rpannier
rpannier's JournalSomething I don't get
Remember the opening scene in the Lion King where baby Simba is held up before all the animals and they bow. I mean, they are bowing for a predator that, given the chance, will hunt down and kill all of them. It just is so weird. I mean, no creature would be so stup...
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South Korean pension fund deals blow to Elliott in Hyundai fight
SEOUL (Reuters) - Elliott Management received a potentially fatal blow in its proxy fight to shake up South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group on Thursday when major shareholder the National Pension Service (NPS) said it would vote down the U.S. hedge fund’s proposals.
Elliott, founded by billionaire Paul Singer, has been battling to get South Korea’s No.2 conglomerate to return excess capital to shareholders and fix governance problems since May last year when it scuppered a restructuring plan. [L4N1RG5BG]
The fund has demanded 7 trillion won ($6.2 billion) in one-off dividend payments and seats on the boards of group companies Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Mobis, in proposals to be put to a shareholder vote on March 22. Hyundai has rejected the proposals.
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The U.S. fund however says that even after the payout, Hyundai’s net cash level will be in line with industry peers. Elliott has also raised concerns that Hyundai’s excess capital will be used to fund non-core projects, citing the group’s $10 billion investment in land for its headquarters in 2014.
link
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hyundai-motor-nps/south-korean-pension-fund-deals-blow-to-elliott-in-hyundai-fight-idUSKCN1QV0DO
Excess capital 
Typical Hedge fund/republikkan thinking... You have excess money (rainy day fund, capital improvements, etc)... No. Spend it immediately
One soldier to face charges over Bloody Sunday killings
Only one former paratrooper is to be charged in connection with the killings of civil rights demonstrators in Northern Ireland on Bloody Sunday in January 1972.
The decision was announced by Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS) after relatives of the 13 people who died on one of the darkest days of the Troubles, had marched together through the streets of Derry where the victims fell.
The director of public prosecutions for Northern Ireland, Stephen Herron, said: “It has been concluded that there is sufficient available evidence to prosecute one former soldier, Soldier F, for the murder of James Wray and William McKinney, and for the attempted murders of Joseph Friel, Michael Quinn, Joe Mahon and Patrick O’Donnell.
link
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/14/one-soldier-to-face-charges-over-bloody-sunday-killings
The Killing Times: A Massacre Map (Australia)
The colonisation of Australia is at the heart of calls for a national truth-telling process. This map tells the stories that have long been kept out of our history books. It shows evidence of mass killings from 1788 until 1928: a sustained and systematic process of conflict and expansion.
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The mapping of our turbulent history is happening in many forms across the country, through painstaking research by historians, archaeologists, artists and descendants on all sides. The process is ongoing, and this data is incomplete. In particular, more sites in Western Australia are expected to be added. We will update this site as more information comes to light.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/ng-interactive/2019/mar/04/massacre-map-australia-the-killing-times-frontier-wars
March 3rd, Hina Matsuri. Japanese Festival for Girls
Today, I leave to visit the family in Japan. Wife and girls have been living there for the past year, I move later in March. But, that's for another post.
March 3rd is Hina Matsuri, the Doll Festival. Hina Matsuri dates back to the Heian Era, it is about one thousand years old and it is a day for girls. This will be their first one.
Preparations for the festival and some activities have already begun.
Hina Matsuri is a day for families to pray for the well-being and success of their young daughters. The girls will present the dolls on a five tiered platform; on the Top Tier will go two dolls, the Dairi-bini, the Imperial dolls, though they do not represent the Imperial Family (all the girls received a pair of these from their grandfather when they were born. But, we bought new ones for this event)
the Second Tier the Court Ladies (3 dolls) called the San-nin Kanjo,
Third Tier is the Go-nin Bayashi, the musicians(5 dolls: four hold instruments and one holds a fan),
Fourth Tier Guardians and Ministers (2 dolls with other ornaments) called theDaijin,
Fifth Tier helpers and protectors (three dolls), called the Shijo,
The Sixth Tier items used in the palace, seventh tier items used outside the palace.
The full platform and dolls are rather expensive (we paid almost $10,000 for a set). But it is their first Hina Matsuri and it is an important cultural event. The display will also be used every year, rather than just once.
We live in Kanagawa and there will be many events in the area to celebrate. By tradition the dolls are placed in boats and set out into the water. The girls will make paper and/or straw dolls as well and set them adrift with their friends from school. This is symbolic of carrying away their imperfections and impurities.
In addition to the dolls, Shirozake (white rice wine), Hishi Mochi (three layered rice cake), and peach blossoms will also be displayed with the dolls.
Hishi mochi has three symbolic colors: White represents the pure and cleansing snow; the pinkish-red color to symbolize peach blossoms; and green represents the coming of spring. The cake's rhomboid shape is the symbol of fertility.
Eaten on Hina Matsuri is Chirashizushi, sushi with clam soup, and hina arare a rice cracker that is only sold for Hina Matsuri.
If you're ever in Japan, I am told that Katsuura Big Hina in Chiba is the biggest and best of the Hina Matsuri Festivals. Over 40,000 dolls are displayed in five areas around the city. The temples, businesses, schools and community groups place dolls in one of the five locations. Some dolls displayed are over one hundred years old. (maybe next year we'll go)
Tokyo has the Hyakudan Hina Matsuri. The Edo Nagashi Bina includes the tradition of setting the dolls adrift in the Sumida River.
Although the event is for younger girls (about 11 and under), all of ours will participate this year because it is their first time. Prior to living in Japan, we lived in Korea, and school begins on March 1st, so we could never take them. Some of the older girls friends are participating with them. So, it will be fun.
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Gender: MaleCurrent location: Boseong
Member since: Fri Jan 30, 2004, 05:44 AM
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