Bodyless is a surreal VR experience based on the director’s childhood memory during Taiwan’s martial law period in the 1970s, when human qualities were simplified and quantified with few characteristics recognized and measured by the ruling class.
The player becomes a deceased political prisoner’s ghost in his journey to find his way home.
Although the era has long gone, the emerging digital technologies follows suit. Governments started to use new technologies like digital surveillance, big data and AI as means to monitor and control people.
Powerful world leader uses tweets less than 140 characters to set the course for his country. Human beings are reduced to a few pixels on the screen and left to the military drone pilot to decide for their lives.
https://youtu.be/M3MvPymXQjA
In Bodyless, the retrospective martial law governing and ultramodern digital technologies are fused into a dark oppression against folk’s living and beliefs. The audience experiences the journey through the eyes of an old man who was a political criminal under a government’s secret experiment.
After his death, he became a ghost and descended to the underworld. In Taiwanese folk belief, during “Ghost Month”, the hell gate will open for ghosts to visit their families. The old man’s ghost makes up his face and ascends to earth.
Through his eyes, the folk culture forms a rich spiritual world interwoven with nature. However, a mechanical force starts to deteriorate the spiritual world and eventually reduces human forms and memory into simple geometrical shapes that can be easily processed by the technologies.
Bodyless : How To Get This Game For FREE!
Follow these steps to get the Bodyless for FREE :
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
When asked if you want to allow this page to open Steam, select Allow.
That’s it! You now have the Bodyless in your Steam account!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did Dr Vincent Wang die from a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?
Take a look at the viral story, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Dr Vincent Wang Died From Pfizer Booster Dose!
The Taiwanese medical community is in shock over the death of Dr Vincent Wang Weisheng, who was the former Director of the Infectious Disease Department of the Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei.
His story went viral recently when it was shared on an anti-vaccination blog called NoMoreSilence, whose article was also shared in WhatsApp.
It’s rather long, so you can skip to the next section for the facts…
Dr Vincent Wang – Pfizer Booster 2nd Sep 2021
Died 16th September 2021 Aged 54
Erica speaking about the loss of her Husband to the Pfizer Booster Vaccine:
My Husband was a retried [sic] Infection Disease Doctor. After he got his third Pfizer Shot (Booster), he felt dizzy, low pressure and fainted on the stairs during Sep 5th. My husband passed away in the middle of last month because of the Covid-19 Vaccine.
His doctor didn’t give him time to go to hospital. He felt better on Sep 15th, but he passed away in the early morning on Sep 16th during deep sleep.
We have been busy contacting the complex medical system in the United States to obtain his medical records, and we have also completed our own pathological anatomy (non-suicide and crime must be at our own expense), but the report will take six to seven weeks to get the results. It’s been almost a month, and we haven’t received a death certificate, so he can’t be cremated yet.
We also required a private autopsy and reported this to the CDC and Pfizer. So far, we didn’t get any compensation .
He was given NO treatment by the medical community….. his MD told him to drink more water!
We have lost my two kids’ father, our financial support, and I have lost my dearest love. So, his departure has hit us very hard and we’re still weeping.
We came to the United States two and a half years ago during the summer, from Taiwan. We did not have any relatives and it took great courage to come to America at the age of fifty.
Before I start, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the Wang family.
The truth is – NO ONE can be certain, because an autopsy was not conducted. Therefore, it is wrong for anyone to claim that he died from the Pfizer booster dose.
Based on what we know about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, it is highly unlikely that Dr Vincent Wang’s death was due to the booster dose. But we cannot definitively confirm that without an autopsy either.
So this case ultimately boils down to a single issue – paying for the autopsy, which costs about $8,000. Fortunately, many donors chipped in almost $80,000, exceeding their goal of $30,000.
Now that the Wang family is able to afford the autopsy, everyone should WAIT for the autopsy results, and NOT jump to any conclusion.
That said, I will now share some of the facts that can already be ascertained, and why I believe that Dr Wang’s death will likely be determined to be unrelated to the Pfizer booster dose.
Fact #1 : Dr Vincent Wang Retired + Migrated In 2019
According to his daughter, Dr Vincent Wang retired and their family migrated to the United States in the middle of 2019.
From what I understand, they are currently living in the state of Washington. This will be important in the next point.
Fact #2 : Autopsy Not Mandatory For Sudden Death
Healthcare law is not uniform in the United States, and varies from state to state. According to the CDC, an autopsy is only mandatory in some states (not all!) for certain kinds of deaths :
Accident : 41 states
Suicide : 41 states
Violence : 38 states
Homicide : 28 states
Suspicious / unusual / unnatural : 44 states
Sudden death in apparent good health : 35 states
Found dead / at home : 8 states
In the state of Washington, sudden death even in apparent good health does NOT warrant an autopsy or medical investigation. This is why the Wang family has to pay for a private autopsy.
Those of us from countries with national / universal healthcare will find this extremely odd, but this is the nature of the American healthcare system.
Fact #3 : Pfizer Booster Dose Was Only Approved On 22 September
The story claims that Dr Wang received his booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine on 2 September 2021.
That seems improbable since the US FDA only approved the Pfizer booster dose on 22 September 2021 – 20 days later.
In fact, the VRBPAC (Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee) only convened a public meeting to decide on the booster dose’s approval on 17 September 2021.
It is also unlikely that he was part of the Phase 3 trial for the Pfizer booster dose, because that concluded in March or April 2021, with a data cutoff date of 17 June 2021.
Fact #4 : Pfizer Booster Dose Only For 65+ / Adults With Medical Conditions
As of 7 October 2021, the CDC restricts the Pfizer booster dose shots to a select group of people who completed their first two doses at least 6 months earlier :
adults who are 65 years and older
18-64 year old adults with medical conditions
18+ adults who live in long-term care settings
18+ adults who work in high-risk settings
18+ adults who live in high-risk settings
Dr Vincent Wang was only 54 years old, and was not working as a doctor (he retired before migrating to the United States). He was also living in his own home.
Therefore, he would only qualify for a Pfizer booster dose if he had an underlying medical condition like cancer, chronic kidney or lung disease, diabetes, immunodeficiencies, obesity, etc.
Now, we do NOT know if he actually had an underlying medical condition. But unless he was working in a high risk job, or living in a high-risk setting, that would the most likely reason for him to qualify for a Pfizer booster dose.
On 17 September 2021, Pfizer publicly released the clinical trial data for their COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.
It showed that the participants did NOT suffer any serious side effect from the booster dose :
No anaphylactic reaction were reported within 30 minutes of getting the booster dose
No deaths, serious or life-threatening adverse events, were reported
Older adults reported side effects like fatigue, headache, chills, muscle pain and joint pain that lasted only 1-2 days.
There were no cases of anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity, Bell’s palsy, myocarditis / pericarditis in the 2-3 months of follow-up.
This is pretty much what we would expect for a third dose. Those who had no issues with the first two doses, should have no issue with the booster dose.
It’s the same vaccine, after all. If you are allergic to the vaccine, you would have experienced an anaphylactic reaction with the first dose.
Fact #6 : Booster Dose Is Just A Refresher Class
Vaccines are really just self-defence classes that teach our immune system how to identify the SARS-CoV-2 virus, so it can produce antibodies to fight off an actual infection.
A booster dose is like a refresher class in college that you take just before a big exam. It reminds your immune system that COVID-19 should be taken seriously, and kickstarts the production of fresh antibodies.
If you have no trouble with the first two self-defence classes, why should a refresher class be a problem?
Fact #7 : Dr Wang Died Two Weeks After Booster Dose
The story allegedly written by Dr Wang’s wife said that he felt dizzy and fell down the stairs three days after receiving his Pfizer booster dose.
But oddly enough, he did not go to the hospital and was apparently fine 10 days later before dying in his sleep the next day – 2 weeks after his booster dose.
In her GoFundMe post, his daughter confirmed that he felt dizzy for several days and fell off the stairs after getting the booster dose, but said that he passed away at home “without any symptoms“.
So unless the autopsy turns up evidence that his death was in any way related to the booster dose, it is certainly more likely (for now) that they are unrelated.
In any case, I hope the autopsy will help the Wang family find out what really happened to their father and husband, and settle all ambiguities for good.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did 229 people in Taiwan die from unapproved AstraZeneca vaccine doses donated by Japan???
Take a look at the shocking claim, and find out what the FACTS really are!
Claim : 229 In Taiwan Died From Japan-Made AstraZeneca Vaccine!
An unknown website, called TellerReport, claimed that 229 people died from the AstraZeneca vaccine donated by Japan, which has not been approved by the WHO.
It is a very long article, so SKIP to the next section for the facts.
Taiwan authorities admit that Japan’s donated AstraZeneca vaccine to Taiwan has not been certified for emergency use by the WHO, and netizens on the island are concerned
[Global Network Report] According to Taiwanese media reports such as the China Times News Network, Japan recently donated 1.24 million doses of AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine to Taiwan. Since the start, 229 people have died after vaccination. According to the official website of the World Health Organization (WHO) On the 16th of this month, the new crown vaccine emergency use list/updated information shows that this batch of AZ vaccines from the Japanese factory has not completed the relevant inspections and entered the emergency use list until the 16th. Zhuang Renxiang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Epidemic Prevention Command Center, confirmed on the 28th that these vaccines have indeed not been certified for emergency use by the WHO, but the use of vaccines is not a necessary condition. In this regard, some netizens questioned, “Our people have received vaccines that have not yet been approved by the World Health Organization. Our’Japan Aid Ambassador’ bowed 90 degrees to thank Japan for letting Taiwan be their human laboratory?”
According to the report, according to the WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process (Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process) updated on June 16th, the AZ Japanese vaccine has not yet completed the relevant inspection list by the 16th. Enter the emergency use list, and its authorization status is still marked: “Anticipated date once all information has been received.” (Wait until all the information is available to confirm).
Zhuang Renxiang said on the evening of the 28th that the use of vaccines must be approved by the health authority in the area where they can be used for vaccination. Whether they have been included in the World Health Organization’s EUL emergency use list is not a necessary condition. He said that the vaccine donated by Japan to Taiwan was approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan on AZ’s EUA emergency authorization on May 21 this year, and Taiwan approved and approved the vaccine project of AZ’s Japanese plant on June 2nd. Japan’s AZ vaccine.
Zhuang Renxiang also said that AZ did not submit the Japanese plant’s AZ vaccine application to the WHO until June 15 this year, and continued to provide information to the WHO for review. It is still under review, but it does not affect the use in Taiwan.
This news subsequently caused concerns and misgivings among netizens on the island.
Some netizens questioned, “Taiwanese help Japan clinically test drugs?” “So…we are a large testing site?” “Oh my god, it means that our people have received vaccines that have not been approved by the WHO. We are helping Japan. The ambassador also bowed at 90 degrees to thank Japan for letting Taiwan be their human laboratory?”
“Is this the truth that Japan doesn’t use AZ? Because the information is not complete…” Some netizens said, “To give alms to a vaccine that they dare not fight, the United States is not allowed to fight, and Taiwan kills people, the DPP bends over to welcome it 90 degrees. .”
Some netizens questioned the DPP authorities: “Why didn’t it make it clear to the whole people”; “The super-large proving ground… This is not a selling station or what is selling a station.”
Some netizens also criticized the DPP authorities for the double standard, “The vaccine in the mainland passed the emergency authorization-Chen Shizhong (the commander of epidemic prevention in Taiwan) did not dare to use the vaccine, and the vaccine in Japan did not pass the emergency authorization-Chen Shizhong did the picture card thanks to Japan, I really don’t Knowing what Chen Shizhong has done in the fight against the epidemic other than the first place in the anti-China epidemic?” “Fuck again! The donation of vaccines by the people is so strict.”
Previously, media in many countries have reported on the side effects of AstraZeneca vaccine. On June 10, the Russian Satellite News Agency reported that British researchers found that the adverse effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine include mild thrombotic symptoms, which lead to bleeding.
On the 4th of this month, Taiwan just received 1.24 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan. Tainan Mayor Huang Weizhe also declared that this was a manifestation of “Taiwan-Japan friendship”, and he decided to give priority to nearly 800 Japanese expatriates in Tainan to attack AstraZeneca. Before the Japanese flight carrying vaccines took off, Taiwan’s “representative to Japan” Hsieh Chang-ting bowed to the airport to “see off” in the rain. He claimed that these vaccines were timely rain for Taiwan. He was very grateful.
At that time, some netizens questioned, “Is there anything I am grateful for? They don’t use it, and it will expire soon. It’s only a matter of personal affection.” Regarding Japan’s donation of vaccines to Taiwan, netizens were most worried about Japan’s “don’t want and have doubts.” To Taiwan.
No, 229 In Taiwan Did Not Die From Japan-Made AstraZeneca Vaccine
For those who want a short and sweet answer, this is just another example of Chinese propaganda.
The story was intentionally written to mislead people into thinking that both the Taiwanese and Japanese governments are putting people’s lives at risk.
And here are the FACTS and EVIDENCE that this is just fake news fabricated by China :
Fact #1 : Article Was Originally Posted By China News Service
TellerReport is nothing more than a copy + paste website, that just reposts content from other websites.
This article was originally posted by China News Service on 29 June 2021, and TellerReport posted the English version (using Google Translate) on 30 June 2021.
Fact #2 : China News Service Is Chinese State Media
China News Service (ECNS) is the second largest state-owned news agency in China, after Xinhua News Agency.
Formerly run by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, ECNS became part of the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2018.
That article was therefore written by the Chinese state media.
Fact #3 : WHO Approval Only Necessary For COVAX Facility
Zhuang Renxiang, the spokesperson for the Taiwan Epidemic Prevention Command Center, is correct – WHO approval is not necessary for the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Japan.
That is because WHO emergency use listing (EUL) is only a prerequisite for the vaccine to be included in the COVAX Facility vaccine supply.
All vaccines, whether they are in the WHO EUL or not, have to be approved SEPARATELY by the health authority of each country.
WHO’s Emergency Use Listing (EUL) is a prerequisite for COVAX Facility vaccine supply. It also allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval to import and administer COVID-19 vaccines.
Fact #4 : Japan Vaccine Doses Not About To Expire
China News Service ended their article with a claim by “some netizens” that the AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Japan were “about to expire“. That is FALSE.
Japanese pharmaceutical companies only started manufacturing their AstraZeneca vaccines in March 2021, and only received final approval from Japan’s Health Ministry on 21 May 2021.
The AstraZeneca vaccines have an official shelf life of 6 months, so even the first batch manufactured in Japan would not expire until September 2021.
Fact #5 : Japan Submitted AstraZeneca Documents To WHO
It is interesting to note that China News Service (ECNS) claimed that the Japanese AstraZeneca factories did not submit their documents as of 16 June 2021.
That is precisely the day that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) submitted their documents to the WHO, but before the WHO updated their database.
The Japanese Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) later submitted the documents to the WHO on 22 June 2021. You can check the status of their submission (PDF) here.
When ECNS posted the news on 29 June 2021, they would have already known that the Japanese had already submitted their documents.
It seems obvious that ECNS intended to mislead the public.
Fact #6 : WHO EUL For AZ Vaccine From Japan Expected Week Of 5 July 2021
China News Service also did not tell you that the WHO anticipates approving the Japanese-made AstraZeneca vaccine doses in the week of 5 July 2021.
That’s because the only thing they need to verify is that the Japanese factories comply with the necessary quality controls.
You can check the anticipated WHO decision date here.
Taiwanese citizens queuing up for AstraZeneca vaccination. Photo credit : Brookings Institute
Fact #7 : 229 People Did Not Die From AstraZeneca Vaccine
The China News Service claimed that “229 people have died after vaccination“, but that is categorically FALSE.
They based their reporting on the Taiwanese VAERS system, which they know are unverified reports, similar to the US VAERS and UK Yellow Card System.
Here are the facts that you need to know (accurate as of 26 June 2021) :
Taiwan has received and used both AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines.
Taiwan vaccinated 1.926 million people (8.04 percent of the population) from 4 June to 26 June 2021.
The vast majority were senior citizens with chronic illnesses.
223 deaths were reported in total
– 108 women and 115 men between 41 and 101 years in age.
– 176 were over the age of 75
Autopsies performed by the CECC confirmed that they were not linked to the vaccines
– most deaths were related to chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, hypertension, cancer.
– other deaths involved completely unrelated causes like gastric perforation, peritonitis, intestinal obstruction, septic shock, choking on food and cervical fractures
Fact #8 : 200 People Above 75 Die Every Day In Taiwan
Statistically, an average of 200 people over the age of 75 die every day in Taiwan. That works out to 4,600 deaths for the 23 days between 4 June and 26 June.
Therefore, it is very plausible that the deaths had nothing to do with the AstraZeneca vaccine they received.
Please remember that the AstraZeneca vaccine only provides protection against COVID-19. It does not make people immune against other causes of death.
With or without the AstraZeneca vaccine, people will continue to die of other causes.
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Name : Adrian Wong
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Did Chinese bombers fire on the US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt in the South China Seas?
Take a look at the viral news, and find out what the FACTS really are!
Claim : Chinese Bombers Fire On US Aircraft Carrier In South China Sea
A YouTube video is going viral on WhatsApp, claiming that Chinese bombers fired on an US aircraft carrier in the South China Sea.
It is usually shared without commentary because the title speaks for itself, and the video itself repeats the same claim.
Truth : Chinese Bombers Did NOT Fire On US Aircraft Carrier
This is fake news by an unknown YouTube channel called M News, and here are the FACTS.
Fact #1 : Chinese Bombers Did Not Fire On US Aircraft Carrier
It bears repeating – this is FAKE NEWS. Chinese bombers did not fire on any US aircraft carrier.
If that really happened, it would have been a major news story all over the world. It would have certainly started a major war between the United States and China.
You didn’t hear anything about it, did you? What makes you think some unknown YouTube website called M News would have an exclusive scoop on this story?
Fact #2 : The USS Theodore Roosevelt Incident Happened In January 2021
Eight Chinese H-6K bombers, escorted by four J-16 fighters and a single Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft practiced a mock attack on USS Theodore Roosevelt as it sailed between Taiwan and the Philippines on 23 January 2021.
The H-6K bomber pilots could be heard in cockpit conversations confirming orders for the simulated targeting and release of anti-ship missiles against the carrier.
However, the Chinese strike group remained more than 250 nautical miles (463 kilometres) away from the carrier group – beyond the 248 mile (459 km) range of their YJ-12 anti-ship missiles.
Fact #3 : M News Ripped It Off Popular Mechanics
M News used stock footage, and a text to voice software to recite a Popular Mechanics article by Kyle Mizokami on the USS Theodore Roosevelt incident, word for word.
The creator didn’t even bother to edit out the part about the “the map embedded in the tweet above” – the tweet was in the article, but not the video.
The only original thing the creator did was to insert the fake news chyron claiming that Today: Chinese Bombers fire on US Aircraft Carrier in South China Sea.
And of course, sharing it on WhatsApp so you would share it too.
Fact #4 : The Date Changes Daily
M News garnered more than 2 million views for this video, but only because they changed the date in the title on a daily basis!
This allows them to keep sharing the video on social media, and WhatsApp, to fool people into clicking and watching their video.
They first posted the video on 3 February 2021, but they keep changing the date in the title, to make it look “new” and “current”.
Now that you know that M News posts fake videos and fake news, please WARN your family and friends.
And please STOP sharing M News videos, and definitely DO NOT visit their YouTube channel!
Help Support My Work!
If you would like to support my work, you can do so via bank transfer / PayPal / credit card.
Name : Adrian Wong
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Everyone’s talking about the 28 deaths in Taiwan that happened after they received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine!
Find out what’s going on, and what the FACTS really are!
OMG! 28 Post-AZ Vaccine Deaths In Taiwan!!
The recent media coverage on the 28 post AstraZeneca vaccine deaths have gotten many people worried.
Those who are waiting for their vaccination are worried that their lives may be at risk, while those who already received their AstraZeneca vaccines are worried that they may die too.
In WhatsApp and Facebook groups, I observed Sinophiles eagerly share the news, literally excited to finally be able to prove that Western-made vaccines are dangerous, compared to Chinese-made vaccines.
So, are people in Taiwan dying from the AstraZeneca vaccine? Does this mean the AstraZeneca vaccine is dangerous?
Let’s find out!
28 Post-AZ Vaccine Deaths In Taiwan : The Facts
Let me summarise the key takeaway points about the 28 post-AstraZeneca vaccine deaths in Taiwan.
As of 1 June 2021, over 400 million AstraZeneca doses have been administered worldwide.
Taiwan started vaccinating its citizens with 1.24 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine donated by Japan on 4 June 2021.
The first group to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine in Taiwan was people aged 85 years and above.
As of 16 June 2021, a total of 1,135,515 people in Taiwan received at least one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, including 174,098 people aged 75 years and older.
Between 4 June and 28 June 2021, 28 people died, out of the over 1.1 million people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
These deaths were reported through the Taiwanese VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) – similar to the US VAERS and UK Yellow Card System.
That means they must be verified and investigated, before we can conclude that they are related to the vaccine.
The 28 people who died were aged between 60 and 97, and at least 14 had chronic illnesses like kidney failure, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
The autopsies of two patients show that one suffered from arterial obstructive cardiovascular disease and acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), while the other had arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease with serious blockages in three heart arteries.
28 Post-AZ Vaccine Deaths In Taiwan : What Do They Mean?
Taiwan CECC (Central Epidemic Command Center) Spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said that statistically, an average of 200 people over the age of 75 will die every day in Taiwan.
That works out to about 5,000 deaths of people above the age of 75 for the 25 days between 4 June and 28 June 2021, when those 28 post-AZ vaccine deaths were reported.
Therefore, it is very plausible that the deaths had nothing to do with the AstraZeneca vaccine they received.
Please remember that the AstraZeneca vaccine only provides protection against COVID-19. It does not make people immune against other causes of death.
With or without the AstraZeneca vaccine, people will continue to die of other causes.
To determine whether the deaths are related to the AstraZeneca vaccine, the Taiwanese health authorities will be performing autopsies to find the cause of death.
Until we have the autopsy results, there is simply no evidence that these deaths are related to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Post-AZ Vaccine Deaths In UK : Clues For Taiwan
Perhaps the United Kingdom’s long experience with the AstraZeneca vaccine will help provide some clues in Taiwan’s case.
According to the UK Yellow Card Report Summary, as of 9 June 2021 :
the United Kingdom administered 42.3 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to 24.6 million people
only 390 cases of the rare but serious VITT blood clots were reported.
71 people reportedly died from VITT caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine – 1 in every 595,775 doses.
Again, the Yellow Card Report Summary only lists what was reported. It is not necessary true, but it gives us an idea of the risks associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Let’s assume that 71 people did die from the AstraZeneca vaccine in the United Kingdom.
The UK suffers an average of 1,900 deaths per million from COVID-19. If they did not vaccinate those 24.6 million people, there would been additional 46,740 deaths.
So the risk-benefit analysis is simple. Would you rather risk being in the vaccinated group with 71 deaths, or the unvaccinated group with 46,740 deaths?
There is therefore no doubt that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine greatly outweigh the risks.
Help Support My Work!
If you would like to support my work, you can do so via bank transfer / PayPal / credit card.
Name : Adrian Wong
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
GIGABYTE scrambled to issue an apology, after they were boycotted over their claims of “low quality” manufacturing in China!
Find out what’s going on between GIGABYTE and China!
GIGABYTE Trips Over Claims Of Low Quality Manufacturing In China!
This brouhaha started over the GIGABYTE’s claim that they choose to avoid “low cost” and “low quality” manufacturing in China, manufacturing their laptops instead in Taiwan.
Here is our English translation of what GIGABYTE posted :
MIT
Made In Taiwan Demanding High Quality
Strict quality control is assured by adhering to Taiwanese manufacturing. Unlike other brands that opt for low cost and low quality OEM manufacturing in China, GIGABYTE is committed to creating outstanding and powerful components and laptops.
As a local Taiwanese manufacturer of components and laptops, we guarantee that 90% of our laptops are made in Taiwan, assuring you of high quality control and high quality products.
China Boycotts GIGABYTE Over Low Quality Claims!
Once Chinese netizens discovered what GIGABYTE posted, their outrage was soon made manifest.
On 11 May 2021, the Communist Youth League of China responded with this short message on Weibo – “GIGABYTE, who gave you the courage to say this?”
They also highlighted the part that said, “Unlike other brands that opt for low cost, low quality OEM manufacturing in China…”
Chinese e-commerce companies – JD, Tmall and Suning – swiftly removed all GIGABYTE products from their platforms.
GIGABYTE Quickly Issues Apology
The official Weibo account of AORUS GIGABYTE E-Sports quickly issued a statement of apology, stating :
A few days ago, parts of the text published on our official website are seriously inconsistent with the facts. This was a result of poor internal management of our company.
We sincerely apologise for the discomfort caused to you. At the same time, we also thank gamers and consumers for their attention to our company.
GIGABYTE’s product business includes boards, laptops, computer peripherals, accessories, etc, with production lines all over mainland China, and its production capacity accounts for more than 90%. GIGABYTE is proud of the quality of Chinese production. Chinese production have helped GIGABYTE in creating excellent products and high-quality experiences for customers around the world. The product quality has withstood the test of the market and consumers for many years.
GIGABYTE has been operating in mainland China for more than 20 years, and will conduct a thorough review of the inappropriate remarks and carry out corrective actions to comply with national principles. GIGABYTE will strengthen internal management and training to ensure that all employees are aware of the problem and pay attention to it.
GIGABYTE Technology
11 May 2021
We are not sure if the Chinese authorities would consider this post an official apology, as it was posted by AORUS GIGABYTE E-Sports, which belongs to Ningbo Zhongjia Technology and Trade Co. Ltd. – a subsidiary of Taiwan Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd.
Officially, GIGABYTE Technology hasn’t issued any statement.
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Did Somaliland diplomatic representatives fly to Taiwan wearing kotekas – penis gourds? That’s what a new viral post is alleging.
Take a look at the photo taken of that event, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Somaliland Reps Wear Koteka To Taiwan Meeting!
This viral post is circulating on social media, and has been excitedly discussed in certain regional forums. Check it out :
Taiwan Finds An Unexpected New Friend in Somaliland
Thomas J. Shattuck
1 July 2020
On July 1, news broke that Taiwan and Somaliland, an unrecognized state that broke away from Somalia in 1991, would set up representative offices in their respective countries. The two countries did not announce the establishment of formal diplomatic ties. They are strengthening existing relations with the new offices in the hopes that relationship flourishes. If they do eventually announce formal relations, then Taiwan would become the first country to diplomatically recognize Somaliland, which is considered an autonomous region of Somalia.
On 9 August 2020 A small group of Somaliland officers arrived in Taiwan to set up a representative office. Taiwan Foreign Affairs sent its officer Joanne Ou to receive the arrival of their guests.
Joanne Ou couldn’t control herself and almost dropped dead when she met the Somaliland officers!
Note : We intentionally added the Misleading overlay to prevent the picture from being further abused.
Somaliland Reps Wear Koteka To Taiwan Meeting : Bullshit
The story that was being shared is partially true, but the photo is NOT of Somaliland diplomatic representatives meeting Taiwanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou.
Therefore, the claim that Somaliland representatives met Joanne Ou wearing kotekas – penis gourds – is categorically FALSE.
Fact #1 : Thomas J. Shattuck Only Wrote The First Part
Thomas J. Shattuck is a real person – a Research Associate in the Asia Program and the Managing Editor at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.
The fake post’s creator copied the second paragraph’s of Shattuck’s article, and added the fake story about Somaliland representatives meeting Joanne Ou, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Fact #2 : Somalis Do Not Wear The Koteka
The koteka – a penis gourd – is worn by some ethnic groups in Papua New Guinea, not the Somali people.
Bloggers and netizens claim that the original picture was originally taken on a PNG Air or a Singapore Airlines flight, but we believe they are mistaken.
Based on the kebaya-like uniform (which we cannot identify) of the air stewardess, and the Malay word Keluar (Exit) in the background, this was most likely taken on one of Indonesia’s budget airlines.
Fact #3 : The First Somaliland Rep Met With The Taiwanese Foreign Minister
The first Somaliland representative was Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud, a political scientist, research and analyst, who arrived in Taiwan on Friday, 7 August 2020 (tweet).
But instead of meeting with Taiwanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou, he met instead with Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on Sunday, 9 August 2020.
He has this picture taken that day, wearing a suit… and no koteka.
Fact #4 : Somaliland Has Yet To Establish A Representative Office
As of 23 August 2020, Somaliland has yet to establish a Representative Office in Taiwan even though it plans to do so.
It was Taiwan who first established their Representative Office in Hergeisa, the capital city of Somaliland on 17 August 2020.
Why Would Someone Create This Fake Story?
With China’s aggressive foreign stance in recent years, it is not uncommon to see such fake stories being created and shared.
Some believe it’s part of a concerted attempt by China to tarnish Taiwan’s reputation globally.
Others believe the many fake stories are being created to drown out the negative coverage of China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative, and their aggressive moves in the South China Sea.
Whatever the reasons may be, it is our duty as global citizens to stop the proliferation of such fake stories.
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Due to the persisting COVID-19 pandemic, AirAsia just announced that their Unlimited Pass will be extended to June 2021. Here are the details!
AirAsia Unlimited Pass : What Is It?
Stung by the Airbus bribery scandal and the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis, the AirAsia Unlimited Pass promotion is their effort to stem the bleed.
Earlier this year, AirAsia offered the Unlimited Pass which would give you the right to obtain free flight tickets to seven sectors, as many times as you wish – for a year :
However, your dissatisfaction has paid off. AirAsia just extended the Unlimited Pass flight availability till 30 June 2020 – an extension of about 3 months for most people.
Do note that this is not an extension of the sale period. That ended on 7 March 2020. The extension is for flight purchases for existing AirAsia Unlimited Pass holders.
When AirAsia announced the Unlimited Pass promotion, they only highlighted five countries – Australia, Japan, Korea, China and India. Well, that’s not all.
Here is the full, confirmed list of destinations, which we compiled in this table based on where you plan to fly from :
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People have been arguing over what destinations and embargo periods are applicable for the AirAsia Unlimited Pass promotion.
Well, consider that settled – here are all available destinations, and current embargo dates, for the AirAsia Unlimited Pass!
AirAsia Unlimited Pass Destinations
When AirAsia announced the Unlimited Pass promotion, they only highlighted five countries – Australia, Japan, Korea, China and India. Well, that’s not all.
Here is the full, confirmed list of destinations, which we compiled in this table based on where you plan to fly from :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
HUAWEI just can’t catch a break – Taiwan just banned three of their smartphones… over hurt feelings!
Find out what happened, and what this could mean for HUAWEI and the tumultuous Taiwan-China relationship.
Taiwan Bans HUAWEI Smartphones Over Hurt Feelings 🙁
On 14 November 2019, the Taiwanese National Communications Commission ordered Taiwanese companies to stop offering HUAWEI P30, HUAWEI P30 Pro and HUAWEI nova 5T smartphones for sale.
The reason? Because the Taiwanese government discovered that their software used “Taiwan, China” for time zones and contacts.
This mistake is offensive to Taiwanese government because it implied that Taiwan is part of China, and not a separate country – a sovereignty dispute that has existed since the Communists took over mainland China.
According to Peter Niou, a deputy director at Taiwanese National Communications Commission, the reference impaired Taiwan’s national dignity, and would continue until HUAWEI changed the incorrect reference to Taiwan.
It was reported by the Economic Daily News that this reference to Taiwan, China only appeared recently, after a software update.
Didn’t China Do The Same Thing?
Indeed, China is no stranger to banning companies over this sovereignty dispute. Here is a short list of companies they ban-hammered over similar slights :
Marriott : For listing Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as independent countries in a survey
Versace : For releasing t-shirts that identified Hong Kong and Macau as independent countries.
Gap : For selling a t-shirt that featured a map of China without Taiwan.
Christian Dior : For using a map of China without Taiwan in a presentation.
Zara : For listing Taiwan as an independent country on its website.
Delta Airlines : For listing Taiwan and Tibet as independent countries.
What Does The HUAWEI Ban Mean For Taiwan – China Relations?
While it may sound like a big shock, this new ban by the Taiwanese government on HUAWEI smartphones is very measured in nature.
The Taiwanese government only banned the three affected models, instead of a blanket ban on HUAWEI, which is something China would have done if the situation was reversed.
They even explicitly stated that the ban would be lifted as soon as the mistake was corrected.
It is also important to note that even as the Trump Administration has been pressuring the Taiwanese government to freeze the sale of semiconductor chips to China, they have not done so.
In fact, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) said earlier this month that it would continue producing chips for HUAWEI.
Therefore, it is doubtful that China would chime in on this issue. That said, it would not be politically-viable for HUAWEI to issue a correction right away.
We think they will let this issue blow over, before quietly releasing an update to change the reference.
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When ASUS announced that Korean superstar Gong Yoo is the brand ambassador for the ASUS ZenFone 4 smartphones, they also announced that he would grace the ASUS ZenFone 4 launch event. We were amongst the lucky few to be flown to Taipei for the “We Love Photo” event. Join us for our complete coverage of the ASUS ZenFone 4 “We Love Photo” launch event!
With six videos and five smartphones in this one event, we divided the coverage into smaller, more manageable chunks :
ASUS called it the “We Love Photo” event because the new ZenFone 4 family of smartphones is all about mobile photography. In fact, this is the first family of smartphones in the world to feature dual-lens cameras in every single model!
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We earlier shared with you the specifications and our hands-on previews of the five ASUS ZenFone 4 models. If not, well, check them out below :
Although the many models may be confusing, they are very simply divided into three categories. The Selfie series is designed to offer the ultimate selfie photographic capabilities, while the Max series is focused on battery life. The main series (without Selfie or Max) focus on the main camera capabilities.
The ASUS “We Love Photo” Event
The ASUS ZenFone 4 “We Love Photo” launch event was slated to start at 2 PM on 17 August 2017. But guess what – Gong Yoo’s fans started queuing outside the Next TV Studio in downtown Taipei 12 hours early – at 2 AM in the morning! About a hundred of his fans were permitted to join us in the event hall, while the others had to wait outside in specially-erected tents. Look at how crowded the hall was!
The “We Love Photo” event kicked off with a pre-launch show, followed by a welcome speech by ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih.
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The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Series
ASUS Design Director Jen Chuang then revealed the key features of the ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie smartphones. These are designed to offer the ultimate selfie photography capabilities, so they all boast a dual-lens camera in the front!
ZenUI 4.0 & The ASUS ZenFone 4 Series
ASUS Head of Global Content Marketing Marcel Campos then talked about the new ASUS ZenUI 4.0. He revealed that not only will the new ASUS ZenFone 4 smartphones be upgraded to Android Oreo with ZenUI 4.0, the entire ZenFone 3 series will also receive the same upgrade!
He then shared the key features of the mainline ASUS ZenFone 4 smartphones. As every ASUS ZenFone 4 smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, he also invited ST Liew, VP & President of Qualcomm Taiwan, to talk about Qualcomm’s partnership with ASUS.
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Specifications & Prices
In this video, ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih comes on stage to reveal the specifications and prices of the new ASUS ZenFone 4 models.
Here are the general prices that Jonney Shih announced :
Finally, the ASUS ZenFone 4 brand ambassador, and Korean superstar, Gong Yoo, came on stage to show off the new ZenFone 4 models. He then had an interview session (in Korean and Mandarin) with the hosts, before taking some selfies with four lucky fans!
More Event Photos
Here are some other photos from the ASUS “We Love Photo” event!
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The Taiwan Excellence Pavilion has finally made its way to Malaysian shores with its first showcase at 1 Utama Shopping Centre!
From 12th to 16th July 2017, consumers will be able to explore and discover over 100 award-winning products at the LG Oval Concourse in 1 Utama Shopping Centre – Taiwanese innovations that have been awarded the prestigious Taiwan Excellence mark.
The Taiwan Excellence Pavilion 2017
The symbol of Taiwan Excellence is a mark of innovation – the highest accolade that can be awarded to Taiwanese products. Designed and built in Taiwan, these products comprise gaming laptops, smart devices, exercise equipment, and home appliances from some of the world’s renowned leading brands – all of which have been evaluated and selected based on their R&D, design, quality, and marketing.
Besides the exhibit of Taiwanese products, the five-day event also saw a host of product demonstrations by brand experts, as well as exciting cultural performances. Some of the highlights at the event included a 24 Seasons drum performance by the VR Drumming Academy and an appearance by Malaysian singer-songwriter Joyce Chu.
The Formosa Bear will also be there! Be sure to take a photo with him… Heck, you can even dance with him!
Participants also had the opportunity to trial and experience the variety of products on display through thrilling activities such as virtual reality sessions, golfing rounds, and much more. Over RM 10,000 worth of prizes provided by ASUS, Johnson Fitness, and Adata were also up for grabs through a lucky draw. Admission to the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion is free for all visitors.
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