TO SOAK OR NOT TO SOAK—IT’S A NUTTY QUESTION

TO SOAK OR NOT TO SOAK—IT'S A NUTTY QUESTION

Posted by Zel Allen's nutgourmet on September 7, 2011

I've often been asked whether it's necessary to soak nuts before eating them. Is soaking a waste of time or does the process offer nutritional benefits? I thought it would be helpful to provide both views and let people decide what works best for them.

Frequently raw fooders soak nuts in preparation for assembling a recipe like nut milk, nut butter, or nut cheese. Soaking makes nuts softer and creamier and enhances the texture of many raw dishes. I've provided a section in my cookbook, The Nut Gourmet, that covers soaking nuts, but this fun and informative blog gives me the opportunity to share the simple process with anyone searching for this information on the internet.

Soaking nuts offers several health benefits. The simple process of soaking nuts for several hours works like magic to increase their antioxidant and phytochemical capacity because soaking releases some enzyme inhibitors.

Some people have difficulty digesting nuts and eliminate them from their diet. They needn't miss out on the healthful benefits nuts offer because a few hours of soaking does wonders—Soaking is the prelude to the sprouting process and releases enzymes that inhibit the digestibility of nuts. Soaking nuts also helps to break down their macronutrients. Protein, fats, and carbohydrates are broken down into digestible components, turning protein into free flowing amino acids, fats into fatty acids, and carbohydrates into simple sugars, essentially predigesting them.

After soaking for several hours, nuts become very soft and lose their crunchiness. To return them to their natural crispness, dry them with paper towels or a kitchen towel and dehydrate them for several hours at a temperature between 110 and 115 degrees F. Alternatively, you can roast them in the oven. To preserve their valuable vitamin E and antioxidant flavonoid and polyphenol contents, place the nuts on a baking sheet and dry roast them at 150 to 170 degrees F. for 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the nuts to a dish to cool, and taste their exceptional flavor and pleasantly crisp texture.

Not everyone has problems digesting nuts. For those who do, soaking is definitely helpful. However, soaking adds to extra steps before one can actually eat the nuts. In today's busy world, few of us are looking for extra processes in order to prepare our foods. I'm a from-scratch cook, but I, too, shun extra steps when they're not needed.

For most of us with the ability to digest nuts without difficulty, we can reap the multitude of health benefits of eating nuts raw or roasted without soaking. Mother Nature has made a perfect ready-to-eat food that's packaged in protective shells. Within those protective shells are a storehouse of minerals, heart healthy vitamin E, fiber, protein, and a mountain of antioxidants and phytochemicals. Nuts are a healthy, nutrient dense food that studies have shown to reduce the risk of heart disease when eaten in small quantities like one to two ounces daily. Fortunately for us busy folks, nut processors have also saved us the labor by shelling the nuts and putting them into convenient packages.

Nuts are freshly harvested in the fall and are so much tastier and moist than they are by the end of summer. For the holidays, I like to buy a variety of fresh nuts in the shell and put them in a bowl with several nutcrackers. Guests who visit my home during fall and winter have one nut-cracking good time and enjoy a heart-healthy, highly nutritious treat in the process.

Posted in Antioxidants in Nuts, Nut Nutrition, Nut Uses, Nuts and Health | Tagged: benefits of soaking nuts, crisping soaked nuts, enzyme inhibitors in nuts, increase antioxidants in nuts, low temperature roasting nuts, make nuts more digestible, necessary to soak nuts, nuts' digestibility, soaking nuts | 6 Comments »

美国副总统候选人辩论会火药味十足

美国副总统候选人辩论会火药味十足

2012年 10月 12日 12:46

美

国民主、共和两党的副总统候选人周四开始了一场活跃且有时言辞尖锐的辩论，共和党副总统候选人保罗•莱恩(Paul Ryan)严厉批评奥巴马政府对利比亚暴力事件以及伊朗核野心的应对方式，而美国副总统拜登(Joe Biden)则攻击了共和党人有关预算削减和美国联邦医疗保险(Medicare)的提案。

视频：美国副总统候选人辩论会精彩片段

周四晚间，拜登和莱恩在美国副总统辩论会上展开激辩。以下是这场辩论的精彩片段节选。

这场在肯塔基州丹维尔(Danville)举行的辩论是莱恩和拜登这两位副总统候选人计划在选战中进行的唯一一次公开会面，辩论中两人在外交政策、医疗保健以及2009年的经济刺激措施等问题上表现出尖锐的分歧。两人在辩论中的言谈直截了当，言语交锋的"火药味"远超两党总统候选人上周举行的辩论。

虽然副总统候选人间的辩论通常不会对选情造成重大影响，但这场辩论发生在奥巴马与罗姆尼(Mitt Romney)两人难分胜负的非同寻常时刻。许多全国性民意调查显示，共和党总统候选人罗姆尼在上周与奥巴马举行辩论后其支持率已跃升至领先奥巴马的水平，现在两党都想搞清楚罗姆尼竞选势头的这种上升能否持续下去。

民意调查显示，罗姆尼在上周辩论中的强劲表现不仅提升了他在选民心目中的形象，还为他的选战吸引来了新的捐款人和志愿者。

这一事态发展也增加了拜登肩上的压力，他必须在周四的辩论中有良好表现才能帮助奥巴马重振选举势头。

在周四的辩论中，当莱恩发言时，拜登常常咧嘴而笑，他在辩论中表现出的战斗精神与上周辩论中奥巴马不温不火的表现形成了鲜明对比。辩论中，他称莱恩有关利比亚的言论是"一派胡言"，并将莱恩对奥巴马伊朗政策的批评斥之为"一堆废话"。而莱恩则以对奥巴马政府政策的一连串坚定批评作为回应。

辩论一开始，现场主持人、美国广播公司新闻频道(ABC News)记者拉达兹(Martha Raddatz)一个有关今年9月11日美国驻利比亚班加西领事馆遭遇袭击的问题就引发了莱恩和拜登的激烈交锋。这场袭击导致美国驻利比亚大使史蒂文斯(Christopher Stevens)和其他三名美国人遇害。

莱恩抱怨说，奥巴马在事发两周后才承认这是一次恐怖袭击，他还说奥巴马政府没有向美国驻利比亚的外交人员提供足够的安全保护。

莱恩接着又对奥巴马政府的外交政策给予了言辞尖锐的评判。

他在指责奥巴马政府在2009年没能坚定支持伊朗持不同政见者后说，这使得我们看上去更软弱；这让美国给人以软弱可欺的印象。

为奥巴马政府在利比亚遇袭事件后的反应进行了辩护，说政府官员发表公开声明时之所以不一致，是因为他们都是根据彼时的情报评估做出声明的。

此外，拜登还说，共和党议员在外交安全方面削减了3亿美元，试图借此发动对莱恩的反攻。民主党国会议员本周开始抓住这一点对共和党进行抨击。

之后，拜登和莱恩就两个竞选团队在伊朗和以色列政策上的分歧展开辩论。莱恩坚决维护共和党的主张，即奥巴马政府一直在疏离以色列，造成白宫与以色列总理内塔尼亚胡(Benjamin Netanyahu)之间产生距离。

莱恩说，美国这样做其实是在向伊朗领导人发出信号：国际社会在德黑兰核计划问题上存在分歧。此外，莱恩还抱怨称，奥巴马政府拒绝对伊朗实施部分制裁，而且还对制裁给予了"豁免"。

拜登对莱恩的说法表示怀疑。他说，在奥巴马政府的领导下，美国对伊朗实施了有史以来最严厉的制裁，并且美国还联合了反对伊朗核计划的国家。

Reuters

一张副总统候选人辩论会的海报。

伊朗对美国及其盟友称自己正在发展核计划的说法表示否认。

至于莱恩所称美国对伊朗制裁给出豁免这一怨言从何而来，拜登没有进行解释。按照制裁规定，美国应对继续从伊朗采购石油的国家予以惩罚。但为避免惩罚盟友，奥巴马政府与其它国家就减少采购伊朗石油的问题进行了协商，然后批准了制裁豁免权。

外界普遍认为，伊朗经济受到深远影响，美国的制裁"功不可没"。但到目前为止，制裁并没有让伊朗执政者放弃核计划。伊朗领导人称，其核计划是用于和平目的。

拜登今年69岁，莱恩42岁，两人在年龄上差了一辈，但从辩论会上却可以看到两人的共同之处。他们均在年纪轻轻时就当选美国国会议员。拜登29岁当选参议员，莱恩28岁当选众议员。两人对美国联邦政策都极为了解，也常常向公众展示出这一点。

2008年与奥巴马搭档参加总统大选之前，拜登曾担任美国国会参议员长达36年之久，位至参议院外交关系委员会(Foreign Relations Committee)主席。莱恩在美国众议院服务了14年，现任众议院预算委员会(Budget Committee)主席。

随着辩题转向美国经济方面，拜登很快便提到罗姆尼在一次大选筹款活动中说的话。罗姆尼当时说，47%的美国人不缴纳任何联邦税，他们认为自己是不幸者，永远不必承担个人责任。这番话被人悄悄录了下来。奥巴马上周与罗姆尼辩论时没有提及后者的这些言论，民主党人为此感到沮丧。

拜登说，政府的受益者中，很多是像他父母那样的人，他说，这些人缴纳的个人所得税比罗姆尼缴纳的要多。拜登说，罗姆尼和莱恩应该签署一项支持中产阶级的承诺，而不是签署由反税倡议组织提出的、不对包括最高收入群体在内所有人增税的承诺。

莱恩试图利用这个机会软化罗姆尼的公众形象，他讲述了罗姆尼主动为一个家庭担负大学学费的故事，这个家庭户主的两个儿子在车祸中受伤。莱恩说，罗姆尼收入的30%贡献给了慈善事业。他说，罗姆尼是个心地善良的人，他关心这个国家的每一个人。

在提到罗姆尼有关47%的言论时，莱恩指出，拜登经常在公众场合失言也是众所周知的事。莱恩说，我认为拜登副总统知道，人人都有说错话的时候。

拜登听到此言后大笑，这代表他承认自己也曾有口误的事实，但他立马又严肃起来，他说，如果有人认为罗姆尼仅仅是没有准确地表达出自己想法的话，那也太好骗了吧。

两人还在医保问题上展开了激烈的辩论，拜登说，根据共和党的政纲，我们将会让医保项目变成抵用券制度。罗姆尼提出让未来的退休人员在私人市场或是通过医保项目购买保险，由联邦政府提供补贴。莱恩回应说，他的计划可以挽救医保项目，而医保项目几年后将面临财政危机。

主持人拉达兹提到了罗姆尼的税收计划，罗姆尼的税收计划将使针对所有税级和征税对象的个人所得税率降低20%，同时终结一些减税政策（他没有具体说明哪些减税项目），从而避免加剧联邦赤字。拉达兹要求莱恩罗列出一些罗姆尼可能取消的减税和漏洞，但是莱恩没有提供任何细节。

莱恩对白宫2009年的经济刺激一揽子计划进行了攻击，称该计划没有产生效果，他还提请拜登注意，莱恩已经两次写信给拜登，要求为自己的州提供刺激性的注资。莱恩说，有两次，我们为申请资金的选民据理力争，我们这么做是为了所有的选民。

拜登回应说，说的真不错，可这个计划太糟糕了，他在给我的信中说，我们州需要刺激计划，因为这将带来经济增长和就业。

LAURA MECKLER / COLLEEN MCCAIN NELSON

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sharp Jabs Dominate Combative VP Debate

2012年 10月 12日 12:46

The vice-presidential nominees engaged in an animated and at times cutting debate Thursday, with Republican Rep. Paul Ryan delivering a biting critique of the Obama administration's response to violence in Libya and Iran's nuclear ambitions and Vice President Joe Biden attacking Republican budget-cutting and Medicare proposals.

The debate in Danville, Ky., the only planned onstage meeting between the two men, surfaced sharp differences over foreign policy, health care, the 2009 stimulus and other issues, stated in pointed language that marked a far-sharper exchange than displayed by the men at the top of the party tickets at a presidential debate last week.

Vice-presidential debates don't typically leave a big impact on elections, but this one came at an unusually unsettled moment in the campaign, with Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney surging to a lead in many national polls and both parties wondering if his rise would be sustained.

Mr. Romney's strong debate performance last week not only improved his image among voters, polls showed, but brought his campaign new donors and volunteers.

It also raised the pressure on Mr. Biden to do well at Thursday's event in order to help his ticket regain momentum.

Mr. Biden often broke into a wide grin as his opponent spoke, and he showed a fighting spirit that contrasted with the unenergetic performance from Mr. Obama last week. At one, he called Mr. Ryan's comments on Libya 'a bunch of malarkey' and his critique of Mr. Obama's Iran policy 'a bunch of stuff.' Mr. Ryan answered with a series of steady critiques on Obama administration policy.

Messrs. Ryan and Romney clashed early in the debate over a question from moderator Martha Raddatz of ABC News about the Sept. 11 attack at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

Mr. Ryan complained that it took President Barack Obama two weeks to acknowledge the assault was a terrorist attack, and said the administration failed to provide adequate security for diplomatic personnel in Libya.

He then launched into a harsh assessment of the administration's foreign policy.

'It makes us look more weak,' Mr. Ryan said after charging the administration failed to stand up for Iranian dissidents in 2009. 'It projects weakness.'

Mr. Biden defended the administration response in Libya, saying officials based shifting public statements on intelligence assessments available at the time.

Mr. Biden also attempted to turn the tables on Mr. Ryan by saying the Republicans in Congress cut $300 million from diplomatic security, an attack begun this week by congressional Democrats.

Mr. Biden and Mr. Ryan continued the battle between the two tickets over differences in their approaches to Iran and Israel. Mr. Ryan pressed the Republican case that the Obama administration has distanced itself from Israel, putting space between the White House and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

That, Mr. Ryan said, sent a signal to Iran's leaders that the international community was divided on Tehran's nuclear program. He also complained that the Obama administration resisted some sanctions against Iran and granted 'waivers' to the sanctions.

Mr. Biden challenged Mr. Ryan's arguments, saying the Obama administration led the toughest sanctions regime that had ever been instituted against Iran and had united the world behind opposition to the nuclear program.

Iran denies U.S. and allied charges that it is trying to develop a nuclear program.

Mr. Biden didn't explain the origin of Mr. Ryan's complaint about waivers to the sanctions. Under the sanctions laws, the U.S. would have to impose penalties against countries that continue to purchase Iranian oil. But to avoid punishing allies, the Obama administration negotiated with governments around the world to reduce their purchases of Iranian oil, then approved waivers to the sanctions.

The sanctions are widely credited with having a deep economic effect on Iran, but have so far not persuaded the country's rulers to relinquish their nuclear program, which they claim is intended for peaceful purposes.

While the two men are a generation apart─Mr. Biden is 69, Mr. Ryan is 42─the debate featured two men with similarities. Both were elected to Congress at a young age, Mr. Biden to the Senate at 29 and Mr. Ryan to the House at 28. Both have a deep knowledge of federal policy, which they put on display.

Mr. Biden spent 36 years in the Senate, rising to chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee before joining Mr. Obama's 2008 ticket. Mr. Ryan is a 14-year veteran of the House and chairman of the Budget Committee.

As the debate turned to the economy, Mr. Biden quickly raised Mr. Romney's secretly recorded comments at a campaign fundraiser that 47% of the country pays no federal taxes and sees themselves as victims who will never take personal responsibility. Democrats were dismayed that Mr. Obama had made no mention of those comments in his debate with Mr. Romney last week.

Mr. Biden said many of the people who receive government benefits are people like his parents, whom he said paid a higher income-tax rate than does Mr. Romney. The vice president said that instead of signing pledges by an anti-tax advocacy group not to raise taxes on anyone, including the highest earners, Messrs. Romney and Ryan should be signing a pledge to help the middle class.

Mr. Ryan used the moment to try to soften Mr. Romney's public image, telling the story of how Mr. Romney had offered to pay college expenses for a family whose two sons were injured in a car crash. He said Mr. Romney had given 30% of his income to charity. 'Mitt Romney's a good man. He cares about 100% of Americans in this country.''

In discussing the '47%' comment, Mr. Ryan also cited the vice president's widely known penchant for gaffes and misstatements. 'I think the vice president knows sometimes the words don't come out of your mouth the right way,' he said.

Mr. Biden laughed in recognition of his own verbal miscues, but then turned serious, saying that if anyone thought that Mr. Romney was simply misstating his own views, then 'I've got a bridge to sell you.'

The pair engaged in a vigorous debate over Medicare, with Mr. Biden saying the Republican ticket would turn the health-are program into a voucher system. Mr. Romney has proposed having future retirees buy insurance in the private market or through Medicare, with the coverage subsidized by the federal government. Mr. Ryan replied that his program would save the Medicare program, which faces a fiscal crisis in a few years.

Ms. Raddatz, the moderator, referred to Mr. Romney's tax plan, which would cut income-tax rates by 20% for all tax brackets and aim while ending unspecified tax breaks in an attempt to avoid adding to the federal deficit. She pressed Mr. Ryan to list some of the deductions and loopholes Mr. Romney would eliminate, but Mr. Ryan did not offer details.

Mr. Ryan attacked the White House's 2009 economic stimulus package as ineffective, prompting Mr. Biden to note that Mr. Ryan had written him twice to request stimulus funding for his state. 'On two occasions…we advocated for constituents who were applying for grants,' Mr. Ryan said. 'We do that for all constituents.'

Mr. Biden replied: 'I love that. This is such a bad program, and he writes me a letter saying…saying…we need this stimulus─it will create growth and jobs.'

LAURA MECKLER / COLLEEN MCCAIN NELSON

Dreamliner: The game changer for airlines

Dreamliner: The game changer for airlines

FRIDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2012 00:00 STORIES BY WOLE SHADAREBUSINESS SERVICES - BUSINESS TRAVELS

User Rating: / 1 

http://goo.gl/OcmA3

For many airlines, the new Boeing aircraft-the Dreamliner is a new tool of change for many  of them. As a result, many airlines are now taking delivery of the new high fuel-efficient airplane.

With jet fuel prices near record highs, the drive to conserve is stronger than ever.

The entire industry is hoping a switch from radar to GPS-based navigation will cut the time it takes both to reach cruising altitude and land a plane.

An American airline recently made headlines with its novel bid to buy an oil refinery, taking a more direct role in procuring fuel. But Delta and other airlines are experimenting with a number of other ways to cut costs.

The new jet is the first commercial airliner built using carbon fiber — a strong, lightweight, high-tech plastic — rather than the typical aluminum skin. It is quieter and uses about 20 percent less fuel than a comparably sized aluminum aircraft.

The Chief Executive Officer of United Airlines, Jeff  Smisek said, the 787s have an extended range and its cabin have bigger windows and larger overhead compartments. For improved passenger comfort, the humidity can be controlled and the air pressure during flights will be equivalent to an altitude of 6,000 feet instead of the conventional 8,000 feet.

"Customers will love flying in them," he said. "So it's good for us and great for the customer."

United Continental will be the first North American carrier to receive the 787s.

He said 787s will mostly replace existing aircraft instead of adding capacity because, "I don't see us growing our mainline fleet in any significant way under these current conditions."

Airlines have ordered more than 800 of the planes that will compete with the Airbus A350. United Continental has ordered 25 of the Airbus aircraft.

Throughout the past year's stuttering recovery, oil prices have constantly loomed in the shadows. They now seem to be about to subvert the recovery agenda. The Middle East is unlikely to return to normality quickly and, although there is no real shortage of oil yet, there is sufficient nervousness – and speculators with an interest in inflated prices – to push the level unpredictably.

Jet fuel prices are close to the tipping point for airline profitability and, while limited fuel surcharges may hold, it is doubtful the market is sufficiently resilient to absorb much more in the way of higher fares.

The double impact will translate quickly to the bottom line. Price increases unfortunately stimulate an almost inverse correlation relationship, where costs increase on one side and yields soften as discretionary spending slows.

As a result of cost cutting measure, world's biggest airline, United Airlines last week in far away Chicago, announced that it would deploy the aircraft to Lagos from its hub in Houston beginning January 7, 2013.

The airline will be the second airline after Ethiopia Airline to operate the aircraft type to Nigeria, which is considered a feat for the nation.

Ethiopia become the second country after Japan to take delivery of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Ethiopian Airlines has bought 10 of Boeing's flagship aircraft, which are built from lightweight material, rather than aluminium, to save fuel.

Speaking to The Guardian in Chicago last week at Willis Tower, the airline's head office at United's international media day to highlight the stride the carrier had taken since its merger with Continental Airlines two years ago, Smisek said in addition to the previously-announced service from its Denver hub to Tokyo Narita, starting March 31, 2013, the airline will operate nonstop 787 service five days a week between its Houston hub and Lagos, Nigeria, beginning Jan. 7, 2013.

United will also operate daily, nonstop 787 service between its Los Angeles hub and its Narita hub, beginning Jan. 3, 2013, and Los Angeles to Shanghai, beginning March 30, 2013"

He further disclosed that United will also operate daily, nonstop 787 service from its Houston hub to Amsterdam and London Heathrow on a temporary basis, adding that Houston to Amsterdam service begins Dec. 4, 2012, and Houston to London Heathrow service begins Feb. 4, 2013.

According to him, the 787 is the right aircraft for these routes because of its many passenger-friendly amenities and superior operating economics, stressing that, "With 50 787s on order, we look forward to the many new route opportunities that will become available to United and our customers in the future."

Configured with 36 seats in United BusinessFirst, 72 seats in United Economy Plus and 111 seats in United Economy, the Dreamliner will revolutionize the flying experience for United customers and crews while delivering unprecedented operating efficiency, comfort and lower emissions. Customers will experience greater comfort with improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems, among other passenger-friendly features.

Next >

Author of this article: Stories by Wole Shadare

拜登 vs. 瑞安 - 电视“口水战”

新闻报道

拜登 vs. 瑞安 - 电视"口水战"

美国副总统候选人唯一一场电视辩论是美国大选选战中的又一看点。民主党和共和党两位副总统候选人似乎更加"进入角色"，极力弥补总统候选人电视辩论中的缺憾不足，展现本党获胜的决心。

（德国之声中文网）电视辩论结束后，各方都很满意。美国总统、民主党人奥巴马盛赞副手拜登的表现，"我为他骄傲至极！副总统拜登让选民明显领会到，他会极力争取让美国中产阶层的经济状况得到改善。"共和党那边也对副总统候选人瑞安（Paul Ryan）的表现赞不绝口，众议院议长博纳（John Boehner）表示，"美国选民在11月份面临一个重要抉择。而副总统候选人瑞安为选民明确展现了共和党的承诺，即经济复苏，在私企行业创造更多就业岗位，让每个人机会均等。"

不过公众对这场副总统电视辩论的反响就不这么一致。除了电视转播，视频网站You Tube也在线直播。美国有线新闻电视CNN的民调显示，48%的人认为共和党副总统候选人瑞安的表现略胜一筹，44%则对拜登更满意。双方此次辩论除了涉及内政也有外交话题。而双方辩论的风格是公众更关注的看点。一周前奥巴马总统与挑战者罗姆尼进行电视辩论时，被普遍认为缺乏激情，甚至"心不在焉"。奥巴马在民调中的支持率下降，罗姆尼得以加分。奥巴马之后表示，自己在辩论时"过于礼貌"。其副手拜登更要利用唯一的这场副总统候选人电视辩论弥补奥巴马的缺憾。

拜登(左)瑞安(右)

"一派胡言"

拜登的表现的确不太"礼貌"，而是很具攻击性，并且显然有备而来。肯德基州丹维尔（Danville）进行的这场辩论上，拜登频频打断对手瑞安，举出数据实例来证明瑞安的表述错误，整体表现给人感觉是，拜登十分"享受"这番舌战。而共和党的瑞安也不示弱，虽然此前发表公开讲话的机会屈指可数，但也能看出他做了充分准备，并巧妙地指出，奥巴马的表现不力致使拜登压力很大。

电视辩论的第一个话题就引起了双方"口水战"。就美国驻利比亚班加西领馆遭袭，包括大使在内4位美国公民丧生这一事件，瑞安指责奥巴马政府在事件发生数天后还坚持称此事件是由于穆罕默德争议视频引起的。未经证实的消息则称，这一事件与视频无直接关联，只是事发时间巧合，而事件的幕后人来自基地组织。副总统拜登用"一派胡言"回应瑞安的指责，并以罗姆尼没有弄清事实依据就过早对此事发表评论的指责回击。

共和党副总统候选人瑞安对奥巴马政府的指责还包括外交政策上的失败，比如伊朗在秘密研发核武方面较奥巴马上台伊始已经有了巨大进展；在解决叙利亚危机方面，美国也过度依赖安理会，受制于中俄等国的否决权。瑞安也强调，美国只有出于保护本国利益时才可对他国进行军事打击。对于美国政府从阿富汗的撤军计划时间表瑞安也提出批评，拜登则马上补充说，时间表的制定是经过维和使命参与国共同商讨的，目的也是为了促使阿富汗政府自己承担更多责任。

奥巴马(左)罗姆尼(右)

47%还是100%？

在谈到美国内政话题时，双方就如何促进美国经济复苏介绍了不同战略。瑞安认为现任美国政府的路线错误，并承诺共和党执政将减税20%并通过节约财政支出在未来四年内创造1200万个工作岗位，贸易逆差的局面也会有所扭转。不过如同共和党总统候选人罗姆尼一样，瑞安没有具体说明减缩政策包括的内容。

拜登"攻击"对手阵营的"宝剑"是反复提及罗姆尼对奥巴马支持者的出言不逊。网上视频曝光了罗姆尼在一次选战宣传活动上说，47%的美国公民都指望政府救济，这些人不是他想赢得的选民。瑞安则立即表示，罗姆尼是个"好人"，不喜欢说动听的好话，而是会用实际行动来证明"为所有美国人做实事"。

分歧明显

在堕胎这一问题上，两位副总统候选人分歧极为明显。虽然两人都是天主教徒，都认为胚胎的形成就已经是一个生命的开始。但瑞安明确表示，罗姆尼当选总统后，美国只允许在极少情况下堕胎，比如女性遭强暴、近亲发生性行为后受孕或是孕妇身体健康状况原因等。而现任副总统拜登表示，他不愿将自己的观点强加于人，更希望"女性自己做决定"。

唯一的这场副总统候选人电视辩论之后，美国大选下一场重头戏在下周二（10月23日），主角变回奥巴马和罗姆尼。

作者：Christina Bergmann （发自华盛顿）编译：谢菲

责编：洪沙

名牌火大 嚴格封殺代購者

名牌火大 嚴格封殺代購者

by 記者張敏毅洛杉磯報導

10.08.12 - 09:03 am

頗受美國年輕人追捧的服裝品牌Abercrombie and Fitch（簡稱A&F），及旗下以南加海灘、衝浪為設計主題的Hollister近年在中國大陸掀起流行旋風。苦於中國境內專賣店少、價格昂貴，不少粉絲求助美國的代購業者。代購者經歷一段瘋狂的「淘金熱」後，開始抱怨這兩家品牌對職業代購者開始嚴格封殺，不少人已登上黑名單，被封卡、封地址、甚至封網路IP。

在洛杉磯讀大學二年級的Sophia孫表示，來美之前對這兩個潮牌早已如數家珍。遇到折扣大的時候，淘來的好康價格低到可以與大陸號稱「原單」、「尾單」的仿冒品媲美。國內老同學紛紛表達各種「羡慕嫉妒恨」的心情後，她開始全心投入代購這兩個品牌。

行內代購規則很簡單，只要買家在官方網站上看上任何商品，像Sophia這樣的代購者，便會替他們在網上訂購，到貨後再寄至中國大陸。

去年整年的代購都很順利，她靠這兩個品牌賺的錢已有四位數。但最近情況大逆轉，A&F開始嚴打代購者。她說，Sophia孫這個名字已登上A&F和Hollister「黑名單」。

黑名單上的客戶不是因為買衣服小氣，而是因為出手太闊綽。趁著年初A&F大減價，她一個多月內接到十 筆訂單，每筆總金額都超過200元。她每周下訂單不超過兩次，且儘量更換不同的收貨地址和信用卡。

一個月後，她收到來自A&F的電子郵件，聲稱會取消後面所有未發貨的訂單，將來也永遠不會接受Sophia孫的任何訂單，包括A&F旗下的Hollister等其他品牌。幾經交涉後，A&F承認將其列入黑名單，是因為懷疑她大量購入其商品並非自用，而是為二次販賣（Resale）。

與Sophia有相同遭遇的在美代購者大量存在。一旦上了黑名單，這位購買者的信用卡、收貨地址、電子郵件，及其相關聯的所有資料將統統被封殺。

同樣被列入黑名單的Crystal稱，自從她上榜以後，她曾用過的家裡地址、公司地址也跟著變黑。以致使用同一郵寄地址的無辜室友、同事都再也無法網購。甚至有網友指出，A&F封的不僅是個人信息，甚至連無形的網路IP地址也封。只要使用同一網路系統，即使改變所有信息重新註冊購買也於事無補。

惹毛當紅品牌A&F，逼其對市場設限，「受害者」都把矛頭指向大陸市場的龐大需求。近年來，針對外來的購買力量，不少受大陸消費者青睞的商品紛紛在美設限。A&F除網路銷售嚴格審查外，Outlet店裡也豎起牌子告之，一次購買不得超過20件。美國本土皮包品牌Coach也規定帶有標誌性Logo的商品不得超過五件。

<看更多…回到新聞總覽>

© worldjournal.com 2012

機場安檢偷竊全都錄 丟飯碗

機場安檢偷竊全都錄 丟飯碗

by 【洛杉磯訊】

10.07.12 - 09:38 am

洛杉磯國際機場安檢員被抓包扒竊旅客現金，令人想起不久前ABC電視公司才設計誘餌，在佛羅里達州逮到安檢員偷iPad。

據聯邦運輸安全局（TSA）公布數據，從2003年以來，該局有381名安檢員因偷竊被炒，包括2012年11人。不到全體員工0.5%，所以絕大多數員工奉公守法。

ABC電視公司為驗證安檢員偷竊問題有多嚴重，8月、9月進行秘密調查。在全美十個安檢員名聲不佳的機場，假裝遺失一台iPad讓安檢員有下手機會。他們在iPad留下明顯的聯絡電話和姓名，並在iPad旁邊安裝隱藏攝影機。結果九個機場的安檢員都照規定聯絡失主，唯一出包的是奧蘭多國際機場（Orlando International Airport）。

隱藏攝影機拍下安檢員拉米瑞茲（Andy Ramirez）拿走iPad，但他並未聯絡失主。他自以為神不知鬼不覺，殊不知這台iPad裝有追蹤應用程式。ABC透過追蹤程式，發現米瑞茲兩小時後把iPad帶回距機場不遠的家中。但ABC不動聲色，因為他們還有「節目」要做。

ABC記者等了15天，認定拉米瑞茲不打算歸還iPad才登門造訪。穿著制服的拉米瑞茲開門看見電視鏡頭對著他楞了一下，但打定主意裝無辜。記者給拉米瑞茲看訊號追蹤畫面，直接向他討回iPad。拉米瑞茲矢口否認污了iPad，聲稱所有失物都呈送招領。但ABC早己查過，確定當天拉米瑞茲並未這樣做。

ABC記者最後使出「絕招」，啟動iPad警鈴，果然警鈴大作。拉米瑞茲臉色大變，轉身回到屋內。不一會他又出現，這時他已換回便服，手中拿著失竊的iPad，連聲道歉說：「不好意思，我老婆說是她拿了iPad帶回家。」他太太也跑出來，用不純正英文說iPad是她拿的，但並未告訴老公。ABC記者說，不對呀，隱藏錄影帶顯示，iPad明明是拉米瑞茲拿的。拉米瑞茲答不出來，只好把大門一關，不再回應。他後來被運輸安全局解雇，ABC在9月27日播出這段報導。

對運輸安全局印象特差的佛羅里達州共和黨聯邦眾議員米卡 (John Mica）砲轟說，拉米瑞茲事件只是冰山一角，簡直無顏面對國人。他批評運輸安全局對安檢員背景調查作得不夠，旅客隨身物品落入來歷不明的人手中，實在有待改進。

<看更多…回到新聞總覽>

© worldjournal.com 2012

《中國好聲音》：内容與廣告無縫對接  風頭盖過超女

文章来源: 腾讯娱乐 于 2012-10-07 21:47:36 

打印本新闻 (被阅读 21099 次)

9月30日，第一季由浙江卫视和灿星制作联合打造的《中国好声音》的大幕在上海八万人体育场缓缓落下。伴随着高收视、高关注度、高话题度，《中国好声音》在中国的初次亮相给观众带来了惊喜，但节目的意义并不仅限于此。在第二季"趁热打铁"进入筹备阶段的同时，《中国好声音》节目对中国电视综艺节目的模式更新，原创流行乐坛的触底反弹甚至是对中国社会不同年龄阶层人群的互相沟通增进理解，都有着启示和更为普遍的意义，对于这些启示的研读，某种程度上来说比节目本身来得更为重要。

节目模式

用资本运作的方式看待电视节目

有人将今年的《中国好声音》和2005年轰动全国的《超级女声》做对比，但这两者之间的区别是显而易见的。作为本土歌唱选秀节目的杰出代表，《超级女声》进行了节目形式上的巨大创新，也因此带来了出人意料的经济效益和社会效应；而《中国好声音》除了在节目形式上引进了荷兰原版的《The Voice》，这档节目更注重在运营管理方面的开发，和在整个音乐产业链上的布局，从本质上，《中国好声音》也是一笔"中国好生意"。

在文化产业突飞猛进的今天，如何从产业、资本的角度去做文化，将文化做大做强，是整个文化领域都在思考的问题。这其中不仅缺少产业化的思路，也缺少既懂文化又懂资本的操盘手。《中国好声音》在这个方面无疑开创了一种可能性。在电视这个领域里，海外的成功经验早已在产业化的道路上做出了成绩，以《The Voice》为例，它在英、美市场上不仅吸引了广告主的赞助，同时也通过与I tunes的合作，将在电视荧屏里即时呈现的音乐与线上的销售挂钩，获得更丰富的经济效益。来到中国，《中国好声音》在拥有多个赞助商的同时，也与中国移动签署了彩铃分成协议，学员在节目中演唱的歌曲，同时就可以通过彩铃下载。另外制作公司灿星制作也与中国移动成立了一家经纪公司，为学员的后续发展保驾护航，这被看作是国外版权模式的一次本土化创新。

用资本运作的方式看待一档电视节目，通过合作经营、资源置换、协议分成甚至股份互持等方式极大地整合各种资源，以此形成合力发挥巨大能量，这应该被看作是《中国好声音》的命脉所在。对此，《中国好声音》的幕后推手，华人文化产业投资基金（CMC）的首席投资官李怀宇在接受采访时表示，中国文化产业具有自己的特点和运作规律，内容策划、制作、播出、广告经营、后开发等环节需要无缝配合。华人文化产业投资基金的团队具有多年的中国本土传媒市场经验，并且持续关注和参与产业政策的研究和产业规则的制定，希望引入创新机制，探索尝试出一个让各方合作伙伴目标高度一致，高效协作的模式，从而发挥各方优势，打造出品牌节目，最大限度释放内容的商业价值。

行业前景

产业链整合带来的启发

《中国好声音》的学员能否在节目结束后通过经纪公司的运作获得良好的发展，通过节目对产业链的重新梳理，是否又能救中国的原创音乐于水火，这样的疑问从节目尚未开播的时候，就已经被不断提及，而直至今日，这个疑问还尚无答案。

早在《中国好声音》于今年6月的北京新闻发布会上，宣传总监陆伟(微博)就曾经做出过判断：一档电视节目不可能彻底改变一个行业的面貌，我们关心的是节目能为行业做一些什么事情。而随着第一季节目落下帷幕，节目也的确为行业带来了一些全新的启发，有待得到进一步的挖掘与释放。

音乐产业中的主体——唱片公司、演出公司、经纪公司长期以来都处在群雄割据、各自为政的局面，各自力量的薄弱，不仅让它们在面临互联网冲击的时候显得毫无还手之力，也让它们无力通过整合产业链释放出行业潜在的能量。事实上，在传统唱片市场式微、演出市场地域性较强的现状之下，将精心制作的音乐作品通过强势的传播平台以不落俗套的方式进行传播，继而取得与新媒体、互联网之间足够的话语权与议价权，是这个产业在尚未找到更新换代的产品前，无法绕过的发展之路。

《中国好声音》的导师那英、刘欢、杨坤(微博)(微信号：yangkunmusic) 和庾澄庆(微博)通过这个节目也清晰地认识到了这一点。因为对原版模式和运作团队的认可，四人加盟了节目，而他们在节目中对学员的选择不仅代表了个人对音乐价值的判断，也影响了公众的音乐的喜好，将好的音乐推广给更大多数人，将如何欣赏好音乐介绍给普罗大众，这本身就是对音乐的传承与发扬。尤其是刘欢在学员袁娅维离开舞台时对于原创流行音乐细分市场的一段振聋发聩的讲话，也只有在真正主流的强势平台上才能得以最广泛而有效的传播。

年轻力量

草莓一代通过节目证明自己

一个是21岁的男孩，一个是20岁的女孩，9月30日《中国好声音》第一季的巅峰之夜，属于两个90后的年轻人，梁博和吴莫愁。21岁的男孩梁博最终赢得了年度好声音的称号，而20岁的女孩吴莫愁也用歌声证明了自己。更重要的是，两人用年轻人的态度和音乐，唱出了90后的心声。

这是中国第一个音乐类的节目将最后的荣誉交付到90后的年轻人手里，也让人们从一个全新的角度看待了中国90后年轻人的真情实感，如果说节目的创新和对行业的启发是节目组有备而来的话，那么《中国好声音》对不同年龄阶层人群沟通和互相理解带来的社会文化意义，其效果则让节目组出乎意料。

梁博和人们印象中的90后有着许多不同。有人认为90后的年轻人性格强烈，行事夸张，但梁博的身上却有着一种超越年龄的成熟与稳重；有人人为90后以自我为中心，做事没有长性，但梁博却执着地坚持着音乐这个爱好，并有将它付诸行动的力量。这也正是很多年长一些的观众喜爱梁博的重要原因。

如果说梁博代表着90后沉稳的一面，那么吴莫愁的特立独行则代表着90后突破传统的勇气。吴莫愁的独特唱腔曾一度在《中国好声音》的舞台上引发强烈的争议，然而一封讲述她和父亲父女情深的家书则让人们了解了她善良孝顺的一面。在巅峰之夜，她用"新时代的年轻人大家一起来加油"这样直抒胸臆的呼告，让大家看到她的努力，也让她成为了90后的意见领袖。而在接受媒体采访时，这位真性情的女孩只说了一句，"一定会坚持做自己，我希望有更多人能感受到我的热情和开心。"

一位网友这样说到，很多人对90后的不理解源于他们认为只有自己的想法才是对的，当他们看到舞台上年轻人的努力拼搏，这种成见自然会渐渐消失。人们开始理解这些孩子，也欣赏90后为了梦想付出的努力，从而喜欢他们从内心流淌出来的歌声，这就是沟通的价值。

美國加州鬧油荒油价暴涨  民眾叫苦:快没法活了

文章来源: 世界日报 于 2012-10-08 08:28:19

打印本新闻 (被阅读 17651 次)

　近日油价连连暴涨，几天之内已从四元出头冲破五元大关。担心这股涨势一发不可收拾，许多市民纷纷赶往便宜油站加油。位于阿罕布拉市缅因街的好市多（Costco）油站近日被前来加油的车主围到水泄不通，几度汽油告急、断货。
 
　　看到记者前来采访暴涨的油价，有位老美车主摇下车窗，一脸苦闷的大喊，「快帮我们问问州长和欧巴马，到底是怎么回事」？这一唿声立刻引来不少车主唿应，大家都表示，汽油是刚性需求，无论涨到多贵，都得驾车出行。这样暴涨下去，足以让人发疯，都快「没法活了」。

　　加油站负责疏导交通的管理员Ron表示，自从周四（4日）开始，每天都有大量民众蜂拥而至，争相加油。好市多广场内的几百个停车位顿时变得供不应求。最高峰时，前来加油的车辆从广场内排队一直排到附近的Date街上，一路往南延伸。

　　到周四下午，油站宣布所有储存的油已经全部售罄，直到周五下午才补到新一批汽油，油站得以重新开放。Ron说，油站共有16个加油口，以往平均每天需要四至五卡车油量供给，但这两天每天都需要九卡车油量。
 
　　7日下午2时左右，这家好市多油站87号汽油的价格是每加仑4.65元，而附近的大西洋大道上的Chevron油站同样的汽油每加仑售价4.89元。相比之下，好市多油站每加仑便宜0.24元，若加满整箱油，则有三元左右差价。

　　此处16个加油点，共有八条等待的队伍，平均每条队伍都有七辆车在等待。远望过去，加油站的广场就像一个停车场，整整齐齐停了50多辆汽车。平均每辆车要等待10至15分钟，才能轮到。而在一周前，来这里加油几乎不用排队，偶尔遇到高峰时，也只需要等上一至两辆车。

　　一位日裔车主对于等待十几分钟，已经很满意了。她表示，商业市的好市多比阿市这家还要便宜几分钱，至少要排队20分钟。另一位西裔车主称，自己的朋友前天在拉朋地好市多加油等了半小时。

　　居住蒙特利公园市的胡小姐回忆，2009年年底首次来美，当时油价在2.79至2.99元之间浮动。没想到不到三年时间，油价涨幅竟达70%。相比中国大陆的油价从当年六元涨到现在八元，也才33%涨幅，她直唿「这太让人无法接受」。按照汇率和单位换算，一贯以低油价着称的美国，油价现已与中国京沪广大城市持平，略高于二、三线中小型城市。

　　一位开着大型休旅车（SUV）的老美车主表示，听说涨价会持续到10月底，不得不赶紧加满整箱油。加完油，他算出这次的花费比之前多出十几块，无奈的感叹，「也许是时候换一辆小车了」。