Friday, October 10, 2008
Couple saws house in half according to divorce settlement
CANOE LINK
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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - A couple in rural Cambodia has terminated their 18-year marriage with a divorce settlement that entailed sawing in two the wooden house they once shared, villagers said Friday.
The husband, 42-year-old Moeun Sarim, has taken away with him all the bits and pieces of his half a house, said his 35-year-old wife, Vat Navy.
"Very strange, but this is what my husband wanted," she said by phone from a village about 62 miles east of Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. She said they ended their marriage last month.
"He brought his relatives and used saws to cut the house in half," she said, adding that she now owns the other half that is still standing. The house is made from wood with a tile roof and propped up on wooden pillars, a typical style for a Cambodian country home.
She said her estranged husband and his relatives, after ripping apart half of the house, carried all the debris to his parents' house nearby.
She said the divorce was prompted by her husband's jealousy about her alleged relationship with a policeman in the village. She denied having an extramarital affair.
"He wanted a divorce, and I said, 'Let's divorce,"' she said.
The husband could not be reached for comment.
Bou Bout, a village chief, said local officials and police were present as witnesses the day the couple split their 20-by-24 1/2 foot (6-by-7.5 meter) house into half.
"Local officials tried three times to get them to mend their differences, but the husband would not budge," Bou Bout said by phone.
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Bell and Telus team up to overhaul wireless network
CBC
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Move will allow companies to offer more cellphones, including Apple's iPhone
Last Updated: Friday, October 10, 2008 | 3:56 PM ET Comments19Recommend39
CBC News
Canadian telecom giants BCE Inc. and Telus announced Friday they will work together to overlay their existing wireless networks with a cellular technology more popular around the world, a move that will allow both companies to compete more directly with Rogers Communications Inc.
BCE unit Bell and Telus both announced Friday they would be making a significant investment in upgrading their networks, adding high speed packet access, or HSPA, cellular technology to their third-generation networks.
The two companies said the upgrades to their faster third-generation networks should be complete by 2010 and will pave the way for the transition to adopt fourth-generation Long Term Evolution technology, a developing global standard for even more advanced phone capabilities expected to be available in 2012.
Both companies currently use a communications standard known code division multiple access (CDMA) for their networks.
While CDMA technology is common in North America, most of the rest of the world uses the rival Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) — of which HSPA technology is one version.
About 75 per cent of cellphones are made for the GSM standard, including Apple Inc.'s iPhone and Research in Motion's BlackBerry Bold.
Rogers is currently the only national wireless company to use GSM in Canada, allowing them to be the exclusive carrier of both the iPhone and the Bold when the products launched nationally earlier this year.
New entrants to the market who won the rights to spectrum during the federal government's sale of wireless airwaves earlier this year are also expected to build their networks using GSM technology.
Bell and Telus said a network sharing agreement between the two companies will allow them to speed the build-up of the network and provide the widest reach, particularly to remote and rural regions.
Telus CEO Darren Entwistle called the move a win for consumers.
"Telus's investment in next-generation wireless services will give our clients more wireless functionality, including international roaming, fast network speeds and a compelling selection of globally compatible handsets and devices," he said in a statement.
Bell President and CEO George Cope said the upgrade to the network is part of Bell's commitment to be Canada's leading communications company.
"This investment initiative builds on our industry-leading wireless service ... to deliver Canadians the broadest choice in high-speed wireless service, while confirming our path forward to LTE, the global 4G wireless broadband standard," he said.
Rogers spokesperson Liz Hamilton said the company is not surprised the two carriers want to use HSPA technology, which she said Rogers added three years ago. She said that experience has given them a faster and more reliable network and isn't something that will be easily replicated.
Neither company said how much the transition would cost, but a report in July from UBS Investment Research put the combined cost for the two companies at between $360 million to $480 million.
The companies said Nokia Siemens Networks and Huawei will provide the equipment for their new wireless infrastructure.
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10-Year Old Tennessee Boy Enlisted To Drive Drunks Home, Flips Van At 90MPH
GEEKOLOGIE
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A 10-year old's driving services were requested by 43-year old Randy Lewis (that's actually him in the picture, he was really wearing that shirt) and Paula Elaine Evans because they were too drunk to drive themselves. Other passengers included another 10-year old and a 6-year old. However, the driver lost control of the van at 90MPH and flipped it, before it finally came to stop on its roof. Thankfully, the children were released from the hospital later with only minor injuries (the adults could have died for all I care).
When the authorities arrived on the scene, Lewis admitted to having consumed at least 15 beers as well as some alcohol while Miss Evans pounded down as many unidentified pills as she could before police arrested her.
Wow, making a 10-year old drive you home because you're wasted? That's just sad. I think we can all agree here that designated drivers should at least be 11½. You know, so they can reach the pedals. Ten-Year-Old Drives Drunks Home, Rolls Van At 90 MPH [jalopnik] Thanks to biggestpenisintheworld, who, based on the picture he sent, may actually be.
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Thursday, October 9, 2008
Used Condoms Reborn As Hair/Rubber Bands
GEEKOLOGIE
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Soiled condoms *HORF* are being recycled into hair bands and rubber bands in China.
"There are a lot of bacteria and viruses on the rubber bands and hair ties made from used condoms," a dermatologist at the Guangzhou Hospital of Armed Police, who asked to be identified by his surname Dong, told the local paper. "People could be infected with AIDS, warts or other diseases if they hold the rubber bands or strings in their mouths while weaving their hair into plaits or buns."
*HORF* Jesus. But on the upside, a bag of 10 hair bands only costs 3¢. Which, I think we can all agree is worth the risk of contracting something.
Report: Used condoms 'recycled' as hair bands in China [usatoday]
Thanks to Skip, who may or may not have been the guy that ratted me out for blowing up used condoms at my last clown gig.
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NYC National Debt Clock runs out of digits
CANOE
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NEW YORK - In a sign of the times, the National Debt Clock in New York City has run out of digits to record the growing figure.
As a short-term fix, the digital dollar sign on the billboard-style clock near Times Square has been switched to a figure - the "1" in $10 trillion. It's marking the federal government's current debt at about $10.2 trillion. The Durst Organization says it plans to update the sign next year by adding two digits. That will make it capable of tracking debt up to a quadrillion dollars.
The late Manhattan real estate developer Seymour Durst put the sign up in 1989 to call attention to what was then a $2.7 trillion debt.
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Wednesday, October 8, 2008
1st Love Wednesday - Grand opening tonight @ the tunnel !
LINK
This is going to be a great night and look at the venue. It looks sick!
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Paul Mighty, Rockwell, Icy Touch, & Add 'Em Up present
Your Favorite Wednesday Clubnight has a NEW HOME!
1st Love Wednesdays at THE TUNNEL
622 W.Pender St (by Seymour)
Last weeks soft opener was bananas! The night was full of good vibes! This week experience DJ RELIK's video Hip Hop set! If you have been to THE TUNNEL you must have seen the HD projection that covers most of the club, now experience music visually surrounding you!!
Grand Opening Oct. 8
FREE FOOD 10-11PM!
Same positive vibe!
Same love for hip-hop, r&b, reggae, & old school!
Same house party feel!
Vancity's Best Kept Secret, Inside Vancity's Best NEW Venue!
Resident 1st Love DJs
Pluskratch, Tropic, Nyce, Relik, & Adlib plus guests.
Past 1st Love DJ Guests Include:
Sage, Seko, Marvel, Flipout, Hedspin, Sean-La-La, Blessed, Hustle, Richie McFly,
C-Stylez, J Parsons, Goldenchild, Sichuan, Jayville, Cruz, MSA, Rickashae, Kelz, Swick, D-Jhun, & J-Grillz
Past 1st Love Performances Include:
The Titans,Profe-C,NaRai, Jeff Spec, EDGE, Boombox Saints, Coquette Couture, SVS, D-City, Heatwave, Niltron SixG, & Flipout
LADIES ALWAYS FREE Before 11pm
Doors 10pm
Close 3am
Reserve a table or book a party:
1stlovewed@gmail.com
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Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Mail Goggles
LINK
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Sometimes I send messages I shouldn't send. Like the time I told that girl I had a crush on her over text message. Or the time I sent that late night email to my ex-girlfriend that we should get back together. Gmail can't always prevent you from sending messages you might later regret, but today we're launching a new Labs feature I wrote called Mail Goggles which may help.
When you enable Mail Goggles, it will check that you're really sure you want to send that late night Friday email. And what better way to check than by making you solve a few simple math problems after you click send to verify you're in the right state of mind?
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I still like the Cell Phone with the built in breathalyzer: LINK
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The LP4100 also allows users to set up the phone so on certain nights and after a certain time they do not call certain people in their phone book. Think ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend.
If you have a blood alcohol level over .08, the phone will not let you dial that person. So it not only promotes sobriety, but chastity -- and probably your dignity, as well.
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Virgin refuses offer of $1M for space porn.
Geekologie & The Register
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Virgin rejects $1m space sex offer
No grumble flick shoot aboard SpaceShipTwo
By Lester Haines • Get more from this author
Posted in Bootnotes, 3rd October 2008 11:53 GMT
Virgin Galactic has rather churlishly rejected a $1m offer to allow an unnamed company to shoot a zero-grav grumble flick aboard its SpaceShipTwo vehicle - thereby depriving science of crucial research into how humanity might procreate during the very long haul to the nearest Earth-like planet once we've finally screwed this ball of dirt we call home.
The cash was slapped on the table "up-front, for a sex-in-space movie", said the company's prez, Will Whitehorn, According to Space.com. He confirmed: "That was money we had to refuse, I'm afraid."
The rumpy-pumpy-free Virgin Galactic programme is gearing up to take space tourists aloft aboard SpaceShipTwo at $200k a pop, having apparently already snaffled $40m in deposits from 280 customers keen to enjoy the two-hour jaunt to 62 miles (100km).
During the trip, punters will experience around five minutes of weightlessness - just long enough for a quick hump and a money shot, by our reckoning.
The original planned launch date of the service was 2007, although this has been revised to 2010. The first flight of the WhiteKnight Two mothership was recently knocked back to late 2008 at the earliest, while SpaceShipTwo trials begin next year. ®
Free whitepaper: Extended Validation SSL Certificates
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Monday, October 6, 2008
Wii Music
LINK
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Beyond the Jam
Wii Music includes many other modes besides the main band jams, including several musical games and an enhanced video playback mode for recorded jams.
• Play it again: Use the playback mode to see your jam recordings brought to life with dramatic camera angles.
• Pick up the baton: Command an orchestra in the conducting game where you’ll wave the Wii Remote controller like a conductor’s baton to lead a Mii orchestra through orchestrated music. Make them play quickly, slowly, strongly or gently.
• Ring a bell? Play a handbells game where you’ll swing your Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to play your two handbells as part of a larger ensemble. Everyone on the team has a job to do: Play one of your notes only when the tune demands it.
• An ear for music: Take a tone quiz that tests your musical ear by giving you challenges, like putting note-playing Miis in order from lowest to highest pitch.
• Bang the drum: Play a virtual drum set in the drumming mode, the one mode in Wii Music that also uses the Wii Balance Board accessory (sold with Wii Fit™). You’ll use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers as drumsticks, and place both feet on the Wii Balance Board—which work as virtual pedals for the bass drum and hi-hat cymbal.
Create a musical masterpiece with up to four players. Anyone can play the huge selection of instruments in Wii Music with simple motions—like strumming and drumming.
• It’s easy to play improv jams. Musicians in your band jam by simply playing their instruments to the beat of a song or by improvising to their heart’s content. Play faster. Play slower. Skip a beat, or throw in 10 more. No matter what you do, Wii Music automatically transforms your improv stylings into great music. There are no mistakes—just playing for the pure joy of playing.
• Wii controls immerse you in the music. You can play most of the 60-plus instruments in Wii Music using simple motions with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. Strum to play guitar, banjo and sitar. Drum to play jazz drums, congas and marching drums. Hammer away to play piano, vibraphone and marimba. Unlike most music games, Wii Music doesn’t make you use complex buttons. You only need to imitate playing the instrument.
• Wii Music offers virtually endless ways to make music. You choose the song and instruments and decide whether to blaze through a rock take on classical songs, put a jazzy spin on folk tunes or transform Nintendo classics like the Super Mario Bros.® theme into Latin-flavored numbers. The song list is only a takeoff point—it’s how you improvise with the songs that matters.
• Send your band-jam recordings to Wii Friends who have Wii Music. They’ll see your Mii™ band members, your players’ improv styles and your instrument selections. They can watch your recordings, or play over parts of your song, then send their modified recording back to you. Improv jams can be sent back and forth over WiiConnect24 and changed again and again.
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