IndoPost.com Breaking News, Opinion, Indonesia and USA

China military buildup worrying American Navy admiral

During a stop over Hong Kong, American Navy admiral, Rear Adm. Kevin Donegan, told a group of press corps that the latest China military buildup concerning to the region, as reported by AP news.  According to the military source, China increased its spending over 15% during the fiscal year 2009.  Military experts believe China spent over $71 billion to upgrade its military this year alone, including such as new ships, submarines, warplanes and other sophisticated weapons systems.

World's gigantic cruise ship began its voyage from Finland to Florida

The cruise ship, dubbed as Oasis of the Seas, cost about 1.5 billion American dollars to build, as reported by AP news.  It has an amphitheater for over 700 seats, basketball courts and an ice rink on board.  The new gigantic ship has 16 stories high and 1,200 feet (360 meters) long.  The ship can accommodate over 8,000 people, including about 6,000 passengers and about 2,000 crew members.

(photo: worldrecordsacademy.org and AFP)

Internet 40th Birthday

Internet celebrates its 40th birthday today, as the first connection was made from UCLA to Stanford Research Institute (SRI) on October 29, 1969. 

The first attempt to type-in a word “login” onto Interface Message Processors (IMP) crashed the computer, as a graduate student named Charley Kline, typed only “lo” instead of “login” into a terminal at UCLA campus.

(photo: computerhistory.org)

Men + women are obsolete in baby making

Watching Arnold Schwarzenegger the macho man to get pregnant in the 1994 movie “Junior” will soon a reality.  A team of American scientists at Stanford University, California, has found the best ingredients to create cells and turning into human eggs and human sperms.  The new technique of creating human cells is currently published at Journal Nature, as reported by dailymail.co.uk.  The technique helps men and women to grow their own eggs and sperms using the popular fertility procedure, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatments.

Over 1.1 million people moved out of New York City since year 2000

As high cost of living, higher tax, and economy downturn, a new report published by the Empire Center for New York State Policy, as reported by nypost.com, shows that over 1.5 million New Yorkers had moved out of the state to other parts of America from year 2000 to 2008.  Of those 1.5 million migrants, 1.1 million (73%) were people who used to live in New York City (NYC).  According to the report, the state of New York has lost high amount of tax dollars during the period.  As nypost.com wrote "What's worse is that the families fleeing New York are being replaced by lower-income newcomers, who consequently pay less in taxes."

Booming mobile web around the world

The latest data published by Opera Mini show that there was a booming in mobile web usage during the month of September.  In the month, there were more than 35.6 million users around the world used Opera Mini to access web.  According to the report, in term of users, there was an increase of 11.5% from August 2009.  While compared to one year ago there was an increase of over 150%.  The latest Opera Mini report also shows several comparisons in term of usage from countries in Asia and Europe.

(photo: Opera Mini 5 beta)

Website addresses in world languages (non-Latin script)

The world non-profit governing body, ICANN, who handles website addresses is expected to approve a new way to type in a domain name using world languages and characters (non-Latin script).  Domain names in world languages and characters include Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Greek, Hindi, and others.   As reported by UKPA Press Association, according to ICANN meeting this week in Seoul, South Korea, domain names in non-Latin script will begin in use starting sometime in mid 2010.

Hong Kong black clouds

Air pollution in Hong Kong has hit a very high record this week.  This was due to a lack of wind in this island of seven million people.  High air pollution caused by factory booming in Hong Kong, power suppliers, and too many polluted cars.  According to AFP news, the island government has issued a warning for people with heart disease or respiratory illnesses.  While Australian government has warned its citizen to delay visit to Hong Kong due to health concerns. 

Long-term cellphones users and high cancer risks

A new study that was funded by World Health Organization (WHO) found using cellphone for a long period of time will cause high risk of developing brain cancer, as reported by express.co.uk.  The study is based on a sample of 12,800 people in 13 countries.  Based on this study results, researchers have suggested that all nations must issue stronger warning to users about the danger of cellphones.

The "D" Day: Downloading Windows 7 upgrade to a Vista machine, slow…slow…slow…

We pre-ordered Windows 7 upgrade on June 26, and received the purchase email with instruction to download on October 22, 2009 at 8:01 AM PST.  While we wanted to give Microsoft extra time to adjust the high demand to download this 2.24 GB package, we started to download at 11:00 AM PST using our home DSL line. 

We experienced a slow download time during the first 50% of the package (first two hours), and it continued slowing down until it jammed at 70% (after five hours) of the package, and stopped again at 90% (after six hours).  So, after six hours we have not received the online download.

Screenshot of Windows 7 downloading

 

She is not one of us

The missing link that was given a name as Ida (a well preserved 47-million-year-old fossil skeleton of a female monkey) during a special news conference in New York last May is no longer a human ancestor.  This was based on a new finding of a team of researchers at Stony Brook University in New York, as reported by AP News and published thru msnbc.com.  Researchers now believe Ida wasn't even a close relative of human at all. 

(photo: HO/AFP/Getty Images)

Halloween costume controversy

As immigration issue has been an ongoing debate in many large cities in America (i.e., Los Angeles), while many immigrants also like to celebrate Halloween party in the new land, several costume buyers have asked retailers including Target to remove one of this year’s Halloween costume from its online store, as reported by Los Angeles local news, nbclosangeles.com.  The costume depicts an illegal immigrant wearing an orange prison-style jumpsuit and includes an alien mask holding a fake green card.

(photo: Target)

Web surfing could enhance brain power

UCLA researchers at Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior found that web surfing could stimulate neural activation and could enhance brain power for adults, as reported by foxnews.com.  Researchers found frequently web surfing may impact brain cognitive processing which help brain programming and storing new information.

(photo: UCLA)

Forget about open house in London, it’s sold out

The asking price for residential property in London has reached an all time high, averaging about USD $680,000 per unit, as reported by bloomberg.com.  In the same time, shortage of properties for sale in London has climbed to the top level.  Although unemployment rate in Britain continued to stay at high level and economy recovery is still slow.  As per bloomberg.com report, the annual house price in London has increased about 6.5%.

14% of girls get pregnant at a public high school in Chicago

Some parents might find a very disturbing news regarding 14% of girls get pregnant while attending Paul Robeson High School, as reported by cbs2chicago.com.  According to the high school Principal, there are 115 teen girls of a total of 800 girls are expecting a child and some of those under-age girls already have had children. The local authorities could not find any explanation of the current situation in this public school.  Many helps are on the way from local people, such as a teen parent program and a day care program for those young students.

The planet’s shortest man, 22 inch-tall Nepali teenager and weighs 10lbs

The Guinness Book of World Records will soon recognize a 22 inch-tall Nepali teenager and weighs 10lbs, Khagendra Thapa Magar,  as the world’s smallest man, as reported by timesonline.co.uk.  This tiny teen who currently lives with his parents in a poor countryside near the foothills of the Himalayas, has submitted his specification to world record organization and hoping to gain superstar status and travel abroad.  As timesonline.co.uk wrote "He now hopes his celebrity status will let him travel to Japan, London and America."

(photo: Narendra Shrestha/EPA)

Stay away from cellphones

A latest study conducted by French Health and Security Agency (Afsset), as reported by AFP news, has pointed out possible health concerns of using too much cell phones which may be causing cell damage on human body, decreased man fertility power, and damaging blood flow to human brain.  Users have been recommended to use speaker cellphones or hands-free cellphones.  Home owners have been warned to turning off their Internet wireless modems and any type of Wifi transmitter when they don’t use it.

NYC: America's largest homeless city and 43% were homeless children

While America’s economy recovery is still many miles away and layoffs continue to skyrocket, the latest data from New York City, the largest city in America, show that over 39,000 people have been sleeping in shelters, as reported by wcbstv.com.  This is a new record high for Big Apple, America's most glamorous city.  According to Coalition for the Homeless data, about 16,615 of those (43%) were homeless children.  The latest data showing that the number of homeless continues to rise during the past five years in New York City.

There are growing concerns for NYC children early life, as quoted by wcbstv.com: "What does that mean for those children, and their future? That they will spend a substantial amount of their childhood … in a homeless shelter?" asked Bill de Blasio, the chairman of the City Council General Welfare Committee.

Too much TV is bad for kids

A new public policy is soon being introduced to ban TV for kids in Australia.  According to several research findings, as reported by telegraph.co.uk, watching too much TV at toddler age can postpone learning on language skills and it will hurt children ability to concentrate in school.  Based on the research, it recommended children don’t watch TV at all, or for a maximum of one hour per day.
 

Hollywood anti-paparazzi law will take effect on January 1, 2010

In order to protect Hollywood stars privacy, Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, as reported by AP news, has signed an anti-paparazzi amendment into law which will take effect on January 1, 2010.  The new law will prohibit paparazzi to take photos or video recordings of Hollywood stars without their consents.  Hollywood stars can sue any media outlets if any of their photos published on tabloid magazines, TV shows, and Internet websites.

British assets for sale

Global economy recession hit hard on every country, including Great Britain.  As reported by AFP news, Great Britain is on track to have a budget deficit of 175 billion pounds during this fiscal year.  In order to close the deficit gap, the Kingdom is starting to sell some government owned assets.  According to AFP news, there are several major British assets for sale, including the Channel Tunnel connecting Britain to France and some local bridges.  By selling those assets, the British government could rise extra fund as much as 16 billion pounds (about $26 billion USD).

Faith-healing pastor charged in death of his toddler boy

A 2-year-old toddler boy died early this year after over one week devastated by bacterial pneumonia symptom.  The boy’s parent is a local faith-healing pastor who believes turning to religion to heal the boy.  According to philly.com, a local judge held the parent for trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter which had endangered the welfare of the boy.  Judge argued that the parent should have asked for medical treatment for their son while he had only sore throat symptom.

President Barack Obama, the third American president to win Nobel Peace Prize while in office

In a very surprise announcement early Friday (Oct 9), the Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama.  Mr. Obama is the third America president to win the prize while in office, after Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.  As reported by AP News, Mr. Obama said, "I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21st century."

(photo: reuters)

Bring your own toilet roll to school

As the Irish government continues to reduce grants for books and computers to many schools, kids at St John's Girls National School, Ireland, have been told by their principal to bring their own toilet roll to school in order to save cost running the school.  Many Irish parents have been suffering with the current economy recession and layoffs and many parents were not able to provide books and uniforms for their kids, as reported by telegraph.co.uk.

Coming soon: the first state in America to legalize marijuana

Today California marijuana activists are collecting thousands signatures to get several pot-legalization ballot propositions in 2010 California election.  Some legal scholars and public policy analysts believed the state of California could become the first in America to legalize marijuana.  In current global economy recession which hit hard on California budget, many Californians starting to support heavy taxing on marijuana sales.  With ongoing budget crisis and finding additional revenues for California, the increasingly support for pot-legalization ballot propositions would lift the pot prohibition in the state of 40 million people.

While pot legalization gains momentum, California could face a massive conflict with America federal government as America’s drug law prohibit the sales of marijuana in general public.  As reported by AP News, “The greatest potential for conflict with the U.S. government would likely come from the provision that would give local governments the power to decide city-by-city whether to allow pot sales.”

World’s most populous Muslim nation: 13 percent of Muslims (or 203 million) live in Indonesia

The most comprehensive report on world’s Muslims population was published this week by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.  The report provided a very accurate number of world's Muslims population.  The Muslim population has reached 1.57 billion people, or ratio 1 of 4 people in the world.  In comparison to other religions, there are about 2.2 billion followers of Christianity.

According to the report, pewforum.org, there are 203 million Indonesians practice Islam, the most populous Muslim nation.  This is equal to 13 percent of world’s Muslims population total. 

The report mentioned in recent years, it has been growing tensions locally between government, military, and Muslim people.  This was mainly due to few Indonesian Muslim extremists who had been involved in several home-made bombings targeting Western-branded five stars hotels.

(map: merriam-webster.com)

The most annoying words in America: "whatever" and "you know”

According to a survey conducted by Marist College, as reported by AP News, almost half of Americans are absolutely annoyed by the use of "whatever" in conversations.  While about a quarter of Americans are totally annoyed with the word of "you know.”  As per the survey, other really annoying words include "anyway" (about 7% Americans dislike it), "it is what it is" (11% hate it), and "at the end of the day" (2% don't like it).

Go pee before boarding

In order to reduce airplane weight during take off, Japan’s second largest airline company, All Nippon Airways (ANA) has asked passengers to go pee before boarding an aircraft.  According to dailymail.co.uk, lighter passengers may also help to reduce carbon emissions and thus lower the cost of fuels.

(photo: AP)

Charles K. Kao, a fiber optics master, wins 2009 Nobel Prize in physics

Charles K. Kao, a Chinese man, who grown up in Shanghai, China, has won 2009 Nobel Prize in physics.  He was the pioneer of high speed Internet using fiber optics.  He discovered fiber optic (using pure type of glass) which can transmit light over 100 kilometers (62 miles) in 1966.  This year's Nobel Prize in physics was shared with two other scientists, Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith, who invented the first digital imaging sensor in 1969.

(photo: Richard Epworth, repro from cnet.com)

America ranks number 13th while Norway is the best place in the world to live

The world ranking was based on data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) using data from year 2007.  The UNDP data index was compiled from GDP per capita, education, and life expectancy.

A list of top 21 countries in the world to live, based on data from 2007, as reported by dailymail.co.uk:

 1. Norway
 2. Australia
 3. Iceland
 4. Canada
 5. Ireland
 6. Netherlands
 7. Sweden
 8. France
 9. Switzerland
 10. Japan
 11. Luxembourg
 12. Finland
 13. United States
 14. Austria
 15. Spain
 16. Denmark
 17. Belgium
 18. Italy
 19. Liechtenstein
 20. New Zealand
 21. United Kingdom