Camera-Headed Professor Removes Part of Implant

• FEBRUARY 9, 2011, 4:42 PM ET

By Erica Orden

Bryan Derballa for The Wall Street Journal

At his home in the West Village in December, Wafaa Bilal displayed the camera that he had installed in the back of his head. See more photos.

The New York University professor who implanted a camera in the back of his head was prepared for privacy-related objections by the school and his pupils. What he didn’t anticipate was resistance from a more intimate source: his own body.

Last week, Wafaa Bilal removed part of the device, saying his body had rejected it despite antibiotics and steroid treatments, according to a report in the Chronicle of Higher Education. A spokeswoman for Bilal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bilal, an assistant professor at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, was commissioned to implant the camera in his head for one year by a museum in Qatar, part of a project that broadcasts to the museum and to a website a live stream of images snapped automatically by the device at one-minute intervals.

The 10-megapixel camera was attached to Bilal’s skull during a November procedure at a piercing studio that specializes in body modification. Three titanium plates, each with a post attached, were inserted underneath a large flap of skin on the back of his head. The camera was screwed onto the posts.

But his body rejected one of the posts, causing him “constant pain,” he told the Chronicle. He had one post removed, but left the other two, and intends to replace the camera with a lighter model. For now, he is continuing his project by strapping the camera to the back of his neck, according to the Chronicle.

Though he received local anesthesia during the procedure, he described it as painful in a December interview with The Wall Street Journal and said he was unable to bring himself to watch a video recording of the implantation. The device is “uncomfortable for sure” he said at the time, adding that sleeping was problematic".

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RUMAH YANG UNIK

protes kenaikan harga makanan

Langkah jagat atasi protes kenaikan harga makanan

PROTES kenaikan harga barang keperluan, terutama makanan, yang bermula di Algeria dan seakan-akan melimpah ke jirannya, Tunisia, kini menimbulkan kebimbangan jagat. Adakah ia akan merebak ke Timur Tengah dan seluruh dunia ekoran kenaikan harga bahan makanan dan keperluan mutakhir ini? Tunjuk perasaan tidak terkawal yang bertukar menjadi rusuhan telah tercetus di Algeria minggu lalu selepas bahan makanan termasuk susu, minyak makan dan gula naik mendadak. Namun, sebahagian bahan asas masih lagi mendapat subsidi besar pemerintah Algeria.

Kini pemerintah Algeria, sebuah negara Arab yang kaya minyak, cuba mengawal keadaan dengan menambah subsidi dan mengurang atau meniadakan cukai barangan. Malangnya, sejumlah jiwa terkorban akibat protes ini apabila pihak berkuasa cuba mengawal keadaan. Hal ini menunjukkan negara kaya minyak sekalipun belum tentu dapat mengatasi kenaikan harga bahan makanan akibat iklim tidak menentu seperti bah di Australia atau kemarau yang menjejas pengeluaran beberapa negara pertanian utama.

Tampaknya dunia masih belum jera dengan kesan kekurangan makanan yang mencetuskan kemarahan rakyat di banyak negara beberapa tahun sudah. Antara lain, ia disebabkan usaha sejumlah negara pertanian menghasilkan bahan tani untuk dijadikan minyak pengganti petroleum. Akibatnya tanah ladang dirubah dan tidak menghasilkan bahan makanan untuk keperluan setempat dan dunia. Argentina, antara negara pengeksport hasil tani, telah cuba mengeluarkan produk soya untuk keperluan minyak pengganti di Amerika dan China. Malangnya, usaha Argentina hanya mencetuskan kekurangan bahan makanan lain seperti gandum.

Krisis Algeria, negara yang pernah dirundung malang oleh gugatan pengganas, dilaporkan bersebab kadar kemiskinan tegar dan pengangguran yang tinggi sehingga menyemarakkan kemarahan rakyatnya. Namun, jika krisis begini tidak diatasi dengan bantuan jagat, dikhuatiri satu kemelut lebih besar akan mencengkam dunia. Oleh itu, perlu ada kerjasama antarabangsa dalam mengatasi krisis bahan makanan dan agihannya sebelum ramalan Thomas Malthus (1766-1834), seorang paderi dan ahli ekonomi, yang menilai kekurangan makanan boleh membawa 'petaka' ke atas dunia, menjadi kenyataan.

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CABOCHON RUBY FROM MYANMAR THE BEST

Cabochon Rubies from Burma are considered the best, for one simple reason - their color. The most famous localities for Burma Ruby Cabochons are in the districts around Mogok in northern Burma and at Mong Hsu about 250km east of Mandalay. Burmese Ruby Cabochons are known for their fine fluorescent red color in any kind of light. The red color of Burma stones is often said, to be pigeon’s blood red. Many of the Rubies are bright red and may contain traces of blue or pink. Burma Cabochon Rubies are rarely clean and the prices for Burma Cabochon Ruby are higher than that of Cabochon Rubies from any other deposits.

Ruby is one of the most important of all the loose colored gemstones. With a hardness of 9 on the Moh's scale, loose cut ruby cabochons are extremely hard tough and durable, they are suitable for use in any kind of jewelry. Blue, pink and yellow Sapphire and Burma Ruby are more familiar and treasured than almost any other gemstone variety. At AJS Gems, you will find a large collection of Fine Quality Wholesale cut loose cabochon ruby gemstones

The prices, uses and value of cabochon ruby vary tremendously, depending on the size and quality of the gemstone.

AJS Gems is your source for the highest quality colored gem stones from across the globe, available at Bangkok direct wholesale prices. Your gorgeous gemstone from AJS Gems is sure to impress when set into jewelry, be it a bold mans ring or a dainty ladies ring and earrings sold as a matched set. Our loose gemstones are used to create the finest gem stone jewelry - You will positively love setting your loose cut gems into yellow gold, white gold, silver or platinum jewelry. Discover the thrill of creating your own unique top quality rings, earrings, pendants, wedding sets, or that special bracelet necklace set to be given as a loving gift to that special someone in your life. Creating the finest jewelry starts with finding the best gemstones, and the best gemstones are found at AJS Gems.

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Rumah Termahal Dunia

Rumah termahal dunia

Oleh Hafizahril Hamid

MUKESH bersama isteri dan tiga anaknya.

BAYANGKAN dengan jumlah wang AS$1 bilion (RM3.1 bilion) pasti terlalu banyak perkara yang boleh dilakukan dengan wang sebanyak itu. Jumlah tersebut mungkin menyamai pendapatan tahunan negara-negara miskin seperti Somalia dan Tibet.

Malah wang sebanyak itu menyamai separuh dari jumlah kekayaan yang dimiliki oleh orang Melayu terkaya di negara ini Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al Bukhari yang mencecah hampir AS$2 bilion (RM6.2 bilion).

Namun bagi bilionair India yang juga manusia keempat terkaya dunia Mukesh Ambani, wang sebanyak itu dikatakan diguna hanya untuk membina sebuah rumah untuk kediamannya sekeluarga.

Rumah setinggi 27 tingkat lengkap dengan pelbagai kecanggihan dan teknologi terkini mungkin dilihat agak melampau. Namun dengan kekayaan berjumlah AS$29 bilion (RM90 bilion) jumlah tersebut hanya sekelumit untuk dibelanjakan.

Apatah lagi dengan jangkaan Forbes bahawa Mukesh akan menewaskan Bill Gates pada 2014 sebagai manusia terkaya dunia pastinya rumah ini akan dijadikan penanda aras kekayaan yang akan beliau perolehi dalam tempoh mendatang.

Bercerita tentang rumah beliau, memang tidak tercapai dek akal tentang segala kemudahan yang ada. Rumah berkenaan yang diberi nama Antilia bakal didiami oleh keluarga Mukesh yang terdiri dari isterinya Nita Ambani bersama tiga anak mereka Akash, Anant dan Isha hujung bulan ini.

Keluarga ini dijangka berpindah selepas majlis pembukaan rumah mereka diadakan pada 28 November depan yang dijangka dihadiri seramai 200 orang jemputan rapat. Rumah tersebut yang terletak di Jalan Altamount, di tengah-tengah bandar Mumbai dikatakan mempunyai keluasan 48,780 kaki persegi dengan ketinggian 173 meter.

Nama rumah tersebut dipilih mengikut nama sebuah pulau mistik di Atlantik dan ia direka bentuk oleh syarikat arkitek yang beribu pejabat di Chicago Perkins & Will.

Bermula dari bawah terdapat enam aras bawah tanah yang disediakan hanya sebagai tempat meletak pelbagai jenis kereta yang dimiliki selain untuk tetamu. Di bahagian paling atas pula terdapat landasan helikopter yang boleh memuatkan tiga buah pesawat itu pada satu-satu masa.

Trafik udara

Terdapat sembilan buah lif di dalam rumah tersebut dan bagi ahli keluarga, lif berbeza disediakan. Selain itu sebuah dewan besar, bilik teater yang boleh memuatkan 50 orang dan sebuah yang bertaraf lima bintang disediakan. Manakala di bahagian luar pula kamera keselamatan disediakan disetiap penjuru dengan disertai pasukan keselamatan yang lengkap bersenjata. Di bahagian atas pula sistem kawalan trafik udara peribadi disediakan untuk pemantauan.

Malah dikatakan salah sebuah tingkat di rumah itu mempunyai sistem yang membolehkan empat musim ditukar mengikut selera. Lebih menarik lagi dijangkakan seramai 600 pekerja akan ditempatkan di bangunan ini bagi memastikan segalanya berjalan lancar.

Memang melampau cara yang ditunjukkan oleh Mukesh bagi menunjukkan kekayaannya. Namun baginya, Mukesh tidak peduli apa orang lain kata.

Bagi penulis buku Mahabharata in Polyester, The Making of the World Richest Brothers and Their Feud, Hamish McDonald, Mukesh dilaporkan pernah berkata , “Saya seorang yang kaya, saya peduli apa dengan apa yang anda fikirkan,”.

Malah terdapat versi yang menyatakan tujuan utama beliau membina rumah tersebut adalah bagi menunjuk-nunjuk kekayaan dan kejayaan beliau terhadap adiknya Anil Ambani yang juga manusia ke 34 terkaya di dunia.

Nasib malang yang menimpa Anil pada tahun 2008 akibat kehilangan AS$33 bilion (RM102 bilion) ketika dunia dilanda krisis ekonomi ketika itu telah menjarakkan kekayaan dua adik beradik ini.

Namun bagi penduduk di sekitar kawasan itu mereka melihat apa yang dilakukan oleh Mukesh sebagai keterlaluan dan mereka bimbang dengan pencemaran bunyi yang akan berlaku berpunca dari helikopter miliknya.

Bagi seorang penduduk miskin tidak jauh dari rumahnya, Sushala Pawar yang memperoleh pendapatan AS$90 (RM279) sebulan, cara yang ditunjukkan Mukesh agak melampau namun ia juga sebagai pembangkit semangat untuk orang mencapai status sepertinya.

Namun dengan jumlah penduduk seramai 20 juta dan 62 peratus darinya hidup di bawah paras kemiskinan, apa yang dilakukan oleh Mukesh ini pasti dicemburui oleh mereka yang terpaksa merempat dan tinggal di kawasan setinggan yang terlalu hodoh untuk digambarkan.

Apatah lagi Mukesh mungkin tidak perlu menjejakkan kaki ke tanah rumahnya sesuatu yang dilihat sebagai terlalu bongkak dan sombong bagi jutaan orang yang terpaksa menyelongkar tong sampah hanya untuk meneruskan hidup mereka.

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JANGAN MAIN DENGAN BENDA INI. BAHAYA

Tiger Woods taking hiatus from golf

By Tiger Woods

I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try.

I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What's most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.

After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.

Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.

AIRCRAFTS

HAPPY EVERYDAY

猫咪眼神不好...

这家伙...很帅..也很衰..

条件反射..




夺命剪刀腿..

THE MOST EXPENSIVE TRAIN RIDE

The Trans-Siberian Railway, stretching across Russia from Moscow to Vladivostok, was originally approved by Czar Alexander II in the late 19th Century. Nowadays, it’s used for 30% of all Russian exports and a trip across the country can be made in as little as seven days. It’s also the route for the most expensive train ride in the world.

The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express was unveiled by Britain’s Prince Michael of Kent in April 2007. The train’s Gold Class cabins are equipped with LCD screens, power showers, underfloor heating and individual air conditioning while chefs in the restaurant cars prepare the finest local cuisine. The Golden Eagle takes wealthy tourists and other travelers almost 6,000 miles in 15 days, with frequent stops for day trips.

The world’s most expensive train ride costs $22,195 for a single room or $15,795 per person for a twin cabin.

THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE STAMP

Since the turn of the twentieth century, collectors have swooned over rare and unusual stamps. In fact, there’s even a field of research, called philately, devoted to the study of valuable stamps. You might ask why someone would spend so much time and/or money on a small piece of sticky paper that once graced the top corner of an envelope.The reason is that, like similarly expensive collectibles such as comic books and baseball cards, many stamps rise in value phenomenally compared to other stamps.

One of the best examples of a person who successfully collected expensive stamps is the late Alfred H. Caspary. Almost a century ago, Caspary started collecting stamps… but not just any stamps! Caspary only purchased the most valuable ones he could find. He did this with the intention of investing for his family’s future, a goal many stamp collectors still hold. His stamp collection went on to fetch world record setting prices upon his death with his heirs reaping all of the benefits.

One unknown collector, particularly interested in stamps, became the proud owner of the world’s most expensive stamp in 1996 when he purchased it at auction for $2,300,000. This particularly expensive and rare stamp was printed in Sweden in 1855 and was the result of a printing error. Instead of printing the three-skilling stamp on green stock, it was printed on yellow/orange stock paper. Printing errors have resulted in many other expensive collectibles such as misprinted coins and baseball cards.

Only one copy of this expensive postage stamp is known to exist. The most expensive stamp in the world was part of the first Swedish stamp series in the years 1855 and, in 1886, a young collector named George William Backman discovered this stamp in his grandmother’s attic. Since then, hysteria over rare and expensive stamps has led many collectors down the road to wealth and fortune. With such an easy way to get rich, who can blame them?

Old stamps aren’t the only expensive stamps, though. While nobody will ever pay millions of dollars for a new stamp, Austrians now have the option of buying the most expensive stamp currently in print.

This revolutionary stamp isn’t any ordinary stamp, of course. It’s a lenticular stamp featuring approximately three minutes of footage of Austria’s legendary football player, Andi Herzog. The footage shows the goal that allowed Austria to compete in the World Championships in 1998. It’s even shown from three different angles.

The most expensive stamp in print is also the largest one. It measures in at 6.5 by 4.7 cm (or around 2.5 by 1.8 inches). It can be purchased for €5.45 (around $8.42).