Set to launch in Sweden next year and in Korea the following year, promession is an eco-friendly method of disposal for human remains based on freeze drying. It was invented (and patented) in 1999 by Susanne Wiigh Masak. The word ‘promession’ is derived from the Italian word for ‘promise’ (promessa).

Promession takes place in 7 steps:

1. The body is frozen to -18 degrees Celsius (normally this occurs between 24 to 48 hours) and then put into a sealed unit called a Promator.

2. The body is weighed to determine how much liquid nitrogen is needed to freeze the body to -196 degrees Celsius; 1kg of liquid nitrogen is required for 1kg of body weight. This process takes approximately two hours, and the liquid nitrogen evaporates into the atmosphere as nitrogen gas.

3. The frozen body is then moved onto a belt that gives off small (5mm) vibrations. This takes approximately 60 seconds and reduces the body to particles.

4. The particles are then transferred into a vacuum chamber where water is evaporated and released into the atmosphere as steam.

5. The dry powder is then passed through electrical currents and magnets that extract any existing metals.

6. The existing residue, which is approximately a third of the original body weight, is placed into a biodegradable coffin, which can be lined with an iron net which will rust away.

7. The coffin is buried at a depth of about half a meter, and in approximately 6 to 12 months, the remains, the coffin, and the net will become part of the soil nutrients.

While the volume of remains left by promession is up to twenty times that left by cremation, heavy metals (for example, mercury from dental fillings) are filtered out instead of released into the atmosphere as pollutants so the procedure meets the requirements of the new European Union Industrial Emissions Directive, which imposes strict limits on air, soil, and water pollution.

The first ‘promatorium’ will open in Sweden and will process approximately 1,500 bodies per year and South Korea is building memorial parks to support the process as well. “This is going to be the future solution for Korea. Traditional burials as they are today may not be allowed in future, as most graveyards in the country are now running out of space… It’s really a good chance for the planet I think,” stated Wiigh-Masak at a recent funeral expo.

Nobody really knows the origins of Halloween, although some state it began in Ireland and not America as you would expect. It is sometimes referred to as All Hallows Eve or All Saints Eve is a celebration of the day before All Hallows Day on 1st November. There are contradictions in History that say it was a pagan festival originating from the Celts, whilst others will have you believe it started with Christianity as a festival to remember the dead. Either way it is now one of the most popular events around the world and is celebrated in many different ways, none more so that in Asia.

In some Asian countries they actually celebrate by carving out Pumpkins, particularly in the Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore. In Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia they also celebrate with pumpkins or more ready to hand fruits such as watermelons. Over the past few years, children in Asia have taken to trick or treating. Again, due to the influence of western pop culture and the growing number of international schools in the region.

Halloween decorations are not necessarily evident in Asian homes but in the shopping malls, bars and restaurants there are decorations a plenty. Many schools will have celebrations, adult Asians will dress up in the office and of course the bars and restaurants will have parties that run into the early hours.

Here are the ways you can celebrate Halloween whilst in Asia.

1. Purchase Candles and Flowers

This is a big tradition, particularly in the Philippines. The Filipino people take the festival very seriously and will often return to their hometowns to be with their family at this time. They will decorate their homes with flowers and light candles. It is not just the Philippines where this happens, Korea and China also have this kind of decoration in celebration of the Halloween festival.

2. Cosplay

Asians love to dress up, especially East Asians. Japan and South Korea is the home of Cosplay and if you are there over Halloween you will see a variety of costumes. Over the rest of Asia it is more traditional but on 31st October people will tend to wear a scary mask or devil ears, even in the most uptight of offices. Into the evening a lot of the bars will have parties and offer prizes for the best costume.

3. Go on a Ghost Walk

This is becoming increasingly popular in Asia. Every year Singapore hosts a ghost walk, predominantly aimed at children but more and more adults are joining in for an evening of entertainment. Other Asian cities have followed suit with scary tours for tourists and locals alike. One of the best in Asia is Singapore’s Ghost Walk at the Woodlands Woodgrove.

4. Pay respect to the dead

In some Asian countries the traditional element of Halloween is taken very seriously. In China and Japan as well as Vietnam, lanterns are lit, special food is made and memorial services take place for those that have passed away. It is often the families will get together and remember loved ones at this time and say special prayers.

5. PARTY!

Asians love any excuse to party and in all the major cities in Asia the bars and clubs will be filled with special Halloween events. They are predominantly on October 31st but some will be for the weekend before or just after. The parties will be intense and the place will be very crowded. Some bar operators suggest that Halloween is a busier night of the year than New Year’s Eve.

The Predictions

As people all over the world increase their awareness about the crypto-currency revolution, investment experts are lining up to express their opinions. In recent weeks, the pro-crypto forecasters are predicting numbers that defy gravity. It’s not uncommon to see a prognosticator on TV explaining why they believe Bitcoin is destined to hit anywhere between $250,000 and $500,000 per coin within the next two years. At $500,000, the coin would have to increase more that 6000% from it’s current levels. The numbers are mind-boggling.

On the other side of the fence, we find the naysayers. There are plenty of well-respected financial analyst who aren’t afraid to warn people about the investment bubble. Some even admit that crypto-currencies might still have some play left in them, but sooner or later, the bubble is going to burst, and people are going to get hurt. To drive home their point, they only need to reflect on the IPO bubble of 2001.

The Technical Hurdles

The crypto-currency revolution is still in its infancy. As such, most coins, Bitcoin included, are trading without historical indicators to help investors. It is a free market in the purest form. Unfortunately, free market trading is susceptible to influence from all directions. Therein lies the rub for crypto-currency investors. With no history to fall back on, investors have to make decisions based on their gut.

The obstacles that complicate the decision-making process for Bitcoin investors are plenty. The coin is always susceptible to the technical aspects of trading. The exponential increase in price is being driven by high demand and scarce product. Still, investors get a little antsy when the price increases too much, too fast. Then we see the typical correction that comes when an investment becomes over bought. The problem is these corrections are proving to be harsh, which tests the mettle of investors who aren’t used to such high levels of volatility.

Setting technical analysis aside, technology issues are also driving the market today. There’s no denying that the crypto-currency market has had its issues. After proclaiming block-chain technology to be the securest approach to disseminating information, there are holes that are being exposed almost daily. The bugs will get worked out as this kind of technology seems destined for prime time. Unfortunately, Bitcoin has block-chain technology under a microscope right now.

No matter how secure any system may claim to be, hackers are sure to expose the weaknesses in a hurry. The crypto-currency industry has already been besieged by hackers, who have stolen billions of dollars in Bitcoin and other crypto-coins. Losing money to hackers tends to make investors a little jittery. It also makes for plenty of litigation from those harmed by technology that may not yet be a secure as promised.

The Fundamental Hurdles

There’s an old adage: When school teachers and janitors start making millions from investing, prices are going to crash because we need school teachers and janitors. The truth is governments get nervous when its residents start losing money or making lots of money without paying taxes. It’s no coincidence that India and South Korea are among the most active countries on the crypto-currency exchanges, yet both governments are considering banning the trading of all cryptos. The US, potentially the world’s biggest Bitcoin player, is working in Congress to decide how to regulate the crypto-currency market. They have already banned several exchanges for possible fraudulent activity. China is discussing an outright ban while Europe seems poised to follow America’s lead.

If Bitcoin or any other crypto-currency aspires to becoming an international currency for everyday payments, success would be predicated on the world’s biggest economies joining in the parade. Unfortunately, the major players (mentioned above) seem to be moving in the other direction.

The biggest concern seems to be Bitcoin’s appeal to the criminal element. Proof has been presented that shows North Korea has been stealing Bitcoin to help finance its nuclear program. ISIS routinely moves money among its affiliates via Bitcoin, doing so undetected until it’s too late. The drug trade is also enjoying the anonymity afforded them by block-chain technology. More and more Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) are proving to be nothing more than common scams. These are all serious issues.

These are all fundamental issues that must be favorably resolved if crypto-currencies are to survive and someday thrive.

Looking or Solutions

For the most part, people are interested in all aspects of crypto-currency. Bitcoin has already shown the potential for easily resolving payment issues between customers and vendors. However, trust is a big issue going forward. If the anonymity feature is the driving force behind the crypto-currency revolution, it’s going to be hard to get governments to climb aboard and approve crypto-trading.

Let’s look at how South Korea decided to resolve the Bitcoin issue. The South Korean government recently passed a bill that gives six Korean banks authority to let its customer trade Bitcoin from their bank accounts. There’s only one stipulation: the account has to be opened in the customer’s real name. Poof! There goes the anonymity feature. However, South Koreans can still trade Bitcoin through a Bitcoin Wallet so long as tax evasion isn’t the reason they want to do so. It’s a nice compromise, but its appeal may be limited.

Over the next few months, investors should start getting answers to a lot of questions. Until that time, the pricing of Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies will remain volatile. The price will increase because of demand but will drop every time a new issue becomes news. Until prices stabilize, people should focus on one rule of investing. Never invest more money that you can afford to lose. Indeed, Bitcoin is reaching its crossroads.

The days of the Cold War are long past and have been replaced by the hotter topic of global warming. ‘Colonisation’ and ‘Super-power’ may actually have become dirty words in these days when global harmony and fair play are the mantras for our planet’s survival.

However, in the last few years, there has been a new power entity slowly but steadily rising on the horizon: Enter the APP Store Super Power!

In 2014, Japan and South Korea made huge strides and surpassed the USA by revenue on Google Play. Reports put China at #3 by revenue on the Apple App store. South East Asia is a HUGE emerging market- Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam account for almost all the game revenue in this area of the planet.

What is the takeaway from all this?

1. Language is no barrier.

2. The appeal of gaming and mobile gaming is a worldwide phenomenon.

3. Big bucks are involved and this means cutthroat competition and planning in minute detail to drive successful apps and games.

4. Game and app internationalization and localisation drive mobility in apps and games.

5. Not least of all, the quest of humans for easy entertainment is now quite literally in the palms of the hands- holding the mobile phone. Never has the opposable thumb been put to such vigorous use.

The game must go on!

A stationary stone gathers moss

The driving force behind any business is profit. The gaming world is no different. This is a highly competitive world and the gaming market is killer. To survive, evolve, and bring home the bacon, apps and games need not just to be entertaining to the boy-next-door: they need to capture new platforms and markets. And they need to be fast and furious about it or fall by the wayside.

How can they do this?

Internationalistion and localisation

This two-step process is what enables a game to adapt to different regional and linguistic cultures. It must include:

Reviewing the language and regional settings which will determine which localisation is used as well as the date, time, and number formats.

Adapting the user interface

The code must handle multi-language text

Locale (not the language) settings must drive data formatting as multiple countries might use the same language, as also the same individual travelling across different countries.

User interface must be ‘mirrored’ while using right to left languages; the only exception here would probably be phone numbers.

It is also necessary to test the internationalized app or game to detect auto-layout problems and strings that are not part of the internationalization-localisation process.

Enjoyment MUST be stress-free

Gaming is for enjoyment; the gamer cannot be subjected to a confusing, frustrating experience. There is no place, either, for being culturally and politically improper or downright offensive. Game localisation must also ensure that the translated, internationalized, localized version be faithful to the original.

Many gamers take their gaming very seriously. Game localisation, including those on mobile platforms (iOS localisation or Android), should enable players to immerse themselves completely. The whole enjoyment in gaming is to transport the player to a world of fantasy more appealing than reality, where lives can be replenished in battles with strange creatures in exotic lands unknown! Nothing should interrupt this ‘willing suspension of disbelief.’

Localisation must be from the word GO

Game localisation cannot be an afterthought and game developers would benefit from shedding the ‘let’s see’ attitude. Successful developers have understood that video game localisation is an integral part of the development cycle along with coding, designing, or writing. In the very early stages when games were designed and played on limited and limiting platforms, this ‘afterthought status’ might have been acceptable. But with the proliferation of mobile technology, and the increasing demand for games across linguistic, cultural and geographical borders, video game localisation has come into its own.

Localisation- NOT translation

It must be amply clear by now that game internationalisation and localisation is not just about language. It encompasses cultural symbols, costumes, ethos, environment… everything that goes up to make civilisations, in fact!

There are many pitfalls to be avoided:

Concerns of piracy and the importance of timely capturing of markets may drive translations on incomplete games. Context must be clear while translating text whatever the stage of game development. The complete picture should be kept in mind.

Localisation must be a consideration early in game development as cultural concepts must be clear from Day 1. For example: scantily clad female characters may be an issue in some countries. If this is not considered early in the design cycle, it could turn into a costly, untreatable headache when the game has to move to more socially conservative markets.

Games must evolve with current events. Consider the example of how a spate of pedophilia cases in Belgium discouraged the use of the word ‘pedometer’ in a game on weight-loss because of the negative connotation such a prefix had.

Separate text files make the game moddable and the translated versions can be pasted on the localized version.

A text-freeze or cut-off date for text changes is a very good idea to control translation costs and keep game development on schedule.

Be aware of cultural issues, taboos and sensitivities from the very beginning.

Accents are important for voice overs. A cowboy with a Texan twang is ludicrous in a video game meant for the Chinese market.

Who does the localisation?

Game developers pour millions into game development. So, it makes no sense to cut corners when it comes to video game localisation to make inroads into new markets.

Cheap translations aimed at cost control may result in a complete flop show and make the developer an international laughing stock.

Whether it is artwork, translation, marketing, packaging, or bridging the cultural gap, it is very skilled work which is the domain of trained and talented professionals.

Time is of the absolute essence to capture the mood of markets.

Discretion and trust are absolutely necessary to combat the evil threat of piracy which looms large on intellectual property.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… Cocaine was the drug used by the disgraced Cuban sportsman Javier Sotomayor Sanabria, who has been known for his stunning disqualification from the 1999 Pan American Games in Canada. After a failed drug test and an investigation, the ODEPA (Pan-American Sports Organization), ordered Cuban high jumper Javier Sotomayor Sanabria to return the gold medal he won in the high jump. He said, “I have only seen that substance in the movies. I am the victim of a maneuver, a dirty trick”.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… The most famous Sudanese athlete in history, Yamilé Aldama was born in Havana, Cuba. Yamilé Aldama is a Sudanese athlete specializes in the triple jump and long jump. She represented Cuba until 2003 (Pan American Games and World Championships). After she became a Sudanese citizen. Sudan is one of the most poorest black African countries…

DID YOU KNOW THAT… Cuba sent only 7 athletes to the 2007 World University Games in Thailand, heeding Fidel Castro´s fears about future defections…Cuban delegation had athletes competing in two olympic sports: judo (yanelis Mestre and Kaliema Antomadim) and track and field(Andy Gonzáez, Yarianna Martínez,Yenimar Arencibia and Alexei Chivas). Overall, the Cuban team finished 40th place, after the Peoples´s Republic of China, Great Britain, South Korea, Thailand, Germany, United States, Taiwan, Italy, Kazakhstan, Canada, Iran, Australia, Belarus, Mexico, Turkey, Austria, Poland, Hungary, North Korea, Czech Republic, Morocco, Lithuania, Switzerland, Finland, France, Ukraine, Brazil, Romania, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Cyprus, Ireland, Latvia, Slovenia, Egypt, Mongolia and Portugal.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… For political reasons, Cuba boycotted the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… Like Czechoslovakia (currently Czech Republic), Hungary, Poland,East Germany (currently Germany), Bulgaria, North Korea and the USSR, Cuba boycotted the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles(Unites States). Some Cuban sportspersons -sprinter Sylvio Leonard, runner Alberto Juantorena, boxer Juan Hernández, hurdler Alejandro Casañas, volleyball players Mireya Luis Hernández, Mercedes “Mamita” Pérez, Mercedes Pomares, Imilcis Téllez, Josefina Capote, and Leonel Marshall-lost their olympic opportunities.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… Niurka Montalvo is a Spanish long jumper. She was born on June 4, 1968 in Havana, Cuba. Like Magaly Esther Carvajal Rivera (volleyball player), Ivan Pérez Vargas (water polo player), Joan Lino Martínez (long jumper) and Rolando Uríos (handball player), she became a Spanish citizen in 1999.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… In the 1940s and 1950s, baseball became the most popular sport in Cuba, thanks to such heroes as Adolfo Luque, Sandalio Consuegra, Conrado Marrera and Orestes Miñoso.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… Cuba hosted the 2nd Baseball World Cup in 1939. The Cuban team won the championship, with Nicaragua second and the United States taking third…

DID YOU KNOW THAT… Between February 25 and March 9,1951, the Cuban delegation participated in the First Pan American Games held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, winning 7 gold, 8 silver, and 10 bronze medals. Overall the Cuban team ranked fourth, after Argentina, United States, and Chile.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… From 1900 to 1958, Cuba had great athletes: Rafael Fortún (track and field), Angel García (track and field), Bertha Díaz (track and field), Margaret Chapman (diving), Ricardo Morales (tennis), Raul Capablanca (chess) and Ramón Fonst (fencing).

DID YOU KNOW THAT… Lissethe Bustamante, a Cuban journalist and witer, known for her interviews with Fidel Castro has alleged that she was raped by olympic champion Teofilo Stevenson in 1984.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… For political reasons, Cuba will not send a boxing team to the World Cup in the United States.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… The 1991 Pan American Games were held in Havana, Cuba, between August 2 and August 18, with 39 countries participating. The 1991 Pan American Games were a huge source of pride for Fidel Castro Ruz.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… Between August 25 and September 2, 2007, the Cuban delegation participated in the World Track and Field Championships in Osaka,Japan. Overall, the Cuban delegation ranked 11th place, after the United States, Kenya (Africa), Russia, Ethiopia (Africa), Germany, Czech Republic, Australia, Jamaica (Caribbean), Bahamas (Caribbean), Great Britain and Belarus.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… In 1987,Cuba did not compete at the Women´s World Junior Volleyball Championships in Seoul (South Korea). The reason: There was not diplomatic relations between Cuba and South Korea.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… In the 1970s, Alberto Juantorena, a famous Cuban runner, was coached by Zygmunt Zabierzowski, who was born in Poland. Under the leadership of Zygmunt Zabierzowski, Alberto Juantorena won two gold medals at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… For political reasons, Cuba did not send a baseball team to the 27th Baseball World Cup in South Korea in 1982.

DID YOU KNOW THAT… Along with North Korea, Seychelles, Albania, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Nicaragua, Cuba boycotted the 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea.

There is no more language that is vastly different from English than the Korean Language. Korea speakers find it difficult to learn ad even to speak the language. This is because of the big differentiation in grammar, sentence structure, word use, intonation and most of all pronunciation of English words in comparison to Korean words. Nevertheless, learning how to speak using the English language is very important to the Korean people, mostly because they are dealing a lot with the global market and need to communicate well with foreign people. However, Koreans should not despair that they will not be able to master the English language. Pimsleur audio language courses are taught with a way that will enable the Korean student to become skilled at speaking the English language.

Before that, there is a need to know why it is useful to learn the language using audio lessons rather than having to enroll in an English language course at a school. Audio lessons have the advantage of being available to its user at any time and anywhere. This is because they can usually be found online and downloaded into the personal computer and even into portable audio players. This will enable the student to listen to the lessons at home, in the car, while doing errands and even while exercising. Not only that, this method will enable the learner to continue learning even while he is asleep. This is because studies show that listening to audio while sleeping will allow absorption of the new information into the subconscious. This makes learning practically nonstop. The best part is, if the lesson has not been mastered, the learner can just replay the lessons as many times that he wants, at no extra cost.

Any Korean learner needs to know English for many reasons and that includes the fact that South Korea has to reach out to many countries now that it has become a super nation with a robust economy. If South Koreans want to expand their knowledge on trade and international relations, it would help if they travel and study abroad but most of all it would help if they learn English. To note, English is also necessary for them to survive the different cultures around the world. Just as much as Chinese people have to learn the language in order for them to do business so as Koreans for them to further make themselves known in the international community both as a country with strong economy and a country that has identity and at the same time enjoys a good relationship with its international neighbors.

That is why Koreans should try Pimsleur language learning audio program that one can download on his iPhone and learn from in his own pace and at his desired time. Koreans can get a copy of this from The Talking Bookstore.

Some of you may have read my article on the ten cities with the most beautiful women, this however is about the countries with the most beautiful women. Still chauvinistic, still sexist, still fun.

10. Canada

There’s nothing appealing about Canada’s nickname, The Great White North, but what is appealing about Canada is the warmth of the people and the looks of the women. Similar to the U.S., Canada is a multicultural society and as such its women hail from every ethnicity and nationality. However, there is one noticeable difference from its southern neighbor, Canada’s obesity rates are about half those of the U.S.

9. Netherlands

The Dutch are world-famous for their welcoming attitudes and humor, the women are no exception. Shorties be warned, Holland is home to the tallest people in the world and the average woman here is over 5 ft 7 in tall. Oh and also, don’t worry, the only thing flat in Holland is the landscape.

8. Denmark

Denmark is the gateway to Scandinavia and it doesn’t disappoint. The girls here are beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed vixens and will leave you wondering how anything could have ever been rotten in the state of Denmark. Copenhagen has always struck me as a city similar to Amsterdam but just a little bit nicer. So instead of going to Holland for the umpteenth time, check out Denmark.

7. Colombia

Neighboring Venezuela attracts most of the attention with its perennial Miss Universe Pageant winners, but Colombia is no slouch either. It might not do as well in the pageants, but where it matters, on the streets, Colombian girls are just a tad bit hotter than their Venezuelan counterparts. Check out the city of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast to see a place that really dazzles, but watch out, you might not want to come back.

6. South Korea

The highest ranked Asian country on the list, the women in South Korea are truly beautiful. It’s no surprise that South Korea fulfills a cultural icon role in Asia. Koean pop groups, television soap operas and fashion trends are immensely popular throughout the continent. YouTube a video by the Wonder Girls or the song Bo Peep Bo Peeo by T-ara to see an example of beautiful Korean pop stars.

5. Bulgaria

Not as well-known as many of the other Eastern European countries on this list, but that’s bound to change once words gets out on just how great this country is. Bulgaria is home to ski resorts, a lively capital city, medieval towns, great beaches on the Black Sea and oh that’s right, GORGEOUS WOMEN! The most striking thing about Bulgarian women is that they are often tall with pale skin, dark hair, and blue or green eyes.

4. Russia

Mother Russia makes its appearance at number four on this list, but when we’re talking about women this beautiful it’s really only a slight matter of opinion that it’s not number one. For 4,000 miles all the way from Moscow to Siberia the women in Russia are drop-dead gorgeous. Siberia may even be the most interesting part of Russia, as there’s a mix of European descended Russians and Asiatic descended Russians. I can tell you, there is nothing sexier than a tall, well-dressed Asian woman, speaking Russian.

3. Ukraine

The Ukraine is perhaps most famous for mail-order brides, which isn’t a fair characterization, but if you had ever visited the country you would try to place an order yourself. Kiev, the capital, is a beautiful city and ranked number one on my list of the ten cities with the most beautiful women in the world. More so than just the capital though, the Ukraine also has a beautiful Black Sea coast, which, in the summertime, is home to thousands of beautiful women in skimpy bathing suits. Check out the city of Odessa if scantily-clad women are the type of thing that interests you.

2. Argentina

I have no doubts that Argentina has not only the most beautiful women in South America but the entire Western Hemisphere! Maybe it’s the high-fashion or the romantic culture, or maybe it’s just because the women are tall drop-dead gorgeous beauties, but there’s truly something special about them. This isn’t Brazil, these are girls that are just as at home at a formal dinner as they are at the beach.

1. Sweden

Stockholm may have lost its number one spot on my ranking of cities with beautiful women, but Sweden is still firmly in first place on this list. The first time you visit Sweden is an unreal experience as you realize that everything you have ever heard is, in fact, true! The women are tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed goddesses whom are friendly and educated to boot. So plan your trip today and maybe check out a few other countries on this list.

Road to London 2012!

Chultem Naidam

Did you know- By 1964, Mongolia’s athlete Chultem Naidam was the flag-bearer for the nation’s first Olympic delegation in the Games of the XVIII Olympiad in Tokyo (Japan).

Moscow 1980

Did you know- At the XXII Olympiad in the USSR, between July 19 and August 13, 1980,Mongolia – an ex Communist nation in Asia- picked up a total of four medals ( two silver and two bronze) and took 27th place in team standings. With the support from the Soviet Union, Mongolia -most sparsely populated nation on Earth– sent many athletes to the 1980 Olympics. At the previous Summer Games in Montreal (Canada), between July 17 and August 1 19, the national team finished 34th in the medal count, ahead of Brazil, Argentina, Greece, Austria, and Thailand.

Eveguine Oidov

Did you know- Wrestling is one of the nation’s most popular sports. Its greatest triumph came at the 1974 World Championships in Katowice (Poland), where the country’s wrestler Eveguine Oidov – a national idol– earned a gold medal; the first world title in the history of Mongolian sport.

Los Angeles 1984

Did you know- Under the pressure from the USSR, the Olympic team of Mongolia did not participate in the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, California (USA). Four years later, unlike Cuba, Ethiopia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the National Olympic Committee sent athletes to the 1988 Summer Olympics in South Korea, an anti-Communist country in Asia. In South Korea, Mongolia finished 51st in the medal count.

Barcelona 1992

Did you know- A 33-member team from Mongolia participated in the Games of the XXV Olympiad in the Spanish city of Barcelona, between July 25 and August 9, 1992. The Asian country competed in seven sports: archery, athletics, boxing, cycling, judo, weightlifting, and wrestling. In Spain, the Asian team won two bronze medals and took 52nd place in unofficial team championships, among 173 nations and dependencies.

Atlanta 1996

Did you know- At the 26th Olympiad in the United States, between July 19 and August 4, 1996, the nation’s judoka Dorjpalam Narmandakh won a bronze medal and thanks to this Mongolia finished 71st in the medal count.

Athens 2004

Did you know- At the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece, the country’s judoka Khashbaatar Tsagaanbaatar earned a bronze medal. The nation had not won an Olympic medal since 1996.

Asian Games

Did you know- During the 2006 Asian Games, the Mongolian team finished 21st in unofficial team standings.

Beijing 2008

Did you know- At the 2008 Summer Games in the People’s Republic of China, Naidan Tuvshinbayer became the first Mongolian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal when he came in first place in the men’s 100kg judo.

Volleyball

Did you know- In the early 70s, the men’s volleyball squad qualified for the first time to FIVB World Cup.

Monero is an open-source cryptocurrency project with better security and privacy than most virtual currencies. It’s designed to give everyone the power to control their finances without government and financial agency oversight. The cryptographical techniques adopted ensures that a spy has zero knowledge of your transactions.

Who created Monero?

Monero is largely a community project with no single individual behind it. Over 240 specialists, consisting of developers and marketers came together and breathed life into it. However, around 30 developers are known. Anyone can contribute to this network by either donating their skills or capital.

Monero doesn’t have a base in any country. Therefore, it could prove hard to shut it down or restrict it from operating in a certain country. However, you shouldn’t be so sure about this as China and South Korea have already proved that any cryptocurrency can be disbanded from operating in certain jurisdictions. China officially banned ICOs from running a couple of months ago.

Monero Security Features

Without a doubt, Monero Blockchain is one of the safest places to transact from. Ethereum and Bitcoin Blockchains are transparent so that anyone can validate the authenticity of a transaction. This means anyone with superb computing skills and resources can easily decode users’ real-world identity. This is extremely revolting as it goes against the main principle behind decentralized projects-obfuscating user’s details.

Monero’s cryptographical techniques mystify the user’s data making it impossible for data sniffers to get anything. The two main security protocols employed are ring signatures and stealth addresses. The former mixes up all the addresses on the network thus making it difficult for an external observer to link a single address to a certain account.

The latter refers to a condition where an address is used for a single transaction only. There can be no single address for two or more transfers. Used addresses are untraceable, and new ones are created during the next deal. In short, all the details relating to the sender, receiver and amount transferred are not open to scrutiny. However, this network is not entirely “shut” as individuals can choose who can see their transactions.

Pros of Monero

• Private, secure, and untraceable

• Scalable with no blockchain limits

• Strong and capable team

• Widely adopted

• Has a plan to incentivize miners to maintain the blockchain even when the supply runs out

• Selectively transparent-you choose who to see your transactions

Cons of Monero

• Has minute levels of centralization

• Not yet widely adopted

The future of Monero

Decentralized technologies are receiving plenty of hype at the moment, and this simply means wide recognition. As the technology gets widely adopted and governments trying to pin user’s down, investors are going to demand for more private-oriented cryptos, and this might just put Monero right at the top spot for picking. This Currency is certainly worth giving a shot.

Did You Know…

Like Un Yong Kim (South Korea), Sheik Fahad Al-Sabah (Kuwait) and Joao Havelange (Brazil), José Gamarra Zorrilla was one of the best Olympic leaders in the Third World. He played a major role in promoting the values of sports in Bolivia and Latin America. José dedicated his life to fight against indifference to sports and the deplorable condition of the athletes in Bolivia. His country is one of the Third World`s poorest countries. Furthermore, Bolivia has had a record 194 attempted coups. However, under his leadership, several international congress and events were organized in La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. José was president of the Organizing Committee of the La Paz Bolivarian Games (1977) and for the South American Games in Bolivia (1978). As president of the Bolivian Olympic Committee (1970-1982), he led Bolivia to the best result ever in its history: 106 medals in the South American Games. He headed the Bolivian delegation at the Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. Many South Americans consider José Gamarra Zorrilla as the greatest South American Olympic leader of the 20th century.

This country had great sportspersons: Mario Martinez (tennis), Alan Saunders (nordic skiing), Milton Coimbra (football), Maria Ortuno (basketball), Giovanna Morejon Irusta (athletics), Ramiro Benavides (tennis), Anthony Iglesias (diving), Johnny Pérez (athletics), Scott Sanchez Saunders (nordic skiing), Oswaldo Morejon (track and field), William Arencibia (taekwondo), Erwin Sánchez (football), Ricardo Ramos (nordic skiing), Guadalupe Yañez (basketball), Betty Saavedra (basketball), Juan Rodrigo Camacho (athletics), Marco Etcheverry (football), Katherine Moreno (swimming), Roberto Nielsen Reyes (equestrian) and Billy Farwing Aranoa (nordic skiing).

Bolivia sent 7 sportspeople to the Winter Olympic Games in 1988. The South American skiers were Manuel Aramayo, Guillermo Avila Paz, Jaime Bascon, Jorge Bejarano, Enrique Montaño, Pedro Tichaver and Luis Vizcarra.

Julia Iriarte is the greatest Bolivian athlete of all time. Why? She won 5 gold and 3 silver medals at the 1947 Bolivarian Games in Lima, Peru. She became the star of the Games. Her gold medals were in the 80m hurdles, discus throw, shot put, long jump and high jump. Her homecoming was a huge success . After she was invited by president Enrrique Hertzog to the Government Palace (Palacio Quemado). She also won five gold medals in the South American Athletics Championships in La Paz in 1948. Under her coach, George Voeg , she broke several national records during the 1940s. Unfortunately, she did not compete at the 1948 Olympic Games in Helsinki (Finland). She was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia on December 20, 1919 to Placido Iriarte and Clara Velasco.

Bolivia participated at the 1979 Spartakiade of the Nations of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

From 1980 to 1984, the Bolivian government destroyed the sport. The South American athletes were not allowed to compete in the Olympics in 1980. Many sportspeople who had trained for years for the Games felt great frustration. Among these athletes were: Johnny Pérez (track and field), Luis Dario Vasquez (fencing), Mary Rojas (athletics), Walter Quiroga (shooting), Linda Spents (track and field), Isidro Guarachi (boxing), Walter Quispe (boxing), Edgar Cueto (cycling), Jean Young Kim Song (judo) and Antonieta Arizaga (swimming). Ironically, the USSR -host Olympic nation- subsidized Third World’s Olympic teams (Tanzania -one of the Africa`s poorest countries- sent 41 sportspersons). For political reasons, Bolivia also did not participate in the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas (Venezuela). For the first time since 1971, athletes from Bolivia did not took part in a Pan American. Unlike athletes from Haiti, Nicaragua, Chad and Sierra Leone ,Bolivian athletes had problems to go to Olympics Games in 1984.

Johnny Perez took part in the 1978 South American Games in La Paz, Bolivia, winning three gold medals in athletics, in 1,500m, 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase.

The La Paz Olympic Stadium is one of the most modern in Latin America and the Caribbean. Among the athletes who have competed in the Olympic Stadium are Romario de Souza Faria (soccer/ Brazil), Joao Carlos de Oliveira (athletics /Brazil), José Luis Chilavert (soccer /Paraguay), Tito Stenier (athletics /Argentina), Edith Noeding (track and field/ Peru) and Carlos Caetano Bledron Verri (soccer/ Brazil).

Giovanna Morejon Irusta finished 16th in the 20-kilometer walk at the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris, France.

Katherine Moreno was one of the youngest swimmers at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

The Bolivian team won the silver medal at the South American Basketball Championship and qualified for the World Women’s Basketball Championship in 1978 in Seoul (South Korea). Bolivia qualified for a world tournament for the first time.The heroines were: Janeth Blanco Saavedra, Betty Saavedra Zaconeta, Daysy Chucatini Torrico, Liceo Rojas Arteaga, Norma Zambrano Siles, Elizabeth Navia Ledesma, Guadalupe Yañez Heredia, Tania Claros Vargas, Antonieta Gudmanson Torres, Judith Quiñones Miranda and Vania Claros de Justinino.

Bolivia sent only one athlete (Fernando Inchauste Montalvo/ kayak) to the Summer Olympics in 1960.

From 1971 to 1979, 500 Bolivian athletes participated in international tournaments and competitions.

Like Hortencia Maria de Fatima Marcari (Brazil) and Carol Turney (Canada), Guadalupe Yañez was one of the best basketball players in the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan de Puerto Rico.

Erwin Sanchez was one of the most important football players in Bolivia in the 1990s.

From 1975 to 1977, more than 25 foreign coaches helped to train Bolivian sportspeople in preparation for the international competitions (Olympic Games, Bolivarian Games, Pan American Games and South American Games). The coaches were: Bornj Wangemann (athletics/ West Germany), Mike Lucero (basketball/ USA), Paul Gonzalez (basketball/ USA), Stanislav Golubkov (boxing/ USSR), Heriberto Diaz (cycling/ Mexico), Pedro Escobar (equestrian / Chile), Stanislav Spyra (fencing/ Poland), Walter Madel (fencing/ West Germany), Eduardo Virba (football/ West Germany), Dale Cutler (gymnastics/ USA), Donald Howorth (gymnastics/ USA), Pedro Ortega (gymnastics/ Mexico), Jasuhido Takasuka (judo/ Japan), Benigno Marquez (wrestling/ Venezuela), Karol Czarkoswki (weightlifting/ Poland), Wu Yu Yung (swimming/ Taiwan), Yadwiga Czarkoswka (swimming/ Poland), Adolfo Coronado (swimming/ Ecuador), Francis Conway (shooting/ USA), Nicolay Durnev (shooting/ USSR), Cselaw Gajdamovicz (volleyball/ Poland), Tien Heing Hisch (volleyball/ China), Chiu Chiao Chi (volleyball/ Taiwan) and Lin Chou Nou (volleyball/ China).