20 MILLION TONNES OF DEBRIS AFTER JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI

The devastating Tsunami and Earthquake that occured 3 months ago, the has left parts of Japan with an estimated 20 million tonnes or more of debris. The debris comprises of  large volumes of household trash, broken electrical appliances, battered vehicles, remains from destroyed homes, wood, clothes and metal, wreckage from ships and vessles, the list would be endless.  There is huge effort being put in everyday  by the Japanese government and various organizations  to move the debris, and collect them  into gigantic mounts in different places and  separate them for the purpose of recyling. However, there is no detailed plan as to how to go about it due to the horrendous amount of debris and and giant task involved in clearing them. It's believed that it would taken  Japan between 3 to 6 years to clear the debris. 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WORKING UNDER SOARING TEMPERATURES

With the day time summer temperatures soaring to 50 degrees and the extreme heat,  one cannot imagine how it's possible for construction workers to work on building construction during day time. If you would take a walk outside, at say 9 am, the exposed part of your skin would sting with burning sensation. Well, even if you were fully covered....full sleeves, trousers, cap, sunglasses, et al, it would still be  unbearably hot. And if that is done sometime between 10 am and 3pm, I don't want to think what would that be like!. Shuttling between air conditioned homes, cars, offices, shops and malls, we are not exposed to the extreme heat during day time. Sadly, site engineers, construction workers, labourers and air condition technicians don't have a choice but to work under scorching heat. 

Some pictures of construction workers on working on a building in the neighbourhood. 

Construction Workers working on new construction around 11.30am

Aircondition technicians doing repairs in the HOT sun - around 12 noon

TEEN SELLS KIDNEY TO BUY iPAD 2, iPHONE AND LAPTOP

Xian Zheng, iPad 2 and post operation scar on Zheng

A TEENAGER in China sold one of his kidneys for 22,000 yuan (US $4,185) so he could buy an iPad 2. Xiao Zheng, had confessed to his mother after she noticed the gadget and a deep red scar on his body, which was from the surgery. Zheng had travelled from his home in Anhui province to the city of Chenzhou without his family's knowledge, where his kidney was removed at Chenzhou hospital under the supervision of a kidney agent. Besides iPad 2, Zheng also bought an iPhone and a laptop with the proceeds from the sale of his kidney, his mother said. "I wanted to buy and iPad 2, but I didn't have the money", the boy told Shenzhen T.V.

To read the full article visit source at: www.theage.com.au/digital-life/ipad/chinese-teen-sells-kidney-for-ipad-20110603-1fjsr.html#ixzz1OG5TieK3 

What was he thinking....? I hope more kids out there don't follow suit. If Zheng suffers health complications after loss of one kidney, the ipad, laptop and iphone can only give him temporary sense of gratification, but never give his kidney back nor his health. It's painful to see or hear of kids do drastic things that cost them their life.

OUTBREAK OF E COLI SUPER TOXIC STRAIN OF BACTERIA CAUSE SERIOUS CONCERN

What's been in the top news the last several days, is a massive European outbreak of new super-toxic strain of E-Coli bacteria.The Health Protection Agency yesterday said seven people in the UK have been affected by the virulent strain, three of them Britons and four German nationals. In Germany, thousands of people are thought to be sick. Hilde Kruse, a food safety expert at the World Health Organisation, said: “the new strain various characteristics that make it more virulent and toxin- producing”.



How terrible that wonderful veggies like salad leaves tomatoes and cucumbers have to be infected

All the cases in the UK caught the infection in Germany. There are now cases of E.coli poisoning in 10 European countries; there have been 17confirmed deaths and more than 1,600 people have been affected. It is thought the outbreak has been caused by infected salad produce, especially cucumbers – public health experts have warned people travelling to Germany to avoid eating raw tomatoes, cucumbers and leafy salad including lettuce. The symptoms are diarrheoa, followed by kidney failure and death. . It is advised anyone returning from Germany with an illness, including bloody diarrhoea, should seek medical attention. Russia has banned importing all vegetables from entire European Union. The virulent strain of E-Coli bacteria is resistant to existing and known antibiotics. The scientists and medical experts are not close to discovering the source of the bacteria. It is possible that that the deadly bacteria originated from animals, fertilizers, manure and or water that found it's way to infect the vegetables.

On BBC,a farmer at Covent Garden Market was saying how he would be earning 50% less on his vegetable sales, due the E-Coli breakout.  It is advised not to eat raw vegetables to avoid infection and its probably more safe to wash them well and cook them before eating.

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health-news/2011/06/03/e-coli-strain-may-be-a-mutant-mongrel-form-91466-28812553/#ixzz1OCDokrBQ

AMY WINEHOUSE BACK AT REHAB

Amy Winehouse, Concert at Festival City, Dubai, February 2011

Amy Winehouse, English singer-songwriter, known for her unique style of dressing, eclectic mix of various musical genres including R&B, soul , and jazz  as well her highs and lows in her career and personal life, is back in  Rehabilitation Clinic and her doctors fear that if she doesnot come out of her alcohol addiction, she could die. Her problems with with drug and alcohol abuse, besides her musical career have become regular tabloid news since 2007. Amy had perfomed in Dubai Festival City in February 2011 and the concert was reported to be not much a success. She hopes to sort our her problems before her shows in Europe in the summer. She is due to perform in Serbia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary and Romania. Time and again we hear of extremely talented and accomplished, award winning young musical celebrities with huge fan base who adore them,  - taking to drugs and alcohol, going in an out of rehab, almost destroying their lives....What really causes all this?. Why do they resort to self destructive behaviours? The answers might be too complicated ...In Amy's case, only she would know the real answer to that.

Addiction of any sort is either harmful or fatal.

For detailed story visit : http://en.news.maktoob.com/20090000775228/Quit_drinking_or_die_doctors_tell_Winehouse/Article.htm

MALTA VOTES TO LEGALISE DIVORCE

Divorce was not allowed in Malta, a member of the European Union. Married couples in a troubled marriage, were allowed to separate and work out the dividing of assets and the custody of children. Even couples who married in civil ceremonies could not get divorces in Malta after they separate. In short, they couldn't remarry. Maltese law did not recognize divorces that were obtained abroad either. All that changed as, on May 28, 2011, when just over 304,000 Maltese got to vote in the referendum on whether or not Malta should introduce divorce. In a historical victorious voting results on May 29th,  divorce will be legalised in Malta, after 54 percent  voters in Saturday's poll  backed a call to allow couples to divorce after four years of separation.

Philippines and the Vatican City are two places where divorce is banned.

source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8544896/Malta-votes-to-legalise-divorce.html

Votes by 54 percent majority wins legalizing of divorce in Malta

The Malta Divorce Movement was launched on the 3rd March 1997 inorder to bring to Malta a well defined law outlining the basic requisites to obtain divorce within a responsible legal framework. Since the launching of the Malta Divorce Movement there has been council meetings every fortnight.

YANGTSE RIVER CHINA DRYING UP DUE TO SEVERE DROUGHT

Yangtse River of China, the longest river in Asia and the 3rd longest river in the world, is drying up due to drought. The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is the largest hydro-electric power station in the world.

Yangtse River is experiencing its worst drought in 50 years, forcing an unprecedented release of water from the Three Gorges reservoir. The drought is damaging crops, threatening wildlife and raising doubts about the viability of China's massive water diversion ambitions. The lack of rain is the major reason for the drying up of the Yangtze," the river's water resource commission said. Also, global warming, population pressure, and inefficient use of resources have all contributed to a nationwide water shortage.

To read full story visit:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/25/china-drought-crisis-yangtze-dam

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3322121/Yangtze-River-water-level-at-140-year-low.html

EXPLOSION AT APPLE'S iPAD 2 MANUFACTURING PLANT IN CHINA

Two people were killed and more than a dozen workers were injured, when an explosion ripped through the FOXCONN's Chengdu factory building in China,  where APPLE makes its iPads 2. Workers went fleeing into the streets as flames engulfed the factory. Foxconn is APPLE''s most prominent manufacturing partner in China. 

Foxconn factory building after explosion, where iPad 2 is made

 Apple boss Steve Jobs shows an  iPad on stage.

It's quite tragic and touching  when you read the details about the working conditions, circumstances and plight of the factory workers who work hard day and night to fulfill the orders they receive for iPad 2. 

To read the full article visit:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1389218/iPad2-factory-explosion-Fire-building-China-kills-workers.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_technews/20110520/tc_yblog_technews/explosion-at-foxconn-ipad-factory-kills-2-in-china

PLANE HIT BY LIGHTNING BEFORE LANDING AT HEATHROW AIRPORT

An Emirates Airbus A380 was hit by lighting and that shocking moment was captured by photographer Chris Dawson in south west London last month. All five hundred passengers on-board the Emirates Airbus escaped unharmed after two powerful lightning bolts hit the aircraft in a thunderstorm.

If airplanes are not adequately protected from lightning strikes – extremely high voltages and currents can pass through the aircraft, which are capable of damaging component assemblies or destroying wiring and equipment.  However, the body of a plane is bonded with metal so it can act as a conductor, allowing electricity to pass through it in order to survive the jolts. Without the metallic bonding, lightning could cause a plane to explode on impact.

To read the full article visit:

http://en.news.maktoob.com/20090000742456/Plane_hit_by_lightning_caught_on_video/Article.htm 

BLOGGER WAS DOWN FOR OVER 24 HOURS!

WAS DOWN!

Dear Readers and Visitors,

My apologies to everyone who visited my page and did not find any new posts on Friday 13th May. I was able to access my blog only by Friday night.  As you might be aware, Blogger powered by Google was down for over the last 24 hours and all of my 6 or 7 posts that I put up early in the morning yesterday, was missing!. Blogger posted on their status that they would restore all the posts that were removed.  However, I was so glad when Blogger restored the recently removed posts. Well, everyone who uses Blogger all over the world, faced the same problem. I missed blogging and was waiting for Blogger to start functioning and boy am I glad that I can start posting again. Hope we don't face such a problem again. Thanks to all the Blogger staff who would have worked long and hard  to get it working. 

I used to keep checking Blogger status every now and then and this is what they were updating us with:

Friday, 
May 13, 2011 Blogger is back now. We're still working on restoring some of the data. For more details, see this post: http://buzz.blogger.com/2011/05/blogger-is-back.html. Posted by Chang at 10:32 PDT 

We’ve started restoring the posts that were temporarily removed and expect Blogger to be back to normal soon.   Posted by at 06:07 PDT

To get Blogger back to normal, all posts since 7:37am PDT on Weds, 5/11 have been temporarily removed. We expect everything to be back to normal soon. Sorry for the delay.Posted by at 04:25 PDT

Blogger will go into read-only mode Wednesday (5/11) 10:00PM PST for about an hour for maintenance. Posted by at 21:17 PDT 
 
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
We've identified a problem rendering some blogs containing the popular posts widget. Our engineers are fixing the issue and the it should be resolved shortly. Thanks for your patience in the mean time.Posted by Andrew at 01:25 PDT

NEW iPHONE APPLICATION 'MEAL SNAP' CALCULATES CALORIES FOR YOU

New iPhone app  ‘MealSnap’ from 'Daily Burn', takes a picture of the meal with the phone, and gives a calorie read-out almost instantly! For the full article visit source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1375714/MealSnap-iPhone-app-counts-calories-picture.html

MYSTERIOUS LIGHT SEEN DURING JAPAN EARTHQUAKE ON 8TH APRIL 2011

A huge mysterious flashing blue light was captured on video over Japan as  another earthquake hit the country on April 8^th,  but what was it?

The video clearly shows a ball of light pulsing for around eight seconds on the horizon in Tokyo during the aftershock. The earthquake registered 7.1 on the Richter scale and struck 40 miles east of Sendai along the same fault line as last month's quake.

For more details, visit source:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/38/20110408/tsc-mysterious-light-spotted-during-japa-98fda55_1.html