What's in the News

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paddyfields

Re: What's in the News
« Reply #990 on: May 11, 2009, 06:57:49 AM »
Australia chooses 'cheeky' Expo mascot
Quote
AUSTRALIA unveiled its official mascot for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo - a kookaburra - and invited residents of China to propose an appropriate name for the Australian bird.

The winner will receive A$2,000 (US$1,519) and a free trip to Australia.
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200905/20090509/article_400290.htm

Re: What's in the News
« Reply #991 on: May 11, 2009, 03:01:50 PM »
Swine Flu mutates to.....Zombism!!!!!!!!!  apapapapap

http://bouncewith.me.uk/europe/8027043.htm

EU quarantines London in flu panic
There has been a small outbreak of “zombism” in London due to mutation of the H1N1 virus into new strain: H1Z1.

Similar to a scare originally found in Cambodia back in 2005, victims of a new strain of the swine flu virus H1N1 have been reported in London.

After death, this virus is able to restart the heart of it’s victim for up to two hours after the initial demise of the person where the individual behaves in extremely violent ways from what is believe to be a combination of brain damage and a chemical released into blood during “resurrection.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alert to phase six, its highest level, and advised governments to activate pandemic contingency plans.

In Mexico, the epicentre of the outbreak, President Felipe Calderon urged people to stay at home over the next five days.

There are many cases elsewhere - including the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Israel, and New Zealand.

BBC health correspondent Mark McGrith says the raising of the WHO alert on Wednesday suggests a global epidemic, or pandemic, is imminent.

In the latest developments:

The Netherlands confirms its first case of zombie swine flu, in a three-year-old boy recently returned from Mexico. After passing away early this morning, he rose from the dead and lunged at his mother.
Ghana has become the latest country to ban pork imports as a precaution against swine flu, though no cases have been found in the West African country
China's health minister says that the country's scientists have developed a "sensitive and fast" test for spotting swine flu in conjunction with US scientists and the WHO. The country has recorded no incidence of the flu yet. There methods, however, have been uneffective in spotting the H1Z1 strain.
At the meeting of health ministers in Luxembourg, a French proposal for a continent-wide travel advisory for Mexico will be discussed.

It is unclear whether the EU executive has the power to impose a travel ban.

Several countries have restricted travel to Mexico and many tour operators have cancelled holidays.

Other members are resisting calls to implement travel bans or close borders, on the grounds - backed by the WHO - that there is little evidence of their efficacy.

The EU ministers will also try to agree on how to refer to the new virus.

The European Commission has been calling it "novel flu", replacing the word "swine" to avoid prompting a fall in demand for pork and bacon.

On Wednesday, Egypt began a mass slaughter of its pigs - even though the WHO says the virus was now being transmitted from human to human.

(...and in a really nice twist to the article,)

If you feel yourself passing away, then notice your strength and vigor returning at an alarming rate, please attempt to restrain yourself to prevent infection and harm to others.
 ahahahahah ahahahahah ahahahahah
10 easy steps to stop procrastination.

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Mr Nobody

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  • This isn't Kansas, Toto.
Re: What's in the News
« Reply #992 on: May 11, 2009, 03:09:38 PM »
"In a recent interview, when asked about this topic, the Australian Prime Minister was quoted as saying "BRains!!" as he lurched forward."
Just another roadkill on the information superhighway.

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Schnerby

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Re: What's in the News
« Reply #993 on: May 11, 2009, 08:29:38 PM »
I shouldn't laugh.

But I am.

Re: What's in the News
« Reply #994 on: May 11, 2009, 11:37:31 PM »
Well, we knew it would happen, and now it has:

Suspected case of swine flu reported in mainland China
Last Updated: Sunday, May 10, 2009 | 5:52 PM ET CBC News

A Chinese man returning from studying at a U.S. university has become the first suspected case of swine flu in mainland China, the country's Health Ministry said on Sunday.

The ministry said the man, 30, took a flight from Tokyo and arrived in Beijing on Saturday before heading to the city of Chengdu in Sichuan province on the same day.

Officials did not specify where he studied.

The number of confirmed cases of the H1N1 infections across the globe rose Sunday by about 1,000 from the previous day, the World Health Organization said.

Twenty-nine countries have officially reported 4,379 cases of influenza H1N1, the WHO said.

Canada has reported 284 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death, the Public Health Agency of Canada said Sunday. Among the provinces, British Columbia has the most cases with 79, followed by Ontario with 76.

The country has the third highest number of swine flu infections, but on Friday the United States overtook Mexico to become the country with the highest number of people with the illness.

By Sunday, the U.S. total was 2,254 cases, including three deaths. Mexico, which has been at the centre of the outbreak, was reporting 1,626 cases, including 48 deaths.

Japan confirmed its fourth case of swine flu Sunday in a teenager who recently returned from a school trip to Canada.

Three others in the group that visited Canada were earlier identified as having the virus.
And there is no liar like the indignant man... -Nietszche

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. -William James

englishmoose.com

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paddyfields

Re: What's in the News
« Reply #995 on: May 15, 2009, 02:24:39 PM »
Photo taken on May 13, 2009 shows a Long-eared Jerboa at the scenic spot of the Mountain of Flames (Huoyanshan) in Turpan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The Long-eared Jerboa, a species on the edge of extinction living in desert habitat, is a mouse-like rodent with a long tail, long hind legs, and exceptionally large ears.(Xinhua Photo)




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Mr Nobody

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  • This isn't Kansas, Toto.
Re: What's in the News
« Reply #996 on: May 15, 2009, 02:54:28 PM »
Then what did they do with it? Sold it on the Chinese equivalent of ebay for food or medicine?
Just another roadkill on the information superhighway.

Re: What's in the News
« Reply #997 on: May 15, 2009, 09:40:26 PM »
Scandal in Hangzhou: 3 guys were racing their sports cars along a downtown street when one of them struck and killed a just-graduated honours student.  The police at first claimed that the driver was going 70 kph, but the story in the chatrooms was different... then they were expunged the next day.  Houtian, however, over a thousand people showed up at the accident site in a spontaneous memorial that turned protest.  Footage of the accident itself appeared online, and higher-ups reversed the findings, stating that the car had been going around 130 kph!  My contact says the victim sailed 5m up and 20m away.

I couldn't find the grisly footage, but here at least is the story:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XOTE0MzY3MDQ=.html
And there is no liar like the indignant man... -Nietszche

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. -William James

englishmoose.com

Re: What's in the News
« Reply #998 on: May 15, 2009, 10:38:07 PM »
My Chinese teacher told me about it today - in Dalian.  Said the 'people' are upset because the driver's family was very rich which is why they tried to cover up the story.
Be kind to dragons for thou are crunchy when roasted and taste good with brie.

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George

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Re: What's in the News
« Reply #999 on: May 15, 2009, 10:48:01 PM »
chinaSMACK ran the story a couple of days ago. Pics and comments here...http://www.chinasmack.com/
The higher they fly, the fewer!    http://neilson.aminus3.com/

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Stil

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Re: What's in the News
« Reply #1000 on: May 16, 2009, 03:14:24 AM »
We've been using this in class. The kid that was killed was from Hunan.

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paddyfields

Re: What's in the News
« Reply #1001 on: May 17, 2009, 02:52:02 PM »
The police are now seeking approval from the prosecutors to arrest the driver of the car.  kkkkkkkkkk

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old34

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Re: What's in the News
« Reply #1002 on: May 17, 2009, 03:29:38 PM »
They've actually gone back through all the traffic cameras and were able to track the three cars on their 5 mile journey through the city ending at the site of the accident. The cameras didn't catch the impact, but they did catch the victim as he walked by and then out of camera range and then a few seconds later you can see his body sliding as the three cars come to a halt.

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XOTE1NDc5MzY=.html
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. - B. O'Driscoll.
TIC is knowing that, in China, your fruit salad WILL come with cherry tomatoes AND all slathered in mayo. - old34.

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Stil

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Re: What's in the News
« Reply #1003 on: May 17, 2009, 10:08:24 PM »

Re: What's in the News
« Reply #1004 on: May 19, 2009, 06:43:47 AM »
I'm imagining what the midway games are like there.  What exactly do you have to do to win a stuffed animal?
And there is no liar like the indignant man... -Nietszche

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. -William James

englishmoose.com