The European Union Times |
- Danish magazine faces backlash after publishing anorexic photos
- Japan demands disputed islands back from South Korea
- America Has Been At War 93% of the Time, 222 Out of 239 Years, Since 1776
- Swedish Scientists discover new brain cell types
- German company brings 3D selfies which are little statues 3D printed
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Posted: 23 Feb 2015 07:34 AM PST
 A Danish magazine has got into hot water for using a model so thin she looked dangerously malnourished. The publication had to issue an apology, and also faces criticism for removing negative Facebook comments. Founder of Cover, Malene Malling, appeared on television and social media to say she’s published “magazines for more than 10 years and this time unfortunately I made a huge mistake, which I apologize for.” She also told TV2 the photos should “never have been published.” “In Cover we try to have a nuanced beauty ideal, and we say no to anyone, where we think there is something wrong. We will not work with girls who are sick. The image of the model reproduced in the media now, I would certainly wish not to have printed.” When the channel asked her if she green-lighted the photo despite seeing it first, Malling replied: “There are several issues here. There is the question of whether such a girl at all should work, and it is up to the model agency and the girl herself. The question for us is whether we should have printed it or not. I advocate that Cover portray beauty as being many things. But of course, Cover does not celebrate a beauty ideal that looks sickly.” She added that, on second thought, the picture does make the girl look a bit sick, and that it was her own oversight for allowing the photo to be published, and she reiterated she was “very, very sorry.” Malling insists the girl, who remains unidentified, is just of small stature, and is actually not sick. However, once the hashtag #covergate started trending, criticism spread like wildfire, even reaching political circles. Cover magazine also stands accused of allegedly deleting negative comments from its Facebook page. “I seriously thought that the fashion industry had understood that anorexia is a problem that should be taken seriously,” Tax Minister Benny Englebrecht wrote on Twitter. And Cover magazine’s apologies were brushed off by some users referencing the hashtag. Whether the magazine is guilty of deleting negative Facebook comments is unclear, but there were plenty there, mainly about accountability and outrage. “It is a distorted picture of how a young woman should look like. I am so sorry that it’s come to this, after so many years of struggle,” said one user, who also voiced disappointment that “ultra-thin girls are on their way into the fashion industry again!” Another user quoted Malling’s earlier words: “To call her ‘small of stature,’ is in my world to belittle a problem and just apologize for the sake of appearances, for if she ‘simply is small of stature,’ it makes no sense to apologize for the picture.” One user claims to know the model personally, and calls out pretty much everyone in the comment section for exaggerating and speaking about things they apparently knew nothing about: “So we went straight from terror to the hysteria over a skinny model!?!?!? I happen to know the model and know that she is neither anorexic nor bulimia etc.,-but yes, she is thin, but eats everything. Shame on you!” Source           |
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Posted: 23 Feb 2015 07:15 AM PST
 Japan’s Shimane prefectural government designated February 22 as “Takeshima Day,” as Tokyo calls the islets, in 2005 to mark the 1905 incorporation of the tiny islands. An annual ceremony has been organized ever since to commemorate the day. The prefectural government in southwest Japan held the annual convention Sunday. Yohei Matsumoto, the parliamentary vice minister in Japan’s Cabinet Office, said during the Sunday event that the government was working to achieve a peaceful means to resolve the dispute. Matsumoto also stated that Tokyo will not relent in its position that the islets are part of Japan’s sovereign territory. Officials in Seoul were quick to respond to the statement. They termed Matsumoto’s remarks as “ludicrous.” South Korea has coastguard officers stationed on the tiny islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Seoul calls the islets Dokdo. The territorial dispute along with other issues that stem from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula has strained ties between the two countries. In 2012, tensions further increased after a surprise visit by the then South Korean president, Lee Myung-bak, to the island chain, which is said to have large deposits of natural gas and oil. Japan is also engaged in another territorial dispute with China over a separate chain of islands in the East China Sea. Source      |
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Posted: 23 Feb 2015 06:56 AM PST
 In 2011, Danios wrote: Below, I have reproduced a year-by-year timeline of America’s wars, which reveals something quite interesting: since the United States was founded in 1776, she has been at war during 214 out of her 235 calendar years of existence. In other words, there were only 21 calendar years in which the U.S. did not wage any wars. To put this in perspective: * Pick any year since 1776 and there is about a 91% chance that America was involved in some war during that calendar year. * No U.S. president truly qualifies as a peacetime president. Instead, all U.S. presidents can technically be considered “war presidents.” * The U.S. has never gone a decade without war. * The only time the U.S. went five years without war (1935-40) was during the isolationist period of the Great Depression. * * * Here is a graphic depiction of U.S. wars:  And here is the year-by-year timeline of America’s major wars: **** Year-by-year Timeline of America’s Major Wars (1776-2011) 1776 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamagua Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War 1777 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War 1778 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War 1779 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War 1780 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War 1781 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War 1782 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War 1783 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War 1784 – Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War, Oconee War 1785 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War 1786 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War 1787 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War 1788 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War 1789 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War 1790 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War 1791 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War 1792 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War 1793 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War 1794 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War 1795 – Northwest Indian War 1796 – No major war 1797 – No major war 1798 – Quasi-War 1799 – Quasi-War 1800 – Quasi-War 1801 – First Barbary War 1802 – First Barbary War 1803 – First Barbary War 1804 – First Barbary War 1805 – First Barbary War 1806 – Sabine Expedition 1807 – No major war 1808 – No major war 1809 – No major war 1810 – U.S. occupies Spanish-held West Florida 1811 – Tecumseh’s War 1812 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Seminole Wars, U.S. occupies Spanish-held Amelia Island and other parts of East Florida 1813 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Peoria War, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in West Florida 1814 – War of 1812, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in Florida, Anti-piracy war 1815 – War of 1812, Second Barbary War, Anti-piracy war 1816 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war 1817 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war 1818 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war 1819 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war 1820 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war 1821 – Anti-piracy war (see note above) 1822 – Anti-piracy war (see note above) 1823 – Anti-piracy war, Arikara War 1824 – Anti-piracy war 1825 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war 1826 – No major war 1827 – Winnebago War 1828 – No major war 1829 – No major war 1830 – No major war 1831 – Sac and Fox Indian War 1832 – Black Hawk War 1833 – Cherokee Indian War 1834 – Cherokee Indian War, Pawnee Indian Territory Campaign 1835 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War 1836 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Missouri-Iowa Border War 1837 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Osage Indian War, Buckshot War 1838 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Buckshot War, Heatherly Indian War 1839 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars 1840 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade Fiji Islands 1841 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade McKean Island, Gilbert Islands, and Samoa 1842 – Seminole Wars 1843 – U.S. forces clash with Chinese, U.S. troops invade African coast 1844 – Texas-Indian Wars 1845 – Texas-Indian Wars 1846 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars 1847 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars 1848 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War 1849 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians 1850 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, California Indian Wars, Pitt River Expedition 1851 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars 1852 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars 1853 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, Walker War, California Indian Wars 1854 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians 1855 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Yakima War, Winnas Expedition, Klickitat War, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay 1856 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, Tintic War 1857 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Utah War, Conflict in Nicaragua 1858 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Mohave War, California Indian Wars, Spokane-Coeur d’Alene-Paloos War, Utah War, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay 1859 Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Pecos Expedition, Antelope Hills Expedition, Bear River Expedition, John Brown’s raid, U.S. forces launch attack against Paraguay, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1860 – Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Paiute War, Kiowa-Comanche War 1861 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign 1862 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Dakota War of 1862, 1863 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Goshute War 1864 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Snake War 1865 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Colorado War, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War 1866 – Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Franklin County War, U.S. invades Mexico, Conflict with China 1867 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, U.S. troops occupy Nicaragua and attack Taiwan 1868 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Battle of Washita River, Franklin County War 1869 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War 1870 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War 1871 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, Kingsley Cave Massacre, U.S. forces invade Korea 1872 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Franklin County War 1873 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Apache Wars, Cypress Hills Massacre, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1874 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Red River War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1875 – Conflict in Mexico, Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Eastern Nevada, Mason County War, Colfax County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1876 – Texas-Indian Wars, Black Hills War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1877 – Texas-Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Black Hills War, Nez Perce War, Mason County War, Lincoln County War, San Elizario Salt War, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1878 – Paiute Indian conflict, Bannock War, Cheyenne War, Lincoln County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1879 – Cheyenne War, Sheepeater Indian War, White River War, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1880 – U.S. forces invade Mexico 1881 – U.S. forces invade Mexico 1882 – U.S. forces invade Mexico 1883 – U.S. forces invade Mexico 1884 – U.S. forces invade Mexico 1885 – Apache Wars, Eastern Nevada Expedition, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1886 – Apache Wars, Pleasant Valley War, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1887 – U.S. forces invade Mexico 1888 – U.S. show of force against Haiti, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1889 – U.S. forces invade Mexico 1890 – Sioux Indian War, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Ghost Dance War, Wounded Knee, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1891 – Sioux Indian War, Ghost Dance War, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1892 – Johnson County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico 1893 – U.S. forces invade Mexico and Hawaii 1894 – U.S. forces invade Mexico 1895 – U.S. forces invade Mexico, Bannock Indian Disturbances 1896 – U.S. forces invade Mexico 1897 – No major war 1898 – Spanish-American War, Battle of Leech Lake, Chippewa Indian Disturbances 1899 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1900 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1901 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1902 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1903 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1904 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1905 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1906 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1907 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1908 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1909 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1910 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1911 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1912 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars 1913 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars, New Mexico Navajo War 1914 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico 1915 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico, Colorado Paiute War 1916 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico 1917 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S. invades Mexico 1918 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S invades Mexico 1919 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico 1920 – Banana Wars 1921 – Banana Wars 1922 – Banana Wars 1923 – Banana Wars, Posey War 1924 – Banana Wars 1925 – Banana Wars 1926 – Banana Wars 1927 – Banana Wars 1928 – Banana Wars 1930 – Banana Wars 1931 – Banana Wars 1932 – Banana Wars 1933 – Banana Wars 1934 – Banana Wars 1935 – No major war 1936 – No major war 1937 – No major war 1938 – No major war 1939 – No major war 1940 – No major war 1941 – World War II 1942 – World War II 1943 – Wold War II 1944 – World War II 1945 – World War II 1946 – Cold War (U.S. occupies the Philippines and South Korea) 1947 – Cold War (U.S. occupies South Korea, U.S. forces land in Greece to fight Communists) 1948 – Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists) 1949 – Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists) 1950 – Korean War, Jayuga Uprising 1951 – Korean War 1952 – Korean War 1953 – Korean War 1954 – Covert War in Guatemala 1955 – Vietnam War 1956 – Vietnam War 1957 – Vietnam War 1958 – Vietnam War 1959 – Vietnam War, Conflict in Haiti 1960 – Vietam War 1961 – Vietnam War 1962 – Vietnam War, Cold War (Cuban Missile Crisis; U.S. marines fight Communists in Thailand) 1963 – Vietnam War 1964 – Vietnam War 1965 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic 1966 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic 1967 – Vietnam War 1968 – Vietnam War 1969 – Vietnam War 1970 – Vietnam War 1971 – Vietnam War 1972 – Vietnam War 1973 – Vietnam War, U.S. aids Israel in Yom Kippur War 1974 – Vietnam War 1975 – Vietnam War 1976 – No major war 1977 – No major war 1978 – No major war 1979 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan) 1980 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan) 1981 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), First Gulf of Sidra Incident 1982 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon 1983 – Cold War (Invasion of Grenada, CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon 1984 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Persian Gulf 1985 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua) 1986 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua) 1987 – Conflict in Persian Gulf 1988 – Conflict in Persian Gulf, U.S. occupation of Panama 1989 – Second Gulf of Sidra Incident, U.S. occupation of Panama, Conflict in Philippines 1990 – First Gulf War, U.S. occupation of Panama 1991 – First Gulf War 1992 – Conflict in Iraq 1993 – Conflict in Iraq 1994 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti 1995 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti, NATO bombing of Bosnia and Herzegovina 1996 – Conflict in Iraq 1997 – No major war 1998 – Bombing of Iraq, Missile strikes against Afghanistan and Sudan 1999 – Kosovo War 2000 – No major war 2001 – War on Terror in Afghanistan 2002 – War on Terror in Afghanistan and Yemen 2003 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, and Iraq 2004 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen 2005 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen 2006 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen 2007 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen 2008 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen 2009 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen 2010 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen 2011 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen; Conflict in Libya (Libyan Civil War) In most of these wars, the U.S. was on the offense. Danios admits that some of the wars were defensive. However, Danios also leaves out covert CIA operations and other acts which could be considered war. Let’s update what’s happened since 2011: 2012 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen 2013 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen 2014 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen; Civil War in Ukraine 2015 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen; Civil War in Ukraine So we can add 4 more years of war. That means that for 222 out of 239 years – or 93% of the time – America has been at war. (We can quibble with the exact numbers, but the high percentage of time that America has been at war is clear and unmistakable.) Indeed, most of the military operations launched since World War II have been launched by the U.S. And American military spending dwarfs the rest of the world put together. No wonder polls show that the world believes America is the number 1 threat to peace. Source      |
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Posted: 23 Feb 2015 05:58 AM PST
 Swedish Researchers have discovered previously unknown cell types while producing an in depth map of cortical cell types and the active genes they harbor. Scientists at Karolinska Institute carried out the research with a process known as single cell sequencing, the results of which were published in the journal Science in February. The new cell types were found as the team studied some three thousand cells from the cerebral cortex in mice. The team identified 47 different kinds of cell, including blood vessel cells, specialized neurons and glial cells, and the unknown cell types including a nerve cell in the surface of the cortical layer, and six different types of oligodendrocyte. After the scientists discovered which of the 20,000 genes were active in each cell, they sorted the cells into virtual piles. “If you compare the brain to a fruit salad, you could say that previous methods were like running the fruit through a blender and seeing what color juice you got from different parts of the brain,” said Sten Linnarsson, senior researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics. The fact that all living organisms are compromised of cells was discovered some 200 years ago by German scientists. “But in recent years we’ve developed much more sensitive methods of analysis that allow us to see which genes are active in individual cells. This is like taking pieces of the fruit salad, examining them one by one and then sorting them into piles to see how many different kinds of fruit it contains, what they’re made up of and how they interrelate,” Linnarsson added. “Above all, we have created a much more detailed map of the cells of the brain that describes each cell type in detail and shows which genes are active in it. This gives science a new tool for studying these cell types in disease models and helps us to understand better how brain cell respond to disease and injury,” said study co-leader Jens Hjerling-Leffler. Source      |
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Posted: 23 Feb 2015 05:52 AM PST
 The selfie mania has reached a whole new level, with a German company, offering people to buy real 3D models of themselves. Fifty-four cameras take a body scan, with the image being sent to a 3D printer. The result: A real life statue of yourself! The 3D-printing craze has already seen designers create real life houses and even guns. So it was probably only a matter of time before we would see a technique that would make realistic copies of people. Germany’s Doob company has created their very own booth, equipped with 54 cameras at different angles and heights, which take a full scan of a person. “The DOOBLICATOR is a mobile, contactless, full body scanning system that ensures quick (0.01 sec) and highly precise detection of the human body and other complex surface structures,” a press release from the company stated. People have the opportunity to turn up at one of the company’s locations or they can book in advance to get their own real life statue. However, the service is not only for humans. Pets can get the same treatment. “The statue takes the selfie to a new place and it’s a much more different experience. You could say that the selfie is just another way of taking a picture, whereas this gives you a little bit more insight into yourself. When you get a 3D statue of yourself, you are seeing yourself in a whole new dimension,” said Michael Anderson, the CEO of Doop America. Prices range between $100 and $1,000 for a model up to 14 inches in height. It’s also possible to get a real life-sized statue made, but that would set the customer back about $75,000.  While intrigued, the general mood of the public was that the statues printed by the Doob company were bordering on narcissism. “Maybe I would do it as a gift for someone else, but I would not do it for myself,” one bystander told RT at the company’s printing facility in New York. “You really have to be into yourself and be confident to really want a statue of yourself,” said another. Source     |
