Yummy Wakame Weblog

Japan Gets Set for the Buttocks Generation
“Japanese parents have been given government permission to name their children ‘Buttocks’ or ‘Prostitute’ if they wish after a bizarre row over expanding the list of officially acceptable names.

Japan’s system of writing, which has evolved from ancient Chinese script, was simplified after the Second World War when the government abolished thousands of characters. In recent years, however, the authorities in Tokyo have been under pressure to reinstate obscure and archaic characters so that more interesting and original names can be created. Traditional ones such as Hanako, a girl’s name meaning ‘Flower Child’, and Manabu, a boy’s name meaning ‘Studious’, have fallen out of favour. As a result, the justice ministry proposed an additional 578 characters for names, but included dozens that most parents might view as poor taste, such as ‘Piles’, ‘Vagina’ and ‘Slur’.”

South Africa honoured with WWF’s highest award
The South African government has been honoured with the World Wildife Fund’s highest award, the Gift to the Earth, for its commitment to protecting marine resources.

MPAs are the marine equivalent of national parks, and South Africa’s allow different categories of use ranging from limited fishing and controlled tourism, to full “sanctuary zones”. Future efforts would have to be directed at conserving substantial components of the continental shelf, extending into South Africa’s economic exclusion zone.

Currently some 75 percent of the world’s commercial fish stocks were either fully or over-exploited and only some 0.5 percent of global oceans enjoyed formal protection.

LATEST SCAM:
“South African student Bronwyn Gower got the shock of her life when she turned up at the home affairs office this month to replace her stolen identity card and was told that she was married. She was informed that her chosen one was Fabian Oshi, born May 1, 1978 who appeared to be a Nigerian national.

A total of 3387 complaints have been filed since 2001 by women who have been married to foreign nationals from Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan, China, India and Brazil who allegedly paid about R5000 (�670) to corrupt home affairs officials for a marriage certificate that will lead to South African citizenship.

The government is launching a campaign beginning next week to encourage South African women to check their marital status at their local home affairs ofice a special desk will be set up to handle the status checks.

Bronwyn’s “big day” allegedly took place in Mhala, a village close to the border with Mozambique and Swaziland, on April 14, when South Africa held elections and all government offices were closed. Because the marriage took place on that date, Bronwyn, was able to get a quick annulment.

Other women are not so lucky. Many only learned of their new status when they turned up to register their “real marriage” and were told that they had to divorce their first husband or face charges of bigamy.”

The full story…

Oh this is hilarious!!

All 25 million households in the UK will receive a practical advice booklet on how to prepare a major crisis, with the nation-wide distribution next month of a new public information booklet – “Preparing for Emergencies – what you need to know”. The nation has been told: “Don’t panic!”, its just incase.

Here’s the Official Website:
www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk

To coincide with the launch of the website and booklets a student has made the following site:
www.preparingforemergencies.co.uk

• YorkShire: Student joker under fire from Cabinet Office
• The Scotsman: Student Refuses to Take Down Spoof Government Website
• BBC: Spoof website will stay online

(Thanks Albear)

Brighton Bloggers Meetup

Well I’m here at the Earth & Stars pub, connected for free courtesy Loose Connection, and chatting to the Brighton bloggers.

So far I’ve chatted to the LOVELY Scarlet and seen her impressive scar (remember to rub vit E into that!), yacked and nattered with Jane & Richard, and also met the soon to be world-famous musicians Andrew and Jonathan. There’s still loads more people to chat to. Will update tomorrow with photos!

The Bedsit Bomber is another great talent I’m looking forward to meeting tonight (at the Brighton Bloggers meetup).

Andrew creates all varieties of electronic music. Influences are: Aphex Twin, Autechre, The Orb, The Fall, Rephlex artists, and Tangerine Dream.

Warning: His music is dangerously hypnotic!

Brightonian stand-up comedienne and comedy writer Scarlet has a really funny livejournal site - proven by the fact that her posts often get commented on in the hundreds!

Her latest post is hilarious:
Ten Opinions I Have Formed About America(ns).
Yummy’s U.S. friends will love this!

I hope I’ll get to meet her at the Brighton Bloggers Summer Meetup tonight.

Italian town bans goldfish in bowls
A town in Italy has banned people from keeping goldfish in bowls.

Giampietro Mosca, one of the council officials, said: “A fish kept in a bowl has a distorted view of reality and suffers because of this. “Also, this type of receptacle generally doesn’t have a filter and doesn’t allow for good oxygenation of the water, unlike in rectangular aquariums.

The new laws come into effect in one week and also ban the sale of coloured chicks at fairs. The use of small animals as competition prizes will also be forbidden.

Mr Mosca said the laws were designed to educate young people about treating animals properly. “The ruling is intended to transmit a message about the correct treatment of domestic animals. In Monza, where we have no less than 15,000 dogs for 120,000 inhabitants. You have no idea of the hygiene problems caused by animals and people living together and we don’t want to see animals treated like objects any longer.”

Cuddle Party
For $30.00 admission, you “explore affectionate touch and communication without it becoming sexualized” with PERFECT STRANGERS dressed in their pajamas guided by a couple of “therapists” (who, by the way, offer “additional private sex therapy services” conveniently on the side). ~ Weird Links

The level of personal debt the British public is in has reached a whopping £1 TRILLION today!
Most of the friends we have here in England practically live on their credit cards, and are proud of their play now, pay later motto. Its trendy to be carefree.

It’s quite weird for us because in South Africa, being in debt is not something you aspire to, or even brag about. I am terrified of being in mounting debt. The worst scenario I can imagine is having a massive mountain of debt to pay off, every day increasing in size with interest as my lifestyle becomes more and more extravagant beyond my income. It seems fun to spend when youre young and beautiful and everyone wants to employ you – it seems like there are decades ahead to pay off the debt. But before you know it you are older. Youll probably earn less than you do now until finally, nobody wants to employ you. This generation isnt even saving properly for retirement. Am I the only one who thinks this is mad?!!

Yup. Enjoy that caviar now, because you’ll be swapping it for soft catfood in your twilight years! Its easier on the gums ;)

I just dont get it! Its not your money to spend. It’s the bank’s money. That gold card doesnt mean youre rich. It most likely means youre stupid! (And a prime target for card skimming – so double stupid!)

BBC: How I shook off the shackles of debt
One debtor told BBC News Online how she kicked the credit habit…