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日本一項針對初中學生的調查顯示，迷你倉將軍澳平均每日學習兩小時以上的學生當中，每日花不足一小時使用智能手機的學生之數學平均分為75；而每日花3小時以上使用智能手機時間的學生，其數學平均分則只有61.2，兩者相差10分以上。採訪：靜態組根據日本NHK報道，該項由宮城縣仙台市教育委員會聯合日本東北大學合作進行的調查，對象是仙台市的2.4萬名中學生，調查他們主要科目的成績以及生活、學習狀況。狂打機比不溫書更差調查結果顯示，在每天於家自修超過兩小時的初中生當中，完全不用智能手機，或使用一小時以內的學生，數學平均成績為74.7分到75分。但是，使用智能手機的時間越長，學習成績則越差。如果每天使用3小時以上，數學平均成績只有61.2分；若是4小時以上，更只有57.7分迷你倉尖沙咀比在家不自修，但也不用手機的學生還要差。除了數學外，語文、社會課等的成績也與使用智能手機的時間長度有類似關聯。此外，對電動玩具和個人電腦的使用情況調查，也顯示出這種現象。大腦混亂注意力下降研究負責人川島隆太教授認為，長時間使用智能手機會導致大腦功能混亂，注意力下降，容易遺忘白天學習的內容，呼籲學生將每天使用智能手機的時間控制在一小時之內。另外，美國肯特州立大學的研究人員在美國的科學雜誌《Computers in Human Behavior》發表一份調查研究指，在智能手機上花費過多時間會使學業成績下降。因為學生不論上課、在家學習或是在圖書館看書，手機總是能夠連接網絡，進而登陸各種平台，如網誌等社交網站，新鮮事和信息會不斷更新，進而令他們分心學習。倉

Source: The Buffalo News, N.迷你倉Y.Dec. 22--Paul W. Culligan says the only thing he ever won in life was the draft lottery for the U.S. military while the Vietnam War was going hot and heavy.But his status as a junior at Le Moyne College in Syracuse allowed him some time to continue his education and pick the branch in which he wanted to serve."I decided to take a look around and took testing for the Navy and Air Force flight programs and ended up choosing officer training school with the Air Force," Culligan says. "I figured if I stayed in the military, I could have a career as a pilot, and if I left, there was the option of the airlines."At age 22, Culligan was flying an EC-47 Skytrain, twin-engine propeller airplane that had been used during World War II. The plane was "a perfect platform" for the reconnaissance missions Culligan piloted."We had a crew of about nine people with electronic intercept capability and interpreters. We flew out of Thailand, and our missions included Laos, South Vietnam and Cambodia. We picked up intercepted radio transmissions. This was an effort to identify troop and supply convoys from North Vietnam into South Vietnam," Culligan says.The information was crucial because of the ongoing Paris peace talks, where negotiators for the combatants were trying to come up with terms to end the war."We were collecting significant intelligence impacting on the peace talks. For quite a long time, North Vietnam had denied there was any supply and troop movement through Cambodia," Culligan says. "Our intelligence developed information regarding those activities."He has never forgotten his first recon flight."I was looking out the window, and I noticed a heavy stream of oil coming from the one engine," he recalls. "Then I checked the other engine, and it had the same problem, and I figured we were going to die. But I was told the aircraft had been fitted with a huge oil reservoir because the engine seals were so bad."Culligan thought to himself, "Maybe we won't die on this mission."But death was in the air."Later in the same flight, I looked out the window, and a Cambodian fighter plane joined us in formation, about 4 feet off our wing, and the pilot was waving at us," Culligan remembers. "I waved back to the guy as he went into a steep dive toward one of the rebel positions on the ground. He was going to strafe the Khmer Rouge. He went in against that position, and he never pulled out. He went right into the ground."Culligan says he has carried the memory of the pilot's smiling face: "It's a haunting image to this day."Pilots on the recon flights flew with a map in their laps that identified the known enemy surface-to-air missile sites, he explains."We would draw a large circle around the sites, and that represented the effective range of the missile," Culligan says. "But the guys in the back of the plane would give us various headings to locate the radio transmitters that were also on the ground. Sometimes we had to interrupt the collection effort due to the missile sites."Besides kmini storageeping American negotiators at the peace table in Paris up to date, the intelligence was also used for targeting purposes, Culligan says, though the aircraft he flew was unarmed.Later in the war, he piloted a C-141 Starlifter, a four-engine jet transport."We delivered troops, equipment, evacuated orphans, the wounded, and flew congressional delegations on fact-finding missions," he says.In the chaos when the war ended in 1975 as Saigon fell, he was flying overhead and listened to different land and sea radio transmissions. He even saw some of the havoc from above."We heard that the U.S. Embassy in South Vietnam was overrun, and South Vietnamese pilots were trying to land on our aircraft carriers. They were bulldozing the helicopters off the flight decks into the ocean," he says, recalling the scene as U.S. officials tried to ensure that the carriers' operational capabilities were not compromised."The South Vietnamese pilots were loading their families on aircraft that had been assigned to them and even putting their animals in the planes and flying them to different bases in Thailand. What they put in these aircraft was beyond the design limitations and certainly not equipped for creatures."At one point, South Vietnamese pilots began strafing American C-130 planes attempting to get off the ground at Tan Son Nhut air base, outside Saigon."Boy, just listening to when they started strafing our aircraft, and the previous day they were allies," Culligan says. "It was horrifying."After the war, Culligan says, his military experience in intelligence collection served as a foundation for what he thought would be an even more interesting career than flying."I applied to the FBI, and because of their foreign counterintelligence mandates, this afforded me a chance to eventually work in counterintelligence and espionage matters," Culligan says. "This was during the Cold War. I ran double agents, and I opened the investigation that led to the arrest of John Walker."Between 1968 and 1985, Walker, who had been a code clerk for the Navy, supplied the Soviet Union with crucial computer code cards that allowed for the interception and deciphering of massive amounts of the secret information transmitted not only by the military, but also by other government agencies, Culligan recalls.Now 64, Culligan has been retired since 2004. He says he misses his FBI days, though "not the stress."Of his service in Vietnam, he said, "It was such an unpopular war, but I never thought of that. I remember people in Thailand being so grateful for our presence."They did not, he says, want to live under Communist rule.Paul W. Culligan, 64-- Hometown: Buffalo-- Residence: Town of Tonawanda-- Branch: Air Force-- War zone: Vietnam-- Years of service: 1971-75-- Rank: Captain-- Most prominent honors: Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals-- Specialty: Reconnaissance pilotCopyright: ___ (c)2013 The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.) Visit The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.) at .buffalonews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存

Source: Dayton Daily News, OhioDec.迷你倉尖沙咀 22--The prescription drug Dopamine is so valuable to Dayton Children's Hospital that what is left of its dwindling supply is kept in a vault, accessible only by the medical center's pharmacists.The drug isn't the only one proving difficult to keep in stock; it is one of hundreds in short supply nationwide."When you start hearing about life-saving medications not being available, that gets really scary," said Nancy Severt, pharmacy operations manager at Dayton Children's.Drug shortages have been commonplace for years, but the problem has grown more serious at hospitals and Emergency Medical Service agencies. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 56 drug shortages were reported in 2006; by 2011, the number had climbed to 251. The FDA's list includes drugs that have "the greatest impact on public health."Reasons for increased shortages include fewer manufacturers as some exit the market; quality-control issues and scrutiny by the FDA, which can shut down production; product recalls; increased demand; and a lack of raw materials.The vast majority of drugs deemed to be in short supply are produced by generic drug companies. For example, 64 entries were logged on the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists web site the week of Dec. 9. Thirty of the hard-to-get drugs were made by drug giant Hospira, a suburban Chicago company that recently pledged to invest $1 billion in its operation.The ASHP site currently has more than 300 entries listed under "current shortages." Updated daily, the list includes recognizable names such as heparin, DTaP vaccine, dextrose and caffeine. It also includes exotics such as the black widow anti-venom."Do we have a shortage of stuff that matters? Yes, we do. There's some stuff (on the list) that scares the hell out of me," said Ernest Boyd, executive director of the Ohio Pharmacists Association.Dan Gueth, director of pharmacy at Miami Valley Hospital, said he grapples with drug shortages virtually every day."It's been a nightmare over the last two years," said Gueth, who has been on the job since 1985. "I might have 10 products on my list, but it's likely I'm going to be told about another back order and we have to scramble."Scramble modeHospitals have buyers who search for additional supplies from drug manufacturers, wholesalers and other medical centers when shortages persist.But sometimes, as with the dwindling supply of Dopamine at Dayton Children's, extreme measures are put in place."We have vials of it and make up drips specifically for that patient," Servert said of the drug which sustains blood pressure in critically ill patients. "We're down to probably five vials of Dopomine. We were able to get the adult version of premix bags, so just to make sure it doesn't get intermixed with anything else I've got it locked up in a vault that only the pharmacists can access."The hospital also worries about electrolytes and other injectables used to make formula to feed babies. It also faces decisions on what patients get certain pain medications when they are not in abundant supply.Sometimes, care-givers have to pivot when a drug is discontinued. That was the case in the spring when the supply of the popular sedative chloral hydrate ran out after two drug companies stopped making it in the past five years."The doctors liked the way it acted, they liked the way it didn't linger for hours and hours," Severt said. "The drug companies were making it, but the demand wasn't very high so they decided, 'We're not selling enough to make any money.' Our institution was very reliant on it."We had to start ordering it as a raw powder, so our doctors had to find alternatives. Now ... we do our own testing, compounding and make sure we have a viable shelf life for it."Propofol, the anesthetic made famous in the investigation of the death of pop icon Michael Jackson, currently is produced by a single company. It is a drug Severt says is in "critical shortage" nationwide and at Dayton Children's, which has to administer the drug in smaller doses required for kids."We might use 5-to-10 milliliters out of a 20-milliliter vial. So we'd have a vial that we'd barely use and we'd have to remind our anesthesiologists to throw it out. We can't reuse it."(The shortage) has been going on so long it seems like common practice now."At Miami Valley, Gueth can rattle off a handful of drugs whose availability concern him, despite his pharmacy's buying power as part of Premier Health. For hospitals, shortages can mean extra cost."We have a national contract with our GPO (group purchasing organization) to keep our costs low, but when a product becomes unavailable I might have to pay a higher cost," he said.Dayton Children's is part of a network of more than 30 hospitals that work together to monitor shortages and make timely purchases."As soon as I know it's short in Dallas, I start shopping for that product," said Kevin Myers, the hospital's pharmacy purchasing manager.Experts say the so-called "gray market" is one of the factors that is driving up prices. Manufacturers generally sell their products to wholesalers, which then sell to hospitals. But secondary wholesalers also buy drugs and charge higher prices 0n the drugs they buy."The gray market, in which companies are charging up to 1,704 percent more for a product than what a facility would have to pay, definitely needs to be monitored and price-gouging eliminated," said Donna Smith of Arizona-based Avella Specialty Pharmacy.A bill designed to clamp down on the gray market is pending before a House subcommittee.First-respondersHospitals aren't the only ones being squeezed by drug shortages. First-responders have fought shortages for years.Pain-killers such as Morphine and Fentanyl are staples in ambulances and medical helicopters. But there's no guarantee the drugs will always be available."If you've got the biggest bone in your body, the femur, broken in a car crash, and we're taking you down the road and there are a couple of potholes, you want something for pain -- you deserve something for pain," said David Gerstner, president of the Greater Miami Valley Emergency Medical Services Council. "There have been times where we might not have it."Gerstner said 23 hospitals supply drugs to 118 member agencies in the region through the Drug Bag Exchange Program. After first-responders administer a drug, they take their bags to a hospital for refills.But sometimes they can't get there fast enough."We had some drug bags with no drug to treat seizures," Gerstner said. "So the saying became that the only drug we could use to treat seizures was diesel fuel. Put them in the back of the medic and run like hell to the hospital."Dr. Carol Cunningham has served for nearly 10 years as state medical director for the Ohio Department of Public Safety Division -- EMS. She constantly worries about running out of injectables used to care for cardiac resuscitation, pain control and the management of seizures."It happens every week, there is something short," she said.Closing downManufacturers leaving the business reduces the supply of some drugs. The Ben Venue Laboratory in suburban Cleveland ceased production and is shutting down due to quality-control issues. Its closing will not only cost the small town of Bedford more than 1,000 jobs, it will mean one fewer big player in the drug business.One of the drugs previously made at Ben Venue was Doxil, a popular cancer-fighting injectable. Ben Venue was the only plant in the U.S. that made the drug, but an ongoing shortage was softened when a company in India gained FDA approval earlier this year to produce a brand-name substitute and a generic version of the drug."For a while, (Doxil) was restricted by the manufacturer," Miami Valley's Gueth said. "The company would only ship it if you had a patient that had already been started on the product. Oncologists in the area that may have wanted to start a patient on Doxil but couldn't had to use alternative chemotherapy agents."Quality-control issues are the most prevalent reason for drug shortages. According to the FDA, manufacturing issues and delays or capacity issues accounted for 77 percent of sterile injectable shortages in 2012. Increased demand triggered 7 percent of shortages, as did discontinuation of products."The economic downturn in 2008 precipitated the issue. Manufacturers cut back on spending and some drugs that didn't make money were discontinued, and as a result the production shortages became exaggerated," said Robert Weber, Administrator for Pharmacy Services at th倉 Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Assistant Dean in the College of Pharmacy.Generics and savingsGeneric drugs save consumers big money -- $1.3 trillion in the past decade according to the Generic Pharmaceutical Association. But they also undercut brand-name drugs, which can lead to shortages if the brand-name drug companies cut production.Drug patents expire after 20 years, but exclusive marketing rights can expire much sooner, leaving a small window for brand-name products to reap big profits to fund research and development. Exclusivity, according to the FDA, was "designed to promote a balance between new drug innovation and generic drug competition.""Generic companies -- Bedford, American Regent -- jump in and start making a product when it comes off patent," Dayton Children's Myers said. "That reduces the price, and all the sudden they have problems manufacturing it. It just disappears."Generic companies also undercut each other, which leads to lower profit margins. Still, some think they should see past the bottom line."I believe that manufacturers have a moral and ethical responsibility to continue making lifesaving drugs or drugs that can medically alleviate a severe disease, and to make them affordable for patients and payers when possible," Smith said. "However, many times the shortage is out of their control, and any negative economic impacts cannot be dismissed."Generic drug-makers contacted for this story would not make executives available to answer questions. A Hospira spokesman said the company is "investing hundreds of millions of dollars to help prevent future shortages," and is working to increase capacity at existing facilities, build additional capacity (Hospira is adding a plant in India), and strengthen its supply chain.More production would be good news for Myers, who used to see a couple drug reps every day. Now he sees that many in a week."I had a Bedford sales rep that came in every week and she's gone. American Regent, she's gone. They have nothing to sell," he said. "They're keeping a low profile because they don't like to get pounded. When they come in here, we're all over them because we need the product."Expiration datesOne solution that could ease the drug shortage problem is more lenient expiration dates. The dates are set by the drug companies, but some health districts around the country have extended them on some products. That could only happen in Ohio if all medical agencies agreed.Proponents of such a policy say there is no harm in using drugs that are nearly full strength."I've always felt the expiration dates are for the benefit of the companies," Boyd said. "Does sugar become cheese after three years? If it's packaged properly, it's not going to deteriorate. I wouldn't do it with insulin or anything that has to be refrigerated, but the majority of the stuff we put in tablets is not."There is a program already in place that allows for the use of expired drugs. The U.S. Department of Defense's Shelf Life Extension Program, launched in 1986, extends the dates on some drugs in the federal stockpile. Those drugs must be tested periodically by the FDA, a cost most public agencies could not stomach.The Ohio Department of Health distributed a survey this fall to all EMS agencies asking for a list of drugs critical for medical care, with an eye on pushing for more flexible expiration dates."The frustrating thing for us as physicians is the manufacturers determine the expiration date, not the FDA," Cunningham said."Even if they're 95 percent effective, if that's the only thing out there and if you have one of those conditions -- you're in cardiac arrest or you're having a seizure or real pain -- do you really care if it's 95 percent, as long as it's not contaminated?"Effective drugs taken off shelves when they hit their expiration dateraise medical center costs."You can't flush them down the toilet or throw them in the trash, so we're paying to get rid of something we'd like to keep that's still good and useful, and in some places we don't have a replacement for it," Gerstner said. "This makes sense how?"FDA policyThe FDA wants drug companies to give earlier notice when production lags. The Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, signed into law in July 2012, requires manufacturers to report drug stoppages or delays at least six months in advance of the action.The agency is taking comments until Jan. 4 on a rule that would expand the list of drugs that fall under that reporting law.The FDA does not have the power to order companies to make drugs, but it says it works with firms that manufacture similar drugs, asking them to increase production to prevent or reduce the impact of shortages.Meanwhile, hospitals and first-responders search for alternatives if their first choice is not an option, at times putting patients in harm's way."I've heard in the past few years of surgeries being postponed or cancelled because of certain meds not being available," Boyd said. "I wouldn't be scared to ask your hospital in advance if they have the meds you need."Drugs that stop bleeding, check cancer and sedate patients are not the only products pharmacists worry about. Basic formulas are in short supply, too."Sodium bicarbonate was a huge one," Dayton Children's Severt said. "That's baking soda. We just can't get it in a sterile injectable form because the company decided to stop making it."-- Drugs in short supplyThe American Society of Health-System Pharmacists lists more than 300 drugs on its drug shortage bulletin. Here are some of the drugs on the list, with their uses and comments from Miami Valley Hospital Director of Pharmacy Dan Gueth:Atropine: Used to stabilize heart rate after heart attack or during surgery.Status: Currently an anticipated shortage through 2015; getting allocations, repackage multi-dose vials into single-dose syringes to preserve supply at times.Caffeine & Ergotamine Tartrate: Caffeine injectable formulation for headache.Status: Has been unavailable for two years; have been using alternative agents.Epinephrine injection: Emergency treatment for severe allergic reactions.Status: Very limited supply; constantly scrambling to find product to meet our needs; MVH has never run out.Dextrose 50% injection: Pure form of sugar often used to help diabetics.Status: Currently available again; previously, shortage required MVH to repackage from large-volume solutions to smaller 50-ml syringe.Glycopyrrolate: Treats peptic ulcers, dries mouth for surgery.Status: Currently an anticipated shortage through 1st quarter 2014; atropine being used as alternative agent although it is in short supply, also.Heparin infusion bags: Blood thinner that prevents clots in blood vessels.Status: MVH has switched vendors and formulation multiple times to address shortages over the past two years.Methylergonovine: Used to stop hemorrhaging post-delivery.Status: Getting limited supply; will utilize oxytocin if supplies exhausted.Nicardipine: Used for hypertension and for neuro-critical care patients.Status: Supply issues have forced us to bounce back and forth between premix bag and vials that require mixing components; requires more staff time when we mix the components.Prochlorperazine: Used for severe headache in ER, although caffeine was original agent of choice.Status: Unavailable for a long period of time; recently available again but very limited supply.Propofol: Sedative for surgery and other procedures.Status: Currently only manufactured by one company; Hospira's inability to supply (plant shutdown) creating pressure on one vendor to meet demand; currently meeting our demand with allocations.Watch our exclusive video of how staff at Miami Valley Hospital uses technology to better monitor drug supplies at mydaytondailynews.com"It's been a nightmare over the last two years. I might have 10 products on my list, but it's likely I'm going to be told about another back order and we have to scramble."Dan Gueth, director of pharmacy, Miami Valley HospitalVideo: The staff at Miami Valley Hospital uses technology to better monitor drug supplies. See how they do it in our exclusive video at MyDaytonDailynews.com/local."It's been a nightmare over the last two years. I might have 10 products on my list, but it's likely I'm going to be told about another back order and we have to scramble."Dan Gueth, director of pharmacy, Miami Valley HospitalCopyright: ___ (c)2013 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) Visit the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) at .daytondailynews.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesmini storage

想透過券商的APP軟體看台股資訊，迷你倉將軍澳即日起非會員行不通。為符合證交所規定，國內券商從12月起，都中止APP軟體的體驗服務，等於未來想要知道台股走勢、價量表現等，民眾一定要成為某證券商會員，下載他們提供的APP軟體後，才有辦法即時看盤。證交所表示，其實這項規範並非新增，對於各類的即時資訊，本來就要求券商僅能提供會員，現在只是要求進一步落實，讓管理上能夠更確實，否則若有非會員透過某證券商APP看盤，但股價卻因為資訊系統異常，出現錯誤時，相關權責難以歸屬。據統計，國內證券電子交易比率日漸提高，已占整體市場交易總額約36.5％，相較2009年金融海嘯的24.51％，大幅成長超過4成。元大寶來證券指出，發展APP軟迷你倉尖沙咀是因應智慧型手機、平板電腦的蓬勃發展，過去就是以「體驗服務」的名義，提供非會員瞭解台股即時資訊，希望藉此有機會引起開戶意願。永豐金證券認為，台股資訊透過APP管道提供，能夠回歸既有規範管理，對券商不見得不利，近來也確時接到很多電話，反應縮減服務，但經過解釋後，不少人都願意開戶，成為正式會員。證交所表示，包括香港、新加坡等國外作法，想要取得整理過的股市資訊，例如文字或圖形，市場機制都已建立收費模式，台灣主要是券商為給予服務，將這些成本吸收下來。但股市各種資訊很敏感，希望證券商還是以經營會員客戶為主，畢竟若非會員民眾，申訴公司提供資訊錯誤，導致做出錯誤投資判斷，相關權責很難釐清，因此要求停止「體驗服務」功能。倉

旅霸再現香江，self storage內地一旅行團部分人日前因簽證問題無法赴台繼續行程，向旅行社索賠談不攏後突然發難，滯留口岸拒絕離港，旅遊業議會「搞唔掂」，連警察亦「冇符」。旅客維護自身權益無可厚非，但先要搞清楚自己的「權」在哪�，發爛渣令人生厭。簽證出問題因部分人被台灣列入黑名單，而這是內地組團旅行社的責任，與本地旅行社無關，要興師問罪該找始作俑者，而不是留在香港撒野，玩老屈拿�數。「維權」已成為神州旅客無理取鬧甚至「屈錢」最冠冕堂皇的藉口，趕不上直通車就佔車站；旅遊巴稍稍遲到便索賠迷你倉千元另加免費食宿，連不見了假牙也可以要求退團費，真個是，旅霸自遠方來，不亦煩乎。內地官方數字顯示，外交部領事保護中心今年以來處理了近四萬宗個案，其中一半以上是國人自身原因引起，當中不乏「過度維權」個案。原來中國式旅遊，除了到埃及樂蜀神廟塗鴉，到巴黎羅浮宮前水池浸腳，還包括航班延誤幾個小時便跳上航空公司櫃位大吵大鬧，站在輸送帶上阻止其他乘客託運行李，甚至阻攔其他航班機組人員登機。國人的不文明程度，與國家經濟發展速度和國力強盛的程度成正比，這樣的大國崛起，實在是有點荒唐。迷你倉西貢

☉記者 唐子韜 ○編輯 陳羽近些年，mini storage國內大大小小的“藝術節”、“雙年展”、“藝博會”，已經成為一些城市文創產業發展中不可或缺的品牌項目。12月6日，第二屆“ART SANYA藝術季”在海南省三亞市亞龍灣百花穀、華宇度假酒店成功開幕。如何在三亞這座以旅遊產業為主要支柱的城市，形成長期、持續的藝術項目，進而發展成為一個城市的旅遊文化品牌，也是本次“ART SANYA藝術季”帶給人的思考。城市與藝術的“不期而遇”第二屆“ART SANYA藝術季”將持續3個月。這屆藝術季集合了雕塑、裝置、影像、繪畫等多種藝術形式的近三百件作品，有多名國內外著名藝術家學者參與，並將舉辦一系列藝術講座和互動，成為這座濱海城市在旅遊旺季的一項“明星”活動。本屆藝術季展覽共分為四個部分，主題展的主題是“不期而遇”：由來自國內與國際的藝術家作品組成；邀請展的主題是“藝術個案”：由兩位國內著名藝術家的個展構成；新銳展的主題是“與未來對話”的青年藝術展；特別展的主題則是“向傳統致敬”，由近現代傳統繪畫大師的經典作品構成。策展人黃篤將本屆藝術季定位為當代藝術在一個全新場所的“不期而遇”。在遠離文化中心的海濱度假旅遊城市舉辦當代藝術展雖然不是首次，但在他看來具有一定的挑戰性。自上個世紀90年代以來，當代藝術的變革總伴隨著“相遇”的問題。從彼時彼地到此時此地，當代藝術一直在經歷著一次次“不期而遇”式的碰撞和衝突。在一個缺乏文化背景的地域，想要將不同文化背景的藝術形式融會其中，並衍生出新的文化特徵來，需要的不僅僅是照搬和挪用。當代藝術是對當下經驗的呈現，對當代問題的質疑或思考；當代藝術的生長需要此時、此地的重新發生。在這一點上，盡管本次展覽與其他國內同類型藝術展在內容選擇上並無太大差別——大多邀請的是當代藝術的主流藝術家、藝術團體。但在遠離文化中心的“自由島”海南，要想重新建立起具有傳承性的當代文化，難度也相當巨大。本次藝術季的國內與國際展的並置，借助了海內外當代藝術主流力量，很好地突出了 “島嶼文化”的可塑性和國際性，並且規避了本地當代文化匱乏的問題。本次“個案展”邀請了方力鈞和邵譯農兩位藝術家。前者是當代藝術的“老明星”，他的架上作品大多已經成為經典，進入了美術史和博物館；而後者，是近些年仍然self storage有充沛創造力的裝置藝術家。在“青年展：與未來對話”中，一些作品沒有顯現出太多的世故圓滑。在對藝術表達材料的實驗探索方面，一些年輕人顯示出了勇氣和洞察力。在最近二十年時間里，中國當代藝術已經從幾次變革的調和中變得中庸。從觀念的求新，到圖像的求新，藝術已經越發表面化、形式化、體制化、經典化。從博物館、展覽、畫廊所構成的系統，到當代藝術家的精英意識和商業頭腦，在藝術體制與市場資本的雙重侵蝕下，當代藝術已經失去了應有的銳氣。當然，由於時間、資金、場地等等客觀原因，我們不可能奢望在短短不到兩年的時間里，在遠離文化大陸的三亞能夠生長出既有銳氣又“接地氣”的藝術。但如果三亞市政府和主辦方想要將“ART SANYA藝術季”承辦成為具有可持續性、品牌性和能夠自我生長能力的項目的話，那就需要在藝術原生態產業鏈的發展上有長遠打算並做足工夫。文化藝術帶動商業地產的延伸據瞭解，山西華宇集團計劃每年斥資千萬，將“ART SANYA藝術季”做成常規項目，並力爭打造成具有三亞城市特色的藝術節。以商業地產為支柱的華宇集團，在太原、大同、北京、三亞等地分別設有多處購物中心、購物廣場、精品商廈、大型超市、星級酒店。據業內人士透露，除已有的亞龍灣百花穀外，未來華宇集團也將在三亞進一步拓展文化商業地產項目。而就在去年，張寶全的今典集團也在三亞連下兩城，拿下三亞海棠灣、三亞灣兩塊地，此舉使今典集團在三亞的三個海灣——亞龍灣、海棠灣和三亞灣將擁有7座五星級以上酒店。作為集團旗下的今日美術館，其藝術品牌項目也得到相應延伸，“今日匯”等巡展藝術項目相繼在三亞展開。可見，文化藝術與商業地產的嫁接，將繼續成為地產商們攻城略地的利器。然而，以當代藝術為主要植入概念的文化產業項目，不應只是文化地產的短期燒錢項目。一陣“文創產業風”刮過，形形色色的“雙年展”、“藝術節”、“藝博會”，也應當成為藝術在某時、某地生根發芽的契機。在碧海藍天的度假勝地，藝術與商業握手。或許來自內地的開發商們在熱衷于藝術的雅趣之外，大多更加在意他們地產項目的拓展可能。但藝術既然為商業服務，就不能只是妝點和擺設，而是要通過資金與政策的扶持，成為能夠與之共處、共生的持續資源。在這方面，“ART SANYA藝術季”開了個好頭，也在盼望著好的結局。迷你倉

　　【本報訊】因未能獲台灣簽證滯留在港兩日的內地旅行團團友，迷你倉經舉辦旅行團的單位多次斡旋，最後15人至昨晚全部由落馬洲返回內地，但雙方均不願透露最新賠償方案。　　滯留在港的是來自內地東北的旅行團，為14天新會港台團，共480人，均為內地保健產品「無限極」的員工及會員，以優惠價3,000至4,000元（人民幣，下同）作團費。170人簽證有問題 撤遊台　　旅行團本月15日由東北出發，19日抵港旅遊觀光後，在20日下午啟程到台灣，惟170人因簽證問題被迫取消行程，同日晚上140人乘旅遊巴經落馬洲送返深圳時，因賠償未達成共識不肯過境，翌日另有30人到紅磡收容中心報警求助。　　負責安排旅行團的「無限極」職員多次與團友談判，最初賠償5,000元，其後再加碼多賠3個月內使用的2,000元機票費，其後，陸續有團友接受方案返回內地。　　惟至昨日仍有1男14女不肯接受賠償方案，堅持要以「假一賠十」作基礎，一儲存倉逗留在落馬洲管制站的旅遊巴持續抗爭「死守」，表示要至在港簽證26日屆滿後才離開。海關跟進 有否違商品例　　至昨晚7時，「無限極」女負責人再次登上旅遊巴展開新一輪談判，雙方經過半小時討論後達成協議，並由旅巴車返內地，雙方未有講出賠償細則。但負責人早前與團友討論時，曾提出願意賠償1萬元的方案。　　事件擾攘過程中，曾有海關人員到場調查，了解是否涉及有人違反商品說明條例，舉辦「零團費」的旅行團。　　另外聖誕長假期展開，首兩日（20、21日）的入境旅客總數為88.6萬，出境則為96.4萬，較去年同期的78.5萬及94.1萬人次，分別上升12.8%及2.46%。　　此外，多間大型商場及百貨公司均加強宣傳，冀吸引市民消費。但零售業管理協會主席麥瑞�認為，明年1月底便屆農曆新年，時間上與聖誕節相距太近，預期未能分散市民的消費力，或令聖誕市道未如理想，她並預測本港今季的零售業總銷售額，只能上升7%至8%。迷你倉最平

立法會前建築、測量及都市規劃界議員劉秀成熱愛攝影同速寫，self storage任議員時多次以個人�速寫作品製成月曆贈予新知舊雨。卸任後，佢除�繼續做好其建築專業外，仍到處旅行速寫，更義務教小朋友點樣透過一支鋼筆去記錄生活中睇到�一幢樓、一片好風景。唔少本港古舊建築物同中國著名古蹟都係劉秀成筆下題材，三兩個月前佢先至同朋友去完武當山旅遊。佢話：「影相嚓一聲幾秒就完，速寫至少要幾分鐘，甚至一個鐘，可以培養觀察力迷利倉專注力。」方氏基金會早幾個月前邀請佢擔任青年藝術發展計劃工作坊，教兒童同青少年速寫，學生由七、八歲到十幾歲都有。劉秀成會讓學生在畫室畫雕塑，靜物，亦計劃帶他們到戶外練習，但太細個就唔帶喇，因為好難照顧。佢笑笑口話早前�畫室上課，叫一個小男孩練習畫一件藝術品，結果小男孩畫�空中飛人。除�教小朋友速寫，佢仲重返香港大學教書，話自己七十歲�，教書可以常常同年輕人一起，覺得自己都年輕�，開心�。迷你倉

　　本報記者 潘忠穎報道 　　　　今年10月，迷你倉在北京舉辦的第十五屆中國國際煤炭采礦技術交流及設備展覽會現場，最吸引人的莫過於營口瑞華高新科技有限公司智慧礦山展位，之所以能成為聚焦點，是因為瑞華科技現場展示的多功能通信基站、高精度定位、無線攝像儀等具有國際先進水平和優異性能。展會現場吸引了德國、俄羅斯、日本和英國等國外廠商，簽訂了5０００多萬元的意向協議。許多煤炭企業邀請瑞華科技到礦方進行產品交流並洽談合作。這次參展不僅使瑞華科技擴大了企業市場份額，也增強了行業知名度，樹立了良好的企業形象。　　重視科技研發　搭建“智慧礦山體驗中心”　　營口瑞華高新科技有限公司成立于2008年，是一家專業從事數字化礦山、計算機軟件、計算機網絡、高中低壓供配電裝置、礦用機電設備等產品研發製造的企業，多年來專注于提供數字化礦山整體解決方案。作為一家高新技術企業和雙軟企業，瑞華科技聚集了一大批知名高校畢業、經驗豐富的科技人才。該公司堅持以高尖端科技為先導、以國內外知名品牌為目標，致力服務于煤炭、石油、化工、冶金、電力等各個行業。　　瑞華科技的總部位於營口高新區，該公司高度重視科技研發，為了更好地集聚各類創新資源，吸引高科技人才，搭建服務于全國的技術中心，該公司在北京中關村軟件園設立了１０００多平方米的研發中心，並搭建了“智慧礦山體驗中心”，讓客戶直觀體驗產品使用效果，感受先進技術帶給傳統行業的強烈震撼。　　瑞華科技擁有大型數控自動化加工中心及國內外一流的檢測設備，整體裝備達到了國內同行業的先進水平。該公司主要產品包括煤礦專用系列、供配電專用系列兩大類產品，其自主研發的基於802.11n的煤礦井下無線多功能信息傳輸平台與人員定位系統及智能型多功能真空斷路器分別填補了國內外空白，並獲得了國家發明專利和實用新型專利。　　多年來，瑞華科技憑借銳意進取的創新精神、優質過硬的產品、強大的銷售網絡、深厚的技術實力、先進可靠的數字化礦山解決方案和嚴謹務實的工程能力，使產品不斷得到客戶的認可和青睞，已形成品牌效應。瑞華科技與中煤集團、同煤集團、龍煤集團等國有大中型企業形成了合作關係。通過“趕超別人一步”的不懈努力，瑞華科技的銷售業績保持快速增長，年復合增長率超過20%。目前，瑞華科技正為銷售額突破億元大關積蓄能量。　　“當前，國家煤炭等基礎行業經濟環境正在逐步回升，瑞華科技必須依靠技術創新，為煤礦企業增產高效、綠色安全提供保障，助力煤炭行業轉型升級，提升企業核心競爭力。”瑞華科技董事長張占軍表示，基於目前發展的大好機遇，依靠技術創新體系的建立，產品的不斷完善，同時憑借堅定的自主創新理念以及先進的企業文化，瑞華科技的下一個五年將更加輝煌。　　堅持技術創新　產品填補國際空白　　為煤礦企業提供自動化、信息化服務的廠商，一般都有十幾年，有的甚至有幾十年的歷史，具有了非常強的綜合實力。在與這些老牌服務商的競爭與合作中，瑞華科技憑借特點鮮明的創新產品異軍突起，逐漸形成了自己的品牌，闖出了知名度。而這一切均發軔于瑞華科技堅定的自主創新理念和靈活的管理機制。　　IT行業多數核心、先進技術源自歐美，煤礦行業的自動化和信息化也不例外。不具備自主研發能力的服務商，只能購買和代理國外的產品，成本高且不具有競爭力。在市場低迷的情況下，企業發展就會受到極大的制約。“沒有自主創新，企業就沒有未來。我們要以科技實用精神打造工業品中的藝術品，成為數字化礦山技術的引領者。”張占軍在企業技術創新體系建立伊始，就提出自主研發的遠大目標和高標準要求。打造有活力的研發體系，為實現這一目標，瑞華科技付出了艱辛努力。　　2011年，瑞華科技與西門子、思科、摩托羅拉等世界知名廠商成為合作伙伴，在無線通信、工業網絡、人員定位、自動化等多個方面進行了廣泛的技術合作，探討適合中國煤炭行業的新型設備及系統方案，並通過科技研發取得了5個單機產品和2套系統的煤礦安標認證。為了提高企業的市場競爭力，瑞華科技成為了施耐德電氣和Aeroscout雙向標簽中國煤炭行業代理。與此同時，瑞華科技努力發展加盟商，提高企業影響力。瑞華科技通過與世界知名廠商合作研發，走技術集成的路線，在行業形成了競爭力，但是客戶需求卻受到合作廠商的制約，試驗和研發的成果依賴于外部平台，無法形成企業自身的核心競爭力。在此情況下，2011年以後，瑞華科技逐步轉變思路，在學習華為研發管理經驗基礎上，推出了一系列新舉措，搭建了自有的研發基礎平台，從實用的角度解決客戶真正需求。　　瑞華科技位於北京中關村軟件園的研發中心為企業佔領人才高地、打造研發團隊提供了強大的基礎設施。瑞華科技的研發團隊擁有一批資深煤礦技術專家，曾任職于中國煤科院、長春煤炭科學研究所、航天科技集團、清華大學、北京航空航天大學、中國礦業大學等各單位。同時，瑞華科技積極與高校、科研院所開展產學研用合作。 2012年，瑞華科技與同煤集團同大科技研究院合作研發的“煤礦井下多功能傳輸平台”項目獲得了山西省科學技術進步獎一等獎，項目成果在同煤集團下屬礦井成功應用和推廣。　　在一系列舉措和投入下，瑞華科技北京研發中心取得了豐碩的成果，多項產品獲得國家專利。以“基於802.11n的煤礦井下無線多功能信息傳輸平台”為代表的技術填補了國際空白，在高精度定位、綜合多功能基站方面處於行業領先水平，曾獲得中國煤炭工業協會、山西省、大同煤礦集團有限責任公司等國家、行業重大獎項。在國家實驗室供配電及控制系統、無人工作面設備集控系統招標中，瑞華科技以自身雄厚的技術實力，產品具有開創性的功能中標。同時瑞華科技逐步形成了煤礦井下無線網絡、高精度定位、多功能傳輸平台及綜合集成平台等多項技術優勢，為企業發展提供了不竭動力。　　重視頂層設計　打造數字化礦山領域專家　　“這一切都源於創業者的產業報國夢。創業初期，我們就立志以技術創新為煤炭行業提供高效、安全和環保的數字化礦山解決方案。”張占軍表示，瑞華科技不只是一家集成公司，在煤礦安全生產信息化領域，從方案策劃到系統設計、從硬件研發到軟件研發、從嵌入式開發到綜合應用、從設備生產到工程實施，整條產業鏈均由企業獨立完成。瑞華科技創立伊始就定位於數字化礦山領域綜合性、軟硬件一體的系統，不局限于單產品，確保為客戶提供儲存倉一、優質的產品和服務。　　按照國家安監總局制定的“六大系統”標準，瑞華科技逐步開發出高標準的井下監測監控、人員定位及通信聯絡三大系統，尤其是人員的精准定位引擎和多功能信息平台均達到國際領先水平。結合煤礦井下網絡、生產自動化、工程建設方面的技術能力，瑞華科技構建了層次化、銜接緊密的產品體系，成為數字化礦山領域的安全生產專家。　　正所謂不謀全局者不足謀一域。數字化礦山是國家戰略資源安全保障體系的重要組成部分，是礦山信息化、智能化的大勢所趨，對礦山的生產、安全及綜合管理都具有深遠意義。數字化礦山涉及的領域很多，瑞華科技一方面注重頂層設計，將整個煤礦作為一個整體，考慮各個系統產品的定位、銜接，解決整體需求；另一方面從實際需求出發，關注煤礦某一關鍵領域，重視產品的專業和實用。瑞華科技根據煤礦專家幾十年的工作經驗，提出“實用型數字化礦山系統”整體解決方案，為煤礦整體系統集成提供服務，同時也形成了礦井綜合通信千兆以太環網系統、礦用工業視頻監控及大屏幕系統等基礎類，煤礦井下人員安全與設備管理系統、煤礦井下監測監控系統及礦井通信聯絡系統等安全通信類，煤礦綜合自動化監控系統、工作面集控系統等生產自動化類共三大類產品，組成了安全生產多層次的產品體系。瑞華科技認為，基於“系統整體”，更能發揮整體價值，為客戶提供設計精良、實用放心的產品。　　瑞華科技將研發成果轉化為確保企業高效生產、職工生命安全的有力武器。其中的明星產品礦井綜合通信千兆以太環網系統依托“基於802.11n的多功能本安型基站”的專利技術，以井下千兆工業以太環網、無線網絡為核心，通過多功能本安型基站連接，建立集視頻監控、人員定位（無線人員定位識別卡）、通信、自動化監控（各類數字傳感器及PLC）、井上系統為一體的高速網絡平台。因為其綜合性、平台性很好地適應了煤礦安全生產自動化、綜合調度指揮發展的需要，受到�多客戶的青睞。　　瑞華科技經典產品煤礦井下人員安全與設備管理系統，其核心為歷時兩年自主研發的高精度井下定位引擎。該產品結合煤礦實際需求，實現智能違章識別、井下路徑規劃、斷網續傳等技術創新，憑借定位的準確、功能的完備，達到行業領先水平。該產品能夠實時確定人員準確位置，規範人員安全行為，完成日常考勤、違章管理，在緊急情況下，能夠準確發現人員事故位置，縮短救援時間。目前，該產品已服務于同煤集團、龍煤集團等大型企業數十家下屬礦井，為數十萬煤礦職工的生命安全提供了有力保障。　　瑞華科技之所以能夠成為安全生產領域的專家，是因為其產品可以為礦井帶來很好的經濟效益和社會效益，幫助企業提升安全性——實時確定人員準確位置，規範人員安全行為，為安全管理提供有力支持；節約投資——具備豐富的擴展性，井下所有系統可以通過一根光纜接入，減少了現有煤礦多系統獨立、硬件重複建設造成的資金投入成本；提升管理效能——提升了煤礦的綜合管理調度能力，消除了各系統間信息孤島、數據不能互通互聯、一數多源造成的管理成本。　　改革創新　體驗式營銷為企業贏得市場　　好的產品需要通過強大的營銷網絡到達終端客戶。為了更好地體現高技術產品內在價值和塑造品牌形象，瑞華科技大膽革新，採取了靈活多樣的營銷方式，確保產品在市場上打開局面，贏得客戶口碑。體驗式營銷是破解“科技產品難以直觀體現價值”難題的密碼，由智慧礦山體驗中心、三維模擬演示和移動式數字化礦山三部分構成，滿足客戶現場甚至野外環境下的產品演示等場合的需要。　　以計算機技術為代表的信息技術產品，因其虛擬現實、知識專業的特性，往往很難從表面體會到其價值。數字化礦山安全生產的各類系統，如果在一個接近真實的模擬礦井里，將這些系統配合起來使用，體驗者就能直觀感受到如何借助系統更高效完成礦井的日常監測、監控、指揮調度和緊急情況下的應急救援。瑞華科技在營口總部、北京研發中心都設有“智慧礦山體驗中心”，真實再現了井下人員定位、無線通信、瓦斯監測、三維礦井、自動化監控等應用場景，客戶能通過熟悉的環境快速、清晰地瞭解到產品的價值，體會到瑞華科技對產品精益求精的誠意。　　要直觀理解並感受到信息化系統類產品的性能，僅憑一堆專業術語參數、漂亮的幻燈片難以表達，而且很枯燥。瑞華科技借助三維模擬演示程序和動畫技術，設計出瑞華產品三維展示、瑞華三維礦山展示系統，在三維系統里真實再現產品細節，通過操作可以看到設備外觀、接口、接線原理和詳細的配置參數，通過三維礦山還能模擬多系統聯動場景，尤其是緊急情況下的應急處置聯動。　　瑞華科技建立了移動式數字化礦山，可以隨時為用戶演示系統功能、體驗設備性能。由於準備充分，客戶也常常驚嘆能夠直接看到產品實物、內容如此豐富的演示，不論產品特點還是企業認真務實的作風都給客戶留下了深刻印象。　　通過以體驗式營銷為代表的營銷理念和一系列措施，營銷人員的不懈努力換來了市場的不斷拓展，瑞華科技的客戶從東北、山西，逐漸擴大到內蒙古、河南等省份。借助體驗式營銷給客戶留下的良好印象，瑞華科技聲名鵲起，在業內贏得了行業協會、集團公司和終端用戶的廣泛認可。　　樹立行業品牌　成為數字化礦山技術引領者　　“瑞華科技５年的辛勤努力，換來企業在行業內的影響力。隨著信息時代的到來，技術的交流和分享變得更加容易，企業要想在激烈的競爭中脫穎而出，就必須形成自己的核心競爭力，而技術創新是形成核心競爭力的最有效途徑。”張占軍認為，上一個５年，瑞華科技選擇走自主研發的道路，在數字化礦山安全生產領域形成了自己的技術優勢，正是這種厚積薄發的積累，為未來發展打下了牢固的基礎。　　“企業不僅要堅持科技研發，還需要完善技術成果轉化機制，吸引高端研發領軍人才，使企業保持旺盛的創新活力。”張占軍表示，為實現更大發展，瑞華科技持續投入研發經費過億元，未來瑞華科技將在無線傳輸、自動化、無線智能應急救援等方面繼續投入，保持自身優勢，同時進一步強化軟硬件基礎平台的研發，不斷挑戰技術難關，推動行業的技術變革，最終成為數字化礦山技術的引領者。　　憑借優質的產品和強大的技術創新能力，瑞華科技樹立了行業品牌。“堅持以信息化、自動化實現煤炭企業的高效增產，以技術手段規範管理保證職工的生命安全，以創新理念提供綠色環保的綜合方案，降低能耗、保障職工健康，造福社會”，是瑞華科技永�的追求。迷你倉最平

數碼通上周五在成交急增配合下，迷你倉以一支大陽燭上升，RSI走勢呈突破，料反彈勢頭可持續，可望重返9.96元水平。阻力位：9.96元支持位：8.22元宏華集團宏華於十二月升至近3元水平後遇阻回落，上周五在下試2.53元低位後呈單日轉向，RSI正掉頭向上，料可再次挑戰3元。阻力位：3元支持位：2.53元金蝶國自存倉金蝶上周五一度跌至250日線1.79元後呈單日轉向，並收復10日及20日線水平，料短期可重返十一月中的橫行區2.4元。阻力位：2.4元支持位：2元�盛地產�盛近日在1.64元水平橫行，由於國壽（02628）表態支持，預料私有化成功機會將大增，料股價有機會上試1.8元。阻力位：1.8元支持位：1.6元桃桃迷你倉

Source: The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionDec.迷你倉 22--Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller added his support to controversial statements made by a "Duck Dynasty" star, asserting that he would no longer work with the network that suspended the star from the popular show."I don't choose to do business with them as sheriff," Miller told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday. "If you can't speak about what's in the Bible, that's wrong."The A&E network suspended "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson after he made comments critical of homosexuality to GQ magazine.The show is not filmed in Douglas County, but the network has filmed a half-dozen other programs with the assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The shows have included episodes of "Beyond Scared Straight," a show that attempts to change the behavior of young criminal offenders."They're not coming into my jail," he said.The Douglas County Sheriff's Office had no plans to work with the network prior to the flap, he said.Miller's comments, which first appeared on his Facebook page Friday, have drawn considerable attention. Al儲存倉ost 400,000 have viewed the story on the website of the Douglas County Sentinel.Miller joins a large backlash against the network for its actions. Miller said he agrees with Robertson's point of view that the Bible sees homosexuality as a sin. But he stressed that he does not want to disrespect homosexuals."That's what makes this country. There's a lot of different beliefs," he said. "If that's the kind of lifestyle they chose, that's America. I'm not judging anyone."Miller said of Robertson's statements, "It was about a man stating his Christian beliefs without malice or judgment, and losing his job. That's wrong."On Thursday, Phil Robertson's family issued a statement hinting that they might leave A&E.Miller said he would not cooperate with A&E on productions, but if the network was working in Douglas County and needed some traffic control, "I'd assist them, but they would have to pay the officers."Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.) Visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.) at .ajc.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉最平

With people these days commonly living, thankfully, much longer than earlier generations did, the question arises as to what’s the most appropriate age to stop working? Generations ago, people started work much younger, with many still around who left school at 13 or 14, or even younger, often due to economic necessity.迷你倉尖沙咀 But nowadays, after an extended education, many Hongkongers only enter the workforce in their 20s. A later start should surely equate with a later finish. This welcome extension of likely lifespan has caused governments around the world to gradually introduce later retirement ages. That will help them keep from having to pay out pensions until rather later in a lifespan, which is an economic argument for older people to remain employed much longer than hitherto. People are staying healthy longer; their work abilities are often not impaired by age when they are in their 60s or even beyond. They would thus be able to work for longer, and ought to be given the option to do so. There is talk that in Germany, for example, the standard retirement age will be gradually increased to 69. Covering the hefty long-term pension costs with a much earlier retirement age in Greece has been one of the chief factors leading to the economic woes of that benighted country. Comparisons between the general work ethic of these two lands are also clearly reflected in their comparative retirement ages. It may be argued that people in their 50s and 60s have reached the prime of life. They will likely have already made their way in life and, by that age, are less likely to have to give as much time to child-rearing, as younger employees need to do. Their work and life experiences have been built up over many decades, and most would have gained some wisdom and even serenity along the way. In short — they often have a lot to offer to an employer. How wasteful it is, then, when their ripe experience is put to waste by not being able to continue working after some arbitrary mandatory cut-off retiremen倉 age of 55 or 60. Obviously for health, economic, social or professional reasons, some workers would welcome the opportunity to retire as early as they can. They look forward to a long, comfortable and fulfilling retirement. But that only works if they are to receive a pension commensurate with their economic needs and retirement aspirations. Hong Kong’s MPF pension scheme has not yet been operating for long enough for it to reliably provide a suitably large ‘’golden handshake” when our workers currently reach retirement age. Only those who started out on their Hong Kong working lives (a minority of us) by having MPF contributions paid from the beginning — meaning people now in their 20s and 30s — will receive a lifetime contribution’s benefits, as the scheme will eventually cover, and as it was intended to cover. Older people will have only a comparatively small proportion of a working lifetime’s MPF contributions to rely on, when they want to stop work. For those many older MPF scheme members not protected with additional pension provision, or holding substantial private assets, that means they would likely need to keep on working well into their late 60s, or beyond, to generate enough to retire on, reasonably comfortably. Then there is the connected issue of the shrinking population of young Hong Kong people: Not enough babies are being born to replace the retirees. While the size of the local workforce is shrinking, it does not make sense to reduce it further at the senior end by forcing into retirement capable people who are keen to carry on working for a few more years. The talent shortage can also be readily addressed by keeping well-experienced people in the workforce for longer, beyond 60 or 65. The community stands to gain across the board from the productivity, wisdom and experience of the older generation if they can remain in the work place for a longer period than at present. The author is a Hong Kong-based commentator and university lecturer on cross-cultural issues. mini storage