http://homepage.mac.com/kevinread/blogwavestudio Kevin's Crisis Talks kevinread@mac.com 2007-04-23 17:35:34 +1000 hourly 1 2007-04-23 17:35:34 +1000 http://homepage.mac.com/kevinread/blogwavestudio/LH20041008005638/LHA20070423173414/index.html http://homepage.mac.com/kevinread/blogwavestudio/LH20041008005638/LHA20070423173414/index.html

Letter to President of the IOC Coordination Commission

Date Created: 23 Apr, 2007, 05:35 PM

Dear President of the IOC Coordination Commission Verburggen, I am writing to urge you to reject China's proposal to run the Olympic torch over Mount Everest and through Tibet in the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. I understand that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will be announcing its decision regarding the final torch route on Thursday, April 26th 2007. As you are aware, Tibet was illegally invaded and occupied by China in 1949 and Tibetans have suffered under a brutal military occupation for decades. By running the torch through what the Associated Press recently called "politically charged territory", the Chinese government hopes to legitimize its claim to Tibet and to cover up its violent and repressive rule over the Tibetan people. It is unconscionable for the IOC to allow China to use the Olympic Games to further strengthen its hold over Tibet. The global community expects the IOC to uphold the ideals of peace and friendship that the Olympic torch is meant to symbolize. Allowing China to run the torch through Tibet not only undermines these ideals in the worst possible way, but also shows a complete disregard for the suffering of six million Tibet people. Please do the right thing now and ensure the 2008 Olympic Games are not used by the Chinese government as a political tool to further entrench its control over Tibet. The whole world is watching. Sincerely, Kevin Read

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Tell IOC No Torch through Tibet!

Date Created: 23 Apr, 2007, 05:27 PM

What's At Stake: Since winning the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese government has waged a strategic propaganda campaign to convince the international community that it is a modern and progressive country that should be recognized as a world leader. Part of this strategy is to silence the Tibetan freedom movement by showing Tibetans as a "happy minority" in the great and multi-ethnic Chinese family, with the Chinese government as both a protector and promoter of Tibetan culture. For example, television ads for tourism to China around the 2008 Olympics show picturesque scenes of Tibetans dancing and singing and the famous Samye monastery in central Tibet. In the same vein, China hopes to use the Olympic torch relay, one of the most important events in the lead up to the Games, to further entrench its claim over Tibet by running the torch over Mount Everest and through Tibet. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will be releasing its final decision on the proposed torch route by April 26th 2007. Tibetans and their supporters are speaking out against this plan to run the torch through Tibet and calling on the IOC to ensure the 2008 Olympic Games are not used by the Chinese government to legitimize and cover up its repressive rule in Tibet.

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Simple rules of life

Date Created: 18 May, 2005, 04:04 PM

1. Never give yourself a haircut after three alcoholic beverages of any kind.   2. You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn't, use the tape.   3. The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship are "I apologise" and "You are right".   4. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.   5. When you make a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat humble pie while it's still warm.   6. The only really good advice that your mother ever gave you was: "Go! You might meet somebody!"   7. If he/she says that you are too good for him/her * believe them.   8. Learn to pick your battles. Ask yourself, "Will this matter one year from now?" How about one month? One week? One day?   9. Never pass up an opportunity to pee.   10. If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!   11. Living well really is the best revenge. Being miserable because of a bad or former relationship just might mean that the other person was right about you.   12. Work is good, but it's not that important.   13. And finally, be really nice to your friends and family. You never know when you are going to need them to empty your bedpan.

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Improvement of IPv4

Date Created: 16 Apr, 2005, 11:22 AM

A paper by James Read, Jacque Read, Dean Read, Kevin Read and Andrew Read. Ubiquitous epistemologies and sensor networks have garnered limited interest from both security experts and computational biologists in the last several years. In our research, we validate the deployment of the UNIVAC computer, which embodies the important principles of wired cryptoanalysis. In this paper, we present new omniscient algorithms (Pau), which we use to demonstrate that Smalltalk and the transistor can collude to realize this purpose.

File Name Size Download scimakelatex.88880.Kevin+Read.Dean+Read.James+Read.Jacque+Read.Andrew+Read 83.3 KB Download

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Children should not be imprisoned.

Date Created: 11 Apr, 2005, 10:42 PM

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama, was adbucted on May 17th, 1995, along with his parents. The Chinese government admitted in 1996 that they are holding him in "protective custody." The Panchen Lama is one of Tibet's most important spiritual leaders. He is growing up under house arrest. Numerous requests from governments, human rights organisations, and the United Nations to see him have been denied, and his health and whereabouts are unknown. The Chinese government appointed another boy as the Panchen Lama in place of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. He is kept in Beijing and appears periodically at official functions.

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Spelling Lesson #2

Date Created: 22 Mar, 2005, 09:39 AM

Eye halve a spelling checker It came with my pea sea It plainly marcs four my revue Miss steaks eye kin knot sea. Eye strike a key and type a word And weight four it two say Weather eye am wrong oar write It shows me strait a weigh. As soon as a mist ache is maid It nose bee fore two long And eye can put the error rite It's rare lea ever wrong. Eye Have run this poem threw it I am shore your pleased two no Its letter perfect awl the weigh My checker tolled me sew.

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Spelling Lesson

Date Created: 22 Mar, 2005, 09:35 AM

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer n waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

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Dictionary Entry: Rumsfail

Date Created: 14 Mar, 2005, 12:08 AM

Rumsfail (rums´ fāl), v., 1. To self-destruct, melt-down or implode under the weight of one's own arrogance. 2. To fail spectacularly, particularly in matters of warfare or diplomacy; to plunge into chaos. 3. Absolute, unmitigated disaster of national or international proportions and consequence; policy failure so utterly abject and miserable as to approach the realm of the epic. "Although long considered to be a costly and murderous fiasco, the prisoner abuse scandal revealed the war in Iraq to be nothing short of a rumsfailure." See also: "Karma"

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Jamie Oliver’s favourite curry sauce

Date Created: 12 Mar, 2005, 06:42 PM

Ingredients 5 tbsp vegetable oil 2 tsp mustard seeds 1 tsp fenugreek seeds 3 fresh green chillies, deseeded and thinly sliced 1 handful curry leaves 2 thumb-sized pieces of fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely grated 3 onions, peeled and chopped 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp turmeric 6 tomatoes, chopped 1x400ml/14fl oz tin coconut milk salt For the fish version: 4x225g/8oz fresh haddock fillets, skinned and pin-boned 1 knob tamarind paste or 1 tsp tamarind syrup 1 large handful baby spinach (optional) 1 good handful fresh coriander, chopped (optional) For the chicken version: 4 chicken breasts, sliced into 1cm/ ½ in strips 1 tbsp coriander seeds, crushed For the vegetarian version: 800g/1¾lb mixed vegetables, chopped (potatoes, courgettes, peppers, onions, sweet potatoes, spinach, chard, cauliflower, lentils, beans - use your imagination) Method 1. Heat the oil in a pan, and when hot add the mustard seeds. Wait for them to pop, then add the fenugreek seeds, fresh green chillies, curry leaves and ginger, Stir and fry for a few minutes. 2. Using a food processor, chop the onions and add to the same pan. Continue to cook for five minutes until the onion is light brown and soft, then add the chilli powder and turmeric. 3. Using the same food processor, pulse the tomatoes and add these to the pan. Cook for a couple of minutes then add one or two wine glasses of water and the coconut milk. Simmer for about five minutes until it has the consistency of double cream, then season carefully with salt. 4. Take this sauce as a base. To make the fish curry, add the fish and tamarind to the sauce and simmer for six minutes. Feel free to add some baby spinach and chopped coriander at the end of the cooking time. 5. For the chicken version, stir-fry the chicken strips and coriander seeds until lightly coloured, then add to your sauce and simmer for 10 minutes. 6. For the vegetarian version, simply add all your veg to the sauce at the beginning when you add your onions. Continue to cook as normal and simmer until tender.

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Jacque's Birthday Bash

Jacque attended his first school mate birthday party today. Latiesha, one of his "girlfriends" had a P party - Jacque, not content with Prince, choose to be a Pirate.

Date Created: 12 Mar, 2005, 12:55 PM

His look was based on Captain Jack from Pirates of the Caribbean - aka Keith Richards

Avast there me matey!

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The Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the 46th Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day

Date Created: 10 Mar, 2005, 01:28 PM

On the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the Tibetan People's Uprising, I convey my warm greetings to my fellow Tibetans in Tibet and in exile and to our friends around the world. During these more than four decades great changes have taken place in Tibet. There has been a great deal of economic progress along with development in infrastructure. The Golmud-Lhasa railway link that is being built is a case in point. However, during the same period much has been written by independent journalists and travelers to Tibet about the real situation in Tibet and not what they have been shown. Most of them portray a very different picture than what the Chinese government claims, clearly criticizing China about the lack of human rights, religious freedom and self-rule in Tibet. What has actually happened and is still happening is that since the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region the real authority has been solely held by Chinese leaders. As for the Tibetan people, they have been facing suspicions and growing restrictions. The lack of true ethnic equality and harmony based on trust, and the absence of genuine stability in Tibet clearly shows that things are not well in Tibet and that basically there is a problem. Prominent and respected Tibetan leaders in Tibet have spoken out on this from time to time and even suffered because of their courageous acts. In the early 1960s, the late Panchen Lama outlined the sufferings and aspirations of the Tibetan people in his petition to the Chinese leaders. Baba Phuntsok Wangyal, one of the foremost Tibetan communist leaders, in his recent biography published in English dwells at length on the need to meet the interests of the Tibetan people. In fact, it is clear that most senior Tibetan officials in Tibet deep in their hearts are extremely dissatisfied. This year the Chinese government will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. There will be much fanfare and many commemorative events to celebrate the occasion but these will be meaningless when they do not reflect the ground realities. For example, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution were celebrated with great pomp as real achievements at the time they took place. China has made tremendous economic progress during the past more than two decades. China today is not what it was twenty or thirty years ago. Much has changed in China. As a result she has become a major player in the world and China rightly deserves this position. It is a big nation with a huge population and a rich and ancient civilization. However, China's image is tarnished by her human rights records, undemocratic actions, the lack of the rule of law and the unequal implementation of autonomy rights regarding minorities, including the Tibetans. All these are a cause for more suspicion and distrust from the outside world. Internally, they are an obstacle to unity and stability that are of utmost importance to the leaders of the People's Republic of China. In my view, it is important that as China becomes a powerful and respectable nation she should be able to adopt a reasonable policy with confidence. The world in general, of which China is a part, is changing for the better. In recent times there is definitely a greater awareness and appreciation for peace, non-violence, democracy, justice and environmental protection. The recent unprecedented response from governments and individuals across the world to the tsunami disaster victims reaffirms that the world is truly interdependent and the importance of universal responsibility. My involvement in the affairs of Tibet is not for the purpose of claiming certain personal rights or political position for myself nor attempting to stake claims for the Tibetan administration in exile. In 1992 in a formal announcement I stated clearly that when we return to Tibet with a certain degree of freedom I will not hold any office in the Tibetan government or any other political position and that the present Tibetan administration in exile will be dissolved. Moreover, the Tibetans working in Tibet should carry on the main responsibility of administering Tibet. I once again want to reassure the Chinese authorities that as long as I am responsible for the affairs of Tibet we remain fully committed to the Middle Way Approach of not seeking independence for Tibet and are willing to remain within the People's Republic of China. I am convinced that in the long run such an approach is of benefit to the Tibetan people for their material progress. It is encouraging that there is support from various parts of the world for this approach as being reasonable, realistic and of mutual benefit to the Chinese and Tibetans. I am particularly encouraged by the recognition and support that has come from certain quarters of the intellectual circle from within China. I am happy with our renewed contacts with the Chinese leadership and that the third round of meetings last September shows that gradually our interactions are improving. Now that our elected political leadership is shouldering more responsibility in Tibetan affairs, I have advised them to look into the issues raised by the Chinese side during our third round of talks and to take steps to address or clarify them as needed. We remain hopeful that eventually we will be able to develop the necessary trust and resolve this long-standing issue to our mutual benefit. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express the Tibetan people's gratitude and appreciation to the people and Government of India for their steadfast sympathy and support. I very much feel a part of this nation not only because of the centuries-old religious and cultural ties that India and Tibet enjoyed but also because I and most of the Tibetans in exile lived in India for the past 45 years. I offer my prayers to the brave men and women of Tibet who gave their lives for the cause of Tibetan freedom. The Dalai Lama March 10, 2005

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Quote of the day

Date Created: 07 Mar, 2005, 11:03 AM

"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger." -- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials

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Linux on the iPod

Date Created: 05 Mar, 2005, 12:03 PM

Being a tech head, the recent work on porting linux to the iPod has got me excited. Most iPod owners wont know or care about the project but if its works well it will have a huge impact, bringing many benefits to iPod users worldwide. New functionality, games etc would only increase its usefulness and popularity. I hope Apple is watching and helps out with the project. See: http://www.ipodlinux.org for the details.

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Joke of the Day - Court Room Transcripts

Date Created: 05 Mar, 2005, 09:50 AM

Some of these Court Room Q&A transcripts are so silly they could be true. Q: Are you sexually active? A: No, I just lie there. _______________________________ Q: What is your date of birth? A: July 15. Q: What year? A: Every year. ______________________________________ Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact? A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks. ______________________________________ Q: This condition you have... does it affect your memory at all? A: Yes. Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory? A: I forget. Q: You forget? Can you give us an example of something that you've forgotten? _____________________________________ Q: How old is your son, the one living with you? A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which. Q: How long has he lived with you? A: Forty-five years. _____________________________________ Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke up that morning? A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?" Q: And why did that upset you? A: My name is Susan. ______________________________________ Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo or the occult? A: We both do. Q: Voodoo? A: We do. Q: You do? A: Yes, voodoo. ______________________________________ Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning? A: Did you actually pass the bar exam? ___________________________________ Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he? _____________________________________ Q: Were you present when your picture was taken? ______________________________________ Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th? A: Yes. Q: And what were you doing at that time? ______________________________________ Q: She had three children, right? A: Yes. Q: How many were boys? A: None. Q: Were there any girls? ______________________________________ Q: How was your first marriage terminated? A: By death. Q: And by whose death was it terminated? ______________________________________ Q: Can you describe the individual? A: He was about medium height and had a beard. Q: Was this a male, or a female? ______________________________________ Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney? A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work. ______________________________________ Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people? A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people. ______________________________________ Q: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to? A: Oral. ______________________________________ Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body? A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m. Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time? A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy. ______________________________________ Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample? ______________________________________ Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse? A: No. Q: Did you check for blood pressure? A: No. Q: Did you check for breathing?! A: No. Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy? A: No. Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor? A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar. Q: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless? A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.

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Thought for the day

Date Created: 14 Feb, 2005, 09:45 AM

There are only 10 kinds of people; the ones who can read binary numerals, and the ones who can't!

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Losar Tashi Delek!

Date Created: 09 Feb, 2005, 07:12 PM

Today is the first day of Losar, the Tibetan New Year. A Tibetan lunar year usually has twelve months (occasionally there are thirteen!) and this day marks the beginning of the 'Wood Bird' year 2132. The Wood Bird year will bring change, prosperity, and fortune to all. The astrologers predict a year with few natural calamities but have a word of caution for children and elders: "watch your step!" It will be a year of timely rainfall, bountiful harvest, and on the whole, a better year than last. Tibetans everywhere celebrate Losar by gathering with friends and family to eat dresil (sweet rice) in the morning, and drink chang (Tibetan beer) in the evening. Losar is a time of merriment and renewal, when old clothes and bad habits are discarded for new hopes and good deeds. Losar Tashi Delek!

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My precious

Date Created: 07 Feb, 2005, 12:37 AM

The real precious. What more can I say?

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Atkins Update

Date Created: 03 Feb, 2005, 09:45 AM

After over doing it a little and stalling for a short time on Stage 2 - Ongoing weight Loss, i'm back on track and the weight is starting to fall off again. Weight: Start 94 kgs Current 83 kgs Total Weight Loss 11 kgs More importantly, the size of the gut is now down by 1.5 inches and is visually smaller.

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Hide Your IPod, Here Comes Bill

Date Created: 03 Feb, 2005, 09:33 AM

This one from the category "Its gotta piss you off". To the growing frustration and annoyance of Microsoft's management, Apple Computer's iPod is wildly popular among Microsoft's workers. "About 80 percent of Microsoft employees who have a portable music player have an iPod," said one source, a high-level manager who asked to remain anonymous. "It's pretty staggering." The source estimated 80 percent of Microsoft employees have a music player -- that translates to 16,000 iPod users among the 25,000 who work at or near Microsoft's corporate campus. "This irks the management team no end," said the source. So popular is the iPod, executives are increasingly sending out memos frowning on its use. Read the full article at Wired.

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Joke of the Day

Date Created: 21 Jan, 2005, 06:32 PM

Heard this one today - chuckled! One day in the future, George Bush has a heart attack and dies. He immediately goes to hell, where the devil is waiting for him. "I don't know what to do here," says the devil. "You are on my list, but I have no room for you. You definitely have to stay here, so I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I've got a couple folks here who weren't quite as bad as you. I'll let one of them go, but you have to take their place. I'll even let YOU decide who leaves." Bush thought that sounded pretty good, so the devil opened the first room. In it was Richard Nixon and a large pool of water. He kept diving in and surfacing empty handed. Over and over and over. Such was his fate in hell. "No," George said. "I don't think so. I'm not a good swimmer and I don't think I could do that all day long." The devil led him to the next room. In it was Newt Gingrich with a sledge hammer and a room full of rocks. All he did was swing that hammer, time after time after time. "No, I've got this problem with my shoulder. I would be in constant agony if all I could do was break rocks all day," commented George. The devil opened a third door. In it, Bush saw Bill Clinton, lying on the floor with his arms staked over his head, and his legs staked in a spread eagle pose. Bent over him was Monica Lewinsky, doing what she does best. Bush took this in disbelief and finally said, "Yeah, I can handle this." The devil smiled and said: "OK, Monica, you're free to go."

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