東鐵罵戰主角籲勿分化 孔慶東堅稱「部分港人是狗」

東鐵罵戰主角籲勿分化 孔慶東堅稱「部分港人是狗」
明報
1/22/2012


【明報專訊】北京大學教授孔慶東罵港人是狗，有香港網民聲言要去信北大，要求撤換孔慶東，並說今日會到中聯辦「放狗」抗議。


孔慶東昨接受內地第一視頻網訪問時開腔，指「只是罵部分港人是狗」，兩地分化是媒體炒作造成。「東鐵食麵」事件當事人Ken接受本報訪問時，反轟孔慶東輕率評論才是分化源頭，他更為內地人平反，稱車廂事件及孔慶東的言論僅代表部分內地人，他不會參加抗議活動，挑起反對情緒。


孔慶東評論車廂事件怒罵港人的短片，前日瘋傳一天後，昨晚已被視頻網站YouTube以片段「違反YouTube禁止仇恨言論政策」為理由刪除。


早前一段網上瘋傳短片，拍下在港鐵車廂有港人因內地婦人縱容幼童在車廂吃麵，雙方發生罵戰，要職員前來調停。結果，不但本地網民轟內地人沒有文化，孔慶東更在網上節目轟港人無質素，並斥「港人是狗」。


fb中聯辦放狗專頁 1.6萬人讚好
社交網站facebook昨有人發起，今日下午帶狗到中聯辦「閒逛」，至昨晚已近1.6萬人「讚好」。



萬人圍堵中聯辦活動,要求孔慶東向港人道歉
http://on.fb.me/y2mBfu 


嚴正要求孔慶東向全香港人道歉
http://on.fb.me/wT502b 


嚴正要求孔慶東向香港人道歉
http://on.fb.me/A1DyJ8 



此外，有網民針對孔慶東任教的北大，呼籲一人一信致函大學，要求孔慶東公開道歉，並表示「希望所有準備捐款予北京大學的香港富豪，無限期押後捐款計劃」。


眼看一宗地鐵車廂對罵事件在網上不斷發酵，事件當事人Ken接受本報訪問時首度開腔，表示對於事件引致兩地分化，很不開心。


Ken表示他不欲參加今天的到中聯辦行動，「他（孔）只是代表他個人，不要因此挑起反對情緒，香港人有自己的素養。如果他代表國家這樣說，是另一回事，但他只是代表個人立場」。


Ken：不欲到中聯辦遊行
他表示，YouTube片段未有拍攝事件的前段，內容是他以普通話溫和勸導內地婦人，因此造成不少誤會。他說﹕「（孔慶東）自己沒有了解整件事就評論，我覺得他是輕率。」他認為，是孔慶東輕率評論，才是今次造成分化的根源。


Ken說，不少在港內地人多年來循規蹈矩，「今次是很個別事件，不想營造到所有內地人都是沒有文化」。


他舉例，連日來有內地人向他發出粗言穢語的信息，但他解釋後，對方亦表示理解，證明內地人並不全是蠻不講理。Ken又承認，自己當時說出「大陸人係咁的﹗」這句話，是太衝動及負面，並為此公開道歉，「但孔教授有否為自己講的一句半句道歉」？


孔慶東：為港人好
孔慶東昨在自己的第一視頻網上節目《孔和尚有話說》接受訪問堅稱，是媒體歪曲其言論，故意炒作，「特別是過年的時候，就有一些言論，破壞香港跟內地的關係」。他表示對媒體的報道手法感到遺憾及要求道歉，又強調自己只是罵部分港人是狗，而他也罵北京人、上海人是狗。


他說，不少內地人到港旅遊後遭到不禮貌對待，稱自己只是批判事實，「我是為了香港人好」。


孔慶東又在微博中寫到﹕「假如真有一個人說『香港人是狗』，那麽這個人應該道歉。而這句話恰好是南方報系說的，所以我鄭重要求南方報系向我並同時向香港人民道歉。支援南方報系認罪的舉手！」


全國政協委員劉夢熊昨批評孔慶東的言論分化群眾，違背了中央和諧社會的主張，「他不止要道歉，直情要謝罪」，並指北大應將他嚴厲處分，甚至建議開除。


學者陳雲則在facebook個人專頁上提醒，孔慶東的評論並不代表官方機構，市民如到中聯辦要求譴責，有促請中國官方干預大學的學術自由及學者的言論自由之虞。

香港政府五百億浸庫房 市民盼派錢

五百億浸庫房 市民盼派錢         
2012年01月20日 星期五
metrohk


香港政府請派錢六千或一萬貧窮人儲得又用得這是德政 Support Scheme 6000
http://on.fb.me/w9meck  


面對高通脹、樓價高企、地產霸權等多種問題，市民的新年願望，當然是希望政府能夠「派糖」紓財困。特首曾蔭權昨在答問大會，被議員要求派錢退稅。他說社會上對派錢有不同的意見，顯示大多數人對措施有保留  ，言語間似暗示市民，今年派錢「無着落」。


有消息曾指今個財政年度，庫房盈餘將達到最少500億元，故不少市民都希望政府能繼續還富於民。人民力量陳偉業和社民連梁國雄均要求將盈餘派予市民。


陳偉業說，政府應該於財政預算案中，好好分配收益，以縮短和改善貧富懸殊問題。「貧富懸殊喺你（曾蔭權）在任期間不斷惡化，而家你剩番幾個月任期，最直接幫到基層嘅方法，係每人派8,000蚊。特首你會唔會有啲良知，有少少憐憫之心，作呢個重要決定，令香港貧苦嘅人可以過一個好年﹖」 


曾蔭權重申，自己非常關注基層市民的生活，但認為要長遠解決貧富懸殊問題，不應只單靠派錢，相反要從教育、社會漏洞等着手，「將財富所得再分配嘅方法，以往歐洲不少國家可以睇到，唔係最有效用。」他強調，會否再派錢要留待財政司司長曾俊華決定，相信他會善用儲備。


長毛擲糖洩憤被逐
對於議員李國寶要求銀行優化銀行按揭政策，好讓市民容易買樓。曾蔭權則認為要審慎考慮，尤其是借貸比率方面，更應保守。他又表示，現行措施已有效穩定樓價，市場亦已有下調機制，故不同意在環境如此波動的情況下，將現時的措施改變。
另外，梁國雄在會上再次向曾蔭權擲物。梁要求政府動用至少500億元，推行全民退休保障，但曾蔭權只推說預算案會交代盈餘如何運用。梁怒將4顆從台灣買回的糖果擲向曾蔭權，意味政府只懂向市民「派細糖仔」。人民力量黃毓民則大叫：「回水八千好過年!」話畢就自行走出議事廳。


曾蔭權強調，餘下任期仍有多項工作要處理，包括面對歐債危機一觸即發，有需要時要推出及時措施，以做到撐企業，保就業以及紓民困；落實施政報告內各項有利民生的措施等。


政黨促推紓困措施
社會各界已有多項訴求，包括新民黨建議，政府設立「綜合課餘活動資助計劃」，為每名小學及中學生的監護人提供2,000元津貼；退稅九成助中產。


工聯會建議，政府繼續為市民提供電費補貼、寬免全年差餉等，減輕市民的生活負擔，作為政府派給市民的最好紓困利是。


毓民嗌「回水」長毛掟糖
2012-01-20
hkheadline


　　每次答問大會中，社民連梁國雄(長毛)、人民力量黃毓民和陳偉業(大嚿)，都不忘想想辦法作「議會抗爭」，昨日雖然煲呔病到聲都沙，但三人仍然「好好招呼」他。昨日大嚿和長毛都有份問問題，其中大嚿就要求政府在下月一日的《預算案》中人人派八千元，「還富於民」以解決貧富懸殊，煲呔就回應話，《預算案》由財爺曾俊華負責，但聽到社會上包括很多議員都不贊成派錢，相信可以有其他紓困方法。


大嚿黨友毓民在離開議事廳時，就大喊「回水！八千！」至於長毛延續派錢要求外，加上要求撥款設全民退休保障制度，一早預告如煲呔拒絕，就會「掟你！」而長毛就相當「守信用」，真的「掟」煲呔，但就不如上次般掟蛋，而是掟糖，寓意政府只派糖。

９個月跨14國2.1萬公里 澳洲阿甘 Pat Farmer 北極跑到南極

９個月跨14國2.1萬公里 澳洲阿甘北極跑到南極
2012年01月20日(五)
The Sun


【本報訊】有澳洲阿甘之稱的國會議員法馬（Pat Farmer），昨天成功完成由北極跑到南極的極級馬拉松壯舉。法馬去年四月二日出發，穿越十四個國家，全程約二萬一千公里，穿州過省、攀山涉水，在極地忍受暴風雪，又在秘魯沙漠迷失方向；遇見北極熊、鱷魚、毒蛇等猛獸更不在話下。他亦須與土匪和軍閥周旋，又差點遭橫衝直撞的貨車撞倒。

法馬每日平均跑八十公里，從無間斷。期間身體曾經脫水，又要承受極大精神壓力；及至旅程完成，雙腳已體無完膚。


旅途雖艱苦，但為國際紅十字會籌得十萬澳元（約八十萬港元），幫助第三世界的人獲得清潔食水，法馬堅忍至最後一刻。九個多月後，他終成功把國際紅十字會會旗插在南極大陸上，完成這趟旅程。


法馬前日終抵達南極，拉起紅十字會橫額。


Running 

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NZ police cut locks in Megaupload raid

NZ police cut locks in Megaupload raid
21-01-2012
RTHK


The mansion home of Megaupload founder Kim Schmitz. Photo: Reuters.
It's emerged that New Zealand police broke through electronic locks and cut their way into a mansion safe room to arrest the alleged kingpin of an international Internet copyright theft case and seize millions of dollars worth of cars, artwork and other goods.


German national Kim Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, was one of four men arrested on Friday in an investigation of the Megaupload.com website led by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.


The group was accused of engaging in a scheme that took more than US$500 million away from copyright holders and generated over $175 million in proceeds from subscriptions and advertising.


A police official said on Saturday that dozens of officers, backed by helicopters, forced their way into the mansion, nestled in lush farmland, after Mr Schmitz refused them entry to his home in Auckland.


The 37-year-old German citizen, who has New Zealand and Hong Kong residency, was denied bail with three other men on Friday when they appeared in an Auckland district court.


They will appear in court again on Monday.


Web Hosting


HK seizes $330 m in Megaupload raids
21-01-2012
RTHK


German internet millionaire Kim Schmitz also known as Kim Dotcom. Reuters file photo.
Customs officers have raided offices, domestic premises and luxury hotel suites in Hong Kong as part of a worldwide FBI Internet piracy investigation into file-sharing site Megaupload.com.


One hundred officers took part in the raids Friday which seized a large amount of digital evidence and uncovered about HK$330 million (US$42 million) in suspected crime proceeds, Customs said.


"The assets have been frozen in accordance with related ordinances. The operation is ongoing," it said in a statement.


Officers raided hotel suites costing HK$100,000 a day equipped with high-speed servers and large television screens which were suspected to be connected to the case.


Megaupload's website was shut down Thursday by US authorities who accuse it of one of the largest cases of copyright theft ever.


Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, is being held in New Zealand following a police raid there.


The 37-year-old German citizen, who has New Zealand and Hong Kong residency, was denied bail with three other men on Friday when they appeared in an Auckland district court.


New Zealand police seized luxury cars worth NZ$6.0 million (US$4.8 million), including a 1959 pink Cadillac and a Rolls Royce Phantom, in a raid on Dotcom's Auckland mansion.

MegaUpload 被封網拉人 香港為基地 侵權獲利 13億

MEGAUPLOAD被封網拉人 香港為基地 侵權獲利 13億
2012年01月21日
Apple


正當美國國會審議的《反網絡盜版法》，引發科網界強烈抗議之際，司法部前天（周四）關閉以香港為基地、全球最大檔案分享網站 Megaupload.com，並透過新西蘭警方拘控七人，他們涉及非法發佈盜版電影及音樂獲利。黑客組織隨即攻擊聯邦調查局（ FBI）及司法部等網站報復，令網站癱瘓。


Megaupload拉人封網 


Megaupload有 1.5億登記用戶，每日點擊率達 5,000萬次，更獲得多位樂壇巨星力撐。 FBI調查後發現，該網站利用美國伺服器複製及發佈侵權的盜版電影及音樂，又獎賞上載盜版內容的用戶，藉以獲利 1.75億美元（ 13.6億港元），導致版權持有人損失 5億美元（ 39億港元）。網站創辦人 Kim Dotcom去年就賺了 4,200萬美元（ 3.26億港元）。


Megaupload雖在香港註冊，但疑只是空殼公司，公司伺服器都在美國。

Web Hosting

美國司法部前天勒令關閉該網站，新西蘭警方同時在奧克蘭拘捕有香港居留權的 Kim Dotcom及德國籍香港居民奧特曼等四人，又撿獲槍械、藝術品、逾 800萬美元（ 6,240萬港元）現金及多輛名貴汽車，仍有三名涉案人士在逃。


港海關出動百人搜查 
美國司法部前天下令關閉侵權的檔案分享網站 Megaupload。美聯社


香港海關亦配合採取行動，昨晨調動約 100人搜查四處目標地點，查獲大量電子證據，並凍結 3.3億港元涉案資產。
Kim Dotcom等四人被控侵權、串謀洗黑錢及詐騙等五罪，下周一會再次提堂，並將被引渡到美國受審。網站關閉後，黑客組織「無名氏」前晚即攻擊 FBI、司法部、環球唱片及美國唱片業協會等網站報復，多個網站癱瘓達數小時。


法新社/美聯社 



香港凍結Megaupload逾3億資產　
香港電台 
1/21/2012


美國關閉以香港為基地的檔案分享網站Megaupload，香港海關配合相關行動，同美國執法機構合作，搗破有關集團，查獲大量電子證據，並凍結3億3千萬港元涉案資產，包括銀行存款及股票投資。


海關調動大約100人，搜查全港4個地方，並查問多名有關人士，包括涉案公司董事。


調查顯示，涉案平台貯存大量侵權物品，供人網上下載，已從事有關侵權活動超過5年，收入相當於大約13億6千萬港元。
另外，新西蘭警方應美國要求，拘捕Megaupload創辦人施米茨和3名員工。


他們其後在奧克蘭出席有關引渡去美國的聆訊，法官不准4人保釋，還押監房，
下星期一再應訊。

護膚品 OLAY 長效保濕凝露修復年輕

護膚品OLAY修復年輕
星島日報 
2012年1月18日 星期三


(綜合報道)(星島日報報道)從小時候跟媽媽到萬寧購買「玉蘭油」，到台灣美容大王大、小S徐熙媛和徐熙娣成為Olay代言人，至近日看到本港「o靚模」Angelababy擔當Olay Aquaction長效保濕凝露的廣告女郎，足見品牌亦緊隨護膚年輕化的大勢，新品設計進一步擴闊年齡層，身為「八十後」的我，亦決定一試品牌產品。


http://easss.com/beauty


試用了新推的長效保濕凝露後，發現皮膚變得水感彈嫩，原來有賴當中的聚水能量因子及嶄新保濕技術，能為肌膚補水和鎖水；另以三頭合金按摩滾珠設計的亮眼淡紋魔法棒，一按一轉便自動滲出高濃度美白精華乳，尤其方便懶人使用。至於Total Effects粉嫩氣色乳，則可調整膚色及防UV，更有效改善色斑、欠彈性、暗啞等老化問題。


　　a.Total Effects粉嫩氣色乳。（$199.9）
　　b.亮眼淡紋3X滾珠魔法棒。（$199.9）
　　c.長效保濕凝露。　　（$219.9）


　　文：小叉 圖：陳鐵剛
　　(新登場)

Feds shut down popular file-sharing website Megaupload

Feds shut down popular file-sharing website Megaupload
Five-count indictment alleges copyright infringement, conspiracy to commit money laundering, racketeering
1/19/2012
msnbc


McLEAN, Virginia — One of the world's most popular file-sharing sites was shut down, and its founder and several company officials were accused of facilitating millions of illegal downloads of films, music and other content.


A federal indictment Thursday accused Megaupload.com of costing copyright holders at least $500 million in lost revenue. The indictment was unsealed one day after websites including Wikipedia and Craigslist shut down in protest of two congressional proposals intended to make it easier for authorities to go after sites with pirated material, especially those with overseas headquarters and servers.


http://easss.com/internet


The news of the shutdown seemed to bring retaliation from hackers who claimed credit for attacking the Justice Department's website. Federal officials confirmed it was down Thursday evening and that the disruption was being "treated as a malicious act."


A loose affiliation of hackers known as "Anonymous" claimed credit for the attack. Also hacked was the site for the Motion Picture Association of America and perhaps others.


Megaupload is based in Hong Kong, but some of the alleged pirated content was hosted on leased servers in Ashburn, Virginia, which gave federal authorities jurisdiction, the indictment said.


The Justice Department said in a statement said that Kim Dotcom, 37, and three other employees were arrested Thursday in New Zealand at the request of U.S. officials. Three other defendants are at large.


The Electronic Frontier Foundation, which defends free speech and digital rights online, said in a statement that, "This kind of application of international criminal procedures to Internet policy issues sets a terrifying precedent. If the United States can seize a Dutch citizen in New Zealand over a copyright claim, what is next?"
Before Megaupload was taken down, it posted a statement saying allegations that it facilitated massive breaches of copyright laws were "grotesquely overblown."


"The fact is that the vast majority of Mega's Internet traffic is legitimate, and we are here to stay. If the content industry would like to take advantage of our popularity, we are happy to enter into a dialogue. We have some good ideas. Please get in touch," the statement said.


Meanwhile, the Justice Department said its Web server for justice.gov was "experiencing a significant increase in activity, resulting in a degradation in service." It was working to fix it and "investigate the origins of this activity, which is being treated as a malicious act until we can fully identify the root cause of the disruption," the agency's statement said.


A spokesman for the Motion Picture Association of America said in an emailed statement that the group's site had been hacked, although it appeared to be working later in the evening.
"The motion picture and television industry has always been a strong supporter of free speech," the spokesman said. "We strongly condemn any attempts to silence any groups or individuals."


Megaupload was unique not only because of its massive size and the volume of downloaded content, but also because it had high-profile support from celebrities, musicians and other content producers who are most often the victims of copyright infringement and piracy. Before the website was taken down, it contained endorsements from Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys and Kanye West, among others.


The company listed Swizz Beatz, a musician who married Keys in 2010, as its CEO. He was not named in the indictment and declined to comment through a representative.


According to the indictment, Megaupload was estimated at one point to be the 13th most frequently visited website on the Internet. Current estimates by companies that monitor Web traffic place it in the top 100.
The five-count indictment, which alleges copyright infringement as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering and racketeering, described a site designed specifically to reward users who uploaded pirated content for sharing, and turned a blind eye to requests from copyright holders to remove copyright-protected files.


For instance, users received cash bonuses if they uploaded content popular enough to generate massive numbers of downloads, according to the indictment. Such content was almost always copyright protected.
The site boasted 150 million registered users and about 50 million hits daily. The Justice Department said it was illegal for anyone to download pirated content, but their investigation focused on the leaders of the company, not end users who may have downloaded a few movies for personal viewing.


A lawyer who represented the company in a lawsuit last year declined comment Thursday. Efforts to reach an attorney representing Dotcom were unsuccessful.
Megaupload is considered a "cyberlocker," in which users can upload and transfer files that are too large to send by email. Such sites can have perfectly legitimate uses. But the Motion Picture Association of America, which has campaigned for a crackdown on piracy, estimated that the vast majority of content being shared on Megaupload was in violation of copyright laws.


The website allowed users to download some content for free, but made money by charging subscriptions to people who wanted access to faster download speeds or extra content. The website also sold advertising.
The indictment was returned in the Eastern District of Virginia, which claimed jurisdiction in part because some of the alleged pirated materials were hosted on leased servers in Ashburn, Virginia. Prosecutors there have pursued multiple piracy investigations.


Steven T. Shelton, a copyright lawyer at the Cozen O'Connor firm in New York, said opponents of the legislation are worried the proposals lessen the burden for the government to target a wide variety of websites. Shelton said he expects to see the government engage in more enforcement in the future, as technology makes it easier to catch and target suspected pirates.

海港城 D and G 門口萬人影相活動

D&G 門口萬人影相活動
http://on.fb.me/yuClvH 
24198


反對D&G同海港城霸權! 扼殺港人公眾地方自由, 歧視港人! 罷買D&G
http://on.fb.me/xP3F88 
4584



D&G 門口萬人影相活動2 
http://www.facebook.com/d.g.2012.01.08
847



唔道歉 萬人今日圍住影 1/08/2012



千人圍堵D&G拍照以示不滿



數千人挑機　 DOLCE & GABBANA道歉吧！



D&G 門口萬人影相活動----萬人空巷高呼 D O G
蘋果日報即時新聞2012年01月08日 (09:30 pm)


D&G 門口萬人影相活動---龍獅香港旗---撒溪錢

手提電話手機掉到水裏應對方法 入水急救法

手機入水急救法
星島日報 
1/20/2012


(綜合報道)(星島日報報道)我的拍檔阮小儀不小心把手提電話掉進了馬桶，當她把電話拿上來後，就立刻按開關來檢視是否仍然能用，明知道這樣做是錯，但她仍然按捺不住做了。


http://easss.com/cell


　　現時的智能手機動輒四、五千元，看來真有必要談一下手機掉到水裏的應對方法。第一，千萬別碰任何按鍵，因為只要手機一通電，機內的水分就會令電路板短路而立即壞死。第二，立即用紙巾盡量將所有水分吸走，並用風筒或洗手間內的風機將手機吹乾。最後就拿到相熟的商戶修理。


　　如果沒有跟隨剛才的步驟，就唯有拿到路邊的收手機大叔處，因他們的要求很低，只要你的手機能夠開着一下，他們就會收貨。所以只要你博得一着，你就能將那真正的水貨電話賣出去。


　　當然，手機掉到水裏，錢財是其次，最擔心都是失去內裏的資料。這方面現時的雲端科技予人很大的方便，手機內所有資料都可放到互聯網去，不單止電話，即使是電腦壞了，只要你到任何有互聯網的地點，你仍能將資料提取。這可說是互聯網的最新進化，從此互聯網不再是一個網絡這麼簡單，當大家都一同使用互聯網，每部電話及電腦就都成為中端機，而網絡就成了一部超級大電腦，這個發展有如《未來戰士》裏的Skynet，只要有天Skynet成功連接上網，整個世界就由這部超級大電腦控制。


　　所以雲端科技的好處當然是令人類方便，但壞處莫說極端至由電腦控制人類，然後將人類毁滅，單說個人資料、相片及短片的保障都愈來愈低，私隱愈來愈容易泄漏。故奉勸你在雲端科技尚未完全普及前，好好調節你對科技的概念，私人的話語還是留在有個小金鎖的日記簿內好了，讓你老來仍可好好獨享逝去的青春及年輕時的大膽和率真。
　　(公子日記 森美)
　　

Best Chocolates for your Valentine Organic Fair Trade

Best chocolates for your Valentine 
Adapted from the 2/2012 Consumer Reports magazine.


Chocolate lovers can double their pleasure: Treat your Valentine to some great tasting chocolate and make a big difference by choosing organic, fair trade chocolates. 


After trying three-dozen varieties of boxed chocolates for Consumer Reports 2012 taste tests, the testers high-rated one organic, fair trade chocolate brand: Theo Chocolate Confection Collection (12 pieces) at $26. The testers noted that Theo’s had outstanding pieces, such as “lemon ganache, fig, mint, and ginger enrobed in flavorful dark chocolate.” Also note that Theo’s products are kosher, gluten-free, and soy-free. 


Chocolates 


Another brand judged a Best Buy in the tests and produced in part with sustainably grown, local ingredients, is John & Kira’s Every Flavor Collection (56 pieces) on sale for $79. (A 15-piece box costs $32.) Testers found these chocolates infused with mint "taste as if the leaves were just picked." Although some ingredients can be locally sourced, these chocolates are not certified organic or fair trade.


Fran’s Chocolates Assorted Truffles Collection (36 pieces ) also was rated a Best Buy at $50, and uses some hand-selected organic ingredients, such as cream from the Fresh Breeze Organic Dairy in Washington State.


Many of the recommended handmade confections have a brief 5 to 10 day shelf life. So enjoy them right away.


For another winter-friendly chocolate experience, you might consider a gift of organic, fair trade hot chocolate. The last time Consumer Reports tested hot chocolates for taste, they recommended Dagoba Organic Authentic Drinking Chocolate, which costs $11.95 for a 12 oz. canister (or a 6-pack for $59.70), available online at www.dagobachocolate.com. It is certified both organic and fair trade.


Sweet health benefits for your heart 


The high concentrations of antioxidants, called flavanols, in chocolate, especially in the dark variety, are naturally-occurring compounds known to have positive influences on vascular health, such as lower blood pressure and improved blood flow to the brain and heart. A study published in August 2010 in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure found that middle aged and elderly Swedish women who ate an average of one to two servings of high-quality chocolate per week had a 32 percent lower risk of developing heart failure than those who didn't eat chocolate. 


In another 2010 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers asked 1,216 older women how many servings of chocolate they consumed each week. Those who consumed chocolate "frequently" (either 1 to 6 servings or 7 or more servings a week) had a 24 percent lower risk of hospitalization or death from heart disease or heart failure than those who ate it "rarely" (less than 1 serving a week) over the course of 10 years.


Clearly, eating a little dark chocolate occasionally can be healthful, but eating too much won't be: The tested chocolates that reveal nutrition facts have about 200 calories and 8 to 18 grams of saturated fat per 1.4-ounce serving. So large amounts might harm your heart and expand your waistline. 


Consumer Reports health experts recommend limiting yourself to small to moderate portions a couple of times a week. Also, try to steer clear of chocolate treats filled with caramel, marshmallows, or toffee--those sugary ingredients add to the calorie and saturated-fat count.


Some cocoa product labels mention antioxidants, but processing can mean a loss of flavanols, and most commercial cocoa drinks contain relatively small amounts, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, an independent, evidence-based evaluator of natural products.


When you check the label, chocolate's main ingredient is roasted ground cocoa beans (called chocolate liquor). Cocoa powder is chocolate liquor with most of the cocoa butter removed. 


The following is a list of some meaningful eco-labels you can find on chocolate:


USDA Certified Organic


What it means:
• Farmers emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality


• Crops are grown without using synthetic fertilizer or the most persistent pesticides 


• Crops are produced without genetic engineering or ionizing radiation 


• Crops are processed and handled separately from conventional cocoa


Fair Trade Certified


What it means:
• Farmers and workers receive a fair price for their product


• Trade is done directly between farmer-owned cooperatives and buyers


• Crops are grown using soil and water conservation measures that restrict the use of agrochemicals


Rainforest Alliance


What it means:
• Crops are grown using integrated pest management systems that limit the use of agrochemicals


• Crops are grown using water, soil and wildlife habitat conservation measures 


• Farm laborers are paid salaries and benefits equal to or greater than the legal minimum wage of their countries

香港關愛基金1億元資助1.2萬長者鑲假牙 每人上限7300元 招募200牙醫

關愛億元助1.2萬長者鑲假牙 上限7300元 料第三季推行
明報 
1/19/2012


【明報專訊】關愛基金執行委員會通過新一輪援助項目，建議撥款1億元向「無牙」的長者提供鑲假牙服務，每人資助上限7300元，預料1.2萬人受惠。


執委會主席羅致光表示，計劃向香港牙醫學會招募愛心牙醫，以成本價為長者提供服務，建議將交予督導委員會通過，有望今年第三季實施。


Dental Insurance 


羅致光表示，根據衛生署資料，現時全港90多萬名65歲或以上長者中，9%長者已牙全部掉光，逾半介乎65至74歲長者牙齒數目亦少於12隻。有見長者對鑲假牙需求大，關愛基金執行委員會決定通過醫療小組委員會建議，撥款1億元資助1.2萬名長者鑲假牙。


招募200牙醫 18區服務
每名受助者最高資助額為7300元，羅致光表示，由於無齒或缺乏多顆牙齒的長者進食固體食物時有困難，較有鑲假牙需要，會優先向他們提供服務。基金亦計劃透過香港牙醫學會招募愛心牙醫提供服務，資助長者配備一副最基本假牙。由於牙醫有限，招募人手需時，預料今年第三季才正式實施。


先試成效 日後擴大惠更多長者
香港牙醫學會會長梁世民對建議歡迎，並表示7300元資助額是鑲一副完整假牙的成本價，預料可以招募200名牙醫，並於全港18區提供服務，以免長者要跨區求診。學會待關愛基金督導委員會通過建議，會正式向會員匯報計劃詳情。


擬4000萬推小學課餘學習
有執委會委員擔心，資助額太低會減少牙醫參加的吸引力，恐怕未必有足夠人手服務。亦有委員認為，現時受惠長者是根據綜合家居照顧服務和改善家居及社區照顧服務受助人而定，建議推行後先試成效，日後擴展至更多受惠長者。


執委會昨日亦通過預留5000萬元，向租住私樓非綜援長者發放一筆過津貼，獨居和雙居長者分別獲4000及8000元，3人或以上家庭獲1.2萬元，預料1.2萬名長者受惠，今年7月推行。


基金又建議動用4000萬元推行課餘學習和託管服務試驗計劃，為資助學校的小一至中三學生提供學校及社區為本課程，已有210間中小學及非政府機構表示有意推行計劃，每個計劃最高資助額為50萬元。

民進黨總統候選人蔡英文辭職 淚雨留不住 「下次定可走完最後一里路」

蔡英文辭職 淚雨留不住 「下次定可走完最後一里路」
明報
1/15/2012


【明報專訊】民進黨總統候選人蔡英文在新北市的競選總部，昨晚經歷悲情一夜，在大選中以近80萬票大比數落敗。蔡英文在得知回天乏術後，帶領全體競選總部幹部，向全台灣人民承認失利，蔡英文並一力擔起敗選的責任，辭去民進黨主席一職，她向支持者發出感性呼籲，「我們一定還有未來！下一次，我們一定可以走完最後一里路！」


守候在總部現場的群眾流着熱淚高呼「不要辭、留下來」，情緒激動，數度打斷蔡英文的談話。民進黨昨日未即時公布黨主席的繼任人選。


台灣總統大選，藍綠雙方的得票率在開票個多小時後逐漸拉開差距，蔡英文競選總部內，6時起就有支持者聚集，他們緊張地看着不斷更新的點票結果。


個多小時見差距
與馬英九競選總部充斥吶喊聲不同，蔡英文競選總部外，儘管台上主持人喊破喉嚨，台下聚集的民眾仍木無表情，失敗的陰影籠罩着他們，雖然天空飄着細雨，但面對數十萬張選票的巨大差距，許多綠營民眾只是呆呆地站在雨中一聲不吭。有人沮喪落淚，更有男義工抱頭痛哭。


Web Hosting


到晚上8時30分，藍綠差距保持在60多萬票，蔡英文終於帶領副總統候選人蘇嘉全及全體綠營幹將，來到競選總部，向在場各國記者宣布敗選，同時發表感言。


指黨須再思考兩岸政策
她首先向支持者致以最深的歉意，承認敗選，也接受台灣人民所做的決定，恭喜馬英九總統連任成功，希望他在接下來的4年，要繼續傾聽人民的聲音，公平照顧每一位人民，不要辜負人民的期待。


蔡英文總結敗選原因時稱挑戰現任者本來就很困難，沒有執政優勢，資源也相對匱乏，同時也承認民進黨在基層的耕耘還不夠，未來將會提出全面檢討。她回答記者提問時坦言，民進黨必須對兩岸政策再好好思考，但兩岸問題非常複雜，不能像國民黨在大選如此單純化看待。台灣在兩岸問題上必須有島內共識，否則兩岸問題會持續變成台灣的分裂與對立來源。


數度鞠躬致歉 籲更堅強
蔡英文表示，「今天晚上，我相信大家心裏都很難過；如果你心裏真的很難過，就讓它發泄出來。你可以哭泣，但不要泄氣。你可以悲傷，但是不要放棄。」


她最後希望支持者不要灰心，繼續鞭策民進黨、支持民進黨，民進黨一定會再重新站起來。蔡英文數度鞠躬致歉，眼眶中泛着淚光。她呼籲支持者一定要比誰都堅強，「我們是民進黨，我們過去在面對挫折的時候，我們從來沒有倒下過，以前不會，我知道，這一次也一定不會」。


致完辭後，蔡英文從後台離開，仍有不少支持者追到車旁，要她「不要走」；蔡英文座車離去後，還有不少支持者留在總部，遲遲不肯散去。