What's in the News

Cue John Williams fanfare...is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Super Bishop!
Women can't hold leading positions in the Church because Jesus was a raging misogynist would not approve...errr...according to what gospel exactly? As I recall, one very important figure in the Messiah posse was a woman.
It is, to me anyway, highly amusing that I spend most of my time translating articles about how Christian Europeans rail and rant against Islam as a religion that oppresses women and does not treat them as equals. "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone"...I read that somewhere...some minor character in the Bible said it...not an important chap or anything.


CNN) -- The Vatican said Tuesday it regrets the decision by the Church of England's governing body to allow the ordination of women as bishops.


General view of the Synod Assembly Chamber during the General Synod Session.

 The move by the Anglican Church's General Synod "is a rift to the apostolic tradition" of ordaining only men as bishops, the Vatican said in a statement, and is another obstacle to reconciliation between Anglicans and Roman Catholics.

"This decision will have consequences on the dialogue which had brought good fruits," the Vatican statement said.

The General Synod passed a resolution Monday night that allows women to become bishops, acting over the objections of traditionalists who argued that Jesus only wanted men in leadership positions.

Some traditionalists have threatened to abandon the Anglican Church for the Roman Catholic Church if women become bishops. Several hundred Anglican priests made that move when women were first ordained 16 years ago.

The synod narrowly rejected a proposal for "super bishops," which would have allowed parishes opposed to women bishops to opt out. Opponents argued the plan would be insulting to women bishops.

The Church of England has about 114 bishops. They supervise parishes in Britain.

The final hurdle for the consecration of women bishop is expected next February with a vote on a "code of practice" intended to protect people who as a matter of theological conviction will not be able to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests."

The first consecration of a woman bishop could potentially happen in 2015.

The theological debate over women bishops has centered over the question "What would Jesus do?"

The traditionalists argued that bishops must be men, as were Jesus and his apostles.

Retired Canon Alan Duke, a longtime supporter of women in church leadership posts, said those arguments "simply do not stack up."

Duke said that while Jesus named no female disciples, he used and valued woman in radical and different ways for his time.

"He was hardly going to choose women and send them into a situation where they might have been in grave risk," Duke said.

Christina Rees, with the pro-women lobby Women and the Church, described what was at stake as "an acceptance by the Church of England of women on equal terms as men in the ordained ministries."

David Holding, a traditionalist church member, said he does not object to women bishops, but "there must be a proper provision made for those who can't go along with it."

The lack of a provision to allow traditionalist choose to be under a "super bishop" instead of a woman raises concern that a schism could develop in the Church of England.

Duke described "an awful lot of bluster" but doubted there "will be a mass exodus."

The Roman Catholic Church's "tradition" of only ordaining of era goes back to Pope Gregory the... um, 3.1426th, who banned women from the pulpit, likely as a way to break the Goddess-based traditins of European cultures.  I see nothing in that article arguing against the wisdom of ordaining women, except "We shouldn't in the future because we don't now."

Perhaps those black-clad hermits should climb down into the world and walk around with the rest of us.

Keeping it harmonious!

Five-ring circus

Jul 17th 2008
From The Economist print edition
A weekly round-up of news from the Forbidden Citius, Altius, Fortius

The Chinese authorities are taking no chances: 100,000 troops, anti-aircraft missiles, checkpoints ringing the city. Beijing’s Olympics, they say, are the most threatened by terrorists in history. Evidence for this is thin. China says it has arrested 82 “suspected terrorists” in the western region of Xinjiang for allegedly plotting to sabotage the games. On July 9th two terrorists were reportedly executed there. A day earlier police killed five people in a raid on a “holy-war training group” in the region’s capital, Urumqi. The suspects “wielded knives”, a police spokesman said. Not exactly dirty bombs, but you have to start somewhere.

What worries Chinese officials is the risk of yet more political embarrassment after a round-the-world tour of the Olympic torch was dogged by protests. Even slogans on T-shirts make them fret. Spectators at the games have been banned from wearing “I love China” T-shirts (lest, presumably, anyone thinks they can get away with “I love T”). Under pressure from foreign television networks, the government has reversed its ban on live broadcasts by the foreign media from Tiananmen Square, the city’s most sensitive site. But it is insisting on limited hours and no invited guests—ie, no dissidents.

Officials say that, notwithstanding Beijing’s semi-permanent shroud of haze, air quality is improving and should get even better. For two months, beginning on July 20th, drivers will only be able to use their vehicles on alternate days depending on their licence-plate numbers. The city plans this month to open two new underground-railway lines and a rail link to the airport, which could help reduce car traffic further. The worst-polluting factories in Beijing and its environs are being ordered to cut production or stop work altogether.

But who is to say if the air will be good enough for endurance events such as the marathon? An environmental official was quoted in the Hong Kong press, claiming air pollution had been exaggerated: “We don’t need any independent party to help us monitor our air quality during the event.” Unconvinced, some Olympic teams are staying away from Beijing until the last minute.
Doggone!

“If visitors ask for it to be served, we will dissuade them.” Xiong Yumei, deputy director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau, referring to the city’s ban on Olympic-designated restaurants serving dog-meat, a common dish. Other restaurants can keep dog on the menu if they insist, but have been advised to drop it.

Locals travelling to Beijing, starting on the 20th July, will have to show ID to book train tickets and the tickets will have some form of ID on them to verify that the traveller is the buyer.  No-one with a criminal record of any form will be allowed to travel to Beijing.

Soon no liquids will be allowed to be carried on the underground - so no-one will be able to carry water or tea with them.

It's all good fun!

"Air pollution isn't that bad.  And no, you may not measure it."  Retards.

Dutch-Chinese relations now take a nose dice!


Baby panda chokes to death on milk

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From correspondents in Amsterdam | July 19, 2008

A BABY panda adopted by a domestic cat at Amsterdam's Artis zoo has died after choking on the milk of its foster mother.

"The little one was discovered lifeless on Thursday morning," the zoo said in a statement.

"A post-mortem revealed that its windpipe was filled with milk. It had choked to death."

The red panda cub was born on June 30, but was rejected by its own mother, along with a sibling who died shortly afterwards.

It was adopted by a zoo employee's pet cat who suckled the newborn with its own four kittens.

"The cat had just had kittens and accepted the baby panda as a foster child," said the zoo statement.

"As far as we know, this was the first time that a cat has adopted a baby panda."

Red pandas, which are only slightly larger than domestic cats, are an endangered species found mostly in the eastern Himalayas. Many zoos worldwide have breeding programs as only about 2500 red pandas remain in the wild today.

A Chinese reality show Boys and Girls is being filmed on the Gold Coast (near Brisbane,Australia)During last week, contestants herded sheep,made damper and learned to surf.Sea World dolphins presented the loved-up couples with engagement rings. .
According to my newspaper,one can see Chinese reality TV footage at thesundaymail.com.au.

"made danmper"..duibuqi, wo bu dong.

"made danmper"..duibuqi, wo bu dong.

You expect to teach English in China? Tsk tsk.

"made damper"..duibuqi, wo bu dong.

Damper is an Australian form of soda bread, used by stockmen (sheepherders or "cowboys").

stockmen (sheepherders or "cowboys")

The proper term is jackaroo or jillaroo. 

Be careful in bars!

British government denies Chinese 'honeytrap'09:00 AEST Mon Jul 21 20082 hours 30 minutes agoAFPVIEWS: 0| FLOCKS: 0| 0 comments so farPrime Minister Gordon Brown's office confirmed on Saturday that an investigation was launched after an aide to the premier lost his BlackBerry mobile device while on a trip to China in January.

Downing Street denied, however, a report in The Sunday Times newspaper that the aide had been the victim of a "honeytrap" by Chinese intelligence agents, and said the BlackBerry had instead been lost at an "evening event" and added that security was not compromised.

"It is correct that a member of Prime Minister's Office lost their BlackBerry during a visit to China in January, however not in the circumstances described in the story," Brown's office said in a statement.

"The BlackBerry was lost at an evening event attended by the member of staff and others from the official party.

"This was reported immediately and mitigation measures were put in place -- an investigation has subsequently taken place. There was no compromise to security."

The Sunday Times had reported that the aide, who was not named, was picked up by a Chinese woman who approached him at a Shanghai disco, and agreed to go back to his hotel with her.

According to the weekly, which cited an unidentified senior official, the aide reported his BlackBerry, a mobile phone that can also be used to make and receive e-mails, missing the following morning.

A senior official was quoted in the paper as saying that the incident had all the hallmarks of a honeytrap by the Chinese government.

Beijing's blue skies show air may be clearing

By China correspondent Stephen McDonell

Posted Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:00am AEST
Updated Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:16am AEST
Residents and Olympians alike hope the air will be clear for the Games.

Residents and Olympians alike hope the air will be clear for the Games. (Getty Images: China Photos, file photo)

    * Video: Wheel progress: Beijing is going all out to clean up it's air. (ABC News)

Beijing's battle with air quality and traffic congestion has stepped up a notch as it tries to clean up the city's air for the Olympic Games next month.

The sky was blue in Beijing over the weekend and people were starting to say that the air pollution reduction methods in place for the Olympics might just work.

Factories have been closed, three new subway lines opened and traffic bans put in place.

Private cars have now been banned from driving every second day, using an 'odds and evens' number plate system.

Government officials say this will take 45 per cent of Beijing's 3.3 million private cars off the road during the Olympic period.

Traffic was also flowing freely around the normally congested city. Many locals will have to change their transport habits if they want to get to work today, but most don't seem to mind.

"It's really not convenient, but we do understand and support the restrictions," one man said.

"It's not a problem; we should all make a contribution to the Olympics," a woman added.

Private companies have been asked to adjust working hours during the Olympics, so people start and finish at staggered times instead of the normal rush hours.

Factory shutdowns have also commenced. Polluting industries will remain closed for two months to reduce emissions.

Travelling without the car

Probably the key piece of infrastructure which the Olympic Games will leave Beijing is the expanded subway.

Over the weekend, three new lines opened, including the services to the airport and the Olympic stadium. The subway now runs for 200 kilometres, with 160 stations.

Meng Fanyu is a Communist Party official and subway worker.

"The subway system is convenient, non-polluting, fast and safe. It's good for Beijing to reduce both air pollution and the use of the car," he said.

Even with the new subway lines, Beijing's buses will take up most of the slack of the millions of extra commuters who will need to travel around this enormous city without their cars.

The other option is to go for a blast from the past and get back on board the trusty Chinese pushbike - the bike lanes are still there, although they're becoming ever-smaller.

But bike shop owners say the new car restrictions have meant an increase in sales.

The sky was blue for one day.

I saw blue sky once in Beijing during my two trips there.

I think I would be scared if strangers walked up to me in the street, beaming with joy and proceeded to inform me that I am great. It's obviously true but still somewhat on the wrong side of spooky.


Olympic etiquette: 'Eight don't asks'Story Highlights
Propaganda department of Dongcheng district put together advice

Locals instructed not to ask about age, salary, love life, political views

Locals recommended to use phrases like "You are really great"

Posters are part of government measures to clean up China's image

Next Article in World »


 Read  VIDEO
     
BEIJING, China (AP) -- Questions about salaries are out. Ditto queries about the age of a foreigner visiting Beijing for the Olympics. And an inquiry about someone's love life? Forget it.


A foreigner takes a snapshot at the Tan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing on Wednesday.

 These are part of the "Eight don't asks" displayed on posters in a central Beijing district that give conversational etiquette guidelines to residents for when they meet foreigners or disabled athletes during next month's Olympics.

The advice on Chinese-language posters was put together by the propaganda department of Dongcheng district to educate residents on how to properly welcome visitors during the Olympics, a spokeswoman for the district said.

Dongcheng includes Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. It is also the location of the Beijing Workers' Gymnasium, the boxing venue for the August 8-24 Olympics.

One poster focuses on "etiquette when communicating with foreigners." Locals are instructed not to ask foreigners personal questions about their age, salary, love life, health, income, political views, religious beliefs or personal experiences.

"It's normal for Chinese to ask people they just met such questions, but foreigners respond negatively to such questions," Beijing municipal government spokeswoman Wang Zhaoqian said Wednesday.

"By educating locals, we hope that they will become more socially sensitive when communicating with visitors," she said.

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Another poster gives advice on talking to disabled people. Locals are told not to use phrases such as "It's up there," or "It's over there" when talking to anyone who is visually impaired, and to avoid phrases such as "It's behind you" to physically impaired athletes.

Instead, locals are recommended to use phrases such as, "You are really great," or "You are wonderful."


In May, Beijing organizers apologized for a training manual issued to thousands of Olympic and Paralympic volunteers following complaints about inappropriate language used to describe disabled athletes.

The posters are part of wide-ranging measures the government has taken to clean up China's image during the Olympics. China's communist government and Beijing Olympic organizers have been conducting sweeping campaigns to get citizens to wait patiently in line, stop spitting and improve their driving habits.