Archaeologist at Large: Tourism

The pharaohs get a face-lift

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 22:23:17 GMT

I was writing a archaeological news review of 2007, when I came across teh following article

It presents a different perspective on the recent events in the Egyptian city of Luxor.

"I was tempted to think that nothing ever changes in Luxor. Temples and tombs survive; boats sail on the Nile; the fellahin, Egypt’s farmers, still irrigate their crops with rainwater from Ethiopia and Uganda; and the sun, the valley and nearby desert remain the defining facts of life, just as they were in the paintings in the pharaohs’ tombs. But I was wrong. Luxor is being transformed.

The city is cut into two distinctive halves by the Nile, which is broad and beautiful here. At the time of the pharaohs, the east bank was busy, a place for the living, while the west side was as quiet as the occupants of the tombs hidden in its Theban hills. And that’s the way it is today: the city, the airport, the train station and two big temples on one side; the tombs and temples, the Theban hills, some villages and farmland on the other.

Yet, in the couple of years since Dr Samir Farag became governor, Luxor has gone through enormous change. On the eastern side of the river, he has renovated the train station, demolished the restaurants and souvenir stalls that blocked the view of Luxor and Karnak temples, and rebuilt the souk. He is enlarging the airport and moving all “floating hotels” several miles upstream; he has opened a Nubian cultural centre, a branch of Cairo’s Mubarak Public Library . . . and all this is just the beginning. No wonder some inhabitants are quaking at the thought of what is to come"

Read it all at http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/destinations/egypt/article2036141.ece

Touts fight push for hassle-free Egypt tourism

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 21:08:54 GMT

Interesting article

IT IS early morning and the alleyways of Nazlet al-Saman, the mini-suburb of horse and camel stables below the Giza plateau, look like the Wild West.

The sunlight, which is just beginning to cut through Cairo's haze, creates searchlights in the dust kicked up by hundreds of horses and camels being ridden, often at breakneck pace, by young, whooping Arab tourists.

Quietly and patiently, Saeed Abu Saleeb leads his three horses through the pandemonium, avoiding the four-wheeled-motorbikes and the honking Hummers.

Mr Abu Saleeb is an Egyptian tout, one of a small army of notorious, largely loathed, hawkers who scrape together a living offering rides around the pyramids for about $4 an hour.

To most people, he is an annoyance — he routinely gets the finger and a curt order to "f--- off". To his wife and three children he is the source of a meagre family income. To the Egyptian economy, he is one little cog in a giant machine of tips, bribes and kickbacks — the infamous baksheesh — that makes the nation tick.

More @ http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/touts-fight-push-for-hasslefree-egypt-tourism/2007/08/03/1185648146974.html

online campaign aims to rid forbidden city of starbucks

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:01:15 GMT

By Jonathan Watts in Beijing

A web campaign has caused the guardians of the Forbidden City to consider relocating Starbucks outside its walls. Photograph: Stephen Shaver/EPA

One of the most incongruous sights of the globalised age - the Starbucks coffee shop inside Beijing's Forbidden City - could soon be a thing of the past after a furious online campaign.

In response to this demonstration of "netizen" power, the palace's guardians have announced plans to review the presence of the coffee shop. A decision will be made within six months, local media said.

Along with Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald's, Xing Ba Ke - the Mandarin name for Seattle-based Starbucks - is immensely popular in China. But the outlet inside the palace has stirred up controversy since it opened in 2000.

Story Continues @ http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,1994258,00.html

Bouncing Back, Looking Forward

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:27:23 GMT

Tourism in Egypt

The tourism industry is still growing, though not at the same rate as the past couple of years

By Jessica Olien

The headlines did nothing to inspire confidence: bombings in Dahab, war in Lebanon, continuing carnage in Iraq. You might think that foreign tourists would have taken their suitcases and hard currency and jetted off to some other, less volatile region of the world. So, what was the damage to Egyptian tourism?

According to preliminary figures from the Ministry of Tourism: none. In fact, by press time, 2006 had recorded a 4.5% year-on-year increase in the number of visitors and a 4% increase in the number of tourist nights over 2005. Not fantastic compared to the nearly 7% increase in visitors posted the year before, but not bad given the circumstances.

A few years ago, the Dahab bombings in the Sinai could have blown a hole in Egypt’s tourism industry that would have been hard to repair. The 1997 attacks in Luxor’s West Bank kept visitors away for at least a year; the economic impact lasted much longer. But the millennium brought with it a new world, one where terrorism is not a one-off event.

More @ http://www.businesstodayegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=7132

U.N.: Tourism could be anti-poverty key

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:53:53 GMT

I am more than a bit sceptical about this story, I think the key thing to note is that it's from the U.N. World Tourism Organization, they are hardly going to say tourism is BAD!

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- The United Nations says 2007 is critical for tourism to become a key in the fight against poverty and a primary tool for sustainable development.

International tourism is projected to grow again by more than 4 percent this year, the U.N. World Tourism Organization said in a New Year's message.

"Mainstreaming tourism in the international development agenda does not require such a great leap of faith," said UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli.

"The tourism sector is the largest common area of export income and foreign direct investment across the world's poorest countries," he said. "Tourism to these countries is growing at twice the rate of industrialized markets. No sector spreads wealth and jobs across poor economies in the same way as tourism."

Major UNWTO initiatives this year include a world summit on "Tourism and Religion," hosted by Spain, to explore ways to strengthen the interrelationship between tourism and the world's great religions so as to further encourage peaceful development and intercultural dialogue.

The agency also plans to intensify its "eTourism" initiatives together with Microsoft to introduce an Emergency Response System for disasters and enhance the Windows on Africa Portal to boost tourism there.

Major areas cited by Frangialli for consolidated global action include the need for industrialized and newly emerging states to craft pro-development strategies; for least developed states to collectively recognize the impact and potential of tourism across their economies; and for international development agencies to place tourism among their key priorities for infrastructure and entrepreneurial support.

"Look at the difference the huge numbers of travelers forecast from India and China in the years ahead could make in Africa and the Asia Pacific region," he said. "It just needs imagination and political will."

Touts posing big threat to Egypt tourism

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:10:35 GMT

This has rarely been picked up on by the media and is a major problem for Egypt

CAIRO: Pushy bazaar merchants and poor waiter service are a bigger threat to Egypt's tourism industry than the bombs of militants, Tourism Minister Zoheir Garranah said.

Garranah said figures to be released today would show that tourist arrivals held up in 2006 despite a devastating April suicide bombing in the Red Sea resort of Dahab that killed 20 people including several foreign holidaymakers.

A record 9.81 million tourists added $7.6 billion to Egypt's economy last year, the minister said.

But he said Egypt could not afford to rest on its laurels as the figures fell below target, largely because of what he described as poor human resources.

Many tourists complained of being harassed by touts and leave the country with a bitter taste vowing never to return, he said, adding that this was causing greater harm to the industry than the spate of bombings that have rocked Sinai resorts since 2004.

"Terrorism is a problem everywhere. I don't think the world has experienced so many troubles worldwide as in 2006," the minister said.

According to Garranah, the industry quickly bounced back after the April attack and the industry last year sold a record 89m room nights, with each tourist staying an average 9.83 nights and spending an average $85 per night.

The real challenge is to ensure Egypt's tourism workers meet world-class standards, said Garranah, who joined the cabinet of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif in late 2005.

"I'm very much concerned about upgrading the skills of the people working in the industry and in the training itself," he said.

In April, the ministry launched a massive campaign known as the Tourism Awareness Project which targeted ordinary Egyptians and tried to drive home the message that the sector, which accounts for more than a fifth of the country's hard currency earnings, affects everyone.

For every 1m tourist arrivals, 200,000 additional jobs are generated directly or indirectly, Garranah said.

While the Great Pyramids of Giza, the treasure trove of Ancient Egyptian antiquities and the long stretches of beaches on the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts guarantee a certain quota of visitors every year, many never return due to the poor nature of the service industry.

Foreign tourists regularly complain of bazaar salesmen trying to push "authentic" Pharaonic perfumes, of slow and unresponsive waiters in restaurants and of over-eager camel guides harassing them into over-priced rides around the pyramids.

"People took it for granted that everybody would come to Egypt (and) it's true," Garranah said.

"But the people are treating tourists badly, they are harassing them and are not providing proper services."

Egypt has set itself a target of 14m tourists a year by 2011 and plans to expand hotel capacity to 240,000 rooms from 175,000 at present.

In 2006, the largest number of tourists - more 1m - came from Britain, followed by tourists from Russia.

From http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=167166&Sn=BUSI&IssueID=29300

Ecotourism is an instrument for sustainable development

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 19:32:05 GMT

Is it?

Yemen has some of the most extraordinarily lovely and unique landscapes on earth, said Soumar Dakdouk, a technical assistant in a sustainable hunting project in Lebanon said. It has a wealth of natural resources, mountains, beaches, valleys, and islands. In particular, it has the spectacular Soqotra Island, which is home to all manner of unusual endemic plants, animals, and especially birds.

All of these wonders could benefit the country enormously through ecotourism, said Dakdouk. Yemen only has to learn how to promote itself. Tourists want to see beautiful things; when you provide them with beauty, they will come. Ecotourism is the only activity that can provide financial incentives for conversation, wildlife management, or development or sustainable of use natural resources, said Omar al-Saghier, chief executive- Yemen Association for the Protection of Birdlife.

“Now, ecotourism is growing around the world. And one of the top activities of ecotourism is bird watching. Yemen has 19 endemic species, in addition to plants species, as well as a variety of plants and animals,” al-Saghier said. Ecotourism, according to The International Ecotourism Society, is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.”

More @ http://www.yobserver.com/article-11327.php

Tourism holds anchor

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 12:57:16 GMT

Review of 2006 and Tourism in Egypt and the prospects for the future from Al-Ahram Weekly

DESPITE continued political instability in the region as a result of the Dahab bombings, Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians, Israel's war against Hizbullah in Lebanon, and the conflict in Iraq, Egyptian tourism continued to grow since its revival two years ago. According to Minister of Tourism Zoheir Garanah, the number of tourists increased by 4.4 per cent in the period between January and November 2006, compared to the same period last year. Tourist nights also increased by five per cent, resulting in a revenue of $7.2 billion compared to $6.4 billion last year. Garanah added that by the end of 2006, the number of tourists who visited Egypt is expected to reach some nine million.

Nonetheless, the terrorist attacks in Dahab in April resulted in a two per cent drop in tourist bookings and LE250,000 in losses. The Dahab bombings were the third targeting resorts in Sinai, after the Taba and Sharm El-Sheikh attacks in 2004 and 2005 respectively. According to tourist officials, South Sinai is home to the majority of tourist establishments in Egypt, including 56,000 hotel rooms out of the country's 170,000. The biggest challenge for the tourism industry in the wake of the terrorist attacks was restoring confidence in Egypt as a safe destination, which required the Ministry of Tourism to organise familiarisation trips for travel agents, tour operators and foreign journalists to see for themselves.

Egypt has always targeted European travelers, as well as tourists from the USA, Arab Gulf region and lately from Russia and the Benelux. And in 2006, tourist officials launched campaigns in India and China. "These two countries are going to become the most important source markets for international tourism in the next twenty years," according to Ahmed El-Khadem, head of the Egyptian Tourist Authority (ETA), "so it is very important for us to be there at the beginning." For that reason, Garanah headed two road shows to those markets to promote Egypt as a tourist destination.

Meanwhile, developing the North Coast was the focus of much attention after the announcement of two gigantic tourist projects which aim to turn this area into an all-year tourist destination. Marasi and Almaza will be built by Emaar Misr, which bought a seven km strip of prime tourism real estate on the western Mediterranean coast at Sidi Abdel-Rahman from EGOTH. The company bid $175 million and will spend a further $1.7 million to develop the site near Al-Alamein airport into an international tourism attraction.

This year also witnessed the opening of Almaza Beach Resort, the first hotel opening of the mega tourist project Almaza Bay Resort, owned by Travco Group. The massive three million square metre Almaza Bay Resort on the western Mediterranean coast will include five resorts, which will eventually offer the utmost in luxury leisure and recreational facilities. The total capacity of the bay will reach 2,300 guestrooms, in addition to 1,000 residential and tourist villas.

Alongside advertising campaigns abroad, for the first time attention was also given to the local market through the launching of a five-year promotional campaign. The National Tourism Awareness Project (NTAP), conducted by the Ministry of Tourism and financed by the EU at a cost of LE100 million, aims at raising citizen awareness about the importance of tourism.

According to Garanah, the ministry has a five-year plan to target 14 million tourists by 2011 and build 15,000 hotel rooms annually, which will provide two million job opportunities

Syria: $1 billion deal to build integrated tourist city

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 19:33:26 GMT

An agreement to build an integrated tourist city project in al Sabboura area, Damascus countryside, with a cost of $1 billion was signed on Wednesday between the Syrian Ministry of Tourism and the UAE-based Al-Futtaim Group.
According to SANA, the project includes building an integrated tourist city on an area of a million square meters.
In a statement to reporters, Syria's Minister of Tourism, Saadallah Agha Qalaa, indicated that such project reflects the "big confidence," which the investors have in mind on tourist investment in Syria and the extent of transparency the procedures enjoy as far as investment in tourism is concerned.

More @ http://www.menareport.com/en/business/207704

Eco-tourism: A sustainable trade?

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:24:36 GMT

Can eco-tourism do more harm than good? In the Green Room this week, James Mair argues that it can, and that development of tourism needs to be made sustainable.

What price western-style conservation ethics, when a country is forced to use every available resource to improve wealth and health?

If there is "good money" to be made, then tourism with any eco-twist will attract big investment.

Top of the wish list for eco-travellers, often, are small islands, fringed with picture-postcard beaches and definitively far from any madding crowds.

The regime change caused by the conveyor belt of tourism brings income and employment; the down-side is a drain on freshwater, loss of biodiversity and habitat, and contaminants washed up by seasonal waves or continuous tides of visitors.

Dr James Mair is in the Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh

The Green Room is a series of opinion pieces on environmental topics running weekly on the BBC News website

continues @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6179901.stm

Travel News from Egypt

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:23:43 GMT

Great News

Cairo -Aswan to be re -operated Nile cruise
Minister of Tourism Zohir Garana said that the ministry is now coordinating with the ministries concerned to re-operate Nile cruises between Cairo and Aswan.
"Cruisers must meet safety and civil defense standards ' the Minister said, adding that the cruises will boost Nile tourism in Egypt.
from http://travelvideo.tv/news/more.php?id=10387_0_1_0_M

Titanic legend continues in Branson

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:50:15 GMT

A New Titanic Museum in the US, you have to see this to believe it!!

Titanic legend continues in Branson

Updated: 2006-05-08 15:49:54-05

A rendition of the 46,328 ton Titanic, built half-scale to her original size, is moored on about three acres at the corner of 76 Country Blvd. and Highway 165 in the heart of Branson. A crew from London created the facade sculpted from gunite with special polymers and containing 40,000 rivets. Doing Steel of Joplin manufactured the needed smokestacks. An iceberg serves as the main entrance.

The 17,000 sq. ft. structure houses 20 galleries on two floors and contains over 400 artifacts. A self-guided 90-minute tour is designed to give guests the sensation of being an original passenger on the Titanic's 1912 maiden voyage.

More @ http://www.joplinindependent.com/display_article.php/mariwinn1147121394

Their website is @ http://www.titanicbranson.com/

Second Tour to Egypt

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 18:10:50 GMT

DEPARTURE DATE: 19th February 2007

Day 1 – London/Cairo

Fly London to Cairo with EgyptAir. On arrival transfer and check-in to the Meridien Pyramids Hotel at Giza for seven nights on room and breakfast basis. This first-class resort hotel is in an excellent location close to the Pyramids with all the usual amenities. Upgrades available for Pyramid view rooms.

Day 2 – Giza Plateau

After breakfast we start our exploration of the pyramid age with the Great Pyramids at Giza. We will see the Solar Boat, the Sphinx, mortuary temples, causeways and some of the smaller plateau tombs.

Day 3 – Museum/Felucca

Today we will visit the wonderful Cairo Museum with its many treasures. Every period of Egyptian history is covered but highlights are sure to be the Tutankhamun collection, the Amarna period rooms and the Tanis treasure. Free time to visit the Royal Mummy Room. Later in the day we will enjoy sailing on the Nile in traditional feluccas.

Day 4 – Dashur

A visit to the more remote pyramids at Dashur starts with a look at the Red Pyramid. A short climb takes you to the entrance if you wish to descend to the inner chambers. Across the desert to the stunning Bent Pyramid, possible burial place of Snofru.

Day 5 – Memphis/Sakkara

We start the day with a visit to Memphis and the ruins of the village of Mit Rahina. We will see the statuary in the open air museum and the colossal fallen statue of Ramesses II now in its own building. On to Sakkara and first the funerary complex of King Djoser with its well preserved Step Pyramid and enclosure walls. On to the Pyramid of Teti and a finally the wonderful carvings in the mastabas of Mereruka and Kagemni.

Day 6 – Coptic Cairo

This morning we will learn more about medieval Cairo with a tour that looks at some outstanding art and architecture. We enter the immense mosque of Ibn Tulun before visiting the nearby Gayer Anderson House. This evening we will enjoy a dinner cruise on the Nile.

Day 7 – Free Day

A free day to relax by the pool, shop in the Khan el-Kalili bazaar or maybe return to the Museum or the Giza Plateau. Tonight we will head back to the Sphinx and Pyramids to watch the spectacular sound and light show. (B)

Day 8 – Cairo/London

Fly Cairo to London with EgyptAir.

More Details@ http://www.ancient.co.uk/default.aspx?page=Z7103

Tours I am leading in Egypt in 2007

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 18:07:12 GMT

First One, 12th February 2007

IMPERIAL THEBES

A stunning new tour with exciting new experts that explores Luxor and the West Bank and will appeal to aficionado and beginner alike

Day 1 – London/Cairo

We fly from London to Luxor on EgyptAir and on arrival transfer to The Old Winter Palace Garden Pavilion for seven nights on room and breakfast basis. This historic first-class hotel has all the usual amenities and is on the Corniche in the centre of Luxor. Old Palace Wing upgrades are available for Nile or garden view.

Day 2 – Karnak/Luxor

Our day will start with a guided tour of mighty Karnak Temple. The Precinct of Amun has many stories to tell and we will walk through the massive columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall, look at reliefs, temples, halls, statues and courts as well as take time to relax by the Sacred Lake. Later we will move on to the smaller but beautiful Luxor Temple once joined to Karnak by an avenue of Sphinxes. (B)

Day 3 – The West Bank

We cross the Nile and head for the Kings’ Valley. A chance to enter three tombs of your own choice although suggestions will be made by our guide and expert. Deir el Bahri is our next stop to explore the stunning Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut set in to the Theban hills. The Birth and Punt Colonades, Chapels of Anubis and Hathor and of course the now open Upper Terrace all await. On to the Ramesseum with its fallen colossus of Ramesses II, Kadesh reliefs, halls and courts.

Day 4 – Museums

A tour of Luxor Museum to view the fine collections. Home to some of the finest statues known we will see the splendid Tuthmosis III, the Akhenaten talatat from Karnak, the cache of statues discovered buried in the nearby temple as well as the new mummy room. A chance to take a sail in a traditional felucca and then in the evening we will visit the Mummification Museum where we will attend a lecture meeting as well as admiring the exhibits.

Day 5 – El Kab

A rare chance to visit the site of El Kab once the ancient city of Nekheb. Scattered across the desert we will see various ancient sites but a highlight has to be the isolated Vulture Rock where there are many wonderful carved drawings and inscriptions dating from prehistoric times to the Old Kingdom. There are small temples and tombs that we will take time to explore including the well decorated tombs of Ahmose, Setau and Paheri, the Mayor of El Kab.

Day 6 – West Bank

A second day on the West Bank and we will start with a walk through the Valley of the Queens, also home to high officials and royal children where we will enter two tombs. Medinet Habu the gigantic Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III is our next stop. There are still brightly coloured columns in the Hypostyle Hall and adjoining rooms. Some of the best battle reliefs of the period are to be seen on the temples outer walls. We end with a visit to the Nobles’ Tombs.

Day 7 – Free day

Today is free time to chose your own activity. We can arrange an optional full day lunch cruise to the stunning and more remote temples of Abydos and Dendera. A chance to relax watching life on the Nile before guided tours of both temples. Alternatively you may wish to head back to Karnak, the Museum, shop or just relax by the pool.

Day 8 – Luxor/London

Fly Luxor to London with EgyptAir arriving early afternoon.

See booking details @ http://www.ancient.co.uk/default.aspx?page=Z7102

Expedia Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary by Expanding Its Commitment

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:35:08 GMT

I am still unsure of the benefits of this alliance for thr defence of the heritage

But I want to here moe before passing judgement

Groundbreaking joint initiative with the United Nations Foundation to promote sustainable tourism celebrates milestones of its first year in existence

SANTIAGO, Chile – Oct. 23, 2006 – In celebration of Expedia.com®’s 10th anniversary on Oct. 22, Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE), the world’s leading online travel company, announced the multi-year renewal of its partnership with the United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation) ) to continue the work of the World Heritage Alliance (WHA). The announcement was made at the Society of American Travel Writers Annual Convention in Santiago, Chile. The WHA is an industry-leading initiative that was jointly formed by Expedia® and the UN Foundation in 2005 to promote sustainable tourism and awareness of World Heritage sites and communities around the world.

More @ http://worldheritagealliance.org/media_center.htm

Egypt more than just pyramids and Tombs

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 13:10:12 GMT

This is a interesting article to start off the new year with

Egypt is often seen as just, ptramids, pharoahs, mummies etc but it has so much more

In fact I am as guilty of this as most, I work and live in Cairo and Luxor, so limiting muself somewhat to the Nile Valley, yet Egypt is much more than this thin strip of land

So in an attempt to tink outside the box of my 'Egyptological' job, this year I will attempt to get to know more of the great country

Watch this space

Meanwhile read this article for the lowdown all that Egypt has to offer

Along with the Suez Canal and oil and gas revenues, tourism is one of Egypt’s main sources of foreign currency and, as the number of tourists increase every year, so does the importance of the money they pump into the national economy.

Patterns, however, are shifting, with tourists looking for something more than just the traditional tour of the monuments or cold drinks on a hot beach. With a little bit of development and forethought, Egypt has the potential to meet the new demands of worldwide tourists

The scale of the industry is impressive. Last year, the number of visitors to Egypt increased from 8.1 million to 8.6 million, with Germany provided the largest number of visitors, 979,000, more than any other European country.

Full text @ http://northafrica.andnetwork.com/index?service=direct/1/Home/story&sp=l50782

Fire in Luxor

Sat, 13 May 2006 11:20:42 GMT

Four vacant cruise ships anchoring next to one another caught fire on Friday in a pier in Egypt's famed tourist city of Luxor, some 680 km south of Cairo, the official MENA news agency reported.

Police and firefighters rushed to the wharf and stamped out the fire, said the report, adding that no tourist was on board of any of the four ships when the fire broke out.

The accident was under investigation, it said.

Very surprised this has not hapenned before.

They were very lucky the boats were unoccupied.

Report from http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/706/2006/05/13/176@88356.htm

Transplant Tourism

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 08:59:51 GMT

This we do not want

Wealthy Westerners who don't want to wait for an organ donor are travelling to poorer countries to find the organ they need. Every day, 17 Americans die of organ failure. In Canada, a patient can wait seven years for an organ transplant. In Israel, the average wait for a kidney transplant is four years.

More @ http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20060428093047633