Rubik's Cube at 14,000ft

As if it wasn't hard enough already! Skydiver solves Rubik's Cube at 14,000ft

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:28 PM on 24th August 2010
If you thought solving the complexities of top toy the Rubik's Cube was tough, try doing it while dropping from an airplane!
Skydiving wasn't enough for German Ludwig Fichte, who had to plunge 4,300 meters (14,000ft) in a rubber dinghy while tackling Erno Rubik's twisting challenge.
And, drum roll please, the student cracked the Cube's mystery in 31.5 seconds with 2,500 meters (8,200ft) to spare.

Freefall: Ludwig Fichte plunges 14,000ft in a rubber dinghy while tackling the Rubik's Cube

That gave him ample time deploy his parachute and float safely to the ground.
The student said: 'Solving the Rubik's Cube in freefall has been done before by three people, as far as I know. But I am the first to do it in a rubber boat.'
Now, freefalling Fichte wants to do it again: 'I want to try the skydive again - some ideas would be to compete with another speed-cuber sitting in the boat or solving two cubes in a row.'
For a record, the best time ever recorded for completing the Rubik's Cube is 7.08 seconds.

Missing complete: Fichte finished the cube with 8,200ft to spare

Rocking the boat: Fichte had ample time deploy his parachute and float safely to the ground

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1305683/As-wasnt-hard-Skydiver-solves-Rubiks-Cube-14-000ft.html#ixzz0xa8LBD2W

Monkey saving lives

Busy day for a monkey who saves her cub from being hit by a moped...and then again from becoming a dog's dinner

By Paul Thompson
Last updated at 10:07 PM on 20th August 2010

Even on the dusty and dangerous streets of New Delhi, the bond between a mother monkey and her young is almost unbreakable.
This tiny youngster was struck by a moped while scampering across the road in India's capital, where the animals are a common sight scavenging for food.

Lurking nearby was a wild dog who sensed an easy kill. But just when the baby's fate seem sealed, its mother leapt to the rescue.

Dedicated mother: Monkey cub was first run over by a moped before being attacked by a dog

The mother stepped in to attack the moped driver before gunning for the hungry dog too

In an act of ferocious devotion she grappled with the dog, biting it on its back to drive it away before picking up her little one.

In the animal kingdom the bond between a mother and her young is unbreakable.

 

And as this young Indian monkey discovered that natural instinct is always evident, even away from their natural surroundings.
The small golden haired monkey was left momentarily dazed after being struck by a moped rider while scampering across the road.

Monkey see monkey do: The mother attacking the dog after it has started on her cub

Lurking nearby was a wild dog who, sensing an easy kill, moved in to try and snatch his prey as he lay stunned on the ground.
But just when the young monkey’s fate seem sealed its mother leapt to the rescue.
Using her powerful arms she jumped on to the back of the street predator in a desperate act of protection.
Amazed onlookers in the streets of New Delhi,India, watched as the monkey and the dog tussled together.

Mother scares the dog off and tends to her cub who cowers beneath her in fear after the ordeal

Eventually the dog realised he was not going to win  and wandered away leaving the injured baby monkey to cling to its mother.
The scenes were captured by a photographer who happened to be passing at the time of the incident and posted the pictures to an internet photo site.
The species of primate, known as the Common Indian monkey, are a common sight in the streets of New Delhi where they scavenge for food.
Like other animals forced into an urban environment they run the risk of being hit in the traffic choked streets.

Young Gymnasts

Hang in there: How children as young as four are stretched in training to be China's future gymnasts

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 9:41 PM on 10th August 2010
It's enough to make any parents grimace as these Chinese children are contorted into the most uncomfortable positions.
Aged between four and seven, the young gymnasts are put through a rigorous stretching routine by their coaches during a training session.
One youngster has his hamstrings stretched out as his instructor pins his leg almost vertically alongside his head.

Contorted: A coach pins the leg of this young boy using his hand and foot

At a stretch: Children as young as four are put through a tough training schedule at a sports school in Jiaxing, China

And girls are made to perfect their balance by standing on one leg while holding their other limb above their heads.
The gymnasts were taking part in a training session at the gymnastics hall of a sports school in Jiaxing, in the Zhejiang province in China.
Chinese officials have insisted that tough new eligibility rules will end the type of 'age cheat' scandal which saw a Chinese gymnast stripped of her bronze medal.

Safety net: One young gymnast jumps of a high bar as an instructor holds out his hands in case he falls

Hanging in there: These boys are made to perform handstands or hang from high bars

Concentration: Four young boys watch on as another is suspended upside down from rings inside the gym

Dong Fangxiao won gold as part of the China women's team event at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) decided in February to cancel all results obtained by Miss Fangxiao and the International Olympic Committee followed in April by stripping China of the medal.
An investigation by the FIG revealed she was only 14 when she competed in the games. Athletes must be 16 in the year of the games to be able to take part.

Lion King

One day, son, you'll be the lion king: Father and newborn son look over their terrain at spot that inspired Disney movie

By Lucy Ballinger
Last updated at 8:04 PM on 9th August 2010

Standing tall this proud lion leads his cub over their home terrain.
His mane streaming back due to the breeze, the father looks over his tiny cub as they stand on a barren rock in Tanzania.
The little cub - just old enough to walk - took his first steps following his father on the Serengeti plains.

Incredible: A male lion shows off his tiny cub on a rock at Simba Kopjes in the Serengeti in Tanzania

In a scene straight out of the Lion King the adult lion stood on a rock overlooking the surrounding region, with his tiny cub beside him.
The picture was taken on the Simba Kopjes, a granite outcropping which the animated Disney film drew inspiration from and is known in the cartoon as Pride Rock.

Inspiration: A scene from Disney movie The Lion King

The movie, which is the highest grossing traditionally animated film in history after making £490million at the box office following its release in 1994, is the story of a cub called Simba, who is heir to the throne.
Everyone is delighted by his birth, except is Scar, King Mufasa's younger brother, who desires the throne for himself.
Scar conspired with a pack of hyenas and and manages to send the young lion to faraway badlands while arranging for Mafusa to be trampled to death so that he can assume the crown.
Years later, having grown up, Simba confronts Scar alone at the top of Pride Rock.
Scar begs Simba for mercy, accusing the hyenas of planning the exile and murder.
Simba prepares to show Scar mercy and exile him, but Scar refuses to give up, and the ensuing fight ends when Simba throws Scar off Pride Rock.
He survives the fall, but is immediately mauled to death by the hyenas, who overheard his treacherous accusations.

New to the world: The lion takes tentative steps as he explores Simba Kopjes, known as Pride Rock in the film

With Scar gone and the hyenas banished, Pride Rock is eventually restored to its previous majesty under Simba's rule.
The film, which was also famous for its score, including Elton John’s Circle Of Life, closes with Rafiki presenting the animals with Simba and Nala's newborn cub.

'Pendapatan orang kaya dan miskin terus melebar'

'Pendapatan orang kaya dan miskin terus melebar'

Ogos 2, 10 3:03pm

Kongsi 123

Perbezaan antara apa yang diperolehi oleh golongan kaya dan yang miskin (jurang perbezaan pendapatan) terus melebar dan memerlukan perhatian segera daripada kerajaan, kata Persatuan Penggun Pulau Pinang.

Presidennya, SM Mohamed Idris berkata, dalam masyarakat yang adil dan saksama, pertumbuhan ekonomi seharusnya memberikan manfaat kepada semua.

"Malangnya ini tidak berlaku di Malaysia walaupun sudah bertahun-tahun mengalami pertumbuhan ekonomi.

"Kini kita mempunyai kekayaan aristokrat di mana sekumpulan kecil rakyat Malaysia terlampau kaya (22 bilionair) manakala yang lain masih ramai lagi sekadar cukup makan.

"Malah lebih malang masih lagi ada yang hidup dalam keadaan 'kais pagi makan pagi, kais petang makan petang'.

"Di satu pihak kita mempunyai orang yang tinggal di rumah yang mempunyai ruang yang begitu luas dengan nilai berjuta ringgit.

"Mmanakala di satu pihak lagi tinggal bersama dalam keadaan sesak dengan bilangan sehingga 21 orang di flat kos rendah yang sempit," kata Mohamed.

Menurutnya, statistik membuktikan bahawa jurang yang tidak seimbang kini menjadi masalah utama:

• 40 peratus isirumah di bahagian bawah mempunyai purata pendapatan RM1,222 manakala 20 peratus sirumah di bahagian atas memperolehi pendapatan purata RM8,157.

• 58 peratus isirumah memperolehi pendapatan kurang daripada RM3,000 sebulan. (Pada 2009, kerajaan memutuskan bahawa mana-mana isirumah bandar dengan kurang daripada RM3,000 akan dianggap sebagai miskin.).

• Pertumbuhan pendapatan menjadi kuat hanya untuk mereka yang memperolehi pendapatan yang berada 20 peratus di bahagian atas terutama sekali sejak 1990.

• Perbezaan dalam kalangan kumpulan bandar kekal tinggi dengan tiada perubahan dalam dekad yang lalu.

"Pada 2007, Pekali Gini Malaysia adalah 0.441 pada 2007 ia itu satu perubahan daripada 0.462 pada 2004. Bagaimanapun pada 1990, Pekali Gini adalah 0.442, yang bermakna bahawa tidak banyak kemajuan dalam menangani masalah ketidakseimbangan pendapatan.

(Pekali Gini adalah ukuran ketidakseimbangan daripada 0 kepada 1, dengan 0 mewakili persamaan mutlak dan 1 mewakili ketidakseimbangan mutlak).

"Lebih banyak yang perlu dilakukan untuk membolehkan penduduk miskin bandar dan luar bandar bagi mengeluarkan mereka daripada lingkaran ganas kemiskinan," tambahnya.

"Berada dalam kemiskinan menyebabkan mereka berdepan dengan pelbagai masalah yang berkaitan seperti pemakanan, kesihatan dan pendidikan.

"Sebahagian besar daripada kanak-kanak Malaysia masih lagi mengalami masalah kekurangan zat makanan dengan kira-kira 15 peratus didapati mempunyai kurang berat badan dan terencat pembesarannya.

"Apabila kanak-kanak ini membesar dengan tanpa kelayakan akademik yang baik, mereka berakhir dengan pekerjaan yang berpendapatan rendah.

Mereka terus miskin seperti ibu bapa dan begitulah seterusnya anak-anak dan cucu mereka melainkan lingkaran kemiskinan ini diatasi," tambahnya.

Mohamed berkata, ia bukan hanya persoalan ekuiti bahawa semua rakyat Malaysia perlu mendapat bahagian yang sama daripada pertumbuhan ekonomi negara.

"Jika masalah jurang perbezaan ekonomi ini tidak ditangani dengan serius, ia akan membawa kepada masalah sosial, contohnya peningkatan dalam kadar jenayah. Masyarakat yang adil dan saksama akan berkembang dengan lebih pantas berbanding dengan yang kurang adil.

"Jurang perbezaan pendapatan yang tidak diselesaikan jelas menunjukkan bahawa kita mempunyai masalah struktur.

'Kita perlu berhenti daripada meneruskan model pembangunan ekonomi yang diimport dari Barat tetapi sebagai ganti menggunakan model yang memenuhi keperluan kita sendiri dan memberikan manfaat kepada semua sektor penduduk.

"Oleh itu kerajaan perlu membelanjakan lebih banyak wang untuk pendidikan dan program penjagaan kesihatan terutama sekali khusus untuk membantu golongan miskin.

"Ia juga perlu mengurangkan jurang perbezaan antara pelaburan bandar dan luar bandar dengan memastikan peluang pekerjaan boleh diperolehi dengan banyak di kawasan luar bandar," tegasnya.

Menurutnya, lebih banyak dana diperlukan untuk menjalankan program bagi merapatkan jurang ketidakseimbangan pendapatan yang seharusnya datang daripada golongan kaya, yang mempunyai kawajipan moral untuk membantu sesama insan yang tidak bernasib baik.

"Kami menyarankan cukai berikut digunakan untuk merapatkan jurang ketidakseimbangan pendapatan:

a) Cukai Pewarisan/duti harta: Memperkenalkan sama ada cukai pewarisan (yang akan dibayar oleh orang yang mendapat faedah) atau duti harta

(yang dibayar oleh harta si mati). Banyak negara (contohnya Amerika Syarikat, United Kingdom, Perancis, Jerman, Belanda dan Kanada) telah melaksanakan cukai pewarisan atau duti harta. Malaysia juga mempunyai duti harta sehinggalah ia dimansuhkan pada 1991.

Cadangan cukai pewarisan/duti harta ini perlu mempunyai nilai permulaan yang rendah dan struktur progresif. Cukai ini akan dapat membantu negara menuju ke arah masyarakat yang lebih adil.

b) Cukai Peribadi: Kerajaan perlu menghentikan pengurangan kadar cukai pendapatan persendirian untuk mereka yang berpendapatan tinggi. Sebagai ganti ia seharusnya meningkatkan kadar untuk mengutip lebih banyak dana untuk pembahagian pendapatan.

Smallest man

The man, 40, who measures only 2ft 6in and is bidding for title of world's smallest man

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 1:23 AM on 29th July 2010

A 40-year-old Chinese man who measures only 2ft 6in (76cm) is bidding for the title of the world's smallest man.
Following the death of the former record-holder earlier this year, Huang Kaiquan, from Hejiang County, Sichuan province, has stepped forward hoping to claim the record.
He Pingping was the world's smallest man until his death in March this year at the age of just 21.

Huang Kaiquan, who is only 2ft 5.91in and pictured here with mother Cheng Fuxiu, is bidding for the title of world's smallest man

Huang, or 'short brother' as he is known locally, is only 1.4cm taller than Pingping.
The 40-year-old, who weighs just 26 lb (12kg), the same as a three-year-old, is now hoping to claim the record.
According to his mother Cheng Fuxiu, Huang was born in February 1970. He is the second child and only son and all the other family members are of normal height.
Huang may never have a normal life but he takes consolation from the fact that even at 40 his mother can still pick him up for a cuddle.
He said: 'My mother always picked me up when I was little and as I'm still little she can still manage it.
'All my friends grew too big to be picked up, but I never grow any bigger which means that every day I can still get a cuddle from my mum. 
'People have always mistaken me for a toddler because of my height - and now I'm going bald I look even more like a baby,' he joked.

Following the death of former record-holder He Pingping earlier this year, Huang, from Sichuan province, has stepped forward hoping to claim the title

Former actor Huang, who retired aged 30 after falling ill, lives with his 58-year-old mother in southwest China's Sichuan province.
'He's not so heavy - he's actually lighter now that he's getting older,' she said.
'When he was three we realised he did not seem to be growing and we took him to various hospitals which were unable to help us. People in the village advised us just to abandon him but of course we didn't.
'It got really bad when he was just six-years-old and my husband died. I had the children to raise and had to earn money as well and it was very difficult.
'He has always been a good boy though. He tries to help around the house and he sweeps the floors and does whatever else he can,' Cheng explained.
Huang added: 'I guess I will always be her little boy. And although people are often cruel to me because of my height, it is good to know that there is somebody who loves me.'

Flying giants

Flying giants: Incredibly rare display as manta rays leap 9ft out of water into the air

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 4:32 PM on 28th July 2010

They could be mistaken for strange-looking birds but these creatures are actually manta rays, leaping a staggering nine feet in the air.
The plucky animals, which measure just over three feet wide, demonstrate their acrobatic skills by bursting out of the water.
Once airborne they to flap their impressive fins in what looks like an attempt to fly.

Water leap! A manta ray soars out of the sea a staggering three metres in the air

Somersault: Two flying manta rays put on a display before diving back into the water

And, if they're feeling particularly playful, some even manage a somersault before plummeting back into the water with an impressive splash.

Incredibly rare: Roland and Julia Seitre were treated to an extraordinary acrobatic display

Photographers Roland and Julia Seitre captured the spectacle off the coast of Costa Rica, Central America.
The French couple had sailed six miles out to sea in the hope of catching sight of some whales but were also treated to this extraordinary rare acrobatic display.
Mr Seitre said: 'The males jumped clear out of the water, up to three metres [9ft] high.
'They flapped their wings during the few seconds of flight, before hitting the surface with a loud banging noise.
'Some think it is a way to attract female attention as we saw pairs close by.
'Numerous males take off and land one after another.
'The bangs are so loud it's like you're being close to a hunting party with guns.
'Occasionally one seems to have even more fun by doing a somersault.
'This kind of behaviour is extremely unpredictable and incredibly rare to witness.
'We were so lucky, it was a complete coincidence that we were there in the first place.' 

He added: 'These manta rays are beautiful.
'Their large wing-shaped bodies and slow motion make them excellent sea gliders.
'They not only impress with their size but also with their very elegant flight into the blue oceans.' 

The manta ray is the largest of the all the rays.
They can grow up to 25ft across and weigh around 5,100lb.

Graceful: Looking as though it's flapping its 'wings' the amazing animal leaps through the air

The species are found in tropical waters and feed mostly on plankton, which is filtered into their bodies through their gills as swim.
Perfectly stream-lined for gliding through the water, the manta ray can reach speeds of up to 7mph.
They are often spotted swimming with divers and will sometimes surface alongside boats.