Silly/Odd News Stories from around the World

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Ridwan

Gee, whatever the writer was drinking when he wrote it.

Agreed, those are some pretty extreme choice of words for lyrics that I don't think would be fit for any song especially for what it is.

You probably don't want to know what soldiers all over the world come up with as entertainment then....<__<

Throw a bunch of guys (and girls) somewhere doing something they really rather not be doing and.....yeah. Really, surely you all are exposed to this kind of stuff in every day life?

Doesn't mean everyone is a closet rapist....most of us, me included, simply don't care about marching songs when all we want is to get to the destination ASAP

[Ithekro]

We saw about the Batkid on the local news. Nice effort the "Make-A-Wish Fountation" and the public went to in order to make San Francisco into Gotham City for a bit. More the camp style days, but it worked. Even the President sent a video message thanking the kid for saving Gotham City.

[Xefi]

Catch of 900-pound sunfish creates stir in Jamaica

'At first I thought it was an alien, and I was somewhat frightened,' Desmond Phillips says of bizarre-looking catch, which lured dozens to the beach

source: http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/natur...ir-in-jamaica/

Images

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

comments: that's some huge alien-looking fishy san. >____<

[Skane]

Originally Posted by Xefi

Catch of 900-pound sunfish creates stir in Jamaica

source: http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/natur...ir-in-jamaica/

Images

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

comments: that's some huge alien-looking fishy san. >____<

That's actually a pretty small Sunfish.

Cheers.

[SaintessHeart]

Study: Kids are less fit than their parents were

DALLAS (AP) — Today's kids can't keep up with their parents. An analysis of studies on millions of children around the world finds they don't run as fast or as far as their parents did when they were young.

On average, it takes children 90 seconds longer to run a mile than their counterparts did 30 years ago. Heart-related fitness has declined 5 percent per decade since 1975 for children ages 9 to 17.

The American Heart Association, whose conference featured the research on Tuesday, says it's the first to show that children's fitness has declined worldwide over the last three decades.

"It makes sense. We have kids that are less active than before," said Dr. Stephen Daniels, a University of Colorado pediatrician and spokesman for the heart association.

Health experts recommend that children 6 and older get 60 minutes of moderately vigorous activity accumulated over a day. Only one-third of American kids do now.

"Kids aren't getting enough opportunities to build up that activity over the course of the day," Daniels said. "Many schools, for economic reasons, don't have any physical education at all. Some rely on recess" to provide exercise.

Sam Kass, a White House chef and head of first lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move program, stressed the role of schools in a speech to the conference on Monday.

"We are currently facing the most sedentary generation of children in our history," Kass said.

The new study was led by Grant Tomkinson, an exercise physiologist at the University of South Australia. Researchers analyzed 50 studies on running fitness — a key measure of cardiovascular health and endurance — involving 25 million children ages 9 to 17 in 28 countries from 1964 to 2010.

The studies measured how far children could run in 5 to 15 minutes and how quickly they ran a certain distance, ranging from half a mile to two miles. Today's kids are about 15 percent less fit than their parents were, researchers concluded.

"The changes are very similar for boys and girls and also for various ages," but differed by geographic region, Tomkinson said.

The decline in fitness seems to be leveling off in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and perhaps in the last few years in North America. However, it continues to fall in China, and Japan never had much falloff — fitness has remained fairly consistent there. About 20 million of the 25 million children in the studies were from Asia.

In China, annual fitness test data show the country's students have become slower and fatter over the past several decades.

Experts and educators blame an obsession with academic testing scores for China's competitive college admissions as well as a proliferation of indoor entertainment options such gaming and web surfing for the decline.

China's Education Ministry data show that in 2010 male college students ran 1,000 meters (yards) 14 to 15 seconds slower on average than male students who ran a decade earlier. Female students slowed by about 12 seconds in running 800 meters.

Motoaki Nito of the Sports and Youth Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology said there had been a decline in physical fitness among youth since the 1980s.

To turn that around, the government has urged municipalities and schools to promote youth fitness. Nito said that this had resulted in a gradual increase of physical strength, which while not equal to levels seen in the 1980s, had reversed the trend.

Tomkinson and Daniels said obesity likely plays a role, since it makes it harder to run or do any aerobic exercise. Too much time watching television and playing video games and unsafe neighborhoods with not enough options for outdoor play also may play a role, they said.

Other research discussed global declines in activity.

Fitness is "pretty poor in adults and even worse in young people," especially in the United States and eastern Europe, said Dr. Ulf Ekelund of the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences in Oslo, Norway.

World Health Organization numbers suggest that 80 percent of young people globally may not be getting enough exercise.

Think we can fix this problem with a zombie apocalypse? We will hide the cure for half-a-decade or so.

[MrTerrorist]

Well that explain things. When i walk normally, some people younger than me complain i'm walking too fast and they're running out of breath even though i'm still fine.

[Lord of Fire]

Obvious outcome is obvious, given the type of 'food' kids these days eat.

[GDB]

Couldn't decide whether to put this in regular or odd news, but decided to go with "odd news" since it's nothing we didn't already know before:

Ashton Kutcher vs Wal-Mart over low wages.

[Xefi]

Originally Posted by Lord of Fire

Obvious outcome is obvious, given the type of 'food' kids these days eat.

that and sitting on their butts and too lazy to excercise. >___<

and not to mention, glueing themselve to the computer & videogames for a long period of time
without any sort of activities. they start building up those laziness and then they just become
lazy and doesnt want to even move... *dont feel like continuing* damn lazy kids! :P


-----------------------------------------
Mysterious fish with whip-like tail and cone-shaped snout identified as a long-nosed chimaera
Source: http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/natur...osed-chimaera/

Freakish-looking denizens live at great depths and are rarely encountered; this is only the second ever documented off Canada's Hudson Strait region

comments: that's one fugly looking fishy san.

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by Xefi

-----------------------------------------
Mysterious fish with whip-like tail and cone-shaped snout identified as a long-nosed chimaera
Source: http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/natur...osed-chimaera/


comments: that's one fugly looking fishy san.

that is a Knifehead spawn.

[SaintessHeart]

I am rather ashamed to see that my PM is a total computer idiot and cyberspace moron.

We must fight back against trolling: PM Lee

Singapore's online space must fight against trolling, as it deters serious readers from participating in debate and ruins the overall atmosphere in cyberspace, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Speaking on Friday evening at Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao's 90th anniversary celebrations, PM Lee said it is not about whether people agree or disagree online, but that it is "totally unacceptable" for discussion and debate to degenerate into abuse and hate-mongering.

"We must fight back against trolling, and provide a safe, responsible online environment which promotes constructive participation," he said.

Requiring people to log in to various platforms to comment on articles is a method that has proved instrumental to improving the quality of discussion, said Lee, who cited TODAY as an example for requiring commenters to log in with their Facebook accounts to post their views.

Yahoo Singapore, in turn, requires users to sign into their Yahoo, Facebook or Google accounts before being able to comment on its articles, and Lee announced at the same time that the government's feedback portal REACH will from mid-December require commenters to log in first before posting.

PM Lee also noted how people "no longer read papers or news online" but instead rely on friends' recommendations via social media.

The media, he said, is now "pulled" on demand rather than "pushed" to captive audiences, and the rise of numerous alternative free sources of news online is adding pressure on paid news providers like Zaobao.

He pointed out, however, that "news that travels fastest may not be the most accurate", and that "immediate consensus views may not gel with considered analyses". It is also easier to coalesce in narrower groups, hence tougher to forge a national consensus, he added.

Lee also touched on the recent hacking threats and the rising problem of cyber-bullying. He also highlighted the government's efforts to harmonise its new media rules with those for the mainstream media, in the form of the Media Development Authority's licensing framework and disallowing news and current affairs sites from receiving foreign funding.

"These challenges are not easy to solve. But the new media is already a reality and an indispensable part of our lives," he said. "We must do more to harness its potential to improve our lives, while reducing its downsides."

Quoting an NCO from my army days :

Stupid got no medicine!

You get trolled for writing something stupid. For failing to explain yourself. For failing to get in touch with actuality. For failing to look at other perspectives. For failing to be accurate. For failing to use language artfully.

The internet is full of honest people. Behind anonymity, they are able to use language to the finest grade, ranging from metaphors to sarcasm, like how Shakespeare created and modernised English. How Thomas Bowdler was condemned by language mavens everywhere for his Ad Usum Delphini. They have no fear of being kicked like they have in real life, or oppressed by the rich and powerful. They are free to voice their opinions. To share ideas. To rightfully earn respect and the infamy they desired throught their thoughts. That is the Internet. The best representation of the Chaos Theory. The best model for Le Chatelier's Principle. The best reflection of the concept of Tao. The best product of the freedom of thought, speculated, interpreted, blended and exchanged through many minds.

If you think that you are being bullied on the internet, shut down your computer and get the fuck out into the streets. There is no better school than the school of hard knocks out there with face-to-face interaction with people, whether they are scumbags, trash or angels.

Come back when you have grown thicker skin.

[AnimeFan188]

Did you know that you can fly in Titan by flapping your (winged) arms?:

"Next time you go to Titan—one of Saturn's moons—remember this cool factoid:
"The atmosphere is so thick and the gravity so low that humans could fly through it
by flapping 'wings' attached to their arms" as pointed out in Robert Zubrin's
Entering Space: Creating a Spacefaring Civilization. How awesome would that be?"

See:

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/did-you-kn...587/@jesusdiaz

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

I shall remember that next time I'm on Titan visiting Sailor Saturn. She makes delicious cookies.

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

I am rather ashamed to see that my PM is a total computer idiot and cyberspace moron.

We must fight back against trolling: PM Lee



Quoting an NCO from my army days :



You get trolled for writing something stupid. For failing to explain yourself. For failing to get in touch with actuality. For failing to look at other perspectives. For failing to be accurate. For failing to use language artfully.

The internet is full of honest people. Behind anonymity, they are able to use language to the finest grade, ranging from metaphors to sarcasm, like how Shakespeare created and modernised English. How Thomas Bowdler was condemned by language mavens everywhere for his Ad Usum Delphini. They have no fear of being kicked like they have in real life, or oppressed by the rich and powerful. They are free to voice their opinions. To share ideas. To rightfully earn respect and the infamy they desired throught their thoughts. That is the Internet. The best representation of the Chaos Theory. The best model for Le Chatelier's Principle. The best reflection of the concept of Tao. The best product of the freedom of thought, speculated, interpreted, blended and exchanged through many minds.

If you think that you are being bullied on the internet, shut down your computer and get the fuck out into the streets. There is no better school than the school of hard knocks out there with face-to-face interaction with people, whether they are scumbags, trash or angels.

Come back when you have grown thicker skin.

Lol....stop trolling lah PM Lee...

[JokerD]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

I am rather ashamed to see that my PM is a total computer idiot and cyberspace moron.

We must fight back against trolling: PM Lee



Quoting an NCO from my army days :



You get trolled for writing something stupid. For failing to explain yourself. For failing to get in touch with actuality. For failing to look at other perspectives. For failing to be accurate. For failing to use language artfully.

The internet is full of honest people. Behind anonymity, they are able to use language to the finest grade, ranging from metaphors to sarcasm, like how Shakespeare created and modernised English. How Thomas Bowdler was condemned by language mavens everywhere for his Ad Usum Delphini. They have no fear of being kicked like they have in real life, or oppressed by the rich and powerful. They are free to voice their opinions. To share ideas. To rightfully earn respect and the infamy they desired throught their thoughts. That is the Internet. The best representation of the Chaos Theory. The best model for Le Chatelier's Principle. The best reflection of the concept of Tao. The best product of the freedom of thought, speculated, interpreted, blended and exchanged through many minds.

If you think that you are being bullied on the internet, shut down your computer and get the fuck out into the streets. There is no better school than the school of hard knocks out there with face-to-face interaction with people, whether they are scumbags, trash or angels.

Come back when you have grown thicker skin.

Actually our PM is quite computer literate. Heard during NS that he configures his own routers and whatnots...

Social media... not so much

[SaintessHeart]

Configure routers to what extent? I thought that kind of stuff is highly RTFM.

OTOH :

Vint Cerf: 'Privacy may be an ANOMALY, now over'. And it's no secret I think that

Vint Cerf has said that expectations of privacy in the digital age may be impossible to achieve because of the level of oversharing that takes place on social media sites.

The internet pioneer said during a chat about wearable computers at a US Federal Trade Commission workshop that "it will be increasingly difficult for us to achieve privacy", according to a series of tweets from Adweek reporter Katy Bachman.

Cerf - who is Google's chief internet preacher - added: "Privacy may be an anomaly."

He said that the manner in which we interact with others on the 'net was problematic when it comes to our desire to keep personal information private.

"Our social behavior is quite damaging to privacy. Technology has outraced our social intellect," Cerf said. ®

[ganbaru]

Vatican unveils bone fragments said to be Peter's
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...11-24-06-36-21

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Configure routers to what extent? I thought that kind of stuff is highly RTFM.

OTOH :

Vint Cerf: 'Privacy may be an ANOMALY, now over'. And it's no secret I think that

Pfft....if your friends are all blabbermouths sure...

OTOH, if you have friends who don't broadcast stuff they want to keep private and you don't also why not...

Not everyone goes around in a massive pack.

[erneiz_hyde]

It is true that privacy in the internet is a fragile thing. It's not really news anymore, but I guess it's not something people like to hear.

If you REALLY want privacy you shouldn't be on the internet.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by erneiz_hyde

It is true that privacy in the internet is a fragile thing. It's not really news anymore, but I guess it's not something people like to hear.

If you REALLY want privacy you shouldn't be on the internet.

I think if you don't want :

1. To be exposed
2. To be insulted
3. To be made a laughingstock of
4. To be the centre of infamy

Then get off the internet. People here are usually bored, so don't expect any courtesy. We are tired of conformity in real life and we need a break. Direct discussions, no holds barred, all ideas and speculations welcome.

We don't need another reminder about putting our foot in our mouth when we are intending to shove it up someone's ass.