Cộng đồng nguồn mở chào đón Fedora 8

Fedora 8 chính thức ra mắt nhằm cạnh tranh với đối thủ Ubuntu, làm nức lòng các fan đang kỳ vọng vào những tính năng nổi bật được trang bị cho phiên bản mới này.

Dựa trên nhân Linux 2.6.23, Fedora 8 bao gồm phiên bản GNOME 2.20 cho môi trường desktop, cùng một Theme Nodoka mới được tạo riêng cho phiên bản 8. Ngoài ra, ứng dụng Online Desktop hướng đến mục tiêu hợp nhất nhiều dịch vụ trực tuyến cho người dùng có trình độ kỹ thuật. Cửa sổ quản lý hiệu ứng 3D Compiz Fusion được đưa vào danh sách cài đặt mặc định trong Fedora 8.

Về giao diện, đội ngũ thiết kế đồ họa Fedora Art đã sáng tạo biểu tượng "Vô cực" (Infinity) cho phiên bản 8. Giao diện đồ họa thân thiện với người dùng và bắt mắt hơn. Người dùng mới tập làm quen với Linux sẽ không còn cảm giác bối rối với giao diện câu lệnh mà thay vào đó là giao diện đồ họa rất đẹp của Fedora 8.


Hơn nữa, Fedora 8 có khá nhiều thành phần và tính năng được thay đổi, cải tiến. Sau đây là một vài tính năng được cải thiện so với phiên bản trước:

- PulseAudio: dùng để quản lý audio, được cài đặt sẵn và kích hoạt mặc định. PulseAudio là hệ thống máy chủ âm thanh mới, tương thích với hầu hết các hệ thống âm thanh Linux và hỗ trợ "chuyển đổi nóng" cho ngõ ra audio, bộ điều khiển âm lượng (volume) riêng cho từng luồng âm thanh và audio mạng.

- Cải tiến bộ quản lý nguồn, tăng mức độ hỗ trợ các thiết bị Bluetooth, mức độ kết hợp với hệ thống của các công cụ và đồ họa người dùng tốt hơn cho những máy tính xách tay. Các nhà phát triển cũng được Redhat lưu ý qua môi trường Java mở và miễn phí IcedTea được cài đặt mặc định, xuất phát từ OpenJDK. Phiên bản mới của Eclipse 3.3 mang tên Europa là môi trường phát triển cũng được tích hợp vào trong desktop.

- Việc quản lý mạng không dây (Wireless) trở nên rất dễ dàng trong Fedora 8 với sự giúp sức của NetworkManager 0.7 đã được tái tạo lại. Nhóm phát triển Fedora hi vọng sẽ đưa NetworkManager trở thành công cụ quản lý mạng duy nhất và mặc định trong các phiên bản Fedora sắp tới.

- Khả năng hỗ trợ tính ảo hóa tăng thêm một bậc khi Fedora giới thiệu chức năng quản lý bảo mật từ xa cho Xen, KVM và QEMU.

- Về bảo mật, Fedora 8 bổ sung thêm công cụ cấu hình tường lửa qua giao diện đồ họa, chức năng Kiosk thông qua SELinux và hỗ trợ cho SHA256, SHA512 trong gói glibc so với trước đây chỉ có DES và MD5.

Ngoài ra, còn phải kể đến những công cụ mới như: Bookmarks, TexLive 2007, Rsyslog, XULrunner, KDE4, Codec Buddy, BigBoard...

Kinh hoàng sex game "đầu độc" học sinh

Sex game - một loại hình trò chơi điện tử với cốt truyện khiêu dâm, mô phỏng toàn bộ quá trình quan hệ phòng the đã xuất hiện ở Việt Nam và âm thầm phát tán trong một vài năm trở lại đây. Hiện loại hình sex game có nội dung độc hại này đã có thể chơi online qua Internet, và đang phát tán rộng trong giới trẻ, chủ yếu là đối tượng học sinh, sinh viên.

Từ những trò chơi... thác loạn

“Chuyện đánh tú-lơ-khơ, xếp hình với phần thưởng là một ảnh “nuy” hay nhân vật cởi dần quần áo đã xưa rồi, không ai chơi nữa. Giờ phải chơi game nhập vai 3D mới hot”, N.V.V - một game thủ nghiền sex game bộc bạch.

Bật chiếc máy tính của mình, V như một hướng dẫn viên giới thiệu tỉ mỉ thứ “hàng độc” mà cậu có. Đầu tiên là P, một trò quan hệ tình dục trắng trợn. “Mình nhập vai là một nhân vật nam sống trong thế giới xa hoa, phải tạo lập các mối quan hệ, tổ chức những buổi tiệc, trò chơi và cả làm việc như phỏng vấn các người mẫu. Từ các mối quan hệ trên mình chọn đối tượng nữ để tán tỉnh, dụ dỗ, khi đã thành công sẽ có thành quả”, V thích thú giải thích.

Sau khoảng mười phút say sưa chơi, nhân vật nam mà V nhập vai đã có được người tình ảo - một cô người mẫu tóc vàng. Cái gọi là thành quả bây giờ đã lộ rõ, đó là màn quan hệ phòng the giữa hai nhân vật. Những cảnh “nóng” giữa hai nhân vật ảo không khác gì một phim sex. V ngoảnh lại nhìn tôi bảo: “Game này chưa "mần" gì. Phải chơi trò B thì mới cảm thấy… ”. Vừa nói xong, V chóng vánh dùng con chuột bật trên màn hình desktop một biểu tượng xanh: “Trò B gồm 6 nhân vật: một nam và năm nữ. Nhân vật nam phải kín đáo theo dõi từng nhân vật nữ và kết thúc là màn hãm hiếp ở những nơi vắng người”, V hỉ hả.

Tôi hỏi nguồn để có những trò game này, V cười: “Dễ như mua đĩa ca nhạc, hàng loạt địa chỉ trên mạng chỉ cần pm (nhắn tin), gọi điện cái là ok hoặc ra ngay phố L.T.N (Hà Nội), đĩa gì cũng có”.

Đến phiên chợ mạng sôi động


Những đĩa sex game với những hình minh hoạ “nóng” được bày bán công khai.

Theo lời hướng dẫn của V, tôi vào mục “Hentai Babes” trên trang web www.m... Đúng như lời V miêu tả, đó là một phiên chợ tấp nập đông vui. Liên tục những lời rao mua bán đĩa sex game của những game thủ. “Mình có nhiều đĩa Game: S, R, B giá là 10K/1 đĩa CD, 25K/1đĩa DVD, mình ở Hà Nội, liên lạc qua…”, “Ở Cần Thơ có ai bán đĩa không?”, “Ở Đà Nẵng có ai bán đĩa không?”… “Mua số lượng nhiều được giảm giá”, “Mua 5 game được khuyến mãi một game do khách tự chọn”…

Cách thức mua bán, vận chuyển cũng công khai: “Tôi ở Hải Phòng, không lên được Hà Nội bạn chuyển đĩa theo xe Hoàng Long giúp, tôi sẽ trả thêm tiền vận chuyển”.

“Mua bán kiểu cổ truyền là nhắn tin yahoo, gọi điện thoả thuận sau đó chọn địa điểm giao hàng. Pờ-rô (chuyên nghiệp) hơn là anh có thể thanh toán bằng thẻ, tiền chuyển khoản trên mạng, nó gửi cho mình link và pass để load cách này thì an toàn hơn, nhưng cũng có rủi ro, có thể bị lừa mất tiền, cách này phải biết những địa chỉ uy tín hoặc qua giới thiệu”, V cho biết.

Chỉ cho tôi 3 nickname có uy tín nhất: kill_2easy4…, w2y_n…, hoajang… và kèm theo số điện thoại. “Hai thằng kia chỉ là "chợ phiên" thôi, còn thằng w2y_n là "chợ ngày"”, V nói. Thấy vẻ mặt thắc mắc của tôi, V cho biết: “Hai từ tiếng lóng của dân mua bán sex game trên mạng, "chợ phiên" là nickname bán đĩa online vào những giờ nhất định trong ngày, còn "chợ ngày" thì online 24/24”.

Nhấc máy điện thoại, tôi gọi cho w2y_n, một giọng khàn khàn bên đầu dây kia. Thoả thuận mua bán diễn ra một các chóng vánh, địa điểm giao đĩa được ấn định tại một quán cafe trên đường Nguyễn Khánh Toàn.

Tôi đến trước giờ hẹn 10 phút, nhưng đợi đến 25 phút sau vẫn không thấy ai. Lúc tôi đang gọi điện lại w2y_n thì người con trai ngồi bàn phía đối diện tiến lại. Anh này hỏi tôi dè dặt: “Anh có phải là người gọi điện hẹn mua đĩa không?”. Người bán đĩa trẻ hơn nhiều so với tưởng tượng của tôi, chừng 20 tuổi, người gầy còm và cặp mắt thâm quầng. w2y_n thanh minh với tôi: “Anh đợi hơi lâu một tí cũng đừng trách, em cũng phải soi xem có phải cá vàng không?” Lúc này tôi mới hiểu, vì sao người ngồi đối diện hay nhìn mình nhưng lại lảng tránh mỗi khi tôi nhìn sang.

“Anh nói sớm là V giới thiệu em đưa hàng tận nhà, tất nhiên cộng thêm ít tiền xăng”. Tôi ngỏ ý muốn mua đĩa với số lượng nhiều, w2y_n cho biết, "muốn bao nhiêu cũng có, giá mềm hơn nữa”.

Giao đĩa cho tôi, w2y_n dặn nếu cài đặt có vấn đề gì thì cứ liên lạc qua địa chỉ yahoo sẽ được hỗ trợ.

Theo cách thứ hai của V, tôi liên hệ với nickname kill_2easy4 mua 2 trò game trị giá 45.000 đồng. “Thanh toán bằng tiền chuyển khoản hoặc một thẻ nạp tiền điện thoại của mạng Viettel mệnh giá 50.000 đồng, anh chọn cách nào cũng được, phần lẻ thì đợt sau mua em trừ cho, anh không thiệt đâu”, kill_2easy4 nói. Sau khi nhắn cho kill_2easy4 mã số nạp thẻ mất ba mươi phút tôi down xong hai trò game về máy. Vụ mua bán hoàn tất.

"Nóng rẫy" phố bán đĩa sex game...


Một buổi tiệc tùng thác loạn trong thế giới ảo sex game.

Đi cùng với Ng - cũng là một tín đồ của sex game, chúng tôi đến phố L.T.N (Hà Nội). “Phim sex thì tới chợ Hoà Bình, còn game sex thì phố này là nhất", Ng nói.

Chúng tôi dừng xe tại một quán bán đĩa cuối phố. Vừa nhìn thấy Ng, chủ cửa hàng đon đả cười và gạ gẫm: “Dạo này có mối khác rồi hay sao mà nửa tháng nay không qua lấy hàng”. “Mối lái gì, chẳng qua là không có đĩa mới thôi. Ông anh làm đĩa chậm thế này thì mất hết khách đấy. Hôm nay có cái gì mới không?”, Ng tiếp lời.

“Có đĩa mới đây”, chủ hàng vừa nói vừa mở tủ đĩa lấy ra 6 chiếc đĩa CD. Đưa đĩa cho Ng xong, người đàn ông bán đĩa ghé lại gần chúng tôi, hạ giọng: “Hai trò mới nhất của Nhật đấy. Anh mới lấy được bốn bản, bán ba rồi còn bản duy nhất đấy, chú ra muộn tí nữa là không còn đâu”. Sáu chiếc đĩa CD mỗi cái giá 7.000 đồng, nhưng do Ng là khách quen nên người bán hàng chỉ lấy 40.000 đồng.

Ngày hôm sau, tôi trở lại phố L.T.N một mình và vào ngay hàng bán đĩa ở đầu phố. Mở list game (bảng danh sách), các trò sex game được xếp phía cuối xen kẽ trong những game hành động, chiến thuật. Các trò game này đều được chú thích thể loại: game hay, game hay không thể bỏ qua. Tôi chọn 3 trò: B, T và 7sins. Cô chủ quán đã hiểu tôi vào tìm mua loại game gì liền tư vấn: “7sins là trò game quản lý thông thường thôi nhé, không như hai loại kia đâu đấy”.

Cửa hàng thứ hai tôi vào nằm ở giữa phố. Chủ quán là người đàn ông trung niên, da ngăm đen. “Có Hen... game không anh?”, tôi hỏi. Ông chủ cửa hàng đưa mắt nhìn tôi dò xét: “Chú em mua đĩa gì?”, “Anh cho em xem những đĩa game mới nhất đi”. Chủ cửa hàng lấy list game trong ngăn kéo bàn đưa cho tôi: “Những trò ở cuối là mới nhất đấy chú chọn đi”. Toàn bộ hơn 100 game trong tập list mà người chủ cửa hàng đưa cho tôi xem đều là sex game. Xem qua một lượt tôi phàn nàn “toàn trò em chơi cả rồi”. “Chú đợi anh một tý”, nói rồi chủ quán đi vào gian buồng phía trong cửa hàng. Khoảng hai phút sau, chủ quán đi ra cầm mấy chiếc đĩa CD dúi vào tay tôi thì thầm “vừa hoạt hình vừa người thật, của hiếm lắm đấy”.

Hai cậu học sinh cấp ba còn mặc nguyên đồng phục đi trên chiếc xe SH bước vào cửa hàng. Không nói gì, chủ quán đi vào buồng trong lấy ra gần chục chiếc đĩa CD “mấy trò mới nhất đây, anh này cũng vừa mua xong” vừa nói chủ quán vừa hất mặt về phía tôi. “Đừng có là 2D như lần trước đấy, mua về rồi chẳng bõ bực mình”... “Yên tâm đi từ giờ trở đi anh sẽ chỉ lấy đĩa 3D thôi” (2D là kĩ thuật hình ảnh 2 chiều còn 3D là sử dụng không gian 3 chiều). Hai học sinh mua bán xong, phóng xe vụt mất về phía cuối đường...

Thua vì không tôn trọng... chính mình!

Không kìm nổi nỗi thất vọng, tức giận, thậm chí hoài nghi, một lượng thư lớn nhất từ khi Olympic VN bắt đầu chiến dịch SEA Games đã dồn dập "đổ" về Thể Thao VietNamNet sau trận thua tủi hổ của thầy trò ông Riedl trước Singapore...
Nếu thời gian trước giờ bóng lăn, niềm tin của người hâm mộ lên cao bao nhiêu, thì chỉ cách sau đó... 1 trận đấu, tất cả đã thay đổi. Thất vọng nối tiếp thất vọng. Những lời trách cứ, và cả chỉ trích nặng nề đã được bạn đọc khắp nơi "dành tặng" Olympic VN.

Quả thật, đây là điều cũng khó tránh khỏi, dù vẫn biết trong bóng đá hay bất cứ cuộc tranh tài nào, thắng thua là chuyện bình thường...

Đáng khích lệ, dù không thể vui nổi với cách chơi của Olymic VN thì vẫn còn đó sự bao dung, niềm tin và lời khẳng định, dù thế nào cũng ủng hộ ĐTVN!

Không thể thất vọng hơn

Thư của bạn Bùi Ngọc Diệp (NgocDiepBui79@Yahoo.com) với một tâm trạng đầy bức xúc: "Thật không hiểu nổi với từng ấy cầu thủ, đá rất nhiều giải trong năm mà đá như thế. Ngồi xem mà tức, chắc có tiêu cực nữa rồi. Mặc dù trận cuối găp Lào thì 100% là vào vòng trong, nhưng đá thế khó mà vô địch được. Nhìn các cầu thủ Malaysia và Singapore quá non nớt mà đá thế thì khó coi quá. Nếu có thêm ý kiến thì nhiều lắm...".

Nguyễn Viết Xuân (Thanh Hóa, nhantimdongdoi@yahoo.com) gay gắt hơn: "Đá như vậy thật đáng xấu hổ, làm bẽ mặt người Việt Nam. Thế mà cũng tập huấn, cũng cọ xát, nhưng chẳng tiến bộ là bao".

Phạm Việt Tiệp (Nam Định, phamviettiep@gmail.com) lo ngại: "Thật đáng thất vọng cho đội tuyển Việt Nam của chúng ta, đã không tự quyết định số phận của mình khi mà khả năng găp Thái Lan ở bán kết là rất lớn. Và như vậy người hâm mộ chúng ta sẽ lại phải chịu "nhục" trước người Thái nếu chúng ta cứ chơi như gặp Singapore. Mà cũng có thể, chúng ta thậm không vào được bán kết...".

manhha0723@yahoo.com dường như vẫn chưa thể tin đó là sự thật: "Một trận đấu mà có đến 2 bàn phản lưới nhà, chơi hơn người để thua thêm bàn thứ 3, cộng thêm 1 thẻ đỏ trực tiếp của Tấn Tài thì còn nhận xét gì khác ngoài 2 chữ KHÓ HIỂU. Có lẽ bóng đá VN cần thêm thời gian để khằng định tính chuyên nghiệp của mình cũng như làm hài lòng CĐV...".

Đó cũng là tâm trạng của bạn Hoàng Tiến Dũng (hoangtiendung@quangtri.gov.vn): "Thật không có gì buồn hơn. Tôi ngồi trước màn hình xem trận U-23 VN và U-23 Singapore mà không thể nghĩ đó là đội bóng Việt Nam đang thi đấu. Tôi thực sự không hiểu nổi điều gì đã xảy ra. Chẳng lẽ bán độ nữa ư. Chắc là không nhưng sao hàng thủ chơi nghiệp dư thế.

60 phút U-23 VN hơn người cũng chẳng thể hiện một mảng miếng chiến thuật nào cho ra hồn, kể cả pha bắn phá liên tục ở bàn thắng đầu tiên. Tôi có cảm giác U-23 VN vào trận chủ quan, bố trí đội hình không hợp lý, và đặc biệt là tư tưởng quyết thắng tan biến hoàn toàn.

Những gì thể hiện ở hiệp 2 như bố trí lại đội hình, chơi máu lửa hơn thì đã không kịp trở tay. Có thể nêu những lý do tồn tại trên từ chính Ban huấn luyện: Bố trí sai đội hình, khi thấy bế tắc trong tấn công và lỏng lẻo trong phòng ngự thì không có khả năng ứng biến; lối chơi thiếu sáng tạo với bài đánh biên nghèo nàn và không hiệu quả; hay sử dụng bóng bổng và những đường chuyền dài … Theo tôi, nên thay HLV trưởng ngay sau giải này thì bóng đá VN mới tính chuyện thoát khỏi vùng trũng Đông Nam Á".

Đàm Bắc (TP.HCM, dtbac@yahoo.com) giọng không thể thất vọng hơn: "Thật bẽ mặt, thật bạc nhược, trận đấu không có hồn, mất lửa ngay từ đầu. Lý do là sự bảo thủ của ông thày Ried và ban huấn luyện đội U-23 VN, không khôn trong cách dùng người và không biết truyền lửa cho học trò".

Còn tadiaman893 (Hà Nội, tadiman@langdu.com) "thắc mắc": "Không thể hiểu nổi họ làm gì trên sân lúc đó. Cảm giác của tôi về trận thua này có cái gì đó không bình thường. Nó như một sự sắp đặt có chủ ý. Có thể sự chủ ý đó không nhằm vào việc cá độ mà nhằm vào việc phần thưởng dành cho các cầu thủ. Phải chăng có sự mờ ám nào đó giữa các cầu thủ và ban lãnh đạo khiến cho các cầu thủ chơi bóng một cách hời hợt, vô trách nhiệm và bày tỏ ý kiến của mình bằng một lối chơi như thế?".

Lê Tấn Dũng (myshybutlovelybrother@yahoo.com) giọng đầy chua chát: "Một màn kịch hay của những diễn viên tài năng!!! Tôi không tin đây chỉ là một tai nạn!".

Cảnh báo

Ngô Minh KỲ (TP.HCM, ngominhkytcv_tk@yahoo.com) nhìn nhận: "Chỉ qua 2 trận đấu vòng bảng đã cho thấy U-23 VN không phải là một đội mạnh như chúng ta tưởng... Hãy quên đi tấm huy chương vàng ....Chúng ta ko đủ năng lực để mơ xa vậy đâu!

Xem Thái Lan hay ít ra là Myanmar đi, hãy thử so sánh đi. Ta không phải là đối thủ của họ. Lối chơi bạc nhược, tư duy chiến thuật kém, và cũng chẳng có chiến thuật nào sắc bén cả (chỉ biết tập trung 2 cánh mà nhất là cánh phải). Sau trận đấu này có lẽ người Thái sẽ có cái nhìn khác về chúng ta. - 1 ứng cử viên vô địch. Chúng tôi quá thất vọng U-23 VN ạ!".

Nguyễn Quốc Hưng (Hà Nội, qhung78@gmail.com): "U-23 Việt Nam thua là bình thường và có thể thấy trước. Ngay cả trận thắng trước Malaysia tôi cũng thấy thất vọng vì lối chơi thiếu thuyết phục của đội tuyển. Đội tuyển dựa quá nhiều vào Công Vinh trong khi hàng tiền vệ và hàng thủ đá ở phong độ rất kém, thiếu lửa. Phan Thanh Bình mặc dù ghi bàn trong trận này nhưng phong độ của anh thực sự thiếu thuyết phục".

Bùi Hoàng Phương (TP.HCM, khongconaiiiii@yahoo.com) nói: "Mọi thứ chiều nay đều yếu. Hàng hậu vệ chỉ đáng hạng Phường, hàng công bế tắc, HLV đọc trận đấu quá chậm. Thái độ thi đấu hờ hững đến bất ngờ. Đó là tất cả những gì riêng tôi nhận thấy ở đội Olympic VN trong chiều hôm nay".

Nguyễn Hồng Thanh (Tiền Giang, nguyenhongthanh@tiengiang.gov.vn) tỏ ra hết sức tiếc nuối: "Trong bóng đá thắng- thua là chuyện bình thường nhưng thua như trong trận gặp Singapore thì thật đáng buồn. Còn đâu lối chơi rực lửa của ĐTVN. Đây là hậu quả của việc chủ quan, coi thường đối thủ... và 1 chiến thuật tồi...".

Huỳnh Tấn Huy (Bình Chánh, huy.panel@gmail.com) nhắn nhủ: "Một đội hình không có gì xuất sắc mà lại tự nâng mình lên quá mức như thế, chưa ra trận thì đã như nắm lấy huy chương vàng vậy. Người VN phải biết tự trọng một tí. Tự kiêu không ích gì, làm trò cười cho thiên hạ thôi".

Lê Văn Phi (Q5, phi_levan@ueh.edu.vn): "Chủ quan, khinh thường đối phương thì chỉ thất bại. Thật vậy, cứ mỗi lần, nếu ta coi trọng đối phương, không chủ quan (trận VN-Malaysia) thì thắng. Còn nếu coi thường đối phương thì thua vỡ mặt (trước Singapore). May mà trọng tài còn tặng thêm cho quả phạt đền! Mong rằng các cầu thủ và BHL hãy rút lấy bài học này, đừng bao giờ coi thường đấu thủ (trận gặp Lào)...".

Hồng Việt (Hà Nội, Milanviet@yahoo.com.vn): "Từ thiên đường rơi xuống địa ngục. Có thể nói như vậy về đội U-23 VN sau trận thua bẽ mặt trước U23 Singapore chiều hôm nay. Trước trận đấu dù là người bi quan nhất thì cũng không ai có thể tưởng tượng nổi một trận đấu tệ hại đến như vậy của U-23 VN.

Trước khi trận đấu diễn ra, người hâm mộ cũng như các chuyên gia đều lạc quan tin tưởng U-23 VN sẽ giành chiến thắng dù đội Singapore luôn là đối thủ khó chơi với đội VN. Trong trận đấu này hàng thủ U-23 VN chơi vô cùng tệ hại, biếu không cho đối thủ 2 bàn thắng chỉ trong vòng 24 phút.

Dù cơ hội đi tiếp của chúng ta vẫn còn nhưng có lẽ tất cả người hâm mộ không thể nuốt trôi thất bại thảm hại này. BHL và toàn đội U-23 VN cần nghiêm túc mổ xẻ nguyên nhân thất bại và có những điều chỉnh kịp thời nếu không giấc mơ vàng sẽ chỉ còn là một điều xa xỉ chẳng bao giờ thành hiện thực".

Và còn đó niềm tin...

Hoàng Minh (Vũng Tàu, minhtdh_vt@yahoo.com) dù thất vọng nhưng vẫn tỏ vẻ thông cảm: "Không hiểu chúng ta có thể ngồi yên trước trận thua này không? Không còn quyền tự quyết, tự chọn đội ở bán kết như BHL đã nói trước giải. Quá chán nhưng vẫn còn cơ hội sửa sai. Hi vọng trận tới chúng ta không biếu đội bạn những bàn thắng như vậy nữa".

Vi (Trà Vinh, titiyoung@yahoo.com)... dọa nhưng vẫn cho thấy sẽ sát cánh cùng ĐT: "Hàng thủ của Olympic VN đã thi đấu quá tồi. Đáng lẽ phải để Xuân Hợp đá từ đầu chứ. Bởi từ lâu, cặp trung vệ Long Giang - Xuân Hợp chơi khá tốt dù không ổn định cho lắm nhưng vẫn còn hay hơn buổi chiều hôm nay. Còn Việt Cường cứ để đá hậu vệ cánh thay Quang Thanh thì hay hơn. Trận thua hồi chiều thật bẽ mặt.

Em không ngờ lại thua theo cách như vậy. Nó giống như bán độ vậy đó. Thật thất vọng phải không? Nếu như ở trận cuối cùng mà thi đấu như trận này thì em sẽ không xem U-23 VN đá nữa đâu, trừ khi nào vào chung kết thì mới coi".

Phan Phú phương (Quảng Nam, huy2809@yahoo.com) bày tỏ: "Là cổ động viên, tôi rất buồn với thất bại ngoài suy nghĩ của tôi cũng như nhiều người hâm mộ Việt nam trong trận chiều nay của đội bóng đá của chúng ta. Theo tôi, ban huấn luyện cần rúy kinh nghiệm sâu sắc, không nên cứng nhắc, chủ quan, áp đặt ý chí, coi thường đối thủ. Chúng ta còn nhiều cơ hội để vào vòng trong, chúc đội tuyển thành công".

Mã Hoàng Hải (Hà Nội, haimh.oss@gmail.com) thì nói: "Cá nhân tôi không quá thất vọng về tinh thần thi đấu của các cầu thủ. Họ như những người đã phần nào tê liệt sau những bàn thua (mang tính tai nạn). Sự thất vọng đến với tôi ở giai đoạn sau của trận đấu khi nhìn thấy cách BHL và cầu thủ Việt Nam gượng lại sau tai nạn. “Khâm phục nhất của đời người là đứng dậy sau khi ngã.” Xin gửi tới các cầu thủ Việt Nam lời chúc tốt lành nhất, các bạn hãy đứng lên sau cú ngã đầy đau đớn".

Thành Công (Hà Đông, thanhcong1114@yahoo.com): "Hàng phòng ngự của Việt Nam cần chơi thật quyết liệt và dứt khoát hơn. Nếu không kể cả khi gặp U-23 lào chúng ta cũng khó lòng giữ sạch lưới. Nếu không ổn định được tâm lý và lấy lại sự tự tin thì giấc mơ vàng sẽ vẫn là .... giấc mơ mà thôi!!! Tôi vẫn luôn hy vọng các bạn sẽ tìm lại được chính mình! Chúc đội tuyển U-23 chiến thắng".

Vũ Thế Huy (Hải Phòng, eye_cat_9999999@yaoom.com): "Hôm nay chỉ là một hôm gió lạnh về bất ngờ thui. Trong bóng đá thắng thua là chuyện bình thường mà. Hôm qua họ có thể là niềm tin hy vọng của mọi người thì mai họ có thể làm ta thất vọng. Như thế mới là con người chứ. Hãy để niềm tin của người hâm mộ được thử thách chứ.

Tôi tin Việt Nam sẽ tiến vào vòng sau và còn phải chiến thắng Thái Lan để lần đầu tiên vô đich. Tôi tin điểu đó. Nhưng dẫu điều đó không thành sự thật thì niềm tin với đội tuyển của tôi vẫn còn nguyên vẹn. Niềm tin sẽ được đền đáp...".

Thể Thao VietNamNet

xemchoi

Northern, central regions deluged

VietNamNet Bridge – Since typhoon Lekima, some of the biggest floods in the past 45 years have submerged thousands of houses in many central and northern provinces like Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Hoa Binh, Son La, Ninh Binh, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Dien Bien, and Lai Chau. Here are photos about these historical floods.

HPAIR - Welcome to Vietnam

Vietnamese beauties falling behind on international stage

VietNamNet Bridge – As Vietnam is likely the host of Miss Universe 2008, attention is being directed towards beauty pageants and queens and one problem stands out: domestic beauties haven’t been successful in the international arena.

To many who are interested in Vietnamese beauty queens, the question is – why?

Why is it that most candidates from Vietnam have returned from such large-scale contests as Miss World or Miss Universe with only very modest prizes valued chiefly for their “cultural friendship” meanings?

Indeed, in 2004, Miss Vietnam Nguyen Thi Huyen ranked among the top 15 of Miss World. And Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy also went as far as the top 17 at the same pageant. These are the highest achievements so far for Vietnam though every year, she sees off about 10 candidates to represent her at international beauty contests with many expectations.

According to Thanh Chung, Vice President of Tien Phong, who has many times accompanied Vietnamese beauty queens to international contests, two major reasons explaining Vietnamese beauty queens’ unimpressive records are language barriers and difficulties in mingling with others and showing their best qualities.

Though the culture ministry does require Vietnamese representatives to be “fluent” in at least one foreign language most of them only know enough to introduce themselves and their country in a simple and mechanical way, falling behind other international beauties during sideline activities and exchanges when confident communication is essential.

There have been instances of Vietnamese candidates skipping activities for fear they would be unable to give adequate answers to questions in English. Critics have pointed out other shortcomings, including unoriginal performances in talent and gown contests.

For instance, traditional music and dance have been resorted to too frequently and when it comes to choosing a dress to show off the best of their bodies, most Vietnamese beauties automatically wear ao dai (traditional dress) or ao dai-style gowns.

At Miss World 2006, there was great hope for 18-year-old Mai Phuong Thuy, who can speak English like a “native” and is 1.79 m in height. Yet, she appeared on the two most important nights of the contest in a heavy-looking black velvet ao dai and an ao dai-style dress, which rather hid than highlighted her attractive curves.

Originality, on the contrary, seems to be more conducive to victory. At Miss Earth 2006, Vu Nguyen Ha Anh boldly struck out on a different path by wearing a dazzling and sexy ensemble, playing the piano and singing Colours of the Wind and ended up being first runner for the Miss Talent title.

Considering that Vietnam has been holding around 10 beauty pageants every year, she seems to be quite interested in promoting beauty pageants and beauty queens. Yet, according to critics, her beauties need to think outside the box, so to speak, in order to impress the world.

(Source: Phu Nu)

What a the general to be About UI Java

UI((User Interface) is the limiter wide to mention the dealing kinds be between the programs and the user. The UI who isn't mere ones that the user see, that include both ones the user hear and the inducing receive. Right a whole speed yet reprimanded partly essential reason word for UI be in a program
Introduce GUI
This is a more favorite UI with respect to Java most of the programs
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The Application will play acoustical that the Applications differ is impossible
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What a assignable user to inform the configuration up to the Application by the usage command-line arguments and parameters
User's the preference degree archive by use the attributes. With respect to the info's that the Application need to even as the Application who do not run, you is employable the attributes. What a the parasite (applet) Applications to who often can' t write the attributes to give the the various to the system file What a the clannishness to be for the restrictions about info secrecy.
Receive and display leader-in info, the output and them is take streams
Still existing inform the oil yet enterred, the output and fiducial mistakes be a way be older with respect to a user interfaces. It is still useful for check and debug the programs.
a.The components is Of AWT
The controls is basic:Buttons, Checkboxes, Choices, Lists, Menus, and Text Fields
Class of Button, Checkbox, Choice, List, MenuItem, and TextField basic provide the control tools. Here be mosts generalised the varios for the user build a Java program.When one of the control the activating user is upper, such the example as When click mices enter the one-touch or When keystroke be in a Text boxs then will it notify a event (ACTION_EVENT). A recipient object what a those the control to can answer event shell out by use the method action()
Other the tools be to takes out user' leader-in info:Sliders, Scrollbars, and Text Areas
When the controls is no longer likely basic, you is employable the classes scrollbar và TextArea To user dose ill-meant backing up yet input.Class Scrollbar is use for both of the function: the rod yet scrolled through and the subtree trược. Nil những cuộn To automatically the inbuilt Lists, Text Areas and in the ScrollPane objects.
Only simple TextArea Class provides the region to who display or enable the careenage a several text stream(to be continues)

Only 50-60% of Vietnamese brides happy in Korea

VietNamNet Bridge – Consecutively reported cases on Vietnamese brides who were maltreated in the Republic of Korea (RoK) has stirred up the public in Vietnam and the RoK. Vietnam Women’s Union senior official, Cao Hong Van, talked about the situation and solutions for this matter.

Why have many family violence cases in the RoK with Vietnamese women as victims happened? Is there any statistic about family happiness of Vietnamese brides there?


According to the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK, around 60% of Vietnamese brides in the RoK are happy. The figure, according to Korean agencies, is 50% only. The remaining Vietnamese women have unstable lives, face economic difficulties and are maltreated by their husbands.

I think one of the reasons causing difficulties of some Vietnamese women who get married to foreigners, including Korean men, is the two sides don’t know each other. The bridegrooms meet the brides at match-making centres and they accept their marriages without love, without communication, without understanding of culture and lifestyle of each others.


We have met brides who are beaten by their husbands and they didn’t know why they were beaten. The nature of marriages of this kind is a matter of luck.

What has the Vietnam Women’s Union done to diminish risks for Vietnamese girls who want to get married to foreigners?

According to statistics from 2005, around 32,000 Vietnamese women married foreigners, mainly Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese, from 2003-2005. At present, around 15,000 to 17,000 Vietnamese brides are living in the RoK.


We have requested that local women’s union branches establish legal assistance centres to help girls who want to get married to foreigners. The first centre of this kind was set up in HCM City in 2003. Those centres are facing some difficulties like lacking personnel and money.

The people who work as advisors on marriages with foreigners at those centres must at least have knowledge about the law and culture of the related countries but many staffs at those centres don’t know about those things.


We have worked with the Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family about solutions for maltreatment of Vietnamese brides in the RoK. We have also worked with the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK to solve cases related to Vietnamese brides there.

For example, in the case of Huynh Mai, we asked the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK to require the Korean side to investigate and sentence the Korean man who beat his wife to death.

In the past three years, Vietnamese girls have turned from marrying Taiwanese to Korean men. The rate of risk has also increased. Is it true that too little assistance activities make them not have enough information before deciding to marry foreigners?
Le Thi Kim Dong death:



According to Vietnamese Minister Counsellor to the RoK Pham Huu Chi, the body of Kim Dong was cremated. When her ashes will return to Vietnam depends on the negotiation between the two families and ‘this issue is so sensitive’.

Mr. Chi said that if the death of Kim Dong was proved as a murder like the case of Huynh Mai, the Vietnamese Embassy to the RoK can ask the Korean government to compensate. However, there is not enough evidence to prove the death of Kim Dong was a murder.

The Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK has asked Korean police to continue investigation to define the reason of Kim Dong’s death.

Mr. Chi regrets that like Huynh Mai, Kim Dong didn’t make contact to the embassy to ask for assistance when she was maltreated.

There is a fact that we have opened assistance centres but not many girls come to those centres. It is because match-making agencies work very hard. RoK has around 1,500 match-making companies and they come to Vietnam to seek Vietnamese girls. They work fast because of huge profit. Normally, bridegroom’s families often pay $10,000-$15,000/wedding and match-making companies obtain half of this.

In Hai Phong city, the trend of getting married Korean men is developing. Each month nearly 200 girls come to the local assistance centre for consulting service. Some girls receive less than VND1 million ($60) for the ceremony and cheap wedding rings. However, they are still very determined to get married to foreigners. I think the major reason is still economics. They want to change their lives.


The Vietnam Women’s Union on August 10 signed a $3.5 million project with a Korean partner to assist Vietnamese girls who want to marry Korean men. What are the main goals of this project and do you think that it is late to begin assisting girls?

This project will last for five years, aiming to provide knowledge and information for girls who want to or are about to marry Korean men. We will work with the Vietnamese Women’s Cultural Centre in the RoK to assist Vietnamese brides. The Korean side will collect information about Korean bridegrooms while the Vietnamese side will seek information about the Vietnamese brides to exchange to each other.

Some short-term courses will be held, firstly for Vietnamese girls who will marry Korean men, and then for women who will get married to men of other nationalities.

They will be instructed in how to communicate and behave when they live with their husbands and their husbands’ families, how to use family appliances, how to cook popular cuisines in the RoK, Korean customs and habits, the Korean law on marriage and family, and the addresses that they can call if they see any problem.

We will give priority to provinces where many girls get married to foreigners like in the Mekong Delta. Those assistance activities are not early but not too late.

Have we made any survey about foreign bridegrooms to provide for girls who want to marry foreigners to help them avoid having illusions?



Korean bridegrooms are mainly farmers. I know that gender selection also exists in the RoK so the number of men is more than women. Moreover, Korean girls tend to go to urban areas so it is difficult for rural men to seek wives. The number of single men of 30-50 years old is high and getting married to foreign girls is a real demand. However, information about bridegrooms is often wrong when it comes to Vietnamese girls.



(Source: Tuoi Tre Online)

Foreign investors eye lucrative retail market

VietNamNet Bridge - More foreign investors are eyeing Vietnam’s retail market, which is becoming an increasingly attractive sector for manufacturers and distributors of foreign consumer products.



According to figures released by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) at a seminar last week, consumption expenditures in Vietnam in 2006 amounted to 581 trillion VND (36 billion USD), a year-on-year increase of 20.9 percent. The figure is expected to increase to 53 billion USD by 2010.

Last year, Vietnam reached a GDP growth of 8.2 percent, and now ranks second in Asia in economic growth rate.

The ranking of the 30 hottest retail markets among 185 countries nominated by the AT Kearney Consultant Group showed Vietnam ranked fourth with a General Retail Development Index (GRDI) 2007 of 74 points. India (92 points) was first, followed by Russia (89 points) and China (86 points).

To observe its commitments to the WTO, Vietnam plans to open its gates to foreign retail companies and franchisers.

US companies will be allowed to form joint ventures with Vietnamese firms beginning January 1, 2009, setting up 100 percent foreign-owned companies with the right to import goods as well as manufacture domestically.

Because significant change to Vietnam’s retailing system is expected, the time is right for foreign retail investors to enter the market and increase market share, according to seminar participants.

“The cake is huge, yet the competition is getting much harder. Hopefully for the coming years, advanced management techniques will gradually be applied widely to improve local companies’ effectiveness and competitiveness against foreign retail companies,” said Tran Van Bach of the Ho Chi Minh City Economics Institute.

The topic of the seminar, held by the VCCI in coordination with BLogic Systems Vietnam Co., was Golden Solutions to the Development of Vietnam’s Retail Industry.

The seminar’s aim was to inform local businesspeople of the latest news on sales management techniques and business trends. The seminar also introduced viPOS technology for retail business management.

(Source: VNA)

Dream on river

VietNamNet Bridge – Many children in the southwestern region whose houses are boats have to quit school early because of many difficulties; but many parents are also trying to send their children to school because, as an illiterate boat trader at the Ca Mau floating market said: “We will finally get old, our boat will break down, perhaps only knowledge will be with our children as assets.”



Childhood drifts with tide



Several years ago, Tran Van Lam, 12, went to Nguyen Binh Khiem school in Long Xuyen but he had to quit school because his father, an on-river trader, died. His mother got married again and two of his brothers left their boat-house for the shore to work as masons. The boy had to sell lottery tickets on the boat at Long Xuyen floating market to earn his living.



“Seeing others going to school, I also want to but if I went to school I would not have rice to eat. I have to sell at least 50 tickets each day to have rice to eat,” the boy said.



He said that if he saved enough money, he would buy a bigger boat to follow his father’s job, an on-river trader.



At the Ca Mau floating market, an on-river trader Nguyen Hung Hau named his children Tien (money) and Vang (gold) and is determined to send them to school to change their lives.



However, the girl named Vang could only study to the third grade and returned to her boat-house to do housework and sell small things with her mother. Her elder brother named Tien tried to study four more years but finally, he returned to his boat-house after finishing the seventh grade.



Day bay day, these children only work, sleep, work and sleep, without newspapers, books or television or any tool of entertainment.



“I don’t know whether we will get rich in the future but now I grieve for lack of study,” said Vang.



There are some cases of illiteracy not because of difficult circumstances but children and their parents accept it.



An on-river trader named Le Thi Thuy in Giong Rieng, Kien Giang Province, said: “In my old time, my parents floated on the boat and I stayed on the shore to go to school. It was very sad to live alone on shore so I quit school when I was a seventh grader to live on the boat with my parents. My children are the same now.”



Her son, Nguyen Dinh Thuong, is now an efficient assistant for his parent on a boat which can carry 24 tonnes of fruit. The family thinks that Thuong will follow his parent’s job when they are old.



I will study to the 18th grade



Through the Tien River, Hau River, Vinh Te River, Cai San and to Vam Co Dong and Vam Co Tay River, everywhere we met illiterate children on boats. However, some of them surmounted their difficult circumstances to go to school.



We met two small girls who were swimming in Ta Danh River, in Tri Ton district, An Giang district on a late afternoon. A dry coconut seller told us that they were children of an on-river trader and studied very well.



We were very surprised to see many books and newspapers on those children’s boat. Nguyen To Na Vy (13) and Nguyen To Tuong Vy (6) love studying and reading more than other things. Each time they leave their schools, they go to the library of their commune to borrow books.



Na Vy wrote a poem and sent it to the local radio and this poem was read on the local radio. Na Vy’s younger sister, Tuong Vy said: “The ‘Dream’ poem of my sister was spoken on the public radio. I will study till the 18th grade.”



While their parents float on their boat-house, Na Vy and Tuong Vy temporarily stay in a tent located near the river bank to go to school. This year Na Vy enters the 9th grade class while Tuong Vy, 2nd class.



“We will try our best to support their studies,” said Tu Lai, the children’s mother.



At the Long Xuyen floating market, Tran Van Diep, a disabled man, everyday rows a boat to sell lottery tickets to on-river traders. No land, no money, no literacy, Diep’s family is living in extreme difficulties but he still encourages his children to go to school.



“I’m illiterate so you have to try to study to compensate for my lackings,” he told his children.



Loving their parents, Diep’s three children are trying to work to help their parents while going to school. The eldest daughter, Tran Thi Kim Xuyen, 16, works during the day to help her parents and attends class at night. Xuyen has finished the 9th grade class. Her sister and brother are studying at the Trinh Hoai Duc primary school, in the 5th and 3rd grade classes.



“Despite any difficulty, I will study to the 12th grade class and seek a job to assist my parents,” Xuyen said.



Among children of on-river traders in the southwestern region, perhaps Huynh Thi Thu Nga is the luckiest. She is now a third-year student at a university in HCM City. Apart from paying school fees of VND3.6 million per year, the Bay Xi couple bought a VND4.6 million computer for their daughter.



A kind-hearted family on shore permits Nga to connect her boat to their power grid so every night the girl can open her computer to do her drawing exercises.



“In this age, knowledge is very important so we have to strive to invest in my child,” Nga’s mother said.



(Source: Tuoi Tre)

Everlasting flower’ group of 10-year HIV carrier

VietNamNet Bridge – “Your baby has HIV!” Hanh couldn’t believe the news from the doctor. She thought she would collapse at the hospital.



Beautiful and young, Bui My Hanh, a girl in Van Don in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh, got married at the age of 20 (1998) with a simple dream: having a happy family with obedient, intelligent children.



But her daughter had many diseases after she was born. At the age of two, the baby was only 7kg in weight. The baby’s birthday was the start of many trips to hospitals by the mother and child. No hospital in Quang Ninh province could discover the reason for the diseases.



One day she took the child to the Vietnam-Sweden Hospital in Hanoi.



After looking at the symptoms, doctors took a blood sample from the child for testing. Holding the test result paper, the doctor asked Hanh: “Does your husband take drugs?” Hanh answered: “He used drugs in the past.” She heard the voice of the doctor from far, far away: “Your child has HIV.”



Hanh carried the child in her arms, arranged her luggage and ran away from the hospital. Her heart was stifled when she looked into the innocent eyes of her baby.



A short time later, Hanh’s husband and child were bedridden. Difficulties and hardship from taking care of her husband and baby couldn’t compare to the discrimination aimed at her small family.



“Her family has AIDS.” That news quickly diffused through the whole region. Everybody stayed away from Hanh as if HIV could infect them through the air.



Hanh’s tailoring shop had no customer because nobody dared to wear clothes made by an HIV carrier. Her husband got a temperature and sometimes he wanted a cool glass of water. Hanh bought ice and brought it to a neighbouring family asking them to keep the ice in their fridge, but they refused for fear of getting HIV from her.



Hanh’s husband and baby died in March and April 2001. Two coffins, one small, one big, were carried out of her house. Just several people attended the funerals. They went away leaving an empty house and a great pain.



The life was hell for Hanh at that moment. The great losses brought no reason for her to still live in this life. Many nights Hanh cried alone and thought of dying.



She would have done it if her mother didn’t tell her: “I delivered you healthy and normal like everybody. Because of your husband you have to suffer this circumstance. You should live to not waste your life. With each day of sadness, you lose a day.”



To live



Hanh tried to rise up and she regretted the one year in her life that she buried her life away in the darkness of pain. In that year, just the cry of babies pained her.



She thought to herself: “I’m innocent. People stay away from me because they don’t understand about HIV/AIDS. I discriminated against myself. HIV carriers must make the community change their awareness about HIV.”



Van Don at that time had more than 400 HIV carriers, a high number compared to the district’s population. Most HIV carriers hid themselves, fearing discrimination.



Hanh was one of the first HIV carriers who dared to say: “I’m an HIV carrier.” She has a female friend in the same situation. They came to each other on their hardest days. After that, some other HIV carriers came to them to make a group, not to cry for their fate but to fight against discrimination, which is sometimes more painful than AIDS.



Initially, Hanh’s group helped the families of HIV carriers to understand more about HIV/AIDS because even parents were afraid of getting HIV from their children through sitting at the same table or breathing the same air as the HIV-carrying children.



After that, the group went to ‘sensitive’ places like coach stations, inns, hotels to tell young people about the infection mechanism and how to avoid HIV.



From 2 to 6, from 6 to 131, those numbers have brought vitality to Hanh and members in her group, which is called “Everlasting flower” to encourage them to live usefully, not keeping themselves in the dark till they die.



The group’s activities have gradually become known to HIV/AIDS control organisations in the world. Hanh was invited to work for the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV (GIPA), a project implemented by the United Nation Volunteers (UNV), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Vietnam Women’s Union in four provinces and cities of Vietnam. Hanh has become a volunteer of the United Nations – a thing that she never dared to think possible.



With the name “Everlasting Flower”, Hanh’s group is a great family in which all members are siblings.



Once Hanh was walking on the street, a fruit-selling young woman ran after and asked her: “Did your husband lose weight before?” It turned out that the woman’s husband was in the final stage of AIDS. Since local people knew that, they didn’t buy fruit from this woman any more.



With no money to buy medicine for her husband, this woman experienced miserable days. Hanh went to her house to advise and assist her. Hanh didn’t need to talk much because her life was an example for the young woman to get back her belief in life.



“Everlasting Flower” sought a job for the young woman and she is now one of the most active members of this group. The family “Everlasting Flower” sometimes sees one of its members go away but they don’t die alone: their funerals are not deserted…



(Source: Tien Phong)

VNINDEX

Miss Vietnam 1998 to host Miss Vietnam SNG

VietNamnet Bridge – Miss Vietnam 1998 Ngoc Khanh has recently arrived in Kharkov, the Ukraine to get ready to be the MC for the final night of Miss Vietnam SNG to be held tomorrow evening, August 7.

Miss Vietnam SNG is part of the qualifying round of Miss Vietnam International that will take place from August 18 to September 2 at the Vinpearl Resort, Nha Trang city. The British and Western European leg’s final round will also be held in London on the evening of August 8.

Miss Vietnam Central Europe’s final will take place on August 11. The American leg has recently ended and in mid August the names of the domestic beauties that will represent Vietnam at Miss Vietnam International will be announced.

An estimated number of 60 contestants, 40 of whom come from abroad, will compete in the final round on the evening of September 2. The final night will also be hosted by Miss Vietnam Ngoc Khanh and broadcast live on VTV3.

(Source: Tuoi Tre)

10 best-selling tours in 2007 summer

VietNamNet Bridge – The number of travellers going on domestic tours has increased sharply by 30% this summer compared to last year, travel firms in HCM City have reported.

According to Saigontourist, the best-selling tours in 2007 summer are inter-route tours with two or three destinations. The 10 best-selling tours are: Phan Thiet – Nha Trang – Da Lat; Nha Trang – Da Lat; Saigon – Hue – Hanoi; premium travel Nha Trang – Vinpearl; Phan Thiet weekend; Hanoi – Ha Long – Tam Coc; southern waterways’ beauty; Da Lat – the city of love; Da Nang – Hue – Hoi An – Phong Nha; and Phu Quoc Island.
Meanwhile, the 10 ‘hottest’ tours, according to Fiditour, include the following: Nha Trang – Nha Phu bay; Nha Trang – Vinpearl; Con Dao (Con Dao Island); Phan Thiet – Ta Cu – Mui Ne; and Phu Quoc Island.
Tran Tuong Huy, Marketing Director of Fiditour, said that as the number of tourists had increased sharply this year, there were not enough hotel rooms for travellers in Phan Thiet, Nha Trang and Da Nang.
“If the hotels in the destination cities and provinces had provided more rooms, travel firms would have brought more travellers,” he said.
The Saigon – Hue – Hanoi tour, which allows one to go across the country in 8 days and 7 nights (return by air), has attracted many domestic travellers and Viet Kieu. Meanwhile, the tours on the route with many famous heritages, Da Nang – Hue – Hoi An – Phong Nha, have proved to attract many middle-aged travellers. Clients who want relax or rehabilitate are choosing tours to Nha Trang, Phan Thiet and Da Lat.

Moreover, travel firms have provided tours for relaxing at weekend (departures on Friday, Saturday and Sunday) with three destinations: Phan Thiet, My Tho and Ha Long Bay. The tour to Phan Thiet called “the colours of sand” is ranked among the 10 best-selling tours.
Among the tours to the north called “Thousand-year-old Thang Long”, the one with the itinerary Hanoi – Ha Long – Tam Coc has proved to be the most attractive. As for premium travel, travellers like trips to Nha Trang most.
Phan Thiet and Nha Trang have proven to be the two destinations that have attracted the most MICE tourists. According to Saigontourist, in June and July alone, 12 MICE groups came to Phan Thiet (4,200 travellers) and 7 groups to Nha Trang (1,100 travellers).
Nguyen Sa

Taliban claims second Korean killed

The Taliban says it has killed a second male South Korean hostage among a group of 23 Christian volunteers captured more than a week ago.

Al Jazeera received an exclusive video from outside Afghanistan showing some of the South Korean women hostages wearing headscarves, with fighters in the background.




Its authenticity as well as when and where it was made could not be verified.

Qari Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, told Reuters by phone on Monday: "We shot dead a male captive because the government did not listen to our demands."






The AFP agency quoted him as saying: "We set several deadlines and the Afghan government did not pay attention to our deadlines.

"Finally tonight at 8:30 we killed one of the Koreans named Sung Sin with AK-47 gunshots."

Video Link

Watch Al Jazeera's exclusive footage of Taliban's hostages


There was no independent confirmation of his death.

The body of the hostage had been dumped in the Qarabagh district of the southern province of Ghazni, Ahmadi said.

The area is where the South Koreans on an aid mission were abducted on July 19 while travelling on the highway between Kabul and Kandahar, about 140km south of the Afghan capital

Serious

The South Korean embassy in Afghanistan has refused to comment to the media on the case.

James Bays, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Afghanistan, said that while the Taliban had extended the deadline in the past, it was "serious this time".

He reported there was a build-up of security forces in the area near the main highway where the South Koreans were kidnapped.

The leader of the group, Bae Hyung-kyu, a 42-year-old pastor, was shot dead on Wednesday and his bullet-riddled body found in a desert area of the province.

Bae's body arrived in South Korea on Monday.

Al Jazeera's Melissa Chan reported from Seoul that the family members would not hold a funeral until the rest of the hostages were safely back.

Taliban denial

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"If anything happens to them, the Afghan government and the South Korean government will be responsible"

Qari Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi, for Taliban


Send us your views

Earlier on Monday, Ahmadi had denied that there had been any agreement to extend talks.

"We are still awaiting the decision of the leadership council. We have not extended the deadline till Wednesday," he told Reuters by telephone from an unknown location.

Reports had said that the Taliban extended its "final" deadline at the request of Afghan mediators, but insisted that the release of Taliban prisoners was the only way to settle the crisis.

The "final deadline" was issued by the movement's leadership council on Sunday and originally ran out at 07:30 GMT.

The Taliban has demanded the withdrawal of South Korean troops from Afghanistan and the return of prisoners held by the Afghan authorities.

On Sunday, Ahmadi said the group's demands remained the same.

He said: "We have the same previous demands; the first is accepting to withdraw the Korean forces from Afghanistan.

"The second demand is still pending as the Afghan government delegation has said that it does not have the authority to release Taliban prisoners."

Hostage swap

Afghanistan's interior ministry and the presidential palace have said a hostage swap is out of the question.

An Afghan team that was supposed to have held more talks with the Taliban on Saturday could not reach the group because of security concerns in Ghazni province, a provincial source said.

The Taliban has said that if anything happened to the South Korean hostages, "the Afghan government and the South Korean government will be responsible".

Vietnam takes championship at Kobe Osaka Karate 2007

VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Hoang Ngan has won the gold medal for kata contents at the World Karate Championship Kobe Osaka 2007, which took place from July 22-29 in Bulgaria.



The event saw the participation of players from 45 countries and territories. Vietnam’s Nguyen Hoang Ngan defeated strong rivals from Japan, China, Macau and Nepal, including Japan’s Morooko Nao, who defeated Hoang Ngan in the final match of ASIAD 2006, to win the gold medal.



This is the second consecutive year Hoang Ngan took the championship for kata content at Kobe Osaka. Ngan was the only Vietnamese player participating in the Kobe Osaka held in Greece one year ago and won the gold medal.



The Kobe Osaka is an annual event held by the Kobe Osaka Karate International Association, drawing players from many countries and territories. In the past five years, Vietnam has consecutively won gold medals at those events, including six gold medals in 2004.



Before coming to Kobe Osaka 2007, the Vietnamese karate team won the championship at the Thailand Open Karate Tournament 2007 with six gold medals, including one by Hoang Ngan.



From now to the 24th SEA Games, Hoang Ngan and her fellows will take part in the Asian Karate Championship.



T.A

Saving Phu Quoc dog from extinction

VietNamNet Bridge - A national association of dog breeds needs to be established, especially aiming at preserving the dog breed originating in Phu Quoc Island off southern Kien Giang province, said Vietnamese Belgian Professor Du Thanh Khiem, member of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (World Canine Organization) at the talk of Phu Quoc dogs in HCMC recently.


The phu Quoc canine breed

Professor Khiem supplied latest scientific information of origin, peculiarities and history of the rare dog. He advised dog keepers to conserve and develop the Phu Quoc dog to lessen the danger of extinction, and said the government also should examine applying for membership to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

Phu Quoc dogs are one of the world’s three rarest dogs with whorls on their backs. They are excellent hunters, unafraid of heights, intelligent and fiercely loyal yet are very trusting with strangers, so they make poor guards.

According to dog experts, the Phu Quoc ridgeback dog was traditionally four main colours: spotted, black, yellow, and striped; however now the colours have become more various. A mature dog is about 20-25kg, with a small head, quite a long snout, and thin ears. The dog’s tapering belly, straight legs and “duck-like” toes allow it to swim and run exceedingly well.

The residents on Phu Quoc Island are proud of the rare and valuable dog, regarding them as their faithful and close friends. Visitors to the island always want to see and take home a dog, but breeding them is not easy away from their native land.

Mr. Khiem said that he will take the Phu Quoc dog to the 2011 World Dog Show in Paris.

(Source: SGGP)

Fans celebrate historic victory of Vietnam’s football

VietNamNet Bridge – At big cities in Vietnam, especially Hanoi and HCM City, thousands of Vietnamese fans flocked to the streets to celebrate the victory of the national soccer squad as it has entered the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup 2007.



Fans flocked to central roads of Hanoi and HCM City to wave the national flag and shouted, “Vietnam, champion!” At Hoan Kiem Lake in central Hanoi, tens of thousands of people gathered to shoot off firecrackers and drive motorbikes around the lake.



The Vietnamese national squad would have been unable to enter the quarter-finals without the triumph of the United Arab Emirates over Qatar in a match which took place at the same time as the Vietnam-Japan match in HCM City. So along with Vietnamese flags, one could see some flags of the UAE on HCM City streets last night.



VietNamNet captured the ‘football festival’ in Hanoi and HCM City:

ASP.NET

Introduction
With the advent of ASP.NET we see a shift from traditional scripting to the
beginning of full-fledged programming online.VBScript isn’t the only option
anymore, as programmers can now employ the full power that lies behind both
Visual Basic (VB) and C within their ASP.NET assemblies.
There is no denying the widespread acceptance that .NET received from the
developer community. It’s proven itself to be a well-developed framework with
solid ideas on how the programming world should continue to change.The
introduction of a software solution that enables anyone to code in any language
that is compatible with the framework is groundbreaking to say the least.
In this chapter we will take a look at how Active Server Pages (ASP) itself
began just a couple of years ago and how it has captivated programmers ever
since. It has had some problems, of course, but the .NET architecture seems to
have found solutions to many preexisting programming problems.There have also
been changes with how ASP works with the server and client, to provide the user
with the information that you want to provide.
Even though this is a stable beta, and many people are assuming already that
what we are seeing within Beta 2 is basically the “freeze” for many features, it still
has a couple of caveats, due to its beta nature. Learning from these problems
within the framework can allow for preparation against it.
Learning from the History of ASP
You can trace the history of ASP right back to 1995 and the momentous occasion
when Microsoft realized they were falling behind in a fundamental shift in
the industry by not embracing the Internet. Up until that point Microsoft had
been developing their proprietary technologies, tools, and network protocols for
the Microsoft Network; all of a sudden they needed an Internet strategy and fast.
Microsoft has gone from a position of playing catch-up to one close to dominance,
with the Internet Explorer Web browser having a strangle-hold on the
Web browsing market, and Internet Information Server (IIS) installed at the
majority of Fortune 1000 companies.
The Origins of ASP
Back in the mid ‘90s, when the commercial Web world was still young, there was
not a great deal of choice of tools for the Web developer who wanted to make
his or her Web site a truly useful place to do business.The choices were limited
www.syngress.com
www.syngress.com
in both available server-side programming platforms and also desktop development
tools to produce the solutions. In the end, the programmer was stuck with
clumsy Common Gateway Interface (CGI) programs using compiled languages
such as C, Delphi, and Visual Basic, or interpreted scripting languages like Perl or
Rexx, and operating system shell scripts on systems such as UNIX.
In early 1996 Microsoft had a first stab at improving the situation by
including the Internet Server Application Programming Interface (ISAPI) technology
as part of Internet Information Server. ISAPI is an extension to the
Windows Win32 API. It was developed as a way to create Web server software
that interacts with the inner workings of Internet Information Server, bringing
what was claimed to be a five-fold increase in performance. As you can well
imagine from this description, as well as the immediate performance increase, it
also had a side effect of increasing the complexity of the development for the
programmer. It wasn’t for the faint hearted, and it takes some serious hardcore
programming knowledge to do ISAPI applications right.As well as ISAPI,
Microsoft encouraged developers to embrace their Internet Database Connector
(IDC) technology.This was a new way to connect Web sites to back-end
databases through Open Database Connectivity (ODBC).
The ISAPI and IDC technologies lifted Microsoft’s youthful and as yet
unproven Web server from being a glorified file server to being a basic interactive
application server platform for the first time.
Other vendors had tools out there, and several were very popular, such as
Netscape Livewire. Livewire was a technology that ran under Netscape’s Web
server and used a version of JavaScript for page logic, and also used Java components.
Unfortunately, Livewire had similar limitations to ISAPI in that it was a
compiled technology and the server needed stopping and starting to make
changes visible.
Why ASP Was Needed
Not all Web developers have the programming skills needed to write ISAPI
applications, and because ISAPI requires the compilation of programs, there are
extra steps in producing an ISAPI-based site that slow development down.
Novice and intermediate programmers found the need to learn an industrialstrength
language, such as C++, and compile even the simplest of their page logic
into .dll files a real barrier.
Visual Basic programs, although easier to develop, when used for CGI, performed
poorly and the overhead hogged resources. Other languages such as Perl
require the Web server to launch a separate command-line program to interpret
Introducing ASP.NET • Chapter 1 3
4 Chapter 1 • Introducing ASP.NET
and execute the requested scripts, increasing page-load time and reducing server
performance. CGI itself hogs resources because every page request forces the Web
servers to launch and kill new processes and communicate across these processes.
This is time consuming and also uses up precious RAM.
Another problem facing development teams in the mid ‘90s was the fact that
a Web site is a mixture of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and logic.They
needed a way to mix the programmer’s code with the designer’s page-layout
HTML and designs without one messing up the other.There were many solutions
to this problem, ranging from custom template systems to Sever Side
Include (SSI) statements that told the server to execute code based on special
HTML comment tags.
Database-driven interactivity was another challenge.The demand for complex
Web sites had just kicked off, and developers needed to supply that demand in a
manageable fashion, but the tools available did not make this an easy task.Those
who could achieve it demanded rewards that matched the difficulty of what they
were being asked to do.
What was needed was a solution for the rest of us. It needed to be a simple
scripted text-based technology like Perl, so developers could tweak and alter their
pages without compilation and with simple text-editing tools such as Notepad. It
needed to have low resource requirements while keeping high performance;
therefore it needed to be executed within the server environment just like ISAPI,
but without the complexity. Designers and cross-discipline teams demanded that
it should include SSI and template features to make integrating page layouts simpler
to manage.To be truly popular, it should run off a language that would be
easy to pick up and was familiar to a large community of developers. Enter Active
Server Pages!
Why ASP Was Not Originally Embraced
Active Server Pages was not an overnight success, though understandably it did
capture the imagination of a large sector of the development community, particularly
those already well versed in Visual Basic programming or Visual Basic for
applications scripting.
Others who did not have an investment in Visual Basic knowledge found the
limitations of Visual Basic, and by extension Visual Basic Scripting, reasons to
avoid the technology. Faults included poor memory management, the lack of
strong string management abilities, such as Regular Expressions, found in other
established languages.When compared to CGI with Perl,ASP was found lacking.
www.syngress.com
Introducing ASP.NET • Chapter 1 5
At that time, Internet Information Server was in its infancy, and take-up was
low, despite Microsoft’s public relations juggernaut going into full flow after the
company’s much-reported dramatic turnaround. In comparison to current versions
of the software it seems very poor, but it was still competitive on performance.
Until 1997, back-end Web programming was pretty much owned by CGI
and Perl. High-performance Web sites usually had a mix of C-compiled programs
for the real business engine, and Perl for the more lightweight form processing.
There was a fair amount of doubt and suspicion around Microsoft’s Internet
efforts, including IIS and Internet Explorer, and ISAPI had not done all that
much to bring across a huge sector of the development community. Despite this
uncertain atmosphere, Microsoft saw many Windows NT 4 licenses being bought
specifically for Web hosting and development increasing.Third-party support for
anything other than small components was initially slow, but, as with all Microsoft
products, after the first couple of releases they usually get things right, and ASP
was no exception.
Whereas Perl had a huge community of developers led by the heroic figure
of Larry Wall, the ASP developer was not yet well supported.A Perl programmer
was encouraged from the top to share and make his or her code open, so the
community thrived, with every conceivable solution or library just a few clicks
away at the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network (CPAN) site, or at one of the
many other Web sites and news groups. Contrast this with the ingrained competitive
and financially led philosophies of the third-party component vendors in the
Windows Distributed Internet Applications (DNA) world. Of course, it did not
take the ASP community long to grow to be the loving, sharing success it is now

"Pao’s Story" to run at int’l film festivals

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese film "Chuyen cua Pao" (Pao's Story) will be shown at a series of international films to be staged in the Asia-Pacific.


"Pao's Story" will also be a competitive entrant in the Asia-Pacific Film Festival.
The acclaimed, epic will be run at the Bangkok International Film Festival from July 25-27 along with another homegrown piece, "Dong mau anh hung" (The Rebels).

"Pao's Story" will also be a competitive entrant in the Asia-Pacific Film Festival to be held in Australia from August 2-12 and the Brisbane Film Festival from August 3-6.

Set in the breathtaking mountainous province of Viet Nam, the film tells the story of an ethnic H'mong girl named Pao on her journey to find her mother who abandoned her when she was young.

The film took home last year's Special Award at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival in Taiwan.

"Pao's Story" is Ngo Quang Hai's first work as a director. His second film "Mua he lanh leo" (Cold Summer) is scheduled to begin shooting by November.

Many may try to “milk” cows for profit: MARD

VietNamNet Bridge – Hoang Kim Giao, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), warned that the current milk price increase might lead to massive cow farming.



Mr Giao said that the lesson of catfish breeding might be repeated with milk cow farming if dairy prices kept rising. Encouraged by the high prices of dairy products, every household tries to breed cows, and every locality tries to develop a herd of milk cows, including ones that do not have good conditions for farming.
Mr Giao said that his department was going to send dispatches to local departments under MARD to warn about the risk, and ask local authorities to pay special attention to their milk cow herd development programme.

How will the fresh milk price hike impact cow breeders and the milk cow development programme?

On June 23, Dutch Lady officially announced it would raise material milk purchasing prices to VND6,200-6,500/kg. Vinamilk has also raised purchasing prices three times since the beginning of June. When I called several dairy processing workshop owners, they all said they planned to raise purchasing prices. One month ago, the milk price increased from VND4,600 to VND5,000/kg, and now jumped from VND5,000 to VND6,500/kg.
It is understandable why milk prices increase: the demand for dairy products has increased by 35-100% in the world, while the supply is short due to the droughts. On June 4, in Chicago, the milk price hit its record at $21.5/100 pounds. Meanwhile, several countries have cut subsidises on milk production, leading to the price hike.
In fact, the purchasing price of material milk in Vietnam is lower than in other regional countries. The higher purchasing price will bring opportunities to milk cow farming, especially localities suitable for cow farming. To some extent, the milk price hike will help the domestic dairy market develop. It is hoped that by 2010 domestic output will meet 40% of the domestic demand. However, it would risky if the price soared to an overly high level. If farmers can make the profit of VND1,500-2,000 for every kilogramme of fresh milk, farmers will rush to breed cows, even when they do not have good conditions. As a result, breed cows will become rare and the price will escalate.
Another risk I have to mention is that cows may be overexploited and become exhausted. This will result in a worse quality of milk if cows suffer diseases due to bad investment. Farmers may get profit in the first one or two months of breeding, but they then will suffer as the milk output will decrease. Besides, the foodstuff for cattle will be seriously short.How many more cows will we have with the current price increases?We had 113,000 cows by August 1, 2006. It is estimated that the figure has risen to 120-125,000 now, while the green fodder for cows we can provide just can meet 33-35% of the need. I think that the herd of cows will develop rapidly if the current price increases maintain, estimated to reach 150,000 cows by the end of this year.How about the capability to provide breed cows if massive farming occurs?The lack of breed cows may occur. Only 55,000 of the existing 113,000 cows can reproduce, and they can give 42,000 calves. Only a half of the 42,000 calves are milk cows, and 30% of the half will be wedded when they grow. As such, we can provide 14-15,000 breed cows every year only.We try to limit importing breed cows and we will import only when the imported cows can meet several requirements. The Lam Son Sugar Company is planning to import breed cows in large quantity, several units, which will arrive in August.
Do you think that the milk price hike will help recover the milk cow development programme which once experienced a very difficult period? What will we have to do to develop the herd of cows?
It is necessary to programme the milk cow development. Cow farming should not be seen as a job for poor people. We once advised farmers in the Mekong River Delta, where floods come regularly, and in poor and hot provinces like Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien-Hue not to farm milk cows, but they have ignored our suggestions.
A milk cow can provide 4,500 litres of milk a year at maximum; however, the milk output depends much on breeding technique. Tuyen Quang province, for example, has recently announced the bankruptcy of its milk cow development programme though it made heavy investment in it. Now the province has two cow farms, one was sold to Vinamilk, and another is still under the management of local staffs. The Vinamilk-run farm can provide 20 litres/cow/day, while the other just provides 10 litres/cow/day. It is because of bad management.

Ha Yen

Life insurance still facing crisis

VietNamNet Bridge – The crisis in the life insurance sector is in its third year without any sign of ending as the numbers of new contracts and agents continue to fall.
Meanwhile, life insurance companies haven’t sat together yet to confront the fierce competition of other capital raising channels in the market, such as banks and the stock market.

Sad statistics

According to the Vietnam Insurance Association, the 2006 premium of life insurance firms reaches nearly VND8,500 billion (US$531.25 million), up by 4.34% compared to 2005.

Of this number, the total premium from new contracts is VND1,289 billion ($80.56 million), equivalent to 97.6% of 2005, the lowest level since 2000.
Vietnamese people are abandoning life insurance and this fact is seen through the number of new contracts.
In 2006, the number of new contracts (for major life insurance products only) is 488,000, a fall of 17.1% over 2005. This fall means that the premiums collected in the years after 2006 will be low.
In addition, the number of cancelled contracts has been increasing. Clients canceling their life insurance contracts means that they will not continue to pay more money and suffer losses because they feel that life insurance products are less attractive than banking deposits or investing in stocks. In 2006, 431,023 contracts were canceled.
However, the major problem that threatens the development of life insurance companies is not the reduction of revenue growth, but the departure of agents.

Last year AIA had 8,632 agents, a reduction of up to 52.28% compared to 2005. The figures are 21,529 and 15.44% for Bao Viet Nhan Tho; 2,821 and 24.21% for Manulife; 20,980 and 44.53% for Prudential. Dai-ichi Life saw the lowest reduction of agents, with 2.44%. Only ACE Life had the number of its agents increase in 2006.

Notably, around 60% of the current agents are new ones. The change of agents can affect the quality of customer care services and the trust of customers in life insurers.

Waiting for combined products

One of the reasons that have made customers neglect life insurance is that life insurance products are still simple and unattractive.
Life insurers now offer around 100 products but most of them are still death insurance adding savings. Vietnamese people don’t want to buy insurance for accidents or death while savings products have too low dividends.

Life insurance companies mainly invest premiums into bonds to gain safety so the profit they earn is only 12-13% per year. As a result, dividends paid to clients by life insurance firms is up to 6-8% per year only, much lower than banking interest rates and securities.

In Asia, life insurance is no longer based on death insurance and savings products but ‘revolutionary’ products such as insurance-investment or retirement insurance (as a support for compulsory social insurance).

In Vietnam, insurance-investment products (depending on contracts signed with clients, insurance firms can use part of the premium to invest in investment funds to bring higher profit for insurance buyers) have been prepared by some foreign-invested insurance companies for years but they have not been applied yet.

There are two reasons. The first is the lack of a legal framework. Only recently the Finance Ministry approved a document on the supply of life insurance-investment products. An official of the Finance Ministry said that these were new products and the ministry needed time to evaluate them.

However, some said that the Finance Ministry wanted to wait till Bao Viet Nhan Tho was ready to provide this product to allow the offer of this product in Vietnam. This product is considered a breakthrough for life insurance firms, while Bao Viet is under the aegis of the Finance Ministry so the ministry can’t let foreign companies be in advance of Bao Viet.

The lateness in offering this product to the market is perhaps not because it is too complicated but the intention of management agencies.

The second is Vietnam still has too few investment funds. Insurance firms can work with several funds like VF1, PRUBF1 and several unlisted funds. Insurance-investment products don’t allow insurance companies to directly invest in stocks so they may have to establish funds PRUBF1 of Prudential.

When will the life insurance market regains its growth? It is unclear. In the crisis, there are still businesses that gain high growth rate like ACE Life but the scale of ACE Life is too small, accounting for 0.62% of the life insurance market only (statistics by December 31, 2006).

(Source: TBKTSG)