Covering The Multicultural Asian American Community in Georgia
www.gasiantimes.com November 15-30, 2018
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November 15-30, 2018 Georgia Asian Times
Georgia Asian Times November 15-30, 2018
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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.
Gwinnett 200th Birthday Celebration Date: Sat, Dec 15, 2018 Time: 6:00 pm Venue: Gwinnett Infinite Arena The Ruby Gala - Celebrating40 years of U.S-China Relations Special Guest: Former President Jimmy Carter Date: Thursday, Jan 17, 2019 Time: 5:30 pm Reception; 6:30 pm Dinner & Program Venue: Fernbank Museum of Natural history For more info: www.naca-atlanta.org
Contact: Jennifer Rose and Rose Pak ATLANTA • 770.457.8118 iig-insurance.com
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November 15-30, 2018 Georgia Asian Times
METRO ASIAN NEWS Yayoi Kusama’s “Infinity Mirrors” advanced tickets sold out but limited tickets available daily Atlanta, November 13, 2018 – Advance tickets for “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors” at the High Museum of Art are sold out. A limited about of tickets (about 100) will be available on-site at the Museum each day for walk-up purchase beginning on Nov 18. Those tickets will be available on first-come, first served basis and will be valid for that date only. The exhibition provides visitors with the unique opportunity to experience six of the artist’s Infinity Mirror Rooms – her iconic kaleidoscopic environments-as well as additional large scale installation, sculptures, paintings, works on paper, and archival photographs and films from the early 1950s though the present. The exhibition features numerous new works by the 89 year old artist, who is regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and is still very active in her Tokyo studio. New works include vibrantly colored paintings and the recently completed infinity room “All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins” (2016), featuring dozens of Kusama’s signature bright-yellow, dotted pumpkin sculptures. Spanning the entire second floor of the High’s Wieland Pavilion, the exhibition allow visitors to take once-in-a lifetime journey though more than 60 years of Kusama’s creative genius. The exhibition begins with the artist’s original landmark installation, “Infinity Mirror Room- Phalli’s Filed”, featuring a vast expanse of red dotted
white tubers in a room lined with mirrors, which create a dazzling illusion of infinite space. The exhibition also features “Infinity Mirrored Room-Love Forever”, a hexagonal chamber into which viewers peer from the outside to see colored flashing lights that reflect endlessly from ceiling to floor. The work is a re-creation of Kusama’s legendary 1966 mirror room “Kusama’s Peep Show” in which the artist staged group performances in her studio. Kusama’s signature bold polka dots will be featured in “Dots Obsession-Love Transformed into Dots”, a domed mirror room surrounded by inflatable suspended from the ceiling. “Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms open onto places within the imagination that are beautiful and transcendent. Like sensory deprivation chambers, they leave the viewer grappling to reconcile the totality of the cosmos with a sense of microcosmic infinity within the body,” said Michael Rooks, the High’s Wieland Family curator of modern and contemporary art. Also on view in the exhibition is a selection of more than 60 paintings, sculptures and works on paper, including many of Kusama’s infrequently shown collages, which she made after returning to Japan following a stay in New York City from 1957 to 1973. These works trace the “Accumulation” assemblages to recent paintings and soft sculptures, which highlight recurring themes of nature and fantasy, utopia and dystopia, unity and isola-
tion, obsession and detachment, and life and death. The exhibition will conclude with Kusama’s iconic participatory installation “The Obliteration Room”, an allwhite replica of a traditional domestic setting. upon entering, visitors will cover every surface of the furnished gallery with multicolored polka dot stickers to gradually engulf the entire space in color.
The exhibition will be on view at the High from Nov 18, 2018 though Feb 17, 2019. For more informtion, visit the www.high.org
Georgia Asian Times November 15-30, 2018
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NATION
U.S. business spending slowing; housing market weak Washington DC, November 21, 2018 - New orders for key U.S.-made capital goods were unexpectedly unchanged in October and shipments rebounded modestly, which could temper expectations of an acceleration in business spending on equipment early in the fourth quarter. While other data on Wednesday showed home resales rising last month after six straight monthly declines, house purchases remained sharply down this year. Sluggish business spending on equipment together with a lackluster housing market could stoke fears that higher interest rates are hurting the economy. There was also disappointing news on the labor market. The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits rose to more than a four-month high last week. “The economy may have seen its best day already for growth and prosperity back a couple of months ago in late summer,” said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG. “Winter is coming for the economic outlook where business investment spending looks to be topping out, and companies have let a few workers go.” The Commerce Department said the flat reading in orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, followed a downwardly revised 0.5 percent drop in September. These so-called core capital goods orders were previously reported to have dipped 0.1 percent in September.
Last month, there were declines in orders for primary metals and machinery. That offset increases in orders for fabricated metal products, computers and electronic products, as well as electrical equipment, appliances and components. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast core capital goods orders rising 0.2 percent last month. Core capital goods orders increased 6.4 percent on a year-on-year basis. Shipments of core capital goods rose 0.3 percent in October after a downwardly revised 0.2 percent drop in the prior month. Core capital goods shipments are used to calculate equipment spending in the government’s gross domestic product measurement. They were previously reported to have slipped 0.1 percent in September. Business spending on equipment stalled in the third quarter and is faltering despite the Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion tax cut. Some companies including Apple Inc used their tax windfall to buy back shares on a massive scale. Spending on equipment could also be undercut by declining oil prices. Brent crude has dropped about 28 percent since early October amid rising concerns about slowing global growth. In a separate report on Wednesday, the National Association of Realtors said existing home sales rose 1.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.22 million units last month. Sales, however, were 5.1 percent lower
than in October 2017, the sharpest 12-month drop since July 2014. The report came on the heels of data on Tuesday showing a second straight monthly decline in single-family homebuilding in October. FOCUS ON FED The raft of tepid economic data, a sharp stock market selloff and signs of slowing global growth likely will put the Federal Reserve under the spotlight. Officials at the U.S. central bank have recently started talking about headwinds to domestic growth. The Fed is expected to raise interest rates in December for the fourth time this year. The dollar .DXY was trading lower against a basket of currencies on Wednesday. U.S. Treasury prices fell, while stocks on Wall Street rebounded after a brutal two-day drop. Lack of growth in core capital goods orders in October suggests that shipments of these goods could drop in November, posing a downside risk to GDP estimates for the fourth quarter. Economists say the White House’s “America First” policies, which have resulted in tit-for-tat tariffs with major trade partners as well as a trade war with China, are also weighing on business investment. “It appears that businesses are becoming more concerned about domestic growth and the negative impact on trade conflicts and future trade relationships, and may be more reluctant
to up their investment,” said Jennifer Lee, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto. A third report on Wednesday from the Labor Department showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 224,000 for the week ended Nov. 17, the highest level since the end of June. Data for the prior week was revised to show 5,000 more applications received than previously reported. Economists had forecast claims slipping to 215,000 in the latest week. The four-week moving average of initial claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, rose 2,000 to 218,500 last week. The claims data covered the survey period for the nonfarm payrolls component of November’s employment report. The four-week average of claims rose by 6,750 between the October and November survey weeks, suggesting some moderation in job growth this month. “The initial claims data signal some softening in the labor market in that period relative to the reference week for the October report,” said Daniel Silver, an economist at JPMorgan in New York. Payrolls increased by 250,000 jobs in October, with the unemployment rate holding near a 49-year low of 3.7 percent. - Reuters
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November 15-30, 2018 Georgia Asian Times
BUSINESS At what cost? Debate swirls on ‘giveaways’ after Amazon HQ deal WASHINGTON, Nov 18 — As the winners of the biggest corporate prize in decades — the new Amazon headquarters — relished their victory, debate was still raging over the billions of dollars in incentives offered to attract the fast-growing US technology colossus. The new Amazon “HQ2” with an estimated US$5 billion investment creating 50,000 new jobs will be split between the Long Island City district in New York and Crystal City, a Virginia community across the Potomac River from the US capital Washington. Officials in both communities welcomed what they said would be a major economic boost from Amazon in creating jobs, new facilities and infrastructure, and that the plans would be positive for public coffers. But critics warned that tax incentives and investments from state and local governments — up to US$3 billion in New York and US$2.5 billion in Virginia — may outweigh the economic benefits from Amazon’s investments. Amazon’s search for incentives — derided by some as a Hunger Games competition — is a common practice in the United States. A Brookings Institution report, based on New York Times data, estimates some US$90 billion given annually in corporate incentives from state and local governments. Do incentives work? Michael Farren, a George Mason University research fellow who specialises in corporate relocations,
said these kinds of incentives rarely make the difference in a company decision. “Corporate relocation decisions are made on the basis of things that have deeper impact on the business’ bottom line, like the availability of a skilled workforce,” he said. “So why do they do this? It’s because otherwise politicians couldn’t claim credit for the deals.” Farren noted that Amazon could have won even heftier tax benefits if it had crossed the Potomac into Maryland which offered a package worth more than US$8 billion, or chose to locate west of New York in Newark, where US$7 billion was being offered. Still, the deal has faced criticism from those claiming Amazon does not need what some describe as “corporate welfare.” “One of the wealthiest companies in history should not be receiving financial assistance from the taxpayers while too many New York families struggle to make ends meet,” New York Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said on Twitter. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democrat elected to Congress from a district that includes part of Queens, voiced similar concerns, tweeting that, “We need to focus on good health care, living wages, affordable rent. Corporations that offer none of those things should be met w/ scepticism.”
The deal has been hit from the right as well, with conservative economist Veronique de Rugy writing in the National Review: “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Ocasio-Cortez is mostly correct on this matter, and her conservative critics are wrong. Handouts like this to Amazon and other prominent companies are appalling in their cronyism, pure and simple.” Farren said subsidies distort the economy and that instead of betting on a specific company or industry, cities should focus on improvements to education and infrastructure that make them attractive places to live and work. ‘Taxpayers protected’ But Tom Stringer, a corporate real estate advisor with the consulting firm BDO, said critics of the Amazon deal may not be reading the fine print. “Both states are getting terrific deals if things come to fruition,” Stringer told AFP. Stringer said that the agreements are structured as “pay as you go programs,” and that “if Amazon does not deliver they are not getting the benefits. Taxpayers are pretty well protected.” Nonetheless, the question of public subsidies has come into sharper focus with deals concerning Amazon and Foxconn, a Taiwan-based electronic firm that produces for Apple and other major firms and agreed to build a factory in Wisconsin. The US$3 billion in incentives for Foxconn — projected to grow to US$4 billion — to create 13,000 jobs amounts to a subsidy of more than US$200,000 per job, compared with around US$20,000 per
job for Amazon. Stringer said the Foxconn deal, which was announced by President Donald Trump, had some “highly unusual” elements compared to Amazon’s. “There are a lot of political implications with Foxconn that are very different from what’s on display with Amazon,” he said. Wisconsin boondoggle? Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who negotiated the Foxconn deal, lost his re-election bid this month amid concerns over the rising costs and estimates for lower job creation. Even some companies have begun to acknowledge problems with the tradition of public subsidies. Walt Disney Co sent a letter to the city of Anaheim, California, earlier this year asking for an end to tax breaks, saying they created an “adversarial climate.” But Stringer argued that incentives remain “critically important” as a way to lure businesses and spur economic development. “Everybody is kidding themselves if they think incentives don’t make a difference,” he said. Darrell West, head of governance studies at Brookings, said that “it is important (for officials) to be hard-nosed about negotiations so that both sides benefit from these deals.” He also acknowledged that companies like Amazon and Foxconn “had clear bargaining advantages because of the size of their possible investment.”
Georgia Asian Times November 15-30, 2018
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BUSINESS Automaker groups warn US tariffs will undermine new Nafta deal WASHINGTON, Nov 16 — US automakers and parts suppliers yesterday warned that President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs and threatened car tariffs would undermine the benefits of the new deal to modernise the North American Free Trade Agreement, causing widespread job losses. At a wide-ranging hearing before the US International Trade Commission, labour representatives said the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) fails to include adequate enforcement of labour standards, while Southeastern US fruit and vegetable growers said it leaves them vulnerable to subsidised Mexican competition. The testimony will feed into a study by the commission on the economic impact of the trade deal reached on September 30, which could heavily influence support for it in the US Congress. A vote on the pact is not expected until the spring of 2019, following a lengthy consultation process. Several automotive trade groups said side letters to the USMCA deal that allow Canada and Mexico duty-free auto import quotas in the event that Trump imposes car tariffs was an indication that such a move seemed inevitable. The Trump administration is considering recommendations from the Commerce Department
on whether to impose tariffs on national security grounds under Section 232 of a Cold War-era trade law. No decisions have been made, but President Donald Trump has frequently threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on autos and parts to pressure the European Union and Japan to make trade concessions. “If implemented, increased auto tariffs would not only undermine the potential success of the USMCA, they would also pose a material threat to the economy and may result in the loss of as many as 700,000 jobs across the US,” said Jennifer Thomas, vice president of government affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. The groups also said the failure of the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to lift steel and aluminum tariffs have cost the industry billions of dollars and trade turmoil in general has paralyzed investment decisions. “The current state of play on trade has placed our industry in turmoil,” said Ann Wilson, senior vice president of government affairs at the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association. “In the last year our members have faced Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, other Section 232 tariffs proposed, and Section 301 tariffs on goods from China.”
Detroit vs foreign brands There also was a divergence of views among domestic and foreign automakers on the overall benefits of the USMCA agreement, which requires autos to have 75 per cent regional content and at least 40 percent from the United States or Canada. John Bozzella, president of the Association of Global Automakers which represents foreign brand automakers with US plants, said he was concerned that the “many layered” content requirements would hurt automakers’ competitiveness by requiring “unnecessary” supply chain shifts and investment in compliance. Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents Detroit automakers General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler, described the trade deal as “workable” for these companies which have larger US manufacturing footprints than their competitors. He said it would not require massive manufacturing and supply chain changes immediately but over time, automakers would need to consider changes in where they build cars and major components. Corn vs tomatoes A similar divergence came from agriculture groups, where grain farmers and shippers said it was
a “significant advancement” that expands market access but seasonal produce groups said it fails to address Mexican subsidies that are driving Southeastern growers out of business. An initial US demand for the ability to impose seasonal tariffs to protect US fruit and vegetable growers was abandoned during the 13-month negotiations. “We have gotten the short end of the stick since the ink dried on the agreement,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. AFL-CIO trade policy specialist Celeste Drake said that the enforcement mechanism for new, higher labour standards was weak, relying on a seldom used state-to-state dispute settlement mechanism. “We urge the commission to make clear that if the obligations are not enforced, the lure of cheap and easy labour exploitation in Mexico will continue to draw production and hold down wages in both countries,” she said. — Reuters
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November 15-30, 2018 Georgia Asian Times
FASHION
Limoges porcelain celebrates Gainsbourg, Sagan and Saint Laurent PARIS, Nov 26 — Limoges porcelain maker La Maison Fragile has joined forces with the illustrator Jean-Michel Tixier on a collaboration celebrating four iconic Parisian figures. The result is a porcelain tableware collection hand-painted with 24-carat gold. Mary Castel, the founder of the Limoges porcelain specialist, La Maison Fragile, and the Limoges-born illustrator Jean-Michel Tixier, share their common love for Paris, its symbols and its icons in the “Chers Parisiens” collection, celebrating four figures associated with the French capital. The collection focuses on four Parisian figures: Musician Serge Gainsbourg, who lived in the city’s Rue de Verneuil; the Bonjour Tristesse author Françoise Sagan; fashion designer Yves
Saint Laurent, a figure synonymous with the capital of fashion; and the last Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, who took her last breath in the city’s Place de la Concorde. The four icons feature on dinner plates (US$66 ) and dessert plates (US$59), plus mugs (US$52) and coffee cups (US$55). Each piece features a portrait of the famous face, as well as a small motif specific to each icon: piano keys for the musician, typewriter keys for the author, macarons for the monarch, and scissors for the couturier. These Limoges porcelain creations are painted with 24-carat gold.
Givenchy holiday makeup shines with radiant glow PARIS, Nov 26 — Givenchy presents the “Mystic Glow” seasonal makeup collection for creating radiant and high-glam holiday looks. The new limited-edition creations are out now via Givenchy retailers (for more information visit www.givenchybeauty.com). Nicolas Degennes, artistic director for makeup and color at Givenchy, brings shine and light to the holiday season with the “Mystic Glow” makeup collection, featuring six creations for a radiant look that’s sure to boost the power of seduction this party season. Festive glow The collection centerpiece is the “Mystic Glow” highlighting powder, delivering an illuminating veil of ultra-fine mother-of-pearl with golden nuances. Perfect for the festive season, this highlighter can either be used as an eyeshadow or applied to cheeks for a sculpting effect.
‘Prisme Libre’ powder form the Givenchy holiday makeup collection. — Picture courtesy of Givenchy via AFP Another iconic Givenchy product, the “Prisme Libre” mattifying powder, makes a return for the holiday season in “Satin Blanc” colours. This powder compact features four different shades to harmonise and mattify skin while blurring imperfections and fixing foundation in place for a long-lasting finish. The collection also features two shades of “Dual Liner” eyeliner and eyeshadow (a reddish brown and a gold/taupe) and two shades of “Le Rouge” lipstick for an intense finish to the look (Grenat Initié and Carmin Escarpin). The limited-edition “Mystic Glow” collection is out now.
Georgia Asian Times November 15-30, 2018
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LIFESTYLE
India’s first elephant hospital cheers animal activists, draws tourists
MATHURA (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 19 — At India’s first hospital for elephants, opened last week in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, 49-year-old Asha placed her left foreleg on a stool for a doctor to attend to an injury while visitors filmed it all on their mobile phones.
The facility, armed with facilities such as wireless digital X-Ray, thermal imaging, ultrasonography, tranquilisation devices and quarantine facilities, has not only come as a respite to the elephants but is also attracting local and foreign tourists. Elephants are an important part of India’s culture and are prominently displayed in festivals and processions in the south of the country. They are also used as tourist attractions at several forts and palaces in the northern and western regions.
A general view shows the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital, India’s first hospital for elephants run by a non-governmental organisation in the northern town of Mathura, India November 17, 2018. — Reuters pic The hospital, inaugurated on Friday in the Hindu holy town of Mathura, is spread over 12,000 square feet and is designed to treat injured, sick or geriatric elephants. “I think by building a hospital we are underlining the fact that elephants need welfare measures as much as any other animal,” Geeta Seshamani, co-founder of Wildlife SOS, the non-profit behind the hospital, told Reuters TV. “That captive elephants are not meant to be used and abused but instead have to be given the respect which an animal needs
if you are going to be using the animal.” While elephants are revered as a cultural and religious symbol in India, they are also ill-treated by their unschooled mahouts and often fall victim to electrocution, poaching, train accidents and poisoning, animal rights activists say. India’s elephant population fell to 27,312 in 2017 from 29,39130,711 in 2012, government data shows. Hundreds of elephants across India, which accounts for more than half of Asia’s elephant population, are held in captivity and sharp metal hooks are often used to pinch and tease them into subordination. A handler bathes Coconut, a
female elephant, at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre run by a non-governmental organisation in the northern town of Mathura, India November 17, 2018. — Reuters pic The hospital, on the banks of the Yamuna River, is close to an elephant conservation and care centre run by Wildlife SOS that is home to 22 elephants. Elizabeth Ritson, a tourist from Australia, said she was glad there was now a dedicated hospital for elephants in India. “Look at them, they are so much happier and when you see the abuse that they have been through, the horrible shackles that were put on their feet and to see them all healed up, it’s just really nice,” she said. — Reuters
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EVENT
November 15-30, 2018 Georgia Asian Times
Yayoi Kusama - Infinity Mirrors Exhibit, High Museum
Georgia Asian Times
November 15-30, 2018
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ENTERTAINMENT Stan Lee, Marvel legend and father of superheroes, dies at 95 LOS ANGELES, Nov 13 — Marvel legend Stan Lee, who revolutionised pop culture as the co-creator of iconic superheroes like Spider-Man and The Hulk who now dominate the world’s movie screens, has died. He was 95 years old. Lee, the face of comic book culture in the United States, died early yesterday in Los Angeles after suffering a number of illnesses in recent years.
‘Crazy Rich’ star Henry Golding first Asian man on GQ cover KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 — Sarawak-born Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding has been named one of GQ’s Men of the Year, and is the first Asian man to appear on the cover of the high-profile magazine. On Monday, GQ announced that Golding is one of four of the magazine’s ‘Men (and woman) of the year’ cover stars, alongside Michael B Jordan, Serena Williams and Jonah Hill. The 31-year-old excitedly revealed his newest achievement on Instagram, thanking GQ for the honour, as well gratefully acknowledging his supporters. “Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported me this year, I love you all.” GQ writer, Michelle Lhooq describes Golding in his feature
‘Henry the First’ as “charming, unpretentious, and friendly with everyone,” and said, “he’s a handsome face you’ll be seeing more of.” Golding made his feature film debut this year, in the box-office hit, Crazy Rich Asians, and hasn’t stopped breaking barriers since. In an industry often overlooking Asian talents, social media is abuzz with praise for the actor who started off as a travel show host. Adding to his list of starring roles, Golding will be acting in holiday rom-com, Last Christmas, playing a gay Vietnamese-British man in Monsoon, and starring in crime drama, Toff Guy, to name a few.
“With a heavy heart, we share our deepest condolences with his daughter and brother,” said Marvel Comics and its owner The Walt Disney Company in a statement. “We honor and remember the creator, voice and champion of Marvel... Every time you open a Marvel comic, Stan will be there.” The New Yorker, known for his distinctive tinted glasses and impish grin, ended up in the comics business by accident, thanks to an uncle who got him a job when he was a teenager filling artists’ inkwells and fetching coffee. “I felt someday I’d write the ‘Great American Novel’ and I didn’t want to use my real name on these silly little comics,” Lee once said, explaining why he had forsaken his given name, Stanley Lieber. Lee rose through the ranks to become a comics writer — making millions of superhero fans dream of his fantastic universes and humans with extraordinary powers — and eventually led the Marvel empire for decades as its publisher. From Spidey to Black Panther to the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, Lee collaborated with other authors and illustrators to put his lively imagination on the page.
Iron Man, Thor and Doctor Strange would follow — and today, all three heroes have multi-film franchises that rake in hundreds of millions of dollars. “Stan Lee was as extraordinary as the characters he created,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger. “A superhero in his own right to Marvel fans around the world, Stan had the power to inspire, to entertain, and to connect.” ‘The King’ and ‘The Man’ Lee has appeared in cameo roles in nearly every movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — including as a bus driver in Avengers: Infinity War, a film that united many of the indelible characters he brought to life. “I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers,” Lee said. “And then I began to realise: entertainment is one of the most important things in people’s lives. Without it, they might go off the deep end.” Born on December 28, 1922 to Jewish immigrants who migrated to the United States from Romania, Lee got that first assistant’s job at age 17 at Timely Comics and began rising through the ranks. After a stint in the US Army during World War II Lee returned to comics, teaming up with illustrator Jack Kirby in the 1960s to invent the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. It was a partnership for the ages — Kirby, the artist, was “The King” and Lee, the writer, was “The Man”. Together they would pioneer new ways to tell stories, with deeply flawed heroes and serious themes .
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November 15-30, 2018 Georgia Asian Times
LIFESTYLE
Top hotel chains in China apologise after dirty cleaning expose
BEIJING, Nov 17 — The Ritz-Cartlon and other five-star hotels in China apologised after a video exposing unhygienic cleaning practises went viral online this week in the latest health and safety scandal to rock the country. Despite their luxury standards and high price tags, cleaning staff were shown wiping down in-room cups with the same towels and sponges used to clean showers and toilets. Since the video was posted to Twitter-like Weibo on Wednesday, it has racked up more than 30 million views. The video clip was apparently shot by hidden cameras set up in hotel bathrooms and titled “The Secret of the Cups”. The video creator, who goes by the pseudonym “Huazong”, claims he has stayed at 147 five-star and boutique hotels over the past six years.
The outcry also attracted the attention of regulators, who promised an investigation. It follows a scandal this summer that rocked the country when a manufacturer of rabies vaccines was found to have produced sub-standard vaccines. The Ritz-Carlton in Shanghai said it carried out an investigation after the video exposed one of its cleaners, who had been found using the same towel to clean the shower glass, floor, counter and cups. The cleaner had received training on proper room cleaning, the hotel said. “But the actual practices on that day did not follow the cleaning standards for room cleaning, we are deeply sorry for this,” the hotel apologised in a statement posted to its Weibo account, adding staff would be retrained. A cleaning woman at the Four
Seasons in Shanghai was shown using the same sponge to clean the shower, counter and cups. “We sincerely apologise for what has occurred and we are currently investigating this matter with the highest diligence,” said hotel spokeswoman Chloe Qian. Other hotels highlighted in the expose included The Peninsula in Beijing, the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai, and the Sheraton Nanchang Hotel. China is regularly hit by scandals involving sub-par or toxic food, drugs and other products, despite repeated promises by the ruling Communist Party to address the problem. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism ordered an investigation into the hotels, state news agency Xinhua reported yesterday.
In Beijing, regulators summoned managers from the four hotels demanding answers while conducting their own tests of hotel cleanliness, Xinhua reported. On Weibo, users lambasted the hotels and the recurrent health and safety problems. “On the level of hygiene and morals, China’s best hotels compare unfavourably to a small Japanese inn,” mocked one user.
Georgia Asian Times November 15-30, 2018
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SPORTS
Disputed Neymar penalty gives Brazil win over Uruguay LONDON, Nov 17 ― Neymar scored a contested second-half penalty to give Brazil a 1-0 friendly win over Uruguay and bring some joy to their fans on a gloomy Friday at the Emirates Stadium in London.
Many of the players know each other well from club football and their familiarity was evident in their hugs and smiles before, during and after the game.
The forward was again the stand-out Brazil player and he coolly side-footed home his 60th international goal in the 76th minute after Diego Laxalt brought down Danilo, although Uruguay claimed there was a handball in the build-up.
There was no lack of commitment, however, as niggly tackles flew in a clash that featured eight yellow cards, including one for Luis Suarez who thought Uruguay should have been given a handball against Danilo before he was felled in the box.
Until then Brazil had looked the more vulnerable of the two sides with Alisson making three fine saves, including a superb stop from a Luis Suarez free kick early in the second half.
Although the fans had little to cheer, both managers had reason to be happy with youngsters Bruno Mendez and Matias Suarez starting in defence for the first time for Uruguay and Napoli midfielder Allan making a second-half debut for Brazil.
It was Brazil’s fifth win in a row since they were knocked out of this year’s World Cup in the quarter-finals by Belgium. “It was a tough game. Uruguay are always strong and very competitive,” said Brazil midfielder Walace. “We were patient and when the opportunity arose from the penalty spot we deserved the goal.” On a dark and drizzly night at Arsenal’s ground in London, the game matched the weather with few bright moments.
The South American powerhouses continue their European dates next Tuesday, when Brazil play Cameroon in Milton Keynes and Uruguay take on world champions France in Paris. ― Reuters
Germany coach Loew looking to rebuild after 2018 collapse BERLIN, Nov 18 — Germany coach Joachim Loew said the team’s demise in 2018 was unexpected but part of a normal cycle in sport and he is now focussed on what the former world champions need to do to rise again.
“It was something completely new for me. Now we have reached a phase where we have to renew things, improve, start from scratch. We need to draw the right conclusions and take the right measures.”
Germany face the Netherlands tomorrow in their last Nations League group game, having already been relegated, and are looking to cap a terrible year with a good performance.
Loew started several youngsters in their 3-0 friendly win over Russia on Thursday, as he looks to gradually transform his team to depend less on the core of players who won the 2014 World Cup.
They started the year as reigning world champions and overwhelming favourites to retain the World Cup in Russia. Yet they exited the tournament at their earliest stage in 80 years and are heading into 2019 after a German-record six defeats so far within a calendar year. Another blow was delivered on Friday when the Dutch beat France to guarantee Germany’s relegation in the inaugural Nations League competition. “We now want to say goodbye (to 2018) with a good performance and show the fans that we are on the right track to recovery,” Loew told a news conference. “We had a decade of rising to the top and there sometimes can be a year where nothing works,” said the German.
He dropped central defender Jerome Boateng for the two games and left fellow world champions Thomas Mueller and Mats Hummels on the bench. “If you think you can be in the top four in the world for over 20 years then you don’t understand football. It is just like life. Sometimes you have to start lower down. We were the top team for a long time,” said Loew, who has been in charge since 2006. On Monday he will likely be without in-form winger Marco Reus, who is nursing a minor injury that also ruled him out against Russia. “I still don’t know if he will play,” Loew said. “The decision will be taken tonight or tomorrow. We will see.” — Reuters
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November 15-30, 2018 Georgia Asian Times
SPORTS Rooney bids farewell as England beat United States LONDON, Nov 16 ― There was no farewell goal but plenty of pride and appreciation as Wayne Rooney made his 120th and final appearance for England in a 3-0 win over the United States in a friendly at Wembley yesterday. England’s all-time top scorer Rooney came on as a 58th-minute substitute, to roars from the crowd, with the team 2-0 up thanks to excellent first-half strikes from Jesse Lingard and Trent Alexander-Arnold with his first goal for his country. The game, played in front of a well-below capacity crowd of 68,155, had been billed as a tribute match to Rooney and he was given a guard of honour by both sets of players and received a presentation from the Football Association before kick-off.
from what I’ve seen this week”. Callum Wilson, the Bournemouth striker making his England debut, made it 3-0 in the 77th minute to complete a fine night for the debut starters. Impressive Sancho Jadon Sancho, the 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund winger, was impressive in his first start, setting up Alexander-Arnold with a well-timed weighted pass for the Liverpool fullback, who drilled home with a fine low shot. Lingard, one of the few England regulars to start, put in a good performance and his 25th minute goal, a perfect curling shot into the top corner, was a carbon copy of his strike against Panama at this year’s World Cup.
Rooney retired from England duty in August, 2017 but the FA decided to turn the friendly into a tribute game for the Liverpool-born player.
England, who face Croatia in a winner-takes-all shootout in the Nations League at Wembley on Sunday, rested a number of regular starters such as striker Harry Kane.
The 33-year-old former Manchester United and Everton forward, who now plays in the US for Major League Soccer team DC United, did not have a major impact on the game but forced goalkeeper Brad Guzan into a save in stoppage time.
England can top Group 1 in League A with a victory over the Croatians that would take them above Spain into top spot and secure a place in the fourteam final tournament next June.
A 54th goal for England would have been the perfect way to bow out but it was typical of Rooney’s modest approach to the match that he never tried to create chances for himself, instead showcasing, for a final time at Wembley, his passing ability. “Tonight was great, a great way to finish my international career, I thought the lads played great. Unfortunately I couldn’t get a goal but I’ll remember it for a long time,” Rooney said. “I’ve had my time, I can sit back and watch them now and it’s my opinion that England are in very safe hands
England manager Gareth Southgate said he was pleased with his team’s display and with the send-off for Rooney. “From our point of view, we are talking about respecting the shirt and those who have gone before and all of the players did that this week. We gave Wayne a week that he deserved. “It would have been perfect for him to score but we saw some moments of real quality from him.” ― Reuters
Dutch delight in win over France, Germany relegated ROTTERDAM, Nov 17 ― Georginio Wijnaldum blasted home from close range and Memphis Depay converted a last-gasp penalty to earn the Netherlands a 2-0 win over world champions France yesterday and condemn Germany to relegation from their Nations League group. Wijnaldum followed up after France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made a fine stop from point-blank range just before halftime and Depay sealed the victory to give the Dutch a chance to win the group when they meet Germany in Gelsenkirchen on Monday. A draw would be enough to see Ronald Koeman’s team advance to meet other group winners next June. Lloris stood between the Netherlands and a bigger winning margin with several key saves as he replicated his form from the World Cup but the Dutch got a second goal with the last kick of the match from Depay’s penalty. France, despite losing their first game since winning the World Cup, remained top of the Group One standings but have completed their campaign. Few would have given the Dutch ― who have missed out on the last two major tournaments ― any chance when they were paired with the last two World Cup winners in the same group for the new tournament.
But they looked anything but overawed at the Feyenoord Stadium against a French side who only needed a draw to win the group. The hosts served early notice of their intent, forcing Lloris into a save after 90 seconds as Depay set up a chance with a run from the right-hand side but Wijnaldum struck the ball straight at the goalkeeper. The goal came after a defensive slip by France’s Steven Nzonzi, whose attempted headed clearance set up Ryan Babel, who was denied by Lloris before Wijnaldum swept the rebound home. Lloris made a double stop to deny marauding right back Denzel Dumfries just after the hour mark as the Dutch, with a three-man attack, continued to dominate against a listless looking French side. Ten minutes later Depay struck a low free kick that Lloris turned around the post. With four minutes of added time already up, Frenkie de Jong was pushed in the French penalty area and Depay dispatched the spot-kick. ― Reuters
Georgia Asian Times November 15-30, 2018
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HEALTH
Heart attacks more likely when weather is frigid Lund, October 24, 2018 – Heart attacks occur more often when temperatures plummet, a large new study suggests. Based on more than a decade and a half of medical and weather data, researchers linked an increased incidence of heart attacks to lower air temperatures, lower atmospheric pressure, higher wind velocity and shorter durations of sunshine, according to the report in JAMA Cardiology. What’s unique about the new study, said its senior author, is that “all heart attacks occurring in a whole country have been followed for 16 years with weather data for the day the heart attack occurred.” Dr. David Erlinge, head of cardiology at Lund University and Skane University Hospital in Sweden, told Reuters Health, “We had data on more than 280,000 heart attacks and 3 million weather data points.” Erlinge and his colleagues pored over records from the SWEDEHEART registry, which enrolls all consecutive patients in Sweden with symptoms suggestive of a heart attack who are admitted to a coronary intensive care
unit or a coronary catheterization lab. The registry contains a wealth of health information on patients, including age, body mass, smoking status, echocardiogram findings, interventions, discharge medications and diagnoses. For meteorological data, the researchers turned to the SMHI, a Swedish government agency that registers data from 132 weather stations across the nation. Erlinge and colleagues analyzed the weather and heart attack data from 1998 through 2013 for 274,029 patients, half of whom were aged 71 or older. While lower air temperature, lower atmospheric air pressure, higher wind velocity and shorter sunshine duration all were associated with statistically meaningful increased risk of heart attack, the most pronounced effect was from temperature. The researchers found a higher incidence of heart attack on days with air temperatures below freezing. The rates of heart attack declined when temperatures rose to more than 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, or 37.4 to 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
Overall, each temperature increase of 7.4 degrees Celsius (about 13 degrees F) was tied to a 2.8 percent decrease in heart attack risk, the study authors calculated.
enough that the blood supply doesn’t match demand.”
The new findings are “an association we talk about frequently and it’s been suggested in studies before this as well,” said Dr. Nisha Jhalani of the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy at NewYork-Presbyterian/ Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City.
There are other factors related to winter that can increase the risk of heart attacks, such as shoveling snow, which raises blood pressure to levels that could disturb vulnerable plaques, Jhalani said. And caffeine has a similar clamping down effect on arteries, albeit a lot smaller.
“One thing that’s interesting about this study is that they didn’t just look at temperatures. They looked at a number of other factors, such as sunshine hours and wind velocity. It’s also a nationwide study with a lot of patients,” said Jhalani, who wasn’t involved in the research.
“So the worst thing you can do is go out in subzero temperatures, shovel snow, and then come in and drink coffee to warm up,” Jhalani said. “That can be the perfect storm.”
So, why would cold temperatures raise the risk of heart attack? “Colder temperatures increase vasoconstriction in the arteries which causes them to clamp down,” she explained. “In someone with 70 to 80 percent blocked arteries – which might not be causing any symptoms normally – the arteries can be clamped down
Cold can also increase clotting, Jhalani added.
The best strategy to minimize the increased risk brought on by cold weather is to “dress appropriately,” Erlinge said in an email. “If you are at high risk (of a heart attack), you may want to avoid going out in really cold, windy weather. Or maybe move to a warmer climate.” – Reuters
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November 15-30, 2018 Georgia Asian Times
Misc Asia
Jobs for the boys under fire in South Korea
SEOUL, Nov 14 — In her year-long quest for a job, South Korean college graduate Casey Lee has faced a barrage of personal and contradictory questions. “One company asked if I had a boyfriend and when I’d get married,” she told AFP. “Another asked why I didn’t have a boyfriend and wondered if someone like me who had no plan to get married soon was trustworthy enough or had a personality issue.” Women often struggle to find a foothold in South Korea’s male-dominated corporate culture and a series of firms have now been caught allegedly using sexist recruitment targets to keep it that way. Lee’s first interviewer complained that women tended to quit their positions once they had a child, while the other launched a tirade against “irresponsible young women” like her — she is 25 and single — for abandoning their responsibility to have children “for the country’s future”. “I wanted to scream out loud, ‘I’m only here to get a job’!” she told AFP, adding male applicants in the same group-interview sessions were rarely asked similar questions. Lee is still looking for work, despite a degree from Seokyeong university in Seoul. She is not an isolated case, and evidence points to some firms in the world’s 11th-largest economy systematically discriminating against women.
Three of South Korea’s top four banks have been embroiled in accusations they set ratios for male and female recruitment, lowering women’s test and interview scores and raising men’s to hit the target. A total of 18 executives have been charged or convicted, including the chairman of Shinhan Financial Group, the country’s second-biggest lender. And last week the Supreme Court upheld a four-year jail sentence given to the former CEO of state-run Korea Gas Safety Corp (KGS) for offences including bribery and violating equal opportunities laws. Despite its economic and technological advances the South remains a patriarchal society, and has one of the world’s thickest glass ceilings for women.
‘Undermining social trust’ Only 2.7 per cent of the 15,000 top executives at the country’s 500 biggest firms are female, a government survey showed last year. At 36.7 per cent, the South also has the widest gender pay gap among the OECD club of advanced economies. Jobs at state-run firms such as KGS are in high demand as they offer lifetime employment, but on former CEO Park Ki-dong’s instructions seven qualified women applicants were eliminated — including the top scorer among the 31 finalists — and replaced by poorer-performing men.
Park “excluded women without legitimate reason by ordering his subordinates to manipulate test scores... seriously undermining social trust”, the Supreme Court said in its ruling. Park claimed women would disrupt the firm’s operations by taking maternity leave. In the conservative South, many married women — whether working or not — are expected to take sole responsibility for household chores and childcare, with the double burden seen as a major cause of the country’s paltry birthrate, the lowest in the world. With daycare centres lacking and the country’s working hours notoriously long, many women quit their jobs after becoming mothers.
Cashing in Recruitment is highly competitive at the best of times in the South, and doubly so in potentially lucrative banking. Cho Yong-Byoung, chairman of Shinhan Financial Group — the South’s second-largest finance house — was charged two weeks ago with violating equal opportunities laws for ordering subordinates to maintain a 3:1 ratio between male and female recruits. According to state regulators, number four KEB Hana Bank set a 4:1 target for new hires in 2013 and ended up taking on 5.5 men for each woman. Without discrimination the ratio would have been almost equal, officials said. Seven of its managers are on trial,
one telling the court that the company’s clients were mostly men and “feel more comfortable” with male staff who can “smoke or drink more freely”. But sentences can be token. Three senior managers of KB Kookmin Bank — the country’s top lender — were convicted last month of lowering test scores for 112 female applicants and raising those of 113 men. “The accused deserved criticism for changing the fate of many job applicants and causing so great a sense of betrayal and despair in their hearts,” the court said. But the offenders’ personal responsibility was limited, it went on, as they were simply “following social customs”. The trio were given suspended jail terms and the bank fined a meagre five million won (RM18,857). “South Korean women are fighting on an extremely unequal playing field that doesn’t seem to have changed for decades,” Bae Jin-kyung, head of the Korea Women Workers’ Association, told reporters. “In such an unfair world as this, how hard should women try to climb the ladder — if we can get our hands on the ladder at all?”
Georgia Asian Times November 15-30, 2018
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Misc Asia Taiwanese puppet master fights to save dying art Taipei, Nov 15 — At 87-yearsold, Taiwanese glove puppeteer Chen Hsi-huang is the star of a new documentary which reflects his determination to revive the dying traditional craft and a late-life renaissance as a high-profile promoter of the art form. The film, entitled Father, tells the story of how Chen pursued the craft in the shadow of his father, the legendary puppeteer Li Tian-lu, who drew huge audiences to his shows in the 19501970s and appeared in several movies. Also known as “Budaixi”, glove puppetry spread to Taiwan in the 19th century from the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian and was mainly performed at religious and festive occasions, becoming a popular form of entertainment. Puppeteers manoeuvre small glove dolls on ornate wooden stages to present historical and martial arts stories accompanied by live folk music.
form with other groups in Taiwan and overseas. This picture taken on October 13, 2018, shows a student of Chen Hsi-huang, an 87-yearold Taiwanese glove puppeteer, practicing how to operate a glove puppet during a class at Puppetry Art Centre in Taipei. — AFP pic At the age of 79, motivated by his desire to stop the art form fading completely in the face of modern entertainment, he set up a new troupe and teaches puppetry at weekend classes as well as taking on apprentices. “There were only two or three traditional troupes left,” he told AFP. “I used my name to open a new troupe because I didn’t want the traditional craft to disappear.”
Next generation Chen acknowledges the challenges facing the ancient craft, saying people have less time to spare to watch the shows.
Chen said he values the traditional puppetry because it is characterised by subtle movements, with the puppeteer taking on all roles, from a young woman to an old man.
But he has taken heart from the positive response to the documentary which premiered in Taiwan last month, directed by local filmmaker Yang Li-chou over a period of 10 years.
He first set up his own troupe at 23-years-old but as business declined he was forced to shut shop at 40. He went on to teach the craft and continued to per-
“I was worried that people might not understand the film, but young people did, even if they hadn’t watched Budaixi before. They told me they liked it
and that puppetry is awesome,” says Chen. Chen’s current apprentice Chen Wei-you is part of a family troupe that runs around 150 puppet shows a year. “My grandfather actually told me to find ‘a better job’ but I chose this career because I am interested,” the 32-year-old told AFP. “Like the master, I don’t want the traditional puppetry to disappear,” he said. Dozens of students of all ages attend Chen’s classes at the government-funded Puppetry Art Centre in Taipei every Saturday. Student Hung Wei-heng, 10, said he was interested in learning puppetry because it was “very cool”. “I want to learn how to operate the puppets and to make the movements,” he said.
Taiwanese authorities are trying to promote the traditional craft, organising an annual puppet festival in Yunlin county. Puppet fan Chiang Chi-feng, 41, attended the festival last month with a sense of nostalgia. “Now that I have kids of my own, I bring them to temple fairs and watch outdoor puppet shows. They are experiencing what I experienced in my childhood,” he said. Puppet master Chen vows to continue performing and teaching as long as he still has the strength. “I haven’t completed passing on the art so I can’t retire,” he said.
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November 15-30, 2018 Georgia Asian Times
TRAVEL Immerse in the colors of India
The vibrancy and colors of India captivate and mesmerize visitors, offering travelers to its shores a taste of the exotic against a rich tapestry of tradition and culture. A visit to Jaipur and its capital city of Rajasthan is a must for a fascinating holiday. When in Jaipur, make a point of experiencing its most colorful festival, Dhulandi, which marks the beginning of spring. Held at Khasa Kothi hotel, the Department of Tourism will organize an event specially for foreign tourists, where they can play with dry colors while dancing to Rajasthani folk music performed by local artistes. Meanwhile, Gangaur is one of the most important festivals in Rajasthan, celebrated in various forms across the capital. The celebration commemorates the union of Lord Shive (Gan) and the goddess Parvathi (Gaur) as a symbol of conjugal and marital happiness. For those who enjoy kite flying, catch the Kite Festival which is unique to Rajasthan. Marvel at the wonderful sight of kites taking to the sky across
the state. The ceremony looks truly spectacular in the evening as fireworks, alongside kites with lights, brighten the city skyline. On this occasion, the Department of Tourism organizes an event for tourists to enjoy kite flying along with various cultural performances. Taking in the sights and sounds of Amritsar in the northern Indian state Punjab: Don’t miss the Golden Temple of Amritsar. Completed in 1577, it is the holiest Gurdwara and one of most important pilgrimage sites in Sikhism. When it comes to dining out, you should pay a visit to Niro’s which was established in 1949. Escape the chaos of the streets and take refuge in the restaurant’s cool, clean mirror-ceiling sanctum to savor vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian cuisine, complete with professional service. The Peacock Rooftop Restaurant gets rave reviews for excellent and inexpensive (Indian, Chinese and Continental) cuisine, as well as a fun ambience. This multilevel eatery at Hotel Pearl Palace offers a romantic view of Hathroi
Fort. The experience is completed with attentive service and whimsical furnishing.
which is a military practice carried out by security forces from India and Pakistan.
Another fascinating part of India is Amritsar. Here you can enjoy a colourful experience during Holi, the Hindu spring celebration known as the festival of colours or festival of love. Holi announces the arrival of spring with the warm weather and bright sunshine urging one and all to celebrate.
For a taste of Amritsar, All India Famous is the place for butter-drenched potato and cauliflower stuffed Amritsari kulcha – maida bread baked in a tandoor. Located next to the Golden Temple and Wagah Border, this place has been serving kulchas over its many years of existence.
You should also experience Baisakhi, which marks the establishment of the Khalsa in 1699. This is one of the most significant events on the Sikh calendar. It is also a harvest festival and marks the Punjabi New Year. A day of special significance for the Sikhs is Diwali, one of the most popular festivals. Signifying the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance. hope over despair, on this day the Golden Temple is illuminated with traditional lamps and spectacular fireworks light up the sky. Wagah is famous for its border ceremony – the daily lowering of flags
Pair this with Amritsari tandoori chicken, a whole chicken marinated in spices and roasted to perfection. The recipe for this delicious dish has been in existence since 1972.