News Stories

[justinstrife]

Originally Posted by solomon

As Krusty said; HEY HEY!!! (Just wanted to say that)

Anyways, yea. Prop 8 has been overturned.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/us...p.html?_r=1&hp

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,7711145.story

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...OR3D.DTL&tsp=1

This will be interesting from a political standpoint. California is liberal but not AS liberal as Massachusetts, so you wonder if other states where it's not restricted by state constitution will try to put in on ballot in the future.

I doubt that battleground states will put it up soon though.

Next step, the Supreme Court. Which will be 4-4 and swing in whatever direction Justice Kennedy goes.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

Japan child-porn cases surges to record high

Originally Posted by Vexx

So how do they define "children" these days in Japan? Something tells me there's a massive lack of consistency depending on who is asked.

Ohhh don't worry, I am sure they included Kodomo no Jikan, Mitsue-domo and Azunyan from K-ON!.*

I believe in another case where they "discovered" that Japan has 3,600,000 hikkikomoris, they included day traders and self-employed people too.

* - Though I am not happy about the last one.

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

^ Not stated in the story, but a corresponding report has just been filed, relating also to Japan's children.

Child abuse in Japan reaches record high

I thought it is pretty normal to parents to punish their children, but not to the extent of disciplining the child into another Akiba slasher.

Still, something tells me that the assumption is pretty screwed and the sample size is too small.

[Vexx]

Americans are continuing to get fatter and fatter, with obesity rates reaching 30 percent or more in nine states last year, as opposed to only three states in 2007, health officials reported on Tuesday.

The increases mean that 2.4 million more people became obese from 2007 to 2009, bringing the total to 72.5 million, or 26.7 percent of the population. The numbers are part of a continuing and ominous trend. This does not include "overweight" people as part of the total.

If the numbers keep going up, he added, “more people will get sick and die from the complications of obesity, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.”

Researchers blame the usual suspects: too little exercise and too much of the wrong kind of food, which means not enough fruits and vegetables and too many high-calorie meals full of sugar and fat, like French fries, soda and other sweet drinks. Children do not get enough exercise during the school day; Dr. Frieden noted that even in gym classes, students are active for only about a third of the time.

A 5-foot-4-inch woman is obese if she weighs 174 pounds, as is a 5-foot-10-inch man who weights 209 or more, according to the disease centers. Both would have a body-mass index, or BMI, of 30; that index is calculated from height and weight, and scores of 30 or over are defined as obese.

(from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/04/he...=me&ref=health)

[JMvS]

Originally Posted by Vexx

Americans are continuing to get fatter and fatter, with obesity rates reaching 30 percent or more in nine states last year, as opposed to only three states in 2007, health officials reported on Tuesday.

The increases mean that 2.4 million more people became obese from 2007 to 2009, bringing the total to 72.5 million, or 26.7 percent of the population. The numbers are part of a continuing and ominous trend. This does not include "overweight" people as part of the total.

If the numbers keep going up, he added, “more people will get sick and die from the complications of obesity, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.”

Researchers blame the usual suspects: too little exercise and too much of the wrong kind of food, which means not enough fruits and vegetables and too many high-calorie meals full of sugar and fat, like French fries, soda and other sweet drinks. Children do not get enough exercise during the school day; Dr. Frieden noted that even in gym classes, students are active for only about a third of the time.

A 5-foot-4-inch woman is obese if she weighs 174 pounds, as is a 5-foot-10-inch man who weights 209 or more, according to the disease centers. Both would have a body-mass index, or BMI, of 30; that index is calculated from height and weight, and scores of 30 or over are defined as obese.

(from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/04/he...=me&ref=health)

It's getting worse everywhere, here in Switzerland as in the rest of the World:

The number of overweight men rose from 40.4 to 49.5 per cent within 15 years, while in women the figure went from 22.3 to 31.3 per cent. As in other countries, people from poor socio-economic backgrounds were most affected.

Granted we haven't yet reached the US's level:

It found nearly ten per cent of men and nine per cent of women were obese.

Conversely, WHO targets child obesity with food marketing curbs

And in the same vein, I found this gross: Special Report - Targeting teens for gastric bands

[Xion Valkyrie]

Originally Posted by Vexx

Americans are continuing to get fatter and fatter, with obesity rates reaching 30 percent or more in nine states last year, as opposed to only three states in 2007, health officials reported on Tuesday.

The increases mean that 2.4 million more people became obese from 2007 to 2009, bringing the total to 72.5 million, or 26.7 percent of the population. The numbers are part of a continuing and ominous trend. This does not include "overweight" people as part of the total.

If the numbers keep going up, he added, “more people will get sick and die from the complications of obesity, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.”

Researchers blame the usual suspects: too little exercise and too much of the wrong kind of food, which means not enough fruits and vegetables and too many high-calorie meals full of sugar and fat, like French fries, soda and other sweet drinks. Children do not get enough exercise during the school day; Dr. Frieden noted that even in gym classes, students are active for only about a third of the time.

A 5-foot-4-inch woman is obese if she weighs 174 pounds, as is a 5-foot-10-inch man who weights 209 or more, according to the disease centers. Both would have a body-mass index, or BMI, of 30; that index is calculated from height and weight, and scores of 30 or over are defined as obese.

(from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/04/he...=me&ref=health)

Isn't BMI completely inaccurate as it doesn't take into account muscle mass? But then again, these people are probably all flab...

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by Xion Valkyrie

Isn't BMI completely inaccurate as it doesn't take into account muscle mass? But then again, these people are probably all flab...

while BMI isn't the end all but if you are way off the chart you are mostly likely fat.

[Kaijo]

Man harassed for eight months, as everyone believed he was into child porn, when in reality all the pictures were planted there by someone else.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukp...X0poMLCaSpWbdQ

Question is: How many cases go by where it really is planted, but an innocent life is destroyed anyway?

Probably the best story you could get as a warning against jumping to conclusions, despite how it might look.

[mindovermatter]

Originally Posted by Kaijo

Man harassed for eight months, as everyone believed he was into child porn, when in reality all the pictures were planted there by someone else.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukp...X0poMLCaSpWbdQ

Question is: How many cases go by where it really is planted, but an innocent life is destroyed anyway?

Probably the best story you could get as a warning against jumping to conclusions, despite how it might look.

It definitely does say something about jumping to conclusions...
but if my kids teacher was found with kiddie porn, I wouldn't want to let him keep teaching for 8 months until the case is settled. With some things, it's bad to assume, but worse to take a the risk.
Some how though, it reminds me of how all to often when I tell people I like anime, I immediately ground my reputation as "Hentai watcher". That's not only jumping to conclusions, it's also grossly misinformed

[TinyRedLeaf]

US presence stirs debate as Hiroshima marks A-bomb day

Hiroshima (Aug 6, Fri): A representative from the United States has participated for the first time today in Japan's annual commemoration of the American atomic bombing of Hiroshima, in a 65th anniversary event that organisers hope will bolster global efforts towards nuclear disarmament.

The site of the world's first atomic-bomb attack echoed with the choirs of schoolchildren and the solemn ringing of bells as Hiroshima marked its biggest memorial yet. At 8.15am — the time the bomb dropped, incinerating most of the city — a moment of silence was observed.

Hiroshima's mayor, Mr Tadatoshi Akiba, welcomed Washington's decision to send US Ambassador John Roos to the commemoration, which began with an offering of water to the 140,000 who died in the first of two nuclear bombings that prompted Japan's surrender in World War II.

Mr Roos arrived at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where the ceremony took place, at about 7.30am. He smiled and shook hands with Mr Akiba before taking his seat.

The relaxed atmosphere changed when the ceremony began, and Mr Roos' face was solemn throughout the proceedings. He stood to offer a silent prayer at the time the atomic bomb was dropped on Aug 6, 1945.

At times, he wiped sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, but he looked straight ahead throughout the ceremony and maintained good posture.

Mr Steven Leeper, a US citizen who serves as chairman of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, said: "The US ambassador's attendance is a message from US President Barack Obama about wanting a nuclear-free world. It's a historic event."

Peace message
Mr Akiba hopes that Mr Obama will one day visit Hiroshima, an idea that Mr Obama has said he would consider, even though it would be highly controversial and unprecedented for a sitting US president.

Addressing the 55,000 people at the ceremony, Mr Akiba said: "We need to communicate to every corner of the globe the intense yearning of the survivors for the abolition of nuclear weapons," .

Along with the US, nuclear powers Britain and France also made their first official appearance at the memorial, as well as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. Altogether, 74 nations were represented.

Hiroshima was careful to ensure that the memorial — while honoring the dead — emphasised a forward-looking approach, focusing not on whether the bombing was justified, a point which many Japanese dispute, but on averting any future nuclear attacks.

Mr Roos said the memorial was a chance to show resolve towards nuclear disarmament, which Mr Obama has emphasised as one of his administration's top objectives.

Mixed reactions
Still, atomic-bomb survivors said they would have preferred a US apology for the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Mr Sunao Tsuboi, the 85-year-old leader of a 50,000-member organisation of Hiroshima survivors, said: "While I appreciate that Mr Roos came here today, I don't praise the gesture highly."

Mr Gene Tibbets, the son of the US Air Force pilot who dropped the bomb on Hiroshima criticised the US administration for sending a delegation. He was quoted as telling Fox News on Wednesday that Mr Roos' attendance was an "unsaid apology", adding that it appeared to be an attempt to "rewrite history".

Mr Tibbets, whose father died in 2007 at age 92, added: "I know it's the anniversary, but I don't know what the hell they're trying to do. It needs to be left alone. The war is over."

Among US veterans of the war, however, the reaction was muted. Mr Joe Davis, a spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US, said the non-profit group didn't have an official position on Mr Roos' visit. Mr Davis said: "It all depends on how you want to view it. I don't see Mr Roos' appearance as an apology."

He added that the overwhelming majority of World War II veterans felt that dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki hastened the end of the war, saving countless American lives.

Ms Katsuko Nishibe, a 61-year-old peace activist who welcomed Mr Roos' presence, said she thought that it was dangerous to think that the bombing of Hiroshima was justified.

She added: "We have a very different interpretation of history. But we can disagree about history and still agree that peace is what is important. That is the real lesson of Hiroshima."

AP, WSJ, YOMIURI SHIMBUN, JAPAN TODAY

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by Xion Valkyrie

Isn't BMI completely inaccurate as it doesn't take into account muscle mass? But then again, these people are probably all flab...

It assumes an average level of muscle mass over a population. People who specifically train for muscle mass will read higher than average. How many people can actually make that claim?

My BMI reads about 2 points higher than the chart because over the years I have trained up more muscle mass and have less fatty tissue .... it doesn't block the fact I'm still 10 pounds heavier than *I* ought to be and I know exactly where that 10 pounds of fat are lurking

The parts I bolded ought to give pause because they define *obesity*, a higher category than just "overweight".

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Vexx

It assumes an average level of muscle mass over a population. People who specifically train for muscle mass will read higher than average. How many people can actually make that claim?

My BMI reads about 2 points higher than the chart because over the years I have trained up more muscle mass and have less fatty tissue .... it doesn't block the fact I'm still 10 pounds heavier than *I* ought to be and I know exactly where that 10 pounds of fat are lurking

The parts I bolded ought to give pause because they define *obesity*, a higher category than just "overweight".

Actually there is a simple test for this : dump the big-sized person inside water. If he drowns, he has lots of muscle mass. If he doesn't, he's fat.

[Tiberium Wolf]

Originally Posted by Kaijo

Man harassed for eight months, as everyone believed he was into child porn, when in reality all the pictures were planted there by someone else.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukp...X0poMLCaSpWbdQ

Question is: How many cases go by where it really is planted, but an innocent life is destroyed anyway?

Probably the best story you could get as a warning against jumping to conclusions, despite how it might look.

The article doesn't say who's going to pay for the stress and ruined life that this man has now.

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Actually there is a simple test for this : dump the big-sized person inside water. If he drowns, he has lots of muscle mass. If he doesn't, he's fat.

but if he floats then he is the same weight as a duck. So just weight the person against a duck. If you are heavier then a duck then you are fat...or was that the other way around

[Vexx]

.... unless they're made of wood.


((thread derails off the cliff and into a model of Camelot))

[Kamui4356]

Originally Posted by Vexx

.... unless they're made of wood.


((thread derails off the cliff and into a model of Camelot))

Well, we could try to build a bridge out of them.

[Kusa-San]

Originally Posted by JMvS

It's getting worse everywhere

In industrialized country yes. It's because we eat too much and not the good food either.

I hope it was not posted but :

The plastic component bisphenol A (BPA) has been in the headlines nonstop as scientists, health experts and consumers press for a federal ban on food packaging made with this synthetic estrogen, shown to leach readily into infant formula, beverages and canned food. But most Americans are probably unaware that they are regularly exposed to the same endocrine-disrupting chemical in cash register receipts.

Two-fifths of the paper receipts tested by a major laboratory commissioned by Environmental Working Group were on heat-activated paper that was between 0.8 to nearly 3 percent pure BPA by weight. Wipe tests conducted with a damp laboratory paper easily picked up a portion of the receipts' BPA coating, indicating that the chemical would likely stick to the skin of anyone who handled them. The receipts came from major retailers, grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, fast-food restaurants, post offices and automatic teller machines (ATMs).

http://www.ewg.org/bpa-in-store-receipts

Really scary.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

but if he floats then he is the same weight as a duck. So just weight the person against a duck. If you are heavier then a duck then you are fat...or was that the other way around

Actually I was referring to density, which is mass per unit volume. Muscle tissue has higher density than fat per unit volume, so it sinks.

Where did you get that duck idea from????

Originally Posted by Kamui4356

Well, we could try to build a bridge out of them.

Wood or fat, they still make good burning fuel.

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

US presence stirs debate as Hiroshima marks A-bomb day

I hate to say this, and no offense to the Japanese in this thread : the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have saved more lives than it took. Since the Japanese are unwilling to surrender, the war will require an invasion of Mainland Japan, which will calculate up to 1.7 million losses - that is significantly larger than the number of lives lost in D-Day.

I don't think an apology matters at all. The Japanese have paid dearly for their greedy ultra-nationalists' crimes, and an apology doesn't bring anything back. It would be better to move on and maintain the the friendship made since the 1960s.

@ TRL - Interesting that the bombing of Nagasaki coincides with our National Day.

[Kamui4356]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Where did you get that duck idea from????

The witch scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail

(Link instead of embedded as it isn't news)

[aohige]

Man gives 100 million yen to a Ramen restaurant to feed kids, restaurant honors his wishes - Osaka, Japan

A mysterious man in his 30s and wearing glasses, left 1 million yen at a Ramen store in Osaka city, and asked the store to feed children with this money.
The store reported the money as a lost & found to the local police, but the man called the next day to make sure the money was going to be used to feed kids.

The following day the store used the money to start a free Ramen campaign for kids. The money was spent in mere 5 days, and total of 1540 bowls of ramen was given out to children.

The children in the neighborhood drew sketches of the man in attempt to search for him, and give him gratitude.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/ne...OYT1T00005.htm

There's good news once in a while.

[Tiberium Wolf]

Originally Posted by aohige

There's good news once in a while.

Wait. 100 million yen just for 1540 bowls ? Something wrong here.