Rumours by Louie

Elephants May Be Extinct Within Fifteen Years

2009-10-18T01:54:00.000-07:00

The IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) has release a startling report. They claim the elephants are being slaughtered at the rate of a hundred a day to support the ivory trade in China.

If things continue in this vein, the elephant will be extinct within fifteen years.

Banning the ivory trade does not see to have solved the problem and ivory hunters still take enormous risks for the high prices it brings. Education has not worked, so may it’s time to do something about the underlying causal factor and tackle poverty on a larger scale. Let’s face it; very few men would go out there killing elephants if they could earn a living in another way.

Please Use The Toilet Before Boarding Our Planes

2009-10-14T02:55:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

All Nippon Airlines in Japan is telling their passengers to use the toilet at the airports to cut down on carbon emissions.

They claim that is passenger board the plane with empty bladders, it could save weight and aviation fuel, cutting carbon emissions by five tone every thirty days.

So, as they board the plane, passengers are being asked to use the toilet.

If the trial period is successful it is expected to be rolled out right across the companies flights.

Original story @ Telegraph online

Chinese Men Search For Swedish City Of Women

2009-10-11T01:50:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Sweden’s tourist board are faced with a problem thanks to the enthusiastic Chinese media machine.

There have been reports and lengthy news articles about a Swedish town populated only by women. The stories say that 25,000 women live in Chako Paul City and that men are excluded. This has fuelled the imagination of many Chinese men who now seek to find out more about the City and perhaps make arrangements to visit.

Swedish officials have had to issue a formal denial and they say that they have no idea where the rumours have come from.

Reports appeared in the Xinhua and Harbin News, through news agencies and the Shanghai Media Group even produced a supplement on the Chako Paul City.

Full story @ Ananova

Don't Jump Off The Bridge, We've Just Buttered It.

2009-10-08T03:38:00.000-07:00

Chinese guards have been placed at either end of the 1000 feet long Guangzhou Bridge, to deter ‘bridge jumpers’. Apparently, the erection of fences, posting of notices asking people not to commit suicide from this bridge and the surveillance have not succeeded in stopping the trend.

The local authorities now have a new idea. The bridge has been buttered. They have smeared butter all over it to make it too slippery to climb. This seems to have done the trick according to one of the bridge guards.

Which just goes to show that if you want to make people stop doing things you don’t like, you can always butter them up.

Full story available: Facility Blog.

Two-Headed Cow Born in Colombia

2009-08-02T04:38:00.003-07:00

A two-headed calf born in Columbia is being investigated by experts from Columbian universities.

Jennifer has two heads but just one brain.

It seems to me that we are seeing more and more birth defects in animals and humans and that there must be an underlying cause.

Michael Jackson's DNA Used To Make Diamonds

2009-07-29T02:07:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson via last.fm

Apparently, Michael Jackson is still making loads of money, despite his recent death. The Telegraph in London has published a news report on a rather macabre trait which seems to be becoming more popular is America.

A company called LifeGem says that it managed to get hold of some of Jackson’s hair from the producer of the 1984 Pepsi advert where the pop star’s hair caught fire.

LifeGem will create diamonds from Michael Jackson’s DNA and sell them. The company charges bereaved families something in the region of $5000 upwards if they want a permanent gem memento from a loved one’s DNA.

No doubt the price of their latest money making scheme will be much higher.

However, it seems that fans will pay the price as the frenzy continues.

Story source: Telegraph on-line

14th Dalai Lama's 74th Birthday

2009-07-15T02:25:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, turned 74 on the July 6th. He has lived a large part of his life as a plain, simple monk, spending his time praying and meditating. His life was literally turned upside down in 1951 when the Chinese army invaded his homeland of Tibet.

In 1959, there was major protest in Tibet over the Chinese occupation and the Dalai Lama was forced to flee his country and seek protection in Dharamshala, India.

He was the head of the unrecognised Tibetan government and was given the status of a diplomat which helped him to seek help for his cause.

In 2008, the Dalai Lama said that he was going into a kind of semi-retirement, and would not be campaigning so much around the world. Apparently he felt that it was better for Tibet if he moved aside and let the younger men take over the struggle.

In 1989 Tenzin Gyatso was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle to free Tibet.

Amazing Mexican Axolotl May Help Amputees

2009-06-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Recent discoveries could have far reaching benefits for mankind. An odd looking Mexican salamander with amazing abilities to renew its own organs, limbs, spinal cord and even brain after damage, has been found.

It is thought that understanding this process may one day help human amputees to do a similar thing. Genetic testing is underway in order to try to isolate whatever it is that gives this strange creature this very special ability.

The 6 inch long axolotl, also known as a ‘water monster,’ was found in the polluted canals of Mexico City.

Full story: Reuters

European Wind Day

2009-06-15T05:00:00.001-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

I found this fascinating quote today:

There are a lot of events planned to raise public awareness and to promote wind power. Thousands of people are taking part in exhibitions, and activities. The focus is on how wind energy works and the benefits it brings to the environment.Lizzie, Words To The Wise, Jun 2009

You should read the whole article.

Despite the publicity wind power in getting all over Europe, there are places in England where wind turbines are being pulled down.

The recent sale of the old land that belonged to British Nuclear Fuels in Cumbria, England is one example of the powers that be failing to look past the ends of their collectives noses.

The land, out on the Cumbrian Coast has been used as a wind farm for some years. However the new German owners of the site say that they will give the operators notice to quit and tear down the windmills, to built a new nuclear power plant.

What a crazy and illogical way to protect the environment!

Times Are Hard In The Construction Industry

2009-06-11T03:04:00.000-07:00

There are major problems within the UK construction industry. Times are hard.

In fact it looks as though they might have to lay Andre off!

This would be very funny if it wasn't true.

(Photo: http://www.constructionweb.com)

Burmese Pythons Are Destroying Florida Everglades

2009-06-02T02:42:00.000-07:00

Wildlife experts are concerned about the destruction of the Florida Everglades. This subtropical wetland is a National Park area in US. It is characterised by its unique mini climate. It is wet and warm which provides a perfect environment for its marshland eco system.

This is one of the largest wetlands in the world and has its own flora and fauna. The trouble here is that non-native species are invading these wetlands and decimating the native wildlife. Many of these invaders are household pets which have become troublesome to their owners.

A prime example of this is Burmese pythons whose numbers have grown to an estimate 150,000 within the National Park area. The numbers of native animals like the Key Largo wood rat and the wood stalk are threatened by these creatures.

The trouble is that these snakes live a long time and once they are 30 years old they need to be fed small animals like rabbits and can often swallow small deer. When they get to this stage, the owners can no longer cope. So they dump them in what seems an ideal area for these tropical snakes. It is ideal, too ideal, and the creatures thrive, becoming a risk to whole fragile ecosystem.

Many of the pythons have been hunted and killed but the problem remains.

More information.

North Korea Long Range Missile Has 4000 Mile Range

2009-06-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

It looks as though North Korea will launch its long range missile test in less than two weeks time, regardless of international opinion.

The missile is likely to be able to travel as far as the US, but may also be intended for use against South Korea, which is disputed territory.

Last week North Korea fired a whole battery of short range missiles and threatened to attack South Korea and any country which supports them. Tension in this area of the world is now at its highest level since the Korean War of the early 1950's.

South Korean intelligence sources say that an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of up to 4000 miles will be launched.

There is a lot of threatening and sabre rattling going on in diplomatic channels, but the attitude of the North Koreans seems to be that they will do exactly as they like regardless of international opinion.

Military experts say that North Korea has not yet developed the technology to miniaturize a nuclear warhead and attach it to a missile.

Meanwhile, diplomatic temperatures rise.

Air France Plane Disappears Over Atlantic

2009-06-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

An Air France Airbus 330-200 en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, disappeared over the Atlantic at 3.14am BST this morning. Experts say it has most certainly crashed with 228 passengers and crew aboard.

The pilot had apparently reported an electrical short circuit after flying through a storm. It is thought that the plane may have been hit by lightening.

A search is underway around the island of Narando Noronha which is 1500 miles from Rio de Janeiro. Air France has said that it is extremely unlikely that any survivors will be found.

So far no wreckage has been found but aviation experts say that the plane would have run out of fuel by now so it cannot be lost in the air.

The latest information.

Missing Fingerprints Create Havoc At US Airport

2009-05-30T03:06:00.000-07:00

A traveller from Singapore was detained in custody by US officials for four hours because they were unable to get a set of fingerprints from him.

Apparently, the passenger was being treated with the anti-cancer drug, capecitabine which can cause the soles of the feet and palms of the hand, toes and fingers to peel. This can, over time, completely eradicate fingerprints.

After four hours of interrogation and phone calls, the 62 year old man was allowed to enter US as it was confirmed that he was not a security threat.

The complete disappearance of fingerprints as a side effect of the drug is rare but the phenomenon clearly puzzled US Border Authorities.

Full story..

Tibet's Sakadawa Festival Begins

2009-05-26T03:21:00.000-07:00

People pray outside the front entrance to the Jokhang Temple.

The fabulous Jokhang roof.

Today is the start of the Festival of Sakadawa in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. It is celebrated by Tibetan Buddhists all over the country.

It is a celebration of the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. The festival lasts for four weeks. The picture above shows people praying in front of the statue of Buddha in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.

This temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Potala Palace which was the residence of the Dalai Lama. This was the first Buddhist Temple to be built in Tibet around 605-650CE. Originally it was named Tsulag Kang which means ‘House of Wisdom’ but it was renamed ‘Jokhang’ or ‘House of the Buddha.

The fabulous building with its amazingly detailed and beautiful artwork is the most sacred and most important temple in Tibet.

Criminals Hack Twitter

2009-05-22T03:09:00.000-07:00

Twitter was hit by a major phishing scam yesterday. Apparently users thought that their friends had sent them a funny video to watch, but that wasn’t the case.

There were actually two different attacks going on at the same time and one involved taking over accounts and using them to sent stuff to users which seemed to come from their friends.

This kind of think is growing fast because of the vast numbers of people who are accessible via Twitter and Facebook and similar social networking sites.

Several hundred people fell foul of this scam before it was identified.

Hackers set up fake accounts and started following legitimate users on Twitter. Then they sent links to them which turned out to be phishing sites (sites that try to get information). What they did was to ask for the person’s Twitter account details so that they could access the accounts and use them to send out more links to another phishing site.

These criminals use the information to get access to other accounts, or to access other internet accounts like email and other protected sites like banks accounts. So this is why we are advised not to use the same details for all accounts on line.

This is not the first time Twitter has been hacked in this way.

And Pigs Will Fly

2009-05-20T01:53:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks as though the much dreaded swine ‘flu’ has turned out to be nothing more than a bad cold in most cases. However, its timing was perfect as it gave us all something else to worry about and the world financial situation got pushed into the background for a while.

Now it seems that the virus has reached Asia where there is endemic bird ‘flu’. So called experts say that the virus will combine with the bird flu one and come back as a virulent and potentially deadly ‘flu’ virus this winter.

Warnings from these ‘experts’ don’t seem to hold much water these days. An ‘ex’ is a short burst, and a ‘spurt’ is a jet of water, so what does that make an ‘expert’, I wonder.

Then there’s the question of what to call this new strain of the virus. ‘Flying Pigs’ sounds just about right.

China's Love Land Theme Park Is Pulled Down

2009-05-18T06:23:00.000-07:00

The first sexually explicit theme park to be built in China was soon torn down again after officials objected to it.

Love Land was being built in the city of Chongquing in South West China. It was supposed to open in October this year and had quite a line up planned. There were exhibitions of sexual history and even a ‘How To...’ section. (The mind boggles at what the actual content of these instructional shows might contain.)

Promotional pictures for the park featured a pair of women’s legs topped by a red thong and straddling the words ‘Love Land.’

Official saw this as ‘vulgar’ and ordered the park to be torn down.

I guess we will never know just how much support this unusual venture might have had.

I wonder what happened to those giant legs.

More information plus pictures here.

Pakistan's Hidden Internal Enemy

2009-05-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the world’s most immediate concern should be the insurgence of the Taliban into Pakistan. Bear in mind that we are dealing with fanatics who will stop at nothing to push their cause.

It isn’t the ongoing march of Islamic extremists across the world that is the big worry. For me it is the possibility of these extremists moving into Pakistan, toppling the government and getting their hands on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.

However, it is not the tough fighters out in the hills that pose this threat. Using nuclear warheads needs education and know how, and it is those technically aware insiders that may be much more of a threat and far more likely to get access to these materials.

The threat comes from high flying insiders with the skills, the access and the sympathies with the cause of the Taliban. These are the secret enemies of Pakistan and the rest of the world, not the uneducated mountain fighters.

The Hidden Casualties of the Cyprus War

2009-05-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

In 1974 the Island of Cyprus which is tucked away at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, was invaded by Turkey. The invasion was the Turkish Military reaction to the coup staged by the Cypriot National Guard against President Makarios 111. Whatever the original intention, Turkey ended up occupying much of Northern Cyprus and establishing a government that is only recognised by Turkey.

More than 170,000 Cypriots were forced to leave their homes and seek safety in the south of the island. Melitis Apostolides was one of those who was displaced 35 years ago.

Northern Cyprus is not part of the European Community but Melitis Apostolides approached the European Court of Justice to get backing for his claim to his family home in the north. He has the deeds to the property which confirm his ownership and his case had already been verified in a Nicosia court, but he cannot take possession of his property, although he has viewed it via Google Earth and can see that it is still there.

In 2002 a British couple named Linda and David Oram bought a property in Northern Cyprus and built a new house on the land. As fas as they were concerned it was a legal purchased arranged via an agent in UK.

The Orams had bought Melitus Apostolides’ house in Northern Cyprus without his permission. The government there considered that the house had been abandoned but the truth of the matter was that the owners had no choice but to leave for their own safety.

In 2003 Mr Apostolides visited his former property and saw Mrs Oram in the garden, watering plants. He asked who she was and was informed that she was the owner of the villa. Mr Apostolides pointed out that he was the owner and the lady merely said, ‘Well, that was a long time ago.’

Cherie Booth Blair QC who was the legal representative for the Orams argued that this was a serious case because it could have far reaching repercussions for other Britons now living in Northern Cyprus. The verdict was that a judgement made in a British court was not enforceable against British people living in Northern Cyprus.

The original decision made by a UK court was that that the ruling made in Nicosia should stand and that the property should be returned to Mr Apostilades and the villa demolished, but this decision could not be enforced.

However, Mr Apostolides was given permission to appeal against the ruling and he was ordered to pay 75% of the Oram’s £863,000 costs within 28 days. This left him with the task of finding £75,000 immediately.

So, what should have taken a few day drags on. Mr Apostolides has spent a lot of money trying to get his home back and seems to be no further forward and the war that divided an Island and its families is still claiming casualties.

Greedy Banks Are Still Running Scared

2009-05-11T03:53:00.000-07:00

The world has certainly gone mad when it comes to financial matters. While huge organisations are losing millions every day and governments are giving away money to keep these badly managed businesses afloat, the institutions that deal with the ordinary man, or woman in the street are running scared. They are coming down excessively hard on people who are already struggling to make ends meet.

This isn’t restricted to UK, or US. It is happening everywhere as these examples illustrate.

A man is Austria was recently taken to court for the equivalent of 32p (about 60c). The action was for an unpaid refuse collection bill. He had received a bill for £635.35 and had failed to pay the amount after the decimal points.

Bailiffs arrived at his home demanding payment and insisting on an extra £5 for fees. This is so ludicrous when the original debt was 32p. Think of all the court time and administration required to get a ruling on it.

A woman from UK went 8p into the red with her bank account at Lloyds TSB. She received a demand for £166.55 in charges to get her account back in order. She couldn’t pay it all at once, so the next month she received a demand for £515.18.

She had no way of paying that but paid £250 off it. However, it made no difference, she received another demand for £818.15 are the fees mounted up.

Apparently the bank has now agreed to talk to her about it but this is the way they calculate penalties for unauthorised overdrafts. They are supposedly within their rights to do so.

However, it puzzles me. This way of doing things is not confined to Lloyds. How can they charge such huge penalties to so many people and still lose money?

Information Source: Money Hospital

China Excluded From World Social Network

2009-05-10T01:59:00.000-07:00

Most of the world uses Facebook, Stumble Upon, Digg, MySpace, or at least is aware the different social networking sites out there. But there is one big exception.

China has its own social networking sites: Faceren.com, Yeejee, Chunay.com, and a host of others.

A survey by CR-Nielsen (China Rank Nielsen) which was carried out for the month of December 2008 found that 51.com was China’s best social networking site. Figures were based on user numbers, facilities and popularity. Gathering this information was a joint operation between two respected companies: Nielsen and China Rank, so the information does have some credibility.

51.com is the largest social network in China and has grown at a phenomenal rate since its inception in 2005.

Nuclear Weapons Are Bad, But Only For Some Countries

2009-05-09T05:12:00.000-07:00

This week talks were held at the UN to set up the agenda for next year’s renewal of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. This is the main building block of world nuclear disarmament.

The 41 year old treaty has not managed to contain, or curb the spread of nuclear weapons and prevent rogue nations building their own nuclear arsenals, but it has had some success. Some former Soviet states gave up nuclear weapons and others stopped trying to develop them.

Since the treaty started in 1968, there have been 189 signatures but some key players have still not signed up. India, Pakistan and Israel have not agreed and North Korea has tested a nuclear weapon and threatens to build more, while Iran is also thought to be working on its own nuclear arsenal.

President Obama has tried to strike a deal with Moscow which would cut the two countries’ nuclear arms stocks by about one third, but Britain, France and China refuse to follow in his footsteps.

There are two ways of looking at this. We can conclude that all nuclear weapons are bad and that we should get rid of them entirely, or that they are only bad if some countries have them. There seems to be a touch of George Orwell’s ‘All animals shall be equal, but some shall be more equal than others’ going on here.

Full story...

. http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/631710

Sunspots May Cause Havoc On Earth

2009-05-09T00:56:00.000-07:00

The sun is due to move into a busy phase for sunspots. When this happens solar storms can cause major problems for satellite and electrical systems.

Sunspots are areas of magnetic activity on the surface of the sun that literally stop the heat getting out. The areas surrounding them get hotter and literally flare up. These appear as black spots on the sun and can be seen through a telescope (specially adapted for viewing the sun, of course.) This phenomenon is accompanied by coronal loops and solar flares which is what causes the magnetic and electrical interference here on earth.

There are not expected to be as many solar storms as there have been in the past but it only takes one large one to disrupt systems here on earth.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Space Weather Prediction Centre is monitoring the situation.

Swine Flu Recedes But May Come Back This Winter

2009-05-08T13:16:00.000-07:00

Swine ‘flu’ deaths in Mexico have now reached 45. As of May 4th there had been 1364 cases in total. Jose Angel Codova, Mexico’s Health Minister said there had been no new cases since then.

The epidemic seems to be fading at its source, but WHO are concerned that the virus may gather strength as it mutates, and come back in a much stronger form in the autumn.

The UK government sent out a booklet to every home in the UK. These publications tell us how to tell if we have ‘flu’ and give advice on staying at home to avoid infecting others. They also advise that we should not sneeze and cough all over other people because this spreads infection.

It seems to me to be very basic hygiene education about things that decent people should already be doing. Do you sneeze all over everyone, or cough without covering your mouth? I don’t, but I must assume there are many people who don’t adhere to this basic hygiene rule.

The book contained nothing useful about how to treat the condition or what real precautions to take. What a huge waste of money. Surely people would be better advised to take proper hygiene precautions but also to build their bodies up during the summer months with fresh air, fruit and vegetables, so that they at least stand some chance of being able to combat a virulent virus, if it arrives. At least people would feel that they could actually do something.