What is wrong with the world today?

Above: A security official inspecting the damage after an explosion at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Jakarta today

You know the world is really in a state of turmoil, when, after all that has been done to eradicate terrorism since 9-11, random events such as the Indonesian hotel bombing continue to happen. It's painful to admit, but it must be said that these disasters are reoccurring with such frequency that they are quickly losing their shock-value, and it is almost a formality that they will occur. The sad truth about the state of the world's affairs regarding terrorist attacks, is that we no longer wonder if they will occur, but when.

Mike Tyson - the boxing and comedy entertainment icon - was once responsible for redefining the word irrational because of his thoughtless actions and statements. Despite the fact that being logical was never a trait he was credited with throughout his life, Tyson has managed to exceed the expectation of his critics by shedding the confrontational demeanor that once saw him being described as an animal (Let's hope I didn't speak too soon).

Twelve years ago, any prediction of these two reconciling would have been laughable, but they have proven that peace can be achieved, regardless of the conflict

If Tyson and Evander Holyfield can now be amicable after all they went through, it baffles me why many of the culprits of war and terrorism cannot do the same. These individuals constantly fight among themselves, and, with little warning, make spineless attacks on others as a means of demonstration, similar to the militant attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan in early March.

More times than not, these conflicts are blamed on religious and/or political misunderstandings, and the groups that claim to be peace-seekers, often contradict themselves by abandoning peaceful deliberation for more callous methods. The longer these irrational demonstrations take place, the more evident it will be that both the autocratic governments and protestant groups of these nations are to blame for allowing their bruised egos to affect their judgment.

Sadly for the rest of the world, it will also become more evident with each attack, that no one, including the culprits themselves, seems to know what is the real reason for the senseless violence or when it will end.

Locked Up Abroad: Barbados...... airing July 22nd

National Geographic Channel is going to be airing their documentary for Locked Up Abroad next Wednesday at 10 p.m. (AST). The documentary will be re-enacting British tourist Zara Whittaker's holiday on the island, where she attempted (and failed) to smuggle drugs out of the country and was imprisoned.

I am itching to see it, and I am hoping that the country is represented accurately. Having been born and raised there, I can tell you for sure that the first trailer below is not a misrepresentation of Barbados' scenery.

I must admit however, that due to the fact that I am (and have always been) a law-abiding citizen, I cannot say whether or not the reenactment of her prison experience in the second trailer is precise (so I will give it the benefit of the doubt). Watch the trailers below, and make sure you tune in next week.

Zara is treading in dangerous waters. Will she have the guts to go through with the drug deal?

Zara didn't know she'd be carrying her second child behind bars.

Footage of Michael Jackson's 1984 fire accident revealed

Above: Michael Jackson dancing at the filming of the Pepsi commerical while his head was engulfed in flames

US weekly posted this video of Michael Jackson while he was filming the 1984 Pepsi commercial. The video includes out-takes of the fire mishap which is believed to be the starting point of the late singer's dependency on the painkillers that were found in his system when he died three weeks ago, aged 50.

In the video, Jackson was initially unaware of the flames surrounding his head and continued his trademark dancing for around five seconds before aides rushed on stage to extinguish the flames. The Telegraph newspaper reported that "Jackson was later photographed in an ambulance with a bandage on his head and his trademark sequinned white glove on his right hand. He required several surgeries and needed skin grafts to treat the injury." YouTube video rip below.

A picture's worth a thousand words....

We all know the photo below has been doctored....

But that doesn't make it less funny does it? Poking fun at Presidents is nothing new, but I thought this was a good attempt, and it is relatively creative and harmless when compared to the derogatory nonsense which has been circulating about Barack Obama (and his family) recently.

Free Republic blog instigates barrage of racist and sexist comments towards Malia Obama

Images of President Barack Obama's daughter Malia Obama wearing the peace shirt have attracted numerous hateful comments

I am not sure what the hoopla was about with regards to the shirt Malia Obama wore (above) to the G8 Summit in Italy, but surely..... SURELY the comments which were submitted on the Free Republic website only represent a very small fraction of the American society. If not, then America is more replete with idiots than I or anyone could have imagined.

The level of racism and ignorance which is manifested publicly in America is very depressing. So far I have only been able to find quotes and excerpts from the topic and the comments which were deleted by Free Republic, but if a screenshot of the article and the derogatory comments surfaces, it will be posted here.

After pulling the story, most likely due to the uproar it caused, the host(s) of the website wrote a story titled: One more from the left: Free Republic Pulls Thread Bashing Malia Obama. Follow the link, or simply view a few screenshots of the comments, as well as additional commentary on the original post which bashed Malia Obama here.

Researchers: swearing makes pain more tolerable

Go ahead.... say it.... it just might save your life

This is one of those things which we kind of already knew, and therefore didn't see a need for it to be researched. For those of you who do not shy away from using expletive language, I have some good news and bad news for you.

The good news is that researchers at Keele University have hypothesized and deduced that swearing can aid pain tolerance and stress relief. The bad news is that those of you who swear casually (often for no reason at all), will have to swear less, in order for the expletives to be pain relieving.

BBC News stated that "researchers found volunteers who cursed at will could endure pain nearly 50% longer than civil-tongued peers," and in a report from CNN, clinical psychologist Paula Bloom said that "We’re walking around thinking [swearing] is a bad thing…it’s not really.”

I am waiting with bated breath to read what the religious society will have to say about the findings of the study.

Spanish man gored to death in Pamplona bull run

Officials in Spain identified Daniel Jimeno Romero as the first person to be gored to death during the running of the bulls in Pamplona for 14 years.

Above: Daniel Romero, pictured here wearing a brown and white striped shirt, earlier in the run

According to the Telegraph newspaper in London, the 27 year old Romero was with his girlfriend and parents on vacation at the festival of San Fermin. Eye-witness Philip Heenan told the paper about the gruesome event, the anxious photo-seekers, and the effects it had on both him and his family. See the video below.

The shocking revelation is that Heenan carried his children to the event (though it was assumedly to watch by the sidelines) and as a result, one of them was still crying from the nightmarish event.

Despite the high elements of risk involved, people from all over the world attend the festival of San Fermin, or the "Pamplona bull running" as it's more commonly known outside Spain.

Even though the death rate is quite low (only 15 deaths have been recorded since 1911) I still think that these "thrill-seekers" should exercise more common sense before running with, and from these 1,000+ pound animals.

As said earlier, the death rate is low, but the injury rate is far higher, not just for humans, but for the animals as well. The negatives for this event outweigh the positives significantly, and it seems as though no one cares about that fact, because the event is still expected to proceed and conclude on Tuesday as scheduled, despite the fatality, and injuries such as the one below.

Above: The worst thing that could happen during the bull run.... a bull which separates from the pack

It's hard to believe, but he managed to escape this vicious attack alive without being dismembered....

But not before the bull managed to gore him and flip him awkwardly

Until he was dragged away to safety

Obama drama?

No. Just another frivolous story hyped up by the media, similar to this fly swapping incident.

Above: The extremely misleading photo with Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy

I thought the photo was worthy of a giggle, but many of the world's major media networks thought differently, making a big thing out of the issue. The Obama fly-swatting incident caused such an uproar that it was hard to believe that the overreaction regarding it could be topped. Judging from the way the media responded to this "event", it seems like I was almost wrong.

PETA criticized the President for his insecticide as though it was a homicide, and the only thing which probably prevented women's rights activists from bashing Obama, was the video below which revealed the inaccuracy of the photo.

Michael Jackson laid to rest today

Above: Mariah Carey & Trey Lorenz performing one of the many musical tributes at the Michael Jackson Memorial

Michael Jackson was memorialized publicly in the Staples Center in Los Angeles California, in what was a moving and heart-felt ceremony which was viewed by millions - if not billions - worldwide. The show which was everything the BET Awards failed to be was a tribute to the life of the King of Pop, where many friends and relatives emotionally eulogized the personal and often misunderstood side of his life.

Above: Usher, seen here beside the coffin, fittingly sang Jackson's Gone Too Soon

His legacy will live on, and though it is belated, the recognition of all his efforts has finally come. As Rev. Al Sharpton told Michael's children sitting in the audience during his tribute, "There wasn't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what he had to deal with."

From early, his star quality was apparent

It is unfortunate that his life was treated like a circus, and his name was constantly a target of ridicule. It is also a pity that the world is only now beginning to appreciate Jackson's feats, such as the fact that he holds the Guinness World Record for the Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star, and his life was spent trying to unify the world and abolish man-made social barriers.

"Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him — so much." - Paris Jackson

Somewhat unexpectedly, Jackson's daughter Paris addressed the audience, and delivered the most touching tribute to her father. Though short, it was emotional and sincere, and one can only hope that it puts to rest all the stupid queries about his competence as a parent.

"Maybe, now, Michael, they will leave you alone." — Marlon Jackson

In his tribute, Marlon Jackson admitted that "We will never understand what he endured... being judged, ridiculed," and I think that he is right. For an example of just how roughly Michael Jackson was treated, and how it affected him, watch the candid documentary Living with Michael Jackson.

Click here for more coverage of the Memorial.

Speculation arises following Sarah Palin's resignation

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at the announcement of her resignation as Governor in Wasilla, Alaska, on Friday.

It has been few days since her resignation from the position as Governor of Alaska, but Sarah Palin's motives for the move are still being speculated in the media. On the surface, it seems like Palin is simply preparing to run for US Presidency in 2012, and that may very well be the case, but reports elsewhere are suggesting something more scandalous.

There is a claim that Palin's resignation is an effort by her to avoid an embezzlement case which is as a result of her alleged ties to the building contractor, Spenard Building Supplies (SBS). The speculation stems from rumors in Alaska, that federal investigators have recently been seizing paperwork from SBS, searching for evidence that Palin and her husband Todd steered lucrative contracts to the company in exchange for gifts such as the construction of their Lake Lucille home in 2002.

Even though the FBI made a rare response on the matter and said that they are not investigating Palin, the ramifications of this rumor will definitely be damaging to Republicans' hopes of overthrowing President Obama in 2012. As is usually the case in the world, negative press is what resonates for longer periods, than positive press. Despite the FBI making a public statement, her already tainted image is going to be tarnished even further, and will no doubt affect her image should she choose to to run for Presidency in 2012.

One thing is for sure though - Mrs. Sarah Palin will now be tagged as a maverick quitter because of this resignation, and it will be interesting to see whether she can lose this stigma before 2012.