Georgia Asian Times May 15-31, 2014

Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia

www.gasiantimes.com

May 15-31, 2014

Rice or wheat? How grains define cultural identity

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May 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

Georgia Asian Times May 15-31, 2014

Publisher: Li Wong Account Manager: Adrian West Contributors: Andrian Putra, May Lee, Mark Ho

Tel: 678-971-9388 Advertising: gat@gasiantimes.com Editorial: info@gasiantimes.com URL: www.gasiantimes.com Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4502 Suwanee GA 30024 Copyright Georgia Asian Times 2004-2013

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All Rights Reserved: including those to reproduce this printing or parts thereof in any form without permission in writing from Georgia Asian Times. Established in 2004, the Georgia Asian Times is published by Asiamax Inc. All facts, opinions, and statements appearing within this publication are those of writers and editors themseleves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions, endorsements by Georgia Asian Times or its officers.

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The Publisher reserves the right to reject any ad or articles submitted for publication that may not be in good taste for a free publication.

GAT Calendar of Events GAT welcome submission of announcement pertaining to community related events.

Please email event, date, venue, and time to gat@gasiantimes.com.

GAT does not guarantee insertion of event announcement and has the right to deny any posting.

Indian Professionals Network (IPN) 2.0 Date: Thursday, May 15, 2014 Time: 6:30 pm - 9:15 pm Venue: Ashiana Indian Restaurant, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross GA 30071 For more info: Mustafa Ajmeri, 678463-6613 Grand Opening Ceremony: New Health & Wellness Senior Center

by M&J Foundation Date: Saturday, May 24, 2014 Time: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Venue: 2775 Cruse Road, Lawrencille GA 30044 For more info: 404-468-5776 Philippines: Asia’s New Emerging Tiger Economy 3rd Private Sector-led Investment Roadshow in the U.S. Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 Time: 2:00 - 4:00 pm Business Forum 4:00-5:00 pm One-on-one Business Meetings Venue: UPS World HQ, 55 Glenlake

Parkway, NE, Atlanta GA 30328 For more info: Ray Donato, 404-4425667 or email: atlphilconsul@gmail. com BABC Transatlantic Business Conference 2014 Organized by British American British Group Date: May 20-22, 2014 Venue: Intercontinental Hotel For more info: www.babc2014atlanta. com GAT 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia ~ Awards Presentation Date: Thursday, July 10, 2014 Time: 6:30 pm Venue: TBA Sponsorship opportunities available For more info: gat25@gasiantimes. com Laotian American National Alliance (LANA) Conference “Next generation Leadership: Connec-

tions and Building Bridges” Date: August 1-2, 2014 Venue: UPS World HQ, 55 Glenlake Parkway, NE, Atlanta GA 30328 For more info: Anasone Silivongxay, email: anasone.lana@gmail.com Bridal Extravaganza of Atlanta Date: Sunday, August 17, 2014 Time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Venue: Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart building 2 West, 230 Spring Street, Atlanta GA 3030 For more info: www.beabride.net

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival Atlanta Date: Saturday, September 13, 2014 Time: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Venue: Clarks Bridge - Kayaking Facility, Lake Lanier, Gainesville For more info: www.dragonboatatlanta.com 10th Atlanta Asian Film Festival Date: October 10-24, 2014 Venues: TBA For more info: www.atlaff.org

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May 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

METRO ASIAN NEWS Former head of English Language School and owner of Korean Times Atlanta sentenced for immigration fraud Atlanta, May 7, 2014 – Dong Seok Yi, the former head of College Prep Academy in Duluth, Georgia and a co-conspirator have been sentenced at a U.S. Court for bringing illegal aliens into the country and issuing them fraudulent immigration documents.

“This defendant’s fraud scheme exploited a federal program that offers valuable educational opportunities to foreign students, and he instead took advantage of this program for his own personal gain,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “It’s especially disappointing when someone victimizes a program like this that is designed to give foreign students a beneficial educational experience.”

“The Student and Visitor Exchange Program provides foreign students with a valuable opportunity to be educated in the United States,” said Brock D. Nicholson, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Atlanta. “By abusing the system to disguise workers as students, the defendant and his co-conspirators sought to enrich themselves and have damaged the educational experience of their legitimate students. HSI and our partners at the FBI will continue to work together to bring those who attempt to undermine the integrity of our immigration system to justice.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: Dong Seok Yi was the President and CEO of an English language school named College Prep Academy (CPA). He also owns the Korean Times Atlanta, a newspaper company. In 2009, Yi filed an application with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Student and Exchange Visitor Program, and obtained

approval for CPA to enroll foreign-born students and issue I-20 forms, which enable students to stay in the United States. Foreign-born students who are issued I-20s from universities and other institutions of higher education can get F-1 student visas permitting them to remain in the United States during the time of their schooling.

Once Yi obtained Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification for CPA, he and his co-defendants began facilitating the issuance of F-1 student visas to foreign-born individuals who were not entitled to, or eligible for, the visas. Yi conspired with Korean bar owners to enroll females into the school with the understanding that the females would not attend classes as required but would instead work in the bars, which are also known as room salons. CPA issued the females fraudulent I-20s that included false financial information.

Co-defendant Sook An Kil, a/k/a Stacy Kil, 42, of Duluth, Ga., who was the Academic Coordinator and Designated School Official for CPA, signed the I-20s under penalty of perjury.

She also certified in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, a computerized system maintained by the Department of Homeland Security, that CPA’s “students” were active and attending class even though many never attended. Student and Exchange Visitor Information System records show that the school claimed enrollment of up to 100 students when less than half that number were attending class. Many simply began living and working in the country after obtaining a student visa from CPA. Yi, 53, of Duluth, and co-defendant Chang Seon Song, 52, of Suwanee, the

former Academic Director for CPA, referred individuals to another co-defendant, Sang Houn Kim a/k/a Chris Park, 54, of Diamond Bar, Calif., to obtain false documents to support their F-1 visa applications. Kim manufactured and provided fraudulent passports, I-94 forms, school transcripts, bank statements, family registries, and other false documents to illegal immigrants to use in support of applications for F-1 visas. Kim charged the aliens thousands of dollars for the fraudulent documents. Yi and CPA profited by charging thousands in quarterly tuition payments for maintaining the immigrant on the student rolls.

Yi was sentenced to one year, ninth months in prison. Kim was sentenced to one year in prison by United States District Judge Orinda D. Evans. Both defendants were sentenced to three years of supervised release. The Court also ordered the forfeiture of $36,867 from the bank accounts associated with the school, which were seized at the time of the defendants’ arrests and the execution of a federal search warrant at the school. On February 7, 2014, Yi was convicted of immigration document fraud after pleading guilty. On January 8, 2014, Kim was convicted of conspiring to commit immigration document fraud after pleading guilty.

Song and An Kil are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Evans on July 1, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. Both have pleaded

guilty to conspiring to commit immigration document fraud. In determining the sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen H. McClain, Susan Coppedge, and G. Jeffrey Viscomi are prosecuting the case.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Given the enforcement action against College Prep Academy’s owner, designated school official, and academic director, investigators have been working with the U.S. Department of State – Consular Affairs Section to provide legitimate and prospective students with information regarding their options for maintaining their F-1 status. Students were given the option of enrollment and transfer to another accredited educational program or returning to their home countries voluntarily.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Information Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.

Georgia Asian Times May 15-31, 2014

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METRO ASIAN NEWS APAC celebrates 29th Unity Gala Duluth, May 3, 2014 — Asian Pacific American Council of Georgia (APAC), a federation of Asian American community organizations celebrated the May’s Asian American Pacific Islanders Heritage Month celebration with a unity gala and scholarship awards.

P1040040Foreign dignitaries including Kazuo Sunaga, Consul General of Japan, Steven Tai, Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and Ajit Kumar, Consul General of India are in attendance with over 200 guests for the evening.

Four Asian American students awarded National Merit Scholarships Corporation Duluth, May 9, 2014 — Four Asian American students were awarded National Merit Scholarship Corporation by three sponsoring corporations. graduation cap diploma isolated on a white backgroundThe Georgia Pacific Foundation, the Novartis Group, and the Northrup Grumman Corporation have selected four Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) high school seniors as the recipients of their scholarships.

The three corporations sponsoring the Gwinnett students are part of a group of 200 companies, foundations, and other business organizations that finance these scholarships by collaborating with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Annually, these companies sponsor promising graduating seniors who are finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Corporate organizations generally provide awards for finalists who are children of their employees, residents of communities the company serves, or have plans to pursue majors or careers the grantor wishes to encourage. Most of the awards are renewable for up to

four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $500 to $10,000 per year.

Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000.

The students from Duluth High, a set of twin boys from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and a fourth student from Peachtree Ridge High; are the GCPS recipients of this year’s Corporate-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships. The Gwinnett students join another 996 students from around the nation.

The 2014 winners from Gwinnett are: Duluth High School: Angela L. Zhang Probable career field: Neuroscience National Merit Novartis Scholarship Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology: Mark Wang Probable career field: Computer science National Merit Northrop Grumman Scholarship

Congressman Rob Woodall (7th District), Congressman Hank Johnson (4th District), Mark Butler, Georgia Commissioner of Labor, B.J. Pak, Georgia House of Rep (108th District) and Pedro Marin Georgia House of Rep (96th District), and Judge Carla Wong McMillian, Georgia Court of Appeals are among the prominent guest for the celebration.

Michael Wang Probable career field: Engineering National Merit Northrop Grumman Scholarship Peachtree Ridge High: Nitant Rupesh Dandekar Probable career field: Computer LLC science National Merit Georgia-Pacific Scholarship Approximately 1.5 million students entered the competition last school year as juniors by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as the initial screening. As the highest scoring entrants in each state, these academically talented students were then invited to apply for a finalist spot.

APAC awarded scholarships to students who excel in their academic achievements: Anna Meas (senior, Parkview High School), Camille Siena Mapua (senior, Wheeler High School of Magnet Program), Crystal Senesombath (senior, Forsyth Central High School), Jillian Grace Tan, Jin Noh (senior, Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology), Julia Han (senior, Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology), Khin San Ngwe, Monica Acharya (senior, Lakside High School) and Nancy Nguyen (senior, Berkmar High School).

APAC also honored Dr. Josephine Tan of Georgia Power, who recently retired for her contribution and support of the Asian American community.

That level was determined by looking at the student’s academic record throughout high school, an endorsement/recommendation by an official from their school, and a self-descriptive essay and information about their participation and leadership in school and community activities.

The scholarship recipients can use their award at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.

For more information, contact the National Merit Scholarship Corporation by calling 847-866-5100 or sending an e-mail to mediainfo@ nmerit.net.

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METRO ASIAN NEWS

May 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

Medient Studios signed Joint Venture with Tarantella Pictures to tap lucrative Pan Asian market Effingham County, May 6, 2014 – Medient Studios has entered into a joint venture with Tarantella Pictures as part of the group’s strategy to create a content and distribution pipeline for diversified audiences worldwide.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop, finance, produce and distribute content for the Chinese and other Asian Pacific markets.

Gwinnett officials celebrate Diverging Diamond Interchange success with ribbon cutting Duluth, May 6, 2014 — As the first eight-lane Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) operational in the U.S. and the first DDI constructed in Gwinnett County, Gwinnett officials officially celebrate the success of the new DDI at Pleasant Hill over I-85 with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

P1040121 State Rep. Pedro Marin, state Rep. Dewey McClain, Commissioner Lynette Howard, State Transportation Board member Rudy Bowen, State Road and Tollway Director Chris Tomlinson, Gwinnett Place CID board member Mark Williams, David Snell of E.R. Snell Contractor, Commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash and Commissioner Jace Brooks.

“This has been a wild success for taxpayers,” said Congressman Rob Woodall at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

“Count me among the citizenry whose life is better because people dared to dream,” adds the Congressman.

“This is truly an exemplary private-public partnership. This innovative project is made possible by the

SPLOST sales tax program, a grant from State Road and Tollway Authority, and Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District,” said Charlotte Nash, Chair of Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners in her remarks.

The DDI has been opened and operational since June 9, 2013. The interchange was designed by the URS Corporation and constructed by E.R. Snell Contractor.

Official cost projection to replace the Pleasant Hill Bridge with a new bridge comes closed to $60 million.

After much research, officials decided to opt for the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) which cost about 10 percent of a new bridge construction.

“This project has been a signature infrastructure project for the CID and is a symbol of the re-emergence of Gwinnett Place as the community’s central business district,” said Joe Allen, Executive Director, Gwinnett Place CID.

Medient Studios is currently building the biggest movie studio in North America located in a 1500 acres property near Savannah in Effingham County. The new $90 million studio is expected to employ up to 1200 people with a massive video gaming and music venue complex on site.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Tarantella Pictures is the leading production house in Malaysia, producing films such as Lagenda Budak Setan and Ombak Rindu. Ombak Rindu is the third highest box office grosser in

Malaysia’s history. Deeply entrenched in the Far East Market, Tarantella Pictures was established in 1995 in Indonesia by Sharad Sharan. The company has produced more than 70,000 minutes of programming. Out of the 38 television shows the company produced, 30 were listed on the top ten list of Indonesian television.

Several films from the region have broken out to be box office smash hits in the USA including last year’s Raid Redemption and Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon which did $128M in US domestic revenue.

“Approximately 60% of the world’s population lives in Asia. We see a comprehensive presence in Asia as a cornerstone of our strategy for the future. This relationship will leverage our existing strength in the Indian market and create a viable pan Asian platform,” said Manu Kumaran, Chairman of the Board of Medient Studios in a release statement.

Festival Director of Atlanta Dragon Boat Festival resign Jackson Chang is leaving his position as President of the Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in which he also functioned as the Festival Director.

Gene Hanratty, Chairman of the Board and Founder of the Festival, will step back into the position of Festival Director he held for 17 of the last 19 years on an interim basis until a new Festival Director can be identified.

Gene Hanratty announced that Jackson Chang submitted his resignation a little more than a week ago.

He said that Jackson submitted his resignation based on his current health condition as he continues his battle with cancer. Mr. Hanratty said that the Festival Director position would again be Jackson’s for the asking should his health improve and the Board approve his return.

Mr. Hanratty said that Jackson has been pivotal in helping the Festival to improve over the past two years with the numerous improvements he made.

He further stated that “Jackson had a certain energy that was contagious to all around him associated with the Festival and that he will be sorely missed and that we should all pray for Jackson’s continued health as he continues his battle with cancer.”

Mr. Hanratty said that anyone who might have an interest in becoming the Festival Director should contact him directly either by Tel: 404.788.8818 or email at gene@hongkongatlanta.com This year’s festival will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2014, at Lake Lanier where it has been held for the past 14 years. Registration is open on line at www.dragonboatatlanta.com

Georgia Asian Times May 15-31, 2014

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BUSINESS

Korean heavy equipment manufacturer to invest in Hall County

Georgia’s tourism industry generated $53.6 Billion record high Atlanta, May 7, 2014 – Georgia Tourism, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced that tourism demand generated $53.6 billion in business sales including direct, indirect and induced impact in 2013, up 4.5 percent, according to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics.

“After surpassing $50 billion in 2012, we are now building on that momentum as Georgia continues to attract more visitors year over year,” said Chris Carr, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “The impact of the industry goes beyond the visitors themselves – the tourism industry sustained more than 411,000 jobs directly or indirectly, making up 10.2 percent of all jobs in the state.”

According to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics, Georgia’s visitor impact now stands 18 percent

higher than its pre-recession level in 2007. In 2013, visitor spending generated $2.8 billion in state and local tax revenue in Georgia. In addition, every Georgia household benefited from state and local tax savings of $770 as a result of the tourism industry’s tax contribution.

Georgia Tourism Division joins hundreds of cities, states and travel-related businesses nationwide in recognition of the 32nd annual National Travel and Tourism Week, to be held May 3-11. Designated by Congress and established by presidential proclamation in 1983, National Tourism Week celebrates the value and scope of the nation’s $887.9 billion travel and tourism industry, and the economic and social contributions it brings to Georgia. This year’s theme, “Travel Effect,” proves that the travel experience and the travel industry as a whole have a measurable and purposeful impact.

Atlanta, May 1, 2014 — A heavy construction equipment parts manufacturer from South Korea has officially announced a $10 million investment in Oakwood Industrial Park in Hall County over the next five years. us_korea_flag_puzzleJinsung TEC founded 1982 joins more than 60 Korean facilities in Georgia that employs over 7,000 Georgians, according to Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD).

The new location in Georgia will establish the company’s manufacturing facility in the Southeast U.S. and will supply idlers to the Caterpillar facility near Athens.

Hiring for the new facility will begin in July 2014. Production at the facility will focus on the under carriage parts of automotive equipment – primarily rollers, idlers and sprockets.

“We are very excited to make this announcement today,” said Yoojeung Ha, Project Manager, Jinsung T.E.C. “We’ve been running a small warehouse operation in Georgia for 6 years.

Now, we are ready to expand our capability to become a full manufacturing facility.

“Hall County continues to grow its international business ties to Korea and the world, and Jinsung TEC is a welcome addition to our business community,” said Kit Dunlap, CEO – Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce.

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May 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

FEATURE Those from rice provinces were also more likely to reward their friends and less likely to punish them, showing how the ties within the group prevailed in social and business interactions.

“It’s easy to think of China as a single culture, but we found that China has very distinct northern and southern psychological cultures and that southern China’s history of rice farming can explain why people in southern China are more interdependent than people in the wheat-growing north,” said Talhelm.

Rice or wheat? How grains define cultural identity WASHINGTON, May 11, 2014 — Ever wondered why cultures can be so different, with Westerners more focused on the individual than people in the East?

Psychologists said Thursday that the divide may come down to which crops are historically farmed in different regions.

This “rice theory,” described in the journal Science, holds that people who traditionally grow paddy rice become more collective and holistic over time because of the intense labour involved and the need for cooperation among neighbours.

In contrast, those who live in regions that grow wheat think more independently and analytically, in large part because the crop requires half the labour and not nearly the same need for cooperation as rice, researchers argued.

“We propose that the rice theory can partly explain East-West differences,” said the study led by Thomas Talhelm, a University of Virginia doctoral student in cultural psychology.

“You do not need to farm rice yourself to inherit rice culture,” he added.

Since a host of differences exist between cultures across the world and could be linked to religion, politics, climate or technology, researchers decided to narrow their focus to China, where the Yangtze River roughly divides the wheat-growing north from the rice-growing south.

Researchers tested 1,162 Han Chinese — China’s majority — students from six different locations using measures of cultural thought, implicit individualism and loyalty or nepotism.

Some tasks involved picking two related objects from a basic diagram of a person’s social circle; and dealing with friends versus strangers in a business transaction.

They found that people in rice-growing regions tended to choose more abstract pairings, while people from wheat cultures tended to pick more analytical pairs.

People from rice-growing regions tended to draw themselves smaller than wheat-region people when constructing diagrams of social networks, suggesting wheat people saw themselves as more important than others.

He said he first noticed differences in outlook and attitude while studying in China for several years from 2007.

Co-authors on the study came from Beijing Normal University, South China Normal University, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The study also found evidence that more successful patents for inventions came from areas where less rice was grown, signalling a potential link between wheat growing and innovation.

“This doesn’t nail it, but is consistent with the broader idea and will no doubt drive much future inquiry,” said an accompanying Perspective article in Science by Joseph Heinrich of the University of British Columbia.

Georgia Asian Times May 15-31, 2014

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LIFESTYLE

About 46 per cent of white children are considered “proficient” in reading, compared with 18 per cent of black children and 20 per cent of Hispanic kids.

Those gaps remained relatively unchanged over the past 20 years, according to the report.

“To go 20 years with no progress in that area is shameful,” Rideout said.

US children read, but not well or often enough, says report New York, May 12, 2014 — Although American children still spend part of their days reading, they are spending less time doing it for pleasure than decades ago, with significant gaps in proficiency, according to a report released today.

The San Francisco-based nonprofit Common Sense Media, which focuses on the effects of media and technology on children, published the report, which brings together information from several national studies and databases.

“It raises an alarm,” said Vicky Rideout, the lead author of the report.

“We’re witnessing a really large drop in reading among teenagers and the pace of that drop is getting faster and faster.”

one study that they read for pleasure less than twice a year.

Of those who read or are read to, children tend to spend on average between 30 minutes and an hour daily with that activity, the report found.

Older children and teenagers tend to read for pleasure for an equally long time each day.

Rideout cautioned that there may be difference in how people encounter text and the included studies may not take into account stories read online or on social media.

The report also found that many young children are struggling with literacy. Only about one-third of fourth grade students are “proficient” in reading and another one-third scored below “basic” reading skills.

The report found that the percentage of nine-year-old children reading for pleasure once or more per week had dropped from 81 per cent in 1984 to 76 per cent in 2013, based on government studies. There were even larger decreases among older children.

Despite the large percentage of children with below-basic reading skills, reading scores among young children have improved since the 1970s, according to one test that measures reading ability.

A large portion rarely read for pleasure. About a third of 13-year-olds and almost half of 17-year-olds reported in

The reading scores among 17-yearolds, however, remained relatively unchanged since the 1970s.

The report highlights some behaviors that have been tied to children being more frequent readers. Those behaviors include parents setting aside time to read with their children and parents reading themselves to model good behavior.

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EVENTS

May 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

29th APAC Unity Gala - May 3, 2014

Performers from Nepalese Association.

L-R: Bora Lam, Sopheap Lam, Dr. Kim Reimann.

Members of Laotian American Society of GA.

Flags representing various ethnic Asian heritage.

Members of Filipino American community.

L-R: Steven Tai, DG TECO Atlanta, Rob Woodall, Congressman (7th Dist), Le Doan, Joe Allen, Gwinnett CID

L-R: Jay Kalke, Dr. Narsi Narasimhan, Charlie Yoong Kim

State Rep. BJ Pak and his lovely daughter.

Members of Vietnamese American Community of GA.

Georgia Asian Times May 15-31, 2014

EVENTS

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Grand Opening Ceremony - Atlanta Maxim Realty International New Office, May 3, 2014

Ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Atlanta Maxim Realty International new office in Peachtree Corners.

Tim Le, Managing Director of Atlanta Maxim Realty International welcoming the guests to the ceremony.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Pleasant Hill Road Diamond Divergent Interchange (DDI), May 6, 2014

Charlotte Nash, Chair of Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, addressing the guests at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Diamond Divergent Interchange (DDI).

Ribbon cutting for the new Diamond Divergent Interchange on May 6, 2014 led by Charlotte Nash.

Joe Allen, Executive Director, Gwinnett Place CID, been instrumental in the completion of the DDI project.

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May 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

TECH

Parrot said it will sell separately a Skycontroller accessory dock for mobile devices to boost flying distances to about 1.2 miles.

A homing feature lets people controlling Bebop drones order them to return automatically to where they took-off using GPS capabilities, according to Seydoux.

Parrot launching smartphonecontrolled drones San Francisco, May 12, 2014 — Wireless products maker Parrot unveiled a drone yesterday aimed squarely at smartphone or tablet owners keen on getting bird’s eye views of the world.

Parrot billed its Bebop Drone as a flying high-quality camera that will land in the market in the final three months this year.

The Paris-based maker of wireless accessories for automobiles and handheld mobile devices did not disclose how much it plans to charge for the drones.

“The experience is like being a bird, an insect,” Parrot founder and chief Henri Seydoux said while providing an early look at Bebop drones in San Francisco.

“You fly through the device and see the same thing as if you were a bird.”

A Bebop drone can be controlled using smartphones or tablet computers powered by Apple or Android software, displaying on screens what is captured by its high-definition camera with a 180-degree “fish-eye” view.

The drones can also sync to Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets, letting wearers essentially look around by moving their heads as though they are actually flying.

Consumer targets for the drones, which are essentially motion-stabilized cameras, include people who want to capture aerial shots for movies made using smartphones or tablets.

Bebop drones link to mobile devices using standard Wi-Fi connections and have ranges of about 300 meters (980 feet).

A 2.2-pound Bebop drone, whose camera is taken aloft by four propellers, buzzed like a swarm of bees as it swooped, circled and hovered in an inner courtyard at a historic former US mint building in downtown San Francisco.

The drones are designed to fly indoors or outdoors.

Imagery captured by drones is stored and can be digitally downloaded after Bebops return from flights, according to Parrot product manager Francois Callou.

Bebop drones will debut as communities and regulators grapple with privacy concerns, aviation risks and other issues raised by personal or business use of such devices in the skies.

Georgia Asian Times May 15-31, 2014

Page 13

SPORTS

Sun Yang makes comeback in style Beijing, May 13, 2014 — Chinese swimming star Sun Yang returned to the pool in style by winning a national title after a six-month ban for his latest run-in with authorities, sparking an online debate today.

Sports officials suspended the double Olympic champion from competition, national team training and commercial activities last November after he was given seven days’ detention for driving a Porsche without a license.

He won the 200m freestyle title on his comeback at the Chinese National Swimming Championships yesterday, clocking an impressive 1:46.04.

Sun became a huge star in China after winning the 400m and 1500m freestyle golds at London 2012, and took three titles at the world championships last year.

But the 22-year-old sparked controversy when he was found not to have a license after a white Porsche Cayenne he was driving was rear-ended by a bus in Hangzhou, his hometown in eastern China.

Sports authorities said ‘he violated the basic principles of morality and went against the spirit of sport’, state media previously reported.

His latest victory was met with mixed feelings from Chinese sports fans.

‘This is someone without morals,’ one netizen posted today on Sina Weibo, a Chinese equivalent of Twitter.

‘It is not his nature that is bad, but he just has the heart of a child,’ another user responded.

‘Congratulations on your return,’ said one more positive poster.

Sun was previously embroiled in controversy after his long-time coach Zhu Zhigen told him to end his relationship with a flight attendant.

The two fell out over the issue, and Sun was accused of lacking respect for his mentor.

Amid the row, The Zhejiang College of Sports issued a stern statement accusing Sun of ‘breaking a series of team rules’, which domestic media said included breaking night-time curfews and refusing to train.

Brendan Rodgers named Manager of the Year London, May 13, 2014 — Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers was named the League Managers Association’s (LMA) ‘Manager of the Year’ on Monday after he helped lift the Merseyside club out of the doldrums and took them to the brink of the Premier League championship.

The LMA also honored Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis with the Premier League Manager of the Year award for an impressive six months in which he replaced Ian Holloway mid-season and pulled the club out of relegation danger.

Liverpool, after finishing seventh a year ago in Rodgers’ first season in charge, had been in pole position to win the title before late slip-ups to Chelsea and Crystal Palace saw them finish second, two points behind Manchester City.

“There can be no greater tribute to a manager and his work than a tribute awarded by his matchday foes and peers,” LMA Chairman Howard Wilkinson said of the award, voted on by all coaches in England’s four professional leagues.

“For Liverpool and Brendan, I’m sure we all hope this season marks the beginning of a new voyage and a new era.”

Under Welshman Pulis’s watch, Palace went from strength to strength, finishing 11th after a five-match winning streak and only one loss in their last eight games.

“We finished sixth in the Championship last season and 11th in the Premier League this season. That’s a 15 place jump!” British media quoted Pulis as saying at the awards ceremony.

“This is a community club based in the most densely populated area in London and has a great opportunity of pushing forward,” he said on Palace’s website.

“We’ve got to stay in the Premier League for the next two or three years to realize what we can eventually achieve.”

Georgia Asian Times May 15-31, 2014

Page 15

HEALTH 40 is not too late to hit the gym Even if you are above 40, it is not too late to hit the gym as researchers have found that “relatively intense” endurance exercises confer benefits on the heart irrespective of the age at which a person begins fitness training.

“Despite biological changes with age, the heart still seems - even at the age of 40 - amenable to modification by endurance training,” said David Matelot from the “Inserm 1099” research unit at the University of Rennes in France.

“Starting at age 40 does not seem to impair the cardiac benefits,” he added.

The study was performed with 40 healthy men (without cardiovascular risk factors) aged between 55-70 years who were divided for assessment according to the level of exercise they took and the ages at which they began.

Ten people had never exercised for more than two hours a week throughout their lives, and 30 had exercised for at least seven hours a week for over five years - either beginning their programs before age 30 or after age 40.

When the researchers tested the men on fitness measures like heart rate and maximal oxygen uptake, both groups of men who trained regularly fared about equally, and significantly better than their peers who had never trained.

“It is never too late to change your way of life and get more physically active,” Matelot said.

“Using the stairs rather than the elevator, or gardening regularly, can also be beneficial,” said the findings recently presented at the “EuroPRevent Congress” in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Take aspirin or not? Simple test to decide Pop an aspirin daily to prevent heart attack just on your friend’s advise? Slow down as researchers have now devised a simple test that can measure plaque in arteries of heart to help doctors better determine who will benefit from the use of aspirin therapy.

Your coronary artery calcium (CAC) score - a measurement of plaque in the arteries that feed the heart - decides whether or not you are a good candidate for aspirin.

“Many heart attacks and strokes occur in individuals who do not appear to be at high risk. Individuals with known CVD (cardiovascular disease) should take a daily aspirin, but the best approach for individuals without known CVD is unclear,” said Michael D. Miedema from Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, US. According to him, if we only treat high-risk individuals with aspirin, we

are going to miss a substantial portion of patients who eventually suffer heart attacks.

The results in both the groups held true even after accounting for traditional risk factors.

However, liberally prescribing aspirin increases the bleeding risk for a significant number of people who were never going to have a heart attack in the first place.

Aspirin helps prevent heart attacks and strokes by preventing blood clots from forming in arteries lined with unhealthy plaque build-up.

In this significant study, researchers studied 4,229 participants including those who had no known CVD or diabetes, were not on aspirin therapy, and were followed for approximately seven years.

They estimated that participants with elevated CAC scores were twofour times more likely to benefit from aspirin therapy than to be harmed.

Conversely, participants with no calcified plaque were two-four times more likely to be harmed by aspirin use than to benefit.

However, this same benefit puts patients taking aspirin at risk for dangerous bleeding, when blood clots do not form where they should.

“If you don’t have any calcified plaque, then use of aspirin would result in more harm than good, even if you have risk factors for heart disease such as high cholesterol or a family history of the disease,” Miedema cautioned.

The study has been published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Beauty super food: Green tea New York, May 9, 2014 — It’s the must have beauty ingredient of the moment. From Estée Lauder to L’Occitane, top brands are clamoring to use green tea in their beauty products.

And it’s no surprise why when you consider the benefits. Derived in China, green tea has now become popular all over the world thanks to the myriad of health benefits it offers.

Several studies have found that those who drink green tea regularly are at a lower risk of developing heart diseases and even cancer.

And from a beauty perspective, premature aging, acne and puffy eyes are just some of the issues green tea can tackle when applied topically.

For starters, green tea’s anti-bacterial properties are hugely effective in fighting acne bacteria. Green tea contains catechins, which are anti-bacterial agents that suppress acne-causing bacteria and help regulate hormonal imbalances.

It also boasts potent anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce the redness and inflammation brought about by spots.

Aside from acne-reducing benefits, green tea also contains high level of oligomeric proanthocyanidins – some of the most powerful antioxidants known to scientists. These antioxidants help ward off premature aging by fighting free radicals and healing damaged cells. This essentially slows down the aging process by preventing

cell oxidation, which damages your skin tissue and can give you a prematurely aged and worn appearance.

Green tea also contains vitamin K, which is a proven ingredient in the battle against dark circles and puffy eyes.

And it isn’t only skin which reaps the benefits, green tea is good for teeth too. One of the antibacterial properties found in green tea can actually kill the bacteria that creates plaque and it is also associated with protecting against gum disease.

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May 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

Misc Asia India wraps up six weeks of voting in world’s largest election With 814 million eligible voters, the world’s biggest election has been taking place in a series of phases over six weeks with final results expected on Friday.

Modi’s Hindu opposition BJP went into the election with strong momentum on promises of economic growth but must face off competition from Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of India’s anti-corruption party, and Ajay Rai of the Congress party, which has engendered deep dissatisfaction after 10 years in power.

A recent poll by the Pew Research Center said 63 percent of Indians prefer the BJP over the incumbent Congress party.

Rahul Gandhi, the 43-year-old vice president of the ruling party and scion of the Gandhi family, has hit the campaign trail to urge voters to stick with Congress.

Exit polls are expected Monday night after the final round of voting ends, but they are notoriously unreliable in such a vast and populous nation.

Indians turned out in large numbers to vote, with the Election Commission saying turnout over the six weeks in 502 parliamentary constituencies up to May 8 was 66.27 percent, up from 58.13 percent in the 2009 elections.

Thousands lined up early Monday to vote in the revered Hindu holy city of Varanasi as the temperature was expected to soar to 42 degrees Celsius (107 Fahrenheit).

A clash erupted as voting opened in West Bengal state, where Ajay Dasgupta, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) spokesman, accused governing Trinamool Congress workers of firing at his party supporters, wounding four.

The clash was reported in a village 20 miles northeast of Calcutta, the state capital. The Trinamool Congress party denied the charge.

Vietnam marks historic victory against French colonialism

Elections in India are generally considered free and fair, with even the powerful often falling to defeat. But there are also challenges, with age-old traditions of caste loyalty, patriarchy and nepotism often influencing voting patterns.

Amid numerous ceremonies in France this year marking the centenary of WWI and the 70th anniversary of D-day, another war milestone is being conveniently overlooked: the Viet Minh’s defeat of French troops in Dien Bien Phu 60 years ago.

This year’s election was bitterly fought, and often marred by religious divisions and personal attacks.

In Vietnam, however, memorial ceremonies and a full array of festive events were being held on Wednesday. To Vietnamese, the Dien Bien Phu battle that ended on May 7, 1954 was not just a heroic blow to its former colonial master, but a founding moment in the country’s history.

The BJP’s carefully crafted and well-financed campaign promises good governance at a time when the ruling Congress party has been plagued by repeated scandals.

Party leader Rahul Gandhi has generally failed to inspire the public, leaving many analysts to predict that the BJP will likely emerge with the largest number of seats in the 543-member parliament.

If Modi is successful in his political bid he will replace Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 81, a respected economist handpicked by Sonia Gandhi after she returned Congress to power. But Singh’s reputation recently took a hit with the release of a new book by his former press aide, who portrays him as a powerless puppet.

Commemorations were concentrated in Dien Bien Phu itself, near Vietnam’s northwest border with Laos. A full military parade was set to include members from the different branches of Vietnam’s military, as well as enlisted men and women marching in period garb. Wreaths were being laid and incense burned in honour of the battle’s fallen soldiers.

The rest of the country was also getting in on the excitement. “The victory belongs to all Vietnamese, so the festivities are being organised across the country,” said Hao Tran, a presenter and reporter for Vietnam’s state television network.

“Congratulatory billboards have been unfurled everywhere and each prov-

ince is hosting its own music concert,” Tran added.

Special anniversary shows were also slated to take over Vietnamese television and radio airwaves nationwide.

“Television channels are going overboard with tons of documentaries,” said another TV journalist in Ho Chi Minh City who was not authorised to speak on the record. “Many shows have been pulled from the normal schedules to make room for special anniversary programming.”

He said that besides the fact that it was the 60th anniversary of the battle, commemorations this year had another particular significance: Vo Nguyen Giap – the general credited with crafting the triumph over the French – died in October, and Wednesday’s anniversary will be the first one without the venerated hero.

Historic miscalculation The tactical genius and folly that were displayed in Dien Bien Phu have been carefully studied and frequently commented on over the past half century, but the battle is perhaps most significant as a milestone in the history of liberation movements worldwide.

When French colonial forces in Indo-

Georgia Asian Times May 15-31, 2014

Page 17

Misc Asia china began setting up a base in the strategic Dien Bien Phu valley in November 1953, they miscalculated General Giap’s ability to surround their position and move tons of artillery by hand and over rough jungle terrain.

The French surrendered after a twomonth siege that has been likened to the gruesome trench warfare of World War I, and in which the Viet Minh sacrificed some 10,000 lives. The First Indochina War ended shortly after the battle, effectively finishing France’s colonial presence in East Asia.

South Korea names three ferry disaster ‘martyrs’ Seoul, May 12, 2014 — South Korea on Monday recognized three people who died saving others in last month’s ferry capsize as national “martyrs” -lending a heroic chapter to a disaster narrative dominated by accusations of cowardice, corruption and incompetence.

and most of the crew who were among the first to abandon ship and have been widely vilified for leaving trapped passengers to die.

All three were part-time crew members, including an engaged couple -- Kim Ki-Woong and Jung Hyun-Seon -- who could have escaped the sinking vessel but stayed to help trapped passengers.

The confirmed death toll from the disaster stood at 275 Monday, with 29 still unaccounted for as dangerous conditions suspended recovery operations for a third straight day.

The third was Park Ji-young, 21, the youngest crew member, who became a public hero after it emerged that she had given her lifejacket to a passenger as she sought to guide people to safety.

Being designated martyrs entitles them to burial at a national cemetery, and their families will be eligible for financial compensation, medical assistance and other incentives.

The behavior of the part-timers stood in stark contrast to the captain

As the Vietnamese drew a curtain over the conflict with French forces, new hostilities against the United States of America were just beginning.

For its own part, France would soon be drawn into another war in Algeria (1954-62), which would signal its death as a colonial power.

pride for Vietnamese, the TV presenter Tran says Wednesday’s commemorations cannot be summed up as jingoistic revelry.

“It’s a moment that marked the history of Vietnam, so we always want to celebrate it, but not to show any arrogance,” Tran said.

“In Vietnam we want peace, we are done with war. We say that our unity allowed us to win at Dien Bien Phu, and unity will allow us to develop our country. That’s what the victory should inspire in people today,” he noted.

As for lingering resentment toward the French, Tram says to look elsewhere. “There is no [anger] left, even among most veterans, and less so when it comes to young people.”

No resentment While the Dien Bien Phu victory seems to be an unremitting source of

All 15 surviving crew members, including the captain, have been arrested.

The 6,825-tons ferry Sewol capsized and sank off the southern coast on April 16.

Divers have been unable to access the submerged vessel since Saturday morning, with strong tides and heavy swells pushing conditions beyond the safety limit.

There is intense pressure on the recovery teams to wrap up the grim task of pulling every body from the ferry as soon as possible.

The families of those still missing oppose raising the vessel until every body has been retrieved.

Initial investigations suggest the ferry was carrying up to three times its safe cargo capacity.

But the search, in near-zero visibility, is becoming increasingly dangerous, with some partition walls on the ship warping and at risk of collapse.

The Sewol’s regular captain, who was off duty on the day of the accident, has told prosecutors that the ferry operator -- Chonghaejin Marine Co -- “brushed aside” repeated warnings that the 20-year-old ship had stability issues following a renovation in 2012.

“We will put the priority on the safety of divers when they search through dangerous areas,” coastguard spokesman Ko Myung-Suk told a daily briefing.

The Sewol was carrying 476 people when it sank after listing sharply to one side and then rolling over.

Of those on board, 325 were children from a high school on an organised trip to the southern resort island of Jeju.

Five Chonghaejin officials, including the company’s head, have been arrested on various charges including manslaughter, negligence and breaches of safety regulations.

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May 15-31, 2014 Georgia Asian Times

TRAVEL

London’s hidden treasure: Jermyn Street Home to perfumers, barbers, tailors, and a certain fortnum & mason department store, this oft-overlooked London street revels in its long history and quirkiness.

Close to the clubs of Pall Mall, within earshot of Horse Guards Parade, and a casual stroll away from Buckingham Palace, Jermyn Street is in the heart of London’s West End. But there’s so much more to this diverse, famous street than its location and its reputation for shirts, says men’s outfitter Philip Turner of Smart Turnout – there are some real hidden treasures.

From shirt-makers Turnbull and Asser at the street’s western end, to Paxton & Whitfield, Britain’s oldest cheese shop (established 1797), a man need never leave the street. There’s classic British luxury from Alfred Dunhill and a huge range of cigars from Davidoff’s premises too.

But first, Philip says, “You need to take a short detour off Jermyn Street and head down Duke of York Street.

On the left you will find Ormond Yard and Briggs the barber.” Single-handedly run by 90-year-old Greek, Phillip.

“He has been cutting hair for at least 60 years, and first cut my father’s when he joined the army and still does today.

You might not need a haircut, but both Phillip and the shop are an absolute gem.

“You can’t walk down Jermyn Street without seeing the famous Fortnum & Mason, another favourite haunt of my father’s, and I remember being taken there on several occasions for an expensive cup of tea and cakes.”

Next, there’s Geo F. Trumper, better known simply as Trumper’s: “Another old-fashioned barber, quirky and perhaps a little expensive and eccentric, but well worth a visit.” It is visited almost as frequently for its eclectic range of colognes and aftershaves as it is for a trim.

For lunch, there’s Rowley’s – something of a St James’s institution, venerated for its entrecôte steak, chips, and secret butter sauce, housed within the original Wall’s meatmakers. For the afternoon, there is Piccadilly Arcade and Princes Arcade dating from 1830 – “Two wonderful arcades full of a

variety of shops, a mixture of both old and new. At the top of Princes Arcade you will find Smart Turnout.” Nearby are shoemaker Oliver Sweeney and confectioner (to the Queen, no less) Prestat.

In the evening, there’s only one place to be – private members’ club and

restaurant Tramp. Don’t let the name deceive you, though. Opened in 1969, Tramp has entertained more than its fair share of celebrities, including Frank Sinatra and The Beatles. “Nightclubs come and go, but this one has been around for a while and is well worth a visit.”