TV commercials shrink to match attention spans

NEW YORK — And now, a word from our sponsors. A very brief word.

TV commercials are shrinking along with attention spans and advertising budgets. The 15-second ad is increasingly common, gradually supplanting the 30-second spot just as it knocked off the full-minute pitch decades ago.

For viewers, it means more commercials in a more rapid-fire format. For advertisers, shorter commercials are a way to save some money, and research shows they hold on to more eyeballs than the longer format.

"It used to be that the most valuable thing on the planet was time, and now the most valuable thing on the planet is attention," says John Greening, associate professor at Northwestern University's journalism school and a former executive vice president at ad agency DDB Chicago.

So instead of seeing a lengthier plot line, viewers are treated to the sight of, say, the popular "Old Spice man" riding backward on a horse through various scenes for just 15 seconds.

Or the "most interesting man in the world," the suave, rugged, Spanish-accented character pitching Dos Equis beer, appearing just long enough to turn his head and weigh in on the topic of rollerblading. (Verdict? A deadpan "No.")

The number of 15-second television commercials has jumped more than 70 percent in five years to nearly 5.5 million last year, according to Nielsen. They made up 34 percent of all national ads on the air last year, up from 29 percent in 2005.

Commercial-skipping digital video recorders and distractions such as laptops and phones have shortened viewers' attention spans, says Deborah Mitchell, executive director of the Center for Brand and Product Management at the University of Wisconsin. Viewers are also watching TV streamed on sites like Hulu, where advertisers have less of a presence.

So companies figure: "Why spend money on anything longer anyway? Plus, if they're going to skip our ads, at least we have a better chance of them seeing something if it's really short."

Fifteen-second ads cost about the same per second as longer ones but, of course, cost half as much. A 15-second ad on network TV cost about $20,000 on average last year, according to Nielsen.

"It becomes a very seductive thing to get your message out there at half the cost," says Mike Sheldon, CEO of advertising agency Deutsch LA, a unit of Interpublic Group.

On average, about 5 percent of an audience viewing a 15-second commercial will give up on it. The number jumps to about 6 percent for 30 seconds and 6.5 percent for 60 seconds, says Jeff Boehme, chief research officer for Kantar Media.

Previously, 15-second ads were mostly edited versions of 30-second spots, but that's changing. Advertisers are making shorter commercials as stand-alones. The length is ideal to remind people of products, stores or prices, but not to introduce them.

More than half of commercials run by packaged-goods companies and 60 percent of fast-food ads are 15 seconds, according to Kantar. The advertisers simply show a picture of the products, flash a price and the brain knows what the marketer means.

Take the new campaign for Burger King, which is selling its breakfast options. A 15-second ad airing now features a mailman walking down the street carrying a plate of eggs, pancakes and hash browns. There's no verbal description of the product. Instead he sings: "Did you know that breakfast was served at Burger King? The ultimate breakfast platter. That's what I call delivering."

The shorter ads also mean marketers can be on the air more frequently, even within the same commercial break. For example: During a recent episode of CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," viewers were bombarded with five brief ads in just a minute and a half, including two spots for Dunkin Donuts sandwiched around a more traditional 30-second ad for Aetna.

The quick-hit formula is common in the political ads flooding viewers ahead of Tuesday's elections. Fifteen seconds is plenty of time for an attack ad that can then be repeated, and repeated again.

Such repetition helps beat messages into viewers' heads. That's why Anheuser-Busch would rather air four 15-second ads for Select 55, its 55-calorie beer, than one 60-second ad, says Keith Levy, marketing vice president for the St. Louis subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev.

"With Select 55, we were trying to establish the notion that this was the lightest beer in the world," he says. Simple commercials featuring a bottle that floats on air don't need long to drive home that message.

Big advertisers are driving the shift. Procter & Gamble, the maker of Crest toothpaste and Tide detergent and the world's biggest advertiser, doubled its number of 15-second ads to more than 299,000 last year from the year before.

Walmart, the world's largest retailer, has increased its use of 15-second ads nearly 30-fold to 148,000 last year from only about 5,700 in 2005. The retailer plans even more this holiday season.

Shorter ads can be just as effective as longer ones. Viewers can form new associations — say, knowing about a discount — in a few seconds and then recall that information in just one second, Mitchell says. People can't help soaking up the message.

"When things are working that fast, you can't tell yourself, 'No, I'm not going to think about that,'" she says. "Your brain lights up so you don't have a choice."

PM emphasizes students’ quality in turning point of Thailand’s education system

(27/10/2010)

At the Ambassador Hotel, Bangkok, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva chaired the opening ceremony of the seminar “Way to success in education reformation in the 2nd decade” and declared that the emphasis on students’ quality is the turning point of Thailand’s education system.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister talked about the policy to push forward the emphasis on students’ quality to achieve results in the second decade of reform. He said that it is the government’s important policy that the most worthy investment is to invest in people. This policy will be carried on until the year BE 2561 because it is important to better the quality of life of the Thai people and build a peaceful society where the rights and destiny of all are equally respected.

The Prime Minister talked about the education reform in the second decade, that it has been pushed forward and its vision has been declared. It has been carried out continuously from the first ten years. More objectives and measures are needed to reform education to be more well-qualified and systematic.

In the first 10 years of education reform, there were successes, limitations, failure and loss of time, resources for campaigns, and administration. Also, the important topic of students’ quality was overlooked. So, the reform in the second decade should include clear policies to achieve higher student quality. It is the key factor to push forward the education reform that aims to produce qualified, able, moral, happy citizens, which will lead to better society, economy, and politics.

However, although Thailand’s education teaches both general skills and specialized skills, the most important thing that we should be aware is that those skills must not be disconnected from the society and real life. Formerly, the education system did not go along with the real economic and social needs, especially skills required for occupation. There was unemployment, the departure of youths from their homes, and other consequential problems, said the Prime Minister. The system should stimulate the students so that they can adjust to changes, especially with foreign languages since we are communicating more with foreigners. It should also concern the Internet, the largest knowledge resource where 90% of the information is in English, which is also connected to information technology. In other words, the government also wishes to focus on and wants our people to have more access to information technologies.

Meanwhile, learning from activities or outside-class learning should be focused. It is considered the key factor for quality enhancement in the beginning stage of reform and social participation. There should also be evaluation to be aware of developments, problems and limitations, which will enable us to improve both the process and the students themselves. However, the evaluation should be simple, well-focused, and not a burden to the evaluator, the Prime Minister added. The Prime Minister reassured that in the future, we will have a better education as a consequence of this reform. We will then be able to solve all problems at hand during the second decade of reform.

Intel to open billion-dollar chip plant in Vietnam

By Ian Timberlake (AFP) –

HANOI — The world's biggest chip maker, Intel, will on Friday open in Vietnam a billion-dollar assembly and test facility billed as the company's biggest, as the country vies to move up the technology ladder.

Vietnamese government leaders and officials of the US firm will cut a ribbon to inaugurate the plant in Ho Chi Minh City four years after it was conceived.

The opening of the high-tech facility comes as analysts say communist Vietnam risks losing out both to poorer, lower-wage nations and richer ones that are more innovative and have a higher-quality labour force.

Vietnam's economy depends too much on exploitation of natural resources and its industry, often dominated by large state-owned groups, lacks dynamism, Vietnam's Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) and the World Bank said in a joint report in August.

The country is the world's second-largest exporter of rice and of coffee. Seafood, footwear and garment shipments are other key earners.

But the Intel facility is a sign that Vietnam is "moving up the food chain toward increasingly sophisticated manufacturing", said Adam Sitkoff, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce Vietnam.

"Intel's investment in Vietnam is undoubtedly a vote of confidence" in the country, said Leon Perera, group managing director of Spire Research and Consulting in Singapore.

The investment proves that Vietnam is benefiting from the need of multinational companies to diversify beyond China, Perera said.

"Intel was the first major foreign high-technology investor in Vietnam and the factory... is the largest computer equipment and manufacturing plant" in the country, Intel says on its website.

The facility, one of seven worldwide, is projected to employ up to 4,000 people when it reaches full production of the chips used in personal computers, Intel says.

Sitkoff said these are "higher-quality jobs for Vietnamese people".

Intel says it aims "to develop a stronger digital workforce, integrate technology into education and government, and make technology more accessible for business and consumers within Southeast Asia."

Company executives were not available for interviews before the plant's opening.

Intel says the 500,000-square-foot (45,000 square metres) plant is its largest single assembly and test facility.

It could attract other high-tech firms to Vietnam, Sitkoff said.

"Usually when Intel goes somewhere, that's a sign to other technology companies that they can go there also," he said.

With its labour-cost advantage over China, closeness to the Chinese market, and participation in regional free trade pacts, Vietnam "may be well suited for assembly of IT products", Perera said.

When the Intel project was launched four years ago, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung hailed it as a move that would encourage foreign investment "especially in the field of information and communication technology".

An obstacle could be Vietnam's relatively underdeveloped logistics industry, although this is being corrected by government and private-sector investments, Perera said.

"For some categories of products, the lack of a well-developed supplier base implies the need for import of key components, placing a burden on the logistics industry," he said.

"Another obstacle would be the relative scarcity of English speakers as compared to Malaysia, or even Thailand and China."

Vietnam's science and technology standards are low compared with regional rivals, VASS president Do Hoai Nam has said.

He added the country's economic infrastructure is not well-developed, there is a lack of specialisation and competitiveness and a shortage of skilled workers.

The Constructive Cambodian

Wednesday, 27 October 2010 15:00 Tharum Bun

Just because you have joined the workforce doesn’t mean you have to stop learning. Conferences and workshops will give you an opportunity to continue your intellectual growth after gradution. PHOTO SUPPLIED

While high school students in the Kingdom have long been used to depending on their teachers to learn, life at the country’s better universities provides a new learning environment where students must engage in active thinking, analysing and problem solving on their own.

During the four years spent studying at university, students have the benefit of being surrounded by professors and peers pushing each other to learn, but as students approach graduation and look for a fresh start and a good job, the outside impetus to continue to improve your intellectual capacity inevitably diminishes. Recent graduates must realise that they can’t relax with their degree in hand; they must meet the challenge presented by a modernising workforce and continue to acquire knowledge and skills that will be crucial to their success throughout their careers.

While the rate of dropouts in higher education is rarely listed among the major concerns and failures of Cambodia’s education system, the weight of expectations that some students must shoulder during their years at university can be overwhelming, especially if they have hardworking parents at home who are counting on the economic returns from their investment in higher education. Just making it to graduation day is a shining success for many students, however there is no guarantee that a job is waiting for anyone with a degree. The thousands of students just beginning their time at university may not realise it, but if they want to reach the top of their field, the upcoming four years are only the beginning of a lifelong effort to equip yourself with the tools to compete within a workforce where the expectations of employers will rise higher and higher.

People like Kong Sidaroth, a recipient of an Australian Leadership Award who is working towards her Masters degree at the University of Melbourne, recognise that academic success and professional success do not guarantee similar results in the future. In an email she wrote to me last week, she explained that “universities can set accomplishment criteria and levels of success, but how hard students study depends on the commitment and willingness of the students themselves,” going on to explain that the work ethic students establish while studying must carry over as they begin to focus on their chosen field in a professional capacity. “Stay focused on your specialisation to build a solid knowledge,” she advised ambitious Cambodian youth, saying that staying focused will prove more valuable than “learning a bit of this or a bit of that, which in the end you cannot do much with.”

Having already built a reputation for her work with the Open Institute to integrate technology into Higher Education in the Kingdom, Kong Sidaroth stepped away from the professional sphere to further refine her expertise, enrolling in a Master’s level management programme in Australia.

The individual motivation and focus that students are able to maintain are key to being a successful student, and no less important when your years at university become memories that you look back on. People who continue to be active learners upon entering the professional realm will not have to look for job opportunities; jobs will come looking for them. Remembering to stay driven and remain focused on self-improvement when you leave the support network that universities provide will prove essential to building on the success you have as a student.

Cambodia - Consultant (Cash Scholarship Project Manager)

Job Type	Full-time
Job Status	Sourcing
Date Posted	Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Company Information	The World Food Programme (WFP) WFP Cambodia, House 250, Road 63, Phnom Penh Website: http://
Job Description	VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation and the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger. WFP has been providing food assistance in Cambodia since 1979. WFP Cambodia’s activities focus on education, health and nutrition and disaster risk reduction. In 2009, WFP supported almost one million people in Cambodia. The World Food Programme (WFP), the Food Aid Organization of the United Nations, is seeking applications from Cambodian nationals to fill the following position. Position title : Consultant (Cash Scholarship Project Manager) Type of Contract : Special Service Agreement Duration of Contract : 4 months Application Deadline : 07 November 2010 at 5:00 pm Overall objective: Support education unit to set up implementation arrangements for cash scholarship modality in the context of a comparative evaluation of cash versus food scholarships. Duties: Under the overall supervision of the head of programme, s/he will closely work with education unit as well as in close coordination with the other relevant key partners such as World Bank and MoEYS. Tasks: The incumbent will be responsible for: Assist in setting up a detailed plan of operations/implementation manual for cash scholarships in close coordination with WFP education sector, finance unit, VAM, sub-offices, regional bureau and headquarters and key partners including MoEYS, CARD and World Bank, including, Roles and responsibilities/ToRs of involved WFP and external parties Coordination arrangements with CPs and communities Beneficiary selection Orientation, awareness raising/key messages and training Cash management and financial procedures Distribution procedures Monitoring arrangements, targets and forms Market monitoring and thresholds for adjustment of cash transfer value Reporting arrangements and forms Complaint mechanism Assurance and oversight Contingency plan and risk matrix Exit strategy Assist in finalization of market assessment and ensure lessons learnt are integrated in the operational plan Ensure feasibility and appropriateness of schools selected for cash scholarships Assist in beneficiary selection to ensure proper process and strict alignment with selection criteria Draft FLAs with CPs for cash scholarships Assist in setting up the baseline survey, e.g. translation of document to be submitted to ethical review board, consolidate selected beneficiary list, etc. Follow up on development of evaluation concept note with WFP HQ and WB Maintain workplan, coordinate and participate in meetings/workshop, and facilitate any other tasks with WB, CARD and MoEYS Assist CO, SOs and MoEYS/PoE/DoE in setting up a feasible cash delivery mechanism at field level Review overall process to ensure full feasibility, cost-efficiency and accountability and identify any critical operational issues to be recommended Other duties as required Requirement Bachelor and/or Master degree in Economics, Education, Social Sciences or related disciplines. Minimum of 3 years, preferably with experience in relevant field. Excellent command of English Applications along with a detailed CV with copy of education certificate and completed UN Personal History Form-P11 should be sent to Human Resources Unit, WFP Cambodia, House 250, Road 63, Phnom Penh, faxed to # 023- 218 749 or e-mailed to Cambodia.Application@wfp.org. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and applications will not be returned. Women are encouraged to apply. Equally qualified female candidates will be given preference. A detailed job description is available on request from the WFP reception/information desk or download from the link: http://174.120.172.7/~cambodia/
Email Resume To	Cambodia.Application@wfp.org

Free English lessons at Via Lingua Phuket

If you want to improve your English, why not contact Via Lingua in Samkong (near Lullaby Restaurant). The TEFL training center provides free English lessons for everyone aged from 16 years old or more (as the teachers are on training courses). The lessons are available on Monday – Fridays at 4.30 – 8.00 p.m.

Most of the students at Via Lingua are Thais; however, there are Russians, Estonians, Chinese, Italians, and Germens taking the language course while they are in Phuket as well. The institute divides these people into deferent levels based on their ability of English. There are 4-16 students in each group. These people then become good friends. There are different course provided from the basic conversation course to TOEFL or IELTS preparation. For more information please contact 076-236306.

15 Coolest Vintage Tech Ads

Published on 10/22/2010 under Advertising - by Gracie Murano - 78,860 views

You can laugh now, but some years ago you were getting a very nice deal by buying a $3398 10MB hard drive.


A sexy modem? Come on!








Two are always better than one. At least according to this 1978 ad from Technico Inc. TMS9900. Remember Elvira, Mistress of the Dark? Besides appearing on TV in features like Elvira's Movie Macabre Halloween Special, Elvira also invited Computerworld readers to "cut through paper-based CASE [computer-aided software engineering] methods with LBMS" software. This ad won't make any sense if you're not a follower of the TV series Lost. However, if you are, you'll find it amusing… (Link) It's small and light at 'only' 11+ lbs. "With WordStar, you have a true screen image of what your printout will look like before you print it! With WordStar, you'll erase, insert, delete and move entire blocks of copy." Gee, it's like magic! Would you say this ad was a little sexist?





Every Kid Should Have an Apple after School.


In the future, everyone will use floppy disks.

Thai exchange student hopes to play ice hockey

Thailand and hockey are not usually spoken of in the same breath. Jinjuta Boonchot, an exchange student from Thailand currently at Rhinelander High School (RHS), may change all that.

Boonchot is from Trang, Thailand. It is a city of 300,000 at the western shore of the Malay Peninsula to the Andaman Sea. Trang is also the name of the province, home to 46 beautiful islands, while the mountainous eastern region is home to dramatic waterfalls, caves and pristine jungles. Between the mountains and the coast are extensive rubber plantations. Trang is one of 12 satellite towns that came into existence 900 years ago, part of the ancient kingdom of Kedah Tua.

How does hockey fit in? “I want to participate in hockey this year,” said Boonchot. “We have places to ice skate, but I want a chance to do something I can’t at home.”

Boonchot said school in Rhinelander is much different from Thailand.

“I’m a senior at RHS. Rhinelander gives exchange students senior status so we can participate in all activities. I will have one more year of school at home, where I attend a private school. We wear uniforms at home and have strict rules about hair length, for example. When I go back I’ll have to cut my hair. And at my school, teachers move from classroom to classroom instead of the students.”

Boonchot’s father owns gas stations and her mother works for a government health agency. She has twin younger brothers.

“In order to become an exchange student I had to complete a number of tests, including an oral examination,” said Boonchot. “When I found out where I was coming, I Googled Rhinelander. It looked like a lot of forests and trees. My home has lots of buildings. I live one hour from the beach. That’s where the tsunami hit six years ago. I was on the beach earlier that morning.”

Jeanne Shruck is hosting Jinjuta Boonchot. The exchange program is not new to the Shrucks. Both of Shruck’s children studied abroad, Meghan in Latvia and Matthew in Belgium. This is the fifth time the Shrucks have hosted a student.

“It’s fun to learn about different cultures,” said Shruck. “We’re empty nesters now and having Jinjuta here, well, it’s not so quiet. Our kids got an appreciation of the United States. They learned new languages and made good friends. Meghan’s host Mom is coming to her college graduation. I’d recommend the program. For me, it was just fun watching Jinjuta come out of her shell. And she’s cooked for us.”

“I made pat-ka-prao-muu, spicy pork,” said Boonchot. But here she likes chicken tenders from McDonald’s and Mexican from Taco Bell. “I don’t like onions,” said Boonchot, laughing.

Jinjuta looks like any other teenager at RHS, but she worried before her trip. “I worried about the language, the schools and whether I would make friends,” she said. “I found it’s not hard to make friends here. My biggest culture shock was the holding of hands and the kissing in the hallways at school. Almost everyone holds hands. And everyday is cold here, that’s a shock.”

Boonchot is an exchange student under the AFS (formerly known as American Field Service) program. For over sixty years AFS has had as its mission “the promoting of peace and understanding between countries through youth.”

RHS has three students under the AFS program and the Rotary. David Ditzler, Associate Principal at RHS, helps the exchange students with scheduling and getting used to the building. “We think the two programs give foreign students an opportunity to see real small town America,” said Ditzler. “We’re then exposed to different cultures, different personalities from different countries. It’s good for the host families. So often we get an impression of a country from the media. It’s often not a true impression. All the kids go home richer, better people. Both Rotary and AFS are quality programs. We get quality kids.”

This year RHS has exchange students from Thailand, Mexico and Bolivia. Luis Enrique Vega Garcia is from Mexico and Ariada Garcia Aravz is from Bolivia.

Jinjuta Boonchot wasn’t sure if she was looking forward to winter. But she is looking forward. Boonchot would like to be a painter, a watercolor painter. She had one last lesson. “We always get a nickname at birth,” she said. “Our parents give us this name, usually a short name. My nickname in An Ant. It comes from a song my mom would sing to me while I danced.”

Mary Kusiak is the person to contact if you have questions or wish to host an AFS student in the future. She can be reached at (715) 693-6639 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (715) 693-6639 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. “It is truly amazing how much they add to your life,” said Kusiak. “They become members of your family. It opens your eyes to a different culture and gives you an opportunity to share your culture as well.”

The Thai Minister of Education and his staff should press harder in their campaign to promote the use of English in Thailand

The Minister of Education and his staff should press harder in their campaign to promote the use of English in Thailand. Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat did a terrible, initial job of selling his sudden trial balloon to make English an official language. But then, the proposal to make English an official language is really not a very good idea at present. Perhaps the minister was confused, and instead of "official language" he meant to press more strongly for the use of the most common foreign language, officially. That is a goal worth pursuing, vigorously.

Mr Chinnaworn sprang his idea to establish English as the country's second official language earlier this month. It took many of the officials at the ministry, virtually all teachers and most of the public by surprise. The least surprising reaction was the almost instant, virtually knee-jerk resistance from inside the Ministry of Education to the proposal. But instead of facing the opposition from the bureaucrats forthrightly, Mr Chinnaworn recapitulated. And when he did, he resorted to a jaw-dropping justification. If Thailand were to adopt English as an official language, he claimed, people might think it was because Thailand used to be a foreign colony.

It is not as if there is no room for arguing over adopting English as an official language. A second language can be extremely cumbersome. It requires an entire cadre of civil servants, court and justice officers, military and police officers and others who must be totally and perfectly fluent in the second language. All parliament debates would have to allow speeches in either language, with constant, simultaneous interpreters in both directions. Instead of requiring Thai proficiency for citizenship, civil service examinations and state enterprise employment, either language would be acceptable.

The minister's explanation about colonialism makes no sense. History is clear, taught to all and widely known. It's simply a fact that Thailand was the only country in the region that never was the colony of a Western country. Truth and fiction alike - The King and I an obvious example - are clear about this.

It is as if the minister had not been outside for several years. If the impression of being colonised depended on use of English, the evidence is all around. In Bangkok alone, Thais go to "Siam Square" or Discovery or CentralWorld to watch foreign movies in English. People watch MTV and listen to rap music and drive Hondas and read, yes, that publication with the English name, the Bangkok Post. There is more use of English than ever before, and it is all around us. Yet no one seems to link this to some false logic that Thailand must have been a European colony in the past.

Mr Chinnaworn could have said that the country is probably not ready to have English as an official language. But it is actually advancing fairly quickly in the use of English as an uncontroversial common, second language. And in this, the Education Ministry could play a major role, starting immediately. That English can work in schools is already obvious, from the many successful "international" schools, attended mostly by Thais who use English during classes and extra-curricular activities alike.

Mr Chinnaworn should press harder for both the teaching of English and its use in state-run schools and the entire education system. At some point, the country may feel it is necessary or an advantage to have another official language. For now, it would be enough just to bring English to everyone across the country.

Vietnam’s ambitious plan to become an IT power

VietNamNet Bridge – The Prime Minister has approved the information technology (IT) development plan, under which IT will see the annual growth rate 2-3 times higher than the GDP growth rate, with the industry making up 10 percent of GDP of Vietnam.

1 million workers in IT by 2020

It is expected that by 2020, Vietnam will have one million people working in the IT industry. 80 percent of students graduating in subjects related to IT will have the professional knowledge and foreign language skills good enough to join the international labour market.

From now to 2015, about 30 percent of students are estimated have such skills.

Policies will introducedto make the target attainable. Forecasts about the demand in the IT sector will be released, based on which the plan to train the workforce for the sector will be drafted Some key training establishments will be given priority in receiving funding for necessary facilities, and granted more autonomy in their operation. Especially, measures will be taken to encourage the teaching to be conducted in English.

Vietnamese businesses with $15 billion in turnover to emerge

The Government will encourage big IT enterprises to expand the scopes of their businesses. It is expected that by 2015, Vietnam will have big IT companies ready to enter the international market and have an annual turnover of $10 billion. By 2020 it is expected that Vietnam will have giant enterprises with the turnover of $15 billion. The “cocks of the walk” are FPT (Corporation for Financing and Promoting Technologies), Viettel, VNPT (Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group), VTC and CMC.

Regarding the software outsourcing, the government aims for Vietnam to be listed in the world’s top 15 nations in terms of software outsourcing by 2015, and in the top 10 nations by 2020.

As for the hardware industry, Vietnam will create companies with the capability to design and produce hardware and accessories to reduce imports by 2015.

IT to be applied in public services

From now to 2015, the IT will be used in addressing important socio-economic issues, such as the urban traffic management, food safety and weather forecasts.

Institutions will provide public services online at second and third levels. About 80 percent of companies and social organizations will apply IT in their business management and production. IT will be popularized in education, healthcare, national defense and public security.

A target that Vietnam has set up for 2020is to enter into the list of top third of countries in the United Nation’s ranking in terms of the readiness for e-Government.

Broad band to reach out to villages

To facilitate the development ofIT industry Vietnam will strengthen the telecommunications infrastructure. By doing so, the country aims to be listed among the 65 most developed nations in the field in the ranking of the International Telecommunications Union by 2015.

It is excepted that by that time, the basics of the plan to provide broad band connection in villages and wards across the country will be completed, while broad band mobile wave coverage will reach out to 85 percent of people.

It is estimated that by 2011, most families in Vietnam will have telephones. By 2015, 20-30 percent of families will have computers and Internet access, 90 percent of families will have television. The percentage of families having computer and Internet access will be raised to 50-60 percent by 2020.

Source: Thoi bao Kinh te Saigon

9 Strangest Vacations

Published on Yesterday 10/23/2010 under Places - by Gracie Murano -

A vacation to the Moon

Space Adventures provides the opportunity for you to blast off in a Soyuz spacecraft for a circumlunar mission. During the seven-day space flight, which reaches top speeds of 17,000 mph, you'll see stars, the illuminated far side of the moon, and the Earth from 250,000 miles away. Candidates must train for four months alongside Russian cosmonauts at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. Two seats are available for $100 million each. (Link)

A $1 Million vacation

A battle is brewing for bragging rights to the most expensive vacation. The Emirates Palace resort in Abu Dhabi announced a Million Dollar Travel package that “incarnates pure opulence.”Along with first-class airfare and seven nights at a giant suite at the Palace, the package includes:

Chauffeur-driven Maybach at your disposal daily during your stay in Abu Dhabi.
Daily spa treatments.
Day trip in private jet to Iran where you'll create your own Persian carpet with the country's most-exclusive and best-renowned hand-maker.
Day trip to Bahrain in private jet for “a pearl deep sea experience,” with the pearl hand-designed settings.

The Emirates is hoping the trip gets it a slot in the Guinness Book of World Records. But it turns out that Leading Hotels of the World has its own ode to opulence. Its $1 million Around the World in 80 Ways trip, which plays off the storied journey of Phileas Fogg, lets travelers recreate the 19th-century around-the-world fantasy experience with 21st-century comfort and flair.(Link | Via)

A vacation with real mermaids

At a west Florida intersection, where the 21st century runs headlong into 1947, is a roadside attraction that must be seen to be believed. There are no Disney cartoon characters or underwater mannequins, but living, breathing, bubble-blowing mermaids just an hour drive north of Tampa. Weeki Wachee Springs attracts tourists from around the world, and during its heyday attracted celebrities including Elvis Presley. But in recent times the park has fallen into disrepair and is faced with a few financial and political woes.

Weeki Wachee is a theater built into a natural spring—allowing the audience to walk into an underwater world without getting wet. With today's environmental laws, there will probably never be another place like it in the U.S. Clad in their iridescent Lycra tails, the mermaids perform choreographed routines and stories and are sometimes joined by fish, turtles, and manatees—creatures that some say inspired the original mermaid legends. (Link | Via)

A naked vacation

A fun-but-unscientific poll found out that more Americans are open to the idea of naked vacations, a.k.a. nakations. The poll found that 48 percent of Americans would be willing to bare it all at a nude beach. That's up from 31 percent last year. Why the increased interest in nakations? Are Americans' attitudes about nudity loosening up? Or are travelers simply looking to travel light - so they can avoid the hefty baggage fees now imposed by many airlines?

All you'll need for the week (sunscreen, cap, sunglasses, shoes and toiletries) can fit in a small carry-on that will fit under the seat, avoiding even carry-on bag fees. But saving money on baggage is one thing. But what about the risk of sunburn "down there?" It's a real concern, experts say. In other words, slather it on if you take it all off. (Link)


A vacation where you can swim with pigsSwimming with dolphins? You can go one better! Visit the paddling porcines in Big Major Cay and jump in for a dip if you're brave enough. They won't bite---well, as long as you don't whisper "BLT" within earshot. (Link)

A vacation in a little people themed park

If you've hit up all the SeaWorlds and Wisconsin Dells of the globe, why not take a trip to a make-believe town populated by little people? According to TEA, Asia has the fastest-growing theme-park market—with 77.6 million visitors for Asia's top 15 parks alone. One of the region's biggest recent openings was the 2009 blockbuster debut of Dwarf Empire, a hilltop park in southern China devoted to—and almost entirely staffed by—people under four feet tall. The park also gained worldwide media coverage for employing many of the country's height-challenged, who traditionally have had a hard time finding work. Thanks to the park, many of China's dwarves are now gainfully employed as everything from janitors to crown-wearing empresses. (Link)

A trip to Afghanistan

Although it is not considered safe for tourists at the moment, many look forward to being able to visit Afghanistan in the near future. Why? Take a look at some of the remarkable places you would be able to visit and decide for yourself. Would you take a vacation to Afghanistan? The Buddhas of Bamyan, the City of Screams, the Minarets of Ghazni, the Blue Mosque – these are just some of the incredible sites of Afghanistan. Astonishing lakes, ancient destroyed cities and breathtaking landscapes may persuade you to think a little differently about this war torn but still spectacular country.(Link | Via)

A ghost tour

While Halloween brings to mind ghosts and goblins, did you know that many ghostly tours are available throughout the year? Florida offers a collection of tours and excursions guaranteed to scare up the need to plan a day trip or weekend getaway. As entertaining as they are informative, ghost tours explore paranormal phenomenon that may have you believing... or not.(Link)

An underwater vacation

Talk about an extreme vacation! An Australian adventurer spent two weeks living underwater, riding a bike to generate electricity and using algae to produce oxygen!
Breathing air provided by algae soaked in his own urine, "aquanaut" Lloyd Godson spent 12 days living in a yellow steel capsule submerged in a flooded gravel pit.

The 29-year-old's claustrophobic ordeal was intended to shed light on the practical and psychological challenges of living in an alien environment. His temporary home, a 10ft long box, was billed as "the world's first self-sufficient, self-sustaining underwater habitat." Back on dry land, and toasting the success of the experiment with champagne, he admitted to suffering cabin fever. (Link | Via)

Steampunk Style Wedding

A wedding today is not a simple affair. There are hundred different things to do to make it a success. A wedding theme is one of them. Different couples have different choices for themes. Mostly it is peaceful and discreet. Some times, more eccentric couples go for the outrageous and the extravagant. One such theme which is different from the normal routine is called the steam punk theme. Steam punk is a form of fictional history where steam power was the predominate source of energy. There are different motifs, fabrics, styles, accessories and make up associated with this type of them. Its underlying sense is that of dark colours caused due to the soot collected from the steam engines. This theme is carried even into the food. It has a touch of gothic influence on it from the dark ages. It is not a very comfortable theme to blend in with if one does not fully understand what it is or its origins.

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