, we are forced to charge a surcharge of EUR 7.50 per person (with the exception of infants) for tickets booked by credit card, starting 1 August 2006. This surcharge only applies to lower priced Economy Class tickets, such as the Take Off Fares, that are booked directly from KLM (through the KLM website, for example). Of course, you can continue to use other - free - payment methods as well, such as the new payment option iDEAL, a once-only authorisation or bank transfer."
No idea if this is a Air France or KLM decision, however, I noticed that since KLM became AIRFRANCE (see shares), all got really complicated and restrictive in KLM as a customer.
Hard to Upgrade; you canot simply upgrade if you have an economy ticket.. you MUST have an economy ticket that cost almost as a first class to move to first class...
you cannot do that in the last minute (or same day) anymore as it was possible.
I am sure that readers of this articl will be able to add their own experiences.
Frequent Flyer points are reduced per flight (used to be more points per flight)
I am looking for the best alternative to KLM and Airfrance for a fidelity card that does give you something extra.
Any comment?