http://discovereuropetalk.com/ Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:24:30 -0500 MyBB http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1376 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:56:56 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1376
Body art was all the rage in early Australia, as it was in many other parts of the ancient world, and now a new study reports that elaborate and distinctive designs on the skin of indigenous Aussies repeated characters and motifs found on rock art and all sorts of portable objects, ranging from toys to pipes.
The study not only illustrates the link between body art, such as tattoos and intentional scarring, with cultural identity, but it also suggests that study of this imagery may help to unravel mysteries about where certain groups traveled in the past, what their values and rituals were, and how they related to other cultures.
"Distinctive design conventions can be considered markers of social interaction so, in a way (they are) a cultural signature of sorts that archaeologists can use to understand ways people were interacting in the past," author Liam Brady of Monash University's Center for Australian Indigenous Studies, told Discovery News.
For the study, published in the latest issue of the journal Antiquity, Brady documented rock art drawings; images found on early turtle shell, stone and wood objects, such as bamboo tobacco pipes and drums; and images that were etched onto the human body through a process called scarification.
"In a way, a scarred design could be interpreted as a tattoo," Brady said. "It was definitely a distinctive form of body ornamentation and it was permanent since the design was cut into the skin."
"Evidence for scarification is primarily via (19th century) anthropologists -- mainly A.C. Haddon -- who took black and white photographs of some designs, as well as drawing others into his notebooks in the late 1800's," he added.
Both Haddon and Brady focused their attention on a region called the Torres Strait. This is a collection of islands in tropical far northeastern Queensland. The islands lie between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea.
Although people were living in the Torres Strait as early as 9,000 years ago, when sea levels were lower and a land bridge connected Australia with New Guinea, archaeological exploration of the area only really began with Haddon's 19th century work. Since body art, rock art, wooden objects and other tangible items have a relatively short shelf life, Haddon's collections and data represent some of the earliest confirmed findings for the region.
Brady determined that within the body art, rock art and objects, four primary motifs often repeated: a fish headdress, a snake, a four-pointed star, and triangle variants. The fish headdress, usually made of a turtle shell decorated with feathers and rattles, was worn during ceremonies and has, in at least one instance, been linked to a "cult of the dead."
The triangular designs, on the other hand, were often scarred onto women's skin and likely indicated these individuals were in mourning.
Analysis of the materials found that two basic groups -- horticulturalists and hunter-gatherers -- inhabited the Torres Strait during its early history. Aboriginal people at Cape York, a peninsula close to Australia, had "a different artistic system in operation, which did not incorporate many designs from Papua New Guinea," Brady said.

Based on land locations where the body art and object imagery were found, as well as the nature of the designs, Brady concludes that the Cape York residents were the hunter-gatherers, while groups in more northerly locations within Torres Strait appear to have been horticulturalists. Since imagery mixed and matched more among the early farmers, Brady concludes they enjoyed kinship links, and engaged in extensive trade, with Papua New Guinea groups.
In the future, similar studies could help to identify cultural groups in other regions, while also revealing their social interactions. Such studies could prove particularly useful for other parts of Australia and New Zealand, where tattooing and body art, as well as totems -- protection entities often depicted with colorful imagery -- were common.
Recently, for example, the Field Museum in Chicago returned the human remains of 14 Maori native New Zealanders back to their country of origin. The remains are now at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa.
Included in the collection of mandibles, crania and other bones is "one preserved head with facial tattoos," according to a Field Museum announcement.
In an act of repatriation, nine tattooed Maori heads were also recently gifted to Te Papa by Scotland's Aberdeen Museum.
Te Taru White, a Maori specialist at Te Papa, said the "ancestors" made "the long journey home to New Zealand and to their people."
The heads are now in a consecrated, sacred space within the New Zealand museum, where they may be studied and researched further. In Brady's case, his work was undertaken as part of collaborative research projects initiated by certain Torres Strait and Aboriginal communities.]]>
Body art was all the rage in early Australia, as it was in many other parts of the ancient world, and now a new study reports that elaborate and distinctive designs on the skin of indigenous Aussies repeated characters and motifs found on rock art and all sorts of portable objects, ranging from toys to pipes.
The study not only illustrates the link between body art, such as tattoos and intentional scarring, with cultural identity, but it also suggests that study of this imagery may help to unravel mysteries about where certain groups traveled in the past, what their values and rituals were, and how they related to other cultures.
"Distinctive design conventions can be considered markers of social interaction so, in a way (they are) a cultural signature of sorts that archaeologists can use to understand ways people were interacting in the past," author Liam Brady of Monash University's Center for Australian Indigenous Studies, told Discovery News.
For the study, published in the latest issue of the journal Antiquity, Brady documented rock art drawings; images found on early turtle shell, stone and wood objects, such as bamboo tobacco pipes and drums; and images that were etched onto the human body through a process called scarification.
"In a way, a scarred design could be interpreted as a tattoo," Brady said. "It was definitely a distinctive form of body ornamentation and it was permanent since the design was cut into the skin."
"Evidence for scarification is primarily via (19th century) anthropologists -- mainly A.C. Haddon -- who took black and white photographs of some designs, as well as drawing others into his notebooks in the late 1800's," he added.
Both Haddon and Brady focused their attention on a region called the Torres Strait. This is a collection of islands in tropical far northeastern Queensland. The islands lie between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea.
Although people were living in the Torres Strait as early as 9,000 years ago, when sea levels were lower and a land bridge connected Australia with New Guinea, archaeological exploration of the area only really began with Haddon's 19th century work. Since body art, rock art, wooden objects and other tangible items have a relatively short shelf life, Haddon's collections and data represent some of the earliest confirmed findings for the region.
Brady determined that within the body art, rock art and objects, four primary motifs often repeated: a fish headdress, a snake, a four-pointed star, and triangle variants. The fish headdress, usually made of a turtle shell decorated with feathers and rattles, was worn during ceremonies and has, in at least one instance, been linked to a "cult of the dead."
The triangular designs, on the other hand, were often scarred onto women's skin and likely indicated these individuals were in mourning.
Analysis of the materials found that two basic groups -- horticulturalists and hunter-gatherers -- inhabited the Torres Strait during its early history. Aboriginal people at Cape York, a peninsula close to Australia, had "a different artistic system in operation, which did not incorporate many designs from Papua New Guinea," Brady said.

Based on land locations where the body art and object imagery were found, as well as the nature of the designs, Brady concludes that the Cape York residents were the hunter-gatherers, while groups in more northerly locations within Torres Strait appear to have been horticulturalists. Since imagery mixed and matched more among the early farmers, Brady concludes they enjoyed kinship links, and engaged in extensive trade, with Papua New Guinea groups.
In the future, similar studies could help to identify cultural groups in other regions, while also revealing their social interactions. Such studies could prove particularly useful for other parts of Australia and New Zealand, where tattooing and body art, as well as totems -- protection entities often depicted with colorful imagery -- were common.
Recently, for example, the Field Museum in Chicago returned the human remains of 14 Maori native New Zealanders back to their country of origin. The remains are now at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa.
Included in the collection of mandibles, crania and other bones is "one preserved head with facial tattoos," according to a Field Museum announcement.
In an act of repatriation, nine tattooed Maori heads were also recently gifted to Te Papa by Scotland's Aberdeen Museum.
Te Taru White, a Maori specialist at Te Papa, said the "ancestors" made "the long journey home to New Zealand and to their people."
The heads are now in a consecrated, sacred space within the New Zealand museum, where they may be studied and researched further. In Brady's case, his work was undertaken as part of collaborative research projects initiated by certain Torres Strait and Aboriginal communities.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1375 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:53:07 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1375
Continental Airlines and five individuals have been ordered to stand trial over the crash of an Air France Concorde near Paris that killed 113 people in July 2000.

Prosecutors said the defendants would be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the disaster which hastened the demise of the world’s only supersonic commercial jet. Air France and British Airways eventually grounded their Concorde fleets permanently in late 2003.

Debris on the runway at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport from a previous departure by a Continental Airlines DC-10 flight was blamed as a cause of the Concorde crash in the report by French air accident investigators.

The report established that a tyre blow-out shortly before take-off was the main factor in the crash. A piece of metal that had dropped off one of the engines of the DC-10, which departed about four minutes before the Concorde, caused a tyre on the supersonic jet to rupture.

A piece of the exploding rubber slammed into the Concorde fuel tank, causing fuel to gush out. It was quickly ignited and led to a spreading fire, that helped to cut power from two of its engines.

A spokesman for Continental said on Thursday the indictments were “outrageous and completely unjustified”.

He said the airline remained “firmly convinced that neither it nor its employees were the cause of the Concorde tragedy”.

Continental will face charges of negligence in its aircraft maintenance, according to a statement from the office of prosecutor Marie-Thérèse de Givry in Pontoise, France.

Two Continental employees face charges of improperly installing the strips of metal on the DC-10 and could face fines of several hundred thousand euros. Higher damages could eventually result from civil cases brought by families of the accident victims.

One of the Continental employees is charged for having made and installed the metal strip used on the DC-10 “without respecting the rules in force”. The second, the engineering supervisor, is charged with having allowed the change of the part and of authorising the return to service.

Continental is charged for allowing the DC-10 to go back into service and for not properly maintaining its DC-10 fleet.

A former French civil aviation official and two former members of the Concorde team at Aerospatiale, the former French aircraft maker, have also been indicted for negligence and under-estimating the risk posed to the aircraft’s airworthiness from accidents involving burst tyres.

Airbus, the successor company of Aerospatiale, refused to comment on the indictments.]]>
Continental Airlines and five individuals have been ordered to stand trial over the crash of an Air France Concorde near Paris that killed 113 people in July 2000.

Prosecutors said the defendants would be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the disaster which hastened the demise of the world’s only supersonic commercial jet. Air France and British Airways eventually grounded their Concorde fleets permanently in late 2003.

Debris on the runway at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport from a previous departure by a Continental Airlines DC-10 flight was blamed as a cause of the Concorde crash in the report by French air accident investigators.

The report established that a tyre blow-out shortly before take-off was the main factor in the crash. A piece of metal that had dropped off one of the engines of the DC-10, which departed about four minutes before the Concorde, caused a tyre on the supersonic jet to rupture.

A piece of the exploding rubber slammed into the Concorde fuel tank, causing fuel to gush out. It was quickly ignited and led to a spreading fire, that helped to cut power from two of its engines.

A spokesman for Continental said on Thursday the indictments were “outrageous and completely unjustified”.

He said the airline remained “firmly convinced that neither it nor its employees were the cause of the Concorde tragedy”.

Continental will face charges of negligence in its aircraft maintenance, according to a statement from the office of prosecutor Marie-Thérèse de Givry in Pontoise, France.

Two Continental employees face charges of improperly installing the strips of metal on the DC-10 and could face fines of several hundred thousand euros. Higher damages could eventually result from civil cases brought by families of the accident victims.

One of the Continental employees is charged for having made and installed the metal strip used on the DC-10 “without respecting the rules in force”. The second, the engineering supervisor, is charged with having allowed the change of the part and of authorising the return to service.

Continental is charged for allowing the DC-10 to go back into service and for not properly maintaining its DC-10 fleet.

A former French civil aviation official and two former members of the Concorde team at Aerospatiale, the former French aircraft maker, have also been indicted for negligence and under-estimating the risk posed to the aircraft’s airworthiness from accidents involving burst tyres.

Airbus, the successor company of Aerospatiale, refused to comment on the indictments.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1374 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:44:00 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1374 The Finnish phone maker signs up Warner Music as part of its effort to develop a new music service to compete with Apple's iTunes

by Jay Yarow

Nokia (NOK) wants some of Apple's rhythm. On July 1 the Finnish mobile-phone maker said that Warner Music Group (WMG) has agreed to participate in Nokia's fledgling music service, making Warner the third of the major record labels to join in the effort. The move is one more step in Nokia's effort to compete against Apple for the people who want to carry around music libraries in their pockets.

Nokia's service, which will officially launch in the second half of this year, is called Comes With Music. It will be built into certain Nokia handsets and will allow customers to download unlimited amounts of music from participating labels. The downloaded music can be kept on a PC or mobile-phone forever. In theory, a consumer could download every single song from the labels' catalogs; they'd simply need a very big hard drive on which to store the files. Nokia and its partners have not disclosed pricing for the service, but they believe it has plenty of potential. "We believe this will be a significant contributor of revenue over a long-term basis for Nokia," says Liz Schimel, global head of music for Nokia.

(ALMOST) ALL ABOARD
The record labels seem to be buying that argument. Universal Music Group in December signed up with Nokia (BusinessWeek.com, 12/4/07), and Sony BMG Music Entertainment partnered with the service in April. A spokesperson for EMI Group, the sole major label yet to join, says the company is talking with Nokia, although no deal has been reached. Nokia says it is in talks with independent labels as well.

For the music industry, the Nokia venture represents a departure from the old ways of doing business. Susan Kevorkian, program director of consumer markets at research firm IDC, says there is "broader experimentation" as CD sales decline and music revenues slide overall. For record companies, it may make sense to look for new ways to sell the work of their artists. Ringtones, for example, have become a multibillion-dollar business in only a few years. "We have a long-term sustainable business for Nokia, the music industry, and the artists," says Schimel.

It's hard to evaluate the service before pricing and other specifics are known. Nokia remained tight-lipped about the details of Comes With Music as it unveiled the Warner Music partnership. But Apple (AAPL) has said that it makes little money on music sales through its iTunes store, instead generating profits from sales of iPods and other hardware. Will the music business for Nokia and its partners also be of marginal financial benefit? Schimel says such comparisons are off-base. "We feel it is apples and oranges," she says. "We are offering a structure that will attract new customers and new revenues."

WILL IT PAY?
Some analysts are skeptical that Comes With Music will help Nokia attract new customers for its mobile phones. James McQuivey, a principle analyst at Forrester Research (FORR) says, "There won't be the same rush to buy Nokia phones" as there is for iPhones. Apple is expected to sell 10 million iPhones by yearend. McQuivey guesses that at most Nokia could sell between 2 million and 4 million handsets in the year following Comes With Music's launch. The amount of revenue the company earns from downloads will depend on how much Nokia intends to charge consumers. But it is sure to be insignificant at a company that made $10.6 billion last year on sales of $75 billion.

IDC's Kevorkian sees this as part of a bigger move by Nokia and the music industry. "It is a slim revenue margin, but it makes sense as part of a volume play for Nokia, who is in the midst of transition," she says. Kevorkian sees Comes With Music as fitting into Nokia's Ovi service, a broad effort to sell services to mobile-phone users (BusinessWeek.com, 8/29/07).

Still, McQuivey thinks Nokia and its partners may find few takers for the new music service. He argues that music enthusiasts won't be satisfied with a phone that's merely adequate for listening to tunes, while other people won't be willing to pay money for such music services. He says it's a lot like digital cameras. Some people use their phone as a digital camera, but people taking lots of photos will generally purchase a separate, higher-quality digital camera. "It's a mismatch in market opportunity," says McQuivey.]]> The Finnish phone maker signs up Warner Music as part of its effort to develop a new music service to compete with Apple's iTunes

by Jay Yarow

Nokia (NOK) wants some of Apple's rhythm. On July 1 the Finnish mobile-phone maker said that Warner Music Group (WMG) has agreed to participate in Nokia's fledgling music service, making Warner the third of the major record labels to join in the effort. The move is one more step in Nokia's effort to compete against Apple for the people who want to carry around music libraries in their pockets.

Nokia's service, which will officially launch in the second half of this year, is called Comes With Music. It will be built into certain Nokia handsets and will allow customers to download unlimited amounts of music from participating labels. The downloaded music can be kept on a PC or mobile-phone forever. In theory, a consumer could download every single song from the labels' catalogs; they'd simply need a very big hard drive on which to store the files. Nokia and its partners have not disclosed pricing for the service, but they believe it has plenty of potential. "We believe this will be a significant contributor of revenue over a long-term basis for Nokia," says Liz Schimel, global head of music for Nokia.

(ALMOST) ALL ABOARD
The record labels seem to be buying that argument. Universal Music Group in December signed up with Nokia (BusinessWeek.com, 12/4/07), and Sony BMG Music Entertainment partnered with the service in April. A spokesperson for EMI Group, the sole major label yet to join, says the company is talking with Nokia, although no deal has been reached. Nokia says it is in talks with independent labels as well.

For the music industry, the Nokia venture represents a departure from the old ways of doing business. Susan Kevorkian, program director of consumer markets at research firm IDC, says there is "broader experimentation" as CD sales decline and music revenues slide overall. For record companies, it may make sense to look for new ways to sell the work of their artists. Ringtones, for example, have become a multibillion-dollar business in only a few years. "We have a long-term sustainable business for Nokia, the music industry, and the artists," says Schimel.

It's hard to evaluate the service before pricing and other specifics are known. Nokia remained tight-lipped about the details of Comes With Music as it unveiled the Warner Music partnership. But Apple (AAPL) has said that it makes little money on music sales through its iTunes store, instead generating profits from sales of iPods and other hardware. Will the music business for Nokia and its partners also be of marginal financial benefit? Schimel says such comparisons are off-base. "We feel it is apples and oranges," she says. "We are offering a structure that will attract new customers and new revenues."

WILL IT PAY?
Some analysts are skeptical that Comes With Music will help Nokia attract new customers for its mobile phones. James McQuivey, a principle analyst at Forrester Research (FORR) says, "There won't be the same rush to buy Nokia phones" as there is for iPhones. Apple is expected to sell 10 million iPhones by yearend. McQuivey guesses that at most Nokia could sell between 2 million and 4 million handsets in the year following Comes With Music's launch. The amount of revenue the company earns from downloads will depend on how much Nokia intends to charge consumers. But it is sure to be insignificant at a company that made $10.6 billion last year on sales of $75 billion.

IDC's Kevorkian sees this as part of a bigger move by Nokia and the music industry. "It is a slim revenue margin, but it makes sense as part of a volume play for Nokia, who is in the midst of transition," she says. Kevorkian sees Comes With Music as fitting into Nokia's Ovi service, a broad effort to sell services to mobile-phone users (BusinessWeek.com, 8/29/07).

Still, McQuivey thinks Nokia and its partners may find few takers for the new music service. He argues that music enthusiasts won't be satisfied with a phone that's merely adequate for listening to tunes, while other people won't be willing to pay money for such music services. He says it's a lot like digital cameras. Some people use their phone as a digital camera, but people taking lots of photos will generally purchase a separate, higher-quality digital camera. "It's a mismatch in market opportunity," says McQuivey.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1373 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:32:10 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1373
Rock band Oasis will be honoured with a lifetime achievement prize at the Silver Clef awards in London later.
Guests expected at the ceremony, where seven other award winners will also be revealed, include The Fratellis, Lily Allen and veteran US singer Meatloaf.
The Silver Clef awards, held this year at the Park Lane Hilton, take place annually to raise funds for music therapy charity Nordoff-Robbins.
Previous winners of the lifetime award include Paul Weller and U2.
Last year's ceremony saw Snow Patrol win best British group, Andrea Bocelli take the classical award, and Bryan Ferry named Ambassador of Rock.
Rod Stewart, who was given the Icon award, was unable to attend after falling at a gig in Manchester the night before and hurting his leg.
Rock veterans Oasis shot to fame in 1994 and were key players in the Britpop scene, enjoying a healthy rivalry with contemporaries Blur.
Their third record, Be Here Now, became the fastest-selling album in chart history when it was released in 1997.
The band's seventh studio album, Dig Out Your Soul, is due for release on 6 October.]]>
Rock band Oasis will be honoured with a lifetime achievement prize at the Silver Clef awards in London later.
Guests expected at the ceremony, where seven other award winners will also be revealed, include The Fratellis, Lily Allen and veteran US singer Meatloaf.
The Silver Clef awards, held this year at the Park Lane Hilton, take place annually to raise funds for music therapy charity Nordoff-Robbins.
Previous winners of the lifetime award include Paul Weller and U2.
Last year's ceremony saw Snow Patrol win best British group, Andrea Bocelli take the classical award, and Bryan Ferry named Ambassador of Rock.
Rod Stewart, who was given the Icon award, was unable to attend after falling at a gig in Manchester the night before and hurting his leg.
Rock veterans Oasis shot to fame in 1994 and were key players in the Britpop scene, enjoying a healthy rivalry with contemporaries Blur.
Their third record, Be Here Now, became the fastest-selling album in chart history when it was released in 1997.
The band's seventh studio album, Dig Out Your Soul, is due for release on 6 October.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1372 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:29:46 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1372 China's top official on Taiwan affairs, Wang Yi, said it signalled "a new start" in exchanges.
The two sides have been ruled by separate governments since 1949, forcing travellers to fly via a third destination.
Ties have improved significantly since Taiwan's new President, Ma Ying-jeou, took office in May.
He advocates stronger economic ties with China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has threatened force if it moves towards formal independence.
The agreements on flights, signed last month, is seen as a big step towards improved cross-strait relations.

'One family'
The new flights, which will take place from Friday to Monday only, will connect five major cities in China with eight airports in Taiwan.
The China Southern Airlines flight, from the southern city of Guangzhou, was the first of 36 cross-strait flights to be launched this weekend.
It carried about 250 passengers, including 100 tourists from the mainland, and was met with a traditional lion dance and a water sprinkling ceremony.
Company chairman Liu Shaoyong flew the plane over.
"This is a sacred moment. The two sides of the strait are like members in one family," he told journalists in Taipei.
At the same time as the China Southern flight was travelling to Taipei, a Taiwan-based China Airlines flight with Taiwanese tourists was making its way to Shanghai.

Tourism boost
The first arrivals in Taiwan included some of the 600 Chinese tourists travelling on week-long package trips.
They are all being given the red carpet treatment, with special receptions, dinners and entertainment programmes.
Their numbers are expected to rapidly increase because - alongside the deal on flights - the two sides have also agreed that the number of mainland tourists allowed to visit Taiwan will rise to 3,000 per day from 18 July.
Local businesses are predicting the new arrivals will provide a much-needed economic boost and the government is hoping the direct weekend flights will soon become daily.
Many Taiwanese are excited by the expected influx of Chinese tourists, says the BBC's Caroline Gluck in Taipei.
But others are more wary - citing concerns about rude behaviour, cheap spending habits and the potential for political disputes, our correspondent says.
"The mainlanders will be our guests," Taiwanese Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said Thursday.
"I hope we can work together to impress them with the Taiwanese people's good nature, politeness, passion and hospitality."]]> China's top official on Taiwan affairs, Wang Yi, said it signalled "a new start" in exchanges.
The two sides have been ruled by separate governments since 1949, forcing travellers to fly via a third destination.
Ties have improved significantly since Taiwan's new President, Ma Ying-jeou, took office in May.
He advocates stronger economic ties with China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has threatened force if it moves towards formal independence.
The agreements on flights, signed last month, is seen as a big step towards improved cross-strait relations.

'One family'
The new flights, which will take place from Friday to Monday only, will connect five major cities in China with eight airports in Taiwan.
The China Southern Airlines flight, from the southern city of Guangzhou, was the first of 36 cross-strait flights to be launched this weekend.
It carried about 250 passengers, including 100 tourists from the mainland, and was met with a traditional lion dance and a water sprinkling ceremony.
Company chairman Liu Shaoyong flew the plane over.
"This is a sacred moment. The two sides of the strait are like members in one family," he told journalists in Taipei.
At the same time as the China Southern flight was travelling to Taipei, a Taiwan-based China Airlines flight with Taiwanese tourists was making its way to Shanghai.

Tourism boost
The first arrivals in Taiwan included some of the 600 Chinese tourists travelling on week-long package trips.
They are all being given the red carpet treatment, with special receptions, dinners and entertainment programmes.
Their numbers are expected to rapidly increase because - alongside the deal on flights - the two sides have also agreed that the number of mainland tourists allowed to visit Taiwan will rise to 3,000 per day from 18 July.
Local businesses are predicting the new arrivals will provide a much-needed economic boost and the government is hoping the direct weekend flights will soon become daily.
Many Taiwanese are excited by the expected influx of Chinese tourists, says the BBC's Caroline Gluck in Taipei.
But others are more wary - citing concerns about rude behaviour, cheap spending habits and the potential for political disputes, our correspondent says.
"The mainlanders will be our guests," Taiwanese Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said Thursday.
"I hope we can work together to impress them with the Taiwanese people's good nature, politeness, passion and hospitality."]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1371 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:27:17 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1371

St. Malo , France – The results are in from the 15 th Annual Dinard Fashion Festival and the big winners are Cyril Lambert of France, Eun Jung Choi of Korea , Keisuke Nagami of Japan and design duo LUIZE SCHWARZE & FRANCK POUCHOULIN . Lambert and Keisuki respectively won the grand prizes for menswear and grand prize for women’s wear.

For his win, Lambert received a check for 1500 € from the Fédération Française des Industries du Vêtement Masculin . He will also be given a stand space at the next Casabo Prêt-à-Porter Pari s . Ricard will sponsor his next collection which will be presented to the international press at a date during the year. Lambert’s win was logical as he presented a collection of sophisticated and superbly cute suits and leather pieces, which were far superior in style and “finish” than that of his competitors.

Keisuke won the women’s competition hands down thanks to his innovation and finishing touches. He will receive support for his next full collection from the city of Dinard and the Fédération Française du Prêt-à-Porter Féminin. His prize package will include a stand at the PRÊT-A-PORTER PARIS trade shows., a check for 1000 € from the Fédération Française du Prêt-à-Porter Féminin and a second check for 1000 € from the l’ Union Française des Industries de l’Habillement , a one week stay for 2 persons at the Accor Thalassa Dinard. Ricard will sponsor his collection to be presented to the international press at a date during the year. Fashion brand Célio will organize an exposition of his collection at the Galerie Célio situation on Avenue des Champs Elysées.

He will also receive a one week hotel stay for 2 persons at the Accor Thalassa Dinard

Among the other winners are the design duo LUIZE SCHWARZE & FRANCK POUCHOULIN , who captured the Special Prize offered by the Mairie de Paris. They will receive a check in the amount of 4000 €, a stand at PRÊT-A-PORTER PARIS®, a week hotel stay for two at the Accor Thalassa Dinard.

The special Youth Prize was awarded to EUN JUNG CHOI who will receive a check for 4000 € and the support of the Ministry of Jeunesse, des Sports et de la Vie Associative , the Who’s Next fashion tradeshow and the Office Franco-Québécois pour la Jeunesse. She will have a stand at the Who’s Next fashion trade show, receive a roundtrip ticket to Montreal, Canada where she will participate in the Montreal Fashion Week, 500 €, a hotel stay for 2 persons at the Accor Thalassa Dinard]]>

St. Malo , France – The results are in from the 15 th Annual Dinard Fashion Festival and the big winners are Cyril Lambert of France, Eun Jung Choi of Korea , Keisuke Nagami of Japan and design duo LUIZE SCHWARZE & FRANCK POUCHOULIN . Lambert and Keisuki respectively won the grand prizes for menswear and grand prize for women’s wear.

For his win, Lambert received a check for 1500 € from the Fédération Française des Industries du Vêtement Masculin . He will also be given a stand space at the next Casabo Prêt-à-Porter Pari s . Ricard will sponsor his next collection which will be presented to the international press at a date during the year. Lambert’s win was logical as he presented a collection of sophisticated and superbly cute suits and leather pieces, which were far superior in style and “finish” than that of his competitors.

Keisuke won the women’s competition hands down thanks to his innovation and finishing touches. He will receive support for his next full collection from the city of Dinard and the Fédération Française du Prêt-à-Porter Féminin. His prize package will include a stand at the PRÊT-A-PORTER PARIS trade shows., a check for 1000 € from the Fédération Française du Prêt-à-Porter Féminin and a second check for 1000 € from the l’ Union Française des Industries de l’Habillement , a one week stay for 2 persons at the Accor Thalassa Dinard. Ricard will sponsor his collection to be presented to the international press at a date during the year. Fashion brand Célio will organize an exposition of his collection at the Galerie Célio situation on Avenue des Champs Elysées.

He will also receive a one week hotel stay for 2 persons at the Accor Thalassa Dinard

Among the other winners are the design duo LUIZE SCHWARZE & FRANCK POUCHOULIN , who captured the Special Prize offered by the Mairie de Paris. They will receive a check in the amount of 4000 €, a stand at PRÊT-A-PORTER PARIS®, a week hotel stay for two at the Accor Thalassa Dinard.

The special Youth Prize was awarded to EUN JUNG CHOI who will receive a check for 4000 € and the support of the Ministry of Jeunesse, des Sports et de la Vie Associative , the Who’s Next fashion tradeshow and the Office Franco-Québécois pour la Jeunesse. She will have a stand at the Who’s Next fashion trade show, receive a roundtrip ticket to Montreal, Canada where she will participate in the Montreal Fashion Week, 500 €, a hotel stay for 2 persons at the Accor Thalassa Dinard]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1370 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:31:46 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1370 The advantage of using medical equipment to study classical musical instruments has been proven by a Dutch researcher from the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). In collaboration with a renowned luthier, Dr. Berend Stoel put classical violins, including several made by Stradivarius, in a CT scanner. The homogeneity in the densities of the wood from which the classical violins are made, in marked contrast to the modern violins studied, may very well explain their superior sound production.

Experts are fascinated by the fact that classical Cremonese violins from the famous masters such as Stradivari (1644 -- 1737) and Guarneri del Gesu (1698 -- 1744) are still unparalleled in their abilities of tonal expressiveness and projection. 300 years of technological advancement has not provided substantial improvements towards paralleling the achievements of the classical Cremonese violin makers.
It is obvious to look for clues in the material properties of the wood from which these violins are made, however until now it was impossible to study this without risk of damage to these instruments, each valued at several million dollars.
A unique collaboration between the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands and Terry Borman, luthier in the United States, led to new insights. Previously, at the Division of Image Processing, Department of Radiology, Dr. Stoel developed a computer program, in collaboration with pulmonologist Dr. Jan Stolk, that calculates lung densities in emphysema patients from Computed Tomographic (CT) scans, in order to demonstrate the efficacy of certain medical treatments.
Based on his knowledge of measuring lung densities non-invasively, Dr. Stoel designed a new computer program to study wood densities from CT scans. Subsequently, he and Terry Borman scanned in New York five Cremonese and seven contemporary violins at Mount SinaiHospital, and analyzed the wood densities.
The average wood density of the classical and modern violins did not differ significantly. However, the differences in wood density between early and late growth were significantly lower in the ancient violins.
Since differentials in wood density impact vibrational efficacy and thereby the production of sound, it is possible that this discovery may explain the superiority of these violins. This insight offers new possibilities into replicating the tonal qualities of these ancient instruments, as the researchers conclude in PLoS ONE.]]> The advantage of using medical equipment to study classical musical instruments has been proven by a Dutch researcher from the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). In collaboration with a renowned luthier, Dr. Berend Stoel put classical violins, including several made by Stradivarius, in a CT scanner. The homogeneity in the densities of the wood from which the classical violins are made, in marked contrast to the modern violins studied, may very well explain their superior sound production.

Experts are fascinated by the fact that classical Cremonese violins from the famous masters such as Stradivari (1644 -- 1737) and Guarneri del Gesu (1698 -- 1744) are still unparalleled in their abilities of tonal expressiveness and projection. 300 years of technological advancement has not provided substantial improvements towards paralleling the achievements of the classical Cremonese violin makers.
It is obvious to look for clues in the material properties of the wood from which these violins are made, however until now it was impossible to study this without risk of damage to these instruments, each valued at several million dollars.
A unique collaboration between the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands and Terry Borman, luthier in the United States, led to new insights. Previously, at the Division of Image Processing, Department of Radiology, Dr. Stoel developed a computer program, in collaboration with pulmonologist Dr. Jan Stolk, that calculates lung densities in emphysema patients from Computed Tomographic (CT) scans, in order to demonstrate the efficacy of certain medical treatments.
Based on his knowledge of measuring lung densities non-invasively, Dr. Stoel designed a new computer program to study wood densities from CT scans. Subsequently, he and Terry Borman scanned in New York five Cremonese and seven contemporary violins at Mount SinaiHospital, and analyzed the wood densities.
The average wood density of the classical and modern violins did not differ significantly. However, the differences in wood density between early and late growth were significantly lower in the ancient violins.
Since differentials in wood density impact vibrational efficacy and thereby the production of sound, it is possible that this discovery may explain the superiority of these violins. This insight offers new possibilities into replicating the tonal qualities of these ancient instruments, as the researchers conclude in PLoS ONE.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1369 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:07:59 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1369 New site MutualArt.com has compiled a list of what it believes are the most relevant exhibits of the season for collectors, academics, and travelers

by Matt Mabe

Guidebooks are useful and popular tools for travelers planning itineraries. But when it comes to picking museums, books can fall short. True, they do a fine job of describing permanent exhibits and often provide overall rankings (such as one to five stars) of the best museums. But they don't list temporary installations, which makes it hard to compare what's on display in one city vs. another.

Now there's a new online tool called MutualArt.com that aims to solve the problem. Launched just a few months ago, it claims to be a "revolutionary online information service" that provides more information about the art world than has ever before been available on the Internet, including notification of upcoming events tracked by artist, genre, and location. The site says it has already attracted 25,000 subscribers since March.

To draw more attention to itself, MutualArt.com recently released a list of the top 20 must-see museum exhibitions of this summer. The exhibits straddle four continents and showcase the work of artists spanning multiple generations and genres. "The art world can be intimidating and the information hard to find," says Ben Crawford, the chief marketing officer at MutualArt.com. "What we are trying to do is to provide people with a simple way to reach it."

Whether featuring a retrospective of a master's oeuvre or examining fresh themes threaded through the work of newcomers, all of the exhibits focus exclusively on artists who have lived within the last 150 years. Among the 20 listed exhibitions are actor Cheech Marin's collection of Chicano art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the works of Dutch fashion designers Viktor & Rolf in their first-ever art exhibition at London's Barbican Center; and an exploration of how humans have been interpreted in art at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. "The museum-going public has a lot of interest in contemporary art right now," Crawford says. "It's the direction the art world has been going in."

THE "IMPORTANCE OF DISCOVERY"
Aside from their modernist bent, however, the shows differ widely in almost every other respect. Some of them include works from masters such as Dali and Picasso, while others showcase more recent and controversial artists including Jeff Koons and Gilbert & George. The genres and concepts presented cover all manner of media and disciplines, as well. Cubists, expressionists, and surrealists share the list with jewelers, architects, and performance artists.

In fact, it's difficult to surmise what criteria MutualArt.com used to select its finalists. But Crawford says every exhibition had to meet a combination of factors, including historical significance, freshness of concept, and contemporary attraction. Additionally, he says, some exhibits were chosen for their attempts to explore the boundary where art becomes design (for example, Alexander Calder's jewelry exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or the Whitney Museum of American Art's presentation of Buckminster Fuller's architectural feats).

Crawford notes that MutualArt.com did not necessarily choose the "best" exhibitions as critics might define them. "We don't view ourselves as deciding when one museum is better than another," he says. Instead it judged what it deemed was most important for the full spectrum of art-lovers, whether they be veteran collectors, academic enthusiasts, or just casual travelers. "There's the importance of discovery," Crawford says, "things they never knew they wanted to see until they've seen them."

MutualArt.com plans to continue publishing lists each season to encourage art awareness and attendance at the world's most notable museum exhibitions.]]> New site MutualArt.com has compiled a list of what it believes are the most relevant exhibits of the season for collectors, academics, and travelers

by Matt Mabe

Guidebooks are useful and popular tools for travelers planning itineraries. But when it comes to picking museums, books can fall short. True, they do a fine job of describing permanent exhibits and often provide overall rankings (such as one to five stars) of the best museums. But they don't list temporary installations, which makes it hard to compare what's on display in one city vs. another.

Now there's a new online tool called MutualArt.com that aims to solve the problem. Launched just a few months ago, it claims to be a "revolutionary online information service" that provides more information about the art world than has ever before been available on the Internet, including notification of upcoming events tracked by artist, genre, and location. The site says it has already attracted 25,000 subscribers since March.

To draw more attention to itself, MutualArt.com recently released a list of the top 20 must-see museum exhibitions of this summer. The exhibits straddle four continents and showcase the work of artists spanning multiple generations and genres. "The art world can be intimidating and the information hard to find," says Ben Crawford, the chief marketing officer at MutualArt.com. "What we are trying to do is to provide people with a simple way to reach it."

Whether featuring a retrospective of a master's oeuvre or examining fresh themes threaded through the work of newcomers, all of the exhibits focus exclusively on artists who have lived within the last 150 years. Among the 20 listed exhibitions are actor Cheech Marin's collection of Chicano art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the works of Dutch fashion designers Viktor & Rolf in their first-ever art exhibition at London's Barbican Center; and an exploration of how humans have been interpreted in art at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. "The museum-going public has a lot of interest in contemporary art right now," Crawford says. "It's the direction the art world has been going in."

THE "IMPORTANCE OF DISCOVERY"
Aside from their modernist bent, however, the shows differ widely in almost every other respect. Some of them include works from masters such as Dali and Picasso, while others showcase more recent and controversial artists including Jeff Koons and Gilbert & George. The genres and concepts presented cover all manner of media and disciplines, as well. Cubists, expressionists, and surrealists share the list with jewelers, architects, and performance artists.

In fact, it's difficult to surmise what criteria MutualArt.com used to select its finalists. But Crawford says every exhibition had to meet a combination of factors, including historical significance, freshness of concept, and contemporary attraction. Additionally, he says, some exhibits were chosen for their attempts to explore the boundary where art becomes design (for example, Alexander Calder's jewelry exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or the Whitney Museum of American Art's presentation of Buckminster Fuller's architectural feats).

Crawford notes that MutualArt.com did not necessarily choose the "best" exhibitions as critics might define them. "We don't view ourselves as deciding when one museum is better than another," he says. Instead it judged what it deemed was most important for the full spectrum of art-lovers, whether they be veteran collectors, academic enthusiasts, or just casual travelers. "There's the importance of discovery," Crawford says, "things they never knew they wanted to see until they've seen them."

MutualArt.com plans to continue publishing lists each season to encourage art awareness and attendance at the world's most notable museum exhibitions.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1368 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:03:09 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1368 For online video streaming, the BBC's iPlayer has been a huge success. U.S. broadcasters like ABC and NBC could take a lesson

by Mark Scott

After a tiring day at the office, most Brits like nothing better than to put their feet up with a cup of tea and watch the "telly." Yet more and more now are turning to the Internet to get their TV fix. And while video-sharing sites like YouTube (GOOG) and Daily Motion are popular, the real push into online video is being led by a surprising actor: old-media stalwart British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC).

The BBC's remarkable success in delivering its news, entertainment, and educational programming via the Internet has caught the attention of broadcasters all around the world. Traditional TV companies—both producers and distributors—are nervous the Net will undermine their business models, yet they badly want to jump on the bandwagon. The BBC has proved an unexpected trailblazer and is now a model for companies such as Italy's RAI and Germany's RTL, which are looking to replicate the BBC's popularity in their home markets.

The secret of BBC's success? In a word: iPlayer. No, it's not a new gadget from Apple (AAPL), but rather a Web site that streams full-length BBC TV shows from the last seven days on demand. Launched last December, iPlayer has combined a slick user experience with popular content to triple its unique monthly audience in Britain to 2.2 million, according to researcher Nielsen Online. That makes it one of the most successful streaming video services in the world.

AN OLDER (AND AMERICAN) AUDIENCE
Unlike youth-oriented YouTube, the iPlayer has also been a hit with an older audience. The BBC says more than 60% of its viewers are 35 or older—and they stay online for almost 30 minutes per session. That's a powerful draw for advertisers, who have long sought to capitalize on the public's growing interest in online TV, especially among a well-heeled adult audience.

"The BBC iPlayer is well ahead of the game when it comes to online video," says Adam Daum, media analyst at technology consultant Gartner (IT) in Britain. "We definitely could see the model exported across Europe." It's already proving to be an inspiration for British commercial broadcasters ITV (ITV.L) and Channel 4, which are in talks about joining forces for a shared online TV portal.

Not just European broadcasters could take a page out of the BBC's playbook. U.S. content providers, such as ABC (DIS) and NBC (GE), have experimented with online TV since 2005. So far, they've been swamped by YouTube, which commands 57% of the U.S. Internet video market, according to Forrester Research (FORR). By mimicking the iPlayer's dead-simple user interface and large content library, U.S. broadcasters finally could cash in on online video, says Bobby Tulsiani, a New York-based analyst with consultancy JupiterResearch. "From day one, the BBC's iPlayer started with the right experience," he says.

To a large extent, the BBC's model has been mirrored by the new Hulu online TV service in the U.S. A joint venture (BusinessWeek.com, 3/14/08) of Fox (NWS) and NBC, Hulu has signed up more than 60 content providers to offer TV shows all from one Web site. Despite launching only a few months ago, it is already attracting 2.4 million unique visitors per month.

HOW THE BBC "KICK-STARTED THE MARKET"
How has the BBC, founded in 1922 and once so stodgy that Brits affectionately referred to it as "Auntie," been able to crack the Internet Age? Gartner's Daum reckons it comes down to three things. First, the Beeb's government-backed business model has allowed it to try new technologies without fear of angering cost-conscious shareholders. The BBC already has spent $11.3 million on R&D and technical investment to support iPlayer and figures to shell out a total of more than $260 million by 2011 on its ambitious video-on-demand plans. "You have to make it easy for someone to have a great time on the site," says Anthony Rose, the BBC's head of digital media technology.

Second, Daum says the BBC's dominant position in the British TV market has attracted viewers looking to access its large (and free) content library. According to Nick Thomas, a European media analyst at JupiterResearch in London, getting a critical mass of shows means people don't have to jump between different Web sites to watch their favorite programs. That makes the experience more customer-friendly and builds brand loyalty to the BBC's site.

Lastly, the BBC has used its large presence across TV, radio, and the Internet to raise awareness about the iPlayer. Cross-promotion, such as radio DJs or TV presenters telling audiences about the service, has helped boost iPlayer viewership by 20% per month from its December launch through April (the most recent month for which figures are available), to 21 million shows. "The iPlayer has really kick-started the market," says Rebecca Jennings, principal analyst at Forrester Research in Britain.

SOME CHALLENGES
The first few months of the iPlayer have also produced a host of lessons. The first, says Jupiter's Tulsiani, is that the more impatient nature of the online audience requires advertising breaks in programs, as well as the ads themselves, to be only about one-quarter as long as on TV. Ads also need to target specific audiences, he says. For now, advertisers are paying about a 50% premium for Net ads on a cost-per-viewer basis. But with fewer time slots available than on TV, analysts caution, the revenue to broadcasters may not be enough to make online services sustainable.

Another unexpected challenge has come from Internet service providers, which have complained bitterly about the amount of bandwidth being gobbled up by the iPlayer's streaming video. As more people start watching TV via the Net, ISPs say, content providers should help pay for the necessary infrastructure (extra switches, fiber-optic cables, etc.) needed to make video stream seamlessly. Complicating matters, some ISPs have made their own moves into online TV, which could lead to a battle between them and broadcasters to win over audiences.

Gartner's Daum figures both sides will find a way to live with each other. Broadcasters, for example, could cache their content on ISP servers. That would reduce the amount of bandwidth viewers use to watch programs online. Partnerships between ISPs and content providers also could limit the investment risk for companies looking to move into Internet TV.

European and American broadcasters must overcome such hurdles if they want to grab a piece of the online video market. But what they no longer have to worry about is whether there's consumer interest in Internet TV. That question, at last, has been answered by the success of the BBC's iPlayer.]]> For online video streaming, the BBC's iPlayer has been a huge success. U.S. broadcasters like ABC and NBC could take a lesson

by Mark Scott

After a tiring day at the office, most Brits like nothing better than to put their feet up with a cup of tea and watch the "telly." Yet more and more now are turning to the Internet to get their TV fix. And while video-sharing sites like YouTube (GOOG) and Daily Motion are popular, the real push into online video is being led by a surprising actor: old-media stalwart British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC).

The BBC's remarkable success in delivering its news, entertainment, and educational programming via the Internet has caught the attention of broadcasters all around the world. Traditional TV companies—both producers and distributors—are nervous the Net will undermine their business models, yet they badly want to jump on the bandwagon. The BBC has proved an unexpected trailblazer and is now a model for companies such as Italy's RAI and Germany's RTL, which are looking to replicate the BBC's popularity in their home markets.

The secret of BBC's success? In a word: iPlayer. No, it's not a new gadget from Apple (AAPL), but rather a Web site that streams full-length BBC TV shows from the last seven days on demand. Launched last December, iPlayer has combined a slick user experience with popular content to triple its unique monthly audience in Britain to 2.2 million, according to researcher Nielsen Online. That makes it one of the most successful streaming video services in the world.

AN OLDER (AND AMERICAN) AUDIENCE
Unlike youth-oriented YouTube, the iPlayer has also been a hit with an older audience. The BBC says more than 60% of its viewers are 35 or older—and they stay online for almost 30 minutes per session. That's a powerful draw for advertisers, who have long sought to capitalize on the public's growing interest in online TV, especially among a well-heeled adult audience.

"The BBC iPlayer is well ahead of the game when it comes to online video," says Adam Daum, media analyst at technology consultant Gartner (IT) in Britain. "We definitely could see the model exported across Europe." It's already proving to be an inspiration for British commercial broadcasters ITV (ITV.L) and Channel 4, which are in talks about joining forces for a shared online TV portal.

Not just European broadcasters could take a page out of the BBC's playbook. U.S. content providers, such as ABC (DIS) and NBC (GE), have experimented with online TV since 2005. So far, they've been swamped by YouTube, which commands 57% of the U.S. Internet video market, according to Forrester Research (FORR). By mimicking the iPlayer's dead-simple user interface and large content library, U.S. broadcasters finally could cash in on online video, says Bobby Tulsiani, a New York-based analyst with consultancy JupiterResearch. "From day one, the BBC's iPlayer started with the right experience," he says.

To a large extent, the BBC's model has been mirrored by the new Hulu online TV service in the U.S. A joint venture (BusinessWeek.com, 3/14/08) of Fox (NWS) and NBC, Hulu has signed up more than 60 content providers to offer TV shows all from one Web site. Despite launching only a few months ago, it is already attracting 2.4 million unique visitors per month.

HOW THE BBC "KICK-STARTED THE MARKET"
How has the BBC, founded in 1922 and once so stodgy that Brits affectionately referred to it as "Auntie," been able to crack the Internet Age? Gartner's Daum reckons it comes down to three things. First, the Beeb's government-backed business model has allowed it to try new technologies without fear of angering cost-conscious shareholders. The BBC already has spent $11.3 million on R&D and technical investment to support iPlayer and figures to shell out a total of more than $260 million by 2011 on its ambitious video-on-demand plans. "You have to make it easy for someone to have a great time on the site," says Anthony Rose, the BBC's head of digital media technology.

Second, Daum says the BBC's dominant position in the British TV market has attracted viewers looking to access its large (and free) content library. According to Nick Thomas, a European media analyst at JupiterResearch in London, getting a critical mass of shows means people don't have to jump between different Web sites to watch their favorite programs. That makes the experience more customer-friendly and builds brand loyalty to the BBC's site.

Lastly, the BBC has used its large presence across TV, radio, and the Internet to raise awareness about the iPlayer. Cross-promotion, such as radio DJs or TV presenters telling audiences about the service, has helped boost iPlayer viewership by 20% per month from its December launch through April (the most recent month for which figures are available), to 21 million shows. "The iPlayer has really kick-started the market," says Rebecca Jennings, principal analyst at Forrester Research in Britain.

SOME CHALLENGES
The first few months of the iPlayer have also produced a host of lessons. The first, says Jupiter's Tulsiani, is that the more impatient nature of the online audience requires advertising breaks in programs, as well as the ads themselves, to be only about one-quarter as long as on TV. Ads also need to target specific audiences, he says. For now, advertisers are paying about a 50% premium for Net ads on a cost-per-viewer basis. But with fewer time slots available than on TV, analysts caution, the revenue to broadcasters may not be enough to make online services sustainable.

Another unexpected challenge has come from Internet service providers, which have complained bitterly about the amount of bandwidth being gobbled up by the iPlayer's streaming video. As more people start watching TV via the Net, ISPs say, content providers should help pay for the necessary infrastructure (extra switches, fiber-optic cables, etc.) needed to make video stream seamlessly. Complicating matters, some ISPs have made their own moves into online TV, which could lead to a battle between them and broadcasters to win over audiences.

Gartner's Daum figures both sides will find a way to live with each other. Broadcasters, for example, could cache their content on ISP servers. That would reduce the amount of bandwidth viewers use to watch programs online. Partnerships between ISPs and content providers also could limit the investment risk for companies looking to move into Internet TV.

European and American broadcasters must overcome such hurdles if they want to grab a piece of the online video market. But what they no longer have to worry about is whether there's consumer interest in Internet TV. That question, at last, has been answered by the success of the BBC's iPlayer.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1367 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:00:07 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1367 Liz Rosenberg told the Reuters news agency the couple's marriage "does not need saving" and that Ritchie is with his wife and children in New York.
She also denied reports that Madonna is dating baseball star Alex Rodriguez.
The comments follow speculation that the couple's eight-year relationship is on the rocks.
It had been reported in the UK tabloid press that Madonna had taken on Sir Paul McCartney's divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton to represent her.
'They have met'
Last week the Daily Mirror newspaper dedicated two front pages to the plight of the couple's marriage, claiming Madonna would announce her divorce after her world tour later this year.
Rodriguez, 32, who plays for the New York Yankees, was reported to have made late-night visits to Madonna's New York apartment.
Ms Rosenberg said: "Madonna and Alex have the same manager, Guy Oseary.
"They have met. They know each other and Madonna took her kids to a Yankees game last week. There's really not anything to comment on beyond that."
Madonna, 49, and Ritchie, 39, married in December 2000 at Skibo Castle in Scotland.
They have two sons together, seven-year-old Rocco and David Banda, whose adoption from Malawi was approved in May.
The singer also has an 11-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from an earlier relationship.]]> Liz Rosenberg told the Reuters news agency the couple's marriage "does not need saving" and that Ritchie is with his wife and children in New York.
She also denied reports that Madonna is dating baseball star Alex Rodriguez.
The comments follow speculation that the couple's eight-year relationship is on the rocks.
It had been reported in the UK tabloid press that Madonna had taken on Sir Paul McCartney's divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton to represent her.
'They have met'
Last week the Daily Mirror newspaper dedicated two front pages to the plight of the couple's marriage, claiming Madonna would announce her divorce after her world tour later this year.
Rodriguez, 32, who plays for the New York Yankees, was reported to have made late-night visits to Madonna's New York apartment.
Ms Rosenberg said: "Madonna and Alex have the same manager, Guy Oseary.
"They have met. They know each other and Madonna took her kids to a Yankees game last week. There's really not anything to comment on beyond that."
Madonna, 49, and Ritchie, 39, married in December 2000 at Skibo Castle in Scotland.
They have two sons together, seven-year-old Rocco and David Banda, whose adoption from Malawi was approved in May.
The singer also has an 11-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from an earlier relationship.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1366 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:59:05 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1366 The analysis of more than 900 people aged 90 or over, published in the journal Neurology, found it was far less likely in men of the same age.
The reasons are not clear - although older women are more prone to stroke and heart disease, both risk factors for dementia.
There are fears dementia could place a great strain on health services.

There have been few studies looking specifically at dementia in very old people, even though increases in life-expectancy mean that this is a fast-growing group.
Other studies have shown that dementia prevalence increases for both men and women between the ages of 65 and 85.
However, the Californian research found that the likelihood of having dementia doubled every five years in women after reaching 90, but not in men.
A total of 45% of the women had dementia, compared with 28% of men. It also suggested that women who had received higher education were much less likely to develop dementia than those will a lower level of education.

Care bill
Dr Maria Corrada, who led the study, said: "As more and more people reach age 90, our findings provide further evidence that more needs to be done to provide adequate resources to care for the increasing number of very old people with memory problems."
A recent report by the King's Fund suggested that the burden of dementia in the UK was likely to rise sharply over the next two decades as the population aged.
The total bill for care, it predicted, would more than double to over £35 billion a year, as the number of people with the illness rises past 900,000.
The Alzheimer's Society said, with this in mind, there was now an urgent to find out more about how gender affected the likelihood of dementia.
A spokesman said: "Previous research has suggested that, as they get older, women are more prone to stroke and heart disease.
"Both of these are risk factors for dementia so this may go some way in explaining the difference."]]> The analysis of more than 900 people aged 90 or over, published in the journal Neurology, found it was far less likely in men of the same age.
The reasons are not clear - although older women are more prone to stroke and heart disease, both risk factors for dementia.
There are fears dementia could place a great strain on health services.

There have been few studies looking specifically at dementia in very old people, even though increases in life-expectancy mean that this is a fast-growing group.
Other studies have shown that dementia prevalence increases for both men and women between the ages of 65 and 85.
However, the Californian research found that the likelihood of having dementia doubled every five years in women after reaching 90, but not in men.
A total of 45% of the women had dementia, compared with 28% of men. It also suggested that women who had received higher education were much less likely to develop dementia than those will a lower level of education.

Care bill
Dr Maria Corrada, who led the study, said: "As more and more people reach age 90, our findings provide further evidence that more needs to be done to provide adequate resources to care for the increasing number of very old people with memory problems."
A recent report by the King's Fund suggested that the burden of dementia in the UK was likely to rise sharply over the next two decades as the population aged.
The total bill for care, it predicted, would more than double to over £35 billion a year, as the number of people with the illness rises past 900,000.
The Alzheimer's Society said, with this in mind, there was now an urgent to find out more about how gender affected the likelihood of dementia.
A spokesman said: "Previous research has suggested that, as they get older, women are more prone to stroke and heart disease.
"Both of these are risk factors for dementia so this may go some way in explaining the difference."]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1365 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:56:46 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1365 London Brent crude rose by 74 cents to $145.00 in early Asian trade. Light sweet crude rose 81 cents to $144.38.
The rises follow earlier highs recorded in London and New York after the US government announced its oil stockpiles fell more than expected last week.
Global oil prices have doubled in the past year and risen by 45% since the start of 2008.
A combination of the weak US dollar, surging demand and concerns about supply disruptions in the Middle East and Africa have forced prices up.
This latest surge comes amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran.
Iran would respond "fiercely" to any attack against it, Foreign Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari said on the sidelines of the World Petroleum Congress in Madrid.
Top officials have been discussing measures to combat high prices and to increase long-term supplies at the meeting in the Spanish capital.]]> London Brent crude rose by 74 cents to $145.00 in early Asian trade. Light sweet crude rose 81 cents to $144.38.
The rises follow earlier highs recorded in London and New York after the US government announced its oil stockpiles fell more than expected last week.
Global oil prices have doubled in the past year and risen by 45% since the start of 2008.
A combination of the weak US dollar, surging demand and concerns about supply disruptions in the Middle East and Africa have forced prices up.
This latest surge comes amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran.
Iran would respond "fiercely" to any attack against it, Foreign Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari said on the sidelines of the World Petroleum Congress in Madrid.
Top officials have been discussing measures to combat high prices and to increase long-term supplies at the meeting in the Spanish capital.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1364 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:55:40 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1364 Ms Betancourt had been held for more than six years by the rebel Farc group and was their highest-profile captive.
President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia has congratulated the army on its success, and urged Farc to release its remaining hostages and seek peace.
The Farc has been fighting to overthrow the Colombian government for 40 years.

'Miracle'
Wearing military fatigues, a pale Ms Betancourt smiled as she emerged with other hostages from a military plane in the Colombian capital Bogota to be greeted by her mother and husband.

INGRID BETANCOURT


Born on 25 December 1961
Grows up in Paris
1989: Returns to Colombia
1994: Elected to lower house
1998: Becomes a senator
2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels

"God, this is a miracle... There is no historical precedent for such a perfect operation," she told media at the air base.
Breaking into tears, she appealed to Farc to free the other hostages and make peace.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had made the rescue of Ms Betancourt a foreign policy priority, was joined by her family at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
The freed hostage's son, Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt, told the news conference it was "the best moment of my life". His sister Melanie said it was like "emerging from a bad dream".
The siblings are flying to Colombia to be reunited with their 46-year-old mother.
Colombian Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said no-one had been hurt in Wednesday's operation in the southern province of Guaviare and that the 15 hostages were in relatively good health.

Naked and blindfolded
The rescued captives included three US defence department contract workers captured after their light aircraft crashed in the Colombian jungle in 2003.
The trio - Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell - have now arrived back in San Antonio, Texas, where they will undergo medical tests and be reunited with their families.

The other 11 people freed were members of the Colombian security forces who had been captured in various rebel attacks.
Mr Santos said the Farc rebels had been tricked into handing over the hostages by soldiers posing as members of a fictitious non-government organisation that supposedly would fly the captives to a camp to meet rebel leader Alfonso Cano.
"The helicopters, which in reality were from the army, picked up the hostages in Guaviare and flew them to freedom," he said.
Intelligence agents had infiltrated the guerrilla ranks and duped the local commander in charge of the hostages, alias Cesar, the defence minister said.
Cesar and another rebel who boarded the helicopter had been quickly overpowered and would now face justice, he added.

'Without a scratch'
Ms Betancourt later told a press conference she at first had had no idea she was being rescued until she found her captor himself captive naked and blindfolded on the floor of the aircraft.

"I saw this guerrilla commander, who had so often been cruel to us, on the floor," she said. "But I did not feel happiness. I felt sad."
Armed forces chief Gen Freddy Padilla said: "We wanted to have it happen as it did today. Without a single shot. Without anyone wounded. Absolutely safe and sound, without a scratch."
US ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield, said there had been "close cooperation" from the Americans, including sharing of intelligence, equipment and training advice.
World leaders welcomed the news and celebrations erupted on the streets of Colombian cities as crowds hailed the jungle rescue in a country plagued for decades by kidnappings.
The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin says the successful operation by Colombian security forces is a political and military coup for the country's government.
As such, it will relieve the pressure on President Uribe to negotiate with the Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - allowing him to continue with his US-backed military offensive against the group, our correspondent says.
The Farc had hoped to exchange some 60 political hostages for hundreds of rebels held by the Colombian government, he says, but with Ms Betancourt's rescue they have lost a powerful negotiating tool.

The news is yet another blow to the once-mighty Farc, our correspondent adds, following the death of its legendary leader Manuel Marulanda in March, along with two other members of the guerrilla group's seven-man ruling body.
The Farc still holds more than 40 high-profile hostages, among up to 700 other captives.
Video pictures released last November had shown Ms Betancourt looking gaunt and frail.
Accounts from freed hostages that she was in danger of dying had heightened the sense of urgency surrounding her fate, our correspondent adds.
Ms Betancourt has dual citizenship as the result of marriage to a French diplomat - since dissolved - which produced two children, who worked hard to keep her captivity in the spotlight.
The politician was kidnapped in February 2002 while campaigning in territory controlled by the Farc.]]> Ms Betancourt had been held for more than six years by the rebel Farc group and was their highest-profile captive.
President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia has congratulated the army on its success, and urged Farc to release its remaining hostages and seek peace.
The Farc has been fighting to overthrow the Colombian government for 40 years.

'Miracle'
Wearing military fatigues, a pale Ms Betancourt smiled as she emerged with other hostages from a military plane in the Colombian capital Bogota to be greeted by her mother and husband.

INGRID BETANCOURT


Born on 25 December 1961
Grows up in Paris
1989: Returns to Colombia
1994: Elected to lower house
1998: Becomes a senator
2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels

"God, this is a miracle... There is no historical precedent for such a perfect operation," she told media at the air base.
Breaking into tears, she appealed to Farc to free the other hostages and make peace.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had made the rescue of Ms Betancourt a foreign policy priority, was joined by her family at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
The freed hostage's son, Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt, told the news conference it was "the best moment of my life". His sister Melanie said it was like "emerging from a bad dream".
The siblings are flying to Colombia to be reunited with their 46-year-old mother.
Colombian Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said no-one had been hurt in Wednesday's operation in the southern province of Guaviare and that the 15 hostages were in relatively good health.

Naked and blindfolded
The rescued captives included three US defence department contract workers captured after their light aircraft crashed in the Colombian jungle in 2003.
The trio - Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell - have now arrived back in San Antonio, Texas, where they will undergo medical tests and be reunited with their families.

The other 11 people freed were members of the Colombian security forces who had been captured in various rebel attacks.
Mr Santos said the Farc rebels had been tricked into handing over the hostages by soldiers posing as members of a fictitious non-government organisation that supposedly would fly the captives to a camp to meet rebel leader Alfonso Cano.
"The helicopters, which in reality were from the army, picked up the hostages in Guaviare and flew them to freedom," he said.
Intelligence agents had infiltrated the guerrilla ranks and duped the local commander in charge of the hostages, alias Cesar, the defence minister said.
Cesar and another rebel who boarded the helicopter had been quickly overpowered and would now face justice, he added.

'Without a scratch'
Ms Betancourt later told a press conference she at first had had no idea she was being rescued until she found her captor himself captive naked and blindfolded on the floor of the aircraft.

"I saw this guerrilla commander, who had so often been cruel to us, on the floor," she said. "But I did not feel happiness. I felt sad."
Armed forces chief Gen Freddy Padilla said: "We wanted to have it happen as it did today. Without a single shot. Without anyone wounded. Absolutely safe and sound, without a scratch."
US ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield, said there had been "close cooperation" from the Americans, including sharing of intelligence, equipment and training advice.
World leaders welcomed the news and celebrations erupted on the streets of Colombian cities as crowds hailed the jungle rescue in a country plagued for decades by kidnappings.
The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin says the successful operation by Colombian security forces is a political and military coup for the country's government.
As such, it will relieve the pressure on President Uribe to negotiate with the Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - allowing him to continue with his US-backed military offensive against the group, our correspondent says.
The Farc had hoped to exchange some 60 political hostages for hundreds of rebels held by the Colombian government, he says, but with Ms Betancourt's rescue they have lost a powerful negotiating tool.

The news is yet another blow to the once-mighty Farc, our correspondent adds, following the death of its legendary leader Manuel Marulanda in March, along with two other members of the guerrilla group's seven-man ruling body.
The Farc still holds more than 40 high-profile hostages, among up to 700 other captives.
Video pictures released last November had shown Ms Betancourt looking gaunt and frail.
Accounts from freed hostages that she was in danger of dying had heightened the sense of urgency surrounding her fate, our correspondent adds.
Ms Betancourt has dual citizenship as the result of marriage to a French diplomat - since dissolved - which produced two children, who worked hard to keep her captivity in the spotlight.
The politician was kidnapped in February 2002 while campaigning in territory controlled by the Farc.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1363 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:19:28 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1363
Social travel site Tripwolf went into public beta Tuesday--and what a beast it is.
The massive international site, which has local versions in German- and English-speaking countries, is a travel guide, reviews site, social network, blogging platform, photo- and video-sharing site, wiki, and (soon, I'm told) travel booking site all rolled into one. It sounds overwhelming, and it is: every city page shows a map with points of interest, a brief overview of the city, a list of friends' recommendations in that location, several sections for user-submitted comments (e.g., best time to go) and content about that city pulled from elsewhere on the Web (e.g., YouTube). On the flip side, the Tripwolf city page does give you a quick overview of information about your destination, along with starting points for further research.

To Tripwolf's credit, the page layout helps ease the burden of slogging through so much content, and information is presented in a useful hierarchy. Destination pages start with professional content (Tripwolf is backed by MairDumont, Europe's largest publisher of travel guides), then show friends' recommendations for that city. User-added comments and content pulled from outside sources are left to the bottom of the page. It makes sense: when I'm planning a vacation, I want an expert source to provide background, and I want to know if my friends have any specific recommendations about the place I'm visiting. Only after I've taken those factors into account will I turn to reviews written by random strangers on the Internet.
As you choose locations to visit, you can drag and drop their listing information into your Scrapbook (located on the left navigation bar) for future reference. Unfortunately, the Scrapbook's location is static, so adding items from the bottom of the page requires a lot of scrolling back and forth. Once you've finalized your itinerary you can e-mail your Scrapbook to friends or have Tripwolf create a customized PDF city guide. The latter is better in concept than in execution--my "customized city guides" featured each listing on a separate page, which is a terrible waste of paper. It'd be better to download Tripwolf's pre-existing PDF city guide, which is essentially a digest of the information that's available at the site, plus a map and specific recommendations from a local expert, dubbed a Trip Guru.
Aside from the travel guides, Tripwolf incorporates some pretty standard social-networking features: you can add friends, send messages to other members, post your status/location, and mark your favorite places to visit. There's also a Journal section that is essentially a blog platform that also incorporates a map of places you've visited and would be especially nice for extended travels. Surprisingly, the site launched without the Trips section, which is still in development. (Then again, it is a beta.) This section will eventually provide flight- and hotel-booking services.
Overall, Tripwolf incorporates plenty of elements that other sites do better. But as one of the only sites shooting to become a one-stop shop for travel planning and travel-related social networking, it may yet find a passionate audience.]]>
Social travel site Tripwolf went into public beta Tuesday--and what a beast it is.
The massive international site, which has local versions in German- and English-speaking countries, is a travel guide, reviews site, social network, blogging platform, photo- and video-sharing site, wiki, and (soon, I'm told) travel booking site all rolled into one. It sounds overwhelming, and it is: every city page shows a map with points of interest, a brief overview of the city, a list of friends' recommendations in that location, several sections for user-submitted comments (e.g., best time to go) and content about that city pulled from elsewhere on the Web (e.g., YouTube). On the flip side, the Tripwolf city page does give you a quick overview of information about your destination, along with starting points for further research.

To Tripwolf's credit, the page layout helps ease the burden of slogging through so much content, and information is presented in a useful hierarchy. Destination pages start with professional content (Tripwolf is backed by MairDumont, Europe's largest publisher of travel guides), then show friends' recommendations for that city. User-added comments and content pulled from outside sources are left to the bottom of the page. It makes sense: when I'm planning a vacation, I want an expert source to provide background, and I want to know if my friends have any specific recommendations about the place I'm visiting. Only after I've taken those factors into account will I turn to reviews written by random strangers on the Internet.
As you choose locations to visit, you can drag and drop their listing information into your Scrapbook (located on the left navigation bar) for future reference. Unfortunately, the Scrapbook's location is static, so adding items from the bottom of the page requires a lot of scrolling back and forth. Once you've finalized your itinerary you can e-mail your Scrapbook to friends or have Tripwolf create a customized PDF city guide. The latter is better in concept than in execution--my "customized city guides" featured each listing on a separate page, which is a terrible waste of paper. It'd be better to download Tripwolf's pre-existing PDF city guide, which is essentially a digest of the information that's available at the site, plus a map and specific recommendations from a local expert, dubbed a Trip Guru.
Aside from the travel guides, Tripwolf incorporates some pretty standard social-networking features: you can add friends, send messages to other members, post your status/location, and mark your favorite places to visit. There's also a Journal section that is essentially a blog platform that also incorporates a map of places you've visited and would be especially nice for extended travels. Surprisingly, the site launched without the Trips section, which is still in development. (Then again, it is a beta.) This section will eventually provide flight- and hotel-booking services.
Overall, Tripwolf incorporates plenty of elements that other sites do better. But as one of the only sites shooting to become a one-stop shop for travel planning and travel-related social networking, it may yet find a passionate audience.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1362 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:16:02 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1362
Fans from all over the world can tune in to watch the entire Amsterdam performance of the British soul/pop singer for free. The live webcast starts at 20:00 CET.

Finally the entire recording will be included to Fabchannel’s online video archive. So should you some how miss the live webcast, you will still be able to watch the show later on in the archive.

The archive includes over 800 full-length concert recordings, including the likes of Kate Nash, Stereophonics, Amy Macdonald, Bloc Party and Paul Weller.

http://www.fabchannel.com/duffy]]>
Fans from all over the world can tune in to watch the entire Amsterdam performance of the British soul/pop singer for free. The live webcast starts at 20:00 CET.

Finally the entire recording will be included to Fabchannel’s online video archive. So should you some how miss the live webcast, you will still be able to watch the show later on in the archive.

The archive includes over 800 full-length concert recordings, including the likes of Kate Nash, Stereophonics, Amy Macdonald, Bloc Party and Paul Weller.

http://www.fabchannel.com/duffy]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1361 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:12:32 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1361
Actress Angelina Jolie has checked into a hospital in the south of France where it is expected she will give birth to twins, according to a report.
"She's very well. Everything is fine," Nadine Bauer, spokeswoman for the Lenval Hospital in Nice told the Associated Press news agency.
Bauer said Jolie, who is pregnant by actor Brad Pitt, would almost certainly stay in hospital until she gives birth.
Ms Bauer added that Jolie, 32, was not expected to give birth immediately.
She said the star's admittance to the maternity wing had been planned for some time and there was "no urgency", but refused to disclose when Jolie had checked in.
Jolie and Pitt already have one daughter together, called Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, who was born in Namibia in 2006.
The couple have also adopted three more children; Cambodian-born son Maddox; daughter Zahara, from Ethiopia and Pax, from Vietnam.

Speculation

Jolie confirmed she was expecting twins at the Cannes Film Festival in May after her Kung Fu Panda co-star Jack Black accidentally referred to them in an interview.
She has since said the babies are due in August.
Media speculation over the pregnancy has been intense - and the arrival of Jolie's twins has been erroneously reported on several occasions.
Brad Pitt's manager dismissed as "a rumour" an item on US TV show Entertainment Tonight in May which suggested Jolie had just given birth.
The French edition of Closer magazine made similar claims earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Britain's Now magazine has even claimed to know the names of the latest additions to the Jolie-Pitt family: Isla Marcheline and Amelie Jane.]]>
Actress Angelina Jolie has checked into a hospital in the south of France where it is expected she will give birth to twins, according to a report.
"She's very well. Everything is fine," Nadine Bauer, spokeswoman for the Lenval Hospital in Nice told the Associated Press news agency.
Bauer said Jolie, who is pregnant by actor Brad Pitt, would almost certainly stay in hospital until she gives birth.
Ms Bauer added that Jolie, 32, was not expected to give birth immediately.
She said the star's admittance to the maternity wing had been planned for some time and there was "no urgency", but refused to disclose when Jolie had checked in.
Jolie and Pitt already have one daughter together, called Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, who was born in Namibia in 2006.
The couple have also adopted three more children; Cambodian-born son Maddox; daughter Zahara, from Ethiopia and Pax, from Vietnam.

Speculation

Jolie confirmed she was expecting twins at the Cannes Film Festival in May after her Kung Fu Panda co-star Jack Black accidentally referred to them in an interview.
She has since said the babies are due in August.
Media speculation over the pregnancy has been intense - and the arrival of Jolie's twins has been erroneously reported on several occasions.
Brad Pitt's manager dismissed as "a rumour" an item on US TV show Entertainment Tonight in May which suggested Jolie had just given birth.
The French edition of Closer magazine made similar claims earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Britain's Now magazine has even claimed to know the names of the latest additions to the Jolie-Pitt family: Isla Marcheline and Amelie Jane.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1360 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:08:32 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1360 Patients would not have to get their doctor's approval for non-hospital care abroad, commission officials are quoted as saying.
The proposals are due to be announced on Wednesday. They will then be discussed by EU ministers and Euro MPs.
Only costs similar to those in a patient's home state would be covered.
Non-hospital care would be reimbursed by the home state up to the level the patient could expect at home, according to reports.
But the state would not reimburse expensive treatment received abroad that was unavailable in the patient's home country.

Skipping queues

The package is seen as an effort to give patients greater freedom in choosing where they get treatment, and to answer critics who say the EU is too remote from ordinary citizens' concerns.
About 1% of operations carried out across the EU involve people who come from other countries.
But "health tourism" - patients going abroad for treatment - has received wide publicity in recent years.
The commission's package would help bring EU rules in line with European Court of Justice rulings, such as one in 2006, which said the UK's National Health Service should reimburse a woman for a hip replacement operation she had in France.
The woman, Yvonne Watts, won the argument that patients facing "undue delays" in the queue for operations should be entitled to treatment in other EU countries. She paid £3,900 for the operation.
Currently the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) provides emergency care across the EU for patients who fall ill while abroad.
The scheme only applies to those who have health insurance at home.]]> Patients would not have to get their doctor's approval for non-hospital care abroad, commission officials are quoted as saying.
The proposals are due to be announced on Wednesday. They will then be discussed by EU ministers and Euro MPs.
Only costs similar to those in a patient's home state would be covered.
Non-hospital care would be reimbursed by the home state up to the level the patient could expect at home, according to reports.
But the state would not reimburse expensive treatment received abroad that was unavailable in the patient's home country.

Skipping queues

The package is seen as an effort to give patients greater freedom in choosing where they get treatment, and to answer critics who say the EU is too remote from ordinary citizens' concerns.
About 1% of operations carried out across the EU involve people who come from other countries.
But "health tourism" - patients going abroad for treatment - has received wide publicity in recent years.
The commission's package would help bring EU rules in line with European Court of Justice rulings, such as one in 2006, which said the UK's National Health Service should reimburse a woman for a hip replacement operation she had in France.
The woman, Yvonne Watts, won the argument that patients facing "undue delays" in the queue for operations should be entitled to treatment in other EU countries. She paid £3,900 for the operation.
Currently the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) provides emergency care across the EU for patients who fall ill while abroad.
The scheme only applies to those who have health insurance at home.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1359 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:06:34 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1359 On Tuesday crowds claiming Sunday's polls had been rigged torched a ruling party building and clashed with police.
Dozens were injured and the president has declared a state of emergency.
Formal election results have not yet been released but preliminary results give the governing Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) a clear win.
Returns suggest the ruling MPRP has taken at least 45 seats in the 76-seat parliament, but the opposition Democrats allege fraud.

'Necessary force'

Several thousand people gathered on to the streets of the capital after the preliminary results emerged on Tuesday.
The ruling party headquarters were set alight and government offices were looted. Paintings were destroyed by a fire at the national art gallery, Mongolia's Montsame news agency said.
Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon to force stone-throwing protesters back.
Dozens of people were injured and local media reports suggest at least three people were killed.
In a late night move, President Nambaryn Enkhbayar announced a four-day state of emergency, to run from 2330 on Tuesday.
"Police will use necessary force to crack down on criminals who are looting private and government property," said Justice Minister Munkhorgil.
By Wednesday morning some areas were sealed off and roadblocks were in place, a AP writer in Ulan Batur said, but shops were open and transport was running.
Lawmakers and officials will meet in the capital later in the day for emergency talks on the situation, Montsame said.

Mineral row

Both the MPRP and international observers say the polls were free and fair.
But Democratic Party leader Tsakhia Elbegdorj said his party was robbed of victory.
"If most people voted for us why did we lose? We lost because... corrupt people changed the results," he said.
This is the fifth election since Mongolia adopted wide-ranging economic and politic reform in 1990.
Before that, its government was modelled on that of the neighbouring Soviet Union.
The MPRP ruled Mongolia from 1921-1996, when it was beaten by the Democrats. In 2004 the two parties were forced into an uneasy coalition but broke apart two years later.
The two parties disagree on how newly-found mineral reserves - copper, gold and coal - should be best exploited.]]> On Tuesday crowds claiming Sunday's polls had been rigged torched a ruling party building and clashed with police.
Dozens were injured and the president has declared a state of emergency.
Formal election results have not yet been released but preliminary results give the governing Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) a clear win.
Returns suggest the ruling MPRP has taken at least 45 seats in the 76-seat parliament, but the opposition Democrats allege fraud.

'Necessary force'

Several thousand people gathered on to the streets of the capital after the preliminary results emerged on Tuesday.
The ruling party headquarters were set alight and government offices were looted. Paintings were destroyed by a fire at the national art gallery, Mongolia's Montsame news agency said.
Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon to force stone-throwing protesters back.
Dozens of people were injured and local media reports suggest at least three people were killed.
In a late night move, President Nambaryn Enkhbayar announced a four-day state of emergency, to run from 2330 on Tuesday.
"Police will use necessary force to crack down on criminals who are looting private and government property," said Justice Minister Munkhorgil.
By Wednesday morning some areas were sealed off and roadblocks were in place, a AP writer in Ulan Batur said, but shops were open and transport was running.
Lawmakers and officials will meet in the capital later in the day for emergency talks on the situation, Montsame said.

Mineral row

Both the MPRP and international observers say the polls were free and fair.
But Democratic Party leader Tsakhia Elbegdorj said his party was robbed of victory.
"If most people voted for us why did we lose? We lost because... corrupt people changed the results," he said.
This is the fifth election since Mongolia adopted wide-ranging economic and politic reform in 1990.
Before that, its government was modelled on that of the neighbouring Soviet Union.
The MPRP ruled Mongolia from 1921-1996, when it was beaten by the Democrats. In 2004 the two parties were forced into an uneasy coalition but broke apart two years later.
The two parties disagree on how newly-found mineral reserves - copper, gold and coal - should be best exploited.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1358 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:03:06 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1358 Mr Mandelson told the BBC his job had been made more difficult, and he would continue to negotiate a trade deal on behalf of the EU's 27 states.
He said EU concessions would boost the world economy and developing nations.
Mr Sarkozy said the commissioner's plan to cut agricultural subsidies and tariffs would destroy European jobs.
The French leader made his comments on Tuesday as France began its six-month presidency of the EU.

'Mystified'

Mr Sarkozy's attack came just days after he said Mr Mandelson had been a factor in Ireland's referendum rejection of the EU's Lisbon Treaty.
Mr Mandelson told the BBC's Newsnight programme he was "mystified" that the French president had blamed him over the Irish No vote.
And he continued: "I am being undermined and Europe's negotiating position in the world trade talks is being weakened and I regret that.
"It is very disappointing because the mandate on which I am negotiating in the world trade talks - and trying on Europe's behalf to bring them to a successful conclusion - has been agreed by all the member states."
The British commissioner added: "I regret that Mr Sarkozy's intervention last night will make it harder for me."
Mr Sarkozy has accused Mr Mandelson of preparing to sell out European farmers in his search for a world trade deal.

France's EU presidency is off to a bumpy start
France has fiercely defended the EU's Common Agricultural Policy and its subsidies for farmers against any reforms in the name of free trade.
The French have set out ambitious plans on immigration, the environment and defence for their presidency.
But it was already off to a bumpy start even before Mr Mandelson's rebuke.
On Tuesday, Mr Sarkozy criticised Polish President Lech Kaczynski after he said he would not ratify the EU reform treaty.
Mr Kaczynski said that to do so would be "pointless" after its rejection by the Irish.]]> Mr Mandelson told the BBC his job had been made more difficult, and he would continue to negotiate a trade deal on behalf of the EU's 27 states.
He said EU concessions would boost the world economy and developing nations.
Mr Sarkozy said the commissioner's plan to cut agricultural subsidies and tariffs would destroy European jobs.
The French leader made his comments on Tuesday as France began its six-month presidency of the EU.

'Mystified'

Mr Sarkozy's attack came just days after he said Mr Mandelson had been a factor in Ireland's referendum rejection of the EU's Lisbon Treaty.
Mr Mandelson told the BBC's Newsnight programme he was "mystified" that the French president had blamed him over the Irish No vote.
And he continued: "I am being undermined and Europe's negotiating position in the world trade talks is being weakened and I regret that.
"It is very disappointing because the mandate on which I am negotiating in the world trade talks - and trying on Europe's behalf to bring them to a successful conclusion - has been agreed by all the member states."
The British commissioner added: "I regret that Mr Sarkozy's intervention last night will make it harder for me."
Mr Sarkozy has accused Mr Mandelson of preparing to sell out European farmers in his search for a world trade deal.

France's EU presidency is off to a bumpy start
France has fiercely defended the EU's Common Agricultural Policy and its subsidies for farmers against any reforms in the name of free trade.
The French have set out ambitious plans on immigration, the environment and defence for their presidency.
But it was already off to a bumpy start even before Mr Mandelson's rebuke.
On Tuesday, Mr Sarkozy criticised Polish President Lech Kaczynski after he said he would not ratify the EU reform treaty.
Mr Kaczynski said that to do so would be "pointless" after its rejection by the Irish.]]> http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1357 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:00:32 -0500 http://discovereuropetalk.com/showthread.php?tid=1357 The pressure group says France uses a catch-all offence to charge suspects even when they have only a vague link to an alleged terrorist organisation.
The report also says suspects can face long periods of detention before trial, and some have suffered physical violence during interrogation.
HRW says ministers need to take action or risk alienating some communities.
The BBC's Hugh Schofield, in Paris, says France prides itself on having perhaps the most effective anti-terrorist system in Europe.
The country has a team of specialist magistrates operating in close contact with the intelligence services, and an armoury of finely-honed laws to tackle the threat of terrorism, our correspondent says.
Since the mid 1990s there has been no serious terrorist attack.
But according to HRW, that level of security comes at the cost of some important breaches of natural justice.
The prime focus of the group's displeasure is the catch-all criminal charge under which the vast majority of terrorist suspects are held and tried.
The offence of "criminal association in relation to a terrorist undertaking" is excessively vague, HRW says.
It means that people face prosecution because of the flimsiest of links to an alleged terrorist operation.
The other main criticism concerns the way suspects are treated once in custody.
They cannot see a lawyer for three days, and then for only 30 minutes.
After being presented before a judge, they can be locked away in pre-trial detention for months or even years as the case against them is compiled.
HRW also says it has evidence of mistreatment of prisoners, including sleep deprivation, psychological pressure and physical abuse.
It urges the French government to take steps to address these problems, or risk alienating the communities from which future terrorist groups could emerge.]]> The pressure group says France uses a catch-all offence to charge suspects even when they have only a vague link to an alleged terrorist organisation.
The report also says suspects can face long periods of detention before trial, and some have suffered physical violence during interrogation.
HRW says ministers need to take action or risk alienating some communities.
The BBC's Hugh Schofield, in Paris, says France prides itself on having perhaps the most effective anti-terrorist system in Europe.
The country has a team of specialist magistrates operating in close contact with the intelligence services, and an armoury of finely-honed laws to tackle the threat of terrorism, our correspondent says.
Since the mid 1990s there has been no serious terrorist attack.
But according to HRW, that level of security comes at the cost of some important breaches of natural justice.
The prime focus of the group's displeasure is the catch-all criminal charge under which the vast majority of terrorist suspects are held and tried.
The offence of "criminal association in relation to a terrorist undertaking" is excessively vague, HRW says.
It means that people face prosecution because of the flimsiest of links to an alleged terrorist operation.
The other main criticism concerns the way suspects are treated once in custody.
They cannot see a lawyer for three days, and then for only 30 minutes.
After being presented before a judge, they can be locked away in pre-trial detention for months or even years as the case against them is compiled.
HRW also says it has evidence of mistreatment of prisoners, including sleep deprivation, psychological pressure and physical abuse.
It urges the French government to take steps to address these problems, or risk alienating the communities from which future terrorist groups could emerge.]]>