Dream Café

Dear Colleagues

Last Monday evening, we were invited to “Dream Café” in CaddeBostan Cultural Center in Istanbul. For those who do not know where it is, the address is - CKM HaldunTaner Street.11, CaddeBostan, Kadikoy- Telephone 0216- 4670387

At about 1900 hours, we chose left end corner table and ordered a good Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon and Cesar’s salad each, it was like we were in the film "Sideways" in conversation with Paul Giamatti or in "A Good Year" with Russell Crowe,

At 2200 hours, the middle tables were removed and beautiful ladies, handsome gentlemen appeared, they changed their ordinary walking shoes with dancing shoes, we understood that on Monday evenings at 2200 hours they have a regular program of “Tango Hour, dance of passion”

So our film changed and we started to watch "Shall We Dance?" with many Richard Gere- Jennifer Lopez couples dancing with passion as if they were on a rough sea.

At about 2300 hours, a young man with seeing disability (blind) with his mother (presumably) came to the café. At first he danced with his mother. Then the other ladies wanted to dance with him. He was dancing Tango with great talent, with no hesitation, no disability, with no restraint as if the dancing platform was all his

So the film again changed and we started to watch Al Pacino's "Scent Of A Woman"

At about 2400 hours while we were leaving, he was still dancing

“Dream Café" is this type of hot place where you can watch 4-films nonstop, and you do not know which backstage you are in.

Nabucco in Ankara Opera House

Last night, I was in Ankara Opera house to attend Nabucco.

Staging an opera like "Nabucco" (Nebuchadnezzar), a masterpiece by Giuseppe Verdi and one of the most glorious pieces in opera history, in Ankara is really painstaking work and requires courage, said Ankara State Opera and Ballet Director Mr Gürçil Çeliktaş in the booklet.

"Nabucco" is Verdi's third opera and the one that gained him a permanent reputation as a composer and is considered to be one of the most glorious operas in terms of costume and stage design, together with Verdi's opera “Aida” and Puccini's "Turandot."

Based on a biblical story, the four-act performance is the story of the destruction of Jerusalem and the plight of the Hebrew slaves in Babylonian captivity during the reign of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, full of passion, romance and political intrigue.

"The best-known number from this opera is Hebrews' Chorus, "Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate" ("Fly, thought, on golden wings"). Music historians have long perpetuated a powerful myth about the famous "Va, pensiero" chorus sung in the third act by the Hebrew slaves. Scholars have long believed the audience, responding with nationalistic fervor to the slave's powerful hymn of longing for their homeland, demanded an encore of the piece. As encores were expressly forbidden by the government at the time, such a gesture would have been extremely significant. However, recent scholarship puts this and the corresponding myth of "Va, pensiero" as the national anthem of the Risorgimento, to rest. Although the audience did indeed demand an encore, it was not for "Va, pensiero" but rather for the hymn "Immenso Jehova," sung by the Hebrew slaves to thank God for saving his people. In light of these new revelations, Verdi's position as the musical figurehead of the Risorgimento has been correspondingly downplayed. Today, "Va, pensiero" is regularly given an encore when performed; interestingly, it is the only encore Metropolitan Opera conductor James Levine has ever allowed" says Wikipedia

Ankara Opera House choire was extraordinary last night while singing "Va, pensiero".

Italians mourned at Verdi's grave when he died on Jan. 27, 1901, singing “Va Pensiero” from “Nabucco,” which is be staged in Ankara for the first time last night.

The performance is being put on by Ankara State Opera and Ballet Director Gurcil Celiktas, with a cast of 242. Ankara State Opera and Ballet General Music Director Dario Lucantoni and Sunay Muratov will alternately conduct the opera, with costume and stage design by İsmail Dede.

Celiktas says that the piece is the first composition that gained Verdi a permanent reputation as a composer in the opera world, adding: “The piece will be staged in the capital for the first time. It is one of the most spectacular operas in the world in terms of costume and stage design. It is really a painstaking work that needs courage to stage.” in the booklet.

Stating that the opera had been shown in numerous countries around the world and that they had had difficulty due to the physical requirements of the stage, he said: “The stage is small. We thus tried to match the stage with our huge list of artists in the piece. Moreover, the role of Abigail is one of the most difficult roles in operatic literature. Greek soprano Maria Callas, one of the best-known opera singers of the post-World War II period, once said that the role pushed the limits of the human voice and was too emotional and that she wouldn't perform it again, after doing so in 1949 for the first and last time.”

“The leading role of Nabucco, on the other hand, requires a strong and sensitive voice. We tried to be faithful to the original form and text of the piece. I hope the Ankara audience will like the performance,” said Celiktas in the booklet.

Eralp KIYICI, Metin Turan, Ünüşan Kuloğlu, Bülent Ateşoğlu, Tuncay Kurtoğlu, Mithat Karakelle, Nilgün Akkerman, Reyhan Görbil, Şebnem Algın are some of the artists who will be performing.

I feel that I need to go to Ankara Opera House multiple times in order to understand and appreciate the beauty of Nabucco. I plan to be there on 29th Dec 2006 once again. 13th and 20th January 2007 are the dates for the next performances.

Economic Crisis of Turkey- Creation and Solutions

Dear Colleagues

Yesterday lunch time, at about 12 hours we gathered in Cicek (Flower) restaurant at Tunali and Bulten Streets of Ankara. We are year 1968 graduates of Ankara Ataturk High School -6th grade science section/ all- male class.

Our waiter Mehmet Bey- retiree of Presidential Palace, welcomed us and after our courtesy wording back & forth, he advised us to taste their Black Sea fish grill (hamsi tava). As usual he exaggerated his service with lots of salad and dessert and tea.

While having our lunch, we sent SMS mobile messages to our colleagues who missed our lunch but would be in Ankara, to join us. One of them, just after his recent landing to Ankara airport, heading to his office, joined us within 15 minutes. He got cold flue during long hours of international flight to participate a tender in Libya. He explained his last experience in tendering. He says that administration is adding new procedures into commercial tender documents such as compulsory partnering with a local company not less that 30% ownership etc.

Since we approach to New year, we gave our book presents to each other. My choice was Ms. Zeynep Atikkan’s “American Insanity” explaining the difficult procedures/ and policies after 9/11.

My present was “New Economic Crisis of Turkey- Creation and solutions” by a young scholar named Selim Somcag. Who is this guy?? What sort of book is this? With those questions in my mind, I started reading the book before sleep as if it was one of Orhan Pamuk books. However I could not sleep all night. I finished the book. I strongly recommend you to read the book. You can sleep later, if you can.

We have no forward messages here, all original. Your comments are always welcome.

Global Capital, Local Banking Sector and Alienation

Dear Colleagues

Yesterday evening, I attended a Panel in ODTU alumni Club Visnelik premises conference hall.

Panel subject was "Global Capital, Local Banking Sector and her Alienation"

Panelists were

Dr. Ergin YILDIZOGLU - Cumhuriyet Daily newspaper
"Financial capital at its last stage of Globalization and evolution of the financial sector"

Prof. Dr. Oktar TUREL, ODTU (Retired) Academic
"Restructuring in Turkish banking Sector after 1980 and -Re-regulation"

Hakan OZYILDIZ , Deputy Undersecretary of Treasury (R), Consultant in TEB Bank
"Capital accumulation in Turkey, financial restructuring and foreign Capital"

Panel Moderator: Seçkin GÜLTAN (MAN’86)

Let me try to summarize my notes taken during Panel

Turkey has a very fragile financial structure and also very fragile economy. People insist on keeping their saving in foreign money - USD or Euro- in local banks despite of low interest return. Due to tough international competition in international markets, Turkish companies cannot generate enough money to finance themselves, they have profit squeeze, so they look for external financing. Private company savings are not much. Private companies can not generate enough profit for self financing. In the history we had always the same experience in capital generation and financing the projects. We always look for restructuring of dept, not restructuring the companies in financial difficulty. Contrary to the general practice in the past we need to concentrate on restructuring the companies in dept, we should let them to bankrupt if needed.

In future, if we shall face a devaluation of local money against foreign currencies - which is expected in 2007- local companies with high dept will face financial difficulty, and hence their ownership may be changed, and banks may get their ownership, that may not be avoidable, nor should be to change the natural consequence.

In the international financial markets, foreign banks had certain saturation in their local banking instruments, they cannot generate more income. However, Turkish local market still has opportunities since it is not much utilized. That is why international financial institutions are coming into Turkish banking sector. It is roughly estimated that they now have almost 1/3 of Turkish banking sector.

In future if USD gets appreciated high, and we face devaluation in the local money, transfer of company ownership will accelerate, and most of the local companies will be owned by financial institutions, frankly speaking into foreign ownership.

Nowadays, the financial figures as released by Turkish Central Bank, and her "expectation public surveys" are not optimistic. We questioned that we ask ourselves "are we approaching a very well foreseen financial crisis in early 2007 ?" What can be done?

We need to erase our foreign dept as much as possible, we need to reduce our expenses, we need to save foreign currency as much as possible. We need to be in "liquid" financial position. You cannot sell your real estate in financial crises, but you can purchase many.

While driving home, I listen to NTV Radio, Can Dundar's "Why?" program. Tarhan Erdem, a reputable and reliable pollster, said " Turkey will experience RTE as the new President in 2007. There is no escape from this result. There is no alternative in the opposition. There will be no military coup. "

Today Ege Cansel says in his Hurriyet daily article "We can only pass the financial crises with the foreign savings of private citizens. This foreign savings will be the buffer to compensate financial crises."

Both political as well as financial crises as expected in early 2007 in the local market, will create a difficult time for the people in Turkey in the short run. We cannot estimate how the management in power will manage these difficult times. I would estimate that we shall force our tolerance limits to live in harmony in our democracy. Your comments are always welcome

Mission Completed

Dear Colleagues

This morning I planned to fulfill my long postponed mission to complete.

Let me try to tell about, maybe it may concern yourselves.

Earlier I was leaving my car to nearby certified service station and they would created an expensive invoice at the end of the day

Nowadays I do it in a different procedure and that is more competitive

My car exceed 60,000 km millage, so it was time for a major overhaul, which I was postponing for a while.

This morning I was too determined to complete my mission.

First I stopped at the gas station and filled my tank full, then asked the workers to wash my car.

Then I drove to car mechanics compound. First I stopped at the spare parts shop and purchased the following

4 lt (10-40) engine oil 35 YTL
Oil filter 3 YTL
Air filter 9 YTL
4 new spark plugs 25 YTL
Trigger belt 125 YTL
Recirculation pump 95 YTL
Radiator belt 15 YTL
4-lt anti-freeze liquid 20 YTL

With some loyal client deductions, I paid total 300 YTL

Please do note that 4 YTL is 3 US Dollars at the current rate of exchange

Then I called my mechanic Dursun by my cellular if he would be available, he was.
So I drove to his workshop early morning.

Two youngsters dismantled the old belts, filters, spark plugs etc, and replaced them also the engine oil and engine anti-freeze liquid.

The old recirculation pump was also leaking so I was lucky to replace

I paid 70 YTL total, we had some conversation with my mechanic as well as with other newcomer clients, how to put order into our existing local national economy, where to invest or where not to invest, get more prudent, reduce spending etc.

I gave 2- soft drinks to workshop trainees for their lunch

With pleasure to complete my mission, then I drove to my favorite local restaurant, ordered local fish soup, fish with rice, and dessert plus tea, and paid 15 YTL

There is no forwarding any incoming mail from my end, all deliveries are original as always, and Your comments are always welcome,

Creative Writing Class in Ankara

Dear Colleagues

Last Wednesday, we completed our first period of “Creative Writing” course in METU (Middle East Technical University) Alumni Premises, the fifth session, one class per week.

We could name our activity as “Introduction To Creative Writing” from a reputable Turkish novel writer. Our teacher, Mehmet Eroglu (METU CE’71 graduate) said “Writing, is stripping in the crowd”, as stated earlier by J.P Sartre, he continues some more sayings maybe from reputable writers or original from himself

”The worst master in the world is our own habits” which we do not want to change,

“The easiest person we can deceive, is ourselves”

”Whatever we postpone all our life, we should immediately start to do it right now”

”The most important thing is to use your time in correct way”

He said that he started to play saxophone in his mid-40s. Nobody took him seriously when he started since he knew nothing about reading the musical notes. However he said that he worked 2-3 times more than others. Now he can play at 100 pop pieces properly. He has certain limitations obviously. For example he still can not play “improvisation” and he feels that he will never do it.

He left his high income top management post from a local construction company in his mid-50s, and devoted all his time to writing.

He is now giving “Creative Writing” lessons to newcomers in a Journalism Foundation (UM:AG) in Ankara

He has about 10 best seller books in the local bookstores.

He says “Artists, writers are selfish, in order to create something important, they should devote all their time to work and suffer, there is no more time for anything else”.

Some sayings he loves to state from other writers,

”What a pity to value goodness, rather than to be good” Moby Dick- McRude ??

"I will not have my hair style to this years fashion " Lillian Hepburn (to respond Elia Kazan)

"Big things can not be done without love" Schoendoerfer

Our teacher says, "Freedom is either complete or non-existed. Each morning it should be gained once again".

"Do not satisfy with small happiness, get bigger expectation from happiness "

Then he taught how he wrote his books,

“When you write a book, a novel, you should write the end at first. Then you will plot the writing with that fixed end. You should know the end upfront. When you complete the book, you should read your writing loud, to check if words flow smoothly one after another, without any interruption, ”

“If there is no courage, personal virtues are at danger”

“Macho courage may slide to wilderness so easily.

”You should leave all your ethical values, in order to create you need destruction first, break your taboos first”

”Art is something to get used to death. All living creatures will die. Art, courage to create, is something to reach immortality, to live in future. Saying -Do not forget me! Living in the future is only possible through Art”

”While writing, you should question every preaccepted notion”

”You will have a talents to take risks”

”Limitations are necessary and good for creations. The most important thing is to create something incredible within limitations. The most important artworks are created by order”

”Creation can be learnt”

”You should have extraordinary work discipline”

”Happiness is something within seconds. Literature is writing PAIN on plain paper. It is expressing feelings. It is expressing of beauty.”

”You should have a story in order to write”

“Artist have a responsibility to the community”

”The real critic is time”

”You will have characters in your novel, they should have pain, they should have pain of indecisiveness, they should have difficult choices, they should suffer because of their incorrect untimely choices. Main characters cannot be happy in the novel. Each character should have a function, evolving in the novel, a clear consistency in their responses.”

Born in 1947 in Izmir, English based high school, then Civil Engineering from METU in 1971. Long term prison due to political activities. Then trilogy during his prison years, Many Literature prizes in 1980s. Then work in public institutions then in a private construction company. Then one day, leaving everything just to write novels and giving lessons how to write.

His web site in Turkish is http://www.mehmeteroglu.info

His email address is mehmete@umag.org.tr

The first book he advised in his first lesson was "Tatar Desert" by Dino BUZATTI.

In the last lesson, we evaluated that book. A young lieutenant goes to a remote castle next to a desert at border. He waits there all his career to fight against enemy. In the end enemy comes, but it is too late. He is to old to fight.

Teacher says “talent, is combination of energy and determination”

”Creation, is sum of talent, preparation and imagination”

”Imagination, is habit of dreaming”

”Art, needs creation and courage.”

He advised us the book named “Courage of Creation” by Rollo May, of USA. I purchased and started reading now.

”Those who would take the writer to future, are real readers, critics and mostly the luck.”

Do you wish me to write more about our “Creative Writing” lessons in Ankara?

Please feel free to post your comments, and advise the original wording of those sayings stated above.

10 Rules for Being a Great Panel Moderator

1. Be quiet. Too many moderators think they're actually panelists. They never shut up. Still other moderators won't let panelists engage one another without interjecting a question, a comment, or a snide aside. Don't. Your job is to help the conversation happen, and then get the hell out of the way.

2. Be loud. Your job is to visibly and audibly keep the panelists on track, thus helping the audience feel safe and secure. If it seems that no-one's in charge they worry that they'll be stuck in this room for the rest of their life (see point 9). So be loud about telling people why they're there, what's going to happen, and when it's going to end. Let there be no uncertainty that you're in charge and going to make this worthwhile.

3. Be prepared. Know the subject at least as well as most of the panelists. You can't steer a discussion that you don't understand. Have ready a set of topic-organized possible questions, provocative statements, quotes from third parties, Madonna music lyrics, or whatever conversation starters you think will work. Be prepared, of course, to abandon all of them if the discussion takes an unexpected and interesting turn.

4. Be an invisible conductor. A great moderator invisibly plays his panelists like a life-size set of musical instruments. You're conducting a chaotic and wilful orchestra, so you have to know what instruments you've got and what their strengths and weaknesses are. Don't, however, steer every question: Let people surprise you -- and the audience -- with the notes they're able to hit.

5. Be able to think about more than two things at once. This is a biggie. When I'm moderating I'm typically listening to the current discussion, while thinking about my overall planned discussion arc ... the time ... how long the current discussion has gone on ... and about where I want to go next on my way to closing the arc. If you can't do that sort of thing -- or at least three of 'em -- reconsider being a moderator.

6. Be deferential. You're not the star. The panelists are. The audience is. You're just there to keep things moving and make sure that the next panel starts on time.

7. Be ruthless. While you're not the star, you need to be the audience's advocate on time, answers, and issues. Cut off filibusters. Tell people that you don't think they answered the question. Ask follow-ups. Summarize an audience member's question in a way that makes sense, even if has nothing to do with their deranged question. Even, as a last resort, cut off spirited panel discussion if it is going on too long. (As a rule you'll never get through more than three broad issues in a single panel, so be careful not to over-stuff the thing.)

8. Be clear. Good moderators, like good interviewers, ask short questions and make clear statements. Watch the best interviewers on television, even people like Larry King: Their questions are almost always short, declarative, and direct. Who? What? Why? What about? They want to get the issue on the table and get things going.

9. Be timely. This is so important. Get the panel started on time, keep it moving, and get it done on time. And never let there be any doubt that you're going to pull the trick off. Let people see you confidently check your watch. Let people know that you know there's "only five minutes left". Let people see you confidently keep the discussion moving. Manage time, or don't be a moderator.

10.Be fun. I shouldn't have to say this, but I have experienced enough funereal, unsmiling, self-important, and over-serious (and sometimes all four at once) panel moderators that it has to be said: If you don't have fun, your panel won't have fun, and your audience won't have fun. The world does not need more unfun conference panels.

Tal Salhab, Syria

Ankara December 12, 1993 9:57 AM

Minutes of meeting in Tal Salhab, Syria

We visited Tal- Salhab Sugar factory in December 7, 1993 Tuesday between 0900-1400 hours. Sugar plant is originally built by Italians. It is clearly understood that quality of equipment is generally not good. We met two engineers then their technical manager in the plant.

Client would like to have steam attemperation between 40-60 tph steam output range, at 35kg/cm2 pressure and 380+/- 10C steam temperature. General process requirement is 90 tons. They have three each 30 tph Galtieri/Italy supply steam boilers and one 10 tph hot water boiler for service water requirements.

Feedwater is received from condensate water tank at 105C which is situated on the first floor at about 8meter elevation. No deaerator, no water treatment necessary. They need two each new 100% capacity feedwater pumps, one driven by steam turbine, the other with e/m. Ambient temperature is assumed to be 35C. (summertime, day temperatures between 30-40C, night 20-25C). Altitude is 300m

New boiler will be placed in an open space close to fueloil tanks. They have one fueloil nr.6 and one diesel oil daily tank plus Main fuel tanks 700 ton and 90 tons.

The real difficulty in this proposal is that they would like to have the civil works to be carried out by the client. Soil is week. Some parts of the plant, piling has been done for 22meter deep. Boukai advises us to contact a local civil contractor to handle the civil works but requests us to deliver the necessary civil works design drawings, loadings etc to delivered as soon as possible. He also advises that rule of thump 1m3 reinforced concrete is about 400 Syrian Pounds (approximately 10 US$). That has to be reviewed carefully.

Available electrical conditions is 380volts/3ph/50HZ and they have enough capability in their nearby transformer upto 1000KW. We shall deliver our MCC and control panel. Control panel will be next to existing control panel serving existing 3 boilers. New controls will be able to work parallel to existing pneumatic controls. In a separate tender, they also want to have replacement of existing pneumatic controls with new ones. We offered all microprocessor replacement, but they did not accept.

Acid cleaning procedure is requested. Expanders and tube replacement equipment is requested in maintenance equipment.

In a separate package, they need our assistance for vendor specifications for one each Pressure reducing station for 30tph steam 3bar/1bar. We promised to assist them through Boukai.

Existing Back Pressure Steam Turbine is cantieri Navali Reuniti, Genova.

Year 1976, Max Output, 5,250KW

A Turkish company whose name is Glenko, Istanbul (phone 5624782) has worked in the plant to supply conveyors. We faxed them to have further information to have local information and assistance.

Plant is generally not in good condition. There may be further activities to be carried out after receiving the first order. BWG general manager Mr. Jeffrey Green was with me in this visit.

Eskisehir, The best City to live in Turkey

On last Saturday morning at about 0800 AM we departed from METU Ankara campus, 6 teachers, 18 students of Arch-301 course from Architecture Department.

Tour was headed by Prof Aydan Balamir and her co-supervisor Architect Kadri Atabas, both of METU Faculty of Architecture.

We had first stop in SivriHisar town, 150 km west of Ankara, for breakfast. We had linden soup.

We saw "Armenian Church" at the far end of SivriHisar town. We noted that we should organize another tour for that point.

Then we had a stop in "Seyit Battal Gazi" Castle, an extraordinary ancient structure.

We had lunch in nearby local restaurant-
operated by Ayfer-Turhan Yayla couple, named "Soup Maker".
Delicious Soup and meatballs. (0222- 671 2363)

Then we arrived to Kutahya, at about 1500 hours,

and visited The Grand Mosque which took its name from the 14th century mosque in the early Ottoman style (with many columns and no dome). The first mosque was later demolished and rebuilt in the late 19th century as a huge domical structure in the classical Ottoman style

plus other educational structures, and museum.

Last stop was Germiyen Mansion (0274- 2245552) which was operated as a coffeehouse. We had tea- coffee and various deserts

Later in Kutahya we had a half hour stop at “Gurallar porcelain factory”, and we had purchases at reasonable prices. Students preferred various coffee mugs.

We arrived to Anatolian University YunusEmre Campus Guest house at about 2100 hours, for unloading our personal belongings and get refreshed

We had tne dinner in a small buffet near Train station, we had soup and meatballs

Then we went to disco named "222" earlier named "Doors" converted from a small fabrication plant which were producing flour earlier. Entrance fee was 20 YTL per person including first drink. We preferred one glass of red wine Doluca. Mainly Turkish pop in huge volume, live performance. We then returned to our guest house at about 0200 hours early Sunday morning.

Open buffet breakfast on Sunday Morning. Campus tour. Japanese gardens.

City tour in OdunPazari (Wood Market) ancient city, recently renovated.

We visited Kursunlu Religious building structure. 16th Century.

Ministry enforcement of 80% facing application of brickworks. Good application.

Then we had in-city tour along Porsuk river,
on pedestrian paths, new bridges over the river, new statues

Light rail public transportation to reach fast anywhere in the city.

We had Lunch in Tatar restaurant- special Tatar raw borek / pastry

Visit to “Art Museum” in Campus

“HayalPares” Disco structure, converted from machinery plant

New Shopping mall "Haller" converted from a vegetable indoor marketing hall.
"Shakespeare Cafe Pub Restaurant" was extraordinary. (0222-320 2525)

On Return we had stop again in SivriHisar, beans- rice- yogurt

Arrival to Ankara at about 2200 hours, home by taxi.

We had an extraordinary tour. We felt like living in a medium size Mid- European city in EskiSehir.

It is not incorrect to state that Eskisehir is the best city to live in Turkey.

We congratulate Eskisehir Municipality and the extraordinary Mayor Prof Yilmaz Buyukersen.

Also many thanks to our Organisers.

Student Advisor Program in METU Alumni Ankara

Dear Colleagues

We would like to share the photograph we have taken during our "Student Advocate/ Advisor" program on 11th November 2006 for joint meeting of graduate advisors and their reciprocal METU students for orientation and training in METU Alumni Association premises in Visnelik Ankara.

Thank you for your participation to the event.

A letter from 1992

Ankara September 28, 1992

Dear Brother,

After we left you two in Klassis, we drove on E-5 to home. Haner slept in the car all way back home. It was 0300 hours we reached home. We have been stopped by the traffic policemen on the same spot. All other drivers were paying fines due to high alcoholic consumption. I was the only one without any drop of alcohol despite of the fact that I was in the marriage ceremony of my brother. Before our departure for Classis, your father-in-law was worried about Istanbul night time traffic, and said us to be very careful. I told him that I consumed no alcohol that night other than the liqueur which was recently brewed by your mother-in-law hanim at 1800 hours which I could not refuse. Policemen allowed me to go. I was not drunk but tired. next day till 0900 hours we all slept in the house. Then had our breakfast (or brunch lets call it). I left the house at 1200 hours, drove carefully, had my dinner at Filiz restaurant at around 1800 hours and arrived Ankara at 2100 hours. Highway was Ok but certain sections were not finished yet, and we had to drive with the same speed as the heavy truck at around 50 km per hour. Back home, Dilek and Aydin were in theater played by Kenters, and Mehmet was together with a neighbor family in Kurt swimming club. I was tired and slept.

Next day I went work quite late. That evening I was talking to a friend my mine, who is actually a client for further opportunities. he invited me to join him to visit Cerkezkoy plants the next day. I reluctantly agreed to join him. On Wednesday morning I drove to airport early in the morning at 0500 hours. Streets were empty. I left my car in airport parking place. Took the early flight to Istanbul at 0645 by Airbus 320. It was a pleasant flight. Plane landed at 800 hours. He was waiting for me to drive to Cerkezkoy. We drove 1 hour on the same E-5 which we used on Thursday.

I had a meeting in Cerkezkoy together with Mehmet Ozata, General manager of Aken (Aksa Autoproductive Energy Inc) on September 23, 1992 Wednesday between 0900-1600 hours. Dinckok and Altinyildiz Group of Companies had a board meeting on September 22, 1992, and there they fully authorized Mr.Ozata to execute the necessary measures for the investment for Combined Cycle plant in their plants situated in Cerkezkoy Organized Industrial Zone. Cerkezkoy Organized Industrial Zone is approximately 100 km far from Istanbul Ataturk International Airport. There are 3 factories which are Aksu (blankets, various wool products), Dinarsu (wall- to- wall carpet), Akkim (chemicals for the textile industry). There are also many industrial plants owned by other companies (AEG, VW, etc).

We met with upper management of these factories in Aksu meeting room, while I shared the same side of the table with Ozata. We have been informed that on the previous day Board of directors were not happy in truth of the electricity and steam estimations and they asked Ozata to investigate and finalize the actual requirements as required by 1994 without any safety margin. This combined cycle plant will have estimated 30 million DM overall cost, or approximately 300 billion TL equivalent in 1995. Aken is very profitable company and will finance the overall project from its own sources. Ozata explained that Turkey will have an critical energy shortage starting from 1995-96.

The plants in the European side of Turkey in Thrace will be effected most since it is very far from Hydraulic Dams all in the east, and moreover electricity transmission lines are not reliable. Therefore these plants need urgent self sufficiency in electricity before that shortage. After that long explanation of Ozata supported by my further explanation, the plant managers understood the vital importance of this investment. The initial requirement was 17 MW for Cerkezkoy plants, and 10 MW for Altinyildiz. Altinyildiz and Elboy (4) plants are situated in Yeni Bosna which are very near to airport. An assistant has visited these plants on behalf of Ozata on the same day. After explaining our purpose to be there, we understood that by the end of 1994 Aksu will need 6.4MW, Dinarsu 5.0 MW, and Akkim 2.0MW peak electricity demand. That gives us not 17MW but approximately 13.4 MW overall demand. He is aware of a package prepared by Mitsubishi for Turbomach which is identical to Aksa Gas Turbine. An identical AKSA Gas Turbine Mitsubishi MF111 may also cover Altinyildiz electricity requirement from Cerkezkoy. We also asked the plant managers where to locate the new combined cycle plant. They agreed to allocate an empty space on the open field which is very far from expected new plant (warehouse etc) extensions. They mutually agreed to give that empty space but only after approval from the big boss Omer Dinckok.

Ozata, in our informal talk during car drive, expressed his pleasure to be invited to Paris Cogen meeting where he had opportunity to meet competent and responsible people to work with. He thanks BWG for being informed. He also declared that he will be pleased to join any similar HRSG, Cogen seminar in USA if prepared by B&W. I assured him that there are similar seminars, and I will let him know the details.

Other than Dinckok group of companies, Boyner (plus 4 factories of Enboy) owned by Boyner group also interested in the project and joined to these board meetings which took place on September 22, 1992 Tuesday in Akhan, Aksa Istanbul head quarter. Dinckok and Boyner groups want to work together for joint effort to solve their energy problems in near future. Both groups have same individuals in their Board of directors with different percentages of company shares. Board members of both company groups have all agreed to initiate the investment and authorized AKEN (Ozata) to make all necessary actions for the combined cycle investment of both company groups. Overall steam requirement for all three plants is 40-45 tph with two different pressures 21 and 6 bar respectively. 6 bar steam output is required for the existing process and 21 bar(approx.15-17 tph) is needed for Steam Injection for higher electricity output as well as lower NOx emission.

It was calculated that the payback period would be less than 3 years in Aksa group and this fact is acceptable for the members of the Board of Directors. On the other hand, the other industrial group Altinyildiz consumes approximately 6.5 MW electricity and 15 tph steam.There may be one additional Combined cycle plant to be erected next to Altinyildiz plant for their individual energy consumption or alternatively its electricity requirement can be produced in Cerkezkoy and delivered to national grid and received from Altinyildiz through TEK's transmission lines. 25 bar natural gas pressure is required for the gas turbine firing whereby the existing natural gas pressure reducing station only delivers 20bar/and 4bar. Therefore pressure adjustment is necessary in near future. Ozata also asked plant managers their suggestions how to handle the man power requirements. He would like to have a number of local labours already working in Cerkezkoy plants to be transferred to Aksa for on- the- job training period then later to return to Cerkezkoy as qualified GT operators. In principle, plant managers agreed to give these boiler operators to Aksa for gas turbine operation training.

He left me at the airport at 1600 hours. I had my dinner there and booked for 1715 flight. I came to Ankara at 1800 hours, took my car from parking place, drove back home.

On Thursday our refrigerator was out of order. Motor has been replaced with renovated one. It cost us 450,000 TL. Yesterday we went to ODTU swimming pool for Mehmet. He is a very good swimmer. He has been selected for the team. It was a wonderfull facility. I will join them as graduate member soon.

Today at 1000 hours, I talked to energy coordinator of Koc Holding, about their new Combined Cycle plants to be erected in Otosan (Ford automobiles) and Tofas (Fiat autos) in order to reduce the energy dependency to national grid. He knows that Turkey will enter an energy shortage in 1995 and Koc Holding is making necessary preparation for energy investments. They will come to Ankara to meet the officials in TEK, Ministry of Energy and State Planning Organization to learn and carry out the necessary bureaucracies to implement such investment. Both plants need electricity plus process steam, they both can be furnished through combined cycle plants. He promised me to visit our head office during his time in Ankara to investigate our capabilities for HRSG's and further collaboration wherever possible.

Today at 1430 hours, I talked to project coordinator of Canakkale Cimento (Cement plant) for their new 60 MW cogeneration investment. He informed me that they secured 200,000 US$ from US Trade and Development Agency and the treaty has been signed recently both by Turkish Treasury and US Ambassador to Turkey. In accordance with AID Handbook-11 regulations, the invitation to prequalification for the feasibility will be advertised in the magazine "Business and Commerce Daily", a sort of unofficial periodical of AID procedures, then the applicants will be screened for to be prequalified. In order to receive this donation, the selected consultant company should be an US company or an affiliate or JVC in Turkey. Cogen plant will utilize nearby Can lignites which is very famous with its high sulphur content (7-8%). Boiler will be pulverized or fluid bed coal fired steam boiler (+lime injection to reduce SO2 emission) coupled with steam turbines. The price of the feasibility is fixed 200,000 US$. Mutual meetings by €anakkale and interested US parties in USA will be arranged within 2 months.

Your Colleague was here on Thursday. He had a feeling about working atmosphere in our office. I don't feel that he may come back to Turkey. All his activities are in USA, he has nothing to do here, not to mention any financial satisfaction. I explained him that a newcomer received not more than 1000 US$ whatever he has wonderful qualifications. We had a dinner in our Pink House. Its best time is lunch hour. He is Ankara TED 1974 graduate. Did you know that?

Dilek is very busy with Ankara Philharmonic concert Hall Architectural conquest. She is one of reporters who makes the necessary preparations for the jury. We go together even on Saturday and Sundays. I hope everything will be finalized by the end of this week. Aydin is very happy in his new school. He works hard, prepares his homeworks without any complaint.

My mother and father left for Bodrum on last Saturday night. They should now be in Odak summer house. They are going to call me later. I hope they like the place. In June time it is wonderful to stay, now I have no idea how it is. I hope they enjoy.

Today I received the official wedding pictures. You both are beautiful. Send the negatives so that we can have one complete set of photograghs for ourselves.

You may wonder why this English letter is all about. Please note that most of the part was prepared as interoffice memorandum and it was easy to merge all together to create a new English letter to you. It is not to prove how terrible I read and write English. The actual reason is very simple. Last weekend I borrowed the office laptop computer in order to work at home for preperation of latest marketing reports. This letter was also drafted there in English because there was no Turkish letter code in that laptop. You have to read this letter which was written in your brother's Pilgrim English. Be sure that next letter will be in Turkish. Keep this letter for yourselves.

Sincerely,

Your brother

Greetings of the Season and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year

How do they celebrate Christmas in Turkey? Simply put, they/ We don't!

But the New Year is recognised with greetings, decorations, gifts, and parties, so you would be forgiven if you thought that it was Christmas that was being celebrated. Christmas Day is a normal workday in the office, so expatriates have to take vacation if they don't want to work that day. The only holiday is New Year's Day, but people do take an extra day or so to extend that.

However, there are quite a number of expatriates from Western countries in Ankara who do celebrate Christmas. Christmas trees are available for purchase, along with decorations to go on them. The bigger hotels have special Christmas menus, and Santa Claus has been known to visit. As St. Nicolas was a Bishop in Myra, Turkey, this seems appropriate. Children from the German School and the British School give carol concerts in the Hilton on successive Sunday afternoons, and the choir and band from the American High School sing and play in the Sheraton. These hotels, and others, have Christmas trees, and the Sheraton also has a gingerbread house six feet high.

The expatriate community holds parties, dinner dances, and celebrations large and small. The Anglican Church connected with the British Embassy (St. Nicolas again!)has a Nativity Play put on by the children. Also a Carol Service, followed by mince pies and mulled wine; a Midnight Communion on Christmas Eve; and a family Service on Christmas Day.

So, although there is no public or official recognition of Christmas, there is enough going on that it is not too different from home.

Finally, from all in Ankara, Turkey:

Saglik ve Mutluluk Dileklerimizle Yeni Yilinizi Kutlariz !

which means

Greetings of the Season and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year

A Past Incident in Istanbul in 1996

Accident Report August 16, 1996 Friday
Istanbul Kempinski Hotel Ciragan Palace at 15:30.

This accident report is written for files only for future application if needed.

Our sales team departed from Akcakoca Diapolis Hotel at 11:00 hours. We had approximately 200 kilometres to reach Istanbul. Our driver local Mustafa Topal was on the driving steer.
JV Company General Manager, Mr. Don L. McKenzie, an American expatriate and his wife were at the back seat.

At about 01:00PM, we crossed the second Bosporus Bridge named Fatih (named after Sultan Mehmet II), to arrive Kempinski Hotel before our scheduled meetings with two different clients. We crossed the bridge, and followed the traffic signs to arrive (at a) parallel street on Bosporus. We turned right, first lost the road; (then) we made a circle to reach to the first place.

Then we asked a taxi driver how to reach the parallel road which leads to (the) hotel. He explained the right direction and (we) asked (if we could) follow him since he was going in the same direction. We followed him down (hill). (The) road was very narrow and steep. A private driver with a white Renault Flash car, with (a) mobile phone in his hand, (and was) probably talking at that time, was driving upwards, (and) accidentally lost control for a while, closing (the) left lane.

(The) taxi in front of us (had to brake immediately to avoid striking him.) We were just behind him, and our driver could not brake (in) time and we (collided with his rear bumper) We immediately stopped another taxi, and let our GM and his wife to leave the accident site to go to the Hotel.

Then we checked the damage. (The) taxi's rear bumper was broken, (and our) left light and radiator were damaged.

Since I had no mobile phone available, I hitchhiked to nearest police station to report the accident. (The) police said they (were) not responsible; we should (call) the nearest police car on duty. They called 155- toll-free, and explained the
situation and gave direction(s) (to) where the accident (had)happened. I took
another taxi and arrived (at the) accident point.

(The) white car driver called his colleagues by his mobile phone. Two cars arrived in 10-15 minutes to support and assist their friends. Then they started to complain that they (were) not guilty, (that) they have many things to do, and they (had) to leave. We insisted (that they) stayed until police car arrived and (examined) the site.

(The) police car arrived (within) half an hour, (and) they listened (to) all (the) parties; (the) white car driver, (the) taxi driver, (and) our driver. They concluded that (the) white car driver (was not) guilty since he (had) no (injuries, and) no damage (to) his car. There (was) no physical evidence. They fined him for dangerous driving, and collected 750,000TL, approximately 10 US Dollars, and let him go.

Then they (breathalysed) the other two drivers and explained (to) them that they (would) prepare and (give them a) copy of their accident report on the same day at 16:30 hours near Rumeli Castle, a popular meeting place to find their police car.

(The) taxi driver took (a) photocopy copy of our insurance papers to ask (the)insurance company to pay. We (also) took (a) photocopy of his insurance papers.

Next our driver took our car to nearest authorized repair shop to investigate the damage, and get (an) expert report for (the) insurance repayment. We have been told that (the) insurance expert in Istanbul (could not) be found immediately, since there (were) many accidents everyday,(there were not enough experts to cover the
situation.)

We were advised that we should transport our car by truck to Ankara on the same day and get the expert report in Ankara and start necessary repair work in Ankara. (The expert saw) the car in Ankara and prepared his report. (There wasn't a) problem, (the) damage (wasn't) much, (and the) insurance (paid). But if we (kept) our car
in Istanbul, we (couldn't) use our car for (a) week. Normally we don't drive our family cars for company purpose since we have other responsibilities to carry out. We needed (our) company car for company activities. (We were recommended that) our driver (should) negotiate with (a) truck driver to (transport) the car.

On Monday 19th August 1996, I (was) told that the driver (who told you?) found the transportation prices too high. He made (a) small repair to close the leaking radiator, (surprisingly with dry Turkish Fig) and had a test drive to Toll-gate of the main highway from Istanbul to Ankara. He checked 2-3 times if it was leaking. After having enough confidence that it (was) not leaking, he drove and arrived to Ankara in 5 hours.

The next day, (the) expert inspected the car, (and) prepared his accident report. Renault repair shop made the necessary repairs, and replacements in 3-4 hours. (The) car was ready on Monday.

We will keep mobile phone available at all times in Istanbul. We will ask our driver to be extremely cautious while driving down hills, (and insist that he) keep enough space between himself and the car in front.

Trip Report, Italy 1996

Trip Report, Italy
between January 29 - February 2, 1996
Together with
Rich Killion, Department Chief of B&W HRSG Barberton Ohio USA,
Don L.McKenzie, Expatriate General Manager of BWG, Ankara Turkey

January 28,1996 Hotel Cavour in Milan at 18:00 hours

We gathered in the Hotel Cavour lobby in Milan on January 28,1996 evening together with Mr. PierFrancesco Rimbotti.

We planed our game plan how to respond to our hosts in the meetings scheduled throughout the following week in Italy. We agreed that initially Francesco should explain B&W and its Italian Rep Sepro in general, utility, HRSG and package boilers, past B&W experiences and references in Italy, relationship with licensee Ansaldo, broad perspective of B&W's future expectations in Italian market, B&W's new hot product HRSG, B&W design capabilities, six joint venture companies strategically located in the world, nearest one BWG in Ankara, its geographical closeness to the subject market, Turkey's new involvement to European Customs Union which creates B&W/BWG's keen interest to work in Italian and European market, all these to be accomplished by forming strategically sound partnerships. Rich was responsible to explain B&W Barberton design modular, horizontal gas flow, natural circulation HRSGs, past experience, third generation design and its recent references, design advantages, how to handle shorter erection. Then DLM with assistance of HD was responsible to explain the competitive advantage of utilizing nearest B&W joint venture in Ankara, how it was formed, how close it is to Italy, how competitive its prices would be etc.

We agreed that our marketing strategy has to emphasis advantages based primarily on location dictated, then technology dictated. HRSG's easy contractibility in the nearest joint venture facility in Ankara, latest design which allows short erection period at site, overall mechanical productivity. We had to emphasis importance of technical personnel to be located in Milan (in future), more PR, and confidence building, B&W's technical office in London/UK, contact office in Milan/ Sepro. B&W Barberton will provide technical support to BWG for Italian projects. This arrangement offers an economically priced HRSG with the latest technology, with each project optimized for the highest efficiency.

Meeting with Snamprogetti in their head office at "20097 S.Donato Milanese" on January 29,1996 between 10:00-12:00

We met in Snamprogetti with following persons, all in Energy Package Section, Packaged Systems & Furnaces
Ferruccio Frangi, Group Leader
Franco Grinzi, Manager
Giovanni Carbotti
Eugenio Nichelini,

In our meeting, we explained B&W and its nearest joint venture BWG capabilities, their advantages to work with us, our keen interest to cooperate with Snamprogetti in Italy and/or other parts of the world. In return, they explained that they are interested in B&W design HRSGs, other boilers and E/P. They have one project in Sardini island with El-Paso type boiler. They have limited interest in FGD since they have their own design to implement when needed. That is promoted by Topsoe of Holland which is 50% owned by Snam. They have one pilot FGD plant in Sicily island. Enel has a number of FGD projects, one of them installed in Brindisi. Snam estimated that a turnkey site erected HRSG scope for Frame-9 could cost 12 billion Liret, whereby shop assembled may cost 9 billion Liret. We expect HRSG scope fabricated and delivered by BWG, 4 billion Liret FOB, 6.6 billion Liret assembled. Snam recommends that similar project may cost 3.5 billion Liret. That is reasonable Market price in Italy. In North America it may cost 3 million USD, whereby BWG may deliver for 2.3 million US Dollar. Coen, John Zink duct burners are acceptable in Italy, and generally preferred. Rich explained that the one he explained site erection in detail, has been delivered in 4.5 month including delay in inlet duct. Right now, Snam explained that they are promoting one Frame-6 and one Siemens, two Frame-9E units (tar gasification with GE) in Italy. Furthermore we have been informed that there are following partnerships in Italy Standard Fasel/Vogt Maggi/Nooter Higgiotermeggi (has own design) Babcock Enterprise / France (own design) Belleli (financially insecure) Ansaldo (own design for Siemens V92, modular structure) They need HRSGs mostly for Frame-6 size. They had cooperated with FW in North America, and with ABB-CE in Pakistan in a number of projects. Our cooperation with Sondel is a very good opportunity to understand Italian market. They may need to source single drum boilers with 300,000 pph (136 tph) steam output capacity at 130 bar/ 520-530C. These projects are Ammonia and Urea Complexes firing primarily naturalgas. Wide range of chemical operation may be applicable in their projects. Snamprogetti has not been able to find single drum boilers at this capacity, but are familiar with two drum units from B&W and CE. They prefer single drum. Their application is a new or rare boiler requirement for high pressure industrial gas fired boilers. They have done several ammonia plants outside Italy and expect 4 to 5 per year. Boilers are included in their scope for such plants. They completed one in China and are bidding on one in Venezuela. We have a reference list.

Meeting with Sondel & engineering company Protecma in their Milan office on Monday

We met with
Roberto Tellarini, Direttore, Sondel Marketing Strategigo
Bruno Covili Faggioli, General Manager, Protecma
Dott.Ing.Giovanni Trombetti, Ingegneria Impiantistica, Protecma
Dott.Ing.Franco Meroni, Ingegneria Impiantistica, Protecma

We had same presentation. In return they explained that Protecma is an engineering company 100% owned by Sondel. In Italy they have two plants in operation, four plants in construction and two plants in project development stage.

Meeting with ENEL (in various instances three times in Milan and Roma).

We met with
Angelo Benanti, Manager Mechanical Design Group
Dott. Ing. Pietro Todisco
Mario Pastorino
Alberta Scerrati

After delivering our almost standard presentation, we have received following outcome from our hosts. A nearby B&W JVC, supported by parent B&W technology is a good opportunity to reduce overall costs and be competitive in Italian and Italian influenced markets. They have Repowering, revamping, retrofit projects whereby Environmental Impact Study of local administrations are very important in execution of the power projects. La Spezia Power Plant project. Existing coal fired B&W power boiler will be dismantled then new vertical forced circulation type HRSG will be installed into available space. HRSG with 3-pressure level. No condensate preheater. structural modifications are carried out at this time by ENEL design office. Boiler is top supported. GT will be Frame-9F. HRSGs will have two pressure levels. No additional foundation, or steel structure will be necessary since existing units will be used. Available space is the governing parameter. La Spezia plant will have 2x220MW GT coupled with 2XHRSG, plus 1 each steam turbine 320 MW MCR with reheater. There will be also an FGD project, for Units 3 & 4 expected to be tendered soon. Prequalification may be ended. Better to check in written, notice of tender. Trina plant is new, built by Ansaldo under Mitsubishi technology. 2X 120 MW GT plus 1x110MW ST, 2XHRSG 60 bar HP for HP, 6 bar for deaerator. Prequalified competitors in 1992 are Ansaldo (with Mitsubishi), Belleli (with NEM), F&W (Italian), Deutsche Babcock (with Turbotechnica). Pietrofiatta Project is coal firing FB design. It is on hold due to local administration regulations although project is feasible. They were talking about future projects Frame-9E, which could be ordered in 1996. In Vadolugira, FGD by Ansaldo with Mitsubishi technology received the order. We have been informed that all new tenders are to be announced in European Community Official Tender Journal (Bulletin) in order to give equal opportunity to all interested parties. Its Italian name is "Gazetta Ufficiale Della Comunita Europe". It will be good to review that journal continuously in order to find boiler opportunities in European Market. ENEL is in privatization scheme, and therefore they are interested in working together with all competitive parties. They are currently working in Ghana, Kampuchea, India as A/E company.

Meeting with Technimont in Milan on Monday at 17:00 hours

Participants on behalf of Technimont Francesco Ferrara, Heater Group Supervisor, Vessel & Heater Department Marco Blasioli, Engineer, They are specialized in turn-key construction of PTA plants around the world. They need process steam which is normally supplied by the client from existing power house.

TPL, Tecnologie Progetti Lavori Spa
with their partner IEMSA Company in Roma on Tuesday

TPL Participants were
Dott.Ing.Gaetano Zappulla, Vice- President Business Development
Dr.Ing.Riccardo Pascoli, Environmental Engineering Manager
Dott.Ing.Fernando Beghetto, Senior Quality Engineer
Lucis Flammini, Technipetrol (absent but should be contacted) 06/65985346
Ing.Vittorio Papagno, Amministratore Delegato IEMSA Impianti srl

We have been informed that Iemsa is a general contractor for site installation of power plants. They have many references in site installation of B&W design Ansaldo power plants in Italy for ENEL. They worked in Egypt for building power plants for Ansaldo then for Deutsche Babcock, UDE etc. Ansaldo plant in Tunis 2 x 170 MW with Russian and Portugal labours. We have evaluated our past joint proposal to Termica Cologno of Sepro, where Iemsa was general contractor, ENEL handling engineering, BWG was supplying HRSG for LM6000 gas turbine. Order is received by Nooter but that helped us to understand how to cooperate and work together in similar projects in future. TPL is formed in 1969 and restructured in 1995. TPL is an engineering and contractor company especially in building Refineries and similar Petrochemical installations. It is 95% owned by French Technip Group. TPL is building food, textile and light industrial installations. Moreover they work for infrastructures, state railways for High Speed Trains (We experienced, it is fantastic, fast, comfortable, and reasonable priced). They provide PM service for high speed railways construction, energy, environment and other infrastructure projects. They have detail engineering services. Certified to ISO-9001 by Bureau Veritas. In 1995 they were divided into two, TPL and Technipetro. Almost 800 personnel is working for Technipetro. TPL is active in South America, China and Middle East, Malaysia. They completed one PTA project with Amoco in Georgia USA. They have offices in Moscow and St.Petersburg. They look for strategical partnerships with competitive partners case by case basis.

Turbotechnica in Firenze on Wednesday
Participants were
Maurizio Amerini, Proposal Manager Power Plant & Cogeneration
Nicolo Gargini, Proposal Manager Power Plant & Cogeneration
Dino Catastini, Applications and Sales Manager, Power Plant & Cogeneration
Dr.Ing.Guelfo Gheri, Direttore Commerciale
Tarik Bayazit, GE Power Systems Istanbul
Dr.Peter Brown, GE Power Systems Istanbul

We generally reviewed ongoing important projects which we cooperate exclusively. Glassworks 2xPGT10 +2XGTWHRSG +2XGFWHRSG design is reviewed. GT and ST detail drawings received. Commercial issues reviewed. Bid date extension until March 11,1996. In the last period of our conversation, Dr.Ing.Guelfo Gheri, Direttore Commerciale joined us and expressed his positive expectations for future similar projects which we hope to cooperate. They indicated that they sell 8-10 GT projects per year, 4-5 of which require HRSG's in BWG's size range. They are looking for new partners.

Frene in Milano on Thursday

Participants were
Ing.Settimo Loforti, Direttore Technico e Attivita Operative
Ing.Fausto Ermolli, Responsabile Tecnologie e Sviluppo
Ing.Marco Gentili, Responsabile Processo e Coordinamento Produzione

They expressed their interest to work together in future if they install gas turbines into their plants. They had a rehabilitation study for a power plant in Sardine island. 4x600 tph steam boilers capable of firing oil and gas are installed but not operated until now. No steam turbines are installed. They need 4x70 MW steam turbines. Rich explained them that HRSGs can be FOB delivered in 10-12 months plus 2-5 months for site installation should be additionally considered. Normally Steam Turbine is on the critical path of a combined cycle power plant. ST needs special fabrication initiated only after order. They build Petrochemical plants. Steam is very important for their process. Low NOx emission regulations will be effective after January 1,1998. They will be in need of efficient Low- NOx burners. They want to demolish existing old steam boilers and install new Frame-9 plus HRSG + ST combined cycle power plants. They want to generate maximum energy and sell to national grid. (now 50 MW, 200MW in future). They are in ENI group, and under privatization. First boiler unit in Ravenna Petrochemical plant is out of operation due to irreparable cracks in the drum. They want to demolish the boiler and install new Combined Cycle power plant.

Edison in Milan on Friday

Participants were
Ing.Bruno Cavazzana, Coordinamento Investimenti Strategi
Ing.Enrico Malusardi, in charge of engineering
Ing Maurizio Malusardi, in charge of Electrical engineering
Ing.Luigi Orsenigo, in charge of purchasing
Cesare Antonini, Mechanical & Process Design Manager
Simone Simonetti, ILVA Servizi Energie

They are an IPP company in Italy, We explained our capabilities. They were interested in our presentation. We emphasized that we are available to serve them in their existing and new power plant projects, whichever arrangement would be suitable for them, by furnishing full design coverage from North America and available competitive overall prices created by utilizing nearby joint venture facilities. Edison has three following current projects, - Combined Cycle, 100MW, 2xLM6000, offers are received. In evaluation. - Combined cycle, 2 projects in development in Italy Frame-9, 140MW basic engineering ongoing, 1xGT + HRSG, no by-pass stack - River Po, 50 km far from Milan, waiting local authorization - Central Italy, Verona, waiting local authorization

Summary

In summary, we can conclude that there is general interest in B&W products in Italian market, and specific interest in more economical soulution for supplying the fabrication from JV in Ankara under B&W's engineering coverage. There are business potential in Italy for B&W and BWG's interest. We can work with and/or for Italian companies in or outside of Italy in a number of projects, together with other B&W JVs if necessary due to geographical position of the final destination. These meetings gave us an initial feeling that they are interested in our products, in our approach to deliver economically feasible final product, and we are ready to serve for them. Final evaluation is that we should have more emphasis on Italian market to promote B&W industrial products. That needs more contacts in the market, more support to Milan Sepro office. We need to bring together other follow-up ideas expected to be generated by B&W (R.Killion), and Sepro (P.F.Rimbotti).

Compiled on February 10, 1996

On The Street

Last June, I had an office meeting with my school friend. We evaluated the current local market situation, how to create new opportunities, where to apply for new tenders etc

Then we completed the agenda items, I thanked and left the office. I returned to my car, loaded the back trunk with my hand bag, ready to get in and drive off.

A young man with decent clothing at his early 20s approached and said ”Sir I completed my military service and left army as of yesterday. Now I have to go home but I have no money. Could you care some money so that I buy my coach ticket to enable me to go back home??” I looked for some money, unfortunately I had none, I apologised. He murmured by himself and departed.

I was so unhappy afterwards. I wished to have some money to give him to help him to go home.

However after 2-3 months, my wife had some issues to handle at the downtown. I drove her to that point, parked my car waited for a while. I wanted to get some fresh air. At my backward, I heard the same story, the same voice tone, same young man, with same wording. This time in a very short period of time, I told him that he made me feel so displeased of myself a few months ago. But now I understood that his story is not true and I will not feel guilty this time. He got angry, murmured and left again

This month a young decent woman came to doorsteps of our house, said she had children, and need money to survive. Poor me again, I looked for some cash money and gave her. She later went to the other nearby houses and collected a reasonable amount of money.

Last year in London Underground entrance, a young school girl asked me some coin to pay ticket to go home. I gave her some coin, she then in the train, made fan of this activity with her friends.

Last week, a small boy was at the parking lot of our nearby supermarket. He asked some money to pay in-city bus ride to go home. After my shopping, I saw him again in the same parking lot, asking money from other newcomers.

Yesterday in our city downtown area, a man with decent clothing approached me and asked money for some reason,

I give money to the clerks working in cinema, showing our seats. I always keep some small cash for them. I always give tip to waiter in the restaurant. I always give some small tip to the boy cleaning my car, workers repairing my car, cleaning my car window, making pressure adjustment of my car tires, some money for our house cleaning assistant, I always try to make these working service people feel better if they make some service business, with some reasonable tips. I have some reasoning, but these requests are now different and getting more in number, and more in persuation.

Those asking at the street with no purpose, with some sad story, makes me so weird

And the number of these people are getting higher every day. We cannot walk free from these people. Do you feel the same??

Terry Fox in Ankara

The 26th Terry Fox Fun Run for Cancer Research took place in Ankara today. I joined the occasion in METU Campus woods. Running Track was for about 8 kilometers

Canadian Ambassador to Turkey Yves Brodeur initiated the run at 12 hours.

Who was Terry Fox? Terry Fox was a young Canadian diagnosed with bone cancer in 1977. While in hospital to have his right leg amputated, Terry was so moved by the suffering of cancer patients that he decided to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research.

In 1980, Terry embarked on his ambitious journey, running an average of 42 kilometers every day for 143 days. Terry Fox died after a courageous battle against cancer, but his spirit lives on.

Every year "Marathons of Hope" are organized around the world to keep Terry's dream of finding a cure for cancer alive. In 2005, over $37,000 was raised in Turkey.

Before Terry died, he knew that an annual event would be held to commemorate his Marathon of Hope. It would be called, appropriately, The Terry Fox Run.

The first Terry Fox Run in 1981 attracted 300,000 participants across Canada and raised $3.5 million. To date, more than $400 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry's name.

Each year, thousands of volunteers organize Terry Fox Run events in Canada and around the world.

In Canada, the annual Terry Fox Run is held every September, usually on the second Sunday following Labour Day. In countries outside Canada, the Run is organized at a time that is convenient for organizers.

The Run is a non-competitive event where people get together as individuals, families and groups to raise money in Terry’s name. It is a day of celebrating Terry’s legacy and helping to keep his dream of a cure for cancer alive.

There is no entry fee and no prizes are awarded, although a certificate of appreciation is given when participants complete their journey. Run locations are organized in large urban areas attracting thousands of people and in small, rural communities where just about everybody knows each other. School events tend to be incorporated into the daily curriculum.

The emphasis of the event isn’t on how much you raise, but that you participate in Terry’s memory and help him finish his Marathon of Hope.

As Terry said in 1980:

“If you’ve given a dollar, you are part of the Marathon of Hope .”

I purchased a t-shirt, and met with many of my past business colleagues.

It took 90 minutes for me to complete the 8 km running track.

Next time hopefully in less than 90 minutes.

Next week, on 17th September Sunday, it is going to be held in ITU Campus in Istanbul.

Çeşme August 2006

Writer with his sweetheart in Cesme, last August 2006

ALPER ONUR

Happy Birth Day to you !

Latife HANIM

Wife of the nation's father
Jun 22nd 2006 | ANKARA
From The Economist print edition

A new book on an old taboo

NEARLY seven decades after his death, Kemal Ataturk, the westernising founder of modern Turkey, remains a near-deity for millions of Turks. His steely-grey eyes stare out of portraits hung in every school and government office; his sayings are etched on monuments and even mountains. Insulting Ataturk can bring up to three years in jail. Changing that is one of many tough requirements on Turkey's road to the European Union.

An encouraging if modest step comes with a new biography of Ataturk's wife, Latife Ussaki, by a veteran journalist, Ipek Calislar. Ever since Ataturk divorced her in 1925, Turks have been fed images of a shrill, bossy and ugly woman, who lacked the will and wiles to manage her heroic husband and was therefore to blame for the collapse of their stormy two-year marriage. Mrs Calislar's diligent research and testimony from friends and family paints a different picture of the plucky, unveiled 23-year-old, who won the heart of the nation's ruler.

The daughter of a rich merchant from Izmir, who had studied law in Europe, Latife played a bigger role than has ever been acknowledged in helping to shape Ataturk's vision of a modern Turkish state. A vocal feminist, she pushed hard for the laws that enfranchised women in Turkey long before France or Switzerland. Ataturk was so proud of Latife that he would tour with his unveiled bride throughout Anatolia, touting her as a role model for Turkish women. So what went wrong?

Latife never told her side of the story, mainly out of loyalty to Ataturk but also out of fear. The shroud of mystery was set to be unveiled when a 25-year-old court order banning the publication of her diaries and letters kept in the vaults of Ankara's Turkish History Foundation expired last year. But the family refused to
publish the papers so as to protect Ataturk's image.

One issue may have been Ataturk's nightly drinking sessions with his chums, which were widely known but rarely discussed. They clearly played a part in the break-up. So did the sudden appearance of Fikriye, Ataturk's former mistress, who shot herself in the grounds of the presidential palace. But Mrs Calislar hints at another reason: for all his westernising zeal, Ataturk was ultimately unable to cope with a wife who insisted on being his equal. "He was", notes Mrs Calislar, "a man, after all."

Bodrum night by the seaside with Mozart

My wife has small all-girls clubs. In One of many, they are the girls of Architecture departmnent of Ankara Academy who were together from Alumni year 1973.

They come together and enjoy every week in of their houses.

Now one of them (Guler) offered to meet in their summer house in Bodrum, in a small but a luxury summer house in Nagme housing complex in the south of TurgutReis, by the seaside, in the openair outdoor garden overlooking the seafront to Kos island

We were invited. Me and my youngest son were the only male companions, so shy and so silent all night.

Girls had the scene, and the all activity, extraordinary hosts

I felt like in one of movie secants of famous Movie Director Ferzan Ozpetek, in one of his famous Italian films.

Lots of Flowers and candles, delicious food, lots of special quality wine and spirits.

At the background on CD player, we had opera "Die Entführung aus dem Serail", K.384 (16.7.1782 Burgtheater, Vienna) by Mozart.

Girls of my past, some 30 years of history were together that night, speaking, telling memories, jokes and stories of their youth, in an extraordinary environment

It is a pitty that we man do not have that spiritual gatherings, although I would prefer to watch worldcup 2006 somewhere, anyhow that was also a good opportunity to have access to female secret world of bondage

ALL MY LIFE I LOVED MY FATHER BEST OF ALL

by CAN YÜCEL

All my life I loved my father best of all.
The way a child sprouting like gorse from a cliff,
With legs bowed - about to tumble any minute -
Would run in the trail of a giant,
That's how I loved that philandering father of mine.

What neighbourhood we lived in, he could never say:
Always busy, in a rush; if he dropped by, he'd dash away,
I'd look up in my atlas the places for which he'd depart:
That way I learned exile and longing by heart.

How I'd fly with joy: sickness was the best ...
If my fever zoomed past 40, they'd call him to Istanbul,
After all, wouldn't he want to bid farewell to his son?
Ours was a love game: when typhoid fever struck, I won:
I said Ohh, and buried my nose in his chest.

Until he went on the inspection tour that was his last,
I ran after that giant flying to heaven,
For other kinds of passion, for loves so vast
My breath opened up, my mind, my inmost soul.
All my life I loved my father best of all.

Translated by Talat HALMAN

PowerGen Europe 2006

I participated to latest PowerGen Europe Conference in Cologne Germany between 28 May and 1 June 2006. It was a great experience. I met with many international key figures of the Energy business as well as key figures of the Turkish energy business. I work as marketing consultant of various international energy companies in my environment. It was a very good opportunity to meet with these key figures, to learn more about new developmets especially in renewables and nuclear sector. I recommend all my colleagues to participate to the next conference which will take place in Madrid Spain between 28-30 June 2007.

Murat Erim

Happy Birth Day to you!!

Cairo Symphony Orchestra in Ankara

Dear Colleagues,

Today I wanted to write something different, something special. I wanted to write my critic on the concert which was performed by Cairo Symphony Orchestra on 5th April 2006 Thursday evening starting at 2030 hours in Ankara MEB Shura Concert Hall. If you have already participated to the concert then file it for your future records. Those who couldn't participate, they may get interested in knowing the details from first hand observation.

We entered the parking lot at about 20 hours. Audience was all in black business suit dressing code. I had jeans, woodman's shirt, Chineese made sports shoes. However I was quite consistent in my own dressing code.

The Cairo Symphony Orchestra is an eminent and unique participant in broadening and enriching the musical life in Egypt. Founded in 1959, the Orchestra has long established reputation for uncompromising preciseness and grace in interpreting classical music under its conductor Christoph Muller.

Repertoire was:

L.V. Beethoven : Egmont Overture

C. Saint-Seans: Piano Concerto No.5
Piano Idil Biret Turkey

Gamal Salama : Little Suite for Flute and string orchestra
Solist. Inas Abd El Dayem

N. Rimsky -Korsakov : Spanish Capricio

First Concertmaster: Yasser El Serafi

At first, I was hoping to listen to our pianist Idil Biret as usual. I had no idea about the orchestra. I was expecting Idil Biret to play the piano and any one of our groups would play at the background. So we entered the Shura Concert Hall with that notion in mind. Concert Hall was renovated for the occasion of the Music Festival by local Sponsors. First row seats were allocated to Sponsor companies. Your humble writer had his seat at the middle third row. My girl friend purchased these preferencial concert seat tickets through her internal school contacts. I envied how wonderful contacts she had. I hope in near future I will have the same previlage.

Then we had the members of Cairo Philarmonia on the stage. First they played Beethoven "Egmont" overture. Since we used to have mechanical/ tough manners of our local orchestras CSO or Bilkent in Ankara, or the CD performances of western groups, this new tempo was something different, more melodic, more oriental, comfortable, soft and smooth, more eastern, more Egyptian so-to-speak. That is also one clue of accepting your getting old. Nothing surprises yourself too much. It is getting less chance to listen to new music. The new way of playing an old tune makes you happy.

Then we had our pianist Mrs. Idil Biret on the stage. It was Egyptian Concerto by Saint_Seans since the visiting orchestra was from Cairo Egypt. It was so easy for our pianist, therefore it was understandable that she played so reluctantly.

Anyhow after the performance we were in expection that our Queen would leave the stage as usual with no bis, on the contrary she returned to her Bosenwerke piano and played 2 (two in letters) more pieces from Bach in Jazz format. As if she said that "Piano is played in that manner, learn it"

Then we had intermission. I was expecting to drink red aged dry good wine at the fuaye since local Kavaklidere winery was one of the sponsors. No way. They had tea and coffee only.

Then we had the second half. Visiting Orchestra played Eyptian composer Gamal Salama's Little Suite for Flute and string orchestra. Solist was beautiful Mrs.Inas Abd El Dayem. We understood that Cairo orchestra was in Ankara for their extraordinary interpretation of their own music.

Solist Mrs Inas Abd el-Dayem pronounced "Bismillah" at the beginning, then played her tune in great harmony with the orchestra. She played, played and danced with extraordinary energy. Then she had bis. I applauded so much that I have been warned to stop. I am told that it is not good manners to continue applause for so long.

The last piece was Rimsky Korsakov's Spanish Capricio. They played in their own Egyptian style, soft, extra melodic, with full concentration. It was good timing to get pleasure of oriental performance, let leave mechanic contemporaries.

Conductor Christopher Muller pleased us with his conductiong performance during the programme as well as his pandomim performance in bis pieces at the end.

I hope that you liked my above evaluation. Anyhow please do read this writing as a non- conventional music critic, and do not take it too seriously.

Abd El Haluk El Per Perry Shan

Total Eclipse in HaciBektas

It was exciting to witness such an event on CileHane hill in HaciBektas on 29th March 2006.

Antakya- Hatay tour

We had an extraordinary tour in March 2006 with ODTU Architecture department within Arch-302 course project.

Panel Announcement- Renewable Energy

METU Alumni- would like to remind interested parties to send abstracts to be considered for the Renewable Energy Panel which will be held in Ankara Visnelik Premises by the end of May 2006.

Panel is open to public and attendance is free-of-charge. We shall be pleased to receive "Expression of Interest to participate" from interested commercial companies working in renewable energy business, to make presentations on their renewable references.