* tmc * in patientia vestra habetis animam vestram * tmc *

Dear Reader,

The ASIAN STUDIES WWW MONITOR
(including all its subsidiary (and/or sister) pages on "coombs.anu.edu.au" server) has permanently ceased its publishing operations on Friday 21st January 2011.

All of the online resources reported here have been thoroughly checked at the time of their listing. However, it is possible that, with the with the passage of time, many of the originally reported materials might have been removed from the Internet, or changed their online address, or varied the scope and quality of their contents.

Fortunately, in several cases it is possible to access many of the older versions of the resources listed in the MONITOR. This can be easily done via the free services of the "The Internet Archive" http://web.archive.org/, a remarkable brainchild of Brewster Kahle, San Francisco, CA.

- with warm regards -

Editor, Dr T. Matthew Ciolek.

Canberra, 21 January 2011.


31 August 2009

Kitab - History and Culture of Southern Uzbekistan

http://www.kitab.uz/

4star
31 Aug 2009

www.kitab.uz, Termez, Uzbekistan.

Self-description:
"KITAB.UZ is a website [est. in Sep 2007 by Otabek OGULYAMOV - ed.] dedicated to creation and maintenance of digital historical, literal and cultural works about Southern Uzbekistan. Scholars, students and all individuals who are interested in the following topics are welcomed to browse our pages."

Site contents:
* Archaeology (incl. articles such as : #Kampirtepa - the Greek crossing on the Amudarya, #Chag'oniyonga sayohat, #Budrach xarobasidan topilgan o'rta asrlarga oid bronza buyumlar xazinasi, #Central Asia in the Kushan Period - archaeological studies by Soviet scholars, #Termez, #Ayrtam, #Kampyr Tepe-Pandokheion - Les Grecs ont traverse l'Oxus, #Shimoli-g'arbiy Tohariston rivojlangan o'rta asrlar davri moddiy madaniyati - Arxeologiya va yozma manbalar asosida, #O'rta Osiyo arxeologining shakllanishi);
* Ethnography (incl. articles such as: #Traditional Kashkadarya Female Clothing of the First Half of the 20th Century, #The multimedia compact disk 'Boysun', #Taqinchoqlar yaratilishi va tarqalishi tarixidan - Surxondaryo viloyati misolida, XIX asr oxiri XX asr boshlari, #Kiyimlar bilan bog'liq urf-odatlar, #Ayollar pardozi tarixidan);
* Kongrats [results of a research project "The Kongrat group identities throughout contemporary Central Asia. Changes and continuities in 'tribal' culture": Research Guide, Illustrations);
* History (incl. articles such as: #Dichtung als Quelle der Untersuchung des staedtischen Selbstbewusstseins der Menschen im Mittelalter, #Timurids and Termez Sayyids, #Balxdagi Navbahor ibodathonasi haqida tarixiy ma'lumotlar, #Hoshimgird shahri nomining kelib chikishi masalasiga doir); * Vocabulary [An encyclopaedic dictionary, from A: A Rise of Mangits (1747-1758), Achaemenids, Agriculture (Bactria), Agriculture (Hellenic Period), Airtam, Ak-Astana-Bobo Mausoleum, Amu Darya Treasure, The, Anakhita, Ancient Bactria, Ancient Cults, Antique City, Antique Sources, Arab Conquest, Archeology of Termez, Architecture in the Kushan Period, Armenian Sources, Army and Arms (Hellenic Period), Army and Arms (Kushan Epoch), Army and Arms (the State of Amir Temur), Art Metal (Early Middle Ages), Art Metal Working (Hellenic Period), through M: Machay Grotto, Madrasah of Seyid Atalik, Manichaeism, Mausoleum of Khakimi at-Termezi, Medieval Christian Temple in Termez, Medieval Jewellery, Mesolithic Period, The, Metallurgy and Art Metal, Modern Termez, Mukanna's Revolt, Murals of Balalik-Tepa, Murals of Khalchayan, Musa b. Abdallah, Music and Musical Instruments, to Z: Zaraut-Kamar, Zoroastrian Deities, Zoroastrianism - ed.];
* Image Library [Southern Uzbekistan Historical Database: 884 photographs - ed.];
* Search.

[A site, predominantly in English, with occasional elements in French, German, Uzbek, and Russian - ed.]

URL http://www.kitab.uz/

Internet Archive http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.kitab.uz/

Link reported by: T Matthew Ciolek (tmciolek--at--coombs.anu.edu.au)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
Study/Documents
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library/museum - NGO - other]:
Other
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
V.Useful
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 300

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com

26 August 2009

Australia South Asia Research Centre (ASARC)

http://rspas.anu.edu.au/economics/asarc/

4star
26 Aug 2009

Australia South Asia Research Centre, RSPAS, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, ANU, Canberra, Australia.

Self-description:
"The Australia South Asia Research Centre (ASARC) was established as an initiative of the The Arndt-Corden Division of Economics through the Strategic Development Fund of the Institute of Advanced Studies, and with financial assistance from the Department of Employment, Education and Training. It was inaugurated in April 1994 by a past-President of India, His Excellency Dr KR Narayanan.
Countries in South Asia comprise India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. The Centre is dedicated to research on the economics and politics of development in the South Asia region. [...] The primary aims of the Centre are: # to study the economic development and political economy of South Asia, particularly of India, taking into account Australia's national interests, and the dynamics of economic cooperation and interaction in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions # to provide a focus for scholarly interest across disciplines in South Asia throughout The Australian National University # to develop a database on the South Asian economies # to establish research linkages with South Asian research and teaching institutions, and with Australian institutions with research interests in South Asia [....]."

Site contents:
* Staff; * Upcoming Events (incl. Indian Economy & Business Update 2009 http://rspas.anu.edu.au/asarc/update/registration.php); * Rajiv Gandhi Chair; * Narayanan Lectures;
* Publications (## Working Papers: 2009# 2009/14 - MANOJ K. PANDEY - On Ageing, Health and Poverty in Rural India - # 2009/13 - MANOJ K. PANDEY, PRAKASH SINGH and RAM ASHISH YADAV - Domestic Violence and Women's Health in India: Evidence from Health Survey1 - # 2009/12 - MANOJ K. PANDEY - Maternal Health and Child Mortality in Rural India - # 2009/11 - MANOJ K. PANDEY - Labor Force Participation among Indian Elderly: Does Health Matter? - # 2009/10 - MANOJ K. PANDEY - Association between Marital Status and Health: Examining the Role of Age and Gender1 - # 2009/9 - MANOJ K. PANDEY - Poverty and Disability among Indian Elderly: Evidence from Household Survey - # 2009/8 - MANOJ K. PANDEY AND CHARANJIT KAUR - Investigating Suicidal Trend and its Economic Determinants: Evidence from India - # 2009/7 - PRAKASH SINGH and MANOJ K. PANDEY - Structural Break, Stability and Demand for Money in India1 - # 2009/6 - DESH GUPTA - India: The Weakening of the Congress Stranglehold and the Productivity Shift in India - # 2009/5 - KALIAPPA KALIRAJAN,SHASHANKA BHIDE and KANHAIYA SINGH - Development Performance Across Indian States and The Role of the Governments - # 2009/4 - RAGHAV GAIHA, VANI S. KULKARNI, MANOJ K. PANDEY and KATSUSHI S. IMAI - On Hunger and Child Mortality in India - # 2009/3 - RAGHAV GAIHABR, VANI S. KULKARNI, MANOJ K. PANDEY and KATSUSHI S. IMAI - National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Poverty and Prices in Rural India - # 2009/2 - MD. SHAFIUL AZAM and KATSUSHI S. IMAI - Vulnerability and Poverty in Bangladesh - # 2009/1 - RAGHBENDRA JHA - The Global Financial Crisis and Short-run Prospects for India, ## Working papers: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, ## Other Publications: Conference papers, Publications for sale);
* Book Reviews; * Focus & Research; * Links [South Asia Research Centres and Areas of Interest in: Australia, India, Sweden, UK, USA]; * Search ASARC.

URL http://rspas.anu.edu.au/economics/asarc/

Internet Archive http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://rspas.anu.edu.au/economics/asarc/

Link reported by: Stephanie Hancock (stephanie.hancock--at--anu.edu.au)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
Corporate Info./Study
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library/museum - NGO - other]:
Academic
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
V.Useful
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 30

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com

25 August 2009

South Asian Bureau of Economic Research (SABER)

http://saber.eaber.org/

4star
25 Aug 2009

Crawford School of Economics and Government, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Self-description:
"The South Asian Bureau of Economic Research (SABER) [est. 2008 - ed.] builds on the success of the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research (EABER) in creating a forum for high-quality economic research focusing on issues facing the economies of South Asia and economic interaction between South and East Asia. It comprises representatives from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia. [...] The South Asian Bureau of Economic Research involves cooperation among the following leading research institutes in South Asia: #Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Bangladesh #The Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), India #The Centre for Policy Development (CPD), Bangladesh #The Economics Department of the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh #Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), India #The Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), India #The Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS), Nepal #Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Pakistan #The Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), India #The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Sri Lanka #Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan #Madras School of Economics (MSE), India #MARGA Institute (MARGA), Sri Lanka #The National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER), India #The National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), India #The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Pakistan #Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), India."

Site contents:
* About; * Events; * Projects (# South Asian and East Asian Economic Integration and Australia: Strategies for Asian Regional Cooperation, # Improving Policy Efficiency in South Asia); * Bookstore; * [Working papers, PDF format in:] Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Trade, Labour, Development, Finance, Governance, Energy; * Conferences.

URL http://saber.eaber.org/

Internet Archive (www.archive.org) [the site was not archived at the time of this abstract]

Link reported by: T Matthew Ciolek (tmciolek--at--coombs.anu.edu.au)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
Corporate info./Study
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library - NGO - other]:
Academic
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
V.Useful
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 1,000

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com

20 August 2009

ResearchSEA - Asia Research News

http://www.researchsea.com/

5star
20 Aug 2009

ResearchSEA Limited, Cambridge, UK.

Self-description:
"ResearchSEA is Asia's first research news portal, a one-stop centre where journalists and members of the public can gain access to news and local experts from the research world in Asia. [...] ResearchSEA brings research news and top experts direct from universities, think tanks, journals and specialist organisations to journalists around the world. Journalists in over 78 countries use ResearchSEA to find information about the latest research and experts for their newspapers, magazines, radio and television programs [...] With registration, you will receive email digests highlighting the latest news and research into major issues affecting Asia. You can choose daily or weekly digests in one or several of the 6 categories (Science, Technology, Medicine, Business, Culture or People). Users can register for Public, Journalist or Contributor accounts. Journalist and Public accounts are free of charge at all times [...] ResearchSEA's company directors are Dr Magdeline Pokar and Dr Daniel Raymer."

Supplied note:
"We recently published a magazine highlighting interesting on-going research from selected institutions in Asia. The magazine is available in print and pdf. [...] Asia Research News 2009, the first magazine to focus on current on-going research in Asia has been launched by ResearchSEA. Asia Research News 2009 features interesting on-going research from selected research institutions, with contact details of leading researchers for journalists.
Some highlights include: # The brightest light on the planet which will allow observation virus structures, # Seeking the essence of Islam across regional diversity, # Delivering ICT solutions to remote Mongolia, # 3000 year old Egyptian princess, # Children's health in rural Philippines, # Climate change vulnerability, # Preparing for ASEAN in 2015, # Combating influenza and low cost solutions for diagnosing diseases in developing countries, # First digital database of Chinese head and face shapes, # Robotic help for ageing population, # Comparative study of the Basque and More separatist movements, # Plants to improve human health, # Making recycling paper environmentally friendly.
Free copies are available for download at www.researchsea.com or directly from this link http://www.researchsea.com//pdf/Asia-Research-News-2009.pdf [Careful: a 2.5 MB strong file - ed.] - m.p."

Site contents:
* Research News [i.e. Press Releases from over 200 contributing institutions - ed.] (Science, Technology, Medicine, Business, Culture, People, All Latest News);
* Resources, Focus On... [experts and research projects on: Food, Peace and Conflict, Information and Communication Technologies, Women, Environment, Bird and Swine Flu], Ask An Expert [ResearchSEA database search], Contributing Institutions [in Aug 2009 there were 206 contributing institutions - ed.], Events Calendar [forthcoming events around the globe related to Science, Technology, Medicine, Business, Culture and People], Announcements, Archives [from Jun 205 onwards], Media Organisations, My Account);
* General Info (About ResearchSEA, What's New, Contact Us);
* Asia Research News magazine.

URL http://www.researchsea.com/

Internet Archive http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.researchsea.com/

Link reported by: Magdeline Pokar (m.pokar--at--researchsea.com)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
News
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library - NGO - other]:
Business
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
Essential
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 1,000

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com

Vietnam War Internet Links

http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/Vietnam/vietlink.html

5star
20 Aug 2009

Prof. William A. Joseph, Department of Political Science, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, US

Self-description: "Created by: Bill Joseph: wjoseph--at--wellesley.edu, [Site] Created: January 10, 1997, [Site] Last Modified: September 2008."

Site contents:
* What's New?; * General Vietnam War Sites; * The 25th & 30th Anniversaries of the War's End; * Glossaries, Maps, & Statistics; * Documents and History; * Bibliographies & Books; * Vietnam War Buttons, Posters; * Cartoons, Songs, & Iconic Images; * Recollections & Photos; * Presidents, Policy-makers, & VIPS; * Vietnam & Presidential Elections; * Battles & Weapons; * Tactics & Strategy; * Women & the Vietnam War; * Vietnam Veterans; * The Draft; * America's Allies; * South Vietnam & ARVN; * The Other Side: North Vietnam & the 'Viet Cong'; * Agent Orange & Herbicidal Warfare; * Monuments & Museums; * The Media & the Vietnam War; * The Pentagon Papers; * The My Lai Massacre & Other Reported Atrocities; * Antiwar Movement; * Refugees & Immigrants; * Film, Literature, Music, Art & TV; * Articles of Special Note; * Teaching the Vietnam War; * Cambodia & Laos; * Contemporary Vietnam; * Vietnam Course Syllabus; * Search.

URL http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/Vietnam/vietlink.html

Internet Archive http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/Vietnam/vietlink.html

Link reported by: William Joseph (wjoseph--at--wellesley.edu)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
Online Guide/Documents
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library - NGO - other]:
Academic
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
Essential
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 100

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com

China Politics Links

http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/chinapolitics/index.html

4star
20 Aug 2009

Prof. William A. Joseph, Department of Political Science, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, US

Self-description:
"Prof. William A. Joseph: wjoseph--at--wellesley.edu, Department of Political Science, Wellesley College, Date [Site] Created: October 5, 1996, [Site] Last Modified: August 2009."

Site contents:
* What's New?; * General Information; * News & Current Events; * Facts, Data, Maps, & Bibliographies; * TV & Radio Programs; * Political System; * Political Leaders, Past & Present; * Economy; * Education; * Environment; * Ethnic Minorities; * Falun Gong; * Health; * Human Rights; * International Relations; * Internet & Media; * Law & Legal System; * Military; * Political Posters; * Population Policy; * Rural China; * Women; * Political History; * General Sources; * Pre-1949 History; * China & the Cold War; * Sino-Soviet Relations; * Great Leap Forward; * Cultural Revolution; * Great Tangshan Earthquake (1976); * Tiananmen 1989; * 50th Anniversary of PRC (1999); * 80th Anniversry of CCP (2001); * Beijing Olympics (2008); * Hong Kong & Macau; * Taiwan; * Tibet; * Films about & from China; * Academic Centers for the Study of Modern China; * Academic Journals, Working Papers, & Other Periodicals; * Return to Tangshan (Video) (July 2006); * Return to Sandstone Hollow (Web Album) (July 2006); * Search.

URL http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/chinapolitics/index.html

Internet Archive (www.archive.org) [the site was not archived at the time of this abstract]

Link reported by: William Joseph (wjoseph--at--wellesley.edu)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
Online Guide/Documents
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library - NGO - other]:
Academic
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
V.Useful
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 30

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com

China 1972 [Cultural Revolution] Image Database

http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/China1972/main.html

5star
20 Aug 2009

Prof. William A. Joseph, Department of Political Science, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, US

Self-description:
"'Serve the People': Daily Life in China During the Cultural Revolution (1972). Maintained by: Professor William A. Joseph, Department of Political Science, [Site] Created: August 8, 2003, [Site] Last Modified: September 13, 2004. The photographs presented on this web site were taken in March-April 1972 when I was a participant in the second delegation of the Committee of Concerned Asian Scholars (CCAS) to the People's Republic of China (PRC). [...]."

Site contents:
* Introduction (About the Project, Acknowledgements, A Brief Overview of the Cultural Revolution, Time Line of the Cultural Revolution, Suggested Readings on the Cultural Revolution);
* Search Slides (#ID, #Title, #Subject [Children, Elderly, Historical Sites, Women] #Location: [Beijing, Border (Lowu), Guangzhou, Jinan, Lowu, Shanghai, Shashiyu (Hebei), Tangshan, Tianjin, Wuxi, Zunhua (Hebei)], #Urban/Rural, #Topic [Agriculture, Culture, Daily Life, Education, Health Care, Industry, Politics], #Description, #View Mode [SetsSlide, Show]);
* Map of China (Map of images photographed at the location, A complete map of China, A detailed map of the Northeast China region);
* Related Links [Selected Internet Links on The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966-76)](Overviews and Documents, Films/Books/Photographs/Exhibits, The Culture of the Cultural Revolution: Art/Music/etc.);
* Feedback.

URL http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/China1972/main.html

Internet Archive http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/China1972/main.html

Link reported by: William Joseph (wjoseph--at--wellesley.edu)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
Documents/Online Guide
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library - NGO - other]:
Academic
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
Essential
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 30

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com

19 August 2009

Royal Government of Bhutan - Cabinet Secretariat

http://www.cabinet.gov.bt/

4star
19 Aug 2009

Cabinet Secretariat, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan

Supplied note: "The Bhutan Government has established its own web site, [at the URL below], and to date has posted some decisions of the Cabinet, the PMs state of the nation report to the 3rd session of the Parliament, a few Press Releases, and some other documents. It is expected that in due course the site will be further expanded and improved in the interests of transparency for the new government. - bcs."

Site contents:* Prime Minister (Call On, Message Sent, Message Received, Speeches); * Cabinet (Cabinet Functions, Executive Orders & Directives, Executive Orders, Directives, Members, Rules of Procedures, Sub Committees); * Highlights Cabinet Decisions, Events/News, Info / Announcements, CDG); * Reports; * Press Release; * Web-mail; * Contact Us (Public Feedback, Staff Information); * Bhutan Portal (Government, Citizen, Business, Overseas, News, Forms Download).

URL http://www.cabinet.gov.bt/

Internet Archive (www.archive.org) [the site was not archived at the time of this abstract]

Link reported by: Brian C. Shaw (bcjshaw--at--hkucc.hku.hk)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
Corporate Info./Documents
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library - NGO - other]:
Government
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
V.Useful
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 1,000

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com

Bhutan - Election Commission website

http://www.election-bhutan.org.bt/

5star
19 Aug 2009

Election Commission, Thimphu, Bhutan

Supplied note:
"The Election Commission of Bhutan has improved its website (still at http://www.election-bhutan.org.bt/), and viewers can download items of e-legislation and other items of interest. - bcs."

Site contents: * Organization; * E-Legislation; * Downloads; * Photo Gallery; * E-Roll Search [under construction]; * From Chief Election Commissioner's Desk; * Press Releases (Top 5, View All); * Notifications (Top 5, View All); * Announcements; * News and Events.

URL http://www.election-bhutan.org.bt/

Internet Archive http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.election-bhutan.org.bt/

Link reported by: Brian C. Shaw (bcjshaw--at--hkucc.hku.hk)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
Corporate Info./Documents
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library - NGO - other]:
Government
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
Essential
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: over 3,000 [in fact, over 14,400 external links]

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com

National Assembly of Bhutan (NAB)

http://www.nab.gov.bt/

5star
19 Aug 2009

The Parliament of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan

Self-description:
"1. It was the farsighted vision of the Third King His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck which laid the foundation of modern Bhutan. The very first of many visionary initiatives taken by His Majesty the King was the establishment of the Tshogdu (National Assembly) in 1953.
2. The National Assembly was established to discuss issues of national interest, promote public welfare and develop political consciousness among the people so that they could play a greater role in the decision making process and running of the country.
3. The National Assembly in 1953 started as a body with just 38 members. [...]."

Site contents:
* About Us (About NAB, Vision and Mission, The Speaker, Committees, Visit to NAB);
* Secretariat (About Secretariat, Organisation Chart, Staff Information, Tshodrungs);
* Publications (Agenda, Newsletter, Brochure);
* Downloads (Legislation, Resolution, Acts, Forms, CDG, Parliamentary entitlements rules);
* News (News, Tender, Announcement);
* Members (Profile, Attendance, Constituency List);
* Business Order (Business, Synopsis, Question Hour);
* Bills For Public View;
* Links (Constitution, Cabinet, National Council, Political Parties, IPU, More...);
* Press release;
* Photo Gallery;
* Forums;
* Webmail;
* Contact Us;
* FAQ;
* Feedback.

URL http://www.nab.gov.bt/

Internet Archive http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.nab.gov.bt

Link reported by: Brian C. Shaw (bcjshaw--at--hkucc.hku.hk)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
Corporate Info./Documents
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library - NGO - other]:
Government
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
Essential
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 1,000

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com

National Council of Bhutan (NCB)

http://www.nationalcouncil.bt/

5star
19 Aug 2009

The Parliament of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan

Supplied note:
"The National Council (upper house of Bhutan's Parliament) has its own website, [at the URL below], where viewers can download the texts of various acts, bills and resolutions, as well as the NCs views on pending legislation (eg the Civil Service Bill, the Local Government Bill) as well as NC's reservations on eg 'constituency development grants' concept, and on modalities for passing the annual Budget (http://www.nationalcouncil.bt/mainpage.php?code=4). Summary Resolutions of the 2nd session of the NC (Dec 2008-January 2009) are downloadable from [the Business pages at] http://www.nationalcouncil.bt/subpage.php?pagecode=3&code=107 by clicking on 'Synopsis' and further linking on the link that comes up. - bcs."

Self-description:
"The Parliament of Bhutan is the highest legislative body in the country. It consists of the Druk Gyalpo, the National Council and the National Assembly. The National Council has both legislative and review functions and is also referred to as the House of Review. Establishment: -Established in 2008 under Article 11 of the Constitution of Bhutan. -The first joint sitting of Parliament was held from May 8-30, 2008. -The first session of the National Council was held in the Banquet Hall at Langjophakha from June 17 to July 24, 2008. [...]."

Site contents:
* Members (Vision & Mission, Chairperson, Committees, Visit to NC);
* Secretariat (Who is who, NC Organogram);
* News;
* Forum;
* Feedback;
* Downloads (Acts Bills, Resolutions, Others, Forms);
* Business (Agenda, Business Order, Synopsis, Question Time);
* Site Map;
* WebMail;
* FAQ;
* Photo Gallery [at http://www.nationalcouncil.bt/index11.php - ed.]

URL http://www.nationalcouncil.bt/

Internet Archive (www.archive.org) [the site was not archived at the time of this abstract]

Link reported by: Brian C. Shaw (bcjshaw--at--hkucc.hku.hk)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
Corporate Info./Documents
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library - NGO - other]:
Government
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
Essential
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 1,000

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com

12 August 2009

[Itinerant] Chinese Tinkers

http://staff.hum.ku.dk/dbwagner/tinkers/tinkers.html

4star
03 Aug 2009

Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS), Copenhagen, Denmark.

"Hello - Some of you may be interested in this short article about the itinerant Chinese tinkers who repaired cast iron woks, melting iron in a tiny furnace and applying it to holes and cracks. - Regards, Donald B Wagner, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, Copenhagen."

Self-description:
"The cast iron wok is one of the wonders of traditional Chinese technology - to see how they they were cast, see here. [The casting of iron woks in Guangdong, China, in 1840', Poster presentation Founders, smiths and platers: International Conference on metal forming and finishing from the earliest times Oxford, 20-24 September, 1999, http://www.staff.hum.ku.dk/dbwagner/wok/wok.html - ed.]. With its use follows another wonder: the itinerant tinker who repairs broken woks with molten iron from a small furnace.
The tinkers were a fascinating sight for foreign visitors in China, and we have some excellent detailed descriptions of their work from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. I have copied the best of these below.
In Guangzhou in the 18th and 19th centuries several large studios mass-produced souvenir paintings for sale to foreign visitors. The painting reproduced immediately below is a gouache from one of these studios showing a tinker at work.
I was amazed and pleased when my friend Liu Peifeng recently showed me the photograph by Pei Chishan shown further below, which shows a tinker with his equipment in 2006."

Site contents:
* [A tinker at work] - a gouache painting by an unknown Chinese artist in Guangzhou, mid-19th century.
* [A tinker at work] - a colour photograph by Pei Chishan in Zezhou, Shanxi, April 2006.
* The earliest description of the traditional technique of wok-repair - a 1795 account by the Dutch diplomat Van Braam.
* 'Chinese Mode of Repairing Cracked or Broken Vessels of Cast Iron' - an account by the American Consul in Singapore, Joseph Balestier, in a letter published by the United States Patent Office in 1850.
* 'Chinese method of mending cracked cast-iron vessels' - an account by John Percy, Metallurgy: The Art of Extracting Metals from their Ores, and Adapting them to Various Purposes of Manufacture. [Vol. 2:] Iron; Steel, London 1864.
* 'Mending of Cast Iron' - an account by Rudolf P. Hommel, China at work: An Illustrated Record of the Primitive Industries of China's Masses, whose Life is Toil, and thus an Account of Chinese Civilization, New York 1937.

URL http://staff.hum.ku.dk/dbwagner/tinkers/tinkers.html

Internet Archive (web.archive.org) [the article was not archived at the time of this abstract - ed.]

Link reported by: Donald B. Wagner (dwag--at--alum.mit.edu)

* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]:
Study
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library/museum - NGO - other]:
Academic
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]:
V.Useful
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000
- under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 30

Please note that the above details were correct on the day of their publication. To suggest an update, please email the site's editor at tmciolek@ciolek.com