Saturday, October 31, 2009
Cat spent week stuck in air conditioner
Australian animal rescue workers say a badly malnourished cat found stuck inside an air conditioning unit in Brisbane's south may have been there for nearly a week. The adult tabby was found with burns to her ears and drag injuries and was extremely dehydrated when she was freed from an air conditioner fixed to a wall at a unit in Coorparoo yesterday.
The unit owner heard "strange" scratching noises coming from the aging device on Sunday but dismissed it as a rat infestation. "When we got out there we saw this very old air-con unit built in the 1970's, a real dinosaur of a thing," RSPCA ambulance officer Katrina Farmer said today.
"We thought we might be dealing with rats at first, the smell of urine was so pungent."
Rescue workers said the cat had been trapped inside by a turbine for at least five days and could only be freed when the air conditioner was ripped off the wall. She has since been nicknamed Daikin.
"She is extremely dehydrated, frightened, and skinny which is no wonder after being stuck in there for so long," RSPCA senior veterinarian Vicky Lomax said. Rescuers have absolutely no idea how Daikin managed to get inside the air conditioning unit.
"It has really surprised us. Cats are known to squeeze into strange places, but this was a very, very tight space." Daikin has undergone surgery today while the animal charity begins the search for her owners.
The unit owner heard "strange" scratching noises coming from the aging device on Sunday but dismissed it as a rat infestation. "When we got out there we saw this very old air-con unit built in the 1970's, a real dinosaur of a thing," RSPCA ambulance officer Katrina Farmer said today.
"We thought we might be dealing with rats at first, the smell of urine was so pungent."
Rescue workers said the cat had been trapped inside by a turbine for at least five days and could only be freed when the air conditioner was ripped off the wall. She has since been nicknamed Daikin.
"She is extremely dehydrated, frightened, and skinny which is no wonder after being stuck in there for so long," RSPCA senior veterinarian Vicky Lomax said. Rescuers have absolutely no idea how Daikin managed to get inside the air conditioning unit.
"It has really surprised us. Cats are known to squeeze into strange places, but this was a very, very tight space." Daikin has undergone surgery today while the animal charity begins the search for her owners.
'Jungle woman' wants to return to the wild
A Cambodian woman who spent 18 years living in a forest after going missing as a child has struggled to reintegrate in village life and wants to return to the wild.
Rochom P'ngieng, dubbed "jungle woman" when she emerged in Feb 2007, has still has not learnt to speak and refuses to wear clothes.
Her father said she had been admitted to hospital after refusing to eat for a month and had made several attempts to return to the forest. Sal Lou said: "Her condition looks worse than the time we brought her from the jungle. She always wants to take off her clothes and crawl back to the jungle.
"She has refused to eat rice for about one month. She is skinny now... She still cannot speak. She acts totally like a monkey. Last night, she took off her clothes, and went to hide in the bathroom."
Rochom P'ngieng disappeared in 1989 when she was eight years old while herding water buffalo in the province of Ratanakkiri bordering Vietnam, north-east of the capital, Phnom Penh.
Her parents had long given up hope of ever seeing her. But in 2007, she emerged from the jungle naked and dirty, hunched over like a monkey, and was caught trying to steal by a farmer. She was said to have been scavenging food in the forest and could utter only unintelligible words. Sal Lou described the sounds she made simply as "animal noises".
Rochom P'ngieng, dubbed "jungle woman" when she emerged in Feb 2007, has still has not learnt to speak and refuses to wear clothes.
Her father said she had been admitted to hospital after refusing to eat for a month and had made several attempts to return to the forest. Sal Lou said: "Her condition looks worse than the time we brought her from the jungle. She always wants to take off her clothes and crawl back to the jungle.
"She has refused to eat rice for about one month. She is skinny now... She still cannot speak. She acts totally like a monkey. Last night, she took off her clothes, and went to hide in the bathroom."
Rochom P'ngieng disappeared in 1989 when she was eight years old while herding water buffalo in the province of Ratanakkiri bordering Vietnam, north-east of the capital, Phnom Penh.
Her parents had long given up hope of ever seeing her. But in 2007, she emerged from the jungle naked and dirty, hunched over like a monkey, and was caught trying to steal by a farmer. She was said to have been scavenging food in the forest and could utter only unintelligible words. Sal Lou described the sounds she made simply as "animal noises".
Russian mushroom lovers lose themselves in fungi hunt
Irina Fedino was expecting a pleasant walk when she went to pick mushrooms near her home in the Russian Urals. She returned almost a month later, emaciated and covered in mosquito bites, to tell her husband that she had been lost in the forest. Her tale of survival has fascinated Russians, for whom the annual hunt for mushrooms takes on an almost religious intensity. Getting lost, it seems, is an occupational hazard for many as they scour the forests for fungi and forget the way home.
Experienced pickers pack maps and compasses and on websites, mushroom clubs discuss the best pocket satellite navigation devices. Scores of people still go missing each autumn in the vast Russian wilderness, forcing officers from the Ministry of Emergency Situations to look for them. Most are found within a few hours or days, but some are presumed eaten by bears.
Mrs Fedino, 37, recounted how she had been terrified by howling wolves at night as she wandered disorientated near the town of Nizhnaya Salda. She said that she survived on mushrooms and berries for 24 days.
Her husband Aleksi said: “I was sure I would never see her again because the rescue services had looked for two weeks and found no trace of her. She was in a terrible state when she turned up. She spotted some fresh car tracks and followed them until she met a hunter who helped her get out.”
Rescue services have recorded almost 70 cases of missing mushroomers in recent months, from Irkutsk in eastern Siberia to the Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, where at least five people have died. More than 120 people went missing outside St Petersburg in one month after a bumper harvest in 2003.
Devotees said that it was easy to lose track of time and place in the hunt for edible treasures that are preserved and eaten through the winter. It is a ritual that has passed through generations and few are deterred by tales of tragedy. Irina Kravkova, 81, has collected mushrooms all her life. She said: “They are so beautiful and each one is different. I look for them everywhere and each time I find a mushroom it gives me such pleasure.”
Experienced pickers pack maps and compasses and on websites, mushroom clubs discuss the best pocket satellite navigation devices. Scores of people still go missing each autumn in the vast Russian wilderness, forcing officers from the Ministry of Emergency Situations to look for them. Most are found within a few hours or days, but some are presumed eaten by bears.
Mrs Fedino, 37, recounted how she had been terrified by howling wolves at night as she wandered disorientated near the town of Nizhnaya Salda. She said that she survived on mushrooms and berries for 24 days.
Her husband Aleksi said: “I was sure I would never see her again because the rescue services had looked for two weeks and found no trace of her. She was in a terrible state when she turned up. She spotted some fresh car tracks and followed them until she met a hunter who helped her get out.”
Rescue services have recorded almost 70 cases of missing mushroomers in recent months, from Irkutsk in eastern Siberia to the Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, where at least five people have died. More than 120 people went missing outside St Petersburg in one month after a bumper harvest in 2003.
Devotees said that it was easy to lose track of time and place in the hunt for edible treasures that are preserved and eaten through the winter. It is a ritual that has passed through generations and few are deterred by tales of tragedy. Irina Kravkova, 81, has collected mushrooms all her life. She said: “They are so beautiful and each one is different. I look for them everywhere and each time I find a mushroom it gives me such pleasure.”
Cat survives fall of six storeys
A pet cat in New Zealand escaped with only three broken teeth and a fractured jaw after falling six storeys from an apartment balcony on Auckland's viaduct.
Graeme and Alison Pike are surprised tabby Camo didn't fall on to someone's plate in one of the restaurants on the waterfront.
The cat lives with the couple on the fifth level of the Auckland Waterfront Serviced Apartments they manage on Princes Wharf.
Mrs Pike said neither she nor her husband had seen the fall but guessed Camo must have either jumped on top of the glass balustrade surrounding their balcony and fallen on to the tarseal between the building and the harbour, or ducked under it and fallen off a concrete ledge.
Her fall may have been broken by a balcony on the bottom floor which juts out further than their one, Mrs Pike said.
The couple received a call from the Princes Wharf security saying Camo was hiding under a sofa at Limon restaurant, about 30m further along the wharf, and had a bleeding mouth. But when the Pikes took Camo to the vet, she only needed three of her teeth extracted. Her fractured jaw was left to heal on its own.
Graeme and Alison Pike are surprised tabby Camo didn't fall on to someone's plate in one of the restaurants on the waterfront.
The cat lives with the couple on the fifth level of the Auckland Waterfront Serviced Apartments they manage on Princes Wharf.
Mrs Pike said neither she nor her husband had seen the fall but guessed Camo must have either jumped on top of the glass balustrade surrounding their balcony and fallen on to the tarseal between the building and the harbour, or ducked under it and fallen off a concrete ledge.
Her fall may have been broken by a balcony on the bottom floor which juts out further than their one, Mrs Pike said.
The couple received a call from the Princes Wharf security saying Camo was hiding under a sofa at Limon restaurant, about 30m further along the wharf, and had a bleeding mouth. But when the Pikes took Camo to the vet, she only needed three of her teeth extracted. Her fractured jaw was left to heal on its own.
Rescued dog mauls retired police officer in vicious attack
A dog rescued by a retired police officer attacked him on Sunday — inflicting hideous wounds on his face.
"The doctors and nurses have never seen anything like this," said John Wess, a friend of the victim.
Jim Stewart, 53, of Woodbury, reportedly suffered a severed ear and had the skin torn away from most of his face in the attack. He was listed on Thursday evening in good condition at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
"He has not seen himself in a mirror, and we are pretty worried about that," said Wess, a retired St. Paul police officer and longtime friend. "He was Mr. Hollywood, a good-looking guy who wouldn't talk to you without looking at his reflection in a window."
The attacker was a bulldog named Igor, which Stewart had obtained from an animal rescue group in Texas.
Ironically, someone representing the Texas group inspected the place where Igor would be living — to ensure "Jim was good enough to own the dog," said Amy Klinefelter, who owns the town home she shares with Stewart.
"The doctors and nurses have never seen anything like this," said John Wess, a friend of the victim.
Jim Stewart, 53, of Woodbury, reportedly suffered a severed ear and had the skin torn away from most of his face in the attack. He was listed on Thursday evening in good condition at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
"He has not seen himself in a mirror, and we are pretty worried about that," said Wess, a retired St. Paul police officer and longtime friend. "He was Mr. Hollywood, a good-looking guy who wouldn't talk to you without looking at his reflection in a window."
The attacker was a bulldog named Igor, which Stewart had obtained from an animal rescue group in Texas.
Ironically, someone representing the Texas group inspected the place where Igor would be living — to ensure "Jim was good enough to own the dog," said Amy Klinefelter, who owns the town home she shares with Stewart.
Natalie Imbruglia's transsexual cousin in airport drama
She lived as a woman, looked like a woman and turned up to get her passport dressed in fuschia jacket, skirt and heels.
But Stefanie Imbruglia, on her way to Thailand for her final sex-change surgery, was devastated when the passport officer insisted on calling her "sir" and made her list her sex as male on her new passport.
When she arrived in Thailand, she was stopped at the airport by a passport control officer who wanted her to account for the discrepancy between her female appearance and male passport.
Ms Imbruglia said it was done infront of her fellow passengers, was highly embarrassing and forced her to have her medical history disclosed to the public against her will.
Any excuse.
Ms Imbruglia, first cousin of pop star Natalie Imbruglia, returned with her $20,000 operation complete and a resolve to fight for the rights of transsexuals.
The cousins grew up together but haven't seen each other recently but despite that, Stefanie said her famous cousin is supportive of the change.
But Stefanie Imbruglia, on her way to Thailand for her final sex-change surgery, was devastated when the passport officer insisted on calling her "sir" and made her list her sex as male on her new passport.
When she arrived in Thailand, she was stopped at the airport by a passport control officer who wanted her to account for the discrepancy between her female appearance and male passport.
Ms Imbruglia said it was done infront of her fellow passengers, was highly embarrassing and forced her to have her medical history disclosed to the public against her will.
Any excuse.
Ms Imbruglia, first cousin of pop star Natalie Imbruglia, returned with her $20,000 operation complete and a resolve to fight for the rights of transsexuals.
The cousins grew up together but haven't seen each other recently but despite that, Stefanie said her famous cousin is supportive of the change.
Ex-pilot camps out in airport for 13 days
A former pilot has been living in an airport for 13 days after allegedly being dumped by a Brazilian woman he met on the internet. Wandering the Sao Paulo airport, German Heinz Muller, 46, is surviving on food given to him by airport workers.
Mr Muller washes himself in the airport bathrooms and sleeps on chairs in the airport's only terminal.
A spokesman for Brazil's civil aviation authority said Mr Muller arrived in Rio de Janeiro on October 2 and can stay for three months as long as he breaks no laws.
"Mr Muller said he wound up at the airport after being dumped by a woman living nearby. He visited after meeting her on the internet," said the spokesman.
Mr Muller washes himself in the airport bathrooms and sleeps on chairs in the airport's only terminal.
A spokesman for Brazil's civil aviation authority said Mr Muller arrived in Rio de Janeiro on October 2 and can stay for three months as long as he breaks no laws.
"Mr Muller said he wound up at the airport after being dumped by a woman living nearby. He visited after meeting her on the internet," said the spokesman.
'Russian road roulette' plagues streets of Sofia
Gangs of drivers in Sofia are defying death for bets of up to £5,000 by speeding through red lights at 120mph. The game, known as "Russian road roulette", is played every night at intersections throughout the Bulgarian capital.
As many as five people have been killed and many injured since the craze took hold in the summer. According to the rules, participants must drive at top speed and not apply their brakes.
The 50 or so drivers, most of them in their twenties and driving sports utility vehicles, gather at midnight at designated meeting points in the north of the city. While lookouts watch for the police, the participants decide on the venue for the night. Other gang members are informed via texts and the gambling starts.
Please note this compilation of traffic incidents in Sofia contains several people being hit by vehicles.
To win at Russian road roulette, the driver must jump red lights at busy crossroads at full speed and not collide with another vehicle, pedestrian or leave the road. If he hits an object, he loses the bet. Onlookers also take part by gambling on the outcome.
In a variation of the game, drivers approach roundabouts at high speed and go around the wrong way. Rivals also race each other along the dual carriageway of the city's ring road. On some occasions the gangs have even blocked sections of the highway to other traffic while the race takes place.
Rumen Georgiev, a taxi driver, said he was now afraid to be on the city's roads after dark. "I – like every other taxi driver in Sofia – stop at a green light to make sure nothing is coming the other way," he said. "I have to apologise to clients for the slow journey. It's a jungle out there."
As many as five people have been killed and many injured since the craze took hold in the summer. According to the rules, participants must drive at top speed and not apply their brakes.
The 50 or so drivers, most of them in their twenties and driving sports utility vehicles, gather at midnight at designated meeting points in the north of the city. While lookouts watch for the police, the participants decide on the venue for the night. Other gang members are informed via texts and the gambling starts.
Please note this compilation of traffic incidents in Sofia contains several people being hit by vehicles.
To win at Russian road roulette, the driver must jump red lights at busy crossroads at full speed and not collide with another vehicle, pedestrian or leave the road. If he hits an object, he loses the bet. Onlookers also take part by gambling on the outcome.
In a variation of the game, drivers approach roundabouts at high speed and go around the wrong way. Rivals also race each other along the dual carriageway of the city's ring road. On some occasions the gangs have even blocked sections of the highway to other traffic while the race takes place.
Rumen Georgiev, a taxi driver, said he was now afraid to be on the city's roads after dark. "I – like every other taxi driver in Sofia – stop at a green light to make sure nothing is coming the other way," he said. "I have to apologise to clients for the slow journey. It's a jungle out there."
Madonna's handwash faux pas in Malawi
Behold Madonna being driven away from a morale-boosting visit to the Home of Hope orphanage in Malawi. Because, really, nothing says "you and I are one" like hightailing it to the airport waving your hand sanitiser.
Madonna has been in the country's capital Lilongwe to break ground on her Krazy Kabbalah Akademy – or the Raising Malawi School for Girls, as the prospectus will have it – as well as to put in some facetime with the nation, as per the conditions of the ruling that permitted her to adopt her second orphan-effect Malawian child earlier this year.
Madonna has been in the country's capital Lilongwe to break ground on her Krazy Kabbalah Akademy – or the Raising Malawi School for Girls, as the prospectus will have it – as well as to put in some facetime with the nation, as per the conditions of the ruling that permitted her to adopt her second orphan-effect Malawian child earlier this year.
Man sues over lack of 'Lynx effect'
A luckless Indian romeo is suing Lynx after he failed to land a single girlfriend during seven years of using their products.
Vaibhav Bedi, 26, is seeking £26,000 from parent company Unilever for the "depression and psychological damage" caused by the lack of any Lynx effect.
Court officials in New Delhi have agreed to order forensic laboratory tests on dozens of his half-used Lynx body washes, shampoos, anti-perspirants and hair gels.
Lynx - marketed as Axe in India - is famous for its saucy ads showing barely clothed women throwing themselves at men.
But Bedi says in his court petition: "The company cheated me because in its advertisements, it says women will be attracted to you if you use Axe. "I used it for seven years but no girl came to me."
When contacted Unilever declined to comment on the case. But India's leading compensation litigator Ram Jethmalani warned: "There is no data to substantiate the supposition that unattractive and unintelligent men don't attract women. In fact some of the best looking women have been known to marry and date absolutely ghoulish guys. I'd suggest that the company settles this issue out of court."
Vaibhav Bedi, 26, is seeking £26,000 from parent company Unilever for the "depression and psychological damage" caused by the lack of any Lynx effect.
Court officials in New Delhi have agreed to order forensic laboratory tests on dozens of his half-used Lynx body washes, shampoos, anti-perspirants and hair gels.
Lynx - marketed as Axe in India - is famous for its saucy ads showing barely clothed women throwing themselves at men.
But Bedi says in his court petition: "The company cheated me because in its advertisements, it says women will be attracted to you if you use Axe. "I used it for seven years but no girl came to me."
When contacted Unilever declined to comment on the case. But India's leading compensation litigator Ram Jethmalani warned: "There is no data to substantiate the supposition that unattractive and unintelligent men don't attract women. In fact some of the best looking women have been known to marry and date absolutely ghoulish guys. I'd suggest that the company settles this issue out of court."
Johnny the stolen giant tortoise is rescued in police raid
A giant tortoise which was taken from his purpose-built log cabin has been discovered safe and well. Johnny, a Genota Sulcata tortoise, who weighs four-stone (25kg) and is 4ft (1.2m) long was missing for two days after being lifted from a garden.
Owner Shelley Williams, of Hengoed, Caerphilly, said she feared her pet had been stolen to order.
She has now paid out for increased security, installing a new laser light and cameras in Johnny's enclosure.
Photo from here.
Gwent Police said Johnny was reported stolen early on Monday. A spokeswoman said: "Inquiries are continuing."
"I think, from what the police said, he was taken by opportunist thieves," said Mrs Williams. He was located in a garden with no heat or light so it looks like they didn't realise what they had. He was found by police during a raid on a house two days later.
"I am absolutely elated that he is back with us and back home happy." Nine-year-old Johnny, who is worth about £4,000, is now safely back in his enclosure in Mrs Williams' garden.
Owner Shelley Williams, of Hengoed, Caerphilly, said she feared her pet had been stolen to order.
She has now paid out for increased security, installing a new laser light and cameras in Johnny's enclosure.
Photo from here.
Gwent Police said Johnny was reported stolen early on Monday. A spokeswoman said: "Inquiries are continuing."
"I think, from what the police said, he was taken by opportunist thieves," said Mrs Williams. He was located in a garden with no heat or light so it looks like they didn't realise what they had. He was found by police during a raid on a house two days later.
"I am absolutely elated that he is back with us and back home happy." Nine-year-old Johnny, who is worth about £4,000, is now safely back in his enclosure in Mrs Williams' garden.
Stunt biker hurt by pavement trip
A daredevil stunt cyclist who became an internet sensation could be out of action for two months - after injuring himself tripping over a pavement.
Danny MacAskill was reported to have been walking through his home city of Edinburgh when he stumbled on the kerb and damaged his collar bone.
After undergoing treatment in hospital, he is now recovering at home.
A YouTube video of him performing hair-raising stunts around the city has been viewed by almost 12 million people.
Danny MacAskill was reported to have been walking through his home city of Edinburgh when he stumbled on the kerb and damaged his collar bone.
After undergoing treatment in hospital, he is now recovering at home.
A YouTube video of him performing hair-raising stunts around the city has been viewed by almost 12 million people.
Redundant at 13 as recession costs paperboy his job
As bailed-out bankers celebrate the return of bonuses, life is not looking so rosy for 13-year-old Kane Middleton and his hamster. He has become one of the youngest workers to lose his job during the recession.
The teenager from Clophill, Bedford, has been made officially redundant from his paper round with no prospect of a payoff, leaving him short of money to spend on his pet hamster, Splodge.
Kane received his notice from Letterbox Direct in the post last week. It read: "It is with considerable regret that we write to inform you that your contract of employment with Letterbox Direct will be terminated for reasons of redundancy with effect from 19 October.
Click for bigger.
"You will not be required to work your notice period and therefore this date will be your last date of employment within the company. We have fully assessed opportunities for redeployment within the company but there appears to be no suitable alternative jobs available at present."
The letter assured Kane, who began his paper round in August, that the decision was nothing to do with the standard of his work but was "purely based on marketing data". He was paid between £6 and £7 a week to deliver the local freesheet, the Mid Beds Times & Citizen. The letter said he would receive one week's pay in lieu of notice, which amounted to £6.93, but that his redundancy package would be nought weeks statutory redundancy equating to nought pounds.
"I was quite upset because I couldn't buy anything for my hamster any more," said Kane. "I thought the letter was a bit strange." His mother Jocelyn, 57, a clerk in an electronics company, said the letter was "not the sort of language a child would understand" and her son would "have to come cap in hand" to his parents now.
The teenager from Clophill, Bedford, has been made officially redundant from his paper round with no prospect of a payoff, leaving him short of money to spend on his pet hamster, Splodge.
Kane received his notice from Letterbox Direct in the post last week. It read: "It is with considerable regret that we write to inform you that your contract of employment with Letterbox Direct will be terminated for reasons of redundancy with effect from 19 October.
Click for bigger.
"You will not be required to work your notice period and therefore this date will be your last date of employment within the company. We have fully assessed opportunities for redeployment within the company but there appears to be no suitable alternative jobs available at present."
The letter assured Kane, who began his paper round in August, that the decision was nothing to do with the standard of his work but was "purely based on marketing data". He was paid between £6 and £7 a week to deliver the local freesheet, the Mid Beds Times & Citizen. The letter said he would receive one week's pay in lieu of notice, which amounted to £6.93, but that his redundancy package would be nought weeks statutory redundancy equating to nought pounds.
"I was quite upset because I couldn't buy anything for my hamster any more," said Kane. "I thought the letter was a bit strange." His mother Jocelyn, 57, a clerk in an electronics company, said the letter was "not the sort of language a child would understand" and her son would "have to come cap in hand" to his parents now.
Man, 71, becomes UK's oldest father of twins
A pensioner from the Black Country has become Britain’s oldest father of twins – at the age of 71. Richard Roden is the proud father of Ruby and Emily, his first children with 25-year-old wife Lisa.
Ex-welder Mr Roden is already a father of 10 from two previous marriages but is “over the moon” at becoming a father yet again – and is planning more.
“It’s easier this time around as I’ve had plenty of practice with children,” he said.
“We are going to try for a boy in two years. I’ve only got three lads, so I’d like another son. Being a dad at 71 is definitely more tiring than in my 20s, but they give me such a lot of pleasure.”
He added: “I wouldn’t swap them for anything – not even winning the lottery. They have made my life complete.”
Mr Roden married Lisa a month ago – four years after their first meeting at a course at Brownhills Library and the couple, from Brownhills, had their two children without the help of any fertility treatment.
Ex-welder Mr Roden is already a father of 10 from two previous marriages but is “over the moon” at becoming a father yet again – and is planning more.
“It’s easier this time around as I’ve had plenty of practice with children,” he said.
“We are going to try for a boy in two years. I’ve only got three lads, so I’d like another son. Being a dad at 71 is definitely more tiring than in my 20s, but they give me such a lot of pleasure.”
He added: “I wouldn’t swap them for anything – not even winning the lottery. They have made my life complete.”
Mr Roden married Lisa a month ago – four years after their first meeting at a course at Brownhills Library and the couple, from Brownhills, had their two children without the help of any fertility treatment.
Granddaughter and grandfather graduate together
A grandfather and his granddaughter have graduated from the same Suffolk university on the same day.
Tony Horrocks and his granddaughter Alison Horrocks, graduated from University Campus Suffolk (UCS) on Thursday.
Mr Horrocks, 75, was awarded a BA (Hons) in Individual Studies, while his 21-year-old granddaughter was awarded a BA (Hons) in Business Management.
The pair, who are both from Suffolk, received a 2:1 in their degrees.
Ms Horrocks said: "Although we had separate lectures and did different courses we often helped each other out and could always rely on my granddad for good advice."
Mr Horrocks said: "Being able to celebrate our achievements together here today makes the whole occasion that much more special."
Tony Horrocks and his granddaughter Alison Horrocks, graduated from University Campus Suffolk (UCS) on Thursday.
Mr Horrocks, 75, was awarded a BA (Hons) in Individual Studies, while his 21-year-old granddaughter was awarded a BA (Hons) in Business Management.
The pair, who are both from Suffolk, received a 2:1 in their degrees.
Ms Horrocks said: "Although we had separate lectures and did different courses we often helped each other out and could always rely on my granddad for good advice."
Mr Horrocks said: "Being able to celebrate our achievements together here today makes the whole occasion that much more special."
Friday, October 30, 2009
Dog given medal after 'canine CPR'
A central Queensland dog which jumped up and down on its owner's chest after the man suffered a massive heart attack may have saved his life.
Teka the three-year-old Australian cattle dog has been given the RSPCA's animal achievement award following the 2007 feat at a glass factory near Bundaberg.
Owner Jim Touzeau's heart stopped and he collapsed unconscious on the factory floor when Teka climbed onto his chest and began to jump repeatedly with all four paws.
The dog also barked in his face, rousing him enough to raise the alarm with his son. She also ran outside and barked to attract attention.
Medical experts have been unable to say whether the canine CPR had any medical impact but say Mr Touzeau would not be alive today if not for Teka's efforts.
"I don't know if she actually kick-started my heart. But the doctors said that if I hadn't come to and called for help the chances are I would be dead," Mr Touzeau said. "My heart had definitely stopped."
Teka the three-year-old Australian cattle dog has been given the RSPCA's animal achievement award following the 2007 feat at a glass factory near Bundaberg.
Owner Jim Touzeau's heart stopped and he collapsed unconscious on the factory floor when Teka climbed onto his chest and began to jump repeatedly with all four paws.
The dog also barked in his face, rousing him enough to raise the alarm with his son. She also ran outside and barked to attract attention.
Medical experts have been unable to say whether the canine CPR had any medical impact but say Mr Touzeau would not be alive today if not for Teka's efforts.
"I don't know if she actually kick-started my heart. But the doctors said that if I hadn't come to and called for help the chances are I would be dead," Mr Touzeau said. "My heart had definitely stopped."
Rescuers save boy trapped between buildings
A Chinese boy who fell out of his third floor window ended up with his head wedged in the narrow gap between two buildings.
The 12ins (30cm) gap was too narrow for rescuers to enter and the boy continued to slip downwards as he struggled to free himself.
Rescuers worked with drills for five hours to widen a ventilation shaft before finally freeing him without serious injury. "I heard a muffled bang, and looked out to see a boy stuck between the walls," said neighbour Mrs Wang, in Guilin, Guangxi province.
Firefighter Fu Canming said: "We could only touch the boy through a small ventilation shaft, and we decided to enlarge the shaft and pull out the boy that way.
"My arms were totally paralysed from the continual drill vibrations, but the boy's screams and cries squeezed our hearts so we carried on."
Medical staff set up a drip to keep him hydrated during the rescue and he did not suffer any serious injuries. After five hours of drilling, the ventilation shaft was finally big enough to pull out the boy.
The 12ins (30cm) gap was too narrow for rescuers to enter and the boy continued to slip downwards as he struggled to free himself.
Rescuers worked with drills for five hours to widen a ventilation shaft before finally freeing him without serious injury. "I heard a muffled bang, and looked out to see a boy stuck between the walls," said neighbour Mrs Wang, in Guilin, Guangxi province.
Firefighter Fu Canming said: "We could only touch the boy through a small ventilation shaft, and we decided to enlarge the shaft and pull out the boy that way.
"My arms were totally paralysed from the continual drill vibrations, but the boy's screams and cries squeezed our hearts so we carried on."
Medical staff set up a drip to keep him hydrated during the rescue and he did not suffer any serious injuries. After five hours of drilling, the ventilation shaft was finally big enough to pull out the boy.
Spanish woman finds 'guardian angel' on a bus who diagnosed rare disease
A Spanish woman today found her "guardian angel" – the stranger who saved her life after approaching her on a bus to say that she was probably suffering from a rare disease caused by a tumour. Montse Ventura, 55, said the woman who sat opposite her on Barcelona's number 64 bus nine months ago saved her life by advising her to have tests for acromegaly – a disorder resulting from an excess of growth hormone due to a pituitary gland tumour.
She had no idea what the woman was talking about but accepted a piece of paper where the woman had written down the names of two clinical tests. "She wrote something down and said 'Have the analysis done as soon as possible because if you wait until you feel the need to the consult your doctor, you may already be in a very bad state,'" Ventura said. "A month later I went to my gynaecologist for my annual check-up. I handed over the piece of paper and asked for those tests to be added to the standard ones."
To her doctor's surprise, the test results rang alarm bells. "Some hormonal measures were totally abnormal," she said. "I had more tests done and they ended up operating on a tumour." The operation to remove the tiny tumour from the pea-sized pituitary gland at the base of her brain was successful.
On Tuesday a 60-year-old endocrinologist rang La Vanguardia newspaper to say she had made the diagnosis after seeing Ventura's unusually shaped hands. "The hands gave me a lot of clues but I wasn't sure whether to say anything but I am a very spontaneous person," she explained. "I'd rather put my foot in it than keep the worry to myself." Ventura and her guardian angel have now spoken by phone and will meet when the media fuss in Spain dies down.
She had no idea what the woman was talking about but accepted a piece of paper where the woman had written down the names of two clinical tests. "She wrote something down and said 'Have the analysis done as soon as possible because if you wait until you feel the need to the consult your doctor, you may already be in a very bad state,'" Ventura said. "A month later I went to my gynaecologist for my annual check-up. I handed over the piece of paper and asked for those tests to be added to the standard ones."
To her doctor's surprise, the test results rang alarm bells. "Some hormonal measures were totally abnormal," she said. "I had more tests done and they ended up operating on a tumour." The operation to remove the tiny tumour from the pea-sized pituitary gland at the base of her brain was successful.
On Tuesday a 60-year-old endocrinologist rang La Vanguardia newspaper to say she had made the diagnosis after seeing Ventura's unusually shaped hands. "The hands gave me a lot of clues but I wasn't sure whether to say anything but I am a very spontaneous person," she explained. "I'd rather put my foot in it than keep the worry to myself." Ventura and her guardian angel have now spoken by phone and will meet when the media fuss in Spain dies down.
Northern Lights 'ghoul' pictured in Norway
A ghoulish image of the Northern Lights - the natural phenomenon also known as Aurora Borealis - has been taken in Norway.
Photographer Niels Giroud took the snaps in Mo i Rana, just south of the Arctic Circle. He said: "The northern light activity here has been very low for a long period, but we finally had both auroras and a clear sky.
"The show lasted only for a couple of minutes but was beyond expectations, with fast moving curtains of green and red auroras filling the whole sky."
The name Aurora Borealis comes from the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for north wind, Boreas.
The shimmering waves and swirls, caused by charged particles colliding in the earth's atmosphere, most often occurs from September to October and from March to April and is visible in the northern hemisphere.
Its southern counterpart, the Aurora Australis – Latin for South – is visible from Antarctica, South America and Australasia.
Photographer Niels Giroud took the snaps in Mo i Rana, just south of the Arctic Circle. He said: "The northern light activity here has been very low for a long period, but we finally had both auroras and a clear sky.
"The show lasted only for a couple of minutes but was beyond expectations, with fast moving curtains of green and red auroras filling the whole sky."
The name Aurora Borealis comes from the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for north wind, Boreas.
The shimmering waves and swirls, caused by charged particles colliding in the earth's atmosphere, most often occurs from September to October and from March to April and is visible in the northern hemisphere.
Its southern counterpart, the Aurora Australis – Latin for South – is visible from Antarctica, South America and Australasia.
Chinese teacher held after children jabbed with syringe
A 24-year-old female kindergarten teacher has been detained in southwest China after allegedly stabbing more than 20 children with a syringe to discipline them, state media reported Tuesday.
The woman, Sun Qiqi, was taken into custody at the weekend in Yunnan province after angry parents complained to police about the alleged abuse at the unlicensed school in Jianshui county, the China Daily reported.
One mother, Zhou Limei, said her four-year-old daughter had been stabbed multiple times last week, on the back of her left hand and on her bottom.
It was not immediately clear if the alleged syringe contained any hazardous materials. Children were given ultrasound examinations and HIV tests which were negative, the China Daily said. "Although the blood test shows the children are HIV-negative, I hope the government gives us proper compensation," Zhou told the paper.
The Global Times reported that Sun had confessed, saying she had pricked the children to "tame" them and that she was overwhelmed by the 37 three- and four-year-olds in her charge.
One three-year-old boy had eight needle wounds, and was allegedly punished for refusing to take a nap, the newspaper said. School principal Bai Yali told the Global Times she knew nothing about the incident, and that Sun's performance had been "good".
The woman, Sun Qiqi, was taken into custody at the weekend in Yunnan province after angry parents complained to police about the alleged abuse at the unlicensed school in Jianshui county, the China Daily reported.
One mother, Zhou Limei, said her four-year-old daughter had been stabbed multiple times last week, on the back of her left hand and on her bottom.
It was not immediately clear if the alleged syringe contained any hazardous materials. Children were given ultrasound examinations and HIV tests which were negative, the China Daily said. "Although the blood test shows the children are HIV-negative, I hope the government gives us proper compensation," Zhou told the paper.
The Global Times reported that Sun had confessed, saying she had pricked the children to "tame" them and that she was overwhelmed by the 37 three- and four-year-olds in her charge.
One three-year-old boy had eight needle wounds, and was allegedly punished for refusing to take a nap, the newspaper said. School principal Bai Yali told the Global Times she knew nothing about the incident, and that Sun's performance had been "good".
Ghostly 'dance of a sea dragon'
One of the most elegant courtship rituals in the animal kingdom has been captured on film by a BBC crew.
The dance of the weedy sea dragon takes place every year in the shallow seas off the coast of Australia.
During the ghostly dance, two beautifully odd-looking fish mirror each other's every movement.
At the end of the ritual, the male fish is the one to get pregnant, giving birth two months later.
The dance of the weedy sea dragon takes place every year in the shallow seas off the coast of Australia.
During the ghostly dance, two beautifully odd-looking fish mirror each other's every movement.
At the end of the ritual, the male fish is the one to get pregnant, giving birth two months later.
Man bitten by 2 poisonous snakes simultaneously
Sitting in the emergency room at University Community Hospital in Tampa John Agan remembers what he was taught in school about venomous snakes. "They teach you growing up that, red and yellow will kill a fellow, well it was definitely red, yellow and black with a white head," he said.
Agan said he encountered not one, but two different venomous snakes on Tuesday while staying at the Masters Inn in Seffner with his family.
Agan remembers taking his dog "Little Bit" out for a stroll, when suddenly his dog began barking at something. Agan went to see what it was. "I called 'Little Bit' and I made a step to my left and she ran around the dumpster, and as I turned to go back in I felt like a really hard pinch on my shin," Agan explained.
Agan believes he was first bitten by a pygmy rattlesnake, and when he looked down he said a venomous coral snake was gnawing on his right foot. "When I looked down I seen a coral snake on my foot just gnawing away and so I kicked it away and I ran into the house and called 911," Agan said.
The Tampa plumber was rushed to the emergency room and was given a dose of anti-venom for the rattlesnake bite, but had to wait several hours for coral snake anti-venom to be shipped from Miami.
While the 46-year-old realizes he survived a close call, but he still wonders why this rare attack happened to him. "Why me? I'm just curious is my body giving out a pheromone saying here I am come bite me?" Agan asked.
With news video.
Agan said he encountered not one, but two different venomous snakes on Tuesday while staying at the Masters Inn in Seffner with his family.
Agan remembers taking his dog "Little Bit" out for a stroll, when suddenly his dog began barking at something. Agan went to see what it was. "I called 'Little Bit' and I made a step to my left and she ran around the dumpster, and as I turned to go back in I felt like a really hard pinch on my shin," Agan explained.
Agan believes he was first bitten by a pygmy rattlesnake, and when he looked down he said a venomous coral snake was gnawing on his right foot. "When I looked down I seen a coral snake on my foot just gnawing away and so I kicked it away and I ran into the house and called 911," Agan said.
The Tampa plumber was rushed to the emergency room and was given a dose of anti-venom for the rattlesnake bite, but had to wait several hours for coral snake anti-venom to be shipped from Miami.
While the 46-year-old realizes he survived a close call, but he still wonders why this rare attack happened to him. "Why me? I'm just curious is my body giving out a pheromone saying here I am come bite me?" Agan asked.
With news video.
Albanian man kept two daughters chained for 22 years
A 70-year-old Albanian man kept his two daughters chained for 22 years, saying they were mentally ill and aggressive. "They were both ill, and I kept them in chains to keep them from running away," the man said. "I have fed them and washed them, but I had no time to go and look for them if they ran away," he said.
The two women, aged 38 and 47, were living in a small room with only a blanket on the floor. The older sister had her left foot chained, while the younger one had both her hands in chains.
Allegedly, the older daughter was hospitalized in a mental institution when she was 16 and spent seven years there. After she was released, her father chained her and her younger sister.
Following the reports, the two women were sent to hospital. It is unclear whether the man will face charges.
The two women, aged 38 and 47, were living in a small room with only a blanket on the floor. The older sister had her left foot chained, while the younger one had both her hands in chains.
Allegedly, the older daughter was hospitalized in a mental institution when she was 16 and spent seven years there. After she was released, her father chained her and her younger sister.
Following the reports, the two women were sent to hospital. It is unclear whether the man will face charges.
Church rejects kooky wedding
The bride planned to wear black and the groom asked the organist to play "The Munsters" theme song, but a Sleepy Hollow minister said "I won't" to the trick-or-treat nuptials. Now, Jim Nieves and Lisa Panensky of Elmsford, Westchester County, are scrambling to find a new place to get hitched on Halloween.
"I think at the end of the day, we're just going to have it at our house," said Nieves, 47, who had picked out a piratelike ruffled shirt for the wedding to go with Panensky's black cocktail dress. For more than a year, the couple had been looking forward to trading vows in the Old Dutch Church, a historic sanctuary made famous in Washington Irving's scary short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
They reserved the church 13 months ago, signing a contract they insist explained their unorthodox wedding. "To think that we would just go in there and do whatever we wanted would be pretty disrespectful," said Nieves, a pastry chief. "They were well and fine with the whole idea of doing a Halloween wedding." But two months ago, a new pastor took over the church. When the Rev. Jeff Gargano received an e-mail from the couple on Friday requesting the organist to play the theme songs from "The Addams Family" and "The Munsters," the preacher balked.
"Until then, it never occurred to me that it would be anything other than a regular wedding," said Gargano, formerly of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Gargano said he offered to marry the couple in the church's cemetery, but would not allow a "Halloween costume party" inside the sanctuary. "This is one of the most venerable churches in the country," Gargano said. "I just couldn't trivialize the church like that."
"I think at the end of the day, we're just going to have it at our house," said Nieves, 47, who had picked out a piratelike ruffled shirt for the wedding to go with Panensky's black cocktail dress. For more than a year, the couple had been looking forward to trading vows in the Old Dutch Church, a historic sanctuary made famous in Washington Irving's scary short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
They reserved the church 13 months ago, signing a contract they insist explained their unorthodox wedding. "To think that we would just go in there and do whatever we wanted would be pretty disrespectful," said Nieves, a pastry chief. "They were well and fine with the whole idea of doing a Halloween wedding." But two months ago, a new pastor took over the church. When the Rev. Jeff Gargano received an e-mail from the couple on Friday requesting the organist to play the theme songs from "The Addams Family" and "The Munsters," the preacher balked.
"Until then, it never occurred to me that it would be anything other than a regular wedding," said Gargano, formerly of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Gargano said he offered to marry the couple in the church's cemetery, but would not allow a "Halloween costume party" inside the sanctuary. "This is one of the most venerable churches in the country," Gargano said. "I just couldn't trivialize the church like that."
Shoplifter stuffs ferret down his pants then used it as weapon
Investigators said Rodney Bolton went into the Pet Supermarket store in Jacksonville Beach on Tuesday afternoon and stuck a ferret down the front of his pants before walking out. It's an incident so unusual that even police had a hard time keeping a straight face. "Stuffing a ferret down your pants in order to steal it is not only stupid, but it's a little dangerous," Sgt. Thom Bingham said.
A 17-year-old shopper told police he saw Bolton abduct the ferret, and the shopper tried to rescue the animal. "They fought over the ferret and he squeezed the ferret until it was angry and agitated, and it bit the victim in the ear," Bingham said. The teen wasn't seriously injured, and now Bolton, who is homeless, is charged with shoplifting and battery. The ferret involved in the incident is recovering from the trauma.
"It would be an interesting little thing to steal a ferret because they are so bouncy and kind of bitey, I kind of feel bad for the person that put it down their pants leg," pet store owner Stephen Brezil said. "I'm not sure if he'd be the same person after all."
Police said Bolton tried to tell the officers later that somebody gave him the ferret while he was standing outside the pet store. Police aren't buying his story, and they said Bolton won't say why he wanted a ferret. Police said the ferret was safely returned to the store.
With news video and audio of the 911 call.
A 17-year-old shopper told police he saw Bolton abduct the ferret, and the shopper tried to rescue the animal. "They fought over the ferret and he squeezed the ferret until it was angry and agitated, and it bit the victim in the ear," Bingham said. The teen wasn't seriously injured, and now Bolton, who is homeless, is charged with shoplifting and battery. The ferret involved in the incident is recovering from the trauma.
"It would be an interesting little thing to steal a ferret because they are so bouncy and kind of bitey, I kind of feel bad for the person that put it down their pants leg," pet store owner Stephen Brezil said. "I'm not sure if he'd be the same person after all."
Police said Bolton tried to tell the officers later that somebody gave him the ferret while he was standing outside the pet store. Police aren't buying his story, and they said Bolton won't say why he wanted a ferret. Police said the ferret was safely returned to the store.
With news video and audio of the 911 call.
Hero boy, 8, 'hotwires' radio to save dad
An eight-year-old Australian boy has been hailed a hero after he hot-wired a two-way radio to call for help as his dad lay trapped in the wreckage of a horror truck rollover. Michael Bowron stripped the radio wires and connected them to a spare battery he found among the wreckage. The Bonnie Rock youngster has told his fingers burned from sparks flying off the battery while he desperately called for help. ``I was scared, but I was trying to be brave,'' Michael said. ``My dad had heaps of blood on his face and heaps on his leg. I had heaps on my leg too, but not as much as my dad.''
Michael and his father, Justin, were driving home to the family farm in a prime mover truck on Saturday, October 10, when a tyre blew. ``It blew on the left-hand side of the truck and the right-hand side swung around,'' Mr Bowron said. ``The truck was heading straight into a bush and I tried to correct the steering wheel. When I did that, it tipped over. The last thing I remember was the driver's side hitting the ground.''
He regained consciousness minutes later to find himself wedged between the steering wheel and the dashboard. His leg was caught in the mangled truck, trapping him in the vehicle. Glass covered him and blood was pouring from his head. ``Diesel was leaking from the truck and the engine was still running,'' Mr Bowron said. ``I was worried it was going to burst into flames. I couldn't find my mobile phone and the two-way radio had been thrown out of the truck.''
Michael, who had been sitting in the sleeper cabin, crawled out of the wreck through the windscreen and tried to free his dad with a tyre lever. When that didn't work, he rummaged for the radio. It was pretty bunged up,'' Mr Bowron said. ``It couldn't work because it wasn't connected to the truck anymore. I told Michael he could get it going with the spare battery.'' The spare battery had been thrown out of the truck. I found the battery on the side of the road and dragged it over to my dad,'' Michael said. He told me to strip the wires from the radio and put them on the red and blue parts of the battery.'' Under his father's guidance, Michael was able to get the radio working and call for help.
One of the first to respond was Michael's mother, Christine. She immediately organised family members and neighbours to go to the crash. ``I was the first to arrive on the scene,'' Mrs Bowron said. ``I didn't think it was going to be as bad as it was. At the time I was just thinking, `How can I help?'. It wasn't until later that I thought about how I could have lost them both forever.'' Mr Bowron was trapped for just over an hour before he was able to escape from the truck.
It was another 45 minutes before the local ambulance service arrived at the scene. Local volunteer ambulance co-ordinator Peter Geraghty said Mr Bowron could have been trapped until night time if Michael had not been able to work the radio. Mr Geraghty said Michael had shown courage beyond his age. ``What he did was very impressive,'' he said. ``We say he's too old for his age. But a lot of country kids are like that. They know how to fend for themselves because often they is no one around to fend for them.''
Michael and his father, Justin, were driving home to the family farm in a prime mover truck on Saturday, October 10, when a tyre blew. ``It blew on the left-hand side of the truck and the right-hand side swung around,'' Mr Bowron said. ``The truck was heading straight into a bush and I tried to correct the steering wheel. When I did that, it tipped over. The last thing I remember was the driver's side hitting the ground.''
He regained consciousness minutes later to find himself wedged between the steering wheel and the dashboard. His leg was caught in the mangled truck, trapping him in the vehicle. Glass covered him and blood was pouring from his head. ``Diesel was leaking from the truck and the engine was still running,'' Mr Bowron said. ``I was worried it was going to burst into flames. I couldn't find my mobile phone and the two-way radio had been thrown out of the truck.''
Michael, who had been sitting in the sleeper cabin, crawled out of the wreck through the windscreen and tried to free his dad with a tyre lever. When that didn't work, he rummaged for the radio. It was pretty bunged up,'' Mr Bowron said. ``It couldn't work because it wasn't connected to the truck anymore. I told Michael he could get it going with the spare battery.'' The spare battery had been thrown out of the truck. I found the battery on the side of the road and dragged it over to my dad,'' Michael said. He told me to strip the wires from the radio and put them on the red and blue parts of the battery.'' Under his father's guidance, Michael was able to get the radio working and call for help.
One of the first to respond was Michael's mother, Christine. She immediately organised family members and neighbours to go to the crash. ``I was the first to arrive on the scene,'' Mrs Bowron said. ``I didn't think it was going to be as bad as it was. At the time I was just thinking, `How can I help?'. It wasn't until later that I thought about how I could have lost them both forever.'' Mr Bowron was trapped for just over an hour before he was able to escape from the truck.
It was another 45 minutes before the local ambulance service arrived at the scene. Local volunteer ambulance co-ordinator Peter Geraghty said Mr Bowron could have been trapped until night time if Michael had not been able to work the radio. Mr Geraghty said Michael had shown courage beyond his age. ``What he did was very impressive,'' he said. ``We say he's too old for his age. But a lot of country kids are like that. They know how to fend for themselves because often they is no one around to fend for them.''
Worried Iranian pilot asks passengers to pray
A worried Iranian airline pilot asked passengers to start praying after his plane was hit by a technical glitch early on Thursday, highlighting once again the notorious record of Tehran's aircraft.
The Aseman Airlines Boeing plane had taken off from Tehran airport after a six-hour delay, but had to return following a technical fault, the ISNA news agency quoted a passenger as recounting.
"The plane took off at 0015 in the morning and had to land back in Tehran after 45 minutes," the passenger said.
"The pilot told the passengers 'the plane is facing a technical problem and has to return. So please pray.'"
Iran has been under years of international sanctions hampering its ability to buy modern planes from major manufacturers, such as Boeing and Airbus, or spare parts, and has suffered a number of air disasters over the past decade.
Its civil and military fleet is made up of ancient aircraft in very poor condition due to their age, and lack of maintenance. In July it suffered one of its worst air disasters when a Caspian Airlines plane, a Russian Tupolev 154, crashed near Qazvin, northwest of Tehran, killing all 168 people on board.
The Aseman Airlines Boeing plane had taken off from Tehran airport after a six-hour delay, but had to return following a technical fault, the ISNA news agency quoted a passenger as recounting.
"The plane took off at 0015 in the morning and had to land back in Tehran after 45 minutes," the passenger said.
"The pilot told the passengers 'the plane is facing a technical problem and has to return. So please pray.'"
Iran has been under years of international sanctions hampering its ability to buy modern planes from major manufacturers, such as Boeing and Airbus, or spare parts, and has suffered a number of air disasters over the past decade.
Its civil and military fleet is made up of ancient aircraft in very poor condition due to their age, and lack of maintenance. In July it suffered one of its worst air disasters when a Caspian Airlines plane, a Russian Tupolev 154, crashed near Qazvin, northwest of Tehran, killing all 168 people on board.
Woman kills neighbour's cats with anti-freeze to stop them urinating on her strawberries
A woman who killed her neighbour's Abyssinian cats with tuna laced with anti-freeze has been ordered to pay £1,500 in compensation. Katherine Hall, 57, from Airth, near Falkirk, said she had acted to stop the pets from urinating on her strawberries. Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that the five-and-a-half year old felines died in agony days later.
The cats owner, Andrew Boyd, described the sentence as a "disgrace". When Mr Boyd contact police after the vet told him his cats had been poisoned, officers found the remnants of the deadly meal and a cat-scaring machine still in Hall's garden
Hall was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the pets, named Nush and Mr Baz, by feeding them a drug or substance knowing it to be poisonous or injurious. Defence agent Murray Aitken said: "Mrs Hall knows she put out the tuna, and she highly regrets that decision. She's had death threats because of it, and it's negatively affected her health, so it's definitely a decision that will live with her for the rest of her life."
Sheriff Craig Caldwell ordered Hall to pay Mr Boyd £1,500 in compensation, but stopped short of imposing a fine or calling for background reports as a preliminary to imposing community service or jail. He told her: "I take a dim view of cruelty to animals, and you should have known mixing tuna with anti-freeze would cause serious damage."
Mr Boyd said he and his wife Wilma had been devastated by the deaths of their pets and said Hall had got off lightly. He said he had paid more than £500 in vet bills to try and save the animals, which were put to sleep on 2 and 6 October 2008.
He said: "I think the punishment should have been more severe. I don't want to see anyone going to jail, but she should have been banned from having animals, and given community service at least. The sentence was a disgrace. Money was the last thing I wanted out of this."
The cats owner, Andrew Boyd, described the sentence as a "disgrace". When Mr Boyd contact police after the vet told him his cats had been poisoned, officers found the remnants of the deadly meal and a cat-scaring machine still in Hall's garden
Hall was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the pets, named Nush and Mr Baz, by feeding them a drug or substance knowing it to be poisonous or injurious. Defence agent Murray Aitken said: "Mrs Hall knows she put out the tuna, and she highly regrets that decision. She's had death threats because of it, and it's negatively affected her health, so it's definitely a decision that will live with her for the rest of her life."
Sheriff Craig Caldwell ordered Hall to pay Mr Boyd £1,500 in compensation, but stopped short of imposing a fine or calling for background reports as a preliminary to imposing community service or jail. He told her: "I take a dim view of cruelty to animals, and you should have known mixing tuna with anti-freeze would cause serious damage."
Mr Boyd said he and his wife Wilma had been devastated by the deaths of their pets and said Hall had got off lightly. He said he had paid more than £500 in vet bills to try and save the animals, which were put to sleep on 2 and 6 October 2008.
He said: "I think the punishment should have been more severe. I don't want to see anyone going to jail, but she should have been banned from having animals, and given community service at least. The sentence was a disgrace. Money was the last thing I wanted out of this."
Screening plea over naturist bed and breakfast
People living near a naturist bed and breakfast in Staffordshire have appealed to the owners to put up screening. Resident Dianne Plimmer said the B&B, which is owned by Mike and Margaret Howard, of Domain Farm near Cellarhead, should not be near other houses.
But Mr Howard said they were planting shrubs and trees around their land. In a statement the couple said they and the guests "do not want to cause any upset".
Ms Plimmer said: "If they want to do that, they should screen themselves in. They should have bought somewhere completely out of the way, totally on its own."
Jackie Beech, who owns farmland around the site, said: "We went to move some cattle. That was the first time we saw a man walking around with no clothes on and a cup of tea in his hand, or coffee, whatever it was. My husband says 'whatever's going on here?' I said 'I don't know, but I don't want to see it on a regular basis'."
The bed and breakfast owners said they "wandered around as nature intended throughout all the seasons". The couple added: "Our guests are, typically very quiet, reserved people.
"They just want to be able to enjoy the sunshine, fresh air and hot tub without being gawped at." The couple said they restricted the number of guests who visit because they are promoting "the peace and quiet of the area".
But Mr Howard said they were planting shrubs and trees around their land. In a statement the couple said they and the guests "do not want to cause any upset".
Ms Plimmer said: "If they want to do that, they should screen themselves in. They should have bought somewhere completely out of the way, totally on its own."
Jackie Beech, who owns farmland around the site, said: "We went to move some cattle. That was the first time we saw a man walking around with no clothes on and a cup of tea in his hand, or coffee, whatever it was. My husband says 'whatever's going on here?' I said 'I don't know, but I don't want to see it on a regular basis'."
The bed and breakfast owners said they "wandered around as nature intended throughout all the seasons". The couple added: "Our guests are, typically very quiet, reserved people.
"They just want to be able to enjoy the sunshine, fresh air and hot tub without being gawped at." The couple said they restricted the number of guests who visit because they are promoting "the peace and quiet of the area".
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Black-faced suspects quickly apprehended
Suspects in an attempted burglary at a Carroll apartment on Friday night weren't too difficult to identify.
A resident of 1844 Randall Road called 911 to report two men with their faces painted black were trying to break into an apartment.
Moments later, Carroll police officers pulled over a car matching the suspects' vehicle a couple blocks away and found the two occupants with faces blackened by a permanent marker.
Matthew Allan McNelly, 23, and Joey Lee Miller, 20, were arrested without incident. Each was charged with second-degree attempted burglary. McNelly was also charged with driving while intoxicated.
A resident of 1844 Randall Road called 911 to report two men with their faces painted black were trying to break into an apartment.
Moments later, Carroll police officers pulled over a car matching the suspects' vehicle a couple blocks away and found the two occupants with faces blackened by a permanent marker.
Matthew Allan McNelly, 23, and Joey Lee Miller, 20, were arrested without incident. Each was charged with second-degree attempted burglary. McNelly was also charged with driving while intoxicated.
Somali man, 112, marries 17-year-old girl
A Somalian man who claims to be 112 years old has married for the sixth time, to a 17-year-old girl.
A crowd of hundreds attended the wedding between Ahmed Muhamed Dore and Safia Abdulleh in Guriceel, in the Galguduud region of Somalia. Mr Dore said: "Today God helped me realise my dream."
Mr Dore and his teenage bride are from the same village, and he said that he had waited for her to grow up before proposing.
He said: "I didn't force her, but used my experience to convince her of my love, and then we agreed to marry." The bride’s family said she was "happy with her new husband".
At 95 years older than her – if his claimed age is accurate – he is old enough to be her great-great-great-grandfather. He already has 18 children by his other five wives.
According to Somali historians, the wedding is the first of its kind in Somalia for over a century.
A crowd of hundreds attended the wedding between Ahmed Muhamed Dore and Safia Abdulleh in Guriceel, in the Galguduud region of Somalia. Mr Dore said: "Today God helped me realise my dream."
Mr Dore and his teenage bride are from the same village, and he said that he had waited for her to grow up before proposing.
He said: "I didn't force her, but used my experience to convince her of my love, and then we agreed to marry." The bride’s family said she was "happy with her new husband".
At 95 years older than her – if his claimed age is accurate – he is old enough to be her great-great-great-grandfather. He already has 18 children by his other five wives.
According to Somali historians, the wedding is the first of its kind in Somalia for over a century.
Mystery lump on New Zealand beach mistaken for alien
From the briny depths of the South Pacific has come a massive ... something; which has parked itself on the stony shoreline of a Temuka beach. Rose Fraser was walking along Browns Beach yesterday morning when she spotted the lump of stuff.
"I first saw it from a distance and I thought: 'That's a big white rock on the shore line ... that wasn't there four days ago'." As she got closer to the thing she thought it could be a piece of driftwood – a really big bit of driftwood – but upon reaching it, Miss Fraser's thoughts turned from sea to sky.
"I must admit, I thought: 'Heck, this is an alien'. It looks like it's got big ribs coming out of it, but it looks like they could be tentacles, so I don't know." Cautiously, and ready to run should the thing suddenly leap into life, Miss Fraser lobbed a rock at it, then prodded it with a stick. Whatever it was, it sat there, not moving. All it did was emit a slight odour.
A photo of the woolly, stringy object was sent to the Department of Conservation in Wellington, who sent it to Niwa and Te Papa. It was also sent to Otago University's whale experts. After a flurry of emails a consensus was reached.
It was the top – essentially the stuffing – of a sperm whale's head. As the blob was soft tissue, compartmentalised and big, it was likely to be the large spermaceti organ and "junk" of a sperm whale, probably male.
Those structures deal with sound beam focusing in sperm whales and related whales and dolphins and were also filled with a straw-coloured oily wax called spermaceti or case oil. It is not yet known what will happen to the blob of whale.
"I first saw it from a distance and I thought: 'That's a big white rock on the shore line ... that wasn't there four days ago'." As she got closer to the thing she thought it could be a piece of driftwood – a really big bit of driftwood – but upon reaching it, Miss Fraser's thoughts turned from sea to sky.
"I must admit, I thought: 'Heck, this is an alien'. It looks like it's got big ribs coming out of it, but it looks like they could be tentacles, so I don't know." Cautiously, and ready to run should the thing suddenly leap into life, Miss Fraser lobbed a rock at it, then prodded it with a stick. Whatever it was, it sat there, not moving. All it did was emit a slight odour.
A photo of the woolly, stringy object was sent to the Department of Conservation in Wellington, who sent it to Niwa and Te Papa. It was also sent to Otago University's whale experts. After a flurry of emails a consensus was reached.
It was the top – essentially the stuffing – of a sperm whale's head. As the blob was soft tissue, compartmentalised and big, it was likely to be the large spermaceti organ and "junk" of a sperm whale, probably male.
Those structures deal with sound beam focusing in sperm whales and related whales and dolphins and were also filled with a straw-coloured oily wax called spermaceti or case oil. It is not yet known what will happen to the blob of whale.
Man used X-rays and mammograms for sexual gratification
A technician at a Tiffin imaging centre caught driving with a stash of X-rays, mammograms, videos and pictures of women and children used the images for sexual gratification, police believe.
Jaime Aguirre, 42, of Willard, had hundreds of the images in his car when he was stopped on Sunday in the township on a traffic violation, officers said. He was held in Portage County Jail in lieu of posting $250,000 bond. He is charged with four counts of possession of child pornography. His first hearing is Friday in Kent Municipal Court.
"He had images of neck-to-knees X-rays and mammograms of women and girls under the age of 18 which we believe he was using for sexual gratification, those are in addition to the pictures of women and children undressing," said Brimfield Police Chief David Blough. "This is one of the strangest things I've ever seen."
An officer stopped Aguirre for a traffic violation and thought the driver acted peculiarly, Blough said. Aguirre was returning home after attending a Pittsburgh Steelers football game. Police don't not know why he carried the images with him.
"The officer saw file storage devices, like zip discs and memory sticks in the car, and asked if he could look inside the car," Blough said. "He also found marijuana in the car."
Blough said when police started looking through the storage devices they found the images. There are names and identification numbers on the files. Blough said police officers will spend hundreds of hours examining the images. "It's a lot of work, but we owe it to the victims to be thorough," he said
Jaime Aguirre, 42, of Willard, had hundreds of the images in his car when he was stopped on Sunday in the township on a traffic violation, officers said. He was held in Portage County Jail in lieu of posting $250,000 bond. He is charged with four counts of possession of child pornography. His first hearing is Friday in Kent Municipal Court.
"He had images of neck-to-knees X-rays and mammograms of women and girls under the age of 18 which we believe he was using for sexual gratification, those are in addition to the pictures of women and children undressing," said Brimfield Police Chief David Blough. "This is one of the strangest things I've ever seen."
An officer stopped Aguirre for a traffic violation and thought the driver acted peculiarly, Blough said. Aguirre was returning home after attending a Pittsburgh Steelers football game. Police don't not know why he carried the images with him.
"The officer saw file storage devices, like zip discs and memory sticks in the car, and asked if he could look inside the car," Blough said. "He also found marijuana in the car."
Blough said when police started looking through the storage devices they found the images. There are names and identification numbers on the files. Blough said police officers will spend hundreds of hours examining the images. "It's a lot of work, but we owe it to the victims to be thorough," he said
Corpse left on police station roof for two years
The corpse of a man has been found on the roof of a police station in northern India where it was placed over two years ago during an inquiry.
The body of Chukkan Nishad, a 22-year-old who went missing in July 2007, was meant to be sent for DNA testing but was instead put in a body bag and placed on the roof.
Nishad's father said the family kept requesting the body at the police station but were repeatedly told there was an investigation underway.
"I admit it is a horrible case, possibly the first of its kind,'' said Ram Sabad Ram, the new station master in Azamgarh in northern Uttar Pradesh state. "I joined here only recently and didn't know that the corpse was kept on the roof.''
The body was placed there after local authorities refused to release the funds for the DNA test on Nishad, whose death remains a mystery.
Mr Ram said police were now completing the formalities to return Mishad's remains - no more than bones after two years exposed to the elements - to his family. Nishad's father was led to the rooftop three days ago by a "sympathetic constable''.
The body of Chukkan Nishad, a 22-year-old who went missing in July 2007, was meant to be sent for DNA testing but was instead put in a body bag and placed on the roof.
Nishad's father said the family kept requesting the body at the police station but were repeatedly told there was an investigation underway.
"I admit it is a horrible case, possibly the first of its kind,'' said Ram Sabad Ram, the new station master in Azamgarh in northern Uttar Pradesh state. "I joined here only recently and didn't know that the corpse was kept on the roof.''
The body was placed there after local authorities refused to release the funds for the DNA test on Nishad, whose death remains a mystery.
Mr Ram said police were now completing the formalities to return Mishad's remains - no more than bones after two years exposed to the elements - to his family. Nishad's father was led to the rooftop three days ago by a "sympathetic constable''.
Canadian folk singer dies after coyote attack
Two coyotes have attacked and killed a 19-year-old folk singer in a national park in eastern Canada, officials say. Taylor Mitchell, 19, a promising musician from Toronto, died in hospital after the animals pounced as she hiked alone in Cape Breton park, Nova Scotia.
Walkers alerted park rangers after hearing her screams. The rangers shot one coyote, but were still searching for the second. Attacks by coyotes on humans are rare; they usually prey on deer and hares.
Bleeding heavily from multiple bite wounds, the singer-songwriter was airlifted to a Halifax hospital, but died of her injuries on Wednesday morning, authorities said.
"Coyotes are normally afraid of humans. This is a very irregular occurrence," Brigdit Leger, a spokeswoman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said. She said the two coyotes were "extremely aggressive" when authorities arrived at the scene.
Ms Mitchell - touted as a rising star in the folk music scene - was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award earlier this year in the youth category.
"Words can't begin to express the sadness and tragedy of losing such a sweet, compassionate, vibrant, and phenomenally talented young woman," Lisa Weitz, Ms Mitchell's manager, said. "She just turned 19 two months ago, and was so excited about the future."
Walkers alerted park rangers after hearing her screams. The rangers shot one coyote, but were still searching for the second. Attacks by coyotes on humans are rare; they usually prey on deer and hares.
Bleeding heavily from multiple bite wounds, the singer-songwriter was airlifted to a Halifax hospital, but died of her injuries on Wednesday morning, authorities said.
"Coyotes are normally afraid of humans. This is a very irregular occurrence," Brigdit Leger, a spokeswoman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said. She said the two coyotes were "extremely aggressive" when authorities arrived at the scene.
Ms Mitchell - touted as a rising star in the folk music scene - was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award earlier this year in the youth category.
"Words can't begin to express the sadness and tragedy of losing such a sweet, compassionate, vibrant, and phenomenally talented young woman," Lisa Weitz, Ms Mitchell's manager, said. "She just turned 19 two months ago, and was so excited about the future."
Bakery owner caught beheading animals inside his store
A bakery in northwest San Antonio is closed for business after authorities made a disturbing discovery last week.
Police and Animal Care Services workers went to the business to investigate complaints about drug use and prostitution. When they went inside, officers say they found several dead animals, many of them beheaded.
The man who runs the bakery, Jesus Cardoso, told investigators the sacrifices are part of his religion.
Still, officers arrested Cardoso on animal cruelty charges and shut down his business until it comes in compliance with city code.
Police and Animal Care Services workers went to the business to investigate complaints about drug use and prostitution. When they went inside, officers say they found several dead animals, many of them beheaded.
The man who runs the bakery, Jesus Cardoso, told investigators the sacrifices are part of his religion.
Still, officers arrested Cardoso on animal cruelty charges and shut down his business until it comes in compliance with city code.
Woman swallowed canteen of cutlery
Margaret Daalman came to hospital complaining of stomach ache - and one glance at her X-ray shows why.
Surgeons in Rotterdam in the Netherlands were flabbergasted when X-rays showed 78 different items of cutlery in the 52-year-old woman's stomach.
They rushed her to surgery in a desperate attempt to remove the dozens of forks and spoons trapped inside her body one by one.
'She seems to have been suffering from some sort of obsession and every time she sat down for a meal she would ignore the food and eat the cutlery,' said one medic.
The images were actually taken over 30 years ago - but they were published for the first time this week in a Dutch medical magazine.
The magazine had asked for readers to send in examples of strange medical tales. A doctor at a hospital in Sittard in the Netherlands sent in the tale of Ms Daalman.
Surgeons in Rotterdam in the Netherlands were flabbergasted when X-rays showed 78 different items of cutlery in the 52-year-old woman's stomach.
They rushed her to surgery in a desperate attempt to remove the dozens of forks and spoons trapped inside her body one by one.
'She seems to have been suffering from some sort of obsession and every time she sat down for a meal she would ignore the food and eat the cutlery,' said one medic.
The images were actually taken over 30 years ago - but they were published for the first time this week in a Dutch medical magazine.
The magazine had asked for readers to send in examples of strange medical tales. A doctor at a hospital in Sittard in the Netherlands sent in the tale of Ms Daalman.
'Incompetent' woman caused two fatal crashes at same spot
A female driver who killed two motorists at the same intersection seven years apart has been criticised as incompetent by a coroner. Mother of two Michelle Thiele caused the two fatal crashes by failing to look to her left when entering the intersection, South Australia's deputy coroner has found.
Thiele told deputy coroner Anthony Schapel she believed she was a competent driver despite causing the fatal crashes at a T-junction at Pompoota near Mannum, about 80km east of Adelaide. "Both men died in collisions at the same location in almost identical circumstances and at the hands of the same motorist," Mr Schapel said in his coronial findings. "They both died when that same motorist failed to give way to each of them at the same intersection."
In April 2000, Thiele caused a collision that killed 69-year-old car driver John Mitchell. In June 2007, at the same intersection, Thiele's ute struck and killed 51-year-old motorcyclist Graham Bryant.
Having regard to Mrs Thiele's driving behaviour in both of these incidents ... I am driven to conclude that Mrs Thiele is a motorist of quite limited aptitude, competence and temperament," Mr Schapel said. "She now has a driving record that by any standard is manifestly unacceptable."
Thiele was fined $426 for failing to give way after the initial fatal accident. After the second collision, she was found guilty of driving without due care and sentenced to eight months in jail, suspended after a one-month non-parole period.
Her driver's licence was disqualified for 18 months. On appeal to the Supreme Court, Thiele's jail sentence was wholly suspended. "To my knowledge there is no legal impediment to Mrs Thiele continuing to drive a motor vehicle once the period of disqualification has concluded," Mr Schapel said.
Thiele told deputy coroner Anthony Schapel she believed she was a competent driver despite causing the fatal crashes at a T-junction at Pompoota near Mannum, about 80km east of Adelaide. "Both men died in collisions at the same location in almost identical circumstances and at the hands of the same motorist," Mr Schapel said in his coronial findings. "They both died when that same motorist failed to give way to each of them at the same intersection."
In April 2000, Thiele caused a collision that killed 69-year-old car driver John Mitchell. In June 2007, at the same intersection, Thiele's ute struck and killed 51-year-old motorcyclist Graham Bryant.
Having regard to Mrs Thiele's driving behaviour in both of these incidents ... I am driven to conclude that Mrs Thiele is a motorist of quite limited aptitude, competence and temperament," Mr Schapel said. "She now has a driving record that by any standard is manifestly unacceptable."
Thiele was fined $426 for failing to give way after the initial fatal accident. After the second collision, she was found guilty of driving without due care and sentenced to eight months in jail, suspended after a one-month non-parole period.
Her driver's licence was disqualified for 18 months. On appeal to the Supreme Court, Thiele's jail sentence was wholly suspended. "To my knowledge there is no legal impediment to Mrs Thiele continuing to drive a motor vehicle once the period of disqualification has concluded," Mr Schapel said.
Two-headed snake found in couple's drawer
A two-headed snake has been discovered in a drawer full of rubbish in Illinois.
When Jerry Williamson's wife first told him she had found the scary reptile he thought she was pulling his leg.
But to his surprise she was telling the truth.
Unfazed by the terrifying stigma attached to the two-headed Hydra of Greek mythology the couple decided to keep the reptile.
They were worried it would not be able to survive on its own. They say it is a North American water snake and has just shed its skin.
The 'Nerodia sipedon', as it is also known, is a large non-venemous snake active during day and night.
When Jerry Williamson's wife first told him she had found the scary reptile he thought she was pulling his leg.
But to his surprise she was telling the truth.
Unfazed by the terrifying stigma attached to the two-headed Hydra of Greek mythology the couple decided to keep the reptile.
They were worried it would not be able to survive on its own. They say it is a North American water snake and has just shed its skin.
The 'Nerodia sipedon', as it is also known, is a large non-venemous snake active during day and night.
Drug-sniffing dog overdoses on evidence
A drug-sniffing dog is recovering in a veterinary hospital, with his human partner at his side, after accidentally ingesting methamphetamine.
Thousand Oaks Senior Deputy Dean Worthy said that Balu, a 4-year-old German shepherd, had been commanded to search for a bag of drugs near where a suspect had dropped something else. "He did his job," Worthy says. Balu alerted to a bag of meth.
However, Balu must also have inhaled or licked up some remnants from the bag. Hours later, he had a bad reaction.
Photo from here.
Worthy said the dog had a seizure in the back of his patrol car that lasted more than two minutes.
He took his K-9 partner to a veterinary hospital where he appears to be on the road to recovery.
But Worthy said that he also has a bed near Balu's, because the dog gets separation anxiety if he tries to leave and tries to tear out his IV lines. "We do develop a real close bond with these dogs," Worthy said.
With news video.
Thousand Oaks Senior Deputy Dean Worthy said that Balu, a 4-year-old German shepherd, had been commanded to search for a bag of drugs near where a suspect had dropped something else. "He did his job," Worthy says. Balu alerted to a bag of meth.
However, Balu must also have inhaled or licked up some remnants from the bag. Hours later, he had a bad reaction.
Photo from here.
Worthy said the dog had a seizure in the back of his patrol car that lasted more than two minutes.
He took his K-9 partner to a veterinary hospital where he appears to be on the road to recovery.
But Worthy said that he also has a bed near Balu's, because the dog gets separation anxiety if he tries to leave and tries to tear out his IV lines. "We do develop a real close bond with these dogs," Worthy said.
With news video.
Bottoms up for beer bathers
Beer lovers are being given the chance to take the plunge in a health spa pool - filled with 42,000 pints of lager.
Spa bosses in Starkenberg, Austria, claim that beer can treat skin conditions, blood circulation and can even help cure wounds. The spa - part of a local brewery - contains seven 13ft long pools filled with beer which you can even ask to be served chilled or heated.
Bathers can try drinking the bathwater but head barman Markus Amann, 23, said: "I'd rather swim than swallow, as we have enough cold beer on tap at the bars next to the pools.
"These pools really can help some health problems - but if they don't work for you, you'll probably have drunk enough not to care about it any more," he added.
Website.
Spa bosses in Starkenberg, Austria, claim that beer can treat skin conditions, blood circulation and can even help cure wounds. The spa - part of a local brewery - contains seven 13ft long pools filled with beer which you can even ask to be served chilled or heated.
Bathers can try drinking the bathwater but head barman Markus Amann, 23, said: "I'd rather swim than swallow, as we have enough cold beer on tap at the bars next to the pools.
"These pools really can help some health problems - but if they don't work for you, you'll probably have drunk enough not to care about it any more," he added.
Website.
Man banned from drinking strong lager downs six pints of water and dies
A man banned from drinking Stella Artois at his local downed six pints of water in protest – and died. Heavy drinker Tony Holtam, 47, collapsed on the floor in a corner of the pub “looking like he was having a fit”.
Drinking so much water so quickly had left him with dangerously low levels of sodium in his bloodstream, an inquest heard yesterday.
Locals regularly saw the forestry worker knock back his favourite strong lager at a rate of five pints an hour. But he had a reputation for “acting up” afterwards and finally pub landlady Sian Davies refused to serve him with the 5% ABV brew.
Ms Davies, who runs the Mackworth Arms in Bridgend, South Wales, said: “He used to get in a bit of a mess with Stella so I would only allow him to drink weaker lagers.
“On the day he died Tony came in and only drank water. He was in his corner watching the Grand Prix and it looked like he was having a fit. He just went rigid and was clutching his chest.”
Pathologist Alan Rees said low sodium levels coupled with underlying health problems were probably to blame for his death. Verdict: Accident.
Drinking so much water so quickly had left him with dangerously low levels of sodium in his bloodstream, an inquest heard yesterday.
Locals regularly saw the forestry worker knock back his favourite strong lager at a rate of five pints an hour. But he had a reputation for “acting up” afterwards and finally pub landlady Sian Davies refused to serve him with the 5% ABV brew.
Ms Davies, who runs the Mackworth Arms in Bridgend, South Wales, said: “He used to get in a bit of a mess with Stella so I would only allow him to drink weaker lagers.
“On the day he died Tony came in and only drank water. He was in his corner watching the Grand Prix and it looked like he was having a fit. He just went rigid and was clutching his chest.”
Pathologist Alan Rees said low sodium levels coupled with underlying health problems were probably to blame for his death. Verdict: Accident.
French love letter found on Cornish beach
A French love letter and a lock of hair have been discovered in a bottle washed up on a Cornish beach. Martin Leslie, who is sector manager for the coastguard, discovered the note at Praa Sands when he was clearing debris from the shore in west Cornwall.
The bottle, which was sealed with candle wax, was dated 25 September. It was written in French by an unnamed woman who poured out her feelings and understandings for her lover who had to return to his wife.
The letter included references to love, death and heartache. It covered three pages of A4-sized paper and was accompanied by the lock of brown hair. It opened with: "I'm not, and nor are you. When I am dead and that I will have lost the spark of my 20s, and I know that happens, at this point I will come back to you and you in turn will give me back your extraordinary passion for living. I am not dead. Yet."
Mr Leslie, who does not speak French, tried to translate the letter and was concerned about its content. He said: "I assumed that it was a suicidal note that we came across. I contacted Falmouth coastguard who sent a fax of it to our counterparts in France.
"It was found to be a love letter. She (the writer) explained they had a good time together. She loves him but understands he has to return to his wife, and hopes she will find a man like him to live a beautiful life."
The unnamed woman recalls the time she and her lover spent together, alluding to the affair. "These magic moments are pure secret. The secret of life and pleasure without limits. In twenty years, it will still be here, the previous moments of happiness, when life will get dreary, we will be able to tap into these memories to remember what it is to live again." Mr Leslie said he was planning to keep hold of the letter, which was left unsigned, with no contact address.
With audio.
The bottle, which was sealed with candle wax, was dated 25 September. It was written in French by an unnamed woman who poured out her feelings and understandings for her lover who had to return to his wife.
The letter included references to love, death and heartache. It covered three pages of A4-sized paper and was accompanied by the lock of brown hair. It opened with: "I'm not, and nor are you. When I am dead and that I will have lost the spark of my 20s, and I know that happens, at this point I will come back to you and you in turn will give me back your extraordinary passion for living. I am not dead. Yet."
Mr Leslie, who does not speak French, tried to translate the letter and was concerned about its content. He said: "I assumed that it was a suicidal note that we came across. I contacted Falmouth coastguard who sent a fax of it to our counterparts in France.
"It was found to be a love letter. She (the writer) explained they had a good time together. She loves him but understands he has to return to his wife, and hopes she will find a man like him to live a beautiful life."
The unnamed woman recalls the time she and her lover spent together, alluding to the affair. "These magic moments are pure secret. The secret of life and pleasure without limits. In twenty years, it will still be here, the previous moments of happiness, when life will get dreary, we will be able to tap into these memories to remember what it is to live again." Mr Leslie said he was planning to keep hold of the letter, which was left unsigned, with no contact address.
With audio.
British public asked to look out for Crinkly the swan
Members of the British public are being asked to keep a keen eye out for Crinkly, a rather unique, wobbly-necked swan.
Crinkly acquired her name due to her unusual disability; she has a long neck containing distinct kinks.
Yet despite this apparent handicap, Crinkly is expected to arrive in the UK any day, to spend the winter here with 3,500 or more other Bewick's swans.
If she does arrive, researchers will have recorded her flying more than 20,000 miles in total.
"This year, we're especially keen to know if Crinkly is on her way," says Julia Newth, WWT's wildlife health research officer.
"Given her deformity, it would be a major achievement if a swan so un-aerodynamic collects 20,000 air miles, a feat we have never witnessed before during studies of more than 10,000 swans dating back nearly 50 years. We're hoping the public will keep a look-out and let us know if she's spotted."
Crinkly acquired her name due to her unusual disability; she has a long neck containing distinct kinks.
Yet despite this apparent handicap, Crinkly is expected to arrive in the UK any day, to spend the winter here with 3,500 or more other Bewick's swans.
If she does arrive, researchers will have recorded her flying more than 20,000 miles in total.
"This year, we're especially keen to know if Crinkly is on her way," says Julia Newth, WWT's wildlife health research officer.
"Given her deformity, it would be a major achievement if a swan so un-aerodynamic collects 20,000 air miles, a feat we have never witnessed before during studies of more than 10,000 swans dating back nearly 50 years. We're hoping the public will keep a look-out and let us know if she's spotted."
Puppy is stamped to death as shocked owner looks on
A teenage girl has been left heartbroken after her 10-week old puppy was stamped on by yobs and killed. April Alderton, 15, who suffers from ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - was in the Priory Park area, in St Neots, with a friend when the attack took place.
April, from Cambridge Road, told how she put the Jack Russell, named Sandy, on the ground for a moment when she stopped to tuck her trouser leg in her boot at about 11.30am on Monday. She said: "She wandered over to three boys. She was wagging her tail and one of them put his foot out and trampled on her head."
April, who tried to give the pup mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at the scene, said: "I was devastated. It was such a shock." Her mother, Loretta Alderton, added: "It is unbelievable. How could someone do something like that?" April was heard screaming and crying at the scene and Ms Alderton said she arrived to find her sitting on the kerb sobbing.
The pup was taken to a nearby veterinary surgery but it died from a fractured skull. April, who attends the Aschan Road Pupil Referral Unit in Cambridge, was bought the puppy only four weeks ago on the advice it would be a good thing for her ADHD. April said: "She was a lovely puppy. She was very well behaved and one of those things you can't replace. I am very angry."
Pc Amanda Foreman said: "This has upset the entire family who are finding it hard to understand how someone can do this to a puppy."
RSPCA inspector Cherry Evans said: "This is an absolutely shocking and sickening incident which has caused a great deal of pain to this small puppy and left her owners devastated. "It is difficult to understand how anyone could be so deliberately cruel and it is vital that anyone with information comes forward."
April, from Cambridge Road, told how she put the Jack Russell, named Sandy, on the ground for a moment when she stopped to tuck her trouser leg in her boot at about 11.30am on Monday. She said: "She wandered over to three boys. She was wagging her tail and one of them put his foot out and trampled on her head."
April, who tried to give the pup mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at the scene, said: "I was devastated. It was such a shock." Her mother, Loretta Alderton, added: "It is unbelievable. How could someone do something like that?" April was heard screaming and crying at the scene and Ms Alderton said she arrived to find her sitting on the kerb sobbing.
The pup was taken to a nearby veterinary surgery but it died from a fractured skull. April, who attends the Aschan Road Pupil Referral Unit in Cambridge, was bought the puppy only four weeks ago on the advice it would be a good thing for her ADHD. April said: "She was a lovely puppy. She was very well behaved and one of those things you can't replace. I am very angry."
Pc Amanda Foreman said: "This has upset the entire family who are finding it hard to understand how someone can do this to a puppy."
RSPCA inspector Cherry Evans said: "This is an absolutely shocking and sickening incident which has caused a great deal of pain to this small puppy and left her owners devastated. "It is difficult to understand how anyone could be so deliberately cruel and it is vital that anyone with information comes forward."
Football hooligan begs not to be jailed as he would miss 'little dog who is like a son'
A football hooligan who breached his Football Banning Order for the third time when he went to a match at Blackpool pleaded not to be sent to prison because he would miss his little dog. Michael Lewis was put on the order after drunkenly invading the pitch during a match at Burnley Football Club's home ground where he assaulted two police officers.
Lewis, a jobless 47-year-old grandfather, of the Station Hotel, Earby, admitted failing to comply with a Football Banning Order. He was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community, put on a year's supervision and told to pay £85 costs by Blackpool magistrates.
Lewis told magistrates he had gone to the resort with his dog for a four-day break. He met a man who invited him to go to the match. He bought a small bottle of wine at the game, which he put in his back pocket, but a steward saw the bottle and called the police.
Lewis said: "I was not drunk, I was just a bit fresh. I thought my banning order was just for Burnley matches and international matches. "I would not like to go to prison today. Years ago, I would not have bothered, but I now have a little dog, who is like a son to me, and I would miss him."
Miss Leisa Splaine (defending) told magistrates: "He says he has supported Burnley from age three to four. They have been his team for life.
"He says he has tried to comply with the order. He did not go to Wembley last season for what he described as the biggest game of Burnley's history, where they got promotion. He says he thought the order only applied to Burnley and international matches."
Lewis, a jobless 47-year-old grandfather, of the Station Hotel, Earby, admitted failing to comply with a Football Banning Order. He was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community, put on a year's supervision and told to pay £85 costs by Blackpool magistrates.
Lewis told magistrates he had gone to the resort with his dog for a four-day break. He met a man who invited him to go to the match. He bought a small bottle of wine at the game, which he put in his back pocket, but a steward saw the bottle and called the police.
Lewis said: "I was not drunk, I was just a bit fresh. I thought my banning order was just for Burnley matches and international matches. "I would not like to go to prison today. Years ago, I would not have bothered, but I now have a little dog, who is like a son to me, and I would miss him."
Miss Leisa Splaine (defending) told magistrates: "He says he has supported Burnley from age three to four. They have been his team for life.
"He says he has tried to comply with the order. He did not go to Wembley last season for what he described as the biggest game of Burnley's history, where they got promotion. He says he thought the order only applied to Burnley and international matches."
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Chimpanzees' grief caught on camera
National Geographic have posted this photo taken at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Centre in Cameroon, where more than a dozen residents form a gallery of grief, looking on as Dorothy — a beloved female felled in her late 40s by heart failure — is taken to her burial.
Many thanks Marilyn!
Many thanks Marilyn!
Vandal censors dirty words in library books
Someone has been crossing out dirty words in books, and employees at the Maury County Library aren’t happy about it.
“It bothers me because nobody is holding a gun to their head making them read these books,” said Elizabeth Potts, director of the county library. “If they don’t like them, they should just return them.”
Over the past several months, more and more books are being returned to the library with curse words crossed out by someone using blue ink. Officials believe the same person is responsible for all the unauthorized editing. So far, 50-100 books have been targeted by the perpetrator.
Potts said most of the books are mystery novels, though many questionable words, including the “f-word” published in the “9/11 Commission Report” have been crossed out. “This person is evidently offended by these words,” she said. “I’m more offended by (the suspect).”
Some of the most important works in American literature have questionable words in them, including “The Grapes of Wrath,” “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “Gone with the Wind.”
Potts said the library doesn’t have the funds to replace the damaged books, so patrons are going to have to use their imagination. “They’re just going to have to guess what the word was,” Potts said.
“It bothers me because nobody is holding a gun to their head making them read these books,” said Elizabeth Potts, director of the county library. “If they don’t like them, they should just return them.”
Over the past several months, more and more books are being returned to the library with curse words crossed out by someone using blue ink. Officials believe the same person is responsible for all the unauthorized editing. So far, 50-100 books have been targeted by the perpetrator.
Potts said most of the books are mystery novels, though many questionable words, including the “f-word” published in the “9/11 Commission Report” have been crossed out. “This person is evidently offended by these words,” she said. “I’m more offended by (the suspect).”
Some of the most important works in American literature have questionable words in them, including “The Grapes of Wrath,” “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “Gone with the Wind.”
Potts said the library doesn’t have the funds to replace the damaged books, so patrons are going to have to use their imagination. “They’re just going to have to guess what the word was,” Potts said.
Chinese man who cut off finger to protest innocence wins apology
A teenage van driver who cut off the tip of his finger to protest his innocence has exposed a Shanghai police sting operation to trap unwary motorists. Sun Zhongjie, 19, was arrested minutes after giving a lift to a man who forced him to stop by standing in the middle of a narrow road.
He told Mr Sun that he was travelling to a nearby cement factory but there were no buses and he could not find a taxi. Without waiting for an answer, the man climbed in beside Mr Sun, who took pity on him and drove off. Mr Sun said: “I started the car. Minutes later at an intersection a van came up and stopped in front of me.”
The man leapt out of his vehicle, tossed a 10 yuan (90p) note towards him and ran off. Mr Sun then discovered that the vehicle in front of him contained traffic inspection officials cracking down on unlicensed taxis. They took Mr Sun’s mobile telephone and ordered him to sign a confession that he was operating an unlicensed taxi. Mr Sun refused and asked for his telephone so that he could dial 110, the Chinese equivalent of 999. The officials replied that he was already in the hands of 110.
Only after they refused to allow him to go to the toilet did Mr Sun finally sign the confession. That evening he cut off the tip of his little finger and informed the local newspapers of his case.
The report sparked public outrage and garnered nationwide sympathy for Mr Sun, who had arrived in Shanghai only two days before the incident, to take up a job with a construction company. A survey by the website of the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, put the entrapment at the top of a list of public incidents that had damaged government credibility in the first nine months of this year.
The furore was enough to trigger an investigation by the Shanghai authorities. It found that the man who climbed into Mr Sun’s van had been involved in a similar incident in which the driver was fined 10,000 yuan. A rare and embarrassing climbdown followed. “We, as a district government, must admit the mistake and apologise to the media and the public,” said a senior Shanghai official. Mr Sun, who will receive compensation for his ordeal, wept when he heard the outcome. “I’m happy,” he said, but added that he would not stop again to help someone on the street.
He told Mr Sun that he was travelling to a nearby cement factory but there were no buses and he could not find a taxi. Without waiting for an answer, the man climbed in beside Mr Sun, who took pity on him and drove off. Mr Sun said: “I started the car. Minutes later at an intersection a van came up and stopped in front of me.”
The man leapt out of his vehicle, tossed a 10 yuan (90p) note towards him and ran off. Mr Sun then discovered that the vehicle in front of him contained traffic inspection officials cracking down on unlicensed taxis. They took Mr Sun’s mobile telephone and ordered him to sign a confession that he was operating an unlicensed taxi. Mr Sun refused and asked for his telephone so that he could dial 110, the Chinese equivalent of 999. The officials replied that he was already in the hands of 110.
Only after they refused to allow him to go to the toilet did Mr Sun finally sign the confession. That evening he cut off the tip of his little finger and informed the local newspapers of his case.
The report sparked public outrage and garnered nationwide sympathy for Mr Sun, who had arrived in Shanghai only two days before the incident, to take up a job with a construction company. A survey by the website of the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, put the entrapment at the top of a list of public incidents that had damaged government credibility in the first nine months of this year.
The furore was enough to trigger an investigation by the Shanghai authorities. It found that the man who climbed into Mr Sun’s van had been involved in a similar incident in which the driver was fined 10,000 yuan. A rare and embarrassing climbdown followed. “We, as a district government, must admit the mistake and apologise to the media and the public,” said a senior Shanghai official. Mr Sun, who will receive compensation for his ordeal, wept when he heard the outcome. “I’m happy,” he said, but added that he would not stop again to help someone on the street.
Indian children mistake leopard cub for kitten
Children of Bhatvadar village spotted a kitten gambolling about in the bushes while they were out grazing cattle at the national highway near Rajula.
Overjoyed, they took it home and played with it throughout the day. "It was only when we heard the cub growling, that we realized it was not a kitten but a leopard. Fearing that its mother might be nearby, we released it in the wild near where the children had found it," said village panchayat member Bharat Sakat.
"We've contacted the forest department, urging it to cage the big cat if it's prowling in our area," he added.
Meanwhile, the forest department admitted to having received a representation from Bhatvadar villagers. "We've sent a team of officials to the site from where the cub was found. Also, we will be surveying the village for pug marks," said a forester.
Overjoyed, they took it home and played with it throughout the day. "It was only when we heard the cub growling, that we realized it was not a kitten but a leopard. Fearing that its mother might be nearby, we released it in the wild near where the children had found it," said village panchayat member Bharat Sakat.
"We've contacted the forest department, urging it to cage the big cat if it's prowling in our area," he added.
Meanwhile, the forest department admitted to having received a representation from Bhatvadar villagers. "We've sent a team of officials to the site from where the cub was found. Also, we will be surveying the village for pug marks," said a forester.
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