Two versions of phobia
9/27/2007 9:17:00 AM | 32We should draw a line between the concept of “Islamophobia” as reflected in Europe and in the United States.
The categories that list the factors turning Islam into a kind of “phobia” are as follows: (1) The problematic ties established between the Europeans and the notion of religion throughout history have caused prejudice against the reality of religion and other religions in the public. This led to disrespect, even of their own religions, let alone contempt toward Islam. (2) The effects of the Crusades waged against the Islamic world and the Ottomans have always been kept fresh in the collective memory of the Europeans. (3) The Orientalism and egocentric approach of the West have constantly been accreted to the effects of Crusades. (4) The multidimensional difference of interest and the relations between Europe and the Islamic world have always been based on conflict. In other words, the difference of views and perceptions between Europe and the United States regarding the Muslim world and the Islamophobia that breaks out in Western countries is an issue for which Muslims and their opinions should be taken into consideration.
27.09.2007 Ali Bulaç Zaman
Focus on Bodrum - All About Bodrum/Turkey
9/7/2007 10:55:00 PM | 32
The city is centered around the old Castle of St. Peter which was called Zephyrion in ancient times. Today the Castle is the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology which is acknowledged as the First and the Best of its kind displaying artifacts dating as far back as the Bronze Age.
How to reach
by air - Turkish Airlines (THY) has regular flights from/to all capitals and major cities of the world and a fine network of domestic flights. A 45 minute plane journey from Istanbul, will bring you to Milas-Bodrum Airport, only 35 km from Bodrum. Direct charter flights are also available. Many experienced travel agencies offer destination information, reservation and ticket sales, boat and car rentals.
by coach -There are regular bus services between Turkey, Europe & Middle East.
by sea - Passenger ferries apart from numerous cruises in the Mediterranean, several foreign shipping companies have regular services to the port of Bodrum. There are several car ferries for tourists who wish to bring their cars. Bodrum Marina is one of the best marinas of turquoise Turkish coasts for yachts.
Accomodation
In Bodrum there are many luxurious hotels, resorts & clubs as well as
cozy pensions.
Furnished villas are available weekly or monthly.
Cuisine
You can taste various popular cuisines here. You'll be offered the best of Italian,Thai, Chinese, Mexican, European, Turkish cuisines and sea-food from simple meals to gourmet feasts. Fish is always a favorite in coastal areas and priced by weight. Delicious starters (meze) are traditionaly accompanied by a glass of Rakı to whet the appetite.
Also fast food, Cafes and Patisseries are available all over the town.
Sports & Activities
A full range of professionally supervised adventure & incentive activities such as Scuba Diving, Surfing, Trekking, Boating, Horse riding and Jeep safaris.
Night life
Night life in Bodrum is as lively and diverse as you would expect.
Pop, Rock, Jazz, Folk and Live music meets you everywhere till morning.
Properties for Sale & Decoration
Bodrum etches a special place in everyone's heart. Over the years
it has become a specially desired place to settle for both the Turkish people from big cities and foreign visitors.
Excursions
Well organized tours offer opportunities to visit the Historical Sites and also provide fully equipped yachts for Blue Voyage.
Climate
Bodrum's climate is wonderfully pleasant.
In summer, the dry heat rarely goes above 35°C, while the water is a balmy 25°C.
In winter, although it gets chilly, it can be mild enough to dine outside, and all you will generally need is a sweater or lightweight raincoat.
Health
Your health will also be taken good care of in modern hospitals on the peninsula. Providing excellent services using the latest medical technology combined with a team of internationally acclaimed physicians.
Iznik Tiles Today
9/7/2007 10:51:00 PM | 32İznik Tiles Today
İznik tiles reached their heyday in the 16th century, and the masterpieces produced at that time are regarded as the most valuable specimens of the art of ceramics by the leading museums of the world.
İznik Kiln excavations, carried out for more than 20 years by the Istanbul University Department of Archaeology and History of Art, give us clues as to the types of kilns and ceramics used in the Art of İznik tile making. In the İznik Tiles Atelier opened in mid 1996, following the opening of the İznik Foundatin in 1993 and the Tile and Ceramic Research Centre in 1995, it is now possible to produce tile nearly equalling the quality of those of the 16th century.
Obviously, to reach this point, many experiments were made and everything about İznik tiles was investigated, since the old masters took the secrets to their graves, with the result that even the slightest clue to their manufacture lay concealed for centuries.
The composition of the tiles and the percentage of the components within the microstructure of the material are carefully studied. The availability of these materials and reserves within the region are considered.
Following the excavations, it is observed that İznik tile production was fire high on wastage owing to the large proportion of quartz in the ceramic. Similarly, a number of experiments with the minerals in the area were carried on in the course of which thousands of experimental plates were produced only to be broken and thrown away. The most unfortunate setback the Foundation has had to face has been the absolute lack of documentation regarding the process. Not even the names of the towns and villages where the materials originated were known.
Thus, the conclusion was arrived at that only through the most meticulous scientific research could unified İznik tile concept be formed.
In its efforts, the İznik Foundation has received the support of scientific foundations and NGO' s such as TÜBİTAK, M.A.M. (Marmara Research Center), İ.T.Ü. (Istanbul Technical University), İ.Ü. (Istanbul University), in Turkey, and Princeton and M.I.T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in the United States in a vast range of analysis.
The production of handmade tiles of the desired quality in this era of speed and automation is a particularly difficult task.
Today, İznik tiles are used as an architectural element in old and modern buildings by the discriminating decorator and art-lover alike.
Undiscovered Turkish delights
7/21/2007 9:22:00 PM | 32If the mention of a holiday primarily makes you think of Bodrum, Alanya or Çeşme, you have clearly been deprived of the hidden beauties of Turkey.
If you step beyond the popular beaches, you will be sure to find new adventures and paradisiacal locations. We will take you on a brief tour to whet your traveling palate, however please note that these descriptions merely scratch the surface of what this wonderful country has to offer.
The cleanest Aegean beaches
The coasts in Edirne, Kırklareli and Tekirdağ share borders with the Aegean, Marmara and Black seas. Enez, one of the cleanest shores of the Aegean, is only well known to families who live nearby and head there for weekends. Kırklareli province’s Kıyıköy, İğneada and Panayır are among other less-known areas. These locations along Kırklareli shores have not only lovely seas and beaches but also greenery. Tekirdağ is one of the significant tourism hubs, with the Marmara, Ereğlisi and Şarköy districts and the town of Kumbağ. Tekirdağ beaches, which are easy to get to with public transportation, are preferred by both locals and people from İstanbul, however Çamlıko (Kastros) Beach in the Saray district, which shares a narrow coastline with the Black Sea, is solely the domain of day trippers and campers because it is without accommodation. Thus, if you seek a location to quietly commune with nature in the evenings and stargaze at night, this is the spot for you.Stop by Sparta’s plateaus
Sparta has a multitude of plateaus and lakes waiting to be explored. The area has both camping and caravan facilities. The region, known as “the roof of the Mediterranean” and surrounded by mountains, some of which are as much as 3,000 meters high, possesses great potential for tourism. The town of Eğirdir is graced by the northward-facing slopes of the Taurus Mountains as well as plateaus and valleys. Kurucaoluk, Camili, Belova and Belkuyu plateaus on the outskirts of Eğirdir are other places of natural intrigue; one may also visit the dazzling plateaus of Tota, Söğüt, Zengi and Sorgun.Halfeti’s stone architecture
The Halfeti, Bozova and Birecik districts of Şanlıurfa province are attractive for their mild climates and historical architecture. Halfeti, which made the news when some of its residences were inundated during the construction of the Birecik dam as part of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), is a picturesque coastal town. Its houses were built with traditional stone architecture and its historic mosque stands amidst fields of green.Black Sea for its monastery and waterfall
The eastern Black Sea region is notable not only for its natural, cultural and historical merits but also for its ancient cities which remain unknown to tourists. Vaselon Monastery stands above a rocky cliff in Kiremitli village only 14 kilometers from Trabzon’s Maçka district. Lake Sera is located in Yıldızlı town only two kilometers from the sea. The lake came into existence in 1950 thanks to a landslide. Near the lake, visitors can also see Memişoğlu Mansion in Balıklı, four kilometers east of Sürmene district.Ayder plateau of Rize, Marselabat Hill of Çamlıhemşin district along with Kolezana and Sırt plateaus of Ardeşen district are other fascinating sites. However, the Bulut Waterfall, with its 250-meter cascade, is a real highlight of the area. If you have enough time, you can also visit smaller waterfalls at Tar Deresi Valley located between the Çamlıhemşin district and Ayder Plateau.
In Artvin’s Murgul district, on Tiryal Mountain at an altitude of 1,700 meters, Karagöl is home to many rare plant species. These mountains are great for nature lovers in terms of the nice trails and the abundant variety of flora and fauna.
Aydın
There are a total of six ancient cities in Aydın, one of the provinces in Turkey with the greatest number of historic sites. Described as lying “beneath the most beautiful sky” by Herodotus, Aydın hosts the ancient sites of Aphrodisias, Milet, Alinda, Didim, Nysa, Prien and Magnesia. There are no organized tours to these areas, and therefore one is free to explore. Other ancient sites of interest include Amyzon (Mazın), Gerga, Myus, Orthasia, Piginda and Pygela.Trekking the Burdur Plateaus
Caves, lakes, bird observation areas and plateaus are waiting to be discovered in Burdur. One feature of the area is Insuyu Cave, a paradise for spelunkers. Lake Çorak Bird Territory, Lake Solda Bird Territory, Lake Karataş Bird Territory, Lake Varışlı Bird Territory and Lake Burdur Bird Territory are also within Burdur. Plateaus in the area range between altitudes of 200 and 2,200 meters. Visitors can also find out about the Yörük people, who reside in these plateaus.The hidden paradise of the Taurus
Located in Limonlu town of Mersin’s Erdemli district and reached via a steep path (that eventually leads to the Taurus Mountains), Kayacık Valley is a hidden paradise with its dense green forests and refreshingly cold river.
Wonderful waterfall:
Suuçtu Waterfall, near Bursa’s Mustafakemalpaşa district, is a visual wonder. The waterfall is located 100 kilometers from Bursa’s city center and 20 kilometers outside of Mustafakemalpaşa. The water drops 38 meters and is surrounded by colorful and diverse flora.
Hunting and nature tourism in Kocayayla
Located in the Keles district of Bursa, which dates back to ancient times, Kocayayla is an area geared toward hunting and nature tourism. Wooden houses have been built under the build- operate-transfer model (BOT) on land belonging to the municipality in the Kocayayla Gediksiret region. People wishing to spend their holidays in natural spaces with clean cool air can reserve these houses.A healing picnic spot
Soğuksu picnic area in the Bahçecik town of Kocaeli provides its guests with facilities for picnicking under the trees. The water, from which the district got its name, is purported to cure stomach illnesses.Karaburun bays and climate
As the smallest district of İzmir, Karaburun is among the hidden paradises of Turkey with its nature and bays on which no development has taken place. Karaburun, the center of a town and 13 villages on the peninsula, can be difficult to reach since the 130 kilometer highway between İzmir and Karaburun has many sharp turns.
Natural botanic garden
At the resort in Bakacakkadı town in Zonguldak’s Gökçebey district, the arboretum -- a botanical garden home to mainly trees and woody plants -- is one of the important natural areas in the district. With a layer of green, including coniferous and broad-leaf trees along with lower canopy flora, covering more than half of the area, Zonguldak is waiting to be discovered by hikers, nature photographers, fishers, hunters and wildlife lovers.
Karabük for trekking
Karabük with its plateaus, rich forests, fauna, magnificent landscapes and medicinal plants is worth exploration. Trekking in the clean air, living with villagers for a short time, tent camping, chatting around a camp fire, watching wild life and nature photography are just a few of the activities one may enjoy here.
Silicon Wafer Technology
7/21/2007 9:19:00 PM | 32
MEMC sued Mitsubishi for infringement of its patent directed to the preparation of high quality single crystal silicon for the semiconductor industry. The district court dismissed the claims on summary judgment — finding no evidence of infringement or inducement.
On appeal, the CAFC affirmed the rejection of the direct infringement claim, but reversed on inducement. The panel found that the defendant (i) knew of the alleged direct infringer’s activities; (ii) provided technical support to the alleged direct infringer via e-mail; (iii) sent a shipment to the alleged direct infringer to address technical problems; (iv) visited the alleged direct infringer’s site to provide further technical support; and (v) knowledge of the patent itself. This record swayed the CAFC to reverse the district court’s holding that “a reasonable jury could not find intent to induce infringement.”
Specifically, the CAFC noted the series of e-mails provide “sufficient circumstantial evidence . . . that SUMCO intended to encourage those [potentially infringing] activities.”
File Attachment: MEMC Decision (104 KB)
As Cathy Kirkman notes in her excellent Silicon Valley Media Law Blog, the CAFC drew a parallel with the the recent Supreme Court Grokster copyright inducement opinion. Quoting Grokster, the appellate court held that evidence such as “advertising an infringing use or instructing how to engage in an infringing use, show an affirmative intent that the product be used to infringe.”