New use of a breathalyzer

Recently, a group of reserachers from the University of Vermont reported a breathalyzer could be designed to detect a chemical signature that indicates a bacterial infection in someone's lungs. They experimented with mice and their test succeeded in making a significant difference between the chemical signature of healthy and infected mouse breath. The researchers think that people could someday blow into a bacterial breathalyzer as part of a routine medical exam.
 It looks very convenient that blowing into a breathalyzer could let people know whether they are infected or not. No need to go to hospital and wait for hours to get a medical check-up. Just blow into the device and in just a few minutes, we could know the results. A physical examination is a little troublesome sometimes, Wait, wait, wait for all kinds of check-ups. I imagine someday people don't need to go out to do something since all conveniences fill all that. In that case, I fear most of the people in the world are obese.

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/01/a-breathalyzer-test-for-bacterial-infections/

Miss America's first contestant with autism

 Miss Montana Alexis Wineman, this year's youngest and the first autistic contestant ever competing in the beauty pageant, takes the stage at the 2013 Miss America Competition. Wineman, 18, was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder and borderline Asperger's syndrome at the age of 11. She said now she is used to living with autism, but she struggles to communicate at times.
 I want to applaud her for overcoming the disease and serving as a role model for those who are suffering. It is amazing that she does not give up and tries to meet with a new experience in her life. It's like that if you try nothing, you can get anything. I also want to praise her positive mind and courage.

http://www.eonline.com/news/377988/miss-america-2013-meet-miss-montana-alexis-wineman-pageant-s-first-contestant-with-autism

Weightlifter Jang's another dream

Weightlifter Jang Mi ran retires. Olympic gold medalist Jang, 30, has decided to put down her barbells finishing 15 years of hard work. She held a news conference Thursday in Gyeonggi Province and said she wanted to leave with a smile but could not control her emotions. She cound not hold back tears. Jang said, however, that she would focus on helping young athletes in weightlifting and she will apply for the International Olympic Committee membership next year.
 I rooted for Jang this Summer Olympic and was sad that she didn't win a medal. Despite physical limits due to injury and age, she tried her best at the last moment and it made me touched. I respect the spirit of the athlete. Considering she is known for hard works in the athlete's village, she deserves all the great achievements. I hope she bocomes an IOC member and sets a good precedent for other athletes.


http://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1124927/south-koreas-jang-mi-ran-quits-weightlifting

IMAGE from
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2013/01/10/13/0702000000AEN20130110010100315F.HTML

Toilet training using iPotty?

 A new toilet training accessory is going to come out this March. The iPotty that is a little plastic toilet with an iPad holder was being displayed at CES this year. The idea is that parents give their toddlers a tablet to use while they go potty and toddlers sit down on the potty. From now on, babies can take care of business while playing games or watching videos.
 It is a good idea to learn how to pee on the pot while being entertained. Toddlers now learn to play with gadgets before they can speak and talk to parents. On the other hand, I doubt that it is really good for children.  I think using computer or electronic devices at an early age could bring a negative effect on babies because toddlers are in a period when they need to learn how things are going around them , who I am and what I am doing. If I have a toddler, I don't want to buy iPotty to my baby.


http://www.slashgear.com/ipotty-tries-to-get-your-toddler-to-use-the-toilet-11264902/

Kate Middleton's portrait revealed

 The first official portrait of Kate Middleton has been revealed 11 Jan. in London. The portrait that award-winning artist Paul Emsley painted is against black background with a slight smile of the duchess. The painter said he wanted to capture Middleton's natural beauty. In the portrait, Kate wears a green top that doesn't actually exist. The painter invented it based on the different outfits Kate wore.
  Some critics are criticizing the painting, saying the portrait doesn't look like the duchess. In fact,  it is reconizable but looks not that similar. Her expression also doesn't look natural and it makes her look older. Will future generations think her as gracious and refined? I don't know...


http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/01/kate-middletons-first-official-portrait-unveiled/

Following her father's footstep...

 A daughter who lost his father on 9/11 became a cop following her father. Her father served with the Emergency Services Unit for eighteen years and died trying to save people on 9/11. Her dream was a teacher, but it wasn't easy to find a steady job. She then started to dream of becoming a cop and finally her dream came true. Good to see that people affected by 9/11 do not give up and find meanings in life. I've seen an article about 9/11 families that they founded an organization and have been working to create a safer and more peaceful world. Hope to see that dream also come true.





http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/daughter-died-9-11-takes-badge-number-article-1.1229415

Freaky woman's hate crime

 A woman who shoved an Indian man to his death in front of a train was charged with a hate crime. She said she pushed a Muslim off the train tracks because she has detested Muslims since September 11. She seems deranged and needs medication.  Hate crimes are serious and scary, and societies should take stronger measures to curbe these terrible incidents. I think that I could be the subject of hate crimes because I'm Asian and these kinds of thinking make me sick.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/woman-shoved-queens-man-front-subway-train-arrested-article-1.1229427

It's time to move on!!!

 After its defeat in the presidential election, factional fighting has emerged in the Democratic Unitied Party. The proces of establishing the emergency committee and electing the floor leader is expected to be hard. I was for Moon in the election and it is sad that he was defeated. However, it's time to move on, DUP!! DUP lawmakers should think about what made people chose for the Saenuri Party and show nationals DUP is changing and strives to get back their minds. I really hope to see real change towards better itself, not factional fighting.




http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121224000869

A real hero

A dog who lost her snout and upper jaw to save two young girls from a speeding motocycle became an international hero. After the injury, the dog named Kabang was taken to a hospital in the U.S. because vets in the Philippines were unable to treat her injuries. When I heard the news, I was very touched by the story. The real hero ran in front of a motocycle to save her ower's daughter. How loyal she is! She did what most people can't do. There is a saying that a dog is a man's best friend. I love a dog and respect a dog's loyalness for humans.



http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/hero-dog-form-philippines-beats-cancer-article-1.1228569

Helicopter parents got a stalking order

  Helicopter parents in the U.S. monitored their 21-year-old daughter's private life by installing tracking software on her phone and computer. The daughter fianlly got a stalking order against her parents to stay 500 feet away from her at all times. In Korea, there are also a lot of parents who intervene in their childen's lives even if they are adults. I understand why parents do these things and what makes them concerned about. In my experience, I feel irritated when my parents do such things.
Still, as parents have their own lives, their childeren have theirs. So stop helicopter parents!!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/21-year-old-stalker-parents-tracked-calls-web-article-1.1228274

An insulting word on a valet ticket

 A woman in Florida is humiliated after a parking garage employess left an insulting word on a valet ticket. She is an actress and was scheduled to act in a theater. She was busy, so gave her car to the valets. The next day, her boyfriend spotted the valet ticket and it said "Fat. " She was very angry and then tried to reach out to the company, but did not receive sincere apology. This article made me upset because making bad comments behind someone's back is definitely bad... So before criticizing others, first think about yourself.











http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/fat-patron-angered-parking-valet-id-article-1.1229472

Privacy issues on the Internet

 Zuckerberg's sister became angry after her family photo from her Facebook was posted on Twitter by someone else. Someone who subscribes to Zuckerberg got a photo because of confusing Facebook privacy settings and tweeted with the photo. This made Zuckerberg upset. Zuckerberg commented to the public "always ask permission before posting a friend's photo and it's about human decency." Privacy is important and should be protected, but keeping it on the Internet is very difficult. Facebook especially makes controversy about privacy. I think the best way to keep privacy on the web is not to upload private photos.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/randi-zuckerberg-bedeviled-facebook-photo-tweet-article-1.1227618

Another gunshot accident

 Not long after a gunshot accident that made people think again about banning a gun in the U.S., another gunshot accident happened in the U.S. A 17-year-old boy was killed by a pair of gunmen.
One witness said he thought the shooting of the boy was a case of a mistaken identity. It is unfortunate that so many people in the U.S. die of shooting. I heard that Obama administration wants to take action on gun control. Gun control should be executed to protect innocent citizens as soon as possible.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/teen-shot-ak-47-toting-gunmen-queens-article-1.1229437

Outdated bus terminals in Korea

Contrary to what people expect it to be, bus terminals in Korea are outdated and even don't have online ticket booking system. Whereas Korea's train stations are managed by a govenment budge, Korea's bus temnianls are maintained by private bus lines' opertaing income. In this respect, it is natural that bus terminals in Korea are relatively old and antiquated. I have a experience with that. I had to go from Seoul to Gangwon province in a winter vacation and was suprised to see bus terminals in smaller cities. Hope to see soon bus terminals in Korea have more up-to-date images in people's minds.






http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2964648&cloc=joongangdaily|home|newslist1

Ongoing restrictions in China

The Chinese government strengthened its measures to restrict individuals' rights to use the Internet and express their opinions freely. From now on, Internet users should first provide their real names to service providers. China has been notorious for limiting web sites that contain unfavorable contents about Chinese government and stripping Chinese of freedom of speech. It seems unreasonable that a government try to control everything happening on the web. In a democratic society, freedom of speech is a proper right and it should also not be ignored on the Internet. Chinese should get back their righteous rights and can see whatever they want to search.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/29/world/asia/china-toughens-restrictions-on-internet-use.html

Protest in Delhi

A woman who boarded the bus in Delhi to go see a film was raped by six men, beaten with iron bars and finally thrown out of bus. She was taken to a hospital in Singapore for treatment but died unfortunately. Then, the incident triggered people's anger and wide public protests. It is pitiful that women's rights are not guaranteed in India and  many contries, and women are the subject of sexual violence crime. Women are precious human beings as men are, so countries and society altogether should strive to seek women's proper rights.







http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20863707

Poor pickpocket

 On Christmas Eve, a man in his 40s is arrested for picking a woman's pocket. He was arrested by the police who thought that he was suspicous. He was walking slowly in the street and looking all around carefully to catch a right target. During the investigation, he said that he pickpocked because his family didn't want to see him and he didn't even have a small amount of money to buy instant noodles. But in the pocket he stole, there was only 100 won.




http://news.donga.com/3/all/20121228/51899110/1

image from
http://www.giantbomb.com/pick-pocketing/92-1655/all-images/52-303336/pickpocket/51-489900/

Japanese Dokdo scholar dies...

Conscientious Japanese Dokdo scholar dies

A Japanese scholar who argues against Japan's claim to Dokdo died on Dec. 16. He was 83.  Seichu Naito became famous in 2008 after he refutated the contents of the phamplet that Japanese govenment published to appeal to the world about its claims to Dokdo. Actually, I didn't know about him before I read this article and I applaud him for his courageous acts. As a scholar, he tried to keep his faith and reveal the truth although it is against the national interest. He's a real scholar and I repect him. As a Korean, we should be even more concerned about our territory.

 

 

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121224000758

Hotel service by smartphone

  LG CNS developed "smart room service" for the first time in the world, making hotel check-in service more comfortable for customers. Hotel staff can easily handle various and ongoing situations in a real time through a unified monitoring system. Customers can unlock the door and control the indoor temperature and the lights and also don't have to make a phone call to ask something. It seems what smartphone can't do is nothing. Expect what might surprise next....

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121225000123

Warm-hearted donor

Anonymous donor warms the heart

According to the Salvation Army Korea Terriory, a 60-somthing man left a check of 106 million won ($98,300) with a letter that requests his small seed be used for the eldery in need. Surprisingly, the man is presumed to be the same person who put 110 million won in a red kettle last year based on the the content and handwriting of the letter and the bank that issued the checks. This story makes me happy and reminds me of somekind of movie where a hero acts like a normal person in the day, but in the night disguises himself and helps others. If people like this man are increasing, our society definitely will be get better.

 

 

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121211000711