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2 pictures - 2 ways of goodbye
2 pictures - 2 ways of goodbye
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Cameraheads - too much CCTV?
A group of artists and protestors are today meeting in Seattle dressed up as CCTV cameras to highlight the growing prevalence of surveilance cameras in the city. The group will be going around with giant cameras on their heads to remind people that video surveillance cameras are recording their every move at Cal Anderson Park and three other parks around town.
“The project not only raises the questions of who is watching who and who is watching the watchers, but also … why we are being watched at all,” says Paul Strong, the group organiser. “There is so much going on in the news about wiretapping and data mining, all these little things that happen locally go right by.”
Do we really have too much surveillance, or are the Cameraheads overreacting? A group of artists and protestors are today meeting in Seattle dressed up as CCTV cameras to highlight the growing prevalence of surve... more -
Elderly widow "might be a paedophile" says council worker
82 year old Betty Robinson, a widow from Southhampton, was told she could not take snaps of an empty paddling pool because she "might be a paedophile". She was ordered to put away her camera when a council worker caught her taking shots of the local common and empty open air pool.
Dear me, the dangers of old ladies eh? Bureaucracy gone mad...? 82 year old Betty Robinson, a widow from Southhampton, was told she could not take snaps of an empty paddling pool because she "might ... more -
Olympic terrorists arrested in Shanghai
Police in Shanghai have confirmed that they have cracked down on a terrorist cell planning attacks at Olympic football matches. This report comes after the Kunming bus bombing earlier this week, the police killing of five alleged Uyghur terrorists in Urumqi earlier in this month and the government’s announcement that it has detained 82 suspect terrorists in the northwest part of China this past year.
No wonder Beijing is so jumpy with security this year, even taking into account the usual jumpiness expected with the influx of foriegn media... Police in Shanghai have confirmed that they have cracked down on a terrorist cell planning attacks at Olympic football matches. This ... more -
Epic quest for an Olympic ticket
The 250,000 remaining tickets to the Olympic games went on sale this morning in Bejing, though some have already queued over 40 hours for their ticket. Buyers in the 3k-long queue include enthusiasts, average interested citizens... and the off office employee sent to buy tickets as 'special gifts' for important patrons... The 250,000 remaining tickets to the Olympic games went on sale this morning in Bejing, though some have already queued over 40 hours ... more
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BBC NEWS | Africa | Zuma 'shocked by white poverty'
The head of South Africa's governing African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, has said he is shocked and embarrassed about white poverty in the country.
Mr Zuma was speaking after visiting the Bethlehem township near the capital, Pretoria, where white families live without running water or electricity.
He said the high level of black poverty did not mean whites did not suffer too.
South Africa's Helping Hand says the number of homeless white people has increased by 58% since 2002.
A new report by the charity, which helps poor white communities, says more than 130,000 white people in South Africa are homeless.
'Not about politics'
Speaking in Bethlehem, Mr Zuma said: "I am shocked and surprised by what I have seen here.
"The vast number of black poverty does not mean that we must ignore white poverty, which is increasingly becoming an embarrassment to talk about."
He said he had seen the same problems facing white residents of the township as he had seen in black squatter camps.
"This is not about politics, it's about people who are poor, who are in need and want to be helped by government," he said, quoted by the AFP news agency.
The trade union Solidarity, whose membership is mainly white, said it welcomed Mr Zuma's visit as an acknowledgement that poverty did not only affect the majority black population.
"For a long time whites have been seen as rich and and blacks poor," Solidarity secretary general Flip Buys told the AFP.
"Talking about white poverty has been seen as politically incorrect. The emergence of this scourge has left everyone looking for answers."
Analysts say Mr Zuma is keen to reach out to the white community at the same time as the main opposition party - which is predominantly white - seeks to increase its appeal to the black community, ahead of next year's election.
The head of South Africa's governing African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, has said he is shocked and embarrassed about white poverty... more -
Truckin' From Diesel To Veg Oil
Discovery-News.com: A diesel-guzzling truck is converted to run on fryer oil. Take a trip with James Williams on the journey to veggie fuel automotion. Discovery-News.com: A diesel-guzzling truck is converted to run on fryer oil. Take a trip with James Williams on the journey to veggie... more
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Blind Pilot
Ken Woodward has been blind for 6 years, but hasn't let that stop him flying a light aircraft.
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The Rogue Taxidermist
Nate Hill is what you might call a rogue taxidermist. Be warned - it's not pretty.
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Survey: Olympics will be a great success
According to a new survey conducted by a US group called PEW, up to 93% of Chinese people believe that the Olympic games will be a big success and 'help China's image' in the world. This and similar statistics point to an enormous gulf between Chinese and Western perceptions of China, which has widened in the aftermath of the Tibet riots and Olympic torch relay. Interestingly, in a climate where the West is becoming increasingly critical of China, China's own country satisfaction rating also soared to 86 per cent from 48 per cent in 2002.
This disparity highlights the lack of understanding between the West and China, both due to China's own strict censorship laws but also (more often overlooked in the West) the Western media's tendency for bias and sensationalism against China. According to a new survey conducted by a US group called PEW, up to 93% of Chinese people believe that the Olympic games will be a big... more -
Intrusive ads are annoying.. really??
In another no-brainer stating the plain-bleeding-obvious-type survey, it has been found that irritating advertising has caused 84% of 25-34 year-olds to leave their favourite websites. Also, “70% of 25-34 year olds have stopped visiting a website altogether because of intrusive or irrelevant advertising." Of course, the ads still keep being produced, despite the fact at least a percentage of their makers must also be irritated by their own ads.
Makes no sense, eh?
In another no-brainer stating the plain-bleeding-obvious-type survey, it has been found that irritating advertising has caused 84% of ... more -
Are mobile phones the new cigarettes?
Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute has warned his faculty and staff to limit their and their families' mobile phone use due to a possible risks of cancer. Haberman based his warning, the first of such from a major academic institution, on unpublished data saying the risks are too high to wait for a definitive answer from science.
Again, the opposing opinions are either that there's not enough proof that they do harm, or that they are definitely harmful.
What should we believe?? Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute has warned his faculty and staff to limit their and th... more -
Pete Doherty Pleads Guilty
Babyshambles' shambling star Pete Doherty has pleaded guilty to smashing a photographer's camera when she tried to take pictures of him and his then-girlfriend last year. The star originally failed to turn up to an earlier hearing, but since his guilty plea is paying £918.27 to the reporter in compensation, as well as £100 in legal costs.
Just over £1,000? That's nothing to him right..? Babyshambles' shambling star Pete Doherty has pleaded guilty to smashing a photographer's camera when she tried to take pictures of hi... more -
Boy Bites Dog
A boy from Brazil who was attacked by a pitbull lost a tooth in defending himself by biting the dog back. The kid allegedly grabbed the dog's neck and bit hard till passers-by pulled the two apart. The boy had to have several stitched on his arm as well as the lost tooth - the condition of the dog is unknown. And the tooth the kid lost? One of his canines, of course... A boy from Brazil who was attacked by a pitbull lost a tooth in defending himself by biting the dog back. The kid allegedly grabbed t... more
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The Pollution Map of Beijing
In Beijing this summer but worried about the smog? Want to know when it's safe to go outdoors without a facemask? Richard Spencer points us to a useful tool.
The Pollution Map of Beijing (linked in Spencer's blog) is a collaborative project between the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau and CERC (Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants) and gives a day-to-day forecast of pollution levels in the capital.
Of course, the scale has to be taken slightly into context for the average user, as the blue 'good' level of pollution still fails WHO standards. Green means 'slightly polluted', which doesn't sound too bad - until you realised that it means it has failed even the government's own definition of acceptability and may effect people with 'heart or pulmonary conditions', like asthma.
Now where's my oxygen tank... In Beijing this summer but worried about the smog? Want to know when it's safe to go outdoors without a facemask? Richard Spencer po... more -
'Olympic Security English': What lousy luck...
The Public Security Bureau in China has distributed a pamphlet to all security forces working during the upcoming Olympic games detailing key words and phrases, and likely dialogue scenarios, a policeman might encounter with English-speaking tourists...
Example exchanges include:
Police: Do you have your ticket for the boxing match?
Foreigner: No. I thought I could buy it when I got to the Gymnasium.
Police: Since you have neither passport nor other identification, you'll have to come along with us to the police station.
Foreigner: What lousy luck!
Have the interpreters been reading too much P.G. Wodehouse again? The Public Security Bureau in China has distributed a pamphlet to all security forces working during the upcoming Olympic games detail... more -
The Opera Singing Dentist
Think you're afraid of going to the dentist? Wait until you hear this guy sing.
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Aaarrrggghhh…Fire Haircut
Hey - what's that smell? Why, it's hairdresser Pietro Santoro using a naked flame to cut people's hair. Or at least burn it until it's crispy. Hey - what's that smell? Why, it's hairdresser Pietro Santoro using a naked flame to cut people's hair. Or at least burn it until it's... more
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Wooden VW Beetle
A couple have covered their cherished VW Beetle in oak. Amazing to look at, and it evens drives ok.
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Bikes Smarten Up in US
Discovery-News.com: The first bike-sharing program in the United States will be open soon in hopes of relieving congestion and pollution in metropolitan areas. Discovery-News.com: The first bike-sharing program in the United States will be open soon in hopes of relieving congestion and polluti... more
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