IndoPost.com Breaking News, Opinion, Indonesia and USA

Mobile phone electromagnetic harming honey bees

Based on a study conducted by Zoology in Kerala, India, mobile phone electromagnetic radiation has threatening the grow of honey bees colonies.  The increasing use of cell phones may have significantly reduced the number of worker bees that flying to collect nectar from flowers and fruits.  The study also shows that a mobile phone which is placed near a beehive has discouraged worker bees to return home. 

Andy Lau Tak-Wah, the famous kungfu film actor, is no longer single

Andy Lau Tak-Wah, 47 years, announced that he quietly married his long-time girlfriend, Carol Chu, in Nevada, on June 24, 2008.  Lau is one of the most successful Hong Kong film actors and singers since the 1980s.  According to MSN (SG), the public married record was published by Apple Daily this past weekend.  Lau and Chu have been trying to have a baby thru artificial insemination in America for the past few years.

(photo: wikipedia.org)

Cellphone texting = drunken driver

Cellphone texting behind the wheel continue to create car crashes that have killed many innocence motorists.  In the past few months, many states in America have started to penalize a texting driver who causes a fatality as severely as a drunken driver. 

As reported by nytimes.com, this past May, Utah passed America’s toughest law to punish driver who texting behind the wheel.  Any wrongful drivers will face at least 15 years in prison.

“Studies show that talking on a cellphone while driving is as risky as driving with a .08 blood alcohol level — generally the standard for drunken driving — and that the risk of driving while texting is at least twice that dangerous.”

Coming to China

China government owned mobile phone company, China Unicom, has signed a three-year deal with Apple Company, to sell iPhones to 687 million Chinese wireless subscribers starting this fall.  The deal is a big boost for Apple in the largest mobile phone market in the world. 

According to Wall Street Journal, the Chinese company will buy the smart-phones from Apple on a discount price and resell them to Chinese wireless subscribers.

"...the Chinese version of the iPhone will, at least initially, be stripped of its Wi-Fi wireless Internet capability to comply with government rules..."

The last chapter of America’s newspaper companies

America’s newspaper publishers continued to lose money with shrinking advertising sales during the past three consecutive years.  The Newspaper Association of America released its latest stats showing that ad sales for Q2 ’09 was only $6.8 billion, compared to Q2 ’08 sales at $9.6 billion (a drop of $2.8 billion).

According to the report, as published by AP News, ad revenue for the first six months of 2009 dropped 29% to $13.4 billion.

" ‘This data represents a rearview-mirror perspective on what we all know was a terrible stretch of bad road,’ said John Sturm, chief executive for the newspaper association that serves as the industry's largest trade group.”

America Internet Speeds by States, New York #5 and California #11

The home of Silicon Valley, state of California ranks number 11th in America as the fastest Internet access with an average download speed of 6.64 Mbps (Mega-bytes per second).   While New York ranks number 5th in the nation with an average download speed of 8.43 Mbps.  The state of Delaware ranks number one in America with an average download speed of 9.91 Mbps.   In general, based on data published by SpeedMatters.org, the average Internet speed in America is 5.07 Mbps. 

In term of world Internet speeds, America currently ranks number 28th, behind world’s leader such as South Korea (20.4 Mbps), Japan (15.8 Mbps), Sweden, and the Netherland.

(table: data courtesy of SpeedMatters.org)

New public policy for American newborn boys

As part of a public policy, America’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will soon recommend all baby boys to go through a small surgery to remove the excessive foreskin.  This is a government effort to trim down the spread of HIV disease in America.  Health experts around the world have warned that men who were circumcised would have reduced their infection risk due to HIV disease. 

As reported by foxnews.com: “We have a significant HIV epidemic in this country, and we really need to look carefully at any potential intervention that could be another tool in the toolbox we use to address the epidemic,” Kilmarx told the newspaper. “What we’ve heard from our consultants is that there would be a benefit for infants from infant circumcision , and that the benefits outweigh the risks.”

California prisons spending continues to rise with an annual budget of $8.2 billion

Golden state has budgeted about $8.2 billion annually (10% of operating budget) to secure criminals in state prisons.  The amount of $8.2 billion is the highest in America.  Due to the cost of prisons, California continues to cut budget on other services, such as financial aids for college education programs, youngsters and elderly health care programs, and welfare programs.

According to AP News, as reported by msnbc.com, “the cost of housing state prison inmates has grown so much in the past decade that California now spends more incarcerating 167,000 adults than it does to educate 226,000 students in its 10-campus University of California system.”

“Between 2000 and 2008, the state's corrections budget doubled to $10.8 billion.”

“Federal court mandates have forced the state to spend billions of dollars improving its delivery of medical and mental health care to inmates at the same time an aging inmate population demands more health care services. Prison health care spending in California has grown from $680 million in 2001 to nearly $3 billion in the 2008 fiscal year.”

“According to the Pew Center on the States, the annual cost of housing an inmate in California grew from $2,751 in 1999 to $6,834 in 2008.”

Paid sex with an underage student (a female teacher, 28-year-old and a young boy, 15-year-old)

As reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, a Junior High School female teacher in Utah, 28-year-old, has been charged for having sex with an underage student.  Based on court paper, the female teacher paid the young boy, 15-year-old, around $1,400 and $1,500 after sex.

“The boy told police Andreini used to bring him and his friends coffee two to three times a week before school started. The boys went to Andreini's classroom to get the drinks, according to the statement. The victim reported to police that Andreini paid him money after three separate sexual episodes at her home in June.”

Not so golden state of California's jobless rate climbing to 11.9% in July versus 11.6% in June

Within the past 12-months the “not so” golden state has lost 760,200 jobs.  According to LATimes.com, the latest jobless rate has a significant effect on California’s Latinos.  As of July 2009, 805,000 Latinos in California were jobless.  Many California residential and office building construction vanished.  Also, hospitality sector (hotels, restaurants, entertainments, etc.) has misplaced during the economy recession.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as reported by LATimes.com, July 2009 unemployment rate for:
   (a) Latino = 12.7% (versus July 2007 = 5.9%)
   (b) White = 9.5% (versus July 2007 = 4.8%)
   (c) Black = 14.2% (versus July 2007 = 9.2%)

Toyota (Corolla) is the top seller for trade-in for thirsty cars program and it will end on Monday (Aug 24)

Here are the top three most popular cars buyers have drove home to replace their thirsty cars:
  (a) Toyota Corolla (starting price $15,350)
  (b) Honda Civic
  (c) Ford Focus

Ford Explorer was the top thirsty car that consumers have got rid off. 

According to AP News, as of today (Aug 21), America's cars dealers have sold over 489,269 cars to replace all thirsty cars.  Toyota received 19.2% share of all orders, while GM received about 17.7% of all orders.

Of the $3 billion fund approved by America’s Congress and Senate, American car owners have acquired about $2 billion.  The thirsty car program will end on Monday (Aug 24).

New York Police Department crackdown drivers using a hand-held cellphone

As many transportation experts have warned that driving with one hand are very dangerous.  For the second time this year, New York Police Department (NYPD) pulled many drivers using a hand-held cellphone while driving with one hand. 

According to wcbstv.com, during March of this year crackdown, NYPD pulled over about 9,000 drivers within first 24-hour checkpoint.

"Having one hand not on the wheel at any given time is dangerous," said NYPD officer Eric Chaffer. "Everybody does it but in this case, it's against the law."

A Florida man biting off part of his doctor’s finger and facing 30-year prison

A patient was upset because his doctor would not write him a prescription.  He then caught his doctor hand and bit off part of his finger.  According to news-press.com, the doctor lost part of his finger nails and some meats.

Florida Police Dept had finally arrested the patient after few days searching.  The patient could face a long-term jail time, potentially a maximum 30-year prison.

Dozen-Mum versus Octo-Mum: a woman is pregnant with 12 babies, six girls and six boys

Everyone in the planet earth was stunned by a California woman, Nadya Suleman, who gave birth to 8 healthy babies few months ago.  And now, as reported by thesun.co.uk, using fertility treatment, a Tunisian woman is pregnant with 12 babies.  This is going to be a new world record for a single mother who will give birth to six girls and six boys.

China city is collecting nightclub workers DNA records to track criminals

Police department in the largest southern China city, Guangzhou, is starting to collect DNA records for anyone who works in nightclubs and bars.  In order to continue working at nightclubs and bars, workers are required to submit their fingerprints and handwriting.  After that, workers will receive a permit to continue work.

According to AFP, the main reason for Guangzhou Police Dept strategy to collect DNA records is to reduce crime in the city.  The DNA record is to help the Police Dept. easily tracking down criminals.  As AFP wrote “one police station has already taken records of 4,233 employees from 118 venues.”

No money, no Moon: Americans cannot afford to return to the moon until year 2028

Under President Barack Obama administration, American space agency, NASA, has concluded that the agency does not have enough money to send Americans back visiting the moon by 2020.   As miamiherald.com wrote ``you cannot do this program on this budget.'' The decision was made during a recent committee meeting. 

NASA has estimated that the cost of such exploration would exceed $50 billion by year 2020.  The committee also has expressed that the agency must wait until 2028 to return to the moon. 

The richest Americans and their university

To fulfill an American dream, a student must attend, or earn a degree or graduate from one of the top money-making university.  Those universities have made several kids to become one of the richest people in the world. 

Here is a list of university with a total number of billionaires (in parenthesis) based on Forbes annual list of the 400 richest Americans.

(1) Harvard (54 billionaires)
(2) Stanford (25)
(3) U-Penn (18)
(4) Columbia (16)
(5) Yale (16)
(6) MIT (11)
(7) Northwestern (10)
(8) U-Chicago (10)
(9) Cornell (10)
(10) USC (9)
(11) UC Berkeley (9)
(12) U-Texas (9)

British Alert: swine flu vaccination is linked to a deadly nerve disease

An internal letter from Britain’s Health Protection Agency has leaked out to some media to warn than swine flu vaccination could link to a deadly nerve disease.  As many babies and old adults are starting to line up for a vaccine shoot, there is a growing concern that the vaccine itself could cause dangerous health problems. 

As reported by dailymail.co.uk, 600 neurologists in Britain have received a warning letter about the side-effect of the vaccine.

"Concerns have already been raised that the new vaccine has not been sufficiently tested and that the effects, especially on children, are unknown."

"GBS attacks the lining of the nerves, leaving them unable to transmit signals to muscles effectively."

"It can cause partial paralysis and mostly affects the hands and feet. In serious cases, patients need to be kept on a ventilator, but it can be fatal."

iPod distracting a young driver, lost control, and slammed into two pedestrians

A young driver was distracted by an iPod and lost control of her car, and then, slammed into two teenagers while walking on a sidewalk.  One person age 19-year was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was on critical condition at a local hospital.

As cbs3.com wrote: "She apparently was having problems with her iPod, reached down, wasn't paying attention, lost control of the vehicle"

Mass market: cloning dogs

A biotech company in South Korea is going to accept orders to clone dogs starting early next year.  The biotech company will clone pets, dogs and rare animals including wolves.  According to AFP.com, the Korean company is capable to produce about 1,000 cloned animals every year.

America Fattest City

America’s fattest city, Elgin, Illinois, is giving away “fitness grants" to help its citizens to reduce weight.  A study using driver's license data showing many people who live in the city of Elgin are among the fattest and over-weight in the state of Illinois.  Part of the “fitness grants" is used to buy fitness equipments which are shared by the community.  It is also used for paying gym memberships and teaching healthy cooking classes.

Every two out of three America’s college students are stressed, worried, don’t have enough sleep

Too much time spent for studies, too much leisure time for playing video games, too much time wasted on Internet social networking.  A study published by Journal of Adolescent Health shows that every two out of three American students are worried about their school and personal life.  The study is based on 1,125 survey participants.

"Students underestimate the importance of sleep in their daily lives," study co-author Roxanne Prichard, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, Minn., said in a news release from the journal's publisher. "They forgo sleep during periods of stress, not realizing that they are sabotaging their physical and mental health."

The impact of online classifieds offering sexual services in America

Rape-related cases have increased significantly in Charlotte, North Carolina.  This was due to many Internet users attracted to online classifieds which offering sexual services.  Rape cases in Charlotte have gone up 16% this year. 

As reported by mcclatchydc.com, “Officials also say a higher percentage of victims each year are coming forward to report rape. Nationally, the number of rapes reported to police has increased by 30 percent since 1993, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, a nonprofit advocacy group.”

British sex boosting ice cream to replace Viagra pills

A new type of ice cream will go on sale early September in London.  According to thelondonpaper.com, this new type of ice cream could one day replacing those Viagra pills. 

The new ice cream, dubbed as The Sex Pistol, contains high octane brain booster of ginkgo and several libido-boosting ingredients of herbs.  Each customer only allowed purchasing one serving per day.

A baby boy was dead for four hours

A premature baby boy was pronounced dead on arrival by doctors in Paraguay, and then starting to breathe when his father opened his small casket four hours later.  The parent rushed the tiny baby back to hospital for intensive care and placed on oxygen support.

His little "Johnny" caught fire

A Greek woman asked a British man to stop harassing her in a night club, and the man continued with his act.  So, the woman pour alcoholic liquor into the man's little Johnny, and then the woman set fire to his genitals using a cigarette lighter.  The man is treated locally for second-degree burns to his private parts.

Popular fried chicken recipe: 11 herbs and spices

A New York man, Ron Douglas, has been trying any possible combination of herbs and spices to duplicate many favorite restaurant meals at home. 

As reported by msnbc.com, Douglas recently proclaimed that he found the most popular fried chicken recipe, Kentucky Fried Chicken.  

While Douglas has found KFC recipe, he also made several attempts to find his favorite duplicate meals include Applebee's Fiesta Lime Chicken and The Cheesecake Factory's Oreo Cheesecake.  According to msnbc.com, Douglas signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster, which released his new book with title "America's Most Wanted Recipes" this summer ‘09.

(chart: msnbc.com)

Relationships with multiple partners in America: the bed sizes guide is as follow 1+1, 1+2, 1+3, and so on

In today’s Americans sexual life, there is a hot buzz word regarding bed sizes, dubbed it as “Polyamory,” relationships with multiple and mutually agreed upon partners on bed.  Newsweek.com wrote Polyamory as “engaging in loving, intimate relationships with more than one person.”  

Moreover, this sexual life style has been growing in America in last several decades after War War II 1940s.  And, now many have a coming-out party.  According to Newsweek.com, “researchers are just beginning to study the phenomenon, but the few who do estimate that openly polyamorous families in the United States number more than half a million, with thriving contingents in nearly every major city.”

Famous Spice Girls, soccer mom, and superstar wife is the new judge for American Idol

A report from the Great Britain saying that soccer superstar wife, Victoria Beckham (35), is going to replace Paula Abdul, as the new judge for American Idol.  Mrs. Beckham is also worldwide known as superstar entertainer for her stage name as Posh from Spice Girls band during the 1990s.

The Fox popular TV show during spring time in America usually attracts over 25 millions viewers each week.

A man’s “package” got glued into his stomach after having affairs with four lovers

A married man who involved with four different women got some kind of punishment by one of the four lovers near Wisconsin.  According to nbcchicago.com, one of the lovers put very strong adhesive “Krazy Glue” on his penis and glued it to the man’s stomach. 

Based on the court document, those four women may face punishment and may have to serve in a prison.  At the moment, all four lovers are free after put on $200 cash bails.

"I am disturbed. I am upset. I am having a hard time handling life; an emotional wreck”