From Reuters.com

Burj Dubai has now reached its final height of 818 meters.

They’ve had these for years. Wake up, America and wake up ,Reuters. Dow is way behind times.

People from Brazil, and those who love it, will always try to minimize the horrific situation in Rio. But the testimonies are true, I’ve been there. We were staying at the expensive Marriott right on Copacabana Beach (adjacent to Ipanema), and my friend was robbed of his camera right there in front of the hotel at 5 p.m. One guy wrapped a jacket over his head while another took a knife and slit the camera strap off his arm, which my friend had wrapped round and round his arm to avoid theft.

Then, in broad daylight, I was accosted by a band of kids right on the beach. I managed to get my whistle out of my pocket and I blew it and pretended to wave to someone in the distance, as if I were an undercover cop. They got scared and ran away. I would have been helpless without that whistle.

I visited a club just 2 blocks from my hotel, and when I left, the doorman warned me not to walk, but take a taxi… for just two blocks in the expensive, well-kept part of Rio.

Read countless similar horror stories (and worse) all over the web. Brazil and similar countries do not deserve our tourism until they clean up their act.

Sure they’ll clean it up for the Olympics, but I will advise everyone not to go there unless and until it is proven over a period of time that they’ve finally decided to crack down on crime in a meaningful and lasting way.

It is a military tranparency exercise. No need for foreigner to guess. It is also a patriotism exercise. To make the Chinese nationals aware of their military might and gain confidence that they do not have to “win” at every international conflicts to protect the nation.

A great leap towards the advancement of treatment of HIV and other diseases that target the immune and nervous system. Hopefully this will give more attention and funding to this age’s great disease.