Numeral Game.

China Suspects Bad Milk Powder Sickened Babies

2008-09-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

Chinese health officials said contaminated baby formula could be responsible for an unusual spate of kidney-stone cases that are afflicting dozens of infants across China, rekindling concern about safety problems with the country's products.

Officials are examining a suspicious increase in the number of infant kidney-stone cases in at least four provinces, the government said Thursday. In Gansu province, in China's northwest, 59 cases of kidney stones in infants have been reported so far this year -- including at least one related death, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency. By comparison, there were no such cases reported in the previous two years in Gansu.

China's Ministry of Health, in a statement late Thursday, said that after an initial investigation it had a 'high degree of suspicion' that at least some of the cases were caused by ingestion of infant milk powder contaminated with melamine. Last year, melamine was found to be responsible for sickening or killing thousands of pets in the U.S., after the animals ate pet food containing a Chinese-made ingredient tainted with the industrial chemical.

It wasn't immediately clear if any of the possibly tainted baby formula has been exported. The Health Ministry said it suspects the contaminated formula was produced by Shijiazhuang Sanlu Group Co., a dairy company based in Hebei province, and that Sanlu had announced a recall of all baby-milk powder produced before Aug. 6. Officials for Sanlu couldn't be reached for comment on the ministry's statement.

Speaking earlier Thursday, in response to Chinese media reports that many of the sick infants may have consumed Sanlu-branded formula, a Sanlu spokeswoman said the company was conducting its own nationwide investigation, and that results from lab analyses are still pending. 'There isn't necessarily a link between powdered milk and getting kidney stones,' the Sanlu spokeswoman said in a phone interview. 'Our products have passed quality certification and are in accordance with national standards.'

In 2006, Sanlu won a Chinese-government export license for its milk powder, according to a statement on its Web site. But it couldn't immediately be determined to which countries it ships formula, or whether any of the possibly tainted batch had been sold overseas. The Chinese health ministry said in its statement that it had notified the World Health Organization and 'relevant countries' about the situation generally, but did not single out Sanlu.

Underscoring the high stakes of the issue, however, the illnesses and the government's investigation were given prominent attention by the largely state-controlled media Thursday. The Health Ministry in its statement said that the State Council, China's cabinet, considered the issue 'highly important,' and said that other agencies have been dispatched to inspect Sanlu's production facilities and to examine stocks of milk powder throughout the country.

China's product safety came under intense scrutiny last year after a series of incidents involving tainted or unsafe toys, toothpaste, dumplings and other goods made in the country. The issues prompted calls in the U.S. and elsewhere for stepped-up checks of imports, and triggered harsh punishments by the Chinese government for some of those found to be responsible. That included the execution of the former head of China's State Food and Drug Administration for accepting bribes to approve drugs for the domestic market.

China has had problems at home with bad milk powder in the past. In 2004, 171 babies were hospitalized, and more than a dozen died, after consuming counterfeit milk powder that had little or no nutritional value. At the time, officials initiated a crackdown that resulted in hundreds of arrests of officials and businesspeople who allowed the sale of the formula.

Kidney stones are crystalline masses that, while generally treatable, can cause extremely painful blockages. They are relatively uncommon in babies, although they do occur often in premature infants.

It is unclear why the current spate of cases in China didn't receive attention sooner. The surge in numbers appears to have been dramatic in several locations: One doctor in the eastern city of Nanjing, in Jiangsu province, said he has seen more than 40 children with kidney stones in his hospital since July, compared with just five to seven such cases a year in the past.

In addition to Gansu and Jiangsu, Xinhua reported, similar kidney-stone cases have surfaced in central China's Hubei province and in Shaanxi province in the north. It reported that parents of some affected babies said they bought the milk at sharply discounted prices.

Transformable sofa

2008-09-05T17:38:00.001-07:00

Although sofa is leisure furniture and you can sit on it with nearly any position, you cannot change the shape of the sofa itself. But this sofa designed by Sung Jang is a transformable one. Its inner bone is made from aluminum, which make it easy to be reshaped.

Napping pod

2008-09-05T17:37:00.001-07:00

Taking a nap at noon will surly give us extra energy to improve working efficiency. But taking a cat nap at the desk is not so comfortable. Is there any way to have a better relaxing?

Try this one. This napping pod comes with a flexible form of wood along with padded resting structures assure the most relaxing power naps. As a matter of fact, every part of this “micro-bedroom” is following the ergonomics theory and so your napping will be more sweet.

Fish flip flops

2008-09-05T17:36:00.000-07:00

Oh, my God! Although it might be a faked fish, I can still smell the fishy odour. But I guess they are very suitable for fishermen.

Solar charger shaped like a tree

2008-09-05T17:35:00.001-07:00

It might that solar charger is not an innovative gadget, but the tree shape is still impressive. Every leaf is actually solar panel which can expand the area to absorb sunlight. The solar tree can translate sunglight into power. Although not the same as photosynthesis, but it is still pretty eco-friendly.

Noodle dispenser

2008-09-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

This dispenser is designed for those do not know how many noodles they can eat. The whole shape of the dispenser seems like a normal container, but it comes with three holes with different size. One hole is big enough for a child-size portion, one hole is for adult-size, and the circular finger space is use for turning the cap.

Visual Assistant Card

2008-09-05T17:33:00.002-07:00

Using Debit and Credit Card for shopping is very common for us normal people, but blinds won’t enjoy this convenience since debit/credit card machines are all digital. This visual assistant card is actually a touchpad with Braille, which is corresponding with the digital touch screen, printed on it. So blinds can also finish the check out process by themselves.

Table with shelf

2008-09-05T17:33:00.001-07:00

If you need more space but do not want to occupy the table room, then shelf is good for you. This design gives us a good alternative. One of the table legs comes with a L-shaped slot which can be used to hold the basket. You don’t need any extra shelf.

The go plate

2008-09-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

It is hard to hold both drink and food with a single hand. Maybe you are a professional waiter, but most of us are not. The Go Plate is a good solution, for any container you’re holding, bottle, cup, can, or something else.

Shooter fire extinguisher

2008-09-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

This is really a good idea to shape an extinguisher like a gun. In case you office or your house is on fire, you can just fire the extinguisher at the fire.

What’s more, you’d better keep it away from kids, or the extinguisher is gonna be kids’ toy.

Sink with hidden drain pipe

2008-08-31T18:41:00.001-07:00

Although you may think that this is only a decoration, I will tell you that it is a real sink. Traditional drain pipes are usually visible under the basins. But in this innovative design, the water flows along the slot of the front of the basin and back into the wall connection, so you won’t see any drain pipe.

Sphere bookcase

2008-08-31T18:40:00.002-07:00

Different from normal bookcases which are usually cubes in shape, this unique design is actually a sphere, which holds the books and magazines inside. It can bring an elegant touch to your room

Fiber optic light glove

2008-08-31T18:40:00.001-07:00

Although there have been many tools providing light, a light on the hand is still the most convenient for workers. Diffused working light is produced from the bottom part of the glove and optional light source is at the end of the index finger as spot light. The glove can offer a non-shadow working area when the light beam is focused on an object.

A pair of earbuds link up with each other

2008-08-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

This is a brilliant idea. Each of the earbuds is shaped like a hook so that they can link up with each other when not in use. It might that others will mistake it for a stylish necklace.

Plastic bottle lamp

2008-08-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

Plastic drink bottles are usually treated as waste. But designer can change them into good decorations. The central part of the lamp is a sphere whose surface is full of holes and you can screw plastic bottles into the center sphere threaded holes to make a gorgeous lamp. Turn on the light! It’s beautiful.

Multi-functional compact desk

2008-08-27T01:23:00.001-07:00

Compact desk is common furniture and desk is common as well. But this brilliant idea which is actually a combination of the two common things is not common at all.

The top of the compact desk is can be slide to reveal a hidden desk. Although it is not so big, you can still process some basic work.

Price: $500

Grass cutter for fun

2008-08-27T01:22:00.003-07:00

Sure, grass cutting is boring. But you have to do this. Why not make it more funny? This muwi concept is a good idea, which can shape the cut grass into compact balls and disks, so that kids will have more toys, green toys.

Yamaha Deus Ex Machina motorcycle

2008-08-27T01:22:00.001-07:00

Invented by Jake Loniak, this Yamaha branded exoskeleton motorcycle can be worn like a coat. It manoeuvres based on the rider’s movements, adjusting 36 pneumatic muscles. Therefore, it is agility than traditional ones. But, I think it might be more dangerous too.

Anyway, it is really cool. Video after the break

Sponge toothbrush

2008-08-27T01:20:00.000-07:00

As a matter of fact, this toothbrush should not be called brush, because it does not have any bristle. Although it might not be good for thoroughly cleaning your teeth, it is still a good alternative for elder and kids. Replacing the with sponges, this toothbrush can carry water, massage gums, and polish teeth at the same time.

Bin bags of fun

2008-08-21T17:14:00.000-07:00

Bin is certainly very dirty; I guess that no one will like garbage. However, if the garbage is stored in a bag like this, someone will like it. It is a brilliant idea. With this kind of patterns, throwing bin bags will begin to be popular.

Porcupine toothpick set

2008-08-21T17:13:00.001-07:00

This is an interesting tool. All the toothpicks are attached on the back of the porcupine to make this toothpick set more vividly. Be careful; don’t be attacked by the porcupine.

Receipt clock

2008-08-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

You may never notice that every shop receipt is printed with the instant time and date. And the clock we are introducing today is just a clock like the receipt distributor.

Just press the blue button, a receipt with the instant time printed on it will be deposited from the front slot. Since the rest of the area will is blank, this time receipt can be used as note paper.

ECOJOHN toilet

2008-08-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

In common sense, toilet is rushed by water. However, this ECOJOHN toilet can clean the dejection with fire. It is a waterless self-contained toilet that incinerates the waste into a sterile ash that needs to be emptied only a few times per year. What you should do is just to press the button on the control panel and then the dejection will be incinerated by a 5kW Propane burner.

I should remind you. Remember to close the toilet lip after answering the call of the nature, otherwise, you might be burned into ash.

Hurdler's Olympic Injury Breaks China's Heart

2008-08-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

Tears were followed by anger. Although the general coach of China's athletics team said Liu was forced to drop out because of a recurring problem with his Achilles tendon, droves of fans criticized the hurdler online, accusing the 25-year-old Shanghai native of letting the nation down. He "stained the motherland" by not finishing the heat, some said, adding that he should have crawled on his hands and knees if necessary.

Liu was China's hope for gold in the 110-meter hurdles, but his failure to qualify for the finals showed that he represented so much more. His gold-medal performance in Athens four years ago had made history in China -- which had never before won gold in a track and field event -- and proved that the Chinese could shine in sports traditionally dominated by the West. On Monday, in a single moment at the Bird's Nest stadium, it was as if the nation's pride and honor had been snatched away.

Liu's perseverance -- showing up to compete despite the pain -- raised questions about the enormous pressure placed on him by coaches, the public and even the country's leaders. Pictures of him have been splashed across magazines and billboards, his every move followed in the news media.

The hurdler's disappointment was so great that Xi Jinping, President Hu Jintao's likely successor as Communist Party leader, sent Liu a note of condolence Monday, according to the state-run New China News Agency.

Beijing seemed to be in mourning, as video clips of the tearful news conference with Liu's coach spread on the Internet. National sports commentators resorted to frenzied hyperbole.

"At noon, the collective sigh of the Chinese people became a hurricane which attacked Chinese sports heavily in one minute. The whole country lost its breath in that moment," sports commentator Li Tong blogged.

For decades, China has been known mainly for its skill at "small ball" sports such as table tennis and badminton. Liu had become a symbol of potential in other sports.

"Yao Ming is just as famous, but nobody expects him to win a gold medal," said Zhang Ming, a professor of international studies at People's University. "Liu Xiang's big breakthrough in track and field is not only for China, but all of East Asia. . . . His win in Athens helped eliminate a deep inferiority complex in Chinese people's hearts."

Liu himself wanted badly to run on Monday, his coaches said, but his face was contorted in pain even while he was warming up. After the race, he could be seen on stadium screens limping off the field, down a tunnel and into an empty area, where he sat down with his back against the wall, his head in his hands, alone.

"Liu Xiang will not withdraw unless the pain is intolerable, unless he has no other way out," said Feng Shuyong, general coach of China's athletics team and president of the Chinese track federation.

Xi's official telegraph to China's General Administration of Sport conveyed his sympathy and "warm courage" to Liu and his tearful coach and expressed hope that Liu would rest easily. "When he recovers," Xi added, "he should continue to train hard, strengthen his fighting spirit and gain bigger honors for the motherland."

Liu had suffered a hamstring injury in May that forced him to pull out of a race in New York. But no one realized he had such a serious injury to the Achilles tendon, sports commentator Li said in a telephone interview. Many Chinese, rather than feeling sympathetic toward Liu, felt cheated by him.

"It is very difficult for Chinese people to change their ideas about sports or to become more rational in a short time," Li said.

Many fans were upset that Liu's injury had not been made public earlier. Others virtually cast him off, noting that China already has more gold medals than any other nation at the Games.

"To be frank, we don't need a gold medal from you," said one critic from the southern city of Guangzhou, addressing Liu online at http://www.163.com, a popular news site.

Outside the Bird's Nest, people were shocked and disappointed but more sympathetic than those online. "I totally understand his injury," said He Chunxian, 32, a sports teacher. "What he achieved would have been almost unimaginable when I was training for track and field. If I were Liu, I'd rather give away millions to not compete in this game. I cannot imagine the pressure."

Li Bo, 50, a retired factory worker from Heilongjiang province, said Liu had become "a symbol of power, a symbol of 'Go, China!' "

"After he dropped out," Li said, "I almost lost my strength to continue watching the game."

China has a history of heaping expectations on athletes, in a country where sports are highly politicized and glory is collective rather than individual. Twenty years ago, the public abandoned gymnast Li Ning, who won gold in Los Angeles in 1984 but did not win a medal in Seoul in 1988. Now a billionaire sportswear entrepreneur, Li Ning was chosen to light the Olympic cauldron in this month's Opening Ceremonies.

One online user at Tianya, China's largest bulletin-board service, wrote that only weak nations pressure their athletes. "Liu Xiang pulling out is the beginning of China's maturity," the user wrote. "If people are naive enough to hope one person can support the dignity of the whole nation, then China is hopeless."

Researchers Liu Liu and Zhang Jie contributed to this report.

Then, after it became clear that Liu was injured, that his hopes for Olympic glory had been ruined, the nation's pain set in abruptly. At a news conference, Liu's coach burst into tears explaining to the international media how his star pupil had been "trying to hold on, exerting himself to his utmost." When Sun Haiping added that Liu could barely stand before the race, despite the assistance of three doctors, Chinese reporters began sobbing as well. BEIJING, Aug. 18 -- Tens of thousands of people had come to glimpse China's megastar hurdler at a mere qualifying heat Monday. The anticipation was so great that, at first, when spectators saw a wincing Liu Xiang pull out of the race, there was only stunned silence.

China Is Pitching A Protester Shutout

2008-08-19T19:08:00.001-07:00

The score so far: China, 77; protesters, zero.

Ten days into these Games, Chinese authorities have disclosed how many applications they have received to hold demonstrations in special protest zones, but they noted that none have been approved and most requests have been withdrawn.

Officials have gotten 77 applications from 149 people, including three from overseas, since Aug. 1, according to a spokesman from the municipal public-security bureau quoted in the state-run Xinhua news agency. He said that 74 had been withdrawn because their problems 'were properly addressed by relevant authorities or departments through consultations.'

Two were suspended because their applications were incomplete or they wanted to include children, which is illegal under China's laws. The final one was denied because it violated an undisclosed Chinese law.

International human-rights groups, pro-Tibet activists and groups seeking to pressure China on its involvement in Darfur had hoped to use the Olympics as a vehicle to get their messages across. But little of that rhetoric has made it to Beijing, thanks to a government crackdown on dissent through a campaign of harassment and the denying of visas, human-rights groups and Chinese petitioners say.

Some groups said they decided not to apply, figuring the government would deny the request. Activists for a free Tibet staged protests near the Olympic grounds for a few minutes before police stopped them. Religious activists held a few quickly suppressed protests.

'The move to set aside protest areas is in line with Beijing's promises to the International Olympic Committee to adhere to the Olympic traditions, such as free expression outside the sporting venues,' said Mo Yuchuan, director of the Research Center for Constitutional and Administrative Law of the Beijing-based Renmin University of China, according to Xinhua. 'The measure is also expected to help reduce the risk that unexpected demonstrations of large scale would harm the public interests,' he added, according to the report.