The Fat Prince

2 Oct 2010 - This week the young heir-apparent of the hermit state North Korea, Kim Jong-un, was appointed a four star general by his father and named vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, the country's most powerful institution. For the first time a picture of the young Kim was published. Analysts say the release of the image - showing a chubby young man in a tight boiler suit - confirms Jong-un's status as successor. The South Korean internet community was buzzing with comments, with one overriding question: how did he get so fat when the country is starving? Most ridiculed the Jong-un, saying he looked like "a fat prince", while another comment referred to the Teletubbies. One comment said: "They look so exactly the same that it is brain-washing". A researcher at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy agreed: "north Koreans think being fat is good. There is a high possibility Jong-un intentionally gained weight to look like his father."

Midlife Crisis

2 Oct 2010 - Britons in their late 30s and early 40s are unhappier than any other age group in the country. A recent survey also shows that they are suffering from loneliness and depression as work and relationship pressures take their toll. The research, by relationship advice charity Relate, found that a fifth of those aged 35 to 44 wished they had a better relationship with their family. The Chief Executive of Relate commented that there appears to be a shift in sentiments among the generations. Traditionally, the midlife crisis is associated with people in their late 40s and early 50s, but the survey reveals that this period is now reached by people at an earlier age. The good news is that life does not end at 50. If 40 is the new 50, then we can think that 50 is the new 40 - and the wisdom goes that life starts at 40 .. eh ... 50.

New Home

1 Oct 2010 - In a few weeks I will move house. So I am in this phase between packing up and thinking (dreaming) of my new castle. I learned that when looking to move apartment, some of us place too much emphasis on the orientation of the building. However, this is not always necessary. The laws of fung shui teach us that it is important to look at the immediate environment of the building. It should not be the only building in the area, otherwise occupants will feel lonely. It also should not be the tallest building to the extent that it clearly towers over the rest, or else occupants will be vulnerable to mishaps. On the other hand, the building should also not ne dwarfed by the surrounding buildings, otherwise one will find oneself being taken advantage of. Thus, it is best to live in a building that is similar in height to most of the buildings in the immediate vicinity.

One child ...???

30 Sep 2010 - Chinese authorities recently announced that the infamous one-child policy will be maintained. However, at the same time alarming reports about fertility problems came out. For example, an official from the provincial health department in the province of Anhui told a reproductive health forum in Hefei on Monday that more than 10% of couples in the province have fertility problems. This is one of the 'official' highest rates in the mainland, but it is no secret that statistics in China are often polished up. The official went further and said that the problems were caused by infections, pollution and unhealthy lifestyles. The city of Hefei is considering the introduction of an in-vitro fertilisation programme because of increasing demand. One child is a  blessing and the underlying causes for the poor fertility rates may soon become one of the latest taboos in the mainland.

No UN Welcome for ET

30 Sep 2010 - The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA - no joke) dismissed on Tuesday a report which said it had appointed an ambassador as a point of contact for extra-terrestrials as "nonsense". The UNOOSA statement clarified that an article as appeared in the Sunday Times was not true. The Sunday Times article claimed that UNOOSA was to appoint Malaysian astrophysicist Mazlan Othman to be the first contact for aliens. Othman heads UNOOSA, a department of the UN based in Vienna with a staff of 27 whose task is to promote co-operation in the peaceful use of space, but will continue normally with his daily duties and will not be promoted into the special poosition. So, if the men from mars decide to intervene, there will be no warm welcome by UN officials. Maybe that is actually better?

Chinese Philantropy

29 Sep 2010 - The visit of Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to China has created a buzz on the internet about philantropy among the country's new super-rich. Buffet and Gates visit the mainland to discuss charitable giving with the richest of the Chinese rich and have so far received very mixed reactions. Only one tycoon openly committed to make posthumous donations, but others have pointed out that China's system is "not ready" for massive charitable giving. Others do not want to undermine the role of the State. China is home to 64 of the world's 937 richest people, according to the annual list as published by Forbes magazine. The widening gap between the rich and the poor has put pressure on the tycoons to do more for society. Buffett and Gates are careful; not to politicize the debate saying that China's circumstances are unique and so its approach to philantropy will be.  

Smelly Birds

29 Sep 2010 - More news from Down Under. Scientists say they are hoping to develop a deodorant for New Zealand's native birds to stop them falling prey to introduced predators. Canterbury researcher Jim Briskie said it appeared New Zealand birds suffered from body odor, making them an easy target for predators. Briskie said the kiwi bird smelled like mushrooms or ammonia, while the flightless kakapo parrot's odor was like 'musty violin cases".  To be honest, I do not not know what a bird is supposed to smell like but one wonders if the poor birdies will be less vulnerable (and tasty) if they smell after lily-of-the-valleys, green tea or lavender. Some of those introduced predators may have an exotic taste.

Great Picture (20)

28 Sep 2010 - North Korea is in the news, and the SCMP published this great picture from the Photononstop agency. Young female soldiers play tribute to late President Kim Il-sung. Although Kim Il-sung is the one and only Great leader, all eyes are on his little known grandson. The twenty-something year old KIm, who was today promoted to four star genera, and he is expected to replaced his ailing father any time soon. The Kim's survive through a cult of personality with messianic overtones, and the people of North Korea will soon salute their new leader.. 

550 Athletes

28 Sep 2010 - Hong Kong authorities announced that a record 550 athletes and officials in 34 sports will represent the city at the Asia Games in Guangzhou in November. This is the largest ever squad that is sent to a multi-sports games (including the Beijing Olympics), as Hong Kong wants to show its sporty image in preparation for a bid to host the Games in 2023. Authorities stress that it is not just about participation, as all selected athletes are estimated having a realistic chance of being competitive. One official said "We have approved sports where we think we have a chance of being competitive. We are not sending a tour group on a holiday." The Hong Kong delegation will not participate in boxing, roller sports, archery, kabbadi, modern pentathlon, sepak takraw and softball. It leaves me with the question what kabbadi and sepak takraw are?

Border Crossing

28 Sep 2010 - The National Day holiday is around the corner. It is peak season for Hong Kong's Immigration Department as an estimated 5.89 million passengers are expected to pass through immigration checkpoints during the National Day holiday, an increase of 15% over the same period last year. The figure is amazing, considering that only 7 million people live in Hong Kong. The Lo Wu border crossing is the busiest of all. Between September 30 and October 7 the Immigration Department will minimize leave for staff, and post extra officers at control points to cope with the heavy traffic. Inbound traffic is expected to be the busiest on October 3 at the Lo Wu checkpoint when about 178,000 passengers will arrive. Another 174,000 people are expected to leave Hong Kong on Friday. People are advised to travel to and from the mainland during less busy periods.

Possum Throwing

27 Sep 2010 - A New Zealand school has a unique take on what it want to educate its students. Recently, the school organized a possum-throwing contest to entertain the students. The contest came under fire from local animal protection groups for encouraging students in the "morally wrong" practice. The contest, in which students swung possum carcasses over their heads and hurled them across the playground, was unacceptable the New Zealand Royal Society for the Protection of Animals said. RSPCA manager Danny Auger said, "While it is technically not illegal, it is morally wrong to throw a dead animal around." One wonders if it is indeed illegal, but more important it seems that the school maintains an unhealthy set of morals and values. It was not reported what the parents, or children involved, thought of the initiative.

Anaconda scare

27 Sep 2010 - A 73-year old Polish pensioner recently got the shock of her life when visiting the toilet. After she raised the lid of the toilet seat, the lady saw a big snake that wanted to slither out of the toilet bowl. The snake turned out to be a more than two meter long anaconda peering up out of her toilet bowl. The old pensioner was keen enough to immediately slam down the lid and called the local police. Although the Wroclaw police must have thought they were dealing with a hoax, the panic in the voice of the lady probably convinced them something was seriously wrong and they got an employee from the local zoo involved. The zoo employee managed to catch the snake, normally a native of South Africa and somewhat lost in southern Poland. A police spokesman said the reptile must have somehow got into the toilet bowl via the plumbing of the pipes, but none of the neighbors reported a missing anaconda.

Mamma Mia

26 Sep 2010 - ABBA stars Bennie Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaes have threatened to sue the right-wing Danish Peoples' Party (DF) for using their song Mamma Mia during their political rallies. They say the band has never given permission to use the song. The youth movement of the DF had changed the lyrics of the song in honor of the DF leader Pia Kjaersgaard. Bjorn Andersson said he only found out about the usage of the song when he was contacted by a left-wing pressure group who asked whether he supported the DF's policies. Mr. Andersson said the ABBA duo had asked their lawyers to start legal action against the party. "Firstly, you cannot just rewrite songs as you like and secondly, we want to make absolutely clear that we have no interest in supporting their party," Mr. Andersson said. Universal Music later said no legal action would be taken as an agreement to stop using the song had already been reached.

Scary Worms

26 Sep 2010 - John Matthews of Dubuque in Iowa (USA) first noticed two spots obscuring his vision in his left eye last December. he underwent a number of tests before doctors told him a worm had made a nest for itself in his eye. He was rushed into a treatment room at the University of Iowa Hospital where doctors shot a laser into his eye to kill the worm. "I could see it from behind, moving, trying to dodge the laser", Matthews told the Iowa Telegraph Herald. The worm was only killed by the second laser blast but doctors could not remove it from the eye. Matthews body is absorbing the worms' remains and doctors said he has suffered permanent retina damage. "It could have been a hookworm I might have picked up when I was in Mexico or it could have been a raccoon roundworm that I could have got turkey hunting." he told the newspaper.