AUTO-BOTS

Inspired by Transformers, Chinese farmers use car parts to make their own models

TRANSFORMING JUNK: Some of the robots are crafted from the grey metal of the evil Decepticons while others are in the red and blue colours of Optimus Prime, the leader of the benevolent Autobots.

A group of farmers in rural China has brought to life the Transformers films, toys and TV series. They have built giant robots out of old car parts.

   The original toys, which were a huge hit with children in the 1980s, could be turned from cars into robots and back again.

   Their popularity spawned a hit television show and a movie franchise.

   In the eastern province of Shandong, they have inspired a range of towering creations, including some in the red and blue colours of Optimus Prime, the leader of the benevolent Autobots.

   Other are in bright yellow, like the famous Bumblebee character adored by young fans.

   Some of the robots are crafted from the grey metal of the evil Decepticons.

   Mr Wang Shizun, one of the farmers, told AFP by phone yesterday: "I watched the movie and learnt (how to make) the models online. So I wanted to make it on my own.

   "We've installed lights in their eyes and some of their arms and legs can move."

   The tallest of creations are 12m high, but flight and the ability to convert themselves back into cars remain elusive.

   Mr Wang and his partner have a staff of 11 farmers, reports said, and OFweek, a website covering China's high-tech industry, said the models fetch from 10,000 to 100,000 yuan apiece.

NOT AT THIS STAGE

Said Mr Wang: "We're thinking about making them transform, but it's hard to make transform into cars at this stage".

   The group has also made other models which seem to take inspiration from various movies and characters, including Aliens, Predator and Star Wars' C-3PO.

   The makers have exercised creative licence, adding their own designs or traditional Chinese elements such as masks.

Engineering marvel, but at what cost?

World's largest solar plant critised for endangering birds because of the extreme heat it produces

MIRROR-BASED SYSTEM: The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System consists of over 300,000 mirrors.

AWE-INSPIRING: The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, the world's largest solar planet.

COMPONENTS: At the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, mirrors would reflect sunlight onto boilers housed at the top of three towers.

MAJESTIC: An aerial view of the Ivanpah plant.

It is so hot that birds flying above it are believed to have been scorched to death

The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System spans 13 sq km in the Mojave Desert, near the California-Nevada border, and it officially opened last month despite strong objections from wildlife activists.

   The US$2.2 billion solar plant, the world's largest, has more than 300,000 mirrors that reflect sunlight onto boilers housed at the top of three towers, each of which is 45m taller than the Statue of Liberty.

   New York City's iconic statue is about 46m from its base to the torch.

   The sunlight hitting the towers can create temperatures of up to 530 deg C, producing steam that drives generator turbines. From a distance, the mirrors - known as heliostats - look like a pristine lake rising from the desert.

   Ivanpah, about four times larger than New York's City's Central Park, is so big that it can even be seen from the International Space Station, orbiting some 360km above the Earth. Although it has the potential to provide green energy to 140,000 homes, it has been criticised for disrupting a thriving habitat for tortoises, coyotes, kit foxes and bobcats, UK daily The Independent reported.

   While measures have been taken to protect these animals - including a fence around the perimeter of the plant - evidence has surfaced which suggests a worrying hazard produced by the plant's extreme heat.

DEAD BIRDS

Biologists producing compliance reports for Ivanpah's developer, Bright-Source Energy, said that at least two dead birds found on the site in November last year were likely to be killed by "scorching".

   They provided images which appeared to show bird carcasses with singed feathers, and while the species involved were blackbirds and warblers, experts have reported sightings of red-tailed hawks and golden eagles above the site in the past.

   Other birds are believed to have died after colliding with mirrors.

   "We're trying to figure out how big the problem is and what we can do to minimise bird mortalities," said Mr Eric Davis, assistant regional director for migratory birds at the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Sacramento office.

   He told the Wall Street journal: "When you have new technologies, you don't know what the impact is going to be."

DOUBT

Though Ivanpah is an engineering marvel, experts doubt more plants like it will be built in Calfornia, Reuters reported.

   This is because other solar technologies are now far less expensive, government guarantees for renewable energy projects have dried up, and natural gas-fired plants are much cheaper to build.

R.I.P. /pol/ ♥1920 ┼2014

Dressed to party

Brazil is in celebration mode as five-day carnival is under way

STAR POWER: Soccer player Ronaldo waving to the crowds at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo.

SPIRITED: A reveller of the Aguia de Ouro samba school performing at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo.

IN THE MOOD: Brazilian model Sabrina Sato from the Gavioes da Fiel samba school takes part in the festivities in Sao Paulo's Sambadrome.

More than a million Rio Carnival revellers put aside bitterness at Brazilain leaders to join the wild festivities on Saturday in what has been dubbed "the greatest show on earth".

Many participants said they had resolved to forget - at least until festivities end tommorrow - issues like corruption and the cost of hosting the World Cup, AFP reported.

   The Rio tourist board said 1.3 million people people joined the fray to cavort as the Marvellous City's oldest bloco, or street party group Cordao da Bola Preta, danced to a raucous samba beat. A total of four million are accepted during the entire five-day event.

   But there was a reminder of some of Brazil's social problems as festivities in the northern city of Salvador were tainted by the fatal shooting of a young man. The 27-year-old victim was shot six times.

   Military police unit also used tear gas to disperse a group of "garis", or carnival cleaners, who are demanding better pay and conditions.

   Rio police 117 people for urinating in public, local media reported.

   Otherwise, relative calm reigned as throngs of locals and foreigners continue to swarm the city centre where 12 elite samba schools will bid for the annual Carnival crown at the city's famed Sambadrome.

   One reveller, who gave her name only as Rosana, said that Brazilians can be optimistic in a World Cup year, despite the country struggling with its preparations.

   "Brazil is getting better. We are a united people who maybe have to break a few things in the system. But not windows," said the 27-year-old, speaking for most Brazilians who are horrified at how anarchists latched onto the recent protests to spark clashes with military police.

Bishop took part in orgy

NABBED: A video of former Bishop Boris, seen in a TV screengrab, showed him having sex with four women.

Bulgaria's church authorities have been hit by another scandal.

A bishop has been forced to step down from his post afteor a video emerged of him taking part in an orgy with four women, reported Britain's Daily Mail.

   The man, refereed to only as Bishop Boris in Bulgarian media, was filmed at a sex party with four women. The video was leaked online and then to the media.

   The former bishop, who headed the second largest monastery in Bulgaria, was forced to leave after being found guilty of acts "incompatible with his office", a statement from the Holy Synod, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church's supreme clerical body, said.

   The former church leader, who was known for his love of cars, women and fine wine, risks excommunication.

GAY ORGIES

The case must now be examined by the ecclesiastical court.

   The report also said that the Holy Synod is expected to rule on the case of the monastery of Troyan, central Bulgaria, where the monks were caught having gay orgies.

   Bishop Boris headed Bachkovski Monastery, which is located about 190km from the Bulgarian capital Sofia. It is one of the oldest in the country and is considered one of the main tourist attractions in the area, drawing thousands of visitors every year. It was founded in 1083 as a Byzantine Iberian Orthodox monastery.

   The report added that the orgy is the latest scandal to hit the Bulgarian church, which counts 80 per cent of the population as followers.

   There were revelations last year that senior clergy had been agents of the former communist regime.

US teens' sex 'secrets' out on Twitter

The tweets are extremely vulgar and graphic.

   But what is more shocking is that they come from high school students in Clark County, Washington State, in the US.

   The Twitter account has become such a hit among students that many parents and teachers are concerned, Seattle news website King5.com reported.

   The account showcases hundreds of raunchy and downright shocking misdeeds involving sex, drugs and even teachers.

   It has been gaining popularity, thanks to the users' anonymity during submission, the New York Daily News reported.

   "It's like the news of the school right now," said a high school senior who did not want to be named.

   "Teenagers use it as a way to give out their dirty little secrets."

   School officials are worried that identifying the students will create more interest in the site.

   Said Ms Debbie Tschirgi, director of the Digital Learning Services programme in one of the districts: "They are thinking about what's happening now, they aren't thinking of the implications. It's all about them being anonymous.

   "Teenagers can write whatever they want to write without being identified, especially in a situation like this on the Twitter account where they can say something and don't have their names published.

   "That's not uncommon. That make them (feel) all the more brave."

   She said parents should make students understand that the Internet is not the place to share stories about sex.

   Said Ms Tschirgi: "It boils down to teaching kids to make good decisions about their own behaviour, their own ethics and their own personal safety."

   Students from one school, La Center, popped up often in the thread, in a contest to see which school is "ratchet", meaning the nastiest or most promiscuous, a local news website katsu.com reported.

   Samantha Adams, a student from that school, said she was concerned.

   "It's really vulgar stuff," she said.

   She said she was worried what the comments can do to people's reputations, including her own.

   "They don't name names, but with the tagging and retweeting, everybody knows who the tweets are about."

   Meanwhile, other students said they were not too concerned by the lurid nature of the feed.

   Said a student: "If it was more of people adding names (it would be a) bigger deal.

   "Now that people post things that are anonymous, you can't even tell if they are true or not."

First thing that happens is relaxation followed by a high tone ringing inside head/ears.

Upon further investigation it becomes obvious once the cycle is broken that you are actually able to realize when an abduction is taking place.

Just now I was being abducted and woke up, looked around to see Obama and Justin Beiber communicating telepathically with one another. I could see the worm hole like occurrence and defended myself with rapid head movement and awareness.

This shit is no joke people. They(ET's) are here and have infiltrated our government. 100% guaranteed I saw shape shifting while they communicated with to communicate with each other and watch me. I t was amazing how frightened they were that I could actually see them. I could obviously see them when I looked up stream of the channel( like a wormhole of sorts that was telepathically being used to broadcast the ringing into my head.)

Wtf guys, we all need to do urine therapy to decalcify our pineal gland and kickout/ exterminate the parasitic threat to our people.

Sexy in-flight video sparks sexism row

Air New Zealand production featuring top bikini models draws flak from feminists

EYE-CATCHING: Christie Brinkley in an upcoming safety video by Air New Zealand, where she and other models show off their toned bodies.

Normally, flight-safety videos can be boring. They struggle to catch the attention of passengers as cabin crew take them through the procedures.

   But Air New Zealand has decided to ditch those boring videos by sexing it up with bikini-clad models starring in their latest in-flight video. The models explain, in a different way, what to do in case of an emergency, the Mail Online reported.

   The video, posted on YouTube, was shot in the Cooks Islands in the south Pacific. Among the models is supermodel Christie Brinkley, who puts in a guest appearance.

   The 60-year-old did not go to the tropical resort island for the shoot, but played her role from her Los Angeles home.

   The video was produced in association with Sports Illustrated to mark the 50th anniversary of the magazine's swimsuit edition. But the preview of the video has already riled feminists who slam it as "sexist", The Telegraph reported.

   Air New Zealand, known for producing quirky video, has been accused of going too far with its latest "highly sexualised" offering.

   Dr Deborah Russell, a lecturer at New Zealand's Massey University, is livid.

   She told FairFax newspaper: "My concern is that as a woman, I get on a plane to go to a business meeting and I am confronted by women in bikinis in what are highly sexualised images. That jars."

   The airline also plans to use the video to promote its route from Auckland to Los Angeles, which offers a stop-over in the Cook Islands.

   An Air New Zealand spokesman said the airline was not concerned about a potential backlash from passengers over the video's portrayal of women.

   He said: "We have been careful to ensure 'Safety in Paradise' has been produced in a way that is tasteful.

   "Naturally, given this safety video celebrates 50 years of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, it made sense to feature some of the magazine's most well-known models."

A school in Minnesota(?) requires students to use safety vests going to bathroom instead of hall passes.

These "shit vests" are definitely disgusting. Those vests will be covered in urine and shit in no time.

How fucking retarded is this?

Video
http://www.9news.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2634941491001

Article
http://www.9news.com/dontmiss/352643/630/Students-wear-safety-vests-on-bathroom-breaks

US seeks stricter oversight of World Bank

Bill passed ordering US member of bank's board to vote against any major hydroelectric project

Washington - The US is demanding stricter oversight of World Bank projects amid concern that the bank has slipped in how closely it guards against violence, forced resettlement and other conflicts associated with the works that it funds.

   In a blow to plans set by World Bank president Jim Yong Kim, Washington recently approved an appropriations Bill that orders the bank's US board member to vote against any major hydroelectric project - a type of development that has been a source of local land conflicts and controversies throughout the bank's history. The measure also demands that the organisation undertake "independent outside evaluations" of all of its lending.

   The demand coincides with a spate of disputes between the World Bank, civil society groups and the United States over past bank-funded projects that have been linked to killings of villagers and forcing people from their land.

   The bank has extensive procedures to guard the rights of local residents and a number of ostensibly independent review bodies inside its bureaucracy. But the growing concerns led Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-committee on Foreign Operations, to make a broad call for stricter oversight by an outside organisation.

   Mr David Carle, Mr Leahy's spokesman, said the senator believes the bank's renewed interest in large hydro projects "is a mistake and wanted to send that message".

   A World Bank spokesman said the US demand was still being analysed and that "we will work with the US to understand their views". The US vote alone would not be enough to block hydroelectric or other projects from moving forward.

   But the Leahy amendments to the recently approved US$1.55 billion for the World Bank's concessional lending arm recommend withholding US funding for the bank unless an outside evaluation process is established.

   They also require US Treasury officials and the US member of the World Bank board to pressure the organisation to more quickly resolve disputes in which "individuals and communities... suffer violations of human rights, including forced displacement, resulting from any loan, grant, strategy or policy".

   The amendments apply to all international financial institutions, including regional ones such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the African Development Bank. But the focus was on the World Bank, and the measure referred specifically to disputes in Cambodia, Ethiopia and Guatemala.

Washington Post