Mongolian Customs

27 March 2011 - Mongolians traditionally were afraid of misfortunes and believe in a variety of good and bad omens. Misfortune might be attracted by talking about negative things, or by persons that are often talked about. They might also be sent by some malicious shaman or enraged by breaking some taboo, like stepping on a yurt's threshold, desecrating waters or mountains, etc.The most endangered family members were children, and that's why they would sometimes be given non-names like Nergui (Mongolian for: without name) or Enebish (Mongolian for:: not this one), or boys would be dressed up as girls.Before going out at night, young children's foreheads are sometimes painted with charcoal or soot in order to deceive evil spirits that this is not a child but a rabbit with black hair on the forehead.

Kanamara Matsuri Festival

26 March 2011 - The Kanamara Matsuri Fstival is an annual Shinto fertility festival held in Kawasaki, Japan in spring held in the Kanayama shrine. The exact dates vary: the main festivities fall on the first Sunday in April. The penis forms the central theme of the event that is reflected everywhere—in illustrations, candy, carved vegetables, decorations, and a mikoshi parade.The Kanamara Matsuri is centered around a local penis-venerating shrine once popular among prostituteswho wished to pray for protection against sexually transmitted diseases. It is said that there are divine protections also in business prosperity and the clan's prosperity, easy delivery, marriage, and married couple harmony. There is also a legend of a sharp-toothed demon that hid inside the vagina of a young girl and castrated two young men on their wedding nights. As a result, the young girl sought help with a blacksmith, who fashioned an iron phallus to break the demon's teeth, leading to the enshrinement of the item. Today, the festival has become somewhat of a tourist attraction and is used to raise money for HIV research

Meep Meep

25 March 2011 - It is official: China will overtake the US and dominate global trade by 2030, a leading accountancy firm says.China's global trade is set to surge past the US' by 2030, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Currently, China's international trade is worth $2.21 trillion (£1.36tn), compared with the $2.66tn (£1.64tn) for the US. China was confirmed as the world's second-biggest economy earlier this year, overtaking Japan. According to the report by PwC, the coming years will see global trade undergo "fundamental change" as emerging economies such as China and India begin to "dominate the top sea and air freight routes". PwC's findings are in line with the World Bank's prediction that China's economy will eclipse the US by 2030, if it can sustain its growth. Its chief economist Justin Lin said on Wednesday that, if China continued to grow at an annual rate of 8%, it would be twice the size of the US economy in 20 years.

Famous First Lines

24 March 2011 - Maybe this falls under the "Quote of the Day" category, but let's look at some famous opening lines:

• Telegram message, 1844: "What hath God wrought"
• Telephone, 1876: "Mr Watson, come here. I want to see you."
• Wireless communication over open sea, 1897: "Are you ready?"
• BBC Radio 1, 1967: "And, good morning everyone. Welcome to the exciting new sound of Radio 1".
• Moon landings, 1969: "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."
• E-mail, 1971: Qwertyuiop [probable]
• Text message, 1992: "Merry Christmas"
• Google, Jan 1996: no record of first search term, it says
• Facebook, Feb 2004: no record of first post
• YouTube, 2005: Video called "Me at the zoo", with first words: ""Alright, so here we are in front of the elephants"
• Twitter, 2006: "just setting up my twttr"

Elizabeth Taylor

23 March 2011 - Dame Elizabeth Taylor, one of the 20th Century's biggest movie stars, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 79. The double Oscar-winning actress had a long history of ill health and was being treated for symptoms of congestive heart failure. Her four children were with her when she died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, her publicist said. In a statement, her son Michael Wilding called her "an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it." He continued to say that "Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts."

.XXX Domain

22 March 2011 - Internet overseer Icann has given final approval to the creation of an internet domain dedicated to pornography. The move to create a top level ".xxx" domain - similar to ".com" and ".org" - ends a 10-year battle over the virtual red-light district. Icann gave initial approval last year, but carried out further consultation checks over the application. It is now poised to sign an agreement with the ICM Registry, which is backing the domain, to make .xxx a reality. Supporters say the domain will make it easier to filter out inappropriate content. But many pornographers worry that the move could ghettoise their content. Religious groups have argued that giving pornography sites their own domain legitimises the content. Icann, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, said in a draft paper ahead of approving the decision: "The Icann community has engaged in extensive debate as well, with this single issue generating higher volumes of community comment than nearly any other issue ever faced within Icann." The organisation oversees the internet's addressing system and demands that new top level domains, such as .biz, must be "sponsored" in that they must serve the needs of a defined community. ICM said last year that it had more than 110,000 pre-reservations for .xxx domains.

American Idol Dollars

21 March 2011 - American Idol made more money from advertising revenue than any other US TV show in 2010, according to a survey by Forbes magazine. The singing contest raked in an estimated $7.1m (£4.4m) every half hour during its last series. Far behind in second place was Charlie Sheen's former comedy show Two and A Half Men, with $2.9m (£1.8m). Data was taken from Kantar Media, who surveyed all regular prime time shows, excluding sports events. American Idol's 2010 figures were down $1m (£620,000) on the previous year. Simon Cowell was still on the judging panel in the last series, accompanied by Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson. Following Charlie Sheen's sacking from Two and A Half Men, it remains to be seen whether the show can continue to generate as much revenue, Kantar's Jon Swallen said. "The show is built around the interplay between two contrasting characters," Mr Swallen said. "If you remove one, it fundamentally makes it a different show. If it comes back on the air there will be a curiosity factor but after a few episodes it will have to rise or fall on its own merit. "Desperate Housewives was in third place with an estimated $2.74m (£1.7m), with medical drama Grey's Anatomy at four with $2.67m.

Ulaanbaatar

20 March 2011 - Next week I will go to Ulaanbaatar. UB has a long history, and is only now undergoing an industrial revolution. I read that UB is one of the most drab looking cities on the face of the planet, a travesty really, considering it's the capital of one the most beautiful and hospitable countries on earth. Still, as traditionalists, Mongolians love their capital. They understand that it is not an Asian beauty, but in their hearts they are aware of the city's history, culture and many struggles. Foreigners who take the time to get to know the faces that are hidden behind the gray walls will discover a hospitable and warm-hearted people. One is invited to explore the city from different angles, while at the same time do not ignore the abject poverty of many of the ex-nomads who in recent years have come to the city to find work after severe winters have killed their livestock. In this way, one will learn to unlock the city's many secrets and discover an Ulaanbaatar that is not initially revealed to the casual visitor.

Hygienic Sharks

19 March 2010 -Scientists filmed sharks off the coast of the Philippines  visiting a tropical seamount - or undersea mountain. This is a habitat for cleaner fish, which nibble off parasites and dead skin.The sharks repeatedly visited the station and swam slowly around, giving the fish time to delouse them.The findings were recently published in the journal PLoS One.This is the first time the behaviour has been seen in this species and the researchers say it shows how vital these shallow reef habitats are for the large, threatened predators. The lead researcher, Simon Oliver from Bangor University in the UK, has been studying thresher sharks for more than five years and founded the Thresher Shark Research and Conservation Project. For the PLoS One Study, he filmed over 1,000 hours of footage of the sharks at a seamount off the northern tip of Cebu in the Philippines. "They visit the site very regularly," Mr Oliver told BBC News. "A huge dive tourism site has evolved around them."The sharks' behaviour suggests that they go there specifically to be cleaned."They pose, lowering their tails to make themselves more attractive to the cleaners," he explained. "And they systematically circle for about 45 minutes at speeds lower than one meter per second." This is  about half the speed at which the sharks usually swim. These reefs, which are habitats for cleaner wrasses - as the industrious little fish are known - are probably vital for the sharks' health.

Picture Perfect

17 March 2011 - Adult monkeys recognise photographs of their friends, according to scientists.In an experiment, untrained Barbary macaques showed interest in the photos and spent more time scrutinising pictures of unfamiliar animals.Juvenile monkeys were fascinated but puzzled by the photographs. They often tried to greet or touch the animal in the image.The findings suggest that the primates learn with age to understand that photos are representations of faces. As well as adding to our knowledge of their intelligence, the findings, published in the journal Animal Condition could also help in future studies of primate behaviour.
Now that we know [that they spontaneously recognise photographs], we won't be limited to working in the lab and training the animals," said lead researcher Professor Julia Fischer, from the German Primate Center and Gottingen University in Germany. "We will be able to study them in a much more natural captive setting, [studying their behaviour] by designing games for them to play."She and her team observed macaques in wildlife park in Rocamadour, south-west France, where the animals are allowed to roam around an open landscape

Manners and Courtesy

16 March 2011 - I liked this piece by Laura King in the Los Angeles Times:

Reporting from Tokyo -- She was elderly and alone, injured and in pain. When the massive earthquake struck, a heavy bookshelf toppled onto Hiroko Yamashita, pinning her down and shattering her ankle. When paramedics finally reached her, agonizing hours later, Yamashita did what she said any "normal" person would do, her son-in-law recounted later: She apologized to them for the inconvenience, and asked if there weren't others they should be attending to first.
The worst earthquake in Japan's recorded history left a trail of blazing buildings, inundated coastal communities, wrecked roadways and potentially unstable nuclear power plants. But it barely made a dent in the implacably Japanese trait of exhibiting concern for others even in the worst of circumstances.
In Tokyo and its suburbs, the quake knocked out much of the usually clockwork-reliable public-transportation system. Yet when trains finally appeared on a few crucial routes, the queue was as orderly as on any mundane commuting day. Once aboard, people sat quietly, gazing at their cellphones in hope of an elusive signal. “It would be uncivilized to try to push and shove, and what good would it do anyway?” said Kojo Saeseki, helping his wife onto a crowded train on the city’s outskirts.

The Japanese language is full of ritual apologies, uttered so often as to become almost meaningless: I am about to make a nuisance of myself — please excuse me! Some of this is a matter of mere formality. But at a time of crisis, such politesse can be the glue that holds the country together. Even though Friday's magnitude 8.9 quake was shocking and discombobulating, few would imagine burdening a stranger with their anxieties.

Zion

15 March 2011 - From the BBC: Iran has indicated it will attend the 2012 Olympics in London, despite complaining that the Games logo resembles the word "Zion".Last month the Iranians complained to the International Olympic Committee and called for the graphic to be replaced. They objected on the grounds that its resemblance to the word Zion - a Biblical term for Israel - was racist.But now the Iranian-backed Press TV has quoted an official as saying Iranians will "participate gloriously". The report by Press TV quotes the secretary of Iran's Olympic organising committee, Bashram Afsharzadeh, as saying: "Our decision, to partake [in the] Olympic Games, has nothing to do with the UK politicians. "We will make co-ordination with officials of the International Olympic Committee and we will participate and play gloriously in London Games." In its original letter to the IOC, Iran had called for the Games logo to be withdrawn and its designers "confronted".There was also a suggestion that Iranian athletes would be told not to attend. At the time, IOC president Jacques Rogge told BBC Sport: "No, it can't be serious. We will quietly reply, telling [Iran] the logo has nothing to do with racism or any political connotation."

Obama - The Icon

14 March 2011 - The Associated Press has sued several retailers including Urban Outfitters for the unauthorised use of the Hope image created by artist Shepard Fairey. Artist Fairey used an AP photo without permission to create the image, and was sued by the news agency for violating copyright. That case was settled. AP argues that using the image on T-shirts is wilful and blatant violation of the copyright of the photo.A spokesman said that using photos for free devalued the work of journalists. The news agency filed lawsuits against Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom and Zumiez seeking unspecified damages. A Nordstrom spokeswoman said in a statement that the firm was aware of the lawsuit. Representatives of the other retailers have yet to respond, AP said. In a statement, AP spokesman Paul Colford said: "When a commercial entity such as these retailers, or the company that sold the shirts to them, gets something for nothing by using an AP photo without credit or compensation, it undermines the AP's ability to cover the news. "It devalues the work that our journalists do, often in dangerous locations where they may literally risk life and limb to cover a story."

Drink Up

13 March 2011 - Drinking a glass or two of alcohol a day could protect you from developing dementia as you get older, a new Published March 2 in the journal Age and Ageing, German researchers revealed that light and moderate drinkers of any type of alcohol were 29 percent less likely to develop any kind of dementia than heavy drinkers or teetotalers. Good news for Alzheimer's disease too: light and moderate drinkers also had 42 percent less chance of developing the disease than heavy drinkers and those who abstained completely. Light drinkers in the study drank about one drink a day, or 10 grams of wine, beer, or liquor. Moderate drinkers imbibed two drinks per day. Research published last October in the journal Neurology also found that walking just 9.5 kilometers (six miles) a week may keep your brain sharper as you get older. Walking may protect aging brains from growing smaller and, in turn, preserve memory in old age.

Great Picture (32)

13 March 2011 - Today I send my sympathies to the people of Japan - struck by the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Many terrifying images has surfaced, but I stick to this simple image of people in a bookshop in Sendai, who froze when the roof ovetr their heads collapsed.

China Overheating

11 March 2011 - Confidence in Chongqing's property sector runs high, despite a raft of borrowing and buying restrictions in recent months as China's central government seeks to rein in soaring prices.

Even the introduction of a brand new city property tax failed to cool ardour.In fact, at the Lishui Jingyuan development - a very typical Chinese forest of skyscrapers that towers over the Yangtze River - sales have actually increased.In the show flat, lavishly decorated with magnificent views of the neighbours' bedrooms, sales manager Tang Yang shares her thoughts on how buyers think."People are trying their best to buy now because the government may tighten the market further," she explains.First-time buyers must now make a minimum down-payment of 30% on home purchases.For young couples, families often pool their cash to help them on to the property ladder.Further cooling measures in place now include a ban on banks offering discounts on interest rate payments.The banks have also been ordered to strictly restrict lending on home owners' equity - a typical way to raise a deposit on another mortgaged property.Those buying a second property must find a 60% deposit and pay higher interest charges. Bank loans for a third property are banned.

Bumper War

10 March 2011 - A Manchester United fan has had her bumper sticker censored after a complaint was made to police that it was "offensive". Sarah Webb-Lee, 39, from Stockport, had a car sticker which read: "On the first day God created United then completely f+++i-up up and created City." When officers told her to take it down she refused, but later agreed to have a letter removed. Police said the swear word used breached public order legislation. A neighbourhood team officer was sent round to Mrs Webb-Lee's home in Cale Green, Stockport, after a local councillor passed on to police a complaint they had received from a resident. She was informed that the language used on the sticker was offensive under the terms of Section 5 of the Public Order Act. "I couldn't believe it when they told me," she said.

Fur

9 March 2011 - With many thanks to the Big White Guy in the City of Buzz, I blog about fur today. Local newspapers reports that Hong Kong is the fur hub of the world, handling 70 per cent of globe's raw furs and 80 per cent of its processed furs. Unsurprisingly, mainland China is the biggest market. It seems odd that furs come through a city which is so hot and humid much of the year, but there it is.The article made no mention of the ethics of the fur trade, but that's not to say there haven't been protests against fur in the Big Lychee. Ethics regarding animals are quite different in the motherland and changing minds isn't easy, especially when it's so cold in northern China, and certainly when increasing numbers of wealthy mainlanders are eager to display their status.Hong Kongers have no reason to wear fur; it rarely gets much colder in the winter than 5C, and trying to prevent mold damage would be a never-ending battle. For those who want the real thing regardless, recycled furs may be the ticket: they don't involve the cruelty often perpetrated by the fur industry, and they don't involve the use of petroleum products and toxic chemicals in the manufacture of fake fur.Once fur traders figure that out, you can be certain that Hong Kong will capture the world market for recycled furs as well.

Hayabusa

8 March 2011 - Since the launch of the first "Shinkansen" train lines in the 1960s, Japan has been a world leader in the production of bullet trains. And the country's latest effort - unveiled in Tokyo - is no slouch. The Hayabusa train, which has a distinctive long nose, can travel at speeds of up to 180mph and will carve across the country from Tokyo to the northern city of Aomon in just three hours and ten minutes. The company behind the green-and-silver train, the East Japan Railways Co, says the E5 series of bullet trains will be able to travel up to 198mph by next yearm making it the country's fastest train. It is not just speed over substance either, the Hayabusa (literally "Falcon") train will be among the quietest on the tracks and for those wishing to splash out, there is even a first-class cabin that will be the envy of the airline industry. A one-way tocket in the "Granclass" carriage will cost nearly GBP 200.

Rain Trees

7 March 2011 - The public in Malaysia has been advised against drinking the "holy water" showering down from a tree in Pinang Tunggal and another in Siungai Petani. The Consumers Association of Penang  rural education officer N.V. Subbarow said it was foolish for anyone to wipe their bodies and faces with the water or to even drink it. "people are merely exposing themselves to unknown risks as the authorities have yet to run tests on the water. They should be reminded that many diseases are spread by animals and insects, including leptospirosis which is spread through water." he said. Thousands of people from afar have been flocking to see the two trees since late February. Witnesses claimed they had felt showers from the trees - a 12m high petal tree and an 18m high wild tree in Taman Ria Jaya. Subbarow said that those people making a fast buck from selling the "holy water" at MYR 5 per glass were being "irresponsible".

Sperm Quality

6 March 2011 - Sperm quality significantly deteriorated and testicular cancers increased over recent years, a Finnish study says. The study in the International Journal of Andrlogy looked at men born between 1979 and 1987. The University of Turku research suggests environmental reasons, particularly exposure to industrial chemicals, may be behind both trends. A UK expert said chemicals may affect the development of male babies. Finnish men were studied as they have previously been shown to have some of the highest sperm counts in the world. But scientists were never sure if this was because of their genetics or because they were exposed to fewer harmful chemicals.'Danger chemicals'. The researchers looked at three groups of men who reached the age 19 between 1998 and 2006.Men who were born in the late 1980s had lower sperm counts than those who were born in the beginning of the decade.Total sperm counts were 227m for men born in 1979-81, 202m for those born in 1982-83 and 165m for men born in 1987, respectively.In addition, the researchers observed that there was a higher incidence of testicular cancer in men born around 1980 compared with men born around 1950.

No photoshop

5 March 2011 - I came across an interesting website (http://thechive.com/2011/03/03/celebrity-close-ups-sans-photoshop-26-photos/) with the pictures of 26 American celebrities without being photoshopped. The portraits are rather intense, often beautiful and always captivating. I do not know who all these "celebrities" are, but there are the amazing faces of Clint Eastwood, Helen Mirren and Cate Blanchett staring you in the eye. No photoshop does not mean no make-up, but these white screen gods suddenly become real people. You could almost meat them in the supermarket. Little is said about the vision of the website, but it's a great initiative. Great people, great picture, great site.

Guam

4 March 2011 - I have never been to Guam, but the name of the place has this magical ring to it. Yet, I seldomly hear of people visiting the place. I checked the Lonely Planet website, and it is explained that there are a few good reasons why Guam, a former Spanish colony and the biggest island in Micronesia, is so rarely visited. From North America or Europe, only a few airlines will take you to this US territory in the Pacific Ocean and almost every route has stops in either Honolulu, Tokyo or Seoul. And with round-trip tickets starting at $1,500, it is not exactly the cheapest place to get to either. But one will forget the long, expensive flight once set foot on the island, which is one third of the size of London and has year-round temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. One million Japanese tourists flock here every year for the predictable weather, white beaches and crystal-clear Pacific Ocean. They swarm the theme-park style hotel pools, beach-side wedding chapels and the luxury shopping malls that feel like an air-conditioned, less-crowded version of Fifth Avenue. These distractions make for a happy few days away from reality, or a honeymoon, but it might be missing the point. Guam is not just about tourists offerings. The real draws are the local food and culture.

Soumaya Museum

3 March 2011 - The Soumaya Museum has opened! Designed by LAR + Fernando Romero, the Soumaya Museum will house a diverse collection of international painting, sculpture, and object art from the 14th century to the present, including the world’s second largest collection of Rodin sculptures.  Conceived as a sculpture, the museum’s amorphous form will be a contemporary icon for Mexico City that is also a functional curatorial space. The Museum is funded by Mexican rich man Carlos Slim, who can rightfully claim the title of the world's richest man. The museum will also house his private art collection. .

Quote of the Day (29)

2 March 2011 - So, Oscar season is over, but let's not forget thsi quote before we turn the page:
David Seidler, 73, accepting best original screenplay for The King's Speech:

"My father always said to me I would be a late bloomer. I believe I'm the oldest person to win this award. I hope that record is broken quickly and often."

Business Cards

1 March 2011 - Industries may change and brand names may come and go, but at least one tradition in the business world has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years. The exchange of cards between two people who are meeting for the first time is a ritual that goes back as far as business itself. For most of us, the handing over of contact details is an important moment - a clear signal that a connection has been made. But as our lives turn increasingly digital, technology is attempting to provide a range of futuristic alternatives to the old-fashioned card. Ever since the arrival of electronic communication, people have been exploring new ways to share information with each other- from swapping email addresses to trading mobile phone numbers and, increasingly, connecting through an online social network. A range of services have appeared to take advantage of this trend, including Bump Technologies, a two-year-old startup based in California's Silicon Valley. Its application, which users download to their phones, lets people trade contact details simply by tapping their handsets together. It is an approach that has a number of advantages over the traditional paper card, says Bump's Sadie Bascom - particularly since nobody goes anywhere without their mobile these days.
"It's easy, always on your phone, and you never have to remember to grab a stack of physical cards or worry about them running out."

One-dog Policy

28 Feb 2011 - Most people know of China's one-child policy, but now there is something new cooked up. China's leading metropolis Shanghai has adopted a one-dog policy, passing a law limiting homes to one dog each as it tries to curb the growing popularity of man's bast friend. The law takes effect on May 15, the China Daily reported earlier this week. Under the law, dog owners must give their pet's puppies to eligible no-dog households or to government approved adoption agencies before the pups reach three months. Anyone currently owning two or more licensed dogs will be allowed to keep them. Official estimates put the pet dog population in Shanghai at 800,000 although only a quarter of that number is registered.

Karaoke Hits

27 Feb 2011 - Some people think that Karaoke is merely an Asian activities. Not rue, and although I do not have any figures to proof it I like to share the Top Ten of Most Poplular Karaoke songs in British venues, as published by The Telegrap. Here we go go go:
1. Waterloo - ABBA
2. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
3. My Way - Frank Sinatra
4. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
5. Dancing Queen - ABBA
6. Angels - Robbie Williams
7. Like A Virgin - Madonna
8. Its Raining Men - Weather Girls
9. Summer Nights -  Olivia Newton John and John Travolta

10. I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue

Robot Marathon

26 Feb 2011 - The world's first full length marathon for two-legged robots kicked off in Japan last week. The toy-sized humanoids are set to run the 42,195km over four days. The machines began the non-stop race on a 100m indoor track in the city of Osaka after doing knee bends or raising their hands to greet spectators. The race is a big hit with Osaka citizens who have flocked to the venue to watch the spectacle unfold. The bipedal robots - the tallest of which measures 44 cm - must complete 423 laps to reach their goal. The "Robo Mara Full" race is organized by Vstone Co, a robot technology firm based in Osaka, in cooperation with the Osaka prefectural Government. Vstone robots took an early lead, while the two entrants of the University of Osaka Engineering teams got off to a shaky start.

Crocs

25 Feb 2011 - I recently spotted a one meter long lizzard in the garden in Malaysia (downtown Kuala Lumpur!). But it could be worse. A woman in Brazil was shocked to find an alligator hiding behind her sofa after heavy rains flooded her house in the central town of Parauapebas, in Para state. She said she was alerted to the animal's presence by her son, who was patting the alligator's head. The woman snatched the child away and called the fire brigade, who trapped the 1.5m-long (5ft) reptile. The firefighters said the family was lucky the animal was not hungry. Firefighter Captain Luiz Claudio Farias said the alligator could have seriously hurt or even killed the boy. Mr Farias said it was not uncommon for animals such as alligators and snakes to enter people's houses in towns such as Parauapebas which are built very near rivers and the rainforest. He said the animal had been released in a less populated area of the town.

Online Games

24 Feb 2011 - Be careful with those online games ... A Chinese man has died after a three-day online gaming session in which he did not sleep and barely ate, reports say. The man reportedly lost consciousness at an internet cafe on the outskirts of the Chinese capital, Beijing. He was rushed to a clinic but could not be revived, the Beijing Times said. The 30-year-old man, who was not identified, was said to have spent more than 10,000 yuan ($1,500) on gaming in the month before his death. China has more than 450 million internet users, and online games - which can involve multiple users role-playing in a virtual world - are particularly popular with young men. Researchers say tens of millions of Chinese people - many of them teenagers - are addicted to internet gaming, despite curbs introduced by the authorities aimed at tackling the problem. Similar deaths have occurred in other nations. In 2005 a 28-year-old man died in South Korea after playing online games for 50 hours without a break.

OK

23 Feb 2011 - It crops up in our speech dozens of times every day, although it apparently means little. So how did the word "OK" conquer the world, asks Allan Metcalf on the BBC website (www.bbc.co.uk). "OK" is one of the most frequently used and recognised words in the world. It is also one of the oddest expressions ever invented. But this oddity may in large measure account for its popularity. It's odd-looking. It's a word that looks and sounds like an abbreviation, an acronym.We generally spell it OK - the spelling okay is relatively recent, and still relatively rare - and we pronounce it not "ock" but by sounding the names of the letters O and K.Visually, OK pairs the completely round O with the completely straight lines of K.
So both in speech and in writing OK stands out clearly, easily distinguished from other words, and yet it uses simple sounds that are familiar to a multitude of languages.Almost every language has an O vowel, a K consonant, and an A vowel. So OK is a very distinctive combination of very familiar elements. And that's one reason it's so successful. OK stands apart.

Maiden Names

22 Feb 2011 - A group of Japanese women filed a challenge in court last week to a 19th century law that compels almost all Japanese females to drop their maiden names and assume their husbands' surnames when they marry. The landmark case is eeen as a test case for the rights of women in Japan, who continue to fight against gender inequality, stereotypes and remain under-represented in corporate boardrooms. The Civil Code stipulates that married couples must share one surname, in practice almost always that of the husband. The plaintiffs, four women and the husband of one of them, argue that the Civil Code clause breaches the constitutional guarantee of equal rights for both spouses. We had a similar case in Holland some years ago, and it was decided that spouses could opt to live under their own name, or choose any of the two surnames for both of them and their children.

American Idol Again

21 Feb2010 - It's that time of year again: for the 10th year in a row it is American Idol season. I used to be addicted to the programme (see positing 21 April 2010), but thanks to Astro Malaysia I am not able to receive Star Channel, so miss out on this year's season. Last season was not that great, so probably I do not miss that much although it would be funny to see Steven Tyler replacing Simon Cowell. I read in the newspaper that this week 327 people went to Hollywood for that one and only shot at fame. They came out in lines of 10 and acapella was the initial way to go. Their pictures were arranged neatly in front of the judges' table for easy identification and elimination. So far nothing new and I wonder if I really miss much. The newspaper also reports that it seems that this years' teenagers are showing their seniors that singing with a big heart is better than throwing it all out with a powerful voice. Maybe they better understand that one Mariah Carey is enough? At the end of the week 168 people "survived". They were crying, dancing and hugging, and - for a moment - did not seem to care too much about the next round.

Thai Kissing

20 Feb 2011 - A Thai couple has sealed a new record for the longest kissing, after locking lips for 46 hours, 24 minutes. The Guinness World Records still have to verify the latest "kissathon" for it to become official.
Husband and wife team Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat were one of 14 couples taking part in a contest in Bangkok. The pair won a diamond ring worth 50,000 baht (£1,016) and a 100,000 baht (£2,032) cash prize.
The couple began smooching at 0600 local time on Sunday, and were announced the winners just before dawn on Tuesday. Contestants had to be either married or a serious couple, with a marriage certificate or letter from both parents required as proof. They were allowed to eat, drink and use the lavatory, provided they did not break their embrace. No sitting or sleeping was permitted; one woman fainted just half an hour into the competition. "We want to show that love is meaningful and powerful," said organiser Somporn Naksuetrong.

The Social Network

19 Feb 2011 - People with the most Facebook "friends" are more likely to feel stressed out by the site, according to researchers. Edinburgh Napier University found a significant minority of users suffered "considerable Facebook-related anxiety".However, they only received very modest rewards.
More than one in 10 said Facebook made them feel anxious and more than three in 10 said they felt guilty about rejecting friend requests.The study found that 12% of the students questioned said they disliked receiving friend requests, while almost two thirds (63%) said they delayed replying to friend requests.
The university's Dr Kathy Charles, who led the study, said: "The results threw up a number of paradoxes.

"For instance, although there is great pressure to be on Facebook there is also considerable ambivalence amongst users about its benefits."And we found it was actually those with the most contacts, those who had invested the most time in the site, who were the ones most likely to be stressed. Like gambling, Facebook keeps users in a neurotic limbo, not knowing whether they should hang on in there just in case they miss out on something good”

The Lost World

18 Feb 2011 - The Maliau Basin, a Forest reserve covering an area of 58,840ha in the southern interior of Sabah, Malaysia, is so named at it resembles a gigantic saucer-like basin with the rim ranging from 1,500m to 1,900m above the sea level. It is this unique feature, in addition to its isolation, that has made the basin impossible for human habitation and, therefore, unexplored. Initially, the Maliau Basin was part of Sabah Foundation's concession. It was turned into a conservation area in 1981 for research, education, training and eco-tourism purposes. In 1997 this conservation area was upgraded into a Forest reserve under the State Forest Enactment. It was gazetted a cultural heritage in 1999. The basin is reportedly packed with exotic animals, as they are the only ones to freely enter and leave. Jurassic Park?

The Fifteenth Day

17 Feb 2011 - Chinese New Year celebrations start on the first day on a new moon and end on the 15th day when the moon is full. In Malaysia, Chap Goh Meh is a celebration of both the final day of the Chinese New Year and the day of lovers, also known as "Chinese Valentine's Day". The Chinese New Year marks also the beginning of spring and the 15 days used to be a farmers only holiday, in part because it was also the coldest time of the year. The frozen ground was too hard to work. Whatever the practical reasons, these two weeks became a time for extended family gatherings, lots of food and festivities and carefully observed rituals designed to invite in the good luck and ward off the bad. But from tomorrow onwards we are back to normal.

Chilean Sex Dolls

16 Feb 2011 - Everybody recalls the moving story of the Chilean miners who were trapped for weeks under ground. As time passes, more and more details about their ordeal are becoming known. Human reserves alone were not alone to keep the 33 trapped miners' morale high. To make their ordeal more bearable as they were awaiting rescue, drugs were smuggled down to them in family letters, a new book claims. They also sought a further lift during the 69 days they spent 800m underground by asking for blow-up sex dolls. When this was refused because the doctor in charge feared having to share them would lead to tension and jealousy, the miners had to make do with pin-up posters instead. Nor did the presence of marijuana posted down the communications shaft to them promote camaraderie, the book claims. Miner Samuel Avalos noticed how some miners would sneak away, he suspected to smoke the drug. But he said they never offered to anyone. The book claims that the drugs created more tension than it relieved.

Naked Pics

15 Feb 2011 - I hope everybody enjoyed (or survived) their Valentine's Day, which seems increasingly becoming a commercial opportunity here in Asia. And all the restaurants were packed and flower shops were sold out, although it was announced in Malaysia that Muslims are not allowed to celebrate St. Valentine's special day  I read that many love-struck Asians have spiced up their work day at with saucy emails to whomever they are besotted with, according to an international poll conducted in Asia and Europe by Microsoft’s Windows Live Hotmail.  Research findings released by Microsoft suggests that many Asians feel comfortable expressing their love, flirting freely and even broaching problematic issues in their relationship via email.  In fact, they are less conservative about doing so than their counterparts in Europe. Who would have thought? Btw - I did not put it to the test, my Valentine was already as magnificent as it was.  

My Funny Valentine

14 Feb 2011 - "My Funny Valentine" is a sow tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms. After being recorded by Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis, the song became a popular jazz standard, appearing on over 1300 albums performed by over 600 artists. Babes in Arms opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway on April 14, 1937 and ran for 289 performances. In the original play, a character named Billie Smith sings the song to Valentine "Val" LaMar ^.  In the song, Billie pokes fun at some of Valentine's characteristics, but ultimately affirms that he makes her smile and that she doesn't want him to change. The song first hit the charts in 1945, performed by Hal McIntyre with vocals by Ruth Gaylor. It only appeared for one week and hit #16.In a 2006 survey of people between 10 and 49 years of age in Japan, Oricon Style found My Funny Valentine to be the fifth most popular Valentine's Day song in Japan. The most popular song was Sayuri Kokusho's 1986 debut single Valentine Kiss, followed by Love Love Love from Dreams Come True, Valentine's Radio from Yumi Matsutoya, and Happy Happy Greeting from the Kinki Kids.

Beliefs and Traditions

13 Feb 2011 - We are now more than a week into the Year of the Rabbit and it has been so far so good. Ther are beliefs and traditions regarding luck and prosperity during the Chinese New Year period. Unfounded or not, many Chinese people practise these beliefs without question believing it is better to be safe than sorry. For example, every Chinese family cleans the entire house in the days before the New Year as it is considered bad luck to sweep or clean the house on the first day of the new year. They would not want to sweep their fortunes away. I was told some even apply this to washing their hair. Foul language, scolding and crying are to be avoided on the first day as is the use of sharp instruments such as knives and scissors. Care must be taken not to break any dishes or things. If you do, the broken pieces must be kept and only thrown away the following day. Chinese businesses usually close during the first days, only opening again on the fifth day. All business debts must be settled  and nothing should be lent on the first day as anyone who does will be lending the entire year. 

Great Picture (30)

12 Feb 2011 - Many people seem to like this picture I shot in the KL bird park last week, so let's not be modest and label it a Great Picture. It was not difficult to shoot ... just hop over to the Bird Park in Lake Gardens and shoot away. The birds almost fly into the camera. NB All foreign residents living in Malaysia please bring your work permit or bank card, as you will get a considerable discount if you live in the country.

DAD

10 Feb 2011 - The BBC website had an interestiung reflection about modern times. Colm O'Regan wrote that if you work in an office it's quite possible that you suffer from a condition called DAD. He urges us not to panic as it's not serious and nothing a good book or a long walk won't cure.He explains that his internet browser had 24 tabs open. Among them were three separate attempts to reply to the same e-mail. His online banking session has timed out, and in the corner of his screen a Twitter feed is a never-ending scroll of news and links. Which he clicks. And clicks.He wonders what is wrong with him? He did some research and found Divided Attention Disorder, or DAD. DAD encapsulates the growing phenomenon whereby the constant stream of online information could actually be changing the way our brains work.He first read about this in a magazine while waiting to get his hair cut. The article is quite lengthy. Ironically the only reason he had the attention span to read all of it was that my local barber-shop has no mobile phone reception. Sounds familiar?

Giant Prisoner

10 Feb 2011 - A Dutch court has ruled that while the prison conditions of a "giant" prisoner are "somewhat cramped", they are not inhumane, and he must stay in jail.The inmate named as Angelo MacD had asked to complete his two-year sentence for fraud under house arrest, Radio Netherlands Worldwide reports. Weighing 230kg (36st) and standing at 2.07m (6ft 9in), MacD has had trouble sleeping and using the toilet. Despite the setback, his lawyer hopes to get his jail conditions improved. Prison officials previously tried to relieve MacD's discomfort by adding a a 2.15m plank and an extra mattress to his bed, which is in a single cell at the prison in the south-western town of Krimpen aan de IJssel. No photograph is available of the prisoner but his lawyer, Bas Martens, earlier told the BBC that his client was not obese, but a giant straight out of the comic books - "a metre wide and a metre deep".MacD began his sentence on 29 September and is not due for release until 12 April 2012.

Melaka

9 Feb 2011 - I went to Melaka for the Chinese New Year weekend. Melaka, the most historical city of Malaysia, traces its origins to the year 1400, when the state was founded by an exiled prince from Sumatra. It gained name and fame as the trading emporium of the region under the Melaka sultanate. The colorful town became a melting pot of various communities and a veritable treasure trove of the past. Attractions include monuments of the Portugese, Dutch and British eras suck as A'Famosa, the Stadthuys, St. Paul's Church and St. John's Fort. The city's museums provide glimpses into its glorious past. It is also possible to wander Jonker Street and its parallel streets which lots of antique and curiosa shops. Modern Melaka experienced the sudden economic boom that swept through Malaysia in the 1990s, starting with massive land reclamation projects. The historic waterfront retreated inland. Many locals argue that the city's distinctive heritage is under threat from modernisation. Melaka is only two hours drive south of Kuala Lumpur.

Hawking

8 Feb 2011 - Malaysia is famous for its hawkers. To "hawk", according to the dictionary, is to "sell food on the street or at doors of houses, especially while moving from place to place". Hawker or street food is therefore the fare commodity sold by such vendors. In Malaysia, hawker food was first offered by petty traders who carried their fare from house to house, in a basket or ray balanced on the head. In two baskets, one in each hand, or in two baskets slung across a pole heaved upon the shoulders - such as was practised by the nasi kandar vendors - or in baskets and other receptacles fastened onto bicycles, tricycles and later, motorcycles. Some hawkers carry along a stove to cook their food, and s stool or a small bench for their customers to sit on while chowing down. Today, the food may also be sold from the back of cares or vans. When  the habit of buying food from vendors became entrenched in the culture, the hawkers could afford to lessen their burden by becoming less mobile, setting up stalls in a fixed spot which allowed the business to expand and the variety of food to increase.

Islamic Arts Museum

7 Feb 2011 - The Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia opened in 1998. Since then it has become one of the world's leading snstitutions dedicated to a field that is attracting more interest than ever. The museum is committed to creating a collection that is representative of the entire Islamic world. instead of concentrating on Iran and the Middle East, there is also a wide range of artefacts from China, India and Southeast Asia. The size of the collection keeps growing, and the museum aims to offer its visitors a constantly changing experience. In addition to a spectacular collection, the museum is notable for its building. Occupying 30,000 square meters, a seamless continuity of light and space is maintained throughout the galleries and into the museum's facilities. there is a unique combination of contemporary international design and features taken from traditional Iranian and Central Asian architecture.

Fat Fatter Fattest

6 Feb 2011 - One in 10 of the world's adults is obese, according to a joint UK-US study published in The Lancet. Imperial College London and Harvard researchers studied body mass index (BMI), cholesterol and high blood pressure data from 1980 to 2008. High blood pressure and cholesterol fell in many developed countries while obesity generally rose worldwide. Men in the UK have the sixth highest BMI in Europe while UK women have the ninth highest BMI in Europe.Obesity, cholesterol and high blood pressure are all risk factors for heart disease.In 2008, 9.8% of men and 13.8% of women in the world were obese - they had a BMI above 30kg/m2. This is compared with 4.8% for men and 7.9% for women in 1980. Pacific island nations had the highest average BMI in the world at 34-35kg/m2. This was up to 70% higher than some countries in south-east Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. In common with the rest of the world, BMI rose among most high-income countries. Among those countries, BMI rose the most in the USA between 1980 and 2008, followed by New Zealand and Australia for women and the UK and Australia for men.

Dallas Come-Back

6 Feb 2011 - BBC reports that the hit show Dallas is making a return to our screens, with many members of the original cast including Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy. At its height - in the 1980s - it was one of the most watched programmes on television, but will it be a success this time? It was the show of stetsons, shoulder pads and plenty of sex and scandal. Dallas, which was set in the Texas oil industry, mixed decadence, deceit and drama, and made for compulsive viewing. Millions around the world tuned in every week as the split-screen opening credits and the unforgettable theme tune transported them into the lives of the Ewing family.
The show ran for 13 seasons, from 1978 to 1991. Twenty years on it is being brought back to life by the TNT network with a pilot. The saga of Who Shot JR? gripped viewers around the world

At its peak it drew in huge audiences. The famous Who Shot JR? plot line in March 1980 attracted some of the largest viewing figures in television history.