Sunday, June 17, 2012

Wyatt Jason Moore Says ‘Titanic’ Replica May Be Haunted

Man Says ‘Titanic’ Replica May Be Haunted
June 15, 2012, by Dan Jovic
Holly Henry, WTKR, Reporting

It’s been 100 years since the RMS Titantic struck an iceberg and sent more than 1,500 souls to their watery graves.


In 2004, a Portsmouth man completed a replica of the ship – nine feet long, weighing more than 200 pounds.


http://easss.com/camera






But according to the builder — the museum quality replica has recently acquired something that may now qualify it as a ‘ghost ship’. Who knows what lurks inside this replica of the ill fated RMS Titanic?


The builder told Barbara Ciara that you can’t see it with the naked eye, but he took a photograph of the boat that revealed what he thinks are two ghostly images.


Wyatt Jason Moore, better known as Chuck, says he discovered the spooky images just recently.
“I couldn’t make it out until I looked at it very carefully and I found it was a bald headed man with a handle bar mustache, and I said to myself, what’s he doing there? Maybe it was someone that was aboard the Titanic that found a new home for himself.”


It took 17,368 hours and over nine years to build the replica. Chuck took on the project after seeing the old black and white 1958 movie ‘A Night to Remember.’


Chuck, a retired architectural draftsman, studied old photographs of the Titantic and began his quest to build a spitting image of the vessel.


“I got so engrossed in it I didn’t realize how much time goes by each day,” said Chuck.
With painstaking detail, Chuck, wearing a special magnified glass attached to his glasses, used his special tools to freeze a moment in time on the replica.


He re-created life on the ship. Crewmen loading up an old Model-T. Children playing on the deck. Ladies in period clothing, socializing. Chuck even captured an image of a crewman walking dogs on the deck. History indicates that two of those dogs made on board life boats and survived the sinking.


But it wasn’t until Chuck shot a series of photographs of the replica to create a large photo composite, that he noticed something in the photos that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye.


An unexplained image in the portholes just above the life boats – on the port side of the vessel. According to Chuck, it looks like a bald headed man with a handle bar mustache looking out. And he just recently identified a woman in one of the portholes appearing to lean forward to see the view.


Chuck doesn’t fear the images; he says, “I leave them alone and they leave me alone.” As for the skeptics who don’t quite see the image as a ghostly image: “suit yourself” says Chuck.


The builder of the replica isn’t trying to convert anyone to buy into his ghostly tale, but he is interested in partnering with a musuem to display his replica so that more people can enjoy the ship he worked so hard to complete. It is a fascinating view, not to mention, his wife of 31 years would like to get that boat out of their living room.

美國「鐵達尼號」模型船驚現兩隻鬼魂

「鐵達尼號」模型船驚現鬼魂
星島日報
6/17/2012


美國男子穆爾(Wyatt Jason Moore)花了9年多時間,打造了一艘重達200磅的「鐵達尼號」模型,並把它擺放在客廳內。他聲稱,近日感到有兩隻鬼魂入住了這隻模型船,並拿起相機拍攝了鬼怪的樣子。


  穆爾為退休圖則師,自從看過1958年上映的「鐵達尼號」災難片《冰海沉船記》(A Night To Remember)後,便對「鐵達尼號」產生興趣,對照舊照片畫出圖則,並製作模型。他一天一點、慢慢地做,結果花了長達9年一星期零5天去完成。


http://easss.com/camera




  近日他為製成品拍照時,竟在救生艇上方的舷窗看到一男一女的人頭。其中男的是一名留八字鬚的光頭漢。他心認為這對情侶可能是當年的遇難者,現在以模型為新家。


  他曾打算將模型放售,計算材料費5千美元(約3萬9千港元),加上他前後共花一萬七千三百六十八小時的手工,開價26萬3千美元(約204萬港元),可惜無人問津。目前他希望有博物館願意接收這艘船。

八達通付款貴過單程票 港鐵被轟取巧賺盡


八達通貴過單程票 港鐵被轟取巧賺盡
明報 
6/18/2012


【明報專訊】港鐵昨日起加價,加幅由每程1毫至1.4元不等,同時逾千項車程用八達通付款較單程票昂貴,有乘客批評港鐵取巧,


認為這是利用港人「怕麻煩」心態,賺盡一分一毫。對於今日起至12月30日期間的平日「搭十送一」優惠,有周末上班的乘客表示,未能受惠搭十送一,期望港鐵可同時推出其他優惠措施。


天榮到新圍 八達通貴1.4元
港鐵加價後,有逾千項車程用八達通付款較單程票昂貴,如乘輕鐵由天榮到新圍,用成人八達通較單程票貴1.4元,而小童及長者從銅鑼灣到尖沙嘴、太子等站,用八達通亦較單程票貴4毫。陪月員楊小姐說,因工作常乘搭不同路線,從無察覺用八達通可能較貴,昨閱報才知有此「陷阱」,直斥港鐵取巧,賺盡一分一豪,「香港人唔會為咗一個幾毫,特登走去買單程票,港鐵就係利用呢種心態」。


http://easss.com/malls


大專生張先生亦質疑,港鐵這樣做非偶然,「一條半條線就係程式計算問題,咁多條都係就似有心咁做」。


乘客轟優惠無用反「焗搭」
機場上班的羅先生表示,交通費愈來愈貴,港鐵加價後每月額外開支40多元,加上部分假期在平日,不能受惠搭十送一,故期望港鐵重推「搭一百賞一票」等,並與現時優惠並行。從事醫院行政的李小姐怒斥港鐵加價,認為港鐵巨額盈餘下仍加價,「有少少貪得無厭」,而搭十送一對市民作用不大,反而變相強迫每日上班來回均搭港鐵,寧願車費減回原價。

Saturday, June 16, 2012

出口商停收廢報紙 回收價即跌15%

出口商停收廢報紙 回收價即跌15%
明報 – 2012年6月16日星期六


本港生產的廢紙幾乎全部出口到內地,由於內地廢紙市場供過於求,價格不斷下滑,本港3間大型廢紙出口商前日開始暫停接收廢紙,柴灣貨物起卸區大部分躉船都堆滿廢紙,待價而沽。


【明報專訊】受內地經濟增長放緩波及,本地廢料回收價格持續下滑,本港3間大型廢紙出口商前日開始暫停接收廢報紙,因需求急降,昨廢報紙回收價即時下跌15%,每公斤跌至0.6元,有回收商預告今日會進一步跌至0.5元,跌穿2003年SARS後的水平。業界預料,出口商為出售廢紙,不排除割價求售,影響所及,本地前線回收活動將會停頓,港人每日生產約10萬公噸廢紙勢必堆滿堆填區


http://ramsss.com/hk


骨牌效應 回收店勢停收止蝕
環保署表示,近月派員巡查本地的回收場,發現普遍儲存的廢紙量較平日為多,但運作正常,政府正密切監察堆填區的廢物棄置情况,未見有大量可回收物料被運往堆填區棄置。


香港環保廢料再造業總會會長劉耀成表示,3間大型廢紙出口商福和、電訊及文華,前日開始陸續暫停接收廢紙,原因是近月內地吸納廢紙量下降,幾間公司已囤積大量廢紙,「話就話唔收廢報紙,其實所有廢紙都已停收」。據了解,3間出口商佔本港廢紙出口量三分之一,平均每日吸納逾1000公噸廢紙。


昨日所見,柴灣貨物裝卸區停泊了逾10艘躉船,絕大部分已堆滿廢紙,以每艘躉船最高可載廢紙量700公噸計,單是該起卸區已囤積了逾7000公噸廢紙。業界估計,再加上屯門及醉酒灣起卸區,未計各區的貨倉,囤積廢紙量逾2萬公噸


劉耀成表示,本港每月出口廢紙量約10萬公噸,約一半是報紙,據他了解,近月內地廢紙生產量急跌,加上東莞一間紙廠大火,預料到9月才恢復運作,令個別本地出口商的廢紙失去出路。他說,若情况持續,會形成骨牌效應,出口商為了出售廢紙會不惜割價求售,影響所及,前線店舖的回收價只會跌至更低水平,到時唯有停收止蝕。


廢紙年初1.1元 現0.6元
本港廢紙回收價一向平穩,今年初每公斤約1.1元,之後逐漸下滑,至上月跌至0.7元,出口商停收消息傳出,再推低回收價至0.6元。目前仍未停收的廢紙皮亦跌至近年新低,每公斤回收價只有0.6元,與報紙看齊;廢鐵回收價格由今年5月的每公斤2.2元,急降三分之一至目前的1.5元,金屬罐於上月已停收。


廢物回收價插水 支持環保得把口
2012年06月15日(五)
The Sun


【本報訊】全球經濟前景不明,本港環保回收業再度面臨低潮,廢紙、廢膠及廢鐵近日回收價較一個月「插水式」下跌三至四成,回收商繼停收鐵罐後,昨已停收廢報紙,免得有貨無市,最終淪為垃圾逼爆堆填區。


香港環保廢料再造業總會會長劉耀成炮轟,現屆政府扶持回收業「得把口」,其位於粉嶺置華里的二萬呎回收場,便被當局迫令在約滿後清場交出再公開招標,「政策係死、人係生,環保行業咁細,點解唔可以畀我優先續租?」促請當局紓解業界經營苦況。


劉耀成指,回收場花了三百萬元做水泥、興建上蓋及申請水電,再花四十萬元購買機器,用以回收廢紙及廢膠。首張合約租用三年,一年前商討續約時,獲當局主動詢問是否有意續租,並了解按通脹加租百分之七的意向,結果獲續約一年。豈料一年過後,收到當局知會要求九月中完約後清場交出土地再公開招標。


他提到近日各項物料回收價急跌,擔心不少同業被迫結業,以廢鐵為例,回收價已由一個月前的每噸二千九百元,跌至二千元;廢紙由每噸一千三百元跌至七百五十元,廢膠也跌了四成。業界處理後再轉售的價格同樣暴跌四成,經營苦不堪言。


廢紙廢鐵價一月急跌三成 回收商稱再跌一成 或掀結業潮
明報 – 2012年6月3日星期日


【明報專訊】外圍經濟不明朗加上廣東省大型廢紙回收廠大火影響,本港兩大回收物料廢紙及廢金屬,過去一月回收價較年初急跌約三分之一。有回收商表示近日已暫停回收家電及家俬,若價格再跌一成就會跌穿警戒線,全港廢料出口將停頓。


香港環保廢料再造業總會會長劉耀成指出,業界步入寒冬,下半年情况不樂觀,不排除出現結業潮,暫看不到廢料價格何時回升。


有回收商形容,近日廢紙價格滑落至8年前「後SARS」水平,但近年營運成本上升,其中最低工資對業界衝擊最大,目前前線員工時薪已攀升至50元,但仍然乏人問津。


跌至SARS水平 下半年不樂觀
綜合回收業界資料,廢紙與廢金屬回收價於今年初滑落,5月跌幅擴大,以廢紙跌勢最急。紙皮每公斤約1.1元的回收價多年保持平穩,到5月突然跌至0.7元,跌幅達36%,對上一次廢紙跌價至同一水平是2004年。


廢金屬回收價自09年金融海嘯後略為下降,今年初每公斤回收價為2.2元,但近日亦暴跌32%至1.5元。有回收商稱,混合其他配件和物料的家電或家俱,回收價更低至每公斤約0.5元,事實上本港部分回收商已停收。


香港環保廢料再造業總會會長劉耀成表示,東莞一間吸納全港一成廢紙的造紙廠4月發生大火,預料未來數月仍未能恢復運作,「歐洲經濟不景,對紙品或金屬原料需求大減,令內地訂單亦下跌,料今年下半年情况不樂觀」。
依賴內地市場 「幾乎主宰生死」


他說,過去數年本港仍有小部分廢紙出口到東南亞如泰國和印尼,但近年這些國家政府補貼回收業,本港難以競爭,形成香港過分依賴內地市場,「幾乎主宰香港回收業生死」。業界預料若廢紙價格再跌一成就會跌穿警戒線,出口將停頓。


資料顯示,本港於2010年回收119.5萬公噸廢紙,回收含鐵金屬56.6萬公噸,全部出口循環再造,兩種廢料貨值合共32.8億元,佔全年再造物料整體貨值的38%。


環保署表示,回收物料價格向來跟市場調整,今次是否屬於短期性質仍有待觀察。據該署了解,近月廢紙的出口價格較正常水平跌幅約兩至三成。發言人說,廢紙屬有價值商品,價格下調時回收商傾向囤積,待價而沽。署方近月巡查本地的回收場,發現普遍貯存廢紙量較平日為多,但運作正常,至於市面收集廢紙的運作亦屬正常。
明報記者 馬耀森



最低工資效應 時薪50元乏問津
明報 – 2012年6月3日星期日


不少長者都會以「執紙皮」幫補家計,由於厚紙本有一定重量,難免令他們腰痠背痛,如今紙皮價跌,要掙取相同的利益,長者們將要執到更重的紙皮。


【明報專訊】最低工資造成漣漪效應,除了食肆難請人,另一較厭惡的行業回收業時薪過去一年平均上調約四成仍難留人。香港環保廢料再造業總會會長劉耀成表示,回收業前線員工時薪多年前已超過28元,自從去年實施最低工資,業界聘請員工愈來愈難,目前已加至平均每小時50元,仍乏人問津


業界盼盡快實施廢物收費
他認為現屆政府對環保回收業完全零支援,寄望新政府盡快落實都市固體廢物收費計劃,鼓勵循環再造,令業界避免受外圍經濟波動影響。


屯門回收商鄔小姐表示,她的店舖聘用4名員工,數年前時薪已達35元,自從去年實施最低工資,更要加薪挽留員工,現時已加至50元,與茶餐廳洗碗工相若,但仍乏人問津。


她說,聘用4名員工的每日開支由原來的1400元,大幅上升至2000元,升幅逾四成,加上燃油費又加,經營愈來愈難,「出一次車至少一人駕車另一人跟車,收幾噸廢紙或廢鐵,仍有微薄利潤,若收回來的是廢膠,每噸回收價數百元,隨時蝕本」。

Daredevil Nik Wallenda's Niagara tightrope triumph

Nik Wallenda's Niagara tightrope triumph
Nik, a seventh-generation member of the daredevil and circus legends, the Flying Wallendas, became the first to walk a tightrope over the full 1,800 feet of the gorge, fulfilling a life's ambition and boosting tourism
STEPHEN FOLEY    SUNDAY 17 JUNE 2012
The Independent


'What is the purpose of your trip, sir?" the customs agent asked Nik Wallenda when he presented his passport at the Canadian border. "To inspire people around the world," he replied.




Moments before, Wallenda had become the first person ever to walk over Niagara Falls on a tightrope dripping with spray from the thunderous waterfall that separates the US from Canada. With 100,000 people on the ground watching the night-time stunt under glaring spotlights, and millions more listening in to Wallenda's miked-up prayers on live television as he made his way across, the 33-year-old daredevil fulfilled a lifelong dream that was also a family destiny.


http://digcan.com


His is the seventh generation of the famous Flying Wallendas, who can lay claim to a history of death- and gravity-defying high-wire acts since they were a family of travelling acrobats in Austria-Hungary in the 18th century. Nik Wallenda's great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, fell to his death during a stunt in Puerto Rico in 1978.


"This is what dreams are made of – people," Wallenda said, as he took his first steps over Horseshoe Falls, the widest of Niagara's three waterfalls. Wearing elkskin-soled shoes designed by his mother to withstand the sopping conditions and a safety harness that would have saved his life if he had fallen – at the insistence of ABC, the US broadcaster that sponsored the $1.3m event – Wallenda edged across the 1,800ft of the gorge for 25 minutes, with the winds and mists whipping him as he went.


"I'm strained, I'm drained," he said, at the halfway mark. "This is so physical, not only mental but physical ... My hands are going numb. I feel like I'm getting weak."


Wallenda broke into a run for the final yards on the Canadian side, where his wife and three children were waiting to greet him.


"There was no way to focus on the movement of the cable," he said later. "If I looked down at the cable, there was water moving everywhere. And if I looked up, there was heavy mist blowing in front of my face. So it was a very unique, a weird sensation.


"I am so blessed. How blessed I am to have the life that I have."


Wallenda already holds six Guinness World Records, including one for the longest and the highest bicycle ride on a tightrope and, with seven other members of the Flying Wallendas, the record for a pyramid of eight people on a highwire. Last year, he completed the stunt that killed his great-grandfather, a highwire slung in the same spot between two towers of the 10-storey Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico.


At one point in the middle of the Niagara walk, he thought about his great-grandfather and the walks he had taken: "That's what this is all about – paying tribute to my ancestors and my hero, Karl Wallenda." He called the achievement a dream come true. "I hope what I do and what I just did inspires people around the world to reach for the skies," he said.


While tightrope walkers drew huge crowds in the 19th century as they crossed the Niagara river at narrower points downstream, no one has crossed the falls themselves, and daredevil stunts have been banned entirely since 1896 – until Wallenda persuaded local authorities on both sides of the border that a crossing would boost tourism.


"Over one billion people by Monday will have known the story of Nik Wallenda over Niagara Falls," Tim Clark, of the Buffalo-Niagara Film Board, told ABC News, "and I think that's just fantastic reinforcement for our tourism industry here in western New York state."


Anticipation had been building for weeks, as Wallenda practised in the car park of a local casino. He used a giant fan and fire trucks spraying water to simulate the tough conditions he would face over the falls.


Now, attention is already turning to what Wallenda might do for his next trick. His record-breaking ambitions are clearly not over: he already has the permits in place to become the first person to cross the Grand Canyon on a wire.


Daredevil history


The Wallenda legend extends through seven generations. The founder was Karl Wallenda – seen here in London in 1976 – who was born in 1905 and was performing by the age of six. He made his debut in 1928 at Madison Square Garden, recruited by Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey.


The family was performing in Connecticut in 1944 when one of the worst fires in US history broke out. The Wallendas slid down ropes to safety, but 168 people died.


Other tragedies include Rietta Wallenda, who fell to her death in 1963, and Karl's son-in-law, Richard Guzman, in 1972, who touched a live electric wire. The family was famed for its seven-person pyramid, but stopped this after three members fell to their deaths in 1962. Karl was 73 when he fell to his own death in Puerto Rico.


Josie Hinton



Stuntman Nik Wallenda completes tightrope walk across Niagara Falls
Tight rope walker makes history
By Neale Gulley
NIAGARA FALLS, New York
Sat Jun 16, 2012 


(Reuters) - Aerialist Nik Wallenda made a historic tightrope crossing over Niagara Falls on Friday night, stepping onto safe ground in Canada to wild cheers after completing his journey through wind and mist on a 2-inch (5-cm) cable.


Wallenda, a member of the famed "Flying Wallendas" family of aerialists, took a little more than 25 minutes to walk 1,800 feet (550 metres) from the U.S. side in the dark of night over treacherous waters and rocks in a nationally televised event.


Arriving on the Canadian side, he hugged his family and greeted Canadian officials, who playfully requested the 33-year- old American's passport. Asked the purpose of his visit, Wallenda told the officials he had come to "inspire people."


More than 150 years ago, French aerialist Charles Blondin, known as "The Great Blondin," famously walked a high wire strung farther down the Niagara gorge, but a trek over the brink of the falls had never before been attempted.


Wallenda appeared fully in control through the stunt, taking small, steady steps on a slick cable through swirling winds.


"Oh my gosh it's an unbelievable view," he said as he crossed over the falls. "This is truly breathtaking."


ABC, the television network that broadcast the event with a five-second delay, occasionally interviewed him along the walk, asking him about conditions and how he was coping.


"That mist was thick and it was hard to see at times," he said later in the walk, when he was asked about the greatest challenge. "Wind going one way, mist another. It was very uncomfortable for a while."


The network had also insisted he wear a safety tether - a first for the performer - that would connect him to the cable should he fall, and said it would stop broadcasting if he unhooked it.


Wallenda fought the condition at first, eventually agreeing. But he gave himself an out: he would unhook only if directed to do so by his father, who designed the harness and acted as his safety coordinator.


As it turned out, the tether was never tested. Wallenda walked the wire with what appeared to be perfect balance.


ROAR OF THE FALLS


Wallenda said at one point that his hands hurt from holding the balance pole, and the walk proved physically tiring. The sounds of the falls blocked out noise from an estimated crowd of tens of thousands, he told the TV audience.


"Hopefully it will be very peaceful and relaxing," Wallenda said beforehand. "I'm often very relaxed when I'm on the wire. There may be some tears because this is a dream of mine."


Since the Great Blondin took his high-wire walk, a ban had been in place on similar stunts over the famed falls. Wallenda waged a two-year crusade to convince U.S. and Canadian officials to let him try the feat. A private helicopter rescue team was part of the $1.3 million that Wallenda said he had spent on the walk.


Reyam Rashed, who moved to the area from Yemen last year, said she was most concerned as Wallenda neared the wire's low point, before he began walking back up the rope in the final push toward Canada. "I just felt like he was going to get dizzy," she said.


"At first, I thought he was not going to make it. I was impressed," she said.


Wallenda's great-grandfather Karl Wallenda died in 1978 during a walk between two buildings in Puerto Rico at age 73. Wallenda repeated that walk last year with his mother.


Wallenda said he would next prepare for a walk over the Grand Canyon in Arizona, which would be the first ever attempted and roughly three times longer than the walk over Niagara Falls.


"I just happen to have a permit," he said during an interview on ABC.


(Editing by Paul Thomasch and Peter Cooney)

3太空人明午入住天宮 神九升空入軌 香港可肉眼觀「天神」組合

3太空人明午入住天宮 神九升空入軌 港可肉眼觀「天神」組合
明報 
6/17/2012


【明報專訊】「神舟九號」載人飛船於昨日下午6時37分準時發射升空,及後成功進入預定軌道,正式展開13天的太空旅程。按照計劃,飛船最快於明日與「天宮一號」自動交會對接,形成組合體。3名太空人會進駐「天宮一號」的實驗艙工作和生活6天。





之後,組合體會分開,再試驗手控交會對接。「神九」飛船將實現中國首次載人交會對接任務,而地面的發燒友更有機會用肉眼觀看這一歷史性畫面。香港候任特首梁振英與澳門特首崔世安都致電祝賀升空成功。


手控對接為建太空站
與「天宮一號」與「神八」飛船去年先後兩次的自動交會對接不同的是,「神九」飛船除進行自動交會對接外,還將首次實驗手控交會對接。中國載人航天工程新聞發言人武平前日表示,交會對接理應包括自動和手控,兩者互為備份,缺一不可,而實現手控交會對接也是中國未來建立太空站的前提。


有專家指出,手控交會對接要求一次成功,對接時「神九」和「天宮一號」的軸向誤差不能大過18厘米,稍有偏差就會出現問題。


入住6天後分離再對接
按照計劃,「神九」飛船將於明日上午11時,與「天宮一號」自動交會對接。中國首次載人交會對接任務測控通信指揮部飛控組組長麻永平說,地面飛控中心在今日凌晨起對「神九」飛船進行5次變軌控制,使飛船到達距離「天宮一號」後下方約52公里處。「神九」轉入自主控制飛行後,就會與「天宮一號」自動交會對接,形成組合體。3名太空人會先後打開飛船的返回艙艙門、軌道艙前艙門和「天宮一號」實驗艙艙門,進入「天宮一號」。


6天後,「神九」飛船就會與「天宮一號」進行手控交會對接試驗。此前,3名太空人會先返回飛船,然後「神九」會與「天宮一號」分離,「神九」撤至距「天宮一號」約400米處,再駛近並停泊在距「天宮一號」140米處。這時候,劉旺就會手動控制飛船,完成手控交會對接任務。完成後,3名太空人會度再進入「天宮一號」駐留。4日後,「神九」飛船會與「天宮一號」分離,返回地面。


明晚8時劃過港夜空西南方
據《南方都市報》報道,天文發燒友只要登入美國天文網站heavens-above.com,查找「天宮一號」的出現時間和方位,就有機會用肉眼觀看到「神九」飛船與「天宮一號」的兩次交會對接。登入網站後,先設定所在位置和時區,再點擊「Tiangong-1」(即「天宮一號」),就能查出最近幾日所在地有機會見到「天宮一號」飛過的時間、地點和方位。


若「神九」飛船與「天宮一號」在明日上午進行自動交會對接,以柴灣為所在地,「天宮一號」將在明晚8時37分09秒,出現在西南偏西方,然後在8時38分54秒在西南方隱入。只要在這般時間仰望天空,就有機會看到「神九」飛船和「天宮一號」組合體劃過夜空。

Friday, June 15, 2012

朝鮮鼓勵跨國婚姻 美女換外資


朝鮮鼓勵跨國婚姻 美女換外資
明報 
6/15/2012


【明報專訊】跨國婚姻在各國屢見不鮮,像朝鮮(北韓)這樣相對專制封閉的國家,最近也開始鼓吹「輸出本國美女」吸引外資,向外國企業主管收取訂金,換取迎嫁朝鮮美女。


先付47萬 政府代選靚新娘
韓國(南韓)常刊登朝鮮消息的「NK知識人連帶」網站報道,朝鮮當局鼓勵讓朝鮮美女與外國企業主管進行「跨國婚姻」,讓外資進入朝鮮。報道稱,欲與朝鮮美女結婚的外國人,要支付訂金給朝鮮當局,通常相當於約47.3萬港元。


http://easss.com/dating/asian


當外國人支付訂金後,朝鮮政府會選拔適婚女子,專挑受過教育的美女嫁給外國人,她們多是20來歲年輕貌美女子。有韓國專家表示,這純粹是朝鮮當局為了吸引外資進入而設的「美人計」,也可以看出朝鮮的經濟情况是每况愈下。


朝對華開放金剛山旅遊
另外,朝鮮日前對中國開放金剛山旅遊,受邀參與採訪的內地記者表示,朝鮮人剛開始吃飯時,發現有肉食就會馬上一掃而空,「場面令人難以置信」。


《南方人物週刊》報道,一名受邀採訪的內地記者分享與朝鮮官員和翻譯同枱吃飯的經驗,發現「所有朝鮮人都只夾肉吃,我們這桌的肉食吃完後,同桌的朝鮮人轉移到隔壁桌開始夾肉。」


華記者﹕朝官搶肉吃「荒誕」
該記者說,生平第一次面對這樣的場景,覺得十分荒誕。按理說能在這裏吃飯的朝鮮人應都來自相對富庶的階層,「居然為多吃幾塊肉哄搶到這種地步,若非親眼所見很難相信」。報道又轉述記者的朝鮮族友人稱,住在平壤的普通幹部家庭,已經30年沒有吃過肉。


記者稱,4月15日是朝鮮前領導人金日成誕辰百年紀念,政府當天舉辦國宴招待外賓,這名記者也有出席。他說,那號稱「國宴」的晚膳,「太像是偏僻鄉村的寒門婚宴,各國友人嘗幾口便紛紛停筷」。

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

陝西省安康市 毒針殺7月大超生嬰掀怒潮 計生官員索4萬超生罰款 社會撫養費

毒針殺超生嬰掀怒潮 計生官員索4萬罰款未遂 堅稱不違規
明報 
6/14/2012


【明報專訊】陝西省安康市月初發生強行打掉7月大胎兒的事件,在內地互聯網上引發怒潮,受害孕婦馮建梅由於交不起4萬元罰款,被強行「打毒針」引產(墮胎)。陝西省人口和計劃生育委員會(下稱「計生委」)強調,大月份引產(妊娠超過28周)違反規定,已派工作組到安康調查,但當地計生幹部堅稱並不違規。


http://diguk.com/baby





「這是謀殺!」「你們怎麼下得手啊!」在內地新浪微博及各大討論區,馮建梅與死嬰的合影被不停轉發,網友一面倒譴摘計生幹部無人性。陝西省人口計生委召開緊急會議,前日派工作組到安康調查,稱如有違法違規將嚴肅處理。陝西計生委昨日還發出通知,重申各市必須嚴格依法行政,堅決杜絕大月份引產,切實維護育齡婦女的合法權益。


北京律師張凱說,事件「違背人類最基本的良知」,他已與當事人聯繫,本周內會前往調查,提供法律援助。


廿人押醫院 孕婦車上被打
據財新網報道,馮建梅與死胎的照片是在安康市鎮坪縣醫院拍攝。23歲的馮建梅說,丈夫鄧吉元5月29日到內蒙古打工,鎮政府從5月30日開始派4個人24小時看守她,用石頭頂住門口防止她逃跑。6月2日上午9點,她被二三十名工作人員押到醫院,當日下午3點被醫生注射了「毒針」,家屬沒在場陪同。在帶去醫院的車上,她不斷掙扎還曾遭到毆打。


報道稱,「毒針」可能是一種叫做「依沙吖啶」的引產劑,又稱「利凡諾」,適用於妊娠14至27周的孕婦,通過羊膜腔內注射後,將胎兒殺死再排出體外,成功率超過90%,1980至1990年代用得較多,如今很少用。


6月4日凌晨3點,在「打毒針」36小時後,死胎被排出馮建梅體外,鄧吉元的姐姐拍下照片放上網。


兩年未達標 計生局加強工作
鎮坪縣人口和計劃生育局副局長栗永久堅稱,馮建梅並非被強制引產,「當時鎮政府的好多人都去了,跟她做了好幾天的思想工作,引產的事,她是同意的」。栗永久還說,馮建梅被引產時妊娠24周,即6個多月,因此並不違反規定。他還透露,曾家鎮前兩年的計劃生育工作被上級查到不合格,所以今年要加強工作。


但鄧吉元反駁,此前在西安市慈愛醫院和安康市第一人民醫院做過產檢,病歷證明妻子被引產時已經妊娠超過7個月,但家裏交不出超生罰款錢,故被強制流產。他展示鎮政府工作人員袁芳發給他的手機短訊,「四萬(元)一分不能少,我都給你爸說了,他說沒錢還能怎樣。還是你們自己大意了,沒當回事」。


若胎兒存活 24小時內殺死
明報
6/14/2012


【明報專訊】強行引產(墮胎)在中國並非首次,引產已懷孕8個月、甚至9個月的胎兒也時有發生。《計劃生育法》並沒有禁止對妊娠28周以上的孕婦引產,只是2010年《國家人口計生委辦公廳關於切實做好當前依法行政工作的通知》中規定,「堅決杜絕大月份引產」,「堅決杜絕強迫命令、違法行政」。


熟悉中國計生條例的人士對本報說,對妊娠28周以上的孕婦引產屬於高危,容易造成大出血,危及生命,中國基層地方衛生站的設備和醫療水平可能難以處理,所以國家不提倡此做法,在大城市的醫院仍照行不誤。妊娠28周以後引產的胎兒有如早產嬰,仍有機會存活,但引產後必須於24小時內將其殺死。


引產7月胎易危及孕婦


本次被強行引產的馮建梅,計生幹部稱有勸喻她同意引產。消息人士指出,計生幹部還會發動家人,尤其如果超聲波檢查顯示是女嬰,會勸家婆、叔伯兄弟等人「反正是女嬰,流了就算了」,這一招在農村尤為奏效。


超生每年罰200億 去向成謎
明報 
6/14/2012


【明報專訊】超生罰款是計劃生育政策中一項主要的阻嚇措施,內地媒體估計,全國每年超生罰款可能超過200億元(人民幣•下同),但它們的去向卻成為國家秘密


據《中國經濟周刊》報道,超生罰款是1980年代初的叫法,2000年全國統一稱為「社會撫養費」。目前各省可自行制定徵收標準,大致分四類﹕一是確定基數(通常為當地人均收入)後按固定倍數徵收,如江西3.5倍,上海、河南、湖北3倍;二是設置倍數區間,如北京3-10倍、新疆1-8倍;三是固定金額區間,如黑龍江城鎮居民3-6萬、農村1-3萬;四是設置徵收額的最低倍數或金額,如河北不低於2.5倍。歷史上曾徵收過最高的單筆社會撫養費金額為130萬元。


地方挪用 計生幹部自肥
國家計生委曾表示,按規定社會撫養費須上繳國庫,但不少地方截留、挪用社會撫養費的情况時有發生,尤其是在貧困農村地區,社會撫養費成為維持計生工作的重要來源。

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

內地木蝨肆虐 傢俬賓館重災


內地木蝨肆虐 傢俬賓館重災
經濟日報 
6/12/2012


撲滅牠滅蟲公司技術支援部總監任永強指,本港蝨患嚴重,每日接逾20宗滅蝨求助。 


預防及杜絕傢俬木蝨貼士




【經濟日報專訊】內地木蝨來港肆虐!近年港人熱購內地傢俬,卻不知木蝨已蟄伏其中,待潮濕天氣即繁殖肆虐;此外,接待內地團的本地賓館亦成木蝨重災區,有滅蟲公司每日接逾20宗滅蝨求助,較3年前勁增10倍。


專家指出,市民不應靠冷氣抽濕,內地新家具使用前,亦應先噴殺蟲水滅蟲。


http://easss.com/home


撲滅牠滅蟲公司技術支援部總監任永強表示,木蝨已成為繼白蟻後,本港第2大害蟲,尤其近日天氣潮濕,適合木蝨大量繁殖︰「平均每日有超過20宗滅蝨委託,但3年前僅為每日2宗,可見增長速度之快,證明本港蝨患相當嚴重!」


欠高溫藥水處理 易藏蝨卵
他指本港蝨患主要分為住宅及商務兩類,前者的源頭主要來自內地傢俬︰「內地傢俬很少經過高溫或藥水處理,易藏木蝨或蝨卵,一旦遇上潮濕天氣,便大量繁殖及咬人吸血。」


香港傢俬裝飾廠商總會許章榮表示,內地只會檢查傢俬承受能力,較少留意消毒及殺菌,因此存在木蝨並不出奇。


蝨患另一重災區,是本地賓館,接待內地旅行團者更屬高危,任永強相信,不排除是內地旅客衞生程度較低,有可能成為蝨子宿主,然後轉移至賓館的傢俬,包括床櫃及衣櫃︰「求助的主要是3星級賓館,但由於客人不斷來往,故無法根治,只能定期進行滅蝨!」


控制室內濕度 倡採抽濕機


消委會今年首5個月收到2宗傢俬內有蟲(包括木蝨)的投訴,而2011年全年則有13宗,佔傢俬總投訴數字約1%,消委會總幹事劉燕卿指出,去年全年消委會接獲1,035宗傢俬投訴,投訴內容大部分涉及品質問題。


賓館方面,消委會數字顯示,今年首5個月接獲2宗賓館有蟲的投訴,已追平去年數字;然而,旅遊業議會主席胡兆英指出,近年未收過相關投訴,強調不論酒店或賓館,都會每日更換床單,即使旅客身上有蝨,亦不會造成傳染。


要預防木蝨,任永強表示,首要是控制濕度,他提醒市民,切勿單靠冷氣機維持室內濕度,因冷氣機關機後,會令室內濕度驟增,成為木蝨溫床,建議採用抽濕機。


新傢俬使用前 應噴殺蟲劑
他又指出,新傢俬使用前,應先噴灑殺蟲劑,待2至3小時後,已有抗蝨效果;而臭丸則可預防木蝨,蒸氣熨斗及陽光則可消滅小量木蝨︰「如已大量繁殖,就要利用專業器材,一周內噴灑殺蟲劑2次,確保所有木蝨消滅!」

蘋果3D地圖可窺室內侵私隱 10厘米解析度更勝Google

蘋果3D地圖可窺室內侵私隱 10厘米解析度更勝Google
明報 
6/12/2012


【明報專訊】蘋果全球開發商大會(WWDC)本港時間周一深夜1時在三藩市舉行,蘋果將推出最新作業平台iOS6,以及全新自家地圖軟件,挑戰Google Maps巿場地位,消息人士形容,新地圖「將令人震驚」。蘋果據報還在運用「軍事級」影像技術,進一步製作高解像3D地圖,無論地面甚至室內的情况都可能無所遁形,有民間團體質疑新地圖將侵害個人私隱。
發布自家地圖軟件


蘋果iPhone、iPad等產品,現時預設採用內置的Google地圖服務,但去年蘋果收購立體地圖繪製公司C3 Technologies(C3),顯示蘋果希望開發自家地圖。


C3原屬瑞典航天及國防集團Saab AB,擁有從平面圖像建構精密3D地圖的核心技術,可用於國防,例如引導導彈攻擊目標。


英國《每日郵報》稱,打算棄用Google地圖的蘋果,正利用C3的製圖技術,製作高解像3D地圖,迎戰Google Earth上周五宣布推出的「全3D地圖」。


報道稱,要蒐集製作地圖的圖像,先要在飛機、直升機甚至無人機上的不同位置,裝上多個特製攝像鏡頭,以便拍攝建築物或地標的所有角度。裝上鏡頭的飛機,會在離地面500米高(和全港最高大廈環球貿易中心高度484米相若)的空中盤旋,拍攝地面情况,同時詳細記錄全球定位系統(GPS)的位置和相機的角度,隨後圖像和數據會整合成3D地圖。一般小型飛機每小時拍攝範圍可達100平方公里。


首創全方位觀建築物側面
蘋果的3D地圖將成為首個可觀察建築物各個側面的立體地圖。其製圖所採用的特製攝像鏡頭,與美軍在阿富汗偵測恐怖分子所用的類似,性能極高,可清楚拍攝地面上長度10厘米或以上的物件,比Google提供的衛星立體地圖約1米的解像度高得多。理論上,特製鏡頭甚至可能透過窗戶,拍攝到室內情况。目前C3已在全球最少20個地點,包括英國倫敦、美國紐約、挪威奧斯陸等城巿作立體繪圖測試,預料未來將拓展製圖範圍,但暫未公布其他拍攝地點。


精密如偵測恐怖分子
有民間團體憂慮個人私隱會淪為新一代地圖競賽的犧牲品。人權監察組織Big Brother Watch總監皮克爾斯(Nick Pickles)警告,由於新一代地圖解像度愈來愈高,日後人們在家居作日光浴等私人活動時,可能會被蘋果或Google攝下。


美國民間私隱關注組織電子私隱資訊中心(EPIC)更認為,蘋果若需使用高解像物業圖像,應先徵求業主同意,否則應仿照Google街景,先將民居及人像的圖像模糊化才公開發布。


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港律師﹕街拍屋內情形不違法
明報 
6/12/2012


【明報專訊】對於外界關注蘋果用以製作3D地圖的攝錄鏡頭可穿過玻璃窗拍到室內情况,有侵犯私隱之嫌,本港執業律師黃國桐指出,香港現行採用的普通法,只會保障個人資料(personal data),而私隱(privacy)不屬個人財產(property),不受法律保障,即使蘋果拍到屋內情形,亦不算違法。


私隱非財產 不受法律保障
黃國桐解釋,就私隱問題立法,牽涉新聞自由及知情權等,如何平衡存在爭議。有別於針對個別人士安裝針孔攝錄機偷拍,蘋果只是拍攝地圖,即使拍到屋主或屋內情形,這些影像也只是製作地圖的背景資料,不構成法律問題。


屋內影像只當地圖背景
民航處回覆本報稱,處方沒有收到蘋果拍攝地圖的申請,當局審批飛行申請,主要基於航空安全,以及對地面建築及人身安全的考慮。本港法例對不同飛機的飛行高度有不同限制,以直升機為例,當它飛越鬧市時,直升機的最低飛行高度,必須較方圓2000呎(610米)範圍內的地面最高固定物體,額外高出1500呎(457.5米)。

山東毒富士蘋果 農藥袋包裹催熟


毒富士蘋果 農藥袋包裹催熟
明報 
6/12/2012


【明報專訊】內地媒體曝光,山東果農為令蘋果賣相更佳,竟用沾有農藥的袋子包裹幼果,直至成熟上市為止。專家稱,農藥成分對皮膚和粘膜有刺激作用,長期接觸會引發皮炎。去年全國農藥登記評審委員會曾建議撤銷此類農藥的登記。


專家:長期接觸易致皮炎
《新京報》報道,在山東富士蘋果產地棲霞、招遠,果農普遍用來包果的紙袋長寬約15至16厘米,外面是黃色複合加工紙,裏面則沾滿白色藥末,直接與幼果接觸,藥袋約人民幣5分錢一個。果農把藥袋包裹在幼果外,直至果實成熟上市。一來保證外皮光滑,二來也可防蟲。


http://easss.com/food


專家表示,所用藥物「退菌特」主要用於防治果蔬病害,誤服會令人出現噁心、嘔吐、腹瀉等癥狀。與皮膚接觸會引起皮炎,並對黏膜有刺激作用。


去年底,全國農藥登記評審委員會一致認為,這類含胂的產品存在安全風險,應撤銷此類產品的登記。但目前農業部尚無正式的通知或公告。農業部農藥檢定所、北京市農藥檢定所等多家檢測機構均表示,該藥難以檢測。