Another phenomenon of Carandiru is how it has turned into a "factory" for young rap bands. Many inmates have turned to rap since it needs no instruments and is useful in channelling aggression. Of the dozens of groups within the jail, at least two - the Rap Prisoners and 509-E - have record contracts. The bands are allowed out of the prison to appear on TV chatshows, perform gigs and do promotional work - provided they are accompanied in handcuffs by police and return to their cells by 10pm.Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Inside world's most bizarre prison
»Time:10:22 AM

The hyperbole flowed freely; Windows chief Jim Allchin described Windows XP as “not a system upgrade —- it’s a lifestyle upgrade.”Gates unveils Windows XP
»Time:11:54 AM

»Time:10:27 PM

I will get this:

»Time:6:18 PM

I just suffered a proximal interphalageal joint dorsal displaced fracture, and I will require open reduction and internal fixation likely using interfragmentary pins or screws. The greatest risk will be loss of movement, inaccurate setting, or in the case of external pins, infection. A majority of patients (90%) recover with nearly full use of their finger, with some cases of a shift in position sometimes requiring repeat surgery. The imbalance of the flexor and extensor forces created by displaced fractures will often produce a secondary angulatory deformity. I plan to take vitiman D and calcium and begin finger reabilitation as soon as possible. I am hoping the orthaoligist will avoid 2 palmar articular nerves (mean diameter, 0.21–0.53 mm). Also, each metacarpophalangeal joint of the second through fifth fingers is pre-dominantly supplied by 1 palmar articular nerve (mean diameter, 0.41–0.59 mm), which comes from the deep branches of the ulnar nerve, as well as by 2 dorsal articular nerves (mean diameter, 0.11–0.24 mm). More...
»Time:5:49 PM

Howard Stringer, chairman of Sony America, stood up and said: "Doesn't anyone here think this sounds like a vision of hell? While we are all competing or dying, when will there be time for sex or music or books? Stop the world, I want to get off."

My favorite, though, was that we now live in an age of what a Microsoft researcher, Linda Stone, called continuous partial attention. I love that phrase. It means that while you are answering your e-mail and talking to your kid, your cell phone rings and you have a conversation. You are now involved in a continuous flow of interactions in which you can only partially concentrate on each.

"If being fulfilled is about committing yourself to someone else, or some experience, that requires a level of sustained attention," said Stone. And that is what we are losing the skills for, because we are constantly scanning the world for opportunities and we are constantly in fear of missing something better. That has become incredibly spiritually depleting.
No Escape From Digital Darwinism
»Time:5:18 PM

Research studies show that only one-quarter of Thai male adults keep minor wives, an academic conference was told yesterday.

In a survey of 80 male residents of Bangkok, 24 per cent admitted to having minor wives, said Prof Nongpa-nga Limsuwan, head of the psychiatry department at Ramathibodi Hospital. Results of two larger surveys also estimated that at least 25 per cent of Thai men were involved in relationships with more than one woman at the same time, she added.

"Thirty-five per cent of the Thai men surveyed said they saw nothing wrong with having more than one wife, while 55 per cent longed to have minor wives," Nongpa-nga said.

However, contrary to popular belief, women did not opt to become minor wives because of economic reasons. One-third said they desired the warmth of a close family life that was missing when they were young, due to their own broken families, she said.

Another third said they were deceived by men who pretended to be still single. Others were raped by a man and surrendered to becoming his extramarital partner.

About 25 per cent of minor wives said their decision was influenced by economic necessity. Most of this group could not afford to shoulder the financial burden of their families alone and had to find some reliable source of income. They became minor wives of wealthy men in the hope of gaining financial support.

»Time:11:59 AM

The Nation - THAILAND THAKSIN Shinawatra's campaign promise to allocate Bt1 million to each village has prompted a deluge of applications for village status at the Interior Ministry, an official ministry source said yesterday.
Requests from tambon chiefs to establish new villages have tripled for this year, the source said.
The country has a total of 70,864 villages. With at least 1,000 new villages created every year, the new government will have to spend an additional Bt1 billion to fulfil the Thai Rak Thai's promise.
»Time:10:30 AM

The Nation - THAILAND THAKSIN Shinawatra's campaign promise to allocate Bt1 million to each village has prompted a deluge of applications for village status at the Interior Ministry, an official ministry source said yesterday.
Requests from tambon chiefs to establish new villages have tripled for this year, the source said.
The country has a total of 70,864 villages. With at least 1,000 new villages created every year, the new government will have to spend an additional Bt1 billion to fulfil the Thai Rak Thai's promise.
»Time:10:18 AM