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Chinese running out of names.

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:24:22 GMT

clipped by: BitDrifter
clipper's remarks: "93 million people in China [have] the family name Wang."

In a country of around 1.3 billion people, about 85 percent share only 100 surnames, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Ministry of Public Security in April and published in the China Daily newspaper on Tuesday.

Current Chinese law states that children are only allowed take the surname from either their mother or father, but the lack of variety means there are now 93 million people in China with the family name Wang.

The survey found 92 million people shared the surname Li, while 88 million were called Zhang. A further seven surnames -- including Chen, Zhou and Lin -- are held by at least 20 million Chinese.

Under a new draft regulation released by the ministry of public security, parents will be able to combine their surnames for their children, a move that could open up 1.28 million new possibilities, the China Daily reported.

Tags: china, population, chinese, surnames, names, statistics, data, poll, polls

Malaysian 'stillborn' baby comes alive at funeral

Tue, 22 May 2007 03:11:08 GMT

clipped by: Sorgalim
clipper's remarks: Thanks God!!!

Clip Source: uk.news.yahoo.com

Malaysian 'stillborn' baby comes alive at funeral: report

The father, Azmi Masiron, said he and other mourners in a village in northern Kedah state noticed a tiny movement from the baby as she lay on a funeral shroud, shortly after being declared dead on Sunday.

When my father-in-law placed the baby on the burial shroud, she suddenly moved, shocking about 200 villagers who had gathered for the funeral," Azmi was quoted saying by the New Straits Times.

The 26-year-old father said he had been informed by the doctor of his daughter's death minutes after his wife, Nordewiyana Din, 28, delivered the baby prematurely.

The baby, who was wrapped in a cloth, had not moved during the five-kilometre (three-mile) ride from the hospital to his village for the funeral, Azmi said.

The baby, who only weighs 330 grams (11.6 ounces), was rushed back to hospital and has been placed in an incubator.

Tags: baby, stillborn, alive, funeral, malaysian

Should Chimpanzees Be Given Human Rights?

Mon, 21 May 2007 11:01:35 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: This case promises to be very interesting!

If a chimpanzee can be declared a person, then there's nothing in the way of a person becoming an ape--and I'm not just talking about a retroactive status applied to ex-husbands. In fact, I predict a surge in trans-specied people, who will eagerly go over to the side of the chimps.

This bit is just BEGGING for me to make a GWB joke...but I won't.

Clip Source: blog.wired.com

Should Chimpanzees Be Given Human Rights?

Austrian animal rights activists are asking a Vienna court to declare Hiasl, a chimpanzee caught in 1982 and for use in pharmaceutical research but sent to a now-bankrupt animal sanctuary, a person.

If granted personhood, Hiasl would be able to "accept" donations for his continued care; under Austrian law, only people are eligible to receive donations, making it possible that he could be sold into research again.

The basic case for Hiasl's personhood is this:

Chimpanzees can communicate with each other, make tools, display emotions and have shown the capacity to understand the passage of time. They also have their own culture, which varies from tribe to tribe and helps delineate individuals.

“Our main argument is that Hiasl is a person and has basic legal rights,”

We mean the right to life, the right to not be tortured, the right to freedom under certain conditions. We’re not talking about the right to vote here.

Goodall to speak as an expert witness

Tags: human rights, animal rights, animal welfare, law, consciousness, emotions, chimpanzees, bush

Florida Pub in Hot Water Over Ambiguous Bathroom Signs

Fri, 18 May 2007 02:18:35 GMT

clipped by: cpltaiji
clipper's remarks: So which one do you use if you're drunk and transexual?

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

DESTIN, Fla. — Confusing signs on the bathroom doors at McGuire's Irish Pub have played jokes on customers for years — sending women to the men's room and vice versa.

But the father of a girl who was interrupted by a man in the women's room and Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation don't find the signs funny.

The agency recently threatened the Panhandle tourist landmark with closure for "Lack of signage properly designating bathrooms."

The state took action after the father filed a complaint, which said his 15-year-old daughter was embarrassed and left the restaurant crying after the bathroom incident.

The men's room sign has large print that reads "Ladies" and smaller text clarifying women shouldn't go in there because it's the men's room. The women's room has a similar sign.

Tags: life, law, general interest, bizarre, humor