Highlight of Henan Province, Songshan Mountain lies southwest of Zhengzhou and it is one of the most famous mountains in China because of the rugged beauty of its peaks and the Bonsai-like appearance of its beautiful old trees. Shaolin Temple, the most famous Buddhist temple in China and the largest of the Songshan range, is located on Shaoshi Mountain. Shaolin Temple and Shaolin Gongfu (martial arts) have long taken on a legendry color and are famous both in and outside China.
1. Zhengzhou
The capital city of Henan Province, Zhengzhou is located in the middle of China, about 760 km (about 472 miles) south of Beijing and 480 kilometers (about 298 miles) east of Xian. After the Longhai Railway (Lanzhou to Lianyungang) and Jingjiu Railway (Beijing to Kowloon) were completed, their intersection, Zhengzhou, became a vital transportation hub. Thanks to this important position, the city has prospered.
2.Luoyang
Located in the west of Henan Province in central China, Luoyang occupies quite an important geographic location. It is in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and is encircled by mountains and plains. To its east and west are the Hu Lao Pass and Han Gu Pass which were essential domestic transportation junctions in ancient times. To its north, Mengjin County was an important ferry crossing of the Yellow River. Thus, Luoyang was selected as the capital city by 13 dynasties starting from the Xia Dynasty (21st-16th century BC) in the 21st century BC. In the period following the Han Dynasty (206BC-220), and particularly during the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, the city experienced a period of growth and prosperity and ranked as one of the international metropolitans of the time.
3. Shangqiu
Location: Shangqiu City is situated in the eastern region of Henan Province. It touches the borders of neighboring Kaifeng in the west, Zhoukou in the south, Shandong Province in the north and Anhui Province in the east.
History: Shangqiu played an important role in the history of the Chinese nation. It is reportedly the place in China where the first fire was lit by a human. After the first emperor of the Shang Dynasty (16th - 11th century BC) defeated Xia (21st - 16th century BC), he chose Shangqiu as the capital. It was authorized as the assistant capital by the first emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) for he grew up in this old city.
4. Kaifeng
History: known as one of the six major centers of ancient Chinese civilization; the capital of the Kingdom of Wei (475-331 B.C.), Later Liang, Later Han and Later Zhou dynasties of the Five dynasties (907-960), Northern Song dynasty (960-1137), and the Jin dynasty (1115-1334), also known as 'the Capitals of Seven Dynasties'. Climatic Features: temperate continental monsoon climate; clearly four seasons with annual average rainfall of 670mm; adequate sunshine, frost-free period 213-215 days
5. Xuchang
Location: Xuchang is situated in the center of Henan Province, neighboring Zhoukou in the east, Pingdingshan in the west and Luohe in the south. The capital city of the province, Zhengzhou lies 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the city.
History: Xuchang was in the central region of the Xia Dynasty (21st - 16th century BC), and it was also the headstream of the ancient Xu Kingdom in Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC - 771 BC) and the Wei Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). The name of Xuchang initiated in 221 when the city was under the reign of the Wei Kingdom.
About the Author
Rose is writing for China Travel discovery, which offer information on China travel, China life, China Facts, Chinese culture, History of China , China Maps and China News.
"The World's Most Boring Capital City" Dmp3380's photos around Vientiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep
capital city laos capital city laos capital city laos
laos food="laos food" Beer connoisseurs - what are your favourite beers and food to have with?
I love Beer Lao from Laos. It's a cheap one but so crisp and refreshing. I love to have it with any Asian food. I also love Coopers from Australia - great with Turkish pide. Tonight I'm having a Peroni from Italy with an eggplant casserole dinner - not bad at all.
What's your favourite? :)
Miller - I use some to cook my arroz & pollo Puerto Rican style Becks - pizza w/anchovies Budvar - BBQ San Miguel - with sea food paella Moretti - baked chicken Pedavena - grilled sausage and grilled polenta with Asiago cheese on it Guiness - a meal in itself!
Combining Music, Dance, Theatre, and Martial Arts, it has existed for over 200 years portraying Historical Events and Literature with beauty, style, and dynamic performance. It is most prominent in Beijing, but almost every Province in China has some form of Opera theatre. With its elaborate costuming, complex musical orchestrations and seemingly limitless Make-up and Mask designs, the Beijing Opera is seeing revitalization in popularity with both young and mature audiences.
What is now called the Beijing Opera originally came from a combination of several sources. In about 1790, four great theatre troupes from Anhui came to perform for the Royal Family. They brought arias and melodies called Xi Pi. Around 1828, performers from Hubei came to the same area and staged combined shows adding their local pieces of music called Er Huang. These performances were for the Royals but soon were to become more mainstream during Emperor Qianlong's reign as well as support from the notorious Empress Dowager Ci Xi. During this time, thousands of pieces of repertoire were developed covering the historical events, classic novels and stories of China as well as revisions of Western stories.
There are four basic categories of characters in the Beijing Opera style.
· SHENG- The main Male actors in a performance. Either civil or military, there are several different aspects of training for the various lead male parts.
i. LAO SHENG- Senior Male roles, middle aged man with beard of black, grey or white. A soft or pleasant voice with dignity.
ii. XIAO SHENG- Junior male role or young man. No beard and a high sometimes shrill voice that may, on occasion, crack denoting immaturity and adolescence.
iii. WU SHENG- Acrobatic male roles or roles that require much activity. Military plays or civil plays that demand high standards of acrobatics. Performs the stylized martial arts fight scenes with sword or spear. Not usually trained as opera singer.
iv. WAWA SHENG- Kids and children roles. DAN- Female roles of several categories.
i. QING YI ( Ch'ing I)- Lady of good character. Quiet gentle disposition. Graceful flowing movements in "water sleeves" costume. Elegant but not vivid. Singing voice is high pitched.
ii. HUA DAN ( Hua Tan)- Flirtatious young girl role. Usually not as high a social standing as Qing
Yi. Coy and quick movements. A very difficult part to play. Attractive eye movements and continually changing facial expression. Vivid costume featuring handkerchief to flutter in her hand. Strong voice but more speaking than singing.
iii. GUI MEN DAN (Kuei Men Tan) - Young unmarried girl. This role may turn into Qing Yi or Hua Dan. Mischievous but not as much as Hua Dan. Immature reactions and movements.
iv. DAO MA DAN (Tao Ma Tan) - Female Warrior role. Trained for acting and singing but performs highly skillful martial movements often with feathered headdress. Still a very feminine role. The now famous role of Disney's "MULAN" was based on Hua Mulan who disguised herself as a man to prevent her father from being conscripted into the military. She served for 12 years during the SouthNorth Dynasty and was decorated as a national hero.
v. WU DAN (Wu Tan) - Female Acrobatic roles. Steps in on any role that requires high acrobatic ability. Purely an acrobat but role can demand a talented actress to make for a successful performance.
vi. CAI DAN (Cai Tan) - Female Comedians. Serves to add relief to stressful scenes in serious plays. See also CHOU roles.
· JING- Painted face male roles. These parts are known more for courage and resourcefulness than for scholarly intelligence. Often a high-ranking general or warrior/official. Jing actors are usually extroverts. A robust, sometimes gruff, bass voice. Full of swagger and self-assurance. There are many common color schemes associated with Jing roles but some of the more common are easily recognizable.
v Red- Good character and virtuous person.
v White- Treacherous and guile
v Green-Lack of self-control, rash, stubbornness
v Black- Brusque character
v Blue- Wild perhaps a Robber
v Gold/Silver- Used only for Gods and Spirits
The facial painting patterns also give information about a character. There are hundreds of patterns and designs for many situations and roles.
There are 3 main types of Jing roles:
i. DONG-CHUI- (T'ung Ch'uei) Also know as Hei Tou (Black Face) this role is a good singer and usually a loyal General
ii. JIA ZI- (Chia Tze) - A very good actor for more complicated characters.
iii. WU JING- Fighting and acrobatics. Seldom plays a prominent role.
· CHOU- Comedy Roles. Dim but likable and amusing characters. Sometimes slightly wicked perhaps a rascal or a scholar/Prince who would not command much respect. There are two basic types of Chou roles:
i. WEN CHOU- Civilian roles.( Jailer, servant, merchant, scholar)
ii. WU CHOU- Minor Military roles but skilled in acrobatics
Of special mention should be the popular role of SUN WU KONG -The Monkey King.
This is a famous story of a Monks journey from China to India to collect scriptures to bring back to China... He is usually accompanied by a Pig for comedic effect, a not-so-learned monk to mediate the many quarrels and the Monkey King. This is played by a Wu Sheng actor. Known for the bent knees and an arms forward stance that imitate monkey movements. He has mastered Longevity, the 72 transformations of his physical body and can do somersaults in the clouds. Sun Wu Kong is followed by a troupe of monkeys who behave in the same manner but have individual personalities (greedy, naughty, sleepy, etc.). The Monkey King continues to be one of the most popular story lines in all of Chinese Opera Theatre.
The Opera Theatre form suffered during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) when all traditional pieces were banned. New versions became stories concerning "Class Struggle". The "Eight Model Plays" were a very popular theme, as were stories concerning Communist Activities, Anti-Japan sentiment, and the Civil War against Nationalists. The traditional stories were allowed to be shown in 1978 but by then they seemed out of date and the productions lacked historical and theatrical knowledge. Audiences lost to more contemporary forms of entertainment were hard to replace with the exception of those who were children when the Beijing Opera was at its peak. Many who lived through the Cultural Revolution preferred the newer versions and still favor those melodies.
Campaigns exist to bring back this lost art from as well as other Theatrical Arts. The Plum Blossom Award, sponsored by the Chinese Opera Journal, gives awards, judged by the Journal, to new artists. The actors and actresses must be under 45 years of age and come from all over China. These and other competitions are seen on the CCTV, China's main television network and radio stations, particularly during the New Years special concerts. There has even been designated a Beijing Opera Month.
In recent years, performances worldwide of Beijing Opera theatre have brought this marvelous art form to broader audiences. It has served as ambassador to the West providing many new opportunities for people to enjoy a performance style that rivals any of the Grand Operas and Symphonies of Europe and North America.
Timothy Jordan was born in Detroit, Michigan where he began a career in music at a very early age. Having studied with the regions top teachers and performers he set off on his own "MUSO SHUGYO" or musical wanderings and ended up in Boston, Mass. While there he has performed in some of the top music groups, touring, and recording for live, television, theatre and movies. His percussion skills took him to Japan where he had an intensive study with the drummers of KODO. Mr. Jordan also has studied several martial arts styles including Iaido, the Japanese Sword. He continues today to further his cultural studies and is currently the owner of an Asian art and cultural goods Internet retail business, LIVE COMPLETE and ZENSHO PRODUCTS.com
hotels in laos_5="hotels in laos" SOUTH EAST ASIA - Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia?
I am going to all the above countries. I hope to spend a year in Asia with my boyfriend and was wondering how much we would need for a year moneywise. We stay in cheap hotels and eat resonably cheaply and dont only go to the tourist resorts. We get goverment buses too. We do smoke though and we drink. We are planning to only spend a couple of weeks in malaysia and the rest of the year everywhere else. Can anyone give us any idea on how much we wll need to take?
why?
1. You dare not but we did it. About 1500 miles motor tour through Laos & Thailand Part 1
hotel offers="hotel offers" 2 questions...I would like to vacation in Dubai...What hotel offers the best deal?
I live in Atlanta and would like to also consider a vacation in between...so as to cut down on the long flight time... I could spend 4 days there and 5 days in Dubai and then would like another place to vacation on the way back to Atlanta for another 3 or 4 days..before returning home any suggestions?
Arab tower is expensive,but its a 6 star hotel which you can choose as a tourist. I told you,if you have money,but if you dont wanna spend too much then you gotta ask somebody else dude.
Leading by Example: Eight Lessons for Leaders Striving to Pull Their Companies Out of the Red
Leading by Example: Eight Lessons for Leaders Striving to Pull Their Companies Out of the Red
Though the forecast for the economy is starting to improve, the plight of recession-weary businesses is still difficult. If you’re struggling to find a way to motivate your employees when offering money isn’t an option, here's some advice for you: Focus on becoming a great leader. There are few things your employees will appreciate more.
By Charles Garcia
After months of economic tough times, a glimmer of light is starting to appear at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Rather than being harbingers of doom, economic news stories are now starting to look ever so slightly brighter. This improved economic forecast will likely have many company leaders looking for ways to motivate their employees to keep up the hard work necessary for navigating their companies into calmer waters. Unfortunately, despite the recent economic uptick, most company leaders still can’t offer what they view as their greatest motivational bargaining chip with their employees—the almighty dollar.
Fear not. Money isn’t the only way to rally your troops and boost morale during this crucial time. In fact, positive, strong leadership can often garner far greater results than offering money or other perks ever could.
Too often businesses assume that offering more money is the only way to motivate employees. The reality is that employees value having strong leaders, who motivate them to do their best, just as much if not more. And there’s no greater defense against a tough economy than a workforce motivated to do their absolute best.
As an alum of the White House Fellowship program, one of the most prestigious leadership programs in the country, I know the value of quality leadership.
There’s never been a more appropriate time for the rest of us to look to great leaders for inspiration. The lessons that can be learned from the White House Fellows mentors are universal and absolutely invaluable to any business leader smart enough to heed them.
Remember, all the money in the world won’t keep a hardworking but unhappy employee with your company. But follow the leadership principles that help you better motivate and encourage that employee and she will be just as invested in making your company a success as you are.
Using insightful, firsthand accounts from past program participants, my new book, Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows: Learn How to Inspire Others, Achieve Greatness, and Find Success in Any Organization (McGraw-Hill, 2009, ISBN: 978-0-07-159848-4, $24.95), explores the leadership lessons that former White House Fellows said they took away from their year working under some of the best of the best in Washington, D.C.
Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows includes twenty timeless tenets of successful leadership, each illustrated by multiple inspiring anecdotes. Here are eight lessons from some of the nation’s greatest leaders:
LEADERSHIP LESSON #1: Energize your people. Your employees have just helped you pull your company through one of the nation’s worst economic periods. They’ve been constantly bombarded with bad news in their own lives and in their work lives. It’s time they had a source of positive energy. Who better for them to turn to for that kind of encouragement than you, their leader? Instead of being the type of leader who sucks the energy away from others, resolve to be the kind of leader who strives to bring passion and positive energy to the workplace every day.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: John Patrick Gallagher
U.S. Major John Patrick Gallagher (WHF 07-08) learned about leadership from General David Petraeus. General Petraeus was a colonel in the 82nd Airborne Division at the same time Gallagher was assigned to the division as a second lieutenant. One day Petraeus called his brigade together and asked them who could tell him the number one leadership priority of the brigade. The answers ranged from integrity to professional and tactical competence to marksmanship until finally someone hit the nail on the head. The answer? Physical fitness.
“We all thought he was kidding, and we couldn’t for the life of us figure out how that could be the number one priority in the brigade,” recalled Gallagher. “But we learned later that he was right. Self-discipline and being able to perform under pressure and exist outside our comfort zone would be the key that unlocked our success.”
Petraeus began leading his troops through seventy-five minutes of intense exercise every morning. And with every pull-up, push-up, and sprint, the brigade became more alert, had more physical and mental energy, and more individual and team pride.
“All those other things we wanted to do well got better, whether it was marksmanship or vehicle maintenance or soldiers going on leave and not getting arrested for DUI,” Gallagher said. “All these other indicators went up when Petraeus created this climate of self-discipline. He boiled down his leadership approach to this: Am I giving my subordinates energy or am I taking it away? Put another way, am I leading in a way that causes my subordinates to be more enthusiastic and creative about doing their jobs—to believe more deeply in what they are doing and why they are doing it—or am I leading in such a way that it is stifling growth and enthusiasm? If the latter is true, the job may still get done by the sheer force of your legitimacy or presence, but it doesn’t get done as well and it doesn’t last after you’re gone. Petraeus knows how to lead in such a way that it gives his subordinates energy. That’s an incredibly powerful leadership tool.”
Since leaving his Fellowship, Gallagher has been using that tool daily in his role as Director for the War of Ideas and Strategic Communications at the National Security Council’s Office of Iraq and Afghanistan Affairs.
LEADERSHIP LESSON #2: There’s more to life than work. Great leaders have deep reserves of physical, spiritual, and emotional energy, and that energy is usually fueled by a strong and supportive relationship with the people they love, regular exercise, a healthy lifestyle, and setting aside time for reflection.
Sure, you want your employees to stay focused on moving your company forward, and you might feel like it’s important to keep everyone’s noses (including your own!) to the grindstone right now, but it’s also summer time. There are barbecues and baseball games to attend, warm days to be spent at the park or by the pool, and much-earned vacation time waiting to be used! Encourage your employees to spend time with their families, whether it results from taking an afternoon off or going on a week-long vacation. Doing so will help them power up for the difficult work to come. And remember to give yourself the same respect!
THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Doris Kearns Goodwin
At 6:00 a.m. on a cold January morning in 1973, presidential historian, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and NBC news analyst Doris Kearns Goodwin (WHF 67-68) received a call from former President Lyndon B. Johnson, with whom she had become a trusted confidante while working on his memoirs.
“He told me to get married, have children, and spend time with them,” Goodwin said. “He talked about how he should have spent more time with his family, because that’s a different and more worthy kind of posterity than the public one that he had been seeking throughout his entire political career. That would be our last conversation, because he died of a heart attack two days later—but what a wonderful thing to leave me with.”
Goodwin heeded Johnson’s words. For example, she turned down the chance to be considered for the position of head of the Peace Corps during the Carter administration because she knew it would require her to travel often and be away from her young children. Over the years she’s concluded that those who live the richest lives manage to achieve a healthy balance of work, love, and play.
“To commit yourself to just one of those spheres without the others is to leave open an older age filled with sadness, because once the work is gone, you have nothing left—no hobbies, no sports,” Goodwin said. “Your family may love you, but they are not in the center of your life as they might have been had you paid attention to them all the way through. And I always argue that the ability to relax and replenish your energy is absolutely essential.”
LEADERSHIP LESSON #3: Put your people first. No organization is better than the people who run it. The fact is that you are in the people business—the business of hiring, training, and managing people to deliver the product or service you provide. If the people are the engine of your success, to be a great leader you need to attend to your people with a laserlike focus.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Mitchell Reiss
Mitchell Reiss (WHF 88-89) has seen firsthand that a leader’s focus on his or her people is an incredibly powerful tool. He learned that valuable lesson during his White House Fellowship from his principal, the National Security Advisor and former Secretary of State and former White House Fellow Colin Powell.
“Two weeks after I started my Fellowship, there was a picnic over the weekend for the National Security Council staff and their families,” Reiss recalled. “We got there promptly, but General Powell was already there helping set up, helping cook the burgers and hot dogs, and personally greeting every single person, not just on the staff but their families. He came over to me and knew not only my name but introduced himself to my wife, Elisabeth, and thanked her for allowing me to work the hours that I worked at the NSC. He told her she should feel that she is part of the NSC family as well.
“That very brief but very personal interaction with Powell had an extraordinary impact on her. After he left, she turned to me and said, ‘You better do a good job for that man. If you need to stay late at work, I will never complain.’ That’s the sort of transformative impact that leadership can have, and I was able to see it up close and personal with Colin Powell. This lesson was invaluable when I later worked at the State Department, where I tried to replicate this sense of teamwork and compassion.”
LEADERSHIP LESSON #4: Act with integrity. In a time when news reports are filled with the stories of private and public leaders who’ve acted inappropriately and have gone against the best interests of their employees or constituents, showing your employees that you value integrity can help motivate them and create a sense of pride for your organization.
Remember, the actions of great leaders are consistent with their words. Saying the right thing doesn’t mean much. Doing the right thing means everything when you want people to follow you passionately. By acting with honor and integrity, you build trust with your followers.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Dennis Blair
During his Fellowship, Dennis Blair (WHF 75-76)—current Director of National Intelligence, former Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, retired four-star navy admiral, and former Rhodes Scholar—was one of a group of special assistants to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Carla Hills. He witnessed how Secretary Hills fought to maintain an honest, aboveboard environment despite ample opportunities for duplicity.
“The Department of Housing and Urban Development has been rocked by one scandal after another over the years,” Blair explained. “It moves a lot of money around and sends it down to the local level, where things can get pretty raw…There’s just a lot of potential for corruption, but one of the leadership lessons I took away from that assignment was from the tone that Carla Hills set. She was fiercely, unflinchingly determined to do the right thing and never batted an eye about it. Whenever misconduct came to light, she dealt with it quickly and effectively, firing people if necessary and then moving on.”
During Blair’s year in Washington, President Ford was up for reelection. The president and his cabinet, including Hills, were under intense pressure to run a winning campaign. Although everyone’s job was at stake, Blair saw no one abuse his or her power or resort to cheap tactics to influence the election.
“Carla Hills never came in and said, ‘We’re in trouble in Ohio. I want to push some Section 8 money toward Ohio, and I want a big publicity drive so we can turn out a lot of votes there.’” Blair said. “There was none of that. They played by the rules and fought fair and always tried to do the right thing.”
During his own career, Blair had several opportunities to “shade his principles” for his own benefit, but chose not to. On at least one occasion, doing the right thing cost him dearly. Although he couldn’t provide details, he did reveal that because of his leadership role he had a shot at becoming vice chairman or even chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. To be considered for one of those jobs, he would have had to modify his philosophy and change his leadership style to please a new administration. He chose to stick with the methods and values he had developed throughout his career.
“It wasn’t that difficult a decision,” he said. “Certainly I would have relished the chance to make more of a difference in that higher position, but I was not willing to change my philosophy or my style. I had too much confidence in my approach to change it even though I knew that meant I wasn’t going to move up further in the organization.”
LEADERSHIP LESSON #5: Be a great communicator. If your employees aren’t heeding your advice or company protocols, the problem likely lies with you, not them. Are you using the methods of communication they prefer? Are your messages clear and easy to understand? Leadership is about influencing others, and this cannot be achieved without the ability to communicate. If you’re struggling with communicating to your employees, first work on your ability to influence individuals by choosing words that are impactful to carry your message. Then you need to figure out how to communicate to a larger audience.
Remember to be open and honest with your employees. Communicate to them how the economy is affecting the company and where you would like to take it in the future. And always keep in mind that your actions truly speak louder than your words.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Marsha “Marty” Evans
After learning the value of quality communication from her Fellowship principal, U.S. Treasury Secretary William “Bill” Miller, Marsha “Marty” Evans (WHF 79-80) carried on the tradition in her work with the Navy.
In 1986, former Fellow and Naval Academy Superintendent Chuck Larson (WHF 68-69) tapped Evans to be one of six battalion officers at the Naval Academy—the first female battalion officer in Navy history—placing her in charge of the training and well-being of hundreds of midshipmen. The academy was meant to be a place of discipline and decorum, but occasionally a lower classman would slip up by wearing nonregulation clothing. When Evans saw a third classman in a Budweiser t-shirt one day, she assumed there had been a breakdown in communication.
“I remember the lecture so well,” Evans recalled. “I said, ‘You know, my own basic leadership belief is that people generally want to do the right thing, and if they’re not doing the right thing it’s because they haven’t been trained properly. They haven’t somehow had the benefit of the teaching and the leadership of their seniors. So, I can only come to the conclusion that this youngster is wearing this t-shirt because he has suffered from faulty communication by his midshipman chain of command.’ Each person in the third classman’s chain of command was held accountable and punished.”
Evans’s commonsense approach to encouraging better communication in her organization helped her create a more cohesive team and also garnered the Navy’s attention. She was promoted steadily throughout her thirty-year career and retired as a two-star rear admiral, one of only a few women to attain the rank. Since leaving the military, Evans has used her outstanding communication skills in her roles as director of the Girl Scouts of the USA and president and CEO of the American Red Cross.
LEADERSHIP LESSON #6: Be a great listener. The most effective leaders are the ones who take the time to listen not just to their team members’ words but to the priceless hidden meaning beneath them. Remember that during good times and bad, sometimes your employees just need someone to talk to. Communicate to them that you are always waiting with open ears.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Cesar Aristeiguieta
Cesar Aristeiguieta (WHF 02-03) was assigned to work with Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson during his Fellowship. It wasn’t long before the young White House Fellow noticed an important leadership trait in his principal that he hoped to nurture in himself: Secretary Thompson was an outstanding listener.
One example of this came during a meeting with food industry executives who were brought in by Secretary Thompson to discuss their role in the rise in childhood obesity. The executives essentially told Thompson that the government should stay out of their business.
After listening to them for almost an hour, Aristeiguieta recalls that Thompson responded with the following: “‘I’ve heard you. I understand your concerns. Now I need you to tell me how you, as an industry, can help address this public health issue.’ Then he just sat back and listened again. Pretty soon they were talking about how they could step up and participate without being forced into it—how they could begin putting more healthy food choices on their menus and those kinds of things—and by the end of the meeting the tone had changed dramatically. They weren’t attacking the secretary anymore. They were actually pleased, and they felt that they were part of the dialogue, and in fact, they probably went further than the secretary really expected them to go at that point.
“From that meeting I learned the value of listening. I’ve tried to incorporate that into my own leadership style in my work as director of emergency medical services and disaster preparedness for Emergent Medical Associates and also in my role as an assistant professor in emergency medicine at the University of California-Davis.”
LEADERSHIP LESSON #7: Be a problem solver. Several years ago I returned from a business trip to find that my assistant had hung a gigantic fifteen-foot-long wooden sign above his office door. The sign reads, “Don’t Bring Me Problems. Bring Me Solutions.”
I suggest that you post a similar sign and then set about the task of guiding each person on your team toward the goal of becoming a top-notch problem solver during this crucial period. Sure, it takes time and effort to teach problem-solving strategies to your people, but when you experience the payoff, you’ll know it was an investment worth making.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Julia Vadala Taft
In 1975, President Gerald Ford chose former White House Fellow Julia Vadala Taft (WHF 70-71) to direct the resettlement of refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos after the collapse of Saigon. The resettlement program brought 131,000 refugees to the U.S. in six months. There was no template and no time plan. The work just had to get done, and Taft directed it all with humor, grace, and a backbone of steel.
During her career as a public servant, Taft helped reshape the Refugee Act of 1980, and helped organize relief for the people of war-torn and disaster-ridden countries throughout the world, including 25 million flood victims left homeless in Bangladesh, displaced people in Burundi, victims of a poison gas incident in Cameroon, the people of the Sahel and Ethiopia who were suffering from a widespread famine after a locust plague, and 800,000 refugees driven from Kosovo.
When she died from colon cancer in 2008, former White House Fellow and longtime friend Colin Powell was quoted in the New York Times obituary section as saying that Julia Taft “was an image of American openness and generosity. Her professional life was committed to people trying to get by on a dollar a day, those who are hungry, without clean water, without medicine, without homes.”
Taft’s obituary in the Washington Post on March 19 stated, “It was her ability to bring order to chaos—plus her willingness to get on a plane, helicopter, jeep, or riverboat to go almost anywhere that enabled her to make a difference. Whether in the White House, a refugee camp, or meeting with government and [nongovernmental organization] officials, she knew how to get people moving.”
LEADERSHIP LESSON #8: Lead through experience and competence, not through title or position. For more than four decades, by pairing young people with established leaders, the White House Fellows program has given hundreds of young Americans the tools, experiences, and mentors necessary for them to become confident, well-prepared problem solvers and leaders.
And if you want to survive the tough economy, that’s exactly the kind of leadership motif you’ll adopt for your organization. Mentor your employees, encourage them, make partners out of them, and your organization is sure to benefit.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Arthur “Gene” Dewey
The ability to help propelled Arthur “Gene” Dewey (WHF 68-69) from his post as assistant to a high-ranking military officer into a White House Fellowship at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Dewey’s principal at USAID, Bill Gaud, put him right to work. He sent Dewey to Nigeria where USAID was spending a great deal of money supporting those caught up in the Nigerian-Biafran war, and Gaud wanted to make sure all of the supplies were getting through.
Dewey found that the Nigerian Air Force was shooting down relief planes during the night airlifts, and so he hatched a plan to get food in by using a combination of sealift and riverboats. He presented the idea to Clyde Ferguson, President Nixon’s special representative for Nigeria-Biafra at the State Department. Ferguson asked him to come work for him for a couple of weeks on what was dubbed the Cross River Scheme.
With no previous experience coordinating large-scale relief efforts, Dewey set about the task of making the project safer and more efficient. As the efforts to bring relief to the people of Biafra—just over 3 million people fell under the plan—continued, Dewey became more involved in the diplomacy required to set up a formal, enduring procedure for getting food and other supplies to the Biafrans. Unfortunately, the Biafran leader, Governor Ojukwu, refused to accept the plan even though it was clearly designed to benefit his people. Ferguson and Dewey were heartbroken.
Then Dewey had a fateful meeting with an initially very negative Catholic bishop on the island. The bishop complained that the U.S. was not doing enough to help the Biafrans. Dewey informed him that Ojukwu was the one holding up the agreement while his people suffered. He then explained the Cross River plan to the bishop, whose attitude gradually softened. The conversation closed with the bishop promising that when Ojukwu came to confession later that week, he would have a talk with him and get him to change his mind.
Dewey was skeptical. But just a couple of days later, after he had arrived back in New York, he received a call telling him that General Ojukwu would accept the proposal.
Dewey says that the greatest leadership lesson he learned from his White House Fellowship was the necessity of being prepared and becoming an expert. His title as a White House Fellow meant virtually nothing as he designed and tried to execute the Cross River plan in Nigeria. What counted were his expertise and his attitude.
Just because the economy has been slow and businesses have experienced set-backs, does not mean the fundamentals of leadership need to change. The leadership qualities espoused by mentors in the White House Fellows program translate perfectly to the workplaces and the government offices of 2009 America. Decide today to start motivating your employees by being the best leader you can be and you’ll all go far, despite the bad economy.
# # #
About the Author:
Charles P. Garcia is a former White House Fellow, graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Columbia Law School graduate, and best-selling author. In 2006, he sold his investment banking firm, which grew from three people to sixty offices in seven countries; Inc. magazine identified it as one of the top ten fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. Garcia was named entrepreneur of the year by three national organizations. He is on the board of Fortune 500 companies and serves as the chairman of the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows: Learn How to Inspire Others, Achieve Greatness, and Find Success in Any Organization (McGraw-Hill, 2009, ISBN: 978-0-07-159848-4, $24.95) is available at bookstores nationwide and all major online booksellers.
About the Author
Charles P. Garcia is a former White House Fellow, graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Columbia Law School graduate, and best-selling author. In 2006, he sold his investment banking firm, which grew from three people to sixty offices in seven countries; Inc. magazine identified it as one of the top ten fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. Garcia was named entrepreneur of the year by three national organizations. He is on the board of Fortune 500 companies and serves as the chairman of the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
laos food_2="laos food" What Vietnamese foods do you see in Australia today?
i am doing an assignment on Laos and i need to know what foods have come from their into australia any help would be greatly appreciated thankyou
I agree with Olan Black, Vietnamese food can be found everywhere unless the ingredients are scarce. Now, some common products that export out of Vietnam are: Fish sauce(nuoc mam), Anchrovy dip(mam nem). Also, Vietnam and Laos are two very different countries. They have cultural differences and cuisine is diverse.
laos education="laos education" how can i help thise less fortunate than myself?
i want to help, to give something back. im fifteen, female and living in Perth. i don't want to just give money, i want to see where my moneys going and actually help myself. i want to go on a mission thing to a country like Laos or somewhere, to help with poverty, disease and child workers. To give young children better education and better health. are there any groups like this departing form Perth were i can volunteer? thank-you.
ps, can you send me links of websites?
I doubt at your age you will actually be allowed to travel to Laos or other countries in a similar situation and obviously you do not have the expertise or knowledge to make an impact.
But what you can do is to continue studying to learn things that will be useful in the future and join a local or national charity that provides the kind of help you have mentioned through fundraising, raising the level of knowledge, or even basic office help you could provide in your spare time to such charities. Once you learn more you could become a good speaker and go from school to school to inspire other children or teenagers.
Regarding websites, just use key words like: 'Perth based charities' or any other suitable key words to find what suits you.
Good luck.
MaximsNewsNetwork: LAOS LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND EDUCATION (UNICEF)
Evaluating Your English Teaching Job Offers - ESL TEFL TESOL
You have decided on being an ESL TEFL TESOL teacher so you are off on the job search. Aside from the obvious considerations such as what country to work in and what TESL TEFL TESOL teacher training or qualifications (TEFL/TESOL/CELTA/DELTA) to obtain; there are other things a teachers should consider when looking at potential job offers.
There are many factors a teacher considers which will affect whether they accept a teaching position. The most obvious factor would be the content of the position (i.e. what is going to be taught). What is the school asking of you as a teacher? You must ask yourself if the ESL TEFL TESOL teaching job is interesting and fits into your career plans as a teacher. The person and ESL TEFL TESOL school you will be working for is also an important consideration so you must take the time to talk to them either via email or phone. It would also be beneficial to ask to speak to other teachers from the school to find out their impressions. Knowing what the job is and whom you will be working with are the first step in deciding whether to pursue it further.
Some may say that the most important consideration would be salary and benefits but these should be a secondary consideration to what you want to do and who you will be working with. Regardless of the salary paid, most people will not stay at a position where they feel unsatisfied or have no growth. In addition, the people you work with or for have an enormous impact on your job satisfaction. However, when considering salary and benefits, do not focus as much on the starting salary but rather on the potential for growth and increases. Does the school have growth potential for you as a professional? Do they spell out cost-of-living increases and meritorious raises? Benefits are other areas that can supplement a position where the starting salary is not as good as you would have wished. Get a list of benefits from the company and formulate any questions you may have regarding them so that you can better discuss the position with management and other teachers at the school.
Another factor that may come into play with many teachers when evaluating a position is the ESL TEFL TESOL resources provided by the school for the teacher to prepare their lessons. Teachers spend a large majority of their time preparing for upcoming classes. This requires readily available resources such as teacher edition books, computer, printer, internet access, and preferably a reference library. In addition, there should be a work area set aside at the school for teachers to plan and prepare. Whether the school already has a set curriculum/syllabus for the class to be taught and ESL/EFL/TEFL student books because the teacher may be asked to help to create these resources (i.e worksheets) for your school year if they are not provided. I have known many teachers that have felt the need to move on because of the demands of planning for a school year without adequate resources.
To help you find that perfect (or near perfect) ESL/EFL/TEFL teaching job, you should ask these questions to all prospective employers/schools:
1. What is the salary?
2. How many months is the teaching contract?
3. Do/Can you sponsor me for all paperwork, including teacher's license, work permit, and visa extension?
4. How soon can you get this paperwork processed?
5. How many hours will I be teaching per week?
6. What kind of medical/travel insurance is on offer?
7. When are the starting and ending times for being at the school regardless of whether there is a class?
8. About how many school or community events a month are teachers required to attend outside normal working hours (teachers' meetings, parents' meetings, school festivals, seminars, etc.)?
9. Does the school have/provide ESL TEFL TESOL student books or will I be required to make my own worksheets?
10. Does the school have whiteboards or chalkboards?
11. Does the school provide all teaching materials needed? What are the items provided?
12. Does the school require that I attend/teach a summer camp?
13. Is there a discipline policy? What is it and how is it enforced?
14. What are the details of the teaching contract "extras" such as:
a. Resigning bonuses
b. Biannual or annual plane tickets to visit home
c. Housing allowances (if no housing allowance then ask about help finding accommodations along with cost in the area of the school)
d. Internet access both in and outside the school
e. Raise schedules
Searching for an ESL TEFL TESOL teaching position is difficult. After spending many hours on a search, making a careful decision regarding a job offer is important. Getting a job offer does not necessarily mean you should take the job. Most schools will not expect you to make a decision on the spot. You will probably be given a few days to a week to make up your mind. If they are unable to provide you with the time to make a decision then you should not consider this teaching job as a viable position. On the other hand, if you decide to go with a school without finding out the proper information, don't blame the school when the position turns out not to be what you expected or wanted. Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the job will help you make a more informed decision, rather than deciding on impulse.
When considering where in the world you want to teach, the big 3 for ESL TEFL TESOL jobs are:
Asia: Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are the popular spots because they have so many ESL jobs available but there are always positions coming up infrequently in places like Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia though you must be a qualified teacher to obtain these. You may even find positions for Cambodia and Laos but you should look at the reputation of employers carefully due to lack of a solid legal system for recourse. Life can become very difficult “off the beaten path”.
Europe: Everyone dreams of teaching in Greece, Italy, France or Spain but unless you are an European Union (EU) citizen it is difficult to obtain these positions. The more frequent positions are available in Eastern Europe in places like Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and Russia. These positions don’t pay very well compared to the cost of living in some of these countries but they provide lot’s of opportunity for travel while not teaching.
The Middle East: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE) are the most common with Bahrain, Yemen and Qatar occasionally having openings. Now there are also more teaching positions available in Iraq. The Middle East is popular for the money paid for teaching positions but don’t expect much of a social life due to cultural restraints.
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In January 1950, the People’s Republic of China recognised the Vietminh’s Democratic Republic of Vietnam as the government of Vietnam. At the same time the non-Communist nations of the world recognised the France supported State of Vietnam led by former Emperor Bao Dai. The Battle of Dien Bein Phu of 1954 marked the end of French involvement in Indo-China and the independence was granted to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia by the Geneva Accords. The Accords also resulted in the partition of Vietnam along the 17th parallel, with Ho Chi Minh’s communist Vietminh in control of the north and the French-backed State of Vietnam in control of the south. Elections were to be held throughout the country, according to the Geneva Accords, but they were blocked by the South Vietnamese president, who feared a communist victory. Following a powerful propaganda campaign marshalled by the Americans, over one million people fled the North, mainly Catholics who feared communist persecution. In the North, the Vietminh who had come under the control of the Lao Dung Party consolidated their power under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh, collectivised agriculture and began planning about how to gain control of the South. In Saigon, Bao Dai was deposed in a referendum by the US backed Ngo Dinh Diem in late 1955, he immediately launched an anti-communist sweep of the south. The Vietminh cadres, dismissively dubbed the Vietcong by Diem found their backs to the wall and appealed to the North for support. A low key insurgency developed in the South, it was originally aimed at local government officials but it soon broadened to include other symbols of the status quo including teachers, health workers and agricultural officials.
In May 1959, the Lao Dung Party sanctioned an armed revolution against Saigon, thousands of insurgents began to stream down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to help form Vietcong units, this was the beginnings of the National Liberation Front. By the early 1960s, the NLF’s campaign had burgeoned and was scoring defeats on the Army, Republic of Vietman (ARVN). Diem and his mafia-like family were incapable of dealing with the growing crisis, the US administration began to seek ways of removing them from the reigns of power. The US diplomatic regime in Saigon approved if not planned a coup d’etat in May 1963 which resulted in the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother Ngo Diem Nhu. Chaos followed the coup, one military government toppled another in quick succession while the North Vietnamese government took advantage of the instability by pouring support into it’s guerrilla movement. A controversial incident that occurred in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964, would have a profound impact on the war. The US destroyer, Maddox was fired upon by North Vietnamese torpedo boats, it was later reported that their crews were inexperienced and were simply responding to sonar and radar anomalies. However, the Johnson administration, used the incident to gain congressional support for increased military action in South-East Asia. The war began to escalate from 1965, in retaliation to Vietcong attacks on the US airbase at Pleiku, the US air force began bombing North Vietnam. In the summer of that year, General Westmoreland, Commander of the US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV), ordered the first US ground offensive ground operation. US troops began pouring into the country, and Washington encouraged its SEATO allies to send troops and Austrailia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines all sent troops, although America’s NATO allies, most notably Canada and the United Kingdom refused to contribute troops.
Westmoreland launched a series of large-scale ‘Search and Destroy’ operations, targeting Vietcong operating bases. Vietcong units often managed to evade US incursions by retreating to sanctuaries in Cambodia and Laos, though the attacks did take their toll on Vietcong forward-supply bases. The political situation in South Vietnam began to stabilise with the coming to power of Vice-President Nguyen Cao Ky and President Nguyen Van Thieu in 1967. The Johnson administration employed a ‘policy of minimum candour’ when dealing with the media, this policy damaged the trust of the American public in the administration and large scale public protests began in the States as the ’credibility gap’ widened. By mid-1967, US forces were gaining the upper hand until Hanoi launched the Tet Offensive in January 1968 with the intention of launching a military and civilian uprising in the South, that failed to materialise, however the offensive proved to be a political triumph for Hanoi because the American military and by extension the American public had believed the war to be almost over, they were shocked by the scope and intensity of the attack. It caused Lyndon B. Johnson’s job, home support for the effort began to seriously stumble and US policy-makers became increasingly determined to devise an exit strategy that would not simply abandon South Vietnam to PAVN; they began negotiations with North Vietnam in Paris, though little progress was made. The Nixon administration began a policy of Vietnamization, where ARVN forces were bolstered as American troops began to withdraw. In March 1969, US forces launched a massive bombing campaign of Cambodia with the goal of destroying PAVN sanctuaries, this violated a long succession of pronouncements from Washington supporting Cambodian neutrality.
However, in May 1970, the US began ground incursions into Cambodia; this action sparked nationwide protests on the home front culminating in the tragedy at Kent State University when four students were shot and killed by soldiers of the Ohio National Guard. The public were outraged, but the Nixon administration appeared indifferent, launching ARVN incursions into neutral Laos in early 1971 with the intention of cutting the Ho Chi Minh supply line. These incursions proved disastrous with the ARVN forces who were easily routed, retreating pell-mell, abandoning vehicles and equipment and requiring a bail-out by American airpower; the chaos clearly emphasised the failure of the policy of Vietnamization. Morale amongst US troops was at its lowest ebb - Australia and New Zealand pulled out their troops, many soldiers developed drug habits, there were problems with race relations and insubordination and cases of courts-martial soared. Vietnamization was again tested by the Easter Offensive of 1972, the VPA and NLF overran the northern provinces and other forces attacked from Cambodia, threatening to cut the country in half but US airpower again came to the rescue. It was now clear that South Vietnam could not survive without the support of American airpower, though the remaining American ground troops were withdrawn in August. After peace negotiations had broken down, Nixon ordered a massive bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong to pressurize North Vietnam back to the negotiating table. It worked, at huge cost, although the Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, the offensive had destroyed much of the remaining industrial and economic capacity of North Vietnam. The Peace Accords enforced a cease-fire, it was stated that US POW’s would be released, national elections would be called for in the North and the South and a sixty day period was instigated for the complete withdrawal of American forces. However, the fighting in South Vietnam continued, the POW issue runs to this day and elections were never held. Many South Vietnamese fled to the United States in one of the largest war refugees migrations in history. There was no peace movement to protest the renewed bloodshed nor was there much media coverage. Early in 1975, the North Vietnamese launched their final offensive, South Vietnam rapidly collapsed. North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon, only hours after the US completed an emergency airlift of embassy personnel and thousands of South Vietnamese who feared for their lives under the communists. Hanoi gained control of South Vietnam, and its allies won in Cambodia, where the government surrendered to insurgent forces on 17 April 1975, and Laos, where the Communists gradually assumed control.
About the Author
Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source Russell Shortt, http://www.exploringireland.net http://www.visitscotlandtours.com
The ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism provides us with timeless wisdom we can certainly apply today to help us through our present crises, and also help us through the high levels of success that will surely follow if we apply this ancient wisdom today.
"Tao" is a term that refers to the basic, unchanging foundation of reality. It is the balanced, harmonious condition that all unbalanced, inharmonious conditions naturally gravitate toward. And it is essentially supportive, being the eternal foundation of reality.
All conditions in time are destined to go up and down. The economy, your relationships, your healthy, your happiness, all must rise, and fall, fall and rise, like your chest when you breathe, like the ocean waves, like the path of the sun to your vision. As you integrate with the unchanging, balanced and harmonious state of Tao, you find yourself so completely supported that the so-called "good" and "bad" times turn into mental illusions that dissolve into an ever-present condition of essential good. This fills you with a faith that surpasses reason and belief. You cannot enter this experience through reason or belief. You have to attain liberation from your own unbalanced, discordant conflict with reality to release yourself into it.
Every challenge gives you the opportunity to free yourself from emotional dependence upon the changing circumstances of your life. In life, while whatever goes up comes down, and vice versa, as you respond to both the ups and downs with clear, calm emotional equanimity, you see no need to react with emotional stress to any condition, because you experience at the core of your own consciousness the same supportive, loving embrace of reality underlying all change.
The greatest virtue is like water; it is good to all things. It attains the most inaccessible places without strife. It is therefore like Tao. Lao Tze
One lesson we can glean from this is the wisdom of avoiding trying too hard to control what happens, be it the frightful struggle to avoid danger, or the desire-driven struggle to seek or seize opportunity. Work for what you want, but not at the expense of your eviction (in consciousness) from the ever present support of the Tao. Whatever you achieve or lose, circumstances tend naturally to return to balance, like a pond of water blown about by the wind. When the wind stops blowing, the water naturally returns to balanced calm on its own and once again reflects the ever-present limitless beauty of the heavens above. The same will prove true in every area of your life.
Water has traditionally been used as a symbol of life for this very reason, among other reasons: Water changes forms like life, but the water itself remains life-giving water. As you stop working too hard to direct your life, your life works out. You have the power to direct your destiny. But losing your balance directs it toward chaos. Working for what you want in a calm, loving, balanced way directs your life toward the changes that you want with the support of the Tao, with the support of the basic unchanging nature of the universe.
You will find all the support you need to achieve your goals when you count on the Tao for your support.
May you freely imbibe the life-giving, spiritually buoyant quality of Tao's sacred balance and harmony in time.
Bob Lancer leads individuals, businesses, families, and associations to fulfill their greatest dreams. He does this through a wide variety of venues, including his WSB radio show, Bob Lancer's Parenting Solutions, a show that focuses as much on the raising of ourselves and of our society as on the raising of children. The show has been on the air since 1995 and broadcasts to 35 states over the radio, and worldwide over the internet.
He is the author of numerous books and he has created dozens of motivational recordings on his themes.
Bob Lancer transforms audiences through his dynamic keynotes and seminars on parenting, marriage, and personal and professional development at live events, including conferences around the nation and overseas. He has been leading his audiences to greater personal and professional success as a public speaker, seminar leader, consultant and author for over 20 years and his work has been featured on CNN and other network television stations, in national magazines and in major newspapers.
About the Author
103.7 MHZ Sporadic E - Lao National Radio (LNR) FM 1, Vientiane, Laos at Siliguri, WB, India
book hotel reservations="book hotel reservations" Should I book flights when I don't have hotel reservations yet?
I found the PERFECT flights, but we don't have our hotels lined up yet. I'm afraid our good flights will get away! Am I overlooking something major if I decide to book the flights before our hotels are even reserved???
I know we can find SOMETHING, so it's not bad, is it?
Yes, buy your flights now!!! that will be the only part of your trip where you can save big $$$. hotels are abundant, if you can't get a hotel, rent an apartment, go to a B&B, stay at an inn, you can always find cheap accomodations, but you can't always get a cheap flight ...
Liu Ruiqi: Heng Yuan Xiang from a single brand to a multi-brand development - Heng Yuan Xiang, brands - clothing industry
Who would have thought it a recession, a long-established industry, now in long-established in Shanghai ranked first, fame? Who would expect a small shop that year, has become the 40,000 employees of the huge "economic union"? Now how many people will be interested in care yarn with a business but he just let the whole world's eyes were fixed on wool textile industry group which most fine wool.
Liu Ruiqi This is Heng Yuan Xiang. The head of Liu Ruiqi, low-key, restrained, tone of voice is low and the. But his business plan is passion, philosophy has the courage to lead, the sword go the wrong front. He deliberately made the business a legend, the brand management arrangements into one story, sounds and Syria to one climax after another, derived the better suspense, attracting public attention. Heng Yuan Xiang originated
yarn shop of 180 sq m
Has shown signs of Liu Ruiqi, of medium height, young and handsome, who exudes energy and vitality, giving the feeling of deja vu. Along with "Aries sheep of the" three voices is sound, there's goes on frequent full Reiki, innocent baby face, is the "cloning" Liu Ruiqi my childhood photos. Liu Ruiqi is closely linked with the Heng Yuan Xiang.
1987, the only 29-year-old Liu Ruiqi into "Heng Yuan Xiang," When the general manager. A less than 180 square meters of small shops, business was light, is in the wool industry, the occasion of landslides. Liu Ruiqi tried to think: Where to go? History of the shop after painstaking research, he found 60-year-old has "Heng Yuan Xiang" is a vast reservoir of wealth is not a "gold mine" it? ?? "We can not be brought a golden rice bowl begging ah!" Liu Ruiqi become clear, resolutely decided to use the flagship company registration, their production of "Heng Yuan Xiang," "Xiaonan" brand knitting wool.
Since 1991, "Heng Yuan Xiang" out of the dilemma, at an extraordinary pace miraculously developed. Year 75 tons of knitting wool production only after 6 years, "Heng Yuan Xiang," the Commonwealth of production and sales passed the one million tons, up 130 times in one fell swoop into the country and the world's largest wool production and marketing of the Commonwealth. Served as member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Vice Premier Wu Bangguo personally wrote an inscription: "Wool King Heng Yuan Xiang." Year drew
1997, Liu Ruiqi his party was invited to visit Uruguay wool rich. He also has an important purpose is to meet some old friends?? Uruguayan President Julio Sanguinetti Maria Dr.
Liu Ruiqi friendship with the president should also be traced back to Uruguay in April 1997 a government delegation to visit China.
That led President Sanguinetti visit to Shanghai's first stop on the road to Heng Yuan Xiang is located in Jinling company visits. In fact, knowledge of President Heng Yuan Xiang is starting from the wool. In 1996, Heng Yuan Xiang Uruguay Uruguay wool accounts for the use of 15% of the total wool, is the first customer in the world.
Talk about "Heng Yuan Xiang" brand, which is Liu Ruiqi experienced the most proud of editing software, he lives as precious as his example. Liu Ruiqi said, "Heng Yuan" as the company's total mark, we have to high-quality products and good after-sales service as standard, a new face appears in front of consumers.
Heng Yuan Xiang was founded in 1927, was once a well-known firm on the beach. After 1956, public-private partnership, leaving only No. 711 Nanjing East Road, Heng Yuan Xiang more than 100 square meters of knitting wool shop, and later even "Heng Yuan Xiang," words have changed. In 1978, Heng Yuan Xiang knitting wool shop to restore the name of the professional distribution in Nanjing East Road, Shanghai brand yarn, began to resume business.
Liu Ruiqi determined to show his hands and feet, revitalize the Heng Yuan Xiang's glory. Advertising marketing strategy, two years after the name of Shanghai Heng Yuan Xiang, designated special shops.
1991 years ago, the company set up knitting wool Heng Yuan Xiang, Liu Ruiqi spend 900 yuan to the Bureau registered a "Heng Yuan Xiang" trademark. And advertising through OEM bombing two strategies, re-fired brand and Heng Yuan Xiang. The following year, the Group set up Vientiane, Heng Yuan Xiang Group companies to become one of knitting wool.
1994, the Vientiane group listed. Under the management of the Liu Ruiqi, Heng Yuan Xiang is becoming a major source of profits of listed companies, Liu Ruiqi was promoted to general manager of listed companies.
2000 8 24, the Shanghai Shimao Hui Wing-mau's Investment and Development Limited for 144 million cost, the largest shareholder of shares from Vientiane, Huangpu District, Guo Ziju buy 26.43 percent stake, becoming the first shares in Vientiane major shareholders. Shimao investment of White, listed on the appointment of a new general manager, Liu Ruiqi was demoted to deputy general manager.
Shimao Group is a core real estate development company with the White Vientiane group, but the main industry in order to develop their property, and Heng Yuan Xiang Liu Ruiqi in fact already marginalized. This seems to Liu Ruiqi negative, but the idea behind the negative, just pregnant with time.
Fact, as early Shimao Group shares before the White Vientiane, Liu Ruiqi have the idea of MBO. By Liu Ruiqi talent and his contribution to the industry Heng Yuan Xiang, Liu apparently not content with the state-owned enterprises can get in return.
1998, the Shanghai Investment Consulting Company Ltd. Rong Zheng Peimin are found on the beach Liu Ruiqi is being seriously underestimated the value of one of the entrepreneurs, that through some channels Liu Ruiqi planning on "Heng Yuan Xiang," the acquisition, but because various conditions, acquisitions can be relevant without the support. Vientiane
Shimao Group shares after the reverse merger, "Heng Yuan Xiang" in terms of the Shimao actually tasteless, but to quickly find the right assets for the Heng Yuan Xiang external buyers, it is not easy, because these assets left Liu Ruiqi as the core management team will be unable to maintain their operations. Shimao Group and Liu Ruiqi MBO to become the best choice. About the Author
I am a professional editor from China Product, and my work is to promote a free online trade platform. http://www.himfr.com/ contain a great deal of information about lathes mini , used cnc router welcome to visit!
Alexandra,Birdie,Lila T and GUMBY Concert in Minnestoa
laos flight="laos flight" I'm going to Laos during Chinese New Year next year so I need a little help?
Has anyone been to Laos before? I book a flight through AirAsia and it's included accomodation. Do you know any cheap & good travel agent over there?
Sure, I've been to Laos before ... Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Pakse, Champassak and some smaller places, which shall remain unnamed ... but you don't mention your destination.
There are many travel agents (or your hotel/guest house can help you) at the major tourist destinations.
Lao Airlines - Flight to Xieng Khouang November 2010
backpacking laos_4="backpacking laos" How much should I expect to spend backpacking through S.E. Asia?
I plan on spending about nine months backpacking through the Phillipines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. I have heard you can get by on $25/day, but that the trip would be much more enjoyable with a $35/day budget. I also know it varies by country, but any information on how difficult it is to find temporary employment in said countries would be appreciated. I'd like to work while I'm traveling here and there so I'm not spending pocket money 24/7. Thanks!
You should be able to get a good answer in the travel blogs in Asia.
Overview Bach Ma National Park (BMNP) is situated in the narrow central region of Vietnam, just north of the Hai Van Pass where the Annamite Mountain Range meets the South China Sea. In 1991 Bach Ma was officially classified as a national park with 22,031 ha at its core and a buffer zone of 21,300 ha. Forming a green corridor from the Annamite Mountains to Vietnam's coastal plain, Bach Ma National Park is the only surviving area of forest extending from the South China Sea to the Laos border. Following the discovery of Bach Ma in 1932 a road was built to the summit and the area just below was developed into a hill station. By the end of the 1930s there were 139 villas, a hotel and a general store and the area was a popular weekend getaway for members of the French colonial administration.
Day 1: Hue - Bach Ma National Park ( Lunch )
Departing from Hue we drive 60kms to Bach Ma National Park. Bach Ma summit offers a range of unique trails for those interested in wildlife and history or who simply wish to enjoy the distinctive natural beauty of the park. Each trail can be walked in under a day and do not require any special hiking equipment. A five-hour trek this afternoon through sub-tropical forest will take us to the Ngu Ho and Do Quyen Waterfalls. The Ngu Ho or Five-lakes Cascade is a series of small waterfalls which crash down into pristine pools of clear water secluded under a canopy of foliage. O/N at Bach Ma. (Lunch)
Day 2: Bach Ma National Park – Hue ( Breakfast, Lunch )
Following breakfast we commence our trek to the summit. This is the most popular trail at Bach Ma. After one hour walking uphill we reach the peak, 1450m above the sea level. From here we can admire the spectacular views north to Hue and south to Lang Co beach and several lagoons. From the summit we make our way through sub-tropical evergreen forest. The trail, which passes the ruins of several French era villas, is renowned for observing birds. Our trek ends at the Orchid Collection House near the guesthouse. After lunch we return to Hue. (Breakfast / Lunch)
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"Nha Trang 29th - 30th Jan 2009" Dlz's photos around Nha Trang, Vietnam
It's amazing how the leading four rivers in Asia are found in China. What's not surprising is the fact that China is probably one of the oldest civilizations globally. In the end, people today usually set-up communities in areas which are conducive for habitation and what's much better that arranging camp near a river where you get water and transportation very easily. This is a directory of the leading five longest rivers in the land.
1. Yangtze Yangtze has constantly had that scenic and serene excellent, despite the fact that with the construction of the 3 Gorges Dam, that is the biggest hydroelectric station globally, that untouched look is lost, with the exception of some stretches like that 1 in Western Yunnan, that is a UNESCO Web page, that is touted to be the least disturbed temperate ecosystem on the. It provides a total length of 6,300 km or 3,915 mi, starting from the southwestern an area of the Qinghai Province inside the Tibetan Plateau, flowing into the East China Sea though being given food by tributaries along the way. This river was continually been one of the briskest waterways in the world and Shanghai, situated near the Delta, produces 20% of the country's Gross Domestic Item.
2. Huange He The Huang He or Yellow River is deemed as China's Cradle of civilization. The Huang He has been mentioned in maps as early as 220 BCE. The Yellow River spans five,464 km or 3395 miles, originating at the Bayan Har Mountains from the southern an area of the Qinghai province, coursing by way of modest parts of Mongolia and flowing across the North China plain and ultimately draining into the Bohai Sea. Its color was brought by the large measures of Loess that it carries from having went through the Loess Plateau where erosion occurs. It is also one or more of the most toxic rivers in history, as the 1887 flood is causing around 900,000 to 2 million deaths. Flooding invariably is a problem with the Huang He because of the sediment it carries which causes natural dams to arise, resulting to the water obtaining a new valley to course by way of.
3. Ob- Irtysh Contrary to everyday opinion, the Ob river which spans 2,962 km (1,841 mi) is not just a Russian River - it originates from the Altay Mountains, getting in a west and north course which ultimately drains into the Gulf of Ob (where wealthy deposits of gas and oil were found) within the Kara sea which is perfect with the Arctic Ocean. This river was a primary transportation hub until the railway system supplied a choice. Presently, the river is mostly employed for drinking water supply, hydroelectric power, irrigation and fishing.
4. Amur For quite a few centuries, the Amur region has been a resource of major geo-political problems between Russia and China. This 2,824 km (1,755 mi) defines the Russia-Chinese border and ownership of adjoining lands have changed hands a few times in history. The river has its origins inside the hills of Western Manchuria, coursing eastward until it joins the Ussuri River, where it ceases to define the border and begins to flow north into the Amgun River and east into the Tartary Strait.
5. Mekong The Mekong River spans four,909 km (three,050 mi), generating it the world's 12th longest river. It originates within the Southwestern part of China's Qinghai province, being an area of the Three Parallel Rivers Protected location in Yunnan. It flows south-east to make up the Burma-Laos border and turning southwest to make up the Laos-Thailand border and into internal Laos, passing by means of Vientiane, its capital and crossing into Cambodia and slowing into Vietnam where it forms the Mekong Delta and discharges into the South China Sea. This river has a history of dividing the individuals who live nearby because of navigation hazards (the river has various falls and rapids) but the nations Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam has established the MRC or Mekong River Commission to assist with the management of the river's resources. Though the river is difficult to make use of for transportation, it has been a superb source of hydroelectric power.
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For more information about top 10 longest rivers in the world, visit famouswonders.com and check out top 10 longest rivers.
Lao - Vientiane : looking for the location of topographique map shop in Tuk-Tuk
