1st korean astronaut replaced

Interesting to receive news that the first astronaut for Korea will now be a woman (and a pretty one too)...the first Asian woman on the moon by default. Is this what destiny or fate means in Asia?

Quoting from BBC International:

Yi So-yeon, 29, is to replace Ko San, 31, on a Russian flight to the International Space Station in April...

...On one occasion, Mr Ko sent a training book back to South Korea - something he said was by mistake.

On another, he received a book from a Russian colleague that he was not meant to read, said Lee Sang-mok of South Korea's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Mr Ko was replaced at the request of Russia: "The Russians emphasised the importance of abiding by the rules, as even small mistakes can bring about grave consequences in space," Mr Lee said.

Ms Yi will spend seven or eight days there, conducting a series of scientific tests.

Unquote

leap year

Today is Friday the 29th of February which occurs every four years.

Haha! Traditionally, this is known as "Bachelor's Day" when a woman is allowed to propose to the man she loves. If he refused, he has to pay a penalty in kind like a gown or in cash. Anyway this doesn't apply today as each is free to propose to the other whenever and wherever!

I gather a leap year is needed to keep "our calendar in alignment with its earth revolution to the sun".

The time the earth takes to travel around the sun is 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds to be precise. Accumulatively, the calendar would gain a day every four years!

Happy Birthday to those born on this day!

goodbye 2007

2007 is the year I started blogging. I was somewhat surprised at that I had posted. Hm...I enjoy that variety in my blog.

One thing I didn't appreciate about this blog is the hiccups in getting my blog posted. Even this one has problem when I entered earlier. I do not know if you can view this post, certainly I couldn't. This is why I added this.

It's amazing what one can write and as I read those written from my virtual friends, I'd gleaned much. I must say we are really an interesting bunch! I hope we can still keep in touch through this special way.

Here's wishing my virtual friends a year of wonder, bright and breaming with joyous activities for 2008!

space idol

America initiated American Idol, a program to scout talents in the entertainment field.

Today, in Asia, the Koreans have Space Idol; a program to ‘raise the dreams and hopes of the young generation…to make space science
more popular’ quoted from Kim Chang-Woo, director general for space technology.

...

The president of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Paik Hong-yul, reinforced that ‘…our space program is about courage and dreams. This is above money; it’s about developing as a nation…’ -- for long-term commercial benefits and national pride.

30-year old research scientist, Ko San (photo from BBC), survived a series of grueling mental and physical tests in this televised competition. Becoming the first Korean spaceman, he will fly with 2 Russian cosmonauts in 2008 from the Naro Space Centre situated on an island 500km south of Seoul.

office gossip

Office gossips is one of the strongest undercurrent that affects work productivity and can break goodwill among staff members working together. In a big corporation, this can build up to having factions and blocking cooperation between departments...office politics?!

It was refreshing to hear that whoever gossips or slanders another would be fired -- an office in England. Sometimes gossip can be caustic and contagious. Is there a difference between rant and gossip?

A gossip is talking behind someone's back in a facetious fashion. If this creates ill-will among staff members then it is legitimate as this definitely affects work productivity.

How does the boss manage this without infringing on one's right to talk or let off steam?

In its context, the boss will need to confront the person who has been gossiping or ranting about another and bring the respective parties together to iron out the issue in question. Let the two work out their differences. If one of the two continues, in the event, it is legitimate to fire the respective staff.

If the gossip is against the boss, then the staff ought to consider resigning if he/she did not work well under him -- rather than slandering.

a robot that cooks

Read on China Daily that a retired professor in Beijing developed a robot chef.

Apparently the robot chef was able to prepare his favorite dishes: "...takes only a few minutes for the computer-based robot to cook a delicious meal for me with well-prepared foods, vegetables and meat," said Liu Changfa.

At least 200 persons from his community in Changping District of Beijing had tasted the food the robot chef whipped up and according to one..."food as delicious as that made (cooked?) by a well-trained chef".

What a convenient gadget to have when old and for those who dislike cooking or disabled. No matter, I'd rather cook up something for self...unless going into food and beverage business?!

man's longevity

This certainly makes an interesting read... from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/

Bad habits key to man's longevity
(China Daily) Updated: 2007-05-21 14:52

Zhang Shuqing, a centenarian in Pixian, Sichuan, has his own secret for long life - smoking every day and drinking liquor after every meal.

Zhang, whose daughter died eight years ago, turned 100 on May 7. He lives with his nephew Zhang Chenggui.

Zhang senior said he started smoking and drinking strong liquor when he was in his early 20s. Since then, he has smoked every day and taken a drink with every meal.

According to his grandson Xu, Zhang has consumed 15 tons of liquor and more than a ton of tobacco in his lifetime.

Zhang, who is in good health, has a huge appetite, with a standard meal comprising two chicken legs, a bowl of steamed pork fat and glutinous rice, vegetables and fruit. And he eats the lot in less than 20 minutes.
(Tianfu Morning Po)

fibres from banana tree

How very interesting. After posting the flowers of the banana plant, I chance on this snippet of news.

Somewhere in India, the women would weave the fibres from the banana plant into material for saris.

Naturally this is in the poverty-striken areas and a sari is sold for five times the basic cost in producing one. I imagine the process of turning the tree trunk to fibres must be laborious and labor intensive.

Apparently those who appreciate this kind of material reckons it's softer and nicer to wear.

There is much talk about organic food. Is there not organic wear?

Basically I like wearing clothes made of cotton and silk. Wearing silk cools one in summer and keeps one warmer in winter. Silk of course is not as durable as cotton as after many wash, the material tears. Dry-cleaning is better option to retain its color and durability.

Cotton helps to absorb whatever sweat during the hot seasons or weather. My only complaint is cotton clothes tend to become greyish in color after many wash.

I certainly wouldn't mind trying this banana fibre material. Sari?...I don't know how to put on one! Anyway I have yet to see this.

Will banana fibre material come into fashion I wonder?