Steve Gong: Pyongyang Style - Man Uses Canon 5D as Secret Video Camera in North Korea.
The monochrome life on the other side of the border. In many ways, it looks alot like Soviet Russia.
" On a recent trip to North Korea photojournalist Steve Gong covered the back of his 5D Mark ll camera with black electrical tape, put it around his neck and left the video function without the permission of government officials.
In doing so he's obtained some of the only HD video footage ever recorded in North Korea. Thankfully he wasn't caught. "
Would you invest 36 hours into making a hamburger?
Well, that's the estimate given by modernist cuisine to create the ultimate burger. And boy is it a thorough scientific approach into the reinventing the humble burger, with even custom-made cheese, and cryofrying of the beef patty. Amazing!
Kenneth A. Myers: Cigarette Smoking - An Underused Tool in High-Performance Endurance Training.
This is indeed an actual article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in December 14 2010. An before you go about dismissing/discrediting/condemning the article, take a read at the abstract. There is indeed a logical and insightful reason as to why such an absurd sounding article would be published in a respectable journal.
" Abstract:
The review paper is a staple of medical literature and, when well executed by an expert in the field, can provide a summary of literature that generates useful recommendations and new conceptualizations of a topic. However, if research results are selectively chosen, a review has the potential to create a convincing argument for a faulty hypothesis. Improper correlation or extrapolation of data can result in dangerously flawed conclusions. The following paper seeks to illustrate this point, using existing research to argue the hypothesis that cigarette smoking enhances endurance performance and should be incorporated into high-level training programs. "
Indeed, with the rise of the internet, science blogs, e-magazines and all, there have been multiple instances where stories are published and republished all over the web, without scrutiny into the facts/details, and ends up being taken as truth.
One recent wildfire occurred earlier in May, about how Canadian researchers cured cancer with DCA and the conspiracy that mainstream media were still not going public about it. Turns out, not only was it stale news, with the study being done in 2007, but the study was so preliminary, with a small sample size, and conflicting results, that declaring DCA as a cure just seemed absurd.
So yes, while peer reviews and all are there to "guard the guards", the responsibility still falls on the individual to look beyond the published findings and question their significance. This article serves as a reminder to us all, how a person of authority can possibly put together a seemingly compelling argument built upon a slippery slope.
So what are the flaws in the argument in this article?
Serum Hemoglobin:
Smoking results in the inhalation of carbon monoxide, arising from incomplete combustion. Carbon monoxide binds strongly to hemoglobin, forming carboxyhemoglobin, and thus hindering the formation of oxyhemoglobin, and subsequent oxygen supply throughout the body.
The body responds to this lack of oxygen by creating more red blood cells, thus increasing the overall serum hemoglobin. However, unlike altitude training, this increase not translate to a richer supply of oxygen. Transversely, this increase in red blood cells, coupled with the increase of cholesterol, clotting factors such as fibrinogen and platelets, results in "stickier" blood and a higher tendency for clots and stroke.
Lung Volume:
In COPD, emphysema occurs, in which the alveolars or air sacs are inflamed or destroyed, and lung recoil is greatly reduced. This "unfolding" process results in a larger lung, with decreased surface area. This decreased surface area, coupled with the weakened lung recoil for expiration, and obstructed airflow, leaves the patient gasping, and constantly out of breath.
Weight Loss:
As stated above, most COPD patients are constantly out of breath. This usually leaves them bedridden or immobilized. As a result, muscle wasting occurs through disuse atrophy. In addition, if the patient develops lung cancer, muscle atrophy could progress on to cachexia, which can be fatal. Thus, despite the weight loss, it is unlikely that the muscle-wasting patient will be performing any endurance sports.
As the saying goes, no matter what you do, there's always an Asian who can do it better.
Edit:
Okay the previous posting didn't give this act full justice. Appears that the above video is only the later part of their act. Here's a longer video detailing the action before the TaeKwonDo moves. Appears that they were not only shuffling to LMFAO but also moonwalking to MJ!
The latest Banksy in central London.
Indeed the recent Black Friday was a crazy one, with a lady pepper spraying other customers over console games, another cop (off-duty this time) pepper spraying as crowd control, a grandfather bloodied and unconscious, when he was planted face-first onto the ground for wrongfully alleged shoplifting, and a bomb scare, just to name a few.
Another local wedding with a fan-boy twist to it. A pity that the bride and bridesmaid weren't really in on Star Wars theme. Some latex outfits or togas might have fit the bill, though their turquoise dresses do come close.
So, what's up next for our generation? Power Rangers? Teenage Mutant Ninga turtle?
AMA 2011: LMFAO Party Rock Anthem + Sexy And I Know It - Shuffling Bieber and a Wild Hasselhoff.
American Music Awards 2011.
LMFAO.
Party Rock Anthem.
Sexy and I Know It.
A shuffling Justin Bieber.
A wild wiggling David Hasselhoff.
Quest Crew.
Will.i.am
Striptease on Stage
Gyration on National TV
An inflatable Zebra
So much EPIC-ness all in one video.
Mind = Blown.
This is the highest resolution I could find thus far (720p). Enjoy ^^x
If you still do not know already, #OCCUPYWALLSTREET has turned into #OccupyTogether, and it is sweeping nationwide across the United States.
I guess largely the liberation of Libya has had global repercussions, similar to that during the fall of Eastern Europe and USSR. There is an overwhelming surge of belief in power to the people.
Even back home in Singapore, we too had a similar event and rush of emotions when against all odds, the Workers' Party made a historical breakthrough by winning Aljunied GRC in the General Elections.
The difference though between protests back home and in the States, is that, in Singapore, the battles are largely fought online, over social medias, or at rallies. Meek as we are, and all the restrictions in place, Singaporeans don't really hold protest rallies.
On the contrary, in the States, where views are much more liberal, protestors tend to use more action instead of words. However, it should be noted that despite the numbers, most of these protests have been really peaceful.
So now, you have an interesting situation. From history, we know that when Ghanhi stood up against British rule and fought for independence, his non-violent defiance was met with force, mostly in the form of arrests and detentions. There was a growing frustration to suppress him into submission.
Today, we have a similar scenario with the #OccupyTogether movement. As an official of the law, what do you do when a growing number of protestors, legally abide by the laws in place, exercise their civil rights, and refuse to back down?
As we've seen in #OCCUPYWALLSTREET, the ultimatum was macing/pepper spraying the protestors into submission.
10 years ago, the news only came from the media, in the form of photographs, videos or first-hand accounts from on-site journalists. It might have been possible to censor such events from the headlines, or even downplay it.
But today, with camera-phones everywhere, and the internet just a click away, events seen through the public eyes can spread like wildfire. The NYPD defended the use of the pepper spray, calling it "appropriate" use of force.
And now, just days after the above incident, a similar event happened, this time in the University of California Davis. From the National Public Radio article:
"... In a demonstration of support for the Occupy movement, a small group of protesters was sitting, arms linked together. Campus police told them to move. The students didn't. And that's when an officer walked down the line of seated men and women, pepper-spraying them. Some took it straight in their faces...
... Campus police said the officers had been surrounded by protesters and commanders have defended their actions. So did university Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi — which led to a call from the school's faculty association for her resignation. Katehi has since said she wants an outside, independent panel to review what happened and that she doesn't plan to step down..."
So yes, it begs the question. Pepper-spray, like the taser, is supposedly to be a less-than-lethal agent for self-defence, riot and crowd control. However, is it "reasonable use" to pepper-spray non-violent protestors? In my view, the officers could have just picked up the student protestors if they wanted to, it's not like they were armed and dangerous.
But the more impressive turn in this incident, is the response by the non-violent protestors. Also from the National Public Radio article:
"... On Saturday, after a news conference she held, Katehi remained inside one of the university's buildings for a couple hours. Outside, protesters regrouped. And when she emerged, there was one of the most amazing scenes so far related to the Occupy movement. As Katehi and another woman walked three blocks to an SUV, they passed through a gauntlet of several hundred students — who remained silent in a powerful show of their disdain.... "
The deafening silence. The walk of shame. Indeed, silence did speak volumes louder than words ever could.
Just came across this amusing story from CBS 5 - KPHO.com.
"... There's been documented cases of people going to the hospital with alcohol poisoning just from utilizing it that way," Thomas said.
Thomas spends his days patrolling the halls of a Valley high school. He's heard first hand how kids are getting tipsy.
"What we're hearing about is teenagers utilizing tampons, soak them in vodka first before using them," Thomas said.
"It gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream. There's no barrier, there's no stomach acid to prevent it," Thomas said... "
There's just so much fail in here that I don't even know where to start.
Nowhere in the entire article or video did the "experts" make a direct clarification or assertion that they've seen such a case. Worst still, Dr. Dan Quan seemed to be grossly misquoted, much of his speech is stitched and pieced together and he seemed to be describing what the possible outcomes and dangers could be, rather than giving first-hand insight.
Direct accusations of teen folly, and list of lethal consequences are mainly done by the narrator and not either expert. In all, the argument just seemed like a slippery slope, with one assumption leading to the next.
As amusing as this might be, I would also like to point out the following. Rectal insertions (Suppositories) deliver drugs much quicker and more potently than oral consumption because they escape dilution/digestion/interferences in the stomach/intestines. But more importantly, this route it bypasses the first pass effect and thus are not metabolised by the liver.
Unlike what is described in the video/article, there is still a barrier in place even with rectal insertions (ie: the mucous/rectal wall). The only method of delivery with no barrier would be intravenous shots (IV).
The other thing I would like to comment is that while the the tampon is shown to soak up 1 shot of alcohol, it had to be squeezed dry. Firstly, I'm not going to comment how tight/loose one's vag/rectum, but it is highly likely that you'll squeeze out a large portion of the shot trying to shove it up there. There's a reason why sex toys do have a certain level of rigidness.
Secondly, you would have to "suck" it dry to get the shot of alcohol, or what's left. That'll take awhile, preferable lying down. Suppositories usually advise that you lie down for 15 mins for maximum effect. So after that, they would have to remove the dry tampon and change it? Sounds really labourous work for a few shots.
Honestly, if they were willing to go through all that trouble, why not just do it the AWOL approach. Yes the actually machine is banned in various states, but if you are willing to go to such lengths, you would probably be able to replicate this with some bong/tube/pipe/cup and a flame.
Leidenfrost Effect: Goldfish in Liquid Nitrogen / Mythbusters - Molten Lead.
One of those scientific "magic tricks" that never fails to amaze. Yes, it is based on Leidenfrost effect and some demonstrators even go so far as dipping a wet finger into Liquid Nitrogen.
and this was demonstrated really well by the mythbusters too, when they dipped hot iron into water, and human fingers into molten lead.
As quoted from Wikipedia:
" The Leidenfrost effect is a phenomenon in which a liquid, in near contact with a mass significantly hotter than the liquid's boiling point, produces an insulating vapor layer which keeps that liquid from boiling rapidly...
... The effect can be seen as drops of water are sprinkled onto a pan at various times as it heats up. Initially, as the temperature of the pan is below 100 °C (212 °F), the water just flattens out and slowly evaporates. As the temperature of the pan goes above 100 °C (212 °F), the water drops hiss when touching the pan and evaporate quickly. Later, as the temperature exceeds the Leidenfrost point, the Leidenfrost effect comes into play. On contact with the pan, the water droplets bunch up into small balls of water and skitter around, lasting much longer than when the temperature of the pan was lower. This effect works until a much higher temperature causes any further drops of water to evaporate too quickly to cause this effect.
This is because at temperatures above the Leidenfrost point, the bottom part of the water droplet vaporizes immediately on contact with the hot plate. The resulting gas suspends the rest of the water droplet just above it, preventing any further direct contact between the liquid water and the hot plate. As steam has much poorer thermal conductivity, further heat transfer between the pan and the droplet is slowed down dramatically. This also results in the drop being able to skid around the pan on the layer of gas just under it...
For all unfamiliar with Rico Genest aka Zombie Boy, since earlier this year, he is the current Guinness World Record holder for the most insects (178) and bones (138) tattooed on a human body.
In addition, he also appeared in Lady Gaga's video for "Born This Way" earlier this year. Yes, he's inks are real, while Gaga's are make-up meant to mirror him.
Now, he has appeared in Dermablend Professional's latest advert promoting their line of concealers, and I must say, dang, it is really impressive.
" It took three makeup artists for the one day shoot to cover Rico. During the transformation approximately 4 tubes of Dermablend Leg and Body Cover were used along with Leg and Body Tattoo Primer and Original Loose Setting Powder... The video was shot in one take with only one opportunity for Rico to reveal his true face. "
For those really dark and hopeless times when Murphy's law is onto you. Maybe someone can make a Singaporean version online? Would be cool to consolidate all the unique swears in cultural diverse Singapore!
Embedding is sadly disabled, so you'll have to watch it at Vimeo
