Month: July 2007

Japan’s lonely hearts turn to dolls for sex, company

Japan’s lonely hearts turn to dolls for sex, company | U.S. | Reuters
The man, who says he has had sex with five women but prefers the dolls, is one of a gradually increasing, though secretive, group of Japanese men who have given up on women.

A Japanese maker said it started producing its life-sized and anatomically correct dolls 30 years ago, targeting initially handicapped men who might find it difficult to find a partner.

Orient Industry Co. now makes 80 dolls a month in an eastern Tokyo factory to nine designs that sell for between $850 and $5,500 each. The more expensive models are made of silicon and have 35 movable joints. More pictures at under-lined story link at top.

» Diamonds are fuel cells’ best friends

» Diamonds are fuel cells’ best friends | Emerging Technology Trends | ZDNet.com
Researchers at UC Davis have used nanocrystals made of diamond-like cubic zirconia to develop cooler fuel cells. Even if hydrogen fuel cells have been touted as clean energy sources, current fuel cells have to run at high temperatures of up to 1,000 °C. This new technology will allow fuel cells to run at much lower temperatures, between 50 and 100 °C. Obviously, this could lead to a widespread use of fuel cells, which could become a realistic alternative power source for vehicles.

Climate Change Debate Hinges On Economics

Climate Change Debate Hinges On Economics – washingtonpost.com
Here’s the good news about climate change: Energy and climate experts say the world already possesses the technological know-how for trimming greenhouse gas emissions enough to slow the perilous rise in the Earth’s temperatures.

Here’s the bad news: Because of the enormous cost of addressing global warming, the energy legislation considered by Congress so far will make barely a dent in the problem, while farther-reaching climate proposals stand a remote chance of passage.

Bush loves cheeseburger pizza

The Sun Online – News: Bush loves cheeseburger pizza
Chef Cristeta Comerford spilled the beans at an annual gathering of the cooks to world statesmen and royals. She said: “For dinner the President loves what we call home-made ‘cheeseburger pizzas’ because every ingredient of a cheeseburger is on top of a margherita pizza.

“For lunch he loves cinnamon bread with peanut butter and organic honey, with home-made potato chips and pickles.” She added: “But he’s extremely disciplined and exercises every day. He watches his portion control!”

Cheeseburger pizzas were invented in 2005 by teams on the American version of TV’s The Apprentice, who had to come up with a new flavour. Toppings include ground beef and cheese, ketchup, pickles, gherkins, fried onions, bacon and tomatoes. Pizza firm Domino’s now makes them in the US, and admits a large one has 1,600 calories and the highest level of cholesterol on its menu.

Cristeta was among 24 top cooks meeting in Nice, France. Royal chef Mark Flanagan refused to reveal the Queen’s favourite meal, saying: “That’s all she’d ever be given everywhere she goes.” Asked if he cooked for her corgis, he said: “Yes, er, no comment.”

Filthy as well as rich

Filthy as well as rich | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited
Blue-green algae blooms choked Lake Taihu – China’s third biggest source of freshwater – in May, forcing 5 million people to use bottled water for drinking and bathing.

Soon after, local media were reporting outbreaks across the country. Rancid blooms contaminated Dianchi Lake in southwestern China, then Xinlicheng reservoir, the main source of water for Changchun – a northern city of almost 3m people. In every case, pollution – either from factories, fertilizer or untreated sewage – was to blame. Continue reading “Filthy as well as rich”