Monday, January 31, 2011
Report From Cairo By NICHOLAS KRISTOF
"The atmosphere in Tahrir is festive and exhilarating. The army has tanks and armed soldiers, but they are friendly to the protesters, and many people take photos with them. At night, long after curfew, the mood is especially celebratory: people have campfires and sing songs, and everybody wants to give interviews and denounce Mubarak."
via NYTimes.com /continue readingFingerprints on fabrics could now solve crimes
"A new technique developed by scientists at the University of Abertay in Dundee, UK, and The Scottish Police Services Authority can detect fingerprints on fabrics. The technique, which uses fine layers of gold and zinc in a vacuum to detect the print, is already used on hard surfaces, but has now been developed to work on fabrics too. "
Short Sharp Science
Short Sharp Science
China Censors News From Egypt
"Everybody's talking about a revolution. Except, that is, in China.
As the unrest in Egypt stretches on, China has blocked the country's name from micro-blogs and is scrubbing related comments from the web. Has all this talk of freedom got them on edge?
Yes, but that's hardly news. The Chinese Communist Party keeps a close eye on the Internet and blocks any content that could constitute a threat. Typically, that means no references to the 'three Ts' (Tibet, Taiwan, Tiananmen) or criticism of one-party rule. Censors also crack down ahead of a special events, such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics, or after a political crisis, like the 2009 riots in Xinjiang.
What's more interesting is what they have said about the protests. On January 30, Global Times, a state-run newspaper, published an editorial warning, essentially, that democracy would fail in Tunisia and Egypt. An excerpt:
"In general, democracy has a strong appeal because of the successful models in the West. But whether the system is applicable in other countries is in question, as more and more unsuccessful examples arise.
In the West, democracy is not only a political system, but a way of life. Yet some emerging democracies in Asia and Africa are taking hit after hit from street-level clamor
Democracy is still far away for Tunisia and Egypt. The success of a democracy takes concrete foundations in economy, education and social issues."
In other words, revolution won't bring democracy. So don't even try."
TIME NewsFeed
As the unrest in Egypt stretches on, China has blocked the country's name from micro-blogs and is scrubbing related comments from the web. Has all this talk of freedom got them on edge?
Yes, but that's hardly news. The Chinese Communist Party keeps a close eye on the Internet and blocks any content that could constitute a threat. Typically, that means no references to the 'three Ts' (Tibet, Taiwan, Tiananmen) or criticism of one-party rule. Censors also crack down ahead of a special events, such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics, or after a political crisis, like the 2009 riots in Xinjiang.
What's more interesting is what they have said about the protests. On January 30, Global Times, a state-run newspaper, published an editorial warning, essentially, that democracy would fail in Tunisia and Egypt. An excerpt:
"In general, democracy has a strong appeal because of the successful models in the West. But whether the system is applicable in other countries is in question, as more and more unsuccessful examples arise.
In the West, democracy is not only a political system, but a way of life. Yet some emerging democracies in Asia and Africa are taking hit after hit from street-level clamor
Democracy is still far away for Tunisia and Egypt. The success of a democracy takes concrete foundations in economy, education and social issues."
In other words, revolution won't bring democracy. So don't even try."
TIME NewsFeed
Eric Jacqmain invented a 'Death ray' dish
Eric Jacqmain, from Indiana in the US, covered an ordinary fibreglass satellite dish with 5,800 tiny mirror tiles.
When aligned correctly it can generate a heat spot a couple of centimetres across, with an intensity of 5,000 suns, the 19-year-old claims.
see video,continue reading
When aligned correctly it can generate a heat spot a couple of centimetres across, with an intensity of 5,000 suns, the 19-year-old claims.
see video,continue reading
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Historic day for Croatia's alpine skiing
"Chamonix, France - Ivica Kostelic further stretched his alpine skiing World Cup lead on Sunday with a seventh season victory, in a super-combined event.
The Croatian Kostelic finished with a winning total of 2 minutes 57.12 seconds from a downhill and a slalom run each.
Compatriot Natko Zrncic-Dim was second in 2:57.63 and former World Cup winner Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway placed third on the podium in 2:57.65 minutes."
via Monsters and Critics /continue reading
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Al Jazeera English Live for iPhone
"The situation in Egypt is developing by the minute, and unless you're glued to your computer it's pretty much impossible to keep up. The Al Jazeera English iPhone app offers a free, high-quality stream of their live coverage."
via gizmodo/continue reading
via gizmodo/continue reading
Wacky and interesting facts about dinosaurs
Dinosaurs survived for more than 700,000 years after the earth was hit by a massive meteorite originally believed to have caused their extinction, according to new research. Here are some interesting facts about dinosaurs.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Protesters across Egypt defy curfew
"A nighttime curfew has begun in the Egyptian cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Suez, after a day where thousands of protesters took the streets, demanding an end to Husni Mubarak's 30-year presidency.
The curfew was implemented on Friday on the orders of the president, along with an order that the military take charge of security, amid violent clashes occurred between police and protesters.
Mubarak, "as commander in chief, has declared a curfew in the governorates of Greater Cairo, Alexandria and Suez from 6pm to 7am starting on Friday until further notice," state television announced.
The president "has asked the armed forces, in cooperation with the police, to implement the decision, and maintain security and secure public establishments and private property," it said.
Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Cairo said that a building belonging to the ruling National Democratic Party was set ablaze along with several police vehicles. Firefighters did not appear to be on the streets, and the buildings continue to remain torched.
Rawya Rageh, reporting from the port city of Alexandria, said that protesters were defying the curfew.
"The situation remains very tense, and many are still out here, openly defying this curfew."
According to the Associated Press, thousands of protesters have stormed the foreign ministry, and state television building in Cairo.
At least 410 people were wounded during Friday's protests some in a serious condition with bullet wounds, medical sources said."
via Al Jazeera English /continue reading
The curfew was implemented on Friday on the orders of the president, along with an order that the military take charge of security, amid violent clashes occurred between police and protesters.
Mubarak, "as commander in chief, has declared a curfew in the governorates of Greater Cairo, Alexandria and Suez from 6pm to 7am starting on Friday until further notice," state television announced.
The president "has asked the armed forces, in cooperation with the police, to implement the decision, and maintain security and secure public establishments and private property," it said.
Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Cairo said that a building belonging to the ruling National Democratic Party was set ablaze along with several police vehicles. Firefighters did not appear to be on the streets, and the buildings continue to remain torched.
Rawya Rageh, reporting from the port city of Alexandria, said that protesters were defying the curfew.
"The situation remains very tense, and many are still out here, openly defying this curfew."
According to the Associated Press, thousands of protesters have stormed the foreign ministry, and state television building in Cairo.
At least 410 people were wounded during Friday's protests some in a serious condition with bullet wounds, medical sources said."
via Al Jazeera English /continue reading
Love at first sight
"Oogy is a white pit-bullish dog with a truly strange, skew-whiff face - left ear missing, part of the left jaw gone, mouth and snout pulled sideways.
And that’s after extensive reconstructive surgery. When he first saw his beloved pet, owner Larry Levin thought Oogy’s face had melted.
Oogy was probably two months old when Larry first clapped eyes on him, and the puppy’s then-horrendous appearance was the least of his problems - as an appallingly injured stray, he was due to be put down.
Which would have come as a merciful end to a short and dreadful life. Oogy’s origins are shrouded in mystery - he probably started life as a drug dealer’s fighting dog who’d refused to fight and had then been used as bait for other dogs.
Somehow, he had survived, but only just, with major wounds to his head and most of the left side of his face gone. A vet at the local animal hospital in Philadelphia had tried to repair the worst of the damage, but he thought the injuries too severe for Oogy to survive.
But survive he did and, even more triumphantly, with his gentle and affectionate temperament intact.
For Levin, it was love at first sight - or, perhaps more accurately, first lick - and he resolved to adopt him."
read more
And that’s after extensive reconstructive surgery. When he first saw his beloved pet, owner Larry Levin thought Oogy’s face had melted.
Oogy was probably two months old when Larry first clapped eyes on him, and the puppy’s then-horrendous appearance was the least of his problems - as an appallingly injured stray, he was due to be put down.
Which would have come as a merciful end to a short and dreadful life. Oogy’s origins are shrouded in mystery - he probably started life as a drug dealer’s fighting dog who’d refused to fight and had then been used as bait for other dogs.
Somehow, he had survived, but only just, with major wounds to his head and most of the left side of his face gone. A vet at the local animal hospital in Philadelphia had tried to repair the worst of the damage, but he thought the injuries too severe for Oogy to survive.
But survive he did and, even more triumphantly, with his gentle and affectionate temperament intact.
For Levin, it was love at first sight - or, perhaps more accurately, first lick - and he resolved to adopt him."
read more
What should you expect in the Year of the Rabbit?
"Legend has it that the animals were chosen by the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven, who according to Taoist mythology invited all creatures to join him for a New Year's Day celebration.
Only 12 showed up, and the years were named in the order they arrived. The bull would have arrived first, but the rat sat on his back, jumping off just before they arrived. The rabbit came in fourth, hopping on stones to cross a fast-flowing river.
The coming year is likely to be 'quiet, positive and inspiring', according to Chinese astrologers, after a turbulent Year of the Tiger."
read more
Only 12 showed up, and the years were named in the order they arrived. The bull would have arrived first, but the rat sat on his back, jumping off just before they arrived. The rabbit came in fourth, hopping on stones to cross a fast-flowing river.
The coming year is likely to be 'quiet, positive and inspiring', according to Chinese astrologers, after a turbulent Year of the Tiger."
read more
Stieg Larsson's 'loving message' to his brother
"Stieg Larsson wrote a loving message to his brother days before his death, his family have disclosed in an effort to prove they have the right to oversee his multi-million pound legacy."
via Telegraph /continue reading
via Telegraph /continue reading
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