Hazard's stuff

Sometimes the best form of defense is offense... apparently that's true for automobile driving as well. :-)

Some interesting data from the website of the Cyprus Statistical Service:

• Total population: Total 749.200 people as of 2004; Nicosia 219.200, Limassol 172.500
• Major offences as of 2004/1990: Against property 1685/824; Against person 926/511; Against public order 502/407; Sexual 27/10.
• Consumer price index 2004/1998: Total 118/100; Food and non-alcoholic beverages 126/100; Clothing 93/100; Housing, water, electricity and gas 125/100; Health 131/100; Communication 67/100; Restaurants and hotel 133/100
• Agricultural production index 2004/1998: 112/105
• Life expectancy male/female: 77/81 years

The first modern remote-sensing satellite made in Russia, Monitor-E, has successfully sent first pictures. This is important as right now Russia does not have any remote-sensing satellite capable of transmitting pictures with less than 10m resolution online - in fact, the only satellite capable to send photographs online is almost dead (a Meteor-3M), and its resolution is 35 m. So far high resolution pictures were acquired using satellites designed in 1970s which photographed them to film and returned it in capsules, meaning that one had to wait for several months.

A video shot by employees of a security firm providing services in Iraq showing how they protect themselves by shooting any car which is approaching too close. New Wild West, indeed.