67th Anniversary of Hiroshima

On 6th of Aug 1945, 8.15 am, a nuclear bomb was detonated at Hiroshima calling an estimated 140 000 people.   This was one of the greatest tragedy of mankind and was marked by moments of silence and prayers.   The incident reminds us of the deadliness of the nuclear weapons which can kill the entire earth population many times over.   It also reminded us of the fragility of peace and the need to ensure such tragedies never happen again to mankind.   To the victims of Hiroshima nuclear bombing, Rest In Peace.

Batman Shooting Victims

May they Rest in Peace.

Jonathan T. Blunk, 26

Alexander J. Boik, 18

Jesse E. Childress, 29

Gordon W. Cowden, 51

Jessica N. Ghawi, 24

John T. Larimer, 27

Matthew R. McQuinn, 27

Micayla C. Medek, 23

Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6

Alex M. Sullivan, 27

Alexander C. Teves, 24

Rebecca Ann Wingo, 32


Hopefully those wounded will have a fast recovery.

LIBOR Scandal

Barclay was fined 290 million pounds with their boss having to resigned.  But it seemed that the case is far from over as 4 other banking giants are under scrutiny.   They are currently being investigated by British financial regulators.   Issue of LIBOR threatened to spill across borders as other nations started their own investigations.   I guess it is another big blow for the banking and financial sectors which are still reeling from the aftermath of the Housing crisis.

500 Dead Penguins

The Brazilian coast had a lot of unusual visitors but it was a pity all were dead - Penguins.   The discovery of such a lot of dead penguins as well as 3000 dolphins had the concerns of the Peruvian government who ordered an investigation.   Well according to researchers, Jul is usually a month where migration takes place for such animals and weak ones may perished and washed up in shore.   But the numbers of 500 or more is extremely high.   However the investigation concluded that the deaths were due to natural circumstances.

Russia and China Pressed to take action on Syria

Russia and China, close friends of the embattered Syrian Regime are being pressured to take action to end the bloody uprising.   The Security Council's actions are being hampered by the veto votes of Russia and China and this had in turn reduced the effectiveness of any measures to end the Civil War.   The current action of the United Nations involves keeping 300 unarmed observers in Syria which is totally ineffective in doing anything at all.   A diplomat has even speculated that Russian refusal to take action is due to the simple fact that it does not have the leverage to do so and am reluctant to admit their weakness.

Syria Takes WMD out of Storage

It was rumored that Syria took our its Weapons of Mass Destruction out of storage and getting them ready for use.    This will be an extremely dangerous situation if it is confirmed.   In fact on Thursday 12 Jul 2012, Syria test fired the Scud D missile which is capable of carrying chemical and nerve weapons.   The Syrian act seemed to be prompt by two issues :

1. Rebels had acquired the capability of roadside bombs capable of crippling the T-72 tanks
2. The government army is losing control of more and more areas 

Scud D missile is a tactical ballastic missile that had a range of 300 km, while not poising an immediate threat to the USA, it will be of danger to the neighboring countries that are pro-USA.    Wondering if the USA will rush Anti Ballistic missiles such as the Patriots to its allies that are neighboring Syria.

War in Iran

Certainly hope that there will not be another war in the Middle East.  The populations are already long suffering.  But looking at the news, it isn't very positive.   Two more USA Aircraft Carriers as well as dozens of mini submarines are heading towards Homuz.   Together with one carrier from France, there are already five carriers in such a narrow stretch of sea!   Unmanned SeaFox submersibles are also despatched to the Straits of Hormuz to clear sea mines should any conflict breaks out.  

Piranha Attacks Man in China

A man was attacked by piranhas when he was washing his dog in the river of Liujiang river, in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.   He managed to shake off the fish, catch it and bring it home alive.   Looking at its shape he thought that it was a promfret until he saw the razor sharp teeth of the piranha.   This raises concerns over such imported pets which can be dumped into major rivers and worse case scenario, thrive in such rivers causing disaster to the waterways.   I advised all not to keep such dangerous fish and if you are keeping do surrender them to the authorities, never never throw the fish into rivers or other water ways.

London Olympics

London being well known as the Fog capital of the World is hoping for a few rays of sunshine when it starts the Olympics.   But said to say weather forecast for a Sunny Olympics seems to be quite bleak.   Forecasters said "below average sunshine" and temperatures are expected during the London 2012 Games which run from July 27 to August 12."   I guess this is not something that the game organizers want to hear.   But anyway weather is only one tiny component of a successful Olympics.  Well organized and well scheduled Olympics with great officials and organizers is what makes a successful Olympics.  Wishing London the Best!   I guess in London, USA and China will be at each others' throat trying to prove to the world who is the undisputed Sporting Power, Economic Power and Military Power all roll into one.   The Olympics is just another of their rivalry.

China Last Emperor

Priceless jewellery belonging to China's last emperor Puyi and his wife Wanrong on loan from China are on display in Taiwan for the first time, a Taiwanese museum said Wednesday.  Unlike his predecessors, Pu Yi the Last Emperor of China did not had an easy time, being overthrown by the Republic, being a puppet of the Japan regime and being a prisoner of Russia.   He was the victim of the times unlike his illustrious forefathers who ruled the entire China and more.

China Super Rich Buying Planes and Yachts

I guess just recently there was some outcry over China citizens reckless driving especially on sports cars.   Now the super rich in China are engaging in yet another more expensive sports, that of having private jets or yachts.  These are many times more expensive than luxury cars and despite the 40% taxes, China had on such luxury goods, demand outpace supply.   I wonder how many super rich in China knows how many poor Chinese there are in their homeland?  Won't helping your fellow countrymen be better than trying to look for the most expensive plaything?

Microsoft Surface Tablet

Microsoft is well known as a software provider given its all renown Windows operating systems as well as its Microsoft Office.   Seldom does it associate with any hardware.   I guess the Microsoft Surface Tablet will bring about a lot of curiosity from Microsoft fans like me.   Hope that it will hold its own against the onslaught of Apple Ipad as well as the Androids.

China First Woman Astronaut

China has achieved another first, by sending its woman astronaut to space in Shenzhou 9 rocket!   The rocket is carrying two male and one female astronaut.   Liu Yang, the woman astronaut and her fellow members were launched at the Satellite Launch Center in a barren region of the Gobi Desert in the country's northwest at 1037 GMT/UTC.   Congratulations China!

Liem Sioe Liong dies at 96

Mr Liem Sioe Liong, one of the richest man in South East Asia, passed away at the age of 96 in Singapore Raffles Hospital.   He is a miraculous rags to riches legend who left behind a huge business empire.   Rest In Peace.

Renowned Professor arrested for Prostitution

A famous professor well known in German Literature and History was arrested for trying to provide transsexual services for US$60.   He was caught by a police sting operations.   I really do not think he is in it just for the money as famous professors are normally paid extremely well.   He is also the founder of The Conference Group for Interdisciplinary Early Modern German Studies.

Indians Swallow Live Fish as Asthma Cure

Tens of thousands of believers swallowed live sardine with a yellow herbal paste believing that it would cure their asthma.   This treatment was offered only one day annually at a special day chosen by astrologers.   There are up to 70 000 waiting for the cure at the stadium.

Dead Boy wakes Up

The two year old boy was already dead, in fact pronounced dead by the doctors and was in his coffin.   All of a sudden he sat up and ask his father for water to drink.  After drinking he died and this time permanently.   Kind of sad, I would really love to hear the news that this boy continues living.

Bangladesh Internet down after submarine cable cut

Bangladesh has not many submarine cables connected to it for Internet.  The main and only submarine cable is SEA-ME-WE-4 which happened to be cut near Singapore causing Internet Outage for the entire Bangladesh population.   From what was said, it will take up to a week for the connection to become normal back again.   I really cannot guess how a nation can withstand no Internet connection for 1 week!

Eating Baby Flesh

I find this downright disgusting.   Some capsules confiscated by South Korea authorities originating from China contained powdered flesh of dead babies.   It was thought that eating such can help in cure for diseases and for increasing sexual powers  Can't believe there are manufacturers unethical enough to sell these and people stupid enough to buy this!