Ulm: Where history comes alive - Macau Daily Times

MDTimes Number 1135 Weekend Times No. 61 October 09 2010
W eekend®
09 October 2010
Ulm:
Where history
comes alive
1

Weekend Times
2

Cover story
44
Ulm: Where history comes alive
by Thomas Schmid
(Text and photos)
14
Do you know Macau?
King of Trees in Macao
by Chris W. C. Sam
22
France’s ‘Little Prince’
to hit the small screen
by Juliette Collen
18 World of Wonder
28 Offbeat
29 This Day in History
30 Infotainment
34 Week’s Pick
by Ian Langsdon (EPA)
W eekend
Macau Daily Times’
Saturday magazine
16
Mouse Click
by António Espadinha Soares
26
Ask the Vet
Why do dogs throw up?
by Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester
Administrator: Kowie Geldenhuys
Director: Rogério Beltrão Coelho
Editor: Cecília Jorge
Design Editor: João Jorge Magalhães
09 October 2010
12
Cooking Times
A Steak with Beer Sauce
by Carlos Balona Gomes
photo by Fabrizio Croce
20
Food for Health
Nutrition
in Cancer Prevention
How food
can protect us…
by Eugénia Santos Silva
32
Press Play
by MC LA
Other contributors for this issue:
António José Espadinha Soares, Carlos Balona Gomes,
Chris W.C.Sam, Eugénia Santos Silva, Fabrizio Croce,
Ian Langsdon, Juliette Collen, Manuel Cardoso, MC LA,
Ruan Du Toit Bester, Thomas Schmid
E-mail for news and agenda: newsroom@macaudailytimes.com.mo
Address: 2 nd Floor 62 Av. Infante D. Henrique, MACAU SAR Telephones: + 853 287 160 81/2 Fax: + 853 287 160 84
E-mail for advertisement: advertising@macaudailytimes.com.mo
3

Weekend Times
is no
better place
than home,”
D o r o t h y
“There
once chanted,
clicking the heels of her crimson slippers.
It took me some 20 years away
from home and the development of
a few facial wrinkles to realize what
she meant by those famous words. I
4
was born and raised in Ulm, a city of
roughly 120,000 people at the foot of
the Swabian Alps in southern Germany
and straddling the left bank of
the river Danube. Ulm, in my opinion,
was boring, everyday life slow
and unexciting. It was rather difficult
for me to understand why busloads
of tourists would descend upon
the city and take snapshots of each
Ulm: Whe
other in front of historical buildings
that – so I thought – were trailing as
much behind modern times as their
occupants. It does take time away
from home to really appreciate what
you’ve lost.
This is what I’ve discovered: Ulm, in
fact, is interesting, fun, an intriguing
mix of history and modernity. Sure,
the pace of life still is less hectic
than in, say, Berlin or Frankfurt, but
frankly, that only adds to the city’s
charm. The town gained prominence
in the Middle Ages when it
was bestowed the status of Freie
reichsstadt (Free Imperial City). Its
strategic location at the intersection
of europe’s main long-distance
trading routes soon brought Ulm
wealth and tremendous political influence.
In the late Middle Ages the
city was among the most powerful
in Germany and attracted artisans,
craftsmen and scientists. As the re-

09 October 2010
re history comes aliveby Thomas Schmid
naissance dawned, its fortunes gradually
began to falter as Ulm aligned
itself with the Protestant reformation.
Further blows were dealt during
the Thirty Years War and the
War of the Spanish Succession. In
1802, the city lost its imperial status
when Napoleon Bonaparte annexed
it to Bavaria, where it remained for
a brief 10 years. On the night of 17
December 1944 the city suffered a
devastating raid by royal Air Force
bombers, which wiped out about 80
per cent of the historical town. What
was left has been lovingly preserved.
A myriad of ruined and burnt-out
buildings even were painstakingly
restored to their original condition
in the decades after the war. however,
the city’s magnificent cathe-
dral sustained only minor damage.
It wasn’t a miracle as some claim,
but conscious consideration by Allied
Bomber Command to save it for
generations to come as an important
cultural treasure.
The jewel in the crown of Ulm’s architectural
heritage to this day is of
course its imposing cathedral. The
colossal edifice right in the center of
town is the logical starting point for
any sightseeing tour. Its foundation
stone laid in 1377, the entire structure
was financed by Ulm’s wealthy
patrician families and trade guilds. A
stunning example of Gothic architecture
with flying buttresses, ornamental
sculptures and lofty spires
that give the impression of fragile
lattice work, it is Germany’s
second largest ecclesiastical
(Text and photos)
building after Cologne cathedral.
But it does beat its Cologne counterpart
in at least one respect. It boasts
the world’s highest church steeple
at 161.4 metres, less than one metre
higher than Cologne’s. That fact
becomes even more interesting if
one knows that the main spire remained
for several centuries a truncated
stump measuring only 100
metres in height. Building work had
been suspended as early as the late
1400s due to financial difficulties
and other reasons like ensuing warfare.
Work was resumed only in the
late 19th century when the principal
spire and two smaller twin towers
flanking the choir were finally completed.
For a few euros, a total of 768
steps can be climbed to reach a tiny
5

Weekend Times
When to go
The best time to visit Ulm is between April and October, when the weather is
comparatively mild and open-air places are brimming. It’s still a good idea to
bring a jacket or sweater for cooler evenings, though.
How to get there
Ulm has no airport. There are daily flights by Lufthansa, Thai Airways and several
other airlines to Frankfurt or Munich. From there, take one of several daily
express trains or Intercity trains to Ulm. Advance ticketing is more comfortable
and advised and can be usually arranged together with your air ticket booking.
Ulm Tourism Office
Stadthaus, Münsterplatz 50, 89073 Ulm
Tel. 0731/161-28 30
Fax 0731/161-16 41
Email: info@tourismus.ulm.de
Website: www.tourismus.ulm.de/tourismus/en/index.php (in English language)
Open Mon-Fri 09 am - 06 pm; Sat 09 am - 01 pm
Dining
Drei Kannen: one of Ulm’s oldest and most charming; great beergarden; this is
where you want to be! Hafenbad 31/1
Lochmühle: a former water mill converted into a restaurant noted for its authentic
ambience and great food; Gerbergasse 6
Zunfthaus der Schifferleute (Watermen’s Guild House): rustic tavern and restaurant
serving all those Swabian delicacies; Fischergasse 31
Weinkrüger: part of a little cluster of taverns/restaurants; serves excellent wines,
too; Weinhofberg 9
Barfüsser: a modern place, but worth a visit for its home-brewed beers;
Lautenberg 1
Where to stay
Advance booking is always advised and can be achieved conveniently via the
Internet for most establishments. Ulm boasts few international hotel chains, but you
would want to stay in a cozy, family-run hotel anyway (equipped with all modern
amenities, of course)
Hotel Schiefes Haus (crooked house): Perhaps the most atmospheric hotel in
town; only 11 rooms available, book in advance; Schwörhausgasse 6
Tel. 0731/917930
hotelschiefeshausulm@t-online.de
www.hotelschiefeshaus.de
EUR125 (single) - EUR148 (double) incl. breakfast buffet
Goldenes Rad: Apartment-style hotel right smack in the center (1 minute walk to
the cathedral); Neue Strasse 65
Tel. 0731/9699250
hotel-goldenes-rad@t-online.de
www.hotel-goldenes-rad.de
EUR145 – EUR185; make sure you request a room with en-suite bathroom (they
also have cheaper ones with shared bathroom)
Hotel Stern: very pleasant 4-star property on the northern fringe of the old town, but
still only 300 metres walk to the cathedral; nice Italian restaurant; Sterngasse 17
Tel. 0731/155299
reception@hotelstern.de
www.hotelstern.de
EUR72 (single) – EUR82 (double) incl. breakfast buffet
If you prefer to stay at an international hotel chain, try
Maritim Hotel: modern and chic; part of a massive exhibition and convention
centre right on the Danube river; approx. 25 minutes walk to the cathedral, but
taxi services are readily available; Basteistrasse 40
Tel. 0731/9230
info.ulm@maritim.de
www.maritim.de/de/hotels/deutschland/hotel-ulm
Prices on request.
6
viewing platform just a few meters
below the pinnacle for a superb panoramic
view of Ulm, the surrounding
countryside and - on a clear day
- a majestic vista of the Alps almost
200 kilometres to the south. On the
first platform, some 60 metres above
ground level, visitors can write their
names and comments into a guest
book provided by the bell keeper.
however, the ascent to the very top
should not be attempted by the unfit,
faint-hearted or persons suffering
from vertigo! The church interior,
which can accommodate more
than 2,000 worshippers at a time, is
equally awe-inspiring with plenty of
religious artwork and sculpture to
be admired. The star attractions are
the 15th century choir stalls by Jörg
Syrlin the elder at the far end near
the main altar. The ensemble has
earned world-wide acclaim among
art historians, in particular the intriguing
carved busts, many of them
said to depict the patricians and
wealthy merchants who once sponsored
the cathedral.
The ample square in front of
the cathedral is dominated by the
Stadthaus (Town house) in the
square’s south-west corner. The
rather modernistic building was designed
by New York architect richard
Meier and completed in 1993,
triggering much controversy. Many
Ulmers opined that it didn’t fit into

the surroundings and spoiled the
historical cityscape. Tempers have
of course calmed down since then.
Today the Stadthaus is a venue for
exhibitions and conferences. There
also is a very helpful tourism office
on the ground floor where visitors
can collect informational brochures
and maps in several languages or
even hire a personal tour guide parlaying
in their native tongue.
A short walk to the south of the
cathedral lays Ulm’s medieval town
hall. The massive building is impossible
to miss thanks to its garish façade
covered over and over with
magnificent murals depicting scenes
of city life, trade and, yes, warfare. It
is commonly acknowledged as one of
the most beautiful ancient town halls
in Germany. Just around the back
of the building is Ulm’s old market
square. Several cafés and restaurants
have set up tables outside. Take the
time to settle down there for a while
and study the murals over a glass (or
two!) of Ulm’s excellent beer. high
up on a façade you will see the vividly
coloured image of an Ulmer Schachtel
(Ulmian Box). Those were ingeniously
designed, flat-bottomed cargo
boats used by the city’s merchants to
transport their goods on the Danube
as far as Vienna, Budapest and deep
into the Balkans. In the square you
can also admire one of Ulm’s many
fountains, in this case a 15th century
construction nicknamed “fish box” to
this day as fishmongers used the basin
for keeping their live fish before
selling them to customers.
The oath of the lord mayor
After having soaked up the atmosphere
(and finished your beer, of
course!), it is time to negotiate the
narrow, cobblestoned alleys to the
west to eventually reach the Weinhof,
another square that hosted the
city’s wine market from the 15th
until the early 19th century. The
most prominent building here is the
Schwörhaus (Oath house), built in
1612, but only replacing an older
structure. It is the scene of a unique
Ulmian tradition that has been carried
out since at least 1345. Once
a year in July (generally the second
last Monday of the month), the lord
mayor appeared on the front balcony
and took an oath on the city
constitution. Nowadays, he briefs
the gathered crowds on the city’s
budget and development plans, of
09 October 2010
course, but like centuries ago he still
concludes his speech with the solemn
pledge “to be the same man to
rich and poor, without reservation,
in all common and honourable matters”.
The ceremony is the highlight
of an entire week of festivities and
events celebrating the home-grown
constitution, considered groundbreaking
at a time when serfdom
and autocratic feudalism were the
call of the day elsewhere.
Wandering further south towards
the Danube, visitors will soon reach
the best preserved and most scenic old
part of town, the former fishermen’s
and tanners’ quarters, their timberframed
houses neatly arranged along
the banks of a crystal-clear brook, the
Blau. In this area sits one of Ulm’s
most photographed buildings, the
Schiefes haus (crooked house). Dat-
7

Weekend Times
8
ing from the 15th century, the half-timbered structure
displays a very obvious inclination to the Blau as a result
of ground subsistence. After consolidation and stabilization,
the building is today arguably the most charming
hotel in town. Booking well in advance is strongly advised,
because only a few rooms are available (see side box).
Several quaint bridges cross the Blau, leading the visitor
to more enchanted small squares, including Fischerplätzle,
a Swabian dialect diminutive term approximately
translated as “fishermen’s court yard”. here,
the atmosphere of medieval Central europe catches on
even more intensely as the tiny square directly borders
on a still remaining stretch of the medieval city wall.
The Zunfthaus der Schifferleute (Watermen’s Guild
house) on the square once was occupied by fishermen
and Ulmer Schachtel crews, but today a popular, rustic
tavern that offers a large selection of typical Swabian
and Ulmian specialties has set up shop. And if you
haven’t noticed it yet: the whole of Ulm seems to be
brimming with restaurants, pubs, bistros and cafés. So
much so that a saying was coined to the effect that
“Ulm boasts more dining and wining establishments
per capita than any other city in Germany”.
The nearby Saumarkt (sow market) dwells in the shadow
of an immense 16th century artillery bastion that
marked the southwestern corner of the old city wall.
here, farmers from the surrounding country side once
sold their pig livestock to Ulm’s butchers. A tongue-incheek
bronze monument reminds locals and visitors of
the square’s erstwhile purpose with an inscription in

funny sounding Ulm dialect that reads: “Dr Metzgr
ond dr Baur beim handl om dui Sau” (the butcher
and the farmer in heated bargaining over that sow).
A view of Ulm’s Bavarian twin town
Time permitting, visitors can now opt to climb up to
the wall’s parapet for a leisurely stroll eastwards with
Ulm’s medieval house fronts on one side and the sluggishly
flowing Danube and a view of Ulm’s Bavarian
twin town of Neu-Ulm on the other. This section of the
river marks the boundary between Germany’s federal
states of Baden-Württemberg (to which Ulm belongs)
and Bavaria. Many Neu-Ulmers and Ulmers alike cross
the “border” on a daily basis to commute between their
homes and workplaces. Otherwise, just continue with
your exploration of the winding alleys and meticulously
maintained houses and stop by at one or another openair
café or small beergarden until you finally return to
your starting point, the cathedral.
Just due north and northeast another substantial part
of the old town has escaped destruction during World
War II. There, numerous small shops and boutiques
share the rows of half-timbered and stucco-decorated
edifices with the inevitable plethora of cafés and taverns.
The area already was dedicated to commerce during
Imperial times as evident from old buildings like
the impressive Salzstadel, a warehouse built in 1592
where the city once stored a precious (and pricy!) trading
commodity: salt. The structure since 1955 houses
09 October 2010
9

Weekend Times
the one-of-a-kind, privately operated
Deutsches Brotmuseum (German
Bread Museum). As the name
suggests, its permanent exhibition
highlights every imaginable aspect of
grain milling and baking and the significance
of bread as a staple food for
a large proportion of humankind (not
only the Germans, mind you!). You
won’t find any comparable museum
elsewhere in the world! Close-by,
the Büchsenstadel (literally “musket
barn”) was built in 1592 as a weapons’
arsenal (Ulm maintained its own
“army”) as attested by a number of
cannon balls embedded in the exterior
walls. The beautiful building
today houses a youth centre. The
delightfully decorated Kornhaus of
1594 served as a grain warehouse, but
nowadays is a venue for concerts, exhibitions
and conferences. Needless
to mention that a lovely pub-cumrestaurant,
eulenspiegel, occupies a
portion of its ground floor.
Oldest residential dwellings
The old borough Auf dem Kreuz in
the northeast corner of the old town
encompasses several alleys boasting
some of the best preserved
and oldest residential dwellings
still in existence. The
close-by alley Seelengraben
is hemmed in by yet
another surviving stretch
of the medieval city wall.
10
On top of it a row of quaint houses
was erected as early as the 16th century
to accommodate the families of
the municipal soldiers. Nowadays
they are all privately owned and with
their tiny front yards of carefully
manicured flower beds are muchphotographed.
Please be discreet
when taking your snapshots, though.
The current inhabitants value their
privacy just as much as anybody
else.
Ulm’s strategic importance in times
of war is emphasized by the former
Zeughaus (Imperial Arsenal) still further
east. The sprawling complex, much of it
still in ruins, lost its inventory to looting
Napoleonic and Bavarian troops at the
dawn of the 19th century. Some of the
buildings like the handsome early Baroque
Löwenbau (lion building) were
restored and are now used by the city
administration. however, military history
buffs will be delighted to learn that
Ulm nevertheless still is home to europe’s
largest and best preserved 19th
century fortifications. During the 1840s
the newly established German Confederation
decided to extensively fortify
the city and its outlying areas with
55 massive bastions, forts, multiple
encircling walls with glacis’ and a
sprawling citadel on a hill just
due north. An incredible en-
gineering feat in its day, the effort was a
direct reaction to the Napoleonic Wars
and implemented as a precautionary
measure to thwart any future expansionist
ambitions by France. While history
tells us that the fortress never had
to withstand any attack, contemporary
records show that all main forts were interconnected
by underground passage
ways “wide enough to let two [horse]
carriages pass side by side”. Many of
the fortifications were demolished over
the course of roughly one century, but
the citadel and several of the major and
minor forts still exist in excellent condition
all over the modern city area.
Ulm, offers something to any type
of tourist. Whether you are fond of
good food and warm hospitality, intrigued
by the architectural witnesses
of a bygone era, interested in art
and culture or are an accomplished
military historian, Ulm is the place
to visit. But also don’t forget: “When
in Ulm, do as the Ulmers do”. enjoy
life, stay relaxed! And to think that I
had to re-discover my roots thanks
to a fictional little Kansas kid’s magic
chant? Silly me! W

&
C&C - Lawyers Office
www.ccadvog.com
09 October 2010
Partners:
Rui J. da Cunha*
Álvaro Rodrigues*°● Nuno S. da Mata*
Zhao Lu *°● Connie Kong
Associates:
Adelino Correia*
Zelina Rodrigues ● Nuno L. Martins
Susana Batalha ● Luís A. Pinto
Rita Andorinho
Maria J. Marques ● António I. Azeredo
João N. Marques
Jennifer Lao ● Icília Berenguel
Isolda Brasil
Mariana A. Esteves
Francisco M. Cameira
Maria A. Giestas
Trainee Lawyers:
Carlos S. Ferreira
Octávio Tavares
Fong Kit In
Cao Lemeng, Rui
Wong Pou Ngai, Karen
António Santos
*Notary
° China Appointed Attesting Officer
11

Weekend Times
Cooking Times
12
A Steak with Beer Sauc

e
FOr meat lovers, this steak is simply irresistible.
We believe António Marrare started this
kind of “cafe steak” late XVIII century in
Lisbon, at his own cafes, using only butter,
cream, salt and pepper to cook the sauce.
Nowadays, you can find in Portugal dozens of “cafe
steak” recipes like this one. Some use more garlic or
different spices and some use wine or coffee instead
of beer.
About the side dishes you also can choose vegetables,
rice, pasta and so many other ingredients.
Nevertheless, in my opinion it is
practically mandatory to serve a
“cafe steak” with French-fried
potatoes and a fried egg,
exactly like my suggestion
here. W
09 October 2010
Questions and comments to
newsroom@macaudailytimes.com
To publish at http://www.sundayflavors.blogspot.com
by Carlos Balona Gomes
Photo by Fabrizio Croce
YOU WILL NEED
(serves 4):
600 g / 1lb and 5 ¼ oz of thin cut veal
or beef steaks;
160 g / 5 ½ oz of butter;
4 teaspoons of pork lard;
2 teaspoons of garlic purée;
2 bay leaves;
2 teaspoons of French classic mustard;
200 ml / 7 ¼ fl oz beer;
200 ml / 7 ¼ fl oz cream;
2 egg yolks;
Salt and pepper;
METHOD:
Sprinkle steaks both sides with salt
and pepper;
In a skillet with 2 teaspoons of pork
lard, over medium to strong heat and in
a quick operation, fry steaks both sides
(from medium rare to medium well).
Allow steaks to rest in a warm place;
In another skillet heat half of the
butter, 2 teaspoons of pork lard and
garlic purée until light brown;
Add remaining butter, bay leaves
and mustard and bring to a boil while
whisking non-stop;
Add beer and bring back to the boil
to evaporate the alcohol (around 5
minutes boiling);
Whisk cream and egg yolks seasoned
with salt and pepper and add it to the
sauce;
Turn the heat to low and keep
whisking the sauce without stopping;
Check seasoning, adding more salt
and pepper if necessary;
Cut the heat when you get a
homogenized sauce. Do not overcook
or you will get a tough sauce with small
chunks of egg;
Serve the steaks in deep pre-warmed
plates with plenty of sauce around and
the perfect match: one fried egg each
and some crispy french-fried potatoes.
13

Weekend Times
King of Trees in Ma
14
APArT from the upturned eaves and tiled ridges
decorating Chinese pavilions, terraces and
towers, traditional Chinese religious architecture
often leaves people with the strong impression
that they are built amidst the clouds
and mist in the remote mountains and forests, immersed
in a tranquil and pleasant environment. Most examples of
traditional Chinese religious architecture in Macao still preserves
this unique aura. In tiny Macao, most temples occupy
comparatively large areas, with individual structure the
major architectural design. Only a few larger temples are of
garden or palace-hall design. To create a divine Buddhist
ambience away from the mundane world and bustling areas
in a limited space in temple structure, some temples with
more available space support flowers, grass and trees for the
purpose of decoration and shaping of a religious environment.
Most temples in Macao were built in the Ming and Qing
dynasties. hence, it is no surprise that the surrounding trees
enjoy a long life of more than a hundred years. According to
the Macao King of Trees election held by the Civic and Municipal
Affairs Bureau (IACM) in August 2003, the elected
King of Trees is located in the square in front of the Temple
of Kwan Tai and Tin hau on Taipa Island. According to a
survey conducted by the IACM Department of Gardens and
Green Areas, this Bodhi Tree, or sacred fig tree, is about 320

cao by Chris W. C. Sam,
Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT)
years old, with a crown length of
23 metres and a width of 22 metres.
This soaring ancient tree bears
dense, luxuriant branches and
leaves. A similar tree stands next to
it in the square. According to their
age, one can deduce that the two
trees were planted at the founding
of the temple. It is said that
originally three trees were planted
when the temple was constructed,
signifying three joss sticks placed
in front of the temple in gratitude
for the divine grace during day and
night. regrettably, one of the old
tress was chopped down when an
edifice was built nearby.
In addition to these trees on Taipa
Island, the two old trees standing
in the Temple of Kun Iam Tchai
on the Macao Peninsula were inscribed
on the List of Macao’s
Ancient Trees. According to the
IACM survey, there is an ancient
Jambul (Syzygium cumini) located
on both sides of the courtyard an-
nexed to the temple. The trees,
with aged craggy trunks, are said
to be more than 140 years old.
During the blossoming of the Jambuls
in Spring and Summer time
the fragrance of white flowers permeates
the temple. During the late
Summer and early Autumn, the
trees bear purplish red and black
09 October 2010
fruit and emit the scent of roses.
The next time you visit the temple
to pray for blessings or worship
the deity don’t miss the chance to
glimpse the charm of the King of
Trees in Macao! W
Part of the text is extracted from the
author’s book A Journey to Macao’s Temples
15

Weekend Times
Mouse Click by
Video of the Week
102 YeAr oLd LenS
http://vimeo.com/15524618
Despite the technological leaps which we’ve gone
through in a century it’s amazing to see the old and the
new come together in this video as photographer Timur
Civan uses a 102 year old cinema lens to capture some
truly amazing imagery. having had the initial intent of
acquiring a medium format camera for an assignment
that required a specific look, the photographer came
across this special lens through a friend who also adapted
it to fit his modern digital camera. Check out the links on
the page and you can learn more about the history of the
lens and how Civan has been working with it.
16
by António Espadinha Soares
Software of the Week
Adobe Lightroom 3
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/
Photoshop celebrates two decades of existence this year and
as the power of computing has gone up and digital imaging
and photography have become ubiquitous so has Adobe
adapted its product line to suit both high end professionals
and amateurs. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 is the latest
version of the new popular application which will not only
help you in managing your digital photography archive but
also process and creatively edit large numbers of files, either
through manual styling or by applying included presets to
output files for printing or directly to the web to several online
photo services. It’s expensive at around US$300 but well worth
the price.
Mouse Party
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/drugs/mouse.html
The use of substances to alter our mood is something
which stretches back to pre-agricultural societies. In
fact, it’s so pervasive throughout the animal world that
you can even find some rather funny examples of it on
Youtube of many animals consuming either natural
or man made subtances that they know will alter their
mental state. If you’ve ever wondered why certain drugs
affect people and animals the way they do, this Unviersity
of Utah webpage explains the effects that several
common drugs have on our brains and why they trigger
certain behaviours, all done in a humorous and
interactive fashion.

truthy
http://truthy.indiana.edu/
‘Meme’ is a word coined by evolutionary Biologist richard
Dawkins in his 1976 best seller, The Selfish Gene. It is
a play on the word ‘gene’, but is meant to describe a self
propagating idea, applying the understanding of biologic
evolution to cultural evolution. This page is a sort of web
app that can be used to track Internet memes on the now
popular micro-blogging service Twitter, analysing how certain
ideas propagate in the Twittersphere. The memes it’s
meant to track on Twitter are ‘truthy’ memes, ideas that rely
“on deceptive tactics to represent misinformation as fact”, a
concept (“Truthiness”) invented and popularized by satirist
Stephen Colbert.
09 October 2010
blog of the Week
Shit mY KidS ruined
http://www.shitmykidsruined.com/
Children are the joy of many families, but they
can also be their terror. Many were the treasured
possessions of my parents that I ruined growing
up, often being met more with sadness than ire and
punishment, especially due to the creative ways that I
destroyed many of my parents’ personal effects. This
blog is solely dedicated to the various items destroyed
by cute toddlers around the world, often with pictures
of the little rascals caught in the act.
17

09 October 2010
Weekend Times
W eekend
Times
18

09 October 2010
19

Weekend Times
20
Food for health
FOODS contain
a wide range of
compounds that
confer particular
properties and
exhibit biological activity.
Some of them have been recognised
as protective agents
against cancer. According to
their chemical structure and
functional characteristics
they are grouped in different
families:
Carotenoids: These compounds
comprise pro vitamin
A, alpha carotene,
beta carotene, lycopene,
zeaxanthin and lutein. The
main sources in diet are
carrots, apricot, peaches,
cantaloupe, sweet potatos,
kale, spinach, broccoli
and tomato. Carotenoids
act as antioxidants and
immune-enhancers. There
is considerable evidence
that foods containing these
compounds protect against
aero digestive tract cancers,
lung and prostate cancer.
however, scientists advise
that high dose synthetic
beta-carotene for lung cancer
prevention, in current
smokers, increase the lung
cancer risk and lung cancer
death. Intake must be provided
by natural food only.
Isothiocyanates: They are
phytochemicals which contain
sulphur and are found
in cruciferous vegetables
such as broccoli, cauliflower,
kale, Brussels sprouts,
cabbage, radish, turnip and
watercress. These compounds
are responsible for
the typical flavour of these
vegetables. Isothiocyanates
exert anti-cancer properties
by inhibiting cancer
Nutrition
How foo
cell proliferation and inducing programmed cell
death.
Flavonoids. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds
ubiquitously found in plants and responsible for their
pigmentation, berries of all colours, green tea and cocoa,
are the main sources. Flavonoids are classified according
to chemical structure in many different chemical
groups including flavonols, flavones, isoflavones,
flavanones, catechins, anthocyanins, and anthocyanidins.
Their antioxidant activity is greatly enhanced in
the presence of vitamin C.
Curcuminoids. Curcuminoids are polyphenolic pigments
present in the spice Turmeric derived from the
rhizomes of Curcuma longa. Curcumin, the active ingredient,
is responsible for the spice’s yellow pigment
and is a potent anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive
agent.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D is available through sunlight
exposure and dietary intake from cod liver oil, salmon,
tuna, mackerel, sardines, fortified milk, eggs or supplements.
A broad range of studies have consistently
shown that sunlight exposure and increased vitamin D
intake are associated with a reduced incidence of many
types of cancer, including colorectal, breast, pancreas,
oesophagus and ovary, and with reduced mortality
from these cancers.
Folic acid: Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin found
abundantly in fresh fruits, leafy green vegetables and
cereals. Deficient intake may increase the risk of colorectal
and breast cancer. Folate is needed for DNA
repair. Folate intake is generally correlated with intake
of fiber and vitamins that may also, themselves, be protective.
Folate metabolism is affected by age, gender,
alcohol consumption and smoking.
Fiber: Dietary fiber is composed of the remnants of
plant cells resistant to enzimatic action, comprising
all indigestible polysaccharides and lignin. It can further
be classified as soluble and insoluble according to
their ability for water retention. Increased dietary fiber
intake can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer through
a variety of mechanisms including increase stool bulk,
decreasing colonic transit time thus decreases the contact
of carcinogens with the colonic epithelium; binding
to bile acids and carcinogens; decreasing colonic
ph; increasing the production of short chain fatty acids,
which works as fuel for mucosal cells in colon. Fiber
promotes also a favourable colonic microflora.

09 October 2010
in Cancer Prevention
d can protect us…
by Eugénia Santos Silva
21

Weekend Times
France’s ‘Little Prince’
to hit the small screen
Where Walt Disney
and others
failed, the heirs
of Antoine de
S a i n t - e x u p e r y
have finally succeeded in bringing the
French aviator’s world-famous blond
Little Prince to the small screen.
The 52-episode animated series of
the best-selling ever French book,
first published in english in 1943 and
in French only three years later, is to
22
be shown in 80 countries, with a first
taste on French television at Christmas.
“Send me word that he has come
back,” which takes its name from the
final words of Saint-exupery’s spaceodyssey,
sees the diminutive hero
travel around 24 planets in a bid to
save the universe from a snake.
The series will be shown around the
world, from Australia to Japan, where
a Little Prince museum receives
400,000 visitors a year.
Over 134 million copies of the poetic
and philosophical book have been
sold around the world, where it has
by Juliette Collen
been translated into 220 languages
and dialects.
“Adapting the Little Prince has been
very difficult because it’s at once a
small book and a Pandora’s box, very
simple and very deep,” says the series’
co-author, Alexandre de la Patelliere.
rather than copy the book’s simple
style, the series seeks to help the
prince escape the printed page, throwing
him into a stylised universe that is
more accessible for 21st-century
children.
And whereas
t h e

Jose Martinez Fructuoso, former
secretary and heir of Consuelo,
the wife of Saint-Exupery, holding
up a copy of the world classic
“The Little Prince” on the
60th anniversary of the book
publication in France (File
photo: 30 Mai, 2006)
09 October 2010
A drawing by Consuelo de
Saint-Exupéry, the wife of
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
displayed in the Memorial
at Caen (File photo: 3 May,
2006)
23

Weekend Times
original story is told by an adult narrator, the new series
is told by the prince himself.
The heirs of Saint-exupery, who died mysteriously
during a reconnaissance mission in 1944
and never saw his book published in French,
wanted to “bring the Little Prince’s message to
21st-century children through new media, with
a different language,” says producer Aton Soumache.
“Taking the plunge was painful,” he says.
Francois d’Agay, who represents Saint-exupery’s
heirs, says that “it was a difficult wish because
the work is impalpable.”
24
‘Ambassador of sustainable
development’
he says that Walt Disney tried to animate the
Little Prince, but the result was “flat and lifeless”.
“We needed a solution: get the Little
Prince out of his book while preserving
the spirit,” he says, adding that the heirs
were won over by the first images from
the series.
The protagonist is modelled in
three dimensions, his eyes have
been opened wider and coloured
blue. The fox has become his witty
and sometimes sulky companion
and the snake’s humour is dark.
The character is romantic and
modern. his proximity to nature
has been developed, making
him an “ambassador of
sustainable development.”
In contrast to 1946, the producer
says, when the baobab
trees featured on one of the
book’s many planets were
supposed to represent totalitarianism.
More than 450 people
worked on the project for
three years, with a budget of
more than 18 million euros
(25 million dollars).
Despite criticism that the
lovable prince has been made
to look Japanese, another administrator
of Saint-exupery’s
estate, Oliver d’Agay, says:
“I’m not worried the work will
be lost because it’s stainless.”
“It’s beyond us. It won’t necessarily
please adults but what’s
important is that it speaks to children,”
he said. W
AFP
French writer and
aviator Antoine de
Saint-Exupéry, author
of the world classic
“The Little Prince” who
died on July 31, 1944
shot in his plane over
the Mediterranean
sea (File photo: circa
1940)

09 October 2010
25

Weekend Times
Question Categories
to be covered are:
-All about Dogs.
-All about Cats.
-All about exotics.
-All about pet
ownership.
-All about nutrition.
26
We will be focusing on
the following;
Allergies
Avian/exotics
Behavior
Boarding
Dental
Digestive System
Diseases
ears
General
heart
hormones
husbandry
Medications
Musculoskeletal
Neoplasia
Nervous System
Nutrition
reproductive System
respiratory
Skin
Surgery
Travel
Urinary
Vaccinations
Ask The Vet
by Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester
Please send all your questions to
globalveterinary@gmail.com
or mail to;
Dr ruan Du Toit Bester
rua, D.r, L, P, Marquest 2/F, Flat B,
Ponte 6A, Macau SAr.
Tel: +852 66706906
Ask the Vet - is a service that allows you to ask questions about your pets’ health and
behavior. My goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve the knowledge of your pet’s
everyday needs and health care in Macau through a variety of pet services and veterinary
resources that where never available to pet owners before.
Pets have become a very important part of our families. In many cases they have become
as much a part of our lives as children or grandchildren. And, in certain ways, just
as complicated. Think of all the questions raised by wanting a pet. Pet ownership has
definitely become more complex. everybody seems to have an opinion on what pet you
should get and what being a good pet owner means. My goal is to answer your questions
and try making things simpler for you. I want to give some of the basic information that
will help you to raise a healthy, happy and family compatible pet. And, of course, have
fun while you are doing it.
The ideas listed in this column come from many years of studying and practicing veterinary
medicine in South Africa, Australia, hong Kong and Macau. And they are just that,
my ideas and opinions. They are not meant to be all-encompassing or correct for every
situation. Use this information as a tool, along with the advice from your veterinarian, to
help you make the interaction between you and your pet a wonderful experience.
As far as I am concerned, there are two kinds of people; those who really love animals,
and those who have never owned any. People who say they do not love pets have usually
never owned one. And for those who say they hate them, well, let’s just not talk about
them! The picture above is of a 150kg sea turtle at Australia Zoo that I did abdominal
surgery on after it ingested a ball of fishing line. Indiscriminate and over fishing causes
this to happen too often.
I hope this section helps you enjoy that perfect life with your pet. And I would love to
hear the stories of how you came to own your particular pet and any interesting experiences
you have had.
W
ThANKS again for
all the recent e-mails
and letters.
I get a lot of letters
from people asking
why their dogs are vomiting. This
is a big problem in Macau.
So this week I will focus on causes
of vomiting and most common,
vomiting bile in dogs.
There are several conditions and
illnesses that can lead to a dog vomiting
bile. In order to properly determine
what may be the issue, it’s
important to check for additional
symptoms. Occasionally, a dog will
outgrow vomiting of bile or the situation
will improve over time. Other
times a simple solution may fix the
problem. If more severe symptoms
are present, the dog may require a
full examination to ensure appropriate
treatment options.
Hunger or excess acid
Vomiting bile usually produces a
greenish-yellow liquid that may
have a foul odor. Bile can be accompanied
by a white, frothy liquid
and this typically indicates that the
stomach is empty. Occasionally,
excess acid will accumulate in the
stomach overnight, and this can
lead to vomiting in the early hours
of the morning. The best solution
to this problem may be to provide
the dog with a small amount of
food or late-night snack just before
bedtime. This will give the stomach
something to process and may prevent
the excess acid from causing
the dog to vomit.
Inflammatory Bowel
Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease can
cause a chronic irritation throughout
the intestinal tract that may
lead to vomiting bile, even in very
mild cases. The first thing you’ll
want to try, as an attempt to clear

09 October 2010
Why do dogs throw up?
up this issue, is making a change
to the dog’s diet. especially in cases
where stomach trouble is involved,
you may want to gradually switch
from old food to new. You may also
need to experiment with different
types of food to find a brand that you
dog prefers.
Look closely at the ingredients contained
in different brands and types
of food. Avoid all foods that are
made with grains, meat by-products
and other fillers. The best solution is
to check out recipes for homemade
food using raw vegetables.
Medications
and other treatments
If changing diet or feeding a latenight
snack does not clear up problems
with vomiting bile, different
medications or other treatments
may be recommended. Some forms
of medication that are similar to
Tagamet or Sucralfate may be prescribed
to control symptoms of
gastrointestinal problems in dogs.
Stomach calming medications and
histamine blockers may be very effective
at clearing up problems, but
most professionals are reluctant to
begin trying these without first attempting
the more simple methods
involved with dietary changes.
Serious conditions
When other symptoms begin to accompany
vomiting bile, it’s possible
that a more serious condition could
be present. In these cases, blood
work and other tests could help to
determine functionality of the liver,
bladder, intestines, kidneys and other
organs. If your dog is vomiting bile
and experiencing any one or more of
the following symptoms, more involved
testing is recommended to
help determine the cause:
Excessive diarrhea
Problems with urination (i.e.:
excessive, leaking
or blockage)
Yellowed skin or eyes
Excessive thirst
Lethargy or loss of energy
Lack of appetite
or weight loss
Abdominal pain, bloating, excess
gas
Evidence of worms
Problems with breathing
Any of these signs warrant X-rays
for foreign bodies and a complete
blood profile with blood smears to
rule out Babesiosis and/or ehrlichiosis.
Hope this helps
Till next week
Dr Ruan Bester
27

Weekend Times Weekend Times
28
Offbeat
Malaysia party ‘non-smoking candidate’
Malaysia’s conservative Islamic party will field only a candidate who does
not smoke in an upcoming by-election, reports said Sunday, as the party
seeks to boost its Islamic image.
The Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS), which is a part of the opposition
alliance, said the candidate it will pick for the poll in northern Kelantan
state must display good Islamic character and the person must be a nonsmoker.
“I will reject smokers from the start. They are not only ruining their health
but also wasting money,” PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was
quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times paper.
He also told the Malay newspaper Berita Minggu that the candidate must
also pray regularly and be a non-gambler. No date has been fixed for the
by-election, but PAS has said it will field a candidate to contest the poll.
There are no clear religious edicts banning smoking, but Nik Abdul Aziz
has said previously that some Muslim scholars consider smoking as
forbidden.
The Islamic party has also asked its candidates to take on oath promising
to divorce their wives if they to defect to other parties.
World’s oldest
known twins turn 100
Belgian sisters Gabrielle Vaudremer and Marie Hendrix
turned 100 years old last Saturday, celebrating with
champagne, cake and a song from their family to claim
the title of the world’s oldest known twins.
The pair received a shawl from the municipality and
flowers from the Chateau Sous-Bois retirement home
where they live as they marked their birthday with around
200 people, including 28 relatives, a retirement home
manager said.
“They drank champagne and they ate cream cake,”
regional manager Damien Berteau told AFP by telephone
from the retirement home in Spa, eastern Belgium. “They
were very happy.”
The family made a speech recounting the life of Gabrielle
Vaudremer as a hat seller who was passionate about her
craft and the “strict but fair” teacher Marie Hendrix, who
uses her married name, Berteau said.
The twins, who have no children, recalled that they spent
their holidays in the town of Spa, where they ended up
retiring.
“We often went out to pick blueberries, hazelnuts and
mushrooms,” Marie said.
The Guinness World Records lists 98-year-old French
sisters as the oldest twins in the world. The Belgian
twins have not applied with the organisation to
officially enter their record and they do not seem
interested in doing so.
Austria hosts European beard contest
Around 150 participants from
eight countries fought for 17
titles at the European Beard
and Moustache Championship
in Leogang, the town high in
the Austrian Alps last week.
Categories included “Freestyle
Beard”, “Natural Moustache”
and “Verdi”, a beard in the style
of the famous 19th century
Italian composer Giuseppi
Verdi, among spectacular
beards and moustaches
gathered in Leogang for the
European-wide facial contest.

This Day in History
‘Che’ Guevara is killed
On 9 October 1967, Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, socialist
revolutionary and guerilla leader is killed by the Bolivian
army.
The US-military-backed Bolivian forces had captured
Guevara aged 39 the day before while battling his band
of guerillas in Bolivia and assassinated him the following
day. His hands were cut off as proof of death and his body
was buried in an unmarked grave. In 1997, Guevara’s
remains were found and sent back to Cuba, where they
were reburied in a ceremony attended by President Fidel
Castro and thousands of Cubans.
Ernesto Rafael Guevara de la Serna was born to a welloff
family in Argentina in 1928. While studying medicine
at the University of Buenos Aires, he took time off to
travel around South America on a motorcycle; during this
time, he witnessed the poverty and oppression of the
lower classes. He received a medical degree in 1953 and
continued his travels around Latin America, becoming
involved with left-wing organizations.
In the mid 1950s, Guevara met up with Fidel Castro and
his group of exiled revolutionaries in Mexico. Guevara
played a key role in Castro’s seizure of power from Cuban
dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959 and later served as
Castro’s right-hand man and minister of industry. Guevara
strongly opposed US domination in Latin America and
advocated peasant-based revolutions to combat social
injustice in Third World countries. Castro later described
him as “an artist of revolutionary warfare.”
Guevara resigned – some say he was dismissed – from
his Cuban government post in April 1965, possibly over
differences with Castro about the nation’s economic and
foreign policies. Guevara then disappeared from Cuba,
traveled to Africa and eventually resurfaced in Bolivia,
where he was killed.
Following his death, Guevara achieved hero status
among people around the world as a symbol of anti-
09 October 2010
imperialism and revolution. A 1960 photo taken by Alberto
Korda of Guevara in a beret became iconic and has since
appeared on countless posters and T-shirts.
However, not everyone considers Guevara a hero: He is
accused, among other things, of ordering the deaths of
hundreds of people in Cuban prisons during the revolution.
Battle of Britain – St. Paul’s bombed
Also on this day in 1940, during the Battle of Britain, the
German Luftwaffe launches a heavy nighttime air raid on
London. The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral was pierced by
a Nazi bomb, leaving the high altar in ruin. It was one of
the few occasions that the 17th-century cathedral suffered
significant damage during Germany’s nearly ceaseless
bombing raids on London in the fall of 1940.
The Cathedral designed by Christopher Wren, became an
inspiration to the British people during World War II. The
Luftwaffe attempted to bomb Britain into submission in the
Battle of Britain by pounding London and other major cities,
but St. Paul’s miraculously escaped major bomb damage,
even as historic buildings nearby were reduced to rubble.
Images of St. Paul’s framed by smoke and fire became
a symbol of Britain’s indomitable spirit. Civilian defense
brigades, including the St. Paul’s Fire Watch, protected the
structure from fire, and at one point an unexploded bomb
was removed at great risk from the roof of the cathedral.
In 1944, St. Paul’s bells rang out to celebrate the liberation
of Paris, and in 1945 services marking the end of the war in
Europe were attended by 35,000 people.
29

Weekend Times
Easy Easy +
Medium Hard
TV
30
Canal Macau
Saturday Sunday
RTP-i (Live)
10:50 DOUGIE IN DISGUISE
11:00 THE THREE BEARS
11:25 DETECTIVE BOGEY
12:00 SANDOKAN THE TIGER OF MALAYSIA
12:25 COOKING
13:00 TDM NEWS ( REP. )
13:30 NEWS AT 24H (RTP - i) (Delayed Broadcast)
14:30 OPERA SOAP - COMPACT
18:45 VARIETY
19:30 DOCUMENTARY IN PORTUGUESE
20:00 TDM TALK SHOW
20:30 MAIN NEWS, FINANCIAL & WEATHER
REPORT
21:00 COMEDY
21:55 DRAMMA
23:00 TDM NEWS
23:30 TALK - SHOW
0:20 INTERTAIMENT
1:45 MAIN NEWS, FINANCIAL & WEATHER
REPORT ( REP )
RTP-i (Live)
Sudoku
Cinema
Resident Evil
Aftherlive
In a world ravaged by a virus infection, turning
its victims into the Undead, Alice (Jovovich),
continues on her journey to find survivors and
lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the
Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but
Alice gets some unexpected help from an old
friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven
from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but
when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands
of Undead - and Alice and her comrades are
about to step into a deadly trap.
RTP-i (Live)
11:00 SUNDAY MASS
12:00 DOCUMENTARY IN PORTUGUESE
12:30 COOKING
13:00 TDM NEWS ( REP. )
13:30 NEWS AT 24H (RTP - i) (Delayed Broadcast)
14:30 SOAP OPERA
17:00 COMEDY
17:50 COMPETITION
18:45 MAGAZINE
19:10 CONTEST
20:00 TDM ENTERVIEW
20:30 MAIN NEWS, FINANCIAL & WEATHER
REPORT
21:00 THAT´S 70´S SHOW
21:20 DOCUMENTARY:
SWINE FLU - EVERYTHING YOU NEED
TO KNOW
22:20 DOCUMENTARY IN PORTUGUESE
23:00 TDM NEWS
23:30 TDM TALK SHOW ( Rep )
0:00 NON-DAILY PORTUGUESE NEWS
0:30 DOCUMENTARY IN PORTUGUESE
1:10 MAIN NEWS, FINANCIAL & WEATHER
REPORT ( REP )
RTP-i (Live)
The Born Loser by Chip Sansom
Cineteatro
Room 1
Resident Evil - Afterlife
2:30/4:15/7:30/9:30 pm
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter
Director: Paul W.S.Anderson
Language: English (Chinese subtitles)
Duration: 97 min
Room 1
Devil
6:00 pm
Starring: Chris Messina, Geoffrey Arend
Director: John Erick Dowdle
Language: English (Chinese subtitles)
Duration: 105 min
Room 2
Detective Dee
2:30/4:45/7:15/9:30 pm
Starring: Andy Lau, Carina Lau
Director: Hark Tsui
Language: Chinese
(English and Chinese subtitles)
Duration: 109 min
Room 3
Brooklyn’s Finest
2:30/4:45/7:15/9:30 pm
Starring: Richard Gere, Don Cheadle,
Ethan Hawke
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Language: English (Chinese subtitles)
Duration: 132 min
Brooklyn’s Finest

09 October 2010
31

Weekend Times Weekend Times Weekend Times
Press Play
by MC LA
dreAm pop
huSKY reScue
- country Falls
(2010, minty Fresh records)
husky rescue are a six-piece band from helsinki, Finland.
The music they play is their own special blend
of fragile folk, cinematic moods and up-tempo rock
you can tap your feet to. Unlike the current vogue for
singer-songwriters who tell stories about things happening
that start and end in the real world, they love
musical tales that open doors to other worlds with no
specific destination or conclusion in mind.
The band, essentially, is Marko Nyberg, who wrote
all the music then gathered about 20 friends (all from
helsinki) to play and sing. But it’s a collective of five
people that make up the traveling mass you’ll see live.
And 20-year-old lead singer reeta-Leena Korhola
not only sounds like an angel, but looks as pure as
the Finnish snow.
even the band’s website is clever and fun. The landing
page takes you to a faraway cartoon land of whitecapped
mountains with fish leaping out of a crystal
blue icy pool of water. When you run the mouse over
the navigator menu, it starts breathing, getting ready to
morph into something else, and then it does. The whole
page zooms in and heads to your next destination.
32
ALt-pop
JennY And JohnnY
- i’m having Fun now (2010, Warner brothe
After conquering the band world with rilo Kiley and the
solo project with her two solo releases, Jenny Lewis has returned
with a new project featuring her singer/songwriter
boyfriend, Jonathan rice. Jenny and Johnny is closer in
sound to rilo Kiley than Lewis’ solo releases, although
with more of an alt-country than a pop sound.
Jenny Lewis and Johnathan rice have been collaborating
on and off for years, each contributing to the other’s solo
records and live shows, but with this record they had a different
intention: using their two voices in close harmony
and playing practically every instrument themselves. The
result is an eleven song thirty-five minute blast of whipsmart
rock and roll.
rice’s gruff voice compliments Lewis’ soulful vocals well,
and although it’s cliche to say, ‘I’m having Fun Now’ lives
up to its title well. There’s an exuberance in love songs like
‘Scissor runner’ that mask some of the record’s darkness,
while Lewis chronicles the economic demise of her beloved
California in ‘Big Wave.’ Listeners will relish rice’s
haunting vocal on ‘Animal’ and both songwriters raising a
middle-finger kiss off in the acerbic ‘My Pet Snakes.’ This
is not a rilo Kiley record, a Jenny Lewis record, or a Jonathan
rice record. This is Jenny And Johnny. They’re having
fun now, and they want you to, too.

s)
09 October 2010
modern cLASSic niLS FrAhm & Anne müLLer
- 7fingers (2010, hush)
On 7 Fingers, Anne Müller and Nils Frahm have composed
quite a varied work, incorporating elegant modern classical
movements that break away from the genre’s norm, creating
a very unique album that ebbs and flows from track to track.
Like two separate parts of a conversation Nils Frahm and
Anne Müller communicate something that words cannot
replicate. Frahm sets the stage for the keynote dialogue with
delicate piano that continually gives way to drum samples
and bass loops, as if being overwhelmed by the emotion that
Müller responds with. As a virtuoso cellist Müller expresses
a warm but powerful sentiment through refined strings that
fade in and out creating beautiful imagery and depth that
only enhances Frahm’s performance instead of battling it.
’7fingers’ is a brilliantly composed album that is one of the
most emotional neoclassical albums this year.
tropicAL pepper iSLAnd
– popular (2010, Atmospheriques)
Their island is imaginary and yet their sound is immediately
familiar! Fabricated from unexpected ingredients, Island Pepper
borrows from fifties doo-wop and the Tom Tom Club,
and the purest tradition of Soul, the “Aretha Sixties” way. All
this while managing to sound “indie” in the tradition of the
neo-folk wave that came from across the Atlantic… and the
sounds you find in the film soundtracks of the Coen brothers
or Jason reitman.
As proclaimed at the outset, Mitchell Froom (producer
known for his work with Suzanne Vega, randy Newman,
Crowed house and Los Lobos), put the finishing touches
on the production of this album. he wrote of Ayélé that she
is above all a true soul woman. All things in life are for her
inspiration, and perhaps for this reason, the songs of Popular
spawned by this universality.
pop SingLe LA SerA
- never come Around (2010, hardly Art)
When she’s not playing bass in Vivian Girls or singing and
playing guitar in All Saints Day, Katy Goodman (aka Kickball
Katy) apparently finds the time to write songs of her own.
The garage pop busybody has just revealed a solo project
called La Sera and has planned some releases for hardly Art.
According to the label, “La Sera makes lush, dreamy songs
of heartbreak, love and death,” and the Seattle label will release
a seven-inch single of La Sera songs on November 16.
That record will include the tracks “Never Come Around”
and “Behind Your eyes.”
her first single “Never Come Around” is a crystal clear, hi-fi
Spector-esque throwback that is more girl-group/less punk
than any of her previous efforts, and her lovely vocals shine
brighter than ever.
33

Weekend Times
Week’s pick
34
Colourful Eiffel Tower
A model displays a creation by French designer Jean-
Charles de Castelbajac as part of the Ready-to-Wear
Spring/Summer 2011 collection during the fashion week
in Paris. The fashion week ran from 28 September to 6
October.
(Photo EPA/Ian Langsdon/ October 5)

09 October 2010
35

Weekend Times
36