Filed under: Ripped from the Headlines
It’s been several months since I embarked upon “Ripped from the Headlines” and, just like I assumed, the “feature” did not travel very far*. So perhaps it’s time to get this ball rolling a bit better.
Here are some interesting news articles circling the Internet this Monday:
SAfrica stops funding for AIDS vaccine research
South Africa has stopped funding research on an AIDS vaccine, a leading scientist said Monday, even as a major vaccine trial on humans began in the country ravaged by the world’s worst AIDS epidemic.
How can the area most heavily plagued by AIDS seriously cease funding toward this vaccine avenue? You would assume that a country home to millions – yes, MILLIONS, as more than five million cases were identified in South Africa last year – of HIV victims would put forth every possible effort in finding a cure or at least helping to prolong the lives of those affected. But apparently that’s a wrong assumption. In actuality, as the article states, worldwide funding for AIDS research has decreased this year for the first time since 2000. It’s unfortunate, if you ask me. I understand the need for prevention and education, as the AP story notes, but shouldn’t research continue at full force as well?
Barnes & Noble to open electronic bookstore
Retailer Barnes & Noble says it will take on Amazon.com with an electronic bookstore that will allow customers to buy books to read on a variety of handheld platforms and computers.
Ya know, there’s just something about holding a good book in my hand that creates the “reading experience,” if you will. I’m not entirely sure I’ll ever forego turning the pages for scrolling regardless of what media emerges.
German police uncovered over 1,000 pairs of underpants and more than 100 pairs of swimming trunks after catching a thief nabbing another three pairs for his collection.
So is he a dirty, dirty man? Or simply someone trying to save a few dollars? You decide.
Oscar Mayer Wienermobile crashes into Wis. home
The famed hot dog’s Wienermobile crashed Friday into the deck and garage of a home in Mount Pleasant, about 35 miles south of Milwaukee.
Police said the driver was trying to turn the Wienermobile around in the driveway and thought she was moving in reverse. But she instead went forward and hit the home.
Now that’s a 911 call I wouldn’t mind hearing.
AFP/Yoshikazu Tsuno
(Photo) A Tomy employee displays the “Bowlingual” gadget that can “translate” dog barks into the human language.
Wait a second … So I could actually find out what my Sophie girl is trying to say? For real?
Turns out this nifty little device only costs $212, but doesn’t truly translate barks into words**. Rather, it senses which emotion the animal is trying to convey. For two Benjamins, I need a little more than happy versus sad, which any dog owner should easily sense once familiar with his or her pup. Hell, how about I find someone to just pay me the $212 whenever uncertainty arises over how Fido feels?
* For more information on how this works, check out Vol. 1.
** It also won’t be available in English and I certainly do not speak Japanese, nor will I purchase a Japanese translator for my dog translator. That’s just silly!
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A MinD in MoTown 
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Pingback by Ripped from the Headlines: Vol. 2 « A MinD in MoTown | news ohsiam July 20, 2009 @ 7:28 pmI agree with you on needing to feel the book while I’m reading. I keep reading great things about the Kindle but I just can’t bring myself to buy it. (the price tag also has something to do with it).
Kindle, that’s the thing. I couldn’t remember what it was called.
Comment by thatShortChick July 20, 2009 @ 8:31 pmi will never succumb to the kindle. as bad as i feel about how many trees are being killed off for paper each second, i just can’t imagine putting my eyes through any more stress than they already have to endure while i’m on a computer or ipod. plus, i like to see my progress while i’m reading a book, and the way the spine crinkles as it’s being used is so…good.
and i agree with you on the dog translator thing. i don’t want to have to buy another translator to translate the japanese to english!
I love old books, especially. The ones that are broken in and maybe even have that antique-y smell to them. I could never give that up.
Comment by Lys July 20, 2009 @ 11:00 pmAhhh the online bookstore might be useful though for the people far away from the states, like here, because not all books can actually be found here. I usually order pareticular books myself. But i guess I can understand the point, I like going to real bookstores and then buy the books 🙂
LOL at the underwear thief. People are creepy.
Creepy is right! And you can’t get certain books there? What a bummer. I guess an online bookstore like this would be quite useful then.
Comment by andhari July 21, 2009 @ 8:57 amEven for 2 Benjamins, I’m still curious what a dog might be wanting. It’s bad enough that my cat adds urgency to his meows when he wants my attention. I wonder what dogs do.
$200 is a bit high just to appease my curiosity. But if you buy one, can I borrow it? Ha.
Comment by phampants July 21, 2009 @ 10:35 amAnyone would be lucky to have the Wienermobile crash into their house. That’s a story that could last a lifetime!
Seriously! Imagine telling your grandkids that a giant wiener hit the house once? Fascinating.
Comment by Ashley July 21, 2009 @ 1:11 pm$200 for a doggy emotion to Japanese translator? Score!
Yep… ONLY $200. Ha.
Comment by Ronnica July 21, 2009 @ 3:50 pmThe South Africa thing breaks my heart so much. My little sister had an internship in a hospital there, and she dealt with a LOT of children HIV and AIDS patients. Heartbreaking stuff. You’ve got to put more stock in it than that. Education isn’t enough. You’ve got to fight for those who are already afflicted, especially the ones who were infected via their parents. So sad.
Also, I love the doggy emotion translator. I wish it really translated barks. I would totally buy one for Lucy Belle…
That’s what bothers me so much, too. It’s not just people who are having unprotected sex or sharing needles, it’s children and families who are affected simply by birth, and that makes this all the more unfortunate. It’s punishing people who didn’t have a choice is being infected.
Comment by E.P. August 5, 2009 @ 11:58 pmYour comments on South Africa’s research policies are especially poignant given this week’s announcement of genuine progress in vaccine research, thanks to a trial in Thailand.
Poignant, but perhaps not as timely. I hadn’t seen that in the news, however. I’ll have to check it out.
Comment by h.e.g. September 27, 2009 @ 2:33 am