Source: http://www.sba.muohio.edu/hinelidr/html/swpsg.htm

The SWP Survival Guide

Introduction

So your advisor just told you he doesn’t understand why you have this ugly ultra wide margin on the left, and he can’t read what your writing because the font is too small, and he wants you to change it if he’s going to give you the go ahead to defend! After 3 nights of going through all the styles SWP offers and not finding one that fits all the requirements you have, you are about to cry and drop out of your Ph.D. program.

Alas, here’s a quick and dirty guide that answers many questions about how to get SWP to make documents the way you want them. This is NOT a guide on how to do stuff properly, but more of a cheat sheet on how to get quick results. Of course, in a perfect world none of this would be necessary since we would all write Shell files that would specify everything we want in a document. However, most of us won’t do this because: (a) we are to lazy to learn how, (b) the deadline to submit our paper to that conference is tomorrow and we don’t have time to learn how, or (c) put your own reason here. Naturally, none of these methods come with any guarantee.

If you must ask us a question, send them by snail mail accompanied by a check for $1000 and we will look into your query but we make no promise we’ll send you an answer. If there are problems to which you can’t find the solution here, we suggest you go to MacKichan’s website or to the Scientific Workplace User Forum. On the other hand, if you have comments/suggestions/additions, write to either or both of us: David or Guillaume. Note that we both use SWP 3.00, hence some of what we write here might not work with your version.

Figures

• Importing Here you have 2 choices (maybe more, but these are the ones we know of), both are rather simple.
  1. Create your figure in whatever software you use to create figures. Select it, then choose Edit/Copy (or type Ctrl-c). Now, in SWP, place the curser where you want the figure, select Edit/Paste Special, then select Picture.
  2. Create your figure in whatever software you use to create figures. Save it. Now, in SWP, go to the File menu, select Import Picture, choose the appropriate format, and select the file you want. Most of the time I use windows metafiles (what’s created when you select Copy in an Edit menu), but I have also used postscript files successfully.

  You can change the appearance of the graph by selecting the graph and going to Edit/Properties, clicking on the magnifying glass in the toolbar menu, or double clicking at the bottom right of the figure on the blue square. 

Line Spacing

Here you have multiple choices. Here are 4:

1. Select Typeset/preamble, you’ll see a box appear, in it type: \renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{xxx}, where xxx is the number by which you want to stretch. xxx = 2 will give you double space and xxx = 1 single space.
2. Select Insert/Field/TeX, you’ll see a box appear, in it type: \renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{xxx}\small\normalsize, where xxx is as in option 1 above. Select encapsulated, then give it the name of your choice. (After doing it once, you can simply copy paste the Tex Field across documents.) If you wonder why we issue font size changes in this command, we are not sure why, but its related to the fact that the spacing changes only take effect when a font command is issued (so \small changes it first and \normalsize changes it back to its normal size. If you were changing spacing in a part of your document where the font was small (e.g. a footnote), then you would want to change the code to something like \renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{xxx}\normalsize\small.
3. Select Typeset/Options and Packages, then select the Package Options tab and press add, scroll down and select doublespace and press OK. Note that if the doublespace package is not available you can use the Go Native command but why don’t you use one of the other options we propose. Then do one of the following.
   • This first approach allows single space, one and a half space and double space. Select Insert/Field/TeX, you’ll see a box appear, in it type: \begin{singlespace}, if you want single space. Select encapsulated, then give it the name of your choice (something like ‘begin single space’ would seem appropriate). Place the cursor at the point where you want to end the single space section, select Insert/Field/TeX, and type in it: \end{singlespace} (again encapsulate and give it a name). If you wanted one of the other spacing options, you would specify onehalfspace or doublespace.
   • If you wanted some other spacing, select Insert/Field/TeX, you’ll see a box appear, in it type: \setstretch{xxx}\small\normalsize where xxx is the desired spacing, then encapsulate and give it a name.

Note that using baselinestretch (without the doublespace package) will also impose those choices on footnotes, tables, bibliography, etc. (If you add the doublespace package, the original typesetting choices will apply to other parts of the document.) So, for instance, if you want your text to be double space, but your footnotes to be smaller and single spaced, you’ll need to add at the beginning of each footnote the Tex Field with the following code: \renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{1}\normalsize\small. Suppose you also want your tables to be single spaced, but you want the font to remain the same size, you need to add a TeX Field with the code \renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{1}\small\normalsize before the table, and after the table, you need to copy the Tex filed you have put at the beginning of the document.

Margins

Unlike the typical word processing program where you choose the margin size and the text fills the remaining area, with LaTex you specify the size of the available text area and the rest will be margins. The trick is to set the margins how you want them for each side. For example, for an 8.5 x 11 paper choosing text size of 6.5 x 9 will allow for 2 inches worth of margins, but will not necessarily give you 1 inch margins on each side and top and bottom. The default for articles seems to be a text area of 4.75 x 7.50 centered, which coincides with right and left margins of 1 7/8 and top and bottom margins of 1 3/4. Here are the commands which you can place in the preamble that come in handy:

\setlength{\textwidth}{6.5in}
\setlength{\textheight}{9in}

\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{0in} sets the left margin to 1 inch. The right margin will depend on what you have choosen for textwidth.

\setlength{\topmargin}{0in} sets the top margin to 1 inch. Actually you will still get 1.5 inch top margin because of space reserved for the header and the space between the header and body text. You can get rid of the extra half inch by choosing topmargin of -.5 inch or using the following commands

\setlength{\headheight}{0in} to set the height of every page’s header to 0

\setlength{\headsep}{0in} to set the header-bodytext distance to 0

PDF (creation of)

This very easy, you go to http://www.sba.muohio.edu/hinelidr/makepdf.htm and read David’s how to guide. Alternatively, you can read Philip Viton’s Automating PDF Production with SWP.

Quotation Marks

Now this seems trivial, but I don’t know how many papers out there (definitely too many) have closing quotation marks to both open and close quotes. The key for the opening quotation marks is NOT the key to the left of the Enter key with ” on top and ‘ at the bottom. Rather you have to hit — twice — the key at the top left of your keyboard (not the Esc key silly, the one with a ~ on top and a ` on the bottom). Alternatively, if you don’t get enough exercise and you think the way back to a 32 inch waist is to roll that mouse around, you can also get to it through the General Punctuation toolbar.

Shells

As for now we have two shells. The first one is a shell to submit articles to any journal affiliated with the American Political Science Association (APSA) which includes the American Political Science Review (APSR). The second one is a shell to writte a thesis at Ohio State University (OSU).

1. If you want to submit a paper to a journal affiliated with the APSA such as the APSR, you can use the apsa shell (this was written by Guillaume). The first thing you should do is order your copy of the Style Manual. To download the apsa shell to your ..\Shells\Journal Articles directory and you are ready to go. When you open a new document just select Journal Articles and apsa.
2. Are you struggling with your thesis (OSU students only). Here’s the answer: the osuthesis shell (this was written by both of us). Just unzip the archive in your SWP directory (before you do that you should read the readme file that comes with the archive) and viola, you are in business. Prior to all of this though, you should take a look at the OSU guidelines for writing a thesis. We want to give special thanks to Philip A. Viton who gave us the information that allowed us to get started on this project.

Tables

When creating tables it is important (for typesetting purposes) always to use the table4_3 fragment. Put your cursor where you want the table, and either select File/Import Fragment then select the table4_3.frg file or go to the fragment scroll down menu (bottom right of your screen) and select table4_3. Then either fill in the sample table that appeared or replace it with the table you want.

• Convert from ExcelThis requires a few steps, but might save you a lot of time.
  1. In Excel, select your table and copy it (Ctrl-c).
  2. Open Word and paste your table in it (Ctrl-v). Save your document in Rich Text Format (*.rtf).
  3. Open the Rtf2ltx program (it should be in the Rtf folder of SWP). Write the file name/path or press the Browse button to select it. Then press convert. A box will appear letting you know where the new file is.
  4. Put your cursor where you want the table and select File/Import Contents. Then select the file that was created by Rtf2ltx. Your done!

• LandscapeHummm, have you considered changing careers, we promise you that a career as a pottery artist seems much more attractive right now. Forget about it. What you insist? Forget about it we told you, you can’t do it. What? You don’t believe us! OK, OK, there is a legend, that somehow, its possible to print landscape tables using MiKTeX, but we were both too lazy to try, so we don’t know how, and if, it works.
• Insert (rows/columns)Now this is strange, suppose you want to add/insert rows or columns in a table, where would you go? Don’t say Insert because that’s the wrong answer! Go to Edit and at the bottom you’ll see the options to insert rows or columns.

Back to Guillaume’s econ page
Back to David’s page

News article by Mary Forsell, from USA Weekend, May 30-June 1, 2008

USING SUNSCREEN

1. Learn the SPF math.

Sun protection factor can be interpreted in two ways, says Deborah S. Sarnoff, a Long Island dermatologist and a Skin Cancer Foundation board member. First, its rating reflects how long you can stay in the sun without burning. For instance, if your skin typically reddens in about 20 minutes, then an SPF 15 will protect you 15 times as long, or for five hours, but reapply the lotion more often than that. The rating also indicates how much sunburn-causing ultraviolet B rays it blocks. SPF 15 blocks about 93%, SPF 30 blocks 97%, and SPF 50 blocks 99%. Despite SPF ratings as high as 80, sunscreen can never give 100% UVB protection.

2. Be UVA aware.

Ultraviolet A rays are present at all times of day, even when it’s overcast. But unless your sunscreen reads “broad spectrum,” there’s no guarantee it protects you from these deep, penetrating rays, which are linked to melanoma, glaucoma and lowered immunity, Sarnoff says. Key ingredients to look for on the sunscreen label are avobenzone (sometimes called Parsol 1789), oxybenzone, Mexoryl, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. The Food & Drug Administration has suggested a label change that would rate UVA protection according to a star system, with one being “lowest” and four “highest”.

3. Be wary of pricey sunscreens with exotic add-ons.

Common additions include antioxidants such as green tea and vitamins A, C and E. “Antioxidants do block cell damage, but it hasn’t been shown that rubbing them on your skin will have any effect,” says John Swartzberg, M.D., of the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter. “The bottom line is that UVA- and UVB-blocking ingredients like titanium and zinc oxide are cheaper and known to be effective.”

4. Slather it on generously - and often.

“Most people don’t use enough sunscreen to get its full benefits,” Sarnoff says. “Apply about a shot glass full - 1 ounce - every two hours. use more if you’re swimming or sweating. “Such terms as “continuous protection,” “waterproof and “sweatproof” are inaccurate. Instead, look for “water resistant” and “very water resistant,” which means it adheres while the user is in water for 40 and 80minutes, respectively, regardless of SPF.

5. Use the same sunscreen for the whole family.

Formulas for adults and children are the same, says Florida dermatologist James Spencer, a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology. “There is no difference in the active ingredients,” he says, although children’s sunscreens are less likely to contain allergens like PABA, which may cause skin reactions.

Finally, don’t believe any product labels that claim “safe tanning.” Tanning is the skin’s response to cell damage, Spencer says.

A picture says a thousand words. Woolong, the most important research base for giant pandas, is badly hit during the earthquake. Five staff members died. Landslides and mudsides destroyed several panda houses. Two panas were still missing.

Today I saw the pictures of two baby pandas, each of one year and eight months old, cuddled together in their temporary housing.

Data souce: news.sohu.com (http://news.sohu.com/20080529/n257161036.shtml)

I never considered Robert Downey Jr. a handsome actor. But I always consider him one of the most talented actors in this country. He always brought up his character to a level that exceeds the scope of the movie itself, and most of time, the expectations of the general audience. When I first got familiar with him is the Fox’s TV show Alley McBeal, in which he has done a tremendous performance that even the most picky audience like me, can feel how the entire show is leveled way up.

Now when I read the review by Ebert on Downey’s “Iron Man”, I found the exactly same feeling is shared by movie critics.

The following is the link of the review: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080502/REVIEWS/285399481

Iron Man (May 2, 2008 )
 
Cast & Credits
Tony Stark: Robert Downey Jr.
Jim Rhodes:Terrence Howard
Obadiah Stane: Jeff Bridges
Pepper Pots: Gwyneth Paltrow
Christine Everhart: Leslie Bibb
Yinsen Shaun Toub: Raza Faran Tahir
Agent Phil Coulson: Clark Gregg

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Enterprises present a film directed by Jon Favreau.
Screenplay by Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway, based on characters created by Stan Lee & Don Heck & Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby.
Running time: 126 minutes.
Rated PG-13 (for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content).
by Jim Emerson, editor

The world needs another comic book movie like it needs another Bush administration, but if we must have one more (and the Evil Marketing Geniuses at Marvel MegaIndustries will do their utmost to ensure that we always will), “Iron Man” is a swell one to have. Not only is it a good comic book movie (smart and stupid, stirring and silly, intimate and spectacular), it’s winning enough to engage even those who’ve never cared much for comic books or the movies they spawn. Like me.

“Iron Man” begins on dangerous ground: in the harsh terrain of Battleground Afghanistan. A convoy of Humvees (inadequately armored, no doubt) speeds through the desert carrying ultra-bazillionaire Death Merchant, and notoriously dissolute playboy, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), scotch in hand, flirting with the female driver.

Right on cue, an IED detonates, the Hummers are ambushed by Taliban-esque fighters, the American soldiers are slaughtered, and Tony is kidnapped. It won’t be the first time that this gaudy piece of summer-movie pulp fiction strays a little too far into bloody Mess o’ Potamian reality for comfort. Is this political commentary of some kind, or just exploitation? Like its hero “Iron Man” takes false steps, stumbles, and even occasionally crashes, yet quickly recovers its footing.

The reason it’s so nimble is that director Jon Favreau (”Elf,” “Zathura”) and his fleet crew of actors grasp the action-fantasy premise and treat it with the looseness and sharpness of improvisational comedy. (Favreau himself has worked out with The Groundlings troupe in Los Angeles from time to time.) It’s difficult to tell how much of what they’re doing is taken directly from the script (credited to four writers, and who knows how many others labored behind the scenes), but even when they’re reciting somber dialog-bubble exposition, they treat it the way an improv actor would: smoothly feeding information into the scene, building a foundation on which everybody can work, and play.

Tony is the brilliant prodigal heir to the weapons-manufacturing fortune of Stark Industries, the gargantuan techno-blammo conglomerate built by his titan of a father. He’s the embodiment of the military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned against in 1961 — a financial superhero for whom war is good business, and whose business interests guarantee there will always be a market for war. Like a hawkish version of Steve Jobs, Tony is not only a master salesman and showman but a real engineer who can assemble astonishingly sophisticated equipment from basic materials — in his garage or a secret prison-cave in No-Man’s-’Stan.

This guy is so unbelievably, fantastically wealthy that the very concept of money loses all meaning. So what if he lives in a Starship Enterprise house perched on a seaside cliff in Malibu? He still has to fly for long, boring stretches to get to faraway places. In his private jet, sure, but doesn’t he find it annoying to be that wealthy and still constrained by the laws of physics? He can afford anything he wants, but his TV still shows the same “Access Hollywood” crap that’s available to everybody else. It’s like Bill Gates once said: No matter how much you pay for a hamburger, how much better is it going to taste?

Though he has plowed his way through more bimbos than he even wants to remember, Tony’s real intimates are the best that money can’t buy: his best buddy Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard), the military half of a not-at-all-complex military-industrial friendship; his endearing Girl Friday Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), who brings repressed passion to her professional role as a personal assistant; and his business partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges, with Lex Luthor dome and Irish Wolfhound chin). Let us take a moment, now, to thank the creator of that name: Obadiah Stane. You may wish to repeat it, like a mantra, as you go through the rest of your day.

Tony and Obadiah are old-world Bush-Doctrine perpetual-war profiteers (listen for the untranslated word “Halliburton” in the dialogue of one of the Afghan terrorissimos): They believe in spreading and maintaining unilateral American dominance through military and economic means, and give lip service to the pseudo-patriotic sentiment that whatever is good for Stark Industries is good for the good ol’ US of A. Until Tony is captured, that is, and he begins to understand that there’s a lot more to power, and leadership, than brute weaponry can ever convey. That’s all quite true, but it’s not presented as a terribly convincing plot point here. It just gives our anti-hero a chance to become our hero, in the guise of Iron Man.

Downey and the CGI both lend gravity to the Man of Titanium Alloy. The effects emphasize the weight and bulk of his metallic suit and the difficulty of aerial navigation with powerful thrusters on the bottoms of one’s feet. But the most potent FX are Downey’s eyes — those big, expressive brown orbs that seem to be highlighted with natural mascara to make them pop. Downey uses his body like a dancer or an acrobat, but has there been any other actor since, maybe, Bette Davis whose eyelashes are so vital to his performance? Favreau seems to understand this: When Tony puts on his Iron Man mask, we spend as much time inside it, just looking into Downey’s eyes as they fill the screen, as we do watching him zoom through the atmosphere or stomp around on the earth’s surface. It’s the best special effect in the movie.

Downey has entered a hard-earned period of grace in his career, where it seems he can do no wrong. He’s always been exceptional, but right now we’re just so glad to see him. It helps immeasurably, of course, that he consistently brings more to his material than the part demands. Whether the movie itself doesn’t measure up to him (”Less Than Zero,” “Chaplin”), or is very good indeed (”Short Cuts,” “Wonder Boys,” “Zodiac”), he contributes something that makes it — or, at least, him — something to see.

An equally welcome sight is Bridges, who must be the most accomplished, versatile and underrated actor in movies. The man is one of the all-time greats, as a quick look at a sample of his resume will remind you: “Fat City,” “The Last Picture Show,” “Bad Company,” “Rancho Deluxe,” “Hearts of the West,” “Stay Hungry,” “Winter Kills,” “Heaven’s Gate,” “Cutter’s Way,” “Tron,” “Starman,” “Tucker,” “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” “The Fisher King,” “American Heart,” “Fearless,” “The Big Lebowski,” “The Door in the Floor,” “Seabiscuit,” “Tideland”… Some of them are acknowledged classics, some deserve to be but haven’t been (re-)discovered yet, and some are risky experiments that succeed or fail impressively, but Bridges himself long ago achieved National Treasure status. If only more people would notice.

Obadiah Stane (again, thank you) could have been nothing more than a fabulous name — enough to do half the work for an actor. Bridges finds bits of behavior, like the way he holds his whiskey glass, that make him someone memorable, someone in particular rather than just a generic character.

In so doing, he and his colleagues have made “Iron Man” more than just a generic comic book movie.

Just received some pictures of these cute panda babies at Sichuan Giant Panda Research Facility. They are so adorable.

Peeking the curious world together

It is good to play together

Panda love

I can swing…

Meal time!

My hope for France is finally lit up. The following is a blog article from Senator Jean-Luc Mélenchon. It has been widely circulated on the internet. And not surprising, never reached the mainstream French media. Stinky Money, you really should not bother with your French magazines.

The original post was publised on April 7th, at the following link: http://www.jean-luc-melenchon.fr/?p=585

JE NE SUIS PAS D’ACCORD AVEC LE BOYCOTT DES JEUX DE PEKIN ET LA PROPAGANDE ANTI CHINOISE

Je ne suis pas communiste chinois. Je ne le serai jamais. Mais je ne suis pas d’accord avec les manifestations en faveur du boycott des jeux olympiques. Je ne suis pas d’accord avec l’opération de Robert Ménard contre les jeux olympiques de Pékin. Je ne suis pas d’accord avec la réécriture de l’histoire de la Chine à laquelle toute cette opération donne lieu. Je ne partage pas du tout l’enthousiasme béat pour le Dalaï lama ni pour le régime qu’il incarne. Pour moi, le boycott des jeux est une agression injustifiée et insultante contre le peuple chinois. Si l’on voulait mettre en cause le régime de Pékin il fallait le faire au moment du choix de Pékin pour les jeux. Il ne fallait  pas permettre à la Chine d’être candidate. Il fallait le dire en Chine. Ce qui se fait est une insulte gratuite et injustifiée contre les millions de chinois qui ont voulu et préparent activement les jeux. Pour moi il flotte un relent nauséabond de racisme sur cette marmitte!

UN PRETEXTE

Si un boycott devait être organisé, dans une logique agressive conséquente, ce n’est pas celui du sport qui est un moment d’ouverture et de fraternisation. Pourquoi pas plutôt celui des affaires et de la finance ?  Naturellement aucun des activistes mondains actuels ne le propose ni n’entreprend quoi que ce soit dans ce sens. Si l’on devait vraiment se facher avec le gouvernement chinois,  pourquoi le minimum de ce qui se fait dans les relations normales entre les nations ne se fait-il pas à cette occasion ? Le président de la République chinoise (combien de protestataires se soucient de savoir comment il s’appelle ?) a-t-il été approché ? Lui a -t-on demandé quelque chose ? Quoi ? Qu’a-t-il répondu ? Le premier ministre (combien se sont préoccupés de connaitre son nom ?) a-t-il été interpellé ? L’ambassadeur de Chine en France a-t-il été reçu et a-t-on eu un échange avec lui ? Qui s’en soucie ? Avec une morgue ressemblant à du racisme, on proteste contre un gouvernement dont on ne cite pas le nom des dirigeants, et dont on fait comme s’il n’existait pas. Pourquoi sinon parce qu’on pense par devers soi qu’il n’en est pas vraiment un. La superbe occidentale nie jusqu’au nom des gouvernants qui dirigent un peuple de un milliard quatre cent millions de personnes que l’on croit assez veules pour être maîtrisé par une simple police politique ! D’une façon générale je ressens, en voyant tout cela, l’écho du mépris des colons qui ont imposé en leur temps les armes à la main l’obligation pour les chinois de faire le commerce de l’opium ! Si la volonté est d’affronter le régime politique de Pékin, aucun des moyens employés n’est de nature à modifier quoi que ce soit d’autre que l’opinion occidentale déjà totalement formatée sur le sujet. 

Donc les évènements du Tibet sont un prétexte. Un prétexte entièrement construit à l’usage d’un public conditionné par la répétition d’images qui visent à créé de l’évidence davantage que de la réflexion. Exemple : seule l’enquête « d’arrêt sur image » rapporte que les « évènements du Tibet » ont commencé par un pogrom de commerçants chinois par des « tibétains ». Dans quel pays au monde de tels évènements restent-ils sans suite répressive ? La vie d’un commerçant chinois a-t-elle moins de valeur que celle du manifestant « tibétain » qui l’assassine à coups de bâton dans la rue ? Bien de l’amitié pour les tibétains n’est qu’une variante nauséabonde du racisme contre les chinois. Elle se nourrit de tous les fantasmes que l’ignorance favorise. Que la répression ait été lourde est peut-être avéré. Comment l’apprécier ? Les seuls chiffres rabachés sont ceux du « gouvernement tibétain en exil ». Pourtant le gouvernement chinois, si j’ai bien entendu, annonce lui-même un nombre de blessés et de morts qui permet de comprendre qu’il y a eu une situation grave et sérieuse que les autorités admettent. Dans n’importe quelles circonstances ont essaierait de comparer les informations. On essaierait de comprendre l’enchainement des faits. Sinon autant dire que le gouvernement français de l’époque a ordonné de pousser deux jeunes dans un transformateur électrique à Clichy Sous Bois au motif qu’il avait alors une politique de main dure face aux banlieues. Personne n’oserait avancer une bêtise aussi infâme. Dans les émeutes urbaines américaines la répression a aussi la main lourde. Tout cela n’excuse rien. Mais cela permet de mettre des évènements en relation de comparaison. 
 
UN PERSONNAGE SUSPECT

J’exprime les plus nettes réserves à propos de l’action politique de monsieur Robert Ménard, principal organisateur des manifestations anti chinoises. A présent, à propos du Tibet et des jeux olympiques, on ne voit que Robert Ménard. Il parle, parait il, au nom de « Reporters sans frontière ». Cette association est réduite à la personne de Robert Ménard. Bien des anciens membres du conseil d’administration pourraient en dire long au sujet des conceptions démocratiques de monsieur Ménard dans sa propre association. Quand je me suis trouvé sur le plateau de radio à France Culture où l’on m’interrogeait sur le sujet du Tibet et des jeux olympiques, messieurs Marc Kravetz et Alexandre Adler sont restés silencieux quand j’en suis venu au rôle de monsieur Ménard.  Ils ne peuvent être soupçonnés de chercher à me complaire… Hors micro, les deux exprimaient des réserves marquées sur les méthodes du personnage de Robert Ménard. Maxime Vivas a établi une analyse documentée extrêmement inquiétante sur ce personnage et ses sources de financements. Quoiqu’il en soit, il semble qu’il remplace aussi dorénavant les syndicats de journalistes, l’association internationale des droits de l’homme, Amnesty et ainsi de suite. Parfois même il remplace le Dalaï lama. Robert Menard milite pour le boycott des jeux ce que ne fait pas le Dalaï lama. Celui-ci dit au contraire que le peuple chinois mérite les jeux. Robert Ménard est un   défenseur des droits de l’homme à géométrie variable. A-t-il mené une seule action, même ultra symbolique, quand les Etats unis d’Amérique ont légalisé la torture ? A-t-il mené une seule action pour que les détenus de Guantanamo soient assistés d’avocat ? Robert Menard a un comportement qui soulève des questions sérieuses au sujet des motivations de son action. 

LE REGIME THEOCRATIQUE EST INDEFENDABLE

A propos du Tibet. Le Tibet est chinois depuis le quatorzième siècle. Lhassa était sous autorité chinoise puis mandchoue avant que Besançon ou Dôle soient sous l’autorité des rois de France. Parler « d’invasion » en 1959 pour qualifier un évènement à l’intérieur de la révolution chinoise est aberrant. Dit-on que la France a « envahi » la Vendée quand les armées de notre République y sont entrées contre les insurgés royalistes du cru ? Le Dalaï Lama et les autres seigneurs tibétains ont accepté tout ce que la Chine communiste leur proposait et offrait, comme par exemple le poste de vice président de l’assemblée populaire que « sa sainteté » a occupé sans rechigner. Cela jusqu’au jour de 1956 où le régime communiste a décidé d’abolir le servage au Tibet et régions limitrophes. Dans une négation des traditions, que j’approuve entièrement, les communistes ont abrogé les codes qui classaient la population en trois catégories et neuf classes dont le prix de la vie était précisé, codes qui donnaient aux propriétaires de serfs et d’esclaves le  droit de vie, de mort et de tortures sur eux.  On n’évoque pas le satut des femmes sous ce régime là. Mais il est possible de se renseigner si l’on a le coeur bien accroché. L’autorité communiste a mis fin aux luttes violentes entre chefs locaux du prétendue paradis de la non violence ainsi qu’aux divers châtiments sanglants que les moines infligeaient à ceux qui contrevenaient aux règles religieuses dont ils étaient les gardiens. La version tibétaine de la Charria a pris fin avec les communistes. La révolte de 1959 fut préparée, armée, entretenue et financée par les USA dans le cadre de la guerre froide. Voila ce qu’il en est des traditions charmantes du régime du Dalaï Lama avant les communistes et de l’horrible « invasion » qui y a mis fin.  Depuis, la scolarisation des enfants du Tibet concerne 81% d’entre eux là où il n’y en avait que 2% au temps bénis des traditions. Et l’espérance de vie dans l’enfer chinois contemporain prolonge la vie des esclaves de cette vallée de larmes de 35, 5 à 67 ans. En foi de quoi l’anéantissement des tibétain se manifeste par le doublement de la population tibétaine depuis 1959 faisant passer celle-ci de un million à deux millions et demi. Pour tout cela, la situation mérite mieux, davantage de circonspection, plus de respect pour les chinois que les clichés ridicules que colportent des gens qui ne voudraient ni pour eux, ni pour leur compagne ni pour leurs enfants d’un régime aussi lamentable que celui du roi des moines bouddhistes du Tibet. A l’heure actuelle je n’éprouve aucune sympathie pour « le gouvernement en exil du Tibet » dont sa sainteté est le décideur ultime sur pratiquement toutes les questions, où siège un nombre de membres de sa famille qu’il est tout à fait inhabituel de trouver dans un gouvernement, même en exil, sans parler de leur présence aux postes clefs de la finance et des affaires de cet exil. Je respecte le droit de sa sainteté de croire ce qu’elle veut et à ses partisans de même. Mais je m’accorde le droit d’être en désaccord total avec l’idée de leur régime théocratique. Je suis également hostile à l’embrigadement d’enfants dans les monastères. Je suis opposé à l’existence du servage. Je suis laïque partout et pour tous et donc totalement opposé à l’autorité politique des religieux, même de ceux que l’album “Tintin au Tibet” a rendu attendrissants et qui ne l’ont pourtant jamais été. Je désapprouve aussi les prises de position du “roi des moines” contre l’avortement et les homosexuels. Même non violentes et entourées de sourires assez séducteurs, ses déclarations sur ces deux sujets sont à mes yeux aussi archaïques que son projet politique théocratique.  Je n’ai jamais soutenu l’Ayatollah Khomeiny, même quand j’étais contre le Shah d’Iran. Je ne soutiens pas davantage ni n’encourage le Dalaï Lama, ni dans sa religion qui ne me concerne pas, ni dans ses prétentions politiques que je désapprouve ni dans ses tentatives cecessionistes que je condamne.  Je demande: pourquoi  pour exercer sa religion et la diriger le Dalaï Lama aurait-il besoin d’un Etat ? Un Etat qui pour être constitué demanderait d’amputer la Chine du quart de sa surface! Son magistère moral et religieux actuel souffre-t-il de n’être assis sur aucune royauté ?

FAUTEUR DE GUERRE

En ce qui concerne le droit international et la géopolitique, le dossier du Tibet tel que présenté par ses partisans est un facteur de violences, de guerres et de déstabilisation aussi considérable que celui des Balkans. Quel genre de Tibet est défendu ? Le “grand Tibet” incluant des régions comme le Yunnan et le Sichuan, sur les territoires des anciens seigneurs de la terre où sont organisés des troubles en même temps qu’à Lhassa ? Bien sur, aucun de ceux qui s’agitent en ce moment ne se préoccupe de savoir de quoi il retourne à ce propos. Rien n’indique mieux le paternalisme néo colonial ni le racisme sous jacent à l’enthousiasme pro tibétain que l’indifférence à ces questions qui mettent en cause la vie de millions de personnes et des siècles d’histoire et de culture chinoise. 

J’ai lu que les athlètes français porteraient un maillot avec une déclaration un peu passe partout qui est présentée comme une protestation politique . Je sais très bien que l’inscription “pour un monde meilleur” ne mange pas plus de pain là bas qu’ici. Mais elle sera certainement vécue par les chinois du commun comme un acte injurieux si son motif pro dalai lama est connu. Peut-être est-il cependant aussi un peu hors limite des règles du sport international. Souvenons nous que la ligue européenne de natation a exclu des championnats d’europe de natation le nageur serbe Milorad Cavic parce qu’il portait lors des remises de médailles un tee-shirt sur lequel était écrit: “le Kosovo est serbe”. Cela fera-t-il jurisprudence? Les champions français qui porteront un slogan annoncé comme politique seront-ils interdits de jeux ?  Bien sûr que non ! Puisque le but c’est justement que le Tibet soit au chinois ce que le Kosovo a été aux serbes.  Mais comme cela n’a rien de comparable, à part la volonté de dépeçage de l’ennemi et la mise en scène médiatique,  il est fort probable que cela finisse à la confusion des agresseurs. Je le souhaite. Je suis un ami de la Chine. Et je sais que l’intéret de mon pays et ses valeurs ne sont pas du côté où l’on voudrait les entrainer.

I am outraged by the news that Northwest is eventually merging with Delta Airlines, and on top of that, Northwest is losing its name. I cannot believe Northwest will be associated with this loser – Delta, whom I have sworn in the past that I will never fly or spend money on Delta.

Delta offers poor services, terrible attitude, and old equipment. What did Northwest see any benefit from it? When both airlines filed for bankruptcy, Northwest was in much better financial conditions than Delta. Now Northwest has better/newer aircrafts and all of sudden, it wanted to be dragged down along with this loser? What is in the mind of your management?

If Northwest wants to merge to survive, why can you find some winner, for example, Continentals?! I feel disgusted! And don’t expect me to be happy when my Northwest Platinum Elite Card all of sudden starts to bear that ugly logo of Delta Airlines.

More YouTube videos about San Francisco Olympic Torch Relay. One comment from a YouTube viewer is extreme but refreshing:

“What is causing the change of Torch Relay route? The potential, or actual at times, VIOLENCE! Who are the ones demonstrating VIOLENT BEHAVIORS-snatching the torch, beating the runners???? The protesters!!!!! Yet those protesters are still the favorite for CNN, NBC, and CBS. These television reporters would dig 3 feet into the ground to look for people with ANTI-CHINA comments yet ignoring the voice from the real Chinese people.”

I guess there were so many Chinese today in San Francisco to support the torch relay that the media who thought they would put a great show ended up having nowhere to hide the Chinese flags because they are everywhere.

Last night we went out for a drink. I was still outraged and upset. I ended up telling Stinky Monkey about some incidents that I saw with my own eyes:

When I was in Barcelona in the mid-March, I watched the news coverage about the Tibet riots in my hotel room. Some videos they showed were monks being dragged and beaten by – according to BBC – Chinese policemen. One glance at the screen made me wonder since when the Chinese policemen started to wear an army uniform, and I definitely do not recall that Chinese army even has a uniform in this kind of color. Then I noticed the dark skin color of these “policemen”, and became puzzled which area these people came from. Of course, later on, I found out these are not Chinese policemen but Nepal cops.

Then in Madrid, more news came in. One piece of video footages they used was from CCTV – a Chinese TV station, so I can hear the Chinese news reporter’s voice very well. The video footage described clearly in Chinese how policemen were helping out three female Japanese tourists. At the same time, the BBC news anchor stated that the video showed how policemen dragged Chinese. My jaw dropped.

Three days ago, when the brutality during the Olympic Torch Relay became headlines, CNN news anchor asked a CNN reporter to interview ordinary Chinese in Beijing. So the reporter asked a mid-aged lady on the street of Beijing whether she knew the torch relay in Paris. The woman replied in Chinese that she read it from the newspaper. The CNN reporter in Beijing then turned back and told the anchor – as well as the entire audience whoever watched the news at that moment – “no, there is no news coverage at all”.

It is the attitude that these mainstream media broadcasted their lies – and virtually fucked the brains of the entire audience right in front of them – that enraged me so much. They are in fact insulting not only the Chinese people, but also the people from other countries who do not speak or understand the other foreign languages.

Stinky Monkey then pondered why they dare to lie in the first place. I shook my head – “I do not know. But I can tell you another story.” A couple of years ago, when the news came out that China was awarded to host the 2008 Olympic Games, the local city TV station planned to interview Chinese students. One of my friends participated in the interview. The reporter asked how they felt about the news, and was obviously unhappy that everyone was expressing his/her excitement. Then the reporter interviewed one by one about human rights. My friend only had a chance to make one comment – which to date I still think is fair – that “everybody has his own understanding of human rights” – before the microphone was taken away. Obviously, they only want to hear what they want to hear, not the fact or the actual feelings.

It has become obvious that I am not the only one who is furious about the violence and brutality during the Olympic Torch relay in Paris, and I am not the only one who is completely disgusted by the lies and fabrications of the mainstream media reports.

I was waiting the news from San Francisco. After headlines bombed all over my Google RRS news feeds about how protesters disrupted the traffic on the golden gate bridge by disguising their banners in a baby stroller and by hanging the banners on the bridge, I was even more outraged. Last night I told Stinky Monkey that I almost bought a ticket to fly to San Francisco to join the people to protect the Torch.

I hold my confidence that what the mainstream media have done, and what the violence and lies have done, is nothing but to enrage any ordinary Chinese. As I watched the BBS news posts and discussions and TVs, I was still surprised at the number of people on the street to support the relay, and how many fought to voice their determinations.

Yes, I saw how CNN, BBC and NBC tried so hard to locate any pro-Tibetan signs and tried so hard to give these signs close-up shots, despite the huge number of Chinese waving their flags. I was cheering so hard when almost every single pro-Tibetan sign is outnumbered by Chinese flags, and when the entire crowd started chanting “CNN, Liar!” in front of a CNN news reporter. I was laughing so hard when the CNN news anchor asked the reporter in San Francisco that “A lot people are protesting the human right in China … etc., however, some are there to celebrate”, and got a reply back – “as a matter of fact, most of the people are here to support China and to celebrate. There are a lot of Chinese in San Francisco; they come here to show their support”. Amazingly, later on the anchor “corrected” the reporter by stating “they are actually protesters”. Oh my god, I hope the anchor did not mistaken Chinese flag for the pro-Tibetan flag.

Someone captured a short video by CBS and posted on YouTube. It has made my day.

I love you, San Francisco!