Every dog has his envy

A dog is not only man's best friend, but can also show some emotions similar to humans. Dogs can sniff out unfair situations and show a simple emotion similar to envy or jealousy, Austrian researchers have said.
Friederike Range, an animal psychologist at the University of Vienna, who led a study into canine emotions, said on Monday that dogs sulked and refused to "shake" paws if other dogs got treats for tricks and they did not. "It's a more complex feeling or emotion than what we would normally attribute to animals," Range said.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows dogs licked and scratched their body and acted stressed when denied rewards given to other dogs.
Other studies have shown monkeys often express resentful behavior when a partner receives a greater reward for performing an identical task, staging strikes or ignoring what they view as inferior bonus.
The Austrian study now shows dogs are able to show a similar, if less sensitive, response, Range said.
The researchers conducted a series of experiments using different breeds of dogs to find out how two animals sitting next to each other reacted to unequal rewards after handing a paw to a person.

following

following

A school of giant barracudas swims in a swirling formation at Barracuda Point off the Malaysian island of Sipadan, December 9, 2008.

Sea species at Barracuda Point in Malaysian island

A scuba diver swims near two green turtles at Barracuda Point off the Malaysian island of Sipadan, December 9, 2008.

Ruins Shine With Pristine Beauty

These "oracle bones" were discovered by chance.

At the end of October, a group of ‘guru archeologists’ gathered in Anyang, Henan Province, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the archeological excavation at Yin Xu, the ruins of the last capital of China's Shang Dynasty (1766-1050 BC).
80 years ago, Yin Xu, the archaeological site which had slept for more than 3,000 years ago, was brought to light with the commencement of a state-supported excavation. Decades of effort paid enormous dividends as Yin Xu represents a golden age of early Chinese culture, crafts and sciences from a time of great prosperity.
Of note it is famous for the discovery of 'oracle bones', inscriptions on animal bones and tortoise shells which are thought to be the beginnings of Chinese characters and writing. They bear invaluable testimony to the development of one of the world’s oldest writing systems, ancient beliefs and social systems.

I am tired!

Mt. Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System (Chengdu City, Sichuan Province)

A major landmark in the development of water management and technology in ancient China and one of the birthplaces of the Taoist religion.
Located in Sichuan Province, southwest China, this site consists of Mt. Qingcheng, the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, the Dragon Stream (Longxi) and the Iris Port (Hongkou). It was put under state-class protection in 1982.
The Dujiangyan Irrigation System was first built in 256 BC (during the Warring States Period) by magistrate Li Bing. It comprises three major projects―a water-dividing dam, flood-convergence route and water-divergence port. One of the earliest irrigation systems of China and still in use today, it serves to divert waters from the Minjiang River to the West Sichuan Plain. There are many cultural relics in the neighborhood, including the Temple of the Two Kings (Erwangmiao), the Temple of the Hidden Dragon (Fulongguan), the Bridge of Peaceful Waves (Anlanqiao) and the Li Mounds (Lidui).
Mt. Qingcheng was the birthplace of Taoism in China. With over 20 temples and religious sites for Taoism, it exudes a strong flavor of Taoist culture and the buildings demonstrate the Sichuan style of architecture.

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (Sichuan Province)

This is an unusual ecosystem, with narrow conic karst landforms, renowned for its rolling mountains, dense forests, colorful lakes, precipitous waterfalls, and a wide variety of birds and animals.
Stretching over 600 sq km in the northern part of Sichuan Province, the jagged peaks around Jiuzhaigou Valley reach heights of more than 4,800 m. In the valley there is a series of diverse forest ecosystems. Its superb landscapes are especially interesting for their narrow conic karst landforms and spectacular waterfalls. Some 140 bird species inhabit the valley, as well as a number of endangered plant and animal species, including the giant panda and the Sichuan takin.

more

Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (Beijing)

The Forbidden City, located in the center of Beijing, used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its construction started in 1406, and was completed in 1420. The rectangular palace covers an area of some 720,000 sq. km -- 961 m in length and 760 m in width. It has a total of 9999.5 room spaces (an area enclosed by four poles). In 1924, the imperial family of the Qing Dynasty was removed from the Forbidden City, and in 1925 the Palace Museum was established here.
The Forbidden City has four entrance gates: the main Meridian Gate (Wumen) to the south, the Eastern Flower Gate (Donghuamen), the Western Flower Gate (Xihuamen), and the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen) to the South. The palace grounds are divided into two parts: the Front Palace (Qianchao) to the south and the Inner Palace (Neiting) to the north. The Front Palace consists chiefly of three magnificent and solemn halls ---- the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian), the Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian), and the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohedian). The Inner Palace includes the Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong), the Hall of Prosperity (Jiaotaidian) and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong).

more

China launches remote sensing satellite

Yaogan IV, a remote sensing satellite, is lifted off on a Long March-2D carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province December 1, 2008. [CFP]

China launched a new remote sensing satellite "Yaogan IV" on Monday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province.The satellite will be used for scientific research, land resources surveying, crop yield estimate and disaster prevention and relief, according to its chief developer, China Academy of Space Technology.The satellite was launched on a Long March-2D carrier rocket. This was the 113th launch of China's Long March series of rockets.