China has perhaps one of the most beautiful, most historic and most immense cultures in the world. China is home to almost 1.5 billion people with an almost equal distribution of males and females. The political affiliation of China has caused a lot of pressure from other countries. China is one of the last communist countries. Land and water mass totals nearly 10 million square kilometres, China is almost as large as the United States.
The history associated with China is rich and filled with knowledge. Being such an old civilization, China has am enormous number of citizens. This large number of people has resulted in a story involving population control that the world has watched unfold. China has a one-child policy. Only one child per family is allowed to those falling under China citizenship. This controversial policy has made China into one of the oldest nations in the world: China has a huge, growing population of people over the age of 70.
The majority of the income of China is made through the exportation of goods to other countries. Only a small number of Chinese citizens are actual farmers. Over the centuries, China has depleted a majority of the country natural resources. In addition, China has a growing pollution problem and suffers from the deterioration of the surrounding environment. This problem is exaggerated by the exponential growth of the population when compounded with the exponential degradation of the soil. This is one of the reasons for the poverty limit being over 10%.
In 1733, in another part of the world, Josiah Spode was born into a pauper’s life. His father taught him a trade that would serve him well after his father’s death when Josiah Spode was only 6 years old. However, this death only seemed to inspire the young Spode. Spode became an apprentice to one of the most reputable potters of that day. There, Spode would stay until his 21st birthday. Shortly after, Spode would start his own business. Perhaps the greatest legacy Spode left for the world today was his discovery of the recipe for Fine Bone China.
Today, England still remains the leader in Fine Bona China. With traditional family recipes being passed from one generation to the next, England offers sophistication and superb quality to all the Fine Bone China it produces. The Fine Bone China produced offers a dignified excellence to the purchaser. Even today Fine Bone China manufacturers pride themselves in bringing us simply the best of what England has to offer in collectibles and tableware.
As is obvious, China is a word that brings forth images of true beauty and true grace. Whether you consider the country or creation of tableware and collectibles, China is a marvellous example of human spirit and fulfilment. Whether you choose to explore a possible vacation of the beautifully, exotic China or if you choose to decorate your home and dinner table with the best china in the world, China will forever hold special meaning to our spirit.
About the Author:
Steve Thomas writes about China and maintains a China resource website at www.chinaa.co.uk
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games Medals
Summer Games Medals
| Total Medals | |||||
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States | 36 | 38 | 36 | 110 |
| 2 | China | 51 | 21 | 28 | 100 |
| 3 | Russia | 23 | 21 | 28 | 72 |
| 4 | Britain | 19 | 13 | 15 | 47 |
| 5 | Australia | 14 | 15 | 17 | 46 |
| 6 | Germany | 16 | 10 | 15 | 41 |
| 7 | France | 7 | 16 | 17 | 40 |
| 8 | South Korea | 13 | 10 | 8 | 31 |
| 9 | Italy | 8 | 10 | 10 | 28 |
| 10 | Ukraine | 7 | 5 | 15 | 27 |
| 11 | Japan | 9 | 6 | 10 | 25 |
| 12 | Cuba | 2 | 11 | 11 | 24 |
| 13 | Belarus | 4 | 5 | 10 | 19 |
| 14t | Spain | 5 | 10 | 3 | 18 |
| 14t | Canada | 3 | 9 | 6 | 18 |
| 16 | Netherlands | 7 | 5 | 4 | 16 |
| 17 | Brazil | 3 | 4 | 8 | 15 |
| 18 | Kenya | 5 | 5 | 4 | 14 |
| 19 | Kazakhstan | 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| 20 | Jamaica | 6 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
| 21t | Poland | 3 | 6 | 1 | 10 |
| 21t | Hungary | 3 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| 21t | Norway | 3 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| 24 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| 25t | Romania | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| 25t | Turkey | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| 27t | Ethiopia | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 27t | Denmark | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 27t | Azerbaijan | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 30t | Czech Republic | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 30t | Slovakia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 30t | Georgia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 30t | North Korea | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 30t | Argentina | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 30t | Switzerland | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 30t | Uzbekistan | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 30t | Armenia | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| 38t | Slovenia | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 38t | Bulgaria | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 38t | Indonesia | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 38t | Sweden | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 38t | Croatia | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 38t | Lithuania | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 44t | Mongolia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 44t | Thailand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 44t | Zimbabwe | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 44t | Finland | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 44t | Greece | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 44t | Nigeria | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 44t | Chinese Taipei | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 51t | Mexico | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 51t | Latvia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 51t | India | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 51t | Austria | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 51t | Ireland | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 51t | Serbia | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 57t | Belgium | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 57t | Dominican Republic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 57t | Estonia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 57t | Portugal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 57t | Iran | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 57t | Trinidad and Tobago | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 57t | Algeria | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 57t | Bahamas | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 57t | Colombia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 57t | Kyrgyzstan | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 57t | Morocco | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 57t | Tajikistan | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 69t | Bahrain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | Cameroon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | Panama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | Chile | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | Ecuador | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | Iceland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | Malaysia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | Singapore | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | South Africa | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | Sudan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | Vietnam | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69t | Afghanistan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 69t | Egypt | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 69t | Israel | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 69t | Mauritius | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 69t | Moldova | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 69t | Togo | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 69t | Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Henry To Miss Beijing Olympics
ATHENS triple gold medal winner Jodie Henry is expected to announce this morning that she will not defend her Olympic titles in Beijing.
Henry has struggled with motivational and physical problems in recent times, and met national head coach Alan Thompson yesterday to discuss whether she would be ready to compete at next month's Olympic selection trials in Sydney.
While Thompson confirmed that he told Henry to "sleep on" a few questions he posed, he added she had not told him her decision yet, and that she was scheduled to do so today.
But late yesterday Henry's management company issued a statement saying that the 24-year-old would make an announcement in Brisbane this morning regarding her future. It is believed the announcement would not be a retirement one, but instead would say that due to her illness and the resulting impact it has had on limiting her training, she would not be ready to compete at the trials, and as such cannot make the team to Beijing.
Henry, who won gold in the 100 metres freestyle and anchored two relays to gold in Greece in 2004, has been plagued with problems in recent times.
The first were motivational, and saw her move late last year from long-time coach Shannon Rollason in Canberra to her home city of Brisbane. She first joined Simon Cusack at Indooroopilly, only to discover he trained in a 25m pool, which led her to swap coaches again, this time joining Rollason's former assistant Drew McGregor, at her old pool, Chandler.
But following her return north, Henry began suffering from a debilitating "mystery illness" which was only recently diagnosed as an imbalance in the muscle group around her pelvis.
"Let me first say that this is not the end of Jodie Henry," Thompson said. "She is definitely not retiring from swimming."
. She would inform him today whether or not she would compete at the Sydney trials.
"I think the emotions that I see in Jodie are frustration but also relief," he continued. "She's frustrated that this has happened in an Olympic year and so close to the trials. But what is a great relief to her is that they have finally found an answer.
"They went through a raft of doctors and specialists, and underwent so many tests, all trying to find out what the problem exactly was, and to now finally know, and start treating the problem, it is a great relief for her.
"She has still been able to train each day, but with varying degrees of pain, ranging from being an annoyance to unbearable pain. I don't know which way she will go, that is for Jodie to decide."
Chinese Lu Edges The Gold Medal At Men's Vault Final
Gold medal winner Lu Bin at the awarding ceremony(BEIJING, December 2) -- Lu Bin of China took the gold medal in the vault final with a total score of 16.525 points on Sunday evening at the Good Luck Beijing 2007 Gymnastics International Invitational Tournament.
Flavius Koczi of Romania earned the silver medal, and Makoto Okiguchi came in third.
Lu Bin won four gold medals in total at the gymnastics invitational for the pommel horse, still rings, vault, and men's team events.
Final action of Lu's landing
Top winners at the awarding ceremony
Bronze winner Japanese Makoto Okiguchi in action
Bronze winner Japanese Makoto Okiguchi in action
Bronze winner Japanese Makoto Okiguchi in action
Silver winner Flavius Koczi of Romania in action
Top gymnast in men's vault qualifications Chinese Liang Mingsheng fells down in final
Top three winners at the awarding ceremonyTuesday, August 19, 2008
Ilchecko Takes Gold In Women's 10km Marathon Swimming
Larisa Ilchenko poses with her gold medal.Larisa Ilchenko of Russia won the Women's 10km Marathon Swimming title at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on Wednesday.
Larisa Ilchenko clocked 1 hour 59 minutes and 27.7 seconds, followed by Keri-Anne Payne in second and Cassandra Patten in third. Both Payne and Patten are from
Larisa Ilchenko competes
Larisa Ilchenko gears up to the finish line
Larisa Ilchenko celebrates her victoryPolyakov Has High Hope Hor Beijing Olympics
Athens Olympian Vladislav Polyakov said he would like a podium finish in the Beijing Olympic Games less than two years away after he overcame Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima to win the 50m breaststroke in Asiad here on Sunday.
Polyakov brought
The 23-year-old marketing major from the
"In
"In
"Everyone knows that it will be a high competition," he added.
China On Top At Gymnastics Worlds
China
No one could match the Chinese as the
As the new judging system made its debut for the first time at a global competition, three new country's won their first ever world titles.Fifteen-year-old Vanessa Ferrari won
But the stars of the championships were the Chinese, and in particular Yang and Cheng who wrapped up the competition by winning the parallel bars and floor respectively on Saturday.Between them they helped their country to six titles out of the 14 on offer during the week.
Yang, 26, was the most successful man, winning three gold.
"This is the best result for us in the history of gymnastics. I wouldn't say I'm surprised though," said Yang, the all-around silver medallist at the 2000 Olympics and 2003 world championships.
"I can only congratulate the team and hope we do as good as this in
Despite failing to make the all-around final she defended her vault crown and helped
Romania, after a slow start to their campaign, were lifted to second on the medals table by veteran Marian Dragulescu's floor and vault gold.
The Romanians finished with four medals - two gold, a silver and a bronze.
Their men's team had their worst ever showing, failing to qualify for the team final after finishing 13th in preliminaries, with their only medal a bronze won by Alexander Artemev on the pommel horse.
The
Chellsie Memmel was forced to withdraw from her all-around title defence because of a shoulder injury, while Anastasia Liukin was limited to the team event and her uneven bars defence.
Liukin was shocked by Tweddle on that apparatus and took silver, with Alicia Sacramone, failing to defend her floor title, and winning silver on the vault behind Cheng.
Again it was Cheng who ended the final
Ferrari, who single-handedly lifted
Earlier Yang took parallel bars gold ahead of Tomita, who had to settle for joint silver with
Dragulescu, meanwhile, claimed his sixth world gold.
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