This is a stereo pinhole camera made from the skull of a Tibetan monk.

The camera is named Yama, after the Tibetan God of Death.

This camera has been blessed by a Tibetan Lama and was designed by Wayne Martin Belger for the study of exodus and for the research of modern incarnations of historical iconic figures.

For more on the artist, his work, his philosophy and his cameras visit his website at Boy of Blue Industries.

South Africa has approximately 5.5 million HIV positive citizens.

During her term as Health Mnister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, known as “Dr Beetroot,” said that the drugs used in the treatment of HIV were too expensive for South Africa and warned of possible side-effects. Instead she told the infected people to eat lots of garlic and beetroot.

Dr Beetroot

She was replaced by former MP Barbara Hogan who was one of the few to speak out on HIV/Aids during Mr Mbeki’s time in office.

In the mean time Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has become a minister in the president’s office.

Proving once again that it’s who you know and not competence that is the basis for promotion in any government.

Reuters.uk

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday against using electronic cigarettes, saying there was no evidence to prove they were safe or helped smokers break the habit.

First made in China and sold mainly over the Internet in countries including Brazil, Britain, Canada and Israel, they have grown in popularity despite a lack of regulatory approval, it said.

(Made in China: We all know how well they regulate their chemical trade, especially for the foreign markets.)

A typical electronic cigarette is made of metal tube with a chamber which holds liquid nicotine in a rechargeable cartridge. Users puff on it but do not light it, leading some to use it to evade smoking bans in public places, according to the WHO.

However, they inhale a fine mist of nicotine into their lungs, “plus potentially many other toxic compounds which we are not sure of”, said to Douglas Bettcher, acting director of the WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative.

The WHO was greatly concerned that some manufacturers had used the WHO name or logo on their package or website, falsely implying endorsement, Bettcher said, declining to name names.

The agency was contacting health authorities in its 193 member states to alert them of “these bogus, untested false claims”. Turkey had already banned sales, he said.

Nicotine is seriously addictive which is why the tobacco companies tried to grow plants with a higher nicotine content.

It seems to me that these are just an expensive way to delude yourself into thinking you’re going to quit while continuing to inhale large amounts of the very drug you’re trying to kick.

The capacity of people for self delusion is only exceeded by the capacity of other people to try and profit from it.

I read this on the BBC.
It concerns the Cambodian Midget Fighting League (CMFL)

The fight was slated when an angry fan contested Yang Sihamoni, President of the CMFL, claiming that one lion could defeat his entire league of 42 fighters.

Sihamoni takes great pride in the league he helped create, as was conveyed in his recent advertising campaign for the CMFL that stated his midgets will “… take on anything; man, beast, or machine.”

This campaign is believed to be what sparked the undisclosed fan to challenge the entire league to fight a lion; a challenge that Sihamoni readily accepted.

An African Lion (Panthera Leo) was shipped to centrally located Kâmpóng Chhnãng especially for the event, which took place last Saturday, April 30, 2005 in the city’s coliseum.

The fight was called in only 12 minutes, after which 28 fighters were declared dead, while the other 14 suffered severe injuries including broken bones and lost limbs, rendering them unable to fight back.

Read the article then highlite the following:The whole thing is an internet hoax from 2005, delivered with a straight face by the BBC.

The Island Packet Online: The school on Hilton Head Island has suspended a 10 year old boy for violating their zero-tolerance rule on weapons in the school.

What did he do you ask. Did he bring a gun or a knife to school? No it was something far worse… The blade out of his broken pencil sharpener. His pencil sharpener broke so he dared to think that it would be alright if he tried to use the blade to sharpen his pencils.

How dare he bring such an obviously lethal device into the school. He should be arrested.

Well… Close. There is a police report here. (Editor’s Note: The handwriting on page 2 of the police report is reporter Daniel Brownstein’s note pertaining to a separate story. It does not relate to this story.)

The following letter was written by Principal Jill McAden and sent home with students to parents on Sept. 11, 2008:

Dear Parents,

On Tuesday, September 9, a ten year old student at our school brought the metal blade from a pencil sharpener to his classroom. The pencil sharpener was altered at home and the blade was brought to school. Though students are allowed to bring pencil sharpeners to school, it was evident that a detached blade could have created a dangerous setting for the student and/or other children.

The student was referred to the principal’s office with the blade. The sheriff’s department responded and documented the incident in a report. The parent was contacted for a conference and took the student home. The student went home with his mother and was suspended for Wednesday, September 10 for inappropriate behavior. The School District’s Office of Student Services was contacted immediately and is working with the family to address the child’s needs.

The article published in the media on Thursday, September 11 contained several inaccuracies. One inaccuracy is the implication that the student’s pencil sharpener accidently broke at school. Other inaccuracies cannot be specified in consideration of student confidentiality.

We take great pride in assuring our parents that we have a safe school. We are updating you so that if you read or hear about the incident, you will know the facts.

Thank you for continuing to work with us to ensure a safe campus.

Sincerely,

Jill McAden

“The School District’s Office of Student Services was contacted immediately and is working with the family to address the child’s needs.” –So trot down to the store and buy the kid a new sharpener, and buy him a new pencil while you’re about it. (The one he has is only about an inch long.)

District spokesman Randy Wall said school administrators are stuck in the precarious position between the district’s zero tolerance policy against having weapons at school and common sense.

“We’re always going to do something to make sure the child understands the seriousness of having something that could potentially harm another student, but we’re going to be reasonable,” he said.

The boy was suspended for at least two days and could face other disciplinary actions and this bureaucratic buffoon says they’re being reasonable?????