The starting point for making an instrument, blocks of maple and spruce. From left to right: neck block, ribs, back, face.
Have you ever wanted to make your own instrument? Ever wondered what's going on behind the scenes that allows your instrument to sing? Learning to build string instruments is a daunting task, full of minute details and complex theories. However, the reward of playing on an instrument you built yourself is unbeatable. In this article, I will share how I learned to build violins and violas and make some recommendations for those interested in learning more about instrument making or are interested in building their own.
After two degrees in violin performance, I decided a few years ago that I was going to build a violin on my own. I watched every video I could find about violin making, read every online article, and eventually found the book that I needed to get started. It was a bit expensive, but according to my sources it was the must-have resource for making a violin from start to finish. The day that The Art of Violin Making came in the mail, I read it cover to cover.
Making a good violin really comes down to one thing: executing many discrete steps to a high degree of accuracy. That means practice. My first violin attempt was eventually abandoned as I learned the ins and outs of each step the hard way. I made countless mistakes, but each time I took meticulous notes on what happened so that I could learn and do better the next time.
The viola I made for Gillian just before applying the varnish.
While developing the skills I needed to make my first instrument from scratch, I also learned about repair and restoration. Luckily for me, my wife is a public school orchestra teacher. The school instruments always seemed to be breaking, instruments limping along sadly until she could scrounge up enough repair money. I gained many hours of experience repairing, patching, gluing, resetting, and revarnishing those overly-loved instruments.
Eventually, I did what I probably should have done from the start. I worked on a partially completed instrument from a kit. Many of the difficult steps were already done, but the graduation of the plates was still unfinished. I re-graduated, varnished, and set up that violin, and in the end, it sounded pretty good.
Flush with that success, I made my first violin from blocks of wood. It took me about three months, with a fairly busy teaching and concert schedule. The day that I was able to set it up and finally play it for the first time was incredible. The sound was beautiful and full-bodied and has grown more pleasing with each day I play it. Now, I use it to teach my students and plan to take it abroad for a concert tour later this year. Since that first instrument, I have made several others, including a viola for Gillian. Now, I'm hooked.
What would I recommend if you want to try your hand at making an instrument? Start by playing around with an unvarnished, or kit instrument. That way, you can see if you like it with a much smaller investment of time, money, and tools. Finding a mentor is another great way to learn, though depending on where you live may not be an option. If you know making instruments is what you really want to do and really want to do it right, there are some great violin-making schools both in the states and abroad.
Makingtheviolin.com is a great free step-by-step guide to building a violin. It has a lot of specific information and some printable templates.
Instruments mentioned in the article. From left to right: Gillian's 'Da Salo' inspired viola, first violin made from scratch, violin I made from a kit.
Buy one of these less expensive instrument kits.
Read this article to get an idea about plate graduation.


Whether this affable, animating shade finds itself on textiles, housewares, stationery or even matches, it always exhibits an energizing, enlivening effect.
Tooth Teepee. Tree by Kerri Lee.
Shimmer Striped Scarf. Mud Pie.
Marble Bead Bracelet. Mud Pie.
Wooden Matches. Made Market Co.
Simpatico Guava Hobnail Candle. K. Hall Studio.
Square Pendant Necklace with Adjustable Macramé Strap. Dunitz & Company.
Hill & Dale Large Zipper Pouch. Danica Studio.


For the sake of peace, Brigid of the supernatural Túatha dé Danann enters into an arranged marriage with Bres, the next chieftain of the enemy Fomorian tribe, whose iron weapons and brute strength challenge Danann magic. Brigid is told to spy for her people, and to keep the source of their powers secret, dangerous tasks that complicate her desire of making the best of her forced union.
Sacrificing her own hope for love, Brigid faces the Fomorians alone. She must confront her rival, Morrigan, who tries to manipulate the tribe against her. At the same time, Brigid suspects that Bres is breaking the truce for reasons she doesn't understand. When his tyranny threatens the very existence of the Danann, Brigid has no choice but to risk her life in order to save her people.
Set in a time when myths were reality, Once A Goddess brings the legend of Ireland's magical Túatha dé Danann to life.You can get your copy of Once a Goddess HERE!
Monday: Stop at TNBBC blog where Sheila takes part in the "Where Writers Write" feature.
Tuesday: Head over to The Book Cove for an interview focused on the content of Once a Goddess.
Wednesday: The blog Kelly Smith Reviews hosts the tour, and you can read an excerpt of Once a Goddess and read insights into some of Sheila's decisions for the novel.
Thursday: Limelight Literature welcomes Sheila's explanations of the two Brigids that exist: Brigid in Christianity and Brigid pre-Christianity.
Friday: The tour ends at JMWW where Sheila describes what it's like having her book labeled too fantasy for literature, and too literary for fantasy!
Sheila Lamb received an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University. Her stories have earned Pushcart and storySouth Million Writers Award nominations. She's also the journal editor for Santa Fe Writers Project.


text:
Ali Zafar wants to move to India
Leave a Comment	/ Cinema, News/Gossips / By Sanwal
Keep politics out of art and culture," says Ali Zafar. "Things have to get better between the two countries," Ali says optimistically. "The sooner the better. Because the present hostility is unbearable. We from the entertainment industry in Pakistan are hard hit by the suspicion between the two countries."
Ali lives in Lahore, has a second home in Dubai and wants to relocate to Mumbai to further his career. He is honest enough to admit that there's more scope for him to function in India than in Pakistan. Hey says, "I'll be honest. There are more avenues and prospects here (India). So if the God above and the politicians down below permit, I'd love to move to Mumbai. An artiste knows no bounds and boundaries. My first home is Lahore. But I'd like to make Mumbai my second home." "Actors are like vagabonds, so I will travel wherever work takes me. There are no plans as of now to shift to Mumbai."
In the last 6-7 years, he has been to Mumbai at least 20 times.
However, he was unable to return recently because of the current political scenario. "Things have changed. My last visit was before 27/11 and I remember how pleasant the mood was in Mumbai. I was free to move around and roam freely on the streets of Mumbai. I cannot deny there's tension between the two countries. Earlier aana jaana laga rehta tha. Initially, we artistes from Pakistan used to get multiple visas quite easily. Yes now it's different, and sadly so. However, I feel singers and other artistes should be exempt from politics."
"I wanted to do something different from what my colleagues from Pakistan do in India. I always thought my first acting experience would be something different and special. I've no leading lady in my first film Tere Bin Laden. I was determined that when I act for the first time, I'd sing for myself and not sing for others on screen. When I met the director Abhishek Sharma for Tere Bin Laden in Mumbai, I knew this was the project that I wanted to start my big-screen acting career with. I laughed so much when I heard the script. I was sure audiences would love it too." Being married doesn't diminish Ali's popularity. "On the contrary female fans trust married men more than unmarried men. Married men are considered stable."
He has managed to impress most people who have seen the film. Karan Johar has been raving about him ever since he watched it. Ali is on the verge of signing new films in Mumbai and moving in Mumbai. "I love the city. I want it to love me back as much as I do."
Source: BollywoodHungama

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Homily on Saint Andrew the Apostle (Metr. Hierothe...
Saint Alexander, Bishop of Methymni
Saint Frumentius, Enlightener of Abyssinia
Monastery of Saint Andrew in Mirabello, Crete
Big Announcement!!!
Who is the Author of "The Way of a Pilgrim"?
Fidel Castro and Mount Athos
Synaxarion of the Holy Confessor Stephen the New (...
Holy Martyr Eirenarchos and the Seven Women With Him
Synaxarion of the Holy Great Martyr James the Persian
Holy Abba Pinuphrios of Egypt
Holy Abba Nathaniel of Nitria
Saint Sophianos, Bishop of Dryinoupolis (+ 1711)
Synaxarion of Saint Nikon the Metanoeite (+ 998)
Saint Akakios of the "Ladder"
Hieromartyr Clement, Pope of Rome (+ 101)
Holy Great Martyr Mercurius of Caesarea in Cappadocia
The Holy Empress together with the Holy Martyr Por...
Quotes of Orthodox Saints on Thanksgiving
Holy Hieromartyr Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria
Holy Martyr Theodore of Antioch
Thanksgiving Resource Page
Amphilochios of Iconium on the Canon of Holy Scrip...
Saint Dionysios I the Wise, Patriarch of Constanti...
Saint Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum
Holy Hieromartyr Sisinnius, Bishop of Cyzicus
Saint Kallistos II Xanthopoulos, Patriarch of Cons...
Holy Apostles Philemon, Apphia, Archippus and Ones...
Holy Martyr Prokopios of Palestine
Holy Martyrs Stephen and the Two Marks of Antioch
History of the Feast of the Entrance of the Theoto...
Panegyric for the Entrance of our Most Holy Theoto...
Homily One on the Entrance of the Theotokos (St. L...
Holy Martyrs Nerses, Joseph, John, Severius, Isaac...
Holy Martyr Dasius of Durostorum
When the Cross You Bear Seems Unbearable (Archim. ...
Holy Prophet Obadiah
Holy Martyr Azes of Isauria and the 150 Soldiers W...
Holy Martyr Barlaam of Antioch
On the Nativity Fast - When? Why? How?
Holy Martyr Romanos of Palestine With the Child Ma...
Holy Martyrs Alphaeus and Zacchaeus of Caesarea
Saint Gennadios I, Patriarch of Constantinople (+ ...
Saint Gregory of Neocaesaria's Revelation of the T...
How an Unknown Fourth Century Persian Saint Became...
Elder Elpidios of New Skete, Brother of St. Philou...
Saint Matthew the Evangelist Resource Page
Gregory Palamas in Eastern and Western Theological...
Holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Habibus as Models...
Saints Justinian and Theodora, Emperors of the Romans
Holy Martyr Demetrios of Thrace
St. Gregory Palamas and the Essence of Hesychasm
Cave of Saint Gregory Palamas in Beroea
Metropolitan Church of Saint Gregory Palamas in Th...
St. Gregory Palamas and the Healing of the Hieromo...
Holy Martyrs Antoninus, Nicephorus, Germanus and M...
Synaxarion of Saint John Chrysostom
The Golden Mouth of Saint John Chrysostom
A Miracle of St. John Chrysostom During the Armeni...
Saint John the Merciful as a Model for our Lives
Saint Nilus the Ascetic of Mount Sinai
Saint Leo Styppes, Patriarch of Constantinople (+ ...
Synaxarion of Saint Theodore the Studite
Holy Martyr Vincent the Deacon and Protomartyr of ...
Holy Martyrs Victor and Stephanie of Damascus
Holy Martyr Drakonas of Arauraka in Armenia
Saint Menas the Great Martyr Resource Page
Synaxarion of Saint Symeon the Metaphrastes
Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia and the Vengeful Woman
Holy Apostles Olympas, Rodion, Erastus, Sosipater,...
Holy Martyr Orestes of Cappadocia
Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia Resource Page
Life of Saint Matrona of Perge
Holy Martyr Anthony of Apamea
The Last Photo Taken of Saint Nektarios
Holy Monastery of Saint Theoktiste in Icarus
Life and Sayings of Holy Abba John the Dwarf
Synaxis of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel...
The Miracle of the Archangels at Dionysiou Monaste...
Testimony of a Miracle of the Archangel Michael to...
Discerning Angels from Demons (St. Paisios the Ath...
Holy Martyrs Auktos, Taurios and Thessaloniki of A...
Holy Martyrs Melasippos, his wife Karina, their so...
Saint Lazarus the Stylite and Wonderworker of Moun...
Commemoration of the Falling of Ash from the Sky i...
Holy Martyrs Galaktion and Episteme of Emesa
Holy Apostles Hermas, Patrobas, Gaius, Linus and P...
Holy Martyrs Domninos, Timothy, Theophilos, Theoti...
Synaxarion of Holy Emperor John Vatatzes the Merci...
Saint Ioannikios the Great of Olympus (+ 845)
Saint George Karslides Resource Page
Fr. George Florovsky on the Authority of the Churc...
Saint Akepsimas of Cyrus
Saint Achemenides the Confessor
Synaxarion for the Consecration of the Temple of S...
Saint Markianos of Cyrus
Holy Martyrs Akindynos, Aphthonios, Pegasios, Elpi...
The Holy Senators of Sebaste, with Saints Eudoxios...
Holy New Martyr James of Kastoria and his Two Disc...
Holy Hieromartyrs John the Bishop and James the Pr...
Sts. Justinian and Theodora the Emperors (Feast Day - November 15)
Justinian the master together with Theodora,
Are summoned to the heavens by the Master of all.
Saint Justinian, a major figure in the history of the Roman state, was also a great champion of Orthodoxy, a builder of churches and an ecclesiastical writer. He is said to be of Slavic descent, perhaps born in Bulgaria. During his reign (527-565) Byzantium won glory with military victories in Persia, Africa and Italy, as a result of which paganism was decisively routed among the Germanic Vandals and Visigoth tribes. By command of the emperor Justinian the pagan schools in Athens were closed. Justinian sent John, the Bishop of Ephesus, throughout the regions of Asia Minor with the aim of spreading Christianity. John baptized more than seventy thousand pagans.
The emperor gave orders to build ninety churches for the newly-converted, and he generously supported church construction within the Empire. His finest structures of the time are considered to be the Monastery at Sinai, and the Church of Hagia Sophia at Constantinople. Under Justinian many churches were built dedicated to our Most Holy Lady Theotokos. Since he had received a broad education, Justinian assiduously concerned himself with the education of clergy and monks, ordering them to be instructed in rhetoric, philosophy and theology.
The right-believing sovereign devoted much attention and effort to the struggle with the Origenists of his time, who then were reviving the Nestorian heresy. To counter their heretical speculations, the Church hymn "O Only-Begotten Son and Word of God" was composed, and Justinian commanded that it be sung in the churches for the sake of Orthodox unity. From that time to the present day, this hymn is sung at the Divine Liturgy before the Small Entrance after the second Antiphon.
At the command of the sovereign, the Fifth Ecumenical Synod was convened in the year 553, censuring the teachings of Origen and affirming the definitions of the Fourth Ecumenical Synod at Chalcedon. He also attempted to secure religious unity within the Empire through his (unsuccessful) dialogues with the Monophysites.
The holy Emperor Justinian wished to have orderly rule and law within the realm. Under his guidance and supervision a complete compendium of Roman law was compiled. It has come down to us as a law codex known as the Justinian Codex. These laws of Justinian are included in all the variants of the Russian collections of Canon Law.
In his personal life, Justinian was strictly pious, and he fasted often. During Great Lent he would not eat bread nor drink wine. He is also remembered for promoting the idea of "symphony" between Church and State. The holy Emperor Justinian died in the year 565.
The Empress Theodora, who died in the year 548, was also numbered among the saints with her husband. She was at first a notorious harlot and actress, and an adherent of the Monophysite heresy, but then she repented. After becoming empress, she led a virtuous life, maintaining purity of both soul and body. She provided wise counsel for her husband during his reign, and she also saved his throne during the Nika riots of 532 by her political intelligence and expertise.
Labels: Married Saints, Roman (Byzantine) Empire, Saints of November


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Luis de Aguilar y Eslava, presbítero y oficial de la Santa Inquisición, nace en Cabra (Córdoba) el 12 de agosto de 1610 en el seno de una ilustre familia, y muere en Carcabuey el 29 de enero de 1679. Su vida transcurrió de forma apacible entre ambas ciudades, lugares donde se distribuían los importantes bienes de fortuna que constituían su hacienda: casas, huertas, censos y otras propiedades.

Biografía
Luis fue el tercero de cinco hermanos de una familia muy acomodada. Su padre fue el doctor Luis de Aguilar y su madre Isabel Toledano. Dedicó su vida al ministerio eclesiástico y a la administración de sus bienes personales.

A la hora de hacer testamento, otorgado en Carcabuey (Córdoba) el 24 de enero de 1679, dispuso que, con sus bienes, se fundara en Cabra un colegio seglar de Artes y Teología con el título de la "Concepción de la Virgen María Nuestra Señora Concebida sin mancha de pecado original en el primer instante de su ser natural". Esto sucedía casi doscientos años antes de que dicho dogma de la Inmaculada Concepción fuera reconocido (1854) por la Iglesia Católica.

Señaló para el sostenimiento del Colegio una renta anual de dos mil ducados, y bienes suficientes para un edificio a propósito con iglesia y demás dependencias necesarias, incluido todo el menaje y enseres. Debía permitir que pudieran estudiar en él "doce colegiales naturales de la dicha villa de los más pobres, virtuosos y sabios..."

Se convierte así en fundador del Colegio de la Limpia y Pura Concepción de la villa de Cabra, que más tarde se incorpora al sistema público de enseñanza y hoy recibe el nombre de su fundador, IES Aguilar y Eslava.

Cinco días después de otorgar testamento, muere en Carcabuey, donde también poseía tierras. Es enterrado en la Iglesia Parroquial de la Asunción "...con entierro solemne y acompañamiento general", como tenía dispuesto en su testamento. El Patronato de la Fundación Aguilar y Eslava se ha encargado en estos pasados siglos de gestionar la voluntad del fundador.

Legado
Luis de Aguilar y Eslava da nombre asimismo a una de las plazas de Cabra en la que se encuentra un monumento a él dedicado, que fue sufragado por suscripción popular en 1929. Es obra del arquitecto Luis Berges Martínez (Guadalajara, 1891-Jaén, 1939). Una estatua de bronce, obra del escultor Antonio Maíz de Castro (1906-1990), se encuentra sobre un pedestal y bajo un arco, dentro de un fuente cuadrada construida en mármol gris.

Algunos cuadros de su imagen se encuentran en el IES y el Museo Aguilar y Eslava.

Referencias

Inquisidores locales de España
Sacerdotes católicos de España del siglo XVII
IES Aguilar y Eslava
Nacidos en Cabra

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


My new vocational homeland is at SOPHIST as a system engineer. The focus of my work lies in the natural-language specification of complex systems in the fields of automotive.
As complex systems are usually built by complicated people, I have gathered broad knowledge on the elicitation and the consolidation of requirements over time. This knowledge has by large parts been incorporated into the IREB syllabus "Elicitation and Consolidation".
Since each specification – be it natural-language or model based – is only as good as its organization, I engage myself in the improvement of existing requirements management methods.


text:
Home Uncategorized This Is Fine – The Atlantic
This Is Fine – The Atlantic
In video after video posted to Twitter and Snapchat early this morning, the scene near Los Angeles was the same: a stream of cars moving through the Sepulveda Pass on the 405 driving right past seams of fire, walls of flame racing up and down hillsides. The comparisons were inevitable: Mordor. The famous 'This is fine' dog.
And a question arose, too. Why are these people driving on this highway?
It seemed crazy. But for what became known as the Skirball fire, the emergency response worked pretty much as it should have, according to authorities at the California Highway Patrol, LA County Fire Department, and CalFire. The records of the incident generated by the highway patrol indicate that the response to the fire was routine.
The highway patrol worked in concert with the county's firefighters and Caltrans, which is responsible for the state's transportation network, to shut down the highway, which took some time, allowing many motorists to catch video of the fire.
"We always want to have the roadway open and free of danger," said Sergeant Saul Gomez of the California Highway Patrol. "In a case like Skirball, even if there is a fire on the right shoulder, we will leave the highway open until we deem it unsafe for the motoring public or responder personnel."
Shutting down the 405 is a serious change to make in the Los Angeles transportation system. The northbound 405 can carry up to 11,700 cars per hour at peak times. People are trying to get to or from work, to pick up children, to keep the city functioning. It's not a decision that they want to make lightly. They entrust the officers on the scene to work with local fire officials to make the call on when shutting down lanes becomes necessary. They don't need to appeal to any higher authority.
The highway patrol received its first report of the fire at 4:51am. By 5:03 am, the highway patrol requested that a "sigalert" be issued, which indicates a "traffic incident that will tie up two or more lanes of a freeway for two or more hours."
By 5:15 am, a highway patrol unit sent the message "ENTIRE SEPULVEDA PASS IS ON FIRE — IT'S MOVING QUICK." Seven minutes later, the highway patrol asked for Caltrans help with a "hard closure" of the highway.
But physically, it is impossible to instantly shut down a major highway. Officials from some authority have to be posted at every onramp and traffic has to be diverted. "To shut it down completely where it's sealed and you're safe to walk on the freeway takes about 30 minutes to an hour," said Gomez.
So, calls kept coming in from people on the freeway, who were driving through and (quite reasonably) scared. "[Reporting parties] are stopped on the freeway and are afraid the fire is going to come down onto the freeway and burn them," reads one highway patrol report from 10 minutes after the procedure for shutting the freeway had begun.
To bring lanes of traffic under control, patrol cars will "run breaks," swerving across lanes of traffic to bring cars to a controlled stop. That began roughly at 5:52 am.
By 6:31 am, all the northbound lanes were closed, but Joe Mendez drove by going south and took in the following scene.
#SkirballFire #Gettycenter #405 this is happening while going south on 405 to #LAX NB 405 closed #TrafficAlert prayers for all the families up in these hills. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/ab977BAca4
— Joe Mendez (@jamraiders95) December 6, 2017
By that time, the Los Angeles Police Department had been pulled in to help with other closures. Eventually the southbound side was briefly closed as well. For a brief time, the legendarily busy freeway looked like this.
The empty 405 (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
By the 1 o'clock hour, the danger to the freeway had passed, and the lanes began to be reopened. Everyone that I talked to had seen the incident as just another day in the life of a city that's often ravaged by fires.
What's really changed, however, is the amount of video flowing out of scenes like this. Between Twitter and Snapchat's geo-located video feature, it's possible to see the raw experience of nearly anyone who is near the scene of a serious, but manageable fire.
What would have been the breathlessly recounted story of the few becomes the vicariously lived experience of the many.
Previous articleThe Atlantic Daily: December 6, 2017
Next articleAl Franken's Office Says He Hasn't Decided Whether to Resign


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text:
Secondary teaching and education jobs worldwide
×Secondary
Head of University and Careers Counselling(ID: 2333)
Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong - DCS, Shanghai
Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong seeks a well-qualified, caring and committed Head of University and Careers Counselling, with experience of working in an international context.
Teacher of Computer Science(ID: 2486)
Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong seeks a well-qualified, caring and inspiring teacher of Computer Science for Years 7 to 13. Experience with IGCSE and/or IB is preferable. This is a rewarding opportunity to be part of a strong and forward-looking tea
Senior School Music Teacher(ID: 2397)
Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, Shanghai
We are inviting applications from teachers who are fully aligned with these values and demonstrate our professional demeanors: • We believe that every child deserves a champion. • We believe that getting better never stops so we all have a professi
Head of English(ID: 2320)
Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong seeks a well-qualified, caring, and inspiring Head of English Language and Literature for our Senior School (Years 7 to 13), ideally with experience of teaching IGCSE and the IB Diploma Programme.
Teacher of Art & Design(ID: 2328)
Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong seeks a well-qualified, caring and inspiring Teacher of Art and Design for Years 7 to 13. Experience with IGCSE and/or IB is preferable.
Teacher of Mathematics(ID: 2327)
Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong seeks a well-qualified, caring, and inspiring Teacher of Mathematics for Years 7 to 13. Experience with IGCSE and/or IB is preferable.
Deputy Head of Secondary (Academics)(ID: 1285)
Dehong Shanghai Chinese International School, Shanghai
The Academic Leadership position is a member of the Dehong School Leadership Team (DSLT). Members of the DSLT have joint responsibility for all aspects of the whole school relating to the education and development of the students; each has a focus of
Apply by 31 Mar 2023 Job start: 01/08/2023
Deputy Head of Secondary (Pastoral)(ID: 1283)
IBDP Coordinator(ID: 1284)
The Curriculum Coordinator is accountable, together with the Head of Secondary, for the overall quality of the curriculum in the school. The coordinator is an active and dynamic leader who works collaboratively with Dehong senior school teachers to c
MS Music Teacher - English Medium Learning(ID: 1263)
Quick ApplyExpiring in 2 days
The Dehong secondary school teacher is a subject specialist and an outstanding progressive educator. He/she creates a warm, flexible, language rich environment to promote high quality learning, student agency, and independence. The teacher understand


text:
Low prices and better performance key to Chinese telco domination
By Ben Grubb
May 14, 2018 — 6.31pm
Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturers are making inroads in Australia despite questions over links to alleged bribery and concerns over potential espionage due to their ability to beat Western competitors on price and performance, say telco industry insiders.
The assessment came after revelations that Chinese telco equipment maker ZTE had been shortlisted to build both Telstra's new 5G mobile network and a separate critical West Australian technology infrastructure project, despite allegedly bribing foreign officials.
The WA project involves both ZTE and Huawei being shortlisted for a $120 million contract to roll out a new communications system for Perth's metropolitan rail system.
ZTE and Huawei are makers of some of the key networking hardware and components that sit within mobile telecommunications networks such as antennas, base stations and core networks. They are also the manufacturers of consumer smartphones and mobile broadband hotspot devices.
Western companies who make similar equipment include Nokia, Ericsson and, to a lesser extent, Cisco.
Documents obtained by Fairfax and published on Monday show ZTE paid out more than 20 per cent of one contract's value in bribes to government officials in west Africa. According to the documents, ZTE paid bribes of $US12.8 million ($17 million) to secure one contract.
The allegations come amid growing concern about foreign interference on critical infrastructure and follows pressure from the United States government on Australia to block Chinese companies from bidding for sensitive mobile networks.
Chinese company ZTE has rapidly grown to be one of the world's biggest telecommunications suppliers. Credit:AP
"[Chinese government-backed backed entities] don't need to bribe anyone to pick-up … the railway wireless network in Perth. They can just go in at a lower cost than everyone else, like Ericsson or Nokia, and win the business that way," said one industry insider, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
"The bribery is kept for those emerging markets; those African and Southeast Asia countries that are susceptible to that. You don't really have to do it that way here. You can do it by using your financial might with your state-based backing to ensure that you are the winning bidder."
The source added that they believed Chinese entities were able to take advantage of a lack of rigour in tenders in this country.
"[They should be asking], 'Are there any security implications around [the supplier] or their background or their owners?' There are ways you can assess that without being completely paranoid and that is just not going on. That's the gap that exists today."
They [are] on a growth trajectory like nobody else in the game.. that can't all be because they are bribing. Their stuff is very advanced.
Industry source
How Chinese entities were able to bid lower in the first place remained unclear, the source said.
A second source said most experts would agree that the American or European providers were not leading the field to provide 5G networks.
"It's the Chinese," he said.
"Huawei's equipment has been used all around the world. They have been on a growth trajectory like nobody else in the game. And that can't all be because they are bribing. Their stuff is very advanced. They were the first with smart antennas for base stations. Some of the [time they win a tender on] price but the other is also the quality of their gear."
Paul Budde, an Australian-based telecommunications consultant, said Huawei and ZTE were able to keep their costs low due to a combination of reasons.
"First of all, labour is cheap" in China, he told Fairfax Media via email. "Secondly, [they get] massive investments from government.
"At the same time, the [Chinese] government is their best customer, so [they have] a massive home market."
Mr Budde added that Huawei had always been "more market savvy" than ZTE, more Western in their operation, and better fitted for Western markets by appointing local management to run them.
On spying allegations, Mr Budde said he didn't believe the Chinese government "deliberately" used their technology companies to spy.
"However, all Chinese, including these companies, are expected to always operate in the best interest of their mother country," he said.
with Nick McKenzie, Angus Grigg and David Crowe
Disclosure: Ben Grubb travelled to Hong Kong and China as a guest of Huawei in 2009
Telstra Corporation
Ben Grubb
Ben Grubb is a Desk Editor/Locum Homepage Editor for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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Home » Campaigns » Meet the Learning Disability and Autism Leaders' List award winners » Serving up success at the River Park Kiosk
Serving up success at the River Park Kiosk
To enable the food and drink kiosk at Port Sunlight River Park to reopen after the pandemic, members of Autism Together's volunteer group, who are all adults on the autism spectrum, completed food hygiene and manual handling training and prepared to open the kiosk to the public once more.
The volunteers are all supported by Wirral-based Autism Together, a charity which offers meaningful and achievable work experience and valuable life skills to the autistic adults it supports.
One of the sites the charity manages is Port Sunlight River Park, a picturesque 28-hectare coastal park on the banks of the River Mersey, which is owned by The Land Trust.
The volunteers work in the River Park to learn new skills and interact with the public. The team take it in turns to work at the food kiosk, alongside their regular River Park duties, such as mowing and litter picking. They are assisted in the kiosk kitchen by Linda, an experienced volunteer.
Led by Neil Murphy, Autism Together's Activity Manager at the River Park, there are six members of the volunteer group, part of Autism Together's Community and Vocational Services. They are Steven Parson, Jake Sanguinetti, Chris Molloy, Liam Sharp, Conor Jones and Daniel Rodger.
Steven, Jake and Chris were trained up first. Steven had previous experience working in the kitchen, while both Jake and Chris had gained external training certificates before so were well-placed to help Liam, Conor and Daniel learn the ropes when they were doing their on-the-job training.
In order to safely work in the kiosk and its kitchen, the group had to complete food hygiene courses, giving them an understanding of safe food handling procedures, including personal hygiene, general cleaning and how to prevent contamination. Their manual handling course taught them how to safely lift, lower, push, pull and carry items, which is particularly important in a small kitchen space.
While this was a slightly daunting task at first, all the men took to their studying and the eventual practice with great diligence. They all really enjoyed it in the end, especially working together as a team – learning from and helping one another.
Says Liam, "They're all really nice blokes and decent guys so it's easy to get stuff done when you're working with nice people."
What's more, all of the volunteers received a Personal Achievement Award from Autism Together for completing their training. These awards are given internally and gained for achievements and learning new skills.
The team members have also completed their Environmental ASDAN award through various projects at the River Park, and they are currently completing their World of Work ASDAN with some opting for the Catering Assistant element and some choosing the Horticulture modules of the ASDAN award.
Jake says
"At first it was a bit of a struggle for me, but once I got through the challenges they were really good. I learnt all about the health and safety of the kiosk, about what's cross contamination and what's not. I've found it really quite good."
Steven says
"I previously used to do voluntary work on a Saturday [in the cafe], just before lockdown which was good, so I've been helping everyone out… I enjoy doing that. So I've been showing everyone how to use the till and things like that. It's nice to see customers back… and it's nice to have people to talk to around the park again. Having the customers back's been good."
Liam said of his training
"Everybody's been really reassuring and supportive. It's a nice mix, really. If they show you how to do it, you just learn on your feet, really."
Paul Baker, from Autism Together, says
"This has been a huge undertaking by the six lads from our River Park volunteer group and we're so proud of all they've achieved. The more they work at the kiosk, the more confident they are and the more they are enjoying the challenge and the interactions with the public.
"Each of the team was thrilled to receive their Personal Challenge Certificates on completion of their training and it is to their credit and the staff who have supported them that they have done so well in this enterprise. It is also nice to see other people we support getting involved with the kiosk provision."
Facebook: AutismtogetherUK
Instagram: autismtogetheruk
YouTube: AutismTogether
LinkedIn: autism-together
Twitter: autism_together
How does it feel to win?


Professor Lokesh Joshi and Minister Damien English at NUI Galway.
Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English T.D. visited NUI Galway on 8 January for a briefing on the University's extensive research activities and industry collaborations. Minister English was welcomed to campus by University President, Dr Jim Browne and Vice-President for Research, Professor Lokesh Joshi.
Detailed discussions were held with research leaders in the University and some of the key industrial partners. Discussions centred on research in biomedical science and engineering, medical devices, clinical research, life course and society, big data, neuroscience and graduate studies around key enabling technologies and smart specialisation.
Industry partners who attended included representatives from HP, Alkermes, Altocloud, Aerogen Ltd, Avaya and Fuijitsu.
The Minister met two recently announced European Research Council (ERC) starter grant awardees. Dr Eilionóir Flynn of the Centre for Disability Law is undertaking a project which aims to make visible the experiences of people with disabilities who have been denied legal capacity. Martin O'Donnell, Professor of Translational Medicine, has a project underway which seeks to clarify how much sodium (salt) intake is optimal for health.
Senior representatives from Insight, the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centre for Data Analytics, were on hand to brief the Minister. The newest SFI Research Centre at NUI Galway, CÚRAM, was represented by Professor Abhay Pandit who spoke about the next generation of medical devices.
A number of other research leaders briefed the Minister on the latest developments in their areas. This was Minister English's second visit to campus since he became Minister for State last summer.


Discussion in 'Thumpers' started by Navin, Dec 3, 2017.
Just got this over on Pitster's FB!
Rear tire, easily fits a 110 rear. New tube required.
Front brake switch, 2015 KTM EXC500 common part.
Rear brake banjo switch, Nissin thread compatible. M10X 1.25 thread brake banjo switch.
Thermostat and carb heater delete: See page 320 of this thread.
gasgasman280, GR0NK, andrewgore and 7 others like this.
andrewgore, malignity, Bultaco206 and 2 others like this.
Im sorry I ever followed their FB now! What is it??? Damn you @Pitster !!!
wiswoodsguy, Dirtleg and Pitster like this.
wiswoodsguy and Navin like this.
Fallacy and Bultaco206 like this.
Bultaco206 and Navin like this.
Bitingdog, andrewgore, wiswoodsguy and 4 others like this.
Bitingdog, andrewgore and Navin like this.
RebelYell, Jimmy the Heater, GR0NK and 5 others like this.
If only @Pitster had a Canadian Distributor!
The offer still stands to work as a Factory Sponsored Rider... Just sayin.
GR0NK, Bitingdog, ChairmanMaose and 4 others like this.
I'll also apply for this position in the Offroad Ontario series. Gotta cover lots of potential buyers right??
GR0NK, Bitingdog, malignity and 3 others like this.
Bitingdog and Pitster like this.
Impressively I'm almost always the slowest! Basically makes me the perfect rider for a factory team!
andrewgore, Dirtleg and villageidiot like this.
Geez... me too, but then again I raced my first season on a Kawasaki Super Sherpa. With DOT tires.
I've discovered that on the same tracks, on the KTM 200 - my lap times are better by half. Imagine what I could manage in a new Pitster Pro 250 2T.
CDN Rick and Pitster like this.
GR0NK, DesertRatliff and Navin like this.
Our production is expected April 1st. The enduro two stroke will be known as the TSE 250!
We are very excited about the new Tse and believe the performance, fit & finish and value will be second to none!
Production photos and specifications will be released in a few weeks.
You're not trying to tell us anything by the expected date are you?
I mean if you had said production is expected early April/ late March I would have more confidence.
GR0NK and Navin like this.
It is NOT a April fools joke if that is what you are referring too. I guess I didn't catch that before.
malignity and Navin like this.
That's one way for a Chinese manufacturer to get peoples attention.
Where that weird guy lives.
GR0NK, wiswoodsguy, Bultaco206 and 2 others like this.


text:
Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff
The Suez Canal, Steamships and Rubber
Syed Mohamed
bin Ahmed Alsagoff
An astute merchant of the Alsagoff family, who dominated the local steamship business in the region
About Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff
Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff was the son of Syed Ahmed bin Abdulrahman Alsagoff, a Hadhrami who came to Singapore with his father in 1824. After his father passed away, Syed Mohamed took over the family business, Alsagoff and Co., which his grandfather established in 1848.
The company flourished under Syed Mohamed's stewardship, dominating the local steamship business in Singapore and the region. Although his main business was moving trade goods and produce, his fleet of steamships also allowed him to expand the family business of transporting pilgrims on the Haj. Besides steamships, he owned rubber, sago, coconut, coffee and pineapple plantations on Kukup Island in Johor. He also founded the Straits Cycle and Motor Co., and Express Saw Mill Co. By the time of his death in 1906, the Alsagoffs had become one of the richest families in Singapore.
View the historical image of Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff here.
Hadhrami Arab Families in Singapore
A Wealthy Arab Merchant
He was a popular and influential merchant and steamship owner.
Did you know that the most prominent Hadhrami Arabs in Singapore—the Alsagoffs, Alkaffs, and Aljunieds—are descended from Alawi, Prophet Muhammad's nephew?
The Alkaffs were involved in lucrative spice, coffee and sugar businesses in India and Indonesia. Arriving in Singapore in 1852, they invested in houses, bungalows and mosques. By 1863, they had substantially expanded trade between Java and the Malay Peninsula.
The Aljunieds first established themselves in the Dutch East Indies before migrating to Singapore. In the early years, Syed Omar Aljunied was the principal Arab merchant in Singapore, and his wealth contributed to the welfare of the growing Arab colony.
Hajjah Fatimah is my grandmother. She left Melaka for Singapore in the early 1800s and married into Bugis royalty, subsequently becoming Sultana of Gowa. She donated land for the Hajjah Fatima Mosque—the first in Singapore named after a woman.
Abdul Rahman was the first Alsagoff to settle in Singapore in 1824. He entered the spice trade, eventually establishing Alsagoff and Co. in 1848. His steamships allowed him to dominate the region's spice trade for decades.
My father Ahmed married Raja Siti, daughter of Hajjah Fatimah, the Sultana of Gowa. This deepened the business relationships between their families, since Hajjah Fatimah's Bugis links and trading ships were extended to the Alsagoffs.
Steamships in Singapore
Singapore is an important place for our businesses. With the opening of the Suez Canal and Singapore's designation as a major coal refuelling station, the island is the main port for my steamships. My ships left Singapore this morning, loaded with goods and produce from the region, bound for the…
A Dutch East Indies Administrator
The era of steamships has arrived! We are no longer beholden to the whims and fancies of trade winds. Trade is growing and we have had to increase our routes across the Indian Ocean.
Syed Mohamed Alsagoff, you and the rest of the Arab merchants in the region have made a monopoly of pilgrim travel. In recent decades, approximately 6,000 Javanese pilgrims travelled to Mecca for the Haj every year. With this growth, we desperately need to regulate pilgrim traffic—an issue we should discuss privately.
Singapore is an important place for our businesses. With the opening of the Suez Canal and Singapore's designation as a major coal refuelling station, the island is the main port for my steamships. My ships left Singapore this morning, loaded with goods and produce from the region, bound for the Middle East. There are also many pilgrims, students and teachers, who bought tickets to journey on our steamships for their pilgrimage. Singapore is fast becoming a hub for the Haj!
A Javanese Haj Pilgrim
The Dutch authorities' attempt to regulate the number of pilgrims is absurd! I shall travel for Haj from Singapore, even though it costs almost 600 Straits dollars, more than the 446 Dutch guilders I would pay if I was travelling from Java!
My friend, I must warn you of the conditions for the journey. For 18 to 20 days, 1,000 pilgrims are cramped together, with little room to move and no fresh air. Many are made to sleep on the bare deck and you have to live only on the food you brought with you.
Temenggong of Johor
Remembered as "The Father of Modern Johor", his strong leadership and notable diplomatic skills saw both British and Malay rulers approach him for advice in making important decisions.
Nong Chik
Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff was also fondly known by his nickname, Nong Chik. 'Nong' was the Bugis term of address for the eldest son, with 'Chik' being the term for the youngest son. As he had no brothers, he was both the eldest and youngest son.
, it was a pleasure to see you again this morning with your party. Your steamships were decorated very wonderfully. I've been hearing good things about your shipping business. I was told that the shipping syndicate you started with British and Dutch shipping companies, and the ruler of Mecca, is growing exponentially.
It seems your family has become one of the richest in Singapore. The economy of Johor is also rapidly developing and this is in no small part thanks to your firm!
An Alsagoff and Co. Ship Captain
Sultan, it is true, business has been good for Alsagoff and Co.. In 1874 alone, 3,476 pilgrims were transported to Mecca, 2,250 of whom were from the Dutch East Indies!
The Economy of the Haj
I have received a wonderful gift from Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor: an agricultural concession on Kukup Island
Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff also opened a port on Kukup Island for ships bound for Singapore or Melaka. He developed the area by employing a large number of labourers from the Middle East, the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia. Many of these men worked for the Alsagoff family to repay the debts incurred for passage on their ships to Mecca for the Haj.
! Muslims from Singapore and the region can work here to save up money for the Haj, or borrow money to go on the Haj first and work off what is owed on…
A Haj Pilgrim
The Haj is now made available to most Muslims. It used to be that only the very rich could make the Haj but steamships have made journeys cheaper and shorter. With a little hard work, it is possible for everyone to go for Haj! Although I have been working in Singapore to save up for a steamship ticket, I decided to take out a loan from Alsagoff and Co. anyway. I'll pay it off by working for the company along the route back!
! Muslims from Singapore and the region can work here to save up money for the Haj, or borrow money to go on the Haj first and work off what is owed on the island.
Of the 25,000 hectares, 1,400 hectares of land will be cleared for agriculture, and black pepper, nut palm, sago palm, coconut, cocoa and pineapple will be grown. I will also be issuing my own currency
Owing to the numerical strength of his labour force, Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff was granted permission to issue currency notes in four denominations: 25 cents, 50 cents, $1 and $1. This was also because provisions were unavailable on the island, so provision shops were set up and Alsagoff's currency was used for the transactions.
An Indebted Kukup Island Worker
My friends and I were in Hejaz, penniless and unable to pay for our return journey to Singapore. We heard Alsagoff and Co. were looking for workers; they would pay for our trip back in exchange for working on Kukup Island. However, the joint contract we signed keeps getting extended because of our debt. Many other workers here have had their contracts extended because of their outstanding loans.
A New Batavia Handelsblad Journalist
Alsagoff and Co. prey on pilgrims under the guise of selling cargo to Chinese planters. Alsagoff's ship captains receive under the table payments from planters, who take pilgrims on as workers. These pilgrims then sign a 'voluntary agreement' for a salary advance. This 'advance' is then paid off by working for the planters. It is indentured labour, plain and simple. Workers are only told how long they have to work for after signing the agreement—most take between 2.5 to 5 years.
Many pilgrims also die on the voyage to Jeddah
Hygiene aboard pilgrim ships was deplorable, and aggravated by the physical demand of the long voyage, pilgrims were vulnerable to various illnesses. Unclean water, disorganised disposal systems for human and animal waste, dirty accommodation facilities and polluted air also contributed to the high fatality rates among voyagers.
, others through a lack of basic necessities and sickness at Mecca.
Mecca News
The Ottoman Sovereignty has officially recommended that Alsagoff and Co. improves its management of pilgrims and to ensure that the terms of the contract tickets be stipulated in both English and Malay. This ensures pilgrims can better understand the contractual obligations they are entering into. These contracts will also stipulate that work is only to be done on Kukup plantations.
The British Embassy in Jeddah
We have received many complaints about the high fees imposed for the journey from Mecca to Jeddah. Alsagoff and Co. are also providing limited bookings in breach of the agreed-upon terms and conditions. The contract tickets introduced must be improved or we will be forced to turn away all pilgrims on the charter of Alsagoff and Co. ships.
An Arab Merchant
Kukup's agricultural products have helped greatly improve Singapore's economy. Syed Mohamed Alsagoff has also expanded Singapore's trade with the Middle East and Europe through its exports of rubber, sago, cocoa, coffee, coconut and pineapple. Because Alsagoff and Co. owns steamships, they are able to grow, transport and market agricultural produce internationally—a truly marvellous enterprise indeed.
However, it seems that their role as landowners in Singapore, as well as their lending practices, have further alienated Arabs from local communities.
Global Tensions in the late 19th Century
I have returned from a trip to the Ottoman Empire, where I met with Sultan Abdul Hamid II. I asked to be appointed as the Honorary Consul-General for Turkey
It is unclear if this title was posthumously bestowed upon Syed Mohamed Alsagoff. However, the role he played served a similar function in his lifetime.
in Singapore and he has agreed. I hope this will mark a change in the British perception of Arabs in Singapore—so…
An Arab Sailor
Another score for the well-connected Alsagoff family! One can only envy your connections both through blood and marriage to the Ottomans. I cannot claim to be surprised—Mecca, the heart of the Haj, is a vital Ottoman city after all.
The ever-growing Alsagoff network stretches everywhere across the region to Mecca. I hear you also maintain strong relationships with the Sharif of Mecca, Sultan of Johor, Sultan of Siak, Sultan of Langkat, Sultan of Pontianak and the Governor of the Straits Settlements!
in Singapore and he has agreed. I hope this will mark a change in the British perception of Arabs in Singapore—so many are strongly prejudiced against us.
A Member of the Singapore Legislative Council
No native in the East is, generally speaking, fit by education or civilisation for such a pre-eminent position as the appointed Ottoman Consul. Syed Mohamed Alsagoff is a well-known fanatical Muslim who advances money to pilgrims and ties them to debt slavery as coolies to planters and others. Besides, there is no need for such a position as the Ottomans do not have many subjects or any commercial interest in this region, especially in Singapore. We must be wary of the influence Alsagoff wields over the public and his cartel's domination of the lucrative Haj pilgrimage.
A British Merchant
I wholeheartedly agree! We must be wary of the Alsagoffs and their connections to the Ottoman Empire. After all, the Ottoman-backed Hadhramis have been involved in anti-Dutch uprisings in Sumatra. With the precarious relationship between the British Empire and the Ottomans, who is to know if Syed Mohamed Alsagoff carries with him the seeds of dissent?
In fact, we should be wary of all Arabs in Singapore! Many fanatical Muslims attended the Hajjah Fatimah Mosque to hear about Aceh and support the fight against the Dutch. Who knows if we are next?
R. H. Maxwell
A British Officer
A British officer who believed the British needed to be more sensitive when dealing with the congestion issues in Jeddah. He also handled the complaint against Alsagoff and Co.
We took the complaint by the member of the Singapore Legislative Council very seriously and made an official police enquiry. I must report that even though Syed Mohamed Alsagoff is a relatively young man, he is a highly respected individual well-known for being open-handed in his businesses. It is incorrect to describe him as a fanatic. He mixes freely with Europeans and is probably the best-known Arab amongst the European community.
However, there is no clear justification for the position of Ottoman Consul in Singapore, and hence I propose to reject the aforementioned appointment.
An Acehnese Man
Syed Mohamed Alsagoff, an Ottoman warship is soon to arrive in Singapore. Could you convey the plight of the Acehnese people to the Sultan and request his help in our war against the Dutch?
We will send aid to the society of Aceh in your fight against the Dutch. The Hajjah Fatimah Mosque, sponsored by my family, has collected $100,000 in donations for the Acehnese cause. We receive weekly reports from Aceh through one of my agents. We offer our prayers for the success of the Acehnese in arms.
Singapore's economy was boosted by the opening of the Suez Canal, which increased trade between Asia and Europe. Singapore's natural harbours and proximity to new shipping routes ensured its future as an international shipping hub.
Singapore's increased prominence as Asia's port of call for steamships necessitated a newer, bigger port. The Singapore River was no longer able to handle the constant stream of ships, so Victoria Dock was built by the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company.
The Opening of the Suez Canal and its Impact on Singapore
The Singapore (Economy) Sling
The sluggish state of trade in Europe had a knock-on effect on Singapore, leading to a slowed economy all through the 1860s. While there was an increase in the total value of imports and exports from 1860 to 1869, it was at a snail's pace. The recession's tight hold on Singapore was evident in the state of the harbour. During this period, few new British firms were established, even as many important ones failed.
Saved by the Suez Canal
The opening of the Suez Canal on 17 November 1869 led to a boom in trade, continuing all through the 1870s. By cutting across the Suez Canal, steamships from Europe greatly reduced the time needed to sail to Asia. The long journey around Africa's Cape of Good Hope became a thing of the past.
However, the Suez Canal was not ideal for sailing ships, which heralded a quicker transition to steamships. To be profitable, steamships needed to refuel often, leaving more space for cargo. Hence, there was a need for a secure coaling network. Singapore became part of the British Empire's coal refuelling network with imported coal. Major international steamship companies established offices in Singapore by the 1880s as the port city was the only regional port with extensive facilities. In Singapore's new harbour, coolies would lug large baskets of coal suspended from a thick bamboo pole, loading ships at an average load rate of about 200 tonnes an hour.
Business is Booming
Both the Suez Canal and the rise of steamships led to increased trade between Europe and Asia. Between 1870 and 1879, imports increased from 39 to 56.25 million dollars, and exports from 31.5 to over 49 million dollars.
Different sectors of businesses boomed; steadily, diverse groups of people began to settle in Singapore. The Arabs
The Arab population in Singapore grew with the onset of steam travel in the 1870s. By the 1880s, as many as 800 Arabs lived in Singapore, concentrated in the area bounded by Arab, Baghdad, Bussorah, Jeddah and Muscat streets. In the late 19th century, Singapore was home to the most flourishing, albeit not the largest, Arab colony in all the Indian Archipelago, with its numbers increasing year by year. The community in Singapore continued to grow until the 1940s, when the number of Arabs in Singapore had risen to 2,500.
, Indian Chettiars and Dawoodi Bohra
The Chettiars established themselves as major sources of finance for agriculturists in Burma, Ceylon and Malaya (who traded in commodities such as rice, tea and tin). This made the Chettiars the main mercantile intermediary between the British and local populations.
For the Dawoodi Bohra merchants from Gujarat, Singapore was originally a convenient stopover for an established trading network between Gujarat and Indochina, where they traded or bartered Indian cotton goods, soap, ghee, and oil for Chinese silk and porcelain, spices and gold. They also became involved in the import and export of spices and timber in Singapore.
merchants, and Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews
Jewish merchants arrived from India, joining family members in the colony. Others came to open new firms or branches of Calcutta-based companies.
While the earlier group, the Ashkenazi Jews, came from Europe, the new wave of Jews were Sephardi Jews from India, Baghdad or Arabia. Sephardi Jews were typically small traders, peddlers, rabbis and shochets (certified to slaughter cattle and poultry).
They settled in the residential area of Middle Road, a six-block area that included Wilkie Road, Sophia Road, Selegie Road, Prinsep Street and Short Street.
, were among the nationalities that came to Singapore to live and work.
The Business of the Haj
The main business of steamships was to move consignments of trade goods and produce in and out of Singapore, but they also provided transport for pilgrims going to Mecca. Each steamship carried about a thousand Haj pilgrims at a time. Some remained in Singapore for many years to pay off the cost of their passage.
By the 1890s, the port was the main departure point for pilgrims from across Southeast Asia. Kampong Glam was bursting with businesses that catered especially to their various needs such as clothing, accommodation and currency. During this time, the Jawi Peranakans dominated the print businesses that had links to different parts of the Middle East, with two of the most prolific Malay printers being Haji Muhammad Said bin Haji Arsyad of Semarang and Haji Muhammad Siraj bin Haji Salih of Rembang.
With each new connection, Singapore became increasingly embedded within the world economy.
Development of Singapore's New Port
A New Port to Call Home
To facilitate the sudden increase in commerce, Singapore began to shift its port activities from Boat Quay to New Harbour (renamed Keppel Harbour in 1900) at Tanjong Pagar. The number of vessels visiting the wharf at New Harbour rose from 99 steamers and 65 sailing ships in 1869 to 185 steamers and 63 sailing vessels by 1872.
Prior to the development of New Harbour, the Singapore River was where ships anchored and unloaded their cargo onto lighters and small boats, which then brought them inland to the warehouses lining the river. The river mouth became very congested as the amount of shipping increased. When the first steamships began calling at Singapore, the need for a coaling station was felt immediately but there was no space along the river for a dock that could store and handle the huge quantities of coal required by steamships.
Initial Works
The first facilities in Keppel were those built by the Patent Slip and Dock Company between 1855 and 1859. The Tanjong Pagar Dock Company
A series of mergers and acquisitions in the late 19th century saw Tanjong Pagar Dock Company possess a virtual monopoly in 1899 when it merged with its biggest competitor, the Patent Slip and Dock Company. However, the company was poorly managed. From 1885 to 1900, the company's facilities had not grown to meet increased demand. In 1905, the Tanjong Pagar Dock Ordinance began the process of converting the company into the Singapore Harbour Board, which would eventually become the Singapore Port Authority.
was started by a group of rich European and Chinese merchants to develop wharfing and docking facilities at Tanjong Pagar in 1864. The company built its first wharves in 1866 and opened Victoria Dock in 1868.
The Role of the Coolie
The high labour productivity at Singapore's port was due, in no small measure, to Chinese coolies, who were some of the fastest coal refuellers in the world. Coaling
Coaling was entirely carried out by the Chinese port coolies. A Chinese contractor would sit by the coolies, with a tray of small coins and a weighing machine beside him. Each coolie would have to carry 160 basketfuls to earn a dollar. One in every dozen loads was weighed to ensure the proper amount of coal was carried in each basket. Coolies would work with unflagging energy, with no breaks for rest all day. This was in spite of the blazing sun, against which the sole protection they had was a straw hat.
was a messy and laborious task that was usually done at night, although it was a ship's schedule that was the deciding factor.
The Best of its Kind
Victoria Dock was looked upon as a symbol of Britain's unmatched supremacy in the shipping world. The dock, measuring 137 metres long, 20 metres wide at the entrance and 6.1 metres deep on the sill, was faced with granite throughout. The working depth of the dock was to cater for most ocean-going steamships plying along the Suez Canal.
Twenty new brick sheds with a storage capacity of up to 45,000,000 kilogrammes of coal were built. Local colonial officials considered the port the best-equipped bunking and coaling station in the region.
The port also invested in workshop facilities that met the requirements of the more sophisticated steamships that called at the harbour. The Tanjong Pagar Dock's machine shop was one of the most complete in the East, fitted with lathes, shearing, punching, shaping, slottings, planing, screwing and boring machines, with the latest improvements, and all the necessary tools and appliances required for effecting the most extensive repairs of steamers and iron vessels of the largest class.
The History of Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel, Singapore
My father Syed Ahmed bought the Beach House at No. 1 Beach Road and turned it into a hotel. In 1889, I decided to expand it, before leasing it to the Sarkies brothers
Martin, Tigran, Aviet and Arshak Sarkies were brothers and Armenian hoteliers. Tigran and Aviet founded Raffles Hotel in 1887, under a lease from Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff. They owned the Strand Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar, and three hotels in Penang, Malaysia—Eastern and Oriental Hotel, Oriental Tiffin & Billiard Rooms and Craig Hotel.
. Under their stewardship, Raffles Hotel became the premier destination for visitors to Singapore.
An Armenian Merchant
Oh, I know of the rich history of this place! It was a beach house in the 1830s before it was leased by Charles Emmerson
Born in the United States of America, Charles Emmerson was a proprietor of two hotels, Clarendon Hotel and Emmerson's Hotel. The Clarendon was described as one of the finest hotels in Singapore. Emmerson's Hotel had many recreational activities such as lawn tennis and quoits. He is also remembered as the founder and operator of Emmerson's Tiffin Rooms, a popular restaurant in Flint's buildings near Cavenagh Bridge.
, who opened Emmerson's Hotel! After Emmerson's death, it was reopened as Hotel Des Indes, before it became Raffles Boarding School.
But it was the Armenian touch
When Tigran Sarkies was managing Raffles Hotel, the establishment quickly acquired a reputation for dining innovations, with grand balls and banquets. By the 1910s, the brothers were at the height of their success and included modern systems such as elevators and tennis lawns to their hotels. During the Great Depression, the Sarkies brothers accumulated the biggest bankruptcy in Singapore, amounting to $3.5 million.
from the Sarkies brothers, especially Tigran Sarkies, which transformed the old Beach House into a first-class establishment. Under their charge, new wings were added on both sides of the building, with the Billiard Room and Palm Court Wing built. They are the pride of the Armenian community in Singapore
The Armenians were a small group of migrants who first arrived in Singapore in 1819. Although they never numbered more than 100, their contributions were far-reaching. By the turn of the century, the Sarkies brothers had become well known as successful hoteliers in Singapore and the region. Other famous Armenian traders include Aristarkies Sarkies and Mackertich Moses. Singapore's national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim, is named after another Armenian, Agnes Joaquim.
Designed by R. A. J. Bidwell of Swan & MacLaren, Raffles Hotel attracted well-known people of the time. Playwright Somerset Maugham, artist Hermann Hesse and novelist Rudyard Kipling were among the illustrious names who spent a night or two there.
Sikhs, traditionally employed as colonial security forces, were hired as Raffles Hotel's doormen. Instantly recognisable by their immaculate white turbans, the doormen served as hotel ambassadors, as they were the first employees to welcome guests.
In 1902, the hotel gained fame as where the last tiger in Singapore was killed. The escaped circus animal went for a swim and was resting underneath the Bar & Billiard Room when a local sharpshooter shot and killed it
Raffles Hotel exemplified neo-Renaissance architecture, featuring high ceilings and extensive verandahs, a marbled dining room floor, and lights and ceiling fans powered by electricity—a first for any hotel in the region.
Financing the expansion of Raffles Hotel
The founding of Raffles Hotel was nothing but timely. The popularisation of steamships in the late 19th century, coupled with the Suez Canal's opening, enabled Europeans to travel to Asia for leisure for the first time. Raffles Hotel soon found itself unable to cope with the sudden influx of European tourists in Singapore.
cost me a pretty penny but seeing the newly constructed wings brings me unparalleled joy. Do stop by the Bar & Billiard Room!
An Arab Scholar
It is undeniable that the Sarkies brothers have played an important role as Raffles Hotel's lessees. However, Raffles Hotel wasn't transformed by Tigran Sarkies—the construction and upgrades were done by Syed Ahmed Alsagoff! We have documents showing that Syed Mohamed Alsagoff paid for additions and improvements to the Raffles Hotel.
Manasseh Meyer
A Fellow Businessman
He was a Baghdadi Jew who arrived in Singapore circa 1873, and would become one of the property tycoons of the early 20th century.
I hope the Sarkies Brothers can do for the Sea View Hotel
The Sarkies brothers leased the hotel from Manasseh Meyer in 1923, and renovated it extensively. A new wing was built, along with additional bedrooms, a new swimming pool, and a new reading and writing room. Every room in the hotel was fitted with a bathroom with running hot and cold water. The ballroom hosted performances by a variety of artistes and there were facilities for golf and tennis. True to its name, the hotel's long verandah provided guests a panoramic view of the sea. The hotel returned to the estate of Manasseh Meyer in 1931, a year after his death.
what they've done for Raffles Hotel!
Tigran Sarkies
An Armenian Hotelier
Tigran Sarkies was closely involved in Raffles Hotel's development, establishing the popular Raffles Tiffin Room, and taking on other building projects on the property.
The Sea View hotel is quite an exquisite addition to the hotel landscape. Since the opening of the Suez Canal, more and more people are travelling for leisure! First-class hotels are the way to go.
A European Tourist
Oh, how Singapore has changed. It was such a travesty putting up with Singapore hotels of yore. I shudder remembering how I was served a steak so wretched it was a disgrace to the memory of the cow it came from! Now however, there are many first-class hotels such as Raffles Hotel, with its amazing Indian bath and luxurious Bar and Billiards Room.
Alsagoff's Straits Produce
Alsagoff and Co. exports Straits produce
Coffee, cotton, cinnamon, cloves and indigo, were planted on a more cautious experimental scale. However, by the 1860s the experiments had ended in failure due to estate deficiencies, plant diseases, pests, and the absence of seasonal change.
such as rubber, sago, coconuts, coffee, cocoa, and pineapples to Arabia and Europe.
I've also diversified my investments by buying up land in Singapore. As of today, my properties include 400 hectares of plantation land in Geylang Serai, many houses around…
Leopold Chasseriau
A French Plantation Owner
His 1,200-hectare tapioca plantation in Bukit Timah was Singapore's largest. It rapidly became a model for the southern Malay Peninsula, which included three processing factories with steam-powered machinery.
Yes, your acquisition of land in Singapore will prove a worthwhile investment. The plantation land in Geylang Serai has already been put to good use, and we are having a bumper crop of coffee, pepper, tapioca and sugar cane now!
I've also diversified my investments by buying up land in Singapore. As of today, my properties include 400 hectares of plantation land in Geylang Serai, many houses around Jalan Sultan, North Bridge Road, Kallang Road and Jalan Besar!
A Coconut Plantation Owner
I think investors need to re-think large-scale agriculture
Early settlers of Singapore assumed that the island was suited for large-scale agriculture. Experimental plantations of coffee, cotton, cinnamon, cloves, indigo and sugarcane flourished. However, most, such as Joseph Balestier's sugarcane plantations, failed. In the middle of the 19th century, growing nutmeg became fashionable, but that was soon wiped out by disease. By the 1860s, experimentation into agricultural industries ended after plantations faced soil deficiencies, diseases, attacks by pests and a lack of seasonal change. This was not to say that large-scale agriculture was impossible in Singapore. At various times, gambier, pepper, gutta percha, rubber and pineapple grew well.
in Singapore. Investing in my 160-hectare coconut
In the early 19th century, coconuts were the second-most favoured crop in Singapore. However, it grew only in the sandy coastal Katong area of south eastern Singapore, bringing a modest return on capital. In the early 20th century, investments in the rubber industry paid off far more handsomely, due to the massive demand for rubber to manufacture car and motorcycle tyres, insulation for electrical wiring. It was even traded on stock exchanges around the world.
plantation has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. After all, coconuts and coconut oil are used extensively for cooking, and even in the street lighting!
Henry Ridley
An English Botanist
He spent 23 years exploring the Malay Peninsula, diligently collecting and describing specimens, increasing the Herbarium and living collections of the Botanic Gardens by some 50,000 specimens.
When I first arrived in 1888 to conduct research on the commercial viability of rubber trees, nobody would give me the time of day—even though I was a botanist giving out rubber seeds and plants for free! They even call me 'Mad Ridley
Henry Ridley was nicknamed 'Mad Ridley' because of his unshakeable belief in the profitability of commercialising rubber trees in the region. One of rubber's key challenges was to systematise the removal of bark for its latex, so that it could be tapped without harming the tree. Despite several failures, he pioneered a herringbone method of tapping rubber latex that did not harm the trees, increasing their yield and lifespan.
'. My updated latex extraction process, using a herringbone pattern for rubber tapping, does not damage the trees, allowing latex to be harvested from the same trees for 20 years.
A Chinese Merchant
Your company is growing to new heights! You have forged many partnerships to dominate the steamship market. I hear that you are working together with some Chinese merchants and a European shipmaster, and you've assumed the role of Managing Director of the Straits Steamship Company
Syed Mohamed Alsagoff owned the Straits Steamship Company, which briefly had Chinese partners and an English captain.
A Member of the Pilgrimage Cartel
Our pilgrimage syndicate was founded in 1896 when Syed Omar Alsagoff partnered with European shippers and the Sharif of Mecca to transport pilgrims from the Straits Settlements to Jeddah. Due to the high cost and know-how needed in the steamship business, we have technological advantages over the market, and a monopoly has emerged for the transport of pilgrims from the Straits Settlements—one that we run.
Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff's Death
Syed Omar Alsagoff
Co-founder of Alsagoff and Co.
Syed Omar established Alsagoff and Co. with his uncle, Nong Chik, representing the company in Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, returning to Singapore to run the company upon his uncle's death.
Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff, grandson of Syed Abdul Rahman Alsagoff, has died
The funeral was attended by almost the entire Muslim community of Singapore. A large crowd came to pay their respects at Bukit Tungal, Thomson Road, where Syed Mohamed Alsagoff's body was lying. The cortege wound its way to the deceased's mosque in Java Road, Kampong Glam. A deep grave had been dug in the marble-floored annexe, and the remains of the late Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff were laid to rest beside those of his parents. As a mark of respect, all the public offices in Johor were closed and the flags at Raffles Hotel were flown at half-mast.
, leaving behind his family and a legacy certain to be remembered for generations to come. He is buried at the Alsagoff Family Burial Ground at Java Road Mosque in Singapore.
Principal of Alsagoff Arab School
Syed Mohamed Alsagoff has made many munificent and lasting benefactions to Singapore. He founded and endowed the S.M.A. (Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed) Alsagoff Wakaf
A Wakaf means to protect a thing, to prevent it from becoming the property of a third person. This usually refers to the endowment of property and funds. There are three categories in Singapore: public Wakaf for charity, private Wakaf that endows funds to family and others, or a mix of the two. In Singapore, Hadhrami families, like the Alsagoffs, had very extensive Wakaf. For instance, much of the real estate in today's central business district were once owned by Hadhrami families.
Funds and the Muslimin Trust Fund Association
The investments of the S.M.A. Alsagoff Wakaf Funds went towards the Muslimin Trust Funds Association, which allowed it to invest the surplus monies in the purchase of 99 brick shop houses in the best part of the city. The fund also went towards the maintenance of the Alsagoff Arab School and the ceremonies linked to the mosque of his grandmother, Hajjah Fatimah, at Java Road in Kampong Glam, Singapore.
. He was also the benefactor of the Alsagoff Arab School, the Alsagoff Outdoor Dispensary, and the Muslim Boys Orphanage. He will be remembered by the Arab and Muslim community for his grace and generosity in giving back to the community.
Employee of Syed Mohamed Alsagoff
Working for Syed Mohamed Alsagoff has always been exciting. He not only owned the first steamship registered in Singapore, more importantly, he expanded his family business by adding plantations of rubber, sago, coconuts, coffee, cocoa and pineapples on Kukup Island to the flourishing trading business. He founded the Straits Cycle and Motor Company and the Express Saw Mill Company, in addition to continuing and expanding the transport of pilgrims. He will be missed by all in the business community.
An Arab Shopkeeper
Syed Mohamed Alsagoff was the shining star of the Arab community in Singapore, maintaining close relationships to all leaders in the region, especially Sultan Abu Bakar. He was entrusted to manage the Sultan's finances and supported the Sultan's trips to Europe. He was conferred a Medal of Honour, the Pingat Darjah Kerabat Johor, in 1886. He was the only non-royal recipient, even though the medal was meant solely for royalty.
Just a few years ago in 1893, Sultan Abdul Hamid II of the Ottoman Empire honoured him with a similar award, conferring to him the Order of Osmaniye.
A Madrasah Student
I came to read about the life of Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff, whose Wakaf created my school, the Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah. Syed Mohamed started this school in his house on Java road with only four students but quickly grew too large for his home! Never forgetting the school, Syed Mohamed left behind a large portion of the Wakaf to extend and relocate it to Jalan Sultan. Since Governor Arthur Young
Governor of the Straits Settlements between 1911 and 1919, who oversaw a tumultuous period in Singapore's history including the Singapore Mutiny and May Fourth Movement riots.
opened the school, many boys like me have benefitted from the free education and the chance to learn Arab, English, Malay and Islam.
An Administrator
Yes! I am so thankful for Syed Mohamed too. The Madrasah accepts students from all communities. It doesn't matter if you are Arab, Malay, Javanese or Indian. Moreover, it has six classrooms and can hold up to 200 students—it is a little cosmopolitan world on its own!
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text:
require 'users_helper'

class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  belongs_to :referrer, class_name: 'User', foreign_key: 'referrer_id'
  has_many :referrals, class_name: 'User', foreign_key: 'referrer_id'

  validates :email, presence: true, uniqueness: true, format: {
    with: /\w+([-+.']\w+)*@\w+([-.]\w+)*\.\w+([-.]\w+)*/i,
    message: 'Invalid email format.'
  }
  validates :referral_code, uniqueness: true

  before_create :create_referral_code
  after_create :send_welcome_email

  REFERRAL_STEPS = [
    {
      'count' => 5,
      'html' => '5% de
desconto',
      'class' => 'two',
      'image' =>  ActionController::Base.helpers.asset_path(
        'refer/cream-tooltip@2x.png')
    },
    {
      'count' => 10,
      'html' => '10% de desconto',
      'class' => 'three',
      'image' => ActionController::Base.helpers.asset_path(
        'refer/truman@2x.png')
    },
    {
      'count' => 25,
      'html' => 'Box com
acessório Global',
      'class' => 'four',
      'image' => ActionController::Base.helpers.asset_path(
        'refer/winston@2x.png')
    },
    {
      'count' => 50,
      'html' => 'Bom completo com
um produto Global',
      'class' => 'five',
      'image' => ActionController::Base.helpers.asset_path(
        'refer/blade-explain@2x.png')
    }
  ]

  private

  def create_referral_code
    self.referral_code = UsersHelper.unused_referral_code
  end

  def send_welcome_email
    UserMailer.delay.signup_email(self)
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub