Da Il Fatto Quotidiano del 25/11/09

GIRA E RIGIRA tra le mani quei biglietti Maria Antonietta Aula. Una signora alta e bionda con gli occhi celesti e una cortesia d’altri tempi a delinearne i tratti. Famiglia della borghesia trapanese, è stata dall’età di 24 anni, per oltre vent’anni, la moglie del senatore del Pdl Antonio D’Alì, presidente della Commissione Ambiente, ex sottosegretario all’Interno, proprietario della Banca Sicula, poi ceduta alla Comit. La signora Aula è una donna che fatica ancora a rendersi conto di ciò che è scivolato davanti ai suoi occhi lasciando domande senza risposta. Risposte che non cessa di avere, visto che ci si dimentica solo di ciò che si chiede perché è poco importante, ma che, a tratti, vorrebbe smettere di cercare per liberarsi di un tempo ormai perduto. “Li ho ritrovati mettendo a posto le carte” dice mostrando i biglietti. “Congratulazioni. Francesco Messina Denaro e famiglia”.

CONTINUA SU:

http://antefatto.ilcannocchiale.it/2009/11/25/la_politica_nella_terra_di_cos.html&t=La politica nella terra di Cosa nostra, parla Maria Antonietta Aula, ex moglie di Antonio D’Alì

And why? Note the question again. It doesn’t ask who you want to start, but who should start. The sentiments of the heart cannot overrule the reasons of the mind.

When one door is closed, another is opened. RVP’s injury gave one of Eduardo, Vela and maybe even Walcott for now to stake a claim. That is now well established. Eduardo and Vela have started one game each so far. We could say neither of them have heard the phrase ‘Carpe Diem’, otherwise I would not feel the need to make this issue of who starts vs Chelsea an issue to debate.

After the Sunderland game, I found myself defending Eduardo wherever I could. People seem to forget that our Croatian has had setback after setback since that fateful afternoon in Birmingham. Did he deserve criticism, as much as that for one off game?

Perhaps retrospectively you might revise that view. He is the most natural instinctive finisher we have. Look through the goals he has scored and you can see the quickness of thought when he is presented with chances.

Look through more Eduardo footage and you will see that the Croatian has been part of the “lucky” Arsenal goals – the goal he scored off his knee vs Liege in Belgium, the Wolves own goal, the tap in vs Everton and the deflected goal vs Wigan. All of those happened so far in this season. Right man, right place, right?

Add to that the dribble attribute which can take out a couple of players in an instant and the intuitive flicks that draw in our other players.

Eduardo will start because he has experience. This is largely true considering the Croatian is the older professional, but how much of that experience gained is recent? I can’t be sure on this but Vela has arguably had more minutes on the pitch if you include the loan spell since 2007.

Vela started on Wednesday against Liege and from what I saw he impressed me. He was skillful, direct and although his finishing left a lot to be desired the positive was that he was in the box.

I was equally if not more impressed when shortly after losing the ball, he chased back and won the ball back. Meek Vela? As if. Did we underestimate his physical attributes? There is always a player like that who surprises you with his unperceived strength. You’ll find them everywhere, maybe even in your local 5-a-side games.

If those moments from the Liege match didn’t convince you, I’m sure there is more Vela footage out there that shows his strength on the ball, ability to hold off defenders and link up play. And you can hardly forget the stunning finishing in those goals against Sheffield United and Wigan. If he can do that at 20, what he could do when he is older and wisder is frightening. Let us focus on the present, however.

Eduardo or Vela?

That is the question.

Both can’t start. That would be a luxury for this game. Neither have had many substitute appearances and neither have sufficiently impressed in those appearances. Of the two, Eduardo would make a better sub.

Would that send the right message to Eduardo, especially after he had no involvement against Liege? Do you drop Vela after his fairly impressive performance vs Liege?

Tough questions. Tough answers. Tough decisions. Lucky we don’t have to make it. But we sure can discuss them.

Pode ser no Natal ou em qualquer outra ocasião especial né… Ui, um jantar romantico!!!! ai ai ai…

View Larger Map

Catalunya és un territori autèntic amb una diversitat paisatgística immillorable. A Catalunya hi trobem els cims més alts en els Pirineus, a més de tres mil metres sobre el nivell del mar, i al mateix temps les bellíssimes cales més entrenyables de la Mediterrània, sens dubte ens ofereix múltiples espais ideals per practicar el turisme actiu amb les màximes condicions.

La riquesa natural, el clima mediterrani i la qualitat de l’oferta ens permet realitzar activitats com senderisme, cicloturisme i BTT, escalada, turisme equestre, activitats subaquàtiques, aigues braves, rem i navegació, aire, neu, multiactivitats,… entre altres.

Better than whole of Togo

As it losing to Sunderland on Saturday was not bad enough, now I got to find out that the other North London team was involved in setting a new record for the highest scoring match in Premiership history. I can see it now, the headlines in all online advertisements.

DVD out now!! The greatest match ever played in the Premier League!!! In stores nearby!!! 9-1 to Spurs!! Available for £1.99 and comes with a free hotdog

I’m still reeling from the our latest defeat. It puts us in an uncomfortable position going into this week where there’s 2 more matches to be played. One against Std Liege which could effectively qualify us to the next round and at the weekend a London derby against the leaders of the league. Although from a betting man’s standpoint, it could work to our favour with the Chelsea winning their odds at the weekend and we didn’t. But I won’t go there cause that’s a whole different story.

He was asked whether Vela’s talent was the single reason he decided not to replace Emmanuel Adebayor in summer.

The manager replied: “Yes.”

That’s essentially what Wenger said when responding to a question on Arsenal’s official website. The boss also goes to mention that Vela is born from the same mould that made Robbie Fowler. If that means Vela scoring a hattrick inside 10 minutes against Chelsea on Sunday, then yes, I agree boss. The Mexican has been somewhat been both a revelation and also a mystery to many of us. When given the chance like in last season’s Carling Cup, he showed ingenuity and composure in front of goal which belied his age.

However the main problem is that we have not been able to see much of him. Some league cameo towards the end of the season but generally still not a player which we see Wenger throw on to win the game for us. Not that Wenger has had much chance to do that, what with Vela always being injured or away on international duty.

If Vela really is the reason why we never replaced Adebayor then surely it’s for a whole different set of reasons. Firstly, the former is neither physically strong or able to play upfront on his own. However in reference to the latter, he does possess pace and definitely much better ball control. Call me sceptical but I don’t think he is suited to play as the lone forward role that RVP has this season. That being said, he could easily slot in any of the 2 positions flanking the main striker. It may also help during the absence of RVP that Vela and Eduardo both play together. Vela’s pace would allow him to get past players or drive for the byline to deliver or cutback crosses for the Brazilian to score.

The same can be said about Walcott on the right. It would be fascinating to see how all 3 of them play together. Although that might mean a different solution on how to fit Arshavin in the side. We could see that happen tomorrow night. I’m hopeful.

Essa luminária foi uma idéia que surgiu a partir dos diversos modelos de luminárias orientais que existem – como a Lu adora velas e também gosta dos modelos orientais, acabei elaborando um modelo próximo da realidade mística, com alguns elementos do universo pagão…

Il profumo è quello dell’America’s Cup, quella vera non quella impantanata in beghe legali; il profumo è quello della prima America’s Cup che l’Italia ha vissuto da protagonista, quella del lontano 1983 con Azzurra.
Il marchio, il logo e lo yachting club Costa Smeralda son sempre quelli, le soddisfazioni anche

Nella finale del Louis Vuitton Trophy Azzurra ha battuto niente meno che i “maestri” di New Zeland, vittoria che vale doppio se consideriamo che si gareggiava con delle monobarca (cioè tutte le barche erano uguali) quindi la “differenza” era tutta negli equipaggi; questo torneo e questa formula dimostrano una volta di più che non sono necessari investimenti pazzeschi per organizzare una manifestazione interessante ed avvincente. Un plauso particolare alla RAI che ha seguito le regate e le ha trasmesse SOLO sul digitale e sul satellite, per giunta con sintesi registrate … ovvio che diretta e orari “buoni” sono riservati al calcio, alle stronzate che sparano gli “esperti” ed ai coglioni che pendono dalle loro labbra … e c’è anche chi da dell’evasore a chi non paga il canone, magari potessi non pagarlo io.

(foto dal sito LV Trophy)

L’imbarcazione italiana si aggiudica il successo finale della regata battendo due volte in finale New Zealand

NIZZA - Grande impresa di Azzurra. L’imbarcazione dello Yacht Club Costa Smeralda si è aggiudicata il successo finale nel Louis Vuitton Trophy battendo Emirates Team New Zealand nei due match-race disputati oggi. Nella prima sfida Azzurra ha preceduto i rivali di 25″, nella seconda di 17″. Nella classifica generale finale la barca italiana si è imposta davanti ad Emirates Team New Zealand (seconda), Synergy (terza) e Team Origin (quarta). Solo sesta Bmw Oracle Racing.

LA CRONACA - Grande battaglia in partenza tra Azzurra e i kiwi. Entrambe le barche varcano la linea mure a dritta in prossimità della boa. I neozelandesi sono sopravento agli italiani e virano subito, portandosi verso la destra del campo. Vira anche Azzurra. Il vento salta a sinistra e l’equipaggio dello Yacht Club Costa Smeralda mette la prua avanti di una lunghezza. Il vantaggio si consolida e al primo incrocio, nonostante navighi mure a sinistra Azzurra sfila la prua dei kiwi e continua a navigare verso la destra, assicurandosi il diritto di rotta al prossimo incrocio. Il team italiano gestisce al meglio il margine accumulato e doppia la prima boa con 14″ di vantaggio. Il vento è diminuito molto rapidamente: guidata da Tommaso Chieffi Azzurra estende la propria leadership ed è ora in testa di quattro lunghezze. Emirates Team New Zealand stramba e va verso la destra del campo, imitato da Azzurra che si mantieine tra l’avversario e la boa. Il vento rinforza e i kiwi, ricevendo per primi le raffiche più fresche, si avvicinano sensibilmente agli italiani che iniziano la seconda bolina con poco più di una lunghezza di vantaggio. Emirates Team New Zealand naviga sulla destra, sottovento ad Azzurra. I kiwi sfruttano una zona di maggior intensità del vento per azzerare il distacco ma quando sembrano prossimi a prendere la testa della regata la brezza si normalizza e l’equipaggio di Francesco Bruni torna ad allungare nuovamente il passo, iniziando l’ultima poppa con 23″ di vantaggio sui kiwi. Tommaso Chieffi concede separazione ai kiwi, navigando verso la sinistra. Il tattico carrarino ha la situazione sotto controllo: la sua scelta si rivela azzeccata e Azzurra va a vincere con 25″ di margine passando sull’1 a 0.

GARA 2 - Il vento è girato a ovest e viene ora da 325°. I kiwi entrano nel box di partenza dalla destra e hanno diritto di rotta al primo incrocio. Dean Barker, che deve guidare i suoi alla vittoria se vuole rimanere in corsa per il successo, attacca e assume una posizione di controllo. Le barche partono su mura opposte: i kiwi hanno scelto la sinistra, Azzurra la destra. Al primo incrocio la barca italiana che ha diritto di rotta sfila a prua dei kiwi, proseguendo verso la sinistra. Emirates Team New Zealand è dietro di una lunghezza. Azzurra riesce ad allungare il passo “scappando” all’avversario da sottovento. Alla prima boa gli italiani hanno un vantaggio piuttosto rassicurante. Durante la poppa Bruni e Chieffi amministrano con sapienza il vantaggio e iniziano la seconda bolina in posizione di controllo, chiudendo ogni porta alla possibile rimonta a Emirates Team New Zealand. Alla seconda boa di bolina, Azzurra, con Gabriele Bruni in testa d’albero a studiare le raffiche, anticipa i kiwi di 18″ e inizia l’ultima poppa navigando sulla destra. Tommaso Chieffi decide di portarsi a sinistra dove trova un salto di vento favorevole che lancia la barca italiana verso il punto decisivo. Azzurra taglia il traguardo con 17″ di vantaggio sui kiwi, dominatori del Round Robin, e vince il Louis Vuitton Trophy.

22 novembre 2009

Fonte

The art of a natural striker is immensely undervalued these days isn’t it? “Yeah he is okay, but he does nothing else apart from score”. How would we have love to have that player at the Stadium of Light. We did. He went off just after the 71st minute. Shortly after we went 1-0 down.

Frazier Campbell didn’t know what he did with Bent’s header from Reid’s corner. Unluckily for us, Darren Bent did and he reacted quickest to sneak his shot in. As instinctive a goal as you can get. I don’t think you can teach that.

Sometimes the ‘fox in the box’ is just too quick.

When we snatched a draw from the jaws of victory at West Ham, some Gooners wondered whether Wenger reacted too late in making his substitutions. I don’t think the same could be said here. Walcott was due to make his entrance even before that goal went in, but how many times do you see a substitution just before a corner?

Somehow we were 1-0 down from Sunderland’s only shot on target. And then Walcott and Vela make their sub appearances. Rosicky and Eduardo went off. Wait a minute Eduardo? Yes, he didn’t have a stellar game but neither did Bent.

The effect of Eduardo’s departure was profound. Between the 72nd minute and the end of the game, 12 passes (crosses in some instances) from either flanks went into the centre of the box. None of them found the intended target.

Who was the intended target? Vela? Played on the wing largely. Walcott? Ditto. Fabregas? Even he was crossing them in at times.

At present Vela and Walcott simply don’t know what it means to lead the line and based on what I saw, I don’t think they were instructed to play there either.

What puzzled me was that Nasri who I thought had a relatively quiet game was still on the pitch. Surely he could have made way instead of Eduardo? I am certain if that was the case maybe we would have at least equalized and perhaps even sneaked a win.

Did we need some many central-esque midfielders to begin with? Starting with either Vela or Walcott from the first minute would have given us that extra dimension to our attack that we only saw late in the game. Without them, we looked laboured,  the play focused too much on the centre and it felt almost if we were waiting for Sunderland to make a mistake. The Black Cats knew they were rarely get beaten if the ball went behind their defence.

Sunderland on the either hand, were well-organized. They defended deep and manipulated the space on either flanks, particularly the space between Vermaelen and Traore. If Malbranque was as clinical as his other technical attributes would suggest, we could have been punished severely. Even Sagna was exposed at times and Song had to plug the gaps.

The 13 match unbeaten run came to an end but it had to at some point. This defeat won’t be a “massive setback” as Wenger stated. In the immediate future, this result will only prove to be a sort of ‘collateral damage’ in our season. Like United losing to Burnley, like Chelsea losing to Wigan and Villa. Now and then a jolt like this is needed. I’m looking for a positive response.

ieri sera si è riunito il Cd del sabbazzietto..

..molti i nodi da sciogliere.. sforzo che naturalmente ha richiesto un adeguato apporto calorico(*).

in ogni caso i nodi sono stati sciolti tutti, e breve ci saranno diverse novità!

intanto nel prossimo w.e. tornano in acqua i nostri: al sabato toccherà ai dinghy, in quel di Anzio, alla domenica agli snipe, sempre in quel di Anzio, mentre un altro equipaggio presidia le amene sponde talamonesi, e una pervicace scriteriata continua a fare la pazzarellona sul suo multi-scafo nelle acque lacustri.. anche se domenica sarà ad anzio, per i noti impegni a bordo di “Panza de Cane!!”

(*) l’icona è di riferimento presidenziale, che ieri sera il nostro Presidente ha scelto il bordo giusto (quello sopra).. anche se il DS non l’ha mollato di un millimetro!

Sábado sem nenhum compromisso, peguei a câmera logo cedo e sai pra fotografar. Queria ir numa barragem que tem em Juatuba, mas como tinha muito tempo que não ia lá acabei meio perdido, tomei um tombo, bati meu braço e quase não consegui fazer fotos. Aqui tem algumas e no meu Flickr tem mais.

I am getting asked which countries I will focus this project in and why… While I would like to say that the project is still very young,  these are the places I am considering…in each place I would like to spend six weeks…they are not all definite, but are chosen with the aim to show the global nature and scope of trafficking…all these countries are destination…transit…and origin points for trafficking…this is simply a list…additional details and reasons for choosing each location can be obtained by contacting justin@justinvela.com

India/Nepal: The Terai region. I have already done two stories in the Terai, a plain region at the foot of the Himalayas. One of stories was on human trafficking and will be published in December 2009. The area is extremely poor and underdeveloped and thousands of people are trafficked from here every year.

Colombia: This country’s 40 year civil war has long caused people to be trafficked.

Finland: A place many would not consider trafficking to exist. An outdated legal system allows authorities to ignore  trafficking.

Italy: This western European country is a destination point for a large number of agriculture and sex workers. Many people from Eastern Europe and the Balkans are trafficked the Adriatic Sea under dangerous conditions.

The Balkans/Ukraine: Every year thousands of women are trafficked from these countries for work, most feeling they have no other means to change their current situation other than sex work.

I will also choose one or possibly two additional countries in Central/East Asia to focus on. Though I am currently researching different options, the need to obtain a visa to work there causes me to refrain from mentioning them by name at this time.

Justin Vela is a freelance multimedia journalist. Since August 2009 he has been working on a long term project on human trafficking around the world. The end result for this project will be an interactive website, exhibition, and book. If you would like to become involved or donate contact justin@justinvela.com or +358 44 956 527 (Finland). www.justinvela.com

Now is an important moment to focus attention on human trafficking in Finland.

Next year legislation regarding immigration and asylum seekers will be reexamined in the Finnish parliament.

One of the main reasons trafficking is not focused on more in Finland is the extremely narrow legislative definition of what human trafficking is.

Social workers often cannot define a person that they know has been trafficked as a victim of human trafficking because they do not meet the standards of the Finnish government’s definition of trafficking.

Organizations and NGOs will push for the legal definition to be expanded so more victims of trafficking can be helped.

The drafting process of this legislation may take until summer 2010, but from tomorrow a “guidance group” is reviewing the laws regarding asylum seekers. The legislation regarding human trafficking will also be addressed.

Finland is a country with low immigration. Compared to the surrounding countries, Finland is often the last resort of many immigrants to seek asylum within Europe. Others decide to come here after hearing that the country has more liberal immigration policies, because they have family already  living in Finland, or are attracted by the possibility of strong social benefits.

The low immigration means that Finland is years behind many other countries with regards to the necessary laws to protect and assist asylum seekers. In researching human trafficking in Finland, the very lack of knowledge and information available makes clear that Finland still thinks of itself as a largely homogeneous society. Though the country is involved with many international NGOs abroad, immigrants and the marginalized and victimized within Finland are not often thought of within the Finnish national psyche.

As the internal push for new legislation proves, this is a fact that is rapidly changing. A growing, albeit still small, number of immigrants are making Finland develop new legislation. This new legislation will most likely be drafted in the next year.

In many ways, according to numerous people I have spoken with in Finland, this country is one of the most closed European nations. Examining these immigration policies will go along with a natural opening up that is increasingly happening in Finland, with more foreigners arriving and the generation in their early twenties adopting a very international prospective.

Along the way, legislation on human trafficking will be reexamined.

Justin Vela is a freelance multimedia journalist. Since August 2009 he has been working on a long term project on human trafficking around the world. The end result for this project will be an interactive website, exhibition, and book. If you would like to become involved or donate contact justin@justinvela.com or +358 44 956 527 (Finland). www.justinvela.com

(2009-11-17) Luz de Velas / Candle Light, originally uploaded by mchammas.

Desejos e pedidos…

Foto tirada com a câmera do celular (Nokia N95 – 8GB).

Hopes and dreams…

Picture taken with cellphone camera (Nokia N95 – 8GB).

Chegando natal, falta um pouco mais de um mês, mas já começa a correria, que tal dar uma adiantada? Hoje tenho dicas de presentes femininos.

Le Lis Blanc

A loja escolhida é a Le Lis Blanc (sim, eu adoro a loja) portanto, dicas femininas, um presente fofo é uma pashimina, vi de várias cores, preta, branca, coral, pink, roxa, mas o detalhe é como ela vem, ela vem dentro de um embrulho de organza, FAN TÁS TI CO, juro, é tão lindo que agrega mil vezes o presente, sempre em dourado e com a cor da pashimina junto, o embrulho depois pode ser usado como porta coisas, ou até mesmo como uma bolsa, custo 79,90 reais.

Lembrancinhas? Ok, tem uns copinhos lindos, com vela dentro e todo estampado em vermelho ou dourado, gracinha mesmo, por 10 reais.

A novidade, que parece estranha mas também é uma boa idéia. Lata grande e pequena de castanha de cajú, uma ótima idéia, para no natal, quando você for dar uma passadinha na casa de alguém deixar uma lembrança gostosa e interessante (acho que era 9 e 15 reais), sim, você não entendeu errado, as latas de castanhas também são da Le Lis Blanc.

Outra loja, outra dica,

Shoestock

Sapatilhas na Shoestock por 59,90, encontrando por até 39,90, bem gracinhas MESMO.

Durante este mês e dezembro, vou pensando em mais dicas de presentes.

Bjs,

Fe

This goes along with what I was told last week about laws in Finland being years behind the laws in other countries.

It is known that trafficking occurs in Finland.

Finland is a country of transit, destination, and origin.

Many victims are not categorized as trafficked however. The Finnish law sets a very high standard for what trafficking is. Essentially, if a person is not abducted, forcibly transported, and kept locked up under the threat of violence…then they are not victims of trafficking.

This is a bit of a simplification, but it is very hard for a victim to be seen as having been trafficked in Finland. This country has high standards. Those high standards include a high standard for what trafficking is.

The majority of people are not trafficked in this way. Most in fact put themselves in the position of being trafficked. Through psychological manipulation, debt bondage, and a fear of the authorities, the victim does not seek help.

Like I discovered with some of the victims of trafficking I interviewed in India for a soon to be published article, there is an added twist.

See images from my story on human trafficking in India.

In some cases, victims of trafficking in Finland actually consider themselves to be in a better position than they were in their home countries. Especially among the people that are trafficked for labor, some are making more money and have seen an improvement in their living conditions, even if they are very poor conditions, perhaps even inhumane, by the standards of the country that they have been trafficked to.

This makes the identification of trafficked people even harder in a country like Finland.

Justin Vela is a freelance multimedia journalist. Since August 2009 he has been working on a long term project on human trafficking around the world. The end result for this project will be an interactive website, exhibition, and book. If you would like to become involved or donate contact justin@justinvela.com or +358 44 956 527 (Finland). www.justinvela.com