While watching a football (aka soccer) game, you probably don't have a time to net-surf if you are really into it. Google shows this tendency by comparing the volumes of Google queries during World Cup matches against ordinary days.
It is no surprise that the volume of queries by Brazilians significantly drops during Brazil matches. The volume change from Brazil is so intense compared with other countries that it proves their royalty to football. Other European and South American power houses also show huge changes in queries.
Japanese royalty to football (we call it soccer in Japan) is developing, I would say. The fact that soccer is less popular than baseball or American football in US is evident from the dull drop of the queries during the matches.
2010-07-26
2010-04-09
Al Gore called environmental issues moral issues
The Former Vice President Al Gore visited Duke University on April 8, 2010 and gave a talk on the environmental issues. He delivered the audience how to tackle environmental issues and why.
Looking back at what we have done to the environment, he called our generation a criminal generation and stressed that we have to take actions and save future environmental refugees who will be suffering from what we have done. You can't argue that it's OK because we have a happy life now. You have to take environmental issues as moral issues. That's why we must deal with them now.
There was a moment when the audience boosted up, cheering and praising. That was when Mr. Gore talked about the technologies to reduce green house gases especially CO2.
That is to say...
There have been huge improvements on the CO2 reduction technologies. However, they are not good enough yet. But don't worry as we have already gotten the most advanced technology called forests!
Looking back at what we have done to the environment, he called our generation a criminal generation and stressed that we have to take actions and save future environmental refugees who will be suffering from what we have done. You can't argue that it's OK because we have a happy life now. You have to take environmental issues as moral issues. That's why we must deal with them now.
There was a moment when the audience boosted up, cheering and praising. That was when Mr. Gore talked about the technologies to reduce green house gases especially CO2.
That is to say...
There have been huge improvements on the CO2 reduction technologies. However, they are not good enough yet. But don't worry as we have already gotten the most advanced technology called forests!
2010-03-14
Windows 7
Finally, I've switched from my old Windows XP machine to a Windows 7 one running on Dell Studio Slim. I particularly like the new taskbar, explorer, control panel among others, with nice touches on them. A great improvement is seen on Windows Media Player with clean views of the library, much nicer than iTnues.
I connected my old PC and new one through the network and copied all files over, which went very well. The MWP library was successfully transferred to the new PC in this way.
The graphic driver is equipped with an HDMI output, so I can connect the PC with a high-definition TV to enjoy movies and slideshows on TV. The sound comes out from TV, much nicer than cheap PC speakers.
SPECS
Windows 7 64bit
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz, 12MB Cache)
4GB Memory
ATI Radeon HD 4350 512MB
750GB HDD
21.5" Full-HD screen
I connected my old PC and new one through the network and copied all files over, which went very well. The MWP library was successfully transferred to the new PC in this way.
The graphic driver is equipped with an HDMI output, so I can connect the PC with a high-definition TV to enjoy movies and slideshows on TV. The sound comes out from TV, much nicer than cheap PC speakers.
SPECS
Windows 7 64bit
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz, 12MB Cache)
4GB Memory
ATI Radeon HD 4350 512MB
750GB HDD
21.5" Full-HD screen
2010-03-11
CoML not to be listed in Oceans
As already posted, Census of Marine Life, which my lab is involved in, participated in the production of the movie Oceans. The US version, which will be released on April 22nd by Disney, is significantly altered from its international version.
The producer and director of the movie are hugely disappointed with this and hence Census of Marine Life and its funding organization Sloan Foundation have decided not to support the US version.
While CoML and Sloan Foundation are given credit at the beginning of the international version, they won't be listed in the US version.
I haven't watched the US version and have no idea how the US version is different from the international counterpart. I guess the US version leans too much to commercialism. I will report when it's released in the US.
The producer and director of the movie are hugely disappointed with this and hence Census of Marine Life and its funding organization Sloan Foundation have decided not to support the US version.
While CoML and Sloan Foundation are given credit at the beginning of the international version, they won't be listed in the US version.
I haven't watched the US version and have no idea how the US version is different from the international counterpart. I guess the US version leans too much to commercialism. I will report when it's released in the US.
2010-03-09
SeaWorld's killer whale got a trainer drowned
After a show at Orlando's SeaWorld, the killer whale, Tilikum, pulled a trainer into the water and kept him under water to death (2010-02-24).This is not the first incident that Tilikum played a role for people's death. In addition, it is reported that Tilikum showed a frustrated behavior before the show (from CNN).
Jane Velez-Mitchell at CNN maintained (from CNN) that whales should not be kept captive under the cover of science, the realism of which is about profit.
As long as my knowledge goes, wild killer whales never attak human.
While it is wildlife conservation to rescue stranded or hurt whales, it is hard to be justified to capture wild whales to put them on a show.
Jane Velez-Mitchell at CNN maintained (from CNN) that whales should not be kept captive under the cover of science, the realism of which is about profit.
As long as my knowledge goes, wild killer whales never attak human.
While it is wildlife conservation to rescue stranded or hurt whales, it is hard to be justified to capture wild whales to put them on a show.
2010-03-02
MISIA appointed as Honorary Ambassador for COP10
Japanese singer MISIA, whom I am a huge fan of, is appointed as Honorary Ambassador for COP10.
Although I can't say for sure at this moment, I may be able to attend COP10. That means I may have a chance to meet her? Probably not.
Although I can't say for sure at this moment, I may be able to attend COP10. That means I may have a chance to meet her? Probably not.
2010-02-21
Non-smoking in public spaces in Japan
Japan is way behind the US when it comes to non-smoking in public spaces. At last, Japan is heading to this (asahi.com in Japanese).
The most annoying thing while in Japan is a smoke-filled cafe! So many cafes and restaurants still allow smoking with a loose separation between smoking and non-smoking areas or even no separation at all that I hesitate to enjoy a coffee break.
In Japan, you can buy tabacco packages at a vending machine (the regulation on buying at a vending machine is getting tightened, though).
I'm very happy that most US states ban smoking in public spaces (List of smoking bans in the United States on Wikipedia). It's much less frequent in the US than in Japan that I get annoyed with somkes.
The most annoying thing while in Japan is a smoke-filled cafe! So many cafes and restaurants still allow smoking with a loose separation between smoking and non-smoking areas or even no separation at all that I hesitate to enjoy a coffee break.
In Japan, you can buy tabacco packages at a vending machine (the regulation on buying at a vending machine is getting tightened, though).
I'm very happy that most US states ban smoking in public spaces (List of smoking bans in the United States on Wikipedia). It's much less frequent in the US than in Japan that I get annoyed with somkes.
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