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The WikiLeaks Saga Goes On: New Data Center in Bunker

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Julian Assange
Every once in a while, something big breaks out and the whole world is caught up in the mess. The most recent worldwide source of a lot of yakking is WikiLeaks, the web site that is releasing juicy secrets of the United States government. Whatever you may think of the issue, the fact remains that the hullabaloo is far from over.

Just the other day, we heard about founder Julian Assange being arrested surrendering himself in the United Kingdom. More developments have been coming up – various entities have been dropping WikiLeaks as if it were hotcakes. Financial institutions have blocked funds. Even Amazon has stopped providing access to their servers.

All this has not stopped the controversial site from operating. As of this writing, WikiLeaks can still be accessed – try it by clicking on the first link in this post. How is this possible? They now have a new home in a Cold War bunker somewhere in Switzerland. The company that is providing the hosting services is called Bahnhof, and the physical equipment is protected by 30 meters of rocky ground, thick metal doors, and backup generators from German submarines – among many other security measures, for sure. Here’s an impressive video.

I guess it really is not a surprise that WikiLeaks has been able to find a new data center that quickly. In spite of how controversial it is – or maybe because of the controversy, actually – many international data service centers would probably jump at the chance to be part of this whole thing. Of course, some will not go anywhere near a mile of Assange at this point, but the same cannot be said of everyone.

I reckon we will be hearing from – and about – WikiLeaks for the foreseeable future.

Typo In Cookbook Causes Stir

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My day job requires a lot of proofreading on a regular basis. Indeed, proofreading has become so much of a habit that I do it all the time. Sometimes, the habit actually becomes irritating, especially when I am reading for the sheer pleasure of it.

Still, no one can deny the importance of this task. I am pretty sure that the editing staff at Penguin Group Australia is beating themselves up for a “slight” proofreading error. What happened?

A cookbook dubbed the Pasta Bible has been published and released with a typo. So what’s the big deal? We all know that despite the rigorous processes involved in writing, editing, and publishing books, things do slip by people. That’s why we are called human.

In the case of the Pasta Bible, however, the slip is quite a significant one: one recipe calls for “salt and freshly ground black people!”

Obviously, this one-word typo is simply that – a typo. The implications of the incorrect word and the possible repercussions are quite intimidating, though.

On the part of Penguin, they are downplaying the issue. Bob Sessions, the head of publishing, says that it is nothing but a “silly” mistake, and agrees that the proofreader should have caught it. He further says that “We’re mortified that this has become an issue of any kind and why anyone would be offended, we don’t know. We’ve said to bookstores that if anyone is small-minded enough to complain about this … silly mistake, we will happily replace (the book) for them.”

Tactical Nuclear Penguin: Beer To Get You Sloshed

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Who’s the King of Beers? Americans will definitely say Budweiser, but this time around, the monarch might have to step down, courtesy of the Tactical Nuclear Penguin. This is NOT a joke, buddy. That quirky name just might hit you where it matters.

Tactical Nuclear Penguin is a new beer created by a Scottish microbrewery, and it is being touted as the strongest beer in the world. With a 32% alcohol content, it has set a new record for beers! The beer was actually released in November of last year, but it is reaching the shores of the United States only now.

Think about it, how much alcohol content does that average American beer have? You’ll be lucky if you can get more than 5%. At 32% alcohol content, Tactical Nuclear Penguin has more than 6 times the punch!

According to the inventors of this beer, they were able to increase the alcohol content by that much thanks to a technique that involves freezing the brew to as low as -6 degrees Celsius (that’s 21 degrees Fahrenheit). Since beer freezes at a much lower temperature than water, the process allows for the removal of water from the brew, leaving more alcohol. Nifty, huh?

Naturally, some sectors aren’t happy about this. Not at all. Then again, the bottle does have a warning label:

“This is an extremely strong beer; it should be enjoyed in small servings and with an air of aristocratic nonchalance. It is exactly the same manner you would enjoy a fine whisky, a Frank Zappa album or a visit from a friendly yet anxious ghost.”

All I can say is that I can’t wait to have a sip. Or two.

Chile Gets Hit By 8.8 Earthquake

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Yet another tragedy has occurred. It has not been long since Haiti was hit by a strong quake, and now, another has hit Chile. The 8.8 tremor hit the middle part of the country early this morning, shaking the affected areas to the core. While initial reports do not exhibit damages as extensive as what Haiti has experienced, the strength of the quake has the potential to incur just as much.

So far, six people have been reported dead, although the numbers are expected to rise within the day, when more information can be gathered. Buildings have collapsed, telephone lines and power lines are down, and a tsunami was triggered by the quake.

MSNBC reports more on the tsunami, which can affect other countries as well:

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for Chile and Peru, and a less-urgent tsunami watch for Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Antarctica.

“Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated. It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicenter and could also be a threat to more distant coasts,” the center said.

The U.S. west coast tsunami warning center said it did not expect a tsunami along the west of the U.S. or Canada but was continuing to monitor the situation.

Monitor your local news and online agencies for more updated information on the Chile earthquake, which is classified under the label great. As a point for comparison, the Haiti earthquake was a magnitude 7.0.

Ireland Passes Blasphemy Law

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IRELAND
Whatever happened to the separation between Church and State? I guess that this principle differs largely from one country to another, but I was really surprised when I read about the new law that was passed in Ireland on Friday. Called the blasphemy law, it places hefty fines on people who commit violations. One such violation is to publish or utter “matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion.” This violation requires a fine that can go as high as 25,000 euros (USD 35,000)!

At first glance, I can already foresee questions arising. What is the definition of outrage? What is a substantial number?

Don’t get me wrong – I am a person of very strong faith and religious ties. However, the whole thing about the government enacting such a law seems a little off to me. Atheist groups and other similar entities in Ireland are reacting a bit more – as can only be expected.

A group called Atheist Ireland actually went as far as to publish content on its web site. What they did was to collect quotes from famous and respected people – quotes which can be considered blasphemous under the law. Interestingly enough, the quotes came from figures such as Jesus Christ, Muhammad, and Pope Benedict XVI – all religious icons. By doing this, the group might just get in trouble with the law.
Do you think that this law will hold water? Is it still applicable considering the time?