South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth has landed safely back on Earth after a 10-day journey into space. The Russian Soyuz space capsule carrying the South African millionaire and two crewmembers touched down near Arkalyk in the steppes of Kazakhstan at 0351 GMT on Sunday 28th April. As he was carried away from the capsule, a grinning Mr Shuttleworth said: “Every second will be imprinted and will be with me for the rest of my life.” He had spent some of his time carrying out scientific work on the ISS, including experiments on the virus responsible for Aids, and examinations of ocean life. Mr Shuttleworth, a 28-year-old internet magnate, was rumoured to have paid $20m for his trip to the International Space Station (ISS). Mr Shuttleworth, who lives in London, is the world's second holidaymaker in space.

He follows in the footsteps of Dennis Tito, a US businessman and former American space agency (NASA) employee, who rode into orbit last year. The South African is reported to have bought the Soyuz capsule and his space suit as a souvenir of his trip. We hear Tom Cruise is queuing up for his chance to do something similar!

Source: bbc.co.uk

Washington DC is already known as a museum mecca, but in July later this year, the new International Museum of Spying will open. The museum has full official backing from both the CIA and the KBG. Exhibits include an enigma machine, a Soviet shoe transmitter and all the usual (and unusual) gadgets!

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Ingredients: For four people

4 portions of Sea Bass, ½ Kilo diced tomato, 1 teaspoon of salt, 100 grams diced Parsley , 100g diced Coriander, 4 medium diced whole onions, 3 tablespoons of Olive Oil, ½ tablespoon of sweet Paprika

Preparation:

The fish is cleaned and put in a bowl with a little salt and the juice of one Lemon. Then leave to marinate for at least an hour. In a Ceramic Pot if a Panela de Barro is not available, with the Olive Oil at the bottom of the pot. Next add the Paprika and mix. The rest of the ingredients are then mixed and divided into two parts. One half of the mixture goes in the pot, then by a layer of fish, followed by the rest of the ingredients. The pot is put on a medium hob for 30-40 minutes. Gentle rocking of the pot from time to time. Do not add water. Serve with white rice: then, just enjoy.

According to press sources, the authorities in China’s second largest city, Shanghai, have closed down nearly 200 internet cafes. The move is reported to coincide with the launch by the central government of a drive against “harmful” content on the web, to prevent young people from being corrupted. One official said the premises were in areas overlooked in previous campaigns. Last year, the Chinese authorities reportedly shut down 17,000 internet cafes that failed to install the necessary software, or they are being used for “illegal activities”. Some say that the move is in line with the government's desire to encourage the internet as a commercial medium without creating a forum for political dissent.

Beijing requires internet bars to install software to block restricted web sites and record user activities. Unsurprisingly, banned websites include those run by democracy activists, outlawed groups such as Falung Gong, and some foreign news organisations. Those containing pornographic material are also blocked.

GERMANY: A Berlin man claims that handling 10-euro banknotes has made him impotent. Mr Wolfang Fritz (55) spent hours last January counting money his girlfriend inherited after the couple withdrew it all in 10-euro notes. Mr Fritz says he hasn't had an erection since handling the money. He is demanding the German government supply him with the erectile disfunction-drug, Viagra.

“The euro notes made me sick. It just won't go up anymore,” he told Berlin tabloid BZ. Mr Fritz has engaged a lawyer to fight his case, blaming the impotence on the chemical Tributyl-Zinn found in the 10-euro notes.

Each note contains 740 mcg of the chemical that, in sufficient quantity, can affect the human hormone system. “The amount in euro notes cannot lead to acute hormonal disturbances,” said hormone specialist Prof Dietrich Klingmüller. © The Irish Times

The Beetle recently received this and thought it might be of interest to the travellers out there who use hotmail. The Beetle has long given up on Hotmail as it was inundating her with embarrassing amounts (and content!) of porn e-mails.

If you have a hotmail account in your name, this might interest you – hotmail has changed the privacy settings on each of it's user accounts so they now have permission to share all user details with other companies. All of their users have effectively just opted in to receive yet more Spam, without even being informed.

There's a couple of checkboxes in hotmail's 'options' section under 'personal profile' labelled 'Share my e-mail address' and 'Share my other registration information' which have been automatically checked regardless of their previous setting without even informing the owner of the account. It's incongruous with their privacy policy, but by now the user details could have been sold. Interesting direct marketing tactic. And while most of the hotmail site is fairly accessible, you can't access the personal profile page to revert these settings with anything other than a Microsoft browser.

Tokyo hotel's rules and regulations:
GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR DO OTHER DISGUSTING BEHAVIOURS IN BED.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR.

In a Tokyo bar:
SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH NUTS.

In a Bangkok temple:
IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN EVEN A FOREIGNER IF DRESSED AS A MAN.

Hotel room notice, Chiang-Mai, Thailand: PLEASE DO NOT BRING SOLICITORS INTO YOUR ROOM.

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