Tubing

Tubing, a risky adventure of fashion among backpackers in Laos

The Tubing, which consists of with a tire down a stretch of the Nong River in Laos, is today one of the experiences that most attract the growing number of tourists apparently healthy and out of here hurt.

This practice is based on being drawn by the force of the current on the inner Chamber of a tire tractor along a stretch of 3.5 kilometers from the River as it passes through the town of Vang Vieng, in the northern region and that is already part of the route followed by the tourists who visit the Chinese country.

"A fun appearance simple if it were not because many of those who decide to experiment do after having consumed alcohol in bars built on both banks of the River."

"The problem is this sport of risk, having consumed alcohol or other stronger drugs, told Efe doctor Knott of the health centre of Vang Vieng.

" Every day we attend to about ten tourists with different contusions or degrees of sprains ", the doctor appears.

 The organizing companies of these decreases aim that it is a question of inoffensive sport of adventure, but in the clinic they do not believe the same thing immediately after the injured men who attend and for having tried, without success, to save the life to any that rough other one.


Towards it of the midday, young tourists in swimsuit and vest congregate in the bar of exit of goal after crossing a bridge of bamboo which obligatory toll is to drink a chupito of local unmatured brandy.

 The bar of exit is one more of between the dozen of the places where the participants stop awhile to consume alcoholic drinks while they continue with the fluvial decrease.

 In order that major beech amusement in the pauses during the tour, the canteens put at the disposal of the participants a few swimming pools of mud in those who intoxicated pretend to fight and to be thrown in tirolina to the river from several meters of height.


" It is the only experience, the adrenaline is raised to one by it of jumping to the water from seven meters of height ", says Bob Brett, an American young person visibly affected by the alcohol.

 In spite of the fact that in the river they have placed indicate that they indicate the place recommended to throw itself to the water, many are those who are played the physicist at throwing from other sites of the shore, some of them doing acrobatics.

 " He me resembles the Balconing, appears David Silva, a Spanish tourist who has approached the riverbed attracted by the propaganda brings over of this practice, similar to her of throwing itself to a swimming pool from a balcony, a mode that has caused several dead men in Spain.


Laos, which during the decade of the nineties was place of stop and inn of the western tourism that was crossing the route of Asian of the drug, search with the promotion of these experiences of risk an alternative to attract the youngest tourism.

 But, in spite of the fact that the consumption of drugs was prohibited, the trajín of these for the bars of the route of the Tubing is constant and supposes one of the principal sources of income of the trades of the zone in which the avidity is perceived by the money.


From the decade of 1990, Laos began the development of the tourist industry to adapt in a progressive way to the tourism of masses as a form of revenue for the rural economy that spreads over the country and lost his essence of minority destination.

 According to the information registered by the National Administration of Tourism of Laos, in 1991 scarcely 5.000 visitors visited the country, whereas the numbers of 2009 exceed both millions.

Via:globovision

A parrot who sings opera

They seek in New York to a parrot who sings opera

A parrot who has learned a "huge vocabulary" and who likes to sing opera lost in New York and their desperate owner asks for help citizens to find him, said Monday The New York Post newspaper.

25-year-old "captain" and of green and yellow color, went out flying of the shoulder of his owner, Allen Kirson, when this one was giving a walk in bicycle for Brooklyn during the last weekend.

" It was of way to seeing a friend and he was put on my shoulder as always. After awhile I realized that already it was not there and went back but I did not find it ", the owner of the animal declared to the diary.

Kirson assured that your pet is not a current Parrot, since he has learned as many expressions as acting often in hospitals for children and associations of the elderly of the city of New York.

In addition, it has the wings, reason cut away for which could not have gone very far from the place where it disappeared, though it is capable of rising to the trees.

" It is a part of the family. He speaks, sings and even it dances. It has an enormous vocabulary and she is charmed with singing opera ", commented to rotary Roberta Klein, exesposa of Kirson and the one who shares with him the custody of the bird.

The means of New York have echoed the case, while the owner offers a reward to the person who manages to meet on the whereabouts of "Captain".

Via:globovision

pervert ghost

Elderly woman denounces harassment of a "perverted ghost"

Doris Birch, a woman of 73 years of Herne Bay, England, said to be frightened every night by a ghost that the plays when it comes to sleep. He said that the ghost gets under the blankets, the toca and only goes when she screams and kicks.

He has tried to sleep without blankets but the spirit he shakes the mattress. Nothing changed when he bought a new bed. During the first months refused to ask for help to not look like a helpless woman, but when the ghostly abuse became intolerable, he attended spiritualists, priests and authorities to solve the problem.

A couple Ghostbusters has promised him do everything possible to expel from the House to the manoseador spirit

Power Balance Bracelet "hoax"

Misleading advertising in the United States, the popular Power Balance knob, which supposedly create balance in the body, proved to be a hoax. The firm will pay $ 57.4 million for not complying with the benefits promoted.

In the United States sold for $ 30 and has became a popular accessory that gets into the main shopping centers.

Via:globovision

Transporting drugs using a remote control plane

Spain's Civil Guard discovered a drone loaded with more than two kilograms of cannabis resin, which presumably came from Morocco.

Civil guards on the border between Spain and Morocco found the plane floating in the water. Accepting the drone found containing 2200 grams of drugs hidden.

They have not got a suspect who was behind the remote control which would guide the plane. The aircraft have a flight range of an hour, but according to experts consulted by the model airplane Civil Guard, the unit was not enough gas to get to Cadiz.

This raised the theory that the plane could have been guided by GPS to which he would set the coordinates to which he was to come.

Via:elpais

Kilimanjaro climb without hands or feet

An American-armed and without feet is preparing to climb Kilimanjaro without even rely on the help of prosthesis.

Maynard used bicycle tires to strengthen the grip of his arms and legs.

Kyle Maynard, 25, suffers what is called congenital amputation, that is, born with short arms and legs.

However, despite his handicap has made a career in the world of martial arts, wrestling, and besides that it is a lecturer and writer.

A story of overcoming

The next January, plans to spend 16 days climbing the 5895 meters high Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, considered the highest point in Africa.

If successful, it will be the first person to get a quadruple amputation and without help from others.

But with shorter arms and legs, Maynard practically have to crawl to the top of the mountain.

Over the years, the U.S. has improvised different types of equipment, from spare bicycle tire in the ends of his arms and legs, reinforced sleeves on shirts, special packing tape or clothing.

Your challenge here is to increase the grip on the rise.

"There is no obstacle big enough"

To achieve its objective Maynard has spent years climbing mountains in Colorado and Georgia in the United States.

Maynard on his expedition will be accompanied by nine others, including a cameraman, a guide and three veterans who suffered physical and psychological trauma during the war.

The group began raising funds for the expedition through a website at: www.missionkilimanjaro.com. 

The end of the mission is to show people and veterans with disabilities in the world that no obstacle is big enough, because you can accomplish if you have a certain lifestyle, an active mind and without borders, sums up the site the Internet.

"Kilimanjaro is the biggest challenge we have faced," Maynard said in a television interview in the United States. 

"I just want to send a message to the people, stand up and do something. Instead of complaining about things that happened to us, it's better to realize that there is a life to live," he said.

Via:bbc

India caught in a leopard had eaten three children

A leopard had eaten three children and wounded at least six people were captured alive today in the vicinity of an ecological reserve in the northern region of Uttar Pradesh India, a source forest.

"The trap was laid by Bhupendra Singh Rana, who offered to perform the operation after local authorities will ask for help to end the threat of the cat," said chief naturalist of the region, BK Patnaik, a local agency IANS.

Rana Singh captured the animal with a camouflaged iron cage in which he placed inside a goat as bait, said the conservation authority.

Patnaik, who described the operation of hunting as a "big catch", said "the leopard had terrified the inhabitants of several villages over the past two months."

Forest chief has ruled out releasing the leopard in its natural habitat.

"Given that killed three people and seriously wounded at least half a dozen, we have no choice but to send him to a zoo," said Patnaik.

Experts attribute the increase to the leopards attack humans in India in the building around national parks of new towns, where there are pets, they are pieces of hunting for cats.

New residents and some businesses have invaded the grounds of the nature reserves, which have forced predators to change their eating habits.

Via:globovision

See homosexuality after stroke

Chris Birch, heterosexual, rugby player and a bank worker in Wales, suffered a stroke while trying a stunt in training and breaking his neck. When he awoke he felt like a different person and no interest for women, so he left his bride, the rugby team, dyed his hair, quit his job, he trained as a stylist and now lives with her boyfriend in a apartment above the beauty salon where she works.

Experts say that after a stroke, the brain creates new connections that can cause different effects, as the case of a man who woke with incredible abilities for drawing without having had previous training.

Via:globovision

Eggs in piss, manjar typical China

In Dongyang Province of China, by spring the aroma of a dish begins to spread through the air. Cooks liters of urine collected virgin child, add hundreds of eggs cooked mixture. As if this were not enough, they are about to burst, take them out, peel them and put back into the urine to concentrate the flavor.

Apparently, residents of Dongyang love: "It is so delicious that I can eat 10 eggs a day," says a woman who moved to Dongyang several years ago.

The light at the end of the tunnel, the last enigma of the human mind

-They propose several explanations for the near-death experiences.

-Could be due to a complex mixture of chemical effects on the brain.

-Other hypotheses point to the psychology or the mysteries of quantum physics.

Throughout life, the mind can play tricks on us or to see things that are not there, from the feeling of paralysis that accompanies some nightmares to the perception of leaving the body. It is relatively common recall experiences that have traditionally been regarded as paranormal, but may actually be due to deep states of sleep, the action of certain drugs or traumatic experiences that induce changes in the brain.

The near-death experiences, as the concern some people who have suffered a cardiac arrest or have been close to death, could be defined as a collection of all these anomalies: the patients perceive their consciousness away from his own body, envision a black tunnel with a light on the other hand, they feel surrounded by presences identified as spirits, angels or ghosts, and often accompanies them a feeling of fullness or state of euphoria.

These memories, which have been observed and collected in hospitals around the world have usually been interpreted from a mystical point of view, religious or paranormal, but many experts believe that groups should be incorporated into academic study. Some scientists believe, in fact, that the current neurology and psychiatry already have enough tools to explain the phenomenon, which is the sum of a series of experiments with extreme brain's own approaching death.

The British researchers Dean Mobbs, the Medical Research Council in Cambridge, and Caroline Watt, a psychologist at the University of Edinburgh, produced a study that reviewed a number of symptoms more common in the near-death experiences and offered a possible biological explanation for each one of them. The perception of being in a tunnel, for example, may be due to failure of peripheral vision, caused by lack of oxygen to the brain that occurs after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Via: elmundo

Kangaroo trapped in wire and left to suffer

THESE shocking photos show a kangaroo in agony, tangled in metres of wire and unable to stand up.

The distressed kangaroo was discovered this morning by a Department of Environment and Conservation wildlife carer, who feared the animal had been tied up in case of animal cruelty.

Kim Walpole was walking through bushland at the back of her Chittering property when she found the kangaroo lying down, with fencing wire wrapped around its foot, chest and neck.

It wasn't until she sedated the distressed animal that she realised the wire had also been tied to two trees.

"I thought he had a broken back and he tried to leap up," Ms Walpole said.

"When we saw that it was actually wire, I had a scenario in the back of my mind but I didn't want to think about people being so cruel. I felt sick."

These images sent to PerthNow show the wire wound tightly around the animal's feet and chest, and the marks left after wildlife carers were able to cut it free.

Ms Walpole, who has lived on the property for seven years, said she did not have any fencing to keep wildlife out and did not know how the wire ended up on her block.

She said it was possible the kangaroo had picked up the wire from a nearby building site and got caught in the bushes.

But the fact it was wrapped around the animal's foot 10 times "raised a lot of questions."

"It obviously panicked and tried to get away because it had worn into the two trees and debarked the trees," she said.

The adult roo suffered burns from the wire but is expected to make a full recovery.

Via:perthnow

Orphaned bat babies get a cosy new home

SNUG as bugs in bunny rugs, Melbourne's baby bats are filling the grey-headed flying fox nursery set up each year to care for orphaned bat bubs.

And while night-time feeds drive most mums batty, Wildlife Victoria volunteers refill formula bottles and rotate dummies around the clock.

The babies are often rescued after their mums have been electrocuted on powerlines, fatally entangled in dark-coloured fruit tree netting or ripped apart on barbed wire.

The orphans are swaddled in blankets to help them feel secure and put in a bat nursery where they thrive in the company of their little flying fox cousins.

"Coming from colonies we have found they do much better in company than on their own," WV development manager Amy Amato said.

The flying foxes remain in care until ready for a "soft release" into a special enclosure at the colony's home at Yarra Bend.

Wildlife volunteers often meet the costs of animals in their care from their own pockets.

Via:perthnow

The South African black rhino flying

Flying rhinos in South Africa. Or, at least 19 of them have flown for more than 10 minutes, anesthetized and suspended by his ankles from a helicopter. An operation as spectacular as effective to transport these animals, weighing between 800 and 1,400 kilos, an area inaccessible by road in the province of Eastern Cape, on the southern tip of South Africa, the Northern Limpopo, just across the tip of the country.

 Following the aerial tour animals were placed on trucks and taken to their new home, an area established by the World Wildlife Fund in which the owners of farms and farmland agree to have rhinos.

The idea of ​​airlifting hung by the legs of these animals sounds spectacular, but according to those responsible for the operation, is actually less harmful to the rhinos trucked infamous roads or put them in networks that are hanging from helicopters. The project has also received tremendous publicity thanks to the spectacular images and videos posted on the Internet by the South African media production firm defense of the environment Green Rennaisance.

South Africa has about 9,500 rhinos, ie about 80% of those who remain in Africa. Of these, about 7,000 are white rhinos, about twice as large as the black people who protragonistas of this 'air bridge'. So far this year 341 have been poached animals in both species in that country. That means that already surpassed the 2010 (333 animals).

Via:elmundo

10 year old girl gives birth

He was born in Puebla, Mexico. She weighed six pounds and is recovering from pneumonia in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Puebla. At the time carried out an investigation to find out who was the person responsible for the girl pregnant.

The pregnancy lasted 33 weeks. Mexican law prohibits abortion unless it is proven to be a victim of rape. The minimum age for an abortion is 12 years, and those who do it illegally, go to jail.

Shark spotted near Rottnest scuba divers

A THREE-METRE shark has been spotted within 150m of scuba divers off Rottnest Island today.

A Water Police spokeswoman said the shark was first spotted 600m offshore from Bathurst Point shortly before 2.30pm.

It was then spotted within 150m of scuba divers about 15 minutes later. The divers were informed and got out of the water.

The sighting comes just three weeks after Texan George Wainwright, 32, was killed by a 3m white pointer while diving alone about 500m off Little Armstrong Bay on the island's north-west coast.

His death was the third fatal shark attack in WA waters in less than two months.

On October 10, Bryn Martin was believed to have been taken by a great white shark after he was last seen about 350m from the shore as headed out on his daily swim at Cottesloe.

On September 4, Kyle James Burden was killed while bodyboarding with friends at Bunker Bay, near Dunsborough.

In August last year, Nick Edwards died after a shark attacked him while he was surfing near Gracetown.

Via:penthnow

Weighs less than an anorexic mother daughter 7 years

Rebecca Jones weighs under 32 pounds and measures just over five feet tall. Lives based on a toast, soup and energy drinks while ensuring that their 7 year old daughter has enough to eat cake and pizza and is proud of being able to share clothes with her daughter.

After suffering from anorexia since age 11, the mother who is now 26 believe your condition will help you get rid of another pregnancy, then stop having menstrual periods a year ago.

Rebecca now faces the possibility of a cardiac arrest due to the long period of famine which has been submitted. Doctors warn that unless some weight gain may not live long enough to see his daughter grow.

Via:globovision

Great Pyramid shut to avoid 11/11/11 rituals

EGYPT will close the Great Pyramid of Giza later today to avoid any rituals by a group rumoured to have plans to mark the date of 11/11/11 at the site, an official said.

The decision came "after much pressure" from Egyptian Internet users saying strange rituals were going to be held "within the walls of the pyramid on November 11, 2011", said Atef Abu Zahab, head of the Department of Pharaonic Archaeology.

The Supreme Council of Antiquities confirmed the closure of the tourist site in a statement that only referred to the need for maintenance following a busy period during Muslim holidays.

The Pyramid of Cheops is the biggest and most famous of the three Giza pyramids. It houses the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu, and is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Numerologists are anxiously awaiting today, when the digital alignment of ones occurs at 11.11 am, which some believe will lead to unusual events.

Thousands of people plan to meet at the time around the world for ceremonial dances, and several pages devoted to the date have appeared on social networking website Facebook.

Via: penthnow

Mexico's exotic Prisons

In Mexican prisons more than prisoners and guards. In recent months the authorities have found in several prisons, from exotic animals, weapons, liqueurs or satellite phones, to pool tables or air conditioning system.

Specialists say that Mexican prisons are a security problem for the country.

The most recent case occurred in the prison of Acapulco in the south, where the inmates were fighting cocks, peacocks, bags of marijuana and lived with 19 women offering sexual services.

Prisons are one of the most serious security problems in the country, say analysts and civil organizations. 

The Public Security Ministry acknowledges that from inside some prisons are organized kidnappings and extortion, and have even been cases where drug cartel leaders are hiding in prisons to evade rival groups.

The independent Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said that prisoners rule 100 of the 429 prisons in the country. "The country's prison system has collapsed, dragging vices for many years," he tells the BBC Ana Laura Magaloni, Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE).

"Prisons are nests of corruption, abuse, arbitrary. Not even serve to implement exemplary punishment," he adds.

Via:bbc

'Air car'

Could become the 'air car' of the future

-80 kg machine can take off vertically like a jump jet.

-Powered by Lithium.

-Inventor claims that the machine rotor 16 helicopters will obsolete.

-Could be used for "outdoor sports" - or even a flying car.

It might seem like space surrounded hopper helicopter models, but the rotor 16 E-Volo is a totally new type of helicopter - which can float motionless in the air without involving the daring pilot.

 The engineer, Thomas Senkel, took the team in its first manned flight this week - a period of 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Not the first electric helicopter flight - but this is a new type of machine, intended only for joystick, with the pilot sitting above the rotors. Senkel says could revolutionize transportation.

Senkel Thomas, who built the machine with two friends, pilot of the aircraft on its maiden voyage 1min 30sec.

Mr. Senkel Eco-friendly artifact has 16 discs on each flight which takes about 20 minutes before the batteries need recharging.

The three inventors claim their flying machine could be used for pipeline inspection, as an air ambulance or for aerial photography - and just for fun.

 Once you have solved the problem of how to keep in the air longer - and support more people - Senkel expected to replace the equipment for good.

It is much easier to fly than normal helicopters - is led by the speed of the rotor, which is controlled by computer, so that the pilot only has to use a joystick as if playing a game, instead of managing multiple complex contorols at a time.

 Senkel describes the ease of using the machine as "affable" and the potential of replacing the helicopter in many situations.

He added: "Without any steering movement just floating there on the spot." 

The multicopter currently only able to fly for about 20 minutes, battery-powered lithium-ion batteries.

However, I hope E-flew rapidly developing technology means you can complete one-hour flights in the near future.

 A hybrid drive, in which a conventional internal combustion engine generates electric power, since they show a flight time of one hour.

Senkel Thomas (center) with two friends who helped him develop "multicopter"

A one-hour flight would cost around six euros into electricity. The machine has few parts, which could be carried out, which means that the aircraft needs little maintenance.

 E-flew his plane say is special because of the "simplicity of its construction, mechanical engineering, without complex and redundant engines.

In an emergency, you can land, although four of the 16 discs. And since the blades sit below the pilot's parachute security can also be implemented. 

 Controls can be integrated with GPS software, the claim of three friends, and the machine could even automatically avoid obstacles and go to predetermined locations. E-Volo have already successfully completed several 'drones' flights with the remotely controlled vehicle from the ground.

Via:dailymail

That's a long walk!

Gateways 2000 miles across Australia to get home after the owners moved

This brave cat is believed to have traveled nearly 2,000 miles across Australia to return home. 

Jessie the cat moved with their owners from South Australia to a new home in the Northern Territory in March last year.

But shortly after moving to the family, Jessie missing and believed to have appeared in his old house during a year later.

Cat on a mission: Jessie the cat (pictured) is believed to have traveled 2,000 miles for the Australian desert.

"She was here for a couple of weeks and we had installed, but soon after Jessie disappeared, the owner Sheree Gale, 31, told the Northern Territory News. 

But Sheree is convinced of his left determined brindle Berry Springs, a suburb of Darwin, and walked the distance back to his former home in Ungarra in the Eyre Peninsula.

"I can not explain. She hates to get into the car, so I think you have walked," said Mrs. Gale.

 Over a year later, the new residents of the former home of Gale Ungarra, South Australia, which is a strange cat running around.


Walkabout gone: Jessie the cat is believed to have walked across Australia, from Darwin to Ungarra.

"I took a picture and sent it to Sheree, and she said it was definitely Jessie," said Jenn Humby, which for now is taking care of Jessie.

If the cat is Jessie, have endured harsh desert either in Australia or has traveled through the coastal route, which would have taken much longer.

When Mrs. Gale and her husband, Andre, flew to Berry Springs, along with Jessie, had left their cats behind with two other owners of your old home.

The gales believe that cats are all together now and we are happy to Jessie to stay in their old home.

Via:dailymail

He amputated the leg and grows again

Mandy Sellars suffers from a disease that causes your legs grow. The doctors told him he had to amputate the leg because it could cause death. But 22 months after surgery, his leg was growing at a rapid pace.

 Doctors diagnosed severe sepsis in the limb and warned that "was she or her leg."

"I expected that with the amputation my condition stabilized, but I think deep down I knew it would start to grow again," he said. "Almost immediately started increasing stump diameter and it was more difficult to fit into my artificial leg. "The stump was so heavy that it broke his prosthetic leg," he added.

Similar to Proteus syndrome, which is a congenital disease that causes skin overgrowth and abnormal bone development, often accompanied by tumors over half the body. 

Mandy 36 years old and a native of England is hoping that a cure for their disease can be found.

Pay $ 30,000 for a bad tooth of John Lennon

A Canadian dentist bought at auction a yellow tooth that was extracted from the former Beatle John Lennon for forty years.

Michael Zuk paid more than U.S. $ 30,000 for the molar, which the connoisseurs must have caused great pain to the artist, given the immense cavity exhibiting. 

 Zuk has written a book on the teeth of celebrities, while recognizing that some piece of memorabilia that may seem strange.

However, to add to the rarity of the moment, the Canadian dentist will ensure that your new purchase "on tour" by dental schools.

Via:bbc

See the cell phone of the future: transparent and flexible

Through the eyes of Thomas Parker, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, for its acronym in English), the future is very clear: electronics will be flexible, transparent and ubiquitous.



Palacios received the PECASE (Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers), which gives the U.S. president young scientists.

"The electronic devices that we have today are quite conventional: they are solid blocks that can be folded and not let in light. The electronics of the future will totally change your appearance, it will be ubiquitous, it will be in all parties, "the teacher told the BBC, from his office in the American university.

Palacios was born in the province of Jaen in southern Spain. He studied Telecommunications Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, did his doctorate at the University of California and, since 2006, is Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT.

"I have a group of 20 students and doctors working in advanced electronics. We are trying to figure out how we can make faster computers and cell phones that connect to the Internet faster," said the professor.

In order to fabricate transparent and flexible mobile phone, you need to get materials that are very cheap and consume little power.

Graphene


Graphene is made of graphite. Here is a graphene chemical sensor on a film.

With that in mind, Palacios and his team are testing a new material called graphene, which consists of a single atom thick. That makes it thinner material that exists.

 Another quality of graphene is that it is one of the best materials for electronics, graphene transistors operating up to one hundred times faster than silicon transistors.

It is, according to Palacios, the strongest material known, is five times harder than steel, and the best thermal and electrical conductor.

It also has a very important property: it is transparent and flexible.

"We're using for the manufacture of new electronic devices and circuits. One of what we have in mind is a phone that is flexible, it can be folded and when we want to use it, we extend it on the table or around the clothes" said the professor.

 Palacios says his team is not the only one who is trying to develop the revolutionary technology. Leading companies in mobile phones are on the list.

However, according to the researcher, there is no perfect material, including graphene has disadvantages.

Via:bbc

Paradise found for a shipload of cash

ON THE MARKET: Turtle Island is a private island near Rockhampton, which actress Julia Roberts almost bought in 1998. Source: The Daily Telegraph

FOR SALE - your own tropical paradise, with water views.

Queensland is in the midst of an island sell-off, with a swath of exclusive retreats available.

A dozen private islands are for sale along Queensland's coast - some heavily discounted after up to 18 months on the market.

The cheapest is the 8.5ha Temple Island, southeast of Mackay at $850,000. It includes a private airstrip and a four-bedroom, highset home.

Just to the south is the most expensive buy of the lot, the massive 8sq km Marble Island, going for a cool $15 million.

Property agent Richard Vanhoff of Coldwell Banker says it is not unusual to have this many islands on the market at once as ownership usually changes hands every five years.

Mr Vanhoff reported strong interest despite the overall market slump, recently placing two under contract. One of these was Turtle Island near Rockhampton, which was nearly bought in 1998 by film star Julia Roberts.

"Interest right now is better than it's been all year,'' he said. "I've had more inquiries in the last three weeks than I've had in a long time.

"The last couple of weeks there has been a lot of Asian inquiries on our islands.''

Mr Vanhoff said he had also attracted significant recent interest in the resort on Hinchinbrook Island, off Port Hinchinbrook, south of Cairns.

The resort is on the market for $4.5 million, $2 million less than the asking price when first listed last year.

Farther north, the exclusive celebrity playground of Double Island was eyed last month by entrepreneur Geoffrey Edelsten and wife Brynne.

But they decided against bidding for the $8 million retreat, opting to spend their millions on a Dominican Republic resort and casino instead.

Listing agent Jay Beattie of Colliers International is confident he can sell Double Island, owned by multimillionaire Sydney businessman Sean Howard.

"We've carried out a number of inspections while it has been on the market and we've got another three booked in for next week,'' Mr Beattie said.

The most recent island to hit the market is a 23ha unnamed island off Toogoom, near Hervey Bay.

It is back on the market after a $4.1 million contract between titleholder Brett Gunderson and Fraser Coast identity "Aussie Rob'' Wilson fell through.

Listing agent Scott Wagner from Ray White Mermaid Beach will auction the island next month as a freehold residence - and he has already had a bizarre offer for it.

"I've had some guys from the Philippines asking the vendor to give them the island and they would pay them 50 million out of their own currency when they nationalised it into their own country,'' he said.

Via:penthnow

U.S. confirms that aliens have not been in contact with Earthlings

"Neither has evidence that life exists beyond our planet '

The White House has no hard evidence that extraterrestrial life exists, or that alien beings have visited earth, but still looking. 

The Obama administration has responded to popular demand sent to Washington with over 17,000 signatures from citizens concerned about the assumptions neighbors in the universe.

The Government replies because you have committed to responding to any claim that meets enough signatories in less than 30 days within the program 'We The People'. 

And in this case, there were two claims: one calling for "immediate release" of "government communications with extraterrestrial" and another to recognize "formally the extraterrestrial presence and its relations with human beings."

A space policy expert answers, diligent, "The U.S. government has no evidence that life exists beyond our planet or an entity that has contacted alien or has been related to any member of the human race, in addition, no information credible to suggest that the public have withheld evidence.

 " To the relief of universal mystery lovers, there is still hope because scientists are still searching. "This does not mean that life outside our planet is not being discussed or explored. In fact, there are several projects to understand whether there is life beyond Earth," writes Phil Larson, Office of Science Policy and Technology White House. Now they work at least three programs seeking life outside the planet.

The ETI program, funded by NASA and is now in private hands, pointing telescopes to the sky for any sign or sound of another world. Within NASA, the Kepler spacecraft in orbit tries to detect other planets in the Milky Way. And the Mars Science Laboratory, about to launch, studying rocks and other debris that could indicate a living past. 

Larson argues that it is possible that extraterrestrial life exists, but almost impossible for Earthlings to find. "Chances are that somewhere among the billions and billions of stars in the universe exists another planet besides our own where there is life," he writes. "However, the chances of any being contacted, especially intelligent, they are extremely small because of the distances involved."

The White House receives hundreds of requests each day. Among the firms that support right now is one of the 'outraged' that occur throughout the country and claiming their right to form a General Assembly on July 4, 2012 in Philadelphia to refound the country and make "a more perfect Union ". 

So far, this demand has gotten about 200 signatures, missing 24,000 for which he is entitled to receive a reply, the same as another request for the U.S. to recognize the role of Flanders (Belgium) in the founding of America. There are many who attack the system, as the application "stop lying" or "give me a condescending and meaningless response to this request."

The most popular so far has been on the legalization of marijuana, more than 150,000 signatures. The Administration says it will not. The expert points out that answering this drug "is associated with addiction, respiratory disease and cognitive impairment."

Via:elmundo

The Sarcos Ivian Venezuela, Miss World 2011

The Venezuelan beauty has prevailed over the rest of the planet. London has proclaimed Sarcos Lunasol Ivian Colmenares Miss World 2011 compared to 119 other applicants for a hundred countries. Behind her, the contestant from the Philippines, Gwendoline Ruais, and Puerto Rico, Amanda Perez. 

The young Venezuelan-brunette 21 years and that is 1 meter and 79 centimeters, has a degree in human resources and comes from a family of 12 children.

The event, in which young people paraded in different costumes, took place at the Exhibition Centre and Earl's Court is the sixtieth edition of Miss World. The winner will spend a year visiting various charitable projects worldwide. 

The three girls were chosen from seven finalists, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Philippines, South Korea, South Africa, Scotland and England that were in the final after the parade Of the hundreds who participated in the contest.

According to organizers, this event is followed by more than one billion viewers in over 168 countries and the next edition will take place in China. Despite the popularity of the event, it has received criticism from feminist organizations, which consider that the competition is demeaning to women and is a setback for equality between women and men. 

In a joint statement released today, several of these groups, including London Feminist Network, Object and the Feminist UK, said they were "furious" with the show. "Let us know the organizers and all those who profit from this event that we are all angry that such an event was held in London again," the note.

"This is an appalling offense to the equality of women. Let us know loud and clear that this event does not occur in London," he adds.

 However, the director of Miss England, Angie Beasley, said the contest has changed over the years and is no longer look good in a bathing suit, believing that girls have talent and participate in events for charity.

"Yes, they must be fantastic to win, but is much more than a beauty contest," said Beasley. "We live in a free society in which women have the right to choose. These participants of Miss World are able to make the decision whether to participate or not," he stressed.

Via:elmundo

CHINA | Donations Ai Weiwei's supporters cast 570,000 euros to your garden

Anonymous citizens help the artist dissident to pay your fine

Thousands of people donate money these days spontaneously Ai Weiwei, in order to help the well-known Chinese dissident artist and pay the heavy fines imposed on the tax authorities for alleged tax evasion.

 Some fans throw him folded bills in the form of paper airplanes above the gate of his studio in Beijing, told the dpa agency Ai Weiwei. To date, more than 20,000 people had been arriving more than five million yuan (790,000 euros dólares/570.000).

Treasury demanded the artist of 53 years over 15 billion yuan last week for alleged unpaid taxes and fines. Ai Weiwei received mid-month deadline to pay its debts. The artist, who was arrested some months ago for several weeks, believes that this is another attempt to intimidate him. 

Ai Weiwei emphasized, however, that return the money received, as no one can receive donations in China without official authorization. His assistants register lists each amount received, he said.

"I see the emergence of civil society in China. I see hope," the artist also welcomed the wave of solidarity.

Via:elmundo

Perth-born orang-utan swings into new life

First pictures of Perth-born orang-utan Semeru in the rainforest of Bukit Tigapuluh, Sumatra. Picture credit: Perth Zoo Source:PerthNow

FOR the first time in his life, Semeru is free.

Despite being thousands of kilometres from home and scared of thunder, the Perth-born Sumatran orang-utan took just minutes to venture from his enclosure into the Indonesian jungle on Tuesday morning.

The release made history. After six years as a member of Perth Zoo's orang-utan colony and two weeks in quarantine in Indonesia, Semeru became the first zoo-born male orang-utan in the world released into the wild.

His keeper, Perth Zoo orang-utan supervisor Kylie Bullo, was there every step of the way.

In her field report, Ms Bullo describes the orang-utan's trepidation at entering the rainforest for the first time and the moment he made the canopy of Bukit Tigapuluh in Sumatra his home.

Semeru and keeper Kylie Bullo farewell at Perth Zoo.  Picture credit: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

"A young female orang-utan named Violet was released at the same time. She is about the same age as Semeru," Ms Bullo wrote.

"Violet quickly made her way up the rubber rope from her enclosure and into the forest. Semeru looked out of his enclosure, but decided to stay put and assess the situation. Violet waited for him on the vine, watching.

"Semeru came out of his enclosure after about three minutes, but seemed quite overwhelmed and couldn't figure out how to get to Violet. Violet came back down the rubber rope. Semeru was still on the ground, but when Violet returned once again to the tree Semeru made a dash along the ground and quickly ascended the vine to join Violet."

Semeru is already eating forest fruits, drinking water off leaves and swinging through the trees with his new friend. At night, he sleeps high up in the canopy.

For the next two years, Semeru will be monitored by two trackers.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion said he was pleased everything had gone as planned.

Semeru's release into a protected rainforest is part of a reintroduction program.

It is estimated that as few as 6300 Sumatran orang-utans are left in the wild, threatened by habitat destruction and poaching.

Semeru will add vital genetic diversity to the existing orang-utan population.

Semeru follows Temara, who in November 2006 became the first zoo-born orangutan to be released into the wild.  She was also born and bred at Perth Zoo and was released in the same area.

The region is guarded by anti-logging and anti-poaching wildlife protection units.

If Semeru doesn't adapt to his new surroundings he will be looked after in the forest or at the nearby Bukit Tigapuluh orangutan sanctuary, which cares for orphaned primates and those rescued from the illegal pet trade. 

The sanctuary was built by Perth Zoo.  

Since 1970, 27 orangutans have been born at Perth Zoo with eight females and three males.

You can show your support by visiting Perth Zoo and making a hand print as part of a giant artwork of an orang-utan.

Via:perthnow