As Anger Over Chinese Rig Rises, Hanoi Has Few Options
"How many fingers am I holding up, Winston?"
As Vietnam seeks to force China to remove a large oil platform it has parked in disputed waters, it must balance rising anger at China at home with the need to protect an economy heavily reliant on Chinese imports----and stay out of a military conflict it can't win.
"Four."
On Wednesday, anti-Chinese protests targeting Chinese-owned as well as Taiwanese factories near Ho Chi Minh City illustrated anger over the oil rig among ordinary Vietnamese and the pressure on Hanoi to retaliate.
"And if the party says that it is not four but five----then how many?"
Hundreds of people were arrested in Binh Duong province, a hub for garment and footwear production, where local officials said 15 factories were burned and several others damaged. Taiwan's representative in Vietnam said at least 200 plants had been looted or burned down.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
May 13, 2014.
Wreckage Off Haiti May Be Christopher Columbus's Santa Maria
"Do you remember," he went on, "writing in your diary, 'Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four'?"
More than 500 years after Christopher Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria, sank in the Caribbean, a team of underwater investigators believes it has located the vessel's remains off the northern coast of Haiti----a discovery that, if proved, would be one of the most significant maritime archaeological finds.
"Yes," said Winston.
"I'm very, very confident that we've found the site," said Barry Clifford, a noted maritime archaeologist and leader of a recent expedition to the wreck. But "I think from an academic point of view, we have to be quite careful and investigate it thoroughly."
O’Brien held up his left hand, its back towards Winston, with the thumb hidden and the four fingers extended.
Marine archaeologists were giddy at the prospect of having found the ship Columbus used on his maiden voyage to the Americas in 1492.
"Do you remember," he went on, "writing in your diary, 'Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four'?"
More than 500 years after Christopher Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria, sank in the Caribbean, a team of underwater investigators believes it has located the vessel's remains off the northern coast of Haiti----a discovery that, if proved, would be one of the most significant maritime archaeological finds.
"Yes," said Winston.
"I'm very, very confident that we've found the site," said Barry Clifford, a noted maritime archaeologist and leader of a recent expedition to the wreck. But "I think from an academic point of view, we have to be quite careful and investigate it thoroughly."
O’Brien held up his left hand, its back towards Winston, with the thumb hidden and the four fingers extended.
Marine archaeologists were giddy at the prospect of having found the ship Columbus used on his maiden voyage to the Americas in 1492.
Monday, May 12, 2014
May 12, 2014.
AT&T Could Strike $50 Billion Deal for DirecTV
O’Brien’s manner grew stern again. He laid his hand on the dial.
AT&T Inc. T +0.36% is close to sealing a takeover of DirecTV DTV -0.97% that could put a value of nearly $50 billion on the satellite-television provider, people familiar with the matter said.
"On the contrary," he said, "YOU have not controlled it. That is what has brought you here. You are here because you have failed in humility, in self-discipline. You would not make the act of submission which is the price of sanity. You preferred to be a lunatic, a minority of one. Only the disciplined mind can see reality, Winston. You believe that reality is something objective, external, existing in its own right. You also believe that the nature of reality is self-evident. When you delude yourself into thinking that you see something, you assume that everyone else sees the same thing as you. But I tell you, Winston, that reality is not external. Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else. Not in the individual mind, which can make mistakes, and in any case soon perishes: only in the mind of the Party, which is collective and immortal. Whatever the Party holds to be the truth, is truth. It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party. That is the fact that you have got to relearn, Winston. It needs an act of self-destruction, an effort of the will. You must humble yourself before you can become sane."
The two sides are discussing a deal that would involve a mix of cash and AT&T stock, these people said. Dallas-based AT&T would likely pay a premium to DirecTV's share price Monday, one of the people said. An agreement could be reached in two weeks if not sooner, according to the people.
He paused for a few moments, as though to allow what he had been saying to sink in.
DirecTV's shares were up 5%, or $4.57, at $91.73 in after-hours trading after finishing down less than 1% at $87.16 in 4 p.m. Nasdaq Stock Market NDAQ +1.26% trading on Monday. The parties are discussing a price for the El Segundo, Calif., company in the low to mid-nineties per share, one of the people said.
O’Brien’s manner grew stern again. He laid his hand on the dial.
AT&T Inc. T +0.36% is close to sealing a takeover of DirecTV DTV -0.97% that could put a value of nearly $50 billion on the satellite-television provider, people familiar with the matter said.
"On the contrary," he said, "YOU have not controlled it. That is what has brought you here. You are here because you have failed in humility, in self-discipline. You would not make the act of submission which is the price of sanity. You preferred to be a lunatic, a minority of one. Only the disciplined mind can see reality, Winston. You believe that reality is something objective, external, existing in its own right. You also believe that the nature of reality is self-evident. When you delude yourself into thinking that you see something, you assume that everyone else sees the same thing as you. But I tell you, Winston, that reality is not external. Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else. Not in the individual mind, which can make mistakes, and in any case soon perishes: only in the mind of the Party, which is collective and immortal. Whatever the Party holds to be the truth, is truth. It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party. That is the fact that you have got to relearn, Winston. It needs an act of self-destruction, an effort of the will. You must humble yourself before you can become sane."
The two sides are discussing a deal that would involve a mix of cash and AT&T stock, these people said. Dallas-based AT&T would likely pay a premium to DirecTV's share price Monday, one of the people said. An agreement could be reached in two weeks if not sooner, according to the people.
He paused for a few moments, as though to allow what he had been saying to sink in.
DirecTV's shares were up 5%, or $4.57, at $91.73 in after-hours trading after finishing down less than 1% at $87.16 in 4 p.m. Nasdaq Stock Market NDAQ +1.26% trading on Monday. The parties are discussing a price for the El Segundo, Calif., company in the low to mid-nineties per share, one of the people said.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
May 11, 2014.
Rahm Emanuel Faces New Test With Chicago Pension Crisis
"In the mind. In human memories."
CHICAGO----Jumping from city-hall meetings to public-school classrooms in his black SUV, Rahm Emanuel worked to buff his image as the hard-driving mayor of the nation's third-largest city in the CNN TV series "Chicagoland." But the biggest challenge he faces as his first term ends isn't so camera ready.
"In memory. Very well, then. We, the Party, control all records, and we control all memories. Then we control the past, do we not?"
On the eve of his re-election bid, Mr. Emanuel is confronting one of the nation's most underfunded municipal pension systems. Pushing him to act is Chicago's deteriorating credit rating and a growing risk that the retirement funds could run dry. The mayor also has tried to portray himself as an elected official unafraid to tackle tough issues.
"But how can you stop people remembering things?" cried Winston again momentarily forgetting the dial. "It is involuntary. It is outside oneself. How can you control memory? You have not controlled mine!"
So far, Mr. Emanuel, a Democrat, is seeking to raise property taxes by $250 million and shrink retirement benefits for most city workers and retirees. But his administration has months of work ahead as it tries to sell aldermen, state officials, unions and the public on a complex plan that is only starting to take shape.
"In the mind. In human memories."
CHICAGO----Jumping from city-hall meetings to public-school classrooms in his black SUV, Rahm Emanuel worked to buff his image as the hard-driving mayor of the nation's third-largest city in the CNN TV series "Chicagoland." But the biggest challenge he faces as his first term ends isn't so camera ready.
"In memory. Very well, then. We, the Party, control all records, and we control all memories. Then we control the past, do we not?"
On the eve of his re-election bid, Mr. Emanuel is confronting one of the nation's most underfunded municipal pension systems. Pushing him to act is Chicago's deteriorating credit rating and a growing risk that the retirement funds could run dry. The mayor also has tried to portray himself as an elected official unafraid to tackle tough issues.
"But how can you stop people remembering things?" cried Winston again momentarily forgetting the dial. "It is involuntary. It is outside oneself. How can you control memory? You have not controlled mine!"
So far, Mr. Emanuel, a Democrat, is seeking to raise property taxes by $250 million and shrink retirement benefits for most city workers and retirees. But his administration has months of work ahead as it tries to sell aldermen, state officials, unions and the public on a complex plan that is only starting to take shape.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
May 10, 2014.
Struggling Malls Suffer When Sears, Penney Leave
"Then where does the past exist, if at all?"
NORFOLK, Va.----With J.C. Penney Co. JCP +2.92% and Sears Holdings Corp. SHLD +2.83% racing to close stores, America's weakest malls are being pushed to the brink.
"In records. It is written down."
Nearly half of the 1,050 indoor and open air malls in the U.S. have both of those struggling chains as anchor tenants, according to real-estate research firm Green Street Advisors. Of those malls, nearly a quarter are struggling with sales below $300 per square foot and vacancy rates above 20%, meaning they will have a hard time finding new tenants if old ones leave.
"In records. And----"
For an already-weakened mall industry, the negative turn for two once-reliable anchors is promising more stress at a time when the Internet is steadily stealing traffic. And the pressure is only growing. Sears Chief Executive Eddie Lampert this week said he plans to close more stores to help return the company to profitability.
"Then where does the past exist, if at all?"
NORFOLK, Va.----With J.C. Penney Co. JCP +2.92% and Sears Holdings Corp. SHLD +2.83% racing to close stores, America's weakest malls are being pushed to the brink.
"In records. It is written down."
Nearly half of the 1,050 indoor and open air malls in the U.S. have both of those struggling chains as anchor tenants, according to real-estate research firm Green Street Advisors. Of those malls, nearly a quarter are struggling with sales below $300 per square foot and vacancy rates above 20%, meaning they will have a hard time finding new tenants if old ones leave.
"In records. And----"
For an already-weakened mall industry, the negative turn for two once-reliable anchors is promising more stress at a time when the Internet is steadily stealing traffic. And the pressure is only growing. Sears Chief Executive Eddie Lampert this week said he plans to close more stores to help return the company to profitability.
Friday, May 9, 2014
May 9, 2014.
In Nigeria, Parents Tormented by Stumbling Search for Girls Kidnapped by Boko Haram
Again the feeling of helplessness descended upon Winston. His eyes flitted towards the dial. He not only did not know whether ‘yes’ or ‘no’ was the answer that would save him from pain; he did not even know which answer he believed to be the true one.
ABUJA, Nigeria----The morning after Mkeki Ntakai learned of the mass kidnapping by Boko Haram, he fired up his rickety motor scooter and sped down a dirt road in northern Nigeria to find his 16-year-old daughter.
O’Brien smiled faintly. "You are no metaphysician, Winston," he said. "Until this moment you had never considered what is meant by existence. I will put it more precisely. Does the past exist concretely, in space? Is there somewhere or other a place, a world of solid objects, where the past is still happening?"
Mr. Ntakai was joined by more than 100 fathers, uncles and big brothers, all seeking several hundred girls taken by force from a boarding school in the remote hamlet of Chibok. The men followed a trail of hair ties and scraps of clothing the girls dropped to lead rescuers. One found his daughter's flip-flop; another retrieved a remnant of a school uniform.
"No."
But the kidnappers had too big a head start. Three weeks later, the trail has gone cold for the 223 girls still missing. More than 50 managed to escape in the first few hours, jumping out of the beds of pickup trucks or slipping away while they were supposed to be washing dishes.
Again the feeling of helplessness descended upon Winston. His eyes flitted towards the dial. He not only did not know whether ‘yes’ or ‘no’ was the answer that would save him from pain; he did not even know which answer he believed to be the true one.
ABUJA, Nigeria----The morning after Mkeki Ntakai learned of the mass kidnapping by Boko Haram, he fired up his rickety motor scooter and sped down a dirt road in northern Nigeria to find his 16-year-old daughter.
O’Brien smiled faintly. "You are no metaphysician, Winston," he said. "Until this moment you had never considered what is meant by existence. I will put it more precisely. Does the past exist concretely, in space? Is there somewhere or other a place, a world of solid objects, where the past is still happening?"
Mr. Ntakai was joined by more than 100 fathers, uncles and big brothers, all seeking several hundred girls taken by force from a boarding school in the remote hamlet of Chibok. The men followed a trail of hair ties and scraps of clothing the girls dropped to lead rescuers. One found his daughter's flip-flop; another retrieved a remnant of a school uniform.
"No."
But the kidnappers had too big a head start. Three weeks later, the trail has gone cold for the 223 girls still missing. More than 50 managed to escape in the first few hours, jumping out of the beds of pickup trucks or slipping away while they were supposed to be washing dishes.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
May 8, 2014.
'Barefoot' Running Heads Into the Sunset
"There is a Party slogan dealing with the control of the past," he said. "Repeat it, if you please."
"Barefoot" running may be going the way of the caveman.
"'Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past,'" repeated Winston obediently.
The much-hyped running style that had weekend warriors ditching sneakers to jog with little or nothing on their feet, as humans had for millennia before the advent of footwear, is falling out of favor.
"'Who controls the present controls the past,'" said O’Brien, nodding his head with slow approval. "Is it your opinion, Winston, that the past has real existence?"
Health claims that had helped drive the trend are coming under attack. Vibram, which makes the FiveFingers shoes that look like gloves for the feet, has offered to settle a class-action suit that contends the company profited from unsubstantiated claims the shoes strengthen muscles and prevent injury. Vibram has proposed to reimburse buyers up to $94 for every pair they have purchased. The proposed settlement is awaiting approval from U.S. district court in Massachusetts.
"There is a Party slogan dealing with the control of the past," he said. "Repeat it, if you please."
"Barefoot" running may be going the way of the caveman.
"'Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past,'" repeated Winston obediently.
The much-hyped running style that had weekend warriors ditching sneakers to jog with little or nothing on their feet, as humans had for millennia before the advent of footwear, is falling out of favor.
"'Who controls the present controls the past,'" said O’Brien, nodding his head with slow approval. "Is it your opinion, Winston, that the past has real existence?"
Health claims that had helped drive the trend are coming under attack. Vibram, which makes the FiveFingers shoes that look like gloves for the feet, has offered to settle a class-action suit that contends the company profited from unsubstantiated claims the shoes strengthen muscles and prevent injury. Vibram has proposed to reimburse buyers up to $94 for every pair they have purchased. The proposed settlement is awaiting approval from U.S. district court in Massachusetts.
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