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In March this year, the town of Meiktila in central Myanmar was engulfed in deadly sectarian violence that destroyed whole blocks of housing, shops and mosques.

Thidar Hla (right) pictured at home in Meiktila with her two daughters: Hnin Ei Phyu (far left) and Moe Ei Phyu. They are one of thousands of families was forced to flee during clashes between Muslims and Buddhists.

The remains of one of Meiktila’s mosques after it was attacked and destroyed in the March violence.

They family’s modest home survived the unrest, while thousands of other homes were burned to the ground.

Many other families have not been as lucky, with large parts of Meiktila razed to the ground.

Myanmar’s government has said it will replace all of the houses destroyed during the rioting.

As a result, Muslims like Hnin Ei Phyu can only pray at home.

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Meiktila, Myanmar (CNN) — Nineteen-year-old Hnin Ei Phyu is on her knees at home, whispering her prayers. It’s a small sign of normality in a community where things have been anything but normal in recent months.

This young Muslim woman can’t go inside her family’s mosque because it was shut down after being vandalized. And for more than a month, she had to say her prayers from inside a shelter at a nearby sports stadium in Meiktila, a city in central Myanmar.

Fearing for their lives, Hnin Ei Phyu’s family fled their home on March 20 during the first of three days of rioting that tore apart this city of 100,000 people.

A wave of sectarian violence between Buddhists and Muslims resulted in the deaths of at least 43 people and displaced thousands more, according to the Myanmar government.

Ethnic violence threatening Myanmar?

Why Buddhists, Muslims clash in Myanmar

Myanmar’s minorities fight for survival

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Obama on Myanmar’s ‘flickers of progress’

During the clashes, reportedly set off by a dispute between a Muslim gold shop owner and two Buddhist sellers, rioters set fire to houses, schools and mosques, while people were also beaten, doused with gasoline and set on fire.

Many Muslims complain that the police stood by and did nothing during the violence. The rioting was only stopped after President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency and called in the military. By then thousands had fled their homes in terror.

READ: Despite reforms violence continues

Meiktila’s Muslims were heavily outnumbered and suffered the bulk of the casualties. Few remained in their homes because they were either destroyed by rampaging mobs or it simply wasn’t safe for them to stay there.

It wasn’t until earlier this month that Muslims whose houses were not destroyed were able to leave the shelters and return home.

“Tears came out of my eyes when I got back home,” said Hnin Ei Phyu’s mother, Thidar Hla. “I’m extremely happy to be back home.” But the 43-year old said that when she walks down the streets of this predominantly Buddhist city, it’s clear things are not the way they were before the riots. “We (Muslims and Buddhists) don’t interact with each other the way we used too,” she said. “People are keeping a mental distance between each other.”

Thidar Hla and her extended family share a collection of rickety houses along a side street in a modest neighborhood of Meiktila. A security post manned by police and soldiers has been set up just a short walk away.

Similar arrangements are in place in other parts of the city where Muslims live — a sign of the times since March. “There are soldiers and security guards on each end of the street,” Thidar Hla said, before adding that she hopes they can keep her family safe.

But in areas that bore the brunt of the rioting, little has been rebuilt more than two months on. The blackened frames of burned down homes are all that stand in some places.

Metal sheets that once served as roofs now lie in pieces on the ashen ground. The government says it will replace all of the approximately 1,600 homes that were destroyed — an easier task than repairing the trust between Muslims and Buddhists.

READ: Myanmar accused of ‘ethnic cleansing’

“Right now we don’t trust them and they don’t trust us,” said U Aung Khin, a 50-year-old Buddhist man. Aung Khin is married with five kids between the ages of five and 24. He says he has numerous Muslim friends, but things have been strained since the riots.

“After this we don’t really have to talk. It isn’t necessary for us to talk with each other at all,” he said. “I’m afraid to trust them right now.” He said he used to buy meat from a Muslim butcher but won’t now because he’s afraid his food might be poisoned.

Meanwhile, Thidar Hla’s family says they’re playing it safe by buying their food from other Muslims. She has also instructed her daughter to stay close to home. She’s a student at a local university that has not reopened since the riots.

Hnin Ei Phyu says she has several Buddhist friends at school and is hoping her relationships with them go back to normal. But she hasn’t contacted them since the violence and they haven’t been in touch with her.

Though Myanmar is about 90% Buddhist, Muslims have generally coexisted peacefully with the Buddhist majority — their children go to school together and their parents often work together. But as with Meiktila, ethnic fault lines have been exposed in some areas as the country emerges from decades of military repression.

READ: What’s behind ethnic violence?

Last year, at least 110 people were killed in attacks on Muslims in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The Muslim Rohingya people are a stateless Muslim minority living in Rakhine — thought to number between 800,000 and one million — who claim they were persecuted by Myanmar’s military during its decades of authoritarian rule.

Myanmar does not recognize them as citizens or as one of the 135 recognized ethnic groups living in the country. Much of this is rooted in their heritage in East Bengal, now called Bangladesh.

Though many Rohingya have only known life in Myanmar, they are viewed by the Buddhist majority as intruders from across the border.

Across the country, a budding movement known as “969″ has been spreading anti-Muslim sentiment by encouraging Buddhists to avoid Muslim-run businesses. “969″ stickers are increasingly found in businesses and taxis in Yangon, the country’s largest and most ethnically diverse city.

Police recently stepped up patrols in Yangon following the Meiktila clashes, though serious fighting has yet to spread there. However, in several communities within 100 kilometers (62 miles) of Yangon, Buddhist mobs reportedly vandalized mosques as well as Muslim businesses and houses.

The wave of religious unrest has prompted the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) urge Burmese authorities to allow a delegation to visit Myanmar to discuss the issue — a request the authorities in Naypyidaw have so far rebuffed.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/22/world/asia/myanmar-religious-violence/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/l3aZ4d4PAPA/myanmars-ethnic-fault-lines-exposed

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In March this year, the town of Meiktila in central Myanmar was engulfed in deadly sectarian violence that destroyed whole blocks of housing, shops and mosques.

Thidar Hla (right) pictured at home in Meiktila with her two daughters: Hnin Ei Phyu (far left) and Moe Ei Phyu. They are one of thousands of families was forced to flee during clashes between Muslims and Buddhists.

The remains of one of Meiktila’s mosques after it was attacked and destroyed in the March violence.

They family’s modest home survived the unrest, while thousands of other homes were burned to the ground.

Many other families have not been as lucky, with large parts of Meiktila razed to the ground.

Myanmar’s government has said it will replace all of the houses destroyed during the rioting.

As a result, Muslims like Hnin Ei Phyu can only pray at home.

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Meiktila, Myanmar (CNN) — Nineteen-year-old Hnin Ei Phyu is on her knees at home, whispering her prayers. It’s a small sign of normality in a community where things have been anything but normal in recent months.

This young Muslim woman can’t go inside her family’s mosque because it was shut down after being vandalized. And for more than a month, she had to say her prayers from inside a shelter at a nearby sports stadium in Meiktila, a city in central Myanmar.

Fearing for their lives, Hnin Ei Phyu’s family fled their home on March 20 during the first of three days of rioting that tore apart this city of 100,000 people. A wave of sectarian violence between Buddhists and Muslims resulted in the deaths of at least 43 people and displaced thousands more, according to the Myanmar government.

During the clashes, reportedly set off by a dispute between a Muslim gold shop owner and two Buddhist sellers, rioters set fire to houses, schools and mosques, while people were also beaten, doused with gasoline and set on fire. Many Muslims complain that the police stood by and did nothing during the violence. The rioting was only stopped after President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency and called in the military. By then thousands had fled their homes in terror.

READ: Despite reforms violence continues

Ethnic violence threatening Myanmar?

Why Buddhists, Muslims clash in Myanmar

Myanmar’s minorities fight for survival

Obama on Myanmar’s ‘flickers of progress’

Meiktila’s Muslims were heavily outnumbered and suffered the bulk of the casualties. Few remained in their homes because they were either destroyed by rampaging mobs or it simply wasn’t safe for them to stay there. It wasn’t until earlier this month that Muslims whose houses were not destroyed were able to leave the shelters and return home.

“Tears came out of my eyes when I got back home,” said Hnin Ei Phyu’s mother, Thidar Hla. “I’m extremely happy to be back home.” But the 43-year old said that when she walks down the streets of this predominantly Buddhist city, it’s clear things are not the way they were before the riots. “We (Muslims and Buddhists) don’t interact with each other the way we used too,” she said. “People are keeping a mental distance between each other.”

Thidar Hla and her extended family share a collection of rickety houses along a side street in a modest neighborhood of Meiktila. A security post manned by police and soldiers has been set up just a short walk away. Similar arrangements are in place in other parts of the city where Muslims live — a sign of the times since March. “There are soldiers and security guards on each end of the street,” Thidar Hla said, before adding that she hopes they can keep her family safe.

But in areas that bore the brunt of the rioting, little has been rebuilt more than two months on. The blackened frames of burned down homes are all that stand in some places. Metal sheets that once served as roofs now lie in pieces on the ashen ground. The government says it will replace all of the approximately 1,600 homes that were destroyed — an easier task than repairing the trust between Muslims and Buddhists.

READ: Myanmar accused of ‘ethnic cleansing’

“Right now we don’t trust them and they don’t trust us,” said U Aung Khin, a 50-year-old Buddhist man. Aung Khin is married with five kids between the ages of five and 24. He says he has numerous Muslim friends, but things have been strained since the riots.

“After this we don’t really have to talk. It isn’t necessary for us to talk with each other at all,” he said. “I’m afraid to trust them right now.” He said he used to buy meat from a Muslim butcher but won’t now because he’s afraid his food might be poisoned.

Meanwhile, Thidar Hla’s family says they’re playing it safe by buying their food from other Muslims. She has also instructed her daughter to stay close to home. She’s a student at a local university that has not reopened since the riots. Hnin Ei Phyu says she has several Buddhist friends at school and is hoping her relationships with them go back to normal. But she hasn’t contacted them since the violence and they haven’t been in touch with her.

Though Myanmar is about 90% Buddhist, Muslims have generally coexisted peacefully with the Buddhist majority — their children go to school together and their parents often work together. But as with Meiktila, ethnic fault lines have been exposed in some areas as the country emerges from decades of military repression.

READ: What’s behind ethnic violence?

Last year, at least 110 people were killed in attacks on Muslims in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The Muslim Rohingya people are a stateless Muslim minority living in Rakhine — thought to number between 800,000 and one million — who claim they were persecuted by Myanmar’s military during its decades of authoritarian rule. Myanmar does not recognize them as citizens or as one of the 135 recognized ethnic groups living in the country. Much of this is rooted in their heritage in East Bengal, now called Bangladesh. Though many Rohingya have only known life in Myanmar, they are viewed by the Buddhist majority as intruders from across the border.

Across the country, a budding movement known as “969″ has been spreading anti-Muslim sentiment by encouraging Buddhists to avoid Muslim-run businesses. “969″ stickers are increasingly found in businesses and taxis in Yangon, the country’s largest and most ethnically diverse city.

Police recently stepped up patrols in Yangon following the Meiktila clashes, though serious fighting has yet to spread there. However, in several communities within 100 kilometers (62 miles) of Yangon, Buddhist mobs reportedly vandalized mosques as well as Muslim businesses and houses.

The wave of religious unrest has prompted the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) urge Burmese authorities to allow a delegation to visit Myanmar to discuss the issue — a request the authorities in Naypyidaw have so far rebuffed.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/22/world/asia/myanmar-religious-violence/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/8xaN_pI6qRw/we-dont-trust-them-they-dont-trust-us

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CNN’s Human to Hero series screens every week on World Sport. Click here for show times, videos and features.

(CNN) — “A must-have quality for figure skaters is, I think, gorgeousness.”

Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi throws his head back and laughs, but he is serious.

His is a sport where performance is everything — from the flamboyant routines to the glitzy outfits to the interaction with the crowd.

“The best part about figure skating is how I can have the entire audience’s attention to myself,” the former world champion told CNN’s Human to Hero series.

“I believe performing and showing off is very important, but I constantly prevent myself from becoming too self-absorbed. The audience won’t be moved if I’m performing only for my satisfaction.

“It’s sort of like playing ‘catch.’ For me, when I’m watching musicals or performances, I feel a bit uncomfortable when the actor is too self-absorbed. I like the people who can perform while being sensitive of the atmosphere.”

Takahashi was raised to national hero status in 2010 when he became the first Japanese man to win a world singles title in figure skating, having the previous month become the first to win an Olympic medal in the discipline when he took bronze in Vancouver.

Despite his success — he also won silver at last year’s worlds — the 27-year-old admits he still looks up to his rivals.

“I never thought I have anything special. I’ve always thought about what I don’t have compared to other skaters,” he says.

Read: 102 and still running – the world’s oldest marathon man

“I tend to think like other skaters get more applause than I do. I constantly think about ways I can level up, and I’m often jealous of other skaters,” he adds, laughing. “When I see someone’s cool performance, it makes me want to be like them, and that’s what motivates me.”

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A big part of figure skating is the outfits — often elaborate lycra creations that might otherwise seem more at home in a musical stage show.

“I don’t have long legs and arms, and I am … short,” quips Takahashi. “So I want something that makes me look taller and with longer legs and arms.

“I want something will make me a bit bigger, and so something with flaps that give my arms a little flow.”

The shoes, with their thin blades, are even more important.

“If I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t be able to skate, so it’s like the heart,” Takahashi says.

“I think it’s something everyone struggles with, especially for me because my shoes don’t last long. I sometimes change them every month or after every competition, and it’s very difficult finding the right shoes. Depending on if the shoes are good, it affects the performance, so it’s very important.”

Read: From the front line to the try line

Born in the city of Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture, Takahashi wanted to be a gymnast when he was growing up.

But, as fate would have it, an ice rink was built near his home and his future was settled by the practical reality of it being closer than the gymnasium where he infrequently trained.

“My mother’s co-worker who really liked ice skating took me and it made me realize that I really want to do this,” he recalls.

“Figure skating wasn’t famous where I grew up, and the ice rink was just built with a small club team without a professional coach, so the number of skaters was really small. But we all worked together to manage the money, learn tricks, and organize.”

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At junior high school he met Utako Nagamitsu, who has remained his coach ever since — she is currently working alongside the Russian Nikolai Morozov, who is now back on Takahashi’s team after their initial split back in 2008.

Read: Sailing hero’s America’s Cup challenge

“We’ve traveled the world together, which other coaches rarely do,” Takahashi says of Nagamitsu. “Now it’s officially a team, with a nutritionist, trainer, management company, costume maker, music mixer and level check managers, and choreographers.”

Takahashi’s success in 2010 was all the more satisfying because he had only just returned to full fitness after a serious knee injury that sidelined him for a year.

The anterior cruciate ligament problem halted his progress after he won silver at the 2007 world championships — another first for Japan.

“I’m afraid of injuries. The surgery was good for my mental health, but it was about three years later when I was able to get back my flow,” he says.

“As for balancing off-ice and on-ice life, right now I try not to because all of it is part of my private lifestyle. I’ll take breaks to rest my body, but I generally don’t feel like I must take days off.”

Read: From townships to Tour de France

Takahashi took more time out in 2011 when he had to have the bolt from that knee surgery removed, but he recovered the following year to win his first Grand Prix Final — which was held in Sochi, the Russian resort city that will host next year’s Winter Olympics.

“The most significant competition for me is the Olympics. I’ve entered the Olympics twice, but the one at Vancouver is the one I can’t forget about,” Takahashi says.

“It was the season after recovering from my injury. It was a competition that I got so excited I started tearing up before it began, which never happened before.

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“I got hurt, and I struggled, took out my feelings on the people who supported me, and even then I was able to make the Olympics, and through the season it was the only time when I felt like I was actually competing well.

“It wasn’t the perfect performance, but it was my first medal, and I think that was when my life took a different turn.”

Read: ‘Happy’ Gilmore defies sporting cliches

Takahashi is now hoping to earn one of the three men’s places in Japan’s figure skating team for Sochi.

He finished sixth at March’s world championships in Canada, behind fourth-placed compatriot Yuzuru Hanyu but ahead of Takahito Mura in eighth.

Both are much younger — Hanyu is 18 and Mura 22 — and Takahashi is keenly aware that he has a lot of work to do if he is to succeed at Sochi.

“They definitely are rivals, but it’s more like I try hard so that they see me as their rival. Now the level of technicality of skating is very high and they grew up with the new rules, but my generation just adjusted to the new rules … It’s hard keeping up.”

But Takahashi showed last month in Tokyo that he still has what it takes, winning the individual title for the second year in a row at the World Team Trophy event, with Mura fifth.

“Since three years ago when I decided to continue my career until Sochi, I think emotionally I’m doing everything I can to prepare for it, more than any other Olympics ever,” he says.

“I don’t have the Olympics gold medal, so I definitely want it.”

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/15/sport/daisuke-takahashi-figure-skating-japan/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/vSViaqIcVTQ/importance-of-being-gorgeous

(CNN) — One contestant on “Arab Idol,” the Middle Eastern version of American Idol, has been drawing attention because of more than just his impressive vocals.

Mohammed Assaf, a 22-year-old college student, is the first “Arab Idol” finalist from Gaza. He gained popularity across the Middle East with his touching renditions of patriotic Palestinian songs.

He has been a judge favorite since the show began in March and has become a household name in both the West Bank and Gaza, where his poster hangs in restaurants, shops and homes.

The young singer has succeeded in achieving what the “two parties in Palestine failed to do — unite Ramallah and Gaza,” wrote parent network MBC in an article on the show’s website.

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Last weekend Assaf received a call from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, West Bank.

“Abbas confirmed his support of the singer and said that Assaf has made Palestine and the Arab world proud, urging Palestinians and Arabs to vote for the singer,” reported the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA.

It was no small task for Assaf to travel to Cairo to audition for the wildly popular show.

“He needed a visa (to cross the Gaza-Egypt border), but he didn’t have one,” his father, Jabar, told CNN from Khan Younis, a refugee camp in Gaza. Israel imposes a blockade on Gaza, leaving residents without access to an airport.

Palestinian officials had to make special arrangements for Assaf to leave Gaza, his mother, UmShadi, a math teacher, explained. By the time he arrived in Cairo, the doors to the venue where auditions were held had already closed.

“So he jumped the wall,” she said. Security guards seized him and were going to escort him out when a Palestinian official with the show recognized Assaf from his performances in Gaza and gave him a candidate number, allowing him to compete.

When asked by judges on the show why it took him two days to travel the 250 miles from Gaza to Cairo, Assaf simply replied, “problems at the crossing and such.”

Assaf is one of seven children. “We are refugees!” his father proclaimed. “We only dreamed he would get to this point and show the world his beautiful voice. Now we want him to win!”

“Palestinians are not the way (the world) see(s) them,” he explained. “They like to be happy. They like to sing.”

“I am very proud of him — the fact that he’s Palestinian, he is popular, and he makes people happy,” his mother said.

“We aren’t used to the fame,” she said, “but we are very happy.”

When asked about her son’s newfound popularity with the ladies, his mother says, “The girls don’t come here, to our house. But they are all over the Internet and Facebook.”

The family says social media has also been a platform where Islamic hardliners have criticized use of the world “idol” in the name of the show. But UmShadi says her eldest daughter took to social media to clarify the context of the word as “beloved” rather than “worshipped.”

The show features four judges and 12 finalists from countries across the Middle East. Contestants sing live, and the public votes via text message for their favorite singer. Two finalists were eliminated last weekend, rounding out the top 10.

Now in its second season,” Arab Idol” has gripped audiences across the world with contestants who represent many of the Middle East’s struggles.

Competing alongside Assaf for the top spot is the show’s first non-Arabic speaking finalist, Parwas Hussein, who is Kurdish, and Iraqi contestant Mohanad Marsoomy. Kurds and Iraqis have long fought over Iraq’s northern region, known as Iraqi Kurdistan. There are also two contestants from war-torn Syria, though both have been careful not to take sides.

The remaining Arab Idol contestants are: Tariq Al-Midani from Saudi Arabia, AbdelKarim Hmdan from Syria, Ahmed Jamal from Egypt, Farah Youssef from Syria, Ziad Khoury from Lebanon, Yosra Saouf from Morocco, and Salma Rachid from Morocco.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/16/world/meast/gaza-arab-idol-contestant/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/DJW5nj-5M1M/palestinian-makes-cut-on-arab-idol

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The first boardwalk was built in Atlantic City in 1870, when a railroad conductor was asked to find a way to prevent sand from filling shorefront hotel entryways. Coney Island (pictured) in New York also includes roller coasters, carnival attractions and other slices of Americana.

Two and a half hours northwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Taos Pueblo is a village of adobe buildings that has been continually occupied by Native Americans for more than a thousand years.

The Super Bowl is huge, but the purest way to experience the American-branded mix of militant strategics, refined athleticism and noble savagery is at a college football game. At fields such as the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium (pictured) prepare for some neck spittle.

Someday, media roundups of colorful American spectacles won’t include the annual Burning Man gathering in Black Rock, Nevada. But that won’t be for a long, long time.

Blues music grew up in the juke joints of the South. A few classic juke joints, like Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall in Memphis (pictured) still remain. You’ll find more along Highway 61, aka the Blues Highway, which stretches from New Orleans to the town of Wyoming, Minnesota, an American experience in and of itself.

Chicago’s Wrigley Field has a classic jewel box design — green seats, open roof, exposed steel, brick, stone — with ball-swallowing ivy-covered walls, bleacher bums and passing El trains.

Other countries have Christmas lights (fairy lights, in the UK), but no one else takes the task of impressing the neighbors quite as seriously as Americans.

Soul food makes the list because it’s delicious, unapologetically artery-clogging and it brings us face to face with our turbulent past. Sylvia’s in New York (pictured) may be the most well known.

Other countries have horse races, but none were founded by the grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Also, those races don’t have a traditional drink made of bourbon (mint julep), nor do they encourage everyone to dress like a flamboyant Southern aristocrat.

The United States has more than 1,300 megachurches. More than 50 draw a weekly attendance between 10,000 and 45,000, such as New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia (pictured).

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(CNN) — Last year we published a list of quintessential Americana experiences. You can find it here.

They weren’t necessarily the most patriotic, obvious or agreeable choices. NASCAR, bourbon, state fairs, Vegas, what’s not to love? Apparently, plenty.

There was scandal. There was outrage. There was name calling.

Because we’re gluttons for punishment — or maybe just because we think we actually can please all of the people all of the time — we’re back for round two.

Here’s our Volume II of the most authentically American experiences this country has to offer.

1. Seaside boardwalks

Boardwalks have been enhancing beachside amusement since long before the Drifters’ released their classic “Under the Boardwalk” in 1964.

The first boardwalk was built in Atlantic City in 1870, when a railroad conductor was asked to find a way to prevent sand from filling shorefront hotel entryways.

The innovation remains America’s favorite wooden path, showing up everywhere from Monopoly, which was inspired by “America’s Favorite Playground,” to the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire,” which takes place in Prohibition-era Atlantic City.

Of course, you don’t have to travel to Jersey to experience the joy of a lumber-pathed stroll; there are more than 60 boardwalks split between America’s coasts.

Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, includes roller coasters, carnival attractions, Nathan’s Famous hot dogs and other slices of Americana. Out West, the Venice Boardwalk in California offers bodybuilders, artists, trinket sellers, magicians and boutique shops a place to be seen.

2. Pueblos and powwows

One of the most inspiring American experiences is witnessing the culture of the first Americans come alive in a spectacle of swirling, pulsing color.

Every April, approximately 3,000 Native American dancers and singers from roughly 700 tribes come together in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to compete and celebrate their heritage. The teams blend traditional style with modern, innovative techniques, so the result is more than just living history, it’s the evolution of a culture that most Americans think has all but died away.

In the same area are many pueblo sites that provide tours of cave dwellings and indigenous architecture.

Perhaps the most memorable is Taos Pueblo, 2½ hours northwest of Albuquerque. This village of adobe buildings has been continually occupied by Native Americans for more than a thousand years.

Taos Pueblo, 120 Veterans Highway, Taos, New Mexico; open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; closed for about 10 weeks in late winter and early spring; $10 for adults; 575-758-1028

Gathering of Nations, University of New Mexico Arena, Avenida Cesar Chavez, Albuquerque, New Mexico; 505-836-2810

3. Wrigley Field, Chicago

Forget national pastime — to some Americans, baseball is a national religion. Wrigley Field in Chicago, regardless of denomination, is their Vatican.

Boston’s Fenway Park has two years on Wrigley (the former was built in 1912), but Fenway has had more significant updates. Like a giant video display installed in 2000, and extra seats and luxury boxes that have been added time and time again.

By contrast, Wrigley has remained fairly true to its roots. It’s a classic jewel box design — green seats, open roof, exposed steel, brick, stone — with ball-swallowing ivy-covered walls.

There’s truly no better place to watch a game if you want a direct link to nearly a century of baseball history. If you’re in Chicago during the off-season, no worries. The park provides 90-minute tours year-round.

Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison St., Chicago; tours $24 for individuals; 773-388-8270

4. College football, anywhere (though Alabama ain’t bad)

Let’s not kid ourselves. Football is the true national sport of the 21st century.

While it doesn’t get much more American than the Super Bowl, we’d argue that the most enjoyable, purest way to experience the unique American-branded mixture of militant strategics, refined athleticism, brute force and exploitation of young labor is at a college football game.

Best to get there early enough to tailgate. Bonding with strangers, drinking and grilling beforehand is 72.4% of the experience.

Pretty much any stadium will do, but a game experience doesn’t get much better than at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, home of the reigning national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. (Yes, we know, the barbecue is spicier and the cheerleaders are hotter at your team’s stadium, but we had to draw the line somewhere and “national champs” earns you the top spot on lists like this.)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, 920 Paul W. Bryant Dr., Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

5. Kentucky Derby

There’s one more sporting event we have to include on the list.

Sure, other countries have their horse races. But those competitions weren’t founded by the grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Also, those races don’t have a traditional drink made of bourbon (mint julep), nor do they encourage everyone to dress like a flamboyant Southern aristocrat. We’re talking bow ties, seersucker, bold pastels and spectacular hats that put British royal wedding attendees to shame.

Churchill Downs, 700 Central Ave., Louisville, Kentucky.; May 3-4, 2013; single day general admission $25-40; 502-636-4400

6. Burning Man

The first Woodstock Music Art Fair in 1969 was one of the most pivotal moments in American cultural history. Five-hundred-thousand people came together to celebrate drugs, weirdness, creativity, individualism, beauty and sticking it to the Man.

What’s the direct descendant of Woodstock? Before you say Bonnaroo, Coachella, Lollapalooza or any other trendy music festival — each of which is run by the Man — let us stop you.

The world’s largest festival of artistic expression is Burning Man.

The weeklong event held every year in the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada is difficult to describe. As the website puts it, describing Burning Man is “like trying to explain what a particular color looks like to someone who is blind.”

Essentially 50,000 creative spirits gather in one of the most desolate areas in the continental United States to wear bizarre clothes, make art, do drugs, experience a new form of communal living, have a hell of a lot of fun and let their freak flags fly.

Burning Man; August 26-September 2, 2013; 415-863-5263

7. Soul food

It’s difficult to pin down the most American of foods. Almost every candidate has roots in other countries, but, of course, that’s what makes them American.

Soul food makes the top of the list because it’s delicious, unapologetically artery-clogging and it brings us face to face with our turbulent past.

African-American slaves on Southern plantations were often given scraps and leftovers to eat, and had to make do with whatever vegetables they could grow nearby and with little care, as so much time was spent working. From these restrictions arose some of the finest recipes in American cuisine.

There are thousands of spectacular soul food restaurants — many of the best are in the South — but Sylvia’s in New York is maybe the most well known.

Sylvia’s, 328 Lenox Ave., New York; 212-996-0660

8. Juke joints

While we’re in the region, one of America’s great art forms, Blues music, grew up in the juke joints of the South. Jukes arose after emancipation, taking the form of shacks and private houses where African-Americans gathered to listen to and play music, gamble and dance.

A few classic juke joints still remain, some along Highway 61, aka the Blues Highway, which stretches from New Orleans to the town of Wyoming, Minnesota, an American experience in and of itself. Po’ Monkey’s, opened in 1963 outside Merigold, Mississippi, is considered one of the last remaining original jukes. It’s only open Thursdays, and it’s not easy to get to, but the music and crowd make it worth the trip.

Po’ Monkey’s; Po Monkey Road, Merigold, Mississippi; 662-843-2712

9. Outdoor Christmas light displays

Sure, other countries have Christmas lights (or fairy lights, in the UK), but no one else takes it quite as seriously as Americans.

The lighting of the approximately 80-foot tall Norwood spruce at Rockefeller Center in New York is practically a national event. But the greatest displays of holiday spirit can be seen in more rural areas. Take Magical Night of Lights in Lake Lanier, Georgia, which consists of seven miles and millions of lights, or the six-mile long Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Magical Night of Lights, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, Georgia; 770-945-8787

Winter Festival of Lights, 465 Lodge Dr., Wheeling, West Virginia; November 8, 2013-January 5, 2014; Sunday through Thursday until 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.; 800-624-6988

10. Megachurches

Americans know how to make praising Jesus memorable. Just look at Gospel music and tent revivals.

In modern times you needn’t look much further than Gospel brunches (wash away your sins from the night before with spiritual songs and mimosas) and megachurches.

Those giant boxes of worship are where thousands of Christians gather not simply to pray and praise, but in many cases to eat, shop and work out.

The United States has more than 1,300 of them, and more than 50 draw a weekly attendance between 10,000 and 45,000.

The mega-ist of American megachurches is Lakewood Church in Houston, led by senior pastor Joel Osteen. Every week his message is broadcast to 7 million viewers in more than 100 countries.

Lakewood Church; 3700 Southwest Freeway, Houston; 713-635-4151

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/15/travel/american-classic-experiences/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/t3BII9J4rkw/10-classic-american-experiences

Casting my mind back 20 years or so, I remember when hard disks were barely breaching the 1GB barrier. Even though programs at the time generally took up a lot less space than they do today, space was very much a premium. I was mainly into flight simulators at the time, and these took up far more space than your average fps did before the millennium. So much so that I would have to uninstall all other games just to run my favourite sims, and even then I’d be running the hard disk with less than 10 per cent space free.

This, of course, meant it was pretty slow, even by standards back then. Thankfully, at the turn of the century, hard disks started to increase in size almost exponentially. By 2002, 40GB was common but you still had to keep an eye on your disk space. At the time I was getting pretty interested in performance too, and generally lived by the rule of having at least 30 per cent space remaining so not to have my hard disk grind to a halt as it chugged through all the data.

Fast-forward another five years and the average hard disk had increased ten-fold again with 500GB drives now relatively affordable. By this stage of course, a vast majority of people had more space than they could ever hope to fill. With 3TB hard disks now available for less than £90 and 1TB models for around £50, for those of us that don’t have gargantuan video collections, running out of storage space is practically impossible. In fact for less than the price of a tank of petrol (in the UK anyway), you can quite easily acquire enough storage to probably last half a decade.

However, it’s this tipping point, and the fact that SSDs are still relatively limited in size, that got me thinking. Is having an abundance of storage entirely a good thing? I’ve used an SSD as my main boot drive for a couple of years now, and having seen the benefits both in terms of noise reduction and of course speed, I’m keen to make my main PC a hard disk-free zone.

The hard disk is actually the nosiest component too as the CPU, GPU and motherboard are all water-cooled. However, without spending shed loads of cash on 500GB SSDs, I’ve been looking at buying a new 256GB model for my main boot drive, using some of the slower, older ones for storage.

With my combined photo, video and program collection stretching to a couple of hundred gigabytes, my ageing Crucial C300 256GB and comparatively ancient Indillinx-based 128GB Patriot Torqx should manage, and I’ve found 256GB to be enough space for Windows 7 plus numerous programs and games without clearing out the crap every other day, as I usually did with a 128GB SSD.

The result of trying to squeeze my essential data, be it programs or photos, into a smaller amount of space than I’m used to, having dealt with 2TB hard disks for the last couple of years, is that I’ve methodically sifted through my storage to weed out stuff I didn’t really need. I converted many RAW photo files I just wanted to store into JPGs, and reduced the resolution of many too. I ran a duplicate file searcher as well and this saved even more space, picking out photos, videos and other stuff I’d managed to leave in two places as I worked on the files and dumped them into storage.

The total size of all my data was now less than 200GB – 40% smaller than what it was, and it’s now a lot more organised too, just to be able to squeeze everything onto a couple of SSDs. Would I have done this if I was still planning on using my 2TB hard disk for the foreseeable future? Almost certainly not.

I’m strangely grateful to the current limited storage SSD’s offer – I actually shudder to think the state my data would be in terms of organisation and wasted space, a couple of years down the line. In short, I think an excess like this makes us lazy, or at least it certainly did me. I was amazed at how much I could trim off my storage needs.

Is your PC a hard disk-free zone? If you haven’t made the move to SSD’s yet, is it storage limits that have put you off? If so could a bit of organising sort things out? Let us know in the forum.

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The first boardwalk was built in Atlantic City in 1870, when a railroad conductor was asked to find a way to prevent sand from filling shorefront hotel entryways. Coney Island (pictured) in New York also includes roller coasters, carnival attractions and other slices of Americana.

Two and a half hours northwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Taos Pueblo is a village of adobe buildings that has been continually occupied by Native Americans for more than a thousand years.

The Super Bowl is huge, but the purest way to experience the American-branded mix of militant strategics, refined athleticism and noble savagery is at a college football game. At fields such as the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium (pictured) prepare for some neck spittle.

Someday, media roundups of colorful American spectacles won’t include the annual Burning Man gathering in Black Rock, Nevada. But that won’t be for a long, long time.

Blues music grew up in the juke joints of the South. A few classic juke joints, like Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall in Memphis (pictured) still remain. You’ll find more along Highway 61, aka the Blues Highway, which stretches from New Orleans to the town of Wyoming, Minnesota, an American experience in and of itself.

Chicago’s Wrigley Field has a classic jewel box design — green seats, open roof, exposed steel, brick, stone — with ball-swallowing ivy-covered walls, bleacher bums and passing El trains.

Other countries have Christmas lights (fairy lights, in the UK), but no one else takes the task of impressing the neighbors quite as seriously as Americans.

Soul food makes the list because it’s delicious, unapologetically artery-clogging and it brings us face to face with our turbulent past. Sylvia’s in New York (pictured) may be the most well known.

Other countries have horse races, but none were founded by the grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Also, those races don’t have a traditional drink made of bourbon (mint julep), nor do they encourage everyone to dress like a flamboyant Southern aristocrat.

The United States has more than 1,300 megachurches. More than 50 draw a weekly attendance between 10,000 and 45,000, such as New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia (pictured).

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(CNN) — Last year we published a list of quintessential Americana experiences. You can find it here.

They weren’t necessarily the most patriotic, obvious or agreeable choices. NASCAR, bourbon, state fairs, Vegas, what’s not to love? Apparently, plenty.

There was scandal. There was outrage. There was name calling.

Because we’re gluttons for punishment — or maybe just because we think we actually can please all of the people all of the time — we’re back for round two.

Here’s our Volume II of the most authentically American experiences this country has to offer.

1. Seaside boardwalks

Boardwalks have been enhancing beachside amusement since long before the Drifters’ released their classic “Under the Boardwalk” in 1964.

The first boardwalk was built in Atlantic City in 1870, when a railroad conductor was asked to find a way to prevent sand from filling shorefront hotel entryways.

The innovation remains America’s favorite wooden path, showing up everywhere from Monopoly, which was inspired by “America’s Favorite Playground,” to the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire,” which takes place in Prohibition-era Atlantic City.

Of course, you don’t have to travel to Jersey to experience the joy of a lumber-pathed stroll; there are more than 60 boardwalks split between America’s coasts.

Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, includes roller coasters, carnival attractions, Nathan’s Famous hot dogs and other slices of Americana. Out West, the Venice Boardwalk in California offers bodybuilders, artists, trinket sellers, magicians and boutique shops a place to be seen.

2. Pueblos and powwows

One of the most inspiring American experiences is witnessing the culture of the first Americans come alive in a spectacle of swirling, pulsing color.

Every April, approximately 3,000 Native American dancers and singers from roughly 700 tribes come together in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to compete and celebrate their heritage. The teams blend traditional style with modern, innovative techniques, so the result is more than just living history, it’s the evolution of a culture that most Americans think has all but died away.

In the same area are many pueblo sites that provide tours of cave dwellings and indigenous architecture.

Perhaps the most memorable is Taos Pueblo, 2½ hours northwest of Albuquerque. This village of adobe buildings has been continually occupied by Native Americans for more than a thousand years.

Taos Pueblo, 120 Veterans Highway, Taos, New Mexico; open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; closed for about 10 weeks in late winter and early spring; $10 for adults; 575-758-1028

Gathering of Nations, University of New Mexico Arena, Avenida Cesar Chavez, Albuquerque, New Mexico; 505-836-2810

3. Wrigley Field, Chicago

Forget national pastime — to some Americans, baseball is a national religion. Wrigley Field in Chicago, regardless of denomination, is their Vatican.

Boston’s Fenway Park has two years on Wrigley (the former was built in 1912), but Fenway has had more significant updates. Like a giant video display installed in 2000, and extra seats and luxury boxes that have been added time and time again.

By contrast, Wrigley has remained fairly true to its roots. It’s a classic jewel box design — green seats, open roof, exposed steel, brick, stone — with ball-swallowing ivy-covered walls.

There’s truly no better place to watch a game if you want a direct link to nearly a century of baseball history. If you’re in Chicago during the off-season, no worries. The park provides 90-minute tours year-round.

Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison St., Chicago; tours $24 for individuals; 773-388-8270

4. College football, anywhere (though Alabama ain’t bad)

Let’s not kid ourselves. Football is the true national sport of the 21st century.

While it doesn’t get much more American than the Super Bowl, we’d argue that the most enjoyable, purest way to experience the unique American-branded mixture of militant strategics, refined athleticism, brute force and exploitation of young labor is at a college football game.

Best to get there early enough to tailgate. Bonding with strangers, drinking and grilling beforehand is 72.4% of the experience.

Pretty much any stadium will do, but a game experience doesn’t get much better than at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, home of the reigning national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. (Yes, we know, the barbecue is spicier and the cheerleaders are hotter at your team’s stadium, but we had to draw the line somewhere and “national champs” earns you the top spot on lists like this.)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, 920 Paul W. Bryant Dr., Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

5. Kentucky Derby

There’s one more sporting event we have to include on the list.

Sure, other countries have their horse races. But those competitions weren’t founded by the grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Also, those races don’t have a traditional drink made of bourbon (mint julep), nor do they encourage everyone to dress like a flamboyant Southern aristocrat. We’re talking bow ties, seersucker, bold pastels and spectacular hats that put British royal wedding attendees to shame.

Churchill Downs, 700 Central Ave., Louisville, Kentucky.; May 3-4, 2013; single day general admission $25-40; 502-636-4400

6. Burning Man

The first Woodstock Music Art Fair in 1969 was one of the most pivotal moments in American cultural history. Five-hundred-thousand people came together to celebrate drugs, weirdness, creativity, individualism, beauty and sticking it to the Man.

What’s the direct descendant of Woodstock? Before you say Bonnaroo, Coachella, Lollapalooza or any other trendy music festival — each of which is run by the Man — let us stop you.

The world’s largest festival of artistic expression is Burning Man.

The weeklong event held every year in the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada is difficult to describe. As the website puts it, describing Burning Man is “like trying to explain what a particular color looks like to someone who is blind.”

Essentially 50,000 creative spirits gather in one of the most desolate areas in the continental United States to wear bizarre clothes, make art, do drugs, experience a new form of communal living, have a hell of a lot of fun and let their freak flags fly.

Burning Man; August 26-September 2, 2013; 415-863-5263

7. Soul food

It’s difficult to pin down the most American of foods. Almost every candidate has roots in other countries, but, of course, that’s what makes them American.

Soul food makes the top of the list because it’s delicious, unapologetically artery-clogging and it brings us face to face with our turbulent past.

African-American slaves on Southern plantations were often given scraps and leftovers to eat, and had to make do with whatever vegetables they could grow nearby and with little care, as so much time was spent working. From these restrictions arose some of the finest recipes in American cuisine.

There are thousands of spectacular soul food restaurants — many of the best are in the South — but Sylvia’s in New York is maybe the most well known.

Sylvia’s, 328 Lenox Ave., New York; 212-996-0660

8. Juke joints

While we’re in the region, one of America’s great art forms, Blues music, grew up in the juke joints of the South. Jukes arose after emancipation, taking the form of shacks and private houses where African-Americans gathered to listen to and play music, gamble and dance.

A few classic juke joints still remain, some along Highway 61, aka the Blues Highway, which stretches from New Orleans to the town of Wyoming, Minnesota, an American experience in and of itself. Po’ Monkey’s, opened in 1963 outside Merigold, Mississippi, is considered one of the last remaining original jukes. It’s only open Thursdays, and it’s not easy to get to, but the music and crowd make it worth the trip.

Po’ Monkey’s; Po Monkey Road, Merigold, Mississippi; 662-843-2712

9. Outdoor Christmas light displays

Sure, other countries have Christmas lights (or fairy lights, in the UK), but no one else takes it quite as seriously as Americans.

The lighting of the approximately 80-foot tall Norwood spruce at Rockefeller Center in New York is practically a national event. But the greatest displays of holiday spirit can be seen in more rural areas. Take Magical Night of Lights in Lake Lanier, Georgia, which consists of seven miles and millions of lights, or the six-mile long Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Magical Night of Lights, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, Georgia; 770-945-8787

Winter Festival of Lights, 465 Lodge Dr., Wheeling, West Virginia; November 8, 2013-January 5, 2014; Sunday through Thursday until 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.; 800-624-6988

10. Megachurches

Americans know how to make praising Jesus memorable. Just look at Gospel music and tent revivals.

In modern times you needn’t look much further than Gospel brunches (wash away your sins from the night before with spiritual songs and mimosas) and megachurches.

Those giant boxes of worship are where thousands of Christians gather not simply to pray and praise, but in many cases to eat, shop and work out.

The United States has more than 1,300 of them, and more than 50 draw a weekly attendance between 10,000 and 45,000.

The mega-ist of American megachurches is Lakewood Church in Houston, led by senior pastor Joel Osteen. Every week his message is broadcast to 7 million viewers in more than 100 countries.

Lakewood Church; 3700 Southwest Freeway, Houston; 713-635-4151

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/15/travel/american-classic-experiences/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/t3BII9J4rkw/10-classic-american-experiences

Beijing (CNN) — Demonstrators braved a heavy police presence and the threat of arrest by massing Thursday in the streets of Kunming, China, to protest the planned construction of a chemical plant, they said.

“It was mostly a peaceful protest,” said an activist who asked to be identified only by his family name, Young. “We were singing the national anthem, shouting ‘Get out, refinery!’ together.”

He added, “We were scattered by the heavy police force in the area. I saw locals scuffling with police, people getting arrested and pulled away.”

Read more: Can social media clear air over China?

The plant is a hot topic in the city, which is the capital of Yunnan province in southwestern China.

“Every Kunming person cares about this issue,” said another Kunming native, a 50-year-old man who said rows of police thwarted his efforts to reach the heart of the protest. “The police kept blocking off the protest, block by block.”

Local government officials did not respond to CNN phone calls for comment.

Photos posted on Chinese social media sites showed uniformed and riot police surrounding groups of demonstrators.

The five activists who spoke to CNN asked not to be named for fear of reprisals from Chinese authorities.

The oil refinery and chemical plant would be built in Anning city, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of Kunming, according to Xinhua, China’s state news agency.

Pollution an economic concern in China

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China’s environmental challenges

Report: China lax in treating, policing lead poisoning

Opponents fear the chemical plant would produce tons of paraxylene, a carcinogenic chemical identified by the acronym PX.

Several days after a May 4 protest, the Kunming mayor joined executives from the state China National Petroleum Corp. and the Yuntianhua Group for a joint news conference.

“The government will call off the project if most of our citizens say no to it,” said Mayor Li Wenrong, according to Xinhua.

The provincial general manager of China National Petroleum Corp. has said the refinery will not use the chemical.

“The project has no PX facilities, nor will it produce PX products,” Hu Jingke said, according to Xinhua.

Kunming residents expressed deep distrust of government officials and the state-owned enterprises behind the refinery project.

Several said authorities took draconian measures in the days running up to Thursday’s protest in an attempt to prevent demonstrators from taking to the streets.

Opinion: Why booming China needs to act fast

A 25-year-old Kunming native who asked to be identified as Claire told CNN that police detained and interrogated her for more than nine hours after she was caught distributing anti-refinery fliers on a city street Tuesday.

“I understand we need oil refineries,” Claire said in a phone interview. She said she opposed this one because “it’s just so close to the city and the fact that the whole process was not transparent and we’re not allowed to ask questions.”

Claire said police accused her of staging an “illegal gathering.”

As part of the interrogation, she said, police took her to the print shop where she had made copies of her fliers. Then they escorted her to her parents’ home, where they demanded that she erase files about the refinery from her computer. Finally, she said, they threatened her and banned her from attending Thursday’s protest.

CNN Blog: Why China’s leaders should worry about climate change

“Basically, they’re saying if I have this on my record, I won’t get any government job or state-owned enterprise job,” Claire said.

Several other Kunming residents said students and employees of state-owned companies had been warned not to attend the demonstration.

“Kunming is a beautiful city, where we have cleaner air than any other cities in this country,” Young said.

“We fear the refinery will destroy the city’s natural environment, and we demanded to see the environmental impact assessment report of this project. But we were rejected by the government who told us it’s a ‘state secret.’ “

An executive from Yuntianhua, which also has a major stake in the chemical plant, told journalists that an environmental impact assessment for the project had not been completed, Xinhua said.

In March, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised that health safeguards would be improved and efforts would be made to control air pollution and make water supplies safer.

China air pollution: ‘Slightly polluted’ or ‘hazardous’?

“We should adopt effective measures to prevent and control pollution and change the way we work and live,” Wen said.

The emphasis on environmental and health issues comes as China’s leaders confront growing anger about choking pollution, contaminated food, and water that is unsafe to drink.

The statistics are staggering. China now burns 3.8 billion tons of coal each year, nearly as much as the rest of the world combined. In January, the smog over Beijing was so thick, it could be seen from space.

China’s CO2 emissions rose by 720 million tons in 2011 — a 9.3% increase. Pollution and dust generated in China have been found as far away as California.

Maintaining blockbuster growth has sometimes come at the expense of environmental protections.

The government has made explicit its intention to weigh environmental regulation against the cost to the economy. But analysts say the public outcry over pollution has tipped the scales.

China has already tried to boost the use of alternative sources of power, setting standards for solar energy installation and switching from coal to gas in some cities.

CNNMoney’s Charles Riley contributed to this report.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/16/world/asia/china-protests/index.html?eref=edition

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(CNN) — One contestant on “Arab Idol,” the Middle Eastern version of American Idol, has been drawing attention because of more than just his impressive vocals.

Mohammed Assaf, a 22-year-old college student, is the first “Arab Idol” finalist from Gaza. He gained popularity across the Middle East with his touching renditions of patriotic Palestinian songs.

He has been a judge favorite since the show began in March and has become a household name in both the West Bank and Gaza, where his poster hangs in restaurants, shops and homes.

The young singer has succeeded in achieving what the “two parties in Palestine failed to do — unite Ramallah and Gaza,” wrote parent network MBC in an article on the show’s website.

Gaza war: Both sides accused of crimes

Gaza future fighters and leaders

West Bank, Gaza are worlds apart

Last weekend Assaf received a call from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, West Bank.

“Abbas confirmed his support of the singer and said that Assaf has made Palestine and the Arab world proud, urging Palestinians and Arabs to vote for the singer,” reported the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA.

It was no small task for Assaf to travel to Cairo to audition for the wildly popular show.

“He needed a visa (to cross the Gaza-Egypt border), but he didn’t have one,” his father, Jabar, told CNN from Khan Younis, a refugee camp in Gaza. Israel imposes a blockade on Gaza, leaving residents without access to an airport.

Palestinian officials had to make special arrangements for Assaf to leave Gaza, his mother, UmShadi, a math teacher, explained. By the time he arrived in Cairo, the doors to the venue where auditions were held had already closed.

“So he jumped the wall,” she said. Security guards seized him and were going to escort him out when a Palestinian official with the show recognized Assaf from his performances in Gaza and gave him a candidate number, allowing him to compete.

When asked by judges on the show why it took him two days to travel the 250 miles from Gaza to Cairo, Assaf simply replied, “problems at the crossing and such.”

Assaf is one of seven children. “We are refugees!” his father proclaimed. “We only dreamed he would get to this point and show the world his beautiful voice. Now we want him to win!”

“Palestinians are not the way (the world) see(s) them,” he explained. “They like to be happy. They like to sing.”

“I am very proud of him — the fact that he’s Palestinian, he is popular, and he makes people happy,” his mother said.

“We aren’t used to the fame,” she said, “but we are very happy.”

When asked about her son’s newfound popularity with the ladies, his mother says, “The girls don’t come here, to our house. But they are all over the Internet and Facebook.”

The family says social media has also been a platform where Islamic hardliners have criticized use of the world “idol” in the name of the show. But UmShadi says her eldest daughter took to social media to clarify the context of the word as “beloved” rather than “worshipped.”

The show features four judges and 12 finalists from countries across the Middle East. Contestants sing live, and the public votes via text message for their favorite singer. Two finalists were eliminated last weekend, rounding out the top 10.

Now in its second season,” Arab Idol” has gripped audiences across the world with contestants who represent many of the Middle East’s struggles.

Competing alongside Assaf for the top spot is the show’s first non-Arabic speaking finalist, Parwas Hussein, who is Kurdish, and Iraqi contestant Mohanad Marsoomy. Kurds and Iraqis have long fought over Iraq’s northern region, known as Iraqi Kurdistan. There are also two contestants from war-torn Syria, though both have been careful not to take sides.

The remaining Arab Idol contestants are: Tariq Al-Midani from Saudi Arabia, AbdelKarim Hmdan from Syria, Ahmed Jamal from Egypt, Farah Youssef from Syria, Ziad Khoury from Lebanon, Yosra Saouf from Morocco, and Salma Rachid from Morocco.

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It was only a few months ago there was news David Beckham had signed on with a new team — and now he is retiring. Click through for a look back at Beckham through the years.

Beckham poses with Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, left, and PSG sports director Leonardo during a press conference announcing his new gig in January 2013.

Beckham makes his England debut at a World Cup Europe Qualifying Round Group 2 match against Moldova in 1996.

Beckham celebrates his goal in the 1998 World Cup Finals versus Colombia in 1998.

Becks as a member of Manchester United cools down during the FA Charity Shield match against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in London in 1998.

At the 1998 World Cup in France, in a second-round match against Argentina, Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone. England lost the match on penalties and was eliminated, with Beckham becoming a hate figure for some fans.

Beckham poses after a press conference in Awaji-shima Island, Japan, in 2002.

Beckham poses with Beyonce, left, and Jennifer Lopez during a presentation of the new Pepsi “Samourai” in Madrid in 2004.

Becks waves after a la Liga match between Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna in Madrid in 2007.

The midfielder celebrates with his sons in 2007 after Real Madrid won the Spanish League title by beating Mallorca.

Beckham makes an appearance to promote his fragrance “David Beckham Intimately Night” in Sydney in 2007.

Beckham reveals his new No. 32 Adidas jersey as part of an announcement of the start of his loan move to AC Milan from the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2008.

Beckham controls the ball during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier of European Group 6.

Beckham unveils the new Emporio Armani underwear ad campaign for the fall/winter of 2009-2010.

Beckham, No. 23 of the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team, walks toward the line judge to have a chat during Game 1 of the MLS Western Conference Semifinals against Chivas USA in 2009.

Becks arrives at Sydney International Airport in 2010.

David and Victoria Beckham arrive at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

The Beckhams attend the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in West Hollywood, California, in 2012.

Beckham celebrated his second MLS Cup success with the Los Angeles Galaxy in December 2012, when he decided to leave with a year left on his contract as he sought one final career challenge in Europe.

Beckham passes under Tower Bridge in a speedboat which carries the Olympic Torch and its torchbearer in 2012.

Beckham acts as England’s captain during the 2004 European Nations Championship football match against Croatia in Lisbon, Portugal.

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(CNN) — A pop star wife, an estimated annual salary of $46 million and the most iconic player of this generation — but to those who know the “real” David Beckham, he is just a “normal guy” and a “devoted dad.”

When Beckham announced his decision to retire from football Wednesday, there was one man who had already anticipated such an event.

Paul Clement, the assistant manager of Paris Saint-Germain, became a close confidante of his compatriot Beckham following the midfielder’s arrival in the French capital last January.

Night’s in his exclusive suite at Le Bristol hotel were luxurious, but the distance between the 38-year-old and the rest of his family is believed to be one of the key factors in his decision to retire.

While his former Spice Girl wife, Victoria, remained at home with children Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper, Beckham spent time talking through his troubles to a man with a sympathetic ear.

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David Beckham’s life in Paris

Beckham: Tom Cruise is hotter than I am

Read: Beckham reveals ‘sacrifice’ of PSG stay

“The impression from the very first time we met was that he was a devoted dad,” Clement told CNN.

“He was very hands-on with the kids and, talking to people who knew him, I knew he wanted to be involved.

“I think that being away from his family, them being in London and him being in Paris, was difficult for him.

“We used to talk about our kids all the time and he asked me questions and we chatted about schooling and what they were up to.

“He missed them and I think that was a huge part of his decision to call it a day. I just had a feeling he might retire.”

In an exclusive interview with CNN last month, Beckham spoke of the difficulty of being away from his family.

“That’s the sacrifice I have to make as a father and as a husband: being away from my family,” Beckham said.

“It is only for a short time, but it’s difficult being away from the children every single day. But they understand it. They understand that Daddy works hard.”

Read: Beckham becomes new face of Chinese soccer

It is an experience which has caused some anguish for the former England captain, who takes great pride in being both a father and a husband but has had to balance that with a busy traveling schedule.

Not only has he played in Spain, the United States and Italy, he has also kept up his many business and charity commitments and recently agreed to become a football ambassador for China.

“The kids have moved across the world and I think he wanted them to have some stability,” added Clement.

What does David Beckham give to PSG?

CNN FC: PSG’s gamble on David Beckham

David Beckham’s U.S. soccer legacy

“The oldest, Brooklyn, is 14 now and it’s important for him to get his education and feel settled and I think David felt that was crucial.

“It was great to have him around and talk, but I’ve got my family here and that’s been so good for me.

“David has four kids and he really missed them. They’re a tight unit and he found it difficult.”

Read: Beckham off as four see red in Evian

For Clement, Beckham’s arrival came at time of personal tragedy.

His friend and colleague, PSG’s former nutritionist Nick Broad, died in a highway accident last January. It was a period of great difficulty for Clement on a personal level and for all of those at the club.

But in Beckham, he found somebody to confide in and talk to — a man completely different to that portrayed in fashion magazines a tabloid newspapers.

“He’s just a normal guy,” said Clement.

“He’s quite shy in his own way, but he’s good to be around and he likes to have a laugh and be with his friends.

“For me, it was great that he was there just after Nick died because that was an awful time.

As a player, Alex Ferguson enjoyed a moderately successful career. A prolific striker, he scored 170 goals in 317 appearances including 25 goals in 41 appearances for Glasgow Rangers.

Ferguson was appointed manager of Aberdeen in 1978. In addition to three Scottish First Division titles, Ferguson guided the club to an impressive triumph over Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Ferguson was assistant to Scotland coach Jock Stein during the qualifying campaign for the 1986 World Cup. Scotland secured a 1-1 draw against Wales in their final game to reach the tournament, but Stein collapsed and died following the final whistle in Cardiff.

A late winner from substitute Mark Robbins in an FA Cup replay against Nottingham Forest in January 1990 allegedly spared Ferguson the sack. United went on to beat Crystal Palace at the second attempt in the final, giving Ferguson his first trophy at Old Trafford.

The Scot originally planned to retire from management at the end of the 2001-02 season. But, after helping the team recover from a slip in form which saw them drop as low as ninth in the Premier League table, Ferguson reversed his decision in February 2002 and signed a new three-year contract.

A boot flew into the face of Manchester United’s star midfielder David Beckham after Ferguson lost his temper following a 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Arsenal in February 2003. Beckham had to be held back following the incident and he joined Real Madrid ahead of the following season.

Ferguson’s finest hour arrived in Barcelona in May 1999, when his United team came from 1-0 down in the 90th minute to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the European Champions League final. The win completed an historic treble of titles won during the 1998-99 season, which included the Premier League title and the FA Cup.

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The seven moments which define Alex Ferguson

David Beckham has topped the list of the world’s highest-paid footballers compiled by prestigious France Football magazine. The veteran midfielder, who signed a five-month contract with French club Paris Saint-Germain in January, is set to earn $46.5 million during the 2012-13 season. Beckham is donating his salary, which is said to account for 5% of his earnings, to a children’s charity.

Lionel Messi has left every footballer on the planet trailing in his wake in recent years, but the Argentine is only second on this list with $45.2 million. The Barcelona star is reportedly set to earn $17 million from his salary and bonuses alone.

Just behind Messi is Cristiano Ronaldo on $39 million. The Real Madrid forward’s salary and bonuses amount to slightly more than Messi at $17.5 million.

Ronaldo’s compatriot Jose Mourinho, his coach at Real Madrid, tops the list as the sport’s highest-earning team boss with $18 million.

Carlo Ancelotti has benefited from the Qatari takeover of Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian, who has guided PSG into the quarterfinals of the European Champions League, is the second highest-earning coach behind Mourinho on $15.5 million.

Ancelotti’s compatriot Marcello Lippi has been richly rewarded for delivering the Chinese Super League title to Guangzhou Evergrande. The 2006 World Cup-winning coach has reportedly made $14 million from his first season.

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Beckham tops soccer’s rich list

David Beckham made an immediate impact at Paris Saint-Germain, with victories in his first two appearances against French rivals Marseille.

He was unveiled at the Parc des Princes on the final day of the January 2013 transfer window, and announced that he will donate the pay he receives during his five-month contract to a children’s charity in Paris.

Beckham celebrated his second MLS Cup success with Los Angeles Galaxy in December 2012, when he decided to leave with a year left on his contract as he sought one final career challenge in Europe.

David Beckham made his debut for English Premier League team Manchester United in 1993. By 1996, the midfielder was becoming renowned for his ability to score and create goals with his now legendary right foot. In a match against Wimbledon, Beckham stunned football fans by scoring from the halfway line.

Beckham swiftly progressed into the England team and was part of Glenn Hoddle’s squad for the 1998 World Cup in France. In a second-round match against Argentina, Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone. England lost the match on penalties and were eliminated, with Beckham becoming a hate figure for some fans.

Beckham rebuilt his reputation and in 1999 was a key part of the Manchester United team which became the first English club to win the Premier League, FA Cup and European Champions League in the same season. The Old Trafford side, led by Alex Ferguson, secured the treble thanks to a stunning late comeback against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

Beckham’s redemption was complete in 2000, when caretaker England manager Peter Taylor made him captain of the national team. He retained the role under Sven-Goran Eriksson, leading England at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and the 2004 European Championships.

In 2003, after a turbulent final few months at United which involved Ferguson accidentally kicking a boot at Beckham, he joined Real Madrid’s “Galacticos”.

But Beckham’s spell in Madrid didn’t produce the trophy rush he had hoped for. His sole title came in 2007, under future England manager Fabio Capello, thanks to a win against Real Mallorca on the final day of the season.

Beckham made the switch to Los Angeles Galaxy in the U.S.’s Major League Soccer in 2007. His stated aim was to raise the profile of soccer in the country.

Four years after heading to the States, Beckham finally won the MLS Cup with Galaxy last season. Galaxy beat Houston Dynamo 1-0 in the final thanks to a goal from Landon Donovan.

Off the pitch, Beckham is famous for being one half of one of the world’s most high-profile couples. He started dating Victoria Adams of British pop group Spice Girls in 1997. The pair married in 1999 and have four children, son Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz and daughter Harper Seven.

Football fans wear masks depicting Beckham at the London 2012 Olympics. He was not picked for the GB team, but played a big role in his hometown being awarded the Games.

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The career of David Beckham

“It was great to have him around. It was as bit weird at first, because I’d read so much about him through the press and had my own impression.

“But speaking to people who knew him, I knew he was an absolute gentleman. For somebody so famous, he’s just a normal guy. He’s very professional, does all the right things and is a great example to the younger players.”

Despite his advancing years, Beckham appeared to be in peak condition, showing a level of fitness which would embarrass some of the younger players in the PSG squad.

But while he may have yet been able to continue playing, the off-field situation gave an inkling of what was to come, according to Clement.

Read: The secret behind ‘Brand Beckham’

“I had a feeling it might happen and he’s going out at the top, which is the way he would like it,” he added.

“He could have continued on a football level because he’s certainly fit enough. But he might have been a bit-part player next season or had to move to another club and I think he wanted to go out at the very top.

“He’s really enjoyed being in Paris and competing at a high level after time in the U.S. He may have not thought it would have ever happened again, but he made the most of it.”

While Beckham will curtail his time in Paris at the end of the season, Clement hopes to remain to continue his work alongside manager Carlo Ancelotti.

But although the midfielder will exit following the final game against Lorient on May 27, his time at the club will not be forgotten.

“It’s nice to work with good players,” said Clement. “But it’s more important to work with good people.”

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/16/sport/football/david-beckham-retirement-family-clement/index.html?eref=edition

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