A couple of interesting Newsbites

Some interesting news to prove that physicists are useful, is that a new tank-protection system has been invented by the MoD which is basically a huge capacitor.

Next up is the article about NASA deciding to measure peoples' thoughts as they pass through an airport to see if they are about to commit an act of terror. Feel safe now?

OK, that's it for now, adios

Uh-oh

Feeling thankful that I don't live in East Germany (re: floods), I have just found out that the Yangtze (biggest river in China, where we are starting our holiday by cruising down it...) has also been closed due to sever rainful and flooding in the surrounding regions. I'm starting to feel like taking my umbrella and wading boots with me at this rate. I just hope that in the remaining 13 days before we leave, the water levels will reduce and the weather will be fine again.

Oh, and congratulations are in order to Ana who got her results for the English Proficiency Test. This is the highest level that is available, and it just goes to show that sometimes foreigners are able to understand us (whether the reverse is true, I daren't ask).

Bye for now.

News Update

A quick splattering of news today. Again I find myself in the central city of Birmingham, visiting Nuria and Pablo before they fly off back to Spain next week.

As you have undoubtedly heard, the water levels across europe are still rising, and have now got to such a stage that in Dresden (Eastern Germany) the level is rising by four centimetres an hour !! Fourteen people have so far been killed, and many buildings have been ruined, including monuments and museums. To think that we're in the middle of summer !!

Again, white Zimbabwe farmers have been arrested and others mobbed in order to make way for Mugabe's supporters. This is yet another step to utter destruction of a once beautiful country, as without these farmers, crops will no longer be available to the starving population.

On a lighter note, how do you fancy flying from London to Sydney, Australia in two hours? Well, the machinery to make it possible has successfully completed its tests.

Apart from that, nothing much else happening here. Elena (P) had her birthday yesterday, but what with exams coming up soon, I doubt whether she could enjoy them as she would have wished. Never mind, after the exams there's plenty of time for parties :)

Fin.

Hacking Politicians, Fighting Office Workers and Shooting Stars

If you've looked up into the sky over the last few days, you might have noticed something different. No, not more helicopters rescuing victims from the rising water levels across northern europe, but the Perseids, a group of meteors passing through the night sky at the moment. So get out there now and start making wishes.

Now you remember that film from three years ago about an office worker who starts up an underground movement of fight clubs? No, well get a refresher at the official site. Now, in a life-imitating-art scenario, this movement has actually been set up in the UK for office workers bored of their jobs and seeking something more from life. They call it The Real Fight Club. To get your equipment, have a look here.

In an interesting twist on governments' increased intrusion into internet surveillance, it has been claimed that a government minister had hacked into the bbc's website to change content that was deemed not to be in the government's best interest.

One more point of interest for all you superstitious folks. Today is Tuesday the 13th, an unlucky day for the spanish. Best of luck to you all for the next 24 hours.

Quickie

Mostly sorting out things still, but others are enjoying themselves. Mavi is off in Rome with Daniella, Giulia and Chiara, Jordi is back in Spain with his family and friends, and Andy (whose birthday is this friday) and Helen are off in Sweden or somewhere.

It's not all fun fun fun, though. England is now under heavy rain, so much so that the underground was flooded this afternoon.

Anyway, enough of me, until the next.