Arzhou's Random News

Man gets life for lottery ticket scam

2007-11-06T22:54:00.000+08:00

Lesson Learnt: Never Screw around with the State Lottery :p

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese lottery ticket seller has been jailed for life for fraud for taking advantage of a system flaw to cash 28 million yuan ($3.76 million) in tickets illegally, state media said Tuesday.

Zhao Liqun discovered the flaw in the Welfare Lottery "3D" system in 2005 that let a person buy tickets with the right numbers within five minutes of their being announced, sources at the Intermediate People's Court in Anshan, northeastern Heilongjiang province, said.

Zhao, 36, who ran three lottery stalls in Anshan, "bought" the announced numbers many times over.

"He asked his neighbors and friends to cash the tickets at the Welfare Lottery Center and to bring back the money," Xinhua quoted the court sources as saying.

The lottery center found the prizes were illegally claimed and police arrested Zhao in January.

The court jailed him for life for fraud and confiscated all his property.

Shopping cart software

2007-11-04T12:04:00.000+08:00

For SMEs. when it comes to online sales, there are certain features what will certainly help drive sales up, besides having a nice and easy to navigate website. There are several key features, 1) Must have a shopping cart feature 2) Must be able to accept nearly all forms of payments (eg: credit card, paypal)

Ashopcommerce offers SMEs the solution for any e-commerce problems. Their shopping cart software is not simple just a shopping cart feature that you can add to your online store, they actually offer a complete range of solutions which include security features, inbuilt web optimisation (SEO), statisic tracking to monitor shopping patterns and fraud detection. Also if there is any problem, there is a 24/7 customer service that you can approach.

Ashopcommerce ecommerce software covers not only point 1 which i mentioned earlier but it also covers the other point about being able to accept all forms of payments. Just by allowing buyers to pay in their preferred format will often tilt the balance in a buying decision to a yes.

So if you are a SME looking to get into Ecommerce, this could be the solution you are looking for.

TopUsaOnlineCasinos.com

2007-11-04T11:50:00.000+08:00

TopUsaOnlineCasinos.com is a Freeguide to help US Players find safe and fun online gambling destinations. The various online casinos ranked by pro poker and blackjack players, according to bonus size, payout rate, customer support,number of games of games, deposit options, graphics and ease of use.

It also includes top poker rooms and top online sportsbook which helps to cater to different interests groups.

Overall site is easy to navigate and the reviews are very comprehensive, giving you the payout rates and how secure that online casino is. It also tells you what are the games being offered so you do not need to spend time trying out various online casinos, you already know which one to go to. Anyone will find the reviews very useful indeed.

This site is rather useful for those interested in online gambling.

Smorty.com

2007-11-02T18:35:00.000+08:00

This blogged just gotten approved by Smorty.com!!!

What exactly is this service about? Is it another advertising service? Well Smorty is a service connecting advertisers with bloggers. Advertisers can pay bloggers to write opinion posts with links back to the advertisers site. Yup so bloggers get paid to blog about a varierty of topics that they might be interested in. Best part you are allowed to write your opinion on it, that means you do not have to be dishonest or anything.

What other benefits does Smorty provide compared to other sites that do about the same thing? Well they will email you about opportunities you do not need to check their website daily, you only go when you know there is something to be blogged about. Also their user interface is really easy to use and loads really really fast. Also you can reserve a job for 3 days while you review the advertiser's product or website. Hence no one loses out on jobs cos they have too slow an internet connection or they are not around at the right time!

So what are you waiting for, sign up with Smorty and blog for money

He's not undead, just unsober...

2007-10-30T01:47:00.000+08:00

LOL! this is really funny, looks like that guy should get an award for ultra realistic costume!

BERLIN (Reuters) - Passengers on a German train mistook a Halloween reveler dressed up as a gore-covered zombie for a murder victim and called the police.

The 24-year-old man fell into a drunken slumber on his way home from a Halloween party in Hamburg, police in the northern town of Bad Segeberg said Monday.

Believing his hands and face were smeared with blood, passengers alerted police after getting no response from him.

A first aid team called to the scene soon cleared up the confusion. Police told the man to remove his make-up after which he was allowed to continue his journey.

"Bad Segeberg is in a rural area and Halloween isn't very well known there," police spokeswoman Silke Tobies said. "So people weren't expecting anyone to be dressed up in the train."

Finding the Right Cartridge for your Printer

2007-10-28T05:15:00.000+08:00

Running an office can be quite a logistical nightmare. You have to ensure there is sufficient stationaries etc etc..

The worst problem is probably running out of ink for your printer, fax or copier. No office can function without there 3 essential equipment, so it would be in your best interest to ensure a constant supply of ink.

Now its not as simple as just heading down to the nearest Wal-mart. Problems arise when manufacturers change the serial numbers or when there is a merger, resulting in a name change and you never knew about it. It can get pretty messy.

Cartridge Finder helps you to source for not only the appropriate cartridge you can use with your fax, printer or copier, but it also checks pricegrabber.com. Thus you will know where to get the best deal, this helps lowers the operating cost of your office! This is a good 2 fold benefit, you get to cut cost and also have easy access to printer catridges.

*this has been a sponsored post*

Go Karter Stuns Police

2007-10-28T05:11:00.000+08:00

BERLIN (Reuters) - A teen-ager speeding through a German town in a go-kart with seven squad cars in hot pursuit managed to give the frustrated officers the slip, police said on Friday.

After leading the convoy on a 5-km (3-mile) chase through the winding streets of Moenchengladbach, the 18-year-old driver spotted a private garage with an open door, where he decided to lie low, police said.

"We were chasing him across town, but the squad cars couldn't keep up because the go-cart was able to take the corners faster and he was able to get away," police spokesman Willy Thevissen said.

However, police later discovered his hiding place. He was questioned and charged with driving without a license and driving a go-kart on a public street, which is not permitted in Germany.

"He told us he knew driving a go-cart on the street is illegal," the spokesman said. "But he had purchased the vehicle from a friend and said he had no other way of getting it home."

Moenchengladbach has produced two Formula One racing drivers. Both Nick Heidfeld of the BMW Sauber ream and former racer Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who retired in 2003, were born there.

Travelling to France

2007-10-28T04:19:00.000+08:00

After graduation, I do believe I would like to go backpacking around the world, or perhaps due to budget reasons I will probably just head to Europe as that is an area I have yet to visit. Now when backpacking, cost of lodging is always crucial, after all it will probably make up the bulk of my expenses aside from transportation.

Surfing around, I found this website talking about cheap hotels in france. Well I do believe France is not a really cheap or low cost destination, so any forms of cost savings would be great. Especially cheap hotels. With this website cheaperthanhotels.com. I believe that it is possible to find a good cheap deal on accommodations to suit my needs. They seem to have a range of hotels to meet different requirements.

Another feature which is appealing is last minute deals. If you have a flexible schedule, it could be a good option where you can get a hotel at a much cheaper rate or with some freebies.

So if you are travelling to France, do check cheaperthanhotels.com.

Interested in Stocks

2007-08-16T02:20:00.000+08:00

It seems that these days, people around me are rather interested in stocks and shares. Personally I do not play with stocks and shares, but it is interesting to observe how it works. I was searching around and happened to see this blog on stocks and trading called the Wizetrade Blog.So what is this about? Well, Wizetrade is a is a powerful stock trading software program and stock research tool.

Its blog provides many useful hints and tips with regards to trading, like advice for beginners, when to pull out of a trade, what to look out for when making decisions. Really useful stuff for newbies or even season traders. From this blog you will be able to see cool videos on trading, news on the wizetrade product, tips and tricks into trading. So why not take a look at the site?

*Disclaimer: this has been a sponsored post*

Wow fake dentist caught only after 29 years

2007-08-16T02:15:00.000+08:00

Wow its amazing how long he was able to pull this off.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian police have arrested a man who practiced as a dentist for 29 years although he had no medical training and treated patients at his home in a cast-off examining chair.

The impostor's closest brush with the dental profession was during the years 1962 to 1978, when he assisted an army dentist by carrying his bag on visits to plantation workers' homes, the New Straits Times reported Wednesday.

"I watched the doctor diagnose and treat problems with teeth," the paper quoted the unidentified man as saying when officials raided his home this week.

"I also saw how he would extract teeth and make models and measurements for dentures."

The 63-year-old man, who convinced his neighbors he was a retired army dentist after being told he was too old to work as a dentist's assistant, charged 20 ringgit ($5.76) for extractions and 130 ringgit for dentures, the paper said.

Health officials seized antibiotics, painkillers, syringes and bottles of Chinese medicine during the raid, but they needed more than six men to carry off his 1940s-era examining chair, tossed away by the Malaysian army in 1978. The paper said the raid occurred after a tip-off.

The man has been arrested for illegally practicing dentistry and will face charges under Malaysia's private healthcare facilities and services act. He could face a fine of up to 30,000 ringgit or a six-year jail term, or both.

He did provide one unique service, however. "I also make house visits," he told the paper.

Super Bad Clips?

2007-08-01T16:12:00.000+08:00

Hmmm there is a new movie in town called Superbad. What exactly is it about? It is the latest comedy offering to hit the box office. Two rather... Socially inept boy are about to graduate from high school and enter college. Now the problem is that these two are really dependent on each other. One is your typical nice guy who seems to be terrified of anything. The other is just a foul mouth. Together they make a great pair, but the problem is that they got into different colleges! This is the story of them trying to reverse their luck with the ladies... all I can say is GOOD LUCK, they will need it... seriously. The name of the movie is SO apt.. SUPERBAD (I meant the situation the guys are in, not the movie is superbad... bah you know what i mean)

Anyway the producers of Superbad are attempting a TAKEOVER of youtube today by pushing all the superbad clips on you tube all the way to the top! Sounds like an interesting attempt. So this is what you guys can do to help:

1. Check out exclusive clips on:
http://www.SuperbadClips.com

2. visit:
http://www.youtube.com
On 8/1 to watch the 5 Superbad videos.

3. visit:
http://www.AreYouSuperbad.com
For ringtones and downloadables (wallpaper and buddy icons).

Superbad

Japan study finds coffee may prevent colon cancer

2007-07-30T16:32:00.000+08:00

This might just be the perfect news for coffee lovers all over the world!

TOKYO (Reuters) - Drinking three or more cups of coffee a day may cut the risk of colon cancer in women by half, according to a study by Japanese scientists.

Researchers from Tokyo's National Cancer Center studied data from more than 96,000 men and women aged between 40-69 over a period of up to 12 years from 1990, a member of the team said on Wednesday. They found no significant benefit in men.

Even after adjusting for other factors including diet and exercise, they found that women who drank three or more cups of coffee a day had half the risk of developing colon cancer, compared with those who drank no coffee at all.

The researchers, whose findings have been published in the International Journal of Cancer, did not find any link between consumption of green tea and colon cancer.

"In Japan, almost all the male population drinks alcohol and there are a large number of smokers," said Manami Inoue of the research team. "There may be some benefit from coffee for men, but it may be that we were unable to adjust for these factors."

The mechanism by which coffee may prevent cancer is unknown, Inoue said. The caffeine it contains could stimulate the working of the colon, or the effect could be due to coffee's antioxidant properties, she said.

"Some people cannot tolerate caffeine, so they should not force themselves to drink coffee. But for people who like it, there is no reason to give it up," Inoue said.

The Future of Hockey

2007-07-26T02:01:00.000+08:00

When I think of hockey, I think about the good old days when i was back in the states where there was ICE HOCKEY. There it was called NHL or national hockey league. Being from Philadelphia, I supported the flyers... man they were not that good....

Well good thing in american sporting leagues, if the team had a bloody lousy season like the flyers, they get to have the higher picks in the annual hockey draft. This ensures that the rookies with the most potential will go to the weakest team to balance everything out.

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/nhl_entry_draft/ - hockey

At Hockey Future, they not only anaylse the individual players entering the draft, but also whether or not they will have an overall impact on the team that has selected them. It gives readers great insight into new prospects entering the leagues.

*this has been a sponsored post*

Once again, this blog has moved!

2007-07-24T00:45:00.000+08:00

Yea I just love to keep posting this fact, I have moved the blog to arzhou.com. Pls update any bookmarks or blogrolls. Cheers!

Chinese dubious of "fake" cardboard bun report

2007-07-24T00:43:00.000+08:00

Lots of funny rumours going around, hard to tell if this is now real or not...

By John Ruwitch

BEIJING (Reuters) - When the Chinese government said scandalous TV footage of a Beijing snack vendor stuffing steamed buns with flavored cardboard was a hoax, some quipped that even the news in China is fake.

But since the authorities detained hidden-camera-wielding reporter Zi Beijia and a handful of others last week, many ordinary Chinese have said they doubt the government's line and believe the story of the cardboard "baozi", as the buns are called in Mandarin.

True or not, the original report came at a sensitive time, with China under mounting pressure from abroad over food and product safety scandals and just days after the government blasted foreign media for blowing the story out of proportion. Full article

BP vs Chicago Tribune

2007-07-24T00:32:00.000+08:00

With all the recent hype about environmental issues, it is no surprise that we will see reports regarding the environment. In fact, recently the Chicago Tribune just ran an article about BP polluting the environment. Now we cannot just have 1 side of the story right? So BP has published a paper regarding how they are minimizing pollution. They have also included their plant Fact Sheet right here. Ultimately it is up to you the reader to decide for yourselves what is right and what is wrong. However we have to look at both sides of the story.

Here are some of the key points from the paper:

1) Only treated water is released into Lake Michigan, in fact it is more than 99.9% water — not sludge. All sludge is treated separately, according to state and federal requirements, and never discharged into Lake Michigan.

2) Energy security and diversity: BP plans to spend more than $3 billion to modernize
the Whiting Refinery to process additional heavy crude oil from Canada, a secure and
reliable source.

3) Modern technology: BP operate a modern wastewater plant in Whiting today and plan
to invest about $150 million to enhance the refinery’s wastewater treatment capability.

Full article can be found Here

Milan to impose "pollution charge" on cars

2007-07-22T01:03:00.000+08:00

Nice move by the city of Milan, not only does it protect the environment.... it makes money!

MILAN (Reuters) - Milan will impose a "pollution charge" on vehicles entering its historic centre to try to halve exhaust emissions, the mayor's office said on its Web site.

The 10-euro ($14) daily charge will be aimed at the 89,000 vehicles which enter the centre during weekday daytime hours.

"Today we have approved an important measure for the protection of the environment and citizens' health," Mayor Letizia Moratti said.

The charge was approved by city council leaders on Friday and will be carried out on a trial basis for a year. Corriere della Sera newspaper quoted Moratti as saying the measures could start later this year.

Dating for Goths

2007-07-22T00:46:00.000+08:00

Are you a Goth, Goth-wannabe or a closet goth? Having trouble finding a date because people think you are “weird”, “odd” or just not their type? Unable to find the Gothic Love of your life?

Well gothic dating is a dating website targeting at a niche crowd, in this case, people who are into the Gothic Subculture. Normally online dating websites just target a mass audience, but not in this case. This time when you view a personal on this site, you already know the person would probably have the same interest or interests as you (assuming you are goth). You can view photos, profiles and the contact them if you are interested.

Pupils browse porn on donated laptops

2007-07-21T00:49:00.000+08:00

Its rather sad to see a plan with such good intentions go awry.

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian schoolchildren who received laptops from a U.S. aid organization have used them to explore pornographic sites on the Internet, the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Thursday.

NAN said its reporter had seen pornographic images stored on several of the children's laptops.

"Efforts to promote learning with laptops in a primary school in Abuja have gone awry as the pupils freely browse adult sites with explicit sexual materials," NAN said.

A representative of the One Laptop Per Child aid group was quoted as saying that the computers, part of a pilot scheme, would now be fitted with filters.

Need a Friend?

2007-07-05T07:25:00.000+08:00

Sometimes we would love to know more people, meet more friends, get to know more contacts or just find that special someone. In this modern day and age it is often quite hard due to work.

That is where to benefits of an online searchsite like FriendFinder come in. You can search for people in the benefits of your own home at your own time. Futhermore being online, makes it easier to approach new people just by sending them a message. It helps people break out of thei shyness. As I go over their site I found a few distinct advantages it has. Firstly the user interface is intuitive, there is no problem at all figuring out what to do or where to go, its so obvious. The website is not cluttered and is pleasing to view. Best part is the first thing they show are the potential people you can get to meet from your country, not some random person from their database. This shows relavance as you know that there are people from your country who signed up with the service, not just you. Also if you have no idea what to do or how to approach someone, fellow members are around to shell out some good advice, now this is good as there is participation from the community!

Drunk takes a free bike ride on car roof

2007-07-05T07:20:00.000+08:00

I wonder how in the world did they NOT even see him when getting into their car.... good thing the police did not check the car owner for drink driving. Bet he was drunk

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Police officers in the Dutch city of Alkmaar were surprised to see a car passing by with a man sitting on a bicycle on its roof.

The driver and his wife, when stopped by the police, said they heard a noise while waiting at a traffic light, but did not realize they were taking on an extra passenger.

The 26 year-old man who took the free ride was fined for public drunkenness, not carrying an identity card and providing a false identity to the police.

Looking for bed cover?

2007-06-27T00:08:00.000+08:00

When I was in the states, I had to buy my own bedding. While I had limited budget, I knew that a good bedding (aside from a good bed) makes a lot of difference in having a good night sleep. I spent a lot of time hunting for 1 that is not only good, but also of good price. Aside from going to the usual supermarkets, one can also check out sites like terry's fabrics for beddings, quilt covers etc..etc

*This has been a sponsored post*

Yes its true, this blog has moved

2007-06-25T00:17:00.000+08:00

Third Time is always a charm :)

Yup just another reminder that this blog is now at arzhou.com. So pls update bookmarks, links, blogrolls etc.

OMG I am fired from the CIA?

2007-06-23T04:41:00.000+08:00

Imagine, I was Michael Weston, a CIA Operative on USA Network's Burn Notice and I just discovered a secret plot by the CIA. Its not your typical cliche plot, in fact it is a plot to turn every guy in the world except those who are in CIA's top echelon into Gays. (Nothing against gays). Reason being, the top echelon want all the girls in the world to themselves, and being in such a secretive organisation like the CIA, they are unable to pick up any at a club. Hence they implemented operation "gheylord". But it turns out, I found out about it by accident. (just happened to be in the suana when they were discussing it.

So one fine day, I was called into the office..... and in typical donald trump fashion... "YOU ARE FIRED". Then they tried to use the "gheylord" drug on me, but i managed to escape.

Well to find out how Michael Weston really got fired, tune in to USA Network's Burn Notice.

Reminder: Arzhou is now @ arzhou.com

2007-06-23T04:37:00.000+08:00

Just another reminder post to all my friends, I moved the main blog to arzhou.com so pls update your links (much appreciated) and if I forget to add you in my blogroll for my new blog, pls remind me. After migration there is lots to settle so i might forget to add some to my blog :p

Cheers,

Adrian