Watts Witit

DHARAMSHALA: A series of controversies raised by China implicating the global Buddhist congregation has enraged the Tibetan administration and community in exile, as this has scraped the wound caused by the recent self-immolations by monks inside Tibet.

In an interaction with TOI on Sunday, Tibetan officials criticized the continuous efforts of China to curb the activities and interactions of Dalai Lama with leaders of various countries. China has never showed a positive gesture towards Dalai Lama ever since he devolved political powers and has never criticized Chinese people. The Dalai Lama has always remained a religious figure in Tibet and for Tibetans in exile across the world, but China has never considered him religious figure and treats him as a separatist, they said.

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/28 November)–Armed men struck anew at the remote mines development site of Sagittarius Mines Inc., forcing the foreign-backed company to temporarily suspend exploration activities in the area, officials said on Monday.

John Arnaldo, Sagittarius Mines corporate communications manager, said around 20 armed men raided a company drilling site in Sitio Tukay Mal, Barangay Tablu, in Tampakan, South Cotabato at 8:15 am on Sunday.

“Fortunately, they did not harm the eight security guards but took away their firearms. There was also no damage to properties,” he told MindaNews.

“Drilling activities in the area have been temporarily suspended because of what happened,” Arnaldo added.

Asked about the apparent security lapse, he said they have been working closely with government authorities and the local communities to ensure the safety of employees in the area.

Lt. Col. Alexis Noel Bravo, commander of the 27th Infantry Battalion, said the armed men were not members of the communist New People’s Army rebels.

“They belong to a bandit group,” he said, identifying their leader as Batas Capion, reportedly a brother of Dagil Capion, who was earlier tagged by the military as behind the ambush last March involving workers of a construction company hired by Sagittarius Mines for a road project.

Dagil Capion had confirmed in a telephone interview that he was involved in the ambush in Sitio Datalbiao in Barangay Danlag, also in Tampakan town, that left three persons dead.

He said they were prompted to resort to extralegal ways out of disgust over the company’s alleged indifference to their various demands.

The ambush had also forced the company to suspend work activities in the area.

Bravo said pursuit operations were ongoing against the armed that disarmed the mining firm’s security guards on Sunday.

Aside from the firearms, the armed men also took away the security guards’ uniforms and food rations, the military officer said.

On New Year’s Day in 2008, NPA guerrillas attacked the base camp of Sagittarius Mines in Barangay Tablu, burning facilities and equipment worth P12 million. No one was hurt in the incident.

This was the same village where the armed men disarmed the mining firm’s security guards last Sunday.

The B’laan tribe mostly inhabits the communities within the mines development site of Sagittarius Mine, which also straddles the towns of Kiblawan in Davao del Sur and Columbio in Sultan Kudarat.

Members of this tribe are known for roaming the mountains with their guns and other deadly weapons, either for hunting or for security purposes.

Aside from the security threats, Sagittarius Mines is faced with an open-pit ban imposed by the provincial government of South Cotabato. The local Catholic Church is also vehemently opposing the mining project on concerns over human health, the environment and food security.

Sagittarius Mines’ exploration permit was recently renewed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The Tampakan project is touted as the largest known undeveloped copper-gold deposit in Southeast Asia

Should the venture proceed to commercial phase, it would be the largest single foreign direct investment in the Philippine with a value of $5.9 billion.

Sagittarius Mines is controlled by Xstrata Copper, the world’s fourth largest copper producer, with Australian firm Indophil Resources NL as the junior equity partner. (Bong Sarmiento/MindaNews)

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein said he wasnt expecting a second straight road game in this challenge (Michigan beat Clemson on the road last season), but theres no sense in whining about it now.

Instead, Beilein says hell use it as another test to gauge where his group is at mentally.

When we were in Hawaii it was 2,400 people and probably 500 from each fan base there. This one will be different, Beilein said. Its hard, but its something we have to do. We have to (travel) nine times in our league. We still have to go to Oakland (at The Palace of Auburn Hills) and at Arkansas.

Theres times when you have to do this and its all part of the process.

The Wolverines were 5-5 in true away contests last season. Down the stretch, Michigan won three of its last four road games and scratched its way to an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.

When Michigan returned nearly its entire roster, plenty of positives resulted — one of which, Novak says, was the ability to play on the road.

Weve got a lot of the same guys back, guys that have been there before, he said. Thats the biggest thing about winning on the road. Once you get one win there, you learn how to do it.

Youve got to play a little bit differently, youve got to keep their crowd out of it and play a little more conservatively on the road. But, weve got guys who have been there and done that.

One guy who hasnt been there or done that just yet is Michigan freshman point guard Trey Burke.

Burke has been impressive during the Wolverines first six games, averaging 11 points and four assists while holding a plus-10 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Hes been calm, patient and aggressive while leading Michigans offense — but hes never done it on the road.

Are the Wolverines worried?

I just want him to play his game, Novak said. Its more something where as the games going along you might pull him aside and say were on the road now.

But, shoot, theres not many things Ive had to tell him not to do.

Tired legs?

Beilein said hes not overly concerned about Michigan entering Tuesday nights game with tired legs due to extensive travel over the past week.

After wrapping up the Maui Invitational, Michigan flew home Thursday and worked out in three separate sessions Friday before taking Saturday off and returning to the court Sunday.

I think we did what we needed to between rest and working them, Beilein said. Ive never done a Hawaii trip, Ive only done an Alaska trip. We tried to do the things we knew how to do to keep them fresh.

They had two days off, even though one of them was spent in an airplane. Well see how they respond.

Zone coming along

Michigan switched up its defense several times throughout the Maui Invitational, swapping between man-to-man and both the 2-3 and 1-3-1 zones.

Beilein said he hasnt spent as much time early this season in a zone as he has at other times throughout his career. Still, he wants to change defenses periodically throughout games.

Its still not where it needs to be, but well keep working at it and keep it in our pocket and use it when we have to, he said. In some years, weve (used) changing defenses more than other. Last year, we were primarily man-to-man the whole time because we had to get good at one thing before moving on to both.

I think, defensively, if youre changing up and changing back it can hurt you, but it could also really help you.

Veterans Day will be celebrated nationawide and in Sonoma Valley, as always, with honor and respect.

Heres a brief roundup of activities, offers, and opportunities to show gratitude to those who serve.

Veterans Day In Sonoma Valley:

Sonoma’s 52^nd annual Veterans Day Celebration: Co-hosted by the VFW Bear Flag Post 1943 and American Legion Jack London Post 489, the event will take place at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building. This year will be the first time that the observance turns a special focus on Vietnam veterans. Friday (11/11), 11 am onward. 126 First Street West, Sonoma.

A “USO-style lunch” will be held at Vintage House after Sonoma’s Veterans Day Celebration on Friday (11/11). On the menu: hot dogs, chili, and more. The first 300 people will be admitted for free.

Dance for the Troops: The American Legion Jack London Post 489 will hold its third annual “Dance for the Troops” celebration dinner on Saturday (11/12), 6-10 pm The event, which will feature the big band sound of the Moonlighters, with vocals by Bay Area 1940s-style girl group, the Fondettes. The event will be held at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building, which will be decorated in the style of a WWII USO hall.  All proceeds fund packages for service members now serving abroad. On the agenda: retro food, a full bar, live and silent auctions, and prizes for best costumes and uniforms. Tickets: $45/Advance, $55/at the door. Advance tickets are available by calling 935-9426 or at Reader’s Books, Pharmaca, Eraldi’s, Mary’s Pizza Shack on the Plaza, Town Square and Steiner’s.

Related Items of Interest:

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Photos: If the name of someone you love or served with is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the VV Memorial Fund needs your help. The organizationis trying to collect a picture for each of the more than 58,000 men and women whose names are inscribed on The Wall. So far, they’ve collected more than 21,000 photos. If you have a picture of a loved one or fellow veteran whose name is on The Wall, visit VVMF.org to learn how to submit your photo(s).

Free US Armed Forces Band Download: In honor of Veterans Day, Amazon.com is offering free MP3 downloads of Veterans Day Honor, 12 tunes from the Bands and Ensembles of the US Armed Forces.  Selections include an American Pageant medley by the US Air Force Band of Flight, Star Spangled Banner by the US Coast Guard Band, and Here’s to America by the US Army Band. Visit amazon.com and search for “veterans day honor.”

Send a message to the troops: Send your own e-greeting message directly to our troops troops via Facebook (it’s free). You can choose to send your message to service members in the US Army, the US Navy, the Marines, the US Airforce or the US Department of Defense. You can also visit USO.org and leave your message there.

Free Meals for Veterans at Chain Restaurants: Youll have to leave Sonoma Valley to take advantage of these offers, but stranger things have happened. Applebees, Chilis, Dennys, Hooters, Sizzler, and TGI. Fridays  are offering free meals to veterans and active service members on Friday (11/11). Proof of service will be required. Check chain websites for restrictions. The Military Wallet website reveals even more discounts and freebies.

History of Veterans Day: For a complete history of Veterans Day, which was once known as Armistice Day, visit www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp.

For mostly good reasons, despite slip-ups in plot logic, JJ Abrams Super 8 feels like a Steven Spielberg production from the 1970s or 80s. While there are strong connections to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, this new alien adventure movie is an inversion of ET: The Extra-Terrestrial, with more violence, rough language and less innocence.

This time, the alien who yearns for home is not cuddly. It eats more dangerously than ET did when he wolfed down Reeses Pieces. There will be blood. Yet the nostalgic tone feels the same. Suburban American kids are again the heroes, not the stubborn and sometimes stupid adults.

As one of the best mainstream movies of 2011, Super 8 is a great thrill ride with a strong emotional base, a spectacular train crash and a sense of urgency to solve the alien mystery on board that train. Get excited again. Super 8 debuts Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray.

The connection between Abrams and Spielberg is profound, and not just because Spielberg serves as his superstar producer. It dates back to when Abrams was 15, one of three beardless wonders who caught the masters eye. Abrams and Spielberg are also connected by their love of making movies as boys: Abrams with a Super 8 camera, Spielberg with an 8 mm camera in an earlier era. As an adult, Spielberg made mainstream blockbusters such as ET and Close Encounters that influenced how Abrams and his other beardless boyhood buddies — Super 8 producer Bryan Burk and cinematographer Larry Fong — made their movies. Spielberg created a template for the modern adventure movie genre and that informed how Super 8 would evolve.

This story is well told in the 97 minutes of featurettes on the Blu-ray. You quickly realize, while listening to Abrams, that he channelled himself into the core group of six youngsters, particularly those played by charismatic Joel Courtney, funny Riley Griffiths and the wonderful Elle Fanning, the only girl in the group.

I was a kid who was never very sporty and into the things that other kids in my school were into, geek-boy Abrams says now. I was more of an outsider. For young Abrams, as for young Spielberg, making movies became what he calls an incredible salvation that gave purpose to life.

Photo by Joe Shearer/The Gateway

Paige Frauendorfer led the Mavs in scoring for two of the three games UNO had in a trip to the East Coast over Thanksgiving weekend. The Mavs went 1-2 on the trip running their record to 3-3.

Two scenes from the moviegoing life, yesterday . . .

Scene I.
Im at the Barnes Noble downtown, killing time before a Pacific Place screening by browsing through a table of marked-down Criterion DVDs. (For those of you with Blu-Ray — Im not, yet — it was a great deal: 50 percent off a number of titles.) An elderly man with a cane approached the table and joined me in looking at the titles.
He: Oh, these are all old ones.
Me: Yes, these are all Criterion.
He: That was back when they knew how to make movies.
Me: [vaguely agreeable noise]
He: [warming to the topic; emphatically] The movies they make now are garbage! I wouldnt take my dog to them!
And off he shuffled, leaving me dying to know: So, if the movies were better, he would take his dog? Just what kind of dog does he have, anyway?

Scene II.
In the movie theater, waiting for My Week with Marilyn (which was terrific) to begin. The white-haired man next to me, whod heard me chatting with a colleague, struck up a conversation. Turns out he was at the University of California at Berkeley when the great critic Pauline Kael was running a cinema there, in the 1950s, and he would frequently go to the theater and chat with Pauline — who was, of course, fascinating. Over a few years, hed saved a number of the programs from the theater — complete with notes written by Kael — and was wondering if I knew of a good place where he might sell them. (Hes hung on to them for many years, but says hes preparing to move and needs to clear out many belongings.) I couldnt think of anything offhand, but took his email address just in case. Any of you happen to know of something more specialized than eBay for this kind of movie memorabilia? We had a brief but very pleasant chat about Kael — he commented on how surprised and pleased he was when Kael popped up at the New Yorker, decades after shed left Berkeley.

I thought about both of these encounters on the way home — one funny, one interesting — and realized that if I got my DVDs exclusively from Amazon and my movies exclusively from Netflix, Id never have met either of these gentlemen. And I would have missed something. Though I certainly recognize the convenience of such sources (and use Amazon myself on occasion), sometimes theres nothing like a little human contact. Just a thought, for a rainy Wednesday.

Shredding includes mixed paper and light cardboard – sensitive documents only. There is a limit of eight boxes at 50 pounds each. Questions: Email recycling@ncsu.edu.

NC State also will host A Composting Extravaganza on the Brickyard from 10 am to 3 pm Wednesday. Learn how to compost or improve your composting pile, and learn how NCSU and local restaurants turn leftovers into soil.

Keep NC Beautiful will host its second annual America Recycles Day collection from 9 am to noon today at 4208 Six Forks Road (near Sparians Bowling Boutique Bistro). The event will be a drive-through collection; volunteers will remove recyclables from your vehicle. Accepted items include: any electronics with a plug; plastic bags and nonfood wrappers; paper for shredding (three box limit per person); and rigid plastics including lawn furniture, buckets, toys and unwanted recycling bins.

The Cary Public Works Department will host a paper shred event from 9 am to noon Nov. 19 at its operations center at 400 James Jackson Ave. The event is open to all Cary residents. There is a three-box maximum for free, on-site secure destruction and recycling. Bagged pre-shredded paper for recycling will be accepted as well.

Chatham County residents can pledge to recycle and win through Tuesday. Those who pledge to recycle more will get free gifts (while supplies last) and will be entered to win America Recycles Day T-shirts. One pledge per household, and forms are available at all 12 county collection centers. A current decal is required.

UNC-Chapel Hill celebrates America Recycles Day and Campus Sustainability Day with exhibits on sustainability innovations from 11 am to 2 pm Tuesday in the Great Hall of the Student Union. Students can bring old plastic bags, cellphones, batteries and e-waste to the Great Hall for recycling.

The 2011 Campus Sustainability Report will be presented to Chancellor Holden Thorp at 1 pm Val Smith, director of sustainability at Citi, will speak at Koury Auditorium at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at 5:30 pm

The Whole Foods Market at 81 S. Elliot Road in Chapel Hill will host I Love Recycling Day! from 4 to 6 pm Tuesday. There will be information on all things recyclable, including an information station about the compostable paper goods used in the stores cafe. Games and activities for children also are planned, including a decomposition timeline, where objects can be placed on a timeline that shows how long it takes for the item to decompose.

There also will be games to reinforce the importance of recycling.

ADA, Mich., Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
Amway allows young women the chance to ‘Be Like Miss America’ through the Amway Miss America Scholarship Contest held on the Amway U.S. Facebook page. Amway is the sponsor of the Miss America Scholarship Fund. Amway’s beauty brand ARTISTRY® is the official skin care and cosmetics of Miss America.

“Amway and Artistry are focused on helping people realize their full potential and with this contest, we hope to offer a young woman the opportunity to pursue her dreams with a college scholarship,” comments Jori Hartwig, Vice President of Marketing for Amway North America.

Women between the ages 18 to 25 are asked to explain why they exemplify one or all of the qualities of the Artistry and Miss America brands. The individual with the most public votes by November 14, 2011 will win $10,000 in scholarship funding. The public is encouraged to vote for the individual they think would best represent the scholarship. Contestants with the greatest number of votes will be awarded as follows:

Grand Prize:

ARTISTRY Miss America $10,000 Scholarship

ARTISTRY product gift basket

Second Prize

$100 gift card

APPLE® iPad

ARTISTRY essentials skincare system

ARTISTRY Light Up Lip Gloss

ARTISTRY Shimmer Loose Powder

Third Prize

ARTISTRY essentials skincare system

ARTISTRY Light Up Lip Gloss

ARTISTRY Shimmer Loose Powder

To enter, visit the Amway U.S. Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/AmwayUS .

Contestants are asked to submit a photo accompanied by an essay explaining how they personify one or all of the qualities of the Miss America Organization – style, scholarship, service, success – and why they should win a $10,000 scholarship. Each contestant is also required to submit her first and last name, email address, zip code, and phone number. There’s a limit of one entry per person and only individuals from the 50 states and District of Columbia will be accepted.

Additional contest and entry details can be found at
www.facebook.com/amwayus . For more information about ARTISTRY, or to find an Amway Independent Business Owner near you, visit Amway.com/Artistry.

ABOUT ARTISTRY

The ARTISTRY brand, exclusively from Amway, is a global leader in premium beauty, offering unprecedented skincare solutions backed by dermatologist testing, advanced science, unparalleled proof of performance, and personalized service unmatched by any beauty counter in the world. The ARTISTRY brand generates more than $1 billion in annual global sales and is among the world’s top five, largest-selling premium skincare brands.* It’s also among the world’s top 10 largest-selling premium cosmetic brands.* ARTISTRY is the Official Skincare and Cosmetics Provider of Miss America. The Amway Scholarship contributes more than $300,000 to Miss America contestants.

ABOUT AMWAY

Established in 1959 as a seller of household cleaners, Amway expanded and diversified over the years and today sees its sales led by NUTRILITE® food supplements, herbals, and vitamins and ARTISTRY skin care and cosmetics. Amway has helped millions of people lead better lives through consumer products, business opportunities, and generous sharing with the AMWAY ONE BY ONE CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN® program.

SOURCE Amway North America

Copyright (C) 2011 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

JN: Whenever we enter a marketplace, we work closely with our clubs to get them involved in giving back to the communities that help support them. In working with the LA Galaxy and the National Education Association, we picked the library at Catskill Avenue Elementary School to refurbish. This revitalization is taking place during National Education Week, so well be creating a soccer-themed reading corner. Well be donating new furniture, books, electronics and soccer programming as well. For the park refurbishment, which is in conjunction with our partner The Home Depot, the goal was to make Veterans Park in Carson, Calif., a clean, safe area for local youth and members of the community to gather.

espnW: When MLS enters a community for a game or a championship, why is it important that the league leaves its mark?

JN: Were really committed to social responsibility. The nature and success of our league is driven by the passion and support of our fans, so we believe its extremely important to give back to the communities and leave a lasting legacy to show our appreciation for all the support they give us year-round.

espnW: Do the players themselves jump in and help with your revitalization projects?

JN: Absolutely. Our players drive these projects. We will have some Best XI players — the leagues top 11 players at each position on the field — at the refurbishments of both the library and the park.

espnW: On Sunday at 9 pm ET on ESPN, the Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy will face off in the MLS Cup for the right to be crowned champion. Talk about what type of game fans are in for this weekend.

JN: I think its going to be an incredible game. This is one of the few times in our history where one of the teams in the Cup is the host location. I think its going to be an incredible environment. The Home Depot Center is sold out and there is going to be an unbelievable level of excitement and passion. It will be quite an event for the people in the stadium and those watching on TV.

espnW: As EVP, you are also in charge of drafting league policies and procedures. What is the most important policy you have instituted thus far?

JN: Thats a good question, but of all our policies, we are probably most proud of our diversity initiatives. Major League Soccer is extremely committed to diversity both on the field and off the field, so I think our diversity programs have had the most impact. They are also addressing an important issue in this country.

espnW: You also oversee the hiring of employees. What specific qualities make for the ideal employee in a sports league office?

JN: I dont think there is just one quality. You dont have to love soccer, but we work so hard that if youre not passionate about the sport, it might not be the best place for someone to be. Interestingly, a lot of our employees have played competitive sports at some point. I think thats because sports foster a lot of the qualities necessary to be successful in business and in life. Its not a requirement, but when someone has played sports at any level, weve found that to correlate with their success in business.

espnW: You joined MLS in 1998 as legal counsel. What changes have you seen in the league during your 13 years there?

JN: Wow, where do you start? There have been a lot of changes — I would say all positive. From expansion — at one point we were at 10 clubs and next year, well have 19 — to our stadiums, which have grown as well. By the end of next year, well have 15 stadiums that were built or renovated with soccer in mind. We have diverse ownership groups, the creation of Soccer United Marketing, our TV deals — I could go on.

espnW: Prior to joining the league, you spent four years as an attorney in private practice. How did you end up making the jump to sports?

JN: I think I got lucky, to be completely honest. I remember I was studying for the bar during the 94 World Cup. Around that time, they announced the formation of Major League Soccer. I played soccer from the age of 5 all the way through high school. I remember thinking to myself, Wow, that would be such an amazing thing to be a part of. Major League Soccer was formed by two attorneys from Latham Watkins, which was the law firm I was going to work at, so I sort of made the connection in my head. So I think I just got really fortunate that there was an opportunity at Major League Soccer, and I was in the right place at the right time.

espnW: You are surrounded by world-class athletes on a daily basis. Are you an athlete and sports fan yourself?

JN: I wouldnt compare myself to some of the world-class athletes that Im around, but I do enjoy sports. I grew up playing soccer, and I love the sport. I think its an incredible game. I actually play in a mommy league, so thats a lot of fun. Its definitely not competitive — its very recreational — but its great exercise, and its a lot of fun.

espnW: Thats great! I didnt even know mommy leagues existed. What position do you play?

JN: Its a small-sided game, so kind of all over.

espnW: Did you watch the Womens World Cup this summer and, if so, what was your reaction to Team USAs performance?

JN: Yes, I did watch. They played fantastic. Obviously, the result was a little disappointing for us, but I still think it was unbelievable for the sport and for the awareness that those athletes got during the World Cup and are still getting today. I think theyre incredible role models, and were very proud of them.

espnW: You have two young daughters. From a parents perspective, why are sports important in the lives of young girls?

JN: They are extremely important. In a lot of ways, sports emulate life. You can have great individual efforts, but ultimately, to be successful, you need to be a part of a team, and you need to surround yourself with good people. To understand the dynamic of team sports and knowing that you cant go it alone is really important. It also teaches children that you may win some days and lose other days, but to win gracefully and lose gracefully are both really important lessons in life because you are going to have to deal with both success and failure, no matter who you are, so I think sports are an incredible way to learn those lessons.

I also think that girls are not always as nice to each other growing up but when youre on a team, there are special bonds and alliances. I think its really important for girls to have that and to look out for each other on the field because I think that translates to the way they treat each other off the field.

For more information on MLS WORKS., please visit www.MLSSoccer.com/works.