PRAGUE, Czech Republic -

Besides serving as a non-competitive platform for manufacturers, the objective of the meeting was to revise the existing standards on equipment and add new standards wherever need was felt. Currently, the UIAA makes Safety Standards for 19 equipments that are accepted and implemented world-wide. Any piece of mountaineering equipment with a UIAA Safety Label certifies it to be of highest quality.

At the meeting, a total of 10 national delgates from Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Germany, USA, Czech Republic, UK and Switzerland were present as Commission Members. Apart from this, about 50 mountain equipment manufacturers were present. Some of the prominent UIAA Label Holders included - Edelrid, Edelweiss, Beal, Camp, Black Diamond, Tendon, Singing Rock, Kong, Mammut, Arcyteryx, Wild Country, DMM, AustriAlpin etc. Test Laboratories too were also represented from Germany, France and Czech Republic. The meeting was divided into three major areas of interest and the national delegates presented papers on proposed changes to standards on these broad categories:

A.) Textile - Ropes and Via-ferrate equipment etc

B.) General issues - Safety Label Adminstration

C.) Metals - Karabiners, Braking Devices etc

Voting was carried out supporting or rejecting proposals. An overwhelming attendance at the meet ensured well thought-out and deliberate decision making. UIAA partners with a large outdoor equipment retailer REI in North America; for its approved equipment to be sold in their large network of stores. It was also observed that the number of enquiries for Safety Label have been growing from Asia, South America and Africa.

The details of all decisions taken are availble for all enthusiastic mountaineers and climbers to read themselves. Pease visit the UIAA website for the latest news on Key Decisions taken.

"UIAA Safety Label - Designed for Climbers, by Climbers"

****

PARTICIPATE IN FORUM 

 UIAA Safety Standard: Look before you Buy!

The Departed (2006)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/

Regi: Martin Scorsese

Manus: William Monahan

Med: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson og Alec Baldwin.

Spilletid: 151 min

Dette er da den andre og øverste filmen av Martin Scorsese. Som sagt i forrige innlegg er han en av favorittregissørene mine. Generelt sett er Goodfellas og Taxi Driver regnet som de to beste filmene hans (henholdsvis 15. og 38. plass på top 250), og selv om begge disse er solide 9/10-filmer etter min mening, er det altså The Departed og Raging Bull som er mine favoritter.

The Departed har litt av et stjernelag på skuespillersiden, med litt eldre storheter som Nicholson (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Shining), Sheen (Apocalypse Now) og Baldwin (Glengarry Glen Ross), i tillegg til de yngre som DiCaprio (Blood Diamond, The Aviator), Damon (Good Will Hunting, The Bourne Identity) og Wahlberg (Boogie Nights).

The Departed handler om to unge menn i Boston's politiopplæring. Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) kommer fra dårlige kår, og blir valgt ut til å gå inn undercover. Politiet vil få has på Frank Costello (Nicholson), lederen av den irske mafiaen. Det de ikke vet, er at Colin Sullivan (Damon) også nettopp har blitt politimann, og hans lojalitet ligger hos Costello. Når så Sullivan blir satt opp til å lede gruppen som skal fange ham selv, og Costello ber han om å finne ut hvem muldvarpen i gjengen hans er, er det duket for forvirring og dobbeltspill med livet som innsats.

Først bør det vel nevnes at filmen er en remake av en trilogi fra Hong Kong, med navnet Infernal Affairs (den første). Den har en skare av fans som er rasende over den nye, dårlige versjonen. Jeg har sett begge to, og Infernal Affairs er en god film, men rett og slett ikke i nærheten av så bra som The Departed. Sånn ser i alle fall jeg det.

Scorsese er jo en mester innen sjangeren, og dette er toppen av kransekaka. En fantastisk historie, som aldri slutter å være spennende gjennom 2,5 time, som i tillegg har en slutt som slår pusten ut av deg. Det er vel kanskje slutten som har fått en del kritikk blant de som ikke liker filmen, men for meg fungerte det så det suste, og jeg syntes det var veldig passende i forhold til resten av filmen.

Skuespillet er det absolutt ingenting å si på. Absolutt en av Wahlbergs beste roller, og Nicholson passer utrolig godt som mafiasjef. Men de aller beste prestasjonen syns jeg DiCaprio gjør. Han tar virkelig steget inn som en kvalitetsskuespiller med denne filmen her.

Masse stilige kameraføringer, og ikke bare tradisjonelt. Er blandt annet noen kjappe kjøringer under dialogscener, som egentlig ikke er vanlig, men det brukes bra her. Apropos dialog, så er jo manuset glimrende. Føles veldig naturlig, men er samtidig "krydret" med allslags utrolig morsomme replikker, ofte levert av Wahlbergs karakter.

The Departed var den beste filmen jeg så på kino i 2006, og jeg så den i tillegg to ganger. Jeg er rimelig sikker på at dette kommer til å forbli en klassiker langt fram i tid. Den vant fire Oscar; Beste film, Beste regi, Beste klipp og Beste manus basert på annet materiale. Fire av de aller beste prisene å få, med andre ord. I tillegg ble Wahlberg nominert til Beste mannlige birolle, men vant ikke. På IMDb har den en rating på 8.5/10 med 187 156 stemme, og den er dermed på 45. plass på top 250.

Se trailer:

Få sett denne filmen, den er steinbra. Nei, bedre enn stein. Har du sett den? Legg igjen din egen lille tanke om den i en kommentar!

BVB a pierdut intr-un minut  2, 5 miliarde de euro :  41 milioane pe secunda.

I haven't been able to blog, or do much of anything, lately.  HUNTER is the reason why.  HUNTER is our latest foster dog for Save Our Setters.

He is an extremely handsome Irish Red & White Setter.  He has been neutered comes to us extremely well educated.  HUNTER is housebroken.  He has mastered "Sit," "Down," "Stay," "No," and "Heel."  He is absolutely beautiful at heel and he is just a joy to walk with.

HUNTER was rescued from a shelter in the Upper Peninsula.  In theory, HUNTER was a stray.  I don't believe it for a minute.  The woman who turned him into the shelter knew his name and that he was an Irish Red & White Setterr.  The Irish Red & White Setter is a relatively rare breed.  They were the original Irish Setters, until the community decided to breed the white out of them and produce the now familiar all red (or at least predominately so) Irish Setter.  It took some serious effort to maintain the "original" breed.

So, she knew his name and his unusual breed - but he wasn't her dog?  Since HUNTER wasn't her dog, she didn't have to pay the $20 owner surrender or provide any medical records.

HUNTER was obviously somebody's baby.  He was in very good condition, he is obviously well trained, and he is extremely affectionate.  He gives big, warm, wonderful kisses at every opportunity.  I simply cannot imagine why somebody would simply surrender such a wonderful boy.

His desire for affection is basically his only problem.  He simply has to be touching somebody all of the time.  I must have made a big impression on him when I rescued him from the shelter, because he definitely prefers me - over pretty much everything and everybody else.  The studio where I work, and my bedroom are both in our basement, which is the wholly owned domain of the cat - meaning no dogs allowed.

If I leave to go downstairs, HUNTER starts whining and whimpering.  Even if Dad is petting him, he whimpers and whines for a good 5 or 10 minutes after I leave the room.  He circles the top of the stair endlessly waiting for my return.  It is kind of heartbreaking really.  This big handsome lad, fast and strong, whimpering like a baby because I have left the room.  We are working a variety of techniques trying to build up his confidence that I won't abandon him and I will return to him.  It is a slow, delicate learning process and it is eating up a lot of time.

HUNTER also refuses to use the crate.  We've crate trained all of our fosters.  For one thing, we feel it makes them more adoptable.  And secondly it usually provides the dog with a sense of confidence to have a safe, quiet, warm, private place to call their own.  In the wild, dogs will look for or create a den - the crate provides them with that same feeling.  Perhaps most importantly, it gives us the assurance that while we are away from home nothing will be destroyed.  Fortunately, we are seldom both gone from home.  So we have until Tuesday, when Dad has to go in for his chemotherapy, to get HUNTER use to the crate.

HUNTER also wants very much to play with SUE.  SUE loves to play with people, and she is generally O.K. playing with dogs.  But her play mostly revolves around her stuffed animals.  With DANNI that was a bit of a problem because DANNI would instantly destroy a stuffed toy.  With HUNTER it is also proving to be a problem.  This poor boy must not have had any toys to play with in his previous life, because he just does not seem to understand that they are O.K. to pick up, toss, fetch, carry around, etc.  So he approaches SUE to play, she runs and gets a stuffed animal, drops it in front of him daring him to pick it up and run with it, and poor HUNTER sits and looks at it like "what do I do now?"

He will play with a Kong, but they aren't SUE's favorite.  So they are going to have to work that out.

In the grand scheme of things, these are pretty minor issues to work out.  But they do take a lot of time - trust and crate training are pretty abstract concepts to teach a dog.  But we are absolutely positive that HUNTER will come around fairly quickly and become a truly great pet.  Maybe even more so than with DANNI, I'm already jealous of the family that will be blessed to provide a forever home for HUNTER.

So, if you haven't seen or heard from me lately, HUNTER is the reason why.

And, of course, if you are interested in adopting or sponsoring HUNTER or any of the other precious setters - PLEASE visit Save Our Setters.  They are truly great people doing outstanding work for the dogs that they save.

All right!! Here's you new episode of 72PCPC. In this episode we're discussing "Fallen Heroes", those great games that you remember from your childhood that either suck, or are long dead now. Take a trip down memory lane with us this week.

72 Pin Connector Podcast: Episode 017 - Donkey Kong Will See You In Hell

Macau

A 45-minute Turbojet ferry ride from Hong Kong across South China Sea, Macau is like a mini-Hong Kong. Similar architecture grace Macau Peninsula, and long bridges connect the peninsula to Taipa Island. Macau is China's other Special Administrative Region (in addition to Hong Kong). This "casino town" has surpassed Las Vegas as the world's largest gambling operation, which makes it one of the world's wealthiest places. Once governed by Portugal, Macau retains its Portuguese and Chinese influences in language, food, and architecture.

MUST-SEE

1. Macau Tower. If you're not afraid of heights, you can brave the world's tallest bungy jump. Or just enjoy an unobstructed view of the peninsula from the indoor or outdoor observation deck.
2. Casinos. If you're into gambling or eating at buffets, you'll find some familiar casino-hotels also located in Vegas, including Sands and Wynn. From Fisherman's Wharf, you can gaze across South China Sea, lined with elegant bridges.

So where am I going next? It depends on scheduling and other factors, of course, but I'm anxious to visit Greece, Eastern Europe, Northern China, India, Spain, the United Arab Emirates (which is trying to become like Hong Kong), and so many other places. Before that though, I'll take a trip down memory lane and write about my past travels to Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of East Asia. Thanks for reading and stay tuned...

Lounging is what Daisy and Zeke do best!

Zeke also enjoys chewing his Kong, especially with his rear end in the air...

Zeke finally meets his match... the vacuum

Then she drove off and I watched her drive away out the window. I put Pathetik Face on full power but I think she didnt see me use it cause she didnt come back.

But when she comed home tonight I made sure to tell her how much I was sad by squeeling real loud when she walked insides. Mummy sed oh Dozer ssshh stop squeeling my goodness it wasnt so bad wuz it?? YES MUMMY IT WUZ!!!

The Progress of a Movie Icon

Out of the many great movies of cinema history one stands out of having the perfect amount of everything. Horror, romance, action, and comedy (not so much of it)- King Kong has it all. After the amazing success of this first event in what would soon be one of the worlds greatest franchises, many remakes and sequels have been made. The King Kong franchise has seen many ups and downs, greats and horribles, and some results that are just plain hilarious (King Kong Lives anyone!). To fully respect the King Kong series you have to know the full history, starting with a man named Merian C. Cooper. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a brief history of one of the cinema's finest icons.

The Creation of Kong

 King Kong started out with a man named Merian C. Cooper. Cooper was born in 1893 and joined the military to become a pilot during World War II. During the war he was shot down and captured where he spent the entire rest of the war in a POW camp. When WWII started he enlisted himself even though he was old enough to avoid it. He led many missions and was awarded the status of brigadier general. In between and after the two World Wars, Cooper led movie production for RKO Radio Pictures. Cooper was known for his documentaries featuring the 1925 silent movie Grass(about the Bahktiarai tribe in Persia), the 1927 drama Chang (about a farmer in Thailand's daily struggle for survival), and The Four Feathers (filmed among the fighting tribes of the Sudan). Cooper then moved on to King Kong, which he co-wrote, co-directed, and appeared in. Edgar Wallace, a popular writer at the time, was hired to write a screenplay but soon died before actually writing anything down. I should probably have a picture of the other director, Ernest B. Schoedsack, but I'm definitely too lazy to do that.

King Kong (1933)

King Kong is one of the all time greatest movies. If you haven't seen it buy it right now, it is definitely worth it. If you don't have enough money to buy it, rent it. If you still don't have enough money to rent it, borrow it from a friend. If you don't have any friends, I WONDER WHY YOU KING KONG HATER!! The film was directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. The major, MAJOR, reason why King Kong was so successful was because of the special effects. The movie had Willis O'Brien, the special effects technician for the 1925 dinosaur movie The Lost World, worked with stop-motion animation to movie King Kong around. If you don't know what stop-motion animation is click here for a great description. Special effects like the ones in King Kong had rarely been seen and people were amazed. The movie centers around a filmmaker, Carl Denham (played by Robert Armstrong), who sets out to make his new picture on an ancient island with a pretty actress, Ann Darrow (Fay Wray). On the sea voyage to the island (happily named Skull Island), Ann falls in love with the first mate, Jack Driscoll (Bruce Cabot). I don't particularly like Jack in this version of the movie even if it is the original. When they get to the island Ann is captured by natives and sacrificed to a giant gorilla, Kong. The crew then sets out in search of Ann where they are attacked by many... dinosaurs. Will they rescue Ann? Will Ann and Jack be together? Does the ending have something to do with the Empire State Building (woot!)!?! YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO FRICKING WATCH THE MOVIE!! WATCH IT!

IT WASN"T THE AIRPLANES, IT WAS BEAUTY KILLED THE BEAST!

The Son of Kong (1933)

Because of the success of the first Kong movie, guess what?... sequel!! Why does every horror movie have to have a sequel called "The Son of...". Was it some unwritten law back then. Here is a sampling:

• The Son of Dracula
• The Son of Frankenstein
• The Son of Kong

Maybe there aren't as many as I thought there were but remember that these movies also had "The Bride of...", "The Curse of...", "The House of...", and "The Ghost of...". Anyway this movie is nowhere near as good as the original King Kong. It feels rushed even though Willis O'Brien's talent is still put to good use. Again, Robert Armstrong plays the director Carl Denham. It picks up about a month after the end of King Kong where Carl meets the same skipper who gave him the map to Skull Island in the first place. If I saw him again I would punch him in the face and feed HIM to a giant brontosaurus. Instead they listen to him talk about treasure on Skull Island. Treasure? This is not Treasure Island! Believing him, they set off to go find some nonexistent treasure, bringing along the good-looking stow-away girl Hilda (Helen Mack). When they get to Skull Island they find and befriend Kong's nice son, Kiko. Oh yeah, he happens to be ALBINO! If the movie takes place a month after the first movie why didn't they notice Baby Kong on their first expedition. And where could King Kong get a son from!! There's no other giant apes on the island!! Together the trio has great adventures and lots of fun.

Toho Productions: Kong

 After the release of Son of Kong about 30 years passed. Nothing was happening in the King Kong franchise. That needed to change, even if it did mean having two Asian actors in rubber suits battling it out. Willis O'Brien proposed in 1960 an idea for a new King Kong movie: King Kong vs. Frankenstein. The idea was soon dropped due to prices of making a stop-motion animation film. Instead, Japanese movie company Toho decided to make their own movie. It wouldn't use stop-motion animation but a guy in a gorilla costume. The worst gorilla costume I've ever seen. Who better to have King Kong face off against with then native Japanese movie monster Godzilla. That means they needed another rubber suit. In 1962 King Kong Vs. Godzilla was made. The movie starts with the head of Pacific Pharmaceuticals wanting something to gain publicity and boost his ratings. What better then a 25-foot tall ape. Sorry guys, its been done before. It didn't work out well. Meanwhile, Godzilla, who is trapped in an iceberg breaks out and starts heading towards land where he can destroy everything. Meanwhile (there's a lot of those in this plot) on Faro Island where the supposed monster island is,  a giant octopus is attacking the village. King Kong rushes out and defeats the monster. He then drinks some red berry juice, gets drunk, and falls asleep. THAT WAS EASY! Godzilla meets up with Kong and they have a monstrosity of a fight. NOT-SO-PUN!!! The rest of the movie is them fighting pretty much. After King Kong Vs. Godzilla was made, Toho wanted to do another movie with Kong. This one is worse than the last one!! In 1967 King Kong Escapes, an all new low for the franchise was released in theaters. An evil genius named Dr. Who (actually Dr. Huu) creates a robotic Kong. Don't they also have a robotic Godzilla? He uses it to dig for an element called Element X. Why he had to make a giant gorilla instead of a drilling machine I don't know. They fail in their task so they capture the REAL King Kong and hypnotyze him to work for them. Yes...I said hypnotize.  King Kong snaps out of it and swims to Tokyo where a fight to the death occurs between real and mechaincal Kong.

King Kong (1976)

Another ten years passed so of course another movie was made in the King Kong franchise. This one was produced by Dino de Laurentiis and directed by John Guillerman. It was yet another King Kong movie that had a (better) suit. Although it has the same name as the original the plot is very different. Instead of a film crew Petrox Oil Company leaves for an unidentified island rumored to have large amounts of oil. Jack Prescott hops aboard the ship to warn the crew of a danger on the island. He also happens to be a primate paleontologist...that could be useful. Jack spots a raft in the water which happens to have a beautiful girl, Dwan, on it. She was on a yacht when it exploded, killing everyone but her. Jack and Dwan then fall in love because thats how it has to go. Duh. On the island they can't find any oil but they can find a tribe of natives. Woot woot! They kidnap Dwan and sacrifice her to a gigantic beast. Dwan quickly tames Kong because she is a female. The crew sends out a search party to rescue Dwan but they all fall off of a log when Kong tips it. Of course, Jack is the only survivor. The crew later captures Kong and the movie goes on and on. Don't watch this crap. At least the next one is better.  

King Kong Lives (1986)

I could only find one good picture for this very not-good movie. So instead, I am going to show pictures of things that I would rather do than watch this movie again.

Now that that's over I'll tell you about the actual movie. Ten years after King Kong 1976 was released the makers had a great idea to make a sequel. This film would be greatly named King Kong Lives. The same director is used from the previous movie. It seems like if one movie was bad a new director could fix the problem. Taking no notice the film races on hiring Linda Hamilton as Dr. Amy Franklin. You might notice her from a popular series called... The Terminator. The movie takes place ten years after Kong is shot down by helicopters from the World Trade Center. BUT WAIT...he's only in a coma kept under the care of Linda Hamilton/ Dr. Amy. The doctors need an artificial heart to bring back the monster that smashed almost about everything in its way until it got to the highest spot it could find so it could fall and make a giant depression in the road. However they don't have enough blood to transfuse the heart correctly. Meanwhile, Hank Mitchell (Brian Kerwin) captures a similar giant gorilla in Borneo. This one is a female as you can tell by obvious reasons. Hank brings back Lady Kong and the heart operation goes on. Lady Kong is taken away but Kong wakes up, smells the Lady Kong, and smashes out to find her. A giant chaotic warehouse battle ensues between Kong and the humans which consists of the people running around blowing up their own cars while Kong calmly walks around. Kong stomps off with kis new love in his arms. Disgusting. How can the franchise stoop this low? Ronald Shusett and Steven Pressfield, the writers. Kong and his girlfriend have many adventures including facing off against a furious colonel, Colonel Nevitt. If only the movie was as awesome as the poster.

King Kong (2005)

 King Kong has never looked this good since 1933. The movie this time was directed by a man with a reputation. Peter Jackson had just finished the critically acclaimed The Lord of the Rings trilogy when he started making this remake. It was a project for him in 1996 but was dropped until it surfaced again later. The new Kong is colorful, realistic, and features some good acting from all actors. Jack Black is sheer genius as Carl Denham acting selfish and arrogant. Jack Driscoll gets a new twist as a theater writer who goes along on the trip to write the screenplay for Carl. Jimmy and Preston are the coolest characters to ever enter the wonderful franchise. The story follows the original pretty well. Carl Denham hires Ann Darrow for his new movie and takes a long sea voyage to an uncharted island. When they get there they are met by much scarier, violent natives. Ann is captured to and sacrificed to Kong who looks great in this flick. Again the crew searches for her in the darkly lit, mysterious jungle. The rest is history. The movie looks great and IS great. Perfect.

Animated King Kong

The mighty beast has also seen a fair amount of animated versions. In 1966-69 an animated children's show named The King Kong Showwas released the show was based on the original story and was the first anime series produced in Japan for an American company. The series was about how Kong befriends the Bond family (no relation). Kong protects the family from monsters and other dangerous criminals. A musical adaptation of the original plot was also made in 1998. It was called The Mighty Kong and featured original songs by the Sherman Brothers. The movie follows the plot but there is NO VIOLENCE! KING KONG SURVIVES FROM HIS FALL!! WHAT THE HECK! Another animated series was released in 2005 right before the movie came out. I have never seen this series and never plan to. It looks like horrible Jetix crap and I would rather eat a baconator and have heartburn.

King Kong in Video Games

King Kong has also seen some video games. One was released the same year as King Kong Lives and two were released with the Peter Jackson movie. The 1986 game was released only in Japan as King Kong 2: Megaton Punch of Anger. You play as King Kong and you must pass through multiple maze like levels. There are also bosses but this game sounds boring to me. MOVING ON!! King Kong: The Official Game of the Movieis probably the only King Kong game worth looking at. You play as Jack where you must survive in the jungle using guns and spears which you can light on fire. Occasionally you play as Kong, fighting V. Rexs and other dinosaurs. These levels are particularly fun. Another game is Kong: The Eighth Wonder of the World. It's pretty much the Gameboy version of the other Peter Jackson game.

King Kong in Other Media

 Other forms of media have also presented their own King Kong related works. Several books have been written, comics have been made, and fan videos created. Universal Studios has even made their own Kong rides. I encourage you to check these out.

KONG WILL BE WITH US...FOREVER.

Hong Kong

My favorite place in the world... and the biggest adrenaline rush

"Wow." That was the first and only word out of my husband's mouth, as he sat speechless after our airplane broke through the clouds, and before our eyes was the world's most exciting commercial mecca, like a scene from Star Wars. I've been to Hong Kong eight times now, and it still leaves me awestruck every time. It's no wonder parts of Batman: The Dark Knight were shot here -- with Batman jumping off Hong Kong's tallest building (top 10 in the world), the International Finance Centre. "Hong Kong" means "Fragrant Harbor" in Chinese. I'm not sure that captures the essence of my favorite place on Earth. Words don't do it justice. Hong Kong (HK) is a place where you can't fall asleep at night because you want to be out in the middle of all the excitement; where restaurants and stores stay open past midnight; where buses come in double-decker form because too many cars and taxis are on the streets; where some buildings are so tall and thin, you wonder how they stay standing; where thousands of watercraft compete for space on the harbor; where you have to walk fast if you don't want to get trampled on the sidewalk; where women (and men, for that matter) are thin and fashionable (HK fashion is at least several months ahead of the U.S., so I got ahead before coming home); and where the subways (and subway stations) are clean and the escalators send you on a fast ride (there are more than 7 million people in HK after all, so they have to move people!). It's a place that never sleeps.

As an S.A.R. (Special Administrative Region) of China, HK maintains a separate economy under the Mainland's control. You used to hear mostly Cantonese spoken in the streets, but since the handover to China, you hear a lot more Mandarin, which is sad for someone like me, since Cantonese was my first (and favorite) language. But then again, HK is also very international -- Europeans, Africans, and people from all across Asia love to live in Hong Kong -- and that's another thing that makes this place unique. There are so many taxis, there are three different colors: red taxis on HK Island and Kowloon Peninsula, blue on Lantau Island, and green in New Territories. I love everything about Hong Kong. The energy, bright lights, frantic pace, sharp-looking people, and table sharing. I cry every time I leave.

A journey back in time
My parents grew up in Hong Kong. My dad was born there. My mom moved there when she was just several months old. Before this trip I had never thought about doing this, but this time I felt a yearning in my heart to visit the place where my mom grew up. I think it means more to me now than when I was younger. We took a taxi on Kowloon Peninsula from the south end of Nathan Road to the north end. As we neared my mom's old neighborhood, she recognized few familiar buildings. Most of the originals had been torn down and replaced with much taller structures, as Hong Kong outgrew its land space over the years. It was an emotional

experience for me to walk up to a condo high-rise that was now in place of my mom's former home, which was only three stories tall decades ago. My mom's eyes lit up as she told us how she would walk to elementary school and the nearby hospital where she took one of her brothers when he fell and hurt himself. There's no better history lesson than witnessing changing times with your own eyes.

MUST-SEE

1. Victoria Peak. Take the Peak Tram to the top of the mountain that gives you a breathtaking view of what's widely recognized as the world's best night view: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula (attached to Mainland China), and Hong Kong Harbor. On Victoria Peak is a shopper and video gamer's paradise. Tourists can find all their souvenirs. EA Games allowed people to try out their video games for free -- unlimited play!
2. Symphony of Lights. This nightly show, after sunset, lights up the Hong Kong skyline with a laser and music show. It's best seen from the Kowloon side on the Avenue of Stars (HK's version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame), which pays tribute to such Cantonese stars as Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and Michelle Yeoh.

3. Hong Kong International Airport. Rated the world's best airport by Skytrax's World Airport Survey seven of the past eight years, HK International Airport (HKIA) is a destination of its own, replete with great dim sum, classy shops, and sleek design, set on Lantau Island. I feel fortunate to have flown in and out of two of the world's top three airports: HKIA and Seoul Incheon.
4. Repulse Bay. You'd think folks in Hong Kong are self-deprecating, with names like Repulse Bay and Junk Bay for beaches that are anything but repulsive or junky. They're exquisite and sit alongside Hong Kong's impressive mountains topped with high-rises that rise up to incredible heights.

5. Nathan Road. This super-busy street is the heart of Kowloon Peninsula and a popular destination for tourists and locals. You can find the best food, shopping, serene Kowloon Park, and places of worship. And foreigners shouldn't worry; most people in HK speak English. After all, HK used to be under British rule. There's something going on at literally all hours of the day and night. Hong Kong never sleeps.

Just one more place left on this East Asia vacation... Hong Kong's glittering neighbor: Macau. If you like glitzy hotels and casinos along the sea, this is your next vacation spot. Come back next week!

Hunden som har D-hofter har 2 foreldre med C-hofter, resten av det kullet er ikke røntget enda og jeg venter i spenning, ikke at det har noe å si for Marco sin del da en kombinasjon ikke alltid klaffer fullstendig helsemessig. A + A kan blir dårlig det også, det kommer helt an på kombinasjonen  av 2 foreldre sine gener.. Skulle virkelig ønske at man visste godt hva som utløste HD på linjer der det egentlig er frie hunder alle sammen...? Tror det er noe jeg har lyst til å studere litt ekstra på vetstudiene :)

B + C = A i Marco sitt tilfelle og vi x'er fingrene for at resten av kullet også er frie.

Marco har forresten fått seg en ny leke og det ar full klaff!! Han bærer på den hele døgnet og den er skikkelig møkkete og våt allerede.. Helt vill er han etter den og jeg kan bare anbefale den som belønning/lek på det sterkeste. Kong Wubba Snugga heter vidundersaken, den er rosa og ser sånn ut:

De nominatie is op zich al een erkenning van potentieel, dat geeft een ploeterende beginnend schrijver als ik al moed; het kan dus alleen nog maar beter worden. En nu maar afwachten of de jury in januari mijn talent ook ziet...

voor wie het andere verhaal wil nalezen: monkey/kong.

National Geographic's Green Guide referenced a 2007 study that found potentially hazardous levels of lead chromium and cadmium in cloth and latex animal toys imported from China.  Bottom line: do not buy toys made in China.  When at all possible, try to stick with those made in the USA.  Upon visiting your local pet store, you will find this is much easier said then done as the majority of dog toys are imported from China.

As you can see, Kong's are a personal favorite of mine.  West Paw, Orbee, Zogoflex and Jolly Pet are a few other brands made in the USA.  If you're not able to find these brands in your local pet store, you can purchase them online.

http://www.dogtoys.com/madeinusa.html
http://www.westpawdesign.com/

Looking for tennis balls?  I believe Penn is the only company that manufactures their balls in the USA so you may want to consider purchasing those the next time you're in need of a replacement.

Toy Tips

• Always make sure you supervise us when using a new toy to make sure it is durable enough for us.

• Never leave us alone with a ripped plush toy or a punctured rubber toy as it may only take another bite or two until we get a piece off and could possibly choke.

• Know when it is time to retire it.  Just like that old flannel shirt you still occasionally wear, there comes a time when we must part with some of our prized possessions.   While it may be my favorite toy, it is probably best for both of us if we recycle it or throw it out (assuming you buy me a new one of course!).

• Only purchase treat dispensing toys with two holes.  You may have heard Chai's unfortunate story with the Four Paws Pimple Ball.  Since it only had one hole, when he chewed on it, it created a vacuum and sucked his tongue in, requiring surgery to remove it.  These toys are in the process of being recalled, but if you happen to already have one please recycle it.

Mountain Marathon Madness. As a run up to Asia's longest running high altitude marathon. King of the Hills held time trials to seperate the weak from the strong. Koji Miyazaki took first place with time of 44:23. Ping Leung came in 2nd just 10 seconds behind. The 5 race KOTH series starts November 23 in Sai Kung. Find more information at http://www.seyonasia.com/index.html

新一季的山野之王在愉景灣開跑了。參賽者要在炎熱的天氣下進行2.8公里長的繞圈賽，在一小時內跳以最快時間跑出最多圈的選手勝出。日本藉的選手宮崎最後以44分23秒完成兩圈成為優勝者。下一場的山野之王將在11月23日在西貢舉行，欲知詳情請到 http://www.so-u.tv/

If you get to go to E for All this year, and you want to show your gaming skills, you'll then have a tough time playing against the champions of the past, present and future. All Games Network will give everyone a chance to meet the best players of games such as Donkey Kong, Spy Hunter and Missile Command.

Steve Wiebe will try to break Billy Mitchell's record at Donkey Kong during the 3 days of the event. Todd Rogers will defend his 30-year-old record on Activision's Dragster. He even thinks he can beat everyone blindfolded. Paul Dean, another champion, has a record for first-place score on Spy Hunter and another one on Frenzy for having played the game over 41 hours, among others. Roy Shildt was the record holder on Missile Command for over 20 years. Will you get a higher score than him playing MC? Click here to read the following press release.

En español | In English

Si ustedes logran ir a E for All este año, y quiere demostrar sus habilidades como jugador, entonce pasarán un momento difícil al jugar contra los campeones del pasado, presente y futuro. All Games Network dará la oportunidad a todos a que conozcan a los mejores jugadores de juegos como Donkey Kong, Spy Hunter y Missile Command.

Steve Wiebe tratará de romper el record de Billy Mitchell en Donkey Kong durante los 3 días del evento. Todd Rogers defenderá su record de 30 años en Dragster de Activision. Él piensa que puede vencer a todos con sus ojos vendados. Paul Dean, otro campeón, tiene un record de primer lugar en Spy Hunter y otro en Frenzy for haber jugado por más de 41 horas, entre otros. Roy Shildt tuvo el record en Missile Command for más de 20 años. ¿Conseguirán un puntaje más alto que en al jugar MC? Hagan clic aquí para que lean el siguiente comunicado de prensa (en inglés).

Press Release | Comunicado de Prensa

ALL GAMES NETWORK PRESENTS “MEET, GREET, AND BEAT THE CHAMPS” AT THIS YEAR’S E FOR ALL EXPO

Classic 1980s Gamers Steve Wiebe, Todd Rogers, Paul Dean, and Mr. Awesome to Show They’ve Still Got It at E For All Expo in Los Angeles, October 3-5, 2008

Framingham, MA, September 17, 2008 -- All Games Network (www.allgames.com) is proud to announce it is bringing together championship gamers from the past, present, and future to participate in a one-of-a-kind classic video game event at the Entertainment for All® Expo (E for All®) in Los Angeles October 3-5, 2008. Attendees will have a chance to mingle with some of the best classic game players of all time, and challenge them in the games at which they have dominated the record books for more than 20 years, including Donkey Kong, Spy Hunter, and Missile Command among others.

“At E for All, we strive to provide consumers with an opportunity to experience the latest and greatest video games and technologies, but we also understand that everyone -- from hard core gamers to moms and dads -- loves the classic games that they grew up on and are introducing to their kids today,” said Mary Dolaher, Chief Executive Officer of IDG World Expo. “We are excited to bring a classic games element to the show and look forward to taking consumers on a fun trip down memory lane with their favorite games and game champs from years past.”

"E For All Expo is the perfect venue for world record attempts,” said Scot Rubin, Founder, All Games. “Steve Wiebe and the rest of the attendees will have three days to focus on setting a new high score, and still have time to enjoy the show and meet other world record holders."

Featured gamers will include:

· Steve Wiebe, star of the critically-acclaimed documentary “The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters,” will be on hand to try and retake the Donkey Kong world record currently held by co-star Billy Mitchell. Unlike previous attempts that provided Wiebe with only a few hours, All Games Network and E for All Expo are providing Wiebe three days to attempt to set the new high score.

· Todd Rogers has been called "The King of Video Games" by some and was recognized for his vast video gaming prowess when featured in the Guinness Book of World Records. Rogers was a member of the world’s first team of professional video game players – “The U.S. National Video Game Team” – and is widely recognized as the first paid professional video game player.

One of Rogers’ most notable achievements was in 1980, when he beat Activision’s “perfect run” time on “Dragster” by .03 seconds. Following that feat, Activision employed Todd to demonstrate his incredible gaming skills at a pay of $1,000.00 a day at conventions and tournaments. Nearly 30 years later, Rogers still holds the record time. At E for All Expo, Todd guarantees he can beat any attendee blindfolded or will give them $100 cash on the spot. He also offers $10,000 to anyone that can beat his record.

· Paul Dean won the “All Star Marathon” crown – and a world record in the process – at the highly-acclaimed "Legends of the Golden Age" classic gamers’ reunion event several years ago. Dean played “Frenzy”, the sequel to “Berzerk”, for more than 41 hours. Dean has also been in the Guinness Book of World Records for a first place score on “Spy Hunter” after an 11½-hour marathon at the Third Annual Masters Tournament.

· Roy “Mr. Awesome” Shildt has held the world record in “Missile Command” for more than 20 years. The 1980 classic depicts an Armageddon style war in which players defend bases and cities attacked by antiballistic missiles, and has been widely regarded as one of the most difficult games of all time. “Mr. Awesome” was featured in the film “The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters” where he delivered the now famous one-liner “Don’t Get Chumpatized!”

Additional participants will be announced soon.

Highlights: the world's tallest buildings, best night views, and largest Ferris wheels, plus the 2008 G-8 Summit location and a former Winter Olympics site... in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Over the next four weeks, I'll be taking you on my journey through these thrilling places. Come back each week to visit a new place.

Japan

My first trip to Japan was six years ago, when I was still single. My mom and I toured cities including Tokyo, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe. Our return to Japan this summer, with my husband, took us to several cities on the northern island of Hokkaido -- a slower pace and more relaxing environment than the bustling, high-tech city of Tokyo and the feverish shopping arcades of Osaka.

Perfection

In two words, Hokkaido is clean and green. The grass is green and lined with lovely gardens full of lavender. And you can go miles before seeing even one piece of litter. The impressive part is that there aren't trashcans everywhere, so people truly exercise self-discipline as they look for a place to dispose of their garbage properly. The Japanese strive for perfection. As an American, you can see it in their electronics and cars sold in the U.S. And if you ever have a chance to travel to the "Land of the Rising Sun," you will see it in almost everything they do. The customer service is the best you'll find anywhere... and I've been around the globe. When you walk into a restaurant, the host/hostess and waitstaff all chime in like a choir, one after another, to greet you with polite words and smiles and bow repeatedly. Store employees welcome you with free green tea in tiny teacups. And when you leave, they send you off with just as many thank-you's and good-bye's. Every morning, as our tour bus left each hotel we stayed at, several staff members waited outside for us to board the bus; then they waved to us until we could no longer see them. Persistence and hard work.

We spent two days in Sapporo, home to the 1972 Winter Olympics... and Food Garden in the underground Pole Plaza shopping mall. If you're like me and enjoy delicately-wrapped sweets and beautiful pastries designed with the utmost attention to detail, then Food Garden is your "heaven." I felt like I had died and gone to paradise... and I didn't want to get out. I once again fell in love with the food in Japan -- as well as the fake, but very real-looking, versions almost always on display in a glass window near the entrance to every restaurant: the food is perfect not only in appearance, but in taste and quality too. The food and lifestyle are so healthy, they counter the Japanese's excessive smoking, to give them the world's longest lifespan. They understand the concept that it's not only what's on the inside that matters... the outside matters too. That's certainly evident in the pretty, petite women dressed

like Stepford Wives -- made up like dolls and decked from head to toe in tailored dress-suits and cute hats. Japanese women are the epitome of femininity. You'd almost want to pinch our Asahi Beer factory tour guide.

G-8 Summit
We took a pleasure boat ride on Lake Toya, just a couple days before the world's most powerful country leaders descended on its shores for the 2008 G-8 Summit. We stayed at the official hotel for American staffers and military personnel: Noboribetsu Grand. Speaking of languages colliding, I played translator for my husband throughout East Asia -- going between English and Mandarin, Cantonese, and Taiwanese... but I could help with only several words in Japanese.

MUST-SEE

1. Hakodate. Atop Mt. Hakodate, you'll see the world's third-best night view, as ranked by multiple sources. If you've been to Hong Kong, this night view pales in comparison, but is still worth taking the cable car (Ropeway) up to see the uniquely shaped land mass all lit up at night.
2. Shinsaibashi. We didn't go this time, but in 2002 my mom and I spent hours shopping in this outdoor arcade in Osaka, which is home to an ultra-cool Sony store. It was where I discovered Starbucks' green tea frappuccino before they came to the U.S.
3. Hot springs. Most of the hotels where we stayed had public baths with hot-spring water -- where nudity was required. Don't waste your time: You won't find any naked pictures of me. In the rooms, yukatas (Japanese pajamas) and tatamis (low-to-the-floor Japanese beds) awaited us. At one of our hotels, we even enjoyed our own private hot-spring tub on the balcony.

4. Green tea ice cream. If you want to travel Japan like I did, you must eat green tea ice cream every time you see it -- at ice cream shops and vending machines. I ate the creamy goodness several times a day, although green tea ice cream is more prevalent in the central part of the country, where more tea is grown. In Hokkaido, you'll find more melon-flavored ice creams.
5. Two canteloupes for $65. Yes, that's two canteloupes for US$65 -- the average selling price. So make sure you get a free sample piece from an outdoor market. It's not worth paying that much for it, but the melon is mighty juicy.
6. Giant Ferris wheels. Tokyo, home to Tokyo Disneyland, boasts the world's second- and third-largest Ferris wheels.

Next week, come back to travel with me to the next leg of my East Asia trip... we'll visit the tallest building in the world in Taiwan. And in the following weeks, we still have Hong Kong and Macau left to visit. Find out why Macau has surpassed Las Vegas as the gambling capital of the world and why Hong Kong continues to capture my heart year after year. Thanks for reading!

To see the wide selection of KONG products available for both dogs and cats visit www.kongcompany.com.