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Old 2012-01-14, 12:50   Link #19061
Dextro
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The land of tempura
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kokukirin View Post
Well, at least they were downgraded for good reasons. US got downgraded for playing recklessly stupid political games.
Yes, very good reasons: the best week for the Euro zone in a long time with debt selling with decent interest values and an overall optimist outlook for the future of the eurozone. Clearly the timing for this downgrade wasn't hand picked at all
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Old 2012-01-14, 18:31   Link #19062
Xellos-_^
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Born to Chinese immigrants, 17-year-old Angela Zhang of Cupertino, California is a typical American teenager. She's really into shoes and is just learning how to drive. But there is one thing that separates her from every other student at Monta Vista High School, something she first shared with her chemistry teacher, Kavita Gupta.
It's a research paper Angela wrote in her spare time -- and it is advanced, to say the least. Gupta says all she knows is its recipe -- for curing cancer.
"Cure for cancer -- a high school student," said Gupta. "It's just so mind-boggling. I just cannot even begin to comprehend how she even thought about it or did this."
"I just thought, 'Why not?' 'What is there to lose?'" said Angela.
When she was a freshman, she started reading doctorate level papers on bio-engineering.
"At first it was a little bit overwhelming," said Angela, "but I found that it almost became like a puzzle, being able to decode something."
By sophomore year she'd talked her way into the lab at Stanford, and by junior year was doing her own research.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_16...e-cancer-cure/
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Old 2012-01-14, 20:08   Link #19063
SaintessHeart
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xellos-_^ View Post
Born to Chinese immigrants, 17-year-old Angela Zhang of Cupertino, California is a typical American teenager. She's really into shoes and is just learning how to drive. But there is one thing that separates her from every other student at Monta Vista High School, something she first shared with her chemistry teacher, Kavita Gupta.
It's a research paper Angela wrote in her spare time -- and it is advanced, to say the least. Gupta says all she knows is its recipe -- for curing cancer.
"Cure for cancer -- a high school student," said Gupta. "It's just so mind-boggling. I just cannot even begin to comprehend how she even thought about it or did this."
"I just thought, 'Why not?' 'What is there to lose?'" said Angela.
When she was a freshman, she started reading doctorate level papers on bio-engineering.
"At first it was a little bit overwhelming," said Angela, "but I found that it almost became like a puzzle, being able to decode something."
By sophomore year she'd talked her way into the lab at Stanford, and by junior year was doing her own research.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_16...e-cancer-cure/
Cures for cancer has already been around for quite sometime. It is just that he US copyright laws are being abused by Big Pharm against their own competitors in the same industry.
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Old 2012-01-14, 22:58   Link #19064
ganbaru
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Join Date: Dec 2007
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China's Wen presses Saudi Arabia for oil access
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...80E00O20120115
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Old 2012-01-15, 02:27   Link #19065
TinyRedLeaf
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It has been a momentous weekend for Myanmar:

Myanmar signs ceasefire deal with Karen rebels
Quote:
Yangon (Jan 12, Thu): Myanmar's government signed a cease-fire agreement today with ethnic Karen rebels in a major step towards ending one of the world's longest-running insurgencies and meeting a key condition for better ties with the West.

The Karen group has been fighting for greater autonomy for more than 60 years in a guerrilla campaign in eastern jungles that dates back to before Myanmar's independence from Britain. It has been the only one of Myanmar's major ethnic groups never to have reached a peace agreement with the government.

Bringing a lasting halt to all of the country's long-running ethnic conflicts has been a crucial demand of Western governments as well as Myanmar's pro-democracy icon and opposition leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.

AP
Myanmar frees over 600 detainees
Quote:
Yangon (Jan 13, Fri): Myanmar today released 651 prisoners, including many high-profile political detainees, marking a further step in the military-led government's bid to engage with the outside world and pave the way for an end to economic sanctions.

Among those released are members of the 88 Generation, students who led or participated in the 1988 uprising that was followed by a massive crackdown.

Up to 302 of the 651 detainees it were political prisoners whose release had been sought by the National League for Democracy party of Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

They were freed so they can play a part in the political process, the Home Minister, Lieutenant-General Ko Ko, later told reporters, suggesting that they might be allowed to run for Parliament despite their prison records, one of the demands of rights groups such as Human Rights Watch.

LA TIMES, REUTERS
US restores full ties with Myanmar
Quote:
Washington (Jan 13, Fri): The United States moved to restore full diplomatic relations with Myanmar today, rewarding the sweeping political and economic changes that the country’s new civilian government has made, including a ceasefire with ethnic rebels and, only hours before, the release of hundreds of political prisoners.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who visited the country for the first time only six weeks ago, said in Washington: "This is a momentous day for the diverse people of Burma. And we will continue to support them and their efforts and to encourage their government to take bold steps."

A renewed relationship between the two countries has the potential to remake American diplomacy in Asia, where the Obama administration says it hopes to refocus its foreign policy at a time when China's influence is expanding. The closer ties could enhance trade and help integrate Myanmar into regional alliances sympathetic to the West.

THE NEW YORK TIMES


Meanwhile, a follow-up on the Taiwan presidential election:

Ma Ying-jeou wins second term on narrower margin
Quote:
Taipei (Jan 14, Sat): Taiwan's Beijing-friendly leader Ma Ying-jeou secured a second four-year term as president today, promising better ties with China after an election watched intently by the United States.

The vote was seen as a signal of cautious support for 61-year-old's policies, which in his first term led to the most dramatic thaw in the island's ties with China since the two sides split more than six decades ago.

China's official Xinhua news agency said Mr Ma's victory could offer a "new opportunity" to improve relations and showed that the Taiwanese people had backed peaceful development of ties with the mainland. The official final tally from the Central Election Commission showed Mr Ma won 51.6 per cent of the vote, with his main challenger, Ms Tsai Ing-wen, on 45.6 per cent.

Polls published last week had the race almost too close to call, with Mr Ma leading Ms Tsai by as little as three percentage points.

While Mr Ma won by a larger margin than expected, it was well below his 17-point victory in the 2008 poll, which some observers said reflected disaffection with economic issues such as growing income disparities.

AFP
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Old 2012-01-15, 05:01   Link #19066
Tom Bombadil
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Join Date: May 2007
Quote:
Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf View Post
It has been a momentous weekend for Myanmar:

US restores full ties with Myanmar
Myanmar will be a nation that's heavily contested diplomatically between China and US. US is being smart to engage the nation. But considering that China really have a strategical interest in Myanmar to fight for, while US is playing "block" (like in a game of go), I feel that time is on the Chinese side.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf View Post

Meanwhile, a follow-up on the Taiwan presidential election:

Ma Ying-jeou wins second term on narrower margin
While there was quite some suspense, Ma had the advantage through out the contest. Even the CEO of the HTC has come out in support of Ma, there is really no reason for him to lose.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

US has recently punished a Chinese company who imports oil from Iran. The name of the company Zhenrong(振戎) is very interesting. Those who has some knowledge in Chinese might be able to infer some of the nature of the company.

Spoiler for explanation:
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Old 2012-01-15, 05:09   Link #19067
ganbaru
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
Iran sends rare letter to U.S. over killed scientist
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...80D0NI20120115
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Old 2012-01-15, 08:50   Link #19068
kj1980
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Age: 43
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xellos-_^ View Post
Blame the car manufactures, they did everything they can to shut public transportation and influence city planning so that a car became a essential part of American Life instead of a luxury item.
The grass always looks greener on the other side.

Over here in Japan "public" transportation is more like private transportation: they are essentially run for profit.

You don't see US public transit agencies being listed on NYSE, right? In contrast, transportation agencies in Japan are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange; hence their main objective is to make profit for shareholders.

YMMV.
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Old 2012-01-15, 11:43   Link #19069
solomon
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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I don't think that's necessarily bad being private.

Now if the costs are crazy high and the service is bad, then that's one thing. But Japan's rail system is well maintained and seen as an important asset.

What's more given the style of settlement of densely populated, sea locked Japan Islands, such emphasis on a rail system seems almost elementary (at least to me).

Europe I think is a better comparison, UK aside most countries collective transport systems are public. Also Europe has larger share of car based transport than Japan (in many cases surprisingly high in UK, France and Germany). And even in the case of Japan and UK, they were originally publically own assets that were highly developed and established a huge presence and function in the state of the nation. They could AFFORD to be privatized.

You privatize the American passenger rail network and it'd go belly up save for the DC-Boston lines maybe.
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Old 2012-01-15, 11:49   Link #19070
Xellos-_^
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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Quote:
But after the first sip, veteran taster Zhao knew the collector had been duped.

"I could tell immediately it was a fake," said Zhao, who kept silent rather than embarrass his unwitting friend. "It was too fresh and soft and didn't have any complexity."

Seizing on exploding demand, China's ever-resourceful knock-off artists have uncorked a lucrative new business: phony high-end wines.

Bootleggers are dousing the market with fakes, refilling empty bottles from famous chateaux with inferior vintages.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...,3384950.story
someone stole my idea
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Old 2012-01-15, 13:19   Link #19071
Anh_Minh
I disagree with you all.
 
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xellos-_^ View Post
someone stole my idea
Well, it's China. Did you think they'd respect your intellectual property?
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Old 2012-01-15, 13:39   Link #19072
ganbaru
books-eater youkai
 
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
It isn't really a new, it's been at least one year since thay started to talk about fake high wine in chinese market.
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Old 2012-01-15, 18:09   Link #19073
Xellos-_^
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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Quote:
中国官方媒体报道称,去年曾发生过大规模民众抗议事件的广东省乌坎村15日召开了中共党员大会;会议决议改 组村党支部,并成立乌坎村民委员会重新选举筹备小组,由带领民众抗争的林祖恋兼任书记及组长。

http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/c...n_leader.shtml
The Chinese govt just did something extremely clever and cruel. They appointed the leader of the Wukan village protest as the Party Secretary of the Village
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Old 2012-01-15, 19:32   Link #19074
andyjay729
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andyjay729 View Post
http://news.yahoo.com/italian-cruise...035356831.html

They don't say how those people died, and I have to wonder, considering that this incident looked quite survivable.
I take back my previous quote which seemed to downplay the severity of this incident. The ship doesn't look in very good shape now. If I'd have been a passenger rescued from that ship, and I woke up the next day to see it lying like that, I'd be scared shitless.

And according to the cruise operator, the captain sailed too close to land, didn't follow proper emergency procedures, and is now being held on manslaughter charges.

I wouldn't quite compare this incident to the Titanic disaster, though. Even if it did fall near the 100th anniversary. The Costa Concordia incident will hopefully raise some red flags in the cruise industry, and it's certainly a tragedy that things were handled so poorly, but fortunately the vast majority of people escaped this time. Things obviously weren't so fortunate with the Titanic.
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Old 2012-01-15, 19:56   Link #19075
DonQuigleone
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Join Date: Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xellos-_^ View Post
The Chinese govt just did something extremely clever and cruel. They appointed the leader of the Wukan village protest as the Party Secretary of the Village
In English?
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Old 2012-01-15, 20:07   Link #19076
Xellos-_^
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DonQuigleone View Post
In English?
sorry, couldn't find one.
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Old 2012-01-15, 20:12   Link #19077
ganbaru
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
Iran warns of consequences if Arabs back oil sanctions
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...80E0OG20120115
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Old 2012-01-16, 09:27   Link #19078
WordShaker
In scientific terms only.
 
 
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Nigeria fuel subsidy strike: Protests suspended
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16544533

Quote:
The announcement comes on the fifth day of a general strike over the removal of a fuel subsidy, which has caused fuel prices and transport fares to double.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets, while several people have died in clashes with police.

A union official told the BBC the government had offered to reintroduce a small subsidy at talks on Thursday.

Nigeria Labour Congress chairman Abdul Waheed Omar said this would mean petrol would now cost 120 naira ($0.74; £0.49) a litre, down from the new price of 140 naira but still far higher than the former price of 65 naira.
Elsewhere it's being reported that President Jonathan is simultaneously accusing the protests of being hijacked, after two of Nigeria's largest trade unions accused the president of using armed thugs to intimidate protestors (alongside the usual heavy-handed police fare).
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Old 2012-01-16, 12:59   Link #19079
ganbaru
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Join Date: Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WordShaker View Post
Elsewhere it's being reported that President Jonathan is simultaneously accusing the protests of being hijacked, after two of Nigeria's largest trade unions accused the president of using armed thugs to intimidate protestors (alongside the usual heavy-handed police fare).
Look like the method of many dictators, alive or dead.
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Old 2012-01-16, 13:14   Link #19080
Darkbeat
'אין ייאוש בעולם כלל
 
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Age: 38
Meanwhile, in the Palestinian Territories...

Palestinian Authorities Religious Head says killing Jews necessary for Resurrection
Quote:
At a speech to mark the 47th anniversary of Fatah’s founding, Mufti Muhammad Hussein – the PA’s Principal religious leader proclaimed, “The Hour [of Resurrection] will not come until you fight the Jews. The Jew will hide behind stones or trees. Then the stones or trees will call: ‘Oh Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.”

The Moderator of the event didn’t seem to disagree with Mufti Mussein, saying “Our war with the descendants of the apes and pigs is a war of religion and faith.”
Talking trees snitching on Jews? Sounds like he's been reading Hadith mixed with Lord of the Rings

EDIT: With Video!
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