On the whole, things were looking up for the region by the 1990s. Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines seemed destined to follow in the footsteps of the 'Asian Tigers' – Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea – whose economies had soared in recent decades. On the back of market-minded reforms, the formerly closed countries of Vietnam and Cambodia were beginning to open up. The upward trend was derailed, however, in 1997 when the collapse of the Thai baht sparked a financial crisis throughout Asia. The value of the Indonesian rupiah plummeted, destablising Indonesia to the point that long-time dictator Sukarno stepped down. More than two decades later, following intervention from the international finance community, the region is in a better place than before the crisis – though corruption, inefficiencies and political tensions continue to throw wrenches.
Whereas the 20th century had been dominated by long-standing leaders, by the start of the 21st century most had stepped down or been replaced. This changing of the guard has created uncertainty but also optimism – that perhaps real democracy could flourish.
This century has so far avoided out-and out-war, but blood has been shed. In the southern border provinces of Thailand, where the population is mostly ethnic Malay Muslims, separatist groups have bombed malls and marketplaces. In Myanmar – which has the largest percentage of ethnic minorities in the region at 30% of the total population – armed conflicts continue between minority insurgents seeking greater autonomy and the national army trying to repress them. Acts of terrorism in Indonesia, notably in Jakarta and Bali, have been linked to international organisations such as Al Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah and the Islamic State.
Stability can feel, at times, desperately just out of reach. Decades of violence on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines looked to be finally winding down, with the 2014 signing of a peace treaty that promised the establishment of a Muslim autonomous region, Bangsamoro. However, in 2017, militants pledging allegiance to the Islamic State laid siege to the Mindanao city of Marawi and the whole of the island was placed under military rule.
Shit happens
Shit happens is a common vulgar slang phrase. It is used as a simple existential observation that life has many unpredictable events, either ""Así es la vida"" or ""C'est la vie"". The phrase accepts that bad things happen to people for no reason. The phrase was first found in 1964, but wasn't used in a print publication until 1983. "Stuff happens" is also said.
Middle finger
The middle finger (also called the long finger or the tall finger is the third finger on the human hand. It is between the index finger and the ring finger. When people study anatomy, they call the middle finger the "third finger", "digitus medius", "digitus tertius", or "digitus III".
Sometimes the middle finger is used as an insult or to offend someone. When it is extended, usually by itself, it is known as "giving the finger", "flipping the bird", or"flipping someone off".
Cowboy (movie)
Cowboy is a 1958 American western movie directed by Delmer Daves and based on the 1930 novel "My Reminiscences of Cowboy" by Frank Harris. It stars Glenn Ford, Jack Lemmon, Anna Kashfi, Dick York, Brian Donlevy and was distributed by Columbia Pictures. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1959.
The Lady Takes a Sailor
The Lady Takes a Sailor is 1949 American romantic comedy movie directed by Michael Curtiz, and starring Jane Wyman, Eve Arden, Dennis Morgan, Robert Douglas, Allyn Joslyn, Tom Tully and Jack Lemmon.
Horseshoe bat
Rhinolophidae is a family of bats commonly known as horseshoe bats. There is also an extinct genus of bats, "Palaeonycteris." Horseshoe bats are closely related to the Hipposideridae. Horseshoe bats are divided into six subgenera and many species groups. The common ancestor of all horseshoe bats lived 34–40 million years ago. Horseshoe bats are found mostly in tropical or subtropical areas, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
Horseshoe bats are a source of disease. Several species are the source of SARS coronavirus. Some evidence suggests that some species could be the source of SARS-CoV-2, which causes coronavirus disease 2019. The bats are hunted for food in several regions, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, but also Southeast Asia. Some species or their guano are used in traditional medicine in Nepal, India, Vietnam, and Senegal.
Horseshoe bats are a small to medium-sized microbat. They weigh , with their forearms being in length. Their combined head and body lengths is . Their fur can be reddish-brown, blackish, or bright orange-red, with a majority of species having long, smooth fur.
They have large wings compared to their size, and the shape of the wings means they are able to make quick, tight turns at slow speeds.(p361)
They get their common name from their large noses (nose-leafs), which are shaped like horseshoes. The nose-leafs help with echolocation; the bats use their nose to make a constant frequency, high-duty call to find their prey. They hunt insects and spiders. Little is known about their mating systems, but at least one species is monogamous, while another is polygynous. Gestation is about seven weeks and one baby is produced at a time. Bats live for six or seven years, but one greater horseshoe bat lived more than 30 years.
Some species of bats are solitary, and roost alone, while others live in groups of several thousand.(p xi)
The Racket
The Racket is a 1928 American crime drama movie directed by Lewis Milestone and produced by Howard Hughes. It stars Thomas Meighan, Louis Wolheim, Marie Prevost, G. Pat Collins, Lee Moran and was distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1929 and was remade in 1951.
High Society Blues
High Society Blues is a 1930 American romantic musical movie directed by David Butler and starring Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, William Collier, Sr., Hedda Hopper, Joyce Compton, Brandon Hurst. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox.
Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur is a city in Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, India. In 2011, there was 393,724 people living there. It is known for farming and growing crops.
Just Imagine
Just Imagine is a 1930 American science fiction musical comedy movie directed by David Butler and stars El Brendel, Maureen O'Sullivan, John Garrick, Marjorie White, Frank Albertson. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1931.
Muzaffarpur district
Muzaffarpur District is one of the districts of Bihar state, India. Muzaffarpur district is a part of Tirhut Division. Muzaffarpur district is served by rivers Gandak, Budhi Gandak, Bagmati and Lakhandei.
Ty (rapper)
Ben Chijioke (17 August 1972 – 7 May 2020), better known by his stage name Ty, was a British rapper. He released the albums "Awkward" (2001), "Upwards" (2004), "Closer" (2006), "Special Kind of Fool" (2010)
and "A Work of Heart" (2018). He was born in London.
In April 2020, Ty was hospitalized in London for COVID-19. He died on 7 May 2020 from pneumonia caused by the infection, aged 47.
East Lynne (1931 movie)
East Lynne is a 1931 American drama movie directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Ann Harding, Clive Brook, Conrad Nagel, Cecilia Loftus, Eric Mayne. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox and was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 1931. It was third adaption based on the 1861 novel by Ellen Wood.
The Public Enemy
The Public Enemy is a 1931 American crime drama movie directed by William A. Wellman and stars James Cagney, Edward Woods, Jean Harlow, Donald Cook, Joan Blondell, Mae Clarke. It was distributed by Warner Bros. and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1931.
Emile Wijntuin