Internet cafes vow to 'self regulate' in advance of a politically sensitive anniversary.
People use computers at an Internet cafe in Beijing, June 3, 2009.
HONG KONG—Controls over Chinese Internet users look set to intensify ahead of a sensitive political anniversary in October, with an announcement by Internet café owners that they will fully cooperate with government security measures.
Internet Café Associations in 30 major Chinese cities and provinces issued a statement titled “Self-regulating declaration on cleaning up the Internet café industry” Wednesday, vowing to abide by China’s laws and regulations concerning the Internet, official media reported.
The statement said Internet café owners would “cooperate with government efforts to close down illegal Internet cafes, to improve the quality of service in Internet cafes and voluntarily 'clean up' the industry.”
It also said the industry would work toward “putting an end to hidden security concerns.”
“Industry associations in China are semi-official organizations approved by the government, although they may have arisen from the private sector,” said He Qinglian, former editor of the Shenzhen Legal Daily newspaper.
“This communiqué has been issued under the aegis of the government.
Information control
Its aim is to control the flow of political information, especially now, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. They want to eradicate any voices of opposition and create an atmosphere of unified praise for the Communist Party,” she said.
According to Chen Jianying of the association “China Internet Cafes Online”, the industry is taking steps to self-regulate.
“There will be more concrete measures coming in the future,” Chen said.
“Through such an organization and such an announcement, everyone is able to share information, including some aspects of Internet café management,” he said.
Meanwhile, online reports in central China said authorities at the prestigious Hunan University are developing and testing new online public opinion surveillance software.
Officials at the university were unable to confirm the reports, but they said such a project seemed likely.
“A lot of departments in Hunan University would be likely to be working on such a project,” said an employee who answered the phone at the Hunan University Information Technology department. “I don’t know which department it is, though.”
'Negative reports'
One piece of public opinion monitoring software, made by Beijing-based Goonie, said in its promotional material that it could monitor news posted on Web sites, blogs, and forums, as well as currents of public opinion on the entire Internet.
“[Goonie] is able to distinguish intelligently between illegal information on the Internet and to help you crack down on pornography, fake and erroneous information,” the company said in a promotional statement on its Web site.
“It automatically detects negative reports, ‘hot’ news events, and forum discussions.”
Zhu Ruifeng, editor-in-chief of the anti-corruption Web site Supervision by the People, said his Web site is frequently targeted for closure or by hackers, because of negative reports about government officials.
“A lot of citizens and ordinary people are going to the forums and posting reports, and expressing opinions of great dissatisfaction with the government and complaints right now,” Zhu said.
“Our Web site deals with anti-corruption, and it is blocked [by the authorities] every day. When they can’t block it, they get hackers to attack it. When the hackers can’t bring it down, we get an immediate notice that it will be closed from the supervisory office,” he added.
Authorities in the Chinese capital are on high alert ahead of lavish official celebrations of the Chinese Communist Party's 60th anniversary in power on Oct. 1, and police have rounded up migrant workers and petitioners and put pressure on writers and intellectuals not to publish anything critical of the government during the holiday period.
Kids love to play. Girls or boys have its appropriate toys to play with. Girls played with dolls while boys played with toy car, toy guns and toy robots. But the most popular toy that kids want to play with is a robot toys.
Toy robot are a toys that played by kids. It’s a toy that looks like a robot, act like a robot and programmed like a robot. And this kind of toy has been very popular for how many years already, for the reason that children love to adore and admire their favorite robot characters they have seen in the television. But, nowadays, toy robots are not only for kids anymore. Lots of adult people are now playing a toy robot as one of their past times because for them it is fun and enjoyable to play.
There are many different types of robot toys, for young kids and for big boys. And the most expensive one are those robot toys who are fully functional that was made with mechanical attached with wires and other circuits. These mechanical toys are played by many big boys all around the globe. And the other robot toys that suit for kids are those programmable robot toys only. It does not cost too much that is why it is really suit for kids.
Star wars is a popular science fiction movie that launch in the theatre. It has been views by many people all around the globe because of its very nice effects. And know what? Even children’s appreciate and like this movie because of its fighting scene with some flashing swords effect.
Since the movie became popular, lots of star wars toys are being manufactured. Delivered and displayed in many malls. And guess what, star wars really hit the highest market. Really admit that because of its popularity, all people love to collect the star wars stuff. Even children and old ones are now collecting star wars toys. Even the price is too high from the other toys; people are still keeping on buying them. And even until now that star wars movie already past away for a years. Star wars toys have been very important to them.
There are different kinds of star wars toys that all people love to have. Just like the most popular one is the sword that looks like with the star wars warrior, their mask and mostly those little cute figurines that looks like them. Little bet weird but mostly star wars fan are the one who collects them and display them in their room.
So, if you one of t star wars fans, why not start to collect now. You might get nothing at the end that you decided to star collecting. Remember its better to get late than never had anything in your hand.
Combining robotics, Japanimation and caffeination, the Coca-Cola vending machine robot is the perfect embodiment of all things geeky. If regular Coke is too sugary for your taste, there’s also a black Coca-Cola Zero robot waiting for you.
Each desktop toy measures about 11-inches tall and features bendy arms so you can pose your Coke-bot for world domination. Did I happen to mention that they both have a little coin slot into which you can save your Yen? And they make sounds and light up when you make a deposit too. What’s not to like?
I found these super-rare Japanese imports over from seller boss61 over on eBay, so you better head on over there fast if you want to get your hands on them. I’m sure I’ll get outbid by one of you guys.
Ryomei Engineering (a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries), in cooperation with two other Hiroshima-area engineering companies, has developed a robot resembling a koi carp. The robot was demonstrated at a pond on the grounds of Hiroshima Machinery Works.
The robot is modeled after a Nishiki koi carp as a form of tribute to Hiroshima Castle (whose nickname Ri-jo means Koi Castle). The 80-cm (31-inch), 12-kg (26-pound) fish has a white body with bright red spots. Though the tail movement is very smooth and lifelike, the remote-controlled koi is capable of moves that a genuine koi is unable to perform, such as swimming in reverse and rotating in place.
The robot is Ryomei Engineering’s fifth in a line of fish robots that includes a sea bream, a prehistoric coelacanth, and a golden carp. New features added to the robotic koi include a CCD camera built into the head and sensors for analyzing water quality.
Sexy is as sexy does... Sega's kissing robot!
If good things come in small packages, then Sega's E.M.A. (which stands for Eternal, Maiden, Actualization and is pronounced "Emma") must be very good indeed. Standing just over 15 inches / 38cm tall, the robot is undeniably female in appearance, actions and even attitude!
Sega designed E.M.A. to be feminine from the start. Unlike other, earlier attempts at designing female robots, E.M.A.'s "glamorous body" (so sez Sega) is curved and creased in all the right places, and by precisely articulating her moveable elbows, shoulders, knees and waist she can (again, Sega's words): "walk like a lady".
Of course, I saved the best for last - E.M.A. has a love mode that turns on once infrared sensors detect an undoubtedly blushing face nearby. The robot will then daintily tilt her head upwards and make a "kiss" sound - "chyu" in Japanese but cute nonetheless. E.M.A. is also programmed to hand out business cards... but you & I both know the love mode is going to get much more use.
E.M.A.'s onboard sensors are powered by batteries and, for those thinking about robocopping a feel, her body is crafted of tough, impact-resistant ABS plastic.
According to the Sega press release, E.M.A. is scheduled to be released in Japan this coming September 26 and will be priced at 18,900 yen (about $175) each. The target audience - adult, according to Sega (and mainly male, I'm guessing) - is expected to buy up to 10,000 fembots in the first year of sales availability. (via CrunchGear)
(Edit, to draft, Slurp)
I swear to god, with my robot obsession, you'd swear I was Japanese. They're the only culture crazed over bots enough to hold me, much less contain me. I'd fit right in — if I weren't 6'3" and teeming with 'merican nationalist spirit. But still, the Japanese deserve the credit for merging automotive culture with the ultra-futuristic robotic stuff. And no company seems to be doing more of that right now than Nissan (or it's hetero life-mate Renault). Enter the Qashqai for the JDM. They're calling it the Dualis and they're marketing it as a "powered suit." Thus, the big honkin' robot that'll be on display at the Nissan Gallery from May 23 to June 13 in Tokyo. After that it'll be at the Sony Building from June 25 to July 1st. So if you live in Tokyo or plan on visiting, feel free to snap some pics so we aren't just stuck with the viral vid we've got below the jump. – Ray Wert
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Smoking a shisha pipe is as bad for people as smoking tobacco, the Department of Health and the Centre for Tobacco Control Research has found.
People who smoke shisha, or herbal tobacco, can suffer from high carbon monoxide levels, its research revealed.
It found one session of smoking shisha resulted in carbon monoxide levels at least four to five times higher than the amount produced by a cigarette.
High levels of carbon monoxide can lead to brain damage and unconsciousness.
Shisha is an Arabic water-pipe in which fruit-scented tobacco is burnt using coal, passed through an ornate water vessel and inhaled through a hose.
Dr Hilary Wareing, director of the Centre for Tobacco Control Research, told the BBC's Asian Network she was shocked by the results of the research.
"Our mouths opened at the level of harm - none of the tests we did showed anything other than shisha is hazardous to health."
Paul Hooper, regional manager at the Department of Health, said the findings made the dangers of shisha a "major issue".
He said many people regard shisha "as not even smoking".
Misconception
Shisha bars, which are typically decked out with low stools and soft cushions to create an inviting atmosphere, have become popular in cities across the UK, particularly London, Manchester and Birmingham.
